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  • PENNYWISE’S COVER OF MOTÖRHEAD’S “ACE OF SPADES” OUT NOW

    PENNYWISE RELEASE “ACE OF SPADES” COVER
    KILLED BY DEAF: A PUNK TRIBUTE TO MOTÖRHEAD FEATURING THE DAMNED, RANCID, FEAR & MORE ARRIVES OCTOBER 31 PRE-ORDERS: motorhead.lnk.to/killedbydeafpr
    “Ace of Spades” visualizer: https://youtu.be/OjBfoUKbfAY?si=aoFy6Vi5w5Bd3W1-
    A second preview of Motörhead tribute Killed By Deaf – A Punk Tribute to Motörhead (Oct. 31, BMG) arrives with Pennywise’s blistering take on “Ace of Spades.”
    Speaking on Motörhead and their “Ace of Spades” cover, Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge comments: “Getting into punk rock around 1980, basically the only metal band that was allowed to be part of the punk rock scene was Motörhead, as far as I was concerned. If you saw somebody show up in a jean vest with the Motörhead patch on the back it was like, ‘There’s a metaller, but he can hang with us!’ ‘Ace of Spades’ was the track where you heard that and went, ‘That’s not metal, that’s punk rock!’”
    Heavy metal and punk rock! It’s fair to say that these two noisy tribes now have a great deal in common—often melding together, almost indistinguishable, to produce bastard offspring of their own. But it wasn’t always this way. Indeed, there was a time when fists were more likely to be thrown than bumped, and beers more likely to be hurled than shared—except when it came to Motörhead. That was the one band we could all agree on. The one band that was truly ours!   Across the fourteen tracks on this album, cunningly titled Killed By Deaf, you’ll hear a loving tribute to Motörhead from some of punk rocks’ biggest and most respected bands. Luminaries like Rancid, Pennywise, Lagwagon, GBH, The Bronx and FEAR all contribute raucous versions of their favourite Motörhead tracks… and also up-and-coming upstarts like Slaughterhouse contribute, because, let’s face it, Motörhead always loved and championed the underdogs.  The only non-Motörhead song on this album is from a previously unheard and blistering version of The Damned’s classic, “Neat Neat Neat,” featuring the great man, Lemmy, himself and The Damned.
    Killed By Deaf – A Punk Tribute To Motörhead will be available on vinyl, CD and digitally. Pre-orders are available now: https://motorhead.lnk.to/killedbydeaf.
    Killed By Deaf – A Punk Tribute To Motörhead album cover
    Killed By Deaf – A Punk Tribute To Motörhead tracklist:
    1.    Pennywise – Ace of Spades
    2.    Rancid – Sex & Death
    3.    The Bronx – Over The Top
    4.    Lagwagon – Rock ‘N’ Roll
    5.    FEAR – The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
    6.    GBH – Bomber
    7.    Murphy’s Law – Stay Clean
    8.    Slaughterhouse – Love Me Like A Reptile
    9.    The Casualties – The Hammer
    10. Anti-Nowhere League – Born To Raise Hell
    11. Love Canal – Voices In The Sky
    12. Soldiers Of Destruction – Overkill
    13. Wisdom In Chains – Iron Fist
    14. Motörhead & The Damned – Neat Neat Neat
    Photo courtesy of Pennywise
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  • RICK HUGHES DELIVERS A SPECTACULAR SOLO ALBUM WITH ‘REDEMPTION,’ REUNITES MEMBERS OF ONE OF OZZY’S BEST LINE-UPS FOR COVER OF THE WHO’S “THE REAL ME” 

    RICK HUGHES DELIVERS A SPECTACULAR SOLO ALBUM WITH ‘REDEMPTION,’ REUNITES MEMBERS OF ONE OF OZZY’S BEST LINE-UPS FOR COVER OF THE WHO’S “THE REAL ME” 
     Canadian-born Rick Hughes is renowned for his powerful and rangey voice as the lead singer of the legendary metal band Sword, and of the hard-rock band Saints & Sinners. A seasoned performer with hundreds of headlining shows in Canada, America, Europe and Japan over the years, and his superb stage performances while opening for bands such as Metallica, Motorhead, Alice Cooper, Black Label Society, etc. 
     
    So when it was time for him to record ‘’Redemption’’, his first international solo album, he spared no expenses and efforts to make this album a great one, hiring producer John Webster (Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, AC/DC, etc.) and renting HippoSonic Recording Studio (formerly known as Little Mountain Studios) in Vancouver to record this opus.
     
    The first salvo is coming out September 5, 2025, and it is quite an event in itself: his first single and video is a supercharged version of The Who’s classic ‘’The Real Me’’ – reuniting after 43 years Ozzy Osbourne’s superband consisting of Brad Gillis on guitar, Rudy Sarzo on bass, and Tommy Aldridge on drums. This is the band that did the last leg of the ‘’Diary of a Madman Tour’’ in 1982 after the tragic departure of the great Randy Rhoads, and that then recorded Ozzy’s classic live album ‘’Speak of the Devil’’. 
     
    “The Real Me” video can be viewed via https://youtu.be/GIKd_empXj8, while the single can be streamed at https://push.fm/ps/ilgjszby.
     
    Pick up the Limited Edition Bundle (100 copies) that includes a collectible 7” vinyl of the “Real Me” signed by Rick Hughes, Brad Gillis, Tommy Aldridge, and Rudy Sarzo.

    Pre-order limited edition releases here: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/inthesquare/rick-hughes
     
    The resulting sound is epic, and so is the spectacular video that was shot and directed by Matthew Lucas (Kringle Time, Moonshot, We Meet Again, etc.) at the state-of-the-art L.A. Castle Studios, with post and editing by Montreal’s Jean-Marc Laurin (Jurassic World, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Game of Thrones, Assassin’s Creed, etc.).
     
    ”The Real Me stands as a cornerstone of my album ‘Redemption’,” says Rick. “As a lifelong fan of The Who, I wanted to pay tribute to the golden age of 70s rock. To capture that spirit, I brought together a true supergroup with Tommy Aldridge, Rudy Sarzo and Brad Gillis, a unique moment where legends unite to breathe new life into a classic.” 
     
    “This very special song is part of the upcoming Rick Hughes Album ‘Redemption,’ a collection of great rock songs to be released on Friday, October 24 2025 on CD, Vinyl, and Digital format worldwide by Deko Entertainment, and featuring more great collaborations with some famous musicians.
     
    Included are 2 more songs featuring the superb songwriting and inspired guitar playing of the great Brad Gillis, another featuring the extraordinary talent of The Door’s legendary guitarist Robby Krieger, and great contributions from rock royalty Lee Aaron, vocal powerhouse Amy Keys (Ringo Starr, Phil Collins, Toto, Sting, Stevie Wonder, etc.), rising guitar hot shot Jacob Deraps, as well as Rick’s gifted sister, Lulu Hughes. 
     
    With its great performances, ‘Redemption’ is a very special and unique rock album that brings together 7 songs in English, 1 bilingual and 2 songs in French.
     
    ‘REDEMPTION’ TRACKLIST:
     
    Vinyl version:
     
    Side A:
    1 ) Dead End Road
    2 ) Croire En l’Homme
    3 ) The Real Me
    4 ) Carry The Torch
    5 ) Will of the Gun
     
    Side B:
    1 ) Shake My Soul
    2 ) Someday
    3 ) Dans La Peau
    4 ) In a Perfect World
    5 ) Ça Va Brasser
     
    CD Version: 
     
    1 ) Dead End Road
    2 ) Croire en l’Homme
    3 ) The Real Me
    4 ) Carry The Torch
    5 ) Will of the Gun
    6 ) Shake My Soul
    7 ) Someday
    8 ) Dans La Peau
    9 ) In a Perfect World
    10 ) Ça Va Brasser
    11 ) Bonus Track: Dans La Peau (french version)
     FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: 
    Youtube: @RickHughesOfficial
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RickHughesOfficiel
    Instagram: RickHughesofficial
    Photographer credit: Dominic Gouin

    Attachments area

    Preview YouTube video Rick Hughes – The Real Me (Official Music Video) ft. Tommy Aldridge, Brad Gillis & Rudy Sarzo

  • Thrash Metal Icons FLOTSAM AND JETSAM Sign Worldwide Contract With Napalm Records

    Thrash Metal Icons FLOTSAM AND JETSAM Sign Worldwide Contract With Napalm Records

    New Music Coming Soon!
    [Photo Credit: Shane Eckart]
    Fresh off of their successful recent European tour, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM are thrilled to announce their brand new partnership with Napalm Records! The American thrash metal legends have signed a worldwide contract with the premier rock and metal label, and are preparing to release new music soon.

    A new era is dawning for the Arizona metal icons. With their iconic mascot Flotzilla growing more menacing with each release (just like the band themselves!), FLOTSAM AND JETSAM‘s work on their upcoming 16th studio album keeps the heavy momentum moving. Currently in production and slated for a 2026 release, it’ll mark nearly 40 years since the band’s groundbreaking debut, Doomsday for the Deceiver—one of the only albums to ever receive a 6K rating from Kerrang! Magazine. Though bassist Jason Newsted departed to join Metallica, the band pushed forward, following up with 1988’s unstoppable No Place for Disgrace. Since then, they have continued to evolve, showcasing some of their best work to date with recent releases Flotsam and Jetsam, The End of Chaos, Blood in the Water, and I Am The Weapon.

    The band’s current lineup is arguably its strongest ever. Frontman AK Knutson continues bringing the magic, steadily improving his craft with every album and tour. He’s backed by the incredibly talented, exceptionally brilliant guitar duo of co-founder Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, the powerful, precise and lightning fast magic of drummer Ken K Mary (Alice Cooper, Accept), and the “fresh blood”, extraordinary technical skills and prowess of bassist Bill Bodily.
     
    Michael Gilbert of FLOTSAM AND JETSAM offers about the signing:
    “We are extremely excited about working with Napalm! They are an amazing company that is very passionate about metal music, just like FLOTSAM AND JETSAM is. Everyone in the band looks forward to a great relationship with a very like-minded company!”
     
    Napalm Records Senior A&R Sebastian Münch adds:
    “We’ve been very impressed by Blood In The Water and I Am The Weapon, the two amazing Power/Thrash Metal albums that FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have released in recent years. Due to that and their legendary metal status, we are absolutely thrilled and proud to work alongside the band as they continue their legacy! Welcome to the Napalm family!”

    With this powerhouse lineup and new label partnership, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM are primed to deliver another onslaught of relentless aggression in 2026!

    FLOTSAM AND JETSAM is:
    Eric “AK” Knutson (Vocals)
    Steve Conley (Guitar)
    Michael Gilbert (Guitar)
    Bill Bodily (Bass)
    Ken K Mary (Drums)
     
    FLOTSAM AND JETSAM online:
    FACEBOOK
    INSTAGRAM
    X
    NAPALM RECORDS
  • MORBIKON: Blackened Death/Thrash Metal Project Led By Members Of Municipal Waste, Finntroll To Release Lost Within The Astral Crypts Full-Length November 21st On Tankcrimes

    MORBIKON: Blackened Death/Thrash Metal Project Led By Members Of Municipal Waste, Finntroll To Release Lost Within The Astral Crypts Full-Length November 21st On Tankcrimes; New Track Streaming + Preorders Available  
    Photo by Marc Birr
    Stream MORBIKON’s “Heavens That Burn And Eons Divided” HERE.
    Blackened death/thrash metal project MORBIKON will unleash their Lost Within The Astral Crypts full-length on November 21st via Tankcrimes.
    The creative effort of guitarist/bassist Phil “Landphil” Hall (Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse, Iron Reagan) with Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns (Finntroll, …And Oceans) on vocals, MORBIKON is guided by the second wave of Scandinavian black metal and melodic death metal scenes of the ‘90s. The band released their debut full-length, Ov Mournful Twilight, in 2022 via Tankcrimes. Wrote Angry Metal Guy, “Ov Mournful Twilight manages to be both trve as fvkk and fvn as fvkk. Here lie eight meloblack rippers, each one calibrated to bring winter to your soul and whiplash to your neck.” Teeth Of The Divine concurred hailing, “a scorching hellfire display of blackened death thrash metal, that in many ways is fresh sounding, as well as paying homage to some of the earliest purveyors of the ‘80s/’90s scene.” Added No Echo, “Vreth’s vocals sound as tortured and evil as ever; his raspy screams, breathy hissing, and primal growls grab your attention like a cold breeze on your neck.”
    Not just a studio project, MORBIKON spent six weeks on the road promoting Ov Mournful Twilight alongside internationally notable extreme metal acts such as Exhumed and Skeletal Remains in addition to performances at The Decibel Magazine Beer and Metal Fest in both Philadelphia and Denver and the Milwaukee Metal Fest.
    And in 2025 MORBIKON is more fiery than ever before. “This album feels like some of my darkest material yet,” says Hall. “I filled these songs to the brim with atmosphere and riffs. There are moments during the album that truly feel soaked in classic ‘90s underground blasphemy.”
    In advance of the record’s release, today the band is streaming first single, “Heavens That Burn And Eons Divided.” Offers Hall, “We picked out this track to be the opener on Lost Within The Astral Crypts because it perfectly depicts the insanity within the album. We took great pleasure in making the atmosphere and riffs as dark as possible. There are so many doors open within melodic black metal that I wanted to explore. This song touches on a little of everything within the album and offers a perfect setup.”
    Stream MORBIKON’s “Heavens That Burn And Eons Divided” HERE.
    MORBIKON’s Lost Within The Astral Crypts was written by Phil Hall with lyrics by Quotidius, vocals by Mathias Lillmåns and Quotidius, drums by Pierce Williams (Aenigmatum, ex-Skeletal Remains), solos by Blake Hibberd (Unburier), and additional instrumentation by Adam Gilliams (guitar; Cannabis Corpse) and Thomas Saltman (synths). The record was mixed by Rob Cauldwell, mastered by Alan Douches, and features cover art by Par Oloffson.
    Lost Within The Astral Crypts will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
    Liquid Filled (Ltd. 75) Crystal Clear (Ltd. 90 x Decibel Magazine Exclusive) Neon Violet w/ Black Splatter (Ltd. 250) Metallic Blue (Ltd. 500)   Find CD preorders HERE, vinyl preorders HERE, and digital orders at Bandcamp HERE. Find the Decibel exclusive edition HERE.
    Lost Within The Astral Crypts Track Listing: 1. Heavens That Burn And Eons Divided 2. Unending Legions Of Ball 3. Flames That Bind And Shadows Cast 4. Numeric Portal Ascendency 5. Sworn To Their Beheaded King 6. Masters Of Eternal Night 7. Ghoul Infested Mausoleum 8. Lost Within The Astral Crypts
    For MORBIKON coverage contact liz@earsplitcompound.com.   https://www.facebook.com/morbikon https://www.instagram.com/morbikon https://tankcrimes.merchtable.com   https://www.facebook.com/tankcrimes https://www.instagram.com/tankcrimes
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  • STELLAR CIRCUITS Reveal 2nd Single, ‘Corridor’ + New Album, PHANTOM :: PHOENIX, Out NOV. 14th

    STELLAR CIRCUITS Reveal 2nd Single, ‘Corridor’ + New Album, PHANTOM :: PHOENIX, Out NOV. 14th

    Photo Credit: Maq Brown

    Prog-Alt-Metal upstarts STELLAR CIRCUITS have debuted the 2nd single, ‘Corridor,’ from their sophomore album, Phantom :: Phoenix, that’s out November 14th via Nuclear Blast Records. The anthemic new track adds rocket fuel to the band’s upward trajectory with mesmerizing vocals and hooking riffs; another highlight from their game-changing new record.

    Commenting on the upcoming album,vocalist Ben Beddick says:

    With ‘Corridor,’ it seemed like we uncovered a side of the band that we haven’t really explored before. It felt like we tapped into a lighter, more uplifting part of our sound and that was exciting to discover.

    The song has a very nostalgic vibe and seems to stem from influences that we haven’t been able to express in previous albums. It feels very removed from our darker and heavier side but we also feel like it only adds to the breadth of music that we’re able to create.

    Stream ‘Corridor’: https://sc.bfan.link/corridor

    Pre-order Phantom :: Phoenix: https://sc.bfan.link/phantom-phoenix

    ‘CORRIDOR’ MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdNlLebaPGI

    A group of people standing in the back of a van  AI-generated content may be incorrect.

    STELLAR CIRCUITS’ follow up to 2023’s acclaimed record Sight To Sound, is a cathartic work of art that explores the trials and tribulations of life and death and the process of healing and perseverance in the face of agony.

    Beddick says of the album: “When we were writing this record, one of the things that kept coming up was the idea of death and rebirth through fire. This idea of killing off the old and dead parts of ourselves in order to give birth to something new and maybe even a truer version of who we all are. Every time we write an album, we go into the process with the idea of getting uncomfortable and exposing a more vulnerable part of ourselves. There also seems to be a constant theme of dealing with loss when we’re in the middle of writing.

    Everybody went through different periods of loss and grief during this process and I think that it shows through in the subject matter and the sounds that came out of it. We always want to push ourselves to a new place and build on the foundation that we’ve created over the last few years of being in this band. I think that we’ve been able to achieve that with Phantom :: Phoenix. It’s a representation of that cycle and I hope it can act as a catalyst for growth to those who listen.

    Stream the band’s previously released single, ‘I See Your Spirit,’ here: https://sc.bfan.link/i-see-your-spirit

    Phantom : : Phoenix Tracklist:

    1. I See Your Spirit

    2. Queen Mary

    3. Silhouette

    4. Elegant Illusion

    5. The War Within

    6. Bury The Ashes

    7. Corridor

    8. Gloria

    9. Same Page

    10. Paris

    About STELLAR CIRCUITS:

    Stellar Circuits is making a powerful impact in the progressive metal scene following the release of their acclaimed 2023 album Sight to Sound on Nuclear Blast Records. Fusing punishing grooves, intricate melodies, and emotional weight, the album pushed the band’s sonic boundaries while staying rooted in their intense, immersive sound. Tracks like “Witch House” and “Catch Your Death” showcase a darker, more evolved edge that continues to resonate with fans of metal and progressive rock alike.
     
    The band—Ben Beddick (vocals), Jesse Olsen (bass), Tyler Menon (drums), and Jared Stamey (guitar)—has built a reputation for emotionally charged, technically precise live performances, following extensive touring and appearances alongside acts like Chevelle and Arch Echo. With a growing audience and relentless creative energy, Stellar Circuits has emerged as one of the most dynamic forces in modern progressive metal.

    Now, the band is preparing to enter a bold new chapter with their upcoming album Phantom :: Phoenix, set for release in 2025. A cinematic and visceral exploration of light and dark, the album delves into themes of personal transformation and the rebirth of the self through fire. It’s an emotionally and sonically expansive record that challenges both the band and the listener to confront what must be destroyed in order to evolve. With new music on the horizon and a sharpened creative vision, Stellar Circuits is poised to break new ground and leave a lasting mark on the genre.

    Follow STELLAR CIRCUITS:

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