HUNTRESS singer Jill Janus has died by suicide. She was only 43 years old. Jill's family and bandmates have released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Jill Janus — frontwoman for the... More

HUNTRESS singer Jill Janus has died by suicide. She was only 43 years old. Jill's family and bandmates have released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Jill Janus — frontwoman for the California heavy metal band HUNTRESS — passed away on Tuesday, August 14. A longtime sufferer of mental illness, she took her own life outside of Portland, Oregon. Janus spoke publicly about these challenges in hopes of guiding others to address and overcome their mental illness. "Janus was a truly special creative involved with numerous musical projects including her role as vocalist for female metal/hard rock cover bands THE STARBREAKERS and CHELSEA GIRLS. In addition, Janus was co-composer and creator of an upcoming rock opera with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA's Angus Clark and had a decade-long career as NYC DJ Penelope Tuesdae. Her musical career began in childhood. "Beyond her accomplishments in the music world and her advocacy for mental health issues, she was a beautiful person passionate about her family, animal rescue and the world of natural medicine. She will be missed more than she could have ever known. "If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people in suicidal crisis or distress." Janus has been open over the years about her battles with not only mental illness, in the form of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder and alcoholism, but also physical illness in the form of cancer. Jill told Psychology Today in a 2015 interview that she attempted suicide for the first time at the age of 16 "with a pair of scissors. I was getting mandatory counseling at school but didn't see a psychiatrist until I was 20," she said. "I was then diagnosed manic-depressive and participated in a medical study at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan." Janus was eventually diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, telling Psychology Today: "I've always seen and heard things others couldn't. Many visions or dreams would manifest into reality, which my family and friends described as my 'psychic ability.' This caused more drama at school, being called a 'freak' and getting beaten up. When I was 17, the visions and encounters with 'other-worldly creatures' was almost a daily occurrence." In a Revolver interview, Janus described how the schizoaffective disorder evolved into full schizophrenia, which affected her in her 20s and continued until her death. She said: I was suicidal constantly. I was very suicidal early on in my life. Then in my mid-20s, it shifted to full-blown mania, where I can't really remember much of my 20s. I can't remember anybody from high school, either. I lost my long-term memory and can't remember names, faces, or even places. We'll be at a venue on tour and [HUNTRESS guitarist] Blake [Meahl] will be, like, 'We've played here two times before,' but I'll have no recollection." [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="T2XXC3Bw8QQ"] Janus was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2015 while HUNTRESS was working on its third album, "Static". She was eventually declared cancer-free after undergoing a hysterectomy. "Static" was released in 2015 via Napalm Records. [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="GMpo97mOvuI"] [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="Lz_VbKLC_jI"] According to PopCulture.com, a number of her musical peers have taken to social media to share their shock and sadness over Janus's death, with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH bass player Chris Kael saying she had "SUCH a powerful voice matched with an equally beautiful personality," and former PRONG guitarist Monte Pittman writing that the news has left him, "speechless" and "shattered." Via Blabbermouth Less

Randall Archibald, best known to the world of extreme music as ‘Randy Rampage,’ has passed away. He was fifty-eight-years-old. Randy rose to prominence both as a founding member of the punk group D.O.A. and, perhaps more relevantly as frontman... More

Randall Archibald, best known to the world of extreme music as ‘Randy Rampage,’ has passed away. He was fifty-eight-years-old. Randy rose to prominence both as a founding member of the punk group D.O.A. and, perhaps more relevantly as frontman for the Canadian thrash outfit Annihilator. Rampage appeared on two of that band’s releases, one of which — 1989’s Alice in Hell — remains the group’s most well-known and well-respected. No cause of death has been made available at this time. Via MetalSucks and this sucks! [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="pTYHYglem-M"] Less

During an appearance on the latest episode of the "Lead Singer Syndrome" podcast, KORN frontman Jonathan Davis was asked if the fact that some of the bigger metal bands like METALLICA were "going soft" in the mid-1990s had an impact on the... More

During an appearance on the latest episode of the "Lead Singer Syndrome" podcast, KORN frontman Jonathan Davis was asked if the fact that some of the bigger metal bands like METALLICA were "going soft" in the mid-1990s had an impact on the musical direction of his band's first couple of albums. "With us, we didn't care about METALLICA or any metal music in general," Davis responded. "The most metal band that we really were inspired by was SEPULTURA, but other than that, we were something different. And we always were fighting against this, 'Do this metal, do that metal.' We tried so hard to get around that and be with alternative bands and stuff like that, which we did for a while, but it didn't work. "We were not a metal band in the sense of a METALLICA or of IRON MAIDEN or that kind of stuff — we were something new — so we always tried to stay away from that," he continued. "We didn't care what METALLICA was doing. I mean, I got in trouble and said it. We went out on tour with METALLICA — our first METALLICA tour — and I said something in the press and they took it and they cut it out, the quote, and they put it all over the arena. And the quote was, 'I liked METALLICA better when they were men.' [Laughs] And I felt so horrible. And they came and [said], 'You talking shit?' I was all, 'Yes. I'm sorry.' I was intimidated. That's James Hetfield and Kirk [Hammett] and all those guys just looking at me. It's my first tour with them. I mean, I love 'em now — don't get me wrong — but, yeah, I said some shit. 'Cause it was kind of weird." Davis clarified that the incident in question happened around the release of METALLICA's 1996 album "Load'. "That was just odd," he explained. "It was weird. It was very weird. But to this day, I love those guys; they've been really, really cool to us and took us on a lot of tours. "Yeah, it was weird [how] most bands were going soft at that time. And now that I look back, I'm glad they did," he said. "You can't keep doing the same shit, 'cause you get bored. And that's all they were doing — they were trying to evolve, trying to figure it out — and more power to 'em." Back in 2003, Davis made headlines when he told Swedish journalist Martin Carlsson that METALLICA's then-current album "St. Anger" was "the shittiest thing I ever heard in my life." He went on to say: "I respect those guys immensely since some of those songs are great. Some of that shit sounds like it's beginners' shit. I understand they're going for a new raw and heavy sound, but that's just shit. I don't get it. I like some of the songs, it's cool and it's not [me] talking shit [about them] at all, but the production is just horrible. I know what they're trying to get across, but Lars [Ulrich]'s snare drum is the most irritating thing I've heard in my whole life." Davis recently announced the fall 2018 leg of the U.S. tour in support of his recently released "Black Labyrinth" solo album. Special guests on the trek will be THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE and JULIEN-K. KORN will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its classic third album, "Follow The Leader", with three shows this fall in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="z0EY-vQXRwc"] Less

"Rats", the latest single from the Grammy Award-winning Swedish hard rock band GHOST, today enters its seventh consecutive week as the No. 1 song on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart, becoming the longest-running track to top that chart this year.... More

"Rats", the latest single from the Grammy Award-winning Swedish hard rock band GHOST, today enters its seventh consecutive week as the No. 1 song on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart, becoming the longest-running track to top that chart this year. Released this past spring, "Rats" has already accumulated more than 25 million streams worldwide, and the companion music video has logged more than 11 million views. It is the Swedish band's second No. 1, following "Square Hammer", which topped the chart for two weeks in January-February 2017. Two other GHOST songs previously made it to the Mainstream Rock Songs chart: "Cirice" (No. 4, 2015) and "From The Pinnacle To The Pit" (No. 5, 2016). GHOST lead singer Tobias Forge, who performs under the name Cardinal Copia, told The Pulse Of Radio what inspired him to write "Rats", the first single from the band's new album, "Prequelle". "A few years ago, I decided, like, 'I really want to have a big opening track that just blows people's minds immediately,'" he said. "So I wrote 'Square Hammer' and that went well. But I didn't want 'Square Hammer' to turn into a 'Start Me Up', where that always feels best to play first. I want to be able to mix it up. So we needed another song that works as an opening track. That was basically my intention with 'Rats'." The official video for "Rats" can be seen below. The clip was directed by Roboshobo (a.k.a. Robert Schober), who has previously worked with METALLICA, ALICE IN CHAINS, MASTODON and GREEN DAY, among others. "Prequelle" was recorded last year at Artery studios in Stockholm with producer Tom Dalgety (OPETH, ROYAL BLOOD) and was mixed in January at Westlake Studios in West Hollywood, California with Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, SLAYER). Forge has said that the theme of the album has to do in part with the arrival of the Black Plague in Europe, among other events in history. Forge last year revealed his identity while responding to a lawsuit filed by four former members of GHOST, who accused him of cheating them out of their rightful share of the profits from the group's album releases and world tours. GHOST will hit the road this fall for its "A Pale Tour Named Death" tour that commences October 25 in Dallas, Texas, and includes two headline arena shows, The Forum in Los Angeles on November 16, and New York City's Barclays Center on December 15. [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="C_ijc7A5oAc"] Via Blabbermouth Less

OTEP's lyric video for the anti-hate group, Nazi-stomping anthem "Molotov" can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's most uncompromising, candid, all-inclusive and controversial assessment of the current residing political regime that... More

OTEP's lyric video for the anti-hate group, Nazi-stomping anthem "Molotov" can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's most uncompromising, candid, all-inclusive and controversial assessment of the current residing political regime that it has ever released — the new album "Kult 45". Throughout the span of her career, OTEP frontwoman Otep Shamaya has been an undeniable force in bringing awareness via various acclaimed mediums to social and political injustices felt by various communities and subcultures. For years, publications such as Revolver magazine have lauded Shamaya for "following in the footsteps of outspoken musicians from folk singer Woody Guthrie to RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Zach de la Rocha, dubbing her "one of music's catalysts for social change". So, with the political climate as it is today, it's prime time for OTEP to make their voices heard in their primary medium — song. "Kult 45" was recorded at The Lair in Los Angeles, completely utilizing the same equipment used for OTEP's first album, "Sevas Tra" (down to Shamaya's vocal microphone, a SHURE Beta 58), in order to create a sound reminiscent of their roots. "Kult 45" was self-produced by the band, with assistant engineering from Larry Goetz, Nicolas Schilke and Lizzy Ostro. Shamaya explained that "Kult 45" is the most authentic album OTEP has ever released, at least since their first record, and producing it themselves helped achieve this result. "We had the freedom to be able to write, record and exist within the songs on 'Kult 45'," she said. "Things needed to be said and songs needed to be written that reflect the times. We weren't under anyone else's agenda, there was no pressure to create a 'single' or a song for radio, and the band was really able to shine." [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="ApmzKshXJDs"] Via Blabbermouth Less

Yesterday we reported that Club Garibaldi had decided to cancel the Prezir tape release show on account of white supremacist allegations from antifa. We posted Luka's public statement regarding the issue and how it made it blatantly obvious,... More

Yesterday we reported that Club Garibaldi had decided to cancel the Prezir tape release show on account of white supremacist allegations from antifa. We posted Luka's public statement regarding the issue and how it made it blatantly obvious, this would probably be the last band to have any ties to Nazism, given Luka's family history and of course by simply reading the lyrics, would also show the band to be anything but Nazis. Well good news! Today Club Garibaldi decided to go ahead and let Prezir host the show as planned! Just goes to show you, sometimes all it takes is some simple communication and many things can be resolved quickly! Below is the statement from Club Garibaldi. UPDATE: After personally speaking with Luka of Prezir and expressing our concerns and views with him, we have decided to host the show as planned, on Saturday the 18th. After speaking with him and hearing his PERSONAL history which influence his lyrics , we feel it does not support any allegations (from the shadows) of white supremacy or nazism and neither does Club Garibaldi. Club Garibaldi has and always will support diversity of all kinds and will not tolerate hatred of any kind coming from the right or the left political spectrum. This is a perfect example of why engaging in civil, face to face conversation goes a long way. Especially in this day in age. Thank you, let’s have a great show. As Rats Devour Lions by Prezir Less

Below is the statement made by Luka from the band Prezir on Facebook earlier today regarding the cancellation of the tape release show! This is Luka, the vocalist and man responsible for the lyrics and art of Prezir. The tape release show at... More

Below is the statement made by Luka from the band Prezir on Facebook earlier today regarding the cancellation of the tape release show! This is Luka, the vocalist and man responsible for the lyrics and art of Prezir. The tape release show at Club Garibaldi's has been canceled due to the constant harassment and slanderous lies repeatedly perpetrated on the staff in regards to Prezir by a group of antifa children. I feel the need to make this statement at this time. All of the lyrics I've written for Prezir are anti-ideologically driven. All of them are firmly based in the disdain for dogmatic propaganda, historical inaccuracy, and the victimization of huge swaths of people perpetrated by those who wield these ideologies, myths, “divine providence”, corrosive fanaticism, and violence to their ends. They are also contextually based on the time period, and events of each story. A religion, or set of held beliefs is NOT the same as a race or culture. Furthermore, Prezir is against fanaticism of all stripes, from religious extremism to ideological tyranny from both the left and right. The blatantly false and defamatory accusation that we have any ties to white supremacy or Nazis whatsoever is not only absolutely ridiculous but very personally and profoundly offensive considering my family's history. As many of you know, I'm from Serbia. Both my paternal and maternal grandfathers spent second world war in Nazi Germany's prisoner of war camps. My grandmother's first husband (my aunt's father), her father, and cousins were all rounded up in front of her by their neighbors who were members of the Ustasha, a Croatian fascist political movement allied with Nazi Germany, taken to the local Serbian Orthodox church, and slaughtered like cattle. My great grandmother (from my grandfather's side), along with his sister, were raped, locked in their house and burned alive after the Ustashas cut off their breasts. The lack of historical context and purposeful ignorance in these slanderous accusations by this group of radicals is breathtaking and calculatedly incendiary. I am honestly disgusted. Further still, Prezir is a Serbian word that translates to contempt. Our logo is that of the Slavic two headed eagle. It's been used by many cultures for millennium, from the Hittites to the Romans and Byzantines. It is to this day widely used by many Slavic peoples. All but one of the members of this band are predominantly Slavic. To me, it was an obvious choice. This symbol both historically and in its contemporary renditions has no, nor has ever had any links to Nazis. This again is a blatantly ignorant and purposefully crafted lie. This event was originally scheduled for August 11th at the Cactus Club upon the behest of club management. Prezir played two successful shows there in the past, and the individual was impressed enough to repeatedly ask me to set up our album release there. A week after it was set, I got a message stating that because of anonymous emails, calls, etc. our material was now no longer suitable for this venue. We were told that if we wanted to book at Club G, they would simply say that they double booked. To my knowledge, that is how things transpired. Instead of raising a stink, and drawing more attention to this slanderous nonsense, we chose to do just that. Shortly there after, we secured the date for the following weekend, August 18th at Club Garibaldi's. This was months ago. Since, there have been no issues, or so I thought. This last Friday, some of these individuals started posting inflammatory accusations on the event page. Simultaneously the venue has been receiving anonymous phone calls, emails, messages, and reviews about how they're hosting a white power band and that essentially this show is going to be a national socialist meeting! They were also threatened with protest. These will be posted below. The staff, understandably so, did not feel comfortable working in such an environment. As of yesterday, the venue said they could no longer host it. This last Friday night August 11th there was a show held at Quarters in River West. My drummer and his girlfriend were in attendance. After some bands played, he was verbally accosted by members of Bongwraith and some of their fans calling him a Nazi and fascist for being in Prezir. As they were leaving, someone spit on her. This is absolutely unacceptable and immoral behavior. I am besides myself that this is what Milwaukee has come to. Not certain if this is based on any personal vendettas, or if it is just radical antifa ideology run amok and purposely distorting reality in order to defame and slander our band. Regardless, I've known many of you in the metal community for many years and hope that you all know me well enough to ignore these lies. I will not apologize for anything in regards to Prezir's lyrics, theme and symbolism. In my opinion this material is philosophically, intellectually, historically and morally upstanding. I am very proud of the album that we made. I personally think this is some lazy witch hunt bullshit, from the sounds of it. All they had to do was ask the band. I think the above statement from Luka pretty much terminates any idea that they would be Nazi's ...FFS! In case you missed it, i interviewed him Friday night too. Check it out below! [jrEmbed module="jrAudio" id="363"] [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="MtACugbvSRE"] Let us know what you think in the comments below! Less

Jon Paul Davis from Conan posts on his FB- "Back in May I said to Sarah, “I’m going to see if Max Cavalera will perform ‘Hate Song’ by Fudge Tunnel with us......” She supported me all the way, said it was an awesome idea if it came off. Fast... More

Jon Paul Davis from Conan posts on his FB- "Back in May I said to Sarah, “I’m going to see if Max Cavalera will perform ‘Hate Song’ by Fudge Tunnel with us......” She supported me all the way, said it was an awesome idea if it came off. Fast forward to now and I’m reflecting one of the most fulfilling days of my life. Here we are, with David Ryley of Fudge Tunnel on bass and Max Cavalera of Soulfly, Nailbomb and Cavalera Conspiracy on vocals. Performing HATE SONG by Fudge Tunnel at the Earache stage at Boomtown. Mind = blown....." [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="Dx2Du1zVJVA"] Less

A Louisiana man was jailed yesterday after chasing down a wallet thief and beating him to death. He apparently did so while wearing a Pantera t-shirt (this seems to be the t-shirt). According to The New Orleans Advocate, 31-year-old Simon Morris... More

A Louisiana man was jailed yesterday after chasing down a wallet thief and beating him to death. He apparently did so while wearing a Pantera t-shirt (this seems to be the t-shirt). According to The New Orleans Advocate, 31-year-old Simon Morris had his wallet stolen Friday morning outside of a New Orleans gasoline station when a man asked him for a dollar, but snatched his wallet instead. Morris allegedly chased the thief across the street and "beat him to death with his fists and feet," said local police. The Advocate provided this account of the beating: Morris caught up with [the thief] in the rear driveway of Hi Class Customs, an upholstery and window tinting shop at 4201 S. Claiborne. Morris wrested his wallet back and then began beating on Edwin with his fists, police said. At least two people saw Morris and tried to restrain him. But he kept punching and then started kicking Edwin, who "was begging Morris to stop and was attempting to cover his face and body," police said. Morris battered Edwin's head and body "for a duration of five minutes or more," police said. He didn't stop until one of the witnesses managed to pull him off, police said. The witness said he feared Morris would try to beat him up as well, according to police. Morris was eventually detained and now faces charges of manslaughter for killing the man, identified only by his first name, Edwin. Via Lambgoat [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="E929gqIcwwI"] Less