The news is so dense on the metal planet that it’s difficult not to lose track. Even if this section, to be found every Sunday at the end of the afternoon, is obviously not intended to be exhaustive, here is a compilation of some of the main news which punctuated the past week and which may have gone under your radar. Which obviously does not exempt you from following the HARD FORCE site and its Facebook page daily! Zapping sequence.
TEASING
“These Scars Won’t Define Us”, it’s a brand new song from MACHINE HEAD on which musicians fromIN FLAMES, LACUNA COIL et UNEARTHthe 4 groups having a joint US tour scheduled from the beginning of April to mid-May 2025. It is taken from the 11th album of the Bay Area quartet expected next April.
For fans of sludge, and MUSHROOMthe German duo put “Halsgericht” online, to be found on “Post Apocalyptic Depression” from February 14. And in concert as the opening act for KVELERTAK 11 days later at Cabaret Sauvage in Paris.
After a trilogy of EPs, SCOURone of the many projects of Philip Anselmoalso frontman for PANTERA and DOWN, among others, will make his first copy in due form with “Gold”, scheduled for February 21. Want a little mandal between your two ears? Just ask with “Infusorium”!
While waiting for the February release of “Army Of The Trees” from SAVAGE LANDSthe only album recommended by the Ents, find a new single with the title song and a nice line-up of French musicians.
THUNDERMOTHER 2.0 gives a 4th taste of “Dirty & Divine”, in stores on February 7, with “Dead Or Alive”.
DESTRUCTION did not look too far for the title of the 3rd extract from “Birth Of Malice”, his new release coming on March 7… Remember that the German thrashers also recorded a cover of “Fast As A Shark” by ACCEPT, to be found on this upcoming 16th LP.
No definitive date yet for the next production ofOrianthibut the Australian guitarist/singer offers a third extract, “Some Kind Of Feeling”.
“Overdriver” is the title of the new LP by THE HELLACOPTERS which will be marketed on January 31. And “Leave A Mark”, that of the Swedes’ first single.
SORTIES
EPIC has released a brand new song, “Arcana”.
A STUDIO
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE entered the studio to put together his 8th album which should be released before the end of 2025. The Welsh’s European tour co-headlining with TRIVIUM on the “Poisoned Ascendancy Tour”, will begin at the end of January in Great Britain. Accompanied by ORBIT CULTURE, the two groups will celebrate the respective 20th anniversary of “The Poison” and “Ascendency” by performing them in their entirety. See you at the Zénith in Paris on February 7.
BIG SCREENS
LINKIN PARK filmed the first of his 2 concerts in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 15 in front of over 40,000 people. And it is in the cinema that we should be able to find it next year. To be continued.
Presented in its world premiere last June at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, Alien Weaponry: The Way Has Been Developedwill be screened from February 6 in cinemas in the musicians’ native New Zealand. The documentary follows the first 6 years ofALIEN WEAPONRYformed by the De Jong brothers, Lewis (vocals/guitar) and Henry (drums), aged 8 and 10 respectively at the time. The Duplantier brothers from GOJIRA, Randy Blythe from LAMB OF GOD and Chuck Billy from TESTAMENT make an appearance. The trio will tour with Kerry King and MUNICIPAL WASTE in the USA next January and February.
SOLITARY ADVENTURES
Danny Worsnopsinger of ASKING ALEXANDRIA, changes register with his upcoming electro-acoustic solo album. New excerpt: “The Bed I Made”.
GUESTS
Last September 21 in Sydney, Michael Craftersinger of I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN, joined PARKWAY DRIVE on stage during “Boneyards”. The 20th anniversary tour of the Australians who set you on fire will pass through France for 2 concerts in October and November 2025.
For “Black ‘n’ White Sessions”, available since November 15, Seraini Telli surrounded herself with distinguished guests, including Clémentine Delauney (VISIONS OF ATLANTIS), Anna Murphy (CELLAR DARLING, ex-ELUVEITIE) and Calico Cooper (daughter of Alice)… First extract, “Songs For The Girls” feat. Lee Aaron in an unplugged version for the colorful ex-singer of BURNING WITCHES.
THEY WILL NOT AGE TOGETHER
Tim Lambesis has an incredible talent… to scare away those who play with him. After finding himself sole master aboard the ship AS I LAY DYINGwhich has never lived up to its name so well, following the departure of the 4 musicians who accompanied it but also of its tour manager in October, it is the turn of Brandon Short d’AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE to set sail. Drummer of this side project of the muscular frontman who worships Arnold Schwarzenegger, he also expressed a real uneasiness and a deleterious atmosphere and preferred to leave the group… Next!
RETURNERS
January 24 will see the release of “Acoustic Sessions”, a new album from THIN LIZZY…with unpublished singing parts from Phil Lynott. Disappeared, remember, in January 1986. Composed of reimagined songs from the Irish’s first 3 albums, “Thin Lizzy” (1971), “Shades of a Blue Orphanage” (1972) and “Vagabonds of the Western World” (1973) , it also includes new guitar parts fromEric Bell. This is the first time that the guitarist and co-founder of the group, of which he was a part from 1969 to 1973, has associated his name with that of THIN LIZZY since his departure. And if you pre-order the LP directly, on CD or vinyl, you will be entitled to a bonus tribute to Gary Moorewho was also guitarist of the group, “Slow Blues GM”.
ON TOUR
On the program for “Meine Welt” (“My world” in French), new European tour of Till Lindemann and its musicians, 25 concerts between the end of October and the end of December 2025, with a single stop in France in Paris, at the Adidas Arena, on November 20. It is AESTHETIC PERFECTIONwhich counts in its ranks 2 of its musicians – the keyboardist Constance Antoinette Dayalso guitarist and singer, and drummer Joe Letz – who will perform the first part.
PARTNER CONCERTS
AND CONCERT
Le “My Years With UFO Tour” de Michael Schenker will make a single stopover in France on April 24 at the Forum in Vauréal. It is Erik Grönwallex-singer of HEAT and SKID ROW, who will be found alongside the legendary German guitarist.
INTERVIEWS
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LIVE REVIEWS
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PORTFOLIOS
Find all the portfolios by clicking here.
RANKINGS
In partnership with the SNEP and the SCPP, HARD FORCE presents the Top 100 French Rock & Metalwith a reminder of the best album sales that concern us in Germany, Belgium/Wallonia and Great Britain.
DIVERS
The sisters of Paul Di’Anno revealed that the singer died following a rupture of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart. This caused a rush of blood from the aorta which caused cardiac arrest. “Instant death” they added. Small consolation… The former IRON MAIDEN frontman passed away on October 21 at the age of 66.
And always, for lovers of musical discoveries: Noiseweek on HEAVY1 with “From Zero” by LINKIN PARK in album of the week as well as many new releases. (Podcast)
