UK progressive metallers Haken have returned with their first new music in 3 years, in the shape of “In A Fever Dream”. This new track sees the band working with a producer for the very first time, bringing George Lever (Loathe, Sleep Token) on board to help shape the next stage of the band, crafting some of the most emotionally direct material of the band’s career so far.
For this track, the band enlisted renowned bassist Bryan Beller (The Aristocrats, Dethklok, Joe Satriani) to contribute. Watch the visualiser for ‘in a fever dream’ (created by Oli Kember) below.
Haken will return to the stage on September 27th to headline the Euroblast Festival in Germany.
Yes recently announced Aurora, the band’s 24th studio album, due June 12 via InsideOut Music/Sony Music. The album is preceded by the new single “Turnaround Situation,” which arrives alongside a visualizer created by Matt Hutchings, whose previous work includes visuals for Greg Lake, Oasis, and Iron Maiden. Aurora features artwork by Roger Dean and Freya Dean.
Vocalist Jon Davison, who has fronted Yes since 2012, said of “Turnaround Situation”: “The lyric came about from the feeling that things can become impossible and inflexible, and that sometimes the only option is to do a complete U-turn. The music itself grew from the incredible openness that the band had to be collaborative and explorative. There’s an emotional and sonic dynamism in the piece that I love.”
Aurora began taking shape following the “Classic Tales of Yes” 2024 tour. The band worked with a modern workflow, with guitarist Steve Howe and keyboardist Geoff Downes serving as the creative axis. Howe produced the album. “It’s the album we needed to make right now,” Howe said. “We each brought our individual voices to the table, and the result is something that genuinely surprised us all.”
The current Yes lineup is Howe (guitar), Downes (keyboards), Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass), and Jay Schellen (drums). Sherwood was hand-picked by original bassist Chris Squire; Schellen worked closely with drummer Alan White in the band’s later years.
Aurora will be available as a Limited Deluxe 180g Light Green 2LP+2CD+Blu-ray Artbook & Poster, as well as a Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook, both featuring the stunning artwork of Roger Dean and Freya Dean, as well as a bonus disc of instrumentals, and a blu-ray featuring Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound & 24bit stereo mixes (by Curtis Schwartz). The album is also available as a Gatefold 180g 2LP + LP-booklet, Special Edition CD Digipak & as Digital Album. It can be pre-order now here.
When Yes first began sketching out ideas for what would become Aurora, the process was loose and exploratory. There was no preconceived concept at the start, just a collection of musical fragments that gradually began to find one another and take form. Among these early sketches was a piece titled “Aurora,” and it quickly became clear that the name carried certain gravity. It suggested light, emergence, and a sense of vastness, qualities that resonated deeply with the band. Jon Davison remembers how “the title immediately resonated with Steve Howe and sparked visual inspiration for artist Roger Dean, setting a conceptual tone that would guide the project.”
Work on Aurora began almost as soon as the Classic Tales of Yes tour ended in 2024. The idea of a new album surfaced quickly and with the label’s encouragement, the band had the time to develop material organically. Rather than gathering in a single studio for months, they embraced a modern workflow; ideas were born in home studios, shaped independently, and then woven together through constant collaboration. Downes and Howe often acted as the central creative axis, with Howe, as producer, serving as the point through which all ideas eventually flowed.
Across Aurora, each track carries its own character. Some echo the classic Yes approach, others push into new territory, but together they form a cohesive whole that honors the band’s heritage while embracing forward motion. With their 24th studio album, Yes demonstrate not just longevity, but a sustained curiosity, a desire to keep exploring, keep refining and keep discovering their capacity to create.
Left to Die has announced Initium Mortis, the band’s debut full-length, due July 17 via Relapse Records. The lineup brings together four veterans of the early death metal underground: bassist Terry Butler (Death, Massacre, Obituary), guitarist Rick Rozz (ex-Death, ex-Massacre), guitarist and vocalist Matt Harvey (Exhumed, Gruesome) and drummer Gus Rios (ex-Malevolent Creation, Gruesome). The record draws on Death and Mantas demo material spanning 1983 to 1987, the era before Scream Bloody Gore.
The album’s first single, “Archangel,” can be streamed below, and the album is available for pre-order here.
Matt Harvey said about the album inception: “After Gus and I performed Spiritual Healing in its entirety with Terry and James [Murphy], Rick wondered if people might want to hear something similar, but with him joining the three of us to perform Leprosy. Of course, I leapt at the chance to do it, and we quickly threw together a tour which surpassed everyone’s expectations, especially in terms of how much fun we were having playing together. As we continued to tour throughout the US, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and Asia, people kept asking if we were going to record or write anything. After going back and forth on the topic, we felt that (ahem) exhuming some of these old tracks made the most sense for us, after all, we’re not gonna top Leprosy.”
“I gleefully combed through the myriad Death/Mantas demos and rehearsals looking for stuff that would make sense for a record, and we ended up going with tunes that we felt would make the most cohesive album, hence why ‘Skill To Kill’ and ‘Back From The Dead’ sadly didn’t make the cut. I look at Initium Mortis as a kind of ‘alternate-universe’ version of the Scream Bloody Gore track list, as so many of these tunes were circling around the many Death lineups and rehearsals from ’83-’87. In fact, Chuck [Schuldiner] and Chris [Reifert] recorded a version of ‘Legion Of Doom’ for Scream Bloody Gore that never got completed. In revisiting these songs, it was crystal-clear to me that Rick‘s fingerprints are all over the Mantas stuff and tunes like ‘Slaughterhouse,’ so with that connection, the songs where his style really shone through immediately made sense to include on Initium Mortis.”
Terry Butler added, “Left To Die went from a thought to doing a full US tour in about three months! Pretty remarkable. We wanted to play the early material for the fans who couldn’t see the first albums in a live setting. There are many young fans at our shows who are hearing the foundation that Death stands on to this day live for the first time! With Matt channeling the best ChuckSchuldiner out there and Gus playing the material perfectly and respectfully, we hit the road and haven’t looked back!”
“For Initium Mortis, we wanted Death fans who never heard these demo songs to hear them with good production. Most of these early demos were recorded on a boom box, so by the time someone got their demo through tape trading, it was almost inaudible! We think these tracks are a good representation of the birth of Mantas/Death. This is ground zero – where it all started: three 15-year-old kids creating Death Metal history, and even within these choice cuts from the demo days, you can hear the evolution of the music. ‘Archangel’ is a great way to introduce this album. It’s controlled chaos at its finest: catchy and riffy with a killer evil-sounding middle section!”
Rick Rozz chimed in: “First, I would like to thank Gus, Matt, and Terry for making Left To Die happen. It’s been an honor and a pleasure working with them for the past few years and beyond. It’s really cool to be able to hear these tunes from 1984 properly! The old school Death fans are going to dig this release.”
Gus Rios concluded: “The band started simply because Rick called me and asked if I’d be into it… Which I very promptly replied by referencing bears, shit, and woods. I then called Matt and Terry, and the rest is history. Death‘s Leprosy record is my favorite death metal album, let alone Death album. To be given this unbelievable opportunity to play those songs with Rick and Terry across the globe is an honor and a blessing I find hard to put into words. Matt and I are living our 14-year-old selves’ death metal fantasy!”
“And now, to make an album with the guys is flat out surreal. I’m a pretty solid Death fan if I do say so myself, and yet these songs were all new to me. I never really gave the Mantas stuff much of a listen because I’m just not a ‘demo’ production fan. To hear these songs with clean and solid, yet classic analog style production for me is like getting new Death songs… Which rules!”
Ultimately, Left To Die celebrates a seminal band and the camaraderie of the genre’s most extreme corner of music.
The Hu has announced Hun, the Mongolian heavy rock band’s third studio album, due July 24 via Better Noise Music. The album is preceded by new single “Lost Soul,” which features Jonny Hawkins, vocalist of Nothing More. The Hawkins-featuring version is available digitally.
Morin khuur player and throat singer Galaa said: “‘Lost Soul’ is about finding your way back when everything feels lost. We all go through moments where we question everything — our purpose, our path, our identity. This song is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, the human spirit has the capacity to rise again.”
Hawkins added: “When The Hu reached out to collaborate, I was immediately drawn to the power and depth of what they do. There’s something primal and universal about their music that transcends language and culture. Being part of ‘Lost Soul’ was a profound experience.”
The Hu is currently on a North American tour with Apocalyptica and The Rasmus, running through June 7 in Anaheim, Calif. The band appeared on “Pray to the Sun,” a track by composer Declan de Barra included in the Netflix series One Piece, and contributed “Sugaan Essena” to the soundtrack of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. In November 2022, they became the first rock or metal band to receive the UNESCO “Artist for Peace” designation, presented by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay at a ceremony at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
Adrian Vandenberg has announced the “My Whitesnake Years” U.S. tour, an August 2026 run co-headlined by guitarist Vinnie Moore and bassist and vocalist Marco Mendoza. The three veterans collectively represent decades of work across Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, UFO, Ted Nugent and beyond. The tour features two complete 75-minute-plus performances per night, or a single extended 90-minute show with intermission. Moore and Mendoza will also perform a collaborative set together, drawing on material from across their shared careers. VIP meet-and-greet packages — limited to 25 per show — are also available.
Vandenberg first built his name in the early 1980s fronting his self-titled band Vandenberg, scoring international hits with “Burning Heart” and “Friday Night.” That visibility led to a long association with David Coverdale and Whitesnake, where Vandenberg contributed the guitar solo to the multi-platinum “Here I Go Again” and co-wrote material for Slip of the Tongue and Restless Heart. He also appeared on Starkers in Tokyo, Live at Donington and the band’s Greatest Hits reunion tour. More recently, he co-headlined with Geoff Tate on the latter’s Operation: Mindcrime tour in 2024, and played the 2025 Monsters of Rock cruise before a successful East Coast headline run. His current recording outlet is Vandenberg’s Moonkings.
Moore is best known for a 21-year run with UFO and a well-regarded solo catalog, with additional studio and live work alongside Alice Cooper and Vicious Rumors. Mendoza brings 26 years with Thin Lizzy, seven years each with Whitesnake and Ted Nugent, and stints with The Dead Daisies and the current Satchvai band.
Vandenberg said: “Really (REALLY!) excited to cross the ocean again with my top-notch band to honor my 12 years in the golden era of Whitesnake! Be prepared to scream along with all the big ones like ‘Still of the Night’, ‘Here I Go Again’, ‘Judgement Day’, ‘Fool for Your Lovin”, etc etc. No doubt about it, this is an absolute BIG ROCK tour with Marco and Vinnie celebrating their years in Journey, Thin Lizzy and UFO. You don’t wanna miss this! We are ready, are you?!?”
Mendoza added: “I have to say that I’m very excited and looking forward to the U.S. run of dates in August, and sharing the stage with Adrian Vandenberg and Vinnie Moore. And having the opportunity to introduce my own music and also to pay tribute to some of my past participations and collaborations, like Thin Lizzy and Ted Nugent, along with Vinnie on some UFO tracks and some of his original stuff. It’s just going to be a great run… Don’t miss it. See you there!”
Moore said: “Thrilled to be doing this tour with Marco and Adrian. Going to be a blast to play a couple UFO songs, as well as some of my tunes and some Thin Lizzy. This is going to be a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to it. See you all soon.”
Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares spoke with Duane James of Australia’s Wall of Sound about the band’s upcoming studio album, tentatively due in late 2026 or early 2027 via Nuclear Blast. The record will mark Fear Factory‘s first release with singer Milo Silvestro and drummer Pete Webber, who have been part of the band’s touring lineup for more than three years.
Asked whether there is a release date yet, Cazares told Wall of Sound (transcribed by Blabbermouth): “I don’t have a date when the whole record’s coming out, but we will be releasing a single soon. I know I’ve said it over the years, but for real, it’s gonna be coming out this year as far as the first single. Actually, more than one single will be out this year.”
On whether he worries about how the Fear Factory fanbase will receive music with Silvestro at the front, Cazares said: “Nah. What does it mean anymore? It doesn’t mean anything anymore. As long as you believe in what you’re doing, and you 100% love it, it doesn’t matter what anybody says. It comes down to how you feel. And I feel it’s gonna be a classic. Now, if people don’t like it, I don’t know what to tell them. That’s their problem. But I 100% believe that people are gonna love this shit, ’cause it’s new, it’s brutal, it’s heavy, it’s melodic. [There are] beautiful moments on the record. It’s everything that makes Fear Factory a Fear Factory record. And we’re talking about Obsolete and Demanufacture, but this is going to a different place than some of the older classic stuff. This is going to a different place, and the place that it’s gone to is newer, it’s fresher, it sounds modern, it sounds where we are now in this genre of music. And also, a bit forward-thinking as well.”
The album stays true to the man-versus-machine concept that has defined Fear Factory‘s catalog since the early 1990s. Cazares said: “Conceptually it’s about… It’s always been about the relationship between man and machine and where we are. And obviously, technology has caught up to some of the stuff that we have been talking about over the years on our records. Now, it’s like we’re talking about the next 50 years from now, where we’re gonna be at with this technology. And, of course, everybody’s got this A.I. bug in them, and we’re definitely capitalizing on a lot of our concepts that we came up over the years. And we always felt that we were ahead of the game when it came to that kind of stuff, with a lot of warnings. Especially Obsolete, where we were talking about how a lot of things were gonna become obsolete. Which is true, but not only did they become obsolete, we, as a human species, have learned how to adapt to this, and I think that’s exactly what’s happening. We put out a remix record a couple years ago called Recoded, and the intro said, ‘You adapt or die.’ And that’s it. You have to adapt to where technology is going or you’re gonna get left behind.”
In a recent interview with Guitar World, Rush bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee addressed something that weighed heavily on him after drummer Neil Peart‘s death in January 2020: the number of drummers who immediately pushed themselves forward as replacements. Lee drew a sharp distinction between the friends who kept their grief to themselves and those who saw an opening.
“People who are close to us — good friends that are successful drummers — would never infer something like that because they have too much respect, not only for Neil and for the situation,” Lee told Guitar World. “They were grieving as well, so they wouldn’t be so selfish as to say something inappropriate like that.”
Others, he said, were less considerate. “There were many other drummers who reached out to me in the aftermath of Neil‘s passing that were pushing themselves, and that was most distasteful to me. It was completely inappropriate timing.”
On how he and guitarist Alex Lifeson eventually landed on award-winning fusion drummer Anika Nilles for the “Fifty Something” reunion tour, Lee said: “We didn’t really know where to begin to look. We started with Anika because she had been recommended to me, and I had done some research on her. I loved her vibe and diverse style.”
“We didn’t have a list,” Lee added. “When Al and I finally said, ‘Okay, I guess we’re getting serious. Who’s going to sit in that impossible seat? It’s daunting.’ We started with the name that was already on my mind. We called her up, she came, and we hit it off. She brought a lot to the table, but more than her chops, more than her guts, and her willingness to sit in that hot seat, she brought an intelligence and a story.”
The outreach from drummers was already something Lifeson had referenced publicly. Back in March 2025, around seven months before the “Fifty Something” tour was announced, Lifeson told Q104.3: “After Neil passed, it didn’t take more than a few minutes before we started getting e-mails from all kinds of drummers who wanted to audition for the band, thinking that we were just gonna replace somebody that we played with for 40 years who wrote all the lyrics for our music. I don’t know what some of these people were thinking.”
Lee had touched on it even earlier. During a January 2024 appearance on “Strombo’s Lit,” the Apple book club curated by Canadian broadcaster George “Strombo” Stroumboulopoulos, Lee said: “Oh, yeah, I heard from all kinds [of people]. That was a very weird moment. My little black book got filled up really quickly.” When Stroumboulopoulos noted that some of those people were “people you thought were friends,” Lee said: “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was, like, ‘Whoa, that’s just so inappropriate right now. Dude, wait two months. At least two months — if ever.’ It still happens, now that the clickbait freaks are out there talking about Alex and I getting a new drummer and starting Rush again.”
Peart died on Jan. 7, 2020, after quietly battling brain cancer for three and a half years. Rush held the announcement for three days before going public. In 2022, Lee revealed that Peart had wanted his diagnosis kept private and that he and Lifeson had been “dishonest” with fans at times in order to protect that privacy.
Rush will play multiple “evening with” shows across Canada, the United States and Mexico on the “Fifty Something” tour, opening June 7, 2026 at The Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Each night features two full sets drawn from a rotating 40-song catalog built from the band’s greatest hits and fan favorites. After their first batch of 2026 dates sold out instantly following the October 2025 announcement, Rush doubled the run and continued adding dates, stretching the North American leg into the fall.
Arch Enemy and The Black Dahlia Murder have announced the “Wrath Across America 2026” co-headline fall tour, a 30-date North American run with support from Septicflesh, Crypta and Thrown Into Exile. The tour runs Oct. 5 through Nov. 19, with pre-sales beginning May 20 at 10 a.m. local time and the general on-sale set for May 22 at 10 a.m. local time.
Arch Enemy guitarist and founder Michael Amott said: “North America, we are proud to announce our return, joined by the formidable Black Dahlia Murder, alongside special guests Septicflesh, Crypta and Thrown Into Exile. An exceptional lineup, built for those who live and breathe pure fucking metal. We look forward to bringing you a new era of Arch Enemy to a city near. Be there!”
The Black Dahlia Murder drummer Alan Cassidy added: “I’d take my arch enemy to see The Black Dahlia Murder and Arch Enemy! Then throw them in the pit. See you this fall!”
Arch Enemy enters this tour in a new chapter. Amott formed the Gothenburg, Sweden act in 1996, and over three decades and eleven studio albums the band has become one of the defining forces in extreme metal, known for pairing razor-edged riffing with anthemic twin-guitar leads. Angela Gossow fronted the band from 2001 until 2014, when Alissa White-Gluz stepped in and led the band through albums including War Eternal (2014), Will to Power (2017), Deceivers (2022) and Blood Dynasty (2025). The band has since welcomed Lauren Hart as their new frontwoman; their latest single, “To the Last Breath,” marks the opening salvo of this new era.
The Black Dahlia Murder heads out in continued support of Servitude, its tenth studio album, released in 2024 via Metal Blade Records. Blabbermouth called it “an album that nobly delivers the goods, while screaming defiance at the stars.” Metal Injection called it “fucking killer death metal,” while Distorted Sound crowned The Black Dahlia Murder “one of melodeath’s greatest, most consistent bands.”
Arch Enemy and The Black Dahlia Murder “Wrath Across America 2026” tour dates (all dates with Septicflesh, Crypta and Thrown Into Exile):
10/05 — Riverside, CA — Municipal Auditorium
10/06 — Phoenix, AZ — Marquee
10/08 — Salt Lake City, UT — Rockwell at The Complex
10/09 — Denver, CO — Fillmore
10/11 — Dallas, TX — Echo
10/12 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
10/13 — San Antonio, TX — Aztec Theatre
10/15 — Orlando, FL — Beacham
10/16 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Revolution
10/18 — Tampa, FL — Jannus
10/20 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade (Heaven)
10/21 — Charlotte, NC — Fillmore
10/22 — Raleigh, NC — Ritz
10/24 — New York, NY — Palladium Times Square
10/25 — Silver Spring, MD — Fillmore Silver Spring
Beartooth has detailed the U.S. leg of its “Pure Ecstasy” world tour — 23 dates with Don Broco, Magnolia Park and Windwaker on board for every show. Promoted by Live Nation, the run opens Nov. 11 at MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston and closes Dec. 19 at Hard Rock Live in Wheatland, California. It follows the band’s announcement of Pure Ecstasy, their upcoming album due Aug. 28 via Fearless Records.
Beartooth was formed in 2013 when vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Shomo, then recovering from a difficult stint in the heavy music world as a teenager, locked himself in a basement studio and recorded an entire batch of songs entirely by himself. What emerged was a band built on raw emotional honesty and melodic intensity. Across six albums, the band has piled up chart-topping results — 2023’s The Surface debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hard Rock Albums chart and delivered back-to-back No. 1 singles at both Active Rock and Mainstream Rock radio. The catalog has cleared 1.3 billion streams worldwide, including one RIAA-certified platinum single and one gold single.
Beartooth “Pure Ecstasy” fall 2026 U.S. tour dates (all dates with Don Broco, Magnolia Park and Windwaker):
11/11 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway
11/12 — New York, NY — Hammerstein Ballroom
11/13 — Philadelphia, PA — Franklin Music Hall
11/15 — Washington, DC — The Theater at MGM National Harbor
11/18 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE
11/20 — Chicago, IL — Aragon Ballroom
11/21 — St. Paul, MN — Myth
11/22 — Omaha, NE — Steelhouse Omaha
11/28 — Nashville, TN — The Truth
11/29 — Atlanta, GA — Coca-Cola Roxy
12/01 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore Charlotte
12/02 — Charleston, SC — The Refinery
12/04 — St. Augustine, FL — The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
12/05 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL — FTL War Memorial Auditorium
12/07 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore New Orleans
12/09 — Austin, TX — ACL Live at the Moody Theater
12/10 — Dallas, TX — South Side Ballroom
12/12 — Denver, CO — Fillmore Auditorium
12/13 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Union Event Center
12/15 — Albuquerque, NM — Revel Entertainment Center
12/16 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre
12/18 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Palladium
12/19 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live
Beartooth “Pure Ecstasy” Australian tour dates (with Silverstein, Fit for a King and Volumes):
Kings of Thrash has released “Bullets Ready” via Cleopatra Records, a new original single featuring a vocal duet between guitarist and vocalist Chaz Leon and Gabriel Connor, frontman of Los Angeles theatrical rock act Red Devil Vortex. Former Exodus vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza also appears on the track. The single was mixed by Grammy-winning producer Cameron Webb, known for his work with Motörhead, Danzig and Godsmack. Guitarist Jeff Young spoke about the song’s origins with The Entertainment Outlet.
“Well, we recorded ‘Bullets Ready’, and the great news is no one can say it’s A.I., ’cause there was no A.I. when we wrote ‘Bullets Ready’ three, four years ago, when we started writing originals,” Young told The Entertainment Outlet (transcribed by Blabbermouth). “I came in with two [songs]. We demoed them. A couple of months later, David came back to L.A. with two [songs]. We finished those off, demoed them. So that all happened before [we launched] Kings of Thrash.”
On why the song sat unreleased while the band spent years performing Megadeth catalog material, Young said: “We never planned on playing any Megadeth. We just wanted to make an EP of new originals. So that song’s been sitting on the back burner just… You gotta let songs write themselves. You can’t force it. You can’t put your ego on it and try to mold and shape it. You gotta just allow, allow, allow, allow. And so we kind of got sidetracked with the whole Megadeth thing and doing — learning all these albums in their entirety is no small chore. But now that we’ve been out doing that, and then [the Kings of Thrash single] ‘Lockdown’ came out [in May 2025], of course. Chaz wrote most of that. And that was a great first experience for him, and I think he did a great job. That was actually written after the first four. So ‘Bullets Ready’ was written long ago. We put the newest song out first. Now we’ve gone back, and ‘Bullets Ready’ just seemed, lyrically, with everything that’s going on in the world, it seemed so timely and apropos that we couldn’t resist.”
The song’s connection to Red Devil Vortex‘s Connor grew out of a touring relationship. Young said: “We were out on tour with Red Devil Vortex opening for us, and Ace Frehley had just died, and Gabriel Connor, the singer-bass player for Red Devil Vortex, a huge Kiss fan, we kept bringing him out every night on the tour for ‘Cold Gin’. And so his participation in the song grew organically out of our Kiss jams every night on tour. And as a matter of fact, we’re gonna be dropping a live video on Kings of Thrash YouTube of the ‘Cold Gin’ track in a week or two.”
When “Bullets Ready” was first released, Young revealed the unusual origin of the track’s rhythmic foundation: “During the making of the [former Megadeth drummer] Nick Menza [documentary] film, I acquired several demo recordings of Nick playing various drum progressions. In essence, the introduction, verses and chorus of ‘Bullets Ready’ came from playing along to one of Nick‘s energetic grooves. During [Megadeth‘s] So Far, So Good… So What! tour, it was often David, Nick and myself that would conduct the soundchecks. It was a surreal and nostalgic feeling to be playing along and writing riffs with my long-lost friend. Nick‘s playing inspired so much of this song and his spirit is forever encapsulated inside this recording.”
Kings of Thrash formed in April 2022 after Ellefson and Young performed three classic Megadeth songs alongside Leon at “Ultimate Jam Night” at the Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood. The event was honoring the Big Four of thrash metal. The chemistry from that night led directly to the band’s formation. Kings of Thrash has since built its live set around celebrating the Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! and So Far, So Good… So What! era of Megadeth‘s catalog, with Ellefson and Young joined by Leon and drummer Fred Aching of Dead Groove and formerly of Bulletboys.
