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Album Review: These Wicked Rivers – Fire & Folklore Fat Earth Records – October 2nd 2026 Reviewer – David Brighouse This is the third album from the Derbyshire “wizard-blues” rockers. Recorded in their hometown of Belper at the home studio of Grammy-winning producer Andy Sneap, who along with Colin Richardson has helped them create their […]

The post Album Review: These Wicked Rivers – Fire & Folklore appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.

Who says that grindcore and death metal are boys’ genres? Not us, definitely. And Liz Selfish, the guest of this interview, is the living proof of this. She’s the lead singer of Brat, an American band that has just released a new album titled “Manslayer”. With her we talked about female serial killers, pizza and music, of course!

Benedetta

I’m here with the amazing Liz from Brat. How are you doing today?

Liz Selfish

I’m good, how are you?

Benedetta

Great, thank you. So, first of all, happy release day.

Liz Selfish

Thank you so much.

Benedetta

And yeah, the new album is out. Are there any songs in “Manslayer” that started in one way and then completely changed into the final result that we’re listening to?

Liz Selfish

Yeah, definitely. “Trophy Hunting” is one that comes to mind where Brenner wrote, you know, a whole demo and was sitting with it and didn’t really like it and thought about just kind of scrapping the whole thing. Then he and Dustin got together and kind of reworked the song and Dustin added those stops at the beginning. It just became one of our favorites and one of our singles, too.

Benedetta

That’s such a great track.

Liz Selfish

Thank you.

Benedetta

So, I mean, in extreme metal, women are like historically portrayed as the victims or the corpses in the lyrics rather than the ones holding the knife. How empowering was it for you to flip that trope upside down and write an album centered around like female vengeance?

Liz Selfish

Yeah, I just kind of selfishly wanted to input my perspective as a woman into these songs, death metal traditionally is mostly men as the aggressors. I thought it would just create a little bit more interest and provide a unique perspective to have women as the ones, you know, being the aggressors or being the predators. It just makes it feel a little bit more dynamic.

Benedetta

For sure. Absolutely. And of course, the second track of the album is named after Aileen Wuornos. She was a female serial killer. Are you a fan of crime TV shows or books?

Liz Selfish

A little bit. I do enjoy like a little bit of true crime. But yeah, I just felt like she was a really good representation of the theme of the album of, you know, it kind of acts as like a villain origin story in a way where there’s songs towards the beginning of the album that are more about issues that women have to deal with. Then our interlude kind of acts as a breaking point. The latter half of the album is mostly just about getting revenge. So kicking the album off with her, you know, her story kind of encompasses both of those things. We felt like that was the right way to start the album.

Benedetta

Also, you have Candace from Walls of Jericho guesting in one of the tracks. You, of course, and also Candace have been vocalists like for quite a long time. What did it mean to you to to have her sharing the the vocals with you on this track since, you know, you’re both prominent figures into in this extreme metal world?

Liz Selfish

Thank you. Oh, my gosh, it was huge. I’m so happy she was willing to do the track with us. She’s just got such an incredible voice and she’s just the sweetest person. I’m so honored that she was willing to jump on the track for us.

Benedetta

Can you share with us if you have any titles of demo songs that are not the actual title that the songs have like now?

Liz Selfish

You know what? I think they all were because we we have like working placeholder titles. The only one I can remember right now is “Speculum Bleed” was “Artificial Orifice“ before, I think. So, yeah, when Brenner writes the demos, he just will make like kind of like a joke name just as a placeholder to put in there. Every song had a different name first, but that’s the only one I can remember the original name of.

Benedetta

Since I’m Italian, what is your favorite pizza topping?

Liz Selfish

Well, pepperoni. I’m a classic pepperoni. We do pepperoni and onion at our house, me and Brenner. That’s our favorite combo.

Benedetta

Do you think that we will ever reach some sort of equality between men and women in the metal scene?

Liz Selfish

Oh, gosh, that’s a that’s a hard question to say. I don’t know. I would hope so. I mean, what I can say at least is since I’ve been in the metal community, which has been a very long time now, you know, I’ve seen it progress so much and it’s a much more welcoming space for women. So that’s exciting, that gives hope. There’s still, you know, a ways to go, but yeah, things have gotten a lot better.

Benedetta

If “Manslayer” were a double feature horror movie and a drive-in teaser, which two classics film would you choose to be played on the screen?

Liz Selfish

It’s funny because with this album, I feel like I get asked a lot of questions about horror movies and cinema, but I feel like I was more inspired by music, like death metal songs and, you know, country songs about women getting revenge. I’m actually not like a big movie buff or horror movie buff, but “Jennifer’s Body” is one that definitely comes to mind for me of like a great story about women getting revenge. And actually, last night, Brenner and I started watching “Kill Bill,” too. So those are like, it’s just top of mind.

Benedetta

Do you have any other hobbies outside of music?

Liz Selfish

Oh, yeah, definitely. I’m a runner. So I run every day. I also like to go to the gym and do a little bit of lifting. My main hobbies are just working out and going on runs. I also like really like costuming for Mardi Gras on Halloween. Although I don’t know if I’ll be have a chance to really do much for Halloween this year, because we’ll be on tour for most of it. But but that’s definitely something that I enjoy doing, too.

Benedetta

Do you think that life of an artist is a lonely life?

Liz Selfish

Oh, no, I don’t think so at all. I mean, I’m also I have a skewed perspective, though, because I’m so fortunate that I’m in a band with my husband, so we get to tour together. And so I think probably other people would maybe answer this differently. But I’m really lucky that I get to have him with me on tour. So really, the only thing that we miss at home is our cats. Yeah, we have two two little cats. And we have, you know, friends that come and take care of them, but we miss them a lot on tour.

Benedetta

If the United States were asked to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and you could pick a song from “Manslayer” to compete, which one would you choose?

Liz Selfish

I think we get booted out pretty quickly. But I would, I would do “Manslayer”. It’s the anthem of the whole album. So I feel like that one would be the most fitting.

Benedetta

Liz, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me and for being such a good sport. Is there anything else that you want to add to our viewers and readers?

Liz Selfish

No, I think I think that’s it for me. But thank you so much for having me.

The post “Since I’ve been in the metal community, I’ve seen it progress so much and it’s a much more welcoming space for women” – interview with Liz Selfish (Brat) first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

Stevie Wonder released his eternal double-album masterpiece Songs In The Key Of Life on Sep. 28, 1976. At the time. It was the final burst greatest creative runs in the history of popular music, and you could make a strong argument that it’s the greatest album ever made. Today, Songs In The Key Of Life turns 50. Wonder already announced plans for a tour in celebration of that anniversary. Today, out of nowhere, Wonder has shared four previously unreleased tracks from those sessions.

The post Stevie Wonder Shares Four <em>Songs In The Key Of Life</em> Outtakes For Today’s 50th Anniversary appeared first on Stereogum.

“It was a joy to play with him, and he’s obviously extraordinary at his craft. The man works and PLAYS hard.”

The post Eddie Vedder Comments On Abe Laboriel Jr. “Sitting In” On Drums With Pearl Jam Last Weekend appeared first on Theprp.com.

Self release [Release date : 07.06.26] Bad Influence’s ‘Celebrating 40 Years’ double album is a timely reminder of the melodic qualities of one of South London’s finest rock and blues bands. The 28 tracks span 4 studio albums, an early … Continue reading →

The post Album review : BAD INFLUENCE – Celebrating 40 Years appeared first on Get Ready to ROCK!.

Rick Nielsen is downsizing the guitar room. The Cheap Trick guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has teamed up with Julien’s Auctions for “The Rick Nielsen Collection,” a benefit sale of guitars, cars, stage-worn clothing, awards and other items from his personal archive. It happens Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. CT / 11 a.m. ET, live at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum inside the Historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium. A portion of the proceeds goes to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The collection spans more than five decades and includes the guitars behind Nielsen‘s sound as well as personal pieces gathered along the way. Among the instruments he has owned are two 1958 Gibson Explorers and a 1963 Guild Merle Travis, one of only three made. He also has three custom five-neck guitars, and one of them, a stage-played 2004 Hamer “Five Neck” Korina, is going up for public sale for the first time.

The habit started early. Nielsen‘s parents ran a music store, and he began on drums. After seeing The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, he switched his attention to guitars and never looked back. He paid $65 for his first Les Paul, a 1955 Gold Top, and he still owns it.

Nielsen said: “I couldn’t sing or dance, but I was big into songwriting, and I tried to put everything I had into that. I never wanted to be like anybody else—I just wanted to be me. I knew I was never going to be a virtuoso, so I ended up being a ‘medium-oso.’

“I started out with one guitar, and over the years the collection just kept growing. It seemed like a good time to sell some of it—you can’t take it with you. When it’s all over, hopefully I’ll still have one guitar.”

On the charity side, he added, “A portion of the proceeds will go to St. Jude because I knew Danny and Marlo Thomas, and they’re great people doing really good stuff. I’m honored to support them and hopefully encourage others to do so as well.”

Julien’s Auctions‘ Lou Robinson, director of music business development, said, “Rick has created and curated an incredible collection that ranges from world famous to infamous.

“These are items that have been played and worn on stages around the world, with some even going on to live in museums. I am so proud that Rick has entrusted Julien’s to tell his story and give fans the opportunity to own a piece of his legacy.”

As the songwriter and guitarist at the center of Cheap Trick, Nielsen wrote “Surrender,” “I Want You to Want Me,” “Dream Police,” “She’s Tight” and “If You Want My Love.” Since the 1970s, his guitar work, his mix of hard rock and power pop, and his oversized stage presence have carried the band from Rockford, Ill., to international fame, with the breakthrough at Japan’s Budokan as the centerpiece.

Highlights

The top lot is a stage-played 1975 Hamer Standard electric guitar in natural finish, serial #0004. Built for Nielsen, it was his main guitar on stages worldwide from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, and Hamer used it in an ad featuring him. The link between Nielsen and luthier Paul Hamer goes back to 1973, when Nielsen sold him a sunburst Les Paul Standard that Hamer later flipped to help fund Hamer Guitars. In 1975, Nielsen wanted an original Gibson Explorer but couldn’t find one, so he asked Hamer to build him one with a flame maple top. The build took a while, so Hamerlent him his own guitar, serial #0000, in the meantime. Nielsen liked it enough to buy both. This guitar can be seen in performances including Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert on Nov. 10, 1977, the Budokan show on April 28, 1978, Chicagofest in 1981 and Rockpalast in Germany on Oct. 15, 1983. The estimate is $200,000 to $300,000.

Next is the custom 2004 Hamer Five Neck Korina in natural finish. Nielsen played it live from the 2004 Another State of Mind benefit show at Metro in Chicago through at least 2013, when Cheap Trick celebrated the Budokan 35th anniversary at the John Varvatos store in New York City’s old CBGB space. It also shows up in an episode of Gibson Guitars’ The Collection series. The design came from Nielsen‘s original plan for a six-neck guitar that would spin like a wheel while he played, and he scaled that back to “only” five necks. It comes with a large black road case. The estimate is $175,000 to $200,000.

Then there are the vehicles. A 1955 Ford Thunderbird he owns and drives carries an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. Nielsen told Goldmine, “In 1978 I bought a 1955 Ford Thunderbird which I still have today. That was my first extravagance.” The car was displayed in Rockford during “Rick’s Picks: A Lifelong Affair With Guitars & Music” at the Burpee Museum of Natural History in 2012 and 2013.

A 1958 Ford Ranchero, estimated at $40,000 to $60,000, has auxiliary gauges under the dash, a column-mounted tachometer and an “Interceptor Special” badge on the glovebox door. The bed wears a checkered tonneau cover in the Cheap Trick style.

A 1989 John Deere tractor with a checkered paint job and custom graphics comes with a vintage snowplow decorated with Cheap Trick artwork. It was also part of the Burpee Museum exhibition, and the estimate is $20,000 to $30,000.

On the guitar side, a 1963 Fender Stratocaster in three-tone sunburst with a mint green pickguard and its original case is estimated at $40,000 to $60,000. A 1984 Gibson Les Paul XPL in sunburst, a Les Paul body paired with an Explorer headstock, is estimated at $15,000 to $20,000. The design came from Canadian guitarist Aldo Nova during a visit to Gibson’s Kalamazoo, Mich., plant in 1982 or 1983, and Gibson later released an XPL series in the mid-1980s.

The paper and wardrobe lots include six sheets of handwritten lyrics and studio notes for Cheap Trick‘s third album, Heaven Tonight, estimated at $3,000 to $4,000. A hand-knit sweater worn on the front and back covers of One on One(1982) is estimated at $1,000 to $2,000. Nielsen also wore it in the “If You Want My Love” video and in a 1982 MTV interview. A vintage Detroit Tigers cap from the One on One cover and its promo interviews is estimated at $700 to $900. The flipped-up bill is central to Nielsen‘s “Clown Prince of Rock & Roll” persona, which set Cheap Trick apart from the brooding guitar heroes of the 1970s.

Bidding

Registration is required and can be done online beforehand or in person on auction day. Bids can be placed online, by phone through an auction house representative, in the room or by absentee bid. For absentee forms or questions, call 310-836-1818 or email info@juliensauctions.com. Julien’s also accepts several cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The event takes place at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum, 401 Gay Street, Nashville, Tenn. The museum was founded by Joe Chambers and Linda Chambers in 2006, moved to the Municipal Auditorium in 2013 and houses a GRAMMY Gallery. It exists to honor musicians of every genre by displaying the instruments used on famous recordings, and it also educates visitors about the players behind the “soundtracks of their lives.”

Music journalist and author Ira Robbins once summed up Nielsen this way: “If Rick Nielsen weren’t one of rock and roll’s most colorful and accomplished characters in real life, there’s no way to have dreamed him up. A homemade cartoon figure who is also a down-to-earth family man. A superlative guitarist who makes it look like a goof onstage.

“An inveterate joker whose best-known song is a sincere request for love. You think it’s all an image, a pose? Spend a few minutes with the man and you’ll find out just how wrong you are.”

The post RICK NIELSEN Of CHEAP TRICK Cleans Out The Vault: Guitars Worth Six Figures Hit The Auction Block appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Over the weekend, Eddie Vedder’s set at California’s Ohana Fest turned into a Pearl Jam performance with Abe Laboriel Jr. behind the drum kit. It was the band’s first gig since Matt Cameron left after 27 years last year, and now Vedder shared a statement about the new drummer.

The post Pearl Jam Share Statement About New Drummer At Ohana, Eddie Vedder Performs With Pixies, Bad Religion, Billy Strings, Stephen Wilson Jr., & More appeared first on Stereogum.

They’ve also announced the dates for a Southeastern U.S. tour.

The post SLEEP CLUB’s New Music About The ‘Intrusion’ Of AI Into Our Daily Lives Once Again Got Incorrectly Flagged By Spotify’s AI Systems appeared first on Theprp.com.