Who Is Corrosion Of Conformity’s New Drummer Nick Shabatura?
Nick Shabatura is the newest drummer for Corrosion Of Conformity, stepping in following Stanton Moore’s studio stint with the band. Shabatura earned the role after being recommended by Anthrax and Pantera drummer Charlie Benante.
TL;DR
• Corrosion Of Conformity have officially added drummer Nick Shabatura to the band. • Shabatura joins following Stanton Moore’s recording role for the upcoming album. • Moore publicly endorsed Shabatura as the band’s touring drummer. • The band’s new double album Good God / Baad Man arrives April 3. • Corrosion Of Conformity will launch a massive North American and European tour.
Corrosion Of Conformity Welcome Nick Shabatura To The Band
Corrosion Of Conformity have locked in a new drummer as the band enters one of its busiest eras in years.
Nick Shabatura has officially joined the Southern metal veterans, stepping into the position after Stanton Moore handled recording duties for the band’s upcoming album.
According to the band, Shabatura landed the gig following a recommendation from Anthrax and Pantera drummer Charlie Benante.
For a band with the legacy of Corrosion Of Conformity, that kind of endorsement carries serious weight.
Any lineup change can raise questions among fans, but Moore made it clear the transition was always part of the plan.
Taking to social media on March 13, Moore publicly backed the decision and praised the band’s new drummer.
“I approve this message!
I went by rehearsals in Riffississippi the other day to meet and hang with Nick. He is an amazing drummer and a super cool guy. He showed up having completely done his homework and already sounds great playing with the band.
The plan was always for me to make this record with the guys and then to find somebody to do the touring. Well, we found the guy and he is Nick Shabatura!”
Moore stepped into the band following the passing of longtime drummer Reed Mullin, who died in 2020.
His role on the upcoming record helped bridge a difficult transition period for the band.
Now Shabatura officially takes over the touring duties moving forward.
A Massive Album And Tour Are On The Way
The lineup news arrives just weeks before Corrosion Of Conformity release their upcoming double album Good God / Baad Man, scheduled for April 3.
The band recently debuted the new track “You Or Me,” giving fans a taste of the heavy Southern groove that helped define their legacy.
To support the album, Corrosion Of Conformity have mapped out an extensive touring schedule across North America and Europe.
April 7 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade April 8 – Greensboro, NC – The Pyrle
With Clutch And JD Pinkus
April 9 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom April 11 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium April 12 – Rochester, NY – Kodak Center Theater April 14 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory April 15 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall April 17 – Kansas City, MO – VooDoo at Harrah’s Kansas City April 18 – Sioux City, IA – Anthem at Hard Rock Sioux City April 21 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater April 22 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall April 23 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall April 24 – Reno, NV – Cargo Concert Hall April 25 – Las Vegas, NV – Sick New World April 27 – Albuquerque, NM – El Rey Theater April 28 – Midland, TX – The Horseshoe April 29 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theatre May 1 – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall May 2 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal May 3 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
With Whores
May 5 – Toronto, QC – Phoenix Concert Theatre May 6 – Montreal, QC – Fairmount Theatre
With Whores And Crobot
May 7 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge May 8 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts May 9 – Millvale, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre May 10 – Lakewood, OH – The Roxy May 12 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop May 13 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Pyramid Scheme May 14 – Chicago, IL – Outset May 15 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Hall May 16 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
European Festival Dates
June 5 – Gdansk, Poland – Mystic Festival June 7 – Maastricht, Netherlands – South Of Heaven Open Air June 9 – Glasgow, UK – SWG Warehouse June 10 – London, UK – The Dome June 11 – Manchester, UK – Rebellion June 12 – Derby, UK – Download Festival June 16 – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz 2 June 17 – Madrid, Spain – Sala Mon June 18 – Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain – Azkena Rock Festival June 20 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting June 21 – Clisson, France – Hellfest Open Air August 1 – Wacken, Germany – Wacken Open Air August 7 – Jaromer, Czech Republic – Brutal Assault August 9 – Brusson, Switzerland – PALP Festival
Corrosion Of Conformity formed in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1982 and became one of the most influential heavy bands to emerge from the American South. Originally rooted in hardcore punk, the band evolved into a crushing blend of sludge metal, Southern rock, groove metal and classic heavy riffing.
Their 1990s run of albums — including Blind, Deliverance, and Wiseblood — helped define the sound of Southern metal and influenced generations of heavy bands. Over the decades the band has shared stages with acts like Metallica, Clutch and Pantera while maintaining a loyal global fanbase.
Current lineup Pepper Keenan – vocals/guitar Woody Weatherman – guitar Mike Dean – bass Nick Shabatura – drums
When Bleachers played Union Pool this week, our own Scott Lapatine spotted posters advertising the band’s June 23 performance at Madison Square Garden. Notably, the openers for that gig are the sludgy, Southern-fried indie rock heroes Wednesday, making their MSG debut. Turns out Wednesday is not the only ultra-cool opening act Jack Antonoff has lined up for his band’s 2026 tour.
Irreverent thrash crossover band Belushi Speed Ball are known for being a little off-kilter at times. I mean, released their single with some frozen dog shit to fire a shot at Green Day. They once sold cat bath water just because they can. And while they’re not doing anything like that with the announcement of their forthcoming album Toxic Waste Was Everywhere In The ’80s — yet — they’ve dropped a new song that apparently responds to Alanis Morissette’s 1995 smash “You Oughta Know”.
Speaking of the single, vocalist Vinny Castellano explains:
“Allegedly, this is the song Dave Coulier would have wrote (if he liked Pizza, Thrash, and had musical talent). At least pretty sure this is the response to Alanis writing “You Oughta Know”. Which has been the highlight of Uncle Joey’s career up until this point. We also want to congratulate Dave Coulier on his recent cancer remission. Proudly, Belushi Speed Ball, presents a music video with stop motion clay chaos, thanks to artist Adam Laughlin. And before anyone asks, No AI has been used! Enjoy.”
As for the album, Castellano said the new album is also the debut for some new players in the band. This time around, fans will hear new bassist Justin McClure and drummer Ben Cotton added to the mix.
“We are so excited to drop our strongest album to date! Toxic Waste Was Everywhere in the ‘80s is guaranteed to melt faces into a plutonium level pizza pit. For context: We will have to release a blank greatest hits album prior to this drop. We ain’t had a hit yet, and this entire album will be nothing but banger hits after banger hits. In addition, we are proud to announce Belushi’s newest additions: Bassist, Justin McClure and drummer, Ben Cotton (Rose Funeral, SIDS) will be joining the chaos for their recording debut. Making this LP a must have for any crossover thrash fan.”
Toxic Waste Was Everywhere In The ’80s will be released on June 5, but you can preorder your copy today.
Today, German power metal force BRAINSTORM are kicking off their upcoming tour run and celebrate the moment with a special release: their cover version of “Celebrate Youth” is now available digitally for the very first time! The track was previously only available as an exclusive CD bonus track on their latest studio album Plague Of Rats, released via RPM in 2025.
“With ‘Celebrate Youth,’ we chose a song that meant a lot to me personally in my early Youth,”Andy B. Franck reveals. “Yes, not a metal song but a song that perfectly reflected that era and my feeling as a young person of wanting to achieve a lot. Listening to the younger generation, giving them a voice… I don’t think I’ve ever really matured that much deep down, I’ve retained that feeling and still think and feel like a young guy. This thing rocks, and we had a lot of fun recording it. The Youth, then and now, needs to be heard and understood. This song is the perfect statement about that topic.”
The digital release follows the overwhelming response to the band’s cover of Don Henley‘s classic “Boys Of Summer”, which was released in August last year and quickly gained strong traction across streaming platforms.
Released in early 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music, Plague Of Rats marks another milestone in BRAINSTORM’s long career. The album combines the band’s trademark sound – powerful riffs, soaring melodies and gripping choruses, with a renewed intensity and modern production. With over nearly three decades of history, worldwide touring and numerous chart placements, BRAINSTORM remain one of the most consistent and respected acts in German metal. Order Plague Of Rats here: https://brainstorm.rpm.link/plagueofratsPR
BRAINSTORM: Andy B. Franck (Vocals) Torsten Ihlenfeld (Guitars) Milan Loncaric (Guitars) Danij Perl (Bass) Kevin Lütolf (Drums)
BRAINSTORM Tour Dates supporting ANGUS McSIX – Album Release Tour w/ Bloodbound
Elegant Weapons, the hard rock and heavy metal powerhouse led by Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner, have released their new single “Bridges Burn,” the first track from the band’s forthcoming sophomore album ‘Evolution‘, due April 24th, 2026 on Exciter Records. The album will be released digitally and on CD, with a special edition vinyl pressing to […]
Mimi Barks has announced that her UK headlining tour, due to start in a couple of weeks on March 31, has been pushed back to September, following delays in getting new music ready.
“I know a lot of you were ready for these shows and I appreciate the energy and support around them,” wrote Mimi in a post on Instagram. “I’m currently finishing up my new, fully independent EP and the plan was always to have at least two singles out before the tour began. That rollout hasn’t lined up the way it should have, so I’m taking a little more time to release the music properly.
“I want to give you the best possible experience at my shows and the new EP is an important part of that vision. Swarm6ix is still gonna be on the bill and all tickets remain valid for the new dates. There will also be further announcements coming soon.
“And to balance the news a bit, the first new single drops April 2. I’m excited to finally share it with you.”
Mimi has spent the past couple of months in America, working on music ahead of the Deaddollz tour across the U.S., with Little Miss Nasty and GG Magree.
In December, she announced the tour with the promise of new music, signifying the start of a new chapter after overcoming problems in making her next album.
“I went silent because something was taken from me,” she explained. “My album, stolen by the person I created it with. But defeat isn’t the downfall, it’s an obstacle, and obstacles sharpen the mind. What was lost became fuel. Transform pain into creation, shape something from nothing. Expression is the purpose.
“I return with new music, a new EP in 2026 and a flood of new visuals forged from the aftermath. Not a replacement, but a rebirth. A new era begins now.
“Heavier. Clearer. Uncompromised. I’m looking forward to being back in the UK to celebrate new beginnings…”
Progressive rock supergroup Asia return with the first of three new live albums. Recorded at Trading Boundaries in Sussex in April 2025 (and reviewed in MetalTalk), this lineup features original member Geoff Downes, John Mitchell (guitar and backing vocals), Virgil Donati (drums) and the incredible Harry Whitley (bass and lead vocals).
For this album, the first of three planned, the band play their self-titled debut album in full, along with bonus tracks Ride Easy, The Heat Goes On, and a rocking cover of The Buggles Video Killed The Radio Star.
These three gigs at Trading Boundaries were a chance for the band to road test the material before flying to Japan to play arenas. Given that they were live rehearsals, the band sound incredible and more than do the material justice.
It is a daunting prospect for any musician to take over from bona fide legends. John Mitchell (Arena, Frost*, It Bites) rises to the occasion magnificently, taking on Steve Howe’s guitar parts.
The same can be said for Virgil Donati (Planet X) with Carl Palmer’s iconic drumming. Most eyes and ears are on Harry Whitley as he tackles the late John Wetton’s bass lines and lead vocals. It is a challenge that Whitley more than rises to, and his performance is nothing short of incredible.
“Revisiting the entire first ASIA album brought all the great memories flooding back from 43 years ago,” Original member Geoff Downes has said. “In the studio with John, Steve, Carl and, of course, the great Mike Stone at the production helm.”
Asia – Trading Boundaries, Fletching, Sussex – 10-11 April 2025. Photo: Adrian Stonley/MetalTalk
Leading off with Heat Of The Moment, Asia’s most successful single (reaching #15 in the UK singles chart), it quickly becomes apparent that this is way more than a tribute act.
John Mitchell also expressed his love for this track. “Heat Of The Moment is a very dear song close to my heart. Having performed it a vast number of times over the years both previously with the John Wetton solo band and with John and Geoff in Icon, from the quiet introspective acoustic version at The Borderline to the full band amped up version in front of 12000 strong in St Petersburg, it is both an uplifting anthem and a quiet tonic for the soul which never fails to bring warmth to the many.”
Asia. Photo: scruffybearmedia
As mentioned in Adrian Stonley’s fantastic review of the first two shows at Trading Boundaries, Asia are as strong musically as they have ever been.
I bought the first Asia album when it came out back in 1982. In fact, I had the picture disc version featuring Roger Dean’s iconic artwork. Listening to this new live recording of that wonderful debut brought me straight back to all those years ago.
The great thing is, it has aged surprisingly well. Sure, there are a few moments that scream ’80s, but on the whole, it remains fresh. That is a testament to the fantastic songwriting contained within the album.
This new live recording, produced impeccably by John Mitchell, sounds so good.
Asia – Trading Boundaries, Fletching, Sussex – 10-11 April 2025. Photo: Adrian Stonley/MetalTalk
“I was reminded of what a collection of great songs and performances made up the album,” Downes said, “variety and musical dynamics to the fore. When we recorded it again earlier this year, I was drawn to some of the less featured tracks and realised how much they played an important part of overall album.”
Now, Asia, Live In England, should be on every rock fan’s playlist. Do yourselves a favour and introduce, or reintroduce yourselves to Asia.
This lineup really is something special indeed.
Asia – Live In England is released on 13 March 2026 via Frontiers Music s.r.l. For more details, visit ffm.bio/asia-liveinengland.
