Transcending genre and defying trends, GHOST’s SKELETÁ has debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. The #1 album in the country, SKELETÁ accrued sales of 86,000 in the week since its April 25 release via Loma Vista Recordings.
Currently the world’s biggest-selling album and the week’s lone Top 10 debut, SKELETÁ’s first week haul bests the nearly 70,000 moved by its predecessor IMPERA in its first week of release. SKELETÁ also landed at #1 on the U.S. Album, Vinyl Album, Indie Store Album, Independent Album, Rock Album, Rock and Alternative Album, and Hard Rock Album charts. Internationally, the album bowed at #1 in the GRAMMY-winning theatrical rock outfit’s native Sweden as well as Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Finland, #2 in the UK, Netherlands and Norway, #4 in France and #6 in Ireland, among others.
With less than two months to go until the mighty return of Download Festival, DLXXII has unleashed its ‘Beyond The Bands’ offerings, giving Download-goers an even more exciting experience onsite with brand new food, drink, wellness and sport options. Taking place on 11-15 June 2025 at the hallowed grounds of Donington Park, Download will be headlined by Green Day, Sleep Token and Korn. You can buy the last remaining tickets here: www.downloadfestival.co.uk.
THEM DAMN KINGS, the hard rock / heavy metal wrecking machine founded by guitarist/vocalist Jef Rhodes, has unleashed their new single titled “OVERBOARD” The track highlights the band’s signature style with in your face riffs, blistering solos, and unique
vocal style that the band’s fans have come to expect. “OVERBOARD” is available across all major streaming platforms. Video for “OVERBOARD” can be seen here:
Rhodes, exclaims “This song is very personal to me as it was written in such a messed up tragic way. It still makes me feel weird when I listen to it or play it. I was on one of those Rock “n” Roll cruise’s and the whole boat was woken up at like 5am with horns blasting and over the intercom they were saying we were in a man
overboard situation. I just remember looking out the window of the cabin and seeing this blinking light out on the stormy water. I thought for sure they got this guy at first but as the minutes kept creeping along it started to become painfully obvious they weren’t finding this guy, and my head started racing as if I was putting myself in this guys point of view. So I grabbed my notebook and just started writing. I mean Normally it takes me some time to write lyrics, especially lyrics. But this song was written in real time as it was all unfolding” I mean nobody at that time really knew the guy jumped, so I couldn’t really comprehend why someone would intentionally jump overboard off a cruise ship I just thought the guy fell and it really freaked me out. So now there’s a song about it.”
Them Damn Kings has also welcomed New Jersey native Cooper Hughes joining the band as their full time drummer following Ryan Folden’s departure. Cooper and Jef have completed tracking what will become the band’s sophomore album, following up their debut album “Rise Up” which spawned the single “Throw It Away” reaching #4 on the NACC radio charts.
Cooper adds, “I’m thrilled to be a part of the next chapter of Them Damn Kings! “OVERBOARD” offers a glimpse into whats ahead. Jef’s songwriting on this track perfectly encapsulates a moment in time, capturing the raw emotion of this tragedy. It’s a powerful, unrelenting display of Rock “n” Roll. Crank it up and enjoy the ride!”
Multi-platinum rock giants Three Days Grace have announced they will be heading to Europe and the UK this Fall for a string of shows with support from Badflower. The 21-date run kicks off on November 14 at Arena in Budapest, HU, making stops in Hamburg, Berlin, Paris, Brussels, and more before wrapping up December 13 at O2 Academy Brixton in London, UK. Artist presale begins on Wednesday, April 30 at 10am local time, Spotify pre-sale kicks off Thursday, May 1 at 10am local time, and general on-sale will be available on Friday, May 2 at 10am local time.
Metallica has announced the definitive re-release of the band’s 5x platinum sixth studio album Load, out June 13 via the band’s own Blackened Recordings.
Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering with Greg Fidelman overseeing, the Load Remastered Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set is available now for pre-order at https://www.metallica.com/store/load-remastered/ where full package details and track listings can be viewed. Pre-orders of the Deluxe Box will receive instant grat tracks “Until It Sleeps (Remastered),” “Until It Sleeps (Herman Melville Mix),” “F.O.B.D. (“Until It Sleeps” Rough Chorus Vocal Idea Mix),” and “Until It Sleeps (Live at Slim’s, San Francisco, CA – June 10th, 1996).”
Within Temptation will release a documentary on May 6th that is a beautiful portrayal of perseverance, resilience, and the power of music in the darkest of times. Exclusively available on YouTube, Within Temptation: The Invisible Force offers an intimate and emotional look at the life of the Dutch symphonic metal band at a defining moment – both in their career and in the global context.
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