Sevendust
Those are Slash's nuts! This week's guest on Discover New Music is an all-time favorite on JJO...Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust. The band's 15th studio album "One" is out and Witherspoon says it was the most organic, easy-to-put-together record they've ever done. Plus, he talks working with Michael "Elvis" Baskette for the 4th time and how he lets Sevendust be Sevendust, but also keeps things on track. Witherspoon also breaks down how this record will bring old and new Sevendust fans together for a perfect Sevendust experience. As always, a quick round of Rapid Fire...IS THAT BILLY IDOL?!
Maya Angelou once stated, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
For over three decades, Sevendust have made countless fans feel a part of something special. The group’s community isn’t passive. Members of the “7D Army” make a very active commitment to being part of this family—as evinced by sold-out shows worldwide and innumerable tattoos of the band’s logo and lyrics. Since 1994, the iconic Atlanta quintet have quietly built a legacy without parallel, encompassing sales of nearly eight million albums, a GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Metal Performance,” three Top 15 entries on the Billboard 200, hundreds of millions of streams, and the fierce loyalty of millions of listeners in every corner of the globe. Along the way, they’ve shined as an outlier equally comfortable on tracks with either members of Deftones, Creed, and Periphery or Xzibit and Daughtry. Speaking to their longevity, they notably notched their biggest radio success to date with “Everything” in 2024, netting a career-high entry on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. However, the guys really delivered with 2026’s ONE [Napalm Records].
Sevendust’s 15th full-length LP forges ten simultaneously lean and gut-punching tracks out of gargantuan riffs, seismic grooves, and signature soul-stirring hooks. Rallying together around a common goal as bandmates and brothers, Lajon Witherspoon [vocals], Clint Lowery [lead guitar, backing vocals], John Connolly [lead guitar, backing vocals], Vince Hornsby [bass], and Morgan Rose [drums] have crafted a body of work that both day-one devotees and new fans alike can hold onto forever.
“The five original members are united as one,” observes John. “We’ve been through a lot. While we solidify who we are as Sevendust, we believe there’s no reason we can’t get tighter and better. We’re very connected on this album.”
“Through this record, we got closer than ever,” agrees Morgan. “There were times when the closeness was definitely tested. When you endure a tough time as a family, everyone’s true colors show. When I put the band together, it wasn’t based on talent. It was really about how the other guys were as human beings. I wanted to enjoy being around everybody. The chemistry initially bonded us. On the new record, we cared about each other so much that it brought us back to the beginning when it was like, ‘Man, I love the guys next to me’.”
“Over thirty years later, the fact that we’re in the best place emotionally together is our legacy,” smiles Clint. “We’ve maintained our relationships with each other and our relationship with the fans. They’re part of this ONE too.”
Sevendust had kept busy on the road in the wake of 2023’s unanimously acclaimed Truth Killer. V13 spotlighted it with a cover story, Consequence hailed the music as “hard-hitting,” and Guitar World marveled at how, “more than 25 years after releasing their gold-selling self-titled debut, Sevendust’s music still has plenty of bite.” Not only did they launch a successful co-headline jaunt with Static-X, but they also celebrated the 21st anniversary of the seminal gold-selling Seasons as well as the Southside Double-Wide Acoustic Live album on the road. In between, they found a pocket of time to decamp to Lajon’s farmhouse in Kansas. They lived together and even took turns cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for each other. Getting down to business, the musicians instinctually congregated around a shared vision, and they rooted the songs in raw riffing. With writing complete, they ventured to Florida in order to record with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette [Alter Bridge, Falling In Reverse, Mammoth] once again.
“I had a great time doing the programming for Truth Killer, but those elements take a bit of a backseat on ONE,” Clint reveals. “There are layers of keys, synths, and strings. They’re just not nearly as predominant. We definitely relied on the guitar to build textures. Some sounds may seem like electronic elements, but they aren’t. The intention was to make a more guitar-based record.”
“We got back to how we approached our first few records,” John posits. “Even Seasons was very stripped-down. There was no programming at all. We hit the sweet spot here of what we like to call ‘Soul Metal’.”
“You could feel the brotherhood at the farmhouse,” grins Lajon. “It gave us the passion and energy to come up with some hard-hitting songs. We knew we had something special. Once Elvis got on board, we brought it to life.”
Now, the group bust down the door with the single “Is This The Real You?” Its swaggering fretwork alternately wallops and gallops in lockstep with a pummeling rhythm anchored by thunderous drums. The riff rolls and seethes, and the vocals swing from guttural grows into the embrace of a jazz-y chantable chorus, “Your head’s in the clouds. You don’t know where to find it. Is this the real you? Where you been?” A hummable lead ties the bridge together.
“I’m basically asking a person, ‘Is this how you want to be portrayed? Is this eternal, or is it just for a little while? Is it a mask?’,” Lajon wonders. “I think it’s relatable.”
“The song was the perfect habitat for LJ’s vocals,” Clint goes on. “It has a major hook and some R&B DNA. Thematically, you can sum it up as, ‘Cut the crap. Be your absolute true yourself: the one who’s not changing just to adapt to other people’.”
“It was as honest, natural, and pure as any song can be,” John elaborates. “If you really want to know what Sevendust sounds like in 2026, ‘Is This The Real You?’ gives you a good idea.”
Echoes of a tensely picked single-note set the tone for “Threshold.” Lajon’s delicate delivery gives way to a contentious distortion-boosted refrain, “You want another piece of me, don’t ya? To break apart so you get what you wanted?”
“You’ve reached your breaking point,” Lajon comments. “You’re thinking, ‘What’s next? Did we make it to the threshold?’ It’s exactly how I was feeling.”
Then, there’s “Unbreakable,” which has all the makings of a clarion call for the collective and a future live staple. Strains of soft piano slips into the undertow of a towering hook punctuated by a promise, “We were meant to be unbreakable…even when we’re at our lowest lows. And if it gets too cold, I’ll never let you go.”
“It falls in line with the general message of struggling, leaning on each other, and relying on God or whatever it is that gives you hope to make it out,” Clint elaborates. “There will be trials and tests, and we’re meant to get through them.”
“All of us are unbreakable, man,” affirms Lajon. “As crazy as the world is, music has gotten us through everything.”
The title track succinctly sums up the record as a whole. Bellowing out of a maelstrom of roaring distortion, Lajon’s voice reaches heavenly heights, “None of this matters in the end, we’re not alone in suffering, we all know we go down like the sun, all we need is one.”
“Clint came to the table with the idea,” Lajon continues. “It tells a story and speaks on us as a band. It’s about how we’ve matured, where we’ve been, and who we are now as men.”
Ultimately, they are now and always Sevendust.
“Sevendust is bigger than us,” Clint leaves off. “There is unity among the people who come to our shows. The way they still show up for us is incredible. Sevendust is my family. I love my brothers more than ever. We have complete trust, and I thank God for that. We still care. We still put the work on. This is still directly from us to you.”
“I’ve been emotional 100 times in the last two years at meet-and-greets,” adds Morgan. “We put our music out there, and we didn’t even realize how much it was helping people. So, our job is just to continue to help anybody who needs it.” — Rick Florino
Atreyu
The legacy of Atreyu is closely tied to the formative experiences of a diverse legion of fans worldwide. The band’s riffs, hooks, melodies, lyrics, and passion are essential to the emergence of a vibrant subculture across theaters, clubs, festivals, radio, and playlists. The creative fearlessness and passion that powered landmark albums like The Curse and Lead Sails Paper Anchor are even stronger now.
Unburdened by false restrictions about anything sounding "too heavy" or "too pop," ATREYU remains a creative beacon of hope for those shaken by the suggestion that "rock is dead." They've entered the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 more than once, and two of their albums are RIAA-certified Gold.
The End is Not the End is undeniably Atreyu’s heaviest album ever and their most adventurous. “We realized what made Atreyu great in the beginning was that we didn’t sound like anyone else,” frontman Brandon Saller explains. “We didn’t really make sense anywhere. We weren’t an emo band, a metal band, a punk band — but somehow it all worked. We kind of just carved our own path.”
Guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Porter McKnight, drummer Kyle Rosa, and Saller created several of The End is Not the End’s songs on creative trips. “Tokyo made us feel like kids again,” Saller says. “We’d write for a few hours in the morning, then go out and get lost in all this inspiration. The first song we finished was ‘Dead,’ and that's when we knew we were onto something.”
The result is an album that feels simultaneously classic and unfamiliar, aggressive and unselfconscious, deeply emotional and unconcerned with trends. Produced by Matt Pauling, Atreyu’s tenth album is vibrant, inventive, and beautifully aggressive. “It’s our heaviest, most metal record we’ve made,” Saller points out. “But it’s also the biggest musical journey we’ve taken in years.”,
The Amity Affliction
There's at least one song that's not depressing! This week's guest on Discover New Music is Joel Birch of The Amity Affliction. Their new album "House Of Cards" is a fresh start and, according to Birch, the band's best work to date. Deep, painful, personal lyrics are still at the root of the album, but there's also some hope intertwined. After some major changes and a whole lotta heartbreak Birch says the band is back to having fun...in the studio, on the road and just being together. 20+ years in and it's still getting better! Birch also helps out with some Brizzy slang and plays a quick round of Rapid Fire...what the f**k is a Choco Taco?!?!
Embracing a new chapter of artistry as a band, THE AMITY AFFLICTION announce their long-awaited new studio album, HOUSE OF CARDS.
Releasing via PURE NOISE RECORDS on Friday, April 24th, HOUSE OF CARDS is the first full-length outing from THE AMITY AFFLICTION to feature clean vocalist JONNY REEVES, who became a permanent addition to the lineup in 2025.
Bolstering JOEL BIRCH’s signature fusion of intense and open lyricism, the arrangements and vocal duality provided by THE AMITY AFFLICTION throughout the DNA of this new album is set to reaffirm the band’s status as one of heavy music’s most dynamic groups.
Now, the band shares the first taste of the new album – the impactful title track, ‘House of Cards’. A song penned by Birch for his brother and sister (and himself), taking stock of the relationship shared with their mother; a central figure at the heart of the new album.
Bilmuri
Bilmuri’s music is full of surprises—and that’s exactly the point. The Columbus, OH-born singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Johnny Franck has built a genre-defying universe all his own, blending alternative rock, metal, country twang, and pure chaotic brilliance into something completely unfiltered and unmistakably him. What began in his mom’s basement after amicably leaving metalcore favorites Attack Attack! has grown into one of the most inventive and fiercely independent projects in modern alternative music. Since launching Bilmuri in 2016, Franck has released over a dozen records—including fan-favorite Eggy Pocket [2020], Goblin Hours [2022], and the acclaimed 2024 major-label debut AMERICAN MOTOR SPORTS—amassing tens of millions of streams and cultivating a passionate, cult-like fanbase. His viral tracks like “ABSOLUTELYCRANKINMYF’INHOG” and “
From Ashes To New
Danny Case (vocals), Matt Brandyberry (vocals), Lance Dowdle (guitar), Maty Madiro (drums), and Jimmy Bennett (guitar) — recently announced their new album REFLECTIONS, out April 17 via Better Noise Music.
According to Brandyberry, the song reflects "the fallout of a relationship built on control, desire, and guilt. It's a song that captures the exhaustion of giving endlessly to someone who keeps asking for more and mistaking survival for love. At its core, the song is about the moment clarity breaks through, forcing you to question how much of yourself you're willing to lose."
Case echoes these sentiments, furthering, "'Die For You' is about bending over backwards, doing everything you possibly can to please someone in a relationship, and it just never ends up being enough. And it feels like no matter what you do, it is just never good enough."
The weight of the subject matter is matched by the heft of the layered vocals and accompanying razor sharp riffs and moody melodies. Fans cannot help but feel the song's very real beating heart.
The 12-track REFLECTIONS is the follow-up to 2023's BLACKOUT, which achieved the #1 spot on several iTunes and Spotify Rock and Metal charts across the globe. It was a massive success. Yet, in late 2023, FROM ASHES TO NEW arrived at a creative crossroads. The group wrapped up demos for 16 songs for what was supposed to be their fifth studio album. However, instead of sprinting towards the finish line and completing the record, the band scrapped those demo sessions. The process went against everything the band had ever done before. But largely starting anew —they kept two songs— was liberating. The band collectively knew it had to make something that remained true to their traditional sound yet broadened the tent to capture the ears and focus of a fresh audience. "I wanted to take what we are good at and push it even further," Brandyberry says. "That was the process for this whole record."
As a result, fans can hear a reinvigorated FROM ASHES TO NEW on REFLECTIONS.
In other From Ashes to New news, the single "Drag Me" is Top 20 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart.
The Black Crowes
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The freethinkers, the freaks, and the firebrands always find The Black Crowes.
The GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum band founded by brothers Chris and Rich Robinson
make music for the mavericks, playing rock ‘n’ roll that’s hip-swinging and heavy, dirty and debonaire,
bluesy and ballsy, ecstatic and electrifying, and soulful and soaring. They don’t fall in line, and they never
cared to either. Instead, they’re right at home with the outsiders, the drifters, the lost souls, the
hustlers, and the hellraisers who inhabit timeless tunes like “She Talks To Angels,” “Hard To Handle,”
“Wiser Time,” “Twice As Hard,” and “Black Moon Creeping,” to name a few.
No matter where culture went, The Black Crowes fearlessly charted their own course, taking flight with
the 5x-Platinum Shake Your Money Maker and never coming back down ever since. Their path twisted
and turned from seminal records a la the 2x-Platinum Billboard 200 #1 LP The Southern Harmony And
Musical Companion and Gold-certified follow-up Amorica to a once-in-a-lifetime jaunt with Jimmy Page
and accompanying Gold-certified live record: Live at the Greek. As one century gave way to the next, the
band’s lore expanded with the chart-shaking Warpaint and Before the Frost…Until the Freeze and more
sold-out shows. Another generation fell under their spell as the group launched their biggest headline
tour yet to celebrate Shake Your Money Maker’s 30th birthday in 2021. They truly lit up the next chapter
with 2024’s Happiness Bastards—which garnered a GRAMMY® Award nod for Best Rock Album.
Between widespread critical praise, they even picked up a 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® nomination.
Rather than rest on their laurels, Chris and Rich wrote and recorded their tenth full-length offering, A
Pound of Feathers, in just ten days.
It’s the sound of uncompromising, urgent, and undeniable rock ‘n’ roll. It’s the sound of unrepentant
creative spirits in harmony. It’s the sound of The Black Crowes.
“We’re never going to make the same record twice,” Chris declares. “We wanted to be spontaneous. On
Happiness Bastards, we were finding our footing again. We’d just been touring for the first time in years,
we had planned on writing, and we colored in between the lines to a degree. On A Pound Of Feathers,
we were throwing more paint at the walls in the best way.”
“When you have a direction in mind, you’re less likely to explore,” Rich notes. “We just started working
this time, which made everything more exciting and visceral. That’s what rock ‘n’ roll is. It can always go
off the rails; it’s not precious.”
Once again, Chris and Rich locked in with Happiness Bastards producer Jay Joyce [Cage The Elephant,
Lainey Wilson] in Nashville. They didn’t waste any time. The music materialized faster than any other
session in the band’s history—save for The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion (which was born
in eight days). Joined by drummer Cully Symington, the brothers tapped into a shared groove.
“After all of these years, Rich and I can simply look at each other, and he’ll know what I’m about to say,”
observes Chris. “We’re in a good place where we trust each other so much. My friend—the late Todd
Snider—hung out for a couple of days. At one point, he said, ‘This shit is crazy. You and Rich have ESP!’
I’ve seen Rich make a lot of great music, but A Pound Of Feathers is the best I’ve ever heard him play.”
“Back in the day, we weren’t very good communicators,” Rich admits. “However, I always felt like we
effortlessly communicated through music. We’re definitely better communicators today. We can talk
and have deep conversations. We can get everything we want without any rubs, fighting, or that shit. It’s
a little richer now.”
The Black Crowes introduce the album with the first single and opener “Profane Prophecy.” Rich’s
hummable solo coils tightly around snappy distortion with serpentine finesse and flair. Chris sinks his
teeth into swaggering verses propelled by tambourine and cheeky ad-libs. Issuing an invitation to
surrender inhibitions at the door, he teases, “My pedigree in debauchery is my claim to fame. Profane
prophecy has got me in its sweet embrace.” The fret-scorching lead screeches, and this rough-and-
tumble riff jamboree boils over with a handclap-driven gang vocal, “A pound of feathers or a pound of
lead.”
“I got that line from a sample on an old Broadcast record,” says Chris. “This kid was chanting, ‘A pound
of feathers or a pound of lead, look out below, and mind your head’. I loved the phrase and what it
could mean because a pound is a pound. It doesn’t matter whether it’s lead or feathers. There’s some
rustic, weird wisdom to it. In terms of ‘Profane Prophecy,’ I’ve lived my life. It would be easy to call me a
debaucherous blasphemer, which I’ll gladly take. I like to romanticize the outcast or the rock ‘n’ roller
though. Every riff is funky and hard. It’s a little different, but it’s The Black Crowes.”
A gritty, overdriven lick sets the tone for “Cruel Streak.” The track’s playful groove complements the
frontman’s call-and-response chorus, “You need a cruel streak, if you wanna play nice with me.” Organ
wails, a choir sings, the groove shakes, and guitar strings practically bend off the neck.
“It’s my take on people’s taboo proclivities,” Chris goes on. “Everyone has their thing, right? Musically,
we’re leaning into the funk vibe with a heavy riff underneath.”
“Once Chris jumps on the riff, it’s like a freight train,” Rich grins. “It turned out fucking great.”
“Pharmacy Chronicles” comfortably settles into softly strummed acoustic chords and a soul-stirring
melody. Chris reminds, “And it’s lust that they remember, perfume, champagne, and sin.” Piano
underscores an epic refrain, “Don’t call the doctor. Don’t call the priest. Tell old Saint Michael there ain’t
no feast. Leave it all behind you. Let the demons find you.”
“That particular lyric, ‘Let the demons find you,’ sums up many of the record’s themes,” Chris reveals. “I
don’t think a recognition of the darkness around us is bad. It should actually add clarity to what’s
important. Aside from the people I love, what’s important to me is art, poetry, music, and expression.
It’s a survival song. Never forget we’re the writers, the singers, the dancers, and the painters. We all
need to be more resilient with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune that befall us all. It’s
autobiographical of being in a band for 40 years or whatever.”
Meanwhile, “Queen Of The B-Sides” tells a story in barely two minutes. Between strains of acoustic and
slide guitar, words of wisdom assure, “If you can’t find a new love, an accomplice will do.” The coda pays
homage to its title character, “Queen of the B-Sides…accused of treason, but you’ll never find any
proof.”
“It’s about relationships,” notes Chris. “Some of them are altruistic. Some of them are just another
person to continue on your life of crime with!”
“It’s a cool little traveling bit,” Rich adds. “You get to go on a trip for a couple minutes.”
Then, there’s “It’s Like That.” A thumping bassline trembles beneath serrated feedback and the voice of
a surprise “guest.” Chris proclaims, “Said I need a lover, I don’t need a friend. Oh baby, won’t you let me
in? Lick a shot, said hot is hot.”
“It’s got the R&B vibes,” Chris continues. “There are some reggae easter eggs too. I was staying at this
house in Nashville, and the doors were open. I heard this frog, so I recorded him. You’ve got my
‘Nashville rasta frog’ on the solo.”
The finale “Doomsday Doggerel” unspools an apocalyptic vision that’s unexpectedly uplifting. Ominous
imagery of “a front row seat to the end of times” slips into the undertow of a caustically catchy chorus
delivered with conviction, “Said I’m a chainbreaker, rainmaker, soul shaker, yes I know what I want…Oh,
I’m looking at you, all I see are empty eyes.”
“We ended Happiness Bastards with ‘Kindred Friend’, and the message was, ‘We’re here. We love each
other. We love our audience. Everyone is hip to this trip’,” Chris muses. “This record says, ‘Oh my God,
we’re going into more unknown territory.’ The world may be scary, but we can all get through these
dark days with a little bit of fortitude and imagination as well as some luck.”
Whether you personally get “a pound of feathers or a pound of lead” from listening to the album is up
to you. No matter what though, you will undoubtedly get The Black Crowes in all of their glory.
“I hope you walk away knowing that this shit is not over…and not just The Black Crowes, but the vibes
and rock ‘n’ roll,” Chris concludes. “This isn’t a record you play on Sunday morning. This is a fucking
Saturday night burner. We’ve been doing this for a long time, but these might be the two most
consistently strong records we’ve ever made back-to-back. Since we got back together, it’s been
amazing. No matter what, we’re still close to the source. We are so close to being those kids who lived
at our parents’ house and dreamed of music. We didn’t dream about Ferraris, private planes, or
groupies. We dreamed about those moments we just had in the studio on A Pound Of Feathers. Now, if
anybody gives a fuck enough to listen to our music, that’s amazing, man.” — Rick Florino, December
2025
Zakk Wylde
You gotta have the cake first...but the icing is pretty damn good too! This week's guest on Discover New Music is the legendary Zakk Wylde. In between cracking jokes, Wylde broke down creating the latest Black Label Society album "Engines of Destruction" with a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach. Make a pot of coffee and work on a riff. Go on a food run and work out some lyrics. Well it worked and now we have the first new BLS record since '21. Wylde also shares a sweet story about Ozzy that you won't want to miss. As always a quick round of Rapid Fire is played...in a very diplomatic fashion.
Zakk Wylde will tell you that everything Black Label Society begins and ends with the
riff.
For more than 25 years, Black Label Society has stood as one of heavy music’s most
unshakeable pillars, delivering album after album of blues-soaked grooves, hard-hitting
riffs, and soul-baring ballads. “Engines of Demolition” makes no exception to the steady
rule of unrelenting commitment to pure, uncompromising, hard rock.
In 2022, Wylde was invited to honor his fallen brothers, the late great Dimebag Darrell
Abbott and his brother Vinnie Paul, as part of the Pantera Celebration. Writing and
recording with Black Label Society over these last four years is when Engines of
Demolition was born.
Engines of Demolition follows the release of four singles, “The Gallows” (2024), "Lord
Humungus" (2025), “Broken and Blind” (2025) and “Name In Blood” (2026), and marks
the first full-length album release since Doom Crew Inc. (2021).
Black Label Society is the pure expression of the paradox of Zakk Wylde's darkest,
loudest riffs and softest soul-crushing ballads. BLS is a relentless, heavy, bluesy,
unhinged hard-rock-metal circus quartet summoning caffeine-fueled cacophony on
records and the stage. BLS songs are odes to celebration and mourning from the
darkest depths to the highest of highs.
A charismatic hard rock and metal marauder recognized as a living legend and guitar
icon, Wylde rose to prominence when Ozzy Osbourne chose him as his loyal axe man.
Multi-platinum albums, countless guitar magazine covers, Worldwide sold out tours, his
own guitar and coffee brands add to Wylde’s ever-growing legacy. He gets as much joy
from fronting his Black Label Society as he did playing on stage with his hero, Ozzy
Osbourne, in his Black Sabbath cover band, Zakk Sabbath.
“Less is more with everything, “Except the guitar solos and coffee!”
The Devil Wears Prada
We gotta start a band so we can get out of Ohio! This week's guest on Discover New Music is Jeremy DePoyster of The Devil Wears Prada. The tone of the band's ninth studio album "Flowers" is immediately set by the open track "Where the Flowers Never Grow" and takes the listener on a "Dantes Inferno"-esque descent to the bottom and then climb back out. We also get a look into the sound mindset the band was going for throughout the entire three year process of making the record. Plus, DePoyster talks 20 years of DWP and what the milestone means to him and the band...and hopefully a ride that never ends! As always, a quick round of Rapid Fire is played...and getting punched in the face sucks!
The Devil Wears Prada have always explored life’s extremes in their music. They’ve never shied away from staring down darkness, dealing with depression, making sense of confusion, soothing anxiety, or grappling with faith, existence, and death. At the same time, they’ve mirrored life’s ups and downs by alternating between crushing heaviness and heart-wrenching melodies. It’s been that way since the beginning.
Among a string of seminal releases, Revolver readers named With Roots Above and Branches Below [2009] one of the “5 Greatest Metalcore Albums,” the Zombie EP [2010] and Dead Throne [2011] each debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. They have also tallied nearly a half-a-billion streams—unprecedented for most acts this heavy. The group elevated to another stratosphere with 2022's Color Decay, selling out their biggest shows worldwide and receiving some of the highest praise of their career. All of this time and experience ultimately empowered the group—Mike Hranica [vocals], Jeremy DePoyster [guitar, vocals], Kyle Sipress [guitar], Jonathan Gering [keys, synths, programming, percussion], and Giuseppe Capolupo [drums]—to make a statement on their ninth full-length offering, Flowers [Solid State]. Matching bold themes with equally bold songs, they process grief, weather struggle, and not only heal together, but creatively blossom like never before.
20 years deep into their career together, their creativity has surged to life on Flowers though, representing perhaps their most significant creative leap forward yet. Fans immediately reacted too as The Devil Wears Prada heralded the album with “Ritual” and “For You,” reeling in tens of millions of streams, thousands of radio spins, and stoking anticipation. Ominous bass rumbles straight through the band's new radio single, “Everybody Knows” until a clean electric guitar uplifts another chant, “I can’t get back. Gotta find another path. Maybe this will finally take me home.” Jeremy reveals. “You’ve had too many drinks. You try keeping it together, but your anxiety is making you feel like everybody knows you’re out of control.”
Flowers is The Devil Wears Prada at their most honest, heartfelt, and here in the moment.
Of Mice and Men
Even if no one is listening they're still gonna make music. This week's guest on Discover New Music is Aaron Pauley of Of Mice & Men. Though not on purpose, the band's upcoming ninth studio album "Another Miracle" is their heaviest to date. Pauley talks about mixing and mastering the album himself and why they decided to keep the whole process in house and allow for even more creative freedom. Plus he opens up about a very special song on the record that came to him in a dream after finding out he was going to be a dad to a new baby girl. As always a quick round of Rapid Fire is played...with Bigfoot up north Wisconsin!
Another Miracle is the 9th studio album from Of Mice & Men, their first for new label Century Media and their first that’s entirely self-produced.
Since their debut in 2010, Of Mice & Men have built a devoted global fanbase through relentless touring, powerful live shows, and a string of acclaimed albums. The band’s core lineup—Aaron Pauley, Phil Manansala, Alan Ashby, and Tino Arteaga—has remained solid since 2016, fostering a deep creative chemistry. Their music frequently explores themes of resilience, mental health, and human connection, striking a deep chord with listeners.
With numerous charting singles, award wins, and a new partnership with Century Media Records, Of Mice & Men continue to evolve while staying rooted in the authenticity that defines their sound.
Sabaton
Photo Credits: Steve Bright
The members of Sabaton have much in common with each other, but likely the most vital component in their
connection is their shared passion for storytelling. Sabaton is known for its high-intensity heavy metal,
juxtaposed with narratives that recount harrowing yet epic tales of real-life military battles and the brave men
and women who lived through them. Released on March 4, 2022 (Nuclear Blast), Sabaton’s most recent full
length studio album, The War To End All Wars, revisited The Great War – a conflict of unprecedented ferocity.
It is the band’s 10th studio album.
Written and recorded between Spring 2020 and Spring 2021, Sabaton crafted a concept album of 11 songs that
once again delved deep into the atrocities, miracles and events tied to World War 1. According to vocalist
Joakim Brodén, there were still stories linked to the First World War left untold on the band's 2019 release,
The Great War.
"In some cases, we just didn't have the right music, and there were specific stories we had wanted to tell, like
the ‘Christmas Truce;" and "Hellfighters’,” he explained. “Also, once we went on tour in support of "The Great
War?" we met and heard from so many fans who told us about other great WW1 stories we "never heard
before, stories that were just so good. We kept asking ourselves, how did we miss this" Brodén added.
With fiery riffs, pounding drums and Brodén's signature gruff baritone, each of the 11 songs on The War to
End All Wars shines a bright light on these true-life stories, the personal courage and bravery, triumphs and
tragedies.
Following the sold-out Great Sweden Tour in Spring 2022 (which saw Sabaton take on 30 cities in their
motherland) and a summer brimming with epic festival appearances, the band jetted off to the States for their
US/Canada headline tour, which they named The Tour To End All Tours, to promote their new album. Joining
them on the adventure was the Dutch symphonic band, Epica.
In the midst of their tour, Sabaton revealed exciting news of a World War 1 EP trilogy entitled Echoes Of The
Great War, to complement their two studio albums, The Great War and The War To End All Wars. The trilogy
comprised the Weapons Of The Modern Age, Heroes Of The Great War and Stories From The Western Front
EPs, each of which featured one new single depicting another fascinating WW1 tale. Respectively, “Father”
was written about the controversial chemist, Fritz Haber; “The First Soldier” was written about France’s brave
and stoic Albert Severin Roche, and “1916” was a touching cover of Motörhead’s thought-provoking track
written about the Battle of the Somme. Upon release, all EPs immediately sold out.
Bassist and manager, Pär Sundström commented on the project: “We were definitely not ready to close our
World War 1 chapter. We wanted to continue the journey and let it echo a little longer in the hearts and minds
of our fans.”
Meanwhile, in early 2023, the band decided to embark on round 2 of The Great Swedish Tour and eagerly took
on another 20 cities in their homeland following high demand. Hot on the heels of this, Sabaton proceeded to
rock the whole of Europe with Japanese metal phenomenon, BABYMETAL, as special guests and Finnish
monster metallers, Lordi, also joining the bill, for the EU leg of The Tour To End All Tours.
In April 2023, the band was recognised by the Swedish Skeptics Association with the highly regarded
“Enlightener of the Year Award 2022”, making Sabaton the first ever rock band to receive such an honour.
The award was first introduced in 1987 and is traditionally presented to academics, authors, journalists and
media outlets that go above and beyond what is expected in order to educate people. The Swedish Skeptics
Association handpicked Sabaton specifically for the band’s ability to deliver factual content, expressing that
they stand out from their contemporaries and peers in the music scene for their dedication to giving truthful,
historical accounts with the assistance of qualified historians and experts.
An unprecedented global museum project entitled History Rocks was launched by Sabaton on June 12, 2023.
At the centre of this project stood the band’s new animated film, The War To End All Wars - The Movie. Over
140 museums spanning 30 territories around the world participated in the event in the two weeks surrounding
the 105 th anniversary of Armistice Day (November 11, 2023) – the day an agreement to end the fighting of the
First World War was reached.
History Rocks was launched as a charity initiative to raise awareness of the importance of history and
encourage more people to visit and support their local museums. Sabaton reached out to museums both big and
small to be part of the world premiere of The War To End All Wars – The Movie at no cost. Following post-
event demand, the film was later released on major video streaming services including Amazon Prime Video,
Apple TV and YouTube on May 11, 2025, for it to reach a wider audience.
Rewinding back to October 2024, Sabaton celebrated the global premiere of their explosive concert film
entitled Sabaton – The Tour To End All Tours, which was filmed at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam the year
prior. Over 1,200 cinemas in 28 countries screened the concert film.
At the end of 2024, Sabaton announced The Legendary Tour 2025 in Europe. Kicking off in November 2025,
this tour is set to be bigger and better than anything they’ve ever embarked on before and will feature The
Legendary Orchestra. In May 2025, Sabaton marked their return to Latin America with stops in Brazil,
Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Mexico. Looking ahead, in September/October 2025, Sabaton
will be performing six dates in Australia and New Zealand, will return to Istanbul, and will be performing in
Moldova and Kazakhstan for the first time.
On July 25, 2025, the band announced that their 11th studio album entitled Legends will be released on
October 17 in multiple formats including digital, vinyl, CD and a limited boxset. This album explores the
stories of 11 legendary historical figures, marking a departure from Sabaton’s usual focus on modern warfare.
Four singles from the new album are already out in the wild including Templars (about the Knights Templar),
Hordes Of Khan (about Genghis Khan), The Duelist (about Miyamoto Musashi) and Lightning At The Gates
(about Hannibal Barca).
MORE ABOUT SABATON…
In the more than two decades since the band's launch, Sabaton has headlined major festivals, sold-out arena
concerts worldwide and gained a legion of loyal fans across the globe by carving out a reputation as one of the
hardest working bands in the business. Since their 2005 debut album, they’ve earned Gold, Platinum, and
multi-Platinum certifications in territories around the world with their 10 studio albums. They’ve also had
eight albums score Top 10 international chart status, and six claim the Top 5. Sabaton
has also accumulated more than three billion streams across all streaming platforms and almost 2 billion views
on YouTube.
In 2008, Sabaton hosted the first of its annual, three-day concert festival, the "Sabaton Open Air" in Sweden,
which is currently on a hiatus following over a decade of successful events. The following year, the band
launched its annual Sabaton Cruise that sails out of Stockholm for epic sea adventures, rocking the ship with
fellow metalheads and lots of Sabaton. 2019 saw the debut of the band's "Sabaton History Channel," which
cleverly combines the power of music and storytelling to dive into the true-life stories behind every Sabaton
song. These well-researched documentary-style videos bring history to life in an informative and entertaining
way. Sabaton's Pär Sundström and Joakim Brodén are joined by the renowned historian Indy Neidell, of "The
Great War" and "WW Two in Real Time" fame.
Sabaton refuses to be simply slotted into a genre. Fans need only know them as Sabaton, the heavy metal band
that sings of real-life wars and the people who played a part in them; of grueling campaigns and dazzling acts
of bravery, magnificent victories, and touching personal struggles, true stories more fantastic than any fiction.