Kevin Winter, Getty Images Former Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano is facing a major career change and seems enthused about the future. Caggiano tells Pro Sound News that ultimately his desire to have more creative involvement in the music he was generating led to his exit. He explains, “If you were to ask me to give you the absolute main reason why I decided to leave Anthrax, I would tell you that I left because my heart simply wasn’t in it anymore. I had a blast playing with those guys and they will always be family to me, but outside of my guitar solos and production work, Anthrax was never a creative outlet for me [musically]. That wasn’t by any choice of my own but the way, it’s just the way it is.” The guitarist adds, “I guess it just got to the point where I started asking myself, ‘What the hell am I doing? I’m a musician. This is who I am. Being creative is simply soul food for my soul. Why am I devoting all of my time and energy into a band where being creative is impossible for me?’ It simply stopped making sense a while ago and I ended up feeling very unhappy and very unfulfilled. It started feeling like I was just going through the motions and that’s not what music is about to me at all.” In recent years, Caggiano has seen his production career expanding and he’s interested in exploring that to the fullest as well. The guitarist, who is currently producing Volbeat ‘s next album, says, “Making records is a lot of hard work and to be honest, I usually can’t even listen to an album I’ve worked on when I’m done with it. It’s the smiles and excitement people have when they listen to it that make it worthwhile for me.” As for working as a recording musician and touring artist, Caggiano says, “I’m absolutely not giving up my guitar! I’m not giving up touring anytime soon either. I love the stage and I love touring. It’s in my blood and it’s who I am. I just needed to step off the machine to reevaluate things. Sometimes it’s good to do that and with change comes growth. I have a lot to say musically and I’m ready to scream!” To read more of Caggiano’s thoughts on music production and his future, check out the full interview at Pro Sound News . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/anthrax-tap-shadows-fall-guitarist-jon-donais-to-fill-vacant-band-slot-on-upcoming-tour/” title=”Next: Anthrax Name Guitarist Rob Caggiano’s Touring Replacement” align=”center”]
Facebook: Drowning Pool It looks as though Drowning Pool are maintaining their aggression with new singer Jasen Moreno leading the way. The new track ‘One Finger and a Fist’ is an amped up rocker and Drowning Pool are exclusively premiering the lyric video for the song right here at Loudwire. ‘One Finger and a Fist’ could arguably be one of the band’s most confrontational songs, boasting the lyrics, “ I’ve got news for you / you’re not the first one, won’t be the last / Won’t take abuse from you / I see you run, son, you’re running fast .” The band also states in the chorus, “ One finger and a fist / I’ll claw my way out any situation .” For the video, the lyrics fly at the viewer at rapid speed while set against the backdrop of computer generated visual effects mimicking hands, arms and a certain finger that appear occasionally independent of a full body. ‘One Finger and a Fist’ was offered as a free download for a limited period back in December. It’s also one of the key tracks to their first album with Moreno on vocals. Other cuts that have been heard since Moreno took over include ‘In Memory Of …, ‘ a song that was issued as a tribute to the band’s original frontman, the late Dave Williams, and their recent single, ‘ Saturday Night .’ Drowning Pool will hit the road in February, sharing the stage with another act employing a new vocalist — Flyleaf . The trek runs through March 24. Details on Drowning Pool’s new album are expected very shortly. Watch Drowning Pool’s ‘One Finger and a Fist’ Lyric Video [button href=”http://loudwire.com/drowning-pool-bodies-top-21st-century-hard-rock-songs/” title=”Next: Drowning Pool – Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs” align=”center”] ?
Facebook: Drowning Pool It looks as though Drowning Pool are maintaining their aggression with new singer Jasen Moreno leading the way. The new track ‘One Finger and a Fist’ is an amped up rocker and Drowning Pool are exclusively premiering the lyric video for the song right here at Loudwire. ‘One Finger and a Fist’ could arguably be one of the band’s most confrontational songs, boasting the lyrics, “ I’ve got news for you / you’re not the first one, won’t be the last / Won’t take abuse from you / I see you run, son, you’re running fast .” The band also states in the chorus, “ One finger and a fist / I’ll claw my way out any situation .” For the video, the lyrics fly at the viewer at rapid speed while set against the backdrop of computer generated visual effects mimicking hands, arms and a certain finger that appear occasionally independent of a full body. ‘One Finger and a Fist’ was offered as a free download for a limited period back in December. It’s also one of the key tracks to their first album with Moreno on vocals. Other cuts that have been heard since Moreno took over include ‘In Memory Of …, ‘ a song that was issued as a tribute to the band’s original frontman, the late Dave Williams, and their recent single, ‘ Saturday Night .’ Drowning Pool will hit the road in February, sharing the stage with another act employing a new vocalist — Flyleaf . The trek runs through March 24. Details on Drowning Pool’s new album are expected very shortly. Watch Drowning Pool’s ‘One Finger and a Fist’ Lyric Video [button href=”http://loudwire.com/drowning-pool-bodies-top-21st-century-hard-rock-songs/” title=”Next: Drowning Pool – Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs” align=”center”] ?
Rick Diamond, Getty Images Former Korn guitarist and current Love & Death frontman Brian ‘Head’ Welch has slowly been working his way back into the Korn camp ever since his surprise appearance at the 2012 Carolina Rebellion Festival, where Welch performed ‘Blind’ with the rest of Korn. Now, with Head set to join Korn at Rock on the Range in Ohio and several European dates this year, the possibility of Welch’s permanent return to Korn is becoming more and more real. Along with Welch’s surprise ‘Blind’ performance and Korn’s new tour dates featuring the guitarist, fellow strummer James ‘Munky’ Schaffer told us during a Loudwire exclusive interview that he wanted ‘Head’ back in the band eventually. In a new interview with spoken with Rolling Stone, ‘Head’ shares his excitement for his upcoming tour dates with Korn, along with his desire to return to the band. “Everyone is broken in this world,” Welch tells Rolling Stone . “There’s so much divorce, hate and unforgiveness. For people to see this [Welch touring with Korn], I think it’s just really uplifting. I never thought it would happen, and I’m not sure they did either. The fans just love it, because a lot of the fans back in the day were like, suicidal, and from broken homes and abuse. They looked up to us like their family. And to see their family split up was hard on them. To get it put back together, there is a joy around the people who care about it.” When asked about the possibility of a full-on U.S. tour with Korn, Welch seemed open to the idea while remaining realistic. “We’re going slow,” Welch says. “We’re hanging out when I’ve got time, but I’ve got my album out, and they’re busy doing their stuff. But I’d say anything is possible right now.” Finally, when Welch was asked about recording another album with Korn, the guitarist simply states, “Again, I’d say anything is possible.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/fan-granted-wish-to-spend-a-day-with-korn/” title=”Korn Meet Fan for ‘Make-A-Wish’ Foundation” align=”center”]
VEVO Nothing says badass like a “gang,” but director Dave Grohl takes a little bit of a sting out of those troublemaking lads from Soundgarden by having them cruise the streets on Segways in the band’s latest video for ‘ By Crooked Steps .’ Grohl, whose own band the Foo Fighters have had their fair share of offbeat and funny clips, puts his stamp on the clip with his own sense of humor. The musician-director has the Soundgarden bad boys park their Segways, stroll into a club and immediately confront the laptop DJ whose spinning tunes for those in attendance. The frightened DJ scurries away before Soundgarden take the stage and truly rock the audience with their plugged in instruments. But the DJ won’t be defeated as of yet, calling the cops on the Segway-riding toughs. The band eventually eludes the cops and escapes the venue, but they’re not totally off the hook as a slow-speed police chase follows before they finally give up. It pays, however, to watch to the very end of the clip for a special guest cameo from a certain EDM superstar posing as the arresting officer. Soundgarden are currently in the midst of their first North American tour of 2013, promoting the ‘King Animal’ album. They’ve also signed on to play the Rock on the Range festival in May. Watch Soundgarden’s ‘By Crooked Steps’ Video [button href=”http://loudwire.com/watch-chris-cornell-perform-president-obama-commander-in-chief-ball/” title=”Next: Watch Chris Cornell Perform at President Obama Gala” align=”center”]
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Corey Taylor was nearly expelled in Kindergarden for yelling his favorite string of swear words. The Stone Sour / Slipknot vocalist chose to share this gem during Part 1 of our exclusive interview with the modern icon, along with discussing many other topics. Right before Stone Sour’s New York City show with Papa Roach and Otherwise, we had the opportunity to speak with Taylor about his favorite swear words, the upcoming Stone Sour album, ‘House of Gold & Bones – Part 2,’ his own series of comic books and an elaborate set of performances featuring both parts of the ‘House of Gold & Bones series, along with clearing up the rumors about Slipknot’s infamous Houdini mansion. The second half of our chat, which focuses on Slipknot, is coming soon, but for now, enjoy Part 1 our exclusive video interview with Corey Taylor: Corey Taylor of Slipknot + Stone Sour Talks to Loudwire (Part 1) [Contains Explicit Language]
Razor + Tie Hatebreed are back in a big way in the form of ‘The Divinity of Purpose,’ the Connecticut mosh ‘n’ stomp hardcore band’s first disc for new label Razor & Tie. It’s anthemic, full of sing-along choruses and lyrical declarations, chunky riffing, battering ram drumming and more breakdowns than an insane asylum. It’s a totally moshable affair, comprised of tight, efficient and make-their-point-and-move on songs. The album opens with the blazing ‘Put It to the Torch,’ with frontman Jamey Jasta inviting you to burn off everything that threatens to take you down. It’s followed by ‘Honor Never Dies,’ which sounds like it could have fit nicely on the band’s 1997 full-length debut ‘Satisfaction Is the Death of Desire’ or even the 2002-issued follow up ‘Perseverance.’ It’s a true first-pumper, reminding you that “Sometimes, standing for what you believe / Means standing alone.” The unity that hardcore bands often pay lip service to takes actualized sonic form on ‘The Divinity of Purpose.’ On ‘Own Your World,’ Jasta asks, in robust, communal sing-along fashion, “Who’s got more heart than you?” and we can just imagine ‘Breed pits erupting with fists in the air, karate kicks being thrown and every person, regardless of their age or gender, singing along, declaring, “Fists up / Head high / We own the f—ing world tonight” – further proof that Hatebreed know how to construct a deep groove and a catchy chorus. ‘The Language’ begins with Slayer-inspired riffing, and is somewhat similar to ‘Doomsayer’ from ‘The Rise of Brutality,’ with its somewhat more complicated guitar work. But it’s still moshtastic just the same. ‘Dead Man Breathing’ has a similar construction, as well. At 12 tracks, ‘The Divinity of Purpose’ is subcompact and makes its points and moves on. It’s quick pacing, and short, shotgun-blast songs, make it the type of record you blast in the car on a road trip. But you might want to be careful, since the fury in the songs will find you stepping on the gas pedal a little heavier and you might end up with a ticket for your troubles. Other stand out tracks are the razor sharp ‘Before the Fight,’ where Jasta barks, “End the fight / Before the fight ends you,” or the old school punk rager ‘Indivisible,’ which borrows a little, homage-style, from Agnostic Front. The title track boasts some vocal effects, which help Jasta’s message rise to the top. Hatebreed have been delivering choppy, boot-to-the-throat moshcore for nearly two decades and they have returned to their signature, simple but slaughtering hardcore style, with an uplifting message on the album, as it is what made them one of the crucial bands of the ’00s. You can kick up dust in the pit and then just chill out with a frosty beverage afterwards, since a ‘Breed record always fully cleanses you of any anger or aggression you may have. If that ain’t sonic therapy, we don’t know what is.