Cobra/ Dreadnok Band COLD SLITHER Announce NYC Show!

Purchase Tickets HERE

Reigning Phoenix Music, in collaboration with Hasbro, a leading games, IP and toy company, is thrilled to announce that COLD SLITHER, the reimagined heavy metal menace inspired by the infamous band from G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero, is preparing to take New York by storm. The show will take place on October 11th, the same weekend as NYC’s Comic Con, where the Gramercy Theatre will be conquered by an explosive sonic force that fuses nostalgia with a modern metal powerhouse. Get your tickets HERE.

Zartan comments on the forthcoming NYC show: 

"Well, well, it seems as though there are several potential recruits whom have a desire to join our small but elite society of Dreadnoks... This time in New York City! Our services are once again called upon by Cobra Commander and Reigning Phoenix Music to melt minds with Cold Slither! So be it, my Dreadnoks and I will see you all October 11th... Come prepared...Cobraaaaa!!" 

The show announcement follows the release of the self-titled debut album in June of this year via Reigning Phoenix Music. Also on the horizon, the G.I. Joe-stanning supergroup are set to join the Decibel Flexi Series with an exclusive new banger, “Cobra Island."

Cold Slither is a declaration of war. Fronted by the enigmatic Zartan and his ruthless Dreadnok bandmates Torch, Ripper, and Buzzer, the band fuses old-school heavy metal with anarchic energy and unrelenting force. With tracks built on punishing riffs, venomous vocals, and apocalyptic atmosphere, COLD SLITHER resurrects the myth and turns it into a modern-day metal juggernaut.

Watch "Zartan's Revenge" HERE: https://youtu.be/AlOhHT1SdAY
Watch "Cold Slither" HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhU2Fai5beI

Connect with COLD SLITHER:
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | X | RPM

Order HERE:
https://coldslither.rpm.link/albumPR

Cold Slither – Track List

1. Welcome to the Swamp (Intro)
2. Cold Slither 
3. Knock ‘Em Dread 
4. Thunder Machine 
5. Zartan’s Revenge 
6. Snakes on the Bayou
7. Torched
8. Under the Dreadnok’s Spell
9. Master of Disguise
10. The Ballad of Buzzer
11. These Fluffies Are Fatal

About Hasbro
Hasbro is a leading games, IP and toy company whose mission is to create joy and community through the magic of play. With over 164 years of expertise, Hasbro delivers groundbreaking play experiences and reaches over 500 million kids, families and fans around the world, through physical and digital games, video games, toys, licensed consumer products, location-based entertainment, film, TV and more.   
 
Through its franchise-first approach, Hasbro unlocks value from both new and legacy IP, including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, MONOPOLY, HASBRO GAMES, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands. Powered by its portfolio of thousands of iconic marks and a diversified network of partners and subsidiary studios, Hasbro brings fans together wherever they are, from tabletop to screen.  
  
For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, a 2025 JUST Capital Industry Leader, one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50, and a Brand that Matters by Fast Company. For more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com or @Hasbro on LinkedIn. 
 
About Reigning Phoenix Music
Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme and hard music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists by offering best services and practices in the industry. RPM’s paramount goal is to help the artists amplify their music and talent to a winning formula for success. The label recently opened a new office in London, UK.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Reigning Phoenix Music on YouTube to stay updated and listen to "Thunder Machine" along with other new tracks in the RPM New Releases playlist on Spotify. Subscribe here: https://rpm.link/spotifynewreleasesPR.
 
More on RPM:
reigningphoenixmusic.com | Facebook | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube

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Heaven Shall Burn Team Up with Old Friend Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage for "Numbered Days" Cover

WATCH "NUMBERED DAYS" VISUALIZER
PRE-ORDER "HEIMAT"

HEAVEN SHALL BURN TEAM UP WITH OLD FRIENDS FOR THEIR COVER OF "NUMBERED DAYS" FEATURING JESSE LEACH OF KILLSWITCH ENGAGE — WATCH

 TAKEN FROM NEW ALBUM HEIMAT OUT JUNE 27 VIA CENTURY MEDIA 

BRITTA GÖRTZ FROM HIRAES FILLING IN ON VOCALS FOR UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS

Following their tradition of covering some of their favorite and most influential tracks featuring members of the original, Heaven Shall Burn are releasing "Numbered Days" (Feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage).

Check out the visualizer that is accompanying the celebration of the friendship between the bands here. 

Bonus points for anyone catching the title of one of Heaven Shall Burn's classics in the lyrics.

The band comments, "Killswitch Engage are THE metalcore band! When we heard 'Numbered Days' for the very first time, it totally blew us away. It was clear that something new was brewing up. No other band has influenced this style of music more and interpreted it better. Just because the guys have been very good friends for many years doesn't mean you can't pay tribute to this great band. We hope the song means as much to you as it does to us!"

Leach further adds, "All of us are honored by Heaven Shall Burn covering 'Numbered Days.' That song truly kicked off an album for us that would change our lives. All these years later to have people still resonate with our music means the world to us. Now to have a band like Heaven Shall Burn cover it 23 years later is really wild! Grateful and very stoked to have been a part of the reshaping of this song and to hear someone else's take on it!"

Make sure to catch Killswitch Engage on their upcoming European tour, because "Numbered Days" isn't the only song from this legendary band that had a lasting impact on modern extreme music.

Another pending question is finally answered: After Heaven Shall Burn had to cancel some shows due to their singer Marcus Bischoff suffering from a severe infection of his vocal chords, the band is happy to announce that Britta Görtz from HIRAES will be filling in. "We have a plan!" says Bischoff. "Britta from HIRAES will fill in for me at the upcoming shows, so tomorrow in Kufstein as well as next weekend! Give her a warm welcome, show her what HSB fans are made of and make the shows something very special in the band's history! We are really looking forward to it! Things are already looking better for me, too! Your Molle and the HSB guys!"

 Get well soon and welcome Britta!

Photo Credit: Candy Welz

"Heimat" = German for "home/homeland/native land" — a term that merely refers to a relationship between people and spaces but has nevertheless always been highly emotionally charged. Often misused, it sometimes causes discomfort, lively discussions, and battles over interpretation.

Guitarist Maik Weichert comments, "Heimat is not meant as the narrow-minded end point in the sense it has been used by agitators and populists, but the starting point for observations and perspectives. The album is about a much wider sense of the term 'Heimat': The homelands for many different people and also about the spiritual home, something that shapes and determines our thoughts and actions."

Heaven Shall Burn took their time with the follow-up to Of Truth And Sacrifice, which reached No. 1 on the Official German Album Charts in 2020. Heimat was produced at the band's own studio, The Dude Ranch, which is run by guitarist Alexander Dietz. As in the past, Danish producer Tue Madsen took care of the mixing and mastering.

The Thuringians enlisted the renowned artist Eliran Kantor for the artwork, who previously crafted the artwork for Of Truth And Sacrifice. The centerpiece of the impressive triptych is a rearing stag — in its roaring variant a classic motif of wildlife painting, the epitome of kitsch and trivial art from the 19th and 20th centuries and interpreted by some as a symbol of patriarchy and capitalist competition, but here placed as a vital allegory of resistance amid an apocalyptic scene. He is flanked by a hunting lynx and a watchful owl, which complete the highly symbolic artwork concept as further elements of the triptych. As with Of Truth And Sacrifice, Heaven Shall Burn worked together with composer, producer and director Sven Helbig and conductor Wilhelm Keitel, this time supported by the Mondëna Quartet and the Ukrainian Sophia Chamber Choir.

Cover Art: Eliran Kantor

Heimat will be released on June 27 by the band's long-standing label partner Century Media.

Heimat will be available in the following formats: *Ltd. Deluxe Triple-Gatefold transp. red-blue splattered 2LP+CD (album on 45rpm + Keinen Schritt zurück -EP) *Ltd. Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Mediabook (+ Live at Summer Breeze 2024 Blu-ray + Keinen Schritt zurück -EP) *Ltd. transp. light blue-red splattered LP (500) available from Heaven Shall Burn (SOLD OUT) *Ltd. Side A/B split (red&black) LP (500) available from Heaven Shall Burn on live shows *Ltd. deep blood red LP (300) available from Heaven Shall Burn *Ltd. olive green LP (300) available from Heaven Shall Burn  *Ltd. transp. sun yellow LP (500) available from cmdistro.de and various Indie retailers *Ltd. orange LP (300) available from Impericon *Ltd. transp. green LP (300) available from EMP who also carry options with a wooden canvas (30cm x 30cm) *Black LP *Standard CD Jewelcase *Digital album (+ Keinen Schritt zurück -EP) Pre-order the album here.

HEIMAT TRACK LISTING: "Ad Arma" "War Is The Father Of All" "My Revocation Of Compliance" "Confounder" "Empowerment" "A Whisper From Above" "Imminence" "Those Left Behind" "Ten Days In May" "Numbered Days" (Feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage) "Dora"  "A Silent Guard" "Inter Arma"  KEINEN SCHRITT ZURÜCK EP TRACK LISTING: "Keinen Schritt zurück" (Feat. Donots) "Schweineherbst" (Feat. Dÿse) "Eisenkopf" "Destroy Fascism" HEAVEN SHALL BURN have already released three singles and videos taken from Heimat: "My Revocation of Compliance" video  "Confounder" video   "Empowerment" video Don't miss their exclusive release shows in clubs and festival appearances in Europe. More info here.

HEAVEN SHALL BURN ARE: Marcus Bischoff — Vocals Maik Weichert — Guitar Alexander Dietz — Guitar Eric Bischoff — Bass Christian Bass — Drums HEAVEN SHALL BURN ONLINE: CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS ONLINE:

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Horror Crush: Elise Richards

We recently inducted the gorgeous Lisa Orgolini from Trick or Treat into Horror Crushes. And, now it is time that we do the same for her equally stunning costar in that cult classic, the lovely Elise Richards!

Richards only has two movies to her credit, but before her short lived foray into film acting she appeared in a music video for infamous 80s shock rock/ metal band W.A.S.P. That video was for one of their biggest hit songs "L.O.V.E. Machine". Her scene is short (above), so it's kind of a blink it, and you'll miss sort of deal. Regardless, the video is great, and she fits in well with all the other stunning and sexy ladies in it. Man, don't you miss when metal videos had hot women in skimpy outfits?

Anyway, say what you will about W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless nowadays being a fucking Trumper, but at least back then he made some great tunes. An interesting connection to the movie that we are about to talk about, Trick or Treat, is at one point, Lawless was seemingly gonna play Sammi Curr. Being that he had his own issues with censorship battles, at the height of the whole stupid Satanic Panic thing, it would've made sense. But, Tony Fields rules as the role. And, well, there's Blackie's questionable political views which would definitely creep into my mind every time I would've watched this movie in present times...

Anywho, I already talked about Trick or Treat in my aforementioned Orgolini induction, so I'll just give you the TV Guide (you guys do remember TV Guide right?) style synopsis. Controversial heavy metal rocker Sammi Curr (Fields) comes back from the grave and causes death and mayhem, while young metalhead and fan of his "Ragman" (Mark Price) tries to stop him.

The movie is a lot of fun and is even more awesome then I remember it being. The leads are good and the music, by Fastway, is awesome. Also, we get cameos by hard rock/ metal legends Gene Simmons of Kiss and Ozzy Osbourne. Also also, the recent Synapse 4K is a total must have. 

Richards looks absolutely gorgeous in this movie and is good in her role as bitchy bad girl Genie Wooster. She is the girlfriend of the lead bully in the movie. As such, she is a jackass and a snob to our hero. But, a jackass that looks great in a binkin.

She appears in one of the film's most memorable scenes. When she finds a tape of Sammi's unreleased, last album, she listens to it on her Walkman. Soon, an unseen force turns her on and feels her up, She gets topless, and a demon appears as she bleeds from her ears. I think this solidified my crush on her as a kid, cuz this part of the movie has lived in my mind rent free ever since. And, mine you, I had only seen this movie that one time, when I rented the tape. That is until years later, and I watched that 4K disc last month!

But, I mean how could it not? She's is insanely beautiful, gets seduced, and is topless. Plus, there is a demon and heavy metal music involved. Pretty much checking all the boxes for kid me.

She only did one more movie after this, Valet Girls (which I never seen or heard of), but that's it and not a horror movie. She does however appear in the extra features of the aforementioned disc and is still beautiful! Her character also appears, in artwork based on that above mentioned scene, on one of the limited edition covers and the Fright-Rags tee based on said image. I may not own that version of the disc, but I am very happy to own the shirt. 

Elise Richards had a very short career in entertainment. But, her beauty and her role in the classic Trick or Treat are absolutely unforgettable. Forever burned into my brain, it is with great honor that I induct her into Horror Crushes!

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Horror Crush: Lisa Orgolini

Today we are inducting another beauty into our hallowed Horror Crushes section, And, this time we have a beauty, who thanks to her role, serves also a metal crush! It's the gorgeous and talented Lisa Orgolini! 

She was born Lisa Athena Orgolini on July 31, 1963 in Los Angeles, California. Orgolini made her acting debut in a made for TV called Paper Dolls in 1982. But, it is her next role that is her most famous one and the reason for her induction here. 

That flick is the heavy metal/ horror classic Trick or Treat (1986). Made at the height of the 80s satanic panic tells the tale of Eddie "Ragman" Weinbauer (Mark Price best known for being Skippy on Family Ties) who is a teenaged metalhead. Like many other fellow fans of metal, he is an outcast and is bullied by the high school assholes. Heavy metal rocker Sammi Curr (the late, great Tony Fields) is his idol. He is infamous, due to his onstage performances and graphic lyrics.

But, Sammi has died in a mysterious fire, which has our hero down. He goes down to visit radio DJ Nuke (Kiss' Gene Simmons), who gives him Curr's unreleased album, Songs in the Keys of Death on acetate disc. Nuke has his own copy reel to tape copy to play at midnight on Halloween, just as Curr requested. Anywho, it doesn't take long for Ragman to play the record backwards and what starts as a harmless ways to get back at his bullies, quickly escalates to horrible demon caused injuries, death, and Curr's eventual return from the grave! 

As I alluded to before, Trick or Treat was made at a time, when some not very bright people where shitting themselves thinking that Satan and Satanists were doing all sorts of evil shit. Among the forms of entertainment that took the blame were things like Dungeons and Dragons and, of course, heavy metal music. This one takes the whole Satan worship and backmasking (the mostly misconceived idea that if you play metal records backwards evil shit would be said) as part of its plot. It is also, as a result, filled with fucking killer music by underrated. and no longer together, metal band Fastway.

The movie, itself, had been unavailable for ages, except for some shitty DVD (that was in pan and scan, no fucking less!). Until last year, when Synapse finally put it out on glorious 4K, in one of the best releases of 2024. Now, I hadn't this one seen renting the VHS, as a kid who was into metal and horror. I liked it back then, but I love it even more now. Being an outcast in high school where I was picked on for my love of metal and horror (and comics, though I suppose that's less relevant to this movie), I can relate to it even more now. Mark Price is really likable as our lead, and Fields is fucking awesome as Curr. Along with the killer music and the fun cameos by metal/ hard rock royalty in the aforementioned Simmons as well as Ozzy Osbourne, as an anti -metal crusader, give it even more metal cred. It is the second greatest heavy metal/ horror movie ever made (Deathgasm is the greatest, if you must know).

Orgolini is wonderful in her role of Leslie Graham. She's a regular and sweet girl who befriends Ragman and likes him! They have good chemistry and make for a cute onscreen couple. Orgolini looks absolutely gorgeous, but also manages to pull off the girl next door thing. Or at least, like I always said, the girl that I always wished lived next door to me. She is so naturally beautiful, that I crushed on her the moment I saw her. But, also this is the part that I can't relate to as no normie girl would ever have liked my metal loving ass. But, hey this is after a movie and not real life, right? Anyways, I especially love Orgolini's look at the Halloween party (above) which is very 80s, and by default, really hot in my book! 

She kept on acting till 1998, after which she retired from performing. But. Trick or Treat remained her sole horror film. According to the extra features to that movie's aforementioned 4K release (and it's Blu-ray, as well), she moved to England, where she lives now. As a result, she ain't on the extra features. Which is a little  disappointing cuz, I would have loved to hear her thoughts on the film and making of it. Also, I was curious to see what she looked nowadays.

Anyways, one of the things, related to her, that we learn in those extra features is that there was a fantasy/ dream sequence where Ragman pictures himself to be some sort of Conan type dude, He also imagines Leslie to be in a sexy, complimentary outfit (below). I definitely wish this scene existed in the movie, cuz she looked hot as hell!

While, Orgolini only did one horror movie in her relatively short career. it's a classic and favorite among fans who love metal and horror, like myself. She was so good in it and with her beauty and character's sweetness, really embodied the normie girl many of us wish we had met in high school. As such, it is an honor to induct Lisa Orgolini into Horror Crushes!

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Delain with Xandria and Edge of Paradise Live at Gramercy Theater, NYC 3/23/25

After a long hiatus, this website is back covering metal and hard rock concerts! What a better show to start with than with all the great symphonic metal bands headlined by the awesome Delain that went on at Gramercy Theater on March 23, 2025! 

The first band to play were American hard rock/ meta/ symphonic metal band Edge of Paradise. While, I had heard some of their music before, this was my first time seeing them live, as well as getting a full feel for their music. They were great onstage, delivering music that added an almost industrial like driving sound to their take on symphonic metal. The result is unique, exciting, and really makes them standout. They have incredible musicianship and are fronted by signer Margarita Monet and her beautiful, soaring, and powerful vocals. When, it came to playing their single "Give to Me (Mind Assassin)", they were joined by Ludovico Technique, in full make-up costume. By the end of the their setlist, my fandom in them was definitely solidified. 

Edge of Paradise: Setlist

  Prophecy Unknown

The Other Side of Fear

Hologram

Death Note

Falling Light

Give it to Me (Mind Assassin)

(with Ludovico Technique)

The Unknown

German symphonic metal band Xandria were next. This was my first time hearing any of their music, but holy shit was I ever blown away! Their music is powerful and sweeping headed by their amazing vocalist with an operatic voice, Ambre Vourvahis, can really hit those high notes! The musicianship is amazing, and they have such an amazing presence onstage! Extra points for mentioning that their absolutely awesome song and single "Universal" stands for the rights of everyone, and they proudly fight for that. They held up the rainbow flag, and well, they definitely won a new fan in me!

Xandria: Setlist

  You Will Never Be Our God

Reborn

Universal

Two Worlds

200 Years

Live the Tale

Nightfall

It was then time for the headliners: Dutch symphonic metal band Delain! I've been a fan of theirs for a couple of years now, but had never seen them live. Now, that I have am an even bigger fan! They were so fun live, the musicianship on display from them is amazing! Their current signer Diana Leah has a gorgeous and powerful voice. She is incredible to experience live, giving a lively, enigmatic, and powerful performance. But, above all the name of the game is fun, as I had an absolute blast watching them perform!

Delain: Setlist

Cold

Suckerpunch

The Reaping

       Dance With the Devil

      Burning Bridges

        Creatures    

         Queen of Shadow

             The Gathering

             Lucidity Medley

          Not Enough

            We Are the Others

After the show, I got to meet Margarita Monet of Edge of Paradise. I told her that this was my first time seeing them live, and how much I loved their performance. She was very sweet and humble, and this the perfect way to end a great night of kick ass music.

Were any of you guys at this show or some other from this tour? Are you a fan of any these bands? Let me know in the comments section below.

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