The new Dimebag Darrell DVD Dimevision Vol 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over has just hit number three on the Billboard Top DVD Music Video Chart. It’s the follow-up to Dimevision Vol 1: That’s The Fun I Have and it’s a hell of a ride. It brings together home footage and early Dime demos. Rita Haney, Dime’s partner since they were teens, says, “We want to thank each and every one of you for getting behind Dimevision 2. Darrell would be so stoked knowing you guys are all out there blowin’ it up Dime-style.” You can check out my interview with Rita about Dimevision on my I Heart Guitar Podcast.
Saxon will release a new album, Thunderbolt, on Friday February 2 via Militia Guard (Silver Lining Music), their first since 2015’s acclaimed Battering Ram and their 22nd overall. Biff Byford sums it up: “It’s a storming-smashing, thundering collection of tracks we’ve been crafting with producer, Andy Sneap and it’s finished, ready to be unleashed. Stand clear and fasten your seat belts!” Another Australian tour, please lads.
Black Label Society guitarist Dario Lorina released his second solo album, Death Grip Tribulations, earlier this year on the legendary guitar-geek label Shrapnel Records, and he’s giving the album a second promotional kick. It’s a good time for Lorina to bring some focus to his solo work, with his BLS boss Zakk Wylde touring with his Black Sabbath cover band Zakk Sabbath as well as playing various Ozzy Osbourne shows lately (BLS also has a greatest hits album coming out on Thursday January 18 called Grimmest Hits). Lorina’s a hell of a player and this album is seriously great. I urge all fans of heavy guitar to check it out.
Those spooky buggers Ghost have just released a live double-album called Ceremony And Devotion. It was produced and mixed by Tom Dalgety and features fan favourites spanning the band’s entire catalogue from Opus Eponymous (2010) to Infestissumam (2013) to Meliora (2015) to the Popestar EP (2016). You can stream it now or wait until Friday January 19 to buy a physical version on CD or vinyl.
Norwegian extreme, melodic metallers Susperia will return in 2018 with their first full-length studio album since 2009. The Lyricist will be released on Agonia Records on Friday March 16 and it features new vocalist Bernt ‘Dagon’ Fjellestad, who made his stage debut with the band at last year’s 70000 Tons Of Metal festival.
