Category 7 (Anthrax, ex-Machine Head, Overkill) Share Their New Single and Video for “Land I Used To Love”


Category 7, featuring John Bush (Armored Saint, Anthrax), Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob, Sonic Universe, Noturnall), Phil Demmel (ex-Machine Head, Kerry King, Vio-Lence), Jack Gibson (Exodus), and Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, Overkill), have just dropped their video for “Land I Used To Love.” The track is the fifth to be taken from the band’s eponymous debut album, out now on Metal Blade Records. Check it out below.
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INTERVIEW: John Bush (Armored Saint, ex Anthrax) Talks Category 7 and Finding New Frontiers as a Metal Singer


In this episode, we chat with one of out most frequent guests: John Bush of Armored Saint (ex Anthrax)and now Category7! The new heavy metal collective featuring the all-star lineup of Bush, Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob, Sonic Universe, Noturnall), Phil Demmel (ex Machine Head, Kerry King, ex Vio-Lence), Jack Gibson (Exodus) and Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, Overkill)! The band’s self-titled debut full-length, set for release on July 26th via Metal Blade Records. We talked to John evolving as a singer over the years, the new material and opportunities it offers, touring, how James Hetfield of Metallica became a fan, and much more!   Continue reading


Category 7 (Armored Saint, Adrenaline Mob, Machine Head, Exodus, Shadows Fall) Share Their New Single “Mousetrap”



Heavy metal supergroup, Category 7, have unleashed their latest single, “Exhausted.” It follows the recently released track, “Mousetrap,” and is accompanied by a music video. Both tracks come from the band’s self-titled debut full-length, set for release on July 26th through Metal Blade Records. Check out the new video and more in the article below.
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Category 7 (Armored Saint, Adrenaline Mob, Machine Head, Exodus, Shadows Fall) Share Their New Single “Exhausted”



Heavy metal supergroup, Category 7, have unleashed their latest single, “Exhausted.” It follows the recently released track, “In Stitches,” and is accompanied by a music video. Both tracks come from the band’s self-titled debut full-length, set for release on July 26th through Metal Blade Records. Check out the new video and more in the article below.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Kerry King – From Hell I Rise


December 1st 2019. 

The first day waking up in a post-Slayer world.

A dark day indeed. Continue reading


Category 7 (Armored Saint, ex-Anthrax, ex-Machine Head, Shadows Fall, Exodus) Sign with Metal Blade Records



Metal Blade Records has just welcomed all-star heavy metal band, Category 7, into the fold. The new band features vocalist John Bush, guitarists Phil Demmel and Mike Orlando, bassist Jack Gibson, and drummer Jason Bittner, all drawn from such legendary acts as Armored Saint, ex-Anthrax, Adrenaline Mob, ex-Machine Head, Violence, Kerry King, Overkill, Exodus, and Shadows Fall. An album is already planned for 2024. Keep reading below for more information on this new partnership.
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Phil Demmel Announces His Official Departure From Vio-Lence, Says its Unrelated to Joining Kerry King’s Band


After almost 39 years in the band Vio-Lence Co-founder and guitarist Phil Demmel is permanently leaving the band after one final show on February 11th. In a post to social media and transcribed by Metal Injection, Demmel, explains that this recent development has nothing to do with him joining Kerry King’s new band, and more about the direction he has been heading in for a while, as he and vocalist Sean Killian are “not on the same page, and never have been!” Perry Strickland left the band in 2023. As Injection also reported, Demmel played with every incarnation of Vio-Lence across their career between 1985 and 2024, but he also stepped back from the band in 2023 as the band began touring without him and Demmel only playing occasional festivals like Milwaukee Metal Fest and a hometown show in Oakland. At that Oakland show last summer, Phil gave several lengthy thank yous and tributes to current and former members, that felt to those in attendance, like a goodbye moment from him. Demmel has also filled in for Lamb of God on tour in recent years and Slayer in 2018. Vio-lence has confirmed spring tour dates booked for the USA. Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Vio-Lence – Skeletal Remains – Fueled By Fire – Phantom Witch Live and Outside at Line 51 Brewing


It was the second of two days in a row in Oakland for the Live and Outside concert series produced by the Oakland Underworld Metro Opera House at Line 51 Brewing. I had barely recovered from seeing YOB the night before when it was time to head back over to Line 51 Brewing, but this time for some Thrash and Death Metal greatness. Although I ended up getting there early, there were many more people here today than for yesterday’s smaller, but also intense show. 

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Rock For Ronnie Concert In The Park Benefiting Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund All-Star Talent Announced


 

The Rock For Ronnie Concert in the Park will take place on Sunday afternoon, May 7, 2023 at Los Encinos Historic Park in Encino, benefiting the. Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (https://www.diocancerfund.org). The Rock For Ronnie event, slated to be an afternoon of live rock music, silent and live auctions, food trucks and fun geared to the entire family, is the cancer charity’s first post-Covid event back in the park. The event just named a who’s who of Rock and Heavy Metal luminaries for the finale/all-star jam. 

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PODCAST: Episode #199: Gary Alcock Interviews Phil Demmel of Vio-Lence About Their New EP and Phil-ing in with Lamb of God


Ghost Cult scribe Gary Alcock interviewed the swiss-army knife of metal guitarists, Phil Demmel of Vio-Lence, just after the band’s first-ever UK show at Bloodstock Open Air 2022. Phil discusses his past success in the UK with Machine Head, how hot it was at BOA, his current status with Vio-Lence, filling in with Lamb of God, gigs trying to navigate the landscape of being a working musician, the new EP Let The World Burn (Metal Blade), and more!

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