Megaforce Records Co-founder Marsha Zazula has Died, Age 68


Sad news to report as Marsha Zazula, the legendary co-founder of Megaforce Records which launched the careers of Metallica, Anthrax, King’s X and many others, has died. She was 68 years old. News of her passing was shared by her daughter Rikki, writing: “RIP Mom April 21, 1952 -January 10, 2021 Your love, Your strength, Your memory and Your music has changed lives and will continue to FOREVER.” Marsha formed Megaforce with her husband Jon “Jonny Z” Zazula in 1983, as metal music lovers and entrepreneurs with no prior industry experience, but founded a brand that will always hold an iconic place in the hearts of metal fans and band. In Jonny’s 2020 memoir, he largely credited a lot of the success of the label to Marsha. The label released Metallica’s first two albums, 1983’s “Kill ‘Em All” and 1984’s “Ride The Lightning”, before the band signed to Elektra. Other bands they fostered and worked with included Testament, Overkill, Ace Frehley, Ministry, Stormtroopers Of Death, Raven, and many more. The Zazula’s latest venture was Breaking Bands, a music management, and services company run with Chuck Billy of Testament and Maria Ferrero. RIP Marsha. 

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Sepultura to Release SepulQuarta Series into a New Album with Guests


Sepultura launched their “SepulQuarta’ weekly series of covers collaborations with guests from across music at the start of the pandemic. They also featured history lessons about the band and question-and-answer sessions with the fans. Now the band will release a full-length album in 2021, including jams with members of Megadeth, Testament, Anthrax, System Of A Down, Trivium, and Sacred Reich.

 

 

“We started it on April 22nd — [that] was [when we did] the first one — and we did every week for many months, and then we [did] it every 15 days, and then we changed the [day of the week when we uploaded new episodes]. And it was an amazing experience. 28 songs we played. It was more than a three-hour concert. It was amazing. Really.”

 

According to Kisser, the “SepulQuarta” album will be unlike anything that SEPULTURA has ever released before.

“I think it’s really exciting, because it’s very unique,” he said. “Of course, we’re gonna remix the sound and everything, make it the best that we can, but the versions are there. This is something [made] possible only because of the quarantine situation, of the lockdown. Imagine we’re doing an album like that in normal circumstances; it would be impossible.

 

“And the great thing about that [is that] everybody was so excited to be a part of it and really happy to play SEPULTURA stuff,” he added. “We [played with] people that influenced SEPULTURA; we had bands that were influenced by SEPULTURA, we had Brazilian artists; pop artists, metal artists. The version of ‘Ratamahatta’ was so unique, so different. And we didn’t see any limitations. We used two drums [on some songs], we used two basses on songs, three guitars and two vocals — not any limitations — and we managed to [make it] work.”


Ghost Cult Albums of the Year 2020 – Part 2 (40-21)


 

Following on from Part 1 of our celebration of the very best albums of the year, we continue to uncover those albums that made the biggest impression over the course 2020.Continue reading


PODCAST: Episode 133 – Ghost Cult’s Album of the Year Countdown Part 2 with Hans Lopez


Ghost Cult kicks off our massive 2020 Album of the Year Countdown! Chief editor Keefy is joined by the esteemed scribe Hans Lopez (WUML radio’s The Stress Factor)! We run down the albums from 30-21 on our list! All in all, over 300 albums were considered and voted on by our staff of worldwide contributors: writers, correspondents, photographers, and more. Check back here for the full list soon listen to Part I (75-31) here. Part III of the podcast series is coming tomorrow!

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ALBUM REVIEW: Evildead – United $Tate$ Of Anarchy


A latecomer to the ’80s thrash scene, Californian act Evildead still managed to turn out two fine examples of speed metal riffery before disbanding, another victim of the burgeoning grunge movement. Aside from a single released in 2011, a first reunion proved fruitless, but this time the band includes most of the personnel from their 1989 debut, Annihilation of Civilization (SPV/Steamhammer), with bassist Karlos Medina (who played on the follow-up) completing the new and improved line-up. 

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Aftershock 2021 Adds Rancid, Social Distortion, The Offspring, Machine Gun Kelly, Rise Against, Volbeat, Gojira, Mastodon, Parkway Drive, and More 


Aftershock Festival has announced its comeback for the fall of 2021 with an additional day and exciting new bands! The headliners are intact with Metallica headlining two nights and My Chemical Romance’s reunion highlighting the middle weekend date. Added to the festival bill now are  Limp Bizkit, Rancid, The Offspring, Social Distortion, Rise Against, Volbeat, Machine Gun Kelly, Mastodon, Gojira, SEETHER, Parkway Drive, and many more. A special first time ever Thursday night date, presented by Jack Daniels, is headlined by Limp Bizkit and also hosts Parkway Drive, Testament, Hatebreed, Exodus, Knocked Loose and Fit For a King. Brought to you by Danny wimmer Presents, the West Coast’s Biggest Rock Festival–to Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA on October 7, 8, 9 and 10. Passes are on sale now at the link below and you can watch a special trailer video now. 

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ALBUM REVIEWS: Heathen – Empire Of The Blind


All good things come to those who wait, and if there ‘s one thing Bay Area thrashers Heathen believe in, it’s making people wait. With a four year gap from their 1987 debut to the follow-up, followed by a nineteen year-long hiatus, a decade has now passed since The Evolution of Chaos (Mascot Records), so make the most of new album Empire of the Blind (Nuclear Blast Records) because who knows how long it will take for another one to appear.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Anthrax – Persistence of Time Reissue


As strange as it may seem, 1988 stands as the only year where each member of the “The Big Four” all released new studio albums. Go on, check if you want. I’ll wait. 

With Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth, and Metallica having pulled significantly away from the rest of the pack with those 1988 releases, the beginning of the ’90s gave each of them the chance to reaffirm their place at the top of the thrash metal food chain. Along with the likes of Testament, Exodus, and Kreator, 1990 opened the new decade in a blaze of glory while also becoming arguably the last truly great year for the genre.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Onslaught – Generation Antichrist


 

Whenever the subject of UK thrash metal arises, Bristolian act Onslaught are always one of the first names mentioned. From their 1985 debut to their split in 1991 and eventual reformation in 2005, the band have been one of the leading lights of the genre. Often heralded as the “English Slayer”, like their now defunct US counterparts, Onslaught draw from a history of both punk and classic metal to make their point.

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Mike Portnoy, Dee Snider, Chris Jericho, Ray Luzier, John Moyer, and More to Raise Money for The David Z Foundation Livestream Tonight


Stars from across Rock and Metal will join together on a livestream to raise money tonight on the David Z Foundation Livestream. David Z (David Zablidowsky) was the brilliant metal and progressive rock musician best known for his work in bands such as Adrenaline Mob, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and ZO2, died three years ago on July 17th, 2017 when a tractor-trailer collided with Adrenaline Mob’s tour bus. Check out the updated poster from Mike Portnoy’s tweet below. You can donate at the GoFundM link below and watch the live stream including artists ranging from Mike Portnoy, Dee Snider, Chris Jericho, Ray Luzier (Korn), John Moyer (Disturbed) Rikki Rockett, Don Dokken, Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan, Jeff Scott Soto, Carmine Appice, Eddie Trunk, Marco Mendoza, Joel Hoekstra, Tiffany, John Pooper, Alex Skolnik, Charlie Benante, Dug Pinnick, Ra Diaz and more! Continue reading