Alkaloid Returns with “Liquid Anatomy”
Alkaloid has returned with their sophomore album, entitled Liquid Anatomy. The extreme prog metal band features a killer lineup including former Obscura members Hannes Grossmann and Christian Münzner as well as current Obscura bassist Linus Klausenitzer. Former Aborted guitarist Danny Tunker and Dark Fortress vocalist Morean fill things out. Though he’s known for his killer six-string fretless work, Klausenitzer used...
Havok Announces North American Tour Dates
Havok is hitting the road to continue supporting their latest album, Conformicide. Anchored by beastly bassist Nick Schiendzielos, the band will take over North America starting with a handful of dates in Mexico before heading to the U.S. and Canada through July and August. Check out the bassist’s aggressive style in the video for “Intention to Deceive”: was released in...
MOD Devices Introduces MOD Footswitch
MOD Devices has expanded their product lineup with the MOD Footswitch, an external controller complete with four footswitches and two LCD screens. The unit is the first device to use the Control Chain open standard developed by the company. “Unlike MIDI, Control Chain assignments and messages contain the full information about the parameter being assigned, such as parameter name, absolute...
Marcus Miller Returns with “Laid Black”
After exploring his musical roots on his 2015 album, Afrodeezia, Marcus Miller has brought things up to date on his new album Laid Black. His iconic bass lines tie a mix of current styles together with killer instrumental melodies. “‘Afrodeezia’ was like a musical voyage through my history. I followed the journey of my ancestors by collaborating with musicians along...
Chowny Bass Unveils the Bass-Mosphere Chorus/Reverb Pedal
Chowny Bass has expanded their offering of effects with the Bass-Mosphere, a pedal that combines chorus and reverb into a bass-centric unit. Its controls include chorus rate and depth knobs, a knob for setting the reverb volume, and a level control for blending in your wet signal. The pedal also features true bypass and comes in a small form factor....
Cliff Burton Documentary: The Salvation Kingdom
The late, great Cliff Burton is the subject of a new documentary called The Salvation Kingdom. The 93-minute video is an intimate look at Burton as a person largely based on interviews with his sister, Connie. It covers the bassist’s childhood, his hobbies, his practicing, his beliefs, and more. “He would go into a state of mind and of spirit...
Gorillaz Head Out On 2018 World Tour
The Gorillaz are back on the road in preparation for their new album, The Now Now, which drops later this month. The animated band will have a new bassist, the band revealed, as Murdoc Niccals is in jail. In his place will be Ace from the cartoon The Powerpuff Girls. Providing the real bass on tour will, of course, be...
Diluvium: An Interview with Linus Klausenitzer
For some of us bassists, adding a fifth string is a stumbling block. That’s why it’s jaw-dropping to see and hear someone like Linus Klausenitzer, who tackles the insane music in Obscura with a six-string fretless. The German technical death metal band is not the kind of group that rests on their musical laurels, and the bassist wouldn’t have it...
Judith Owen Releases “RedisCOVERed” with Leland Sklar
Judith Owen has released RedisCOVERed, and album of reimagined pop and rock songs. While the singer-songwriter has included cover songs in her work before, this is the first time she has dedicated an entire album to it. Songs on RedisCOVERed run the gamut of musical styles with versions of Drake’s “Hotline Bling”, Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water”, Soundgarden’s “Black...
Breaking Benjamin Releases “Ember”
Breaking Benjamin has returned with their sixth studio album, Ember, and it’s their heaviest yet. The effort is the band’s second since being completely reformed by frontman Benjamin Burnley in 2014 and as such the second to feature Aaron Bruch holding down the low end. The bassist’s thick tone fills the album out, especially on the choruses. Check out his...
Michael Manring Japan Tour Blu-Ray Available For Preorder
Japan’s Pudding Broadcast is working to release a new live Michael Manring video on Blu-ray, and they need our help. Manring toured Japan back in 2016 when Pudding, a film, and audio production company, recorded his performances. “In October 2016, we invited Michael Manring for his first solo live tour in Japan,” they write. “Thanks to many individuals and companies,...
Five Finger Death Punch Releases “And Justice For None”
Five Finger Death Punch has returned with their seventh studio album, entitled And Justice For None, after two years of struggles. The record was completed in 2016, but troubles with their label delayed its release. Individual members had their share of personal problems, including vocalist Ivan Moody and bassist Chris Kael, who said the hard times come through in the...