Slipknot’s Corey Taylor has fulfilled a lifelong musical dream by collaborating with Steve Vai on a new Billy Morrison track.

Incite the Watch is the latest single to be highlighted from the already-released The Morrison Project. For this particular track, Morrison is joined by both the Slipknot vocalist and the electric guitar virtuoso.

Perhaps unknowingly, when Morrison put his two collaborators on a track together he was actually helping Taylor realize a long-held dream to work with Vai, who he’s been a fan of since he was a teenager.

“Billy and I have known each other for so many years and we’ve done many performances together, it was only a matter of time before we put together something original and fascinating,” Taylor explains.

“Alternatively, I’ve been a Steve Vai fan since I was 15, and never thought I’d ever get the chance to do something amazing with him. I’m so stoked to be a part of this album with so many great artists and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

It’s certainly a pairing that wasn’t on our bingo card for 2024, and while it’s not quite the same as having a Slipknot track supercharged with some virtuosic Vai shredding, it’s perhaps the closest we’ll get to the real thing.

To that end, the industrial track itself is carried by a pulsating main riff, which accommodates both Taylor’s vocals and not one, two Vai lead efforts – the second of which helps close out Incite the Watch with some furious fretboard trickery.

The accompanying video is worth a mention as well. How often do you get to see an animated Steve Vai use his Ibanez PIA – and his soloing – as a weapon to incinerate alien bank robbers and save the day?

“Billy Morrison is always getting into some kind of intense and creative musical mischief, and this record is the evidence of that,” says Vai of his own contributions. “When he sent me the track I was very eager to contribute to it.

“It is slamming and crushing, and the energy of the track is palpable. It’s nice to be part of his mischief.”

The Morrison Project was released back in April and features an assortment of guest stars, including Ozzy Osbourne and Steve Stevens – who feature on Crack Cocaine – Billy Idol and Steve Stevens – who can be heard on Mr. Dream.

The Morrison Project is available now.

Corey Taylor dropped by Guitar World Studios in New York with an acoustic guitar in hand to perform three songs from his solo catalog – and you can watch the first, Silverfish, right here, right now.

The Slipknot frontman is on the promo trail in support of his new solo album, CMF2, which landed in record stores and streaming September 15 via BMG, and this is a rare opportunity to catch him in such an intimate setting. There are no masks. There is no backing band. There is no pyro. It’s just Taylor’s voice and his Gibson SJ-200 – aka ‘king of flat-tops’.

Silverfish is taken from Taylor’s 2020 debut album, CMFT, an album that took a whistle-stop tour through his inspirations, with hard rock, rap rock, country and pop all coloring a sound that was ostensibly rock.

Speaking to Australian Guitar in 2020, Taylor said his solo debut album was an opportunity to cut loose and pay tribute to some of the influences you might not hear in the hurly burly mosh fever of tracks like People = Shit and Duality.

“To me, it was more about sharing my influences, and realising that I’m influenced by so many different genres, bands, movements and whatnot, that there was no way this album wasn’t going to feel very diverse,” he said.

“But it still just feels like an awesome rock album. I do take people through a lot of different genres on this album, but you don’t really feel it until you listen to it in retrospect and you go, ‘Huh, that was pretty all over the place!’ But when you’re in it, it feels very connected.”

Silverfish had a big box-office sound on record thanks to producer Jay Ruston and a cast of supporting musicians that included Dustin Robert on the drums, and Jason Christopher on bass guitar – Zach Throne and Jason Christian joined Taylor on guitar on the album. But it was led by the acoustic and Taylor’s voice, and as such makes perfect sense as an acoustic solo track.

And if Silverfish it didn’t sound like a song that could have appeared on a Slipknot or Stone Sour album, then that was very much the intention. 

“I didn’t want it to feel like either of my other bands,” he said. “There would have been no point if I was going to do that, y’know? If I was going to do a solo album, I wanted it to represent a whole different part of my musical prowess, and songwriting talent.”

CMF2 is out now via BMG. We’ll have more from Corey Taylor’s Guitar World Studios session soon.

Slipknot have announced their highly anticipated seventh studio album, The End, So Far, sharing its blistering second single, The Dying Song (Time to Sing).

Arriving September 30 via Roadrunner Records and following 2019’s We Are Not Your Kind, the new album is produced by Slipknot and renowned engineer Joe Barresi, and as percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan explains, marks “new music, new art and new beginnings. Get ready for the end”.

Following The Chapeltown Rag, the Iowa nine-piece’s first new music in two years, The Dying Song (Time to Sing) is similarly chaotic, crafted with a barrage of drop B open low-string chugs from Jim Root and Mick Thomson, a thunderous percussion section like always, and a catchy chorus section providing just enough melody to offer respite from the unstoppable sonic bombardment.

Check out the track’s accompanying music video – in which Corey Taylor wears his latest mask, and turntablist Sid Wilson debuts a totally different look to his WANYK-era getup – below.

In conversation with metal media personality Eddie Trunk last year, frontman Corey Taylor said The End, So Far would be “really killer”.

“It’s darker than We Are Not Your Kind, but there’s a ton of melody,” he explained. “I’ve been telling everybody that it’s like a heavier version of Vol. 3 [(The Subliminal Verses)].

“It’s got so many textures and layers. The heavy stuff has attack but the melodic stuff you can just sink your teeth in; there’s a lot of great melodies and hooks. I’m really, really excited for people to hear it.”

10 more songs will join The Chapeltown Rag and The Dying Song (Time to Sing). Take a look at the album’s full track list below.

1. Adderall
2. The Dying Song (Time To Sing)
3. The Chapeltown Rag
4. Yen
5. Hivemind
6. Warranty
7. Medicine For The Dead
8. Acidic
9. Heirloom
10. H377
11. De Sade
12. Finale

Slipknot are set to commence their European tour tonight (July 20) in Bucharest, Romania. The band will embark on a fall edition of their Knotfest Roadshow tour in North America from September 20. For a full list of dates, head to the band's website.

Welcome to Guitar World’s weekly roundup of the musical highlights from the, erm, world of guitar. Every seven days (or thereabouts), we endeavor to bring you a selection of songs from across the guitar universe, all with one thing in common: our favorite instrument plays a starring role.

The Afghan Whigs – I’ll Make You See God

What is it? The Greg Dulli-fronted alt-rock heroes return with their first new music in five years, and a new guitarist in Blind Melon man Christopher Thorn. I’ll Make You See God is a fierier, more propulsive rocker than you might expect from a band on the cusp of releasing their ninth album – its grinding powerchord riffs are like stoner rock on speed.

Standout guitar moment: Thorn slots into the Whigs lineup with ease, and his warbly Leslie leads and blistering pentatonics further amp up I’ll Make You See God’s adrenaline rush riffage.

For fans of: Queens of the Stone Age, Fu Manchu, Clutch

– Michael Astley-Brown

Mdou Moctar – Nakanegh Dich

What is it? A previously unreleased studio outtake that’s set to appear on the forthcoming deluxe digital edition of Moctar's phenomenal 2021 album, Afrique Victime. The smokin’ tune marks the first time the Nigerien maestro has used a wah pedal on record, and boy does he put it to good use.

Standout guitar moment: Moctar’s aching, wah-soaked cries in the extended intro are stunning, but the song’s freewheeling closing solo – which sets his show-stealing rock guitar showmanship (you’ll need a fire extinguisher for your headphones or speakers after those light-speed hammer-ons and pull-offs) against the backdrop of the desert blues influences he grew up with – is one of his best to date.

For fans of: Tinariwen, Abdallah Oumbadougou, Imarhan

– Jackson Maxwell

Momma – Rockstar

What is it? The heaviest offering yet from the on-the-up Brooklyn guitar duo, Rockstar marks something of a fuzz reawakening for Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten – appropriate given Smashing Pumpkins’ Hummer is namechecked in the lyrics – but keeps their trademark infectious guitar melodies and slacker harmonies in check.

Standout guitar moment: The exact second that wall of guitars hits after the initial snare hit. Momma never sounded bigger.

For fans of: Wolf Alice, Smashing Pumpkins, Jay Som

– Michael Astley-Brown

Stray From the Path – Guillotine

What is it? The latest single from Long Island, New York hardcore stalwarts, Stray From the Path. The band’s first new material since 2019’s Internal Atomics, Guillotine is a scathing commentary on wealth inequality as a result of the pandemic, driven by the crushing guitar riffs of Thomas Williams and the visceral vocals of Andrew Dijorio.

Standout guitar moment: We’d wager there’s barely a person on Earth who wouldn’t mosh to the crushing breakdown at the 2:29 mark.

For fans of: The Ghost Inside, Stick To Your Guns, The Acacia Strain

– Sam Roche

Bonnie Raitt – Made Up Mind

What is it? Made Up Mind is the first single from Just Like That…, the many-times-platinum singer-songwriter and blues guitar ace’s first new studio effort in six years. With Nashville session guitar star Kenny Greenberg adding plenty of sting to this love-gone-south tale with his in-the-pocket interjections, this tune shows Raitt in classically strong and proud form.  

Standout guitar moment: Greenberg puts in a fine performance, but this is a Bonnie Raitt song, after all. Sticking to what she does best, Raitt colors Made Up Mind with some wonderful slide work, outlining the pain and sadness that lie beneath the surface of her protagonist’s steely resolve.  

For fans of: Lucinda Williams, Joe Bonamassa, Tedeschi Trucks Band

– Jackson Maxwell

Ghost Hounds – Baby We’re Through 

What is it? A bare knuckle blues-rock bust up lifted from Ghost Hounds’ upcoming EP. With energetic instrumentation – propped up by rolling snares and a pull-off-heavy clean guitar hook – contrasting the otherwise downbeat message, it’s foot-to-floor from the get-go, with relentlessly rolling rhythm guitar playing and a tapestry of tasty licks.

Standout guitar moment: At the 1:47 mark there’s a neat little break-down, which reintroduces the overdriven guitar with some energy-bumping stabs before a full-blown solo arrives in the ring, drenched in pentatonic jabs, bruising bends, and a smattering of double-stop uppercuts.

For fans of: ZZ Top, Samantha Fish

– Matt Owen 

Malevolence – On Broken Glass

What is it? The first single from Sheffield metal outfit Malevolence’s upcoming third album, Malicious Intent. An unrelenting four-and-a-half-minute sonic onslaught, On Broken Glass is packed full of synergistic dual guitar harmonies and savage drop-tuned heavyweight riffs.

Standout guitar moment: From the 2:27 mark, the track puts pedal to the metal, unleashing a fiery guitar solo packed with screaming alternate picked licks.

For fans of: While She Sleeps, Boundaries

– Sam Roche

Enumclaw – 2002

What is it? Tacoma, Washington quartet Enumclaw specialize in grime-coated but lovable pop songs that borrow from both the maximalism of grunge and more angular ‘90s alt-rock luminaries. 2002 is the band’s new stand-alone single, and their first release for Luminelle Records.

Standout guitar moment: For a song that’s got plenty of snark in it, 2002 also shows the band reaching for new heights – not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. Aramis Johnson and Eli Edwards make for a terrific two-guitar team, and the latter’s exclamation mark of a closing solo slyly adds some sincere, guitar-face-inducing bends to this otherwise punky gem. 

For fans of: Charly Bliss, Ovlov, Soccer Mommy

– Jackson Maxwell

The Snuts – Zuckerpunch

What is it? A downtempo, politically charged assault on social media from the Scottish indie-rockers. Despite its two-and-a-half-minute duration, Zuckerpunch traverses a heck of a lot of sonic ground, from trip-hop guitar figures to fuzzed-out blues riffs and a monster solo section.

Standout guitar moment: While we love the Portishead vibes of that arpeggiated main hook, Joe McGillveray’s glitched-out, ultra-quacky wah leads are a thrill ride from start to finish.

For fans of: Blossoms, The Hunna, Sam Fender

– Michael Astley-Brown

Corey Taylor – Shakin’

What is it? A previously unreleased track from Corey Taylor’s solo debut, CMFT, which arrived in 2020. Arriving with new EP, CMFB… Sides – which also features an acoustic version of Kansas, a couple of additional new tracks and his cover of Metallica’s Holier Than Thou – Shakin’ is a killer cover of Eddie Money’s 1982 track of the same name.

Standout guitar moment: The solo from the 1:24 mark is expertly delivered, and beautifully honors Money’s original lead lines.

For fans of: Stone Sour, Eddie Money

– Sam Roche

CMAT – Every Bottle (Is My Boyfriend) 

What is it? A new single from Irish breakout star Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (hence the CMAT acronym). With her first effort looming, CMAT has already assembled a staunch following with only nine singles to her name, and a brief appraisal of the growing repertoire will explain why. Every Bottle is evidence that her songwriting chops are getting better with every release, and with a gorgeous canvas of guitars in tow, it looks like she's going to have one helluva debut album.

Standout guitar moment: Those bite-y cascading pre-chorus electric guitars, which find the perfect combination of fretted notes and open strings, are so easy on the ears it’s ridiculous.

For fans of: Kacey Musgraves, Patsy Cline, Jenny Lewis

– Matt Owen

Blossoms – Ode To NYC 

What is it? A love letter to New York City, courtesy of English quartet Blossoms, which first burst onto the scene with their acclaimed self-titled debut album in 2016. A key player in the new wave “guitar music isn’t dead” indie rock movement, the band have stripped back their trademark style of synth-heavy production for a far more open, guitar-driven single that sees electric, acoustic and slide guitars assimilate together in blissful harmony.

Standout guitar moment: It’s a fingerpicking, two-chord see-saw for much of the runtime, but the bridge at 1:30 – which introduces a delicious blues-y chromatic descent, followed by a reprise of the modulated melody – is a particular highlight.

For fans of: Circa Waves, Sundara Karma, The Magic Gang

– Matt Owen

Slipknot have unleashed their first new music in over two years, a brutally heavy track named The Chapeltown Rag. 

Following 2019's We Are Not Your Kind, the new track is described by frontman Corey Taylor as “a punisher," “frenetic” and “classic Slipknot," and sees the Iowa nine-piece stylistically revisit the chaotic arrangements of their first two albums, Slipknot (1999) and Iowa (2001).

Kicking off with an Eyeless-style breakbeat from resident turntablist and onstage hypeman Sid Wilson, the track quickly descends into madness, with guitarists Jim Root and Mick Thomson offering up their usual brand of chugging drop B riff work underneath Corey Taylor's savage vocals, which sound stronger than ever. Check out the track's official visualizer below.

The track is said to have been written after Corey Taylor watched a Netflix documentary on the Yorkshire Ripper, a serial killer who murdered multiple women in the area of Chapeltown in Leeds, England in the late '70s.

Lyrically, the track is inspired by the moral failings revealed by the film – the case was botched by investigators who became wrongly convinced that the killer was only targeting prostitutes – which are echoed in the current age of the internet and social media.

“It’s coming from a point of talking about the various manipulations that can happen when social media meets media itself,” Taylor explains. “And the different ways that these manipulations can try to pull us in different directions, in the fact that we’re all becoming addicts to it, which is very, very dangerous.”

“The Chapeltown Rag facilitates a sort of mindset that you’re going to like: it’s along the barnburner side of things,” adds percussionist, backing vocalist and Slipknot co-founder Shawn “Clown” Crahan.

Taylor also says that the dynamic in the Slipknot camp is healthy, adding that they're “all getting along so well," and that it “feels like it did when we first started touring."

“When we first started touring, we were really tight and we all did everything together,” he says. “Then obviously, as time went on, our personalities got bigger and our addictions got bigger. We all pulled apart in a lot of different ways and it was hard to get back to that. But now, it almost feels like it’s come full circle.”

Slipknot began teasing the new song earlier this week, when, via social media, they encouraged fans to visit a mysterious website named The Chapeltown Rag. The site hosted nine NFTs for sale, which when fans would hover over with their mouse would play what we now know are audio snippets from The Chapeltown Rag.

The band are scheduled to give the track its live debut during their set at Knotfest Los Angeles at the Banc of California Stadium later today (November 5). The show will be livestreamed from 6PM PT, and tickets are available at $20 apiece over at Veeps.

Slipknot's new album – which is yet to receive an official title or release date – will be their last with longtime label Roadrunner Records. It will follow the tragic death of the band's first drummer Joey Jordison, who appeared on their first four albums: Slipknot (1999), Iowa (2001), Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004) and All Hope is Gone (2008).

While it’s not quite the weekend just yet, we can always rely on guitar-wielding wizards and six-string slingers around the world to unite and offer up a fresh batch of weekly wonders to drag us moving-and-grooving through Thursday evening and over the Friday finishing line.

As has been the case throughout these past Covid-riddled months (or is it years?) of uncertainty and inconsistency, we’ve been blessed with what seems like a never-ending abundance of mood-brightening, spirit-lifting and soul-cleansing sonic offerings that remind us that, in reality, the world isn’t all that bleak. This week is certainly no exception.

In no particular order, today’s feature-packed installment serves up a spell-binding shred-meets-acoustic anthem from Mike Dawes, Jack Gardiner and Plini, a riff-heavy pop romp from Olivia Rodrigo, some mind-boggling guitar lines from Bobby Keller, delicious dual-guitar interplay from Night Ranger and an awe-inspiring acoustic reimagining from Ariel Posen, plus much more.

Sounds good, right?! Well, let’s not waste any more time and get started...

Mike Dawes - Push ft Jack Gardiner & Plini

Given his propensity for playing percussion, rhythm and lead all at once, Mike Dawes doesn’t really need any other guitar players to help him work his particular brand of fingerstyle magic. Yet he sought to break the mould this week by recruiting two of contemporary electric guitar playing’s brightest talents.

The resultant track, Push, is a masterclass in arranging intricate guitar parts that don’t step on each others’ sonic toes. Dawes knows his way around a catchy two-hand tapped riff, but Gardiner’s ability to play all the right notes in all the right places – with modal runs and bends to die for – elevate this particular composition to a celestial plain.

Add in a Plini solo packed with wild slides and colorful dynamic contrast, and you have a recipe for one of, not only this week’s, but this year’s essential guitar tracks. (MAB)

Olivia Rodrigo - brutal 

That the Disney-to-the-top-of-the-charts pipeline that’s produced the likes of Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Selena Gomez, to name but a few, is still robust shouldn’t come as surprise to anyone. What is surprising, though, is just how 18-year-old Californian Olivia Rodrigo has gone about using her flourishing TV career as a launchpad for conquering the pop charts. 

With its liberal F-bombs, stylistic unpredictability and a buffet of ever-so-quotable lyrics that capture the epic highs and lows of being a teenager in a way few pop albums in recent memory have, Rodrigo’s debut LP, Sour, has a fierce independence and attitude that has caught the world’s attention in record-breaking fashion.

Propelled by a sledgehammer of a riff played by the album’s producer, Daniel Nigro, brutal – the album’s leadoff track – could’ve come straight from the bowels of London in 1976. “Where’s my fucking teenage dream?” Rodrigo sneers before the song’s distorto-bubblegum chorus kicks in, with the second chorus even capped off with some mild six-string dissonance.

One can still listen to this and bemoan the lack of overall guitar in the pop charts – it’s allowed. We can’t imagine, however, that brutal won’t inspire scores of listeners to pick up a guitar for the first time and air their own grievances with the help of some big, brash power chords. 

And if we can’t celebrate that, what can we celebrate, really? (JM)

Ariel Posen – Heart By Heart (acoustic) 

We’ve marveled over the album, we’ve listened to all the licks, and we all thought there was no way we could fall even more in love with Ariel Posen’s latest album Headway, right? Right?!

Well, we thought wrong. Luckily for us, the blues-rock master and slide virtuoso isn’t done with Headway just yet, and has treated us to another trick he’s been hiding up his sleeve – an all-acoustic EP that transforms the album’s high-gain blues ballads into sensational stripped-back numbers.

The acoustic version of Heart By Heart – introduced initially by Posen as a fuzzy, swamp-infused strut that layers on the swaggering slides and slinky progressions – is reimagined as a totally different beast altogether. Stripping away the overdrive, bite-y tube amp tones and venue-filling instrumentation, Posen puts his acoustic through its paces, offering up a smartly succinct but equally enveloping six-string demonstration of his unrivaled chops.

The solo sounds as good on the acoustic as it does on the Mule Resophonic Posencaster, with Posen letting loose on an intimately dynamic lead, spanning a stunning sonic range that lets you hear both the tones of the fretboard as he snaps away and his fingers as they glide over the strings.

We shouldn’t be surprised, really. It’s no secret that Posen possesses some of the tastiest licks around right now. This latest acoustic offering is just another friendly reminder that, if he wasn't already on your list of go-to guitarists, he should be. (MO)

The Dead Deads – Murder Ballad II (ft. Corey Taylor)

Corey Taylor is something of a modern day Renaissance man. Beyond his ferocious vocal work in Slipknot and Stone Sour, and his recent and rather eclectic debut solo effort CMFT, the metal frontman is often partial to the odd guest appearance.

In 2021 alone, Taylor has appeared on tracks by country rap outfit Moonshine Bandits and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, and with this new feature on a single by Nashville rockers The Dead Deads, he makes it a hat trick.

Following Murder Ballad – taken from the trio’s 2016 album For Your Obliteration – Murder Ballad II's Taylor-infused vocals are underpinned by a subdued tempo, and a theatrical backdrop of acoustic guitars and overdriven octave electric guitar lines. This one’s really moody, and impeccably put together. (SR)

Chelsea Wolfe - Diana

While last album, 2019’s Birth of Violence, saw Wolfe return to her acoustic folk roots, Diana plugs back into the industrial doom that fueled Abyss and Hiss Spun.

With longtime collaborator and guitarist Ben Chisolm on production duty, the track is anchored by a menacing ascending bassline that gives both guitar players the chance to ramp up the distortion, adding eerie fuzz wails and discordant pitch-shifted lines to bolster the sense of unease.

Of course, tempering the acerbic nature of the guitar playing is Wolfe’s otherworldly voice – that seems wholly appropriate, given Diana is inspired by Wonder Woman, and forms part of the awe-inspiring artist roster for the forthcoming Dark Nights: Death Metal Soundtrack, alongside the likes of Mastodon, Manchester Orchestra and Soccer Mommy. We can’t wait to hear more. (MAB)

Wye Oak - TNT

Having already released one of 2021’s most spellbinding guitar-based albums, Head of Roses, under the Flock of Dimes moniker, Jenn Wasner has teamed up with Wye Oak bandmate Andy Stack once again to release TNT, the first of what the duo says will be two standalone singles, with another arriving next month.

Wasner says that TNT is about “joyfully acknowledging all of the ways in which you’ve grown while trying to accept the parts of yourself that are still stuck in patterns of repetition,” and the beautiful fingerpicked riff around which it revolves reflects this perfectly, both calming the listener with its repetition and stretching out dynamically whenever it pleases. 

Between this beauty and Head Of Roses, Jenn Wasner is having one hell of a year. Sleep on her work at your peril. (JM)

Night Ranger – Breakout

Arriving ahead of recently announced 12th studio album ATBPO – Breakout sees Night Ranger guitarists Brad Gillis and Keri Kelli serve up an impressively diverse range of classic rock-fueled riffs, in addition to a jaw-dropping supply of lead lines.

The track kicks off with a killer ascending dual guitar line, before evolving into a straight-talking hard rocker with its palm-muted riff taking center stage. But perhaps the standout moment of Breakout is the mind-bending guitar solo, which comes across as a furious guitar battle between both Gillis and Kelli.

ATBPO was recorded during the pandemic, meaning each member of Night Ranger had to track their parts separately. As Gillis explains: "It’s been a crazy but fun task trying to write and finish this new record in a Covid situation. A few Zoom video gatherings got us started, [and] with everybody in the band having their own home studios, we were all able to elaborate and add our own textures to each song." (SR)

Bobby Keller – Perpetual Dreams 

If you’re on the hunt for a healthy dose of high-octane riffage, fretboard-melting soloing and dizzying technical prowess, you can call off the search party, because Bobby Keller has you covered.

With a shred-heavy sonic arrangement, complemented by a serenely picturesque music video that sees him rip through his single while waltzing through the wilderness, Keller’s latest track Perpetual Dreams delivers all of the above, and then some.

No stranger to mind-boggling guitar instrumentals – see Reign In Fire and Light Bearer – the Orlando native’s latest lead-heavy escapade certainly ups the ante, eloquently combining blinding two-hand tapping sequences, oh-so melodic single-string slides and tasty bend-infused passages. Not one to be missed. (MO)

The L.I.F.E. Project – Ignite

The second offering from Josh Rand’s new side project The L.I.F.E. Project, Ignite features the same heavy-riffing formula heard on the duo’s debut single The Nothingness, though this time with more emphasis on melody from vocalist Casandra Carson.

If you thought the solo on The Nothingness was a one-off, wait until you hear what Rand has in store for Ignite. It’s a lead passage wrought with tasteful metal-flavored melodic runs, soaring pinch harmonics and the occasional alternate-picking flurry.

Rand says that The L.I.F.E. Project is a chance for him to experiment with a heavier sound than he uses in Stone Sour.

He explains: “The gear itself really didn’t change – we just added more gain – but the real secret to the sound is the amps being turned up to eight and nine to make them scream. It was so loud when we were tracking guitars that it kept setting off the glass break alarm in my house.” (SR)

Jim Ward - Foreign Currency

Jim Ward is something of an unsung hero in the world of post-hardcore, lending jagged rhythms and angular riffs to the likes of At the Drive-In and Sparta. Now, he’s branching out on his own with forthcoming solo effort, Daggers.

The album features the formidable rhythm section of Incubus bassist Ben Kenney and Thursday drummer Tucker Rule, who provide a muscular backing to Ward’s dotted-eighth delay lines on just-dropped track, Foreign Currency.

Teaming characteristically urgent playing with big ’90s alt-rock chorus hooks, Foreign Currency is forthright and contemplative in equal measure, and showcases Ward’s knack for guitar tones that bridge the raw and the ethereal. (MAB)

Anthrax’s Scott Ian and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo have teamed up with Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor and Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, along with cellist Tina Guo and composer Fil Eisler, for a new song, Thunder Force.

The track is the lead single from the soundtrack to the forthcoming Netflix comedy-action film of the same name. Thunder Force stars Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Jason Bateman and Bobby Cannavale, and is written and directed by Ben Falcone. 

According to the film’s Wikipedia page, the plots reads: “In a world terrorized by supervillains, one woman has developed the process to give superpowers to regular people. But when scientist Emily Stanton (Spencer) accidentally imbues her estranged best-friend Lydia (McCarthy) with incredible abilities, the two women must become the first superhero team. 

"Now, it is up to Thunder Force to battle the super-powered Miscreants and save Chicago from the clutches of The King (Cannavale).”

In addition to the Thunder Force theme song, Ian and Lombardo contributed guitar and drums, respectively, to the score. Explained Ian in an interview with Loudwire, “[Fil] would send us all the cues with explanations about the ins and outs. It's like you're just learning a whole bunch of really short songs. 

"And then we got together and we were going over stuff in the studio, because I was just making sure I was playing all the parts right. It was Fil who mentioned, ‘What would you think about trying to write a Thunder Force theme song that they would roll over the end credits?’ 

"And he said, ‘I can't promise they're ever gonna use anything.’ But I was like, ‘Why not? What do we got to lose? Let's make music.’ ”

Regarding the Thunder Force song, he continued, “The three of us recorded [a demo], and then I sent it to Corey, saying, ‘Hey, what do you think of this? You want to write to this? Would you want to sing on this and write the lyrics?’ And he was all over it. So, we made a demo, and then Fil had to submit it to Ben and Melissa.”

Thunder Force is out April 9. Head over to Netflix for more information.

Ground Control – a supergroup consisting of Slipknot's Corey Taylor, Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins and Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro and Chris Chaney – will take the virtual stage at A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day, a livestream event commemorating the life and legacy of the influential music icon.

They join an already massive list of musicians scheduled to appear, including Gavin Rossdale, Joe Elliott, Taylor Momsen, Lzzy Hale, Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, YUNGBLUD, Perry Farrell and Atticus Ross, to name just a handful.

Of course, Bowie's influence goes far beyond the realms of music, so such names as Ricky Gervais and Gary Oldman will also appear.

They'll join an alumni of the late icon's bands spanning his 1969 self-titled album to his final record, Blackstar, including Peter Frampton, Rick Wakeman and longtime producer Tony Visconti.

The three-hour event will kick off tonight (January 8) at 6pm PT / 2am GMT, and will be available for tickets holders for 24 hours after its initial stream. General admission tickets are on sale now for $25, with $2 from each ticket donated to Save the Children.

VIP experiences are also available for purchase, and include access to a pre-show soundcheck, an after-show Q&A and exclusive merchandise. For more information, head to Rolling Live Studios.

Ground Control's performance won't be their first – the quartet previously joined forces to play Alice In Chains’ Man In The Box at another livestream event, organized by the Museum Of Pop Culture.

Between the sadistic and visceral nu-metal grit of Slipknot and the pummelling post‑grunge punch of Stone Sour, it’s safe to say that Corey Taylor’s creative heels are planted firmly in the ‘90s. Or it would’ve been until recently: with his long‑gestating solo album finally upon us, the 46-year-old Iowan has tapped way back into his roots and embraced the equally cool and uncouth crunch of ‘50s-thru-‘70s rock ’n’ roll – think along the lines of AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and all the other classic bands that called Alberts home back in the day. 

But of course, this is Corey Taylor we’re talking about – CMFT was never going to be a simple or straightforward 50 minutes for you to pop on and rock out to from cover to cover. This is a dude whose entire existence revolves around sharp and severe left-hand turns – from the belting first solo on “HWY 666” to the semi-satirical hardcore punk juts on “European Tour Bus Bathroom Song”, Taylor takes the listener on an all-out rollercoaster ride through distant peaks and valleys of classic rock. It’s an absolutely breathtaking experience to embark on – but one that demands you shed all expectations for before you do, if only so that you can truly be prepared for anything. Because with a record like this, you really should be.

With CMFT now out and wreaking havoc in the wild (courtesy of Roadrunner Records), we went one-on-one with Taylor to figure out how he made it all happen.

We’ve been fans of Slipknot and Stone Sour since the beginning, but nothing could have prepared us for how totally f***ing crazy this LP is. Was it your goal to surprise everyone with how wild and loose you get on the record? 
I don’t know if that was the goal – I think it’s a byproduct, absolutely. I’ve always been the guy that puts it out there that if I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it wholeheartedly. So if I was going to do a solo album, I didn’t want it to feel like either of my other band. There would have been no point if I was going to do that, y’know? If I was going to do a solo album, I wanted it to represent a whole different part of my musical prowess, and songwriting talent. 

And that’s really where this stuff came from – most of these songs have been sitting around for almost 20 years. I love the fact that people are so taken aback by it – that’s the best compliment I’ve heard about this album so far, that people are like, “I didn’t know what to expect, but it was exactly what I needed!” That f***ing makes my life, man! 

Did you look at this record as an opportunity to explore all the genres of music you love and make your own sort of playlist of influences? 
A little bit. To me, it was more about sharing my influences, and realising that I’m influenced by so many different genres, bands, movements and whatnot, that there was no way this album wasn’t going to feel very diverse. But it still just feels like an awesome rock album, y’know?

My approach to making albums has always been, y’know, let’s not lay everything out for people and make it easy – let’s challenge the listener; let’s put things together differently and make sure that it isn’t reminiscent of anything that I’ve done before. And that was the case with this album as well – I wanted to put something together that would really grab people by surprise, throw them through a loop and leave them going, “Holy f***!” 

I do take people through a lot of different genres on this album, but you don’t really feel it until you listen to it in retrospect and you go, “Huh, that was pretty all over the place!” But when you’re in it, it feels very connected.

You mentioned that a lot of these songs came from your archives – why is it only now that you feel you were able to make this record? 
I was just waiting for the time to do it. It had to be the right vibe. But I was going to go in and make this album regardless of COVID. My plan was to finish up the tour cycle with Slipknot throughout this year, then go in and record this album in January and February of 2021. I just moved it up because y’know, everything got put on hold. 

It just felt like it was time to get it all out of my system. The more time I spent listening to these songs, the more I knew that I wanted to put them out. I knew that none of them fit with either band – and after doing so many records with Slipknot and Stone Sour, I felt like it was time for me to show people something different; to really put myself out there in a way that nobody had ever seen before.

So why these 13 songs in particular? 
Because they were the best songs at the time. I wanted this album to be stacked with the best songs that I have, because you don’t get a second chance to make that first impression. It was like, “Let’s just go all-out, right out the gate, and just make everyone lose their minds.” I wanted it to have that old-school feel that every song may not be a single, but every song is important – every song is f***ing vital to this record. I don’t want to f*** around, y’know? I just wanted killer songs that people would want to sing along to.

You’ve put together an insanely talented group of collaborators to bring this record to life. What was it like to curate the CMFT band? 
They’re some of my best friends, man. I’ve had the privilege of playing with these guys in various projects over the course of almost 20 years. My best friend Jason [Christopher] is on bass, we’ve got [Christian ‘Tooch’ Martucci] from Stone Sour… I was jamming with Tooch for years before Stone Sour. Zach Throne, who is an incredible guitar player, he and I have been doing stuff together since 2003. 

And then Dustin [Robert], who was in Jericho, is such a criminally underrated drummer – he can just play anything! And that was key. Y’know, anybody can put together a diverse album, but if your drummer can’t really make his way through all of those different genres, it’s not going to work. And that’s just how talented that kid is, man. I’ve known him since 2005, 2006 – so we’ve been good friends for 14 years. 

This band was such a great unit, talent-wise. But the most important thing was how good we all get along – how much excitement we bring to the table when we get together. It’s one thing to be able to go onstage with a bunch of people who can play the parts, but it’s another thing entirely to be stoked about being able to hang out with your friends and play music with them.

Were you recording live to tape? 
Probably 99 percent of the music was done live, with the exception of acoustics, vocals, keys and some of the solos. But everything else is live – everything is right there in the room, all of us just jamming it and going f***ing wild with it.

Was that important to capture the raw energy you were all feeling? 
I think so. I mean, it was definitely something we all wanted to try. There was such a great vibe when we were rehearsing, so we looked at each other and we were like, “Man, we should try to do this live.” And it just worked! Honestly, we spent less time recording than we did just hanging out. We would all do the same thing – we’d come in for two hours, bullshit and drink coffee with everybody, and then we would go in and play a few songs. It was f***ing ridiculous, dude, we were such assholes about it. We were just like, “Oh, I guess we should f***in’ go in and play.” And then we’d just bang it out. It was the best bro-hang ever.

When the Coronavirus pandemic started wreaking its havoc on the world and it became abundantly clear we’d all be spending a lot more time inside in 2020, we asked ourselves a question: how can we make Australian Guitar the biggest and best, most jam-packed magazine of fretboard fandom on the market? 

Because after all, more spare time not only means more time to play the guitar, but more time to learn new techniques, more time to find your next favourite bands and obsess over the ones you already love, and more time to up your knowledge on the world’s greatest instrument and its history. 

So with each new issue of AG we’ve put together in 2020, we’ve aimed to go bigger and bolder – if you’ve been reading our plug posts for all of them thus far, you’re probably tired of us constantly bragging about how “this is the biggest issue of Australian Guitar yet!” But we just keep managing to one-up ourselves! We can’t help it! And we did it again with issue #140!

The big story this time around is a world-exclusive, one-on-one chat with the godfather of heavy metal himself, Tony Iommi. We talk about the chaotic origins of Black Sabbath, how they made a masterpiece in 1970’s Paranoid, and what lies around the corner for one of the world’s most revered guitarists. 

In addition, we’ve got another 23 interviews with world-class players to showcase – from stadium-stuffing legends like Nickelback, Corey Taylor and Deftones, to up-and-coming trailblazers like Cry Club, Tired Lion and Beabadoobee, and everyone in-between; we talk about the pop-influenced future of rock ’n’ roll with Nothing But Thieves, the value of catharsis with Fantastic Negrito, how dire times can breed inspiration with Seether, and why it’s okay to embrace high-fidelity sounds with Something For Kate. 

That’s all just scratching the surface of what you’ll find within the pages of Australian Guitar #140, of course.

We’ve also packed this issue full of special features, like our ranking of the 25 best acoustic rock songs of all time, an epic Telecaster shootout, a guide to mastering the iconic tones of Jimi Hendrix, and a tribute to the man, the myth and the legend himself, Eddie Van Halen. 

And for those keen to give their hands a workout, we’ve squeezed in the full tablature for Queen’s timeless “Now I’m Here”, five in-depth technique lessons, and a hands-on DIY guide for those keen to give their Strat a bit of extra oomph. If you’d rather just buy some new gear, though, don’t sweat it – we’ve got you covered with over 20 reviews of the latest and greatest guitars and equipment on the market.

Exclusive interviews in this issue:

• Deftones
• Corey Taylor
• Misha Mansoor
• Nickelback
• Something For Kate
• Biffy Clyro
• Sevendust
• Seether
• Nothing But Thieves
• The Lemon Twigs
• Beabadoobee
• Fantastic Negrito
• Josh Teskey & Ash Grunwald
• Tired Lion
• Alain Johannes (Producer Profile)
• The Front Bottoms
• PVRIS
• iDKHow
• Cry Club
• Danny Miller of Lewis Del Mar (Spotlight)
• Hendrik Wipprecht of A. Swayze & The Ghosts (Spotlight)
• Courtney Marie Andrews (Spotlight)
• David Potter of Stand Atlantic (Spotlight)

All the hottest gear reviews:

• Vox SDC-1 Mini Electric + Giulietta 3PS + Giulietta 3D
• JVB TMT 500 3-in-1 Metro Tuner + TMC 511 Clip-On Tuner/Metronome TMC 515 Mini Clip-on Tuner + JCT 615 Multi-Function Capo
• Danelectro Back Talk Reverse Delay Pedal
• Danelectro 3699 Fuzz Pedal
• Fender Reflecting Pool Delay/Reverb Pedal
• Fender Compugilist Pedal
• Fender Pour Over Envelope Filter Pedal
• Fender The Traper Dual Fuzz Pedal
• Fender CD-60S All-Mahogany Acoustic
• Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4
• Fender '64 Custom Princeton Reverb Amp
• Orange Crush Acoustic 30 Twin Channel Amp
• Epiphone SG Special P-90
• Ibanez Premium SR2405W Bass
• Aguilar DB925 Bass Preamp
• Zoom B3n Multi-Effects Processor
• Cort Gold-OC6 Acoustic
• Gretsch G5410T Electromtic "Rat Rod"
• Strymon Compadre Dual Voice Compressor And Boost Pedal
• Boss Waza-Air Over-Ear Amp-Phones

Subscribe to the print edition of Australian Guitar, and you'll enjoy each new issue on the day its published, delivered to your door. Check out Techmags for full details, including how to get 12 issues delivered to your door for under a hundred bucks. 

Footage has emerged of John 5 – joined by Slipknot/Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor and ex-Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony – performing Van Halen classic – and Kinks cover – You Really Got Me.

The clip – posted to John 5's YouTube channel – was filmed at a stop off in LA on the Rob Zombie/former David Lee Roth guitarist's 2019 tour, as part of his Live Invasion DVD. You Really Got Me didn't make the final cut, but it's available for you to watch now in all its glory.

The release comes after last week's tragic news of Eddie Van Halen's passing, which prompted an outpouring of grief from the guitar community.

“It’s difficult to put into words the impact that Eddie Van Halen had on my life,” says John 5 of the video. “There’s no one that influenced me more than Eddie, he was an inventor, an amazing songwriter and the greatest guitar player that ever lived. R.I.P my friend.

The guitarist performs a fitting tribute to the late, great EVH as he navigates the track's blistering two-handed tapping solo and attitude-packed riff work.

He continues, “As a special tribute here’s an unreleased track from the Live Invasion album featuring Michael Anthony, Corey Taylor and Fred Coury from The Whiskey which was one of the venues Eddie played the most in LA.”

John 5 is among several A-list guitar players who have posted performance-based tributes the wake of Eddie Van Halen's passing. Steel Panther's Satchel shared his version of Unchained, while Machine Head's Robb Flynn tackled Eruption.

It’s been a devastating week, as Eddie Van Halen’s passing casts a shadow over the guitar world at large. But if there’s one thing Eddie would have wanted, it’s for guitarists to keep playing, and to stop at nothing to improve their abilities and further the instrument as a whole.

Those are exactly the kinds of artists we set out to share in our round-ups of Essential Guitar Tracks, and we’ll be doing the same this week.

We’ve got mind-blowing virtuosic prog from returning champ Plini, a hybrid of Indian and classical metal like you’ve never heard before courtesy of Tezaab, plus the kings of hard-rock themselves, AC/DC, back in the saddle once more.

King Edward may have passed, and there will never be another like him, but there are countless loyal subjects eager to carry the torch. Enjoy.

Plini – I’ll Tell You Someday

As one of the foremost proponents of contemporary virtuosic guitar, Plini is never really in any danger of disappointing, but the first track to arrive from just-announced new album, Impulse Voices, is still an astonishing listen.

Described by the Aussie wunderkind as “a big, warm, instrumental hug”, I’ll Tell You Someday continues the djent-fusion template set by 2018’s Sunhead EP, but traverses a more expansive sonic landscape – his airy, vocal leads soar one minute, and simmer and soothe the next. In short, it sounds absolutely huge. (MAB)

AC/DC – Shot in the Dark

One of the biggest rock bands in the world are back with a bang. This week’s Shot in the Dark – released ahead of upcoming studio album Power Up – marks the band’s first release without rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who sadly passed away in 2017 aged 64. Despite this, longtime AC/DC producer Mike Fraser recently confirmed that we will hear Malcolm’s riff contributions on the record.

The track’s about as AC/DC as can be, but why change something that doesn’t need fixing? Angus and Stevie Young are on fine form, utilizing those mammoth open chords that have been so instrumental to their sound over the years.

Get a load of Angus’s supercharged leads during the solo section (2:07), too. The Aussie rockers are as electrified as ever. (SR)

Mdou Moctar - Chismiten

Tinariwen may have been the first group to bring the hypnotic beauty of Northern African Tuareg guitar music to the ears of the rest of the world, but we have a feeling that Niger native Mdou Moctar is primed to take the music to the next level.

Having just signed to venerated indie label Matador, Chismiten is the first single from Moctar’s as-yet-untitled new album, set for release sometime next year.

Ahmoudou Madassane provides the perfect foundation for the song with his engrossing rhythm work, while Moctar sets the fretboard on fire with his freewheeling leads, which arc in dazzling shapes and patterns around Madassane and the incredible rhythm section of Moctar’s band – Michael Coltun on bass and Souleymane Ibrahim on drums.

For many reasons of course, but also for Moctar’s forthcoming album, 2021 can’t come soon enough. (JM)

Omar Apollo – Dos Uno Nueve

This ode to traditional Mexican ballads is something of a departure from Apollo’s futuristic, electric-led R&B, but provides the perfect opportunity to bust out his and co-guitarist Oscar Santander’s formidable acoustic chops.

A flurry of flamenco-esque alternate-picking runs and harmonized leads complement Dos Uno Nueve’s sultry vocal performance. It all goes to highlight Apollo’s staggering versatility, which is set to be documented on a new live release, Apolonio, filmed at Prince’s Paisley Park. Given he’s already been hailed as 2020’s answer to Prince, it should prove a spellbinding performance. (MAB)

Corey Taylor – Kansas

It’s safe to say that Corey Taylor’s debut solo album CMFT spans a wide range of stylistic influences. From the straight-up high-octane rock ‘n’ roll of HWY 666 to the ambitious rap-rock crossover CMFT Must Be Stopped, it’s clearly designed to keep you guessing.

One standout track from the record comes in the form of Kansas, a melodic soft-rocker that evokes Eagles vibes with straightforward guitar lines, gorgeous vocal harmonies and an awe-inspiring sense of feelgood.

A triumphant key change before the brilliant, feel-driven guitar solo lifts the track to another level, continuing into the final chorus and serving as a tremendously satisfying outro. (SR)

Tashi Dorji - End of State, Part III

It’s incredibly rare to come across a guitarist whose approach to the instrument singlehandedly alters what you think it’s capable of, but Bhutan-born, Asheville, NC-based guitarist Tashi Dorji is one of those needle-in-a-haystack talents.  

For the uninitiated, his discography – in both size and stylistic scope – can be quite intimidating, but Stateless, his beautiful new album of steel-stringed acoustic improvisation, is a fantastic place to start.

End of State, Part III – an instrumental masterpiece that walks a near-impossible line between beauty, dissonance and a visceral understanding of the current state of the world – is a stunning highlight.

In a recent discussion about Stateless, Dorji said that he doesn’t want his music to be categorized in any specific way, and we certainly won’t try to. Putting any kind of label on a record this far-reaching, eye-opening and freeing would be doing it an immense disservice. (JM)

Artur Menezes – Come On (feat. Joe Bonamassa)

This LA-based Brazilian firebrand straddles the line between classic and contemporary blues-rock, and Come On is the perfect calling card for his red-hot pentatonic approach.

Besides the AC/DC-ish main riff, a soulful octave fuzz-led breakdown showcases Menezes’s dynamic playing style, while a guest spot from Joe Bonamassa is indicative of his rising star in the guitar world. (MAB)

DevilDriver – Vengeance is Clear

The California heavy metal outfit just released the first half of their Dealing with Demons double album, with the second half to be released at a to-be-confirmed later date. This installment, however, is enough to keep fans happy for the meantime, offering 10 tracks of sheer destructive power.

Vengeance is Clear – the record’s second track – is a groove-oriented metal tune underpinned by rock-solid guitar riffs throughout. With precise breakdown chugs and harmonized leads, this metal banger’s got it all. (SR)

Szlachetka - Old Soul

From Music City comes this refreshingly warm and gentle piece of Americana. 

The latest single from Matthew Szlachetka’s upcoming album, Young Heart, Old Soul, Old Soul was inspired by the wide-ranging crowds Szlachetka would see gather for The American Legion Hall in East Nashville’s ”Honky Tonk Tuesday" nights.

Driven by stirring acoustic fingerpicking, Old Soul preaches inclusivity and acceptance, and will have you longing to seek the communion of live music once again. (JM)

Soara - Tezaab

Indian classical music and metal don't cross paths too often, but two-piece Soara fuse the two into an enigmatic fusion with debut EP Dharm.

Its lead single, Tezaab, is a lyrically thought-provoking look into the scourge of acid attacks in several Asian and African countries. To highlight the issue further, the track’s video above features an interview with acid attack survivor Anu Mukherjee.

According to Soara, the COVID-19 pandemic has starved the Acid Survivor Saahas Foundation (ASSF) of funding sources. You can make a donation directly to the charity here.

Guitar-wise, Tezaab is packed full of full-throttle seven-string riffs, and the odd rapid-fire flurry of notes, beneath the foreground of classical Indian microtonal singing. (SR)

Nikki Sixx and Sixx:A.M. have shared a new song, Maybe It’s Time, featuring guest spots from Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, Guns N’ Roses electric guitar player Slash, Five Finger Death Punch’s Ivan Moody, Bad Wolves’ Tommy Vext, country singer Brantley Gilbert and AWOLNATION. 

The song, timed to launch with National Recovery Month in September, is part of a music industry-wide initiative to draw attention to the opioid crisis and raise funds to serve the recovery community and save lives.

All artist royalties are being donated to the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation (GRI) to support those in early recovery, with a matching contribution from SIXX:A.M.’s label, Better Noise Music.

The song was conceived by Sixx, a GRI board member, who said, “I am proud to bring together these artists to help raise funds for the Global Recovery Initiative Foundation. The opioid epidemic did not go away when the pandemic came along. Just the opposite...those in early recovery became even more at risk than before so it's more important now than ever to raise awareness and support them.

“I really believe that united we can make a difference and save lives.”

Maybe It’s Time is also featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming Better Noise Films release Sno Babies. 

Out on video on demand September 29, the film “depicts the grim realities of teenage addiction and its effects on a middle-class suburban town.” Better Noise Films’ share of profits is also being donated to GRI.

You can check out Maybe It’s Time above, and stream or download the track here.

Corey Taylor has announced his debut solo album, CMFT, and unveiled the first two singles from the record, Black Eyes Blue and CMFT Must Be Stopped (feat. Tech N9ne and Kid Bookie).

The latter track is paired with a video that includes guest spots from Marilyn Manson, Lars Ulrich, Rob Halford, Chris Jericho, ZillaKami and more.

The Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman's band on CMFT features electric guitar players Christian Martucci and Zach Throne, bassist Jason Christopher and drummer Dustin Robert. The album was recorded at Hideout Studio in Las Vegas with producer Jay Ruston.

According to Spin, Taylor told everyone involved in the recording to quarantine for two weeks.

“I said, ‘Stay the fuck away from everyone and anyone, social distance… do everything and when the time comes, drive into Las Vegas. Don’t fly,’ ” Taylor recalled.

“We did it right. And once we were in the studio, we stayed away from everybody, and had no real contact with the outside world.”

CMFT features new songs alongside some dating back to Taylor’s teens. He also said he has enough material in the can for two more solo albums, although there are no plans to record those songs yet.

“The plan is to drop this and do some virtual stuff,” Taylor said. “Maybe some weird social distancing shows in the near future or whatever. Just seeing what can happen - regulations applying, obviously.

“The plan is next year, once things resume, to wrap up touring with Slipknot and then, once I’m done taking care of all my affairs with Slipknot, go back into the studio, record the second one, and then go out and tour on two albums instead of just one.”

CMFT is available for preorder now at The Corey Taylor.

Corey Taylor has teamed up with eBay for Charity to auction off 13 autographed electric and acoustic guitars from his personal collection to raise funds for COVID-19 relief.

The auction is currently live and will run Thursday, May 7th at 4:00 PM PT.

The guitars up for bidding include a gold metallic Gibson Memphis Dave Grohl DG-335 (#237 of a limited run of 400), a Gibson Les Paul Classic Gold Top, Les Paul 'burst and Les Paul Custom, Fender, Yamaha and Gibson Hummingbird Pro acoustics, a Pearl Blue Gibson Dave Grohl Signature (#87 out of only 200), a black SDGR bass and more.

Each instrument comes with a case and a certificate of authenticity.

Proceeds from the sale, less shipping and processing fees, will benefit Direct Relief, which is working to provide PPE and essential medical items to health workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

eBay will also match dollar for dollar, up to $1 million, when customers support Direct Relief, through May 31.

The auction runs through May 7 at 4:00 PM PT.

For more information or to bid, head to eBay.

John 5 is currently out on his 2019 Invasion tour, and during his set at the Whiskey a Go Go on April 6 he was joined by a handful of guests, including Corey Taylor, Michael Anthony, System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian and Cinderella drummer Fred Coury.

Odadjian appeared with John 5 for a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” while Taylor, Anthony and Coury joined him for a trio of Van Halen songs—"Runnin' With the Devil," "Take Your Whisky Home" and the band’s version of the Kinks’ "You Really Got Me." You can check out fan-filmed footage of "Runnin' With the Devil" above, and “Take Your Whisky Home” and “You Really Got Me” below.

As previously reported, John 5 and his band the Creatures—bassist Ian Ross and drummer Logan Miles Nix—have announced a new full-length studio album, Invasion, for release in 2019. The effort is the follow up to 2018’s concert document, It's Alive!

For more information, head over to John-5.com.

As part of the 2019 NAMM show, the Observatory in Santa Ana, California hosted Dimebash, a tribute to late Pantera and Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, on Thursday, January 25.

The event was MC’d by SiriusXM radio host Jose Mangin and featured a slew of rock and metal artists paying tribute to Darrell by performing his songs.  

Above, check out fan-filmed footage (via Metal Injection) of a jam on Pantera’s 1992 classic, “Walk,” featuring former Pantera bassist Rex Brown, Anthrax’s Scott Ian and Charlie Benante, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, former Megadeth and current Act of Defiance guitarist Chris Broderick and, on vocals, Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor.

The show also featured full performances by Kill Devil Hill and Fireball Ministry. 

Korn have just released the new video for their track “A Different World,” featuring Slipknot’s Corey Taylor as guest vocalist.

The song is from the band’s forthcoming album, The Serenity of Suffering, which will be released October 21 on Roadrunner. Korn originally released the track September 29.

The new animated video, which takes place inside the mind of a demented man, was conceptualized by Mexican short film director Luis Tellez.

The union of Korn and Taylor occurred after Korn and Slipknot toured together last year. The two groups subsequently released a cover of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage.”

“So that fueled that thing like, ‘Man, we’d love to get him on the record somehow!’ ” Korn drummer Ray Luzier says of Taylor’s guest spot with the band. “And we called him, and the timing just worked out. He flew to Nashville, came to the studio and just killed it. It’s one of my favorite songs on the record, gives me chills every time I hear it.”

Produced by Nick Raskulinecz, The Serenity of Suffering is Korn’s 12th studio album. To pre-order the album, head here.

Zakk Wylde has just debuted a brand-new video for his song “Sleeping Dogs” featuring Slipknot’s Corey Taylor. The track is from Wylde’s Book of Shadows II album, released last April.

Wylde is currently on the road in support of Book of Shadows II. He’ll play in 40 cities across the U.S. and Canada, with Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown and Jared James Nichols will serve as support. A tour trailer video is included at bottom.

Zakk Wylde Book of Shadows II Tour (Remaining Dates)

August
23 - Edmonton, AB - The Ranch Roadhouse
25 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
26 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SODO
27 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory Concert House
28 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
30 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency Ballroom

September
1 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
2 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee
3 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre

What’s up with fans these days? As we reported yesterday, someone spit on Slayer’s Tom Araya during the band’s show at Comic-Con last week.

Now we learn that an audience member reportedly flipped off Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, enraging the singer and getting tossed out of the venue.

Taylor and the group were performing a gig in Toronto on July 19 when the fan apparently began taunting the singer.

In a video of the incident, Taylor can be seen pointing at the audience member and saying, “You don’t show me shit, you little pussy,” then alternately pointing at him and jerking his thumb.

Apparently security got the message and ejected the man and his date. “Bye-bye, bitch,” Taylor says in the video.

Afterward, Taylor took to Twitter to explain what happened. Though it was originally reported that he’d had a woman tossed out of the gig, Taylor set the record straight.

One attendee visited Slipknot’s Reddit page to say the fan was insulting Taylor and flipping him off. Another reader claimed the man was attacking others in the crowd.

This isn’t the first time in recent days that Taylor has gone off on a rude audience member. Earlier this month he smacked a phone out of the hand of a fan who was texting during Slipknot’s show.

“I see it every once in a while,” Taylor told radio station WRIF in 2014. “People don’t do it so much at our shows, and if they do, they do it from quite a ways back, because I empty whole water bottles into people as soon as I see them staring at their phone or tweeting or whatever.”

There probably aren't too many bands or artists who love it when their concert audiences spend more time staring at their phones—or taking duck-face selfies—than watching the band perform.

FYI: Corey Taylor of Slipknot hates it.

In fact, he's pretty much adopted the policy of destroying any phones he sees at his shows. “I see it every once in a while,” Taylor told radio station WRIF in 2014. “People don’t do it so much at our shows, and if they do, they do it from quite a ways back, because I empty whole water bottles into people as soon as I see them staring at their phone or tweeting or whatever.”

Which brings us to an incident that took place at a Slipknot show this past weekend. In the photos and (very brief) video below, watch as Taylor smacks the phone out of a front-row fan's hand. The fan was texting at the time.

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The Full Video

Following yesterday’s press conference announcing the “Ozzfest Metts Knotfest” mega-festival, Zakk Wylde’s Black Sabbath cover band, Zakk Sabbath, took to the stage at the Palladium in Hollywood.

The band, which also features Rob Zombie bassist Blasko and and Danzig and Queens of the Stone Age drummer Joey Castillo, were joined by Slipknot’s Corey Taylor for “Fairies Wear Boots” and Disturbed’s David Draiman for “N.I.B.”

“Ozzfest Meets Knotfest” is scheduled to take place September 24 and September 25 at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino, California. Check out the videos below and let us know what you think in the comments.

It's "Roast of the Day" time!

The Monster Energy Roast on the Range with Corey Taylor took place May 15 at the LC Pavilion May in Columbus, Ohio.

Nearly a dozen musicians and comedians — led by Sebastian Bach — honored (and yes, bashed) the Slipknot and Stone Sour vocalist.

Below, we're highlighting some of the best moments from the hilarious event, by posting a new "Roast of the Day" video every day! Check out the first four official "Roast of the Day" videos below!

Stay tuned for the next installment (and the ones after that)!

DAY TEN: Scott Ian roasts Corey Taylor

DAY NINE: Brian Posehn roasts Scott Ian

DAY EIGHT: Scott Ian roasts Sebastian Bach

DAY SEVEN: Pearl Aday roasts Sebastian Bach

DAY SIX: Jim Florentine roasts Corey Taylor

DAY FIVE: Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta roasts Sebastian Bach

DAY FOUR: Corey Taylor roasts Sebastian Bach

DAY THREE: Craig Gass Roasts Corey Taylor

DAY TWO: Don Jamieson Roasts Corey Taylor

Today, GuitarWorld.com and RevolverMag.com share the exclusive U.S. premiere of Corey Taylor's new version of Dio's "Rainbow in the Dark."

The track, which you can dig into below, is from a new Dio tribute album, Ronnie James Dio: This Is Your Life, which will be released April 1. You can check out the complete track and artist listing below.

On the track — which originally appeared on Dio's classic 1983 album, Holy Diver — the Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman is joined by Steel Panther guitarist (and former Guitar World columnist) Satchel, Stone Sour drummer Roy Mayorga and touring friends Jason Christopher and Christian Martucci.

"Ronnie was the most natural singer I have ever witnessed," Taylor says. "He could do anything, hit any note, make any audience lose their minds. He was one of the greatest and I'm so happy I got to see him live. 'Rainbow in the Dark' was the first Dio song I really loved to death--just a powerful, high-energy hard rock song that was so good I wished I'd written it.

"When I was asked to be a part of this album, I knew there was only one track I wanted to record and luckily I got it. I only hope I did it justice. Having had the privilege of meeting Ronnie before he passed, I hope he knows how much I loved him for who and what he was: One of the greatest."

Take a listen and let us know what you think in the comments or on Facebook!

The album will raise funds for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.

Ronnie James Dio: This Is Your Life Tracklist:

• 01. “Neon Knights” – Anthrax*
• 02. “The Last In Line” – Tenacious D*
• 03. “The Mob Rules” – Adrenaline Mob
• 04. “Rainbow In The Dark” – Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci, Jason Christopher*
• 05. “Straight Through The Heart” – Halestorm*
• 06. “Starstruck” – Motörhead with Biff of Saxon*
• 07. “Temple Of The King” – Scorpions*
• 08. “Egypt (The Chains Are On)” – Doro
• 09. “Holy Diver” – Killswitch Engage
• 10. “Catch the Rainbow” – Glenn Hughes, Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo, Scott Warren*
• 11. “I” – Jimmy Bain, Oni Logan, Rowan Robertson, Brian Tichy*
• 12. “Man On The Silver Mountain” – Rob Halford, Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, Scott Warren*
• 13. “Ronnie Rising Medley (featuring “A Light in the Black”, “Tarot Woman”, “Stargazer”, “Kill the King”)”– Metallica*
• 14. “This Is Your Life” – Dio

Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour has no problem going acoustic. In fact, he’s played loads of acoustic covers, and we must say, he sounds downright bitchin’.

Here Taylor tackles the classic Black Sabbath track “Paranoid.”

"Paranoid" is featured on Sabbath’s second album Paranoid, released in 1970. Released as the first single from the album, the song reached No. 4 on the U.K. Singles Chart and No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Check out Taylor as he performes live at the HMV Institute Birmingham in 2011. There’s a bit of shaky camera work, but it’s worth hanging in there!

For more about Taylor, visit thecoreytaylor.com.

In other Taylor news, the Monster Energy Roast On The Range with Corey Taylor is set for Thursday, May 15, at LC Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio.

Honoring and lampooning Taylor will be nearly a dozen musicians and comedians, led by Roastmaster Sebastian Bach.

The third annual event in Guitar World’s Rock & Roll Roast Comedy Series — and first to take place in the heartland — launches the weekend-long festivities for Rock On The Range (May 16 to 18), which last year drew rock fans from around the country to Columbus Crew Stadium with more than 105,000 tickets sold. For more info, head here.

The Monster Energy Roast On The Range With Corey Taylor is set for Thursday, May 15, at LC Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio.

Honoring and lampooning Slipknot and Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor will be nearly a dozen musicians and comedians, led by Roastmaster Sebastian Bach.

The third annual event in Revolver and Guitar World’s Rock & Roll Roast Comedy Series — and first to take place in the heartland — launches the weekend-long festivities for Rock On The Range (May 16 to 18), which last year drew rock fans from around the country to Columbus Crew Stadium with more than 105,000 tickets sold.

Joining Bach on the dais to take aim at Taylor will be an all-star group of musicians and comedians including Jim Florentine, Don Jamieson, Craig Gass, Brian Posehn, Taylor’s Slipknot bandmate M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan, Scott Ian, Pearl Aday and actor/comedian Finesse Mitchell. Jose Mangin (of Sirius/XM and Headbangers Ball fame) also will be on hand to serve as the evening’s official DJ and emcee.

Tickets for the Monster Energy Roast On The Range With Corey Taylor are on sale now starting at $75 (plus fees) at LC Pavilion, all Ticketmaster outlets and online at ticketmaster.com. General admission and balcony seating is available. Doors for the May 15 event will open at 8:30 p.m., and the Roast begins 9 p.m.

"Honestly, I don't know what to say. I'm a little nervous, a little excited, and of course a little gassy. But that could just be the excitement,” Taylor says. “I'm really looking forward to it, but knowing my friends and the possibilities for who could be a part of this, I have no idea what I'm getting into!"

In a career now spanning 15 years, Taylor has enjoyed chart-topping success, both with his face masked for Grammy-winning metal powerhouses Slipknot and his soul bared for multiple Grammy-nominees Stone Sour. Taylor has authored a pair of best-selling books (Seven Deadly Sins and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven), and makes his acting debut later this year alongside horror icon Robert Englund in Anchor Bay’s Fear Clinic. That impressive and varied resume only provides more fodder for the Roasters to devour, though.

Roastmaster Sebastian Bach says, “I really look forward to roasting my good buddy Corey Taylor in Columbus, Ohio this May. Corey is right now following my lead becoming the brand-new pretty boy frontman of heavy metal. Oh wait…he's wearing a mask. See you soon!”

“After an incredible launch for our Comedy Tent last year, we are excited that Revolver and Guitar World are bringing their Roast brand to Rock On The Range as we extend the experience another day,” says Danny Wimmer, Co-Executive Producer of Rock On The Range for Danny Wimmer Presents. “Corey Taylor has been waving the rock flag higher than anyone has over the past decade. What better way to honor one of rock's biggest stars than to make him uncomfortable on stage?”

A portion of the proceeds from the Monster Energy Roast On The Range With Corey Taylor will benefit MusiCares, a nonprofit organization founded by The Recording Academy to provide a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need, including emergency financial and medical assistance, addiction recovery services, and more.

Previous honorees in the Rock & Roll Roast Comedy Series include Zakk Wylde (2012) and Dee Snider (2013).

For more information, visit RoastOnTheRange.com.

As we reported last week, Kings of Chaos — a new supergroup featuring former Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum — performed a benefit show in Los Angeles November 18.

The band, which also features Corey Taylor, Glenn Hughes and guitarist Steve Stevens, performed at the Avalon Hollywood to assist the Dolphin Project.

Although the band performed a full set of hits from each of its members (and videos are readily available on YouTube), we've selected this performance of Guns N' Roses' "Mr. Brownstone," an Appetite for Destruction track.

“I’m thrilled to bring a bunch of heavyweights together for a fun night with fans,” Sorum said last week. “The main thing is to keep creating awareness for the Dolphin Project and everyone involved.” The Dolphin Project is an international organization dedicated to saving dolphins from slaughter and exploitation. For more information, visit dolphinproject.org.

For more about Kings of Chaos (who are TOURING NOW), visit kingsofchaosband.com.

Today, GuitarWorld.com presents an exclusive video of Corey Taylor recording Stone Sour's recent House of Gold & Bones albums. The video shows him working hard on Part 1, which was released last October, and Part 2, which came out this past Tuesday, April 9.

Be sure to check it out below.

This intimate, long-form video, which shows Taylor and the band behind the scenes in the studio, was directed by Clown of Slipknot.

Note that there are two exclusive videos in this series. Be sure to stay tuned for part two!

Note also that Stone Sour are in the midst of the first-ever Revolver Road to the Golden Gods Tour, which will take them from the US to Japan to Europe and beyond. To check out all the dates and ticket information, head here.

To order House of Gold & Bones Parts 1 and 2, head here and here.

For more Stone Sour info, check out stonesour.com and the band's Facebook page.

Another track from Dave Grohl's upcoming Sound City project has surfaced online.

The new song, "From Can To Can't," features Grohl collaborating with Corey Taylor of Slipknot. You can listen to the song, which is available now via iTunes, via the YouTube player below.

"From Can To Can't" is from Sound City — Real to Reel, the soundtrack to Grohl's new documentary about Sound City studios in southern California, where several classic albums, including Fleetwood Mac's Rumours and Nirvana's Nevermind, were recorded.

The track also features Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen and Scott Reeder of Kyuss.

The Sound City soundtrack also features Paul McCartney and Nirvana's Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear, who joined forces for the powerful "Cut Me Some Slack." The makeshift band performed the song at the 12.12.12 Concert and on Saturday Night Live a few days later.

Grohl's Sound City Players will perform at the film's January 18 premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

The new band features Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks, Creedence Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty, Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett, Alain Johannes, Chris Goss, Cheap Trick's Nielsen, Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk and others.

Corey Taylor, the Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman, has announced a new project with Dark Horse Comics — House of Gold & Bones.

With covers by Jason Shawn Alexander (Empty Zone, Abe Sapien), this limited four-issue series marks Taylor’s debut in the comics genre.

“I’ve been a die-hard fan of comics, on every level, my entire life,” Taylor says. “This has been a dream of mine for years now, and this project was tailor made for a comic, no pun intended. I couldn’t have picked a better company than Dark Horse to make this a reality. I have loved several of their titles for many years, going back to ’92. If we can get this crazy world out of my head and onto the canvas, it’ll be the best thing I’ve ever attempted. And with Dark Horse, I have every confidence that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

House of Gold & Bones is a multimedia experience that includes two Stone Sour albums via Roadrunner Records (Release date for Part 1 is October 22; Part 2 will follow in 2013), videos, online presence, album packaging, live shows and the Dark Horse Comics series. Each element will follow and expand on the story.

Taylor, author of last year’s Seven Deadly Sins, wrote the story, plus the lyrics for the 23 tracks that make up the two albums, as a linear story line. The Stone Sour songs set the tone and follow the action, with Taylor’s House of Gold & Bones comic expanding on the story.

Taylor will be signing in the Dark Horse Booth at New York Comic Con 3 p.m. October 12.

Stone Sour’s House of Gold & Bones Part 1 will be released October 22. House of Gold & Bones issue No. 1 will go on sale April 17, 2013.

Earlier today, Stone Sour posted two tracks from their upcoming album to YouTube. You can stream "Gone Sovereign/Absolute Zero" below.

The tracks are taken from House of Gold and Bones, Part 1, which marks the first disc of a planned double album. Part 1 is due out October 23 via Roadrunner, while the second disc is slated for a 2013 release.

According to frontman Corey Taylor, each half will contain 12 tracks, with a larger overall narrative connecting them. "Each disc will include one half of the story," the singer said via Twitter. "For lyrics, you’ll have to [visit] our site.”

Stone Sour fans got a special gift recently when the band released a new live DVD -- Live At Brighton -- to anyone who subscribes to their Dead Generation fan club via Stonesour.com.

Check out a sampling of the DVD below; it's the band performing “Digital (Did You Tell).”

Stone Sour will release the first half of their upcoming double album, House Of Gold And Bones, this fall through Roadrunner Records.