The Goo 1
THE METAL ROUND-UP Powered by overdrive.ie ORAN O
’BEIRNE METAL Legendary Iron Maiden drummer Nick McBrain has formally stepped down from touring with the band. Without pomp or circumstance, the news was announced on the bands socials shocking Maiden fans around the globe. McBrain has been drumming for Iron Maiden for 42 years and features on all studio and live albums since his debut, ‘Piece of Mind’ in 1983. The decision for Nicko to step down follows a minor transient ischemic (TIA) which left part of his right side paralysed in 2023. It is understood that he will still feature on future band recordings with current British Lion drummer, Simon Dawson will feature as the bands touring drummer. French Metal titans, Gojira have released their opening ceremony performance for this year's Olympics as an official music video. The GRAMMY®-nominated single “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)” was viewed all over the world and gained the band huge exposure in a mainstream capacity. This historic moment saw Gojira become the first metal band ever to perform at the Olympic Games, sharing the stage with global icons like Lady Gaga and Celine Dion. Scotland’s Catalysis return with their powerful new single, ‘Lazarus’. The track marks a bold new chapter for the Dundee band, showcasing a reimagined sound and a reinvigorated lineup that propels their music to unprecedented heights. In June of 2024, the band underwent a significant lineup change, with ‘Lazarus’ being the first new music from the band. Recent social media posts have suggested that Carlow/ Kildare Metal entity, Stereo Nasty are planning a return with new music in 2025. The band announced their decision to bring things to a close back in 2019 despite the critical acclaim from their excellents studio albums, ‘Twisting the Blade’ 2017 and 2015's ‘Nasty By Nature’. For more information, check out the band's socials. Welcome back lads! Thrash Metal crew, Psykosis have revealed the first new single from their forthcoming new album, ‘Mind Games’. The new single ‘Boiling Point’ is a whiplash-inducing brick to the face that most definitely wets the appetite for more. ‘Boiling Point’ is now available on all good streaming platforms, so be sure to add it to your playlist. For more info on Psykosis, simply search ‘Psykosis Thrash Metal’ on socials and full your boots! Northern Irish “War Jazz” trio, Acid Age, have unveiled the cover art for their forthcoming new album ‘Perilous Compulsion’. Speaking of the new album, the band says; “This is a psychedelic symphony of savage proportions. We truly believe Perilous Compulsion is totally original sounding and unlike anything you have heard before. That's why CATEGORY 7 we are so proud of it. We can do no better and it is my hope that in 20 years time it will be thought of as a classic”. Keep a lookout for vinyl preorders via the bands socials. Canadian doom / sludge metal outfit Dopethrone will bring their “Broke Sabbath” tour to Voodoo Belfast on Tuesday 18th March and The Grand Social on 19th, 2025. Tickets on sale now from www.ticketmaster.ie. Thin Lizzy is back with a fresh take on some of their most iconic tracks, marking their first new release in over four decades. This unique acoustic album reimagines beloved songs, offering a stripped-back sound that exposes the core of their songwriting. Original vocals from Phil Lynott are paired with brand-new guitar parts from founding member Eric Bell, creating an entirely new listening experience for fans. Commenting on the project, Eric Bell said, "I remember recording 'Eire' from our debut album 'Thin Lizzy' in 1971. I wrote the main guitar part first on acoustic and then we built it up from there. I played the 12-string acoustic throughout the track and introduced the electric on top. This was useful in the studio in Belfast recently where we recorded fresh guitar parts to allow us to create new Thin Lizzy acoustic versions of some of our favourite songs, by recreating those original acoustic parts and adding the vocals which Philip laid down on the day and those original drum parts which Brian came up with in the original recording sessions”. Pick up a copy from your local record store from January 24th. PAGE 37 JAN '25