Former Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing is in hot water with fans. The legendary rocker released a controversial AI-assisted music video from his band, KK’s Priest. In it, Downing, ex-Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens, and the band cover Judas Priest’s 1974 classic song “Never Satisfied”.

The clip features live performance footage of the band along with an AI-generated version of Downing as a young man on his journey to becoming a heavy metal godfather. “Yes, this is my life now, and I will not be content until I find out what is missing from all of our lives,” the AI-Downing avatar says in the clip. “There is something very special out there that so many need, and until I find it, I will never be satisfied.”

JPSR Studio, the company that made the video, acknowledges on its website that it uses AI tools in its video production.

KK’s Priest, featuring KK Downing, dropped a Judas Priest cover with an AI-assisted music video

“AI film today is where online video was twenty-six years ago – dismissed by the same rooms that will depend on it within a decade,” the company states. “We were part of pioneering the first wave. We intend to be part of pioneering this one. This isn’t just AI. It’s videography, special effects and sound engineering – a full production discipline – with an AI-native pipeline inside it.”

The new music video has certainly sparked some conversation, and not all of it pleasant. “Ugh! Do we need more AI today?” one person asked sarcastically. Someone else commented, “KK, you are Judas Priest; this version kills! The AI video sucks, but you are my hero.”

Speaking about the video, Downing defended the use of AI. “That video could not have been made without today’s modern technology – bringing myself to life in such an accurate way is quite beyond belief,” he said, per Louder. “It’s basically bringing to life something that’s absolutely impossible to create or film today without it.”

Additionally, Downing commented on the difference between Owens and longtime Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford. It was Halford who originally sang on “Never Satisfied”.

“Two great singers and performers,” says Downing. “I mean, you know, it’s going to be tough. I guess the main thing is that Rob would be associated with the archive legacy, the original going back when. But obviously, Ripper is sort of capable of doing the same thing, but with a slightly different delivery and tonality of the voice.”

Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns

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Happy New Music Friday, friends! I am glad you made it through another week. You deserve some fresh tunes for all your trouble.

First off, I want to encourage you to check out our exclusive with Eva Elfie, featuring the premiere of her debut single along with a short interview conversation. If you dig dark, otherworldly electronic jams, this one is for you.

Next, I hope you’ll scroll through our weekly list and hear the new music from some really memorable and profound artists. Starting with some heavy metal legends.

“Splatter-Fu” by Gwar

The Scumdogs of the Universe are back, baby!

Gwar has announced a brand new project: GWAR and the Last Drive-In-Stein. It’s a split/collaborative album with horror master Joe Bob Briggs and his Shudder series The Last Drive-In. Side A of the album will be some new Gwar tunes, and Side B will feature John Brennan and the Bigfeet, the official Last Drive-In house band.

As part of the project, Brenne penned “Splatter-Fu” for the unholy leaders of the Bohabs, and the hard rockin’ tune is our first taste of the record. If you expected anything less than Gwar doing what they do best, well, I’m happy to disappoint you.

“KISS ME LIKE YOU MISS HER” by ADULT LEISURE

If you’re looking for some fresh new alt-rock in your life, look no further than Bristol, England’s Adult Leisure.

The band has announced that they signed with American label Big Loud Rock, a partnership they sealed with the new single “Kiss Me Like You Miss Her”. It’s a ditty that’s catchy as hell. There’s some early 90s shoegaze guitar tone and a dirty disco rhythm that just forces you to groove with it.

You’ll get addicted to this one.

“VAGABOND” by KING BUFFALO

I love the riff on this song so. f**king. much. It’s got this clear stoner metal energy, but there’s also a little post-grunge element to it that feels really good.

King Buffalo ARE those dudes. They jam so hard and leave nothing on the table. The new tune is called “Vagabond”. It’ll be featured on their new independent record, Doomsayer, which is out on Dec. 4.

“Trick Of The Night” by Reiyo The Giant

Reiyo The Giant is a beautiful anomaly who doesn’t fit into any box you try to build for her.

The genre-defying singer has announced her debut album, Trick Of The Night, heralded by a haunting, atmospheric title track. Her smooth, smoky voice glazes through a trip-hop-esque soundtrack. As it intensifies, her jazzy vocals take center stage with vulnerability and soul, leaving you haunted.

The ‘Temilotzin’ EP by TZOMPANTLI

Hailing from Southern California, Tzompantli is one of the most important bands in heavy music these days. The indigenous metal band writes and performs as a channeling of their ancestors, and their songs exude that spiritual maturity.

This week, the band steps outside their typical sound and brings forth an organic, acoustic offering. Dubbed the Temilotzin EP, these three naturalistic and tribal melodies find Tzompantli paying homage to their deep roots and rich heritage. Find the complete project wherever you stream music, but please consider supporting it through Bandcamp.

Feature image courtesy of Pit Records

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Longtime Finnish metal band Nightwish announced on October 15, 2026, that they were parting ways with vocalist Floor Jansen. The band made a statement about the split with an Instagram post, informing fans of their plans for the near future.

“After careful consideration, we have, in mutual agreement, decided to part ways,” the statement began. “This decision is necessary and important to us and our future ambitions. Thus, we will now pursue those goals in our own separate ways. We wish each other nothing but the very best on our respective artistic journeys.”

Nightwish added, “For you, dear listener, and indeed for us, this marks the end of a truly great voyage.” They then assuaged any fears that they were splitting up for good, writing, “Nightwish will continue. We will move forward and enter the studio in 2027 to record a new album.”

Great news for Nightwish fans. But maybe not so great for those who loved Floor Jansen’s vocals. Still, to continue after three decades and several lineup changes is no small feat for a band.

“As we celebrate 30 years of Nightwish, we couldn’t be more excited about our music and our future,” the post concluded.

As Nightwish Splits With Third Singer, Fans Wonder ‘What’s the Excuse This Time?’

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Floor Jansen joined Nightwish in 2012 after 12 years as vocalist for symphonic metal band After Forever and her own group ReVamp. Nightwish’s founding vocalist, Tarja Turunen, was let go from the band in 2005. Anette Olzon replaced her, but was also fired in 2012. Floor Jansen then joined as Olzon’s replacement.

Nightwish seems to have a recorded habit of booting their female vocalists due to interpersonal conflicts. Turunen initially told her bandmates in 2004 that she intended to leave after one more album, but wanted to keep the news quiet. However, she was then fired through an open letter on the band’s website in October 2005. The letter was essentially an assault on her character, with the band claiming they could no longer work with her.

Anette Olzon was fired for similar personality clashes, allegedly. She claimed her departure was because she was pregnant, and wanted to push back the tour to accommodate. Songwriter Tuomos Holopainen denied the request, according to Olzon. The band’s response claimed that “her personality didn’t fit this work community, and was even detrimental to it.”

Nightwish’s current statement describes a mutual decision to split with Floor Jansen. But the band’s track record offers another perspective. However, that’s likely not anything new for longtime Nightwish fans who have weathered the many lineup changes already. Comments on the band’s Instagram post prove as much.

Photo by Frank Hoensch/Redferns

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Judas Priest legend Ian Hill retired from the band after suffering a serious injury. He was the band’s longest-serving member. Now he’s opened up about the horrifying moment he knew his career with the band was over.

Speaking to independent metal journalist Vladyslav Stadnyk (Metal Pilgrim), Hill, the longest-serving member of Judas Priest, discussed his decision to retire from the band. On Oct. 9, 2026, Hill announced his retirement and blamed the “evil arthritis,” as well as other injuries, for his necessary exit.

“It is funny, because the last couple of tours have been a bit of a struggle,” Hill said, as transcribed by Blabbermouth. “Because this trouble is basically my shoulder and my thumb. [I’ve got a] great big lump on my thumb, which is all arthritis. I’ve been struggling with that for the past couple of tours or so. And it doesn’t go away, unfortunately, and it’s one of those things that just gets worse as time goes by.

Ian Hill was Judas Priest’s longest-serving member

Hill then confessed, “I almost retired at the end of the last tour.” he continued, “It’s funny the way it came about. Iron Maiden said, ‘Do you fancy doing a four-week tour of America this year?’ And I said, ‘Well, yeah, that sounds okay, a four-week tour of America, quick four weeks.’ Then they pulled out.”

“In the meantime, we’d put in Bloodstock in Britain, which is the festival in Britain,” he continued. “So you can’t tool up to do one show. So the next thing, ‘Oh, we’ll do one or two dates in Europe around Bloodstock.’ And nine weeks later… And that’s what did it. We did six shows in eight days.”

Hill went on to recall, “That was running up to Brussels, so that’s when the tendon snapped. Because we were averaging maybe a day on, a day off, day on, day off, so the crew could get to the next gig and what have you. And, of course, it was recovering on the days off. Obviously, I wasn’t doing anything, so it recovered. And then, of course, you go on stage, and you aggravate it all over again. But then it was sort of, like I say, six shows in eight days, and I’d never had time to recover.”

Arthritis and other injuries caused Hill to have to retire from Judas Priest

He then shared that it was “right before the encores on the Brussels show” that everything came crashing down. “I just felt a snap and a real sharp, searing pain,” he said. “I thought, ‘That’s it. That’s the end of it.'”

Even though he was injured, Hill remembered having to find a way to play through the pain. “For the encores,” he said, “I had to actually get my elbow and rest it on my stomach and pull the bass back so I could get down to the bottom of the neck.

Finally, he shared how his injury is doing these days. “It’s easing off a lot now,” he revealed. “I can sort of lift it and do things that I couldn’t do immediately after that. I mean, I couldn’t move it at all. From the elbow down, everything was fine. It worked a treat, but I just could not move my shoulder. And that’s why I had to miss the London show. I physically could not play the bass.”

Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images

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Megadeth was one of the most glaring absences from Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s final concert. Now, in a new interview, Ozzy’s widow/manager, Sharon, has explained why the band was not part of the Back to the Beginning festival.

Speaking to Rolling Stone in October 2026, Sharon opened up about making the big tribute event happen. “Oh my God, there were so many great, great performances,” she said. “It was just overwhelming. Even down to when the drummers were up there: Travis [Barker], Chad [Smith], and Danny [Carey]. Everything was just great that day. Without Tom Morello, without [Live Nation promoter] Andy Copping, it would never have happened.

Sharon Osbourne says they had too little time to fit everyone into “Back to the Beginning”

“Tom Morello was an absolute saint, and he is incredible,” Sharon added. “His sense of music and of what’s right and what’s not right, he’s just an incredible person. He needs a sainthood. He is the saint of metal. He’s so wise and knows what he’s talking about on so many different levels.”

“Andy Copping, who has been in our lives forever too, from Live Nation, he is just an incredible music man,” the longtime music mogul added. “There’s not one band on that show that wasn’t a friend of Andy’s. Even though he works for Live Nation, a huge corporation, everybody adores Andy Copping. He’s one of the most famous promoters in the world. He’s just the best.”

Rolling Stone journalist Kory Grow noted that they all “put together a great lineup”, to which Sharon replied by noting: “We really, really wanted Megadeth. There was no time. We couldn’t fit everybody in on one day. There were so many bands that were due to play that we just couldn’t because there was not enough time.”

Megadeth was in Europe around the time of “Back to the Beginning” and reportedly wanted to join

Notably, in a 2025 interview, Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo revealed to journalist Charrie Foglio that the band was just not “invited” to the big show.

“Not everybody gets invited to every party,” he said respectfully. “But at the same time, when we were in Europe last week, David [Mustaine] said that he was reaching out to everybody and telling them that we were in the neighborhood and that we were close enough to come. And if they wanted us to, we could stay over for a few days and work it out.”

He continued, emphasizing, “If they wanted us to. I don’t know what our manager had accomplished with that, but it didn’t get accomplished, so we just came home.”

Well, it seems now we have our answer.

Photo by Medios y Media/Getty Images

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Ozzy Osbourne’s death was a tragic moment for the metal community. For his Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi, it forced him to examine his own mortality.

Speaking with The Telegraph, Iommi, 78, shared that losing Ozzy, as well as other friends, has given him perspective on aging that he didn’t necessarily want. “I’ve had a few friends go now,” the legendary guitarist said, “and you think, ‘Blimey, hang on, I’m 78, how much longer?’”

Iommi then shared that he’s often had this “conversation” with his Queen counterpart Brian May. “He’s more dismal than me,” he quipped. “Bloody hell.”

Ozzy Osbourne passed away in July 2025

The founding frontman of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025. Just weeks prior, he shared the stage with his heavy metal bandmates for the final time: Iommi, Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward (drums).

“He was a part of my life for 60 years. I do miss him,” Iommi said. He went on to comment on how the band’s final show was somewhat tailored to Ozzy’s physical health needs. “We all were shocked because they had to help him in and carry him in and sit him down,” Iommi recalled. “We had a chat and a laugh, but it was just sad to see him like that.”

Iommi joked that Ozzy’s “never been there” mentally, but then noted that this time around his state of being was much more concerning. “It’s like he wasn’t there,” he said. “[I was] so used to, over the years, him running backwards and forwards and coming up, pulling faces and having a laugh.”

Black Sabbath played their final show at the “Back to the Beginning” fest just weeks before Ozzy’s death

“All of a sudden, there I am playing to the back of a chair,” Iommi continued. “Also, Bill wanted me to stand by him because he was unsure of certain things. But we got through it, and Ozzy was pleased afterwards. I’m glad we did it.”

Finally, Iommi shared how he felt about Ozzy doing two sets that night: a solo set and then one with Black Sabbath. He seemed to chalk it up to Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon Osbourne wanting to go big.

“I did say to him: ‘I don’t think you should do two sets.’ I said: ‘You either do your set and then we’ll come on and just bow or whatever. Or, do our set.’ But he wanted to do two,” Iommi said. “Or Sharon wanted him to do two. I don’t know.”

“But he did, and I was concerned that he was really going to knock himself out,” Iommi concluded. “I knew it was going to be the last time of playing [live] in Sabbath, yeah. But I didn’t know as far as with Oz [that he was] going to go that quick.”

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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Symphonic metal singer Amanda Somerville has been battling brain cancer. In an update on her health, she’s revealed that the brain tumor doctors found is inoperable. However, she is continuing treatment that will allow her to “gain time.”

Taking to Facebook, Somerville shared a heartfelt, informative post to let her fans know how she’s doing. “My dear Somervillains,” she began. “I owe you a personal word. Many of you have heard by now – the news has been traveling faster than I have – and I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to speak to you directly.”

“These past weeks have been a blur of hospitals, scans, biopsies, and difficult conversations,” Somerville continued. “And I needed time to understand what we’re facing before I could find the words. And with 3 little girls, it’s imperative that I can function.”

Amanda Somerville, who sang with Kamelot and Epica, has been diagnosed with brain cancer

The beloved singer then shared details about her diagnosis. “On September 8th, I was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma (DMG),” she explained. “[It’s] an aggressive, cancerous brain tumor that is unfortunately not operable and is only treated to gain time. I am currently undergoing radiation and chemotherapy here in Germany, and Sander Gommans [Somerville’s husband] is by my side through all of it.

“I won’t pretend this isn’t serious. It is,” she continued. “But I am being cared for by excellent doctors, and we are pursuing every option available to us, including new treatments that give us real reason for hope.

Finally, Somerville concluded, “Your messages, your prayers, your love – I have felt all of it, even in the silence. Thank you for carrying me. For now, just knowing you’re with us means everything.”

Somerville’s husband, Sander Gommans, announced her cancer battle in September 2026

Previously, Gommans shared the news of Somerville’s cancer battle in a separate Facebook post. “Hi friends, I have some very sad news to share,” he wrote. “The love of my life, mother of my three daughters and my beautiful wife Amanda Somerville, has a malignant and aggressive brain tumor.”

“We’re shocked, devastated, and I can’t describe the challenges we’re facing as a family right now,” Gommans continued. “We’re very grateful with the help we’re getting from family and friends. Positive thoughts help, prayers help, [and] keeping us in your minds [helps]. Please be there for Amanda and our kids and have us in your minds.”

He finally added, “Feel free to share this message in a respectful way. Amanda gives so much to all of us…love, music, friendship, strength….it’s time to send out hope and power to her. Thanks, it means a lot to us.”

Photo by Adam Berry/Redferns via Getty Images

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Mastodon have finally achieved the most perfect merchandise product. The band has pressed some records of their new album, Marrow Deep, with actual Mastodon fossils.

The band’s team announced the new vinyl in a press release and social media clip, revealing how they pressed the records. “Mastodon have just unveiled what may go down as one of the most distinctive vinyl variants in the history of the medium,” read the press release. “A pressing of their acclaimed new album Marrow Deep that contains actual fossilized mastodon teeth that have been ground into dust.”

The Mastodon fossils were a gift to the band from a fan about two decades ago

Explaining how the idea came about, reps noted that someone previously gifted the fossils to Mastodon. “The band were gifted the non-display-worthy fossils by a fan some 20 years ago and had long pondered what to do with them. Given the title and theme of the new album, bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders began to envision somehow pressing them into an actual record.”

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Eventually, the band started looking for ways to make their dream a reality. “After weeks of inquiries to pressing plants across the globe,” they had some luck. The band’s label, Loma Vista Recordings, “found a willing partner in Waxworks Records.”

Specialists ground up the mastodon fossils very fine so as not to impact the playability of the vinyls

They “enlisted the help of the geology department at the University of Georgia.” Specialists there helped “grind the bones into particles fine enough to not affect sound quality or playability.”

Next, Mastodon “visited the vinyl plant to personally hand-sprinkle the bone dust and press each copy.” This is detailed in a ‘making of’ video [seen above] that they shared on their socials.”

Now, there are not many copies of this pressing available, “due to the finite quantity of bone dust available.” The publishers strictly limited the pressing to 170 copies. To “give fans and collectors an equal shot at getting one, some copies are being released through an exclusive draw format.” Those interested in trying to get one can register at Loma Vista’s merch site for a chance to purchase. They price the records at $150. They will not charge you if you do not win the lottery. Registration is now live and ends on Oct. 12, 2026, at 9:00 AM.

Photo by Amy E. Price/Getty Images

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The Grand Theft Auto VI soundtrack is really filling out. Among a slew of new songs and artists, there is The Chamber 106.6, a heavy metal radio station. And who will be hosting that station, you ask? Well, none other than thrash metal icons Kerry King and Tom Araya from Slayer.

On The Chamber 106.6, fans will hear Slayer’s “Raining Blood,” Pantera’s “I’m Broken,” and Black Sabbath’s “I.” It’s also presumed that some banter will be involved, so you can likely expect to hear King and Araya riffing (pun intended). Check out official details below.

The Chamber 106.6

Crushing metal has landed in Leonida. Jump in the pit with DJ Kerry and DJ Tom for classic metal from the 80s and beyond as they channel Leonida’s deep metal roots with tracks like:

• Black Sabbath – “I”
• Pantera – “I’m Broken”
• Slayer – “Raining Blood”

It’s unclear what other tunes might turn up on the station, but the description seems to imply there may be more.

There’s tons of other great music coming to GTA 6

In addition to The Chamber, Rockstar Games has added a bunch of other great radio stations to GTA 6.

One example is Back Country Radio, which features some classic, old-school country tunes. “MW and Delta Dawne blast renegade country music to the Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, and beyond,” Rockstar says of the station. “Stay tuned for Back Country’s roving reporter, swamp meteorologist, and Delta’s not-so-secret lover Mud Dog Mike checking in from the driver’s seat of his Grassrivers airboat.”

This station will play artists like David Allan Coe, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Jr., and Waylon Jennings.

For pop fans, there’s Flash FM. “The Vice City institution that delivers the best in pop music with Robyn and Alex,” reads a description of the station. “Guaranteed to make you dance no matter where you find yourself in the Goodtime State.” Here you’ll find artists like Zara Larsson, Charli xcx, MGMT, PinkPantheress.

If you’re more of a Southern rap fan, they have you covered with Dirty South Classics. “A little Southern hospitality from Trick and Trina, blasting regional rap and hip-hop classics. From the beach to the block, nobody reps Leonida and the South like they do.” Players will hear David Banner, JT Money, DJ Khaled, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross, and Pitbull on this station.

There will also be AfroBank FM, which features the best in African music. This includes artists like Asake, Pat Thomas & Ebo Taylor, and DJ Lag, as well as Robot Boii and Kamo Mphela.

Finally, fans will be able to play Cocoteo FM, a station dedicated to modern Latin music. You will definitely find Bad Bunny here, along with Axel Rulay, Farruko, El Alfa, Romeo Santos, and El Chaval de la Bachata.

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker, who inspired songs by Ozzy Osbourne and Iron Maiden—among many others—has died. He was 86.

According to a report from the AP, Bakker died of unspecified causes on Oct. 5. In a statement, his wife, Lori Bakker, said: “He was a pioneer of Christian television, but to me, he was my husband, my best friend, and the man I was honored to walk beside through so many seasons of life and ministry.”

Jim Bakker was a famous TV evangelist in the 1970s and 80s. He and his then-wife Tammy Faye worked with the late Pat Robertson at his Christian Broadcasting Network, which included The 700 Club. They later co-founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network with Paul and Jan Crouch. Eventually, the former couple left to create their own ministries: PTL (Praise The Lord) and the PTL Satellite Network.

Jim Bakker was known for his strong opinions against rock and metal music in the 70s and 80s

Bakker’s televangelism career came crashing down in 1989 when he was convicted of massive financial fraud. He was also at the center of an alleged rape case involving church secretary Jessica Hahn. Bakker was accused of paying Hahn hundreds of thousands of dollars in hush money, which he denied. Ultimately, Bakker was slapped with a 45-year prison sentence that was later reduced to eight years.

So how does this connect to Ozzy and Maiden? I’m glad you asked. Bakker was often part of the outspoken group of religious leaders who criticized rock and metal music for being evil and satanic. IN response to this, Iron Maiden went pretty hard against organized religion on their 1990 album No Prayer for the Dying. Specifically, their hit song “Holy Smoke” was very much about Bakker and his ilk.

“This is about TV preachers and all the various lies they tell,” Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson said at the time, per UCR. “I just had this big image of all those ovens in the death camps with the preachers’ feet sticking out, and holy smoke going up.”

As for Ozzy Osbourne, he took aim at Bakker and fellow disgraced televangelist Jimmy Swaggart on 1988’s “Miracle Man”. Swaggart had also been caught up in a sexual infidelity controversy. By this time, both religious leaders had made tearful public pleas to their parishioners both domestically and abroad.

“They were always putting my records down and saying I was the Antichrist,” Osbourne once told Uncut, “and it turned out they weren’t so holy after all.”

Other music artists inspired by Bakker and his actions include Genesis and Black Sabbath in their Ronnie James Dio era.

Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images

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