Ronnie James Dio didn't kiss ass or play nice—he straight-up called out the greedy suits who shoved unwanted garbage down his throat and turned his legacy into product. In this raw, never-heard-before 2005 Chris Akin sit-down, the metal god exposes the dirty business tricks behind "Evil or Divine" and laughs off those overblown Rainbow reunion fairy tales. This is the uncut truth corporate rock never wanted you to hear—ditch the fake histories and get the fire straight from the legend himself! Smash play, subscribe, and hit the bell for more no-holds-barred chaos!

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Teasers:

🔥 The "Evil or Divine" cash-grab Dio never asked for—and why he called it out as industry BS!

🤬 How the suits forced products Dio despised and tried to control the narrative!

🏴‍☠️ Rainbow reunion rumors? Dio shuts 'em down hard—"blown way out of proportion!"

💀 The grounded, no-filter side of the metal god you never saw in polished interviews!

⚡ Why real fans need this lost sit-down to burn the corporate lies to the ground!

🤘 The truth behind the business end that almost buried the legend—Dio fights back!

Gear Up for the Chaos:

Black Sabbath 70-75 Box Set — Own the roots before the posers rewrite history—snag it now or stay clueless! https://amzn.to/4oUeEIg

Metallica 88-94 Collection — The golden era that still crushes—grab this before it vanishes like bad decisions! https://amzn.to/4phEFBg

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CMS Hail and Snore Pillow — Sleep like a metal god after raging all night—your neck will thank you, poser! https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/listing/hail-and-snore-pillow

Cause & Effect Judas Priest — Chris Akin's brutal breakdown of the Metal Gods—read it or remain ignorant forever! https://amzn.to/4cvovB2

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CREEPER USA has officially unleashed their long-awaited new album CRUSHING, and it is exactly what the title promises. Out now via No Life Til Metal Records, this album delivers no filler and no trends—just straight-up, Texas groove-driven heavy metal done the way it is meant to be.

Formed in 2007 by guitarist Jimi Fritz, CREEPER has spent nearly two decades grinding it out in the trenches of the Texas underground. With the current lineup locked in and firing on all cylinders since 2021, the band has evolved into a tightly wound wrecking crew built for both stage destruction and studio precision.

Recorded at MediaTech Institute, House of Wags, and Boot Hill Studios, CRUSHING has been shaped by Texas metal heavyweights Kerry Crafton and Sterling Winfield. Winfield’s impressive track record, having worked with legends like Pantera, King Diamond, and Mercyful Fate, alongside Crafton’s pedigree from Rigor Mortis and Warbeast, has forged a record that is punishing, precise, and unapologetically heavy.

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The sound? Think the aggression of Slayer, the groove and swagger of Pantera, and the Southern grit of Exhorder, all filtered through CREEPER’s own battle-hardened identity. This is not nostalgia; this is legacy-level metal carried forward the right way.

The lineup delivering the damage includes:
- Texx Duncan – Vocals
- Jimi Fritz – Guitar
- Paul Fritz – Guitar
- Ian Train – Bass
- Kurtis Lawrence – Drums

Over the years, CREEPER has shared stages with heavy hitters including Drowning Pool, Symphony X, UDO Dirkschneider, Loudness, Metal Church, Anvil, Primal Fear, Overkill, and Prong, proving night after night they belong in that company.

Standout singles from the album include “The River,” “Big Bad Wolf,” and the hard-hitting “White Devil,” all showcasing the band’s blend of bone-cracking riffs, thunderous rhythm work, and commanding vocal delivery.

This isn’t a comeback. This isn’t hype. This is a band that has put in the years, sharpened the blade, and delivered when it counted. CRUSHING is available now on digital, CD, and limited vinyl through No Life Til Metal Records, as well as select retailers including Target, Amazon, Best Buy, Tower Records, Walmart, and Bandcamp.

For fans who still believe heavy metal should hit like a sledgehammer and groove like a freight train, CREEPER just dropped your soundtrack.

For fans of:
- Slayer
- Pantera
- Exhorder

About CREEPER:
CREEPER is a Texas metal band that has been carving their path through the heavy metal scene since 2007. With a relentless drive and a commitment to authenticity, they have solidified their place among the giants of the genre. Their sound is characterized by powerful riffs, dynamic rhythms, and unforgettable melodies.

LOS ANGELES — In a candid new interview, Don Dokken has opened up about the shifting tides of the heavy metal landscape in the late 1980s, specifically recalling how touring with Metallica during the 1988 "Monsters of Rock" stadium trek signaled the end of Dokken’s era of dominance.

Speaking with former Geffen A&R executive Tom Zutaut, the Dokken frontman didn't hold back when describing the intensity Metallica brought to the stage every night—even though they were technically the opening act.

"It's Hard to Play with Metallica"

The 1988 tour featured a powerhouse lineup including Van Halen, Scorpions, Metallica, Dokken, and Kingdom Come. At the time, Dokken was billed above Metallica, but according to Don, the musical climate was changing rapidly.

"They kicked our butts. It's hard to play with Metallica," Don admitted. "I remember on 'Monsters,' they were going on right before us... I told [our manager], 'It's kind of hard to go on stage and sing "In My Dreams" after Metallica's set.'"

Don noted that Metallica, then in the midst of mixing their technical masterpiece ...And Justice for All, performed with a "do or die" attitude that was impossible to ignore. "They crushed us," he added. "They were just in your face, over the top."

The Infamous "No Bass" Mix

Don also shared a humorous anecdote regarding Metallica’s then-new bassist, Jason Newsted. During the tour, Newsted reportedly visited Don's hotel room to play him a track from the upcoming ...And Justice for All album.

"He said, 'Just give me your opinion, as a producer. Do you think the bass is too low?'" Don recalled. "And I said, 'Honestly, I wouldn't know 'cause I can't hear any bass.' I didn't mean to be mean... but it was true." The lack of audible bass on that specific record remains one of the most debated production choices in metal history.

Internal Strife and the End of Dokken

While Metallica was ascending to superstardom, Dokken was unraveling from within. Don revealed that the pressure of the tour, combined with severe internal tensions and drug use, led to the band's eventual breakup.

Don described a "depressing" environment where he would look for guitarist George Lynch during a solo, only to find him missing from the stage because he was "standing behind his Marshall amplifiers doing coke."

Lynch has previously shared his side of the story, claiming that the management had informed the band just before the tour that Don intended to break up the group and keep the name for himself. Lynch admitted that this revelation left him "dispirted," leading him to turn to substances to cope during the tour.

Legacy of the Monsters

Despite the friction, the 1988 "Monsters of Rock" tour is remembered as a pivotal moment in rock history—the literal passing of the torch from the "hair metal" melody of the 80s to the thrash-fueled juggernaut that Metallica would become.

"Cliff [Burnstein, manager] saw it," Don said. "He said, 'These guys are gonna be huge.' Fast forward 10 years... now they're probably the biggest band in the world."

Dokken eventually reunited for various tours and a 2023 studio album, Heaven Comes Down, but for Don, the summer of '88 remains the moment the "machine gun" of thrash metal officially took over the stadium stage.