The show known as TDR Rocks or Totally Driven Radio has been rebooted as The Rock n Ragni show, which features its host, former ECW original pro-wrestler Bay "Chubby Dudley" Ragni doing his in-depth music interviews. On this episode, sits down and talk with modern day guitar god, Firewind and ex-Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Gus G.

They discuss the Coronavirus pandemic, playing guitar for Ozzy, Sharon Osbourne, Zakk Wylde. Michael Sweet of Stryper, the new Firewind album and more.

Listen to "The Rock n Ragni Show #5 w/ Gus G. of Firewind (Ex-Ozzy Osbourne)" on Spreaker.

Firewind have released a video for their new single, "Welcome To The Empire", the opening track of their forthcoming self-titled album, due in May. The video, directed by Panagiotis Kountouras, VFX and post production done by Media Distribution Partners, can be seen below.

Gus G. states: "'Welcome To The Empire' is the opening track of the album and an obvious choice for a single. Making the video was an ongoing work in progress as we filmed the band performance back in January. However, we wanted to blend in futuristic visual effects for the story and as I'm a huge sci-fi movie fan, I wanted to incorporate something along those lines. Our director Panagiotis Kountouras came up with the concept and we collaborated with MDP, a vfx company out of Hollywood, CA. The story is set in a dystopia, where humanity has been surrendered to the New World Order. Two cyborgs are playing with the future of mankind in a chess game. Each move has consequences and technology will be the only winner. It was a really challenging production, but we love the end result. We hope you will too!"

The new album, Firewind, will be released on May 15 via AFM Records. Pre-order the album here.

With his charismatic voice, new member Herbie Langhans (Avantasia, Radiant, Seventh Avenue, amongst others) refines each and every last one of the ten new songs and infuses them with an expressive force that is remarkable.

Gus G. and Herbie Langhans got to know each other back in the autumn of 2019, when the Firewind leader was looking for a suitable replacement for Henning Basse after the tour with Queensrÿche. Just a few weeks later the recordings for “Firewind” were a done deal, ready for Swedish sound engineer Tobias Lindell (Europe, Avatar, H.E.A.T.) to mix them in Lindell Audio Studios.

The result is impressive indeed. “Firewind” boasts 11 prime examples of melodic metal songs. The skill, craftsmanship and power bleeds through every note, a passion you can almost taste, with hymnal melodies as a particularly outstanding feature.

Tracklisting:

"Welcome To The Empire"
"Devour"
"Rising Fire"
"Break Away"
"Orbitual Sunrise"
"Longing To Know You"
"Perfect Stranger"
"Overdrive"
"All My Life"
"Space Cowboy"
"Kill The Pain"

"Rising Fire" video: