While out promoting the new album from his Ashes Of Ares project, Matt Barlow was asked during an interview with Greece's TV War if he's been in touch with his former Iced Earth bandmate and brother-in-law, Jon Schaffer, since Schaffer's arrest due to his involvement in the US Capitol riot events on January 6, 2021.

In April 2021, Schaffer admitted to breaching the US Capitol, wearing a tactical vest and armed with bear repellent, and pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

Keeping his answer short and sweet, Matt says (see below): "Well, I have spoken to Jon but, you know, we don't talk about that kind of stuff. So, he's okay. I mean, he's my brother-in-law."

Nine years after forming, legendary heavy metal duo, Ashes Of Ares, have released their third studio album, Emperors And Fools.

This album sees Matt Barlow and Freddie Vidales take the darkness and aggression from their previous album, Well Of Souls, to a higher echelon. The writing process began almost immediately after Well Of Souls was released. As usual, it was a true collaborative effort between the two, with ideas originating from one or the other, then evolving and being refined to what is presented on Emperors And Fools.

The album flow is designed to keep the listeners on edge while bringing them from fast, heavy, pounding anthems to somber, melancholic, emotional pieces. The album ends with the eleven-minute long epic “Monster’s Lament” which features the long-imagined joining of forces between Matt Barlow and Tim "Ripper" Owens.

Emperors And Fools is released on digipak CD, limited Turquoise/Black Splatter Vinyl (300 copies worldwide), limited Red/Black Splatter Vinyl (300 copies worldwide) and digital streaming and download format.

• Produced by Ashes of Ares
• Mixed and mastered by Byron Filson at Villain Recording, Phoenix, Arizona
• Drums recorded by Ed Warrin of LCS Productions
• Artwork by Kamil Pietruczynik

Order the album here.

Tracklisting:

"A City In Decay" (Intro)
"I Am The Night"
"Our Last Sunrise"
"Primed"
"Where God Fears To Go"
"Emperors And Fools"
"By My Blade"
"What Tomorrow Will Bring"
"The Iron Throne"
"Gone"
"Throne Of Iniquity" (CD Exclusive Track)
"Monster’s Lament"

"Gone" video:

"By My Blade" lyric video:

Ashes Of Ares are:

Matt Barlow - Vocals
Freddie Vidales – Guitars, Bass

Guests:

Drums on all tracks by Van Williams
Keyboard intro composed by Jonah Weingarten
1st solo “The Iron Throne” by Wiley Arnett of Sacred Reich
2nd solo “The Iron Throne” by Charlie Mark
2nd solo “Monster’s Lament” by Bill Hudson
Guest vocals “Monster’s Lament” by Tim "Ripper" Owens
Keyboards “Monster’s Lament” by Brian Trainor