James Hetfield proposed to his girlfriend at the bottom of the ocean surrounded by whale sharks, Maynard James Keenan is telling anyone who'll listen that society is broken, and Symphony X fans can finally stop asking "when." The week starts loud.
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James Hetfield Proposes Underwater During Shark Dive
Metallica's frontman popped the question to Adriana Gillett while swimming with whale sharks on Friday the 13th. Hetfield held up an underwater sign reading "Adriana Gillett, will you marry me?" and Gillett said yes, calling it "the most unique, special, and romantic proposal a Pisces could ever imagine." Hetfield's divorce from his wife of 25 years, Francesca, was finalized in 2022 after a painful public chapter that included him openly discussing battles with addiction and self-esteem. This feels like a man who found solid ground again.
Maynard James Keenan Doesn't Think Any of This Is Normal
Puscifer's new album is called Normal Isn't, and Keenan is making sure the title does the heavy lifting. In a detailed interview, the Tool and Puscifer frontman connected the erosion of the American education system directly to the political dysfunction tearing the country apart. He compared the current climate to historical patterns of "violent oppression" and didn't sugarcoat the outlook: "It's gonna get darker before it gets better." Whether you agree with his politics or not, Keenan remains one of the few voices in heavy music willing to say something that might actually cost him ticket sales.
Symphony X Confirm New Album Is Taking Shape
Eleven years since Underworld and Michael Romeo says the follow-up is finally in motion. The problem was never a lack of material — Romeo told Brazilian media he has over 1,000 riff ideas logged — but the constant touring cycle post-COVID kept interrupting the writing process. Frontman Russell Allen says he's received roughly 10 hours of material to work through. The target is to have it recorded by the end of 2026. Prog metal fans, exhale — cautiously.
Anthrax Bring the Deep Cuts to Australia
Scott Ian is rethinking setlists for Anthrax's four-date Australian headlining run starting March 23 in Brisbane. In a recent interview, Ian talked about the disconnect between what the band considers deep cuts and what fans actually know — pointing out that opening with "A.I.R." from Spreading the Disease got blank stares from some crowds. When a band has this much catalogue, every show becomes an argument about what makes the cut. Australia hasn't had a headlining Anthrax tour in over two decades, so the setlist almost doesn't matter — but Ian's clearly putting thought into it anyway.
Cradle of Filth Stockpiling for Album 15
Dani Filth says Cradle of Filth have a "huge amount" of tracks written and will hit the studio in roughly three weeks. The plan is to sift through the pile with a producer and decide what makes the record. No word on the final lineup, which matters given last year's legal chaos with former members. But Filth sounds energized, calling the post-lockdown era one of the band's most creative periods. Album 15 is coming whether the drama resolves or not.
Iron Maiden Documentary Promises Secrets
Adrian Smith says Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition, the band's feature documentary hitting theaters May 7, will reveal things that "have never come to light before." Directed by Malcolm Venville and featuring commentary from Lars Ulrich, Javier Bardem, and Chuck D, the film charts Maiden's five-decade run. Smith admitted watching yourself on a big screen makes you want to "hide behind the chairs," but says fans will get depth they haven't seen before.
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