Many years ago, I bought this cool Scorpions CD: Big City Nights (ReboundRecords). I remember buying it new and it was pretty cheap; the price was around $5 or so. I believe it was Walmart that had this CD too; sometimes my memory amazes me, despite not remembering what I ate for dinner yesterday. Truth. Here is a one-sentence rant before I continue: Scorpions should be inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame!!
Okay, I shall continue onward. I love this band. Every era of Scorpions I love. I was fortunate to see them headline the M3 Rock Festival back in 2010, with my great/best Metal Buddy Scott Coverdale. What a fun time. Just about every song on this Big City Nights compilation was performed by the Scorpions at that M3 Rock Festival; at least to the best of my (once again) amazing memory. Chuckle, chuckle. I’ve presented the tracklist for this CD below, no worries.
I have grown extremely tired of Still Loving You and I’m certain I’m not alone. That song never really hit me. No big deal for it’s the only Scorpions song out of their iconic catalog that I just skip over. Rock You Like A Hurricane is teetering on the edge of being tiresome for me. What saves this song for me at this point is the guitar solo. Enough negativity! I do get psyched out of my cranium by Can’t Live Without You, No One Like You, Big City Nights and Rhythm Of Love. All these songs I’ve mentioned in this post are on this CD.
I’m happy I bought this Scorpions CD when I did. I have no plans to get rid of it either. That’s a good thing, due to my selling off of many CDs in recent years. As you look over the tracklist on the back of this CD, you’ll see there are 4 songs that are live versions. The live songs are from the stupendous World Wide Live from 1985, with the exception of Wind Of Change which is from Live Bites (1995).
Granted, this CD compilation is missing many classic Scorpions songs; heck, it’s only one CD and I’m certain it was never meant to be a definitive Scorpions greatest hits package. Thank you for visiting Metal Odyssey, I truly appreciate it. Please stay safe out there, help out one another and… Metal Be Thy Name. – Stone
We have been informed by our Japanese Promoter, Creativeman Productions that they are cancelling all their International Artists’ shows in Japan up to May 31. The Iron Maiden shows will therefore not be taking place in Tokyo on May 19 & 20, and in Osaka on May 22.
We send our best wishes to the people of Japan and to all our fans there.
DRAGONFORCE – Touring in support of their new studio album ‘Extreme Power Metal’, released via Metal Blade, DRAGONFORCE are about to embark on a US tour! USA 2020 – Mission 2 begins on March 5th, at Club Red in Phoenix, Arizona. Check the tour flyer above for the rundown of dates and venues.
USA, here we come! Here’s the next bunch of US dates for 2020! So much looking forward to this! Hope to see y’all! Love you!!! Cheers, Doro
April 16.2020 – Phoenix, Arizona (USA) Club Red
April 17.2020 – San Diego, California (USA) Brick By Brick
April 19.2020 – Los Angeles, California (USA) Rainbow 48th Anniversary Party (free show)
May 02.2020 – Columbia, Maryland (USA) M3 Festival
May 03.2020 – Poughkeepsie, New York (USA) The Chance
May 04.2020 – Sellersville, Pennsylvania (USA) Sellersville Theater
May 06.2020 – Cleveland, Ohio (USA) The Winchester
May 07.2020 – Chicago, Illinois (USA) Reggies
North America, We heard you and now it’s your turn… MERCYFUL FATE are headlining this year’s Psycho Las Vegas in August, this will be our only appearance in North America this year. Get your tickets now at vivapsycho.com | The curse of the pharaoh awaits…
We will release “Maid In Japan – Future World Live 30th Anniversary” on April 10, 2020 (CD/DVD, Blu-Ray, LP, & Digital) via Frontiers Music srl. More details to be released in the coming weeks, but as you’ll see from the tracklisting, the release includes a performance of FUTURE WORLD in its entirety!
Tracklisting CD / DVD / BR:
1. Fw30 (Intro)
2. Future World
3. We Came To Rock
4. Love Games
5. Yellow Rain
6. Loud ´N´proud
7. Rodeo
8. Needles In The Dark
9. Eye Of The Storm
10. Long Way To Go
11. Mother Of All Lies
12. Kingmaker
13. Bull’s Eye
14. Little Drops Of Heaven
15. Sin-Decade
DVD and Blu-Ray:
– The videos:
+Little Drops Of Heaven
+Mother Of All Lies
+Nuclear Boomerang
+My Soul To Take
+A Heart Without A Home
+Kingmaker
+Face The World
+Bull’s Eye
+Last Beauty On Earth
+Serpentine
+Will You Still Kiss Me (When I See You In Heaven)
– Balingen Documentary
– Japan Documentary
Feb. 26 – Anaheim CA – House of Blues
Feb. 27 – San Francisco CA – Slims
Feb. 28 – Las Vegas NV – House of Blues
Feb. 29 – San Diego CA – House of Blues
Mar. 01 – Phoenix AZ – Crescent Ballroom
Mar. 02 – Albuquerque NM – Sunshine Theater
Mar. 04 – San Antonio TX – Aztec
Mar. 05 – Corpus Christi TX – House of Rock
Mar. 06 – Houston TX – Warehouse
Mar. 07 – Dallas TX – Gas Monkey
Mar. 08 – New Orleans LA – House of Blues
Mar. 09 – Tampa FL – The Ritz
Mar. 10 – Orlando FL – House of Blues
Mar. 11 – Atlanta GA – Buckhead
Mar. 12 – Charlotte NC – Underground @ The Fillmore
Mar. 13 – Silver Springs MD – The Fillmore
Mar. 14 – Montclair NJ – Wellmont Theater *
* with M.O.D. featuring Billy Milano and DEMOLITION HAMMER
5.05 – Sudbury, ON @ The Asylum*
5.06 – Ottawa, ON @ The Brass Monkey*
5.07 – London, ON @ Call The Office*
5.08 – Chesterfield, MI @ Diesel Concert Lounge w/Jungle Rot
5.09 – Toledo, OH @ Toledo Deathfest w/Jungle Rot
5.10 – Youngstown, OH @ Westside Bowl
5.11 – Cincinnati, OH @ Mad Frog
5.12 – Dayton, OH @ Turnbuckles
5.13 – Kansas City, MO @ Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club
5.14 – Fort Worth, TX @ The Rail Club Live
5.15 – Houston, TX @ Acadia Bar & Grill
5.16 – Gulfport, MS @ Gulf Coast Beer & Metal Fest
5.17 – Tallahassee, FL @ The Warrior On The River
5.18 – New Port Richey, FL @ The Verona
5.19 – Orlando, FL @ Soundbar
5.20 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero
5.21 – Chesapeake, VA @ Riffhouse Pub
5.22 – Turtle Creek, PA @ Sub Alpine Society**
5.23 – Battle Creek, MI @ The Music Factory**
* – No Blood Of Angels
** – No Filth
Archon Angel was born from a meeting between producer/guitarist Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere) and former Savatage and Circle II Circle vocalist Zak Stevens during the making of Timo Tolkki’s Avalon’s ‘Return To Eden’ album, of which Aldo produced and played guitar and Zak did some guest lead vocals. The two soon started talking to Frontiers about the concept of working on new music together, which was met with great enthusiasm from the label.
Aldo submitted to Zak some song ideas which were reminiscent of the classic Savatage sound, the two felt the magic was there, and thus no time was wasted in getting together to craft an absolutely striking metal album. Aldo was also helped in the songwriting department by some of the most outstanding writers and musicians from the Italian Rock scene including Simone Mularoni (of DGM and Sweet Oblivion) and Alessandro Del Vecchio (Aldo’s bandmate in Edge of Forever and of course Jorn, Hardline, etc.).
The album itself deals with a central character, the “Archon”, who is a modern-day angel figure. The idea goes back to the religious system of Gnosticism. The only difference is that we are immersing the Archon’s story into modern-day times. The Archon is a medium that brings messages to God (Demiurge) from the people of Earth. The only real concept to the album is that they simply follow the story and life and times of the modern-day “Archon” and his life, as he is called upon to protect the people of the earth through frightening turbulent times.
On the first single, vocalist Zak Stevens says, “The title track accompanies the Archon on his journey in transitioning from a successful businessman, who leads a life of excess and egoism, to a superhero who will clean up the city and eventually, save the world from self-destruction. In the song, he is reminiscing about his past and the family he left behind, while summoning the power that called him to save the world to “hear him.”
About the filming of the video, Zak continues, “After an arduous search for the perfect city and videographer, we settled on Pittsburgh, PA for my scenes. The band was filmed in Genova, Italy, near the famous Porto Antico. In Pittsburgh, we shot atop Mt. Washington, overlooking downtown, much like the Archon would be doing as he pondered his future. The weather didn’t cooperate the first day as it was a rainy day. But one of the coolest moments occurred while filming the video….one of the locations was right across from Heinz Field during a Pittsburgh Steelers [football] game. At the apex of the song, the crowd erupted in cheering at the perfect time, and people who were watching us film were caught by surprise. It really contributed to my overall mindset during that portion of the song. I felt like they were cheering for the Archon and it mimicked a true live performance. I can’t wait to get out there and perform this song live with Archon Angel.”
Archon Angel are currently working on booking some live shows to present the band in the live environment, but their exclusive live premiere will happen at the 2020 edition of the 70000 Tons Of Metal Cruise.
If Savatage is a favorite of yours, then Archon Angel’s “Fallen” may well be your album of the year in 2020!
Lineup:
Vocals – Zak Stevens
Guitars – Aldo Lonobile
Bass – Yves Campion
Drums – Marco Lazzarini
Keyboards & Piano (Studio) – Antonio Agate
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW for our REVELATIONS OF THE ANCIENTS North American Tour! Joining us are our friends in Pestilence (official) and The Black Moriah. We hope to see you on the road!
We’re very excited that our second album ‘The Burning’ will be released on 17th January 2020. To support the new record, we’ll also be touring the US for the very first time:
January 2020:
Sat 18th – Orlando, FL – Ace Cafe
Sun 19th – Tampa, FL – Brass Mug
Mon 20th – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall
Weds 22nd – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
Fri 24th – San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box
Sat 25th – Dallas, TX – Trees
Sun 26th – Memphis, TN – Growlers
Tues 28th – Nashville, TN – The Cowan
Weds 29th – Joilet, IL – The Forge
Fri 31st – Cleveland, OH – The Odean
February 2020:
Sat 1st – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall
Tues 4th – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Weds 5th – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits
Sat 8th – Monsters of Rock Cruise
Sat 15th – Fort Lauderdale – Revolution Live
Mon 17th – Savannah, GA – Victory North
Tues 18th – Greensboro, NC – The Cone Denim
Weds 19th – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
Thurs 20th – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
Italy’s SOUL DRAGGER has joined forces with Time To Kill Records for the release of their self-titled debut album.
“Soul Dragger”, which follows the release of the first EP “Before Chaos” (2018), was produced by Marco Mastrobuono at Kick Recording Studios in Rome (HOUR OF PENANCE, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, 5RAND).
SOUL DRAGGER started in Rome in 2017. The band was founded by singer/guitarist Alessio “Alex” Pompedda and combines traditional Eighties metal with thrash, melodic death metal and metal-core influences. The final result bears comparisons with acts such as Machine Head, Trivium, Testament, Unearth and All That Remains.
“Soul Dragger” will be released on 7th February 2020 via Time To Kill Records.
“Soul Dragger” – Track List:
01. Rise
02. Damnatio Memoriae
03. Angel
04. Maid and the Beast
05. Everyday
06. Before Chaos
07. Alone
08. War Nightmare
09. Soul Dragger
10. Death ‘n’ Destruction
11. Collapse
Fact #1: The only effects used on the Black Sabbath debut album from 1970 are the thunderstorm and eerie tolling bell, as heard on the intro to the title track.
Fact #2: Bassist Geezer Butler was influenced by Frank Zappa.
Fact #3: The second studio album from Black Sabbath, (1970) Paranoid, peaked at #12 in America, while continuing to chart for 70 weeks.
Fact #4: Back in 1978, the mighty Van Halen opened for Black Sabbath on their Never Say Die! tour.
Fact #5: Ted Nugent opened for Black Sabbath on their Technical Ecstasy Tour, back in 1976.
California Tech Death giants ODIOUS MORTEM are now streaming a new track from their long-awaited upcoming album: Synesthesia. The exclusive premiere of “Condemnation Foretold,” the album’s second single, has been posted at ToiletOvHell.com.
Synesthesia arrives January 17 on Willowtip Records.
Blabbermouth’s description of 2007 sophomore album Cryptic Implosion as “an awe-inspiring slab of accomplished death metal aggression,” is even more applicable to Synesthesia. Avoiding the clinical sterility of many modern death metal productions, the band created a sound on Synesthesia that is raw, robust, and infused with an authentic old school spirit.
The time between releases seems only to have hardened the band’s resolve to continue creating extreme metal magnificence, as evidenced by Synesthesia.
Guest guitar solos on “Condemnation Foretold” performed by Cary Geare.
All music and lyrics written by Odious Mortem. David Siskin (former guitarist) was also a musical contributor to the album.
Recorded at Electric Orange Studios in San Diego, CA. Engineered by Jon Green, mixed and mastered by Richard Houghten.
Artwork by Adam Friedman
BAND BIO:
Odious Mortem was formed in 2000 by Dan Eggers (guitar, vocals), David Siskin (guitar) and KC Howard (drums). Joel Horner (bass) joined the band in 2004 and they released their debut album Devouring the Prophecy in 2005 on Unique Leader Records. Anthony Trapani became the new lead vocalist in 2005.
After finishing the Bloodletting V Tour, Odious Mortem recorded their second album Cryptic Implosion, released in 2007 on Willowtip Records. Ivan Munguia (bass) also played live with the band that year. New album Synesthesia will be released in 2020.
AMARANTHE will be returning to North America for a major headlining tour, spanning August to the beginning of October of 2020! Special guests will be Battle Beast and Seven Spires. Check the dates, cities, and venues below!
Aug 20 ’20 Baltimore, MD – Soundstage
Aug 21 ’20 Worcester, MA – The Palladium (MA)
Aug 22 ’20 New York, NY – The Gramercy Theatre
Aug 23 ’20 Philadelphia, PA – Theatre Of Living Arts
Aug 25 ’20 Montreal, QC – Club Soda
Aug 26 ’20 Quebec City, QC – Imperial de Quebec
Aug 27 ’20 Ottawa, ON – Mavericks
Aug 28 ’20 Toronto, ON – MOD Club
Aug 29 ’20 Angola, IN – The Eclectic Room
Aug 30 ’20 Westland, MI – Token Lounge
Sep 1 ’20 Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
Sep 2 ’20 Belvidere, IL – Apollo Theater
Sep 3 ’20 Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
Sep 4 ’20 Minneapolis, MN – The Cabooze
Sep 5 ’20 Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre
Sep 6 ’20 Regina, SK – The Exchange
Sep 8 ’20 Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
Sep 9 ’20 Calgary, AB – Dickens
Sep 11 ’20 Vancouver, BC – The Venue
Sep 12 ’20 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Sep 13 ’20 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
Sep 14 ’20 Sacramento, CA – Holy Diver
Sep 15 ’20 San Diego, CA – Brick by Brick
Sep 16 ’20 West Hollywood, CA – Whisky a Go Go
Sep 18 ’20 Tempe, AZ – Club Red
Sep 19 ’20 Las Vegas, NV – Backstage Bar and Billiards
Sep 20 ’20 Salt Lake City, UT – Liquid Joe’s
Sep 21 ’20 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
Sep 23 ’20 Dallas, TX – Trees
Sep 24 ’20 Austin, TX – Come and Take it Live
Sep 25 ’20 Houston, TX – Scout Bar
Sep 26 ’20 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
Sep 27 ’20 Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
Sep 29 ’20 Racine, WI – Rt 20
Sep 30 ’20 Pittsburgh, PA – The Crafthouse
Oct 1 ’20 Charlotte, NC – The Underground
Oct 2 ’20 Cincinnati, OH – Riverfront Live
Tickets are on sale now! Check all ticket links at amaranthe.se/tour
For this year’s Black Friday, Alice Cooper’s BILLION DOLLAR BABIES LIVE will be available on vinyl for the first time! Recorded live at Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas on April 28, 1973, this exclusive release will be limited to 6,000 units worldwide.
With All Hallows’ Eve and the Day of the Dead fast approaching, the L.A.-based thrash/death/shred quartet EXMORTUS has unveiled a visualizer for the title track for their just-released horror-themed EP Legions of the Undead. Check out the clip – which was designed by Wayne Joyner (Dream Theater, Devin Townsend). Watch it HERE or below:
Says guitarist Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez, “Just in time for Halloween, enjoy this video of the new EP title track, ‘Legions of the Undead,’ inspired by the darker themes in Tolkien & Lovecraft lore. We are extremely excited to perform the new songs on Death Angel’s North American Humanicide Tour this November and December. See you on the road, Legions!”
As Gonzalez acknowledged, the song “Legions of the Dead” nods to the Dead Men of Dunharrow in “Lord Of The Rings.” It is joined on the new EP by one other new original track – the “Evil Dead”-inspired “Swallow Your Soul” – as well as three instrumental covers: renditions of Danny Elfman’s “Beetlejuice” theme and Bernard Hermann’s theme from Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic “Psycho,” as well as a neoclassical shred take on 19th Century Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s haunting “Night On Bald Mountain.”
Recorded earlier this year with longtime producer Zack Ohren (Machine Head, Immolation) at Oakland’s Sharkbite Studios, “Legions Of The Undead” – the cover art for which was designed by Toha “AHOT” Mashudi – is now available via the band’s own Exmortus Music in cooperation with M-Theory Audio. Physical copies can be ordered on CD and limited-edition green slime-colored vinyl HERE.
“Legions Of The Undead” marks the first EXMORTUS release featuring the lineup – founding guitarist/vocalist Gonzalez, guitarist Chase Becker (also of Warbringer), bassist Cody Nunez and drummer Adrian Aguilar – that has logged numerous miles on the road together over the past two years with the likes of Obituary, Venom Inc., Sabaton, Kreator, Havok, Allegaeon, Hatchet, Homewrecker and The Absence. The group – whose most recent performance was alongside Exodus at the legendary thrash group’s sold-out “Bonded By Con” concert during San Diego’s recent Comic-Con – will support another iconic Bay Area act this fall, when they team up with Death Angel for a five-week tour across the U.S. and Canada. See below for the complete itinerary.
Founded by Gonzalez when he was just 12 years old, EXMORTUS released their debut album, “In Hatred’s Flame,” via Heavy Artillery in 2008. After gaining additional acclaim with their 2011 sophomore effort “Beyond The Fall Of Time,” the group signed a three-album deal with Prosthetic Records in 2013. In support of that acclaimed trilogy of releases (2014’s “Slave To The Sword,” 2016’s “Ride Forth” and 2018’s “The Sound Of Steel”), the band toured alongside some of metal’s biggest names, including Amon Amarth, Children of Bodom, Abbath, Dark Tranquillity and Marty Friedman, earning extensive praise along the way for their live power, prowess and proficiency.
EXMORTUS on tour with Death Angel:
Nov 13 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst (EXMORTUS only)
Nov 14 – Chico, CA – Metal Shop (EXMORTUS ONLY)
Nov 15 – Bend, OR – Third St. Pub (EXMORTUS only)
Nov 16 – Seattle, WA – Club Sur
Nov 17 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
Nov 18 – Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw Theater
Nov 19 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite
Nov 20 – Calgary, AB – Dickens
Nov 21 – Regina, SK – The Exchange
Nov 22 – Winnipeg, MB – Pyramids
Nov 23 – St. Paul, MN – The Amsterdam
Nov 25 – London, ON – London Music Hall
Nov 26 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
Nov 27 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar
Nov 28 – Ottawa, ON – Brass Monkey
Nov 29 – Quebec City, QC – L’Anti Bar & Spectacles
Nov 30 – Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus
Dec 1 – New Bedford, MA – Vault @ Greasy Luck
Dec 2 – Waterford, NY – Chrome (EXMORTUS only)
Dec 3 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon
Dec 4 – Baltimore, MD – Otto Bar
Dec 5 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club
Dec 6 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
Dec 7 – Tampa, FL – Brass Mug
Dec 8 – Orlando, FL – The Haven
Dec 9 – Mobile, AL – Alabama Music Box (EXMORTUS only)
The numbers are in and I couldn’t be more thankful🙏 I’m breathing, I’m creating and I’m surviving in a completely different music world. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your continued support and for helping me get to where I’m going. I could never do it without you👊 “TEN” is a huge success and I can’t wait for 11😉 Sincere gratitude👆🙌🙏 Now who’s ready for some 2020 shows? God Bless you all.
STRYPER will be playing live in Mexico, this February! Visiting Mexico City, Chihuahua and Monterrey, respectively. Check out the dates and ticket links below.
BUY TICKETS: February 20, 2020 – Mexico City, Mexico
BUY TICKETS: February 21, 2020 – Chihuahua, Mexico
BUY TICKETS: February 22, 2020 – Monterrey, Mexico
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
RT @sebastianbach: Happy Birthday to one of my favorite frontman of all time @StephenEPearcy . Please I am begging of you to wear a mask li… 2 days ago
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
