Metalheads hungry for majesty, melody and massive riffing will find much to love on this strong four song collection, which touches on elements of thrash, prog, doom and traditional metal throughout its ambitious twenty-seven-minute running time.
FlightAmongtheTombs is a collection of four epic and powerful songs that will call to mind the historical high drama of Iron Maiden, the desperate doom of Candlemass, and the musical and intellectual depth of bands like Queensryche and Fates Warning. A twin guitar attack, thunderous drums, doom-laden bass and the soaring Dickinsonian vocals of Paul Tiseo characterize their sound.
This brief but engaging collection will impress metal fans with its high level of musicianship, profound lyrical depth, and passionate performances. In short, FlightAmongtheTombs is an epic, powerful, and passionate heavy metal release that reveals an up-and-coming band quickly coming into their powers.
Raised during the 80’s debauchery on the Sunset Strip and still going strong in 2022, JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE recently released their third single titled ‘Gonna Take You Higher’ on all digital platforms. ‘Gonna Take You Higher’ comes from the upcoming albumHELL, CA.which is available to pre-order/add/save now and out on March 11, 2022, through Golden Robot Records.
‘Gonna Take You Higher’ was preceded by two absolutely cracking singles ‘Wanna Be Somebody’ and ‘Soul Mama’ which both show Jizzy in fine form and gives a strong indication as to what to expect from Hell, CA.
HELL, CA. is a collection of 10 hard-hitting rock anthems, all with that distinctive Love/Hate style, with Jizzy Pearl’s trademark vocals taking the songs up and beyond and the heavy guitars doing the rest.
JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE has been a staple on the rock scene since their first record BLACK OUT IN THE RED ROOM earned them “Best Record of the Year 1990” from Kerrang! and Metal Hammer magazines.
LOVE/HATE has been a fixture on the Hollywood Sunset Strip since they released their debut album on Columbia Records BLACKOUT IN THE REDROOM in 1990. BLACKOUT IN THE RED ROOM received much critical acclaim and was awarded “Best Record of the Year” from both Kerrang! and Metal Hammer magazines. The original LOVE/HATE released five records in the 1990’s and toured with such bands as Skid Row, Dio, Ozzy Osbourne & AC/DC.
Since that time, singer Jizzy Pearl has kept the band alive with his own version, JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE, and at the same time played, recorded and toured with such platinum artists as RATT, L.A. Guns, Steven Adler and currently Quiet Riot. Jizzy Pearl has released five solo records as well, including 2018’s Frontiers record ALL YOU NEED IS SOUL.
Texas-based metal band SUDDEN DEAF are pleased to announce that they will release their debut album in the summer of 2022.
Producing an implosion of influences, drawing from traditional, speed and groove, along with some classic rock and experimental elements, SUDDEN DEAF’s sound is a melting pot of heavy. With their debut album currently in progress, the outfit are kicking off with the single “Headhunter” which will debut on Feb 18th. The narrative focus is on a tale of a Viking, but the track also delves into emotions of rage and greed, lust and distain that we all feel. A thundering introduction driving a fury of anticipation leads to the hard-hitting pay off seeing epic wailing guitars and head-banging rhythms.
Intense energy and a fast pace results in sheer chaotic havoc. Being engulfed by SUDDEN DEAF’s wall of sound may leave you deaf but it’ll be worth it! And watch out for any demons accidentally summoned in the process.
The band comments:
“We are thrilled to release our debut single; a song about rage, power and disdain, ‘Headhunter’ stands as the first song off our upcoming album and sets the initial tone for what’s to come”
Line Up: Drew Potter— Lead vocals and Bass Dylan Bigelow—- Guitar Alex Turner— Guitar Max Cortez—- Drums
OPETH will return to the stage this Spring on the second leg of their North American co-headlining tour with Mastodon. The journey will commence April 21st in Montreal, Quebec and make its way through sixteen US and Canadian cities, coming to a close on May 11th in Riverside, California. See all confirmed dates below.
Comments OPETH mainman MikaelÅkerfeldt, “We’re excited to come back to North America for the second leg of shows together with our ‘brothers from other mothers’ in Mastodon. And… hello, Canada! It’s been too long, we know! We’ll soon dust off the ole guitars etc. and get in shape for this run. The last tour was quite splendid; the only downside being the restrictions. We don’t know for sure how it’s going to pan out this time around, but we’re hoping for a bit more freedom to move around. Crossing fingers here. See you semi-soon! Signing off from a rainy, gloomy Stockholm, Mikael (on behalf of OPETH).”
Blabbermouth and Knotfest.com ticket presales will be available Tuesday, February 8th at 10:00am EST through Thursday, February 10th at 10:00pm local time. General on sale date is Friday, February 11th at 10:00am local time. Visit the band’s official tour page HERE for tickets!
Polish female fronted Heavy Metal act CRYSTALVIPER published a lyric video for KINGDIAMOND cover “Welcome Home”. The song was recorded with a special guest, guitarist of the KING DIAMOND band, Andy La Rocque, and was released as a bonus track on the latest CRYSTALVIPER studio album “The Cult”.
“I love KING DIAMOND, his songwriting had and still has a huge impact on me. He’s an amazing vocalist and performer. We’re also friends with Andy La Rocque, who actually co-produced one of our earlier albums” says CRYSTALVIPER front woman, Marta Gabriel. “When we decided to record this cover, we thought it would be cool to invite him to join us, and he agreed, that’s a huge, huge honor! We received an amazing feedback, lot of fans seems to really like our version, so although it came out a few months ago, we decided to revisit it, and do this lyric video” she adds.
CRYSTALVIPER recently also announced release of a special new “long-mini-album” entitled “The Last Axeman” (with a playing time of almost 40 minutes), which will come out on March 25, on Listenable Records. It will include 8 songs, out of which 7 will be exclusive and available on this release only. These include a remake of the early song “The Last Axeman”, brand new song “In The Haunted Chapel”, ARIA cover “Ulitsa Roz” and 4 songs recorded “live in studio” as part of the #RockOutSessions series. 8th song, which is a bonus track, is CRYSTAL VIPER’s version of the classic DIAMOND HEAD song, “It’s Electric”.
#RockOutSessions live in studio was also released on youtube on the Listenable channel – watch HERE . CRYSTALVIPER are genuinely passionate about Heavy Metal and represent the Metal Nation!
“The Last Axeman” is set to be released on March 25th, 2022.
Tracklisting: 1 The Last Axeman 03:49 2 In The Haunted Chapel 04:21 3 Ulitsa Roz (ARIA cover) 05:49 4 It’s Electric (DIAMOND HEAD cover) 03:36 5 The Cult (RockOutSessions) 04:38 6 Asenath Waite (RockOutSessions) 04:45 7 Whispers From Beyond (RockOutSessions) 4:48 8 Flaring Madness (RockOutSessions) 05:04
Discography: The Curse of Crystal Viper (Album – 2007) Metal Nation ( Album – 2009) Legends ( Album – 2010) Crimen Excepta ( Album – 2012) Possession ( Album – 2013) Queen of the Witches ( Album – 2017) Tales of Fire and Ice ( Album – 2019) The Cult ( LISTENABLE Album – 2021) The Last Axeman (LISTENABLE Album- 2022)
CRYSTALVIPER: Marta Gabriel – vocals, guitars AndyWave – guitars Eric Juris – guitars Blaze Grygiel – bass Cederick Forsberg – drums
Exciting news! We are pleased to announce the upcoming release of a new studio album w/ Frontiers Music. We are looking forward to introducing our newest collection of hard rock music across the globe. A very special thank you to Serafino, Mario & the entire Frontiers Family!
From Frontiers Music srl Twitter timeline:
Autograph has signed to Frontiers and is currently working on a new album! Autograph features vocalist Simon Daniels, guitarist Jimi Bell, bassist Randy Rand, and drummer Marc Wieland. Stay tuned for more news as we have it!
SHIELD OF WINGS press forward to their imminent album release with third single and video, “Crushing Hail”. Presented here, in the form of a powerful lyric video and full band playthrough, this single comes from their debut full-length album. “Unfinished” is set to be released on February 11.
Guitarist James Gregor said of the track: “High energy and full of life, ‘Crushing Hail’ is the first track of our upcoming album. It sets the stage for the dynamic and emotional journey housed within the rest of Unfinished. So, bang your heads with us as we go forward, unheeding, through the wind and hail!”
SHIELD OF WINGS will begin the year of 2022 with their Epic Symphonic Metal resurrection, and their debut full-length album, Unfinished.
Each song from Unfinished explores themes of growth through self-examination, regret, sacrificial death and rebirth. From the “Crushing Hail” of the suffering which is inherent in life, the listener is carried through this journey, until the final track expounds upon the realization that we are all, in ways, “The Scarred Clay Reshaping.” With bold, vast orchestral compositions soaring over chugging guitars, SHIELD OF WINGS makes it abundantly clear that they are Unfinished, in more ways than one.
Line-Up: LaraMordian – Vocals Aliyah Daye – Support & Harsh Vocals, Keys James Gregor – Guitar & Orchestrations PatrickEulitz – Drums Alex Luke – Bass Guitar
Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of the highly successful heavy metal band Iron Maiden, has taken to the road once again, but not in his usual way. Dickinson brought his spoken word tour to North America. From his days in boarding school and his time in Samson to joining Iron Maiden and his battle with cancer, Dickinson had more than enough stories to share with devoted fans.
The phrase “Spoken Word Tour” seriously undermines what actually goes on at one of these shows. From the second Dickinson walked out on stage he was bursting with energy. They would have been better off advertising this as Bruce Dickinson’s One Man Show. Dickinson was greeted by thunderous applause and a standing ovation as he entered the concert hall. He wasted no time in making the crowd laugh. He began his show where every good story starts…birth. To be more specific, how he did not want to be born, which he refers to as his first act against authority.
Dickinson quickly moved up the time line to his time in Oundle, an English public school, which to Americans is better known as a private school. Here Dickinson had his second brush with authority and was kicked out for peeing in the headmaster’s dinner, but not before falling in love with music. Believe it or not he did not always want to be a singer, but instead he wanted to sit behind the drum kit. Dickinson continued telling the story of his first band where he played the bongos. It was here however that he treated the audience to their first taste of his a-cappella singing. He belted out a quick rendition of the chorus to Let It Be by the Beatles, which happed to be the song that made him realize “maybe I should be a singer”.
He then went on to talking about his time in the band Samson. He brought the audience to tears describing the hysterically funny adventures he went on with the band; including his purchasing of a life size plastic goose for no reason other than he wanted to. Dickinson’s transition from stories of Samson to Iron Maiden was seamless. Fans roared with cheers as pictures of Iron Maiden flashed onto the screen. Those cheers became even louder as Dickinson began to talk about the ever so famous Rock in Rio.
While Dickinson did his best to keep things light hearted and funny there is no escaping the seriousness that is cancer. He explained what it was like for him to get chemo therapy and radiation. In the end he still had to make the audience laugh by making fun of his own beard, which he grew during his cancer treatment, and then how he lost pieces of it at the most inconvenient times. As Dickinson left the stage for intermission, they played TheWritingontheWall Music video on the big screen for fans to enjoy.
After intermission came the question and answer portion of the night. Before the show, fans were able to write a question to Dickinson and have the opportunity to have him answer it on stage. He brought a nice stack of them out on stage and began to answer different things about flying, accidents on stage with Iron Maiden, and other personal yet appropriate topics. If he did not want to answer a question he just threw it behind him. For the very last question he was asked to sing a bit of the song TearsoftheDragon. As he finished his last note he thanked the audience and left the stage once again being met with thunderous applause.
It is one thing reading about Dickinson’s show and seeing little videos from it, but it is a whole other world being there and experiencing it in person. You can feel the passion that Dickinson has for everything he does and he expressed it well with silly voices, funny faces, and one or two self deprecating jokes which makes him that much more relatable.
Heavy metallers SPIRITSOFFIRE – Feat. Chris Caffery, Steve Di Giorgio, Mark Zonder, and new vocalist Fabio Lione – have unveiled the title track of their upcoming album “Embrace The Unknown”, coming out February 18th on CD/LP/Digital, via FrontiersMusic. (Please note, due to ongoing worldwide vinyl manufacturing delays, the LP release date is March 18, 2022.). Pre-order/save HERE: https://orcd.co/embrace
Heavy metal supergroup SPIRITS OF FIRE first formed in 2017, released their first single in late 2018, and unleashed their debut album in February 2019. Originally formed by Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Steve DiGiorgio (Testament, Death, etc.), Mark Zonder (ex-Fates Warning, Warlord) and Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest), the band’s self-titled debut was met with fan and critical praise upon its release.
As it approaches two years since the release of their debut, Spirits of Fire are now set to return with a new album, ” Embrace The Unknown ” that sees renowned Italian metal vocalist Fabio Lione taking over frontman duties for the band. Production this time comes courtesy of Aldo Lonobile, whose recent work on releases by Archon Angel featuring Zak Stevens, Sweet Oblivion featuring Geoff Tate, and his own band, Secret Sphere, makes him the perfect fit for the band.
Once again, the band worked on a set of songs that were primarily put together by Caffery, with Lione and Lonobile adding their own touches to Caffery’s stellar songs. The final result sees a killer musical output that continues in the vein of “classic Priest meets Savatage” sound that the band has pursued since their formation.
With Caffery’s renowned guitar playing, the undeniable power of the rhythm section of Di Giorgio and Zonder, and the world class vocals of Lione, “Embrace The Unknown ” sees SPIRITS OF FIRE pushing their sonic stamp further and further. From the biting riffage of the charging opener “Embrace The Unknown”, the band is firing on all cylinders and prepared to appease the heavy metal gods.
SPIRITS OF FIRE are built to deliver classic in-your-face heavy metal and they have accomplished that goal on every level on “Embrace The Unknown”. From Lione’s soaring vocals, to Caffery’s guitar pyrotechnics, to the propulsive and crushing rhythms of Di Giorgio and Zonder, the performances are stellar from beginning to end. There is no shortage of memorable, metal hymns to raise your fist and bang your head to on this all killer, no filler metal journey.
“Embrace The Unknown” Tracklist:
A Second Chance
Resurrection
Wildest Dreams
Into The Mirror
Embrace The Unknown
My Confession
Sea Of Change
Shapes Of A Fragile Mind
Hearts In The Sand
House Of Pain
Remember My Name
Out In The Rain
LINE-UP: Fabio Lione – Vocals Christopher Caffery – Guitars Steve Di Giorgio – Bass Mark Zonder – Drums
Descending deeper into the vast chasm below, DEATHONFIRE’s upcoming release TheDyingLight, landing on the 18th of February 2022, fully embraces the darkness. Drawing inspiration from the established pillars of extreme metal, the melodic and thrash-infused death metal outfit have cast their sights and sound to the far reaches of the horizon.
Marking the first major milestone in the journey to their upcoming album Burial Hymns, the new 7” The Dying Light sees the unleashing of the tracks “Slave” and “The Dying Light” in a vinyl and t-shirt bundle. “Slave” adheres more closely to the traditional thrash style track. Heavily distorted guitars and dense vocals produce an unyielding dark tonality. Intricate guitar leads and motifs, contrasting cleaner tones and changing dynamics bring a distinctive identity to their music. “The Dying Light” delivers strong groove rhythms with a dark twist, seeing demonic vocals rise from the abyss through the heavy instrumentation.
DEATHONFIRE produces hard-hitting sounds and compelling experimentation while offering a homage to more traditional styles. Unapologetic in their voyage into lesser explored realms, The Dying Light provides a phenomenal prelude for the eagerly awaitedBurialHymns.
If you are serious about Heavy Metal, then CRYSTAL VIPER most likely doesn’t need introduction. The band was founded by Marta Gabriel on vocals/guitar and released their debut album in 2007. Since then, they toured in more than 15 countries, played in both tiny clubs and at huge open air festivals, released 8 studio albums and a bunch of singles. They have proved to be one of the most hard working and most determined bands of their generation.
The band’s latest studio album entitled ‘The Cult’ was released in 2021 and brought CRYSTALVIPER back to their traditional and pure Heavy Metal roots. The band couldn’t tour properly to promote their new album due to the pandemic, so they decided to record more material instead of sitting and waiting for better times hence the thrilling ’The Last Axeman’ release to be issued on March 25th.
It vigorously starts with a re-recorded version of good old fan favorite ’The Last Axeman’, then brand new song “In The Haunted Chapel’ rips in, lyrically inspired by an H.P. Lovecraft story like all songs on ’The Cult’ album . The band knows their brand of Metal very well, so included is a surprise cover song: a remake of “Ulitsa Roz”, originally written by Russian Heavy Metal heroes ARIA. All 3 songs are exclusive to ‘The Last Axeman’ release.
Follows is a cover of über classic headbanger ‘It’s Electric’ written by NWOBHM heroes DIAMOND HEAD, joined by four ‘Live in the Studio’ (as part of the #RockOutSessions series) recordings of songs initially featured on “The Cult’. Those new, stripped down and rough versions of ‘The Cult’, ‘Asenath Waite’, ‘Whispers From Beyond’ and ‘Flaring Madness’ show the band’s pure and untamed energy.
#RockOutSessions live in studio was also released on youtube on Listenable channel. Watch HERE.
CRYSTALVIPER are genuinely passionate about Heavy Metal and represent the Metal Nation! “The Last Axeman” is set to be released on March 25th, 2022.
CRYSTALVIPER are: Marta Gabriel – vocals, guitars AndyWave – guitars Eric Juris – guitars Blaze Grygiel – bass CederickForsberg – drums
Tracklisting: 1 The Last Axeman 03:49 2 In The Haunted Chapel 04:21 3 Ulitsa Roz (ARIA cover) 05:49 4 It’s Electric (DIAMOND HEAD cover) 03:36 5 The Cult (RockOutSessions) 04:38 6 Asenath Waite (RockOutSessions) 04:45 7 Whispers From Beyond (RockOutSessions) 04:48 8 Flaring Madness (RockOutSessions) 05:04
Discography: The Curse of Crystal Viper (Album – 2007) Metal Nation (Album – 2009) Legends (Album – 2010) Crimen Excepta (Album – 2012) Possession (Album – 2013) Queen of the Witches (Album – 2017) Tales of Fire and Ice (Album – 2019) The Cult (LISTENABLE Album – 2021) The Last Axeman (LISTENABLE Album- 2022)
Moscow (RU) – Progressive instrumental extremists EPOCH CRYSIS are proud to announce the re-release of 2011 full-length debut album Rex. The remastered album will be released on February 20.
The EPOCH CRYSIS story begins in 2001 in Moscow, Russia. Originally created as an experimental studio instrumental project, EPOCH CRYSIS consistently surprised even the most experienced connoisseurs of extreme metal subgenres.
In 2015 EPOCH CRYSIS experienced a rebirth with the help of guitarist Andrey Gostyukhin. During the same period the band recorded vocals for some tracks that had already experienced a “second birth” as full songs. In the near future the group will complete the rewriting of these tracks and compose new songs.
Triskelyon is a Canadian melodic thrash metal project created by Geoff Waye, guitarist for Artach and Category VI. Conceived in late 2021 as a studio-only project, the first self-titled EP released on January 25, 2022.
Triskelyon features the contributions of vocalists Pete Healey and Marlee Ryley (Hyperia), along with drum programming by Raul Marques (Burning Torment).
Geoff Waye explains in further detail how the project came to be:
“The project formed in St. John’s, Newfoundland. It began because I wanted an outlet for more melodic, yet still savage sounding thrashy metal. I wanted to do this as a studio project so I could get things together myself, which means I can do so fairly quickly if I want to. I did all the songs, wrote the lyrics, and play all the guitar and bass on the EP. I cannot play drums, so I found the fantastic Raul Marques. I wanted the vocals to be melodic so after I had the songs together I asked my vocal god friend, Pete Healey, to do some vocals. I sent him what I had and he was into it and you can hear him on tracks Hunger and Find A Way. The last puzzle piece for the EP is Marlee Ryley – the very versatile vocalist for the killer Canadian band Hyperia. I took a shot in the dark and introduced myself and asked if she’d like to guest on the EP and she agreed to be on the closing track Odyssey (Blessed by Steel).”
Today, in support of the debut EP’s release, Triskelyon is unveiling their lyric video for EP opener “Hunger”, a track that starts with no buildup just straight into the fun speedy thrash riffage.
“This was also the first song I wrote for this project. After I had it written and got the drums done, I knew I was onto something. The song is about a hunger for change in the world. I am not a fan of the way the world is heading in terms of politics, divisions, and how stuck in their ways and traditions people are. The chorus line “It’s the time for the fearless to rise. A hunger for change in their eyes.” gets to the theme and heart of the song’s idea.” adds Waye.
With antithetic choruses that you can sing along to, speedy head-banging riffs and just a straight to the point melodic thrash sound, Triskelyon is recommended for fans of Anthrax, Death Angel, Metal Church, Testament and Forbidden.
Odyssey (Blessed by Steel) (3:32) EP Length: 10:34
EP Credits: • Performance credits: Geoff Waye – All Guitars and bass Pete Healey – vocals (track 1, 2) Marlee Ryley – vocals (track 3) Raul Marques – drum programming • All songs written by: Geoff Waye • Produced by: Geoff Waye and Michael Small • Mixed by: Michael Small • Mastered by: Michael Small • Album Artwork by: Geoff Waye • Canadian Content (MAPL)
Bigfoot-inspired death metal band TROGLODYTE has re-emerged from the Missouri wilderness with their newest bloody slab of brutality, The Hierarchical Ecological Succession: WelcometotheFoodChain.
The album’s first single comes in the form of an 8-bit lyric video for the song “Meat Your Maker,” featuring guest vocals by RossSewage (EXHUMED, GHOUL, IMPALED). Ross had this to say about his contribution: “I was pleased as punch when the mutants in Troglodyte asked me to be a part of their music track, ‘Meat Your Maker.’ This was in fact because they punched me, repeatedly, until I meekly gurgled out my parts. Don’t fuck with Troglodyte.”
“Meat Your Maker” is also available on all streaming platforms.
The band’s long-awaited fourth album features a rouge’s gallery of names from the metal community. ORIGIN bassist Mike Flores, who has taken part in numerous live shows with the band for years, is making his first studio appearance, writing and recording bass on the new album. BrentPurgason (aka PustulusMaximus of GWAR), ShwanKnight (CHILD BITE), and RossSewage (EXHUMED, GHOUL, IMPALED) also make guest appearances.
BloodBlastDistribution will release TheHierarchicalEcologicalSuccession: WelcometotheFoodChain on all streaming platforms on 3/5/22.
TheHierarchicalEcologicalSuccession: WelcometotheFoodChain was recorded and mixed by Ryan Vincent/Apollo Audio Alt (Misery Index, Scour). Album artwork by Dusty Peterson (Cattle Decapitation, Six Feet Under, Lamb of God).
TROGLODYTE has been battering audiences with their unique brand of knuckle-dragging metal for well over a decade. Created by special effect artist and music video director Jeff Sisson as an homage to all things Bigfoot, the “creature-features” of the ’70s-’80s and classic death metal.
With titles like “Bring Me the Head of Bigfoot,” “Mummified Yeti Hand,” “Murderous Bi-Pedal Hominid Rampage (Where are My Legs?)” and “Entrails Torn from a Cryptid’s Gut,” these songs are not for the faint of heart or those without a sense of humor.
Appearances at the annual Gwar BQ, Detroit’s Berserker, Las Vegas Death Fest, and Denver’s Black Sky festival, as well as hundreds of shows supporting touring acts such as HATEBREED, ROB ZOMBIE, and GWAR, have made them crowd favorites.
The current line-up features Mike Flores from ORIGIN, as well as Michael Langner and Brandon Mitchell from TORNTHEFUCKAPART.
TROGLODYTE: Chris Wilson Mike Flores Brandon Mitchell Michael Langner Jeff Sisson
The New Jersey-based power trio are preparing to unleash their new offering “Rinky Dink City”/ “Slow Cookin'”. Initially forming over a love of lo-fi aesthetics, early 1980s hardcore, classic psychedelia, B movies, heavy metal, and outsider art, PYREFYRE strive to experiment with each release.
The band comments: On “Rinky Dink City”: “This song is about those little cities all over America. They might still have pay phones or arcade machines. Maybe not. Maybe the apartment won’t shut the heat off. Maybe you can’t find good takeout..”
On “Slow Cookin’: “PYRE FYRE have historically eaten a lot of fast food, but that doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a good old fashioned home cooked meal.”
Sludgy overdriven guitars drive the energetic rhythms across the tracks. With humorous lyrics and chaotic genre mixing, the new release from the whimsical bunch is jam-packed with intensity and horseplay. Recorded in Morristown, NJ at Heavy Air Studios, “Rinky Dink City”/ “Slow Cookin'” features amazing background vocals by AMBRIOSIA GAINOUS and a guitar solo by Dustin Bartee of ETHEREAL SEA.
Line-up: Mike Montemarano on drums/vocals Dan Kirwan on guitar AndrewStanish on bass
Seattle (WA) – Hot off the heels of 2020’s no-holds-barred Spectral Devastation, Pacific Northwest Speed Metallers Sölicitör return with the stopgap AllDebtsonDeath 7-inch that charts new territory, while still offering fist-pumping speed metal anthems! The 7-inch is available for immediate shipping from Gates of Hell Records.
Shortly after the release of 2020’s SpectralDevastation, the members of Pacific Northwest speed metallers Sölicitör took a long, hard look at the process that went into the album’s creation. The band raced to finish Spectral Devastation with an eye toward their first-ever appearance at the legendary Keep it True festival in Germany and European dates that would follow, shows, that, unfortunately, were canceled due to the global pandemic. In doing so, Sölicitör felt they rushed some of the key elements of the album’s songwriting, even though the reaction to the songs was almost universally positive. Going into 2021, Sölicitör decided to push themselves to write songs that were even more aggressive and formidable. Enter the searing two-song ALLDebtsonDeath 7-inch.
AllDebtsonDeath was recorded in late February 2021 at Sentinel Studios with producer/engineer Detto, who has recently gained attention for his organic production jobs for death metal bands Cerebral Rot, Mortiferum and Oxygen Destroyer. Detto tracked the band on half-inch tape, then recorded the tape to a digital program where guitars and vocals were laid down, ensuring a full and heavy sound.
As a natural function of their collaboration with Detto, Sölicitör ventured into new territory regarding production values. The two songs are devoid of effects, albeit some minor reverb on the chorus on the vocals, although vocalist Amy Lee Carlson opted to completely forego doubled harmonies. However, the “less is more” approach for studio production doesn’t hinder the two songs. “Killer for Hire” is a classic Sölicitörs speed-burner, complete with a fist-bumping chorus, while “Megalomaniac” ventures into new territory, including riffs that bring to mind legendary Norwegian black metallers Darkthrone, topped off by Carlson’s soaring vocals.
As positive signs gradually start to emerge from the pandemic, Sölicitör is chomping at the bit to return to the live stage. In the meantime, the band is slowly assembling the pieces for their next studio album — due sometime in 2022. Consider AllDebtsonDeath a sign of what’s to come!
Track Listing:
Killer for Hire
Megalomanic
Line-Up:
Amy Lee Carlson – Vocals PatrickFry – Guitar Matt Vogan – Guitar Damon Cleary – Erickson – Bass Johann Waymire – Drums
Toronto heavy metal unit SKULLFIST has more guts and balls than the police allow. Since their leg-busting beginnings in 2006, dungeon keeper Zach Schottler and his shredding gang of reckless accomplices have released three archetypal heavy metal almanacs, eaten more dust than is good for their health, endured hardships, and propped up countless beers in countless bars in countless cities. Now, after fifteen years on behalf of steel, the trio signs a worldwide record deal with Atomic Fire Records.
Schottler comments, “Pretty stoked about this. The world and music industry is sketchy as hell so its nice to be working with someone that isn’t considering stabbing me for a few bucks. Markus and Flori are rad dudes and so far, the rest of their team are genuinely more interested in music than dollars. It’s nice to see, so let’s see.”
Florian Milz, label manager of Atomic Fire Records, adds. “I’ve known Zach and the band for a long time and have worked with them in the past. I love their music and am very happy that we get to release the new upcoming album through Atomic Fire Records. The Fist is the law!”
The new SKULLFIST album will be released this April with further details to be announced in the coming weeks.
SKULL FIST Discography: 2006: No False Metal (Demo) 2010: Heavier Than Metal (EP, Self-Release) 2011: Head Öf The Pack 2014: Chasing The Dream 2018: Way Of The Road
Swedish, epically overpowering dark symphonic metal unit ELEINE has joined the Atomic Fire Records roster!
Founded and led by charismatic vocalist Madeleine Liljestam and guitarist/growler RikardEkberg, ELEINE has released three successful, multifaceted albums since 2015, all of which illuminate the remarkably sorted and exquisitely balanced dark mixture the collective is capable of producing. Indeed, the authors push their high-class, intense, cinematic flair to the extreme, manifesting a singular, atmospheric world where dark, thrash, black, and death metal influences collide in a fantastically captivating fashion. The unquestionable originality of ELEINE’s output reveals itself quite effortlessly in every single moment of listening.
“Signing with Atomic Fire Records is a huge step in the right direction for ELEINE,” Liljestam comments. “We’re entering a new era of metal, not only with this new, mighty label but also in a world where we have faced challenges as a music industry alongside our dedicated and loyal fans. Finding a label that agrees that both the physical and digital media world actually work together, and don’t have to exclude each other, made us feel that this is a label that will stay true to metal and at the same time evolve alongside the industry and us as a band.”
Says Atomic Fire CEO, Markus Wosgien, “We are in touch for a few years now and I followed their amazing career almost from the start. Especially after I saw ELEINE live on the Sabaton Open Air in 2018, I knew that this band is truly unique and something really special. I love their strong belief in themselves, their do-it-yourself attitude, and finally, their music. ELEINE is an experience; something intense that you feel and inspires you. On top, they are lovely people with their hearts in the right place.”
2022 will find the band touring alongside Firewind, performing at several festivals, and a tour through Finland before joining their new labelmates Sonata Arctica as special guests on their European acoustic tour.
We feel very confident in this new collaboration and we are very proud,” notes Ekberg, adding, “While we work on our next full-length album, we will keep busy releasing an acoustic spin-off EP all in honor of the upcoming Acoustic Tour as special guests to Sonata Arctica in Fall/Winter of 2022.”
Stay tuned for upcoming ELEINE news and visit the band’s tour page at THIS LOCATION to stay up to date on upcoming live adventures.
Indianapolis (IN) – Rising U.S. Power Metal force PREHISTORIA have released debut EP Cursed Lands on all major digital platforms. Purchase and stream the EP at: prehistoriaband.bandcamp.com/album/cursed-lands
Concurrent with the EP release is a new lyric video for the song “Time,” which is available at youtu.be/9BzLPW_NCz4 and below:
Combining influences from power metal giants – Blind Guardian, Symphony X, Helloween – with inspiration from the genres of black and thrash metal, PREHISTORIA has a sound that will appeal to followers of both US and European power metal.
PREHISTORIA was formed in 2020 by seasoned musicians in four different states – vocalist Alonso “Zo” Donoso, guitarists Shaun Cothron and MaxOtworth, drummer Cody Johns, and bassist Ian Bender. Members have collective decades of experience in the metal scene, with their own groups (Zephaniah, Unity, Well of Night), as well as touring members of Viking, Acheron, and Abigail Williams.
Produced amidst an ongoing global pandemic, Cursed Lands, is a triumph of remote collaboration and dedication to heavy metal.
Track Listing:
Time
Castles
Purgatorio
Cursed Lands
EP Credits:
Recorded and produced by Dan Wagoner at Wagoner Bros Studios Mixed by Mike Heller at Heaven and Heller Studios Mastered by Lasse Lammert Cover artwork by Adam Burke Logo design by Chris Horst
Check out this ridiculous display of technique and power from Witherfall “Curse Of Autumn” Drummer Marco Minnemann. (The Aristocrats, Joe Satriani, Jorden Ruddess, Necrophagist, Kreator)
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