Dreamlike and longing but still vicious and punishing – Nordic black metal saturated in that characteristically wild and unbound organic spirit associated with many of the Nordvis bands. Perhaps somewhere in-between Murg and Panphage, but with an atmosphere rooted in folkloric mysticism. Blodtår’s primary strength is the masterful use of contrast in mood and music, showcasing both acoustic interludes and a youthful fire that brings early Dissection to mind.
Tracklist: 1. Djävulskap 2. Svartsejd 3. Besatt 4. Aldrig Mer
Metal Tour of the Year takes the front cover of this week’s Pollstar Magazine. Check out the full story behind this summer’s run with Megadeth, Lamb of God, Trivium and Hatebreed, now up at pollstar.com
Editor’s note: Metal Odyssey proudly introduces Tanis Enos to our staff. She embodies the talents of being a writer, photographer, concert aficionado and interviewer. Enjoy her review below! Welcome aboard, Tanis!
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Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis have joined forces once again to give fans another electric album. They teamed up yet again with the Vampiric Shredder, Ace Von Johnson, and “Stud” Johnny Martin. CheckeredPast was released on November 12th, 2021. Before the release, the band gave fans a taste of the new album releasing not only 3 singles (Cannonball, KnockMeDown & GetAlong) but also 2 new music videos for Cannonball and GetAlong.
CheckeredPast has a beautiful mix of both the fast pasted Sleazy sound that fans have come to love and slowed-down emotion invoking melodies and lyrics. The day of the release, IfIt’sOverNow was part of Apple Music’s Best New Songs list. This song alone leaves fans wondering “Who hurt the writers”. The slower-paced guitar paired with the low vocals and emotional lyrics makes for a truly theatrical experience that gives fans the ability to picture their own story. The same can be said about LetYouDown. The feeling of this track can be compared to “a heartache in the rain” scene in a movie. Even though it can’t be seen the feeling of sadness can be heard.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, LA Guns have turned out another group of hard rock in-your-face songs that will make you want to grab your leather pants and even your pirate hats. Cannonball is an explosive way to start the album with heavy drums and fast riffs. LivingRightNow is special because of its punk-sounding undertone during the verses and Blues Rock sound for the rest. If you didn’t know Phil was British you did after listening to bits of that song.
Though the band has gotten older, Phil’s voice hasn’t changed a bit. Just listen to ThatAin’tWhy and try to say that it doesn’t sound as clear and clean as listening to ElectricGypsy on their debut album. Tracii Guns will never not have flair, showing off his Jimmy Page like abilities on lead guitar. Now take the talent and grit of Tracii and add the style and skill of Ace Von Johnson and you have the dynamic duo that every band needs.
What is that old saying? “A band is only as good as its bass player”? Well, good thing they have Johnny Martin slapping the bass on this album. You can really hear him shine in songs like LivingRightNow and GetAlong and he adds the deep groove with the drums in Dog.
The diversity of songs in this album alone is incredible and truly makes it hard to skip any song. CheckeredPast will continue the musical high that was given to fans by the release of their 2019 album TheDevilYouKnow. Fans are already crazy about the album, making it the number one best-selling Blues Rock album on Amazon the day it was released. – Tanis Enos
Vocals: Phil Lewis
Lead Guitar: Tracii Guns
Rhythm Guitar: Ace Von Johnson
Bass: Johnny Martin
Drums: Adam Hamilton / Scot Coogan
Track List: 1. Cannonball, 2. Bad Luck Charm, 3. Living Right Now, 4. Get Along, 5. If It’s Over, 6. Better Than You, 7. Knock Me Down, 8. Dog, 9. Let You Down, 10. That Ain’t Why, 11.Physical Itch
An outfit created in the midst of chaos, erected from an earth in mourning and the universal struggle to reclaim our humanity… Uncertainty of the collective future remains, but even in darkness there is light. A new challenge emerges from the shadows and a new hope begins to dissipate the pain. A powerful connection that binds us to the universe and a deep desire for spiritual illumination exists within us. We introduce to you, SEVENTH STORM.
Five musicians from Portugal who aspire to play music full of emotion and character, the members of SEVENTH STORM are fighters seeking a new path in life. Comments drummer and band leader Mike Gaspar (ex-Moonspell), “We come together with one goal: to stay strong so that there may be a chance of freedom to come, to never give up even in the most troubling times. Our crusade starts now. May our paths cross; may we one day visit the seven continents and navigate through the seven seas, in the hope of creating the perfect storm: the SEVENTH STORM. May the light and fire return to this forgotten art. Let the horns be heard once more. Join us.”
Atomic Fire Records is proud to announce the signing of this promising dark metal outfit who are working on their debut album, slated for release in August 2022.
“SEVENTH STORM signing to Atomic Fire Records is the best thing that could have happened to us,” says Gaspar. “We are so proud to be a part of this amazing team that truly believes in metal. Together, our mission is to set fire to your hearts once more. Get ready for the best label ever because we are here to stay.”
Adds Atomic Fire Records co-CEO and founder Markus Wosgien, “Our common friend Esa Holopainen of Amorphis introduced us and there was magic in the air right away. Within twenty-four hours, it was clear that we would experience this adventure together. The group’s demo songs, brimming over with inspiration and all their emotions, really touched us. Our whole team fell in love, and we are fully convinced that this STORM will become nothing but a hurricane.”
SEVENTH STORM emerged from Gaspar’s strong desire to continue making music after his departure from Moonspell in 2020. “I was at a crossroad in my life, feeling a bit lost and unsure of my artistic future,” notes Gaspar, who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and moved to Portugal in 1988. “Then a good friend of mine got me together with musicians that he thought could fulfill my vision.”
Initially, he was just eager to get back to drumming with a band and to feel inspired by music again, but after SEVENTH STORM’s first rehearsal, he realized how powerful their connection was. “Most of the members had a more hard rock background and not such an extreme metal underground influence like mine, but this diversity in musical styles is what made the energy in the rehearsal room so magical. Some of the first riffs we played reminded me of early Darkthrone and Emperor. It almost felt like I had gone back in time and was reliving my youth, but with thirty years of experience! The driving force was to save and honor my past and being able to share that with a new metal family – to hopefully make epic, meaningful music full of soul and emotion.”
Don’t miss out on SEVENTH STORM’s journey. Expect further travel details to be revealed in the weeks to come.
SEVENTH STORM: Mike Gaspar – drums, Rez – vocals, Ben Stockwell – lead guitar, Josh Riot – guitar, Butch Cid – bass guitar
Connecticut symphonic death metal band VIRUS OF IDEALS have released a stunning cover of the classic CRADLEOF FILTH track “Nymphetamine Fix”. The song is available on all digital streaming outlets including Spotify and Bandcamp.
The band comments:
” ‘Nymphetamine Fix’ is obviously a classic, but the main reason we chose to cover this song is because it fits our style perfectly: it has a balanced mix of screaming and clean vocals with strong keyboards and orchestrations. This song was a challenge to record because there are way more layers of vocals, orchestrations, and guitars than we are used to. Fortunately, our drummer Brian (Westbrook (Lich King)) is also a producer with a fantastic ear; we were able to stay very faithful to the original due largely to his direction. We know our debut album is long overdue (our EP is 5 years old), but we are still making progress despite numerous setbacks over the years. We were planning to cover this song anyways, but we thought it would make the wait a bit easier for our fans to have something new to listen to in the meantime.”
Earlier this week, reunited German black/death metallers MYSTIC CIRCLE announced their signing to Atomic Fire Records. Today, the duo unveils a video for “Letters From The Devil,” the first single off their highly-anticipated, eponymous comeback, set for release on February 4th, 2022.
Elaborates the band of the track, “This song tells the true story of a possessed nun who reportedly received messages from Satan at night back in 1676. They were of a language that can’t be decoded to this day. Myths like these are always worthy of becoming a song within the MYSTIC CIRCLE universe, of course. Musically, we kept it diabolical but still infectiously melodic. That diabolicalness has greatly been staged in our new music video. Get seduced…!”
“Letters From The Devil” is part of a trilogy written by the band’s own A. Blackwar.
View the video, filmed and edited by Alen Ljubic and Nils Lesser, at THIS LOCATION.
Following the musical path where Infernal Satanic Verses — the final MYSTIC CIRCLE record featuring both reunion members — had left off in 1999, Mystic Circle was produced by the band and Nils Lesser at Vaultroom Productions while its artwork was designed by Brazilian artist Rafael Tavares.
Preorder Mystic Circle in various formats (box set, CD-digipak, black/red marbled vinyl), presave it, or preorder the album digitally to receive “Letters From The Devil” instantly and order the group’s new Letters From The Devil 7″ black vinyl single, which includes the exclusive, non-album B-side track “The Godsmasher,” limited to 666 copies and available now at THIS LOCATION.
Mystic Circle Track Listing:
1. Belial Is My Name, 2. Seven Headed Dragon, 3. Hell Demons Rising, 4. Letters From The Devil, 5. Darkness In Flames, 6. The Arrival Of Baphomet, 7. Curse Of The Wolf Demon, 8. Satanic Mistress, 9. Death Metal (Possessed Cover) * * CD-digipak only bonus track
Letters From The Devil 7” Track Listing:
Side A: Letters From The Devil
Side B: The Godsmasher
With seven studio albums and many tours alongside black metal heavyweights Marduk, Gorgoroth, and Dimmu Borgir under their belt, it wasn’t just a little history that German black/death metal legends MYSTIC CIRCLE left behind when they decided to call it quits in 2007. But alas, 14 years of silence are over as MYSTIC CIRCLE – consisting of Beelzebub and A. Blackwar who had actually left the group in 1999 – have risen from their graves to renew their deal with the Dark Lord.
Madison (WI) – Midwest Death Machine CASKETROBBERY have officially released their newest single, “Bone Mother.” The song is now available on Spotify and all other streaming platforms.
“Bone Mother” is dedicated to the memory of Eric Orvold, father of CASKET ROBBERY vocalist Megan Orvold.
CASKET ROBBERY recently released a video for “Bone Mother.” HorrorPatch.com called the video “a claymation masterpiece of darkness and horror that you’re going to want to check out.”
The video was directed and created by Shayne Minott of Budget Blood Productions. “Bone Mother” was produced and engineered by Troy Powell at Unintended Studios, and mixed and mastered by Christian Donaldson.
Emerging from the darkest and most desolate areas of the Midwest, CASKET ROBBERY creates its own signature style of death metal by infusing horror and occult themes. Their trademark huge riffs and unstoppable grooves create the unrelenting, brutally catchy, and eerie sound that only CASKET ROBBERY is known for. Death metal with a wink.
CASKET ROBBERY’s intense, high energy shows have quickly surfaced a die hard following. They continue to show a relentless work ethic and dedication to their fanbase. After the release of their debut album CASKET ROBBERY has toured the United States continually, hitting large festivals like Full Terror Assault and Milwaukee Summerfest. CASKET ROBBERY has shared the stage with Cannibal Corpse, Jungle Rot, Psycroptic, Immolation and more.
Your unrelenting nightmare has just begun.
Casket Robbery is: Megan Orvold – VocalsCory Scheider – GuitarsTroy Powell – GuitarsEli Pete – Bass
Sponsors: Dean Markley Strings, Vader Cabinets, Pig Hog Cables, Dirtbag Clothing, Gravewitch Goods, Grindcore Coffee
First thing, my respect for what Dee Snider has accomplished for our community of Metal is steadfast. Dee Snider has DEFENDED METAL and Rock ‘N Roll his entire life and his discography has proven to be timeless. Seriously, a gold life-size statue of Dee Snider should be created and erected at the entrance of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I don’t give a rats shit about who disagrees with me on that last sentence either. My belief. My blog. My life.
This past Summer, I bought this incredible Dee Snider autographed photo from the Martyr Hardcore Metal Online Store. This website is also the home to all the merch for HATEBREED. Dee Snider had tweeted about his autographed photo being available at this site mentioned; thus how I found out about it!
The cost for this historic piece of Metal history was $30 plus a few bucks for shipping. Compare that to how much other bands/musicians charge for autographs and you’ll agree this is an extremely fair price! C’mon, $30 for an authentic autograph of Dee Snider!!
Man, there are many unbelievable deals you can find by just shopping around! My autographed photo also included a DEE FUCKING SNIDER patch and sticker! Metal Be Thy Name!! – Stone
Symphonic metal band THREADS OF FATE have released a lyric video for their stunning song “The Cold Embrace Of The Light”. The song is from their upcoming album of the same name which will be released via Layered Reality Productions on 11 March, 2022.
Band founder Jon Pyres comments:
“We’re very happy to finally release the first single of the new album, admittedly a very special track for us. It explores the darker aspects of despair, of delving deep within and facing your inner demons. It was an interesting time for the band and the new material resulted in a far more sinister manner than the debut EP.”
Eonia delivers a sonic masterpiece in the form of “To Live With Purpose.” Incredibly gifted multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Smith delivers the captivating follow-up to “Devotion,” which was released through The Charon Collective earlier this year. Listeners who enjoy Periphery, Hopesfall, Misery Signals, August Burns Red and the likes will no doubt find their new favorite artist in the midst of this emotionally-crafted 9-song masterpiece.
The exclusive Bandcamp CD and digital editions of “To Live With Purpose” come with awesome bonus features! They include a full-color profile picture of Gabriel Smith and a mini-album flat you can either print out to hang up or just keep as a file.
Siberian metal collective MILLSTONE is set to release its newest album, Isle.
The album falls under the groove\death-metal umbrella, with melodic solos, varied rhythms and a “wall-of-sound” density. Each of the 9 tracks carries its own unique mood; from acoustic sketches to bottom-heavy Meshuggah-esque passages, along with a lethal dose of straightforward classic thrash.
Isle was written by MILLSTONE mastermind Ivan Scherbakov and produced by Vladimir Lehtinen (Second To Sun, Ultar, Grima, etc.), Isle is a concept album based on sci-fi novel “The Inhabited Island” (Arkady and Boris Strugatsky).
Stream album track “Turned Inside Out” now at this location.
Rising U.S. Heavy Metal force SLEEPLESS have released a lyric video for “Host Desecration,” a track from forthcoming debut EP Blood Libel. Check it out at youtu.be/MLp2iRNulEo
Original members of 80’s death metal pioneers Dead Conspiracy, Eric Dorsett and Eric Detablan have joined forces with their old friend, guitarist, singer and production machine Kevin Hahn to form SLEEPLESS. Classic, scorching Heavy Metal pulses through debut EP Blood Libel, which will be released on March 12 via Necromantic PressRecords.
Heavy metal inspired by an internal need to slam accepted dogma and to shed light on a dark past that is largely forgotten, Blood Libel is the genuine article! Metal, thrash, melody, and at times, depressive introspection, add up to a memorable gut-punch of an EP.
“The trick is that they are meant to be a traditional heavy metal act, but the death metal history makes its way into the actual music itself, thus creating something that could be heavy/death metal? Blood Libel is a quick taste of something stellar in the making.”
– Sleeping Village Reviews
“A classic heavy metal EP, influenced by a determination to bring dark history into the light and change perspectives, in the process. Combining melodic thrash with bleak contemplation, ‘BL’ packs a punch.”
On March 12th, 2021, the new studio album from Rob Zombie releases via Nuclear Blast. Titled The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy, this will be the seventh full-length album from Rob Zombie.
It’s been five years since we’ve seen a new studio album from Rob Zombie, with his last releasing back in April of 2016, titled: The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser.
Track Listing:
Expanding the Head of Zed
The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition)
The Ballad of Sleazy Rider
Hovering Over the Dull Earth
Shadow of the Cemetery Man
A Brief Static Hum and Then the Radio Blared
18th Century Cannibals, Excitable Morlocks and a One-Way Ticket On the Ghost Train
The last time I saw War Curselive it was at Oddbody’s in Dayton, Ohio and they lit the place up! Of course that was before the Covid nightmare; I figure it was four years ago or so. Regardless, I am chomping at the bit to see War Curse live again many more times.
War Curse originate from Cincinnati, Ohio and could have fit in rather appropriately during the golden age of Thrash. I’m not bullshitting you. I experienced that beginning era of Thrash Metal (in the pits) and I take my Thrash seriously. War Curse has had some lineup changes since their 2015 debut release Final Days and are currently preparing for their 2021 live dates.
Since the release of Final Days, War Curse have released a full-length studio album in 2019 titled: Eradication. If you want to sink your Metal battered brain into Final Days then you have my Metal blessings. I bought Final Days on cassette from the merch table at the War Curse show. Needless to say, I have played this cassette so often it feels like an appendage. I have a cassette player built into my 21 year old car, just in case you were wondering.
Above: my War Curse Final Days cassette
The vocalist for War Curse on this debut is Tarek Puska and he manifests all of the brawn and dominance I look for in a Metal voice. War Curse doesn’t try to be like any other Thrash band; however they do a dynamite undertaking of being, well, War Curse. Guitarists JoshuaMurphy and Justin Roth are a formidable duo and a blast to get into. Damn good stuff. Eric Payne on bass and James Goetz on drums lay down the rhythmic foundation on Final Days.
The songs on Final Days are lyrically pissed-off and find their footing to be 100% relevant in this dreadful year of 2020. Find it, buy it, borrow it, listen to it and whatever you do play this debut from War Curse extremely loud! Metal be thy name – Stone.
Above: my variant (and extremely limited) copy of War Curse Final Days, with different artwork and green cassette shell; track listing is the same.
Track listing:
Dawn Patrol, Blue Line of Injustice, Severed Crosses, Final Days, New Chemical Warfare, Drudge
WITHERFALL – Announced As Special Guest On Evergrey’s “Recharging Europe Tour 2021”
In support of their new album “Escape Of The Phoenix” via AFM Records on February 26th 2021 Swedish progressive metal band EVERGREY will be hitting the road for an extensive tour throughout Europe in 2021.
As special guest EVERGREY invited no less than dark melodic heavy metal juggernaut from Los Angeles WITHERFALL. Bringing along their third opus “Curse Of Autumn” (to be released March 5th, 2021 via Century Media Records), the quintet are blazing new trails and weaving new tales, offering a genuine metal classic with an expressive song-writing and a refined and perfectionized sound of their distinguished and musically-adept dark melodic heavy metal.
Opening support comes from the Modern Metal quintet DUST IN MIND, one of the most up and coming French bands today.
(Witherfall photo by: Stephanie Cabral)
EVERGREY Front-man Tom Englund states: “We are really happy to announce a tour of Europe next fall and let’s all hope that the world is in a better place by that time so we get to see all you lovely people again!“
WITHERFALL comment: “After a long and tense year WITHERFALL are extremely happy to announce the very first tour dates in support of our soon to be released Album ‘Curse of Autumn’ as special guests with the brilliant Evergrey. We look forward to seeing all of our European friends and are excited to make some new ones in these new and uncharted waters.”
“Curse Of Autumn” will be available as Ltd. CD Digipak, a luxurious Gatefold 2LP that is coming with a poster and etching on Side D as well as Digital Album. Click here for preorder options including coloured vinyl: https://witherfallband.lnk.to/CurseOfAutumn/
WITHERFALL have already released 3 songs taken from “Curse Of Autumn”. Don’t miss the cinematic video for “As I Lie Awake” that was directed by Zev Deans (Ghost, Behemoth…): https://youtu.be/KFbrq-n17Gs
WITHERFALL are:
Joseph Michael – Vocals/Keyboards (also in Sanctuary)
Jake Dreyer – Acoustic and Electric Guitars (also in Iced Earth/Demons & Wizards)
Anthony Crawford – Bass (Chon, Shalmor, Allan Holdsworth, Justin Timberlake, Kirk Whalum…)
Marco Minnemann – Drums (The Aristocrats, Joe Satriani, Steven Wilson, Tony Levin, Jordan Rudess, Necrophagist…)
CRO-MAGS are kicking this sh!t-storm of a year to the curb with the release of 2020, a six-song EP that captures all the frustration and rage at the unprecedented chaos of this year. Hailed by Metal Hammer as ‘The perfect soundtrack for 2020,’ the EP is available today on all digital music platforms.
The record itself is unintentionally 20 minutes and 20 seconds, and plays out more like a time-capsule look into the dumpster fire known as the year 2020. CRO-MAGS founder Harley Flanagan explains, “Just by coincidence we recorded 20 minutes and 16 seconds of music, so we simply added a few seconds of real-world chaos. The album cover is meant to look like a calendar – 7 squares across, with one picture from 2020 per day. Corona Virus, quarantine, empty streets, brutality, burning buildings, violence and destruction: 2020 is a year none of us will ever forget.”
CRO-MAGS were one of the first musical acts to deliver a full live-stream set just as a nationwide lockdown fell upon the United States, now known as the infamous “The Quarantine Show.”
2020 Track Listing
1 – Age Of Quarantine
2 – 2020
3 – Life On Earth
4 – Violence and Destruction
5 – Chaos In The Streets
6 – Cro-Fusion
“Fast punk and thrashy breakdowns” – DECIBEL
“The founding band of hardcore punk” – ROLLING STONE
“This one’s gonna snap a few bones and blacken an eye” – NEW NOISE
“A two-stepping salute to four-chord classic hardcore” – METAL HAMMER
Los Angeles, CA – Guitar-shredding virtuoso George Lynch has reteamed with former Dokken bandmate Jeff Pilson for a set of new studio recordings that turn pop music classics into powerful metal anthems! The two have previously made metal magic together as a duo on the 2003 album Wicked Underground, which was recently reissued on vinyl, as well as with other projects such as T&N and The End Machine. But this new batch of recordings, entitled appropriately enough Heavy Hitters, stands apart not only for its outstanding roster of players and vocalists including head Bulletboy Marq Torien, Fishbone’s Angelo Moore, Kansas native Wil Martin (Earshot) and drummer Brian Tichy (Whitesnake/Ozzy) but for the jaw-dropping song selection. If you’ve ever wondered what an amped-up, full-throttle version of Carole King’s “I Feel The Earth Move” or Prince’s “Kiss” or Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova” or Madonna’s “Music,” then this is the album for you!
As a special treat, the band has released the first single from the album – a powerful rendition of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World” – featuring Martin on vocals, offering just a small taste of what’s in store.
As Lynch himself explains, “I was never a huge Duran Duran fan but I always loved this song. It was just so majestic and emotional. It was an honor and a challenge to cover it in that we had to thread the needle between respecting the original vision of the arrangement but putting our stamp on it as well.”
Pilson, meanwhile, says “The purpose of this whole record, besides having a lot of fun making it, was to take amazing hit songs and interpret them in a way that was true to the greatness of the original but that also brought something new and fresh to the song. ‘Ordinary World’ is such a great melodic and emotional song, a song I think George and I have always loved. We just wanted to add some heaviness, a little George Lynch soulful playing and then let Wil fly with that phenomenal voice.”
Heavy Hitters will be available on both CD in a deluxe digipak and on limited edition colored vinyl starting December 18, courtesy of Deadline Music, a subsidiary of Cleopatra Records, Inc.!
Track List:
1. One Of Us (Originally by Joan Osbourne)
2. You Got The Love (Originally by Rufus & Chaka Khan)
3. I Feel The Earth (Originally by Carole King)
4. Ordinary World (Originally by Duran Duran)
5. Music (Originally by Madonna)
6. Apologize (Originally by OneRepublic & Timbaland)
7. Nowhere To Run (Originally by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas)
8. Kiss (Originally by Prince)
9. It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (Originally by R.E.M.)
10. Champagne Supernova (Originally by Oasis) BONUS TRACK [CD ONLY]
11. Lucille (Originally by Little Richard)
Source: Glass Onyon PR
LONG LIVE GEORGE LYNCH, JEFF PILSON And MARQ TORIEN.
(New York, NY 12/04/2020) – As global touring came to a sudden and unexpected halt earlier this year, Queensrÿche frontman Todd La Torre has been using his recent pandemic downtime to put the finishing touches on his debut solo album Rejoice In The Suffering. The idea for a solo album was always in the cards for Todd. With Queensrÿche tour dates postponed indefinitely, the world events offered Todd the opportunity to explore his ideas for Rejoice In The Suffering. Todd teamed up with longtime friend and collaborator Craig Blackwell and alongside producer Chris “Zeuss” Harris created a diverse heavy metal album that draws influence from different styles. These styles will surprise fans who only know La Torre from his previous work with Queensrÿche or Crimson Glory before that. Rejoice In The Suffering is scheduled for release globally on February 5, 2021 via Rat Pak Records.
“Rejoice In The Suffering was truly a labor of love. It’s a pure metal record that certainly showcases a wide range of my vocal abilities. I feel there is something for any true fan of metal on this album. This album is full of groove, dynamics, power, and substance and I can’t wait for people to hear it,” explains Todd La Torre.
From the album’s opening riffs of “Dogmata” to the vocal acrobatics that drive the album closer “Apology,” it is apparent that Todd La Torre has a true love of heavy metal. Playing drums and recording the vocals for the album, songs like “Darkened Majesty” and “Critical Cynic” offer an inside look into the musical mind of La Torre. Craig Blackwell’s guitar playing provides the perfect musical accents to La Torre’s vocals. Todd even finds vocal wails not heard from him before as showcased on the title track and the punishing “Vanguards of the Dawn Wall.” The deluxe version of the album features 3 bonus tracks: “Fractured,” “Set It Off” and “One by One.”
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA/SAVATAGE AND FORMER METAL CHURCH DRUMMER JEFF PLATE LAUNCHES NEW PROJECT ALTA REIGN
Jeff Plate has joined forces with TSO keyboardist Jane Mangini and some amazing new talent to form his “years in the making” band Alta Reign. Plate and Mangini, along with Tommy Cook (guitars/lead vocals), Collin Holloway (guitars/lead vocals), Kevin McCarthy (bass, vocals) and Zach Hamilton (keyboards, guitars/vocals), will be releasing Alta Reign’s debut album Mother’s Day on January 8, 2021 via Rat Pak Records. The album is a reflection of dedication as the initial idea spawned 30 years ago and ended in 2020 with the album now being released in 2021.
States drummer Jeff Plate, “Beginning in a rehearsal room in Rockland, Ma. 30 years ago and ending in this insane year of 2020, “Mother’s Day” is the end result of years of writing, listening, learning, planning and waiting for the right moment to put this all together. Everyone involved has been the perfect combination of effort and talent to complete the ideas and songs that have been kicking around in my head for years. I could not be prouder to share this album with the world, this is Alta Reign.”
From the album’s opening riffs of “Shine” to the majestic “Mother’s Day”, the reflective mood of “Always” and the mindful closer “Rise”, Alta Reign has created something very different and original. Drawing from his history, his influences and his heroes, Plate has combined Melodic, Progressive, Hard Rock and straight up Metal to create a unique landscape for the listener. Other TSO brethren make an appearance on Mother’s Day as guitarist Joel Hoekstra can be heard on the title track and guitarist Chris Caffery shows up on “Rise”. Songs like “Thin Red Line”, the frenetic instrumental “ESC (Escape)” and “Let’s Go! (I’m In Charge Now)” present every indication that the talent of these musicians is limitless.
“I have known Jeff for 20 years through the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I had the honor of playing with him on ‘Beethoven’s Last Night’ Tour in 2010. The most fun I had on that tour was soundcheck, actually his soundcheck. He would play the coolest riffs and I probably annoyed him playing along, but I always thought how great it would be to put something together with him. Ten years later I got a call and I’m pretty sure I said yes before he even finished asking me. I’m so very happy that I fit in”, explains keyboardist Jane Mangini.
01. Shine 02. Witness 03. Thin Red Line 04. Never Say Never 05. Mother’s Day (FT Joel Hoekstra) 06. ESC (Escape) 07. Come Out and Play 08. Let’s Go! (I’m In Charge Now) 09. Always 10. Immortal 11. Passage 12. Rise (FT Chris Caffery) 13. Always (Acoustic Version) (Bonus Track)
In March of 1990, four hard rock kids got together and recorded a four-song demo titled “Painkiller”. 30 years later, with some new technology and some help from Connecticut music legends, Mike Z Livingston and Static Era’s Jay Reason, Crossover is re-releasing their EP and bringing it back to life with more balls than ever.
Listen to Crossover’s timeless rocker, “True Believer”:
The EP includes three live bonus tracks, and their 4 original songs, “Painkiller”, “Identity”, “Too Many Fears” and “True Believer”. “It’s gritty, raw, and as old school as it gets,” says Jay “Ice” Piccirillo. “If you like Metallica Kill Em’ All meets DRI then this is a must listen! Enjoy and thank you all for the great memories!”
Crossover formed in Bridgeport, CT during the late 80s as part of the hardcore and metal scene that was beginning to flourish around New York City. Jay had an idea to put together a Metal/Hardcore/Thrash/Punk style band which, at the time, was labeled ‘Crossover’ music. Comprised of ScottSmith (rhythm guitar/vocals), Bill Smith (drums), Scott Camara (guitar) and Jay “Ice” Piccirillo (bass), the band played everywhere from keg parties to clubs, and quickly gained a loyal following.
During the Fall of 2002, the band reunited for a live benefit show that would feature Crossover, Payback, Sonick Plague, Dresden, Lost Generation, Forced Reality, and 76 percent Uncertain. The band’s lineup that night consisted of Jay, Bill Smith, GB Hammond from Lost Generation, Charlie Taylor from Payback, and Andy Reitano from Blastmat.
While the band’s lifespan was relatively short, their influence can still be felt today. Hatebreed singer, Jamey Jasta, bought Jay’s Mesa Boogie amp when they were in their beginning stages and told him he had a Crossover sticker on his bedroom door when he was 14 years old. Piccirillo recalls, “It was pretty damn cool hearing that.”
It is now 30 years later since the original demo was released and over the years technology has come a long way. Crossover now has the sound and mix they envisioned three decades ago, and are excited to share it with old and new fans alike.
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