The above 2 Twitter tweets posted by Mike Portnoy, (The Winery Dogs, Dream Theater), pretty much says it all. These 2 tweets were posted tonight, on April 7th. I am very happy to see that Twisted Sister has a legend such as Mike Portnoy chosen to be their drummer. Metal be thy name. – Stone
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Stone.
Iconic Death Metal legion, INCANTATION, will continue to raze stages throughout North America in support of their Dirges Of Elysium full-length. The latest bout of live assaults will begin on April 17th in Hempstead, New York at El Relax Lounge. The following day, INCANTATION will head to Worcester, Massachusetts to play this year’s edition of the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival at the Palladium. From there, the band will bring their audio malevolence to stages in Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Syracuse and Buffalo. The onstage abrasions continue the following month when INCANTATION ravages their way through seven more cities before bringing their brutality to the Maryland Death Fest Pre-Party on May 20th in Baltimore.
In June, INCANTATION will summon the dead at the Farmageddon Festival FOA in Vancouver and in August the band will take part in the Wolves Of Apocalypse Festival in Denver. The band’s latest bout of onstage obliteration follows their recent West Coast takeover and first ever performance in Hawaii this Winter with additional 2015 live devourement in the conspiring stages.
INCANTATION released Dirges Of Elysium last year via Listenable Records. Crowned, “one of the most influential death metal bands of all time,” by Metal Injection, who further elaborated of the record, “With all the evil-sounding riffs, squealing pinch-harmonics and crushing dirges scattered throughout, this is the sound that made INCANTATION legends. This is some profoundly dark and creepy stuff,” the record continues to raise the brows of death metallers old and new. Sputnik Music dubbed Dirges Of Elysium, “a breath of fresh air for INCANTATION, and another fine addition to their discography, ” Metal Forces gushed, “It’s all ungodly but all so bloody brilliant, and with ‘Charnel Grounds’ smoldering from the stench of char-coaled flesh and the blustering bluster of ‘Dominant Ethos’ dragging us into the mud-clogged shredder that is ‘Elysium (Eternity Is Nigh),’ I hold up my severed stumps in surrender for another harangue of hate from one of death metal’s most criminally underrated bands,” while Exclaim added, “INCANTATION preserve their archetypal ominous atmosphere, while the production gives the band a more modern edge, making Dirges Of Elysium a consistent yet fresh release from the influential band.”
Comments the band in a collective statement: “The response to the Dirges Of Elysium album and tour has just been amazing! We still have a lot of touring left to go for this release. We are looking forward to seeing all you deathbangers on the road!”
INCANTATION – Tour Dates:
4/17/2015 El Relax Lounge – Hempstead, NY
4/18/2015 New England Metal/Hardcore Festival – Worcester, MA
4/23/2015 Smiling Moose – Pittsburgh, PA w/ FaithXtractor
4/24/2015 Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY w/ FaithXtractor
4/25/2015 Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY w/ FaithXtractor
4/26/2015 Broadway Joes – Buffalo, NY
5/13/2015 The Foundry – Lakewood, OH w/ Funerus, FaithXtractor
5/14/2015 Madison Theater – Cincinnati, OH w/ Funerus, FaithXtractor
5/15/2015 Expo Five – Louisville, KY w/ Funerus
5/16/2015 The End – Nashville, TN w/ Funerus
5/17/2015 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA w/ Funerus
5/18/2015 The Motlight – Asheville, NC w/ Funerus
5/19/2015 Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA w/ Funerus
5/20/2015 Maryland Death Fest Pre-Party – Baltimore MD
6/13/2015 Farmageddon Festival FOA – Vancouver, BC
8/15/2015 Wolves of Apocalypse Festival- Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
New INCANTATION developments will be announced in the weeks to come. In the meantime, visit the INCANTATION merch store at THIS LOCATION. And if you missed it, check out the band’s video for “Impalement Of Divinity” at THIS LOCATION.
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Source: Earsplit PR
* For more info:
http://www.facebook.com/IncantationOfficial
Stone.
As reported on the SKID ROW Facebook timeline:
New York, NY – After 14 years of touring and 4 releases, SKID ROW has released singer Johnny Solinger.
Founding member Snake Sabo said, “We had a lot of great times together and created a lot of great music. We wish him nothing but the best.”
“Sometimes things just end. People go in different directions and grow apart and you have to make a decision. He will always be our brother” adds co-founder Rachel Bolan.
The vacancy for a new front man has been filled by powerhouse vocalist Tony Harnell. This news comes hot of the heels of his departure from Norway based band, TNT. “Tony’s experience, power and undeniable range made our decision an easy one” commented guitarist Scotti Hill. Drummer Rob Hammersmith added, “I believe this will be a great year for SKID ROW. I’m looking forward for things to come.”
When asked about joining forces with SKID ROW Harnell said, “I’m so excited and honored to be a part of such a great band with an amazing legacy and legions of faithful fans! The guys and I have known each other for many years and this is such a natural fit. I look forward to getting out there and playing live together and being a part of making new music and creating our future together. It’s time to rock!”
The band will head into the studio to record the third chapter of the United World Rebellion trilogy this summer. They will also hit the road for another world tour in support.
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Stone.
Independent female fronted Rock band Forever Still have released a new single called “Awake the Fire”. The single is the first single from their upcoming EP “Save Me”. The “Save Me” EP is the part two of three digital EPs that will eventually end up as one physical full length album later in 2015. The single can be downloaded directly from the band’s website: www.foreverstill.dk where the band lets their fans pay what they want for it.
“We believe that music should be available to everyone – both those who are broke, and those who have a little extra to spare in support of the artists they love” Maja Schønning explains. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into this song, so if people want to give us some help for the time and effort, we are very grateful! But if they don’t have any money right now, they can take it, share it and if they love it, come back and kick in later.
The EP is recorded, mixed and mastered in Copenhagen by band member Mikkel Haastrup in the band’s own studio. Mikkel is a trained sound engineer by Flemming ‘Metallica’ Rasmussen. “We like our music and everything surrounding it to be 100% honest and we felt the only way we could achieve that was by doing everything ourselves” says Mikkel.
The upcoming EP is Part 2 of the band’s debut album which is a concept album about a suppressed individual struggling through depression, anxiety, and worthlessness and getting stronger in the process. “The songs are all very raw, emotional and somewhat imperfect, because we wanted it to sound like someone falling apart and trying to put the pieces back together” says Maja.
The first EP in the series “Scars” has been welcomed with open arms by both fans and media:
“Scars is one of the most exciting new releases in the last 12 months and if there is justice in the music world, 2015 has to be the year of Forever Still. 5/5” – PlanetMosh
“The power in the vocals, the musicianship of every member and even the production is perfection(…)Scars’ is three tracks every rock fan should have. 5/5” – Genius Babble
“Frontwoman Maja Schønning is the driving force behind the band, bringing powerful vocals in abundance. If we were to place our faith in one female to successfully lead a band to the top of the metal scene, Maja would be it. 4/5” – HD Music Promotions
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Forever Still are from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Facebook: Forever Still
Stone.
As reported by Metal Blade Records:
Everyone please welcome Cut Up to the Metal Blade roster! The band features Tobias Gustafsson and Erik Rundqvist of Vomitory fame, as well as Ander Bertilsson from Coldworker, and Andreas Björnson from Fetus Stench.
Fans can expect a violent, catchy, groovy album of pure Swedish death metal this summer!
Drummer Tobias Gustafsson comments: “I am very happy, proud, honoured and excited to team up with Metal Blade Records once again, this time with CUT UP! Can’t stay away from playing death metal, obviously, so it feels fantastic to have this murderous ensemble together so soon after putting Vomitory into eternal sleep. Cut Up is not just “another project”, but all four members’ new main band. We have made a debut album that we are tremendously satisfied with, both material and production-wise. We can’t wait to let you hear it! Cut Up aim to hit the stages as soon as the album is released, so we hope to see you all in the front row and in the pit!”
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Website: http://www.metalblade.com
Stone.
On April 6th, 1974 – The first California Jam was held at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. This inaugural California Jam featured such music legends as: Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, The Eagles, Rare Earth, Earth Wind & Fire, Seals & Crofts and Black Oak Arkansas. Now that was a diverse Rock festival! Whoa, man!
* The California Jam poster (above) was created by the world-class artist Drew Struzan.
On this day in 1977 – The great Led Zeppelin performed at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Chicago Stadium opened in 1929 and closed in 1994. The above ticket to this Rock historic concert cost only… $9 in U.S. funds. Aw, man!!
On April 6th, 2008 – In Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Triumph was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame at the Juno Awards. Triumph also belongs inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Just Saying.
On this day in 2012 – The incredible Sepultura performed at Moskva Hall in Moscow, Russia. This was one of many concerts on their Eastern European & Baltic Tour 2012.
On April 6th, 2015 – The iconic Black Sabbath song, Iron Man, is the #1 best-selling Heavy Metal song on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Songs Chart. Whoa! This song is featured on the second studio album from Black Sabbath, released in 1970: Paranoid. 45 years old and going strong, this song is #1. Nothing short of remarkable. Metal be thy name!
On this day in 2015 – The legendary Ozzy Osbourne has his timeless hit, Crazy Train, ranked at #4 on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Songs Chart. Whoa, again! This memorable song is featured on Ozzy Osbourne’s debut solo album from 1980: Blizzard Of Ozz.
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Stone.
New Studio Album Returns Band To Classic Melodic Rock Format.
To Be Released By Frontiers Music Srl May 15th in Europe, May 19th in North America.
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Pre-order on Amazon.com here: http://geni.us/PeaceOutAmazon
In their 25-year career as a musical duo, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, collectively known simply as Nelson, have grown from pop music idols to seasoned songwriters and performers. Now, as the brothers celebrate a quarter century at the forefront of the international music scene, they return with Peace Out, their most ambitious studio album to date.
Set for release in Europe on May 15th and North America on May 19th by Frontiers Music Srl, PEACE OUT marks a return to the well crafted songs that put the band at the top of the Billboard charts in the 1990s. From the anthemic “Invincible” to the rollicking soon-to-be classic “Back In the Day”, PEACE OUT is quintessential Nelson from start to finish.
“We set a pretty high standard with our previous release with Frontiers – Lightning Strikes Twice. That record received by far the most critical acclaim of any Nelson record to date… Peace Out was expected to be even BETTER, so the goal was to push ourselves to very limit- past what we believed we could do,” says Gunnar Nelson. “We wanted to write and record the most exciting, authentic, uplifting, and rockin’ Nelson record ever made! The mission: to make a classic.”
The brothers have always had their work cut out for themselves, being the third generation in one of America’s most celebrated entertainment families, who came into US households every week from 1952 through 1966 on the ABC sitcom, The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet. Their grandfather, Ozzie Nelson, was a celebrated big band leader, whose orchestra featured their grandmother, Harriet; and their late father, Ricky, was one of Rock’n’Roll’s earliest superstars, a member of The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and generally credited with creating the country-rock format.
When the Nelson twins burst onto the music scene with their own Billboard #1 hit “(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love & Affection,” in 1990, they set a Guinness World Record by being the only family to have three generations of #1 hits on the charts!
Nelson has gone on to release a half-dozen Rock albums selling nearly 7 million records, beginning with the multi-platinum After The Rain. Peace Out marks their fourth release on Frontiers since 2010. Look for Nelson to embark on a world tour upon the new album’s release. “We’re putting the live show together as we speak… And it will incorporate the very best live songs from our career… Focusing heavily on the PEACE OUT album,” says Gunnar.
The Nelsons have worked in a number of musical styles including pop, hard rock and even country. Now, Peace Out takes them to the musical home they have known the best: harmony-driven pop rock whose melodies are as infectious as they are lasting.
1. Hello Everybody
2. Back In The Day
3. Invincible
4. Let It Ride
5. I Wanna Stay Home
6. On The Bright Side
7. Rockstar
8. Autograph
9. What’s Not To Love?
10. You And Me
11. Bad For You
12. Leave The Light On For Me
For all things NELSON, please visit:
http://www.matthewandgunnarnelson.com
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Website: http://www.frontiers.it/
Stone.
As reported by Frontiers Music SRL:
From Toto:
“A HUGE Thank You to the fans for the first week success of TOTO XIV!
The album landed in the Top 10 on the charts in nine countries (Germany #4, Netherlands #2, Japan #2, Denmark #7, Czech Republic #10, Finland #5, Norway #6, Sweden #4 and Switzerland #3). TOTO XIV also became the first new studio album to chart in the US & UK since 1988’s The Seventh One.
“We’re pleasantly stunned at the response,” exclaimed David Paich. “We couldn’t be more pleased with this initial success! And we’re always blown away when a new TOTO album bursts onto the Charts. We owe it all to our friends and Fans!”
“I am happily shocked, thankful and surprised,” echoed Steve Lukather. “ I can’t begin to thank you all for the support of buying real music and the love and kindness you have all showed this band for 38 years. So much thanks to our team and Frontiers records and all the people that work with us and most of all to the fans and our friends. It means so much to us. This one is for Mike and Jeff and all the Porcaro’s!”
TOTO XIV was released on March 20th in Europe & March 24th in North America.
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Website: http://www.totoofficial.com/
Website: http://www.frontiers.it/
Stone.
On this day in 2015 – The new studio album (deluxe version) from Nightwish, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, sits at #1 on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart. The regular studio album release is at #3 on this same chart. Whoa!
On this day in 2015 – Kamelot’s new studio album, Haven (Deluxe Edition), is ranked at #13 on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart. This studio album releases in North America on May 4th, 2015.
On this day in 2015 – The new album, Hate, from Thy Art Is Murder is ranked at #94, on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart. The album cover art above is freaking incredible and is what METAL is all about! Whoa!
On this day in 2015 – The magnificent IRON MAIDEN have their incredible 1984 studio album, Powerslave, ranked at #27, on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart. Yeah, man!
On this day in 2015 – TOTO XIV debuts at #98 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. This new TOTO album was released on March 23rd, via Frontiers Music SRL. If this album was released 30 years ago, it would be sitting in the top ten of all albums charts. Seriously, it would. This is not an insult, it is a compliment to TOTO for they are musically superior to 100% of the Pop shit and watered down mainstream Country that is selling huge today. Metal be thy name.
On this day in 2015 – Nickelback’s latest studio album, No Fixed Address, is hanging on by a thread, on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart! This album is now at… #200.
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Stone.
Extreme Metal powerhouse, Unique Leader Records, is very pleased to announce the addition of French Death Metal legion, KRONOS, to their expanding roster of mind-bending brutality.
Comments Unique Leader: “We are very proud to announce the multi album signing (of) France’s KRONOS. The band has been an influence on many acts over their extensive career and continue to push the envelope in the genre with their aggressive form of extreme metal madness.”
Adds the band: “KRONOS is beyond stoked and proud to join Unique Leader Records… the perfect fit for the Titan’s awakening! Unique Leader Records is one of the best extreme metal labels and has many talented bands from the brutal/technical death metal scene on its roster. We’re absolutely pleased to be part of the UL family and eager to release our forthcoming new album very soon. Expect some real fury….the Titan is back!”
A name derived from the Greek god of time, Cronos, father of Zeus, KRONOS was forged over fifteen years ago and quickly established a name for themselves based solely on their musical unity of harmony and violence. Featuring a continuous textual reference to the gods of ancient civilizations, KRONOS punctures ears with a heightened level of dynamics accomplished by only by a select number of bands.
It all began in a small town in the Northeastern province of Alsace-Lorraine. Following various lineup shifts and musical experimentation, the pandemonium squad recorded their first demo in 2000. One year later, KRONOS would unleash their Titan’s Awakening debut. Produced entirely by the band, the lethal creation lead to a union with French imprint Warpath Records (formerly known as Shockwave). By the end of 2001, Titan’s Awakening was expelled once again into the world, this time with a brand new cover designed by Deather (Gurkkhas, Vital Remains, Angel Corpse) as well as a visually disquieting booklet.
KRONOS later joined forces with Spanish label Xtreem Music run by Avulsed’s Dave Rotten, for the unleashing of their next two full-lengths. Second offering, Colossal Titan Strife was discharged in 2004 to the applause of underground critics in the proverbial know. Metal Crypt commended the band’s, “diversified guitar work… intricate drum patterns… wicked guitar solos and.. good number of catchy yet non-compromising hooks,” further insisting, “This French outfit is definitely worth checking out,” while Sputnik Music championed, “an impressive album that shows off the capabilities of death metal done right. KRONOS managed to pack a metric ton of creativity into each song and you will barely hear the same riff twice.”
Added Last Rites simply, “worth your time if you… need some solid, well-produced death metal.” Third offspring, The Hellenic Terror, emerged in April 2007 and served as an attestation of the band’s enormous capacity for skilled execution and originality. Said Metal Crypt in a near perfect review of the release, “The Hellenic Terror contains more melodic sections than Colossal Titan Strife, but still possesses almost as much brutality…. KRONOS is one of the few death metal bands that manage to be melodic, brutal and still remain catchy as hell in their riffs and solos. This is definitely a must-have for fans of death metal.”
Now that this Gallic Titan has blossomed into a powerful entity, they’re ready to vanquish and destroy the world with musical bloodlust and a new album to be released via Unique Leader Records this Summer. Further details to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
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Source: Earsplit PR
* For more info:
Facebook: KRONOS
http://www.facebook.com/UniqueLeaderRecords
http://www.twitter.com/UniqueLeaderRec
http://www.youtube.com/uniqueleaderrecords
Stone.
London brings people together from all walks of life. So when a French guitarist met two Italians, a Spanish guitarist and a British bassist, it seemed destiny to make noise together as Strauss (a Germanic name of course). They’re now set to release their second EP Luia around late May. Drawing from common wells of Kylesa, Kyuss and Red Fang, the fuzz-charged grooves they conjure up on Luia are infectious and dirt-laden, so you may well catch something. Meanwhile vocalist Stef possesses both crooning tones and a manic bark to contrast, and even a rap-style vocal in the vein of Zack la Rocha (Rage Against The Machine) on final track ‘2015’.
Strauss started out with modest intentions: “met one day and decided to make some noise…that’s it really.” The group eventually centered around London as their stomping ground, and quickly got their heads together to create their début self-titled EP, which received high praise from reviewers around the ‘net. Building on this success, the band hit the road far and wide, even reaching Latvia’s Fontaine Festival and Sweden’s SandvikFest to bring their manic parties. Now, it’s time for round two of hitting the studio, and Luia has taken shape spectacularly. The UK fuzz scene has never been in healthier shape, and rarely with a more wicked sense of humor.
Strauss are:
Stef – vocals
Charles – guitars
Bill – bass
Luca Immovili – drums
FFO: Red Fang, Kylesa, Kruger
Digital release is set for late May.
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“This is a damn fine first release from Strauss and for fans of catchy stoner grooves with a dirty sludgier edge, this is essential listening.” – Heavy Planet
“A sound rooted somewhere between Kylesa and Red Fang with a nice progressive touch. All in all this EP is packed with some great tunes and worth checking out.” – Stonerobixxx
“Even though it’s got these familiar elements, this stew of tunes is quite unlike any sludge/metal/stoner acts I’ve heard before.” – Ride With The Devil
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Source: Dewar PR
Strauss – Online:
Stone.
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Midwest blackened death grind ensemble, IMMORTAL BIRD, will release a brand new full-length this Summer. Titled Empress/Abscess, the five track follow-up to 2013’s Akrasia EP, which Decibel Magazine dubbed, “dark and twisting,” and The Chicago Reader called, “…sick and greasy black metal that does an admirable job inventing the sound of a mind tearing itself apart,” was captured by Pete Grossmann (Weekend Nachos, Harm’s Way, Dead In The Dirt) at Bricktop Recording in Chicago, Illinois earlier this year and mixed and mastered by Colin Marston (Gorguts, Krallice, Nader Sadek, Atheist, Origin etc.) at Menegroth, The Thousand Caves in Queens, New York. Empress/Abscess includes a guest appearance by John Hoffman of Weekend Nachos and finds former drummer/vocalist, Rae Amitay, trading in her drum stool for a full-time position at the mic.
Elaborates Amitay: “I’ve stepped away from drumming duties and enlisted our live drummer, Garry Naples (Novembers Doom). Essentially, I had to set my ego aside and determine what was going to be the best for this music. [Guitarist] Evan [Berry] and I wrote some incredibly challenging material for Empress/Abscess, and Garry had been playing it live for months, whereas I’d been focusing a lot of my drumming energy on the newest Thrawsunblat album. My chops are in a very different place than they were when we recorded Akrasia and it would take me a week in the studio to do what Garry can accomplish in two days. Having him behind the kit saved us time, the finished product is stronger, and I was able to delve into the vocal performances and lyrics with my undivided attention. Will I play drums on future IMMORTAL BIRD albums? It’s entirely likely, but for Empress/Abscess, I passed the sticks over to the best person for the job.”
An official release date for Empress/Abscess is forthcoming, but expected to drop in late June. As a precursor to its official unveiling, the band will embark upon the Western Migration Tour 2015. Slated to kick off on April 27th in Louisville, Kentucky, IMMORTAL BIRD will traverse eleven states in over a dozen cities, with the journey coming to a close on May 14th in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to a the West Coast trek, IMMORTAL BIRD recently confirmed appearances at Shadow Woods Metal Fest and Southwest Terror Fest with future live demolitions in their plotting stages.
“We’re really looking forward to hitting all new cities on this run of dates,” relays Amitay, “It’s time to bring Akrasia to the West Coast before we release the new record! We’ll be playing a bunch of previously unperformed material, and will again be enlisting the talents of guitarist Eric Kornfeind on this tour. Stoked to spend a few weeks playing for our friends in the West.”
IMMORTAL BIRD 2015 Western Migration Tour:
4/27/2015 Diamond Pub – Louisville, KY
4/28/2015 House Show – Nashville, TN
4/29/2015 Vino’s – Little Rock, AR
4/30/2015 Tomcats – Fort Worth, TX
5/02/2015 Lost Well – Austin, TX
5/03/2015 TBA – San Antonio, TX
5/04/2015 Sandbox – El Paso, TX
5/05/2015 The Cottage House – Flagstaff, AZ
5/06/2015 Yucca Tap Room – Tempe, AZ
5/07/2015 Katz Alley – Redlands, CA
5/08/2015 TBA – San Diego, CA
5/09/2015 TBA – Los Angeles, CA
5/10/2015 The Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
5/11/2015 Flux Capacitor – Colorado Springs, CO
5/12/2015 TBA – Omaha, NE
5/14/2015 The Wisco – Madison, WI
IMMORTAL BIRD:
Evan Berry – guitars
Rae Amitay – vocals
Garry Naples – drums
John Picillo – bass
Source: Earsplit PR
* For more info on IMMORAL BIRD:
http://www.facebook.com/immortalbirdband
Stone.
Norrköping, Sweden’s Black Metal legends, MARDUK, will begin their Latin American tour, beginning this April 17th, in Santiago, Chile. MARDUK’s newly released album, Frontschwein, is available now! Metal be thy name. -Stone
Click these links below for more info:
Website: http://www.marduk.nu/
Facebook: Marduk Official
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Stone.
As stated on the Satyricon Facebook timeline by Satyr:
Personal message from the bossman: We had our last rehearsal for the tour today and we’re ready. When preparing this, the most important thing for me has been to make this tour different from our last Euro tour in 2013. We tour less and less although we play together more often than ever before. So the few tours we do should all have an identity of their own and feel special to me also. We’ve divided the show into four acts and this less conventional format is interesting to work with. I also like playing songs we haven’t played in many years. Not just old stuff from the nineties. We do that too. Come on. It’s great playing songs from Volcano and Now, Diabolical that have not been touched in many years as well. I hear these songs with new ears now. Incorporating choral arrangements from “Live At The Opera” on some songs has also been a bit of a task. Keyboard and human voices are not the same, but we have found those parts that work really well and some songs get a whole new feel to them with these additions. I’m so heavily into working on new stuff these days, that I decided I want to show bits and pieces to the crowds as well. It does not matter to me if they are bits and pieces in progress – I want to play future Satyricon material for you and I know you’ll get it. We also invited fans who play classical instruments to join us in doing improvised jam sessions and I know that it will happen in at least a handful of the shows. I love the idea that fans will take part in our show, also on a musical level. We are working on a cover album project and on some shows we’ll show you some of that on stage as well. We’re bringing a treasure chest of visual effects, I think the show in Paris will be filmed for television and we are visiting many cities we have not played before.
The old touring format is dead. This is The Dawn Of A New Age. Join me. SW
The Dawn Of A New Age European Tour 2015 kicks off on Saturday in Nijmegen, Holland. We are doing this INSTEAD of a summer festival tour, and we hope to see you all in the coming weeks.
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* For more info on SATYRICON
Facebook: Satyricon
Stone.
ORDEN OGAN – Arnsberg, Germany’s Power Metal warriors, ORDEN OGAN, released their new 11 song studio album, Ravenhead, this past February 3rd in North America, via AFM Records. Ravenhead is a tremendous follow-up to 2012’s To The End, in my Metal opinion.
With the fittingly titled Orden Ogan, a triumphant symphonic intro with haunting chants, this compelling Ravenhead album begins. The title track kicks in with all the aural power and atmospheric energy that Orden Ogan are so gifted at creating and playing; this experience does not subside throughout the album. I cannot help letting myself being carried away by the layered songs of Ravenhead, Orden Ogan have undoubtedly turned it up a few notches between albums.
Orden Ogan is a band whose albums you must really listen to and absorb, in order to take in every sonic nuance. I swear I hear bagpipes on the song F.E.V.E.R. I believe I do. Plus, as a bonus, Ravenhead can be interpreted as a concept album, if one so chooses to do so. Evil Lies In Every Man has a creepy spoken word intro of what I perceive to be a female elder from the blackest of forests; in other words a witch to my ears? Creepy nonetheless and this song soars with its Power Metal intensity. Ravenhead flows along so very fine, with the last song, Too Soon, being of the rightly chosen, moderate tempo and mood to close the listening experience out with.
Above: back cover artwork for Ravenhead
Vocalist Seeb is a wonderful listen with his clean vocals and he also plays guitar and keyboards as well. Tobi on lead guitar, Niels on bass and Dirk on drums round out this German Power Metal band that I feel so good writing about. I absolutely love the chorus throughout Ravenhead; this is what makes European Power Metal so incredibly moving!
Orden Ogan represent European Power Metal in such an abundant way; anyone unfamiliar with this genre can tag Orden Ogan as a bullseye for a starting point. There is not only the power behind Ordan Ogan’s impressive Metal on Ravenhead; fascinating bridges lead this listener to such a dynamic listen of vast Metal sounds. Speed, ambience, acoustical, flamenco and symphonic moments, with fist raising guitar solos, European Power Metal guitar tones, and a roof raising rhythm section are all in store for you within the songs on Ravenhead.
I highly recommend Orden Ogan’s Ravenhead to any fan of Power Metal and Metal for that matter; Orden Ogan has created so much to offer here on their new album. Metal be thy name. – Stone
SEEB – vocals, lead-guitar, keyboards
TOBI – lead-guitar
NIELS – bass
DIRK – drums
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* For more info on ORDEN OGAN:
Facebook: ORDEN OGAN
Stone.
On April 1st, 1985 – David Lee Roth left Van Halen to begin a solo career. Yup. Shown above is the April, 1984 edition of Hit Parader, with Diamond Dave as the cover feature. Yup.
On this day in 2008 – In the state of Illinois, this date marked the first Cheap Trick Day. This special day was decided upon, in June of 2007, in the state of Illinois. Whoa, man! Happy Cheap Trick Day, Illinois! Long live Cheap Trick!
On April 1st, 2015 – IRON MAIDEN’s The Number Of The Beast is ranked at #33 on the iTunes Top 100 Metal Albums Chart. This iconic Metal album was released back in 1982 and is the third studio album from the legendary IRON MAIDEN. Whoa! Long live IRON MAIDEN!
On this day in 2015 – IRON MAIDEN’s Piece Of Mind is ranked at #45 on the iTunes Top 100 Metal Albums Chart. Released back in 1983, this is the fourth studio album from the mighty IRON MAIDEN.
On April 1st, 2015 – IRON MAIDEN’s Brave New World is ranked at #53 on the iTunes Top 100 Metal Albums Chart. Released back in 2000, this is the twelfth studio album from the magnificent IRON MAIDEN. Brave New World also marked the return of vocalist Bruce Dickinson, after his successful solo career; guitarist Adrian Smith also marked his return on this fabulous album. Whoa!
On this day in 2015 – PANTERA’s Vulgar Display Of Power is ranked at #39 on the iTunes Top 100 Metal Albums Chart. Originally released back in 1992, this is the sixth studio album from the great PANTERA. Long live the legacy of PANTERA! RIP, Dimebag Darrell.
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Stone.
Fresh off their Rumors 7” release last October, Seattle doomgazers He Whose Ox Is Gored will embark on a national tour this April, which will include Midwest and East Coast stops for the first time. The tour kicks off in their native Seattle on April 5th with Witchripper and A God or Another at Narwhal.
The band’s full length debut ‘The Camel, The Lion, The Child’ is slated for release this fall on Bleeding Light Records, as well as more new material that will also surface in 2015. In the meantime, Ox will spread their fuzzed out style of heaviness across 14 US cities in preparation of the full length’s imminent release. All dates are below and subject to change.
4/5 Seattle, WA @ Narwhal Tour kick off w/ Witchripper and A God or Another
4/7 Missoula, MT @ Palace Lounge
4/8 Fargo, ND @ New Direction
4/9 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
4/12 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
4/14 Brooklyn, NY @ St. Vitus
4/15 Boston, MA @ PA’s Lounge
4/16 Worchester, MA @ Ralph’s
4/19 St. Louis, MO @ The Lemp
4/20 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
4/21 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
4/22 Salt Lake City, UT @ Bar Deluxe
4/23 Boise, ID @ Crux
4/24 Spokane, WA @ The Pin
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Source: Dewar PR
* For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/hewhoseoxisgoredseattle
https://instagram.com/hewhoseoxisgored/
http://hewhoseoxisgored.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bleedinglightrecords
http://bleedinglightrecords.bigcartel.com/
Stone.
UK Death Metal outfit Abhorrent Decimation are pleased to announce they’ll be teaming up with a group of sculptors for an innovative new music video.
In the build up to their hugely anticipated debut full length album, the London-based wrecking crew have teamed up with the Head of Foundations (David Tinn) and two highly skilled artists (Jonny Cavaciuti & Olivia Davis) at East Surrey College, to commission the creation of a series of sculptures to be used in the bands next music video. The album, as of yet untitled, is slated for release later this year and is in the final stages of mixing and mastering under the scrutiny of renown producer Ronnie Björnström, Enhanced Audio Productions (Garageland Studios, Sweden). The wait will soon be over.
Whilst Abhorrent Decimation prepare for their upcoming UK tour with French Death Metal heavyweights, Benighted and Scotland’s Cancerous Womb, vocalist Ashley Scott gives us an overview of the project as he oversees the sculpture commission beginning to take form:
“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have pulled this off… I had such big ideas for the first official music video that we would be putting out with this album. I can’t go into great detail of the concept behind it all yet but I wanted the band mutated and frozen in ice BUT I didn’t want it done using CGI. Turns out, that was a bit of an ambitious ask. I then thought about doing the whole band as a set of sculptures and freezing those. So I contacted my old friend and mentor David about the possibility of collaborating with his foundation students at the college and the rest is history. He asked that I create a brief for the project and since then the artists have just run with it. We took the first sample casts of my head a few weeks back and we are really happy with the results. Next, the whole band will be in to have moulds taken of their heads. From there, the artists will then need a little time to work on these objects before we can have them frozen and then begin shooting the vid. I really wanted to bring one song in particular to life, having these sculptures frozen in ice will do exactly that and it’s something a little different, this is an interesting marriage of music and art. You don’t see that much. And once the album is released I would love to exhibit these pieces in London.”
Check out ‘Infected Celestial Utopia’, title track from the debut Abhorrent Decimation EP!
Abhorrent Decimation Live!
11/04/15 Croydon, The Scream Lounge
12/04/15 Bristol, The Exchange
13/04/15 Liverpool, The Magnet
14/04/15 Edinburgh, Bannermans
15/04/15 Leeds, Temple of Boom
16/04/15 Birmingham, The Flapper
17/04/15 Reading, The Facebar
19/04/15 Tilburg, Neurotic Deathfest
28/04/15 Brighton, The Prince Albert
23/05/15 Southampton, The Firehouse
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Source: Future PR
* For more info:
www.facebook.com/abhorrentdecimation
Stone.
KARASAFRA is an Extreme Progressive Metal band from Turkey. The two multi-instrumentalist members of this fine band are: Esin Tokgöz on brutal vocals, guitars, drums (and lyricist), along with Engin Can Tokgöz on clean vocals, basses, guitars and drums.
The three songs on Karasafra’s EP are: Structure of Debris, Thoughtscapes and the epic title track: Chaos Manifest. The brutal vocals of Esin Tokgöz are Black Metal and the clean vocals of Engin Can Tokgöz are very dark. I will add that there is a nice touch of Middle East accent in the vocals of Engin Can Tokgöz, on the third song Chaos Manifest. Excellent vocals, both.
Structure of Debris begins with a soft guitar intro and mellow guitar interludes do occur within this blazingly blackened song. This is an excellent song to become first acquainted with Karasafra; as this entire EP is for that matter.
I love the guitar tones on these songs, it very much is obvious to my ears that Karasafra are conscientious at creating their own musical identity; something that is so essential to accomplish, in order to stand out within the oceans of Metal. I thoroughly enjoy the flow of the second song: Thoughtscapes. This song is beyond contagious for me and I couldn’t be more honest!
The epic title track and EP closer, Chaos Manifest, is without question to me, the most progressive song on this EP. The time signatures are smooth and the tempo changes are very pleasing for my Metal tastes. At 10:20 long, this isn’t a song you will dread due to its length, no sir. I actually feel that this epic song finishes too quickly! It’s a fantastic musical journey and well worth the 10 plus minutes that Karasafra created.
I admire how these two musicians have written and recorded three songs that are so captivating and unique. There are no parts repeated from one song to the other, if you know what I mean. To have featured and reviewed this new Karasafra EP on Metal Odyssey is what highlighting quality, international underground Metal is all about. I wish this Metal duo all the very best that will come their way from their music; this is a tremendous EP and I highly recommend it to all my Metal brethren around the globe. Metal be thy name. – Stone
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* For more info on KARASAFRA:
Facebook: Karasafra
http://karasafra.bandcamp.com/
Stone.
HALO CREATION is a DEATH METAL band from Vienna, Austria and was founded in 2014. Their unequivocal message is:
!!! BANG YOUR FUCKIN´ HEAD !!!
The five members of the band bring you real, powerful and straight Metal and also live, you can feel and see the brute force of HALO CREATION.
It began in a small rehearsal room in the middle of Vienna. Since the very beginning, they rehearse regularly and so the first songs accrued. In the Summer of 2014, a Demo CD with four songs on it was recorded. In September, HALO CREATION played their first live show, together with ILLDISPOSED.
Since this show, they play live regularly and already shared the stage with GRAVEWORM and JINJER. These days they are busy with songwriting for their first album and this Summer of 2015 they will enter the studio. The release of the full-length is scheduled for Autumn.
For HALO CREATION, it is important to produce elaborated and very powerful music. When they`re playing live, the crowd should go crazy and while listening to their songs any kind of emotions should arise.
The music should be real Death Metal, which means, there will be no clean vocals nor Nu Metal parts in it. Moreover, outstanding chorus lines are important. Further, excesses in speed or changes in rhythm should be a big part of their music.
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HALO CREATION – ONLINE:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/halocreationmetal
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/halocreationmetal
ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/halocreation
Backstage PRO: http://www.backstagepro.de/halocreation
Source:
Stone.
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