OF THE SUN showcases a different side to their heavy sound with the new single “Lost Tongue“. Landing on May 5th, the second offering from the upcoming EP Pattern Rebirth, delivers soaring vocal harmonies, intricate melodies and progressive arrangements.
The band comments:
“Inspired by feelings of neglect and abandonment of the self, ‘Lost Tongue’ is a departure from the typically aggressive OF THE SUN songwriting style. It’s a solemn tune, billowing with the dark harmonic vocal character akin to an ALICE IN CHAINS song, while attacking tooth and nail the frustration that lies at the heart of a toxic relationship. The start of it illustrates the epiphany, finding myself years deep in something that required the absence of my true persona. From there, ‘Lost Tongue’ navigates through the course of this circumstance, as well as through the confusion, anxiety, anger, and disbelief found in this condition, ultimately resolving to uproot everything.”
About OF THE SUN: Beginning in Myrtle Beach, SC, before moving to Austin, TX, and landing in southern Germany, the metal outfit, OF THE SUN, has traveled a long, winding path, and continues to build on its approach to song writing through structural variation and stylistic revisions. Influenced by bands like BTBAM, OPETH, SOUNDGARDEN, and MR BUNGLE, OF THE SUN draws from a diverse vocabulary of musical language and boils it down into the particular visions of chief creator, Patrick Duvall. Recruiting from overseas, drummers Bryce Butler (SHADOW OF INTENT, THE FACELESS, CONTRARIAN) and Rom Gov (SEEK IRONY, TIBETAN SKY RITUAL), along with bassist Jacob Umansky (INTERVALS, THE FACELESS, PAINTED IN EXILE) have joined ranks for Pattern Rebirth.
Forty-five years young, British hard rock royalty GIRLSCHOOL comes out swinging with their fourteenth studio album, WTFortyfive?, a deliciously dirty declaration that age is a number that shows how much real raw attitude you have when it really counts. WTFortyfive? is set for release on July 28th via Silver Lining Music.
Lead single “Are You Ready?” sets the pace; a racy, raunchy, fun-saturated shapeshifter co-written with Alcatrazz’s Joe Stump that shows GIRLSCHOOL’s leathers may still carry the well-baked battle scars of decades past, but their songs and attitude are as fresh, fun, heavy, and catchy as ever before.
As a nod to their fellow partners in crime, GIRLSCHOOL today reveals the animated video for “Are You Ready?,” the video sequel to Alcatrazz’s “Don’t Get Mad… Get Even” (feat. GIRLSCHOOL)” taken from the upcoming Alcatrazz album Take No Prisoners (set for release May 19thvia Silver Lining Music). Both videos were created by Natalia Jonderko Śmiechowicz.
Comments the band, “The first new GIRLSCHOOL music in nearly a decade! Powerful, heavy and with a great groove, this is the first single from our WTFortyfive? album! We think you’ll like it… Are you ready? We are!”
Watch GIRLSCHOOL’s video for “Are You Ready?” (feat. Joe Stump)” HERE.
Watch Alcatrazz’s video for “Don’t Get Mad… Get Even (feat. Girlschool)” HERE.
With WTFortyfive?, Kim McAuliffe (guitar/vocals), Denise Dufort (drums), Jackie Chambers (guitar/backing vocals), and Tracey Lamb (bass) leave the grit under their finger nails and the muck on their crusty leather boots as they riff and stomp their way through twelve statements of intent showing major attitude, some great melodies, and a consistent crunch to every guitar.
There’s the addictive mototörcharged scuzz of “It Is What It Is,” the Wandsworth via Sunset Strip sway of “Bump In The Night,” the youthful, punky romp of “Up To No Good,” and the smart, sassy, rock ‘n’ roll hooks of “Believing In You,” with McAuliffe’s vocals sounding as sharp and raucous as ever. And if that isn’t enough, their raunch roars and rolls alongside Biff Byford (Saxon), Phil Campbell (Motörhead), and Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) on a cracking cover of “Born To Raise Hell!” So throw away your inhibitions and join these spectacularly wild women on the most glorious of rock ‘n’ roll rides. Lemmy knew, so should YOU!
WTFortyfive? will be released on 12” vinyl, digipak-CD, digital download and streaming and special D2C bundles. Preorder yours today at THIS LOCATION.
Additionally, head over to girlschool.tmstor.esfor a chance to win a GIRLSCHOOL WTFortyfive? custom made real leather jacket. T&Cs apply.
WTFortyfive? Track Listing:
It Is What It Is
Cold Dark Heart
Bump In The Night
Barmy Army
Invisible Killer
Believing In You
It’s A Mess
Into The Night
Are You Ready? (feat. Joe Stump)
Up To No Good
Party
Born To Raise Hell (feat. Biff Byford, Phil Campbell, Duff McKagan)
Today marks the official unveiling of Crimson &Jet Black, the latest full-length from leading Japanese heavy metal act, ANTHEM, out now on Reaper Entertainment.
It’s been four years since the release of the band’s critically acclaimed Nucleus full-length — a re-recording of their classic hits with English lyrics. But ANTHEM used the pandemic downtime wisely. Crimson & Jet Black features eleven tracks, once again performed in English.
Offers the band, “Finally, our new album Crimson & Jet Black is out! The album is full of straight, powerful, and great metal songs. We promise that it sounds as sharp as a knife. If you love metal, you shouldn’t miss it. But be careful not to get blown away!”
Watch ANTHEM’s previously released videos for “Snake Eyes“ at THIS LOCATION and “Wheels Of Fire” at THIS LOCATION.
Order Crimson & Jet Black on CD and vinyl at THIS LOCATION.
After finishing two anniversary tours in 2021 — the band’s thirty-fifth anniversary tour, which had been postponed due to the pandemic restrictions, as well the twentieth anniversary of their reunion tour called the ANTHEM 2001 Vs ANTHEM 2021 Tour — the band began work on their latest offering. Originally scheduled to be completed in the Spring of 2022, band leader Shibata, a perfectionist at heart, decided to enrich each of the songs’ quality and pushed the recording schedule to Summer/Fall.
Like previous ANTHEM works, Naoto is the main producer of the album, but this time renowned Swedish producer Jens Bogren, (Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Dimmu Borgir, Opeth, etc.) who had previously mixed and mastered Nucleus, is credited as a co-producer.
North American Tour With Moonspell To Commence Later This Month
“Watch as I rise. Reclaim my life. Under the darkest of skies. Scars will remain, signed by your name. Never forget, we’re the same.” ELEINE – “Never Forget” (2023)
Times are hard, we know. And while Tina Turner may have declared some time ago that, “we don’t need another hero,” the opposite seems to be true. We need heroes, we need anthems, we need perseverance. And fast! Luckily for us, ELEINE has heard the call with their newest single NeverForget.
Beginning with a heavy, thrashy riff which instantly drives the song forward and leads to a mighty chorus, the song is the perfect paradigm of the speed and epic vibe of their new album, WeShall Remain, set for release on July 14th via Atomic Fire Records.
The band comments, “Have you ever met someone who has scarred you? Made you doubt yourself? Maybe even made your life a living hell? We all have, in one way or another. But the most important part of experiencing something inevitable like this is to remember your own worth. It’s not about you, but you can evolve and learn from the situation itself.
“Rise up. Accept what has been. Move forward and cut the strings attached to anyone who really doesn’t give you anything else but a headache. In the end, we’re all facing the same fate. Make sure your life along the way has as less toxic people as possible and make sure you are in charge of your own life.”
Watch ELEINE’s visualizer for “Never Forget” at THIS LOCATION. Stream/purchase the track at THIS LOCATION.
Watch ELEINE’s previously released video for first single, “We Are Legion,” at THIS LOCATION.
We Shall Remain was written and produced by guitar player/vocalist Rikard Ekberg and lead vocalist Madeleine Liljestam while Thomas “Plec” Johansson took care of co-recording, mixing and mastering at The Panic Room Studio in Skövde, Sweden. Its fiery artwork was designed by Nestor Avalos (nestoravalosofficial.com) and Madeleine Liljestam.
We Shall Remain will be available as a digibook CD, digibook CD + signed photo card (limited edition; EMP & Sound Pollution excl.), jewel case CD, LP (Orange/White), and digitally.
Preorder the album in the physical format of your choice, pre-save it on your favorite DSP, or preorder it digitally to receive “Never Forget” and “We Are Legion” instantly at eleine.afr.link/weshallremainPR.
Besides recently welcoming long-time live bass player Filip Stålberg as a new permanent member, ELEINE will embark on their very first North American tour later this month. Accompanying legendary Portuguese dark metallers Moonspell on their 30th anniversary tour across the US and Canada, the band will play twenty-three shows from April 29th through May 23rd with additional support coming from Oceans Of Slumber and Vintersea on select dates. To help the group on their journey, visit THIS LOCATION. Find ELEINE’s full live itinerary below!
ELEINE w/ Moonspell, Oceans Of Slumber: 4/29/2023 The Monarch – Brooklyn, NY 4/30/2023 Warehouse On Watts – Philadelphia, PA 5/01/2023 Hangar 1819 – Greensboro, NC 5/02/2023 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA 5/03/2023 Conduit – Orlando, FL 5/05/2023 Scout Bar – Houston, TX ** 5/06/2023 Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX ** 5/07/2023 Trees – Dallas, TX ** 5/08/2023 Tumbleroot Brewing – Santa Fe, NM ** 5/09/2023 Last Exit Live – Phoenix, AZ ** 5/10/2023 1720 – Los Angeles, CA ** 5/11/2023 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA ** 5/12/2023 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA ** 5/13/2023 Bossanova Ballroom – Portland, OR ** 5/14/2023 The Cobalt – Vancouver, BC ** 5/16/2023 Oriental Theater – Denver, CO 5/17/2023 Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS 5/18/2023 The Forge – Joliet, IL # 5/19/2023 Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN # 5/20/2023 Preserving Underground – Pittsburgh, PA # 5/21/2023 Petit Campus – Montreal, QC # 5/22/2023 Source De La Martiniere – Quebec, QC # 5/25/2023 Sonia – Boston, MA # End Tour 8/02/2023 MetalDays – Velenje, SL New 8/11/2023 Alcatraz Metal Festival – Kortrijk, BE ** = w/ Vintersea # = no Oceans Of Slumber
Don’t forget to subscribe to Atomic Fire Records on YouTube. Listen to “Never Forget” as well as other new tracks in the AFR New Releases playlist on Spotify HERE.
Debut album, “Legends” coming July 7, 2023 on AFM Records!
July 7, 2023 sees up-and-coming, heavy metal sensation, ALL FOR METAL, release their hotly-anticipated, first full-length album, entitled Legends, via AFM Records.
With eleven irresistible, compact and catchy songs, the band’s colossal debut unleashes anthemic, straightforward metal that has international class. Under the banner of ALL FOR METAL, metal enthusiasts Tim “Tetzel” Schmidt (known as the singer of Asenblut as well as a strength athlete and fitness influencer) and Antonio Calanna (singer of the hard rock band DeVicious) joined forces for the perfect metal match. Both are united by their love for classic heavy metal sounds and the common vision to them to a new generation of music fans.
“We grew up with bands like Manowar, at whose concerts the audience is overwhelmed by the energy,” Tetzel recently revealed. “That’s where strangers are in each other’s arms and fervently belting out the songs. This invisible bond, this connection, is created through the music alone.” His vocal counterpart Antonio adds, “I’ve only experienced such a sense of community in the metal scene. With ALL FOR METAL, we want to help pass this on and let as many music fans as possible share in it.”
Following four previously-released songs, “Born In Valhalla”, “Raise Your Hammer”, “Fury of the Gods” and the aptly-titled track “All For Metal”, today, the band is premiering a music video for the thunderous single “Mountain Of Power”. With its pounding drums, blazing guitars, and an epic chorus, “Mountain of Power” will be your new favorite heavy metal anthem, one that will make you feel invincible! Get ready to climb to the summit of metal greatness with ALL FOR METAL, and watch the band’s new video clip now streaming HERE
Perfect in time for a heavy summer festival season, with much-awaited live appearances at Wacken Open Air, Rock Harz and many more to be announced soon, ALL FOR METAL’s debut Legendswill be released on July 7, 2023 through AFM Records. The album was recorded and produced at the Elephant Studios, the pre-sale is available HERE
Legends – track listing:
All for Metal
Goddess of War
Born in Valhalla
Raise Your Hammer
Hear the Drum
Run
Prophecy of Hope
Mountain of Power
Fury of the Gods
The Day of Hammerfall
Legends Never Die
ALL FOR METAL Live: 02.06.2023 (CZ) Metal Fest Plzen 07.07.2023 (GER) Rock Harz (Album Release Show!) 02.08.2023 (GER) Wacken Open Air
ALL FOR METAL: Ursula Zanichelli – Guitar Jasmin Pabst – Guitar Florian Toma – Bass Guitar
New Claymation Video For “No Survivors” ft. CARNIFEX’s Scott Ian Lewis
Blending black metal/horror theatrics with intense death metal style blast beats and shredding guitar along with brutal slamming breakdowns and catchy melodies, Toledo, OH symphonic deathcore band The Convalescence announces they will be hitting the road this June for the “One of The Dead Tour” with support from Knoxville, TN’s Summoner’s Circle and Raleigh, NC’s WoR. The tour will kick off with a hometown headlining show for The Convalescence at the Toledo Death Fest on June 3rd and see the tour wrap up on June 24th in Battle Creek, MI. (all dates listed below).
In additional news, The Convalescencehave unleashed their latest single “No Survivors” featuring Scott Ian Lewis of Carnifex with a Claymation music video, which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/YQVSCu57aSs
Vocalist Keith Wampler details the single and the band’s plans for an upcoming album:
“The single is one of the hardest-hitting songs we’ve ever released. The lyrics and video were inspired by the Alien films, and having Scott doing some nasty guest vocals really helped give it the brutality we were looking for. We played it live throughout our recent European Tour and absolutely loved the energy it brings to the stage. We’re looking forward to this one being a part of our live show for many tours to come. This new album is basically like one big horror movie, song by song each one tells a story. Each one is brutal in its own way.”
The Convalescence expects the album will be received well by the fans, as they do their very best to step things up on each record. They worked with producer Jason Suecof on this one at Audiohammer Studios in Florida who has worked with most of their favorite bands (The Black Dahlia Murder, Carnifex, Deicide, Job For A Cowboy) and they were beyond stoked he was down to do the recording with them. In their opinion, they’ve created the heaviest The Convalescence album so far. The full-length was mastered by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy) and is expected for release summer of 2023.
Filthy, brutal, and symphonic, The Convalescence is recommended for fans of Carnifex, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Chelsea Grin.
The Convalescence – “One of The Dead Tour” w/ Summoner’s Circle, WoR 6/03 – Toledo, OH @ Toledo Deathfest w/ Oceano 6/04 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place 6/05 – Providence, RI @ Alchemy 6/06 – Amityville, NY @ Amityville Music Hall 6/07 – Mechanicsburg, PA @ Lovedraft’s Brewing Co. 6/08 – Richmond, VA @ Another Round Bar & Grill 6/09 – Greenville, NC @ State Theatre 6/10 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero 6/12 – Sanford, FL @ West End Trading Co. 6/13 – Tampa, FL @ Brass Mug 6/14 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits 6/15 – Fort Walton Beach, FL @ Downtown Music Hall 6/16 – Houston, TX @ Acadia Bar & Grill 6/17 – San Antonio, TX @ Deco Ballroom 6/18 – Fort Worth, TX @ The Rail Club DFW 6/19 – Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live 6/20 – Tulsa, OK @ The Rabbit Hole 6/21 – Park Hills, MO @ Park Hills Underground 6/22 – Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle Brewing 6/23 – Dayton, OH @ Oddbody’s Music Room 6/24 – Battle Creek, MI @ The Music Factory
Arizona thrash metallers INCITE will support Cavalera on the Morbid Devastation Fall 2023 Tour! The journey begins August 29th in Albuquerque, New Mexico and makes its way through over three dozen cities, coming to a close on October 18th in Los Angeles, California.
Comments INCITE vocalist Richie Cavalera, “We’re beyond stoked for this tour, to be playing with legends every night is a true honor. Hella fired up to be a part of history!”
Additional support for the tour will be provided by Exhumed. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 21st at 10:00am local time. See all confirmed dates below.
INCITE w/ Cavalera, Exhumed: 8/29/2023 Revel – Albuquerque, NM 8/31/2023 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK 9/01/2023 Granada Theater – Dallas, TX 9/02/2023 House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA 9/03/2023 Saturn – Birmingham, AL 9/05/2023 Madison Theatre – Covington, KY 9/06/2023 The Concourse – Knoxville, TN 9/08/2023 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 9/09/2023 Full Terror Open Air – Cave-In-Rock, IL (Festival) 9/10/2023 Delmar Hall – St. Louis, MO 9/12/2023 Mesa Theater – Grand Junction, CO 9/14/2023 Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ 9/15/2023 The Marquee – Tempe, AZ 9/16/2023 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA 9/18/2023 RockHouse Bar & Grill – El Paso, TX 9/19/2023 Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX 9/20/2023 House of Blues – Houston, TX 9/21/2023 Vinyl Music Hall – Pensacola, FL 9/22/2023 Beacham Theater – Orlando, FL 9/23/2023 Terminal West – Atlanta, GA 9/25/2023 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 9/26/2023 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ 9/27/2023 Irving Plaza – New York, NY 9/28/2023 Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA 9/29/2023 Reverb – Reading, PA 9/30/2023 Mr. Smalls Theatre – Pittsburgh, PA 10/01/2023 Turner Hall Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI 10/02/2023 Fine Line – Minneapolis, MN 10/05/2023 Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA 10/06/2023 Waiting Room – Omaha, NE 10/07/2023 Oriental Theater – Denver, CO 10/08/2023 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT 10/10/2023 The Crocodile – Seattle, WA 10/11/2023 Treefort Music Hall – Boise, ID 10/12/2023 Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR 10/14/2023 Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA 10/15/2023 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA 10/17/2023 House Of Blues – Las Vegas, NV 10/18/2023 The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
INCITE released their Wake Up Dead full-length last Spring via Atomic Fire Records. With Wake Up Dead, INCITE jettisons the extraneous bloat of slicker bands in favor of authentic grit and determination, consistently churning out “headbanging riffs with concussive force (Kerrang).” The very spirit and attitude of heavy music culture, courses through the veins of the INCITE collective. Over the course of five albums — The Slaughter (2009), All Out War (2012), Up In Hell (2014), Oppression (2016), and Built To Destroy (2019) — the band has cemented their reputation as one of America’s leading groove armadas, heavily hitting home with their blend of old-school thrash majesty, frantic aggression, melody, and skill. Written over the course of several bouts of feverish inspiration throughout the pandemic, with recording duties again handled by legendary producer Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence, Everytime I Die), Wake Up Dead delivers in the most relentless way possible.
INCITE’s Wake Up Dead is available on CD, LP, and digital formats. Find ordering options at THIS LOCATION. Watch the band’s previously released videos for “Deadbeat” HERE, “Mental Destruction” video HERE, and “War Soup” (feat. Max Cavalera) HERE.
We are very excited to announce the Thicker Than Blood US Tour w/ special guest LivingColour. Pre-sale tickets for all dates are now available at https://extreme-band.com/ (Use code SIX) 👊
Come celebrate this album with us. It’s been way too long & we can’t wait to see you.
Promo picture by Teppo Ristola / Teppo Ristola Photography
Finnish groove-thrash metal group Falling From Grace will release their second studio album, “At The Edge”, later in 2023 via Inverse Records. The first single and music video, ‘The Abyss’, is released today. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/Id8q-7rRn1Y
The band comments: “The Abyss has gotten its inspiration from sleep paralysis that many have told to feel a dark presence with them. You can feel that there is something in there, but you can’t see it physically. Is this only a trick of the mind, or is there something evil and dark in there with us when we can only lie down and not move at all?”
Falling From Grace – The Abyss (single 2023) Single cover by Sami Leppäaho Composed by Timi Tonteri, Atte Väisänen, Toni Jokelainen & Valtteri Honko. Lyrics by Niki Tonteri
Falling From Grace is a groove-thrash metal band from Finland, formed in 2013. Their influences come from genres like groove metal, thrash metal, death metal, metalcore, etc. As such, their music strikes the hearts of many metalheads. This five-man band always plays their gigs with 110% attitude, leaving no one in the crowd cold. Falling From Grace has released: the EP “Shadows of the Past” (2014), singles “Poseur” (2016), “Reflection” (2020), “Break Your Neck” (2020), “In The Lies Where We Stand” (2021) and an album “Shattered” (2021). FallingFrom Grace are writing a new album titled “At The Edge” that they plan to release around the end of 2023.
April 17, 2023 – Better Lovers, a newly formed band featuring Greg Puciato, Jordan Buckley, Clayton “Goose” Holyoak, Stephen Micciche, and Will Putney, have released their debut single: “30 Under 13” via SharpTone Records.
The blistering, four-minute track, and accompanying Eric Richter directed video (https://youtu.be/TU-nwWuyKXc), serve as the perfect introduction to Better Lovers, a band whose music is as uncompromising, unapologetic, and undeniable as anything they’ve done individually.
“Looking back, I’m so happy everything got me to where I am,” explains Buckley. “The pandemic and the last few years made me hungrier and more grateful. This isn’t a hobby. This isn’t temporary. This is the next evolution for each of us. Greg and Will rejuvenated me and made me even more confident. Now, everybody needs to know we’re a wild animal that just broke out of the zoo—there’s no trying to put it back in the cage.”
“Jordan sent me some already finished instrumental tracks, and they hit me at just the right time,” adds Puciato. “Those tracks woke up a side of me that I thought was fully extinct but was merely evolving and changing. To my complete surprise there was still something left in that area to dig at, and the vessel for it made sense.”
“30 Under 13” digital single cover, featuring artwork by Donny Phillips
Putney, who had worked on the most recent Every Time I Die albums, and won a 2021 GRAMMY® Award for his production work on Body Count’s Carnivore, encapsulates the band’s thoughts: “It’s a group of loaded weapons all firing at full power ready for the next chapter of our music careers, and I can confidently say our collective best work is ahead of us.”
Tour dates are imminent.
Photo credit: James Hartley Better Lovers is Jordan Buckley (guitar), Clayton “Goose” Holyoak (drums), Stephen Micciche (bass), Greg Puciato (vocals), Will Putney (guitar).
Following their recent announcement of joining Nuclear Blast Records, Southern Californian melodic death mongers EXMORTUS have revealed plans to release their massively anticipated 6th studio album, Necrophony, on August 25th. Available for pre-order now, the record 4 years in the making finds the shredders at a new creative peak, re-born in the isolation of the pandemic and wielding a master craft of metallic savagery.
Commenting on the impending record, guitarist/vocalist Conan says: “‘Necrophony’ was an album title idea for as long as I can remember. This Symphony of the Dead couldn’t be realized for a collection of songs until now. Finally, we have our darkest and most Classically inspired work yet, with artwork by the great Toha Mashudi to match perfectly. We returned to Sharkbite Studios to have the mighty wizard that is Zack Ohren aid us again in forging our metal, and resulted in the finest steel we’re all proud to wield on the battlefield.“
Conan says of the song: “‘Mind of Metal’ is a great compliment to our previous single ‘Oathbreaker,’ in that it has contrasting rhythms and structure, but shares lyrical inspiration by Tolkien. It’s a tribute to the wizard Saruman and other like characters in the legendarium, for their will to power and domination by crafty and industrial means. This song features groove, fast licks, and some of our favorite riffs ever written. Can’t wait to perform it live!“
“The album “A Matter of Time” shows where Alase is heading towards musically. We are already working on new music and this album leads the way to our new paths.
Compared to our debut album Vastaus, A Matter of Time is more versatile and progressive. In a way it is more mature but we also took more musical risks with its material. We even threw in a couple of tracks that go outside the genre of metal music but they still sound like Alase. Those songs also contain more electronic sounds which is a new thing for us.
Softer parts on the album are very soft but the heavier parts at their heaviest get really crushing and technical. When it comes to musicianship, this album contains the most demanding stuff that we have so far done.
Besides five previously unheard tracks, the album contains four tracks that were released as singles and music videos. Those songs represent the album pretty well but don’t tell the whole story. If you like bands Katatonia, Haken, VOLA and Sleep Token, this album might work for you!”
Nuclear Blast is proud to announce the signing of metal legends CAVALERA. The band reveal they re-recorded SEPULTURA’s first EP Bestial Devastation and first full-length album Morbid Visions.
Max Cavalera comments, “As we get harder year after year, sometimes you’ve got to go back to where it all started! We re-recorded Bestial Devastation and Morbid Visions with the amazing sound of NOW, but with its raw and timeless spirit. The artwork reflects the times we’re living in right now…. Apocalyptic as hell! We also have two new tracks with riffs from those days, remembered by heart.”
Iggor Cavalera states, “I always felt like the recordings of our earlier work didn’t do justice to the way we performed the songs. So, this is a very special moment in our lives that we are very proud to show you real fans our true representation of the amazing records Bestial Devastation & Morbid Visions with an insane visual identity…enjoy and see you all in the pit”
Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation were re-recorded at The Platinum Underground. The albums were produced by Max Cavalera and Iggor Cavalera while John Aquilino handled the engineering. Arthur Rizk was responsible for the mixing and mastering of both albums. CAVALERA enlisted Eliran Kantor to create the artwork for both albums.
On May the 2nd, ANCIENT SETTLERS will finally deliver their brand new EP “Transition”, with their new line-up, commanded by the Frontwoman Argen Death. Modern Melodic Death Metallers attack with a 4-Songs EP released by Crusader Recorda/Golden Robot Records in digital and physical format, recorded at Chromaticity Studios, and with some very relevant collaborations like Dalay Tarda from Rise To Fall.
The art-cover was designed by Jon Toussas (Septic Flesh, Suicidal Angels, Mors Principium Est, etc), and the album was mixed & mastered by Pedro Monge (Avalanch, Rise to Fall, etc).
Also, the band has announced their upcoming tour with 22 dates across Europe, including gigs in Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands. Luxembourg and Germany.
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Transition Europe Tour dates, remaining shows:
05/05/23 – Oviedo (Esp) – Sala Gong (Supporting Defacing God) 06/05/23 – Vigo (Esp) – Pub Transylvania (Supporting Defacing God) 07/05/23 – Vitoria (Esp) – Urban Rock Concept (Supporting Defacing God) 19/05/23 – Pamplona (Esp) – Krawill Hard Bar. 20/05/23 – Zaragoza (Esp) – Sala Utopía 31/08/23 – Toulouse (Fr) – L´Usine a Music. 01/09/23 – Amsterdam (NL) – The Cave 02/09/23 – Bree (Bel) – Metal Babes Festival. 06/09/23 – Brno (Cze) – M13 Rock Club 07/09/23 – Leipzig (Ger) – M.V.B. 08/09/23 – Milan (IT) – Headbangers Pub 09/09/23 – Marseille (Fr) – La Maison Hantée 16/09/23 – A Coruña (Esp) – Sala Filomatic. 07/10/23 – Aachen (Ger) – Peace On Earth Metal Fest 11/11/23 – Bilbao (Esp) – Sala Mytho 20/01/24 – Portugalete (Esp) – Sala Groove
“Transition” EP synopsis:
Transition: is the new phase of history told through the experiences of the settlers army. With this new work, the band continues its conceptual journey, in which it tries to reflect the emotional behavior of our society and its link with the current serious situation of our species. With four new emotionally deeper and more complex songs, without abandoning the use of intense melodies and catchy guitar riffs, the band embarks on a new phase of its musical evolution.
April, 2023, TOKYO – Nemophila, the all-female Japanese band whose cover of Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper” went viral, racking up over 3 million views, and was followed by one of the most talked about live debuts at Aftershock 2022, have released a new single, and video: “Rise” (ssm.lnk.to/RISE).
The band recently wrapped up a brief U.S. tour, including a stop at SXSW.
Guitar Girl Magazine described the quintet as “one of the most thrilling metal bands in Japan,” Distorted Sound said their music is “a reminder of just how fun heavy metal can be,” and Glasse Factory, commenting on their riveting Aftershock performance, noted “they nodded to metal legends with their styling and offered a refreshing take on their own unique blend… the excitement was tangible and radiated through the crowds as they all leaned in to watch the rising rock stars.”
Nemophila formed in 2019, playing their first live show in August of the same year, supporting Loudness and Hammerfall at Tokyo’s Metal Weekend 2019. The band have released two albums: Seize The Fate (2022) and Revive (2021). Nemophila is Mayu (vocals), Saki (guitar), Hazuki (guitar), Haraguchi–san – (bass) and Tamu Murata (drums).
Cleveland blackened thrash punks MIDNIGHT are celebrating twenty years of sonic debauchery with a massive North American tour later this Spring! Support on The 20 Years Of Hell, Speed, And Sleaze USA Tour will be provided by Spirit Adrift and Spiter from May 1st through May 20th, then Early Moods and Necrofier from June 1st through June 16th. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
MIDNIGHT w/ Spirit Adrift, Spiter: 5/01/2023 The Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI 5/02/2023 Mag Bar – Louisville, KY 5/03/2023 The Radio Room – Greenville, SC 5/05/2023 Underbelly – Jacksonville, FL 5/06/2023 The Orpheum – Tampa, FL 5/07/2023 Gramps – Miami, FL 5/09/2023 Chelsea’s Live – Baton Rouge, LA 5/13/2023 Vibes Event Center – San Antonio, TX 5/14/2023 89th Street – Oklahoma City, OK 5/15/2023 The Vanguard – Tulsa, OK 5/16/2023 Red Flag – St. Louis, MO 5/18/2023 Reggies – Chicago, IL 5/19/2023 Hoosier Dome – Indianapolis, IN 5/20/2023 Preserving Underground – New Kensington, PA w/ Early Moods, Necrofier: 6/01/2023 HQ – Denver, CO 6/04/2023 Red Room – Vancouver, BC 6/05/2023 Dante’s – Portland, OR 6/06/2023 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 6/07/2023 The Shredder – Boise, ID 6/09/2023 Cyprus – Reno, NV 6/10/2023 Cafe Colonial – Sacramento, CA 6/11/2023 Eli’s Mile High Club – Oakland, CA 6/13/2023 The Catalyst Atrium – Santa Cruz, CA 6/14/2023 Temblore Brewing Co. – Bakersfield, CA 6/15/2023 Soda Bar – San Diego, CA 6/16/2023 The Rock – Tucson, AZ
MIDNIGHT released their fifth full-length, LetThere Be Witchery, last Spring via Metal Blade Records. Filthy, belligerent, and obnoxious, MIDNIGHT makes music to start fights to. Since 2003, one-man-band Athenar has been churning out an ungodly racket, dropping countless demos, splits and EPs – and in 2022 he returns, delivering a catchy mixture of black metal, speed metal, and dirty punk rock. “I always want it to be loud and nasty,” he asserts. “That kinda thing never gets old with me. How funny will that look to see me at age 77 – if I reach that point – sitting on the porch blasting Hellhammer?” Preview and purchase Let There Be Witchery at THIS LOCATION.
Los Angeles-born heavy metal icons ALCATRAZZ will release their new studio album, Take NoPrisoners, via Silver Lining Music on May 19th.
ALCATRAZZ is determined to make up for lost time, roaring forwards at warp factor ten to deliver Take No Prisoners, their sixth studio album and the third in three years. Comprised of ten cracking, charismatic tracks, with each containing the unique fusion of classic American rock with the full grain hard-rocking attitude of British heavy metal, Take No Prisonerssees ALCATRAZZ energetically soaring and exploring melodic progression with road-warrior riffs. “Little Viper” rides a scything guitar into a thunderous, Dio-like assault, whilst the band also show their calmer, more expansive side with the epic “Strangers,” but when an album finishes at the burn point of “Bring On The Rawk,” there can be no question that ALCATRAZZ’s collective boot is repeatedly kicking serious ass!
Comprised of Doogie White (vocals), Joe Stump (guitars), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards), Gary Shea (bass), and Larry Paterson (drums), with Giles Lavery and Waldo producing, Take No Prisoners is a loudly, and proudly classic rock album which draws on the ALCATRAZZ traditions of technically excellent screaming guitars, thunderous rhythm, and the sort of vocals and overall aura that evoke prime Dio and Rainbow. And of course, a primed and fully tuned-up ALCATRAZZ, whose career is fast taking on Benjamin Button proportions.
Take No Prisoners will be released on digipak CD, 12” Black vinyl, digital download, streaming and special D2C bundles. Preorders are available at THIS LOCATION.
ALCATRAZZ: Jimmy Waldo – keyboards Gary Shea – bass Doogie White – lead vocals Joe Stump – guitar Larry Paterson – drums
Yes, I bought the CD version of Metallica’s 72Seasons at midnight! Thank God for CatacombRecords in Kettering, Ohio! Tim (the owner) had a listening party for 72 Seasons with complimentary pizza and pop. Is that Metal or what!? Thus when the clock struck midnight, I was buying!!
I was so excited to get this new Metallica CD that I freaking forgot to put it into the car CD player! WTF!! I had my wife’s car; my ancient car only plays cassette. Still, I’m grateful. Tim at Catacomb Records also had a free litho of the 72 Seasons album cover along with a pack of 3 72 Seasons guitar pics! I’ll post the pics of those later cuz I’m half asleep doing this post right now.
I love Metallica. Forever.
Here are some pics of Catacomb Records:
Old school and current Metal selection at Catacomb Records here is AMAZING!!Being inside Catacomb Records is like transporting back to 1982. No shit. Check out the pizza boxes! Yeah!Tim has all the Metal details at his store. Skulls are forever Metal!
Canadian sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD are celebrating 40 eventful years of existence in 2023 and are pleased to announce a special Anniversary studio album entitled Morgöth Tales, to be released on July 21st, 2023 via Century Media Records.
Once more recorded and mixed by Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio, mastered by Maor Appelbaum and produced by VOIVOD, Morgöth Tales includes fresh studio (re-)recordings by the band’s current line-up of 9 especially selected, not-so-obvious picks from the band’s hyper-classy and extremely diverse back catalogue (between 1984 and 2003) as well as a brand-new song in the album’s title-track, “Morgöth Tales”.
VOIVOD drummer Michel “Away” Langevin commented about Morgöth Tales as follows: “’Morgöth Tales’ covers 40 years of space exploration. It was really exciting for us to revisit a more obscure part of the Voïvod catalogue, from thrash-punk to prog-metal to…? The title track is a new song, which we started writing in the tour bus and hotels during the Opeth European tour in November/December 2022. It has the vibe of the experimental music we are doing nowadays, with a new twist I think. We also had the great thrill of getting E-Force and Jasonic involved on this album. I hope you’ll dig it, Chewy, Rocky, Snake and I certainly had a blast recording it. All aboard and ready for take off!“
VOIVOD – “Morgöth Tales” 1. Condemned To The Gallows (2023 Version) [Originally on Metal Massacre V Compilation, 1984] 2, Thrashing Rage (2023 Version) [Originally on “Rrröööaaarrr”, 1986] 3. Killing Technology (2023 Version) [Originally on “Killing Technology”, 1987] 4. Macrosolutions To Megaproblems (2023 Version) [Originally on“Dimension Hatröss”, 1988] 5. Pre-Ignition (2023 Version) [Originally on “Nothingface”, 1989] 6. Nuage Fractal (2023 Version) [Originally on “Angel Rat”, 1991] 7. Fix My Heart (2023 Version) [Originally on “The Outer Limits”, 1993] 8. Rise (2023 Version, feat. Eric Forrest) [Originally on “Phobos”, 1997] 9. Rebel Robot (2023 Version, feat. Jason Newsted) [Originally on “Voivod”, 2003] 10. Morgöth Tales [New Song]
Next up, VOIVOD are kicking off their 40thAnniversary touring cycle this upcoming weekend in The Netherlands & the UK, so better check the band’s comprehensive listing of upcoming shows here:
VOIVOD – Europe & UK Tour: Apr. 16, 2023 – Eindhoven (The Netherlands) – Prognosis Festival Apr. 18, 2023 – Bristol (UK) – The Fleece + Cryptic Shift Apr. 19, 2023 – Glasgow (UK) – Slay + Cryptic Shift Apr. 20, 2023 – Manchester (UK) – Rebellion + Cryptic Shift Apr. 21, 2023 – Southampton (UK) – The 1865 + Cryptic Shift Apr. 22, 2023 – London (UK) – Prognosis Festival
VOIVOD – USA Tour w/ Imperial Triumphant: May 9, 2023 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel * no Imperial Triumphant May 10, 2023 – Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27 * no Imperial Triumphant May 11, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts May 12, 2023 – New York, NY – The Bowery May 13, 2023 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage May 14, 2023 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground May 16, 2023 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live May 17, 2023 – Tampa, FL – Floridian May 18, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage May 19, 2023 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues May 20, 2023 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall May 21, 2023 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It May 23, 2023 – Pensacola, FL – The Vinyl Music Hall * no Imperial Triumphant
VOIVOD – Europe Tour: May 26, 2023 – Wiesbaden (Germany) – Schlachthof w/ Testament, Exodus May 27, 2023 – Ulm (Germany) – Roxy May 28, 2023 – Munich (Germany) – Backstage w/ Testament, Exodus May 30, 2023 – Lyon (France) – Transbordeur w/ Testament, Exodus May 31, 2023 – Pratteln (Switzerland) – Z7 w/ Testament, Exodus June 1, 2023 – Trezzo sull’Adda / Milano (Italy) – Live Club w/ Testament, Exodus June 2, 2023 – Ljubljana (Slovenia) – Kino Siska w/ Testament, Exodus June 3, 2023 – Stuttgart (Germany) – Im Wizemann w/ Testament, Exodus June 5, 2023 – Berlin (Germany) – Columbia Theater w/ Testament, Exodus June 7, 2023 – Budapest (Hungary) – Durer Kert June 8, 2023 – Salzburg (Austria) – Rockouse Bar June 9, 2023 – Prague (Czech Republic) – Futurum June 10, 2023 – Gdansk (Poland) – Mystic Festival June 13, 2023 – Hamburg (Germany) – Markthalle w/ Testament, Exodus June 14, 2023 – Amersfoort (The Netherlands) – Flour June 15, 2023 – Wasquehal / Lille (France) – The Black Lab June 17, 2023 – Clisson (France) – Hellfest June 18, 2023 – Dessel (Belgium) – Graspop Metal Meeting June 22-24, 2023 – Oslo (Norway) – Tons of Rock Festival Aug. 3-5, 2023 – Wacken (Germany) – Wacken Open Air Aug. 11-12, 2023 – Helsinki (Finland) – Helsinki Metal Festival And more international dates to be announced soon…
Morgöth Tales succeeds VOIVOD’s 15th (!) much acclaimed and Juno Awards winning studio album “Synchro Anarchy”, which entered sales charts upon release in early 2022 as follows: Germany # 7 (!), Switzerland # 64, Austria # 67, The Netherlands # 88, Belgium # 129, UK (Rock & Metal) # 7, Canada (Hard Music) # 2, USA Current Hard Music # 8, USA Top New Artist # 11, USA Heatseekers # 56 and USA Current Album # 67. VOIVOD also released the special “Ultraman – EP” in late 2022, which contains a highly original tribute to the “Ultraman” TV series theme.
Tampere, Finland -based thrash metal act OSIRISREX – led by US thrasher Superstar Joey Severance have unleashed the second single ‘The Meek Shall Inherit’ taken from their forthcoming debut EP “Arrival of the New Dawn”!
Also check out the first single ‘Lone Wolf Terror’, feat. on solo: Michael “Big Maaaan” Rutten, at https://youtu.be/IL-BAxGFLl0
“Arrival of the New Dawn” recording lineup: Superstar Joey Severance – Vocals Ben Varon – All Guitars (except where noted) and Bass (Session Musician) Oskari Niemi – Drums (Session Musician)
Music and Lyrics: Superstar Joey Severance Produced, Mixed and Engineered by: Ben Varon Mastered by: Ben Varon and Oskari Niemi
Tracklisting:
The Meek Shall Inherit
Arrival of the New Dawn
Lone Wolf Terror (Solo: Michael “Big Maaaan” Rutten)
Hot Stuff (Donna Summer Cover)
More on OSIRIS REX:
Rising from the ashes of TORNADO comes OSIRIS REX. With Tornado, vocalist Superstar Joey Severance recorded three albums (Amsterdamn, Hellsinki – Black President – Commitment to Excellence) with the debut being produced by Peter Tagtgren and their last album featuring such metal heavyweights as Karl Sanders (Nile) Glen Drover (ex-Megadeth) and Ross Dolan (Immolation). All three albums received positive reviews worldwide and the band did a European tour supporting Six Feet Under.
Soon after the tour ended, and right before the start of the pandemic, SJS decided to disband Tornado for personal reasons and move forward with a new lineup which will become Osiris Rex.
The four-song debut EP, “Arrival of the New Dawn” showcases the musical direction the band is taking which is not too far removed from Tornado. Stay tuned!
With a focus on writing great, catchy songs, Osiris Rex are looking to advance the thrash genre for a new generation!
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Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
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