KOBRA AND THE LOTUS is a Canadian Heavy Metal band formed in 2009 by lead vocalist and songwriter Kobra Paige.
Since 2012, KOBRA AND THE LOTUS has logged several thousand kilometres of travel, playing club, arena and festival stages around the world. They have torn up the main stages at major international festivals, including Sonisphere (Spain), Download (UK), Bloodstock (UK), Hellfest (France), Graspop (Netherlands), Gods Of Metal (Italy) and many more and opened up for Judas Priest at the legendary Hammersmith Apollo (London, UK).
KOBRA AND THE LOTUS supported KISS and Def Leppard across North America this past Summer and have shared stages with a wide variety of acts over the past two years, including Sonata Arctica, Fear Factory, Black Label Society, Steel Panther and Buckcherry.
Kobra is now leading her band on a dozen of shows throughout the UK, starting today in Liverpool! Check out the tour dates, cities and venues below! Whoa!
Listen to and watch the music video for Soldier, a grand song from the new KOBRA AND THE LOTUS album: High Priestess.
The new beast behind the drums of the Metal Commando – welcome Aquiles Priester.
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AQUILES PRIESTER: Drummer, Composer, Producer, Clinician and Instructor. Bands: Primal Fear, Hangar, Noturnall, Tony MacAlpine, Vinnie Moore…
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AQUILES PRIESTER –D R U M S O LO – (below) from the Appearance at the Modern Drummer Festival 2011 – from the Hudson Music DVD: Modern Drummer Festival 2011…more Videos here at DRUMMERWORLD: http://www.drummerworld.com
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AQUILES PRIESTER – on the cover of Modern Drummer Brazil, October 2014:
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PRIMAL FEAR:
Ralf Scheepers – Vocals, Magnus Karlsson – Guitars, Alex Beyrodt – Guitars, Aquiles Priester – Drums, Mat Sinner – Bass & Vocals
Formed in 2006 after a drinking competition, UK extreme metallers Aghast! have finally scheduled the release of their debut album. *Applause*
Entitled ‘All The Rage’, the album will see the light of day on 1st October 2014 and in their own words expect “Fast. Heavy. Catchy.”
Since their formation, Aghast! have recorded a number of EP’s and have gained a reputation for delivering the goods every time. Their most recent record ‘Live Dangerously’ seen media attention soar with Thrash Hits commenting on the EP as, “…three tracks of straight-up speed, for those of you who like stuff where guitars shred faster than a Betterware onion slicer and the sound of drummers feet snapping away from their ankles”, while Metal Hammer said, “Blasting fury? Check. Venomous brutality designed to tear flesh from bone? Check. Sadistically evil in a way that’s worrying? Check. Really fucking good? Hell yes.”
Why the long wait for a debut you say? Well… “We have spent years experimenting and honing our sound” commented the band. “But you only get one opportunity to release your debut album and ‘All The Rage’ is a statement of intent. It exemplifies every aspect of the Aghast! sound and our attitude to making heavy music. We wanted it to be brutally heavy with a recognisable groove and packed with hooks that people can grab on to. Heavy metal should be entertaining and fun to listen to and that’s what we feel we have achieved with this record. It is a thrill ride from start to finish and we hope that everyone can get on board with us!”
‘All The Rage’ artwork was completed by comic book artist Zak Simmonds-Hurn.
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Track List:
01) Die Laughing
02) All The Rage
03) Hollywood Ending
04) Afterlife Crisis
05) Drop Dead Famous
06) Bang To Rights
07) It’s Your Funeral
08) Look Alive!
09) Sea of Trees
10) Hells Bells (and Buckets of Blood)
11) We Fear Silence
12) Noise Pollution
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The album was recorded by Derya Nagle at Playgle Productions, London, UK & Johnny Walker at Moles Studio, Bath, UK and mastered by Ue Nastasi (Gojira, Killswitch Engage, Clutch, Anthrax, Lamb Of God).
Check Out Title Track Lyric Video ‘All The Rage’
The band will also be taking the album on the road and touring throughout England later this month and into October.
British heavy metallers Kaine have just signed a special record agreement with newly founded Static Tension Recordings.The record deal gives Static Tension exclusive rights to market and sell Kaine’s album, The Waystone, in the United States over the next two years. Kaine is excited to be working with Static Tension on the upcoming US release which is scheduled for October 14th, 2014.
The band’s guitarist/vocalist, Rage Sadler, comments: “I am very pleased we have come to an agreement with Static Tension. This is the perfect deal for us as this gives them exclusive rights to sell and market the band in America while we receive a fair share of the income from record sales. The deal also enables us to continue selling our own CDs and allows us to retain all of our own digital and merch income. The majority of European labels are only interested in ripping bands off and we really couldn’t do this sort of deal with the labels that approached us. This definitely isn’t the case with Static Tension who are firmly in the 21st Century and moving with the times as we are.”
Kyle Stevens of Static Tension, who has 26 years’ experience in the music industry, having worked for the likes of Universal Music Group, stated: “I am extremely pleased to have Kaine as my first signing to Static Tension Recordings. They’re continued hard work, business savvy, and most importantly, their song writing skills are a breath of fresh air in today’s stagnant talent pool. Proving that Traditional Heavy Metal is alive and well will make the forefathers from the New Wave of Heavy Metal proud.”
Kaine have previously released a statement regarding their DIY route of releasing albums. Read it here.
Listen to the album The Waystone via the band’s Bandcamp page, below:
KAINE:
Rage Sadler – Guitars & Vocals Dan Mailer – Bass & Vocals Ant Murch – Lead Guitar Chris MacKinnon – Drums
After their debut album, Faithsedge return with their new album The Answer Of Insanity, featuring singer/songwriter Giancarlo Floridia, former Dokken lead guitarist Alex De Rosso, drummer Tony Morra (Van Zant) and two of the best keyboard players in melodic rock, Eric Ragno (Trixter /Fergie Frederiksen) and Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline).
The Answer Of Insanity is simply a perfect mix of hard rock, heavy metal and progressive, with plenty of melodic old school hooks, concept songwriting and stripped-down edgy in-your-face production, to rebel back at current trends and fads in the music business.
Produced by Fabrizio Grossi (Steve Vai/Steve Lukather) and mastered by Peter Doell (David Lee Roth/Richard Marx) at Universal Mastering in Los Angeles, the album is now available worldwide.
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Stone Says: Yes, my Heavy Rock brethren, Giancarlo and his band Faithsedge have really delivered a Hard Rockin’ blow to my cranium with their new song Saving Anything and I’m better off for it! Faithsedge have returned… Metal be thy name!!
Saving Anything (Lyric Video) Is: Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!
Giancarlo Floridia – Founding member, lead vocalist, songwriter & guitarist
Candlelight Records has confirmed October 7th as the North American release date for ORANGE GOBLIN’s new album, Back From The Abyss. Recorded earlier this year in London, the album reunites the band with producer Jamie Dodd. It was mastered at Turan Audio in late July. Back From The Abyss will be available for preorder via iTunes and Amazon beginning August 26th. Fans can begin to preorder the CD today via Candlelight’s official webstore and Bandcamp page.
Loudwire.com is celebrating the announcement with an exclusive North American stream of the album’s first single, The Devil’s Whip. Vocalist Ben Ward says: “This song is a real old-school banger stuffed full of riffs, sleaze, filth, and speed… just like the best metal should be! It’s Motörhead-style, outlaw-biker rock in all its glory, destined to get heads banging, fists pumping, drinks flowing and asses shaking. If you don’t find yourself breaking the speed limit to this song, desperate to find the roughest bar in town, start a fight and spending the night in a cell, then you are quite clearly already dead. Let’s ride, let loose, let’s rip… that’s right, you can’t escape ‘The Devil’s Whip.'”
Back From The Abyss follows the band’s most successful release, 2012’s A Eulogy For The Damned, and the recent reissue of their 2007 album Healing Through Fire. Featuring twelve new songs, it delivers the quartets now internationally respected Heavy Metal. Decibel Magazine calls the band’s sound, “maximum riffage and turbo doom.” Blabbermouth dubs them, “a big burly bag of rock goodness.” Rocking hard as fans have come to expect, Back From The Abyss shows not only the band’s tried-and-true blues and doom but the high caliber of their musicianship.
ORANGE GOBLIN will kick off the Autumn with a European tour alongside Doom legends St. Vitus. Set to begin in France on October 9th, the tour will work its way through thirteen countries before concluding in Germany on November 14th. On the tour’s announcement Ward said: “We are extremely excited to be going on tour with our good friends and long-time heroes St. Vitus. Vitus are one of the bands that inspired us to form ORANGE GOBLIN all those years ago and to be able to promote our new album and celebrate their thirty-fifth anniversary at the same time just blows my mind.”
American dates in support of Back From The Abyss are anticipated to start early in the new year. Details to be announced shortly.
Together since 1995, ORANGE GOBLIN has released seven full-length studio albums. A Eulogy For The Damned was the band’s first for Candlelight Records and closed a five year recording hiatus. The album was supported with the most live dates by the band in their history; touring that saw the band on North America soil first alongside Clutch then on a full-scale headline tour that found them on thirty-eightstages across the US and Canada. Two videos were filmed and released for the album, including Red Tide Rising and the special Scion A/V video for Acid Trials.
Back From The Abyss – Track Listing:
1. Sabbath Hex 2. Ubermensch 3. The Devil’s Whip 4. Demon Blues 5. Heavy Lies The Crown 6. Into the Arms of Morpheus 7. Mythical Knives 8. Bloodzilla 9. The Abyss 10. Titan 11. Blood Of Them 12. The Shadow Over Innsmouth
ORANGE GOBLIN is vocalist Ben Ward, guitartist Joe Hoare, bassist Martyn Millard, and drummer Christopher Turner. The band are endorsed by Marshall Amplification, Orange Amplification, Fender Bass Guitars, Natal Drums, Meinl Cymbals, Vater Sticks, Remo Skins, Vans, Volcom, Boss Pedals, Rotosound Strings, and Jagermeister.
As stated on the Rigor Mortis – Indiegogo fundraising page:
Texas Speed Metal pioneers, Rigor Mortis are asking for your help to finance the recording and release of SLAVES TO THE GRAVE – their fourth and final album.
On Dec 23rd, 2012 we lost our brother and founding member, guitarist Mike Scaccia. Mike suffered a massive heart attack onstage with Rigor Mortis and died doing what he loved, playing his music with his friends and for his friends. Fortunately, just days before he left us, Mike was able to put the finishing touches on his tracks for what would unfortunately be his and Rigor Mortis’, final… and unquestionably finest, studio record.
Recorded in Feb 2012 at Ministry’s 13th Planet Studios in El Paso, Texas, STTG returns to the original first record line-up of Mike Scaccia – Guitars, Bruce Corbitt – Vocals, Harden Harrison – Drums, and Casey Orr – Bass.
After shopping the record for months, we found that with no hope of touring to support the record, and no chance of a follow-up album, labels were reluctant to release STTG. Though we received nothing but positive feedback, labels were fearful of not recouping their investment without an active band to promote the record. This, combined with the floundering record industry and sketchy economy, we decided we would be better off self releasing Slaves To The Grave, and reaching out to the Metal community to help us give this record the release it deserves.
In addition to the studio cd, the first 5,000 copies will include a “making of” dvd.
We have both physical and digital distribution in place, manufacturing facility secured, new and improved website and store launching, and high-profile record release events planned.
The record is finished, the cover art is amazing, release date is set for Oct. 7th, 2014. All we need is funding. We’re shooting for a goal of $20,000. The money will go towards paying off our recording debt (studio, engineers, travel, mastering), as well as artwork, packaging, manufacturing, distribution, and promotion. If we go past that goal, the money will go towards additional promotion, etc. as well as other Rigor Mortis projects such as re-pressing and re-releasing the back catalogue, vinyl releases, and new merch.
We’re offering a ton of cool incentives, like signed copies of the cd/dvd, LPs, posters, T-shirts, hoodys, patches, stickers, shot glasses, flasks, original artwork, merch bundles, and much more! We will keep adding rewards throughout the campaign.
So please, help if you can, and if moneys tight, then help us spread the word! We can’t wait for the world to hear what we feel is our greatest work – SLAVES TO THE GRAVE!
Thanks!
RIGOR MORTIS – HISTORY
Rigor Mortis formed in 1983 in Arlington, Texas and immediately became a driving force in the original wave of North Texas Metal. With the emphasis on speed and the subject matter steeped in horror and gore, Rigor stood out as extreme intimidators, on and off stage. Starting out as a 3 piece composed of Mike Scaccia on guitar, Harden Harrison on drums, and Casey Orr on bass, the band added vocalist Bruce Corbitt in ’86 and quickly signed to Capitol Records, releasing their classic self titled debut record in ’88. Two years later, Corbitt left the band and Doyle Bright came in on vocals. Rigor went on to release two more records; FREAKS, on Metal Blade Records and RIGOR MORTIS vs. THE EARTH, on Triple X Records.
In 1991 Mike accepted an offer to join Ministry as well as Revolting Cocks, et al. Rigor Mortis was no more, but the four members remained close friends and supported each others’ endeavors. Mike continued working with Ministry off and on over the years, as well as appearing on countless other projects. For the last several years Mike had also become a rep and clinician for Gibson Guitars. Casey Orr joined shock rockers, GWAR, where he remained off and on from ’94 until mid 2011, in addition to working with a long list of other bands including Blohole (with Scaccia), Speedealer (with Harrison), The Burden Brothers, and The Hellions, to name a few. Harden Harrison went on to play drums with Pervis, Speedealer, Mitra, and most recently Hint Of Death. Bruce Corbitt formed DFW supergroup, Texas Metal Alliance, which evolved into the mighty Warbeast, releasing 2010’s “Krush The Enemy”, and 2013’s “Destroy”, both on Phil Anselmo’s Housecore Records. Casey would join Warbeast in Feb. 2013. Doyle Bright is currently playing guitar with Atlanta Metal vets Hallows Eve.
In 2005, the original lineup of Scaccia, Orr, Harrison, and Corbitt reunited for was to be just a short run of shows. This, of course, led to more shows and talk of a new record. With all 4 members active with other projects and their personal lives, it took a while for the pieces to all fall into place, but in early February 2012, the band entered 13th Planet Studios in El Paso, and recorded their 4th album, SLAVES TO THE GRAVE.
On December 22nd, 2012, while playing onstage with Rigor Mortis in celebration of Bruce’s 50th birthday, Mike Scaccia suffered a sudden and massive heart attack. He was pronounced dead a short time later, after midnight on the 23rd. Rigor Mortis was over. The impact that Mike had on all that knew him is immeasurable. In life he touched us all with his talent and his sense of humor and his friendship. His passing changes everything for many of us. There will never be a fifth Rigor Mortis record. We will never play another show together as Rigor Mortis. Worst of all we’ll never laugh the way we used to.
But we will keep the flame burning. For Mike, for his family, for ourselves, and for the fans.
Due to a torn rotator cuff, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY drummer Reed Mullin has been forced to sit out the band’s upcoming live dates.
Reads an official statement from the band: “We are sorry to announce that Reed Mullin will not be onboard for this tour. He’s been playing through pain, awaiting a strategic time to repair a full tear of his rotator cuff. That’s a seriously bum shoulder. So he’s going to get that repaired and rehabbed. During the interim, we’re enlisted Mr. Eric Hernandez formerly of Kylesa to help us until then. Eric came to our attention when we approached Rick Smith of Torche about filling in and he recommended Eric, who he grew up with in Miami. Eric has also filled in for Ricky in Torche a few times with great results. He is, like Reed, a hard hitter, and thankfully possesses the capacity to learn and digest detailed material quickly and accurately.”
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY is currently leveling the stages of New Zealand and Australia which will be followed by a two-week North American run scheduled to commence on August 20th in Spokane and come to a close in Vancouver on September 1st. The band will be joined by Bl’ast!, Brant Bjork & The Low Desert Punk Band and Lord Dying.
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY [remaining dates]:
7/24/2014 Crowbar – Brisbane, AUS
7/25/2014 NSC – Sydney AUS
7/26/2014 Reverence Hotel – Melbourne AUS
7/27/2014 Enigma Bar – Adelaide AUS
w/ Bl’ast!, Brant Bjork & The Low Desert Punk Band, Lord Dying
8/19/2014The Hop – Spokane, WA
8/21/2014 In The Venue – Salt Lake City, UT
8/22/2014 Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
8/23/2014 Sister – Albuquerque, NM
8/24/2014 Club Red – Mesa, AZ
8/26/2014 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
8/27/2014 The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA
8/28/2014 DNA – San Francisco, CA
8/29/2014 Catalyst – Santa Cruz CA
8/30/2014 Dante’s – Portland, OR
8/31/2014 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
9/01/2014 The Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC
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CORROSION OF CONFORMITY released their fittingly titled IX full-length earlier this month via Candlelight Records. Captured by the band alongside long-time friend and colleague John Custer, IX clocks in at nearly forty-five minutes. Sludge, doom, punk… it’s all in the grooves that fans have come to expect from CORROSION OF CONFORMITY. If you missed it, check out the lyric video for “Tarquinius Superbus” at THIS LOCATION.
“COC stick to the recipe that served them well on both 2012’s self-titled reboot and the follow-up EP, Megalodon: A little hardcore, a little crossover, a whole lotta Southern rock and (especially) doom metal, all stirred, shuffled, layered and frosted in ways that make guessing their next move impossible. But the band’s strategies are more expansive this time out, their tricks more finely woven into the fabric of each song.” – Decibel
The history of LONEWOLF, hailing from Grenoble (France), began back in 1992. They played True Heavy Metal since the very beginning and soon released several demo tapes as well as a 7” and recorded even an album, which unfortunately never got released and is referred to as “the lost album”. Following a bad experience with a French label, LONEWOLF split up in 1996.
They came back in 2000, along with the demo “March Into The Arena”, which was re-released as the band’s debut album via Goi Music in 2001.
The second album “Unholy Paradise” followed two years later. “Made In Hell” was released in 2008 via Eat Metal, followed by “The Dark Crusade” in 2009 (via Kathargo Records/Killer Metal Records). The band’s latest albums are “Army Of The Damned” (2012, Napalm Records) and “The Fourth And Final Horseman” (2013, Napalm Records).
LONEWOLF were the first French band ever to play in Greece and were opening act for Grave Digger at their first gig in France. During the past decade, LONEWOLF went on headliner EU tour w/ Dragonsfire and Iron Fate in 2011 and were part of the “Wolfsnächte Tour” 2012, along with Powerwolf, Stormwarrior and Mystic Prophecy. They also played at festivals such as the Up The Hammers (GR), Headbangers Open Air (GER), Hard Rock Session (FR), Beastival (DE) or the Metalfest Open Airs (DE and AT).
LONEWOLF’snew album “Cult Of Steel” will be released in autumn 2014 via Massacre Records!
Exceptional, the new video from Heavy Metal supergroup, UNISONIC, is currently playing at Metal Insider. The song comes by way of the band’s forthcoming new full-length, Light Of Dawn, set for release in North America next month.
UNISONIC boasts a royal lineup of former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske and guitarist Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray, also ex-Helloween) alongside guitarist Mandy Meyer (Asia, Gotthard, Krokus), bassist Dennis Ward and drummer Kosta Zafiriou (both of Germany’s Pink Cream 69).
Spring of 2014 saw UNISONIC produce the twelve new tunes that comprise sophomore offering, Light Of Dawn, all of them performed with surgical precision and punctuated by Kiske’s world-class vocals. “Our first world tour has really welded us together,” Kiske notes of the group’s unmistakable evolution. “The touring made us realize the importance of a congenial atmosphere for our creativity and how much I missed this team spirit over the past twenty years. Only musicians who feel really comfortable with each other can deliver their optimum performance.” Dennis Ward, a driving force within the unit, one of its main composers and as on 2012’s self-titled debut, its producer, agrees: “At the end of the day, you have to tour to get immediate fan reactions to your material. In this respect, the shows were very interesting and extremely encouraging. There’s no doubt that they gave UNISONIC enough energy to make working on Light Of Dawn child’s play for everybody involved.”
Metal Insider is currently offering up the first taste of the record with the fittingly named “Exceptional” video, viewable at THIS LOCATION.
Light Of Dawn – Track Listing:
01. Venite 2.0
02. Your Time Has Come
03. Exceptional
04. For The Kingdom
05. Not Gonna Take Anymore
06. Night Of The Long Knives
07. Find Shelter
08. Blood
09. When The Deed Is Done
10. Throne Of The Dawn
11. Manhunter
12. You And I
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Light Of Dawn follows the band’s For The Kingdom EP released digitally in North America in May. The six track collection features album track “For The Kingdom,” exclusive EP number “You Come Undone” as well as four live recordings from their show at the Masters Of Rock Festival 2012 in the Czech Republic.
Light Of Dawnwill see its Stateside release viaEagle Rockimprint Armoury Recordson August 12th, 2014.
DORO – The Queen Of Heavy Metal is returning to North America this October! DORO will be performing on the dates listed below; take advantage to see Doro Pesch and her band if they are near you! DORO is a live Heavy Metal experience you do not want to miss! Metal be thy name! – Stone
October 2014 North America Shows:
10.10.2014 USA Sturtevant, WI – Route 20 Outhouse
10.11.2014 USA Spring Lake Park, MN – Pov’s 65
10.12.2014 USA Joliet, IL – Mojoes
10.14.2014 USA Cleveland, OH – Agora
10.15.2014 USA Pittsburgh, PA – Altar Bar
10.16.2014 CAN Toronto, ONT – Hard Luck Bar
10.18.2014 CAN Quebec City, QUE – Salle Multi
10.19.2014 CAN Montreal, QUE – Petit Campus
10.20.2014 USA New York City, NY – The Gramercy Theatre
On July 31, 2014, female-fronted, Heavy Metal band, Corprit Convict, is taking the message of their debut album, Come Clean, directly to the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building. The message? Remove money from politics. The band will be performing songs from the album, such as “3 Ring”, “Applicator” and “Left for Dead”, serving, themselves, as protest anthems and calling for change in our country.
“Campaign financing has become the single, biggest problem plaguing our country’s political landscape today. But it’s also the least discussed problem, because the only people who can effect real change on theses policies, or lack thereof, are the same group cashing the checks. Money talks in Washington and, right now, it’s screaming,” says singer, KT. “Americans cannot continue to stand idly by as the richest members of our country continue to buy our elections and control our public officials.”
In the Spring of this year, the US Supreme Court passed a ruling that will allow individuals and corporations to give up to $6 million to candidates and parties in a 2 year election cycle; nearly 50 times the limit before the ruling.
Supporters for the band can join them on the steps of the Congress on July 31 (last day of summer session).
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STONE SAYS:
LISTEN TO, PURCHASE AND SUPPORT CORPRIT CONVICT! CHECK ‘EM OUT BELOW!
Marta Gabriel – vocals, guitars Andy Wave – guitars Tomasz ‘Golem’ Danczak – drums Michal Badocha – bass guitar
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CRYSTAL VIPER – Poland’s True Metal Warriors, Crystal Viper, will be headlining the Power Of The Night Metal Festival IX, in Cyprus, this July 25th! Led by founder, singer and multi-instrumentalist Marta Gabriel, Crystal Viper are consistently recruiting legions of Metal fans, every day, across every continent! Lucky Cyprus! Metal be thy name. – Stone
* For more info on the Power Of The Night Metal Festival:
JUDAS PRIEST – Call 1-800-334-ROCK to speak with Rob, Glenn and Richie on ROCKLINE Radio this Mon July 7th and Rob and Richie on Wed, July 9th! Both shows air at 8:30pdt/11:30edt. To find the show in your area go to: www.rocklineradio.com.
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US Tour update! A special fan presale for tickets and exclusive packages will begin on Tuesday, July 8th at 10am local time. Visit http://tickets.judaspriest.com/ for further information now!
Retro Rock/Doom Metal sorcerers, BRIMSTONE COVEN, will unleash the psychedelic rumblings of their self-titled full-length and inaugural release for Metal Blade Records.
Formed in Wheeling, West Virginia in 2011, BRIMSTONE COVEN churns a cogent blend of dark, smoky cult rock that echoes the eerie reverberations of hard rock icons such as Black Sabbath and Pentagram, mixed with the classic rock craftings of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, all the while preserving a vintage rock sound mixed with a style all their own. The outfit’s Metal Blade debut boasts seventeen mind-altering tracks of occult conjurings – a combo of their self-released full-length and EP — complete with new mastering and the vintage art renderings of Creighton Hill.
Described The Sludgelord of BRIMSTONE COVEN: “Coming across as Zeppelin meets ’70s Black Sabbath (the best kind), BRIMSTONE COVEN certainly have that vintage sound in spades, guitars are crisp, bass feels warm and drums played adeptly, with a looseness that only Messieurs Moon, Ward and Mitchell… are known for. Great stuff and what a voice; ‘Big John’ is quite the frontman with an endearing and rich tone… Killer.”
Brimstone Coven will be released in North America via Metal Blade Records on August 5th, 2014. In the meantime, zone out to the witchy, jam-wrangled goodness of fifth cut, “The Grave” at THIS LOCATION.
KING DIAMOND has confirmed what has been rumored for several weeks: a full North American tour this Fall! The long-awaited trek will commence on October 11th in Atlanta and wrap up with the previously announced performance at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin. A limited edition KING DIAMOND jacket will be available through the SHOWstubs.com fan club pre-sale, which begins today, June 24th. Tickets will be on sale online and at box offices nationwide on Friday, June 27th.
KING DIAMOND will be joined on stage by longtime band members Andy LaRocque, Mike Wead, Hal Patino, and Matt Thompson. Additionally, North American fans will bear witness to the band’s full European festival stage show. These will be the most ambitious and largest North American productions of the band’s entire history. A special guest support act for the tour will be announced in the coming weeks.
WITCH CROSS – The Keep It True Festival is held in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany. This year, a very rare CD was released at the festival only, via Skol Records, celebrating the bands that have appeared at the legendary KEEP IT TRUE festival and the festival itself. One of the festivals participants are the legendary WITCH CROSS and they appear on this CD, covering the song Angel Witch from the also legendary: Angel Witch.
The Keep It True Festival is where WITCH CROSS performed their first comeback show, back in 2012. Below you will hear WITCH CROSS cover Angel Witch in all of its True Metal glory! The band’s ultra-talented musicianship coupled with the vocals of Kev Moore are stuff that sends me into that happy place of where real Metal exists… True Metal, that is. Just a tremendous accomplishment is what WITCH CROSS has contributed to this milestone CD! Whoa!
WITCH CROSS – Cover Song Of Angel Witch Is Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!
Above: The cover art for KEEP IT TRUE – Harder Than Steel –
This CD was a very limited edition, with a run of only 500 copies! This above CD could only be purchased by attending this years KEEP IT TRUE festival. Whoa! Check out the track listing for this super rare piece of Metal history, below. Both the performers and the respective original artists are a steel solid who’s who of True Metal! Metal be thy name!
01. ATTACKER – “Fire Down Under” (RIOT)
02. PARADOX – “March Of The Saint” (ARMORED SAINT)
03. CRYSTAL VIPER – “Night Of The Demon” (DEMON)
04. WITCH CROSS – “Angel Witch” (ANGEL WITCH)
05. OSTROGOTH – “Plan Of Peace” (LETHAL)
06. JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR – “Children Of The Storm” (VIRGIN STEELE)
07. SACRED STEEL – “All For One” (RAVEN)
08. NIGHT DEMON – “Axe Crazy” (JAGUAR)
09. WIZARD – “Mind Body Spirit” (VIRGIN STEELE)
10. BORROWED TIME – “Bound To Be Free” (SAVAGE GRACE)
11. SATAN’S HOST – “See You In Hell” (GRIM REAPER)
Shadow Kingdom Records have uncovered another gem from the U.S. 80’s Metal era. This time it’s a remastered reissue of The Awakening from U.S. Speed/Thrash Metal group POWERLORD, which will be released on August 19.
POWERLORD was one of those bands that popped up out of nowhere and completely fell off into obscurity. Out of all of the rare 80s US Metal diamonds, POWERLORD are arguably the very best at what they do. Their sound falls somewhere between SAVAGE GRACE and SLAYER and features professionally delivered, well written songs of the Speed/Thrash Metal variety. The Shadow Kingdom folks re-mastered the tracks directly from the original master tapes, but since a lot of the band’s memories were lost when High Vaultage Records (an obscure German label) tried to re-issue the album, there is not much in the way of bonus, band photos, or memorabilia that could be included. Intact however is the most important thing: the music! And it sounds amazing!
The Awakeningrepresents what 80’s Metal was all about. The potential to be a much bigger band was there. Alas, it wasn’t to be and POWERLORD was lost in the wave of thrash that spawned the likes of METALLICA. One spin of The Awakening and you too will ponder what could have been.
Stream The Awakening in its entirety, below:
More information on this and other Shadow Kingdom Records releases at this location.
IRON MAIDEN – There’s mascot Eddie, once again representing the iconic IRON MAIDEN, on the cover of Metal Hammer’s newest issue! Steve Harris and Bruce Dickinson are both interviewed for this cover story! Metal be thy name! This issue will be releasing next week; in the meantime, click the link below to read more:
American Thrash Metal battalion, BATTLECROSS, has confirmed a short run of Summer headlining dates with Canada’s Wacken Battle winners, Crimson Shadows, and New York’s IKILLYA. Set to commence on July 23rd in Columbus, Ohio, the short but ravaging trek will topple fourteen cities followed by an appearance at Michigan’s Dirt Fest as well as additional tour dates supporting Killswitch Engage.
Comments guitarist Hiran Deraniyagala, “We’re excited to announce our first headlining run in quite a while. It’s short but sweet, and this gives us time to write the new record this Summer. We are stoked to have our Canadian brothers, Crimson Shadows, joining us. We did a short run with those guys earlier this year and they’re a great live band and have an awesome record coming out next Fall.”
After two busy Summers on the 2012 Trespass America tour with Five Finger Death Punch, Killswitch Engage and Trivium, the 2013 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and Metallica’s Orion Festival, BATTLECROSS looks forward to some downtime prior to their South American run with Killswitch Engage when they’ll begin to compose the follow-up to their Metal Blade-released War Of Will full-length.
Dubbed “one hell of a modern-day thrash album,” by Headbangorgtfo.com, War Of Will debuted at #134 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, #118 on the Top Current Albums chart, and #2 on the Heatseekers chart. BATTLECROSS is currently traversing Europe on a series of festival appearances including Download Festival and the Graspop Metal Meeting, plus club shows with Huntress and Lacuna Coil.
Guitarist Tony Asta says, “The past year has been very inspiring for the band and our attitude towards the writing process this time around is more confident and driven. I expect our next album to kick you in the ass harder than the last. Album number three will be a serious contender in 2015 and a defining BATTLECROSS record.”
BATTLECROSS w/ Crimson Shadows, IKILLYA
7/23/2014 The Basement – Columbus, OH
7/25/2014 Greene Street Club – Greensboro, NC
7/26/2014 The Bonnie Kate – Elizabethton, TN
7/27/2014 The Casbah at Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
7/28/2014 1904 Music Hall – Jacksonville, FL
7/30/2014 Reverb – Reading, PA
7/31/2014 Waiting Room – Buffalo, NY
8/01/2014 Webster Underground – Hartford, CT
8/02/2014 Bogie’s Albany, NY
8/03/2014 Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
8/04/2014 L’Agitee – Quebec City, QC
8/05/2014 Rum Runners – London, ON co-headline w/ Macabre
8/06/2014 Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY
8/07/2014 Smiling Moose – Pittsburgh, PA End Tour
8/08/2014 Expo 5 – Louisville, KY w/ Killswitch Engage
8/09/2014 DIRT Fest – Birch Run, MI
8/10/2014 Austin’s – Libertyville, IL w/ Killswitch Engage
“A breath of fresh air for the thrash genre, this band has a genuinely aggressive and unique sound of their own. Coupling excellent In Flames-esque melodies with top quality shredding and riffs, BATTLECROSS have produced a real winner with War Of Will.” – Kill Your Stereo
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
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