Atomic Fire Records today welcomes German hard rock quartet SINNER to its expanding roster. The band will release a twelve-track full-length, aptly titled Brotherhood, this Summer. Produced by frontman MatSinner and co-produced by guitarist Tom Naumann, Brotherhood was recorded by Basi Roeder at Backyard Studios as well as Mitch Kunz at Apollo 13 Audio, and mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, Denmark.
Vocalist/bassist Mat Sinner comments, “We’re enormously happy to be a new member of the Atomic Fire Records family and to work with many great ex-colleagues. Brotherhood simply is such a strong album that we need their motivated and loyal team to make it a big success.”
Says Atomic Fire Records CEO Markus Wosgien, “We’ve been connected and good friends with Mat Sinner and his band mates for a long time. To welcome SINNER at Atomic Fire Records is nothing but a matter of the heart for us because – like Primal Fear – they’re a very important part of our past but now also of our present and future again; and we’re even prouder and happier about their monstrous new album that was crafted in brilliant teamwork by Mat (mostly) alongside Tom Naumann. Brotherhood is a heavy, straight, and hard-hitting opus, graced with an impressive amount of guests and friends. The album title says it all – it’s definitely another masterful addition to the already long listing of great SINNER records.”
More information on SINNER‘s Brotherhood as well as the first digital single and preordering details will be announced soon.
SINNER: MatSinner – vocals, bass Tom Naumann – guitars AlexScholpp – guitars Markus Kullmann – drums
Recently signed to Crusader Records / Golden Robot Records, South African sleaze rockers L.A. COBRA havereleased their first single for the label, ‘She’s My Prison’, which is available now on all digital platforms.
Formed in November 2005, L.A. COBRA is the only sleaze/glam/hair metal band on the African continent. They are the “sleaze rocking hair metal stars” from Pretoria (home of multi-platinum rock superstars SEETHER), flying the 80’s glam rock flag from the handlebars of their Harley’s whilst making a name for themselves internationally and locally.
‘She’s My Prison’, is an anthemic arena rock single that revolves around the restrictive nature of a failed relationship. The track features screaming guitars, thunderous drums and bass, and a sing-along chorus that fans will distinctly recognize as L.A. COBRA.
L.A. Cobra has been let loose to cause a rebellion amongst the youth with their revival of the 80’s glam era. Largely influenced by 80’s rock bands like Mötley Crüe, Guns & Roses, W.A.S.P. and Skid Row, L.A. COBRA is all about girls, Harley’s, big hair and a good time.
The band is: Don Cobra on vocals and guitar, Spade on lead guitar, Ewil on bass guitar and Callie ‘The Animal’ on drums, bringing back those memorable guitar solos and “balls to the wall” hard rock shows we’re all starved for. With a modern twist from their song-writing as we know them, these guys are the real deal, and live rock and roll!
L.A. Cobra and Crusader Records will have a slew of announcements in 2022 including new music, merchandise, tours and a whole lot more…stay tuned.
“Emergency” is the haunting opening track of MSG’s upcoming new studio album, Universal, set for release on May 27th via Atomic Fire Records.
The album’s first single comes along with an official music video, produced by Justin Griffiths. Comments MICHAEL SCHENKER, “‘Emergency’ is quite a complicated song with different rhythms but catchy at the same time. It’s fun to play and to listen to. Enjoy and keep on rocking.”
View MSG’s “Emergency” video at THIS LOCATION or below:
Universal will be available as a CD digipak (including two bonus tracks), Earbook (CD including two bonus tracks), on vinyl, and digitally. Find preordering options at THIS LOCATION.
Few rock guitarists on this planet have had such a lasting influence on so many renowned musicians as MICHAEL SCHENKER. With his outstandingly fluid style, inexhaustible wealth of ideas, and instinctive feel for hooks and melodies, MICHAEL SCHENKER is a living legend who, despite his longstanding and distinguished history, still impresses with his unflagging energy and drive. The blond stringsman from Sarstedt, Germany (near Hanover) began his international career in the early 1970s with the Scorpions, achieved worldwide fame after joining British rock group U.F.O., and then seamlessly continued his exceptional global success story under his own name, as well as with acts such as MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (otherwise known as MSG), Temple Of Rock, and MICHAEL SCHENKER Fest. SCHENKER and his career, which has spanned more than five decades, are absolute exceptions in the otherwise short-lived music industry.
To celebrate his latest MSG album, Universal, scheduled for release on May 27th through Atomic Fire Records, as well as his 50th anniversary of recording, MSG will embark upon an extended US tour this Fall. The trek will run from September 27th through November 6th. See all confirmed dates below.
MSG US Tour 2022 w/ Eric Martin, Images Of Eden: 9/27/2022 The Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA 9/28/2022 Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA 9/29/2022 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA 10/01/2022 Saban Theater – Los Angeles, CA 10/02/2022 Count’s Vamp’d – Las Vegas, NV 10/04/2022 Oriental Theater – Denver, CO 10/06/2022 Pop’s – Sauget, IL 10/07/2022 Des Plaines Theater – Des Plaines, IL 10/08/2022 Arcada Theater – St. Charles, IL 10/09/2022 Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI 10/11/2022 The Art Theater – Hobart, IN 10/12/2022 Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN 10/14/2022 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 10/15/2022 Agora Theater – Cleveland, OH 10/16/2022 Harpo’s – Detroit, MI 10/17/2022 Jergels – Pittsburgh, PA 10/19/2022 The Vault – New Bedford, MA * MSG only 10/20/2022 Flying Monkey – Plymouth, NH 10/21/2022 Cabot Theater – Beverly, MA 10/22/2022 Sony Hall – New York, NY 10/23/2022 Newton Theater – Newton, NJ 10/25/2022 Keswick Theater – Glenside, PA 10/26/2022 Tally Ho – Leesburg, VA 10/27/2022 Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA
w/ Damon Johnson & The Get Ready, Images Of Eden: 10/29/2022 Bogarts – Cincinnati, OH 10/30/2022 Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN w/ W.A.S.P., Armored Saint: 11/02/2022 White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX 11/03/2022 Concrete Street Pavilion – Corpus Christi TX 11/04/2022 Eaton Arena – San Antonio, TX 11/05/2022 Amplified Live – Dallas, TX 11/06/2022 Tulsa Theater – Tulsa, OK
MSG – USTour2022Lineup: Michael Schenker – lead guitar Ronnie Romero – vocals Bodo Schopf – drums Steve Mann – keyboards, guitars BarendCourbois – bass
MSG’s Universal will feature all the strengths of this exceptional musician: first-rate songs with anthemic melodies, catchy guitar riffs, and inspiring solos. As fans have come to expect, SCHENKER has once again enlisted a number of prestigious fellow musicians for the recording of his new studio production, among them, as main vocalist, Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Vandenberg), who will also be MSG’s frontman on their upcoming tour, Michael Kiske (Helloween) and Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), keyboard player Steve Mann (Lionheart), drummers Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner), Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow), and Bodo Schopf (Eloy), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (Black Sabbath), Barry Sparks (Yngwie Malmsteen, Dokken) and BarendCourbois (Blind Guardian, Zakk Wylde), with Tony Carey as a very special guest.
For over 30 years, J.B.O. are the specialists for vociferous escapism at the highest stage. Gold albums, frenetically acclaimed live appearances and top ten chart positions pave their way. Their new album, PlanetPink, makes no exception. Especially in a world we are currently living in on planet earth, with pandemics, insane dictators, ecological disasters, surging prices for beer. Mankind’s only chance is escapism, so let’s enter the orbital glider and head for the stars when PlanetPink, the upcoming album by iconic J.B.O., starts to make its rounds on April 15, 2022 via the metal powerhouse mothership AFM Records!
After previously-released singles, “Metal Was My First Love”, the album title track and just recently, “Nicht Doof” (“Not Stupid“), today the charismatic German-based collective released a new, official music video for “Einhorn” (in engl: “unicorn”).
Escape to Planet Pink & watch J.B.O.‘s new music video for “Einhorn” HERE:
For obvious reasons, Planet Pink was created under very special circumstances. Usually the band bosses Vito C. and Hannes “G.Laber” Holzmann sit together on a couch and exchange ideas. This time they jammed through the phone. It worked out, because Vito and Hannes know each other better than identical twins.
Planet Pink was recorded with producer Christoph Beyerlein at Sound and Groove studio, Nuremberg. Beyerlein is part of the J.B.O. family since 1994 and the fifth band member in the studio. Supervised by the observing ears of Beyerlein, the rest of the crew sorted and refined a lot of demo recordings for only one reason: in the end there will be just one planet glow in the brassiest colours. “It’s Planet Pink”!
This year’s Monsters of Rock Cruise was captained by none other than Alice Cooper. Due to the size, the amount of guests on the cruise and the size of the room in which Alice would be performing, the cruise decided to split guests into two groups. The red group would see Alice perform on the 12th while the blue group would see him on the 13th. The red group’s show started at 7:30 PM and the crowd packed in quickly.
The stage was hidden by a beautiful curtain that would rise revealing a scaled down, yet still highly decorated, version of Alice’s normal stage set up. The crowd roared as the intro of “Feed My Frankenstein” began. Members of the band walked on stage and began to play. Right after the first strum all sound in the house vanished. Fans began pointing at their ears trying to let the band know we could not here them. The band finished the song and they all exited the stage, Alice leaving with noticeable anger.
Ryan Roxie informed a group of fans, who attended an unannounced Rock N’ Roll Parking Lot (on a boat), what had happened that night. According to Roxie, Alice was the first band to use the curtain on this cruise. As the curtain lifted it pulled the main cable to the PA system out completely. The crew worked hard and fast to figure out the issue and sound was restored within five minutes. Roxie also let fans know that because everyone on stage was wearing a monitor and could hear what they were playing, they did not realize what was going on. It was not until the second verse of the song that they noticed something was wrong. Roxie said they all looked out trying to find the devoted fans and did not understand why everyone was not singing along.
Once the technical difficulty was fixed the show continued without a single problem. Even though the stage and set up were smaller than normal, that did not stop Alice from pulling out all the stops. Props were used as normal including crutches, knives, and canes. During “Billion Dollar Babies” a giant baby paraded on stage meeting Alice’s minions who brought out a giant confetti cannon that shot gold, silver, and green pieces of confetti, as well as fake money with Alice’s face on it into the audience.
The fun continued all through the show as Alice and his gang of ghouls wowed the audience with their fine-tuned sound and silly stage antics. During “Teenage Frankenstein” Alice chased his band around the stage with arms stretched out in frontof him and knees locked like Frankenstein. It did not stop there. As Alice and his band walked back on stage for the famous encore of “School’s Out” one extra musician joined them. Taime Downe of Faster Pussycat came out to sing and enjoy the pleasure of popping many confetti filled balloons over the crowd with one of Alice’s knives.
Alice has been performing for over 50 years and at the ripe age of 74, is still performing with as much heart and soul as he did when he first began. His voice has not changed and everything you have heard about Alice Cooper you get times 10.
There are few rock guitarists on this planet who’ve had such a lasting influence on so many renowned musicians as MICHAEL SCHENKER. With his outstandingly fluid style, inexhaustible wealth of ideas, and instinctive feel for hooks and melodies, MICHAEL SCHENKER is a living legend who, despite his longstanding and distinguished history, still impresses with his unflagging energy and drive.
The blond stringsman from Sarstedt, Germany began his international career in the early 1970s with the Scorpions, achieved worldwide fame after joining British rock group U.F.O., and then seamlessly continued his exceptional global success story under his own name, as well as with acts such as MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (otherwise known as MSG), Temple Of Rock, and MICHAEL SCHENKER Fest. SCHENKER and his career, which has spanned more than five decades, are absolute exceptions in the otherwise short-lived music industry.
Now his latest MSG album is about to be unleashed, scheduled for release on Atomic Fire Records on May 27th under the programmatic moniker of Universal. His latest offering will feature all the strengths of this exceptional musician: first-rate songs with anthemic melodies, catchy guitar riffs, and inspiring solos.
As we have come to expect from him, SCHENKER has once again enlisted a number of prestigious fellow musicians for the recording of his new studio production, among them, as main vocalist, Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Vandenberg), who will also be MSG’s frontman on their upcoming tour, Michael Kiske (Helloween), and Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), keyboard player Steve Mann (Lionheart), drummers Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner), Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow), and Bodo Schopf (Eloy), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (Black Sabbath), Barry Sparks (Yngwie Malmsteen, Dokken), and BarendCourbois (Blind Guardian, Zakk Wylde), with Tony Carey as a very special guest. But more about that later.
First, let’s talk about the basic parameters of the new recording: Like its predecessor Immortal (2021) and the MICHAELSCHENKERFest albums Resurrection (2018) and Revelation (2019), Universal was produced by MICHAEL SCHENKER and Michael Voss (Lessmann/Voss, Mad Max) at Voss’s Kidroom Studio, which has become something of a creative home-away-from-home for SCHENKER. “Michael Voss is happy to wait until I have worked out an idea and takes the time to really get to know the song, simultaneously developing ideas for the vocals,” SCHENKER describes of the fruitful collaboration which has one cog intermesh with the other. “Then we work out the drums, bass, and some keyboard parts together. He always has plenty of great ideas up his sleeve.” Compositional highlights abound on Universal, from the haunting opener “Emergency” and the subsequent “Under Attack” with its casually driving groove to “The Universe,” featuring an atmospheric duet by Ronnie Romero and Gary Barden, “Wrecking Ball,” performed as brilliantly as ever by Ralf Scheepers, and “London Calling” with its homage to the British capital’s musical spirit.
The rock anthem “A King Has Gone” and its intro “Calling Baal” both have a special significance: The track, sung by Helloween frontman Michael Kiske, is a tribute to the immortal Ronnie James Dio, in particular to his performance on the 1976 hard rock classic RainbowRising. For this reason, SCHENKER has brought together an original Rainbow rhythm section consisting of Bobby Rondinelli and Bob Daisley, additionally enlisting keyboardist Tony Carey, who also played on Rainbow Rising, for a terrific Moog synth intro – a direct reference to the iconic intro of the 1976 album opener “Tarot Woman.” The impressive result “Calling Baal / A King Has Gone” is already considered to be one of the most important and successful songs in SCHENKER’s career to date, both musically and lyrically.
In line with all these highlights, the spectacular MSG album cover designed by ZsofiaDankova (Powerwolf, among others) features SCHENKER in a futuristic spaceship, floating high up in orbit. The artwork is based on the guitarist’s own visions, “I had the original idea for the album cover a few years ago, but only now does it seem to fit perfectly. So, I sent some older sketches to my label Atomic Fire Records and based on this the final artwork and album title were created.”
No doubt about it: The title, artwork, and new songs suit MSG as perfectly as his characteristic Flying V suits MICHAEL SCHENKER! Stand by for more from MSG in the weeks to come.
Heavy rockers NOTINGODZ will release their self-titled EP on April 8, 2022.
The trio are a powerhouse of groove rhythms, soaring melodies and distortion. From “I Walk Alone” to “Hell Yeah” their energy never falters. Forging a full sound drawing influences from traditional metal such as BLACK SABBATH, to the heavy of ROB ZOMBIE, and melodic style of GHOST, NOTINGODZ deliver a heavy modern twist with a rock ‘n’ roll edge.
The epic impact of the intro riff in “I Walk Alone” establishes the hard-hitting intensity NO TIN GODZ produce. Melodic commanding vocals and intricate guitar leads, along with rhythmic experimentation, show the clever manipulation of dynamics across the tracks which cultivate charismatic moods. “We Are Zombies” combines NOTINGODZ energy with a darker atmosphere. While “Just Before Dawn” ventures into a greater focus of guitar riffs and licks, with a raw sentiment portrayed through the chorus.
NOTINGODZ’s unyielding spirit storms through the album. Exposing all sides of the human condition with great enthusiasm, the new EP is a model of pure, high voltage heavy metal.
Raised during the 80’s debauchery on the Sunset Strip and still going strong in 2022, JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE recently released their third single titled ‘Gonna Take You Higher’ on all digital platforms. ‘Gonna Take You Higher’ comes from the upcoming albumHELL, CA.which is available to pre-order/add/save now and out on March 11, 2022, through Golden Robot Records.
‘Gonna Take You Higher’ was preceded by two absolutely cracking singles ‘Wanna Be Somebody’ and ‘Soul Mama’ which both show Jizzy in fine form and gives a strong indication as to what to expect from Hell, CA.
HELL, CA. is a collection of 10 hard-hitting rock anthems, all with that distinctive Love/Hate style, with Jizzy Pearl’s trademark vocals taking the songs up and beyond and the heavy guitars doing the rest.
JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE has been a staple on the rock scene since their first record BLACK OUT IN THE RED ROOM earned them “Best Record of the Year 1990” from Kerrang! and Metal Hammer magazines.
LOVE/HATE has been a fixture on the Hollywood Sunset Strip since they released their debut album on Columbia Records BLACKOUT IN THE REDROOM in 1990. BLACKOUT IN THE RED ROOM received much critical acclaim and was awarded “Best Record of the Year” from both Kerrang! and Metal Hammer magazines. The original LOVE/HATE released five records in the 1990’s and toured with such bands as Skid Row, Dio, Ozzy Osbourne & AC/DC.
Since that time, singer Jizzy Pearl has kept the band alive with his own version, JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE, and at the same time played, recorded and toured with such platinum artists as RATT, L.A. Guns, Steven Adler and currently Quiet Riot. Jizzy Pearl has released five solo records as well, including 2018’s Frontiers record ALL YOU NEED IS SOUL.
Polish female fronted Heavy Metal act CRYSTALVIPER published a lyric video for KINGDIAMOND cover “Welcome Home”. The song was recorded with a special guest, guitarist of the KING DIAMOND band, Andy La Rocque, and was released as a bonus track on the latest CRYSTALVIPER studio album “The Cult”.
“I love KING DIAMOND, his songwriting had and still has a huge impact on me. He’s an amazing vocalist and performer. We’re also friends with Andy La Rocque, who actually co-produced one of our earlier albums” says CRYSTALVIPER front woman, Marta Gabriel. “When we decided to record this cover, we thought it would be cool to invite him to join us, and he agreed, that’s a huge, huge honor! We received an amazing feedback, lot of fans seems to really like our version, so although it came out a few months ago, we decided to revisit it, and do this lyric video” she adds.
CRYSTALVIPER recently also announced release of a special new “long-mini-album” entitled “The Last Axeman” (with a playing time of almost 40 minutes), which will come out on March 25, on Listenable Records. It will include 8 songs, out of which 7 will be exclusive and available on this release only. These include a remake of the early song “The Last Axeman”, brand new song “In The Haunted Chapel”, ARIA cover “Ulitsa Roz” and 4 songs recorded “live in studio” as part of the #RockOutSessions series. 8th song, which is a bonus track, is CRYSTAL VIPER’s version of the classic DIAMOND HEAD song, “It’s Electric”.
#RockOutSessions live in studio was also released on youtube on the Listenable channel – watch HERE . CRYSTALVIPER are genuinely passionate about Heavy Metal and represent the Metal Nation!
“The Last Axeman” is set to be released on March 25th, 2022.
Tracklisting: 1 The Last Axeman 03:49 2 In The Haunted Chapel 04:21 3 Ulitsa Roz (ARIA cover) 05:49 4 It’s Electric (DIAMOND HEAD cover) 03:36 5 The Cult (RockOutSessions) 04:38 6 Asenath Waite (RockOutSessions) 04:45 7 Whispers From Beyond (RockOutSessions) 4:48 8 Flaring Madness (RockOutSessions) 05:04
Discography: The Curse of Crystal Viper (Album – 2007) Metal Nation ( Album – 2009) Legends ( Album – 2010) Crimen Excepta ( Album – 2012) Possession ( Album – 2013) Queen of the Witches ( Album – 2017) Tales of Fire and Ice ( Album – 2019) The Cult ( LISTENABLE Album – 2021) The Last Axeman (LISTENABLE Album- 2022)
CRYSTALVIPER: Marta Gabriel – vocals, guitars AndyWave – guitars Eric Juris – guitars Blaze Grygiel – bass Cederick Forsberg – drums
Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of the highly successful heavy metal band Iron Maiden, has taken to the road once again, but not in his usual way. Dickinson brought his spoken word tour to North America. From his days in boarding school and his time in Samson to joining Iron Maiden and his battle with cancer, Dickinson had more than enough stories to share with devoted fans.
The phrase “Spoken Word Tour” seriously undermines what actually goes on at one of these shows. From the second Dickinson walked out on stage he was bursting with energy. They would have been better off advertising this as Bruce Dickinson’s One Man Show. Dickinson was greeted by thunderous applause and a standing ovation as he entered the concert hall. He wasted no time in making the crowd laugh. He began his show where every good story starts…birth. To be more specific, how he did not want to be born, which he refers to as his first act against authority.
Dickinson quickly moved up the time line to his time in Oundle, an English public school, which to Americans is better known as a private school. Here Dickinson had his second brush with authority and was kicked out for peeing in the headmaster’s dinner, but not before falling in love with music. Believe it or not he did not always want to be a singer, but instead he wanted to sit behind the drum kit. Dickinson continued telling the story of his first band where he played the bongos. It was here however that he treated the audience to their first taste of his a-cappella singing. He belted out a quick rendition of the chorus to Let It Be by the Beatles, which happed to be the song that made him realize “maybe I should be a singer”.
He then went on to talking about his time in the band Samson. He brought the audience to tears describing the hysterically funny adventures he went on with the band; including his purchasing of a life size plastic goose for no reason other than he wanted to. Dickinson’s transition from stories of Samson to Iron Maiden was seamless. Fans roared with cheers as pictures of Iron Maiden flashed onto the screen. Those cheers became even louder as Dickinson began to talk about the ever so famous Rock in Rio.
While Dickinson did his best to keep things light hearted and funny there is no escaping the seriousness that is cancer. He explained what it was like for him to get chemo therapy and radiation. In the end he still had to make the audience laugh by making fun of his own beard, which he grew during his cancer treatment, and then how he lost pieces of it at the most inconvenient times. As Dickinson left the stage for intermission, they played TheWritingontheWall Music video on the big screen for fans to enjoy.
After intermission came the question and answer portion of the night. Before the show, fans were able to write a question to Dickinson and have the opportunity to have him answer it on stage. He brought a nice stack of them out on stage and began to answer different things about flying, accidents on stage with Iron Maiden, and other personal yet appropriate topics. If he did not want to answer a question he just threw it behind him. For the very last question he was asked to sing a bit of the song TearsoftheDragon. As he finished his last note he thanked the audience and left the stage once again being met with thunderous applause.
It is one thing reading about Dickinson’s show and seeing little videos from it, but it is a whole other world being there and experiencing it in person. You can feel the passion that Dickinson has for everything he does and he expressed it well with silly voices, funny faces, and one or two self deprecating jokes which makes him that much more relatable.
Heavy metallers SPIRITSOFFIRE – Feat. Chris Caffery, Steve Di Giorgio, Mark Zonder, and new vocalist Fabio Lione – have unveiled the title track of their upcoming album “Embrace The Unknown”, coming out February 18th on CD/LP/Digital, via FrontiersMusic. (Please note, due to ongoing worldwide vinyl manufacturing delays, the LP release date is March 18, 2022.). Pre-order/save HERE: https://orcd.co/embrace
Heavy metal supergroup SPIRITS OF FIRE first formed in 2017, released their first single in late 2018, and unleashed their debut album in February 2019. Originally formed by Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Steve DiGiorgio (Testament, Death, etc.), Mark Zonder (ex-Fates Warning, Warlord) and Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest), the band’s self-titled debut was met with fan and critical praise upon its release.
As it approaches two years since the release of their debut, Spirits of Fire are now set to return with a new album, ” Embrace The Unknown ” that sees renowned Italian metal vocalist Fabio Lione taking over frontman duties for the band. Production this time comes courtesy of Aldo Lonobile, whose recent work on releases by Archon Angel featuring Zak Stevens, Sweet Oblivion featuring Geoff Tate, and his own band, Secret Sphere, makes him the perfect fit for the band.
Once again, the band worked on a set of songs that were primarily put together by Caffery, with Lione and Lonobile adding their own touches to Caffery’s stellar songs. The final result sees a killer musical output that continues in the vein of “classic Priest meets Savatage” sound that the band has pursued since their formation.
With Caffery’s renowned guitar playing, the undeniable power of the rhythm section of Di Giorgio and Zonder, and the world class vocals of Lione, “Embrace The Unknown ” sees SPIRITS OF FIRE pushing their sonic stamp further and further. From the biting riffage of the charging opener “Embrace The Unknown”, the band is firing on all cylinders and prepared to appease the heavy metal gods.
SPIRITS OF FIRE are built to deliver classic in-your-face heavy metal and they have accomplished that goal on every level on “Embrace The Unknown”. From Lione’s soaring vocals, to Caffery’s guitar pyrotechnics, to the propulsive and crushing rhythms of Di Giorgio and Zonder, the performances are stellar from beginning to end. There is no shortage of memorable, metal hymns to raise your fist and bang your head to on this all killer, no filler metal journey.
“Embrace The Unknown” Tracklist:
A Second Chance
Resurrection
Wildest Dreams
Into The Mirror
Embrace The Unknown
My Confession
Sea Of Change
Shapes Of A Fragile Mind
Hearts In The Sand
House Of Pain
Remember My Name
Out In The Rain
LINE-UP: Fabio Lione – Vocals Christopher Caffery – Guitars Steve Di Giorgio – Bass Mark Zonder – Drums
If you are serious about Heavy Metal, then CRYSTAL VIPER most likely doesn’t need introduction. The band was founded by Marta Gabriel on vocals/guitar and released their debut album in 2007. Since then, they toured in more than 15 countries, played in both tiny clubs and at huge open air festivals, released 8 studio albums and a bunch of singles. They have proved to be one of the most hard working and most determined bands of their generation.
The band’s latest studio album entitled ‘The Cult’ was released in 2021 and brought CRYSTALVIPER back to their traditional and pure Heavy Metal roots. The band couldn’t tour properly to promote their new album due to the pandemic, so they decided to record more material instead of sitting and waiting for better times hence the thrilling ’The Last Axeman’ release to be issued on March 25th.
It vigorously starts with a re-recorded version of good old fan favorite ’The Last Axeman’, then brand new song “In The Haunted Chapel’ rips in, lyrically inspired by an H.P. Lovecraft story like all songs on ’The Cult’ album . The band knows their brand of Metal very well, so included is a surprise cover song: a remake of “Ulitsa Roz”, originally written by Russian Heavy Metal heroes ARIA. All 3 songs are exclusive to ‘The Last Axeman’ release.
Follows is a cover of über classic headbanger ‘It’s Electric’ written by NWOBHM heroes DIAMOND HEAD, joined by four ‘Live in the Studio’ (as part of the #RockOutSessions series) recordings of songs initially featured on “The Cult’. Those new, stripped down and rough versions of ‘The Cult’, ‘Asenath Waite’, ‘Whispers From Beyond’ and ‘Flaring Madness’ show the band’s pure and untamed energy.
#RockOutSessions live in studio was also released on youtube on Listenable channel. Watch HERE.
CRYSTALVIPER are genuinely passionate about Heavy Metal and represent the Metal Nation! “The Last Axeman” is set to be released on March 25th, 2022.
CRYSTALVIPER are: Marta Gabriel – vocals, guitars AndyWave – guitars Eric Juris – guitars Blaze Grygiel – bass CederickForsberg – drums
Tracklisting: 1 The Last Axeman 03:49 2 In The Haunted Chapel 04:21 3 Ulitsa Roz (ARIA cover) 05:49 4 It’s Electric (DIAMOND HEAD cover) 03:36 5 The Cult (RockOutSessions) 04:38 6 Asenath Waite (RockOutSessions) 04:45 7 Whispers From Beyond (RockOutSessions) 04:48 8 Flaring Madness (RockOutSessions) 05:04
Discography: The Curse of Crystal Viper (Album – 2007) Metal Nation (Album – 2009) Legends (Album – 2010) Crimen Excepta (Album – 2012) Possession (Album – 2013) Queen of the Witches (Album – 2017) Tales of Fire and Ice (Album – 2019) The Cult (LISTENABLE Album – 2021) The Last Axeman (LISTENABLE Album- 2022)
Seattle (WA) – Hot off the heels of 2020’s no-holds-barred Spectral Devastation, Pacific Northwest Speed Metallers Sölicitör return with the stopgap AllDebtsonDeath 7-inch that charts new territory, while still offering fist-pumping speed metal anthems! The 7-inch is available for immediate shipping from Gates of Hell Records.
Shortly after the release of 2020’s SpectralDevastation, the members of Pacific Northwest speed metallers Sölicitör took a long, hard look at the process that went into the album’s creation. The band raced to finish Spectral Devastation with an eye toward their first-ever appearance at the legendary Keep it True festival in Germany and European dates that would follow, shows, that, unfortunately, were canceled due to the global pandemic. In doing so, Sölicitör felt they rushed some of the key elements of the album’s songwriting, even though the reaction to the songs was almost universally positive. Going into 2021, Sölicitör decided to push themselves to write songs that were even more aggressive and formidable. Enter the searing two-song ALLDebtsonDeath 7-inch.
AllDebtsonDeath was recorded in late February 2021 at Sentinel Studios with producer/engineer Detto, who has recently gained attention for his organic production jobs for death metal bands Cerebral Rot, Mortiferum and Oxygen Destroyer. Detto tracked the band on half-inch tape, then recorded the tape to a digital program where guitars and vocals were laid down, ensuring a full and heavy sound.
As a natural function of their collaboration with Detto, Sölicitör ventured into new territory regarding production values. The two songs are devoid of effects, albeit some minor reverb on the chorus on the vocals, although vocalist Amy Lee Carlson opted to completely forego doubled harmonies. However, the “less is more” approach for studio production doesn’t hinder the two songs. “Killer for Hire” is a classic Sölicitörs speed-burner, complete with a fist-bumping chorus, while “Megalomaniac” ventures into new territory, including riffs that bring to mind legendary Norwegian black metallers Darkthrone, topped off by Carlson’s soaring vocals.
As positive signs gradually start to emerge from the pandemic, Sölicitör is chomping at the bit to return to the live stage. In the meantime, the band is slowly assembling the pieces for their next studio album — due sometime in 2022. Consider AllDebtsonDeath a sign of what’s to come!
Track Listing:
Killer for Hire
Megalomanic
Line-Up:
Amy Lee Carlson – Vocals PatrickFry – Guitar Matt Vogan – Guitar Damon Cleary – Erickson – Bass Johann Waymire – Drums
Swedish, epically overpowering dark symphonic metal unit ELEINE has joined the Atomic Fire Records roster!
Founded and led by charismatic vocalist Madeleine Liljestam and guitarist/growler RikardEkberg, ELEINE has released three successful, multifaceted albums since 2015, all of which illuminate the remarkably sorted and exquisitely balanced dark mixture the collective is capable of producing. Indeed, the authors push their high-class, intense, cinematic flair to the extreme, manifesting a singular, atmospheric world where dark, thrash, black, and death metal influences collide in a fantastically captivating fashion. The unquestionable originality of ELEINE’s output reveals itself quite effortlessly in every single moment of listening.
“Signing with Atomic Fire Records is a huge step in the right direction for ELEINE,” Liljestam comments. “We’re entering a new era of metal, not only with this new, mighty label but also in a world where we have faced challenges as a music industry alongside our dedicated and loyal fans. Finding a label that agrees that both the physical and digital media world actually work together, and don’t have to exclude each other, made us feel that this is a label that will stay true to metal and at the same time evolve alongside the industry and us as a band.”
Says Atomic Fire CEO, Markus Wosgien, “We are in touch for a few years now and I followed their amazing career almost from the start. Especially after I saw ELEINE live on the Sabaton Open Air in 2018, I knew that this band is truly unique and something really special. I love their strong belief in themselves, their do-it-yourself attitude, and finally, their music. ELEINE is an experience; something intense that you feel and inspires you. On top, they are lovely people with their hearts in the right place.”
2022 will find the band touring alongside Firewind, performing at several festivals, and a tour through Finland before joining their new labelmates Sonata Arctica as special guests on their European acoustic tour.
We feel very confident in this new collaboration and we are very proud,” notes Ekberg, adding, “While we work on our next full-length album, we will keep busy releasing an acoustic spin-off EP all in honor of the upcoming Acoustic Tour as special guests to Sonata Arctica in Fall/Winter of 2022.”
Stay tuned for upcoming ELEINE news and visit the band’s tour page at THIS LOCATION to stay up to date on upcoming live adventures.
Indianapolis (IN) – Rising U.S. Power Metal force PREHISTORIA have released debut EP Cursed Lands on all major digital platforms. Purchase and stream the EP at: prehistoriaband.bandcamp.com/album/cursed-lands
Concurrent with the EP release is a new lyric video for the song “Time,” which is available at youtu.be/9BzLPW_NCz4 and below:
Combining influences from power metal giants – Blind Guardian, Symphony X, Helloween – with inspiration from the genres of black and thrash metal, PREHISTORIA has a sound that will appeal to followers of both US and European power metal.
PREHISTORIA was formed in 2020 by seasoned musicians in four different states – vocalist Alonso “Zo” Donoso, guitarists Shaun Cothron and MaxOtworth, drummer Cody Johns, and bassist Ian Bender. Members have collective decades of experience in the metal scene, with their own groups (Zephaniah, Unity, Well of Night), as well as touring members of Viking, Acheron, and Abigail Williams.
Produced amidst an ongoing global pandemic, Cursed Lands, is a triumph of remote collaboration and dedication to heavy metal.
Track Listing:
Time
Castles
Purgatorio
Cursed Lands
EP Credits:
Recorded and produced by Dan Wagoner at Wagoner Bros Studios Mixed by Mike Heller at Heaven and Heller Studios Mastered by Lasse Lammert Cover artwork by Adam Burke Logo design by Chris Horst
Arizona groove metal outfit INCITE returns with new songs up their sleeves and have recently signed a contract with Atomic Fire Records. Following five relentless albums and an insane touring schedule under their belts, Richie Cavalera and his gang of misfits gear up for Wake Up Dead, set for release on March 25th. This infectious collection of raucous new tracks and remastered gems from their fifteen-plus year career proves once again that INCITE are indeed the missing link between Machine Head and Lamb Of God.
On their five albums TheSlaughter (2009), AllOutWar (2012), UpInHell (2014), Oppression (2016), and Built To Destroy (2019), INCITE 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, skill, and bravado. What began as a band of greenhorns driving around the States in a shitty van, thrashing small clubs, has evolved into a band with the potential, the passion, and the power to become one of metal’s biggest acts.
Written in several bouts of feverish inspiration during last year’s pandemic chaos, WakeUpDead delivers the goods in the most relentless way. With recording duties again handled by legendary producer Steve Evetts (who Richie Cavalera notes is, “the only guy who can simultaneously record The Cure and Suicide Silence and pull it off”) in Omen Room Studios just outside Los Angeles, here’s a band that couldn’t be more comfortable with the place they’re in right now.
Kicking off the proceedings with the open fire that is “Fuck With Me (Wake Up Dead),” the record’s menacing second track, “War Soup,” will make a lasting impression on international heavy metal troops standing as the first INCITE song ever to feature the vocals of both Richie and his step-father Max Cavalera, a historical gathering of heavy metal generations.
Comments Richie Cavalera, “Metalheads, we’ve held back this beast long enough! It’s time! We’ve reworked the team, we’ve added more heavy metal, and couldn’t be more fired up! Our new album Wake Up Dead will drop with MinusHead/Atomic Fire Records for the first time ever! This album is exactly what the metal world needs to kick off 2022 heavy AF!”
Atomic Fire Records CEO and founder MarkusWosgien adds, “When Dez Fafara, singer of DevilDriver and manager of acts like Cradle Of Filth, Jinjer, and 8 Kalacas, introduced us the new material of INCITE, we were simply blown away. Those five new tracks simply were the shit! Each track was super catchy, straightforward, and massively brutal and aggressive. I couldn’t believe that I missed this incredible band over all these years and had a new mission: The metal world needs to know about INCITE and how great they are. So, the idea starts to grow to not only do an EP, but also add the best of their old tracks, remaster them, and demonstrate what INCITE is about. This new release is one of the best modern thrash metal releases of all time. This is both fresh, unique, and still somehow old-school as fuck. Fronted by Richie Cavalera, this band has an amazing singer with a serious history and well known parents. Check them out; you all will love them.”
WakeUpDead – Track Listing:
Fuck With Me (Wake Up Dead)
War Soup [feat. Max Cavalera]
Sucker Punched
Deadbeat
Mental Destruction
Built To Destroy
Stagnant
Fallen
The Aftermath
The Slaughter
Stand by for album preorders and track previews to be launched in the coming weeks.
INCITE: Richie Cavalera – vocals Eli Santana – guitars Christopher “EL” Elsten – bass Lennon Lopez – drums
Australian metal band ILIUM are streaming their new EP Quantum Evolution Event now! To celebrate the release, the band has released a lyric video for their track “Undergods”.
Melding dark supernatural and sci-fi themes with an exploration of the human condition and the natural world, ILIUM create a huge melodic sound combining influences from power, traditional, progressive, thrash and symphonic metal. Quantum Evolution Event follows the release of ILIUM’s 2020 album Carcinogeist and its accompanying EP Enviro-Metal.
Hailing from Newcastle, Australia, ILIUM released their debut, self-titled EP in 2002. Working with a wealth of guest musicians and producers over the years including Mike DiMeo (RIOT, MASTERPLAN), Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, PAGAN’S MIND, PRETTY MAIDS) and Lance King (BALANCE OF POWER, AVIAN), Quantum Evolution Event is no different. The new EP features long-time collaborators Tim Yatras (DUNGEON, LORD, GERM) on drums and Lord Tim (LORD, BLACKENED ANGEL, FROMBEYOND) on vocals and production.
Striving to further develop their sound with each release, the dynamic outfit deliver epic lead melodies and solos and soaring vocals, and compose arrangements designed with dramatic impact in mind. Quantum Evolution Event opens with a flourish of melodic theatrics in the title track. Harsh distortion from the guitars and powerful percussion is balanced with ethereal synths and harmony filled vocals. ILIUM pack a real punch with strong guitar driven rhythms creating heavier sounds in “Undergods” and “Hostile Sky”. Contrasting these elements with highly intricate riffs and charismatic voices.
Explosive energy fuels the new release with each track bringing an epic intensity. The instrumentation throughout Quantum Evolution Event explores a vast array of metal subgenres and yet ILIUM fuse them into their own distinctive style.
NamelessGraveRecords presents CrestOfTheMartyrsDemos, an alternate/demo version of TWISTEDTOWERDIRE’s adored third album, making the recordings available for the first time.
In the days of olde, after classic heavy metal was supplanted by extreme music and before the current reignition of interest that the genre has enjoyed, Northern Virginia’s TWISTED TOWER DIRE tirelessly defended true heavy metal in all forms as they sought to breathe new light into a then largely dead genre. By the time their now-legendary third album Crest Of The Martyrs was written they were on top of the world, having played Wacken for the first time a couple years earlier and having released two full-lengths on The Miskatonic Foundation, run by Rich Walker of Solstice fame, as well as a wide array of EPs, splits, compilation tracks, and more.
Crest Of The Martyrs was the next step: a bigger power metal label, sleeker production, and TWISTED TOWER DIRE’s biggest hooks and choruses yet. Underneath the gleaming power metal edge provided by the production provided by the label and studio still lurked the same triumphing true metal band, however, and for the first time, Nameless Grave Records is proud to present Crest Of The Martyrs the way the band originally intended it: as a devastating, lean set of heavy metal bangers untouched by modern power metal production, and alternate studio decisions.
Old fans of the band can rejoice to have this different set of recordings available for the first time, and new fans can marvel at the powerhouse of one of America’s finest bands playing at their best. Highly recommended for fans of Visigoth, Pharaoh, and Omen.
Recorded in 2002 at Killabrew Studios, produced by Matt Crooks and TWISTED TOWER DIRE, and mastered by Dan Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studios, Crest Of The Martyrs Demos is completed with artwork personally done for this release by guitarist Scott Waldrop. The CD version features bonus tracks not included on the vinyl, including a second demo as well as a live track from Wacken 2003, and both the CD and vinyl editions bear liner notes from the band. The LP will be pressed in a total run of 500 copies, including 300 on Black and 100 on Silver. No Remorse Records (Greece) will have an exclusive 100 copies on Light Blue vinyl.
Stream the previously unreleased version of TWISTED TOWER DIRE’s “Some Other Time, Some Other Place” RIGHT HERE.
Crest Of The Martyrs Demos will be released through Nameless Grave Records on March 3rd. Find preorders at Bandcamp HERE and the label webshop HERE.
Crest Of The Martyrs Demos Track Listing:
At Night
Some Other Time, Some Other Place
Axes And Honor
To Be A Champion
Infinitum
Fight To Be Free
Transfixed
Guardian Bloodline
The Reflecting Pool
TWISTED TOWER DIRE Crest Of The Martyrs lineup: Tony Taylor – vocals Scott Waldrop – guitar David Boyd – guitar Marc Stauffer – drums Jim Hunter – bass
It looks like W.A.S.P. are FINALLY going to tour the USA! Special guests are ArmoredSaint!! The great Michael Schenker will be a guest November 2nd through November 6th!! Metal be thy name!!
Check out the tour flyer above for dates and cities that run from October through December of 2022!
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!
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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