‘Medicine Man’, the title track of the new album from Canadian heavy metal group SNAKE EYES SEVEN, can be streamed below. The album is due on March 30th via HighVolMusic and distributed by AMPED Distribution. ‘Medicine Man’ is the long-awaited follow-up to 2010’s ’13 Crows’ and was recorded by Canadian producer Cam MacLeod who isalso the band’s lead guitarist. The album was mastered by Maor Applebaum (Halford, Adrenaline Mob, Armored Saint). The cover artwork for ‘Medicine Man’ was created by ‘Scozz’ at Graphics by Scozz Studios.
‘Medicine Man’ – Track Listing:
Speaking Ill of The Dead
Can You Hear Me Calling
Medicine Man
The Kill
The Critic
Angel of Death
SOB
What About Peace
Goodbye Ronnie
HeavyMetalHardRock says “WE CAN’T RECOMMEND THIS ALBUM ENOUGH..FRESH AND SMART HARD ROCK AT HIGH LEVEL!”
Hair Band Heaven says – “I can’t recommend this album enough. Sure to make my 2018 Top Ten list.”
Founder and guitarist Cole Stevens credits producer Cam MacLeod for the amazing outcome of ‘Medicine Man’ as well as his band-mates Danny Deane (vocals), Mike Cillis (bassist), Erik Young (drums). “This version of SNAKE EYES SEVEN is top notch. The songs are strong and the band is solid.”
The video premiere of ‘Medicine Man’ is set for February 16th. For more details checkout the recently launched website at www.snakeeyes7.com.
Promising Greek speedsters SACRAL RAGE have started work on the follow-up to 2015’s Illusions in Infinite Void debut full-length for a 2018 release via Cruz Del Sur Music. The as-yet-titled album will be produced by SACRAL RAGE, with drum and guitar recordings taking place in Ignite Studios in Athens. The band will track vocals and bass in White Socks Studios and will have the album mixed and mastered by Stamos Koliousis at an undisclosed location in Norway.
Comments guitarist Marios: “The music retains the classic SACRAL mixture of tech madness/aggressiveness with the addition of more complex structures at times, along with a darker vibe and more layered sounds than the previous one. In terms of composition and arranging of the songs, the way we worked hasn’t changed since our last work. The only difference was that we had to overcome and re-invent aspects of ourselves in order to present something different and fresh from our previous works.”
SACRAL RAGE‘s sound – a blend of tech thrash in the vein of CORONER mixed with the sci-fi aura of VOIVOD and the melodic class of HELSTAR – has taken on a more aggressive form according to Marios, even finding the band going down even darker paths than before. “It’s like we expanded every aspect of ‘Illusions…’ with this one. The songs came out bigger than expected without losing the character and the sound of the band. Lyrically, we present stories of the near (or not) future and visions of a traveler that wanders through time.”
The positive reception to Illusions… helped spread the SACRAL RAGE name throughout Europe and included several key festival stops along the way. Aware of the expectations for their sophomore album, Marios feels like it’s time for SACRAL RAGE to assert their place in the heavy metal underground.
“With our second release, we aim to make the next step for the band and participate in bigger festivals, as we believe that our live performance is one of our strong points,” he closes. “We also hope that our music will be unleashed on much more people than before.”
German Classic Metal hybrid PULVER will release their self-titled debut 7-inch on April 20 via Gates Of Hell Records, a sub-label of Cruz Del Sur Music.
Recorded by Heiner Kunkel at Dreiklang Audio in the band’s hometown of Aschaffenburg, the 7-inch was mixed at Big Snuff Studio in Berlin by Richard Behrens. The recording took place roughly a year after PULVER‘s 2016 formation, showcasing a band adept at harnessing the rawness of NWOBHM with the melody and power of traditional and progressive metal.
“Our origin is pretty basic,” notes vocalist David Fröhlich. “There isn’t really a huge hard rock/heavy metal scene in a small city like ours, so everyone pretty much knew each other anyway. One day in late 2016, we decided to start jamming and pretty soon noticed that everything fits together quite well, so we continued until the point where we found the songs presentable enough to release a demo and here we are now!”
PULVER plans on following up the release of the 7-inch with the recording of their first proper full-length, along with other activities, according to Fröhlich. “We’re gonna play a lot of shows, meet new people on the road and have some fun!”
For fans of MOTORHEAD, FIST, IRON MAIDEN and early NWOBHM.
Heavy Metal/Rock unit BLACK WIZARD will return to Europe this spring on a near three-week tour alongside Anciients. The journey begins March 1st in Antwerp, Belgium and ends March 30th in Utrecht, Netherlands with additional live adventures in the plotting stages. See all confirmed dates below.
BLACK WIZARD will be touring in support of their forthcoming full-length Livin’ Oblivion. Set for North American release this March via Listenable Records (February 23rd in Europe), the record was produced and engineered by Michael Kraushaar in Vancouver, British Columbia and comes sheathed in the cover art of renowned Berlin, German-based illustrator Eliran Kantor (Testament, Crowbar, Satan).
Livin’ Oblivion centers itself on the obliteration or slow decay of one’s self, morals, and life as we know it. “We are living in an age where the powers of the World are taking steps backwards and moving away from a positive future,” the band elaborates. “There is a large number of disenfranchised youth and young adults that would rather live their lives in oblivion – drinking, drugs, partying etc. – than chasing any kind of future or dreams, simply because the rest of the world seems to be falling apart around them.”
The first single “Feast Or Famine” is most definitely based off of this idea, and continues to exist throughout the record. It being one of the faster, more aggressive tunes off the record, it’s a reflection of the band’s road worn personas and chemistry as a collective. Taking cues from thrash legends (early Metallica/Slayer) and influential contemporaries, BLACK WIZARD sounds as inspired as ever, and are ready to take over the world…even if there isn’t much time left.
If you missed it, view the band’s performance video for “Feast Or Famine,” recently premiered by Decibel Magazine, at THIS LOCATION.
For Livin’ Oblivion ordering info visit THIS LOCATION.
BLACK WIZARD w/ Anciients:
3/01/2018 Music City – Antwerp, BE
3/02/2018 Innocent – Hengelo, NL
3/03/2018 MTS Records – Oldenburg, DE
3/04/2018 Merleyn – Nijmegen, NL
3/05/2018 Excalibur – Reims, FR
3/07/2018 Audio Glasgow – Glasgow, UK
3/08/2018 TBC – Falmouth, UK
3/10/2018 Temple of Boom – Leeds, UK
3/11/2018 The Phoenix – Coventy, UK
3/12/2018 TBC – London, UK
3/14/2018 Texas Bar – Leiria, PT
3/15/2018 Stairway Club – Cascais, PT
3/16/2018 DRAC – Figueira da Foz, PT
3/17/2018 Woodstock 69 – Porto, PT
3/18/2018 Wurlitzer – Madrid, ES
3/19/2018 Rock Sou/2018 Barcelona, ES
3/22/2018 Sound-N-Arts Music Club – Bamberg, DE
3/23/2018 MKNZ – Illirska Bistrica, SL
3/26/2018 Liwi – Leipzig, DE
3/27/2018 Jagerclause – Berlin, DE
3/29/2018 Jungle – Cologne, DE
3/30/2018 dB’s – Utrecht, NL
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Hailing from Vancouver, BLACK WIZARD was forged in 2009 between high school friends. Some years and personnel changes later, the band is going stronger than ever. Founding members vocalist/guitarist Adam Grant and drummer Eugene Parkomenko were both working underwhelming construction jobs at the time, passing the days to the sounds of Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Witch, and Electric Wizard. Today, Parkomenko and Grant are accompanied by guitarist Danny Stokes and bassist Evan Joel. Having followed a true DIY aesthetic, the band has released three full-length LPs along with a 7″ single independently and sold over five thousand copies worldwide. In classic WIZ fashion, Livin’ Oblivion has evolved from their previous efforts boasting a bigger, heavier, sharper, and louder approach than ever before. Faster thrash elements have been added, while staying true to that sultry, Thin Lizzy-esque twin lead vibe throughout.
Since their first Listenable album release, New Waste, in early 2016, the band has toured non-stop including a Canadian mini-tour with Red Fang, a six-week stadium tour with Killswitch Engage and Volbeat, a month-long US tour supporting Brant Bjork and Royal Thunder, a month-long North American tour supporting Weedeater, and so much more. At home on the road, BLACK WIZARD is ready to take to the streets again kicking 2018 off with their fourth European run.
BLACK WIZARD: Adam Grant – vocals/guitar Eugene Parkomenko – drums Danny Stokes – guitar Evan Joel – bass
BEHEMOTH, along with Lamb Of God, Anthrax and Testament, all bands who have close ties to and have shared the stage multiple times with Slayer over the years, will accompany the band on leg one, North America, of what will be Slayer’s final world tour. The trek begins May 10th when a twenty-six-date odyssey will have them crisscrossing the country, from San Diego to Toronto, Orlando to Minneapolis. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, January 26th; log onto www.behemoth.pl for all ticketing info.
“If you are lucky enough to be invited to play even just once with living legends like Slayer, it’s an incredible honor. Slayer gave Lamb Of God our very first two overseas shows. Slayer has subsequently taken us on several full-length tours, both at home and abroad. The guys in Slayer and their crew have also always been very, very cool to our band. It is irrefutable that Slayer helped create the genre of aggressive metal, and all modern bands of that ilk owe them a huge debt – I know we do. To be asked to be a part of their final tour – well, it just makes you stop and realize just how lucky you are. Hail Slayer! We’ll see you on the road…” – Randy Blythe, Lamb Of God
“It’s truly an honor to be on Slayer’s final tour. Anthrax and Slayer have toured together for decades, we are family, band and crew, so we want to help give Slayer the best send-off possible, and to have one last blast with our friends. But you know, at the end of the day, Slayer will never die.” – Frank Bello, Anthrax
“Well, well, well… the dream comes true AGAIN it seems. BEHEMOTH will be teaming up with mighty Slayer again for another extensive North American run later this year! Nothing short of epic if you ask me! I cannot wait to confront American legions again before we unleash the new record. One of the biggest metal tours this year: Testament, BEHEMOTH, Anthrax, Lamb Of God and Slayer. Can you miss it out? FUCK NO!” – Nergal, BEHEMOTH
“Sharing the stage with Slayer once again is going to be an honor, and to be a part of the final tour is going to be a special privilege for us. Slayer has influenced so many aggressive bands in their career. This tour will be an epic time for all who attend. Do yourself a favor and clear your calendars when this show comes to town. This will be your last chance to see a tour like this. Get ready North America for the devastation.” – Chuck Billy, Testament
BEHEMOTH w/ Slayer, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, Testament:
5/10/2018 Valley View Casino Center – San Diego, CA
5/11/2018 FivePoint Amphitheatre – Irvine, CA
5/13/2018 Papa Murphy’s Park at Cal Expo – Sacramento, CA
5/16/2018 PNE Forum – Vancouver, BC
5/17/2018 South Okanagan Events Centre – Penticton, BC
5/19/2018 Big Four – Calgary, AB
5/20/2018 Shaw Centre – Edmonton, AB
5/22/2018 Bell MTS Centre – Winnipeg, MB
5/24/2018 The Armory – Minneapolis, MN
5/25/2018 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago, IL
5/27/2018 Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre Freedom Hill – Detroit, MI
The Metal Queen unveils: “The writing process of the album is done and we’re currently finalising the mixing. This new record is going to be a diverse album with many fast songs and countless metal anthems. To be honest, one of these songs could become the next ‘All We Are’!”
With this hit and her new album, the blonde metal angel + band are going to celebrate their 35th band jubilee on a huge world tour during late summer 2018! From November 16th onwards, DORO will perform once again in Germany and Austria (see all dates below).
What else can DORO tell about the upcoming album?: “The first song that I’ve written for the new album is a song dedicated to Lemmy. It’s called ‘Living Life To The Fullest’!”
Following the DORO tradition, there will be of course also another German song on the album. A midtempo track, dealing with a deep friendship, just as in ‘Für Immer’!
Make sure you don’t miss DORO’s new songs, as well as her biggest metal anthems like ‘All We Are’, ‘Für Immer’, ‘Burning The Witches’, ‘Raise Your Fist’ and many more – live! These are all European dates up to now:
Presented by: Metal Hammer, Radio Bob, Slam Magazine, Musix, Metaltix
16.11. D Bremen – Aladin
17.11. D Hamburg – Große Freiheit 36
18.11. D Berlin – Astra Kulturhaus
20.11. D Görlitz – Kulturbrauerei
21.11. A Wien – Simm City
23.11. D Memmingen – Kaminwerk
24.11. D Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
25.11. D Saarbrücken – Garage
27.11. D Frankfurt – Batschkapp
28.11. D Erfurt – Stadtgarten
30.11. D Köln – Live Music Hall
01.12. D Bochum – Zeche
Ohio sludgecore veterans FISTULA have confirmed a spring tour this May with fellow sludge stalwarts Come To Grief. The soul-crushing journey will commence on May 1st in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and trample thirteen venues through May 13th in Portland, Maine with Cough, Midmourner, and No Funeral to appear on select shows. See confirmed dates below.
FISTULA recently issued the first wave of an ongoing split seven-inch series celebrating twenty years of sonic misery. Released via PATAC Records, the first two installments find FISTULA sharing wax space with Come To Grief and -(16)-.
The band’s split with Come To Grief features two original and categorically scathing unreleased tracks while the second features -(16)- ‘s cover of “Complications” by Killing Joke and FISTULA‘s rendition of “Mongoloid,” by Devo.
If you missed it, stream both splits via Decibel alongside an in-depth interview with guitarist Corey Bing, at THIS LOCATION.
Each limited edition seven-inch is available in various color variants (all clear vinyl is sold out). The Come To Grief / FISTULA split is also available on cassette. To order, visit THIS LOCATION.
5/07/2018 Rock Island Brewing Co. – Rock Island, IL w/ No Funeral
5/08/2018 Eagles 34 – Minneapolis, MN w/ No Funeral
5/09/2018 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
5/10/2018 Black Circle Brewing Co. – Indianapolis, IN
5/11/2018 Mohawk Place – Buffalo, NY
5/12/2018 The Irish Wolf Pub – Scranton, PA
5/13/2018 Geno’s Rock Club – Portland, ME
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FISTULA will unveil additional splits with Hemdale, Fister, and one final band to be announced at a later date. Additionally, the band will issue a vinyl version of 2016’s Longing For Infection with a bonus etched seven-inch from the recording session. Details to be announced in the coming weeks.
FISTULA was forged in 1998 by musical partners-in-crime Corey Bing and Bahb Branca. Over the years, FISTULA has released a seemingly endless barrage of studio albums and split EPs through numerous lineup changes featuring the creative talents of bands such as Sloth, Hemdale, The Disease Concept, Accept Death, and so many others. FISTULA is a band that is impossible to categorize, combining elements of remedial sludge, hardcore and a proverbial “bad case of the Mondays.” Nearing two decades of ear bleeding, FISTULA remains the the miserable kings of sludgecore.
We are extremely pleased to announce that we shall be heading back out on the road in APRIL 2018 for our own headline UK TOUR in support of our new album ‘Hands of Fate’.
Dates:
13/04/2018 – Bodega, Nottingham
14/04/2018 – Academy 3, Manchester
15/04/2018 – Cathouse, Glasgow
17/04/2018 – O2 Academy 2, Newcastle
18/04/2018 – O2 Academy 3, Birmingham
19/04/2018 – Underworld, London
Due to demand, the show in Geiselwind has been moved to a bigger venue! ALL remaining shows are close to being sold out, so you better get your ticket asap! www.archenemy.net/tour See you soon!
We are super excited to officially welcome our new drummer Anthony Tiny Biuso to the BULLETBOYS family!
“We have known Tiny for a very long time and are so excited to have him providing the major BOOM to this group. Tiny is now a “FULLY LOADED” BulletBoy and we look forward to having him rock out with us around the globe in 2018.” Says Marq Torien.
Tiny is no newcomer to the rock scene. Aside from playing with various artists, most will remember him with TSOL, The Dickies & HED PE. Anthony was born in New York City. He has played drums for nearly 35 years. His career has brought him to 35 countries and almost every single state behind the drum kit for some of today’s hottest rock and punk bands. He is an animal lover! People lover. And reality lover. https://www.facebook.com/anthonytinybubzbiuso/
GWAR – April 2018 Tour Dates:
Tuesday 24th April – Brisbane, Eatons Hill
Thursday 26th April – Sydney, Metro
Friday 27th April – Melbourne, 170 Russell
Sunday 29th April – Adelaide, HQ
PLATINUM VIP M&G Ticket – 6 only per show – includes:
• Meet and Greet with GWAR
• 1 personal item autographed by GWAR
• Photo of yourself with GWAR taken by professional photographer
• Autographed Limited edition A3 Thick Card Poster
• Watch two songs from side of stage
• Collectors set of 7 guitar picks
• Official commemorative VIP Laminate
• Priority Access to the Venue
GOLD VIP M&G Ticket:
• Photo of yourself and 5 other slaves with GWAR taken by professional photographer
• Autographed Limited edition A3 Thick Card Poster
• Collectors set of 7 guitar picks
• Official commemorative VIP Laminate
• Priority Access to the Venue
SEPTICFLESH return to North America in Feb / March 2018 to support their critically acclaimed new album “Codex Omega” with them, the Swedish lords of the black Dark Funeral will co bill the event to make it one of the most memorable packages to hit the North America in a very long time. Also supporting the tour is Black Metal Colombian / Texan outfit THY ANTICHRIST…are you mortals ready?
Dates as follows :
02/22/18 Los Angeles, CA The Regent
02/23/18 San Diego, CA Brick by Brick
02/24/18 Las Vegas, NV Beauty Bar
02/25/18 Oakland, CA Metro Opera House
02/26/18 Portland, OR Rock Hard PDX
02/27/18 Seattle, WA Studio Seven
03/01/18 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
03/02/18 Kansas City, MO Riot Room
03/03/18 Ringle, WI Q & Z Expo Center
03/04/18 Chicago, IL Reggie’s
03/05/18 Columbus, OH Alrosa Villa
03/06/18 Lakewood, OH The Foundry
03/07/18 Detroit, MI Harpo’s
03/08/18 Toronto, ON Mod Club
03/09/18 Montreal, QC L’Astral
03/10/18 New York, NY Gramercy Theater
03/11/18 Worcester, MA Palladium
03/12/18 Baltimore, MD Soundstage
03/13/18 Spartanburg, SC Ground Zero
03/14/18 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
03/16/18 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall
03/17/18 Fort Worth, TX Rail Club
03/18/18 Austin, TX Come and Take it Live!
03/20/18 Phoenix, AZ Club Red
Few albums still feel relevant, fresh, and contemporary-sounding, ten-years after their initial release. THE OCEAN‘s Precambrian, originally released in November 2007, is one such case: the band’s most mature and versatile album to that date, Precambrian is distinguished by complex yet intimate songwriting, huge orchestrations, subtle electronic textures and immense harmonic and dynamic density. With guests appearances by Caleb Scofield (Cave In, Old Man Gloom), Nate Newton (Converge), Tomas Hallbom (Breach), Eric Kalsbeek (ex-Textures), and musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Precambrian remains a career-defining milestone for the band and a fan favorite.
To commemorate its release, Pelagic Records will issue a special tenth anniversary edition of Precambrian on March 16th, 2018. The 3xLP, available in three color variants, comes with a brand new studio re-recording of ten-minute opener “Rhyacian” featuring the current lineup of guitarist Robin Staps, vocalist Loic Rossetti, drummer Paul Seidel and bassist Mattias Hägerstrand.
In related news, THE OCEAN will revisit Precambrian during their headlining set at Doom Over Leipzig Festival on April 21st, 2018, where they will be performing the album in its entirety.
“Epic in scope and flawless in execution, Precambrian reinforces THE OCEAN as one of the most exciting names in modern heavy music. Behold mind-blowing metal on a Wagnerian scale.” 9/10 – Rock Sound (UK)
“Full of cinematic breadth and orchestral majesty, it’s easy to get lost in the album’s 80 minutes of rhythmic sea changes and powerful riffing. THE OCEAN excel in their idiosyncratic nuances and hammering insistence on this Teutonic paean to Earth’s geology.” 4/5 – Revolver (US)
CANNIBAL CORPSE will kick off their US headlining tour in support of their upcoming Red Before Black full-length next week. The tour will commence on November 3rd and run through December 8th with support provided by Power Trip and Gatecreeper. See all confirmed dates below.
Many words come to mind when you hear the name CANNIBAL CORPSE, but one truly defines the soon-to-be thirty-year death metal veterans: Unstoppable. Produced by Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal, Goatwhore), Red Before Black, the band’s fourteenth album, serves to not only reiterate this but to once more raise the stakes, making it very clear who sets the standard when it comes to always compelling music that is equally brutal and complex.
Moreover, the band have pushed themselves again, ensuring that it stands out from their catalog. “Throughout our career we’ve tried to improve the precision of both our musical execution and our album production, while still maintaining full-on aggression. Red Before Black continues in that direction, but might go even further on the aggressive side of things,” asserts bassist Alex Webster. “It’s definitely precise, but it has a rawness to it that goes beyond anything we’ve done recently.”
“We really worked super hard crafting these songs, practicing them, and getting them where we wanted to be more so than on any of our previous albums,” adds drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz. “And as Alex said, musically I think it’s the rawest sound we’ve had – and at the same time I think it’s our most focused, tightest and catchiest record.”
Red Before Black will see release on November 3rd via Metal Blade Records. Preorder bundles are currently available at metalblade.com/cannibalcorpse where you can also preview the title track as well as the band’s video for “Code Of The Slashers.”
Frontiers Music SRL Hard Rock recording artists L.A. Guns, Warrant, Jack Russell’s Great White and Riverdogs (featuring Vivian Campbell) will be performing in the Rockin Christmas Bash, this coming December 2nd!
WHERE:
The Canyon, 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills, California
WHEN:
December 2nd, 2017 – Doors: 6:00pm / Showtime: 7:30pm
Besides the dates on the poster we will do a couple of headline shows:
11/04 Temecula CA – The Boiler Room 11/06 Portland OR – Bossa Nova Ballroom 11/09 Vernon BC – Status Night Club 11/20 Columbus OH – Alrosa Villa 11/23 Washington DC – The Pinch
Two new songs and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the new Sweet & Lynch album is available for your enjoyment! New album, UNIFIED out November 10th!
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Stone Says:Michael Sweet and George Lynch have done it again! These 2 new songs are super, fantastic and addicting ear candy! Whoa.
Finnish Heavy Metal cult band OZ is back! More than five years after the re-start of their career with the ”Burning Leather” release, the band led my founding member and drummer Mark Ruffneck finally delivers the anticipated new studio album (their first all new songs album since 1991!), titled “Transition State” (out October 20th). And OZ doesn’t fail to impress with thirteen cracking and fresh, traditional Metal tracks of immensely high quality. Even though Ruffneck is the last remaining member left from the original line-up, OZ are as strong as ever and continue to haunt you with the relentless, uncompromising sound they are known for!
1. Bone Crusher
2. Restless
3. Heart Of A Beast
4. Drag You To Hell
5. Whore Of Babylon (Bonus Track)
6. The Witch
7. In A Shadow Of A Shotgun
8. Never Close Your Eyes
9. The Mountain
10. Demonized
11. We’ll Never Die
12. Sister Red (Bonus Track)
13. Midnight Screams (Bonus Track)
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"
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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