South Dakota-based Death metallers, Angerot, rise from the ashes of Midwestern Metal to announce their crushing debut album, The Splendid Iniquity.
Featuring a cast of seasoned veterans who share roots that reach back to the very beginnings of the Death Metal Movement, Angerot are more than a nod to early Swedish Death Metal, they are pure Swede Death Worship. Recorded with Eddie G at Underground Studios, mixed by Tomas Skogsberg (Entombed, Dismember, Carnage, Grave, At the Gates) at Sunlight Studios and mastered by Brad Boatright at AudioSeige, The Splendid Iniquity is a savage 40 minute sonic assault of 90’s Earache Records-era buzzsaw on your ear drums.
ANGEROT has tapped Decibel Magazine for the exclusive premiere of album track “Eternal Unrest.” Check it out at http://bit.ly/2ELg8hZ.
The album boasts guest appearances by some of the greatest names in Death Metal; LG Petrov (Entombed, Entombed AD, Firespawn), James Murphy (Death, Cancer, Disincarnate, Obituary, Testament ), making The Splendid Iniquity an absolute must listen for any fan of 90s Death Metal.
“We definitely do not feel this is a throwback band by any means. We all cut our teeth during the rise of this genre, and we are simply doing what comes naturally,” asserts vocalist/guitarist C.R. Petit. “We wanted to keep everything as on-point with the early 90’s as possible, that is why we elected to work with Tomas Skogsberg to mix our record. We could feel right away he knew exactly what we were trying to accomplish all the way around.”
The Splendid Iniquity is scheduled for release on Friday, April 13 through Black Market MetalLabel.
The Splendid Iniquity – track listing:
01. Black Epoch
02. Eternal Unrest
03. The Splendid Iniquity
04. Rivers of Chaos (ft. LG Petrov)
05. Under the Calm
06. They Wake at Dusk
07. From the Pit to the Apex (ft. James Murphy)
08. Deliver Us…
09. That Hath Awoke
Chicago/Minneapolis-based quintet WOLVHAMMER has completed their fourth album, The Monuments Of Ash & Bone, for release in early May through Blood Music. The album’s artwork, track listing, and more has been revealed.
While things have seemed quiet for WOLVHAMMER in recent years, the band has been hard at work behind the scenes and are now set to strike. Four years since the Profound Lore release of Clawing Into Black Sun — which was supported by tours with the likes of Shining, 1349, Origin, Taake, Revenge, and Young And In The Way – 2018 looms heavy with the vengeful return of WOLVHAMMER. Brandishing a revamped lineup, the imminent release of their fourth full length album, The Monuments Of Ash & Bone, is on the horizon with new label partner, Blood Music.
With the current rapid rise in quality USBM, WOLVHAMMER races to the forefront with their upcoming fourth album which sees them merging the Black Metal tendencies of Enslaved with the mid-tempo sludge of Celtic Frost. Far removed from the methodical riffing and trudging pace of their previous record, and eschewing any frills, The Monuments Of Ash & Bone delivers nearly forty-two minutes of savagery through seven new songs. The album kicks the tempo into high gear and goes straight for the throat on tracks such as “Eternal Rotting Misery” and “Law Of The Rope.” No experimental bullshit, just the sound of rotten flesh and slow decay.
The Monuments Of Ash & Bone was recorded and mixed by Jarrett Pritchard (Goatwhore, Exhumed) at his own New Constellation Studios in Orlando, Florida, and mastered by Ken Sorceron (Abigail Williams, The Faceless) – both of whom provide additional guitar tracks to the album – and completed with artwork by Brian Sheehan.
Blood Music will release The Monuments Of Ash & Bone on CD, LP, and digital formats on May 4th. Stand by for audio premieres, preorder options, tour dates, and much more to be issued in the bleak days ahead.
The Monuments Of Ash & Bone – Track Listing:
Eternal Rotting Misery
Call Me Death
Law Of The Rope
Bathed In Moonblood And Wolflight
The Failure King
Dead Rat Rotting Raven
Solace Eclipsed
Although there has been a four-year break between full lengths, the musical core of WOLVHAMMER has remained active, with guitarist Jeff Wilson writing and recording various projects, as well as being one half of the atmospheric Black Metal band Abigail Williams, and vocalist Adam Clemans being tapped as the new front man for Skeletonwitch. Adding John Porada (Terminate) on guitar in 2016, the new line up was filled out with Garry Naples (Novembers Doom) and Andrew Gerrity (Doomsday) before hitting the studio in the summer of 2017.
“I remember sitting with Glenn and Richie and talking about what we wanted this record to have in it,” says Halford to Revolver writer Steve Appleford. “And we wanted to make the heaviest, most classic-feeling record that we could possibly do for 2018, representing Priest as a band that’s been around for four decades, but at the same time, bring something fresh.”
The new issue also features interviews with Maryland hardcore act Turnstile, The Great Frog jewelry maker Imogen Lehtonen, NASA navigator Paul F. Thompson and how his early years listening to metal shaped his future, Swedish goth rockers Tribulation, a look back at Pantera’s 1991 visit to Moscow for Monsters of Rock, and an interview with shredder/berserker Zakk Wylde.
New video content available via Revolvermag.com:
* Rob Halford, Lyric Dissector – Rob Halford walks us through a line-by-line examination of “Lightning Strike,” the debut single from Judas Priest’s forthcoming record, Firepower. The iconic vocalist unpacks the metaphors that he employs to tell a story of resisting divisive, fear-based manipulation at the hands of authority figures, reveals his deep connection to these issues and explains his view of Priest’s community of “metal maniacs” as a unifying force that can help people overcome personal difficulties.
*Chris Gregson (Blood Wizard), Ride The Lightning – Chris Gregson discusses his passion for metal and skateboarding, and hits some of his favorite skate spots for a day of shredding with a few of his rowdiest Blood Wizard crew mates.
*Killswitch Engage’s Jesse Leach interviews Baroness’ John Baizley, Flex Your Head – Killswitch Engage front man Jesse Leach interviews Baroness’ John Baizley in a discussion about overcoming tragedy, Baizley’s passion for visual art as well as music, and how Baroness evolves “outwards like from a radial point, rather than forward.”
About Revolver: Revolver is North America’s leading hard rock and metal media brand. Founded 17 years ago, in both print and digital, it has provided its readers with unmatched access to the biggest bands in heavy music as well as the scene’s most important up-and-comers. Artists from Black Sabbath and Nine Inch Nails to Tool and Slipknot have appeared on its cover, and Revolver was an early champion of bands including Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Gojira, Volbeat and Code Orange. In 2009, the outlet ushered in the concept of a magazine-driven awards show in North America with the Revolver music awards, which, over the ensuing years, hosted performances and appearances by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Johnny Depp, Dave Grohl, Nicolas Cage, Jack Black, Dillinger Escape Plan and many more. The show aired on VH1 Classic, AXS TV and Xbox Live, and live-streamed on Facebook and Amazon.
GATECREEPER will take on a North American co-headlining tour with recent Relapse signees Full Of Hell this summer. Presented by Revolver Magazine, GATECREEPER will join The Sweltering Ecstasy Tour on May 28th in Phoenix, Arizona following their appearance at the Modified Ghost Festival III in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 24th. From there, the pair will crush skulls together for three weeks, the tour concluding on June 17th in San Antonio, Texas. See all confirmed dates below.
GATECREEPER’s impending split LP with Iron Reagan is due out March 2nd. Mixed by Kurt Ballou at Godcity Studios, the split will be available on CD, LP, and digital formats. For physical packages and to sample tracks, visit Relapse.com HERE. Digital orders are available via GATECREEPER’s Bandcamp HERE.
GATECREEPER:
5/24/2018 Modified Ghost Festival III – Vancouver, BC
Make sure to check out the official video for opening track “Hex” atthis location or below:
The New Mythology Vol.1, REVENGER‘s second studio release, is a five-song EP that expands on the band’s aggressive thrash style with tracks that are more technical, visceral and direct than debut albumTo The Wolves. Formed in 2012, the band introduces some key members that shape the sound and vibe of this EP, which is more calculated and driven than before. Heavy guitar rhythms punctuated by a consistent thrash pulse breaks only when the groove requires and marks REVENGER‘s particular style. The lyrics and gritty death vocals also bring out the rage and bitterness of the subject matter which, for this EP, is slightly more conceptual and inspired by comic books and how today’s mythology could become tomorrow’s dogma.
REVENGER:
Andrew Bailey (Vocals) JP Poulin (Bass) Sean Parkinson (Guitars) Julia Geaman (Drums)
With the intent of bringing together technical Thrash Metal and gritty groove riffs, Revenger was born in 2012 through the hands of guitarist Jean-Pierre Poulin and drummer Chris Warunki. The pair had written music together before and the combination of their styles and personalities was a natural experiment. In March 2014, Revenger debuted in Vancouver to warm reviews.
Their first independent album To the Wolves came out in September 2014 with Jordan Knute (lead guitar), Greg Cavanagh (vocals) and Darryl Greer (bass). In early 2015, Revenger’s lineup evolved to include Julia Geaman (drums) and Andrew Bailey (vocals). The following year was largely focused on woodshedding, playing local and regional shows/festivals alongside renowned bands such as Havok, Beyond Creation, Archspire, Tengger Cavalry, Stryker and Unleash the Archers.
2016 saw the introduction of Sean Parkinson on guitar (replacing Jordan Knute), and the interesting switch from guitar to bass for founder and main song writer JP Poulin. Ending the year with a 5-song EP written and ready to be recorded in early 2017, Revenger is ready to tour extensively and work tirelessly to get their music out to the world.
Guitarist Ross the Boss’ stature in the history of hard rock and heavy metal has been well-solidified for decades by this point – with a resume including some of the most influential and hardest-hitting bands of all-time, particularly both the Dictators and Manowar. And he continues to rock – as a member of the group DeathDealer, and also, as the leader of his own solo outfit, which has issued such stellar releases as ‘Hailstorm,’ ‘New Metal Leader’ and his latest offering, ‘By Blood Sworn’.
Joined by Marc Lopes on vocals and keys, Mike LePond on bass, and Lance Barnewold on drums for the sessions (Steve Bolognese will beat the skins on the album’s tour), ‘By Blood Sworn’ was produced by Dean Rispler, and will be released April 20th in Europe, via AFM Records.
“The main thing is that my band all live nearby me instead of in Germany,” explains Ross. “So, we were able to really work the tunes up. Mike LePond and I started going thru riffs and tunes in July, worked up the tunes, and started forming them. It was a very satisfying process.”
And as evidenced by such standout tracks as title track, “Among the Bones,” “Devil’s Day,” and a re-do of Manowar’s “Hail and Kill,” ‘By Blood Sworn’ is certainly as hard-hitting and heavy as Ross’ previous classics. “Actually, I know what direction the songwriting should go, and we go. As for my guitar playing, whatever the song needs, the songs get! The record is more old school, but with a fresh attack – the songs are not repetitive, and this record is also not a ‘drum machine recording’ like most these days.” Also featured is extremely eye-catching album cover artwork. “Marc and I had this concept for the cover art by Stan W. Decker. It was a knight kneeling after battle – holding his mighty sword and my eagle behind him.”
01. By Blood Sworn
02. Among the Bones
03. This is Vengeance
04. We Are the Night
05. Faith of the Fallen
06. Devil’s Day
07. Lilith
08. Play Among the Godz
09. Circle of Damnation
10. Fistful of Hate
Bonus tracks on Digipak:
11. Each Dawn I Die
12. The Oath
13. Hail And Kill
BY BLOOD WE TOUR WORLDWIDE 2018
3/07 – SELLERSVILLE – PA – SELLERSVILLE THEATER
3/08 – MANCHESTER – NH – JEWEL MUSIC VENUE
3/09 – BROOKLYN – NY – SAINT VITUS
3/10 – POUGHKEEPSIE – NY – THE CHANCE
3/11 – PATCHOGUE – NY – STEREO GARDEN
3/14 – QUEBEC – QU – L’ANTI
3/15 – MONTREAL – QU – KATACOMBES
3/16 – TORONTO – ON – ROCKPILE
3/18 – DETROIT – MI – TOKEN LOUNGE
3/22 – INDIANAPOLIS – IN – BLACK CIRCLE BREWERY
3/23 – CHICAGO – IL – REGGIES
3/24 – DARIEN – IL – Q CLUB
4/15-17 – MALLORCA – ES/ MARSEILLE – FR FULL METAL CRUISE 6
4/18 – MANNHEIM – DE – MS CONNEXION COMPLEX
4/19 – BREDA – NL – MEZZ
4/20 – LEIBERTINGEN-KREENHEINSTETTEN – DE – BURGERHAUS
4/21 – ZUG – CH – CHOLLERHALLE
4/22 – BRESCIA – IT – CIRCOLO COLONY
4/26 – SYDNEY – AU – THE STAG
4/27 – ADELAIDE – AU – FOWLERS LIVE
4/28 – MELBOURNE – AU – THE CROXON
4/29 – BRISBANE – AU – WOLLY MAMMOTH
7/06 – BARCELONA – ES – ROCKFEST
8/10 – KORTRIJK – BE – ALCATRAZ METAL FEST
8/11 – VILLENA – ES – LEYENDAS DEL ROCK
8/12 – VAGOS – PT – VAGOS METAL FEST
8/15 – DINKELSBUHL – DE – SUMMER BREEZE
9/05 – ATLANTA – GA – PROGPOWER XIX – THE LOFT
10/15 – CALA BARCA – ES – FULL METAL HOLIDAY
After a very successful live debut on 70000tons of Metal earlier this month, Witherfall is very pleased to announce our signing with Continental Concerts USA for the North & South American territories. We have already begun the early stages of bringing Witherfall to a city near you for Fall of 2018. Continental is a tremendous name in the industry and we want to thank our new partner Daniel DeFonce for his hard work. Stay tuned at http://www.witherfall.com and we will see you on the road!
IMPERATIVE MUSIC AGENCY proudly announces a special agreement as Official Management of the Canadian Heavy Metal Band WEST OF HELL.
WEST OF HELL has recorded their new album at the ARMOURY STUDIOS (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, NICKELBACK, KISS, STONE SOUR, AC/DC) in Vancouver Canada; they are a focused juggernaut redefining the genre.
Musically, their new songs feature unique time signatures and unconventional arrangements leaning toward the epic, each and every note, guitar shred, wail, lyrical phrase and crushing thunder from the rhythm section is delivered with technical prowess, passion and polish. In the tradition of British invasion Metal from days past, some songs continue on for longer than 7 minutes, holding the listener in its grasp from beginning to end.
WEST OF HELL seamlessly incorporates elements of Thrash, Death, Tech melodic, aggressive, progressive, and timeless classic Heavy Metal. Blackened themes addressing the human condition dominate the lyrical content. WEST OF HELL’s new album unifies the genre!
WEST OF HELL will be presented on the new Imperative Music Compilation alongside Death, Cradle of Filth, Destruction, Hammerfall, etc.
More details about New Album, New Video Clips and Tour soon.
Keep an open eye to see WEST OF HELL in your country.
Indian Death Metal legends have announced a UK tour and have already confirmed two festival appearances. The band had this to say about it:
“We are stoked to return to the UK once again and we couldn’t have asked for a better festival to be a part of. We get to play alongside some of the artists that have inspired us over the years like Abbath, Rotting Christ and many more incredible artists.”
The second festival appearance is at Eradication Festival 2018 where the leading band will be playing alongside bands such as Extreme Noise Terror, Hecate Enthroned, Wombbath, Warlord UK and others. RSVP HERE.
The band also released a brand new video of their song Krishna – The CowherdAT THIS LINK or watch below:
Scheduled for July 12-14, 2018 – Rock USA, the festival, sister event to Country USA at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, will open its gates to one of the nation’s biggest annual rock events.
Now in its 8th year, ROCK USA has grown into one of the most anticipated rock festivals in the U.S. With three stages, over 40 artists, unique food and beverage experiences, and unforgettable camping, ROCK USA is a music festival that fans can’t miss!
Friday, February 9, 2018 — Iconic rock band STRYPER will celebrate their 35th anniversary with the upcoming release of their 10th studio album, God Damn Evil, due April 20, 2018 from Frontiers Music SRL. Produced by frontman Michael Sweet, the band returns with their most powerful album to date, doubling down on the hard rock/heavy metal sound that earned them a worldwide fan base.
God Damn Evil is available now for pre-order at all major retailers including Amazon and iTunes. Limited edition pre-order offers are also available (see below).
Fans were initially introduced to the new album title and cover art via a social media post on February 5th, which quickly went viral causing a significant amount of conversation from STRYPER fans.
“We thought long and hard about this title,” says Michael in response to thousands of fan comments. “It was actually considered quite a few years ago and it just didn’t feel like the right time. Now, with all the evil in the world that we see around us on a daily basis, it made perfect sense. It’s a very bold statement yet a prayer asking God to damn/condemn evil. Nothing more, nothing less.”
God Damn Evil is the first release since the recent addition of bass player Perry Richardson, who joins original members Michael Sweet (vocals and guitar), Robert Sweet (drums) and Oz Fox (guitar). Perry is best known as a founding member of the multi-platinum band Firehouse.
STRYPER fans are getting their first look into the upcoming album with today’s release of the epic lyric video for the song, “Take It To The Cross.” View the Lyric video here: https://youtu.be/OWvdLnP8m3I or below:
“’Take It To The Cross’ is our answer to many fans asking us to do something a little heavier and even bordering on thrash,” says Michael. “The verses are heavy with a vocal and lyric delivery that’s bold and relevant yet the chorus kicks in with a fast, thrashy vibe. We brought in Matt Blanchard (Act of Defiance / Shadows Fall) to handle the vocal growl on the choruses and the end vamp. This song is 100% high octane.”
“Take It To The Cross” can be streamed at Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, etc. Those links available HERE: http://radi.al/GodDamnEvil.
Rocking since 1984, STRYPER is responsible for such classic ’80s metal albums as Soldiers Under Command, To Hell with the Devil and In God We Trust. In fact, STRYPER is the first band to ever have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously with their hits “Free” and “Honestly.” After a sabbatical for much of the 1990’s, STRYPER returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the Dove Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated band has sold over 10 million records worldwide.
God Damn Evil is the follow-up to STRYPER’s ninth studio album, Fallen (Frontiers Music SRL), which released in 2015 and debuted at the top of the Billboard charts. 2016’s 30th Anniversary To Hell With The Devil Tour saw record crowds and featured the band’s largest sound and lighting production in nearly two decades.
STRYPER will return to the road this year, kicking off the God Damn Evil World Tour at the at the Frontiers Rock Festival in Milan, Italy on April 28th. Tour dates will be posted as confirmed at http://www.stryper.com/Tour/tour.html.
“We all see and hear the darkness that surrounds us in our society but with faith and love, we’ll always have hope,” says Michael. “That’s what STRYPER is all about – powerful music and a message that builds foundations, not walls. We couldn’t be more excited about God Damn Evil as it showcases our undying love for what we do and why we do it.
Track Listing for God Damn Evil:
1. Take It To The Cross
2. Sorry
3. Lost
4. God Damn Evil
5. You Don’t Even Know Me
6. The Valley
7. Sea Of Thieves
8. Beautiful
9. Can’t Live Without Your Love
10. Own Up
11. The Devil Doesn’t Live Here
Few German rock acts can look back at as long and successful a career as BONFIRE. Counting their predecessor – a group called Cacumen, which was also founded by Hans Ziller and featured more or less the same line-up – the band has been around since 1972, has operated under its current moniker since 1986 and released more than two dozen albums. During the most successful phase of their career, Bonfire counted – alongside the Scorpions and Accept – among Germany’s three internationally most acclaimed acts, celebrating major success all over Europe and worldwide. Bonfire’s trademarks are and have always been deeply melodic hard rock songs, driven by captivating guitars, grooving rhythms and haunting vocal melodies. All the features that came together so perfectly on their most popular releases Fireworks (1987), Point Blank (1989) and Branded (2011) are present on their current release Temple Of Lies.
Thanks to their new vocalist Alexx Stahl, who joined the fold two years ago, and a first-rate line-up on all instruments, the band’s creativity explodes on Temple Of Lies and is bound to wow a younger generation of rock music fans, too.
“We were extremely lucky to find Alexx,” offers guitarist Hans Ziller in explanation of the group’s current creative and musical high. “He’s a team player who looks after his voice in a totally professional way and treats it like the important tool that it is. He doesn’t smoke and prepares optimally for every show. In addition, Alexx is a really nice guy. Being at the helm of the band, I couldn’t be happier to have him in the band.” Ziller is just as enthusiastic about his rhythm section consisting of bassist Ronnie Parkes and drummer Tim Breideband (“they seem to have reinvented the groove”), and of course guitarist Frank Pané (“one of the most awesome musicians I’ve ever worked with”). Ziller: “With this line-up, we’ll be able to increase the hardness level of our material whenever we feel like it. Numbers such as ‘Temple Of Lies’ and ‘Stand Or Fall’ wouldn’t have been possible with previous line-ups.”
It’s not only the occasionally tougher pace that impresses on Temple Of Lies (produced by Hans Ziller at the Flatliners Recording Studios in Ingolstadt) from the first to the very last note, but also the album’s diverse high-quality songwriting in general. Driving midtempo tracks (‘Feed The Fire’, ‘On The Wings Of An Angel’, ‘Fly Away’, ‘Crazy Over You’) support the aforementioned uptempo rock numbers and are expertly broken up by the ballad ‘Comin` Home’ and ‘I Help You Hate Me’, which surprises with a reggae groove verse. Temple Of Lies kicks off with the intro ‘In The Beginning’, featuring American voice actor David Michael Williamson (Lord of the Rings). So the fun factor is back in the Bonfire camp, manifesting itself also in the 20-minute bonus track ‘Friedensreich II. – The Return Of The Zünsler Into The T.O.L.’, a humorous sound collage which frequently brings to mind Frank Zappa. The programmatic album title and expressive cover artwork prove that Ziller & Co also live up to their responsibility as socially aware musicians, taking to task “the lies of our world and politicians”. No doubt about it: Temple Of Lies sees Bonfire live up not only to their own history.
“Temple Of Lies” – Tracklisting:
01. In The Beginning
02. Temple Of Lies
03. On The Wings Of An Angel
04. Feed The Fire (Like The Bonfire)
05. Stand Or Fall
06. Comin’ Home
07. I’ll Never Be Loved By You
08. Fly Away
09. I Help You Hate Me
10. Crazy Over You
Bonus Tracks on Digipak:
11. Comin’ Home (Extended Acoustic Version)
12. Friedensreich – Let The Madness Continue (Director’s Cut)
‘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
______________________________________________
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
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 
You must be logged in to post a comment.