Finnish masters of melancholy and haunting melodies INSOMNIUM are teaming up with their friends from highspeed melodic death virtuosi OMNIUM GATHERUM, for 25 nights of gloom and sinister anthems in North America.
Both bands have been two prime examples of exceptional melodeath originating from Europe’s freezing North and have gained a massive following over the years through their captivating sound that combines blistering guitar riffs, thunderous drumming, and guttural vocals. For years, the American and Canadian fans have been waiting for the combo of “Insomnium Gatherum” to hit the road together again after the pandemic-related cancellation in 2020 and now, with no more virus in sight, it will finally happen in April and May 2024.
WILDERUN, hailing from Boston, will join as support with their unique mélange of prog and folk metal.
Tickets and VIP options for this melodic-deadly-combo are on sale at: insomnium.net/tour
“The missing link between Ronnie James Dio and Christina Aguilera”. That’s how Athens born ANDRY LAGIOU describes herself as a vocalist. A former runner-up on The Voice of Greece and frontwoman of The Harps, she has decided to embark on a solo career and will be just ANDRY.
Being a well-known name on the international metal scene, her highly anticipated debut album ‘Skies’ will be released on February 16 2024 through Baby Mistress Records.
The first single, for the title-track ‘Skies’ is out now and available on all streaming platforms via The Orchard, at https://orcd.co/skies.
Skies’, the hard-hitting title track of the album is an important song for Andry and close to her heart: “Skies is about empowerment and rising through the ashes of a nuclear war having many allegories of female abuse and my personal life. The artwork of the album is inspired by the space and how it might look in the future. Since you can’t live in the past it is consoling to dream about the future and about the changes it will bring.”
Andry is much more than just a singer… songwriter, guitar player, feminist. She first appeared on the scene in 2013, when she founded her band The Harps but it was in 2017 when she took Greece by storm after winning a blind audition on The Voice, covering a spectacular version of Deep Purple’s ‘Burn’. The video garnered more than one million views on YouTube (see below). After finishing as the runner-up at The Voice of Greece, Andry released the album ‘Love Strikes Doves’ with The Harps and was featured as guest vocalist on several albums, including The Vivaldi Metal Project and prog metal act Pyramid, where she duetted with Tim Ripper Owens on the smash song ‘Stygma’.
By 2022 Andry decided to take fate in her own hand and wrote and recorded her first solo-album ‘Skies’. Mixed by sound wizard Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Winery Dogs, Steel Panther), the album features contributions from Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, Winery Dogs, David Lee Roth), Mike Lepond (Symphony X), Russell Gilbrook (Uriah Heep) and Stephen Platt (Devin Townsend).
Most of all, ‘Skies’ contains the amazing vocal and songwriting talents of Andry, a strong and confident woman who has taken control of her own career… and life: “One choses her own destiny. Are you a slave to your emotions or your goals? Life is like a jungle, you eat or you’ll be eaten.”
With the imminent release of her album, Andry has put a kick-ass live band together to take her music to live stages across Europe and beyond. Her tour will start in January with shows in the Benelux.
Next confirmed shows: 14-01-2024: The Church – Almelo (TRY OUT) – NL 16-01-2024: De Lantaarn – Hellendoorn (NL) 18-01-2024: Eurosonic 2024 -Simplon Groningen (ESNS EXTRA) – NL 20-01-2024: Iduna – Drachten – NL 27-01-2024: Rockbox – Claussen – Lux
Live-band: Andry – vocals Ivan Keller – guitar Hans in ’t Zandt – drums Robin van der Bor – bass Fab Jablonski – keyboards
Finnish industrial flavored metal act Kaos Krew has released their sixth full length album Blackout, on December 15th 2023.
Kaos Krew is a musical project from Finland that mixes hard rock and metal with influences from the industrial scene. The band is basically a one-man project by Ulf Skog.
The studio work is mainly done by Ulf Skog who also writes all the songs. A great deal of guest musicians has appeared both live and on the records.
“The album as such is not a concept album but consists of songs written during the period of possible energy crisis, therefor the title ‘Blackout’.” Ulf Skog comments on the album.
Kyiv (UA) – After a long silence, Ukrainian Brutal Death Metal quartet SCHIZOGEN have released a lyric video new single “Out of the Light,” courtesy of Slam Worldwide YouTube Channel. The song will appear on the band’s forthcoming, as yet untitled, third album, which will be released on WillowtipRecords. The video is available at: youtu.be/wFkRsQExeWI
“The single was written before the full-scale war that followed Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine,” the band explains. “So it took much longer than we would have liked, but we hope you will appreciate the result. We are not going to tell you what this song is about, what meanings and feelings we put into it, because in our opinion everything is very individual. That is why the release is in the form of a lyric video, where everyone can familiarize themselves with the lyrics while listening to the composition, experience it with us and get their own emotions, their own vision of the meanings embedded in this track.”
SCHIZOGEN goes on to say that, “We want to remind you and ask you not to forget that every day our best people bravely and steadfastly choose their freedom over the threat of losing their existence due to the aggression of a hostile totalitarian regime that wants to destroy us at any cost. Your support is very important to us! Glory to Ukraine!”
In a thrilling announcement for rock and metal fans, the legendary bands VOÏVOD and PRONG are delighted to confirm their much-anticipated co-headline tour, set to take place in 2024. This tour marks a reunion of sorts for the two bands, who have long admired each other’s work and have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to hit the road together once again.
Tickets will be available at 12pm EST on Friday, December 15th and can be purchased here: https://voivod.com/en/shows
The decision to embark on this tour was an easy one for both bands, united by their fresh and acclaimed new records. VOÏVOD, the Canadian heavy metal connoisseurs, recently released their latest album, Morgoth Tales, under the banners of Century Media, The Orchard, and Sony Music. This record is a testament to their enduring impact in the metal scene, showcasing their evolution and prowess.
Furthermore, Voïvod‘s 2022 release, Synchro Anarchy, has garnered significant acclaim, winning the 2023 Juno Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Album in Canada. This recognition is a clear indicator of Voïvod’s undiminished skill and relevance in the genre.
The upcoming tour promises to be an exhilarating experience, as both VOÏVOD and PRONG are known for their dynamic and powerful live performances. Fans can expect a blend of new hits and classic favorites, delivered with the raw energy and passion that both bands are renowned for.
VOÏVOD and PRONG Full Dates: Wed 2/28/24 – Columbus, OH – King of Clubs Thu 2/29/24 – Milwaukie, WI – The Rave Fri 3/1/24 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater Sat 3/2/24 – Kansas City, MO – recordBar Sun 3/3/24 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theater Mon 3/4/24 – South Salt Lake, UT – The Commonwealth Room Wed 3/6/24 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom Thu 3/7/24 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon Fri 3/8/24 – Eugene, OR – John Henry’s Sat 3/9/24 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre Sun 3/10/24 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre Tue 3/12/24 – San Diego, CA – Brick by Brick Wed 3/13/24 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren Fri 3/15/24 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater Sat 3/16/24 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom Sun 3/17/24 – St. Louis, MO – The Golden Record Wed 3/20/24 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall Thu 3/21/24 – Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s Entertainment Center Fri 3/22/24 – Knoxville, TN – The Concourse Sun 3/24/24 – Stroudsburg, PA – Sherman Theater
Tickets will be available at 12pm EST on Friday, December 15th and can be purchased here: https://voivod.com/en/shows
Other previously announced, upcoming VOÏVOD live dates are as follows:
VOÏVOD – Live 2023/2024: Sat 12/16/23 – Laval, QC – Place Bell + Meshuggah & In Flames Fri 2/23/24 – Joliette, QC – Centre Culturel Desjardins Sat 2/24/24 – Saint-Hyacinthe, QC – Centre Des Arts Juliette-Lassonde
And more international dates to be announced soon…
Stressing the band’s untamed and contagious live-energy, you can now also check out a newly released VOÏVOD live-video of their classic track “Rise” (which also appeared on the band’s 40th anniversary release “Morgöth Tales”) from the band’s appearance at this year’s Wacken Open Air festival in Germany: https://youtu.be/ue5vkaoIqFU
“Morgöth Tales” succeeded VOÏVOD’s 15th (!) much acclaimed studio album “Synchro Anarchy”, which entered sales charts upon release in early 2022 as follows: Germany # 7 (!), Switzerland # 64, Austria # 67, The Netherlands # 88, Belgium # 129, UK (Rock & Metal) # 7, Canada (Hard Music) # 2, USA Current Hard Music # 8, USA Top New Artist # 11, USA Heatseekers # 56 and USA Current Album # 67.
And stay connected for more VOÏVOD news coming soon…
VOÏVOD line-up: (From left to right on photo by Catherine Deslauriers) Michel “Away” Langevin – Drums Denis “Snake” Bélanger – Vocals Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain – Guitar Dominic “Rocky” Laroche – Bass
Finnish melodic metal titans SONATA ARCTICA deliver the perfect soundtrack for the cold season with their stormy new opus Clear Cold Beyond, set for release on March 8th, 2024 through Atomic Fire. In advance of the release, the quintet is pleased to unveil epic new single, “A Monster Only You Can’t See;” a song about friendship and never leaving anyone behind.
Frontman Tony Kakko elaborates, “We all may have, in our group of friends, that one person who seems to be a magnet for all kinds of problems, many of which they may not even see themselves. Maybe you’re that one? You might be an asshole, but you’re our asshole and we can see through all that, see the real you, and help. And when children arrive to the scene, they all fit under that same umbrella. Don’t worry. We’ll kick your butt up that hill.”
Watch SONATA ARCTICA’s lyric video for “A Monster Only You Can’t See” HERE. Stream/purchase the track HERE.
Stream previously released single “First In Line” at THIS LOCATION.
Clear Cold Beyond will be available on digipak CD, jewel case CD (US), 2XLP on multiple color variants, and digitally.
Preorder the album in the physical format of your choice, presave it on your favorite DSP, or preorder it digitally to receive “A Monster Only You Can’t See” and “First In Line” instantly at sonataarctica.afr.link/clearcoldbeyondPR.
Subscribe to Atomic Fire Records on YouTube HERE and listen to “A Monster Only You Can’t See” as well as other new tracks in the AFR New Releases playlist on Spotify HERE.
SONATA ARCTICA: Tony Kakko – vocals Elias Viljanen – guitars Pasi Kauppinen – bass Henrik “Henkka” Klingenberg – keyboards Tommy Portimo – drums
Following their trip through various acoustic landscapes during the pandemic, Clear Cold Beyond contains ten tracks reviving SONATA ARCTICA’s penchant for power metal-esque songwriting. From high-speed anthems such as “First In Line” and “California” to emotion-laden tracks like “The Best Things” and the closing title track, the record offers something for each and every SONATA ARCTICA fan. The album’s artwork, reminiscent of the art adorning early releases, was created by Niko Anttila. Additionally, the band returned to mixing engineer Mikko Karmila (1999’s Ecliptica, 2012’s Stones Grow Her Name). Final mastering was handled by Svante Forsbäck (Rammstein, Korpiklaani, Delain, The 69 Eyes, Deathstars) who has also been part of other SONATA ARCTICA productions.
Epic Metal pioneers WARLORD are on a mission in tribute to fallen bandmate William J Tsamis and return once more with a new album in 2024.
With “Free Spirit Soar”, a brand-new studio album by Warlord with all songs having been recorded between March and September 2023, singer Giles Lavery and drummer Mark Zonder honor their bandmate Bill Tsamis who passed away in 2021.
They are joined by Jimmy Waldo on keyboards/synthesizer, Philip Bynoe on bass and Eric Juris on guitars. “We wanted to finish these pieces of music that were started ‘for Bill’,” explains Lavery, “and the material we felt was certainly strong enough to inspire us to do so.” Regarding the guitar parts he specifies: “Bill is there where we could pull his tracks off the demo recordings, in much the same way the Beatles were recently able to rescue John Lennon’s voice from an old demo tape. however be assured this album is not “a demo”, nor does it sound like one, our new guitarist Eric does most of the heavy lifting as far the recording, but all of the music was written by Bill and we stayed very very faithful to what he wrote.”
Tracklist: 01 Behold A Pale Horse 02 The Rider 03 Conquerors 04 Worms Of The Earth 05 The Watchman (CD-exclusive track) 06 Free Spirit Soar 07 The Bell Tolls 08 Alarm 09 Twin (CD-exclusive track) 10 Revelation XIX
Line Up: Mark Zonder – Drums Philip Bynoe – Bass Eric Juris – Guitars Jimmy Waldo – Keyboards Giles Lavery – Vocals
Watch out for further news such as the album cover, pre-order info as well as a first single very soon!
QUEENSRŸCHE are releasing another thought-provoking video that was created by Above The Void with the help of AI. Check out “Nocturnal Lights”, the 8th video taken from Digital Noise Alliance: https://youtu.be/2eZ9_1l-9R0
The band comments: “This is a song spawned from the truly catastrophic year of 2020. Beginning with Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash to a relentless global pandemic with lockdowns. If that wasn’t enough, we had to endure natural disasters, racial injustices, protesters, a chaotic reality tv presidential election, political division, highest level of unemployment, as well as the postponement of the 2020 summer Olympic games in Japan.”
Nocturnal Light” is taken from their latest album, Digital Noise Alliance, that was released in October of 2022. It is QUEENSRŸCHE’s 16th studio album and it continues their ever-evolving legacy. Once again teaming up with producer Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed), “Digital Noise Alliance” not only refracts QUEENSRŸCHE’s past accomplishments but also pushes into the band’s future. It is the band effortlessly moving from strength to strength: immediate and thought-provoking.
Photo by Silly Robot Studios
QUEENSRŸCHE: Eddie Jackson – bass Michael Wilton – guitar Todd La Torre – vocals Casey Grillo – drums Mike Stone – guitar
Digital Noise Alliance” is quintessentially QUEENSRŸCHE. Track to track it embodies the lush melodies, passion and intelligence that’s been the mark of the band since they first took hold of the flame with their hugely received self-titled 4-song EP in 1984.
Speaking of their legendary self-titled EP: Come March 2024 QUEENSRŸCHE will embark on “The Origins Tour” with Special Guests Armored Saint throughout USA and Canada. It will be the first time in their history that the EP and The Warning will be performed live in their entirety!
Join them for this unique and very special experience, as they celebrate the origins of QUEENSRŸCHE.
QUEENSRYCHE – The Origins Tour PLAYING THE EP & THE WARNING w/ Special Guests ARMORED SAINT Mar 22 Hell’s Heroes Festival * – Houston, TX Mar 23 Tower Theatre * – Oklahoma City, OK Mar 26 Sycuan Casino * – El Cajon, CA Mar 27 House of Blues – Anaheim, CA Mar 28 Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA Mar 31 Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA Apr 2 Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO Apr 3 Gothic Theatre – Englewood, CO Apr 5 Ameristar Casino & Hotel * – Kansas City, MO Apr 6 Delmar Hall – St Louis, MO Apr 7 Paramount Theatre – Cedar Rapids, MI Apr 9 Coronado Theatre – Rockford, IL Apr 10 Peoria Civic Center – Peoria, IL Apr 12 The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN Apr 13 State Theatre – Kalamazoo, MI Apr 14 Majestic Theatre – Detroit, MI Apr 16 Bogart’s – Cincinnati, OH Apr 17 House of Blues – Cleveland, OH Apr 19 (CA) Phoenix Theatre – Toronto Apr 20 (CA) Théâtre Beanfield – Montreal Apr 21 (CA) Elements – Kitchener Apr 24 Roxian Theatre – Pittsburgh, PA Apr 26 Empire Live – Albany, NY Apr 27 Palladium – Worcester, MA Apr 28 Toad’s – New Haven, CT Apr 30 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ May 1 Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA May 3 The Paramount – Huntington, NY May 5 The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC May 7 Masquerade – Atlanta, GA May 9 Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL May 10 The Plaza Live – Orlando, FL May 11 Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL May 12 The Ranch – Ft. Meyers, FL *no ARMORED SAINT
Clockwise – L-R – Dan Cleary – Vocals, John Simon Fallon – Guitar, Pete Klassen – Bass, Tim Brown – Guitar (Photo Credit: Dana Zuk)
New Music Video “Circle of Evil” From Seventh Studio Album “ULTRAPOWER” Out Feb 2024
Produced by Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Tallah, King 810)
Canadian shredders STRIKER announce they will be joining the Legions of Metal 2024 lineup being hosted in Chicago, IL on May 3rd and 4th at Reggie’s – info. They will be performing alongside Unleash The Archers, WatchTower, Hirax, Mourn The Light, Ice Howl among more to be announced at a later date.
STRIKER is preparing to unleash their seventh studio album “ULTRAPOWER” on February 2, 2024. They recently shared their latest single “Circle of Evil” accompanied by a music video. This punishing classic metal track brings STRIKER back to its roots of speed and power.
STRIKER is preparing to unleash their seventh studio album“ULTRAPOWER” on February 2, 2024. They recently shared their latest single “Circle of Evil” accompanied by a music video. This punishing classic metal track brings STRIKER back to its roots of speed and power.
“Secret societies, shape-shifting reptilians, and evil forces? You’d be running for your life too. We’ve got the nuclear codes and we are launching heavy metal nukes directly into your ears.” adds the band.
ULTRAPOWER” follows their Juno Award-winning self-released full-length “Play to Win” (2018) released on their label Record Breaking Records and features the band’s latest lineup addition of long-time friend and guitarist John Simon Fallon (The Order of Chaos). For the band’s seventh full-length, they teamed up with producer Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Tallah, King 810), entering the studio this past March. With the band writing material since 2018, “ULTRAPOWER” is a collection of five years of Striker tinkering and exploring new avenues.
“ULTRAPOWER is the Striker’s triumphant return to reality. The reality is that shredding rules and nothing can stand in its way. There are classic banger Striker songs, to dabbling in punk style choruses into full-on concept songs. There’s a lot to sink your teeth into if you’ve got the guts.” adds vocalist Dan Cleary.
STRIKER recently wrapped up their fan-supported Kickstarter campaign with exclusive special edition CDs, Vinyl, and merch to aid them with upcoming physical production, marketing, and artwork. Fans supporting the Kickstarter gave STRIKER the ability to continue as an independent band.
“Seriously… a MASSIVE thank you to everyone for your support! Some of you took us over the finish line at the last minute, breaking into the 30K tier. This means we’ll be crankin’ out some Special Edition CDs with extra bonus tracks! Fire it up!!”
Track listing, Album Artwork, singles, and tour dates will revealed at a later date.
Previous singles “Best of the Best of the Best” (2023),“Strange Love” (2022), and “Death Wish”(2021), which will be featured on the album can be viewed and heard via their music videos below.
Following their Summer run crisscrossing the continent with their metal comrades in Ghost, Swedish heavy metal icons AMONAMARTH will return to US and Canadian stages this Spring on the Metal Crushes All Tour 2024, produced by Live Nation — the band’s biggest North American tour to date!
Set to commence on April 21st and run through May 25th, the twenty-four-date journey includes a raid at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver as well as arena stops in Portland, Vancouver, Quebec City, Asheville, Tampa, and Anaheim. Support will be provided by special guests Cannibal Corpse along with Obituary and Frozen Soul making for a must-see heavy metal event of the year! See all confirmed dates below.
AMON AMARTH comments, “Heed our warning; we are gearing up for our biggest and most epic raid in North American history! We are bringing a massive show that will leave your cities in ashes. Scorching the Earth with us are our good friends Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, and Frozen Soul. Come out to the shows and party like Vikings and raise your horns with us. METAL CRUSHES ALL!”
Ticket presales for the Metal Crushes All Tour begin Tuesday, December 5th at 11:00am Eastern time and run through Thursday, December 7th at 10:00pm local time. VIP upgrades with the new Viking Valhalla Experience are available Tuesday, December 5th at 12:00pm Eastern time.
General on sales start Friday, December 8th at 10:00am local time atamonamarth.com.
AMON AMARTH: Metal Crushes All Tour 2024 w/ Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, Frozen Soul: 4/21/2024 Revel Entertainment Center – Albuquerque, NM 4/22/2024 Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Denver, CO 4/24/2024 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT 4/26/2024 Alaska Airlines’ Theater Of The Clouds – Portland, OR * 4/27/2024 PNE Forum – Vancouver, BC * 4/29/2024 Edmonton Convention Center – Edmonton, AB 4/30/2024 Grey Eagle Event Center – Calgary, AB 5/03/2024 Steelhouse – Omaha, NE 5/04/2024 The Sylvee – Madison, WI 5/05/2024 GLC Live At 20 Monroe – Grand Rapids, MI 5/07/2024 Rose Music Center At The Heights – Huber Heights, OH 5/09/2024 The Wellmont – Montclair, NJ 5/10/2024 Toyota Oakdale Theater – Wallingford, CT 5/11/2024 Videotron Centre – Quebec City * 5/13/2024 The Fillmore Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA 5/14/2024 The Fillmore Silver Spring – Silver Spring, MD 5/16/2024 ExploreAsheville.com Arena – Asheville, NC * 5/17/2024 House Of Blues – Myrtle Beach, SC 5/18/2024 Yuengling Center – Tampa, FL * 5/20/2024 Bayou Music Center – Houston, TX 5/21/2024 Boeing Center At Tech Port – San Antonio, TX 5/23/2024 Arizona Financial Theatre – Phoenix, AZ 5/24/2024 Pearl Concert Theater At Palms Casino Resort – Las Vegas, NV 5/25/2024 Honda Center – Anaheim, CA *
arena show
Fans can check out a teaser for the band’s upcoming video for “Saxons and Vikings” HERE and can preview and purchase The Great Heathen Army at: metalblade.com/amonamarth.
AMON AMARTH continues to tour in support of their critically adored The Great Heathen Army full-length. Recorded with esteemed studio guru Andy Sneap and released in 2022, the record represents another bold leap forward for the band, as their trademark sound undergoes yet another skillful, evolutionary overhaul, both lyrically and musically. From the noisily rabble-rousing “Find A Way Or Make One” and the pummeling, pugilistic “Get In The Ring” to the cinematic squall of the title track, The Great Heathen Army encapsulates the essence of this legendary band, while still allowing acres of space for new ideas.
Formed in Tumba, Sweden in 1992, AMON AMARTH has forged an extraordinary legacy over three decades of thunderous, anthemic metal, all rich in the magical imagery of Viking history, folklore, and culture. With albums like 2008’s widely acclaimed Twilight Of The Thunder God and 2016’s conceptual triumph Jomsviking, the Swedes have been consistent standard bearers for heavy metal as a life-affirming and communal experience, armed with a seemingly endless stream of instant classic songs.
Following their much-acclaimed debut album, Ban The Light ( 2019, AFM Records ) and a series of live tracks, taken off their incredible show in support of JUDAS PRIEST “Live In Dalhalla”, Swedish hard rock trio DEAF RAT has released a brand new single! The song is out now on all digital streaming services via https://deafrat.bfan.link/say-your-lies a lyric video for “Say Your Lies” is below.
“Say Your Lies” tells a story about the mysterious phenomenon of sleep paralysis and the malicious entity nightmare that has been documented to haunt people in their sleep worldwide since the early 1300s. “In six months time, I had three friends tell me about their experiences of waking up in the middle of the night, unable to move or speak”,frontman Frankie reveals. “They all saw a dark diffuse shadow like character in their room, and all felt like if someone was sitting on top of their chest. Now if that is not a good topic for a hard rock song then I don’t know what is!”
“Say Your Lies” shines as an expertly produced rock anthem that showcases the band’s musical prowess.DEAF RAT have again succeeded in merging lyrics and music into a gripping, pulsating high-energy rock track! Get ready to get dragged into the abyss, and watch the band’s new lyric video for “Say Your Lies”HERE.
DEAF RAT hails from Dalarna in Sweden, a small region with long traditions of mining, steel industry, music and a healthy dose of DIY attitude. The broad sound of DEAF RAT is built on a strong foundation of classic 70s, 80s and 90s rock packed with influences of the band members different personal favourites. With their massive guitar riffs and strong melodies, this is the band that fills up the cracks in the ageing concrete between old school and modern hard rock.
With their driving riffs, thundering drum beats, and an electrifying presence, DEAF RAT prove that they are one of the most explosive and dynamic forces in the world of hard rock. The band is currently in the studio, working on the successor album to Ban The Light. Earlier and this recent summer, they have already shared a first track, entitled “Schizophrenic Part Of Me”, which is available on all digital services and on Youtube. Frankie adds: “To be in the studio with the other guys is a dream. I can just sit in the studio and listen to the guys play their guitar parts and enjoy their sheer talent which is over the top!”
Photo By Stephanie Cabral – Left to Right: Gerry Hirschfeld (Keys) Anthony Crawford (Bass) Joseph Michael (Vocals) Jake Dreyer (Guitar) Chris Tsaganeas (drums)
From: Witherfall newsletter:
Los Angeles-based dark melodic metal outfit Witherfall proudly presents their fourth full-length album “Sounds Of The Forgotten”, out May 31st 2024 via DeathWave Records.
“We found ourselves writing really depressing, melancholy songs about how just disappointed we were with all the work we put into Curse of Autumn and then going through the pandemic,” says frontman/songwriter Joseph Michael. “Before that, we thought nothing was going to stop us. Then, something did. We felt a bit defeated. So, that’s how Sounds Of The Forgotten started. But we got out of that quickly. The songs we ended up writing were empowering. We have songs with negative emotions, but the overarching theme is moving forward and perseverance. That’s the epitome of Sounds Of The Forgotten.”
Witherfall also proudly present their new single “Ceremony Of Fire“.
“Ceremony of Fire is quintessential Witherfall”,comments the band. “This song features elements that are cornerstones of the Witherfall sonic landscape from dark haunting hooks, to eclectic musical twist and turns. For the fans of our debut album Nocturnes And Requiems you will be very pleased with this. The Video is a great representation of the lyrical theme. Filmed in part inside the ritual chamber at The Crooked Path in Burbank California, the video represents the harsh realities of the artists path.”
“Come with me, to a clearing in the field before the dawn. In time you’ll see the light, in a Ceremony Of Fire”
Many factors influenced and inspired Witherfall’s approach to “Sounds Of The Forgotten”. The album color theme conveys another side to Witherfall’s fourth-album distress. Often associated with ambition, power, and regality, the Blake Armstrong (In Flames, Megadeth, Kataklysm, Harry Potter, Wednesday) cover art provides a view into and a visual counter to the music on “Sounds Of The Forgotten”.
The upcoming album “Sounds Of The Forgotten” is available in different vinyl colors: Black (unlimited) Aftermath Twilight Purple (limited edition 250 copies)
Opulent Pearl (limited edition 100 copies
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Witherfall are guitarist/songwriter Jake Dreyer, vocalist/songwriter Joseph Michael, bassist Anthony Crawford, drummer Marco Minnemann (recording only), drummer/percussionist Chris Tsaganeas, and keyboardist Gerry Hirschfeld.
DeathWave Records was created by Witherfall headmen Joseph Michael and Jake Dreyer as a vehicle for their music and other projects. Look for more exciting and trailblazing releases from DeathWave Records in the future.
Following their recent signing announcement with AFM Records and a first single, “Root Of All Evil”, released on Halloween taken off their upcoming studio album, MISTER MISERY are premiering a new track titled “Boogeyman Boogie”!
The band reveals:“We always enjoy making songs that are purely drawn from our love for Halloween and horror movies, and ‘Boogeyman Boogie’ is just that adrenaline fueled anthem we wanted to include on the album!”
MISTER MISERY is an innovative, modern and ground-breaking metal band from Sweden. Blending clean and gritty vocals along with high-voltage riffs and anthemic choruses, they have developed a unique sound and style, and one that captures the essence of all the sub-genres in modern heavy music.
Since forming back in 2018, MISTER MISERY have released two critically acclaimed studio albums (Unalive and A Brighter Side Of Death) and several highly praised and top-playlisted singles to date. Paired with an obscene and theatrical appearance, they create an experience that speaks to all senses.
MISTER MISERY has become a force that crushes stages on the biggest festival the scene has to offer, such as Wacken Open Air, Master of Rock, Full Metal Cruise, Hills Of Rock to name just a few. MISTER MISERY has played as support of some of the most prestigious bands in metal, such as Nightwish and Dream Theater in front of over 15.000 people. One thing is for certain: They will leave NO survivors!
The band is currently gearing up for an exciting new chapter of their career and has joined forces with renowned label AFM Records, who will proudly release their forthcoming album in 2024!
MISTER MISERY: Harley Vendetta – Vocals/Guitar Alex Nine – Lead Guitar/Backup Vocals Rizzy – Drums/Backup Vocals Alex Alister – Bass/Backup Vocals
Topeka, Kansas brutal death metal horde UNMERCIFUL has posted live video footage of two yet-to-be-released new songs – “The Reaping” and “Malice Unbound.”
The footage was shot during the band’s recent performance at the Lawrence, Kansas date of the Ancient Unholy Uprising Tour, headlined by SUFFOCATION and INCANTATION.
UNMERCIFUL is currently working on material for the follow-up to 2020’s WrathEncompassed. The band is expected to hit the studio soon and is targeting a 2024 release for the new album.
Polish heavy metal act CRYSTAL VIPER are releasing music video for “In The Haunted Chapel” single, which came out digitally earlier this year. It’s the first CRYSTAL VIPER video featuring Marta Gabriel on vocals and bass guitar (who played rhythm guitar between 2009 and 2022), and drummer Jakub Galwas, who joined CRYSTAL VIPER last year.
“The music video is one thing, but we have some other cool news to share as well” says CRYSTAL VIPER front woman and founder, Marta Gabriel. “We started to work on a new studio album, which will come out in the Summer of 2024 on Listenable Records. We’re very proud of what we achieved on our latest album, “The Cult”, so from one side you can expect its natural continuation – especially when it comes to lyrics, which once again are inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft – but from the other side, we prepared few surprises and we will explore some new territories. I think all CRYSTAL VIPER fans will be very happy, and I believe the album might be interesting for people who never listened to us” she adds.
Crystal Viper 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)
Brooklyn power trio SANHEDRIN will close out the year with their first ever Texas shows! The trio of dates will run through Austin, San Antonio, and Houston with support provided by Temple Of Love.
Comments guitarist Jeremy Sosville, “In our nine years as a band, we have travelled many times across America and across the Atlantic. Somehow, we’ve never been able to make it to Texas… until now! This November 30th, December 1st, and 2nd as we finally make our way to the Lone Star state. We know that Texas has some of the most dedicated rock and metal fans in the world, and we are psyched to finally make this trek south. These shows will be the final shows of 2024 for us, as we will be hunkering down this winter to work on our next album. Speaking of, we will be sharing a few of these new songs for the first time ever during these shows. We look forward to seeing you there!”
Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
SANHEDRIN w/ Temple Of Love: 11/30/2023 The Lost Well – Austin, TX w/ Ungrieved, Monte Luna 12/01/2023 The Mix – San Antonio, TX w/ ManEaters Of Tsavo 12/02/2023 Black Magic Social Club – Houston, TX w/ Doomstress
SANHEDRIN does metal the old-school way, channeling the greats that preceded them to create something that is instantly familiar yet with a new, modern energy to it. The band released their Lights On full-length last year via Metal Blade Records.
Tracked, mixed, and co-produced by Colin Marston at his studio Menegroth, The Thousand Caves in Queens, New York, Lights On refers to the many events of the last few years that have exposed larger societal issues long hidden or ignored. Notes the band, “In a time where the world around you feels like it’s aflame, when our heavy metal heroes are beginning to disappear to failing health or changing social norms, we, stand here as a shining light through the dark. We are prepared to fly the flag of heavy metal in these trying and uncertain times and have only begun to show the world what we are capable of.”
LISTENABLE is bloody chuffed signing UK thrash metal legends XENTRIX again for a new multi album deal.
Kristian Havard (Guitar) comments: “Xentrix are extremely excited to continue our relationship with Listenable records by signing with them once again. Listenable is a label that is run by people who are incredibly focused, knowledgeable and more importantly, massively passionate about metal music. And it’s these differences that made it a no brainer when it came time to for the band to choose a label for new music.”
Hailing from the North West of England, XENTRIX was formed in 1985 by guitar player Chris Astley. After numerous changes to the line up XENTRIX signed to Roadrunner records and entered the studio to record their first album ‘Shattered Existence’ with producer John Cuniberti (Vio-lence, Forbidden, Joe Satriani). XENTRIX have been one of the leading lights of the British thrash metal movement. They had music videos which all had regular air time on MTV’s Headbangers Ball.
Gaining global notoriety, XENTRIX had many high energy performances with audiences of thousands.
Mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap, XENTRIX ’s comeback album ‘Bury the Pain’ was released in 2019 on Listenable records, with production from Andy Sneap and Mastering by Russ Russell. This new recording showed the band sounding heavier than ever, while still retaining their signature sound.
Latest and 7th studio album “Seven Words” released in late 2022 remains a crushing compendium of all that has made this band what it is today.
BAND LINE UP: Jay Walsh – Vocals/Guitar Kristian Havard – Guitar Chris Shires – Bass Dennis Gasser – Drums
DISCOGRAPHY: Shattered existence (1989) Ghostbusters (1990) For Whose Advantage? (1990) Dilute to Taste (1991) The Order of Chaos (1992) Kin (1992 ) Scourge (1996) Bury the Pain (2019) Seven Words (2022)
After a successful return of Milwaukee Metal Festival in 2023, the iconic midwestern, multi-day event is now revealing the first wave of bands for what is already shaping up to be a diverse and hard hitting lineup!
MKE Fest co-organizer and Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta comments, “We’re extremely excited to have Milwaukee Metal Fest not only coming back for another insane year but this time around we have added power metal, more black metal, more doom and some other surprise elements that were not logistically possible last year. This is just the first of many announcements on the horizon and I can’t wait to see everyone in Milwaukee next May!”
Sound Talent Group’s Tim Borror adds, “Milwaukee Metal Fest 2023 was so awesome but more importantly, it’s a stake in the ground of how important and vital metal music is. Especially extreme metal! 2024 is going to be even more incredible. Come hang with us in May”
The current bands who will appear at next year’s edition are as follows:
MR. BUNGLE
BLIND GUARDIAN
SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL
IN FLAMES
HATEBREED
DEICIDE
KATATONIA
KAMELOT
MARDUK
POSSESSED
METAL CHURCH
INCANTATION
SKINLESS
THE RED CHORD
HEATHEN
INTERNAL BLEEDING
EMBRYONIC AUTOPSY
EYES OF THE LIVING
& MANY MORE!
The festivities will kick off with a pre-party on May 16while the main festival will run May 17 – 19 at The Rave/Eagles Club in Milwaukee, WI and is promised to have bigger headliners, more food, vendors, live podcasts and other surprises!
The festival returned to prominence in 2023 under the watchful eye of Hatebreed frontman and podcaster Jamey Jasta and Sound Talent Group’s Tim Borror, as well as the team at The Rave / Eagles Club, where so many of the original festivals took place.
Early bird tickets are on sale now and available for a limited time! 1, 2 & 3 day options zero interest payment plans available at Etix.com
Fans can visit the official Milwaukee Metal Fest site and sign up for the mailing list for first access to information and exclusive content HERE.
Faroe Islands-based folk metal collective TÝR will return to North American stages next Spring. The Battle Ballads headlining tour, named in honor of their upcoming new full-length of the same name, begins March 28th in Baltimore, Maryland and makes its way through over two dozen cities, coming to a close on April 26th in Greensboro, North Carolina. Support will be provided by Trollfest, ÆtherRealm, and The Dread CrewOf Oddwood. The tour marks TÝR’s first North American run since 2019.
Comments the band, “It is with great joy that we announce our return to the US and Canada. It’s been too long, and we have missed the people, the cities, and the vast landscapes dearly. It warms our heathen hearts to think that we will soon see all your familiar faces again, and probably, hopefully, a few people we have not seen before. We will bring our lighthearted neighbors, Trollfest from Norway, with us, as well as your metal compatriots, Æther Realm, and The Dread Crew Of Oddwood. See you soon!”
Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 24th, at 12:00pm EST/9:00am PST. See all confirmed dates below.
More info on TÝR’s Battle Balladsalbum, set for release in the Spring of 2024, will be unveiled in the weeks to come. In the meantime, view the cover art by Gyula Havancsak.
TÝR w/ Trollfest, Æther Realm, The Dread Crew Of Oddwood: 3/28/2024 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 3/29/2024 Gramercy Theater – New York, NY 3/30/2024 Middle East Downstairs – Boston, MA 3/31/2024 La Source De La Martinière – Quebec City, QC 4/01/2024 Studio TD – Montreal, QC 4/02/2024 Brass Monkey – Ottawa, ON 4/03/2024 Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, ON 4/04/2024 The Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 4/05/2024 Reggies – Chicago, IL 4/06/2024 Skyway Theater – Minneapolis, MN 4/07/2024 Park Theater – Winnipeg. MB 4/08/2024 The Exchange – Regina, SK 4/09/2024 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB 4/10/2024 Dickens – Calgary, AB 4/12/2024 The Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC 4/13/2024 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 4/14/2024 Bossanova Ballroom – Portland, OR 4/15/2024 Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA 4/16/2024 1720 – Los Angeles, CA 4/17/2024 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA 4/18/2024 Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ 4/19/2024 TBC 4/20/2024 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX 4/21/2024 The Granada – Dallas, TX 4/22/2024 White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX 4/24/2024 Conduit – Orlando, FL 4/25/2024 The Masquerade (Hell) – Atlanta, GA 4/26/2024 Hangar 1819 – Greensboro, NC
Last March, TÝR released A Night At The Nordic House (With The Symphony Orchestra Of The Faroe Islands), a special event recorded in February of 2020. “Working with the Symphony Orchestra was without a doubt one of the highlights of our careers,” noted vocalist Heri Joensen. “The feeling of sheer sophisticated power behind us was extraordinarily uplifting. We were awed by how well the songs worked in a symphonic setting. We are very excited to finally release a live [double] DVD, CD and LP, and even with the incredible new artwork by Gyula Havancsák, that excellently captures the epic atmosphere of the event.”
The Iron Maidens made their Tennessee debut in Knoxville on Nov. 11th. The world’s only female tribute to Iron Maiden brought the beast to The Concourse along with openers Kamenar and Skyway 61. A crowd of Maiden shirts waited as the doors to the venue opened.
Kamenar hit the stage first, hyping the crowd up right away. Kamenar is made up of twin brothers Sean (vocals,guitar,andbass) and John Kamenar (drums). The two young boys from Florida put the duo in dynamic duo and prove that the younger generation will not let the sound of the 80’s die. With obvious influences from many of the bands they have opened for like Warrant, LA Guns, and Bret Michaels, the Kamenar twins show passion for their music. Playing originals and covers, both boys shined, but what really set them apart was something not many can say they can do, a twin drum solo. The Kamenar twins destroyed the drum kit together and defiantly gained some new fans that night.
Skyway 61 took to the stage next decorating it in a way that could only be best described as Steven Tyler’s closet. While setting up, the whole band was engaging with the audience making sure that when the first note hit the crowd would already be screaming. Lead singer Alden Duren had more energy than most bands on the rise. With nonstop movement, he excited every inch of the venue. Vocally Duren has his own unique style but with hints of Axl Rose and Robert Plant especially with the higher notes. The whole band fed off the cheers of the crowd but Duren ate it up the most. Towards the end of the show Duren had let both the music and the cheers from the crowd power him and ended up not only taking off his shirt but also his shoes and throwing them side stage. It takes more than just looking the part to be a rockstar and together Skyway 61 has created their own upbeat sound that everyone could feel.
As Skyway 61 left the stage, the crew began to set up for the Maidens. The little details that the girls add to their performance, like Nicko’s friend Sooty proudly displayed on Linda Mcdonald’s drum set and Eddie’s head mounted on a street sign depicting Transylvania and Acacia Ave, really heightened the experience. The show started as many Iron Maiden shows have with Churchill’s Speech and leader Kirsten Rosenberg taking the stage to the high powered intro of Aces High. Rosenberg lives up to her stage name, Bruce Chickinson, in both appearance and her exceptional vocals. Not only did she take on the vocals styling of Dickinson but also of Paul Di’Anno. Rosenberg could easily add Paula Di’Anno to her list of nicknames. From Dickinson’s high end screams to DiAnnos’ punk low end Rosenberg hit it all, while still adding her own twist.
Maiden is known for having one of the most iconic guitar duos in metal and the Maidens kept that legacy alive. Nikki Stringfield takes on the role of Dave Murrary while newest addition Shani Kimelman fills the role of Adrian Smith. Both guitarists played with such ease like they were a born to do this. While talking with a fan, Kimelman stated that her guitar is an extension of her hand. She also mentioned that she keeps her setup as close to Smith’s to get the authentic sound. It is safe say that she succeeded. Stringfield dominates every one of Murray’s solos. Her hand moves up and down the neck of her very own signature guitar with such grace; almost like a flutter but never missing a note.
Bass player Wanda Ortiz had big burgundy and blue wrist bands to fill but from the first strum it was apparent she was the right woman to represent founding member Steve Harris. Standing firm up front proudly displaying the West Ham logo on her bass, Ortiz perfected the 3 finger gallop that Maiden fans have come to love. While each song shows off the bass in its own way, Ortiz truly shined during Wrathchild and Phantom of the Opera. Drummer Linda Mcdonald is basically the female Nicko McBrain. She is nothing but smiles as she attacks the drum set. Mcbrain has a much larger kit but Mcdonald was able to get the point across with her own setup. Ortiz and Mcdonald make up the perfect rhythm section.
A few surprise guests also took the stage with the Maidens. Kinelman defeated A Stranger in a Strange Land (Cyborg Eddie) and his ray gun with her epic shredding. Rosenberg went face to face with the devil himself and Ortiz defended the stage from Eddie the Head. Eddie, while not a musician, still has a vital role in Maiden history. Keeping him in the show is extremely important to have a true Maiden moment, and they go above and beyond with multiple versions of the beloved mascot.
The Iron Maidens are a must see for every Maiden fan and are a great way to hold you over till your next Iron Maiden show. Whether it’s Maidens alum Nita Strauss or new comer Shani Kimelman, every woman to step on that stage under the Maidens name knows and understands the importance of Iron Maiden to everyone in their crowd. – Tanis Enos
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