“2021 wasn’t an easy year. We released new studio album “The Cult”, but we managed to play literally 3 live shows only, as our other festival appearances and the European Tour on which we were supposed to promote new album were either postponed or cancelled. So instead, we did few new studio recordings, including full #RockOutSessions recording, where we played 4 songs from “The Cult” in the live, stripped down versions. We decided to release the video version for free – it’s our way of saying thank you to all the fans who are supporting us in those weird times, who bought the new album. The same material will be later released as Side-B of our special Mini Album, which will be released in the next few months, and which will include few rather big surprises!”.
CRYSTAL VIPER’s latest studio album “The Cult”, as well as Marta Gabriel’s first solo album “Metal Queens” were released in 2021 by Listenable Records.
Italian bass master and composer ALBERTO RIGONI (solo, BAD AS, NATURAL BORN MACHINE, Bassists Alliance Project, Vivaldi Metal Project etc.) will release on January 15th 2022, his new album “Songs for Souls”, in memory of his Father.
Now Alberto has posted online a stunning performance video for “L’Origin du Monde”, featured by JORDANRUDESS & MARKZONDER and ALBERTORIGONI. Video edit by Mark Barret.
Alberto Rigoni on “L’Origin du Monde”: “Composed by myself and Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) and featuring Fates Warning drummer Mark Zonder “L’Origin du Monde” is one of the songs of my upcoming album “Songs For Souls” out on January 15th 2022, in memory of my father. Happy Christmas!”
Jordan Rudess adds: “I co-wrote a song with Alberto Rigoni and I think it turned out beautifully. He originally sent me a lovely bass track and I let the inspiration flow and came up with the rest!”
Just recently Alberto Rigoni announced Jordan Rudess, Mark Zonder, Fabrizio Leo, Marco Sfogli, Tommaso Ermolli, Enrico Taddei, Alessandro Bertoni and the legendary guitarist Jennifer Batten, joining the “Songs for Souls” album line-up.
“Huldufólk” is the new album by Italian legendary Speed/thrash metallers CELTIC HILLS, the band continues to tell and describe their land, but the intention of this new work is to walk the road in a different way! “Huldufólk” is coming out in 2022 via ElevateRecords.
Band’s singer and guitarist Jonathan Vanderbilt reveals on the album cover artwork:
“The cover was again entrusted to Sheila Franco with the input of drawing a brighter cover, with the predominant green between the green that characterizes the MATRIX movie and the green of uncontaminated nature. A record in the balance between the enchanted world of legends, heroic deeds performed by people who wanted a better world. A record that looks to the past, projecting itself into a future to be built. A passing disc that wants to take past history with it to go further …to draw.”
The tracklisting reads the following: 1 – The Secret of the Grail 2 – Metal Message 3 – After The Eartquake 4 – Hidden Folk 5 – Green Forest 6 – Gate Of Hollow Earth 7 – Living Out Of The Egg 8 – The Sound Of Earth 9 – The Hammer Of Thor 10 – Villacher Kirktag Bonus track Words In Out (remix 2022) Living Out Of The Egg sung by Simone Cescutti
Photo-edit by Pino Magliani
The drummer Simone Cescutti after this job leaves the band to pursue a career as a singer and guitarist with his own band! So, to greet his fans, he sings a song called “Living out of the Egg”. The other texts dedicated to the history of Friuli are “After the Earthquake” which speaks of the strength and courage of the Friulian people in rebuilding the territory devastated by the earthquake of 6 May 1976. “The Gate of Hollow Earth” tells of the legends of the mountains behind the city of Pordenone where there would be a secret entrance to the hollow earth.
The album ends with the track “Villacher Kirktag” which tells of the Beer Festival in the city of Villach in Austria where every first Saturday of August Friulian boys go to party getting drunk and harassing beautiful Austrian girls! The text is sung in English with “notations” in Friulian and Austrian.
The album was produced also this time by Michele Guaitoli singer of Temperance and Vision of Atlantis in the studios of the Groove Factory in Udine and for the realization of the cover again the talented Sheila Franco.
Just recently was announced the guest guitarist, GabrielePala (Karnak, Azure Agony, Goldenseed), playing two solos in the album for the songs ‘Green Forest’ and ‘Gate of Hollow Earth’. In addition to being a very good guitarist, Gabriele is an expert connoisseur of Chapman Stick, an instrument played with the tapping technique.
Earlier Jonathan revealed on “Huldufólk”: “Again this time we will talk about Friuli, and the theory is at work that the location of the American Air Force Base Aviano is used to control an ancient access to the underground world, which has been used by the pagan gods since ancient times. The magical rites of the inhabitants of the mountains and the places where elves, fairies and gnomes once lived among the people are revealed. There are already definitive titles such as The Sound of the Earth in F sharp minor. A text tells how you can use the beneficial energy of the trees at dawn to strengthen your energies, but there will be no lack of historical events that accompany every CELTIC HILLS album.”
2021 was a very positive year for CELTIC HILLS! The reviews of the ‘Mystai Keltoy’ album have been many, published on the major world newspapers and all with an average rating of around 9.
HELLBORE, the death metal outfit striding both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, have announced their upcoming sophomore album Panopticon. Releasing in March 2022, the new record sees influences from a variety of modern death metal subgenres including technical death metal, progressive death metal, and deathcore.
“This album is a big step for us, and we are really excited for people to hear what we have put together. This has been a difficult couple of years for many people. “Panopticon” takes aim at many of these struggles, and we hope it can provide a degree of catharsis. We hope you enjoy your time listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it.”
More information to follow soon.
HELLBORE: Charlie Munro, based in the UK, all guitars, bass, mixing and production Chris Whitby, based in New York, vocals
After a successful digital release, New Jersey melodic metal band DYING LIGHT will unleash their album Far From Life on CD on January 28, 2022.
Far From Life features 10 original songs by DYING LIGHT and 1 original song, “Mercy”, by Michael Ferentino. “The Cycle” kicks off the album and sets the tone of the project with powerful driving rhythms and epic harmonies. While The title track sees a thundering breakdown ensue amidst intricate guitar leads and a dark, dissonant chorus. The album explores a myriad of tempo changes and moods highlighting the diversity of creativity that DYING LIGHT offers. Drawing influences predominantly from music of the 1980s and ‘90s, and modernising with their own distinctive twist, Far From Life is a dynamic mix of heavy styles.
Far From Life is a powerful record delivering heavy elements with soaring melodies. It’s a display of DYING LIGHT’s passion for music aptly fusing complementary styles. Bursting with energy and a charismatic sound, Far From Life is sure to appeal to metal fans.
Swedish metal titans MESHUGGAH have been forced to postpone their US headlining tour to the Fall of 2022.
In an official statement, the band notes, “We regret to inform that MESHUGGAH will have to reschedule their US headlining tour, originally planned for early 2022, to September/October 2022. While the ongoing pandemic has been throwing various curve balls on us all the past year, ultimately delaying the completion of the upcoming MESHUGGAH studio album – there are other concerns that have forced us to make this unfortunate decision. Determining factor is the need to prioritize the physical health of one of the band members who is currently undergoing medical treatment related to a skin condition on his hands, hindering him from rehearsals and from all in all playing his instrument. While we are optimistic for his future recovery, we know it will not be possible for him and the band to be ready to perform already in February 2022.
“With these shows now moving, Converge will unfortunately no longer be able to do the tour. However, we are grateful that Torche will still be performing with us. Another special guest to replace Converge and to complete the bill is to be announced.”
Tickets for the original dates remain valid; please contact your ticket provider with any inquiries.
MESHUGGAH w/ Torche, TBA 9/16/2022 Palladium – Worcester, MA 9/17/2022 Franklin Music Hall – Philadelphia, PA 9/18/2022 Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY 9/20/2022 The Fillmore – Silver Springs, MD 9/24/2022 Agora Theatre – Cleveland, OH 9/25/2022 Express Live – Columbus, OH 9/27/2022 Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA 9/28/2022 Royal Oak Theatre – Detroit, MI 9/29/2022 Radius – Chicago, IL 9/30/2022 Myth Live – Minneapolis, MI 10/02/2022 Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO 10/04/2022 The Warfield Theatre – San Francisco, CA 10/08/2022 Riverside Municipal Auditorium – Riverside, CA 10/09/2022 Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA 10/10/2022 Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ 10/12/2022 The Factory In Deep Ellum – Dallas, TX 10/13/2022 Warehouse Live – Houston, TX 10/15/2022 Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL 10/16/2022 Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA
The Bay Area Thrash band SCARECROW will be doing their first performances in over a decade on Jan 8th at Eli’s in Oakland and Jan 9th at the Bottom of the hill in San Francisco! If you’re in the area, don’t miss it!
Swiss melodic metal / hard rock outfit CRYSTALBALL are going to release their new studio album “CRYSTERIA” on January 28, 2022 via Massacre Records!
Crystal Ball have released their brand new single “You Lit My Fire” and the accompanying official video that’s available on https://youtu.be/Vz5Rq8u7ii4
The band’s 11th album will be available as a CD Digipak with exclusive bonus tracks, a limited edition box set as well as in digital formats – you can already pre-order it here » https://lnk.to/crysteria
The “CRYSTERIA” box set will include the album’s CD Digipak, a flag, a patch as well as a hand-signed autograph card. A strictly limited vinyl LP edition is planned as well, the release date will be announced soon.
CRYSTAL BALL took its time during the pandemic-related break to write lots of new material, so they could choose from over 30 Songs for the “CRYSTERIA” album.
Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, MSG) joins the band as a guest vocalist on the song “Call Of The Wild”, and CRYSTAL BALL’s longtime friends and label mates JADEDHEART join them for a band duet on the song “Crystal Heart”.
CRYSTAL BALL’s new guitar player Peter Berger also contributed many songs and ideas to this album. He was a very refreshing and motivating input.
“CRYSTERIA” was produced, mixed and mastered by Stefan Kaufmann, who also contributed additional lead guitars to four songs on the album.
L-R: Florian Milz (Atomic Fire Records CEO), Udo Dirkschneider, Markus Wosgien (Atomic Fire Records CEO), Frank Süpfle (ITM Agency) – Photo by Thomas “Zwini” Zwirner
German heavy metal icon Udo Dirkschneider will turn 70 years old on April 6th, 2022. Born in Wuppertal during the post-war period, when heavy metal hadn’t even been envisioned, he is the constant among the German metal scene and one of the decisive characters who helped shape the genre so significantly over the course of about five decades. Originally becoming world-famous as a founding member of Accept, Dirkschneider continues to steadily expand upon his international successes with his U.D.O. and Dirkschneider outfits, remaining true to himself every step of the way. Deciding it’s time for another change in his career, today, U.D.O.announces his official signing to Atomic Fire Records.
Udo states: “As a globally active artist, it is very important for me to work with our respective partners in a trusting and highly professional way since large parts of our careers depend directly on their work. A friendly relationship and fun in day-to-day cooperation are just as important. With my U.D.O. and Dirkschneider bands, I have always paid attention to long-term partnerships, which really did not make the decision to change labels again after nearly twenty years of cooperation with AFM Records easy for me. I would like to specifically thank Jochen Richert and his team once again for the very trusting and personal cooperation over the last two decades!”
“But when the opportunity arose to follow a fresh path with the newly founded Atomic Fire Records label and experience new inspirations, I seized it immediately and won’t let go. The opportunity to work with a nationally and internationally experienced and successful team consisting of friends and years-long companions was too tempting. The team and the concept as well as Atomic Fire Records’ professional setup worldwide has convinced me completely and I look very optimistically and happily toward the future and a cooperation with Markus Wosgien, Markus Staiger, and Florian Milz and their team.”
(Photo by Tim Tronckoe)
Atomic Fire Records CEO Markus Wosgien says: “I was nine years old when I listened to a real metal song for the very first time – a live version of ‘Metal Heart’ – and it hooked me immediately. On that day, heavy metal became the center of my life. I started spending my whole pocket money for Accept’s records before I also discovered other groups. Accept were the ultimate band and the definition of heavy metal – it just had to sound like this. I was working with U.D.O.in support of their Mastercutor album during my time at AFM Records, but I even had the chance of cooperating with Accept for four full-lengths after their reunion in 2009. To welcome Udo Dirkschneider to Atomic Fire Records is a kind of a knightly accolade for us. He’s an icon and an old hand of metal who still has a lot to say. We’re pleased to release an outstanding album around his 70th birthday and can’t wait for all those U.D.O. hits that are yet to come.”
Further details on what’s behind Udo Dirkschneider’s upcoming opus will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Los Angeles-based dark melodic metal outfit Witherfall are hosting auditions to join guitarist/songwriter Jake Dreyer, vocalist/songwriter Joseph Michael, bassist Anthony Crawford, and keyboardist Alex Nasla on a full-time basis. Ideal candidates will be available full-time, own their gear, be available for practice in Los Angeles, hold (or be ready to apply for) a valid U.S. passport, be available for tours in North America, Europe and beyond, but most importantly be passionate about their work.
Witherfall is dark melodic metal. Our influences range from King Diamond, Iron Maiden, Boston, Judas Priest to Kansas, Dream Theater, Type O Negative, and Queen. Therefore, we’re seeking an able-bodied musician that is informed by or holds in high regard talent like Mike Portnoy (Winery Dogs, ex-Dream Theater), Martin López (Soen, ex-Opeth), Vinnie Paul (Pantera), and Gene Hoglan (Testament). This is by no means a list of but rather the type of talent we’re seeking.
“We want to thank Marco Minnemann for participating in and playing on our newest album Curse of Autumn (Century Media),” says Joseph Michael. “Unfortunately, due to Marco’s intense schedule, he’s unable to commit fully to Witherfall. Our new material is shaping up to be some of the best stuff we’ve written to date. We are looking for a new drummer to join us as we embark on the next chapter of Witherfall. We already have confirmed appearances at Hyperspace III Fest and ProgPower USA XXI.”
Interested parties will film (ideally with multiple camera angles) themselves playing to one of (or multiple) the following Witherfall songs: “Tempest,” (Curse of Autumn) “Shadows,” (A Prelude to Sorrow) or “Nobody Sleeps Here…” (Nocturnes and Requiems).
Witherfall will pick the best candidate for a live audition / hang session in Los Angeles on January 26 and 27, 2022.
Witherfall Curse of Autumn global chart positions: Billboard Top New Artist Albums #7 Billboard Current Rock Albums #31 Official German Album Charts #20 Swiss Albums Top 100 #73
Witherfall discography: Nocturnes and Requiems (2017) A Prelude to Sorrow (2018) Vintage (2019) Curse of Autumn (2021)
Melodic metal quintet UNDRASK are preparing to unleash their second studio album God Emperor in early 2022. Based out of Greensboro, North Carolina, the outfit formed in in 2013 releasing their self-titled EP in 2015 and debut LP Battle Through Time in 2017. Their upcoming sophomore album takes their sound to the next dimension.
The band comments:
“We’re pumped to finally call our second album, God Emperor, complete! We were on schedule to release about a year ago, but life had other plans. To quote Patrick Rothfuss: “When you wait a few span or month to hear a finished song, the anticipation adds savor. But after a year excitement begins to sour.” Some of you have waited patiently with us, no doubt thinking “release the damn thing already!” We understand, agree, and hope you’ll find the finished product well worth the wait!”
Packed with even more harmonies and intertwined guitars, the new album sees the appearance of orchestral elements and several talented guests. With Melodies and riffs abound, and vocals more brutal than ever, each track carries its own life and vibe.
UNDRASK is: Steve Wynn – Vocals Darryl Dewitt – Guitars Erik Collier – Guitars Daniel McCoy – Bass Aaron Schimmel – Drums
Finnish metal band Justice Theory is happy to announce that they will release a new EP “BEATEN WILL RISE” on Spring 2022. And now here they give you a first taste of their upcoming EP. Song titled “FIGHT UNTIL YOU DIE!” is OUT NOW on music services world wide! Cover artwork is created by Petri Lampela.
Vocalist and guitar player Valtteri states: “This song is ultimate power straight from the heart! After emotional and low-tempo song Fade Into the Night, I wanted to make a song that really hypes you up and makes you move. For me, lyric-wise this song is about two themes. First theme is standing together whatever comes to our way. Trust between brothers, and not giving up until you’ve given your everything ties it up really well. We should always remember that we are not alone in this world. Bond between humans can be stronger than we even realize, particularly when it comes to a matter of life and death. Another theme is that we always manage to find a way for rising up after being beaten down. When you’re at the bottom, it just gives you a moment for rise again…”
Whirling around the rather dark Icelandic heavy music scene with their highly positive tunes, newcomers POWER PALADIN have entered the second stage of the journey leading to the release of their debut album, With The Magic Of Windfyre Steel, set to see the light of day on January 7th, 2022 through Atomic Fire Records.
Advancing the album’s release, POWER PALADIN has unveiled a music video for its second single, “Kraven The Hunter,” which now also appears as its own 7” single, backed by the B-side single edit of the as-yet-unreleased track “Creatures Of The Night.” The video for “Kraven The Hunter” – crafted by Glen Mountford/TRUEview Media, who also handled the group’s very first video, “Righteous Fury” – underlines POWER PALADIN’s unmistakable passion for fantasy themes and literature.
Comments the band on the comic book-inspired track, “A certain friendly neighborhood hero travels to the medieval world of Dimension 626 in an effort to enlist the aid of its resident in the fight against Morlun and his evil family. Unfortunately, the resident he’s looking for seems to have turned into a terrible monster and is being hunted by the ferocious ‘Kraven The Hunter’ – who now mistakes our hero for the monster. Watch out, true believers, because Kraven wields the sword of power!”
Watch POWER PALADIN’s “Kraven The Hunter” video at THIS LOCATION.
Purchase the 7″ orange vinyl single and preorder the With The Magic Of Windfyre Steel album in various formats, including digipak CD and vinyl, and presave/preorder it digitally to receive “Kraven The Hunter” and “Righteous Fury” instantly RIGHT HERE.
View the previously released playthrough video for first single, “Righteous Fury,” HERE.
“Kraven The Hunter” 7″ Track Listing:Side A: Kraven The Hunter (Single Edit)Side B: Creatures Of The Night (Single Edit)
With The Magic Of Windfyre Steel Track Listing:
Kraven The Hunter
Righteous Fury
Evermore
Dark Crystal
Way Of Kings
Ride The Distant Storm
Creatures Of The Night
Into The Forbidden Forest
There Can Be Only One
Recorded and produced by POWER PALADIN, mixed by Haukur Hannes at Mastertape Studios (Auðn, Dynfari etc.) and mastered by Frank de Jong at Hal5 Studio (Bleeding Gods etc.), With The Magic Of Windfyre Steel makes no secret of the band’s musical idols: “Iron Maiden, Dio, Helloween – the list of bands from the ‘80s that influence us is a kind of obvious, but growing up we’ve actually listened way more to the second wave of power metal and acts such as Edguy, Rhapsody, and Hammerfall,” they explain. The group’s love for fantasy games and books from authors such as Brandon Sanderson and Joe Abercrombie doesn’t go unnoticed either: James Child (Astral Clock Tower Studios) translated that inspiration into the record’s adventurous artwork.
A video for “Maybe Tomorrow”, the first single from former TROUBLE singer Eric Wagner’s posthumous solo album, In The Lonely Light Of Mourning, is available at youtu.be/TDxWg92ikSs.
The album will be released March 22 on Cruz Del Sur Music. Pre-orders available at:
Recorded at Alpha Sound Services and Aardvark Recording, In The Lonely Light Of Mourning was completed and delivered to Cruz Del Sur Music a month before Eric’s untimely passing. Initially scheduled for a November 2021 release, Cruz Del Sur Music — in cooperation with Eric’s manager, Mike Smith — agreed to move the release date to March 2022 to give it the attention it deserves.
The solo endeavor — a longtime goal of Eric’s — serves as a fitting testament to one of doom metal’s most respected voices. Eric tapped former TROUBLE/current BLACKFINGER drummer David Snyder to help him assemble the album’s eight cuts. Along the way, Eric brought in some of his favorite musicians as guests — including past and present members of TROUBLE, BLACKFINGER, THE SKULL, LID, PENTAGRAM, DEATH ROW and PLACE OF SKULLS.
According to Snyder, the origins for “Maybe Tomorrow” had been kicking around for quite some time.
“The pre-chorus part was definitely influenced by Chuck Robinson’s old band, THIS TORTURED SOUL which at that time, I had the pleasure of playing second guitar for a few shows,” he says. “That influenced things for sure. The verses and descending single note parts were Eric’s suggestions and the main riff was originally just single notes. And, just before recording, Eric wanted it heavier, so I added the low droning open note and asked what he thought and in true Eric form, he calmly said, ‘That’s it. It’s a jam.’
“On the first rough mixes you can hear him say it when the song started while he did the vocals, which definitely brought a smile every time I heard it,” Snyder continues. “The songs’ style ended up being a cool full-circle thing with Chuck and I and being fans of Eric’s music, who greatly influenced our own styles. Add in Lothar Keller’s stunning solo and Ron Holzner’s badass bass and it rounded the whole track out rather well, I have to say.”
“It’s very interesting hearing this tune now that Eric has gone to the other side,” adds Keller. “Call it premonition or whatever someone’s take on it is — you can hear it in his voice and it will definitely hit you. I am honored to have been a part of Eric’s last album and his legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of many!”
The aforementioned Robinson played a vital role on The Lonely Light Of Mourning. Robinson wrote “Isolation” and “Wish You Well” and co-wrote “Rest In Peace” with Snyder. He also played rhythm guitars on every song except “If He Lost It All” and played bass on “Wish You Well”.
“The groove and vibe on ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ is insane!” says Robinson. “It’s just a killer riff with great drive. Dave is such a great remember. I remember Eric was very adamant how he wanted the feel to be. Eric’s lyrics were so personal to him. He was a master with words, hidden meanings and messages. Only he knew for sure…”
Midwestern US industrial metal outfit BLACK MAGNET has completed work on its second album, Body Prophecy, which is being finalized for release in 2022 via 20 Buck Spin.
While details on Body Prophecy – the follow-up to the band’s well-received 2020-released debut LP, Hallucination Scene – are still shrouded in mystery, the band has issued a warning shot from the crushing album, through an intense official video for the track “Violent Mechanix.” The punishing visual work was directed and edited by Joe Casey, filmed by Beau Sparks, with visual effects by Will Acuña.
BLACK MAGNET architect James Hammontree reveals, “’Violent Mechanix’ was the first new song written after the release of the last album Hallucination Scene. It was an attempt to forge some new ideas for the music and use a beat I had never tried. Lyrically, the song is about the ailments of the body physically responding to the current state of the world, a theme that repeats throughout the album in different contexts. For the video, we built a machine to be fueled by human workers whose mouth-to-mouth contact gives the machine energy until it’s final implosion. This is one of many videos to come to accompany the singles from the upcoming album, Body Prophecy.”
Explore the biomechanical psychosis of BLACK MAGNET’s “Violent Mechanix” video now at THIS LOCATION.
Watch for full details on the Body Prophecy LP to be issued via 20 Buck Spin in the months ahead.
BLACK MAGNET has issued the video in conjunction with a run of Eastern US tour dates which begin this week. The trek runs from December 11th through 20th with shows in Tulsa, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, and Indianapolis, with support from Trace Amount on the second half of the itinerary. Watch for additional tour dates to be announced alongside the new LP’s details and onward throughout 2022.
BLACK MAGNET Tour Dates: 12/11/2021 Whittier Bar – Tulsa, OK 12/12/2021 The Sinkhole – St. Louis, MO 12/14/2021 Preserving Underground – Pittsburgh, PA 12/15/2021 Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY w/ Trace Amount 12/17/2021 Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA w/ Trace Amount 12/18/2021 The Foundry – Cleveland, OH w/ Trace Amount 12/19/2021 Reggies – Chicago, IL w/ Trace Amount 12/20/2021 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN w/ Trace Amount
Finnish heavy metal band Midnight Bullet is set to release their fourth studio album Hostile Resistance on March 4th 2022 via Inverse Records. Rain on Me is a first track from the upcoming album and sets the pace right from the first hits! The song represents exactly the straightforward energy that band wanted to bring back to the new record as well.
Tuomas Lahti, vocals & rhythm guitar: “So awesome to put out new song for our friends out there! This song is about social media and how people are desperately trying to reach attention. Sometimes this kind of acting isn’t healthy and this can detach you from reality. Social media can be very useful tool for marketing and reaching out fans or friends, but unfortunately sometimes it’s very easy to see how people are posting pictures only because they want to have some attention. People sometimes use social media just because they want to pose or beg attention.”
Track List: 1. Rain on Me 2. Hostile Resistance 3. Paranoia Obsession 4. Wait and See 5. Rise and Fall 6. Dead Redemption 7. Take Me Away 8. Enemy Number One 9. Last Escape 10. Angel of Babylon
Albumi cover by Karoliina Muukka
Line-up:
Tuomas Lahti – vocals, guitar Mikko Nokelainen – drums Lauri Ikonen – lead guitar Mirko Miettinen – bass
TORNBETWEENTWOWORLDS (Featuring SARAHJEZEBELDEVA and CHRISREHN) will release their new single “Transparent” on January 14, 2021. The song will be available on all streaming platforms.
Sarah comments: “This song was a bit of a challenge for me as this song is totally from scratch. It wasn’t written a few years ago like “The Beauty Of Deception” was, “All Eyes On Me” was also written a few years ago, but 80% of the lyrics lost, re written and re arranged and the vocals recorded at my home and “Hello” being a cover song (Adele). This is the first song lyric wise that I have written in almost 10 years I think and when Chris sent me the music, I found it so difficult getting everything together. I recorded half a track and Chris and I, just weren’t feeling it, so we took a big step back for a few months and let everything digest, because you can’t rush a song if you want people to believe you believe in your music. Chris Rehn is a mind blowing composer and takes much pride in his arrangements and for me, as silly as it sounds, I want him to be proud of the song and me. I can’t stress enough how its him that should be praised to high heaven, not me.
The song is based on fame and ego, people who take everything and everyone for granted and takes pleasure in destroying everything and people, only to make themselves feel better. They love to take credit for absolutely everything, whilst others work their arses off, put their heart and soul into everything. Self destructive, compulsive liar who believes you are where you are today because of them. Surrounded by many for the wrong reasons, yet doesn’t actually doesn’t have much.”
L to R: Shane Embury on bass, vocalist Barney Greenway
Yup. Napalm Death. Grindcore pioneers. When it comes to Extreme Metal it doesn’t truly get any more extreme. Napalm Death opened for the prolific GWAR, back on November 11th, at Bogart’s in Cincinnati Ohio. It was an evening that made me feel like the world was okay even though it’s not.
My good buddy Troy accompanied me to this wonderful event and the two of us felt very much at home with all of the beautiful insanity around us. Whatever was going on outside the walls of Bogart’s on this night I could’ve given two shits about. Napalm Death was live onstage!
It wasn’t that easy taking photos of Napalm Death. First and foremost, I was on the threshold of the pit and even outside the pit bodies were being tossed about like sacks of potatoes. Using my iPhone for these photos while trying not to get injured was actually fun, in its own demented way.
I was able to catch a couple of photos (above and below) showing drummer Danny Herrera. No, it wasn’t easy to do.
If you’re looking for a set list here, no can do. I survived just 3 songs in the pit and the rest of the time I was thrashing about like a lunatic stepping on fire hot legos. Song titles were not of my concern that night; throwing down was. At my age, I feel very fortunate I was able to throw down at all.
I’m pleased I’ve been able to share these Napalm Death photos and thoughts with you! My passion for Metal was double downed on November 11th, while at this show. Stay safe out there and… Metal be thy name! – Stone
Juno nominated singer/songwriter LINDSAYSCHOOLCRAFT has been revealed as the guest lead vocalist for the upcoming album by COLDBOUND.
Lindsay comments:
“Thank you for welcoming me to the realm of Coldbound. I’ve so far had a wonderful experience being the guest lead vocalist on this double album. I very much look forward to its release in the future!
Many of you in the metal world know me from my 7 years with Cradle of Filth. I am also the main composer for Chamber Black Metal band Antiqva and have lent out my voice and playing to many songs and albums over the years. Mainly for voice, harp, and piano.
This will be my first guest feature where I am the lead singer on a full album. Pauli and Meiju approached me after they heard my Juno Nominated album “Martyr” and felt I would be a good fit for crafting melodies and lyrics.
I’m honoured to be part of this project with such a talented line up and list of guest musicians and singers. I can not wait to see how it all comes together. It’s really forming into something special.”
Band founder Pauli Souka further stated:
“To work with someone like Lindsay is a true blessing, as she shows immense professionalism and a superb attitude. I am definitely excited to share with all of you the results of this -one of a kind collaborative experience.”
Finnish melodic metal icons SONATAARCTICA should be closing their Acoustic Adventures European tour this week. Unfortunately, it had to be postponed to late 2022 due to obvious reasons. But fans need not worry as the band are bringing some cozy living room concert atmosphere to their homes in the form of the first part of their two-piece Acoustic Adventures album, due out on January 21st, 2022 via Atomic Fire.
Containing acoustic adaptions of twelve tracks leading through SONATA ARCTICA’s discography, AcousticAdventures – VolumeOne was recorded and produced by Mikko Tegelman and the band at Studio57 in Finland. Tegelman was also responsible for the album’s mix and mastering alongside bass player Pasi Kauppinen. The artwork by the quintet’s longtime collaborator and fellow countryman, Janne Pitkänen (Nightwish, Auri) rounds out the experience charmingly.
The first single from AcousticAdventures – VolumeOne, “The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me” is available as a lyric video viewable at THIS LOCATION.
States keyboardist Henrik “Henkka” Klingenberg: “The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me was a song that first appeared as a bonus track for Japan back in 2003, just around the time I joined the band. When we started to arrange songs for the second Acoustic Adventures tour in 2019, this song somehow kept popping up and we decided to give it a go. Our dear friend Masi Hukari who joined us on stage for the tour did a lot of the work on this particular arrangement and I think that his input was really important in how this song turned out. For this record, we used the live arrangement as a starting point and I don’t think the song changed that much, so what you hear is a slightly refined version of the 2019 tour arrangement. We decided to use this song as the first single since it’s really different from the original studio version and as always, we prefer to offer something new and interesting for our fans and for ourselves as well.”
(Cover art by Janne Pitkänen)
Preorder Acoustic Adventures – Volume Onephysically – on digipak CD or vinyl in various color variants – and presave/preorder it digitally to receive “The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me” instantly now through the Atomic Fire webshop at THIS LOCATION.
AcousticAdventures – VolumeOne Track Listing:
The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me
For The Sake Of Revenge
A Little Less Understanding
Alone In Heaven
Tallulah
Don’t Say A Word
As If The World Wasn’t Ending
Paid In Full
Tonight I Dance Alone
The Wolves Die Young
Wolf & Raven
On The Faultline
Catch SONATA ARCTICA live on the Acoustic Adventures MMXXII trek across Finland in February, the 25th Anniversary Tour across South America in April, at a variety of festival and special performances throughout the Summer, in the Ukraine and Russia in September, on another leg of the Acoustic Adventures MMXXII across Europe beginning in October and more. Stay up to date on all live dates and ticket info at the band’s official tour page HERE.
SONATA ARCTICA: Tony Kakk – vocals, keyboards Elias Viljanen – guitars Pasi Kauppinen – bass Henrik “Henkka” Klingenberg – keyboards Tommy Portimo – drums
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