New SCORPIONS song, We Built This House, from the forthcoming new studio album, Return To Forever, is available for download now on iTunes or SCORPIONS webstore: www.the-scorpions.com
Our upcoming new album “Return To Forever” will be released as Standard Jewel Case CD, Deluxe CD including 4 bonus tracks, Double Heavyweight Vinyl and a very special Limited Collector’s Box Set containing the deluxe album, an exclusive “Return To Forever” T-Shirt, a 7” Picture Vinyl Single, signed autograph card by all five of us, an USB-lanyard including fanpass and a 2CD-audio-book!
Black Metal band Astral Blood are pleased to finally unleash their long-awaited self titled début EP. Consisting of 3 tracks of epic Black Metal, Astral Blood is a stunning introduction to the band.
Featuring Andrew Rasmussen of Noble Beast, Tommy Curry of Sept of Memnon and Joe Waller of Amiensus, Astral Blood will appeal to fans of second wave Black Metal bands such as Emperor and Gorgoroth.
The album is currently available in digital format from Bandcamp for only $3 and can be listened to here: https://astralblood.bandcamp.com/
Physical copies will be available in 2015 via Tridroid Records.
Reaching the symphonic heights of Norwich, UK, Nocturna proudly unveil their début EP Lucidity, a wondrous hybrid of prog, symphonic and power metal in the vein of Symphony X and Firewind. It was mixed by Meyrick de la Fuente of Floodgate Audio, who also provides guest vocals on the EP.
Lucidity EP is due for release on February 17th, 2015.
Having toured all over the UK and played Bloodstock’s New Blood stage last year, Nocturna are gearing up for a tour in February to support the EP’s upcoming release. They also have released a video for Revelations, which can be viewed via YouTube below.
Yes, you did read it right, Irish tech metallers Vile Regression have just announced the release of their brand new record ‘Empires’ and it’s free for all.
Guitarist Brian Brady comments: “We’ve been blown away by the positive feedback we have received from the online metal community and printed metal press for ‘Empires’. The reviews have been incredibly positive and at this stage we want as many people to hear the record as possible! On top of this, the EP has already become available to download on various blogs and torrent sites, so rather than metal fans downloading a poor quality version, we want them to be able to download a full quality release of ‘Empires’, along with the artwork, lyrics and be able to share the download link with their friends. We hope people will enjoy listening to it as much as we did making it and look forward to seeing many of you on the road in 2015. Happy Christmas from Vile Regression!”
Praise For Vile Regression:
“…progressive death metal that easily sits alongside the output from most of today’s big extreme metal names.” – Metal Hammer
“The talent coming out of Ireland has been nothing short of staggering, and this Dublin-based crew are up there with the best of them.” – Zero Tolerance
“Another blistering metal band from the Emerald Isle that could have a big future.” – Powerplay Magazine
Formed from the ashes of Irish extreme metal outfit Vistor Q; Vile Regression hit the scene in 2010 and released their debut record ‘The Pattern Evolves’ in 2011, via Casket Music.
After sharing stages with prolific heavyweights such as Dyscarnate, Fleshgod Apocalypse and Unearth, Vile Regression built a reputation as a tight and energetic new addition to the extreme metal underground and 2013 saw the band head back to the studio to record a new installment… ‘Empires’.
‘Empires’ was recorded at Trackmix Studio in Dublin, Ireland with producer Michael Richards and features 7 tracks of extreme metal; technical, yet not technical for the sake of it; with songs that would bode well on the ears of those with a penchant for progressive metal on the darker and heavier end. The record was officially released on July 21st, 2014.
Check out ‘The Empyrean Divide’ (Playthrough Video):
American Technical Death Metal duo APOCROPHEX are pleased to release The Grey, the first single from their highly anticipated début full length Suspended From the Cosmic Altaar.
The Grey is the opening track from the upcoming album, set to be released 3/10/15 on CD and digital via NJ-based Manicidic Records.
The band released the following statement about the song:
“We chose “The Grey” as first contact because it fully represents our evolution and progression from the Wheels Within Wheels EP so well. Fans that have only heard those 2 short tracks are in for an eye opener with this album, due to its massive leap forward in song structure, overall technicality and sheer power. Lyrically, the song presents the listener with the ever unsettling and horrific threat of being limited in option, to feeling and experiencing only constant fear, or ultimately nothing at all...”
DEAD EARTH POLITICS have posted an unmastered version of Casting Stones, a brand new song set to appear on the band’s forthcoming EP, Men Become Gods. The EP is second in a series of three that began with last year’s acclaimed The Queen of Steel, and is scheduled for a March 2015 release.
Check out “Casting Stones” now at this location or below:
Defined by a relentless work ethic and loyalty to their rabid and ever-growing fanbase, DEAD EARTH POLITICS have launched a perk-laden IndieGoGo pre-order campaign for the EP. Rooted in the notion that music is an art form meant to be shared between artist and audience, supporters can take part in the perpetual rise of DEAD EARTH POLITICS and secure a copy of Men Become Gods (and much more) at the link below.
“This is more than just a metal EP, it is a testament to the enduring power of the music we all know and love. Blasting and mighty, The Queen of Steel is a clear proof of the bands talent.” – Two Guys Metal Reviews
“Classic Iron Maiden trades blows with ‘Sacrament’ era Lamb Of God. Awesome.”
Czech Death Metallers HEAVING EARTH have debuted a brand new song from their as yet untitled upcoming new album. The album is targeted for a January/February 2015 release on Czech label Lavadome Productions. Keep your eyes peeled for the artwork, title, and official release date. In the mean time, stream “Doomed Before Inception” at below!
The Metal Grasshopper series continues and Episode 5 offers a “Vulgar Display of Feelings” as Philip H. Anselmo agrees to undergo group counseling with delusional man-child, Dave Hill, in an effort to rescue the goat that also happens to be Anselmo’s grandmother. There’s not a dry seat in the house as Dr. Joe Randazzo aids Anselmo and Hill in an exploration of their feelings.
Scroll on over to Metal Injection to watch Metal Grasshopper Episode 5: “Vulgar Display of Feelings,” with the whole damn family at THIS LOCATION. While you’re there, catch your lazy ass up on the last four chapters”
Episode 1: “Origins” – Anselmo reluctantly agrees to share his Heavy Metal wisdom with Hill.
Episode 2: “The Awakening” – Anselmo schools young Hill on headbanging, Heavy Metal vocals, and the most extreme of all breakfast cereals. Oh, and Dave takes a phone message for Phil from King Diamond, which is awesome.
Episode 3: “Metal Or Not Metal?” – Anselmo puts Hill to the test with a round of Heavy Metal flash cards. Later Anselmo makes Hill sit in a closet for a seriously long time while he makes an awesome salad. Also, Hill rents a goat.
Episode 4: “Unscared” – Anselmo lets Hill loose on an unsuspecting public, where he meets an actual woman. Anselmo also schools Hill on stage banter, corpse paint, and other important topics. Later Anselmo and Hill get in a huge argument from which they may never recover!
Metal Grasshopper pairs the unlikely duo of Metal master Philip H. Anselmo with comedian, dandy, and NPR darling, Dave Hill. Hill begs Anselmo to mold him into “the baddest metal motherfucker of all time.” Anselmo begrudgingly relents and the abuse and absurdity reaches epic levels. Metal Grasshopper was directed by Chris Lee with Joe Randazzo, written by Chris Lee, Dave Hill, and Phil Anselmo, edited by Phil Costello and produced by Chris Lee.
The band’s most varied and devastating release to date, The Art of Vengeance blends elements of traditional death, bone crushing doom, punk and thrash for results that are both destructive and addicting. The first pressing of the album also includes a bonus DVD featuring a documentation of the band’s latest tour.
Critical Praise:
“Old school death metal and thrash from Brazil, where you’ll still get your ass kicked sideways for being a poseur.” – Decibel
“Brazilian Death Metal Kings” 10/10 – Metal-Temple
“A well-rounded expression of brutality which is at once instant to the ears and yet always bruising.” – Metal Forces Magazine
The Art Of Vengeance – Track List:
The Harvest
For Passion Not Fashion
The Devil’s Work
Betrayed
From Below and Not Above
Blood Ritual
Rotten Moralismo
Shadows of Destruction
Ghost of the Past
What is Dead May Never Die
The Legacy is Pain
Lightless
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About NERVOCHAOS:
Fed-up with the entire trend flooding the scene, NERVOCHAOS was formed in mid-1996, with the idea of creating aggressive and chaotic music, shredding the barriers of Death Metal and Hardcore. The band gained cult status in the extreme music scene due to their hard work over the past years, offering a sonic extravaganza in their unique way. Their demo-tapes have become collector’s items in the underground, supporting their regular releases.
The band is not afraid of touring or performing live. They did many tours around Europe, South America; and shared the stage with several acts such as VENOM, POSSESSED, CANNIBAL CORPSE, KREATOR, BIOHAZARD, AGNOSTIC FRONT, CARCASS, NAPALM DEATH, DISMEMBER, D.R.I., MAYHEM, THE EXPLOITED and many more to list.
After 18 years of churning out some of the most furious and vehement Metal the South American underground has experienced, NERVOCHAOS is back with The Art of Vengeance. The band’s sixth studio album, The Art of Vengeance is poised to be a standout album of 2014.
Sorry for the delay in posting news. It’s been a crazy few weeks ever since returning from tour!
As, many of you know, in addition to being the singer of Hellion, and of running New Renaissance, I am also an attorney. I was back to work, and in court on the following Monday after the tour. However, a lot of work has now paid off with the successful resolution of a major case. Now its time to get back to working on more creative endeavors and on planning for a great 2015.
In between all of that, Hellion released our first official video in over a decade. The video is of our new song, Betrayer, and includes fan-filmed video from our shows in Toronto, Los Angeles, Boise, Seattle, and a few more cities. If you haven’t already seen it, check it out here. (Or below):
Maxxxwell Carlisle, Simon Wright, and myself are already writing new music. I will also be singing a cover-version of a Scorpions song on Max’s new solo CD. I will be recording the vocal track for that in the next week or two.
Hellion also recorded the shows from the recent Hellion tour. So, over the holidays, we will be mixing those tracks and will eventually release them on a live CD.
As far as live shows, Hellion will be playing May 9, 2015 at the Arcadia Theater in St. Charles, IL with Y&T and Quiet Riot. More US shows will be added, too in 2015. We will also be doing shows in Europe and the UK. In fact, we have bookings now through 2016. Due to our contracts with some of the promoters, I can’t announce some of the shows until the promoters officially announce them.
2014 has been a very productive year. We released two new CDs: (1) Hellion’s “To Hellion & Back” 2-CD anthology; and, (2) “Karma’s A Bitch.” Both CDs are available at all major outlets. We did our first tour in North America, as well.
Both myself and the band have a lot in store for 2015. We will be releasing our first vinyl releases in over a decade soon (in limited edition). We will have a new live album, some more re-releases, and of course new music for you, too.
I am also going to start work on a book. The book will be entitled “The Art of Singing Loud.” The book will focus on the unique challenges that are faced by singers of hard rock, thrash, metal, punk, etc. An important part of this book will include interviews from well-respected singers, I have already received commitments from a number of great singers and will be announcing more details in the coming weeks.
I will give everybody more updates, soon. Meanwhile, please make sure you are on the Hellion mailing list so you don’t miss out!
And, don’t miss out on our awesome sale in the Hellion Store, too. We’ve put together some killer fan bundles with limited edition tour merchandise. And, as an added bonus, we will be adding some special gifts with each order.
Saxon regret to inform UK fans that the remaining tour dates have been postponed due to Nigel Glocker’s health issues. The drummer was rushed to the hospital on Monday night; more details will follow as soon as available.
Biff Byford says: “Devastating news that our friend and drummer Nigel has been taken ill. We have to postpone all shows until we find out more. He has been taken to hospital in Newcastle. All our thoughts are with Nigel and his family.”
Biff Byford later wrote: “Nigel our friend and brother is in the hospital in the UK having tests to find a bleed on his brain. He is up and talking but he says he has a ball crushing headache. I will pass all your messages on to Gina, Nigel’s wife and we all pray that Nige can pull through this! At the moment all shows have been re scheduled to 3/4/5/6/7 of February 2015” – Biff
Nigel Glocker (Credit: Saxon Facebook)
The UK dates were due to be the culmination of 38-date European tour “Warriors of the Road” celebrating their 35th Anniversary. The set list featured tracks from what is known to the fans as ‘The Holy Trinity’ – Saxon’s seminal albums Wheels of Steel, Strong Arm of the Law and Denim and Leather.
The following shows are re-scheduled as follows: Tickets are valid for the new dates.
February 3rd NEWCASTLE Academy
February 4th NOTTINGHAM Rock City
February 5th WOLVERHAMPTON Wulfrun Hall
February 6th OXFORD Academy
February 7th LONDON Shepherds Bush Empire
The band and management would like to apologize to all involved for any inconvenience caused.
Kouzin Bedlam is a baroque painting painted in the colors of Heavy Metal. It is highly technical and deeply embedded in mythology; it is sometimes over the top, yet always lyrical and sublime. Its extraordinary qualities lie not just in terms of song writing and technical ability. In fact, Kouzin Bedlam is not just a band; it is a philosophy, it is a family; it is psychology and spirituality expressed in a musical extravaganza with surprising depths.
Carl Gustav Jung uncovered the archetypes dwelling in our collective unconscious. Our image of a great mother, the devil, God, the trickster and the hero all sit deep inside our minds. And then there is Kouzin Bedlam – the unknown twin, the uncivilized ”I”, we all try to ignore. The band’s debut album, Longing for the Incomplete (produced by Jimmy Westerlund), releases this being upon the conscious world. Kouzin Bedlam does its entrance in a blaze of virtuosic Heavy Metal, at times highly aggressive, at others bittersweet and melancholic. Lyrically it does everything from cursing its very existence to learning how to breathe.
As mentioned, Kouzin Bedlam has so far been unknown to the world of conscious human thoughts, but the members of the band are all experienced musicians, artists and doomsday philosophers.
DORO All We Are: The Fight EP was released back on May 25th, 2007, via AFM Records. This tidy EP of five songs are Heavy Metal bliss to my ears and Doro Pesch is (as always) alluring on vocals. I was in the Metal mood today for DORO and this EP I listened to multiple times to satisfy my Metal spirit. I purchased this DORO EP on iTunes a few years ago and would love to eventually get my hands on the physical CD as well. You just cannot take the old school out of me, praise the Metal Gods for that.
I’m not certain if this EP was ever released on vinyl; if so, I would want the vinyl version! Whoa. The re-recording of DORO’s Heavy Metal anthem All We Are is the opener and never ceases to give me those always welcomed Metal chills. Oh, sweet molasses, yeah. All We Are was originally released on the 1987 Warlock studio album: Triumph And Agony. That said album was the fourth and final release from the great Warlock.
Thunderspell is an outright jewel of a song; it is a Heavy Metal accomplishment in my Metal opinion and Doro Pesch is untouchable singing it. Her band is nothing short of excellent (of course) on this EP, musically lifting the powerful vocals of Doro Pesch into the Heavy Metal stratosphere! The one ballad on this EP is Everything’s Lost and it’s moving and emotionally driven, courtesy of Doro’s vocals, inspirational guitar solo and intermittent piano notes.
On My Own is a duet featuring Doro Pesch and the great Marc Storace of KROKUS fame. Call it a power ballad that Rocks my face off. ‘Nuff said. The one cover song is Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, originally recorded as a Folk song by Anne Bredon in the late 1950’s.The legendary Joan Baez later covered this song in 1963 and the iconic Led Zeppelin turned it into a classic on their 1969 debut and self-titled album. Doro Pesch makes this song her own, please excuse the cliché. Seriously, I love the way Doro Pesch approached this Rock classic, nothing is watered down and the emotion of the song remains exactly intact. Yes, it Rocks.
This EP has (the near hidden) subtitle: A Tribute to Regina Halmich. The version of the re-recorded title track All We Are was originally performed March 30th, 2006 on television in Germany, as the pump-you-up entrance song for Doro’s close friend, German boxing champion Regina Halmich. Great stuff and Metal be thy name. – Stone
ARBITRATOR is a project that began in late 2010 as the brainchild of Robert Kukla and officially debut in 2011 with the EP ‘The Consummate Ascendancy’ with former drummer Corey Chernesky. Now, determined to release a full-length to top “TCA“, Kukla on rhythm guitar, bass and vocals has written the band’s first album with a whole new arsenal of musicians that includes drummer Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork, ex-Devin Townsend Project, ex-Aborted), Myles Malloy on lead guitar and Connor ORT Linning for programming.
The planned 2015 release will be entitled ‘Indoctrination of Sacrilege’ and was produced by Sacha Laskow (ex-Divinity, Every Hour Kills), mastered by ens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy), Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy), along with album artwork done by Colin Marks (Exodus, Scar Symmetry, Jeff Loomis).
The first track ‘For That Which May Appease Lions’ from the forthcoming 2015 albumis now available for FREE download on PuregrainAudio.com here.
“‘For That Which May Appease Lions’ is quite possibly one of my favourite tracks off of the new album. Dark, ‘Resident Evil’ style passages compliment sections of blistering blast beats performed by the skins-king himself, Dirk Verbeuren. It is a track that is as dynamic as it is brutal, and certainly not for those that shy away from the radical nature of the progressive genre.“ Comments Kukla.
In addition, Toontrack.com has released on their youtube channel a drum play through video featuring drummer Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork, ex-Devin Townsend Project, ex-Aborted) performing ‘For That Which May Appease Lions’.
They Will Worship This Fire of Agony (6:41)
Stillborn Bastard of The Nazarene (6:50)
For That Which May Appease Lions (6:56)
Serpent of The Styx (8:41)
Profaned and Perfected (7:30)
The Burning Sands of His Kingdom (instrumental) (3:14)
Canadian Blackened Death Metal band CONQUER are offering fans a FREE download of their three song debut EP ‘A Worms Demise’, released on December 2nd at the following linkhere.
“Our vision of Extreme unapologetic music to you. Long live Metal!” comments vocalist Devlin Anderson.
The Oshawa, ON based band was originally created by vocalist Devlin Anderson as a one man black metal project, which has now grown to a full onslaught of Blackened Death, with an influence of thrash featuring drummer Simon Oukhine, Ryan White on crushing guitar in the vein of classic Celtic Frost influence, along with ex-Left Hand Creation bassist Rob Holden and his extreme groove.
A Worms Demise (5:23)
Hell’s First Born (4:59)
God Is The Destroyer (5:43)
EP Length: 16:06
For more info on Conquer, please visit the following links:
On December 5th, 1970 – Badfinger peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with their hit No Matter What. This was Badfinger’s second top ten single in the United States; their first top ten single in the U.S. was Come And Get It. Def Leppard went on to cover No Matter What, back in 2005 for their release: Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection. Whoa!
On this day in 1973 – Slade reaches #1 in the UK with Merry Christmas Everybody. It will remain at #1 for five weeks, becoming Slade’s biggest single, while returning to the charts in later years. This song also became Slade’s sixth #1 single in the UK, as well.
On December 5th, 1984 – Beverly Hills Cop, the hilarious Action/Comedy film, starring the great Eddie Murphy was released on wide-screens. Beverly Hills Cop also starred: Damon Wayans, Judge Reinhold and John Ashton.
On this day in 1986 – Heartbreak Ridge, a War movie starring the great Clint Eastwood was released on wide-screens. Clint Eastwood plays the role of the rugged and battlefield trained Sergeant Tom Highway, as he embarks on his final tour of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. I won’t give away any more about this movie, trust me when I tell you it’s a classic and a must see!
On December 5th, 1987 – The legendary RUSH performed a concert at the New Haven Coliseum, in New Haven, Connecticut. RUSH were finally inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013. Metal Amen to that!
On this day in 1990 – Poison and Warrant performed live at the Riverfront Coliseum, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Metal be thy name! Rest in peace, Jani Lane.
On December 5th, 2013 – The great Helloween performed live at La Trastienda Club, Montevideo, Uruguay. This stop was part of Helloween’s Hellish Rock – Part II Tour. Helloween were touring in support of their fourteenth studio album: Straight Out Of Hell; which was released in January of 2013. Whoa and yeah!! I want out!!
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
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