September 13, 2024 will see hard rock titans VICTORY strike back with their brand new studio album, entitled Circle Of Life, slated for a release on AFM Records. The album pre-sale is available at: https://victory.bfan.link/circle-of-life
Circle Of Life sees the five-piece surrounding founder and iconic guitarist Herman Frank not only effortlessly build on earlier feats, but also sounds stronger than ever. Frank describes the release with its first-rate production as “even more grown-up and mature than its predecessor, we’ve taken the new songs to a whole new level in every respect.” He knows what this optimised performance is due to: “The group operates as a tight unit, based on the experience of the many live shows we’ve played together. ‘Circle Of Life’ brings together what has grown together and belongs together.”
Naturally, the excellent reputation of a successful hard rock act such as VICTORY is based, among other things, on the superb achievements of their long-standing career. The early days of the Hanover-based group date back to the 1980s and include immortal album classics and successful tours around the globe. However, none of this would account for much or would indeed be classed as anything but nostalgia if their present accomplishments weren’t on a par with the band’s impressive past.
All of the ten new album tracks were recorded by Herman Frank together with vocalist Gianni Pontillo, rhythm guitarist Mike Pesin, bassist Malte Frederik Burkert and drummer Michael Stein at Hanover’s famous Horus Sound Studios, featuring a mix courtesy of sound engineer Arne Neurand.
Circle Of Life Tracklist: 01.Tonight We Rock 02. American Girl 03. Count On Me 04. Surrender My Heart 05. Unbelievable World 06. Moonlit Sky 07. Falling 08. Money 09. Reason To Love 10. Virtual Sin
Mexican post-black metal act THE DEPRESSICK are finally back with their brand new, second full-length album titled Faded.exe, a gut-wrenching musical journey. The album will be released on July 19th 2024 via Tragedy Productions/End My Life Records.
The record shows a broadening in the scope in their sound, packing in even more brooding melodies, eerie howls, whirlwind drumming, and a tightening of the band’s signature songwriting chops. Constantly maintaining the subtle balance between light and melancholy, soaring atmospherics and granite riffs, THE DESPRESSICK deliver their sonic rebirth in fifty minutes of a grippingly emotional experience.
The first single “Greywave” is now streaming HERE.
Faded.exe definitely marks another step forward for the band, incorporating new suggestions into their visceral sound that bleeds raw emotion.
THE DEPRESSICK is a Mexican Post-DSBM band formed in 2013. Based in Nezahualcoyotl a densely populated and historically impoverished suburb of Mexico City with considerable stigma attached to it. The “negativity, misery, poverty, sickness and filth” of their environment contributes to their music’s bleakness. For fans of: Lantlos, Lifelover, Amesoeurs and White Ward.
Finland’s most legendary metal festival Nummirock will take place for the 38th time in Kauhajoki, Finland from 19-22 June 2024.
This year’s performers from abroad: Body Count (US), Kerry King (US), Thy Art Is Murder (AU), Suffocation (US), Eluveitie (CH), Blackbraid (US), The Halo Effect (SWE), Shadow of Intent (US), Rise of the Northstar (FRA), Mister Misery (SWE), Thrown (SWE), Party Cannon (UK)
The selected bands from the metal country of Finland, where there are more than 53 metal bands per 100,000 inhabitants, are as follows Insomnium, Ensiferum, Rytmihäiriö, Tarot, Huora, Warmen, Crownshift, Horna, Martti Servo ja Napander, Shade Empire, Deathchain, Kaunis Kuolematon, Fear of Domination, Inferia, Kallomäki, Marianas Rest, Nicole, Suotana, Kyy, Verikalpa, Swansong, Prestige, Satanic North, Horizon Ignited, As I May, Anima Hereticae, FM2000, Vaasa Palaa, St. Aurora, De La Rocka, Stereo Terror DJ’s, Poponjet, WikiRock, Enemies Everywhere, Grillijono K.O., Vehje & Nummirock Ensemble.
Promoter Mr. Tero Viertola comments: “We are very honoured to have Kerry King back on the Nummirock main stage after a 26-year hiatus. In 1998 Kerry visited our main stage with Slayer. In addition to a diverse line-up, we have the most spectacular and experiential festival camping area in the country, which takes on a life of its own throughout the festival week. Welcome to Nummirock.”
w/ Malignancy, Whore of Bethlehem, Ignominious, Filth
Kicking off their 2024 Summer tour dates on May 31st that are in honor of guitarist Dallas Toler Wade’s 50th birthday and the 10th anniversary of Narcotic Wasteland‘s self-titled debut album, the trio is unshackling their latest single “Barbarian” for the masses. The song will be featured on the band’s forthcoming third full-length Digital Cordyceps out on Megaforce Records in 2024 (release date TBD).
Dallas Toler-Wade comments on the new track:
“Barbarian is one of my favorite songs I have written so far. The guitar work is thrashy but also has a neo-classical element to it. I love the mid-tempo churning bass drums that is no secret at this point. Lyrically the song is about my personal feelings on how I want to live my life, but also an observation of what is going on in the world right now. I am sure I am not the only one who sees we are living in an oligarchic society. Meaning we are in a society where only a chosen few have most of the political power. This has always disgusted me.”
He adds: “I never needed a political leader or organized religion to tell me how to act, what to read or listen to, and who to vote for. I think it is all complete self-serving bullshit and I refuse to have any part in it. I am barbaric. I follow no rules but my own. I refuse to participate in a society that is untrustworthy, narcissistic, and completely selfish. So I choose a more nomadic life as far away as possible from all of the madness. I am here to entertain. It is my calling. I hope you enjoy the song!! Thanks to all of the fans for your continued support and inspiration!! Let’s rise above and take our freedom back!!”
And don’t forget to brace yourself for a face-melting experience as Narcotic Wasteland announces a metal extravaganza like no other this summer! Their unholy crusade of show dates commences on May 31, 2024, in Crockett, CA, and continues its apocalyptic conquest through cities like Portland, Dallas, Austin, New Orleans, Tampa, and more, culminating in a final siege on July 7, 2024, in Saginaw, MI.
They are joined by special guests Whore of Bethlehem, Ignominious, Filth, and Malignancy (Headlining), who will conjure up nightmares with their savage performances.
This fall Nervosa comes back to the United States and Canada in full force, showcasing their most recent release “Jailbreak” along with strong support provided by Massachusetts based Lich King and California Bay Area thrashers Hatriot!
Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 24th, at 12pm EST
8/29 – Milwaukee, WI @ Blades Of Steel Festival 8/30 – Minneapolis, MN @ White Rock Lounge 8/31 – Iowa City, IA @ Wildwood 9/1 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre 9/2 – Denver, CO @ HQ 9/4 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon 9/5 – Boise, ID @ The Shredder 9/6 – Vancouver, Canada @ The Rickshaw Theater 9/7 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon 9/8 – Portland, OR @ Dante’s 9/10 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s 9/11 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Usual Place 9/12 – San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick 9/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky a Go Go 9/14 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Underground 9/15 – Tucson, AZ @ The Rock 9/16 – El Paso, TX @ Rock House Bar & Grill 9/18 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live 9/19 -Houston, TX @ The White Oak 9/20 – Dallas, TX @ RBC 9/21 – Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge 9/22 – Nashville, TN @ The End 9/24 – Atlanta, GA @ Boggs Social & Supply 9/25 – Orlando, FL @ Conduit 9/27 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero 9/28 – Greensboro, NC@Hangar 1819 9/29 – Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligans 10/2 – Mechanicsburg, PA @ Lovedraft’s 10/3 – Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz 10/4 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows 10/5 – Quebec, Canada @ La Source 10/6 – Montreal, Canada @ Les Foufounes Électriques 10/8 – Ottawa, Canada @ The 27 Club 10/9 – Kingston, Canada @ The Mansion 10/10 – Toronto, Canada @ Hard Luck 10/11 – London, Canada @ Rum Runners 10/12 – Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary 10/13 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies
We are more than proud to present our new single and music video “1589”, which tells the story of Peter Stump, who lived near Cologne, Germany in the 16th century and is known today as the “Werewolf of Bedburg”. After being defamed as a werewolf, the farmer confessed to several murders under torture, and was cruelly executed on October 31, 1589.
Band leader Marta Gabriel comments: “I found the “The Silver Key”, that unlocks the gates of space and time. It was once owned by Randolph Carter, but it’s now in my possession, and helped me to write songs for the new CRYSTAL VIPER album! Our second single is one of the most epic tracks on the album, and you can clearly hear in it echoes of our heroes such as Ronnie James Dio, Tony Martin era BLACK SABBATH or even MANOWAR. The video for this song includes footage from the studio, and which we filmed at last year’s Full Metal Cruise festival, where we played 3 shows”
Gods Of Thunder Of Wind And Of Rain (5:22) – CD bonus track
Scream! (2:33) – LP bonus track
The album will be promoted on European headlining tour, on which CRYSTAL VIPER will be joined by the US heavy metal act SAVAGE MASTER.
CRYSTAL VIPER: Marta Gabriel – vocals, bass guitar, guitar, piano Lukasz ″Andy Wave″ Halczuch – lead and rhythm guitars Kuba Galwas – drums and percussion Eric Juris – lead and rhythm guitars
Heavy metal fans, prepare for the most electrifying tour of the year! Heavy metal frontrunners KK’S PRIEST – featuring Judas Priest alum and GRAMMY Award winning/nominated musicians K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim “Ripper” Owens (vocals) – and Teutonic metal originators ACCEPT will join forces this fall 2024 for an unmissable North American tour! Both bands are touring in support of their brand new albums, out now via Napalm Records.
The massive run will begin on August 31 in Los Angeles, CA, visiting a slew of major cities in the USA and Canada – such as Toronto, ON, Montreal, QC, New York, NY and Nashville, TN – before coming to an end in San Francisco, CA on October 7. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, May 9 at 10:00am EDT, so get your tickets quickly before it’s too late – these will go fast!
ACCEPT’s Wolf Hoffmann says: “This tour with KK’s Priest is a dream come true for Accept and for me personally. Accept supported Judas Priest back in the early 80s – it was our first ‘real’ international tour and Priest had been a huge influence on us. I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with KK on this very special tour. It’s going to be epic! Don’t miss it!”
KK’s PRIEST’s K.K. Downing says: “It’s time!!! Let the full European metal assault commence, KK’s Priest / Accept. Not since 1983 have we shared the same battleground. From Germany, from the UK, let the Flying Vs clash, let the metal fly! All in the name of defending our beloved heavy metal music, let the people come from all walks of life to witness the battle royal. There is no doubt that we warriors of metal will give every ounce of our energy and our power in order to deliver up our very finest performance. This is a spectacle not to be missed, and this is possibly the one and only time in history for you to witness this iconic duel. Who will be the victor? You will be the judge, let the music begin from early August to early October… The arena awaits!!”
New Album ‘It Beckons Us All’ Released Tomorrow, Friday April 26
Ahead of the eagerly awaited new album It Beckons Us All from Darkthrone, the band give fans a final tease of what is awaiting them with the release of the official video for “The Bird People Of Nordland”. Video created by Matthew Vickerstaff .
Whilst freely admitting the concept for the song “Not a very metal subject, sorry!” Fenriz explains “ it’s about the EIDER bird and Nordland. Many years ago I saw a Norwegian documentary with the symbiotic relationship the coast people of Nordland had with the bird. They watched over the nests and in return could pick the eider for pillows clothing, warmth etc. So that is what the lyrics are about.” But, he continues “again, this is Ted’s song so a bit hard for me to comment on it musically but I will tell you all what I think when I hear it:
First of we have a typical grim Ted riff for the verse, then he surprises with a catchy riff for the refrain AND THEN comes my fave part of the album; the post-refrain riff which sounds like Queensryche 1984 style and you can also hear how much we enjoy to play it! EXACTLY where I want to be! Could have played that riff for 8 minutes straight, haha! This loops again with the refrain again without singing and then back to Queensryche ’84. Then first riff again with my added harmony guitar playing on it, what our studio man Ole Øvstedal called “the Corleone part.
A break arrives and then things are sped up (not faster than Yardbirds in 64, we are not an extreme metal band, more like MODERAT EPIC) which corresponds with a slower heavy metal riff where we also brought out the mellotrone if I remember correctly.
Then Ted bombs you with a final part, primitive d-beat thrash with a riff that sounds like Tom G Warrior made it and I also ordered Ted to lay on some hellish guitars. Anyway, I LIVE for that queensryche 84 riff, Ted!”
photo courtesy of Peer Olav Kittilsen
Humble as ever Nocturno Culto states“Well, AGAIN, talking about our music really blows or is very difficult, at least for me. Personally, music is a floating thing, and I am having a hard time to try to break it down. It´s metal, a bit of heavy/doom/black/thrash, that is Darkthrone now, mixing genres has been something we have done since A Blaze, and especially since 2005. And I am just looking forward on new material, new riffs and ideas.”
Just one more sleep until It Beckons Us All, Darkthrone’s new masterpiece, is unleashed in full!
Limited Edition Deluxe boxed edition: includes It Beckons Us All on CD, an exclusive corona vinyl LP & cassette and art prints all housed in a heavy duty lift off lid box
Limited edition ‘Fenriz’ edition LP on blue marble coloured vinyl– exclusively available through the Peaceville stores – VERY FEW COPIES LEFT!!
Limited edition ‘Nocturno Culto’ edition LP on grey marble coloured vinyl–available through the Peaceville stores
Plus other limited edition coloured vinyl LPs are available in stores across the world – cream white, crystal clear, petrol and .. a collectors dream .. if you can find them!
SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION TRIPLE VINYL SET CONTAINING A COMBINATION OF SPELLBINDING PERFORMANCES OF THE ‘EPICUS DOOMICUS METALLICUS’ AND ‘NIGHTFALL’ ALBUMS FROM SÖDRA TEATERN, SWEDEN.
As Candlemass quickly approaches a new milestone of four decades of existence, this special triple vinyl set, ‘Tritonus Nights’, includes stellar recent performances of both the ‘Epicus…’ and ‘Nightfall’ albums in their entirety, which took place at the esteemed Södra Teatern in Stockholm, Sweden in November 2021, with the double-night event a fitting platform to celebrate the 35th anniversaries of both iconic titles.
With a line-up consisting of Lars Johansson, Mappe Björkman, Leif Edling, Janne Lindh, & Johan Längquist, Candlemass captivates a spellbound audience with renditions of numerous classic doom tracks such as ‘Solitude’, ‘Demon’s Gate’, ‘The Well of Souls’ & ‘Bewitched’, plus also notable is the inclusion of the pre-‘Epicus…’ track ‘Battlecry’ as a rare live treat. With professionally recorded & mixed sound, & with mastering work undertaken by Patrick Engel at Temple of Disharmony, ‘Tritonus Nights’ is Candlemass captured at their magnificent best.
“Those two nights at the Södra Teatern in Stockholm were amazing! Level of Magic – 200%! We sounded great and the god of Doom smiled upon us those cold, but very special November nights. Lights, sound, atmosphere, party, crazyness – all the right elements were there to perfect the Doom stew! And here’s the essence of these Magical evenings – TRITONUS NIGHTS!” – Leif Edling
Candlemass was formed by bassist and songwriter Leif Edling in Stockholm, Sweden in the mid-80s. With a healthy influence primarily coming from bands such as UK heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath, Candlemass quickly became established for their epic brand of atmospheric doom metal, with undisputed genre classics such as 1986’s debut album ‘Epicus Doomicus Metallicus’ & 1987’s follow-up opus, ‘Nightfall’ inspiring subsequent generations of the genre’s metal heroes.
Tritonus Nights is presented on limited edition triple coloured vinyl in a slipcase plus additional booklet, with Side D of the double ‘Nightfall’ vinyl containing a special etched design.
DISC 1 – Epicus Doomicus Metallicus A.1. Solitude (live) [06:53] A.2. Demon`s Gate (live) [09:43] A.3. Crystal Ball (live) [06:58] B.1. Black Stone Wielder (live) [08:30] B.2. Under The Oak (live) [07:01] B.3. A Sorcerer`s Pledge (live) [12:06]
DISC 2 – Nightfall A.1. The Well Of Souls (live) [08:40] A.2. Codex Gigas (live) [02:18] A.3. At The Gallow`s End (live) [05:57] B.1. Samarithan (live) [06:39] B.2. Dark Are The Veils Of Death (live) [05:33] B.3. Battlecry (live) [08:25]
Canadian metal legends ANVIL have announced their new studio album, ‘One And Only’, for a release on June 28, 2024 via powerhouse label AFM Records! A first video single, “Feed Your Fantasy” has just been premiered and is now streaming below.
When it comes to the most influential bands in the history of heavy metal, authorities on the subject regularly vote ANVIL among the top positions. The group from Toronto, Canada, with its two masterminds, Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow and Robb Reiner, with bassist Chris Robertson, not only looks back at an impressive career with countless highlights – as well as a number of well-documented difficulties – but has also had a lasting influence on lots of internationally renowned musicians, from Metallica to Slayer and beyond.
One And Only sees the band provide first-rate ANVIL entertainment: While Guitarist/vocalist Lips is considered to be one of the most creative and interesting storytellers of the metal genre, Chris Robertson and Robb Reiner keep the up the pace with their usual confidence, providing the perfect rhythm section for Lips. Although they have experienced the tough and frequently merciless side of the music industry on a number of occasions, ANVIL never lost their idealism, motivation and energy, which is immediately evident on One AndOnly.
Like its four predecessors,One And Only was produced by Martin ‘Mattes’ Pfeiffer (U.D.O., among others) and Jörg Uken at his Soundlodge studio. As far as Lips is concerned, Pfeiffer and Uken are “… our one and only choice. As usual, Mattes and Jörg did a great job in choosing our best playing and making sure it has top notch sound. Great guys who understand the band and know what suits us best.”
Pre-Order One And Only – due out on June 28, 2024 via AFM Records, HERE!
One And Only – tracklisting: 01 – One And Only 02 – Feed Your Fantasy 03 – Fight For Your Rights 04 – Heartbroken 05 – Gold And Diamonds 06 – Dead Man Shoes 07 – Truth Is Dying 08 – Rocking The World 09 – Run Away 10 – World Of Fools 11 – Condemned Liberty 12 – Blind Rage
ANVIL live: 02.05.2024 (CA) Ajax / The Edge 25.05.2024 (DE) Schönenberg-Kübelberg / Iron Fest Open Air 29.06.2024 (FR) Clisson, Hellfest 22.11.2024 (DE) Weissenhäuser Strand / Metal Hammer Paradise
It’s time to set the world on fire! The new POWERWOLF album “Wake Up The Wicked” will be released on July 26, 2024! The once again mesmerizing artwork by Zsofia Dankova perfectly reflects the elemental force of the album and embodies its sheer intensity! At this point we will keep it short, because we will go into more detail over time! Available for pre-order now!
Cerebral Rot is dead. From its maggot-infested corpse an entity even more repulsively loathsome has emerged, CORPUS OFFAL. Cerebral Rot’s lead guitarist/vocalist Ian Schwab and guitarist Clyle Lindstrom have reconstituted in this ghastly operating theater, now with the new rhythm section (de)composed of Jesse Shreibman (Bell Witch, Autophagy) on drums and Jason Sachs (ex-Demoncy) on bass.
With the Cerebral Rot songwriting core intact, CORPUS OFFAL reeks of similarly foul decrepitude and bludgeoning subterranean weight. Additionally, a sickly goregrind presence hovers over the murk like a horrid miasma, engulfing the tunes with a cadaverous redolence.
The two demo tracks here, “Ripened Psychosis” and “Gorging Gastric Decedent,” will both appear on the band’s eventual debut LP (in re-recorded form) to be recorded by Billy Anderson straight to tape later this year and released in 2025. For now, inhale the first rotted whiff of CORPUS OFFAL in demo form to sate your lust for excretion.
The tracks on Demo 2024 were mixed by Michael Foster and the band members, mastered by Dan Lowndes at Resonance Sound (Krieg, Drawn & Quartered, Witch Vomit), with art by Ian Schwab and layout by Dan Fried. If the works of Fetid, Cenotaph, Goatlord, Undergang, Cianide, and of course Cerebral Rot frequent your gravedigging playlist, CORPUS OFFAL should be on your list.
CORPUS OFFAL’s Demo 2024 is out today on cassette and digital via 20 Buck Spin; Find it at the label webshop HEREand stream it at YouTube HERE, and Bandcamp HERE.
Demo 2024 Track Listing:
Ripened Psychosis
Gorging Gastric Decedent
CORPUS OFFAL: Ian Schwab – guitar/vocals Clyle Lindstrom – guitar Jason Sachs – bass Jesse Shreibman – drums
Philadelphia’s MALPHAS return with the second single/video off their sophomore full-length. Listen to “Leviathan’s Moonlit Sanctum” at all streaming/download platforms now. In addition, the band has also premiered a new music video HERE .
“Leviathan’ marks the point in the story where Malphas returns to the real world. He and his demons murder the power elite figures on the island, but then travel to a nearby village and subjugate the people there,” explains singer/guitarist Paul DeSanctis. “The main character has a vision where he sees a demonic totalitarian government on the other side of the portal; he realizes he’s left the door wide open for them to take over.”
Both songs continue the tale and concept revolving around the demon Malphas and his encounters with people in life and death that the melodic death/black metal band began telling on their debut ‘The 39th Spirit’ released on Poland’s Via Nocturna in 2018.
’Portal’ takes place chronologically two hundred years prior to the events of ‘The 39th Spirit,’ explains Paul. “The album explores new themes like politics, economics, and historical events in fleshing out how the dystopian world in ‘The 39th Spirit’ comes to be.
‘Portal’ was recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Kelly (Ice Nine Kills, Baby Metal, Galactic Empire). The new album, ‘Portal,’ will be released on CD and digital platforms March 29th and is available for preorder now HERE.
About MALPHAS: Founded by Paul DeSanctis and drummer Eric Dunleavy in 2012, guitarist Damian DiFrancesco and bassist Joshua DeJesus joined the lineup in 2014 and 2019 respectively. Appealing to fans of CHILDREN OF BODOM, WINTERSUN, DIMMU BORGIR, SEPTIC FLESH, and IMMORTAL, MALPHAS produce a sound comprised of symphonic melodic death and black metal.
The band debuted with their EP The ‘Conjuring’ in 2015 followed by their first full-length, ‘The 39th Spirit’ in 2018. MALPHAS have toured Europe supporting Norway’s Keep of Kalessin and Finland’s Shade Empire, with US runs opening for Tengger Cavalry, Felix Martin, and Helsott.
Upcoming Record Release shows:
3/29 – Our Wicked Lady – Brooklyn, NY
3/30 – Record Release Show – The Nail – Ardmore, PA
Iconic heavy metallers ARMORED SAINT, who’ve been hard at work demoing tracks for their upcoming new full-length, will return to the stage later this month as direct support to Queensrÿche! The trek, which commences on March 27th in Anaheim, California, includes twelve ARMORED SAINT headlining shows scattered throughout.
Comments ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera: We’re super stoked to be going back out on the road with our good friends Queensrÿche! We’ve done several tours in the past and we always have a great time being on the road with these great musicians and friends! We’re looking forward to playing some cities we’ve never played before and also, we’ll be playing some of these dates as headliners! We’ll be pulling out some deep cuts and playing an extended set so we hope to see you come out to all of these shows! We’ve been busy writing new music so keep your ears peeled in the near future for some new SAINT! Until then, we’ll see you up front!”
Tickets are on sale now with VIP upgrades available at THIS LOCATION. See all confirmed dates below.
ARMORED SAINT’s most recent studio album, Punching The Sky, was released in 2020. The critically lauded full-length hit worldwide record charts including #4 on Billboard’s Current Hard Music Albums chart, #6 on the Top New Artists chart, #16 on the Top Independent Albums chart, and #17 on the Current Rock Albums chart upon its first week of release.
May 8 Santa Cruz, CA @ Blue Lagoon May 9 Fresno, CA @ Fulton 55 May 10 Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room May 11 Las Vegas, NV @ Sinwave May 12 Salt Lake City, UT @ Ace’s High Saloom May 14 Cheyenne WY @ Ernie November May 15 Denver CO @ HQ May 16 Lincoln NE @ Cosmic Eye May 17 Sioux Falls SD @ Remedy May 18 Des Moines IA @ Lefty’s May 19 Milwaukee WI @ Milwaukee Metal Fest May 21 Indianapolis IN @ Black Circle May 22 Knoxville TN @ The Brickyard T May 23 Columbia SC @ New Brookland Tavern May 24 Atlanta GA @ Boggs May 25 Raleigh NC @ Kings May 26 Norfolk VA @ The Annex May 28 Brooklyn NY @ The Meadows May 29 Boston MA @ Sonia May 30 Bensalem PA @ Broken Goblet May 31 Pittsburgh PA @ Spirit Club June 1 Cincinnati OH @ Legends June 2 Cleveland OH @ No Class June 5 Little Rock, AK @ White Water Tavern June 6 Dallas TX @ Red Blood Club June 7 San Antonio TX @ The Rock Box June 8 Houston TX @ The Secret Group June 9 Austin TX @ Parish June 11 Albuquerque NM @ The Launchpad June 12 Scottsdale, AZ @ Pub Rock Live June 13 Los Angeles CA @ The Echo June 14 Oakland CA @ Eli’s Mile High June 15 Portland OR @ Dantes June 16 Seattle WA @ Madame Lou’s
I went to see PRONG and VOIVOD back on February 28th, at the King of Clubs in Columbus, Ohio. What a night! I was (and still am) elated to have experienced PRONG on this tour! PRONG took the stage first and ripped out a scorching set of their songs, culminating with their intense and heavy hitting cover of “Working Man” by RUSH.
PRONG is continuing to tour in support of their newest and 13th studio albumfrom 2023:State Of Emergency. Tommy Victor and his band kickstarted my Metal adrenaline that lasted straight through VOIVOD and into the next day! Tommy’s vocals sounded stronger than ever; while always a master on his guitar. PRONG flat-out kicked Metal ass that night; I couldn’t have expected any less! Metal be thy name. – Stone
Tommy Victor – photo credit: Stone/Metal OdysseyTyler Bogliole – photo credit: Stone/Metal OdysseyJason Christopher – photo credit: Stone/Metal OdysseyTommy Victor – photo credit: Stone/Metal OdysseyTommy Victor – photo Credit: Stone/Metal Odysseyphoto credit: Stone/Metal Odyssey
SETLIST:
The Descent Irrelevant Thoughts Seeing Red (Killing Joke cover) For Dear Life Beg to Differ Unconditional Disbelief Cut-Rate Broken Peace Breaking Point Whose Fist Is This Anyway? Another Worldly Device Revenge…Best Served Cold Dark Signs Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck Third From the Sun (Chrome cover) Working Man (Rush cover)
Edward Escamilla, lead guitarist of Chicago based thrash metal band REIGN has joined WAR CURSE, replacing co-founder and lead guitarist Joshua Murphy. The lineup change comes on the tail of the band’s Metal Blade Records / Blacklight Media debut album, Confession, which was released October 20th, 2023.
Guitarist Justin Roth comments: “It’s on the best of terms that we thank Joshua Murphy for ten years of commitment and for his invaluable contributions to WAR CURSE. Murphy is truly like a brother to me. We’ve played in bands together for the last 20 years, spent holidays with each others’ families, and driven each other up a wall on occasion, as brothers do. I speak for all of us when I say that we’ll miss his shenanigans. But as they say, the show must go on.”
We had conversations with a few guitarists, but ultimately Ed was our first choice. We were stoked when he accepted our offer to join. The dude absolutely rips, and more importantly, we like him as a person. Talent matters, but so does liking the people you’re going to be stuck in a van with. We’re optimistic about the band’s future and embracing the change.”
Roth continued: “We’ve wasted no time getting new music ready to record. I’ve been demo recording new material nonstop since the week after Confession was handed in. I truly believe that I’m writing the best material of my career right now. We tried some new things on Confession. I really like some of it. Some of it will never be revisited. We’re constantly evolving. Some of the new stuff is heavier than hell. Heavier than I ever saw us going with WAR CURSE. It’s a lot of fun. But we’re always working. We’re a band that’s laser-focused on the future.”
Listen to WAR CURSE’s most recent album Confession on Spotify:
SIX FEET UNDER will unleash their pulverizing fourteenth studio album, Killing For Revenge, on May 10th through Metal Blade Records.
From the opening moments of first single, “Know-Nothing Ingrate,” which kicks off the record, it’s immediately clear that SIX FEET UNDER focused their energies into something that’s as brutal, lyrically visceral, and musically dazzling as one would hope for from the ground-breaking Tampa-bred death metal. Killing For Revenge, a gnarly beast of a record that’s not for the faint-hearted, dishes up nightmare-inducing imagery courtesy of frontman Chris Barnes via the vocalist’s trademark guttural vocals. Both the album title and darkly detailed red-hued album cover by artist Vince Locke are perfect containers for the brutality within.
“I chose the title Killing For Revenge after we completed writing and noticed that all the lyrics and storylines had a common theme of revenge. Revenge by human or revenge by nature,” Barnes says. “The album title describes the flow of the stories within the lyrics perfectly.”
Watch a lyric video for SIX FEET UNDER’s “Know-Nothing Ingrate” at THIS LOCATION.
Killing For Revenge marks the second album that Barnes and guitarist Jack Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse) have created together since reuniting for 2020’s Nightmares Of The Decomposed. Owen also produced Killing For Revenge. “We worked well together in Cannibal Corpse,” recalls Barnes. “I loved him to death as a friend and a musician, so I’m really comfortable giving him the reins because I just have such great respect for him as an artist.”
The songs on Killing For Revenge dive headfirst into subjects that are as gleefully vile, graphic, and downright grotesque as you might dream of from a Barnes/Owen project. After all, the two men were vital cogs in the Cannibal Corpse band that released such delightfully offensive death metal classics as Butchered At Birth and Tomb Of The Mutilated. SIX FEET UNDER also recorded a cover of Nazareth’s “Hair Of The Dog,” which appears on all formats of Killing For Revenge with the exception of vinyl.
As a first preview of the record, today the band unveils “Know-Nothing Ingrate.” Notes Owen, “This music was written early in the writing process. Wanting to keep the aggression of a prior SIX FEET UNDER song like ‘Amputator,’ I wrote music in the style of early Dark Angel or Kreator, who always had cool driving drumbeats. I had all the riffs in my head as I wrote the drums in a couple hours. Lyrically, I kicked around a phrase that fit the stop parts throughout the song. After coming up with ‘Know-Nothing Ingrate,’ the lyrics wrote themselves. It’s basically about online trolls who voice their uneducated and unnecessarily spiteful review of any artist’s output. You’re entitled to your opinion, and I’m entitled to mine.”
SIX FEET UNDER was initially formed as a side project for Barnes during his final years with the band that he co-founded, Cannibal Corpse. It became the frontman’s sole focus in 1995, coinciding with the release of their debut, Haunted. Only Barnes remains from SIX FEET UNDER’s original incarnation, but the quality has remained remarkably consistent. The current lineup of Barnes, guitarists Owen and Ray Suhy, bassist Jeff Hughell, and drummer Marco Pitruzzella make for a devastating unit.
Killing For Revenge, which features a guest appearance by guitarist Jason Suecof on “Neanderthal,” was mixed and mastered by Chaz Najjar at Badlands Recording in Denver, Colorado. The record will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
180g Black (US) Clear w/ Red Bloodshot (US) 180g Black (EU) Crusted Blood Marbled (EU) Khaki Brown Marbled (EU – Ltd. 300) Blood Red Splatter (EU – Ltd. 300) Gold “Black Dust” (EU – Ltd. 200)
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