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…”
Coming this Saturday December 18, at 8pm ET is a very first for Stryper. It is the WORLD PREMIER of Stryper performing their iconic album Soldiers Under Command. Some of these songs have not been performed live in over 30 years. This is a multi-camera professionally recorded in-studio concert performing the album in its entirety. This is also the first event Oz Fox played after his first of two successful brain surgeries.
Stryper has NEVER performed Soldiers Under Command in its entirety until now.
The band will be live before the performance as well as after the performance with a Q&A. Also – during the performance the band will be in the chat room chatting with fans.
Can’t watch at that time? That’s okay – We have 2 options for you. 1) Purchase now before the show and re-watch it for 48 hours or 2) Upgrade and for just $8 more watch it as much as you want for as long as you want with our Lifetime Viewing option.
This is truly a rare event. Tickets are only $12. Get yours now.
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.
Canadian hard rockers SHOTDOWNTWICE will release their upcoming self-titled EP on the 21st of January, 2021.
The new self-titled EP follows their debut Got Up Once.
“After many months of work, and after numerous highs and lows we are beyond thrilled to release our second EP, aptly named Shot Down Twice. We’ve dug real deep this time to create a hard rock EP that we are really proud of. We had a blast working on it and I think that’ll come through and you’ll be able to feel that when you listen to the music. It’s a full ride and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Cheers to all”
Alt-Rock Artist Encourages Listeners to Let Go of the Worries in Life
Nashville, TN – Alternative rocker, MiaMorris, has just released her fiery new single, “Fucket Bucket.” With retro guitars, loops, and powerful vocals, this single is an ode to letting go of the worries in life and chucking them in the “Fucket Bucket.” “Fucket Bucket” is available now on all streaming platforms worldwide.
Mia Morris’s “Fucket Bucket” is the edgy punk anthem that can resonate with everyone. Handling everyday stress while trying to live life to the fullest can put a strain on people, so Mia Morris made a carefree anthem to help let go of the stressors. “I want life to be fun, so I wrote a song about where to put everything else,” states Morris. The song begins with her declaring, “life’s too short to have regrets,” as a single guitar advances into an ensemble of classic rock sounds. She uses her ability to mold together aspects of alternative, rock, and punk sounds to create a track that reminds listeners that some things simply need to be thrown into the “Fucket Bucket.” The song was written entirely by Mia Morris, which showcases her writing dynamic perfectly. From emphatic chord progressions to her energetic vocals, “Fucket Bucket” pulls from her varied musical tastes and eclectic influences.
17-year-old Mia Morris is a rock singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She first made a name for herself online at the age of 12 when videos of her drumming reached over five million views on YouTube. Since moving to Nashville to pursue a music career, Morris has backed up over 150 artists on various instruments across the country. Morris has released over 40 songs as she continues to grow her career, with most being written, recorded, produced, and mixed by herself. Taking influences from artists such as No Doubt, Avril Lavigne, and Fountains of Wayne, her ever-growing style is uniquely hers, making her stand out in the rock genre.
Deemed a “drum protege” by other professional musicians, her musical resume puts her amongst some of the music industry’s most seasoned veterans. Learning from some of the best, she was able to study with rock legend Kenny Aronoff, drummer for many notable artists such as Alanis Morissette, among other famous and accomplished drummers. Her many talents and accomplishments have gained her a large following on social media; with over 34K TikTok followers, nearly 24.8K Instagram followers, and 51.8K YouTube subscribers alongside 9+ million views on her videos, Mia Morris is a name to remember.
Mia Morris reminds listeners that life is too short to have regrets, so take some time, put some things away in the bucket, and don’t worry about it. Stream “Fucket Bucket” on all streaming platforms and follow along with more of Mia’s journey on her Instagram @MiaMorrisMusic.
Los Angeles, CA –HighStreet has just released their highly anticipated EP, Revival. The EP acts as a beacon of invigorating sound in the hard rock genre. Each song takes listeners on a journey of triumph, pain, love, and self-reflection while treating them to a unique combination of vocals and instrumentation that form a sonic odyssey. Revival’s release closes out the band’s tour of the same name with an epic show at Los Angeles’ historic venue, Molly Malone’s. Revival is now available to download and stream across all platforms.
This EP wastes no time launching listeners into a flurry of emotion and hard-hitting rock that captivates the spirit and entices the ears. Revival consists of the singles, “Swallow Your Pride,” “Bad Blood,” and “Light of Hope” along with a new track, “Rock Bottom Blues.” High Street describes the latter as “an angry breakup song with a touch of optimism in the bridge.” The song doubles as a conduit for vocalist, Noxigen, and guitarist, Erik Findling to demonstrate the breadth of their musicality and undeniable chemistry. Combined with Nic Metaxas’s fluid bass and Brandon Nikales’ adrenaline-fueled drums, the ensemble operates like a well-oiled harmonious rock machine.
With each track on Revival, High Street has showcased their ability to turn vulnerability into strength: “Swallow Your Pride,” dives into the nuances of ego and overcoming troubled times, “Bad Blood,” discusses ending a toxic relationship on a positive note, while “Light of Hope,” serves as a sweet grunge-inspired ballad that offers solace to those who are battling inner demons and striving for peace within. The band continues to grow and develop both as artists and people willing to be open and honest about their trials and triumphs.
The many personalities that form High Street can be felt in every note of their music, and it’s evident that they’re making an impact on listeners everywhere. Their transcendental hard rock has garnered praise from publications like Phoenix Magazine, HEAVY Mag, Jammerzine, V13, Metalheads Forever Magazine, DIVINE,and more. The latter of which called the band a “…tour-de-force in the genre.”
HighStreet got its roots in lead guitarist Erik Findling’s Chicago attic. The young middle-schooler at the time – who first picked up a guitar at the age of four – enlisted his brother, Kurt, to assemble a group with some of their musically-inclined classmates. Their attic rehearsal space looked out onto the corner of High Street, inspiring the band’s name. While still in junior high, High Street’s musical prowess surpassed some of the city’s most seasoned music veterans and allowed them to play at renowned Chicago venues such as The Double Door, Hard Rock Café, Subterranean, among others.
As the band garnered more success, Findling began to compose original music for the group, and soon after, the band collaborated and recorded albums with acclaimed producer Sean O’Keefe, who is best known for his work with Fall Out Boy. Upon moving to Los Angeles, Findling felt inspired to start the band back up again after a hiatus during their college years. The band’s rebirth now includes the sensational vocals of Noxigen, Nic Metaxas on bass, and Brandon Nikales on drums.
Each member of the four-piece outfit brings a fresh new take on the hard rock genre. Using his background in Indian classical music, Noxigen delivers awe-inspiring vocals that fuse perfectly with Nikales’s energetic drumming and Findling’s chill-inducing guitar, and Metaxas’s rhythmic bass.
The first full-length biography of Eddie Van Halen—a searching, affectionate, and in-depth look at the remarkable life of a genuine musical virtuoso who changed the course of rock ’n’ roll.
“The game changing guitar legend gets the biography he deserves…. Diligently researched, perceptive and well-written.” —Classic Rock
Arriving in California as a young boy in the early 1960s, Edward Van Halen and his brother Alex were ripe for the coming musical revolution. The sons of a Dutch, saxophone-playing father, the brothers discovered the Beatles, Cream, and other icons as they bound together as musical partners, forming identities for themselves in their adopted home along the way.
“Affectionate and unflinching portrait of heavy metal’s Mount Everest…. Paul Brannigan goes deep here, his detailed…biography probing Van Halen’s psyche as well as his music.” —MOJO
From the moment their hugely influential 1978 debut landed, Van Halen set a high bar for the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle, creating an entirely new style of post-’60s hard rock and becoming the quintessential rock band of the 1980s. But the high-flying success was fraught with difficulty, as Eddie struggled with alcohol and drug addiction while simultaneously battling David Lee Roth over the musical direction of the band, eventually taking the band in an entirely new direction with Sammy Hagar and scaling new heights, before that iteration of Van Halen disintegrated.
Acclaimed biographer Paul Brannigan tackles the dramatic story with respect and affection for one of rock’s greatest musicians, pairing original interviews with meticulous research to bring the story of Eddie Van Halen completely up-to-date. Unchained: The Eddie Van Halen Story is a remarkable account of determination, genius, and single-minded commitment to the music.
AUTHOR BIO:
Paul Brannigan is a former editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine, and a current contributor to MOJO, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Kerrang! and Louder. He has previous written books on Dave Grohl, Metallica and much-missed Motorhead legend Lemmy. Born and raised in Ireland’s Six Counties, Brannigan lives in North London.
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
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.