Danish thrash metal icons ARTILLERY are celebrating their 40th anniversary with a North American headlining tour! The journey, which begins on September 29th in Minneapolis, Minnesota and closes on October 14th in Brooklyn, New York, includes a performance at the Blades Of Steel Festival in Madison, Wisconsin. Support will be provided by Vapor and Potential Threat.
Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
ARTILLERY w/ Vapor, Potential Threat: 9/29/2023 The Underground Café – Minneapolis, MN 9/30/2023 Blades Of Steel Festival @ The Crucible – Madison, WI 10/01/2023 Legend’s – Cincinnati, OH 10/02/2023 No Class – Cleveland, OH 10/03/2023 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 10/04/2023 The Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 10/05/2023 Hard Luck – Toronto, ON 10/06/2023 Brass Monkey – Ottawa, ON 10/07/2023 Piranha Bar – Montreal, QC 10/08/2023 Rock Café Le Stage – Trois Rivieres, QC 10/09/2023 L’Anti Bar and Spectacles – Quebec City, QC 10/10/2023 Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA 10/11/2023 Mr. Smalls – Millvale, PA 10/12/2023 Another Round – Richmond, VA 10/13/2023 Alchemy – Providence, RI 10/14/2023 Saint Vitus Bar – New York, NY
In the mid-1980s, Denmark’s ARTILLERY established themselves as being at the cutting edge of the thrash movement. Four decades later, they continue to destroy. The band’s most recent studio offering – the aptly titled, X — was released in 2021 via Metal Blade Records. X was tracked in Medley Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark with producer Søren Andersen, who the band have worked with on every record since 2009’s When Death Comes.
On July 14, 2023, German thrash metal titans VENDETTA will return to the scene with their sixth studio album, Black As Coal, through Massacre Records. It’s the band’s first offering in six long years.
As the previously-released, first album single “Stranglehold Of Terror” proved, Black As Coal sees the band stronger and heavier than ever, and without question, they are about to deliver their best album to date! Having released their first two records in the late 80’s, VENDETTA‘s style is deeply rooted in thrash and speed metal. With the addition of guitarist Jan Hüttinger and drummer Domi Bertelt, new blood joined VENDETTA a few years ago and the band started working on their upcoming, new album, that was recorded during the pandemic.
Today, the five-piece has unleashed a new video clip for their album title track, “Black As Coal”! VENDETTA singer Mario Vogel states: “This song is about the ills of society: money is used for nonsense and not for important things; videos are taken when someone is beaten, hurt or killed, etc.”
Black As Coal was mixed by Dominik Bertelt and VENDETTA at Caffeine Recording, and was mastered by Michael Simon at Rocket Science Audio Studio. The cover artwork was designed by Pablo Klose. Slated for a release as Jewel Case CD, Ltd. Vinyl LP and Digital formats on July 14, 2023 through Massacre Records, the album pre-sale is available at THIS LOCATION!
“Touchdown” Full-Length To See Release This August Via Atomic Fire Records + Preorders Launched!
Heavy metal quintet U.D.O. — fronted by legendary singer Udo Dirkschneider and officially completed by former Accept bassist Peter Baltes in April — recently announced their new studio album, Touchdown, due out on August 25th via Atomic Fire Records.
Crafted with producer and mixing engineer Martin “Mattes” Pfeiffer at Redhead Studio (Wilhelmshaven, Germany), the massive, thirteen-track Touchdown was mastered by Stefan Kaufmann at ROXX Studio (Solingen, Germany). The record includes a guest appearance by violinist Stefan Pintev on the closing track, and bass tracks were recorded by new member Baltes. Artwork was provided by Martin Häusler who was also responsible for shooting band photos in support of the new album campaign.
Currently, U.D.O., who are also performing as DIRKSCHNEIDER, are gracing the stages of some of Europe’s biggest festivals including Graspop Metal Meeting, Leyendas del Rock, Summer Breeze Open Air, and more. Playing in front of their rabid loyal global fanbase makes each and every concert feel like a home game and today, U.D.O. kicks off their new musical season with their latest single and accompanying lyric video, “Forever Free.”
Elaborates drummer Sven Dirkschneider of the track, “‘Forever Free’ is supposed to make people not simply believe facts they hear or get shown, for example, by media, but to think individually. Of course, we don’t mean that one should question everything. The song shall just express that it’s better to create your own opinions about conflicts and other topics one stands for, even when they’re wrong sometimes, than to follow the mass blindly. It’s a musical tribute to our privilege of living in a free world as we luckily can.”
Preorder Touchdown, presave it on your favorite DSP, or preorder it digitally to receive “Forever Free” instantly at: http://udo.afr.link/touchdownPR.
Subscribe to Atomic Fire Records on YouTube HERE. Listen to “Forever Free” as well as other new tracks in the AFR New Releases playlist on Spotify HERE.
European fans can catch U.D.O. / DIRKSCHNEIDER live throughout the coming months. For tickets and to stay up to date on upcoming shows go to THIS LOCATION.
Driving, unrelenting and unique true metal is what’s on offer for the forthcoming debut album, Sceptre, from Vision Master. Sceptre combs the darkest depths for ten songs of blazing and unconventional classic metal! Gates of Hell Records will release Sceptre on August 25.
Former Funerot members Dan Munro and Reuben Storey (Christian Mistress) have long imagined a band like Vision Master: Dark, but with mystical atmospheres adjoined with blistering guitar riffs, thunderous rhythms and soaring vocals.
The band’s first full-length, Sceptre, is a fully-realized exercise in driving, unrelenting and unique true metal. Thoroughly recorded at Storey and Munro’s home studios, and with Tony “Baloney” Jefferson providing additional engineering, Sceptre was finally mastered by Justin Weis’.
Sceptre pushes boundaries across the traditional metal terrain, with Vision Master drawing from a wide range of influences that spans old-school metal as well as the likes of Brocas Helm, Slough Feg, Venom, Mercyful Fate and early Voivod. And, going down an even dirtier and extreme path, Discharge, Poison Idea, Die Kreuzen and classic black metal. It all adds up to a cosmic journey that, as Munro explains, “explores the depths of strange, unfamiliar realms and unrealities.”
Line-up: Dan Murno – Vocals/guitar Reuben Story – Bass/drums
Featuring cover art by Seventh Bell Artworks based on an experimental photographic collaboration between Dan and David Hoekje, Sceptre transports the listener into a futuristic world where a biological network sprawls across cities and xenon gas stores are the only hope for mankind. The album’s journey brings listeners to a mystical, sandstone throne with the power to probe the origins of mankind, ultimately asking the question: If you had the power to undo the petulant plague that is man, would you?”
FFO: Brocas Helm, Mercyful Fate, The Lord Weird Slough Feg, and Cosmic Horror.
Brazilian/Finnish death metal unit 3rd WAR COLLAPSE have announced the upcoming release of their sophomore album, “Catastrophic Epicenter”, on August 24th, 2023 via Lethal Scissor Records. The first single from the album, “The Last Hecatomb”, is out today. Stream it HERE.
“Catastrophic Epicenter” tracklist: 01 – Catastrophic Epicenter 02 – Legion Of The Infested 03 – Coffin Shortage 04 – Terror Diffusion 05 – Fomites 06 – Asphyxiating Tyranny 07 – Lacerate The Rival 08 – Heresy Behind The Lies 09 – Killing Each Other 10 – The Last Hecatomb
3rd WAR COLLAPSE is a Brazilian / Finnish violent hate-filled brutal death-grind project featuring veteran musicians of the underground scene as Cristiano Martinez (ex-Vomepotro) andKalle Lindfors (Inferia).
The band, which also features new bassist/vocalist Juan Azevedo, have steered their music through different shades of death metal and grindcore, from the technical to the plain, groovy and ignorant. Their most blisteringly furious, ambitious, and eclectic record to date, “Catastrophic Epicenter” is a much-needed hammer to the face, a riff-driven assault which delivers ten tracks of brutal death metal mixed with elements of grindcore, thrash and old school heaviness.
The suffocating atmosphere carries through to the lyrics that detail the myriad ways that human beings waste, destroy or devalue what’s in front of them. This is a multi-layered, metallic offer proving 3rd WAR COLLAPSE’s standing in the scene!
For fans of: Dying Fetus, Misery Index, Skinless, Criminal Element
Line-up: Cris Martinez – Guitar & Vocals Juan Azevedo – Bass & Vocals Kalle Lindfors – Drums
Israeli metalcore warriors CANINE have released their latest single, “Mad For The Dead”, on June 21, 2023. This is the third of many planned singles, leading up to their second full-length, Perception, due out early 2024.
The band comments on the single: “‘Mad For The Dead’ is our take on the inability to let go of a loved one, taking heavy inspiration from Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary”. If you had the power to revive that loved one, not knowing the ramifications of your actions. Would you?”
Since forming in 2009 in Modiin, Israel, CANINE have been making a name for themselves by defying convention, creating their own distinct sound and never settling for anything that was just run of the mill or ordinary. Rather, the band have stretched the boundaries of their sound, through the trials of line-up changes and military service in the IDF. CANINE has established themselves as a powerhouse of the metalcore scene, while incorporating a healthy dose of groove metal, nu-metal and post-hardcore into their signature sound.
In November 2017, CANINE released their debut The Uprising and immediately set out on tour throughout Israel.
As CANINE breaks new ground and forges ahead in their career, they will do so with a sense of determination and defiance. Throughout 2023, the band will explore themes of addiction, depression, the weaponized power of religion, but mostly chasing your dreams no matter the circumstances, trusting in your friends and loved ones and never backing down.
After 4 years of intense work in the studio, experimenting with different production methods and recording techniques, as well as many personal hurdles, Perception was born and will be released in 2024 marking a new page in the band’s career, both sonically and aesthetically.
CANINE is:
Ben Saada – Vocals Eliav Torjman – Guitars Nir Leberstein – Drums Ilya Kislitsin – Bass
Midwest death machine CASKET ROBBERY is once again hitting the road in support of their latest album, Rituals of Death.
The first leg of the tour kicks off in July, followed by a string of dates with St. Louis-based symphonic deathcore band ABADDONIA. Tour dates are as follows:
July 6th – Detroit, MI at Sanctuary Detroit July 7th – Lakewood, OH at The Foundry Concert Club July 8th – Menomonie, WI at The Mabel Tainter
CASKET ROBBERY/ABADDONIA SUMMER TOUR August 10th – Portage, WI* at Studio 301 August 11th – Rhinelander, WI* at Project Mayhem August 12th – Rhinelander, WI* at Project Mayhem – Patreon Member Meet August 13th – Chicago, IL at Cobra Lounge August 14th – Louisville, KY at Mag Bar August 15th – Chesapeake, VA at Riffhouse Pub August 16th – Harrisburg, PA at JB Lovedraft’s Micro Pub August 17th – Dayton, OH at Blind Bobs August 18th – Indianapolis, IN at Black Circle August 19th – Battle Creek, MI* at Michigan Metal Fest *No Abaddonia
This tour comes on the heels of CASKETROBBERY‘s blistering performance at the reincarnated Milwaukee Metal Fest. Check out video footage from their set below.
Emerging from the darkest and most desolate areas of the Midwest, CASKET ROBBERY creates its own signature style of death metal by infusing horror and occult themes. Their trademark huge riffs and unstoppable grooves create the unrelenting, brutally catchy, and eerie sound that only CASKET ROBBERY is known for. Death metal with a wink.
CASKET ROBBERY’s intense, high-energy shows have quickly surfaced a die-hard following. They continue to show a relentless work ethic and dedication to their fanbase. After the release of their debut album CASKET ROBBERY has toured the United States continually, hitting large festivals like Full Terror Assault and Milwaukee Summerfest. CASKET ROBBERY has shared the stage with Cannibal Corpse, Jungle Rot, Psycroptic, Immolation, and more. Your unrelenting nightmare has just begun.
HOLE IN THE FRAME keep on rocking with the third single in a few weeks. After ‘Mr Madness’ and ‘Insomnia Pt.2′, now is the time of ‘Frame Of Mind’, a powerful and groovy metal song, released through Volcano Records & Promotion, and available both on all digital platforms and YouTube with a lyric video.
‘Frame Of Mind’ is the title-track of the full album to be released by the band further on and well represents the style of this young collective that cross-over the genres with rage and strength. Looking at Pantera, Korn and Slipknot as main sources of influence, Hole In The Frame are writing their path with personality and determination gaining a lot of interest and attention both in Europe and South America.
The band said about ‘Frame Of Mind’ that this song talks “about an inner journey in our ego search. Frame of mind is about some questions that, many times, we cannot find an answer to. What is our place in this world? What do we do to live with dissatisfaction?”
Discover more about HITF on their official social pages and check ‘Frame Of Mind’ out at the link below
Alice Cooper revs up as loudly as ever on his latest solo album Road. Produced by longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, it’s written, composed and recorded with his trusted, longtime bandmates – Ryan Roxie [guitar], Chuck Garric [bass], Tommy Henrikson [guitar], Glen Sobel [drums], and Nita Strauss [guitar]. “Road” channels the spirit of old school Alice with instantly recognizable grit and plenty of gusto. It’s everything you’d hope for from him and more.
“For Road, I wanted the band to be involved in the foundation of all the songs,” says Alice. “I only see these guys when we’re on the road. So, I wanted them to be as tight as they are for the show but on all new material. When you have a band this good, I believe in showing it off, and this is my way of doing so.”
The album opener and first single “I’m Alice” sets the tone for the album with its driving drumbeat as guitars wail in the distance. Alice’s instantly recognizable rasp takes hold, “I know you’re looking for a real good time. So, let me introduce you to a friend of mine. I’m Alice. I’m the Master of Madness; the Sultan of Surprise…so don’t be afraid, just look into my eyes.”
“Road” is going to be released on August 25th, 2023 on earMUSIC in a wide variety of formats and limited vinyl colors. Complementing the album’s theme, the bonus DVD/Blu-ray comes with Alice Cooper’s full live show at Hellfest 2022 and includes all the classics and rarely played gems.
Below info from: AliceCooper.com:
Album Features: Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wayne Kramer (MC5), Keith Nelson (Buckcherry) and Kane Roberts
Track listing (CD):
01. I’m Alice 02. Welcome To The Show 03. All Over The World 04. Dead Don’t Dance 05. Go Away 06. White Line Frankenstein 07. Big Boots 08. Rules Of The Road 09. The Big Goodbye 10. Road Rats Forever 11. Baby Please Don’t Go 12. 100 More Miles 13. Magic Bus
Tracklisting (DVD – Live at Hellfest 2022):
01. Feed My Frankenstein (Live at Hellfest) 02. No More Mr. Nice Guy (Live at Hellfest) 03. Bed Of Nails (Live at Hellfest) 04. Hey Stoopid (Live at Hellfest) 05. Fallen In Love (Live at Hellfest) 06. Go Man Go (Live at Hellfest) 07. Guitar Solo by Nita Strauss (Live at Hellfest) 08. Roses On White Lace (Live at Hellfest) 09. I’m Eighteen (Live at Hellfest) 10. Poison (Live at Hellfest) 11. Billion Dollar Babies (Live at Hellfest) 12. The Black Widow Jam (Live at Hellfest) 13. Steven (Live at Hellfest) 14. Dead Babies (Live at Hellfest) 15. I Love The Dead (Live at Hellfest) 16. Escape (Live at Hellfest) 17. School’s Out (Live at Hellfest)
Back in 1981, I was a freshman in high school. My buddy Scott introduced me to the albums Blizzard Of Ozz and Mob Rules. Seriously, my life changed forever. For those that never lived this era, the feeling and vibe of these albums being newly released was nothing short of ecstasy.
I worry that younger generations of Metalheads will never fully understand the full magnitude of Blizzard O Ozz and Mobb Rules on the Metal spectrum back in 1981. Yes, Ozzy Osbourne is a mainstream figure today. Yes, Randy Rhoads will forever be an iconic Metal guitarist. What I want to scream out loud for the universe to here is that the rhythm section of Blizzard Of Ozz was a once in a lifetime duo of Bob Daisley on bass and the late Lee Kerslake on drums.
Bob Daisley wrote the songs AND lyrics for Blizzard Of Ozz. No debate. Fact. Please, just do the research to know the truth. Regardless, Ozzy was the singer that was so unique for its time and is still to this day. I believe each member of Blizzard Of Ozz were honestly dependent on each other; they were a group that will never again be matched. They’re vibe as a cohesive group is to be emulated. Forever.
Now, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward countered with Mob Rules. With Ronnie James Dio recruited as the new lead singer of Black Sabbath, the evolution of Metal will forever be changed for the better, in my Metal opinion. Now, the Black Sabbath album Heaven And Hell was already released a year earlier and set the bar for the new era of Metal. Regardless, Mob Rules solidified the impact that this new era of Black Sabbath was about.
My main objective with this post is to remind seasoned Metalheads and/or let the younger generations of Metalheads that 1981 was a pulsar of Metal history due to Blizzard Of Ozz and Black Sabbath. These albums have stood the test of time. Heck, these albums are better than most Metal albums released since then.
Following their wildly successful Verminous Remnant Spring headlining tour, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER today announces a final bout of shows before returning to the studio to complete their next studio album. The short journey, which begins on September 8th at Blue Ridge Rock Fest in Alton, Virginia and closes on September 16th at the New England Metal Fest in Worcester, Massachusetts, includes a performance alongside Lamb Of God in Pikeville, Kentucky. Support will be provided by Chelsea Grin, Gates To Hell, and labelmates, 200 Stab Wounds, on select shows. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 16th at 10:00am local time. See all confirmed dates below.
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER w/ Chelsea Grin, 200 Stab Wounds, Gates To Hell: 9/08/2023 Blue Ridge Rock Fest – Alton, VA * 9/09/2023 The Concourse – Knoxville, TN 9/10/2023 Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY 9/11/2023 Appalachian Wireless Arena – Pikeville, KY w/Lamb Of God, After The Burial, Alpha Wolf * 9/12/2023 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 9/14/2023 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ 9/15/2023 Reverb – Reading, PA 9/16/2023 New England Metal Fest – Worcester, MA
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER only
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER’s most recent full-length, Verminous, was released in 2020 via Metal Blade Records. Without compromising a scrap of heaviness, the record stands among the band’s most dynamic, rousing, and emotional releases to date. Louder Sound crowned Verminous, “absolutely excellent,” while Blabbermouth wrote, “This is a deeper and smarter realization of the Michigan crew’s tried and tested formula, and one blessed with several of the finest songs they have ever written… File next to Nocturnal and Ritual as an unquestionable career peak.” To preview and purchase the record, visit metalblade.com/tbdm.
New Album out on June 30, 2023 via AFM Records Currently on Tour with EISBRECHER + New Headlining Dates just announced!
While they are currently on tour with EISBRECHER ( find all gigs listed below, including just announced headlining dates! ), industrial dark rock and metal act, SCHATTENMANN, is gearing up for the release of their hotly-anticipated, forthcoming album! Día de Muertos, the band’s fourth studio offering, is due out on June 30, 2023via AFM Records, the pre-sale is available at THIS LOCATION!
Following a series of previously-released singles such as “Menschenhasser”, “Hände Hoch”, “Dickpic” or “Jeder Ist Schlecht”, now, the four-piece is presenting us a music video for their album title track! SCHATTENMANN frontman Frank Herzig comments: “For us, Día de Muertos is an absolutely life-affirming song. “We celebrate life, death and time” means seize the day, enjoy life and make the most of the time you have left.”
Watch the new SCHATTENMANN clip for “Día de Muertos”, now premiering HERE
With their unique sound and profound music, SCHATTENMANN has become one of the most promising bands in the German metal scene. Chaos, the band’s latest, much acclaimed album (2021, AFM Records), has already seen them unmistakably showcase: SCHATTENMANN‘s sound became heavier, more metallic, more multifaceted and uncompromising in terms of content.
With Día de Muertos, SCHATTENMANN has purposefully expanded their sound to include modern and enthralling elements through the influences of metal and industrial, and their upcoming offering won’t make any exceptions. The album promises to take its listener on an even more intense journey and solidify their already strong presence in the world of heavy music!
“On ‘Día de Muertos’, you will only find songs that get straight to the point without detours. Half-hearted ideas or even filler material is sought in vain here,” Herzig recently said, who also produced and mixed the album.
“We sorted out a lot during the songwriting and kept only the very best tracks to present to the public. In this way, ten strong songs have been created that leave no questions unanswered.”
This statement is all the more true since Herzig and his three bandmates Jan Shook (guitar), Luke Shook (bass) and Nils Kinzig (drums) once again draw on the full range of content. Their credo is: “We wish, that our fans are touched by our music and take something out of it for themselves personally. We want to arouse emotions, from good mood to anger, but at the same time it can also be melancholic or thoughtful.”
Día de Muertos track listing:
Día de Muertos
Jeder ist schlecht
Hände hoch
Menschenhasser
Dämonen
Meer aus Licht
Haters Gonna Hate
Dickpic
In deinem Schatten
Ewigkeit
In support of their upcoming album release, SCHATTENMANN are currently touring with German rock act EISBRECHER, but have also just announced their Día de Muertos Tour 2024!
Make sure to catch SCHATTENMANN live at the following dates:
With EISBRECHER 09.06.23-DE-Leipzig, Parkbühne (Neue Venue) 10.06.23-DE-Dresden, Alter Schlachthof 16.06.23-DE-Berlin | Columbiahalle 17.06.23-AT-Wien, Gasometer 18.06.23-DE-München, Zenith 29.06.23-DE-Wiesbaden, Schlachthof 30.06.23-DE-Bochum, RuhrCongress 01.07.23-DE-Hannover, Swiss Life Hall 02.07.23-DE-Fürth, Stadthalle
Día de Muertos Tour 2024 01.02.24 DE-Frankfurt, Das Bett 02.02.24 DE-Berlin, Columbia Theater 03.02.24 DE-Hannover, Musikzentrum 04.02.24 DE-Hamburg, Knust 08.02.24 DE-Dresden, Tante Ju 09.02.24 DE-Leipzig, Hellraiser 11.02.24 DE-Oberhausen, Kulttempel 21.03.24 DE-München, Backstage 22.03.24 AT-Wien, Chelsea 23.03.24 DE-Stuttgart, Im Wizemann 24.03.24 DE-Nürnberg, Hirsch
Black metal horde PROGENITOR will unleash its debut album, titled Eldritch Supremacy, this summer. The band has launched an early assault with the album’s first single, “Beast of Gevaudan.”
Tracklist: 1) Intro 2) Eldritch Supremacy 3) Crows of Winter 4) Prophets Belial 5) Beast of Gevaudan 6) Treasures of Perversion 7) Binding of the Corpse God
Eldritch Supremacy was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Chris Manino. Artwork by Jasmine Howsmon.
PROGENITOR, an unrelenting force in the realm of black metal, emerged from the depths of darkness to unleash their sonic fury upon the world. Formed in 2008 in Tacoma, WA. PROGENITOR has risen as a formidable entity within the black metal scene.
Drawing inspiration from the ancient, occult, and primordial forces that shape the universe, PROGENITOR‘s music serves as a vessel for dark and introspective exploration. Their sound is characterized by a relentless onslaught of atmospheric riffs, blistering tremolo-picked melodies, thunderous blast beats, and hauntingly rasped vocals. By seamlessly blending atmospheric elements with ferocious aggression, PROGENITOR creates an immersive and evocative auditory experience that transports listeners to otherworldly realms of despair and transcendence.
PROGENITOR is: JoeErz – vocals Fletcher Lane – lead guitar Ben Kettel – rhythm guitar Brian Sprouse– bass guitar and vocals Alex Shaw – drums
Witherfall continue their march towards album number 4 with a select appearance opening for the iconic bands Cynic and Atheist! Get your tickets for June 17th at the Teragram ballroom in Los Angeles now before they sell out! Its an early show with Doors open at 6:00 Witherfall on at 6:30 with Cynic closing the night at 8:30.
Following their latest, much-acclaimed offering, Reforged – Ironbound (released in 2022 via AFM Records), Hamburg-based power metal act Iron Savior has announced the release of a brand new studio album! Firestar will be out on October 6, 2023 through AFM, the pre-sale has just started at THIS LOCATION!
To shorten your wait until the full-length release, today, Iron Savior have unleashed their blistering album title track! It’s immediatly evident, “Firestar” is irresistible and with its incredible 176 bpm definitely one of the fastest songs in Iron Savior’s history to date. Says singer and guitarist Piet Sielck: “With the power of the debut, the energy of Condition Red and a massive old-school-meets-modern-soundscapes production, Firestar is a massive track that won’t leave your players for a long time. We promise!”
Watch the official lyric video for “Firestar”, now premiering HERE
The band’s upcoming album will feature a wide range of influences from hard rock to pop, all calibrated to heavy metal standards thanks to those typical Iron Savior virtues. But sometimes pure coincidence or seemingly inconspicuous little details can turn a very good album into an outstanding release. In the case of Firestar, it has come as a real surprise even for Sielck that the new songs surpass the material of the impressive 2020 album Skycrest. In fact, the cornerstones of the current offering were already set and pointed to a successful production within the tried and tested framework, when all of a sudden everything turned out rather differently: “Just before the recordings were finalised, I was inspired by the muse, totally out of the blue. I wrote two more songs out of nowhere and changed a third one on the spur of the moment. And suddenly, ‘Firestar’ turned into an even better record,” says Sielck happily, admitting that this unexpected creative surge “triggered great emotions” in him.
Iron Savior have again come up with an exceptional studio album in Firestar, enhanced by Felipe Machado Franco’s impressive cover artwork presenting the Iron Savior spaceship that has been around since 2011. The cherry on the cake is the powerful production courtesy of Hamburg’s Powerhouse Studio, including intelligently positioned keyboard parts and the anthemic background choirs, supported by Sielck’s 17-year-old daughter Frida and her boyfriend. Without any doubt, Firestar promises to be a bonfire in many respects!
Firestar track listing:
The Titan
Curse of the Machinery
In the Realm of Heavy Metal
Demise of the Tyrant
Firestar
Through the Fires of Hell
Mask, Cloak and Sword
Across the Wastelands
Rising from Ashes
Nothing Is Forever
Together as One
IRON SAVIOR: Piet Sielck (vocals, guitars) Joachim “Piesel” Küstner (guitars) Jan S. Eckert (bass) Patrick Klose (drums)
IRON SAVIOR Live: 09.06.23 Hellpdays, Olmutz (CZ) 30.06.23 Midalidare, Rock in the Vine Valley (BGR) 01.07.23 Fahrendorf Open Air, Fahrendorf (D) 26.08.2023 Steel Fest, Stalowa Wola (POL) 02.09.23 1000Fryd, Aalborg tba (DK) 09.09.23 Kubana, Siegburg (D)
Bristol (UK) – Relentlessly pummeling and delivering old-school thrash vibes with modern production values, UK thrashers CHUPACABRA are primed to release their debut EP, Fortifiedwith Ashes, on August 4.
A lyric video for opening track “Burn The Clowns” is available at: youtu.be/9cwV6sfVgXs
And that’s not all! CHUPACABRA is providing all the music for the new audiobook edition of DX Ferris’ best-selling SLAYER biography: Slayer 66 & 2/3: A Metal Band Biography, Postmortem Remastered Edition, as well as the accompanying podcast, Talkin’ Slayer: A Metal Podcast and Half-@ssed Audiobook.
CHUPACABRA is the new project from three battle-scarred members of Bristol’s flourishing metal scene. Nige Savage (all instruments except lead guitar) and Heather Taylor (vocals) are former members of well-known local band Wytch; Heather was also the lead singer for acclaimed Bristol band Cybervoid. Alex Brent, formerly of Captive, rounds out the recording line-up on lead guitar.
CHUPACABRA bring the full-frontal, in-your-face force of relentless thrashing riffage as a platform for soaring, aggressive vocals that explore issues of toxic relationships, female empowerment, social injustice and the laid-bare rage of one disaffected member of a broken society. Heather Taylor reveals layers of herself threaded through the songs on a journey of venting unbound rage, breaking conditioned compliance and growing a new authentic skin.
For Fans Of: Kreator, Slayer, Arch Enemy, Holy Moses, At The Gates, Lamb of God, Pest Control, Testament, Sodom
Track Listing:
Burn The Clowns
F.T.T.D.
Fortified with Ashes
EP mixed and mastered by Wynter Prior, Sphynx Studios, Brighton, UK.
As the band approaches its 20th anniversary of their first release, As the Last Light Drains (Victory Records, 2003), FREYA have returned to their roots with a pulverizing new full-length album, entitled Fight As One, which will be released on September 22nd on Upstate Records.
Today the band has shared “Sense Of Doom” where they are joined by HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta. “We are all living through increasingly tumultuous and uncertain times,”says vocalist Karl Buechner about the track. “‘Sense of Doom’ is about weathering those storms by staying unified with friends and family. The message is about never surrendering to negativity and holding true to core values.”
FREYA are joined by three legendary hardcore front-men on their newest album; Freddie Cricien (MADBALL) delivers a crushing performance on the title track, Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) seethes on “Sense of Doom” and Scott Vogel (TERROR) drops the hammer on “Thousand Yard Stare”.
Fight As One Credits: Lyrics: Karl Buechner Composition: Karl Buechner, Erick Edwards, Thom Turner, Ian Edwards, Ethan D Henry Produced and Mixed By: Ethan D Henry Mastered by: Jocko (Moresound) Photo By: Jim Wertman
Track Listing: Nothingness Or God Sense Of Doom ft. Jamey Jasta Fight As One ft. Freddy Cricien 1000 Yard Stare ft. Scott Vogel Back To Haunt The Flames Of War Never Say My Name Beyond Despair Omens Destructive Path Odin
New song and lyric video of the Luxembourgish Thrashers!
Hey, want immense anger?
A determined return: With their 2 previous albums SCARLET ANGER earned lots of respect and appreciation. Recently the line-faithful bunch around singer Joe Block has finished the third album “Martyr“.
New Album will be released in 2023. In advance, there is from the guys full one on the cap once more with the new, 2nd single and the video “Hunger“!
Video production: Stereo 27 Productions
The band says about “Hunger“: “The song title refers to the central theme of the song, which is the insatiable greed and inner hunger that drives us. The term ‘Hunger’ symbolizes the intense longing and desire for more, whether it be material or immaterial.”
LINE-UP: Joe Block • Vocals Jeff Buchette • Guitars Fred Molitor • Guitars Vincent Niclou • Bass Rod Sovilla • Drums
FLASHBACK: SCARLET ANGER is a Luxembourgish THRASH METAL band, founded in 2007 by vocalist Joe Block and guitarist Fred Molitor. Their first gigs were followed quite quickly by the release of a first EP, called “La Realidad Es Triste …”, whose successor “Kill The King” made the band noticeable on an international level for the first time.
Being more aggressive and fast than its predecessor, “Kill The King” didn’t just earn a lot of critical acclaim but also gained the attention of the German label Dust On The Tracks. This led to a world wide record deal for the first album “Dark Reign”, which was mastered by Jeff Waters and released by Dust On The Tracks in May 2012. SCARLET ANGER presented their new album on numerous small and established festivals like the Durbuy Rock Festival and the Extremefest.
In between their shows, SCARLET ANGER started gathering first ideas for the successor to “Dark Reign”. Classic eighties and nineties comics and horror stories served as their main inspiration for what would later become their second album “Freak Show”. Mastered by Jens Bogren, this album has a more melodic approach. It was released on March 18th 2016 via Haensel and Gretel / MIG Music.
October 14, 2023 | Northern Rockfest | Umeå, Sweden October 15, 2023 | Cozmoz Arena | Borlänge, Sweden October 16, 2023 | Vulkan Arena| Oslo, Norway October 17, 2023 | Trädgår’n | Gothenburg, Sweden October 19, 2023 | Slaktkyrkan | Stockholm, Sweden October 20, 2023 | Gimle | Roskilde, Denmark October 20, 2023 | Kulturpalast | Hamburg, Germany October 22, 2023 | Hellraiser | Leipzig, Germany October 24, 2023 | TivoliVredenburg (Ronda) | Utrecht, Netherlands October 25, 2023 | Garage | Saarbrücken, Germany October 26, 2023 | Bataclan | Paris, France October 27, 2023 | Konzertfabrik Z7 | Pratteln, Switzerland October 28, 2023 | Alcatraz | Milan, Italy October 30, 2023 | Backstage | Munich, Germany October 31, 2023 | Szene | Vienna, Austria November 1, 2023 | Barba Negra | Budapest, Hungary November 3, 2023 | Fuzz Club | Athens, Greece November 4, 2023 | Principal Club Theater | Thessaloniki, Greece November 6, 2023 | FORM Space | Cluj-Napoca, Romania November 7, 2023 | Quantic | Bucharest, Romania November 10, 2023 | Colos-Saal | Aschaffenburg, Germany November 12, 2023 | Matrix | Bochum, Germany
Finnish heavy metal sextet BATTLE BEAST will be bringing their Circus of Doom to town and playing Day 3 (Sept. 8) of ProgPower USA. They will be replacing WIND ROSE. Tickets are still available for days 1 & 2 of the festival.
ProgPower USA is a progressive and power metal festival held annually in the United States since 2001. Its upcoming edition, ProgPower USA XXII, will occur Sep 6 – Sep 9, 2023 at Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, GA. This year’s lineup features KAMELOT, UNLEASH THE ARCHERS, the final USA show for POWER QUEST, and the first announced USA show for THE HALO EFFECT. Other acts include DORO, BEAST IN BLACK, SWALLOW THE SUN, VOLA, CYNIC, and more!
Day 1 | September 6 DORO SWALLOW THE SUN CYNIC ELVENKING ICE AGE
Day 2 | September 6 BEAST IN BLACK VOLA THE HALO EFFECT ZERO HOUR SEVEN KINGDOMS
Day 3 | September 8 – SOLD OUT
KAMELOT CALIGULA’S HORSE GREEN CARNATION AD INFINITUM BATTLE BEAST THE CRYPTEX
Day 4 | September 9 – SOLD OUT
MYRATH UNLEASH THE ARCHERS DELAIN VISIONS OF ATLANTIS EVIL INVADERS POVERTY’S NO CRIME
Glenn Harveston reflected, “Our festival has established itself as one of the most unique and exciting events for progressive and power metal worldwide, and the history of sales speaks for itself. I’m thankful for yet another sell-out for days 3&4, and hope the trend continues for Milton and Nathan’s shows as well.”
Milton Mendonca continued, “This year’s Day 2 roster calls back to the quintessential blend of genres that made our festival so successful to begin with. You cannot find a show like this anywhere else in the States, so last call to join the best metal party of the year.”
ProgPower USA has served as the USA debut for iconic bands like Nightwish, Blind Guardian, Epica, Kamelot and more. Tickets for days 1 & 2 of the festival have limited quantities still available. Be a part of heavy metal history and join in on ProgPower USA XXII!
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!
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