MODERN MIMES, the alternative heavy rock outfit from South Florida, have unleashed their new single “Heavy Heart”. Following their latest single “Down and Dead”, “Heavy Heart” ventures into darker realms. Heavy distortion, dynamic electronics and stunning vocals combine to create a thrilling and powerful offering.
About MODERN MIMES: MODERN MIMES began as a duo in 2016 with Arianie and Ernesto blending styles of PORTISHEAD, NINE INCH NAILs, SEVENDUST, and LACUNA COIL. The duo performed locally in their hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and landed the Riptide Music Festival alongside WEEZER, SILVERSUN PICKUPS and many more. It was in 2018 that they were joined by drummer Justin Perez from New Orleans, Louisiana, and became the three-piece they are today.
Perfect in time for a hot summer, on July 14, 2023, power metal act WINTERSTORM will release their upcoming, fifth studio album, entitled “Everfrost”, via AFM Records. It’s their first offering since 2016.
As the “Winter” stands for nordic viking and folk metal, the “Storm” for fast-paced power metal, combined with epic and orchestral metal facettes, WINTERSTORM shines in a new splendor as first album single releases have already proved. Following “To The End Of All Known” and just recently, a music video for their latest single “Future Times”, today, WINTERSTORM are proudly presenting us “The Phoenix Died (Remember)!
Watch the new WINTERSTORM video for “The Phoenix Died (Remember)” HERE
‘Remember’ reminds us that we should remember our past in order to learn for the future,” the band comments. “The text urges us to use our resources responsibly and to provide for future generations. In this context, one could also think of the sinking of Atlantis.”
It’s the melodic grandeur, that clearly marks the foreground of WINTERSTORM, reflected in heavily catchy choruses and colossal, polyphonic vocals. Striking elements of different metal styles merge with each other and get a completely new impression, that WINTERSTORM’s forthcoming record may be their most versatile and powerful album to date; one that does not have to hide behind proved genre colleagues such as Blind Guardian or Rhapsody Of Fire.
“Everfrost” will be coming out as CD Digipak, limited clear blue Vinyl and Boxset on July 14, 2023 via AFM Records, the pre-sale is available at THIS LOCATION!
Back – Jesse Briggs (Drums), Middle (L to R) – Jackson Landry (Guitar), Jordan Fournier (Guitar), Front – Chris Lee (Bass) Photo Credit: Bryan Otter
Tour Dates w/ Cancer Bats, Thousand Knives
Diner Drugs is a four-piece stoner metal punk crew, born out of a desire to defeat the boredom of east coast living. Diner Drugs is fast, loud and are always keen to turn up the heat with catchy choruses and deep vocal harmonies while sticking to their deep stoner metal roots. They are ready to hit the road this spring and have a flashy new single “This War” coming out to get fans excited. The single is the first look at a new EP that will be coming out this year. The band explains in detail:
“This is the first single off of our latest EP titled “42”. We are proud of this loud and driving track, complete with catchy choruses and an epic, heavy ending. This song features powerful vocals, with lyrics warning about the dangers of assuming things will work out for the best, without cautiously preparing for the worst. So much hard work from so many people went into this, it’s loud and fast and we hope everyone digs it.”
The tour this spring will take Diner Drugs all over the east coast of Canada. With relaxed attitudes and groovy riffs, they enjoy bringing fun metal to people and enticing them to headbang. Loud and energetic is their goal, and their lyrics come from both personal experience and witnessing the experiences of others. They live in a have-not town, so they are more than familiar with hard times. They draw from these troubles for inspiration and hope to maybe help anyone stuck in these situations feel a little less alone in their battles.
It’s loud, fast, meaningful metal, and according to the band the song means a lot more to them this time around and they feel it reflects in the upcoming record. They are recommended for fans of Cancer Bats, Dead Quiet, and Mokomakai.
The EP “42” is due out via BatSkull Records later this year.
Tour Dates: May 12 – St. John’s, NL – The Deck May 13 – St. John’s, NL – The Abbey (All Ages) May 13 – St. John’s, NL – The Deck May 24 – Charlottetown, PEI – Trailside w/ Cancer Bats, Thousand Knives May 25 – Moncton, NB – Xeroz w/ Cancer Bats, Thousand Knives May 26 – Halifax, NS – The Seahorse w/ Cancer Bats, Thousand Knives May 27 – Sydney, NS – Curling Club w/ Cancer Bats, Thousand Knives
Australian hard rockers BIG RED FIRE TRUCK have released their new single “Love Bite“. The song is from their upcoming EP Trouble InParadisewhich is out on August 4th, 2023.
The band comments: ” ‘Love Bite’ is a personal reflection of my experiences in the music industry and its comparison to the highs and lows of a place like Vegas. It’s easy to get caught up in the glittering facade of success and become fixated on the idea of making it big. I read an article recently that helped me come to realise that the industry is in fact a lot like a casino – a few win big, a few even win small and those that don’t are kicked to the curb and left to fend for themselves. This song is a reminder to myself and others to enjoy the journey, no matter what the outcome may be.”
About BIG RED FIRE TRUCK: BIG RED FIRE TRUCK began in 2016 as a project by Digby to write some fun heavy metal and hard rock songs and fulfil his need to hear new music in the style of his beloved bands. Taking inspiration from the likes of VAN HALEN, RECKLESS LOVE, THE DARKNESS, AEROSMITH, SUM 41, and CRAZY LIXX, the quartet pay homage to previous generations of hard rock while delivering their own distinctive character.
BIG RED FIRE TRUCK Are: Digby (Guitar and Lead Vocals) Ben Frank (Guitar) Pete Grant (Drums and Vocals) Nick Frazier (Bass)
While Swedish modern melodic metal outfit, dEMOTIONAL, is currently gearing up to reissue their latest, much acclaimed masterpiece album Scandinavian Aftermath, due out on May 26, 2023 via AFM Records. Today, the band has shared a brand new lyric video for the song “Boiling Point”: HERE
With four albums under their belt and following their recent, worldwide signing with AFM Records, the Hamburg-based powerhouse label is proud to present the band’s self-released 2021-offering, Scandinavian Aftermath, to a global audience. With over 15 million streams on Spotify alone and a constant listener base of 100k, various live shows, tours and radio airplays, dEMOTIONAL have aready proved to be one of the most exciting, up-and-coming bands of their genre and now they are ready more than ever to conquer the world!
The quintet from Gothenburg, that already became an anchor in the Swedish metal scene, has caused a stir with the release of their much-acclaimed debut album, STATE: IN DENIAL, in 2013. And they have not been slowing down since. Their second album TARASSIS got them a spot as main support on DEAD BY APRIL’s European tour and also their own headline shows around the world.
Scandinavian Aftermath will be reissued as a Deluxe Edition on May 26, 2023, visit the AFM Records shop at THIS LOCATION!
Scandinavian Aftermath – track listing:
Scandinavian Aftermath
Bärsärk
My Own Enemy
My Heart (Feat. Matt Guillory & Jenny Fagerstrand)
S.O.A.K
Cornered
All That I Knew
Young Wolves
Boiling Point
Typhoon
Northern Star
Fear Of Success
Don’t Wake Me Up
Close Yet Far
Lost in This City
Everbound
SINGLES/ VIDEOS: dEMOTIONAL – Boiling Point (2023) watch HERE dEMOTIONAL – Lost In This City watch HERE dEMOTIONAL – Bärsärk watch HERE dEMOTIONAL – Scandinavian Aftermath watch HERE
Forty-five years young, British hard rock royalty GIRLSCHOOL comes out swinging with their fourteenth studio album, WTFortyfive?, a deliciously dirty declaration that age is a number that shows how much real raw attitude you have when it really counts. WTFortyfive? is set for release on July 28th via Silver Lining Music.
Lead single “Are You Ready?” sets the pace; a racy, raunchy, fun-saturated shapeshifter co-written with Alcatrazz’s Joe Stump that shows GIRLSCHOOL’s leathers may still carry the well-baked battle scars of decades past, but their songs and attitude are as fresh, fun, heavy, and catchy as ever before.
As a nod to their fellow partners in crime, GIRLSCHOOL today reveals the animated video for “Are You Ready?,” the video sequel to Alcatrazz’s “Don’t Get Mad… Get Even” (feat. GIRLSCHOOL)” taken from the upcoming Alcatrazz album Take No Prisoners (set for release May 19thvia Silver Lining Music). Both videos were created by Natalia Jonderko Śmiechowicz.
Comments the band, “The first new GIRLSCHOOL music in nearly a decade! Powerful, heavy and with a great groove, this is the first single from our WTFortyfive? album! We think you’ll like it… Are you ready? We are!”
Watch GIRLSCHOOL’s video for “Are You Ready?” (feat. Joe Stump)” HERE.
Watch Alcatrazz’s video for “Don’t Get Mad… Get Even (feat. Girlschool)” HERE.
With WTFortyfive?, Kim McAuliffe (guitar/vocals), Denise Dufort (drums), Jackie Chambers (guitar/backing vocals), and Tracey Lamb (bass) leave the grit under their finger nails and the muck on their crusty leather boots as they riff and stomp their way through twelve statements of intent showing major attitude, some great melodies, and a consistent crunch to every guitar.
There’s the addictive mototörcharged scuzz of “It Is What It Is,” the Wandsworth via Sunset Strip sway of “Bump In The Night,” the youthful, punky romp of “Up To No Good,” and the smart, sassy, rock ‘n’ roll hooks of “Believing In You,” with McAuliffe’s vocals sounding as sharp and raucous as ever. And if that isn’t enough, their raunch roars and rolls alongside Biff Byford (Saxon), Phil Campbell (Motörhead), and Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) on a cracking cover of “Born To Raise Hell!” So throw away your inhibitions and join these spectacularly wild women on the most glorious of rock ‘n’ roll rides. Lemmy knew, so should YOU!
WTFortyfive? will be released on 12” vinyl, digipak-CD, digital download and streaming and special D2C bundles. Preorder yours today at THIS LOCATION.
Additionally, head over to girlschool.tmstor.esfor a chance to win a GIRLSCHOOL WTFortyfive? custom made real leather jacket. T&Cs apply.
WTFortyfive? Track Listing:
It Is What It Is
Cold Dark Heart
Bump In The Night
Barmy Army
Invisible Killer
Believing In You
It’s A Mess
Into The Night
Are You Ready? (feat. Joe Stump)
Up To No Good
Party
Born To Raise Hell (feat. Biff Byford, Phil Campbell, Duff McKagan)
North American Tour With Moonspell To Commence Later This Month
“Watch as I rise. Reclaim my life. Under the darkest of skies. Scars will remain, signed by your name. Never forget, we’re the same.” ELEINE – “Never Forget” (2023)
Times are hard, we know. And while Tina Turner may have declared some time ago that, “we don’t need another hero,” the opposite seems to be true. We need heroes, we need anthems, we need perseverance. And fast! Luckily for us, ELEINE has heard the call with their newest single NeverForget.
Beginning with a heavy, thrashy riff which instantly drives the song forward and leads to a mighty chorus, the song is the perfect paradigm of the speed and epic vibe of their new album, WeShall Remain, set for release on July 14th via Atomic Fire Records.
The band comments, “Have you ever met someone who has scarred you? Made you doubt yourself? Maybe even made your life a living hell? We all have, in one way or another. But the most important part of experiencing something inevitable like this is to remember your own worth. It’s not about you, but you can evolve and learn from the situation itself.
“Rise up. Accept what has been. Move forward and cut the strings attached to anyone who really doesn’t give you anything else but a headache. In the end, we’re all facing the same fate. Make sure your life along the way has as less toxic people as possible and make sure you are in charge of your own life.”
Watch ELEINE’s visualizer for “Never Forget” at THIS LOCATION. Stream/purchase the track at THIS LOCATION.
Watch ELEINE’s previously released video for first single, “We Are Legion,” at THIS LOCATION.
We Shall Remain was written and produced by guitar player/vocalist Rikard Ekberg and lead vocalist Madeleine Liljestam while Thomas “Plec” Johansson took care of co-recording, mixing and mastering at The Panic Room Studio in Skövde, Sweden. Its fiery artwork was designed by Nestor Avalos (nestoravalosofficial.com) and Madeleine Liljestam.
We Shall Remain will be available as a digibook CD, digibook CD + signed photo card (limited edition; EMP & Sound Pollution excl.), jewel case CD, LP (Orange/White), and digitally.
Preorder the album in the physical format of your choice, pre-save it on your favorite DSP, or preorder it digitally to receive “Never Forget” and “We Are Legion” instantly at eleine.afr.link/weshallremainPR.
Besides recently welcoming long-time live bass player Filip Stålberg as a new permanent member, ELEINE will embark on their very first North American tour later this month. Accompanying legendary Portuguese dark metallers Moonspell on their 30th anniversary tour across the US and Canada, the band will play twenty-three shows from April 29th through May 23rd with additional support coming from Oceans Of Slumber and Vintersea on select dates. To help the group on their journey, visit THIS LOCATION. Find ELEINE’s full live itinerary below!
ELEINE w/ Moonspell, Oceans Of Slumber: 4/29/2023 The Monarch – Brooklyn, NY 4/30/2023 Warehouse On Watts – Philadelphia, PA 5/01/2023 Hangar 1819 – Greensboro, NC 5/02/2023 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA 5/03/2023 Conduit – Orlando, FL 5/05/2023 Scout Bar – Houston, TX ** 5/06/2023 Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX ** 5/07/2023 Trees – Dallas, TX ** 5/08/2023 Tumbleroot Brewing – Santa Fe, NM ** 5/09/2023 Last Exit Live – Phoenix, AZ ** 5/10/2023 1720 – Los Angeles, CA ** 5/11/2023 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA ** 5/12/2023 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA ** 5/13/2023 Bossanova Ballroom – Portland, OR ** 5/14/2023 The Cobalt – Vancouver, BC ** 5/16/2023 Oriental Theater – Denver, CO 5/17/2023 Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS 5/18/2023 The Forge – Joliet, IL # 5/19/2023 Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN # 5/20/2023 Preserving Underground – Pittsburgh, PA # 5/21/2023 Petit Campus – Montreal, QC # 5/22/2023 Source De La Martiniere – Quebec, QC # 5/25/2023 Sonia – Boston, MA # End Tour 8/02/2023 MetalDays – Velenje, SL New 8/11/2023 Alcatraz Metal Festival – Kortrijk, BE ** = w/ Vintersea # = no Oceans Of Slumber
Don’t forget to subscribe to Atomic Fire Records on YouTube. Listen to “Never Forget” as well as other new tracks in the AFR New Releases playlist on Spotify HERE.
Debut album, “Legends” coming July 7, 2023 on AFM Records!
July 7, 2023 sees up-and-coming, heavy metal sensation, ALL FOR METAL, release their hotly-anticipated, first full-length album, entitled Legends, via AFM Records.
With eleven irresistible, compact and catchy songs, the band’s colossal debut unleashes anthemic, straightforward metal that has international class. Under the banner of ALL FOR METAL, metal enthusiasts Tim “Tetzel” Schmidt (known as the singer of Asenblut as well as a strength athlete and fitness influencer) and Antonio Calanna (singer of the hard rock band DeVicious) joined forces for the perfect metal match. Both are united by their love for classic heavy metal sounds and the common vision to them to a new generation of music fans.
“We grew up with bands like Manowar, at whose concerts the audience is overwhelmed by the energy,” Tetzel recently revealed. “That’s where strangers are in each other’s arms and fervently belting out the songs. This invisible bond, this connection, is created through the music alone.” His vocal counterpart Antonio adds, “I’ve only experienced such a sense of community in the metal scene. With ALL FOR METAL, we want to help pass this on and let as many music fans as possible share in it.”
Following four previously-released songs, “Born In Valhalla”, “Raise Your Hammer”, “Fury of the Gods” and the aptly-titled track “All For Metal”, today, the band is premiering a music video for the thunderous single “Mountain Of Power”. With its pounding drums, blazing guitars, and an epic chorus, “Mountain of Power” will be your new favorite heavy metal anthem, one that will make you feel invincible! Get ready to climb to the summit of metal greatness with ALL FOR METAL, and watch the band’s new video clip now streaming HERE
Perfect in time for a heavy summer festival season, with much-awaited live appearances at Wacken Open Air, Rock Harz and many more to be announced soon, ALL FOR METAL’s debut Legendswill be released on July 7, 2023 through AFM Records. The album was recorded and produced at the Elephant Studios, the pre-sale is available HERE
Legends – track listing:
All for Metal
Goddess of War
Born in Valhalla
Raise Your Hammer
Hear the Drum
Run
Prophecy of Hope
Mountain of Power
Fury of the Gods
The Day of Hammerfall
Legends Never Die
ALL FOR METAL Live: 02.06.2023 (CZ) Metal Fest Plzen 07.07.2023 (GER) Rock Harz (Album Release Show!) 02.08.2023 (GER) Wacken Open Air
ALL FOR METAL: Ursula Zanichelli – Guitar Jasmin Pabst – Guitar Florian Toma – Bass Guitar
April 17, 2023 – Better Lovers, a newly formed band featuring Greg Puciato, Jordan Buckley, Clayton “Goose” Holyoak, Stephen Micciche, and Will Putney, have released their debut single: “30 Under 13” via SharpTone Records.
The blistering, four-minute track, and accompanying Eric Richter directed video (https://youtu.be/TU-nwWuyKXc), serve as the perfect introduction to Better Lovers, a band whose music is as uncompromising, unapologetic, and undeniable as anything they’ve done individually.
“Looking back, I’m so happy everything got me to where I am,” explains Buckley. “The pandemic and the last few years made me hungrier and more grateful. This isn’t a hobby. This isn’t temporary. This is the next evolution for each of us. Greg and Will rejuvenated me and made me even more confident. Now, everybody needs to know we’re a wild animal that just broke out of the zoo—there’s no trying to put it back in the cage.”
“Jordan sent me some already finished instrumental tracks, and they hit me at just the right time,” adds Puciato. “Those tracks woke up a side of me that I thought was fully extinct but was merely evolving and changing. To my complete surprise there was still something left in that area to dig at, and the vessel for it made sense.”
“30 Under 13” digital single cover, featuring artwork by Donny Phillips
Putney, who had worked on the most recent Every Time I Die albums, and won a 2021 GRAMMY® Award for his production work on Body Count’s Carnivore, encapsulates the band’s thoughts: “It’s a group of loaded weapons all firing at full power ready for the next chapter of our music careers, and I can confidently say our collective best work is ahead of us.”
Tour dates are imminent.
Photo credit: James Hartley Better Lovers is Jordan Buckley (guitar), Clayton “Goose” Holyoak (drums), Stephen Micciche (bass), Greg Puciato (vocals), Will Putney (guitar).
On May the 2nd, ANCIENT SETTLERS will finally deliver their brand new EP “Transition”, with their new line-up, commanded by the Frontwoman Argen Death. Modern Melodic Death Metallers attack with a 4-Songs EP released by Crusader Recorda/Golden Robot Records in digital and physical format, recorded at Chromaticity Studios, and with some very relevant collaborations like Dalay Tarda from Rise To Fall.
The art-cover was designed by Jon Toussas (Septic Flesh, Suicidal Angels, Mors Principium Est, etc), and the album was mixed & mastered by Pedro Monge (Avalanch, Rise to Fall, etc).
Also, the band has announced their upcoming tour with 22 dates across Europe, including gigs in Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands. Luxembourg and Germany.
——————————————————————
Transition Europe Tour dates, remaining shows:
05/05/23 – Oviedo (Esp) – Sala Gong (Supporting Defacing God) 06/05/23 – Vigo (Esp) – Pub Transylvania (Supporting Defacing God) 07/05/23 – Vitoria (Esp) – Urban Rock Concept (Supporting Defacing God) 19/05/23 – Pamplona (Esp) – Krawill Hard Bar. 20/05/23 – Zaragoza (Esp) – Sala Utopía 31/08/23 – Toulouse (Fr) – L´Usine a Music. 01/09/23 – Amsterdam (NL) – The Cave 02/09/23 – Bree (Bel) – Metal Babes Festival. 06/09/23 – Brno (Cze) – M13 Rock Club 07/09/23 – Leipzig (Ger) – M.V.B. 08/09/23 – Milan (IT) – Headbangers Pub 09/09/23 – Marseille (Fr) – La Maison Hantée 16/09/23 – A Coruña (Esp) – Sala Filomatic. 07/10/23 – Aachen (Ger) – Peace On Earth Metal Fest 11/11/23 – Bilbao (Esp) – Sala Mytho 20/01/24 – Portugalete (Esp) – Sala Groove
“Transition” EP synopsis:
Transition: is the new phase of history told through the experiences of the settlers army. With this new work, the band continues its conceptual journey, in which it tries to reflect the emotional behavior of our society and its link with the current serious situation of our species. With four new emotionally deeper and more complex songs, without abandoning the use of intense melodies and catchy guitar riffs, the band embarks on a new phase of its musical evolution.
April, 2023, TOKYO – Nemophila, the all-female Japanese band whose cover of Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper” went viral, racking up over 3 million views, and was followed by one of the most talked about live debuts at Aftershock 2022, have released a new single, and video: “Rise” (ssm.lnk.to/RISE).
The band recently wrapped up a brief U.S. tour, including a stop at SXSW.
Guitar Girl Magazine described the quintet as “one of the most thrilling metal bands in Japan,” Distorted Sound said their music is “a reminder of just how fun heavy metal can be,” and Glasse Factory, commenting on their riveting Aftershock performance, noted “they nodded to metal legends with their styling and offered a refreshing take on their own unique blend… the excitement was tangible and radiated through the crowds as they all leaned in to watch the rising rock stars.”
Nemophila formed in 2019, playing their first live show in August of the same year, supporting Loudness and Hammerfall at Tokyo’s Metal Weekend 2019. The band have released two albums: Seize The Fate (2022) and Revive (2021). Nemophila is Mayu (vocals), Saki (guitar), Hazuki (guitar), Haraguchi–san – (bass) and Tamu Murata (drums).
Tampere, Finland -based thrash metal act OSIRISREX – led by US thrasher Superstar Joey Severance have unleashed the second single ‘The Meek Shall Inherit’ taken from their forthcoming debut EP “Arrival of the New Dawn”!
Also check out the first single ‘Lone Wolf Terror’, feat. on solo: Michael “Big Maaaan” Rutten, at https://youtu.be/IL-BAxGFLl0
“Arrival of the New Dawn” recording lineup: Superstar Joey Severance – Vocals Ben Varon – All Guitars (except where noted) and Bass (Session Musician) Oskari Niemi – Drums (Session Musician)
Music and Lyrics: Superstar Joey Severance Produced, Mixed and Engineered by: Ben Varon Mastered by: Ben Varon and Oskari Niemi
Tracklisting:
The Meek Shall Inherit
Arrival of the New Dawn
Lone Wolf Terror (Solo: Michael “Big Maaaan” Rutten)
Hot Stuff (Donna Summer Cover)
More on OSIRIS REX:
Rising from the ashes of TORNADO comes OSIRIS REX. With Tornado, vocalist Superstar Joey Severance recorded three albums (Amsterdamn, Hellsinki – Black President – Commitment to Excellence) with the debut being produced by Peter Tagtgren and their last album featuring such metal heavyweights as Karl Sanders (Nile) Glen Drover (ex-Megadeth) and Ross Dolan (Immolation). All three albums received positive reviews worldwide and the band did a European tour supporting Six Feet Under.
Soon after the tour ended, and right before the start of the pandemic, SJS decided to disband Tornado for personal reasons and move forward with a new lineup which will become Osiris Rex.
The four-song debut EP, “Arrival of the New Dawn” showcases the musical direction the band is taking which is not too far removed from Tornado. Stay tuned!
With a focus on writing great, catchy songs, Osiris Rex are looking to advance the thrash genre for a new generation!
April 28, 2023 sees horror punk act DARKER DAYS release their much-awaited, first full-length album “The Burying Point”on Fiend Force Records, licensed by Massacre Records!
Hailing from the Halloween capitol Salem, Massachusetts, the band poured everything they had into this record and pulled inspiration from some of their favorite bands: AFI, The Misfits or Blitzkid. Lyrically, DARKER DAYS touched on things like their favorite horror movies as well as real-life hardships. Needless to say, that the dark history of their hometown Salem and all of New England – with Nathaniel Hawthorne in Salem, H.P. Lovecraft in Providence and Stephen King in Bangor – along with the bleak countryside had a big influence on them as well.
Today, DARKER DAYS are premiering a first single taken of their upcoming debut, feat. TB Monstrosity of BLITZKID! T.B. Monstrosity is the co-singer and songwriter of Horror Punk legendes Blitzkid, probably the most popular band in the genre besides the forefathers The Misfits. Blitzkid and Darker Days have been friends for years, so this collaboration has naturally grown out of their shared history. TB’s unique voice gives the song its very own atmosphere and harmonizes impressively with the melancholy of the track and Darker Days singer Mason’s vocals. Both the classic horror theme and the musical realization, as well as the guest appearance of the Blitzkid singer make “1818” an instant hit in the horror punk community.
Watch the new DARKER DAYS video for “1818”, now premiering HERE
“1818 is an ode to the work of one of our favorite authors Mary Shelly- being told from the perspective of ‘Frankenstein’s monster’ and the feelings he has of wanting to find happiness even though the world views him as a monster“, the band comments.
DARKER DAYS are: Mason Eaton – Vocals Nick Sullivan – Guitars Travis Hunter – Guitars Ron Bailey – Bass Randy Mason – Drums
Their upcoming album “The Burying Point” was produced by Chris Curran and Kyle Blamy, and was mixed and mastered by Chris Curran. Slated for a release on April 28, 2023, the album pre-sale is available at THIS LOCATION!
Finnish theatrical melodic metal band Endless Exam has released new single and music video from their upcoming album. It’s a horror movie influenced dreamlike song from the album to be released by Inverse Records in May 2023.
Endless Exam backgrounds the song:
“The lyrics of the song is about a world led by better people, where the value and contribution of an ordinary person has no meaning and they can only be used as part of the machine. Their only goal is to be able to just give orders and give the author belief that they are being heard.
However, without these parts, no machine runs. The ordinaries start to resist and the world imagined by these better people starts to fall apart. They realize that nothing works without these ordinary people. They are the basis of everything and if their value is not taken into account, the machine will not run either.”
March 29, 2023, LOS ANGELES – Dave Lombardo shares a second single from his debut solo album, Rites of Percussion (May 5 via Ipecac Recordings), with today’s release of “Separation from the Sacred” (https://youtu.be/9GiARhBaVds).
Lombardo is one of the busiest musicians working right now. Never one to rest on his laurels, the drumming pioneer recently released new albums with Dead Cross, and Venamoris, and announced Empire State Bastard, a new project with members of Biffy Clyro. He will also be hitting the road with Mr. Bungle and The Misfits in the coming months, with festival appearances with John Zorn (including Big Ears Fest in April).
The recording process for Rites of Percussion had a simple mantra: drums had to be drums. Mixed in early 2022 by Lombardo’s son, David A. Lombardo, the self-produced release features a large concert bass drum, a timpani, a grand piano, and a flock of shakers, maracas, Chinese and symphonic gongs, Native American drums, congas, timbales, bongos, batás, wood blocks, djembes, ibos, darbukas, octobans, cajóns, and cymbals.
Rites of Percussion tracklist:
Initiatory Madness
Separation from the Sacred
Inner Sanctum
Journey of the Host
Maunder in Liminality
Despojo
Interfearium
Blood Let
Warpath
Guerrero
Vicissitude
Omiero
Animismo
Album pre-orders, which include CD, digital, and three vinyl variants: standard cigar smoke, indie retail exclusive blood sacrifice, and Ipecac exclusive purple haze, are available now: https://davelombardo.lnk.to/ROP.
Photo credit: Ekaterina Gorbacheva
Dave Lombardo was born in Havana, Cuba, relocating to Los Angeles when he was a mere two-years-old. He began playing drums as a teenager, and co-founded Slayer (and created the band’s logo) in 1981.
Rolling Stone, in their list of the “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time,” dubbed him the “Cuban speed demon, “ Modern Drummerproclaimed him “The King,” and Drummer World gave him the title of “The Godfather of double bass.” Lombardo’s eye-popping resume includes over 100 studio albums/recordings and includes both recorded and live stints with Grip Inc., Fantômas, Suicidal Tendencies, Dead Cross, Mr. Bungle, The Misfits, DJ Spooky, John Zorn, Testament, and most recently creating the soulful duo Venamoris, with his wife Paula.
New Album, “Everfrost”, Out This Summer On AFM Records!
July 14, 2023 will see power metal act WINTERSTORM release their upcoming, fifth studio album entitled “Everfrost”. It’s their first offering since 2016, and their debut with powerhouse label AFM Records.
“Winter” stands for nordic viking and folk metal, the “Storm” for fast-paced power metal, combined with epic and orchestral metal facettes, WINTERSTORM shines in a new splendor as first single releases prove. Following the previously shared, first album appetizer “To The End Of All Known”, now, the five-piece has released a music video for “Future Times”! The comments:
“Future Times is about focusing on the changeable future instead of wasting time on the unchangeable past. Whether it’s the small things everyday or big ones like the destruction of our planet — it’s always worth getting the focus right.”
The new WINTERSTORM clip for “Future Times” is now streaming HERE
It’s the melodic grandeur, that clearly marks the foreground of WINTERSTORM, reflected in heavily catchy choruses and colossal, polyphonic vocals. Striking elements of different metal styles merge with each other and get a completely new impression, that WINTERSTORM’s forthcoming record may be their most versatile and powerful album to date; one that does not have to hide behind proved genre colleagues such as Blind Guardian or Rhapsody Of Fire.
“Everfrost” will be available as CD Digipak, limited clear blue Vinyl and Boxset on July 14, 2023 through AFM Records, the pre-sale is now online at THIS LOCATION!
5th new song and music video released from the Power/Progressive Metal band’s upcoming new album
Hotly anticipated Power/Progressive Metal band IMMORTAL GUARDIAN continue building the anticipation for their next opus, sporadically issuing new material as it completes as we head towards a late summer release of the band’s next full album. Today, the group unveils “Roots Run Deep” along with a corresponding music video. To heighten the experience the group has enlisted the services of famed vocalist Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, ex-Gamma Ray) who guests alongside IMMORTAL GUARDIAN singer Carlos Zema.
Recording independently and remotely the quartet is assembling the follow-up to 2021’s successful ‘Psychosomatic’ track-by-track and sharing the material as it completes, along with visually captivating music videos, that again the self-contained group produces themselves. Check out “Roots Run Deep” on all streaming/download services, or watch the clip at: https://youtu.be/j7CLsJ50glo
“This Super Metal style song brings together the powerful vocals of Mr. Scheepers with Immortal Guardian’s signature sound to create an epic and inspiring anthem,” explains Carlos. “’Roots Run Deep’ takes us on a journey back to a time when we were all united before our differences and conflicts divided us. It reminds us that we all share a common history and that as a society we must learn to survive the separations and unite to conquer. With a message of hope, unity, and perseverance, ‘Roots Run Deep’ encourages us to make the world a better place. So let us embrace our shared history and let this song inspire us to make a positive change in the world. Thank you for watching this powerful and inspiring video.”
“‘Roots Run Deep’ is about the levels of today’s division. Black and white, religion vs religion, left vs right, rich and poor, war and peace, etc.,” further explains guitarist/keyboardist Gabriel Guardian. “The world is so divided right now and what we want more than ever is unity. This song is about putting our differences aside and remembering that we are all humans just trying to survive. We all just want a happy life, and that would be more likely to happen if we all just agreed to disagree and respect each other and celebrate the things that make us all so different and unique.”
Heavy topics are not unfamiliar to Immortal Guardian whose previous album focused on the Covid pandemic, likely the first full album to be thematically linked to the disease and its effect on the globe and its people. In the past year, Immortal Guardian has revealed four other brand new songs including “Perfect Person,” “Ozona,” “Echoes” and “Southern Rain” forming a basis for their next conceptual piece, ‘Unite and Conquer.’ The band will continue to share new material as the creative process proceeds to build up to a new full-length album planned for late summer 2023. Watch for pre-orders soon for CDs and limited-color vinyl variants.
More info will be released by Immortal Guardian and M-Theory Audio in the weeks and months to follow. https://www.facebook.com/igmetal/.
IMMORTAL GUARDIAN: Gabriel Guardian – guitars/keyboards Carlos Zema – vocals Justin Piedimonte – drums Joshua Lopez – bass
Following the much acclaimed, 2020-album Epitaph, Danish prog-and power metal masters PYRAMAZE have announced the release of their forthcoming full-length record, entitledBloodlines. The album will be out on June 23, 2023 via AFM Records
After PYRAMAZE previously shared a first song, “Broken Arrow”, today, they are premiering a music video for new single “Fortress”! The band comments:
“Fortress” has Pyramaze incorporating some of their traditional elements and melding it with a modern cinematic atmosphere. With hard hitting staccato strings, soaring and powerful vocals, driving rhythm guitars and drums, and moving and melodic keyboard passages, “Fortress” should please fans of both older and newer Pyramaze.”
PYRAMAZE are an exceptional phenomenon in the international, heavy music scene: Their sound brings along numerous traditional melodic and progressive metal trademarks, but gets an immensely high recognition value by their unique feeling for great melodies. The band is known for their technical finesse and unique arrangements, often melodic and atmospheric, and frequently including complex guitar riffs and solos supported by synthetic sounds.
In recent years, PYRAMAZE has played on many stages in Europe and North America, demonstrating their energetic live performance and impressive musical skills. They have built a loyal fan base and is considered by many metal fans as one of the most innovative and talented bands of their generation.
Bloodlines was recorded, mixed and mastered by PYRAMAZE guitarist and renowned producer Jacob Hansen. Set to be released on June 23, 2023 through AFM Records, the album pre-sale is now available at THIS LOCATION!
Guitarist June Stacy comments: “Writing and recording the EP was a little bit troublesome and slow because of the covid. We recorded the demos and then the EP versions of the songs little by little when ever we could. Then over a year ago when it was already mixed and mastered Izzy (our guitar player) decided to pursue other things in life and quit the band. We didn’t wanna release anything or shoot music videos before we found someone to replace him. So it took another half a year to find Vasco. But finally here it is: ’Resolute’. The EP that updates the sound of Judith Alice for 2023! Enjoy”
BIOGRAPHY: Judith Alice was formed in Helsinki, Finland by old friends June Stacy and Stan Ford (Skeeter Hazy) in 2016. The nowadays five piece band has been creating a reputation as a wild live performer and a party maker since. The first single, “I Only Go Out When It’s Dark” was released in 2017. The second single “Drug Festival” was released in December 2018 and as a third single they recorded a cover for an old danish hit “I WIll Stay”, it was released January 2020. Yeah, the one Hurriganes made famous in Finland back in the day. Recordings of the first album began in 2017, and after all the setbacks and struggle it was finally released on August 13th 2020. When the world closed because of the pandemic, Judith Alice used the time to write and record new music! 2023 starts with a brand new single/video ”Tonite’s Alright (feat. Diison)” followed by an EP called ”Resolute”!
EP Picture by Aaro Tuisku, EP cover by Jussi Aaltonen
Judith Alice – Resolute (EP 2023) – Track list:
Tonite’s Alright (feat. Diison)
Person That I Hate
Watch Out!
Blind Leadin’ The Blind
Close To The Sun
Single picture by Jukka Aaltonen, cover by Jussi Aaltonen
Heavy trio HEXICON have unleashed the fierce new single “Emerald Queen”. The song rattles the Earth with devastating riffs and psychedelic imagery. The music video is a homage to 80’s monster anime taped on VHS, animated by the band’s own Young Heller.
Austin Cox, HEXICON’s guitarist shares:
“‘Emerald Queen’ came about when I got my first eight string guitar in 2022. I never played one previously. The intro riff was basically the first riff I ever played on an eight string. Simultaneously, I had a goal to write a shorter, heavier track compared to our material from Leave It All Behind (HEXICON’s debut album). I brought the demo to Andrew and Young and once they added their elements ‘Emerald Queen’ quickly came to life. We’re very excited about the evolution of our sound with this track.”
About HEXICON: HEXICON formed in 2018 in Pasadena / Los Angeles, California, seeing vocalist Young Heller joined the instrumental duo of brothers Andrew and Austin Cox of the band ANDRAUS. Their songs veer dynamically from heavy doom to intense thrash with understated interludes and shifting rhythms. “Emerald Queen” is the outfit’s first offering since 2022 saw the release of their debut full-length Leave It All Behind.
HEXICON is: Andrew Cox (drums) Young Heller (vocals) Austin Cox (guitar)
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