Embrace the enigmatic allure of 70’s rock with OCCULT WITCHES‘ new single, “Faustian Bargain,” released today under the esteemed Black Throne Productions. This marks the second single from their upcoming album, Sorrows Pyre, due out July 26th via Black Throne Productions.
“Faustian Bargain” explores the dangers of an all too familiar type of deal. “This song is about almost making a deal with Satan and he ain’t fucking patient. Won’t be thanking him for this one,” reveals the band.
OCCULT WITCHES has quickly risen through the ranks, defining a unique space within the rock genre with their captivating blend of music and storytelling. Their songs, rich in narrative and emotion, draw on elements of darkness, witchcraft, and existential struggle, resonating with a wide range of listeners.
The band’s journey from Rimouski, QC, to Hamilton, ON, on their first tour last summer has only solidified their presence in the music scene. With plans for mini-tours this summer, OCCULT WITCHES is poised to reach new heights and captivate more audiences with their powerful performances and profound lyrical themes.
OCCULT WITCHES invites listeners to embark on this dark yet enlightening journey through their music. Stay tuned for more from OCCULT WITCHES as they continue to explore the depths of the human condition and the eternal dance between light and darkness.
Hall Aflame, the rock band which features Metal Church founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, will release their long-awaited sophomore album “Amplifire” on May 3, 2024 via Rat Pak Records. Originally formed in 1989, the band garnered commercial success with their debut album “Guaranteed Forever”, which was well received by fans and industry peers alike and quickly found themselves opening for ZZ Top on their 1991 “Recycler” tour for a number of dates. As with many bands from that era, facing a decline in interest for AOR rock due to the onslaught of the “grunge” scene, the band went on a lengthy hiatus and reunited again in late 2023 to begin working on a handful of songs.
Amplifier offers 12 new studio tracks and reunites Kurdt with original bassist Brian Smith, along with drummer Bill Raymond and front-man Scott Nutter. Regarding the album, Kurdt Vanderhoof comments, “This album came about as a project to document all the songs that we had written for the second album that never came to be. We revisited the songs and realized they had to be recorded properly. Then it blossomed into something much better than we had even hoped! So that led us into reforming the band instead of just having it be a project.”
Bassist Brian Smith adds, “I think anyone that is a fan of “Guaranteed Forever” will see this record as a new and improved “Part II” of Hall Aflame. Great songs, great production and we had a ton of fun putting this together!” Scott Nutter adds, “A good hard rock album should lift you, make you want to sing along and rock out! That’s what this album does for me!”
From the driving album opener “Helltown” to the powerhouse outro track “Keeping Them All Away”, Hall Aflame shines with their signature brand of rock-n-roll. Tracks like “Ripcord”, “In The Same Gutter”, “It Ain’t Enough” and “Gunnin’” are filled with memorable hooks and melodies, while songs like “Pullin Me Apart” and “1974” showcase their unique, classic rock songwriting abilities. With influences that range from Bad Company to Thin Lizzy, “Amplifire” is best described as the perfect blend of classic rock with a modern-day edge!
Track listing: 01 Helltown 02 Ripcord 03 1974 04 This Ain’t Love 05 The Same Gutter 06 It Ain’t Enough 07 Gunnin’ 08 Pullin’ Me Apart 09 Long Way Down 10 Keeping Them All Away 11 Cowboy (bonus track) [CD & Digital] 12 Paradise on Ice (bonus track) [CD & Digital]
It’s time to set the world on fire! The new POWERWOLF album “Wake Up The Wicked” will be released on July 26, 2024! The once again mesmerizing artwork by Zsofia Dankova perfectly reflects the elemental force of the album and embodies its sheer intensity! At this point we will keep it short, because we will go into more detail over time! Available for pre-order now!
Australian Hard Rockers Tarot have released “Leshy’sWarning,” the second single from forthcoming album, Glimpse of the Dawn. Check it out on the Cruz Del Sur Music YouTube Channel: youtu.be/2D-n14FZQAU
Glimpse of the Dawn, the band’s first album for Cruz Del Sur Music, will be released April 12 on CD, vinyl, and digital formats! The long-awaited sophomore album re-imagines heavy, Hammond B3 organ hard rock for a new generation!
Eight years have passed since Tarot’s first full-length, Reflections, to their new long-player, Glimpse of the Dawn. It was like a lifetime for the 1970s-rock-tinged Australians. The band embarked on its first-ever live shows after Reflections, essentially coming together as a unit while on stage.
Live activity then opened the door for increased collaboration between all members of the band. Now operating as a cohesive, free-flowing outfit, Tarot amassed a lively, spacious album in the form of Glimpse of the Dawn that earnestly pays tribute to their core influences of Uriah Heep, Rainbow and Deep Purple while blazing an identity of its own.
Glimpse of the Dawn was recorded across several studios in the band’s native Tasmania, starting with drum tracking by Joe Haley at Crawlspace Productions. From there, the band retreated to its own Heavy Chains Studio and Riff Cabin to complete tracking, yet it was the face-to-face sessions with Haley that gave the album its live and natural feel.
This approach, once an industry standard and now becoming a rarity, found Tarot simply cracking open a few beers, letting the tape roll and letting the results happen as they may. To that end, Tarot purposely left open spaces to allow for improvisation.
Photo Credit: Saint Bradshaw
Many of the album’s lead guitar sections were written on the fly in the studio and were subsequently kept, allowing forTarot to “catch lightning in a bottle.” This approach is perhaps best exemplified on the title track, which kicks off the album in grand fashion with rollicking Hammond keyboards and vocal trade-offs between founding member WillSpectre, guitarist FelixRussell and keyboardist Dave Harrington-George.
In fact, collaboration defines Glimpse of the Dawn. Whereas Spectre previously shouldered the songwriting load, the album features contributions from all members of Tarot. This communal, open vibe is yet another throwback to the bands Tarot has taken inspiration from.
The closeness of all five members allowed for a free exchange of ideas, thus sharpening every facet of the album. It helped further expand Tarot’s sound, which is often driven by the classic Hammond B3 organ, mellotron string and choir and various analog synths. The members of Tarotput an immense amount of thought into the interplay between Harrington-George’sparts and its guitar lines, ultimately producing an album with equal breadth and depth.
Glimpse of the Dawn is tailor-made for the live arena. Tarot already has plans to hit its Australian homeland and Europe throughout 2024, bringing its hard-rocking, anthemic songs to audiences deserving of a band that perfectly embodies the spirit of 1970s rock.
Philadelphia’s MALPHAS return with the second single/video off their sophomore full-length. Listen to “Leviathan’s Moonlit Sanctum” at all streaming/download platforms now. In addition, the band has also premiered a new music video HERE .
“Leviathan’ marks the point in the story where Malphas returns to the real world. He and his demons murder the power elite figures on the island, but then travel to a nearby village and subjugate the people there,” explains singer/guitarist Paul DeSanctis. “The main character has a vision where he sees a demonic totalitarian government on the other side of the portal; he realizes he’s left the door wide open for them to take over.”
Both songs continue the tale and concept revolving around the demon Malphas and his encounters with people in life and death that the melodic death/black metal band began telling on their debut ‘The 39th Spirit’ released on Poland’s Via Nocturna in 2018.
’Portal’ takes place chronologically two hundred years prior to the events of ‘The 39th Spirit,’ explains Paul. “The album explores new themes like politics, economics, and historical events in fleshing out how the dystopian world in ‘The 39th Spirit’ comes to be.
‘Portal’ was recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Kelly (Ice Nine Kills, Baby Metal, Galactic Empire). The new album, ‘Portal,’ will be released on CD and digital platforms March 29th and is available for preorder now HERE.
About MALPHAS: Founded by Paul DeSanctis and drummer Eric Dunleavy in 2012, guitarist Damian DiFrancesco and bassist Joshua DeJesus joined the lineup in 2014 and 2019 respectively. Appealing to fans of CHILDREN OF BODOM, WINTERSUN, DIMMU BORGIR, SEPTIC FLESH, and IMMORTAL, MALPHAS produce a sound comprised of symphonic melodic death and black metal.
The band debuted with their EP The ‘Conjuring’ in 2015 followed by their first full-length, ‘The 39th Spirit’ in 2018. MALPHAS have toured Europe supporting Norway’s Keep of Kalessin and Finland’s Shade Empire, with US runs opening for Tengger Cavalry, Felix Martin, and Helsott.
Upcoming Record Release shows:
3/29 – Our Wicked Lady – Brooklyn, NY
3/30 – Record Release Show – The Nail – Ardmore, PA
Iconic heavy metallers ARMORED SAINT, who’ve been hard at work demoing tracks for their upcoming new full-length, will return to the stage later this month as direct support to Queensrÿche! The trek, which commences on March 27th in Anaheim, California, includes twelve ARMORED SAINT headlining shows scattered throughout.
Comments ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera: We’re super stoked to be going back out on the road with our good friends Queensrÿche! We’ve done several tours in the past and we always have a great time being on the road with these great musicians and friends! We’re looking forward to playing some cities we’ve never played before and also, we’ll be playing some of these dates as headliners! We’ll be pulling out some deep cuts and playing an extended set so we hope to see you come out to all of these shows! We’ve been busy writing new music so keep your ears peeled in the near future for some new SAINT! Until then, we’ll see you up front!”
Tickets are on sale now with VIP upgrades available at THIS LOCATION. See all confirmed dates below.
ARMORED SAINT’s most recent studio album, Punching The Sky, was released in 2020. The critically lauded full-length hit worldwide record charts including #4 on Billboard’s Current Hard Music Albums chart, #6 on the Top New Artists chart, #16 on the Top Independent Albums chart, and #17 on the Current Rock Albums chart upon its first week of release.
We’re thrilled to announce an exclusive run of U.S. Tour dates kicking off in New York City on June 6th at Racket NYC. We’ll be hitting some of our favourite cities and venues across the country.
We’re going to give you a taste of some of our new music and will be releasing a single in support of the tour. So you’ll be hearing some new stuff as well as your favourites at these shows.
Keeping it in the family, John, Doug, David, and Michael look forward to welcoming heavy hitting Tommy Clufetos (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath) back to the line-up.
“We’re looking FORWARD to seeing all of our incredibly supportive friends, fans, and family out on the road, right here in the “Good Old U.S. of A” kicking off June 6th… Thank you, we love you!!!” – John Corabi
June 2024 U.S. Tour:
06 Racket NYC New York, NY 08 The Landis Theater Vineland, NJ 09 Mickey’s Black Box Lititz, PA 11 The Machine Shop Flint, MI 12 The Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL US 14 The King Of Clubs Columbus, OH 15 Blue Note Harrison, OH 16 The Basement East Nashville, TN 19 House Of Blues San Diego, CA 20 Whiskey a Go Go Los Angeles, CA 22 Goldfield Trading Post Roseville, CA
Chilean Thrashers Critical Defiance are set to release new album The Search Won’t Fall… March 22 on CD via UnspeakableAxeRecords and vinyl LP via Dying VictimsProductions. The album will also be available digitally on the usual platforms.
Critical Defiance has released a lyric video for “44 Minds” and an official video for the title track, both of which are available below:
The Chilean metal force known as Critical Defiance has something for every thrash fan out there. Not in the sense of being homogenized and generic, but in their alchemical and nearly magical melding of blitzkrieg tempos, dizzying technicality, aggressive shouts and gang vocals, and rarest of all for a post-1990 thrash act – a healthy dose of actual, memorable melody. They have added a new element to the mix: just a taste of the eerie melancholy and harsh melodrama of black metal.
Their release schedule has been nearly as fast as their music, with the debut (Misconception) coming in 2019, and its follow-up (No Life Forms) in 2022. They have let even less time elapse from then until this new platter’s arrival, taking line-up changes in stride and pushing forward relentlessly regardless.
The addition of Mauricio Toledo on guitar (just prior to their previous album) has pushed their music in new directions. That black metal aspect, some tremelo riffing, some blastbeats, bits of a distinctly new melodic sensibility–lends the album an updated feeling that sets it apart from its predecessors, while by no means abandoning the thrash foundation that has served them so well.
All of this ambition is well-served by a terrific production job that balances just the right amount of rawness and polish. Three albums in, Critical Defiance are poised to deliver their most ferocious work yet. Angry yet uplifting, full of the spirit of true metal both old and new, it’s a record that only these guys could make.
Ahead of the release of their crushing new studio album ‘Creation Undone’ on Friday 23 February through Peaceville Records, the revered death metal legends MortaSkuld unleash a new single and video on the masses for the song “Perfect Prey”.
“Perfect Prey”, Dave Gregor states, is “about control and how the powers that be can really put a stronghold on us as humans, I felt it was like shooting fish in a barrel and that we as people were the perfect prey.”
Scaling new heights of brutality for the longstanding US death metal veterans, ‘Creation Undone’ is the latest work of inspired extremity from frontman and mastermind Dave Gregor and co. In a time when the band’s iconic and celebrated debut ‘Dying Remains’ reaches its thirty year milestone, and with recent live activity on both sides of the Atlantic seeing the quartet performing to a ravenous fanbase of metalheads both old and new, Morta Skuld returns with a ten track opus of pure death metal in their unrelenting and unwavering pursuit of heaviness.
With themes exploring an increasingly savage, corrupt and destructive state of the world in present times, and executed with a razor-sharp precision, with ferocious and hook-laden compositions to match and even exceed any of their highly-regarded early output. ‘Creation Undone’ was recorded and mixed at Belle City Sound Studios by Chris Djuricic, with mastering work conducted at Flatline Audio with Dave Otero.
1. We Rise We Fall [04:56] 2. The End Of Reason [03:57] 3. Painful Conflict [04:22] 4. Unforeseen Obstacles [04:25] 5. Perfect Prey [03:25] 6. Soul Piercing Sorrow [04:59] 7. Into Temptation [04:09] 8. Self Destructive Emotions [04:49] 9. Oblivion [04:55] 10. By Design [04:42]
Exhumed guitarist/vocalist MATT HARVEY has unveiled an ambient new full-length entitled Toward The Cold Light. The perfect soundtrack for cold, misty Winter mornings, the melodies found across the record’s five tracks ebb and flow through orchestrated soundscapes that are often bleak and lonely, at times warm and nostalgic, but always compelling.
Elaborates HARVEY, “This EP is something I’ve had rattling around for a while, melodies and compositions inspired by walking my dogs through the fog on chilly Winter mornings. It’s more contemplative than anything I’ve done before; more reflective of both the natural world and the internal world that we experience alone with our thoughts in quiet moments. It’s been a rewarding journey working on music as a composer and engineer, rather than a guitar player or vocalist, and I hope coming along that journey with me through these tunes is also meaningful to anyone who listens.”
All music on Toward The Cold Light was composed, produced, and engineered by MATT HARVEY and mastered by Leon del Muerte at Beastman Audio. Artwork comes courtesy of Jacob Speis.
Stream/download MATT HARVEY’s Toward The Cold Light at Bandcamp at THIS LOCATION. The record is also streaming at YouTube HERE.
Toward The Cold Light Track Listing:
Toward The Cold Light
Silence At The Edge Of Memory
Lights In The Mist
Parted Hearts
Vanishing Point
MATT HARVEY is best known for his work in death grind outfit Exhumed, as well as his other projects like the thrashtastic Dekapitator and Scarecrow, Death-deifying homage act Gruesome, and his traditional metal outfit Pounder, as well as playing with extreme metal legacy groups like Death-revival act LeftTo Die and Repulsion.
In recent years, he’s turned his attention towards composing outside of the metal realm, first with 2021’s synth-y sci-fi instrumental album Last Son Of Krypton, inspired by his lifetime love of comic books. Toward The Cold Light shows his continued journey as a composer and engineer and takes its inspiration instead from the natural world and quiet introspection.
The time has come to enter the next chapter in the CRASHDÏET book of madness. After much soul-searching, Gabriel has decided to leave the band to focus on other things in life.
We are shaken by his decision, but we respectfully wish him all the best in his future endeavors and thank him for the years he worked with us and his contribution to the last two studio albums.
Taking over the vocal duties will be none other than John Elliot. A good friend and excellent singer from the band Confess! He has the drive and the hunger to lead us into a promising future.
We also welcome Martin’s brother, Michael, as the band’s permanent drummer! He has stepped in for Eric on countless shows since 2011 and is a natural fit for us. Now that Peter is back and full of energy, we can proudly announce the lineup of CRASHDÏET in 2024:
John Elliot Martin Sweet Peter London Michael Sweet
By Norse Music is proud to celebrate Record Store Day on April 20th with two very special releases. The label will release a new edition of Wardruna’s ‘Skald’ album, which features two bonus tracks, including “Voluspá,” performed live with Eivør & Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the orchestral version of “Voluspá” with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.
The second release is Enslaved’s iconic album ‘Vikingligr Veldi,’ which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Both deluxe editions were entirely redesigned by Bartek Rogalewicz (Behemoth, Enslaved) and offer special high-end details that will ravish the fans and collector.
Wardruna – Skald details:
350g gatefold printed on reverse board
Red metallic ink and spot UV varnish
2LP 180g Voluspa red
12 pages full size booklet including English translations
2LP premium edition carefully restored and redesigned by Bartek Rogalewicz/Lodge. Black. First time in a gatefold 2LP format for a superior audio quality.
Enslaved – Vikingligr Veldi details:
350g gatefold printed on reverse board
metallic inks and spot UV varnish
2LP 180g Aurora Borealis green
30th Anniversary premium edition carefully restored and redesigned by Bartek Rogalewicz/Lodge. Black. Includes additional illustrations by Zbigniew M. Bielak and Bartek Rogalewicz.
Both editions will be available in Germany, USA and Canada only, starting April 20 in the participating stores. Get more information at recordstoreday.com.
First Single “Silent Winter” Out Now + Music Video — Watch HERE
2024 launches with a bang thanks to the announcement of ‘The Quantum Phase’, the highly anticipated new record from supergroup THE END MACHINE. The announcement signals a notable change in personnel as well. Singer Robert Mason has officially parted ways with the group, paving the way for GirishPradhan, the rising superstar vocalist known for his work under the moniker Girish And The Chronicles and, more recently, with Joel Hoekstra’s 13.
The addition of Girish Pradhan to the band is a testament to the keen discernment of SerafinoPerugino, president, and founder of Frontiers Records. Perugino, who serves as the executive producer for THE END MACHINE, recognized the incredible talent and potential in Pradhan and brought him to the attention of the band.
To herald this fantastic change and new album, THE END MACHINE shares their first single off of ‘The Quantum Phase,’ entitled “Silent Winter.” The track is accompanied by a new music video.
Jeff Pilson comments on the new track: “‘Silent Winter’ is a song about the bleak prospects for humanity if we keep on our current trajectory. ‘Quantum Phase’ – the album – deals with what we must do to change course.”
Check Out the Music Video for “Silent Winter” HERE.
Established in 2018, THE END MACHINE released their eponymous debut album, ‘The End Machine,’ in 2019 bringing early acclaim for not only contemporary production and a modern attitude, but also their perfectly crafted songs, paying homage to their roots and the music that they love. This attitude and talent was equally on display with their 2021 sophomore album, ‘Phase2’.
In delivering 2024’s ‘The Quantum Phase,’ THE END MACHINE has not only surpassed expectations but has penned the record of their lives! With each note and lyric, they have exceeded their own artistic aspirations, collectively crafting the album they always wished they had written. This monumental work stands as a testament to THE END MACHINE’s evolution, showcasing not only their musical prowess but also their unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of their creative expression.
Band Members: George Lynch Girish Pradhan Steve Brown Jeff Pilson
Track-list:
1) Black Hole Extinction 2) Silent Winter 3) Killer of the Night 4) Hell or High Water 5) Stand Up 6) Burning Man 7) Shattered Glass Heart 8) Time 9) Hunted 10) Stranger in the Mirror 11) Into the Blazing Sun
Produced By: Jeff Pilson for Pilsound Music Inc Studio: Pilsound Studios, Santa Clarita CA Recorded By: Jeff Pilson and Girish Pradhan, additional engineering: Olivia Pilson Mixed By: Alessandro Del Vecchio Mastered By: Alessandro Del Vecchio
Overlooking the ancient lands of sensational heavy metal, Norway’s Coffin Storm is the new band consisting of a trio of Kolbotn veterans, with the line-up of Apollyon (Aura Noir/Lamented Souls) and Bestial Tormentor (Infernö/Lamented Souls) completed by Darkthrone’s Fenriz on vocal duties.
Fenriz explains the origins of the band: “Kolbotn is a hilly forest-y place directly south of Oslo, Norway. When Ole Jørgen and Olav and me grew up there in the 80s we had easy access to all the metal in the massive amounts of record stores in Oslo. Olav and Ole Jørgen started playing doom metal together in the 90s (Lamented Souls) but in 2020 they teamed up again and making riffs in the slow thrash/doom/classic heavy metal style. When the songs started to take form, Ole Jørgen took his place on the drum throne and soon started to record them. Wanting it to be a 100% Kolbotn project, they asked if I wanted to lay down vocals for it and after a couple of sessions in 2021 and 2022 COFFIN STORM was born.”
Apollyon adds “Me and Bestial Tormentor have been playing together since we met in college in 1990 and formed the doom metal act Lamented Souls. However with most members being busy with other bands LS kind of faded away. Our last rehearsal was around 2007.
After I had stopped playing live with Aura Noir we decided to meet up weekly and play guitar together. It was not going to be Lamented Souls and we had no serious plans of any kind. – but as songs were starting to emerge I switched to drums and we made recordings that Bestial Tormentor played to Fenriz, who apparently approved! I would never have dared to ask him to do the vocals! I was considering doing them myself but he was secretly our first choice. Fortunately Bestial Tormentor popped the question and he said yes, so we recorded 3 songs with an extra pair of drum mics(4 in total )in the rehearsal place. Added bass and guitar in my house and went to Fenriz’ to record the vocals. Then we had two more sessions before the album was finished.
Initially I was assuming the music would be doom metal. I think all of us had “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus” in mind but even if our songs are slow/mid tempo, the riffs ended up being more thrashy than I had expected. Only the title track is pure doom simply because it’s a song me and Bestial Tormentor made some 20 years ago that we were über eager to hear Fenriz’ ravishing vocal lines on.”
And so the first fruits of their toil manifest in the form of debut album, ‘Arcana Rising’, with a sterling concoction of classic heavy metal, slow thrash and doom. The result is a torrent of rousing, accomplished titanic riffing from both Apollyon & Bestial Tormentor, commandeered by Fenriz’s unmistakable vocal prowess as witnessed with his own Isengard project as well as multiple Darkthrone releases, with vocal inspiration summoned from bands such as Agent Steel.
Having exclusively premiered the first track “Over Frozen Moors” on the Fenriz Metal Pact Podcast he comments on the single “Right off the bat it’s a chunky 1984 style Exodus verse riff followed by a myriad of melodics in a levitating refrain. The middle of the song just proceeds with an even more killer slow-thrash riff and a surprising vocal part baked into it which gives the song an added epic layer. For the heaviness of the rhythm shift in the closing part I just have one thing to say: Wait for it!..”
‘Arcana Rising’ contains six sprawling metallic epics covering the 45 minute running time, and was recorded at a variety of studios in the band’s native Norway, with work originally commencing back to 2021. With production overseen by Apollyon himself, ‘Arcana Rising’ truly channels & encapsulates the spirit of the 80s, with inspiration from such masters of metal as Candlemass, Pentagram, Metallica & early Kreator, with musical nods to early Paradise Lost & Cathedral from the more extreme side of the doom spectrum, as well as including traces of the DNA from Apollyon & Bestial Tormentor’s own prior work together with their cult doom act Lamented Souls, to create a sensational and majestic opus.
Mastering work was completed by Jack Control at Enormous Door (Darkthrone), and cover art appears courtesy of Polish artist Maciej Kamuda.
Following previously-released, new tracks “Root Of All Evil” and “Boogeyman Boogie”, today, Sweden’s MISTER MISERY are presenting their latest single “Hand Of Death”!
“Hand Of Death talks about how hard it can be to just get through the day sometimes.” The band comments. “It’s a reflection of what many of us feel quite often in life and how bad your thoughts can get when you suffer inside without talking about it to anyone.”
MISTER MISERY is an innovative, modern and ground-breaking metal band from Sweden. Blending clean and gritty vocals along with high-voltage riffs and anthemic choruses, they have developed a unique sound and style, and one that captures the essence of all the sub-genres in modern heavy music.
Since forming back in 2018, MISTER MISERY have released two critically acclaimed studio albums (Unalive and A Brighter Side Of Death) and several highly praised and top-playlisted singles to date. Paired with an obscene and theatrical appearance, they create an experience that speaks to all senses.
MISTER MISERY has become a force that crushes stages on the biggest festival the scene has to offer, such as Wacken Open Air, Master of Rock, Full Metal Cruise, Hills Of Rock to name just a few. MISTER MISERY has played as support of some of the most prestigious bands in metal, such as Nightwish and Dream Theater in front of over 15.000 people. One thing is for certain: They will leave NO survivors!
The band is currently gearing up for an exciting, new chapter of their career, and has just recently joined forces with AFM Records, who will proudly release their forthcoming album in 2024!
MISTER MISERY: Harley Vendetta – Vocals/Guitar Alex Nine – Lead Guitar/Backup Vocals Rizzy – Drums/Backup Vocals Alex Alister – Bass/Backup Vocals
34 years since their latest album “Violent By Nature”, released in 1990, Tucson, Arizona-based thrash metal titans ATROPHY return with a brand new album! “Asylum” will be unleashed on March 15, 2024 via Massacre Records, the pre-sale is now available at https://lnk.to/atrophyasylum
“Asylum” marks the next evolutionary step for ATROPHY. Keeping the speed of “Socialized Hate” and the grooves of “Violent By Nature”, this album adds a big dose of heaviness to the mix resulting in a satisfying aural kick in your face! Today, the iconic band has premiered a lyric video for their first single, the album opening track “Punishment For All”, watch the clip now streaming HERE.
““Punishment For All” was inspired by the attempted insurrection on January 6 (2021) with Covid-19 restrictions still in play. To sit in my living room and watch this unfold was almost too much to bear. Americans were at each other‘s throats, calling people traitors, or trying to undermine democracy and not believing in the results of the election, following the myriad conspiracy theories that were swirling around at the time.” Frontman Brian Zimmerman comments.
“I thought to myself what if they were successful? What are we, as a country divided, going to do then? Take down everything we have built together as a country? What are we putting in place? Are we just going to do whatever the loudest people tell us to do? The whole thing was just absolutely crazy.”
“Asylum” was produced, mixed and mastered by Alex Parra at Second Sight Studio. The album tracklist will read as follows:
Punishment For All
High Anxiety
Seeds Of Sorrow
Distortion
Bleeding Out
American Dream
Close My Eyes
The Apostle
Five Minutes ‘Til Suicide
Album Lineup: Brian Zimmerman – Vocals Nathan Montalvo – Lead Guitar Mark Coglan – Rhythm Guitar Josh Gibbs – Bass Guitar Jonas Shütz – Drums
GUEST MUSICIANS: Kragen Lum – Lead Guitar on “American Dream” Justin Stear – Bass Guitar on “American Dream”, “Close My Eyes”, “Distortion”
MINISTRY’S ROY MAYORGA AND WE ARE THE ASTEROID’S GARY CHESTER CONTRIBUTE TO THE RECORD
———————————
An album so magical, I helped create it without knowing it was happening. It’s definitely the weirdest album I’ve ever been a part of.” – Steven McDonald
Feb. 6, 2024, LOS ANGELES – The Melvins latest opus, Tarantula Heart (April 19, Ipecac Recordings), is quite possibly the band’s most unconventional, catchiest and imaginative work yet, continuing a legacy celebrated for its eccentric and extraordinary output.
A preview of the five-song, 39-minute collection arrives with the release of “Working The Ditch” (https://themelvins.lnk.to/wtd), and the accompanying Jesse Nieminen-created video. Nieminen previously directed the band’s short film, “A Walk With Love and Death.”
“The way we approached Tarantula Heart was different than any other Melvins’ album,” explains Buzz Osborne. “I had Dale and Roy Mayorga come in and play along with Steven and I to some riffs, then I took those sessions and figured out what parts would work and wrote new music to fit. This isn’t a studio approach we’ve ever taken. Usually we have the songs written BEFORE we start recording!”
“The majority of Tarantula Heart has dual drum parts,” adds long-time Melvins drummer Dale Crover. “Roy is an amazing drummer. We would discuss what we would do pattern wise, then we’d just go for it. Improvising riffs and trading off on drum fills.”
Tarantula Heart cover, artwork by Mackie Osborne
Tarantula Heart track list:
Pain Equals Funny
Working the Ditch
She’s Got Weird Arms
Allergic to Food
Smiler
In actuality nothing appeared out of thin air. Buzz spent hours and hours with the drum tracks by himself writing songs to what he was hearing drum wise. “When the rest of the band heard these songs I’d created from the sessions, they were blown away,” Buzz shares. “These were fully developed new songs that they’d never heard before that had seemingly appeared out of thin air. Presto!”
Recorded, mixed and co-produced by longtime Melvins’ collaborator Toshi Kasai, the album also features We Are The Asteroid guitar player Gary Chester. Gary and the Melvins’ history goes back to their days on Boner Records, with the guitar player formerly having been a part of the legendary band, Ed Hall.
Tarantula Heart pre-orders (https://themelvins.lnk.to/tarantula) are available now, with the album available on a trio of vinyl variants (black, indie exclusive Silver Streak and Ipecac Recordings’ 25th Anniversary Puke Green), featuring a 12-page booklet, as well as on CD and digitally.
Next month sees the Melvins head overseas, playing in Japan for the first time since 2019 following a stint where they join current labelmates, Mr. Bungle, for a trek across Australia and New Zealand. Buzz and Bungle bass player Trevor Dunn team up later this year for the “King Dunn Tour,” a 45-date excursion that sees the pair play songs from the King Buzzo releases: This Machine Kills Artists and Gift of Sacrifice. The full list of dates can be found via Ipecac.com/tours.
Melvins tour dates:
March 3 Auckland, NZ Auckland Town Hall March 6 Melbourne, AUS Festival Hall March 7 Adelaide, AUS Hindley Street Music Hall March 9 Sydney, AUS Hordern Pavilion March 10 Brisbane, AUS Fortitude Music Hall March 12 Perth, AUS Metro City March 17 Osaka, JP Music Club Janus March 19 Tokyo, JP Shibuya WWW X March 20 Tokyo, JP Shibuya WWW X
Indomitable Australian rockers The Neptune Power Federation have released the official video for “Lock & Key,” the second single from their forthcoming sixth album, Goodnight My Children.
This new album is a collection of feverish nighttime stories set to uproarious pure rock with a pop twist! Cruz Del Sur Music will release the album in the United States and Canada on April 5 (European release date is March 8).
Pure Australian rock glory meets the Sunset Strip on Goodnight My Children!
Love songs were on the mind of Australian psychedelic rock and roll brigade The Neptune Power Federation for their 2021 full-length, Le Demon De L’Amour. The album was the raucous re-imagination of a bygone era filtered through the lens of a band unafraid to blur genres. Fast-forward three years and children’s stories are on the brain for The Neptune Power Federation; with a decidedly early 1980s American sound on Goodnight My Children.
This new album finds The Neptune Power Federation leaning into the poppier side of their sound (think the Sunset Strip merging with late 1970s radio rock). The album’s eight cuts bang and mash with pure rock fervor, complete with roaring guitar solos and the always-memorable, convincing, enticing and mesmerizing “The Imperial Priestess,” otherwise known as Screamin’ Loz Sutch, on lead vocals.
Indeed, Goodnight My Children may be Sutch’s finest vocal performance to date. The recording process (which took place at bass player JayTanic Ritual’s The Pet Food Factory in Marrickville, Sydney, with mixing duties handled by Mo Mayhem), involved Sutch doing huge banks of layered backing vocals that followed her peculiar and idiosyncratic sensibilities. The sessions were organic and intuitive, allowing Sutch to expand upon the classic pop structures of the eight songs.
Sutch’s spellbinding vocal performance lent perfectly to the theme of Goodnight My Children, which symbolizes a collection of nighttime stories that, no matter how horrifying, leave the listener in the caring embrace of Sutch, the Imperial Priestess. And, as an added bonus, fans will be treated to an illustrated book of fairy tales that will accompany the release.
2024 will find The Neptune Power Federation making its long-awaited return to European shores for a round of tour dates. With the band approaching 15 years as a unit, milestones like a sixth studio album and international acclaim are not taken lightly by the band. While its origins as a casual studio project were simple, the emergence of Sutch and the notoriety for their sweaty, bombastic live shows has turned The Neptune Power Federation into a rock and roll cult that is impossible to ignore.
Today, Creepsylvania’s beloved masked mutants, GHOUL, unleash their Noxious Concoctions upon planet earth. Boasting five delightful hymns, the EP serves as the first new studio output from the splatterthrashers since 2016’s critically hailed Dungeon Bastards full-length.
All tracks on Noxious Concoctions were digested, dissected, fermented, and cremated by the members of GHOUL, except “1-900-DTH-LINE,” originally composed by Funerot. The EP was recorded by Scott Evans at Antisleep Audio and Sharkbite Studios, mastered by Dan Randall at Mammoth Sound Mastering, and includes gang vocals by The Moron Cavern-Shackled Choir and “swamp hag” vocals by Laurie Sue Shanaman.
Noxious Concoctions is available on CD and digital formats as well as limited 12” vinyl in the following three color variants:
Die Hard – Swamp Green concoction vinyl includes Noxious Concoctions cocktail book and GHOULunatics swizzle stick.
Wacky Splatter – A Tankcrimes mailorder exclusive; Black And Bone mix w/ Swamp Green Splatter
Orange Crush – Retail edition
Find vinyl orders HERE, CD orders HERE, and digital orders HERE where the record can be streamed.
GHOUL’s Noxious Concoctions comes just two weeks before they kick off the inaugural Brainsqueeze Tour! The North American live assault will find GHOUL sacking stages as direct support to MunicipalWaste. Additional support will be provided by labelmates Necrot and Dead Heat. The tour runs from February 15th in Washington, DC through March 16th in Richmond, Virginia. Tickets are on sale now at THIS LOCATION.
GHOUL w/ Municipal Waste, Necrot, Dead Heat: 2/15/2024 Black Cat – Washington, DC 2/16/2024 Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA 2/17/2024 Brooklyn Monarch – Brooklyn, NY 2/18/2024 The Paradise – Boston, MA 2/19/2024 House Of Music – Portland, ME * GHOUL + Necrot only 2/20/2024 Foufounes Electriques – Montreal, QC 2/21/2024 London Music Hall – London, ON 2/22/2024 Rec Room – Buffalo, NY 2/23/2024 Magic Stick – Detroit, MI 2/24/2024 Turner Hall – Milwaukee, WI 2/26/2024 Fine Line – Minneapolis, MN 2/27/2024 Waiting Room – Omaha, NE 3/01/2024 Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO 3/02/2024 Mesa Theatre – Grand Junction, CO 3/03/2024 Aces High Saloon – Salt Lake City, UT * GHOUL + Necrot only 3/04/2024 UC Theatre – Berkeley, CA 3/05/2024 The Bellwether – Los Angeles, CA 3/06/2024 Encore – Tucson, AZ 3/08/2024 Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX 3/09/2024 Trees – Dallas, TX 3/10/2024 House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA 3/12/2024 Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, F 3/13/2024 The Abbey – Orlando, FL 3/14/2024 40 Watt – Athens, GA 3/15/2024 The Senate Theatre – Columbia, SC 3/16/2024 The National – Richmond, VA
Metalcore titans UNEARTH proudly present their latest video for “Eradicator,” a standout track from their formidable album, The Wretched; The Ruinous. The video, showcasing the band’s relentless energy and unique artistry, is now available for viewing HERE.
Following the success of The Wretched; The Ruinous, UNEARTH continues to push boundaries, both musically and thematically. The album, lauded for its incisive commentary on global issues, stands as a testament to the band’s ability to blend aggressive sounds with thought-provoking lyrics.
Reflecting on the new video, vocalist Trevor Phipps says, “Since our new album The Wretched; The Ruinous was released ‘Eradicator’ has been posted and reposted more than any other track on the record by you all. Because of this we hit up our good friend Daniel Vandal from Kreact to shoot another live themed video (Incinerate) for us across the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario. The footage captures the high energy, and mayhem (Barrie), our Canadian friends always bring to our shows north of the border. Check out ‘Eradicator’ now and see you on the road.”
The album The Wretched; The Ruinous delves into pressing global concerns, as Phipps explains: “The Wretched; The Ruinous is about the eight billion people on this planet. We’ve created a man-made mass extinction event and have been too slow to correct our faults. Extreme weather, drought, famine, disease, erosion of land, culture wars, civil wars, wars for natural resources, and the displacement of billions of people, is all a current reality. This isn’t a future problem; it is a now problem and I take this record to talk about it.”
UNEARTH‘s new video for “Eradicator” is more than just a musical statement; it’s a visual journey into the heart of what makes them one of metal’s most enduring and relevant acts.
The Wretched, The Ruinous – Track List:
The Wretched; The Ruinous Cremation of the Living Eradicator Mother Betrayal Invictus Call of Existence Dawn of the Militant Aniara Into the Abyss Broken Arrow Theaters of War
You can catch UNEARTH live at these festivals:
July 5 – RockHarz – Ballenstedt, Germany August 16 – Summer Breeze Open Air – Dinkelsbühl, Germany August 23 – NOAF (Neuborn Open Air Festival) – Wörrstadt, Germany October 4 – Furnace Fest – Birmingham, Alabama
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.