Swedish/Norwegian melodic power metal band SAINTDEAMON has announced to return with a brand new studio album, entitled “League Of The Serpent”, about three and a half years after their quasi-“comeback” album “Ghost”.
Known for their high-quality sound and an individual touch (which is often hard to find in the power metal genre), also “League Of The Serpent” clearly shows the great quality of vocal wonder Jan-Thore Grefstad, guitarist Toya Johansson, bass player Nobby Noberg (ex-Dionysus) and new drummer Alfred Fridhagen (Gaia Epicus).
Tracks such as the upbeat first single “At Break Of Dawn” showcase the typical SAINT DEAMON compositions, in addition the band skillfully incorporates progressive nuances and makes “League Of The Serpent” an album that will be most likely one of the genre highlights in 2023! Due out April 21, 2023 as Digipak CD and limited (500 units) colored vinyl edition via AFM Records. The album pre-sale is now available at THIS LOCATION.
Watch the brand new lyric video for first single, the album opening track “At Break Of Dawn”, now streaming HERE:
“At break of dawn is the 4th song about Captain Saint Deamon and his crew. This time while they were out pirating“, the band reveals. “A rival or enemy if you will – came to the captains home island to rob and destroy the captains town and the captain goes for revenge. The fights are happening while the town is on fire. In the end our captain takes back what was his.”
PYRAMAZE are an exceptional phenomenon in the international prog- and power metal 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 – in connection with a certain open-mindedness for contemporary arrangements and further development.
It’s no secret that the band is currently working on a new album – and already the first single “Broken Arrow” stands as the epitome of what PYRAMAZE is about. Cast in a first-class production by PYRAMAZE guitarist and renowned producer Jacob Hansen, the track is elevated to highest quality realms not least by the fabulous organ of singer Terje Harøy.
Says keyboardist Jonah Weingarten: “Broken Arrow represents the perfect mixture of Disciples of the Sun- Pyramaze era with a splash of our modern Epitaph sound. It has the big chorus, huge strings, big powerful vocals, and catchy melodies that we are known for. It was an easy choice for our first single for our upcoming album!”
Watch the brand new video for “Broken Arrow”, now streaming below, and stay tuned for many more album news and details to follow soon.
German metal commandos PRIMALFEAR celebrated their twenty-fifth band anniversary with select events last year, including live shows and reissuing their iconic self-titled debut album. The time was also spent preparing the huge sonic assault named Code Red, set to be unleashed on September 1st through Atomic Fire!
Produced by bass player Mat Sinner and co-produced by vocalist Ralf Scheepers as well as guitarist Tom Naumann, the record will once again be mixed and mastered by long-time PRIMAL FEAR companion Jacob Hansen at his own Hansen Studios in Denmark. To give fans a first impression of the album, which is still in its recording stages, the group has unveiled its cover artwork, designed by Stan W. Decker who created previous works for the band including 2017’s Angels Of Mercy – Live In Germany, 2018’s Apocalypse, and 2021’s I Will Be Gone.
And PRIMAL FEAR wouldn’t be PRIMAL FEAR if they didn’t announce the first leg of their upcoming European tour as well. Kicking off with a hometown show at Stuttgart’s Im Wizemann venue, the run will also lead the “eagles” to many other countries beyond Germany and Switzerland. Special guests on this run will be power metallers The Unity featuring members of Gamma Ray, Edguy, Primal Fear, and more. Additional dates will be announced in the weeks to come. Find tickets at metaltix.com before they’re gone!
CommentsMat Sinner, “The world is in a state of emergency, one catastrophe follows another. Code Red is our statement about the present and the title of our upcoming fourteenth studio album, which will be released directly at the tour start on September 1st. According to its title, it will be a heavy, powerful, and uncompromising record – 110% PRIMAL FEAR!”
PRIMAL FEAR: 6/24/2023 Koba Live – Abadiño, ES w/ The Unity – Code Red European Tour – Part 1: 9/01/2023 Im Wizemann (Halle) – Stuttgart, DE 9/02/2023 Kaminwerk – Memmingen, DE 9/03/2023 Frankenhalle – Naila , DE 9/05/2023 Backstage (Werk) – Munich, DE 9/06/2023 Zeche – Bochum, DE 9/07/2023 Batschkapp – Frankfurt, DE 9/09/2023 Le Port Franc – Sion, CH 9/10/2023 Z7 – Pratteln, CH To be continued…
Order/stream the band’s reissued debut album, Primal Fear [Deluxe Edition; Remastered], released on July 15th, 2022, at THIS LOCATION.
View PRIMAL FEAR’s previously released videos for “Chainbreaker,” “Running In The Dust,” and so much more at the Atomic Fire Youtube channel at THIS LOCATION.
PRIMAL FEAR: Ralf Scheepers – vocals Mat Sinner – bass, vocals Tom Naumann – guitars Alexander Beyrodt – guitars Magnus Karlsson – guitars Michael Ehré – drums
2022 proved to be another stellar year for Metal album releases. I’ve paired down my list to the 10 Metal albums that bestowed upon my Metal soul the best of Metal euphoria. What are your favorite Metal albums of 2022?
It’s never a perfect science in making a “best of” list and my deliberations are genuinely thought out over and over. I thank each band below for their incredible Metal creations. Feel free to comment! Happy Holidays and… Metal Be Thy Name! -Stone
1. DARKTHRONE – Astral Fortress2. QUEENSRYCHE – Digital Noise Alliance3. STRYPER – The Final Battle4. CORPSEGRINDER – S/T5. VENOM INC. – There’s Only Black6. INCITE – Wake Up Dead7. GOATWHORE – Angels Hung From the Arches ofHeaven8. HAMMERFALL – Hammer Of Dawn9. IRON KINGDOM – The Blood Of Creation10. DEMIRICOUS – III: Chaotic Lethal
Canada’s premier melodic and power metal festival HYPERSPACE is proud to announce its full lineup for its 2023 edition being held on April 13-15 in Vancouver, BC at The Fox Cabaret and Rickshaw Theatre.
Joining the final lineup is Calgary’s speed demons Riot City, Atlanta power thrashers Paladin, power prog saviours Immortal Guardian, Denver fantasy heroes Celestial Wizard along with locals, epic metallers Atavistia, and one-man instrumentalist Zack Brannon.
EXMORTUS
The lineup also features previously announced headliners California melo-death warriors EXMORTUS, Edmonton Juno Award winners, and heavy metal champions STRIKER along with HMF alumni JUDICATOR and LORDS OF THE TRIDENT among many more for the three-night event. (festival day-by-day schedule listed below).
Unfortunately, Odinfist and Hrom have had to pull out of HMF4. There will be plans to welcome them again in future years.
Festival organizer Joey Hockin of Journeyman Productions adds:
“We’re excited to have our 2023 lineup complete. This fourth year of the fest is going to be another great gathering of metal’s best and upcoming power and prog-influenced bands. We look forward to seeing everyone making the trek to Vancouver this April.”
Saturday, April 15th (Rickshaw Theatre) Exmortus Judicator Lords Of The Trident Paladin Immortal Guardian Lutharo Hyperia
JUDICATOR
Over the three editions of Hyperspace Metal Festival, bands from all over the world have come to play power, prog, melodic death, and speed metal on the Canadian West Coast. The festival has presented lineups that have included performances by Into Eternity, Witherfall, Planeswalker, Iron Kingdom, Helion Prime, Ravenous, Crimson Shadows, West of Hell, Judicator, Odinfist, Tanagra, Scythia, Greyhawk, The Order of Chaos, Red Cain, and many more.
Progressive/symphonic power metal quintet INDUCTION will release their sophomore full length, Born From Fire, on November 25th via Atomic Fire Records. After releasing their first two stand-alone singles, today the band reveals their latest helping from the record with “Go To Hell.”
As the world is scorched by flame and consumed in chaos, hope is born, forging a new path to mankind’s everlasting paradise. Stories of distant worlds welcome you to rethink how we live today. In a world where sadistic and religious fanatics prey on gullible minds and control the hearts of many, the truth is destined to be unveiled.
Comments the band, “‘Go To Hell’ appeals to unshackling the minds from religious boundaries – or any for that matter – and finding truth and power in yourself. It appeals to a world without oppression and people of power abusing their position to their benefit. But it also appeals to listeners to realize their full potential and take responsibility for their actions, standing up against the demons they face in everyday life. You always have the power to stay on top!”
Watch INDUCTION’s “Go To Hell” video or stream the track at THIS LOCATION.
View the band’s previously released video for “Queen Of Light” HERE and “Sacrifice” HERE.
Stream the tracks on the platform of your choice HERE.
Born From Fire, which boasts twelve metal anthems in fifty-eight minutes, was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen and is graced by the cover artwork of Peter Sallai (Sabaton, Jinjer, Powerwolf).
Born From Fire will be available on CD, 2xLP vinyl and digitally. Find special preorder bundles at THIS LOCATION.
In conjunction with the release of Born From Fire, INDUCTION will embark on a European tour supporting Serious Black. See all confirmed dates below. Keep up with INDUCTION’s upcoming European live dates at their official website HERE.
INDUCTION w/ Serious Black: 11/24/2022 Z7 – Pratteln, CH 11/25/2022 Matrix – Bochum, DE 11/26/2022 Club Zentral – Stuttgart, DE 11/27/2022 Rockhouse – Salzburg, AT 11/29/2022 South Of Heaven – Bilzen, BE 11/30/2022 Tivoli – Bremen, DE 12/01/2022 Garage – Saarbrücken, DE 12/02/2022 Gemeindehalle – Schirnding, DE 12/07/2022 Logo – Hamburg, DE
Originally founded in 2014, INDUCTION left their first mark with first single, “The Outwitted Consecration,” in 2016 before completely entering the metal world by releasing their eponymous debut album in 2019. Its enormously positive reception even paved them the way to touring across Europe alongside Brazilian power metallers Armored Dawn in November of the same year. It was a notable career start for the quintet that was unfortunately halted by the pandemic leading to a break (at least on the live front) that wasn’t only used by the band to work on their sophomore album but also to renew their power.
Progressive/symphonic power metal quintet INDUCTION will release their sophomore full length, Born From Fire, on November 25th via Atomic Fire Records.
Notes guitarist and band mastermind Tim Kanoa Hansen. “We tried to deliver a good mix of big hits, great melodies, emotions, brutal anger, intricate riffs, and arrangements as well as making it a ton of fun while listening. We are sure this album will convince old and new fans alike of what INDUCTION means. We sincerely hope that everyone finds themselves in some of the songs.”
The record, which boasts twelve metal anthems in fifty-eight minutes, was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen and is graced by the cover artwork of Peter Sallai (Sabaton, Jinjer, Powerwolf).
Born From Fire will be available on CD, 2xLP vinyl, and digitally. Find special preorder bundles at THIS LOCATION.
BornFromFire – Track Listing:
Born From Fire
Scorched
Fallen Angel
Go To Hell
Embers
Order & Chaos
The Beauty Of Monstrance
Queen Of Light
I Am Alive
Ghost Of Silence
Eternal Silence
Sacrifice (Bonus Track)
Keep up with INDUCTION’s upcoming European live dates at their official website HERE and stream the band’s previously released songs on the streaming platform of your choice HERE.
Originally founded in 2014, INDUCTION left their first mark with first single, “The Outwitted Consecration,” in 2016 before completely entering the metal world by releasing their eponymous debut album in 2019. Its enormously positive reception even paved them the way to touring across Europe alongside Brazilian power metallers Armored Dawn in November of the same year. It was a notable career start for the quintet that was unfortunately halted by the pandemic leading to a break (at least on the live front) that wasn’t only used by the band to work on their sophomore album but also to renew their power.
The flagbearers of modern Italian progressive metal, AVELION, have been churning out bombastic singles for more than a decade, dropping a string of releases that have been helping shape the genre. In 2022, they return with “Bound To Blackness”, the first single recorded with new vocalist Riccardo Rizzardelli.
The song – recorded, produced and mixed by Simone Mularoni – is now available at THIS LOCATION.
“‘Bound To Blackness’ is a song that manages to encompass all the main elements of our music: melody, groove, oddly shifting time signatures, electronics, ambient and cinematic arrangements, as well as dense progressive instrumental sections. We worked very hard in the studio with Simone Mularoni to create a truly original and modern mix, suitable not only for progressive metal fans, but also for power and melodic metal listeners, as well as for djent and modern metal enthusiasts.
We can’t wait to take old fans and new listeners on this journey through the different nuances that make up our sound. The concept of the song is open to each listener’s interpretation, but there is a message of self development and inner growth, which involves awareness, acceptance and finally overcoming our darkest side. It’s a song about fighting your inner nightmares to find yourself. A journey in which acceptance and redemption are to be sought within ourselves”.
Photo by Egon Reboldi
Each AVELION release expands and clarifies the band’s mission to bring forth the most dynamic sonic offerings. Marrying progressive and modern metal influences, AVELION approach each song as a unique opportunity to destroy and rebuild the listener’s perception.
The Finnish power metal regiment, Remains of Destruction, released their album called “New Dawn” on May 28, 2022. The revolutionary album transports the listener through beautiful melodies, heavy riffs, and epic moods. R.O.D has released a total of five singles from the album that have received good feedback, and the band assures that listeners will not be disappointed with their first full-length album.
“New Dawn” has also had high-level collaborators, such as Topias Kupiainen of Arion, long-time power metal expert Esa Orjatsalo, award-winning game music composer Kohld Haveneson, and Venezuela’s gift to music production, producer Felipe Grüber.
The songs’ themes on the album primarily deal with modern-day themes, and the texts revolve around the war in Ukraine, the pandemic, and the current state of humanity.
Album cover by Nicolás Oliveros
The band’s singer Jesse Yrjölä, who was responsible for the production and recording of the album, says of the new album:
“New Dawn” is an epic journey through a post-apocalyptic fictive alternate reality full of velocity and dangerous situations. The album follows the real world’s ugly situation through a third-person view, likened to a slightly whimsical universe according to our ideology through the eyes of different characters.
The concept of the album and some of the songs was in mind even before the whole band was formed. In the turn of the year, when our lineup was complete, we decided together to book an album-release gig and made a deal that we are going to finish the album by the gig. At that time we had released 3 singles and a total of five songs had been written! We worked our asses off throughout the beginning of the year and we were able to finish an album consisting of nine songs 3 weeks before the release! (Theband’ssingerlaughs). We got a real supergroup of awesome peers who I want to thank a thousand times for their work! Without them, this album would have never seen the light of day.
We hope everyone gets on board with us to spread the message of power metal!
HELLOWEEN will release a special vinyl single titled “Best Time” via AtomicFire on May 20th. The single features a 2022 remix of its title track on side A as well as an exclusive alternative vocal remix of the song on side B.
Purchase the band’s 2021 self-titled full-length in various formats as well as other records and merchandise at the Atomic Fire Records webshop HERE.
HELLOWEEN’s “Best Time” single comes in celebration of the band’s awaited United Forces European tour with HammerFall, set to begin this Wednesday, May 4th, at Manchester Academy in the UK. The band’s full upcoming itinerary can be found below.
HELLOWEEN w/ HammerFall: 5/04/2022 Manchester Academy – Manchester, UK 5/05/2022 Brixton Academy – London, UK 6/23/2022 Hellfest – Clisson, FR* 6/28/2022 Papp László Sportaréna – Budapest, HU 6/29/2022 Gasometer – Vienna, AT 6/30/2022 O2 Arena – Prague, CZ 7/02/2022 Olympic Fields – Zvolenská Slatina, SK 7/16/2022 Metal Paradise – Fuengirola, ES * 8/27/2022 Ippodromo Snai San Siro – Milan, IT *
8/28/2022 Riverside Open Air – Aarburg, CH * 8/30/2022 L’Olympia – Paris, FR* 8/31/2022 Le Transbordeur – Lyon, FR* 9/08/2022 Verti Music Hall – Berlin, DE 9/09/2022 Donau-Arena – Regensburg, DE 9/10/2022 Brose Arena – Bamberg, DE 9/13/2022 013 – TilburgM NL 9/14/2022 Rockhal – Luxembourg, LU 9/16/2022 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle – Stuttgart, DE 9/18/2022 MCK – Katowice, PL 9/22/2022 Centro de Eventos Pedregal – San José, CR 9/24/2022 Arena CDMX – Mexico City, MX 9/27/2022 Coliseo General Rumiñahui – Quito, EC 9/29/2022 Movistar Arena – Bogotá, CO
10/02/2022 Estadio Luna Park – Buenos Aires, AR 10/04/2022 Movistar Arena – Santiago de Chile, CL 10/06/2022 Arena Eurobike – Ribeirão Preto, BR 10/08/2022 Espaço das Américas – São Paulo, BR 10/09/2022 Espaço das Américas – São Paulo, BR 10/13/2022 Arena Armeec – Sofia, BG 12/09/2022 Jahrhunderthalle – Frankfurt, DE 12/11/2022 bigBOX – Kempten, DE 12/13/2022 The Hall – Zurich, CH 2/03/2023 Sant Jordi Club – Barcelona, ES 2/04/2023 WiZink Center – Madrid, ES 4/28/2023 Sentrum Scene – Madrid, ES 4/29/2023 Partille Arena – Gothenburg, SE 5/01/2023 Black Box – Helsinki, FI 5/02/2023 Noblessneri Valukoda – Tallinn, EE 5/05/2023 RuhrCongress – Bochum, DE 5/06/2023 Sporthalle – Hamburg, DE
No HammerFall
Visit/subscribe to HELLOWEEN’s official YouTube channel at THIS LOCATION and watch videos for “Out For The Glory,” “Skyfall [Single Edit],” “Fear Of The Fallen,” “Mass Pollution,” “Angels,” “Rise Without Chains,” “Indestructible,” “Robot King,” “Cyanide,” “Skyfall [Album Version]” and so much more!
Artwork by Eliran Kantor
HELLOWEEN: Michael Kiske – vocals AndiDeris – vocals Kai Hansen – guitar, vocals Michael Weikath – guitar SaschaGerstner – guitar Markus Grosskopf – bass Daniel Löble – drums
Boston (MA) – Epic Power Metal outfit Adamantis will release The Daemon‘s Strain EP June 10 on digital, CD, and vinyl MLP formats through Cruz Del Sur Music.
TheDaemon‘s Strain is a triumphant, exploratory four-song EP from one of America’s best up-and-coming power metal bands! Hot off the heels of their brilliant full-length debut album Far Flung Realm, Massachusetts metallers Adamantis return with a striking collage of heroic power metal mixed with symphonic rock!
Already a cult curiosity via their 2018 Thundermark EP debut and initial self-release of their 2020 Far Flung Realm first full-length, Adamantis quickly entered the collective global melodic metal conscience when they signed with Cruz Del Sur Music. The first order of business was to re-release Far Flung Realm. In doing so, Adamantis was immediately thrust to the top of various “best newcomer” lists — proper accolades for an album that so brilliantly recaptured the spirit of 1990s European power metal.
Looking to strike quickly and with unexpected time on their hands thanks to the pandemic, Adamantis is back with the four-song The Daemon’s Strain EP.
Drums and vocals for The Daemon’s Strain were tracked at Kennedy Studios in Burlington, Massachusetts with producer/engineer Steve Aliperta; all instruments were laid down at the respective home studios of guitarists Javier Estrada, Jeff Taft and bassist Cody Pelchat. (Pelchat and Taft have since left Adamantis to focus on other projects.)
Leveraging the free-form “anything goes” nature of the EP format, Adamantis constructed The Daemon’s Strain as a musical journey across three different landscapes leading to a final destination: the title song, the band’s 13-minute interpretation of the Olde English ballad, “House Carpenter.” The EP starts with “Storm the Walls,” a song that in the band’s own words, “is a statement of our intentions” and definite inclusion in their live set. “Dark Moon Goddess” is perhaps the band’s most progressive and Gothic number to date, while “Thundermark” (the first-ever Adamantis song) is refreshed and rebooted with new vocals from Jeff Stark.
The centerpiece of The Daemon’s Strain is the title track. Leaning closer to a classical symphonic rock song but still rooted in traditional heavy metal, “The Daemon’s Strain (House Carpenter)” is a fully-immersive sonic landscape that faithfully paints the story of the married lady who, seduced by the devil, abandons her husband and child to find death at sea and meet the dark and low hills of Hell. However, as the cover art represents, Adamantis does not embrace a moralistic take on the story but instead sees it as a tale of empowerment. The band interprets that she decides to break free from the chains of home life. Then, in their imagination, she fully embraces her new fate as an immortal, beautiful and lethal demon, portrayed on the cover — and also featured as the Dark Moon Goddess.
No longer one of American power metal’s best-kept secrets, Adamantis has crafted an EP of depth and triumph — a sterling display of memorable, anthemic melodic metal. It is the next logical step for a band that has displayed that the sky is the limit through two EPs and one triumphant full-length.
DRAGONFORCE will kick off their long-awaited North American trek tonight, March 7th. The Extreme Power Metal tour will commence in Santa Ana, California and run through April 23rd in Berkeley, California. Support will be provided by Firewind, Visions Of Atlantis, and SevenSpires. Tickets and extremely limited pre-show VIP upgrades are available at: www.dragonforce.com. See all confirmed dates below.
Known as the fastest band in the world, Grammy-nominated extreme power metal band DRAGONFORCE is based in London, England. Their platinum-selling record, ThroughTheFireAndFlames, brought them international acclaim and was featured as the most-challenging song on GuitarHeroIII. Their energetic and humorous live performances have won them fans on every continent.
DRAGONFORCE‘s latest album, ExtremePowerMetal, released via Metal Blade Records in the US, features uplifting choruses, catchy melodies, and mind-bending guitar solos. After playing just a few shows in 2020, DRAGONFORCE is finally returning to the USA and Canada to complete their Extreme Power Metal World Tour. To preview and purchase ExtremePowerMetal, go to THIS LOCATION.
Finnish melodic metal icons SONATAARCTICA should be closing their Acoustic Adventures European tour this week. Unfortunately, it had to be postponed to late 2022 due to obvious reasons. But fans need not worry as the band are bringing some cozy living room concert atmosphere to their homes in the form of the first part of their two-piece Acoustic Adventures album, due out on January 21st, 2022 via Atomic Fire.
Containing acoustic adaptions of twelve tracks leading through SONATA ARCTICA’s discography, AcousticAdventures – VolumeOne was recorded and produced by Mikko Tegelman and the band at Studio57 in Finland. Tegelman was also responsible for the album’s mix and mastering alongside bass player Pasi Kauppinen. The artwork by the quintet’s longtime collaborator and fellow countryman, Janne Pitkänen (Nightwish, Auri) rounds out the experience charmingly.
The first single from AcousticAdventures – VolumeOne, “The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me” is available as a lyric video viewable at THIS LOCATION.
States keyboardist Henrik “Henkka” Klingenberg: “The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me was a song that first appeared as a bonus track for Japan back in 2003, just around the time I joined the band. When we started to arrange songs for the second Acoustic Adventures tour in 2019, this song somehow kept popping up and we decided to give it a go. Our dear friend Masi Hukari who joined us on stage for the tour did a lot of the work on this particular arrangement and I think that his input was really important in how this song turned out. For this record, we used the live arrangement as a starting point and I don’t think the song changed that much, so what you hear is a slightly refined version of the 2019 tour arrangement. We decided to use this song as the first single since it’s really different from the original studio version and as always, we prefer to offer something new and interesting for our fans and for ourselves as well.”
(Cover art by Janne Pitkänen)
Preorder Acoustic Adventures – Volume Onephysically – on digipak CD or vinyl in various color variants – and presave/preorder it digitally to receive “The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me” instantly now through the Atomic Fire webshop at THIS LOCATION.
AcousticAdventures – VolumeOne Track Listing:
The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me
For The Sake Of Revenge
A Little Less Understanding
Alone In Heaven
Tallulah
Don’t Say A Word
As If The World Wasn’t Ending
Paid In Full
Tonight I Dance Alone
The Wolves Die Young
Wolf & Raven
On The Faultline
Catch SONATA ARCTICA live on the Acoustic Adventures MMXXII trek across Finland in February, the 25th Anniversary Tour across South America in April, at a variety of festival and special performances throughout the Summer, in the Ukraine and Russia in September, on another leg of the Acoustic Adventures MMXXII across Europe beginning in October and more. Stay up to date on all live dates and ticket info at the band’s official tour page HERE.
SONATA ARCTICA: Tony Kakk – vocals, keyboards Elias Viljanen – guitars Pasi Kauppinen – bass Henrik “Henkka” Klingenberg – keyboards Tommy Portimo – drums
NOW IT’S TIME FOR HAPPINESS: Our new album “Helloween” has entered the official German album charts at the top position – the first time EVER for a HELLOWEEN album! Our gratitude and appreciation for all our fans, not only in Germany, but WORLDWIDE is beyond words!
Ohio power metal band SOLAR FLARE have released their new single “Born to Burn”. The song is from their upcoming self-titled EP which will be released on May 23, 2020.
AMARANTHE will be returning to North America for a major headlining tour, spanning August to the beginning of October of 2020! Special guests will be Battle Beast and Seven Spires. Check the dates, cities, and venues below!
Aug 20 ’20 Baltimore, MD – Soundstage
Aug 21 ’20 Worcester, MA – The Palladium (MA)
Aug 22 ’20 New York, NY – The Gramercy Theatre
Aug 23 ’20 Philadelphia, PA – Theatre Of Living Arts
Aug 25 ’20 Montreal, QC – Club Soda
Aug 26 ’20 Quebec City, QC – Imperial de Quebec
Aug 27 ’20 Ottawa, ON – Mavericks
Aug 28 ’20 Toronto, ON – MOD Club
Aug 29 ’20 Angola, IN – The Eclectic Room
Aug 30 ’20 Westland, MI – Token Lounge
Sep 1 ’20 Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
Sep 2 ’20 Belvidere, IL – Apollo Theater
Sep 3 ’20 Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
Sep 4 ’20 Minneapolis, MN – The Cabooze
Sep 5 ’20 Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre
Sep 6 ’20 Regina, SK – The Exchange
Sep 8 ’20 Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
Sep 9 ’20 Calgary, AB – Dickens
Sep 11 ’20 Vancouver, BC – The Venue
Sep 12 ’20 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Sep 13 ’20 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
Sep 14 ’20 Sacramento, CA – Holy Diver
Sep 15 ’20 San Diego, CA – Brick by Brick
Sep 16 ’20 West Hollywood, CA – Whisky a Go Go
Sep 18 ’20 Tempe, AZ – Club Red
Sep 19 ’20 Las Vegas, NV – Backstage Bar and Billiards
Sep 20 ’20 Salt Lake City, UT – Liquid Joe’s
Sep 21 ’20 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
Sep 23 ’20 Dallas, TX – Trees
Sep 24 ’20 Austin, TX – Come and Take it Live
Sep 25 ’20 Houston, TX – Scout Bar
Sep 26 ’20 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
Sep 27 ’20 Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
Sep 29 ’20 Racine, WI – Rt 20
Sep 30 ’20 Pittsburgh, PA – The Crafthouse
Oct 1 ’20 Charlotte, NC – The Underground
Oct 2 ’20 Cincinnati, OH – Riverfront Live
Tickets are on sale now! Check all ticket links at amaranthe.se/tour
International extreme power metal unit DRAGONFORCE will kick off their anticipated North American headlining tour this week. The trek will commence on October 1st in Tucson, Arizona and conclude October 12th in Ventura, California. Support will be provided by Dance With The Dead and Starkill. The following day, the band will set sail as part of the first annual Megacruise. See all confirmed dates below.
DRAGONFORCE w/ Dance With The Dead, Starkill:
10/01/2019 Encore – Tucson, AZ
10/02/2019 Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
10/03/2019 Vinyl @ Hard Rock – Las Vegas, NV
10/04/2019 Strummers – Fresno, CA
10/05/2019 Cargo – Reno, NV
10/06/2019 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
10/07/2019 The Red Room – Vancouver, BC
10/08/2019 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
10/11/2019 August Hall – San Francisco, CA
10/12/2019 Ventura Theater – Ventura, CA
10/13/2019 Megacruise – Los Angeles, CA* DRAGONFORCE only
DRAGONFORCE is touring in support of their eighth full-length, Extreme Power Metal, released worldwide on September 27th via Metal Blade Records. Produced in Los Angeles, California by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited, Extreme Power Metal was also recorded, in part, on guitarist Herman Li’s livestream channel on Twitch (twitch.tv/hermanli) with participation from fans. To preview the record, and to view the band’s recently-released video for “Razorblade Meltdown” visit metalblade.com/dragonforce.
DragonForce – Razorblade Meltdown (New Official Video)
The Grammy-nominated extreme power metal group is based in London, England. Their platinum-selling record, Through The Fire And Flames, brought them international acclaim and was featured as the most-challenging song on Guitar Hero III. Their energetic and humorous live performances have won them fans on every continent.
The group is known for their long, complex, and fast guitar solos performed by Herman Li and Sam Totman, who founded the band after meeting through a classified ad in 1999. Since then, the band has released seven studio albums, including Valley Of The Damned (2003), Sonic Firestorm (2004), Inhuman Rampage (2006), Ultra Beatdown (2008), The Power Within (2012), Maximum Overload (2014), and Reaching Into Infinity (2017). 2019 brings the next chapter in DRAGONFORCE history: Extreme Power Metal!
Regarding Extreme Power Metal, Li says, “This album again combines the best of DRAGONFORCE in an even bigger, more epic way than we have ever done before. We are so excited for fans to hear it!” The keyboards of the new album were performed by Coen Janssen of symphonic metal titan Epica, adding a new dimension to the album. Notes Totman, “We worked really closely with Coen on this new album. We are so happy with what he has brought into this new album. Every fan will be so happy to hear his majestic playing!”
Drawing from a wide range of influences, the band’s sound combines the sing-a-long choruses of classic ’80s rock with triumphant, uplifting melodies and fantasy-themed power-metal-inspired lyrics. As a nod to their passion for all things video-game related, the band frequently incorporates retro game sounds and melodies into their recordings and live shows.
Following the release of Extreme Power Metal, DRAGONFORCE will begin their world tour in support of it. Li promises, “In this age, where our music is easily accessible, I am not going to waste time trying to describe the sound of our new album. I’ll let the music do the talking! However, what I can tell you is, our upcoming tour will be our biggest in a decade. We have a massive epic production and a really special surprise for VIPs. We can’t wait to see everyone out on the road!”
JADED HEART – Everytime I listen to this Jaded Heart album, Devil’s Gift, I am uplifted into the high, mystical, powerful and beautiful higher realms of Heavy Metal bliss. This album is so glorious it brings tears to my eyes as I write this line. Yes, it’s one of those albums for me and it happens; I cannot control it. All I can do is let its majestic Metal saturate my Metal soul for eternity.
If you dig Judas Priest, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Metal Inquisitor, DORO and/or Iron Savior, you will be doing yourself proper by buying or streaming this magnificent Jaded Heart album. I suggest BUYING this album on whatever medium you so desire.
Riffs! Riffs! Riffs! There’s so much guitar firepower on this album that it’s insane great! Peter and Masa have that magic going on with their guitars; their tones scream with emotion and I can feel it, man! The backing vocals are wonderful, giving this album and band their Power Metal muscle on top of Power Metal muscles.
Not one average song is on this album. In my Metal opinion, this album is a MUST for every Metal lovers collection of music. Vocalist Johan Fahlberg is top-tier and belongs there. Sonically melodic, powerful and exquisitely written and arranged songs.
Devil’s Gift was released back on March 30th, 2018, via the sensational Massacre Records. There’s no question that this album was one of the very best in Metal for 2018; it’s also one of the very best in Metal, period. My favorite songs: the entire album. Metal be thy name. – Stone
Devil’s Gift – Track List:
Wasteland
The Enemy
Set Free
Scream Of Anger
Tears Of Our World
Phoenix
One World
Story Of My Life
9. Coming Home
Conspiracy Of Science
Final Moment
Black Days (digipak)
Flying High (digipak)
JADED HEART:
Johan Fahlberg – lead vocals
Peter Östros – guitar
Masa Eto – guitar
Michael “Muelli” Müller – bass
Bodo Stricker – drums
Album cover artwork: Thomas Ewerhard
For more info on this remarkable band: Jaded Heart
German True Metal ensemble HAMMER KING have released a music video for At The Mercy of the Waves, a song from forthcoming album Poseidon Will Carry Us Home. Check it out at: youtu.be/HN1Zj2CdLLA or below:
HAMMER KING will release their third full-length, Poseidon Will Carry Us Home, on October 5 via Cruz Del Sur Music. Recorded at Studio Greywolf with POWERWOLF bassist Charles Greywolf at the helm, Poseidon Will Carry Us Home is an unabashed bow to classic, anthemic, hook-laden metal, proving HAMMER KING was more than up to the task of meeting the often-high expectations that come with a band’s third album.
The album will be available on CD, digital, and black (300 copies) and blue (200 copies) vinyl LP formats.
Variety abounds on Poseidon Will Carry Us Home, with HAMMER KING engaging in strident, call-to-arms jaunts like the opening title track and “Battle Of Wars”. Twin guitar harmonies and fierce gallops highlight “7 Days And 7 Kings” and “Where The Hammer Hangs”, while the true metal call is heeded on the mid-tempo “Warriors Of Angelhill” and “Glorious Nights Of Glory.” HAMMER KING‘s progression is best exemplified on album standout “We Sail Cape Horn,” an adventurous, sea-faring number that is equal nods to classic IRON MAIDEN and progressive rock.
An album stocked with future anthems at every corner, Poseidon Will Carry Us Home is representative of a band now hitting its creative stride – and fully realizing it.
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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