Archive for progressive metal

ROYAL HUNT – 2012 Tour Presentation (Official Video)

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news, symphonic metal with tags , , , , , , on April 15, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

ROYAL HUNT – Denmark’s Metal champions and Frontiers Records recording artists, ROYAL HUNT, are embarking on their 20th Anniversary World Tour! Check out the ROYAL HUNT 2012 Tour Presentation (official video) below! Led once again by DC Cooper on vocals, ROYAL HUNT will be supporting their newest studio album: Show Me How To Live.

Melodic, Symphonic and Progressive… the Metal of ROYAL HUNT cannot be denied!

ROYAL HUNT – Show Me How To Live

To read my album review on Show Me How To Live, click on the large link below!

ROYAL HUNT – ‘Show Me How To Live’ Is A Listen Into Melodic & Symphonic Hard Rock Grandeur

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For more info on ROYAL HUNT, click on the links below:

ROYAL HUNT – Official Website

FRONTIERS RECORDS

LONG LIVE ROYAL HUNT.

Stone.

RUSH – Clockwork Angels – 20th Studio Album Releases June 12th, 2012

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, Music, progressive metal, progressive rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on April 15, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

RUSH – Progressive Rock/Hard Rock legends. Pioneering a sound so unique to the Rock world and expanding on their musical genius that spans five decades. RUSH. Enormously influential to generations of other musicians and bands alike. RUSH. Canada’s national treasure. RUSH. Clockwork Angels, the 20th studio album from their illustrious musical career, will be released on June 12th, 2012, on Roadrunner Records.

Produced by Nick Raskulinecz and co-produced by RUSH. Nick Raskulinecz produced the last RUSH album; 2007’s Snakes & Arrows as well. The first single from Clockwork Angels will be Headlong Flight; arriving April 19th on Rock radio. A North American tour to support Clockwork Angels will be announced shortly!

RUSH:

Geddy Lee – Vocals, Bass & Keys

Alex Lifeson – Guitar

Neil Peart – Drums & Percussion

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CLOCKWORK ANGELS – Track Listing:

Caravan

BU2B

Clockwork Angels

The Anarchist

Carnies

Halo Effect

Seven Cities of Gold

The Wreckers

Headlong Flight

BU2B2

Wish Them Well

The Garden

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For more info on RUSH, click on the link below:

http://www.rush.com

LONG LIVE RUSH.

Stone.

BARONESS – THIRD ALBUM: YELLOW & GREEN – CONFIRMED FOR JULY 17 RELEASE

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , on April 11, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

April 11, 2012, Philadelphia — Baroness, the Savannah-based quartet whose two prior releases (Red Album and Blue Record) were awarded record of the year honors from both Revolver and Decibel Magazines as well as repeatedly placing on year-end best of lists from Pitchfork and Village Voice, return with a new album titled Yellow & Green on July 17 via Relapse Records.

Yellow & Green reunites Baroness with Blue Record producer John Congleton (Explosions in the Sky, St. Vincent, Xiu Xiu) following both the band’s busiest period (multiple worldwide tours including stops at Coachella, Bonnaroo and Soundwave) and most luxurious year, having taken nearly all of 2011 off to freely write and demo for the 2CD/LP album.

“We had been on tour for eight years, and we decided to take a break from our adventure to dig our heels in at home and write a new record,” explains John Baizley, front man for the band and the artist responsible for Baroness’ now iconic album art (an article profiling Baizley as a graphic artist is in the April edition of Juxtapoz).    “We spent the entirety of the past year dedicating ourselves to the new album.  Without the break from touring and the time we took to rest and reflect, we would have been entirely unable to write this new record..  We have become re-inspired.  Now it’s time to get back out on the road.”

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Baizley also recently spoke with Alternative Press regarding the recording of Yellow & Green, which can be read here: http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/baroness_john_baizley_studio_interview.

Baroness embark on their first tour dates since 2010 as they join Meshuggah for a Spring trek across North America, previewing material from Yellow & Green.  Tour dates are:

April 25  Columbus, OH  Ace of Cups *

April 26  St. Louis, MO  Firebird *

April 27  Nashville, TN  The End *

April 29  Houston, TX  House of Blues

April 30  Dallas, TX  House of Blues

May  1  Austin, TX  Emo’s East

May 3  Tempe, AZ  Marquee Theatre

May 4  Anaheim, CA  House of Blues

May 5  West Hollywood, CA  House of Blues

May 6  San Francisco, CA  The Fillmore

May 8  Vancouver, BC  Commodore Ballroom

May 9  Seattle, WA  Showbox at the Market

May 11  Denver, CO  Ogden Theatre

May 13  Minneapolis, MN  First Avenue

May 15  Chicago, IL  House of Blues

May 16  Detroit, MI  St. Andrew’s Hall

May 17  Toronto, ON  Sound Academy

May 18  Philadelphia, PA  Theatre of Living Arts

May 19  Worcester, MA  The Palladium

May 20  Montreal, QC  Olympia de Montreal

May 22  Silver Spring, MD  The Fillmore Silver Spring

May 23  New York, NY  Terminal 5

* = Baroness headlines, Royal Thunder opens

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Baroness is John Baizley (guitars, vocals), Pete Adams (guitar, vocals), Allen Blickle (drums) and Matt Maggioni (bass).

Yellow & Green track listing and album art to be revealed soon.

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(Source: Speakeasy PR)

For more info on BARONESS, click on the links below:

www.baronessmusic.com

www.facebook.com/yourbaroness

LONG LIVE BARONESS.

Stone.

SAVATAGE ‘Hall Of The Mountain King’ – Stone’s Metal Pick Of The Day

Posted in classic rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on April 6, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

SAVATAGE – I once owned Hall Of The Mountain King on vinyl. Years later, the vinyl is gone and I have it on CD. Yes, I prefer the vinyl. That’s besides the Metal point though, for Hall Of The Mountain King is such a classic of Metal classics, listening to it on a hissing cassette would still likely be okay by me.

When this album was released back in 1987, I was introduced to the title track first on MTV’s Headbangers Ball. The music video for this song was pretty cool, epic and entertaining, not the run-of-the-mill Heavy Metal video of the time. I found the title track to be undeniably progressive, compared to the Metal that Savatage was known for. This title track grew on me quickly and I ran out and bought the album… I was psyched.

From the artwork of Gary Smith to ALL ten songs, Hall Of The Mountain King had me hooked. I’ll say it again: a classic of classics. I’ll go as far by stating this album is a “top ten favorite of mine for all time” too. The more I listen to Hall Of The Mountain King, the more I love it. Picking a favorite song on this album is not easy for me. Strange Wings and The Price You Pay are two that get “repeat play” more often by me though.

Check out the classic – Hall Of The Mountain King music video below! Whoa!

The vocals of Jon Oliva on these songs are stuff of Metal legend. This amazing vocalist/musician never had to croon, continuously hit eye-popping high notes or try to sound like anyone else to be etched in my Metal senses so solidly. This is Jon Oliva and I swear he is one of the most underrated vocalists of all time, spanning any Rock or Metal genre. Speaking of the band itself: world-class musicians. Period.

The production of Paul O’Neill is superb and he brought in his vision for a future Savatage, one that none of us would have ever expected in our wildest Metal dreams. I remember the first time I listened to Prelude To Madness and I was awestruck. I thought, what is Savatage doing? This is Electric Light Orchestra gone Heavy Metal! It only made me more psyched out of my Metal mind, in part by being a huge fan of Electric Light Orchestra.

The overall sound, feel and vibe of Hall Of The Mountain King could never be duplicated, in my Metal opinion. If I had to recommend a Savatage album to someone unfamiliar with this band’s legacy, Hall Of The Mountain King would be it. My “Metal Pick Of The Day” or any day for that matter. Metal be thy name.

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Hall Of The Mountain King – Track Listing:

24 Hrs. Ago

Beyond The Doors Of The Dark

Legions

Strange Wings

Prelude To Madness

Hall Of The Mountain King

The Price You Pay

White Witch

Last Dawn

Devastation

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Wanna read about Jon Oliva’s Pain upcoming concert, where they’ll be playing Hall Of The Mountain King live and in all of its Metal glory? Then click that big link below!

JON OLIVA’S PAIN – To Perform & Celebrate SAVATAGE Classic: ‘Hall Of The Mountain King’

LONG LIVE THE METAL LEGACY OF SAVATAGE.

Rest In Peace, Criss Oliva.

Stone.

I, OMEGA – The Ravenous – Debut EP Releases May 13th, 2012 On Bullet Tooth

Posted in Metal with tags , , , , , on April 3, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Coming out of the Los Angeles area, I, Omega have been busy playing Southern California and writing songs for “The Ravenous” EP. Blending technical melodic metal with bursts of progressive rock in the realm of Protest The Hero or Periphery, they will no doubt make their mark on the scene in 2012. Fans can watch their announcement video on YouTube and a new video interview with live footage at PunkWorldViews.

Commenting on the recent signing to Bullet ToothI, Omega vocalist Clay Nevels said, ”Josh’s genuine enthusiasm for our music and our vision for this release is a breath of fresh air in a stale/apathetic industry. We are confident in Bullet Tooth’s ability to help us spread our music to all corners of the globe and we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship between us and them.”

Bassist  Calvan Christ also commented, ”I’m very excited to be working with the guy that brought us bands like Hopesfall, Poison The Well, Bleeding Through, and Throwdown. I can’t wait to see where this will take I, Omega.” while guitarist Ryan Cano said, ”I feel very privileged to work with people who have brought me so much enjoyment and inspiration in past years through the bands they’ve put on the map. I feel blessed that they see something in us that they saw in all of those bands. I’m hoping for a long and mutually fruitful relationship with Bullet Tooth.”

I, Omega is a progressive metal quintet from the Los Angeles area, dead set on creating a sound that is bold and unique, as well as easily digestible. Shredding guitars with fast, upbeat drumming, beefy bass lines, and vocals ranging from angelic to devilish, all with a punk rock attitude.  Their sound is heavy and complex, but also leaves room for rhythmic grooves and catchy choruses.

I, Omega’s music conjures up emotions crossing the spectrum of the listener’s scope, from menacing and technical wizardry, to tasteful and subtle harmony that’s sure to sway even the harshest of listeners. I, Omega is here to make a difference and defend the right to be different.

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I, Omega is:


Thomas Borboa – Guitar

Ryan Cano – Guitar

Andrew Slane – Drums

Calvan Christ – Bass

Clay Nevels – Vocals

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I, Omega “The Ravenous” – Track Listing:


01. Butchers

02. Cannibals

03. Heretics

04. Martyrs

05. The Ravenous

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(Source: Bullet Tooth)

For more info on I, OMEGA, click on the links below:

www.Facebook.com/IOmegaBand

www.Twitter.com/IOmegaMusic

www.YouTube.com/IOmegaMusic

LONG LIVE I, OMEGA.

Stone.

Power Prog & Metal Fest 2012 – Lotto Mons Expo, Mons, Belgium – Lineup Of Bands and Info

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal festivals, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, Power Metal, progressive metal, rock festivals, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , on March 29, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

POWER PROG & METAL FEST – 2012 Edition: April 6th, 7th & 8th 2012 at Lotto Mons Expo – Mons – Belgium. 3 days/32 Bands/2 Stages! At Power Prog & Metal Fest, the bands don’t play at the same time!

This looks to be 3 days of incredible Metal to me! Just look at that lineup of bands on the festival poster! If you live in Belgium, this is one destination to get your “live” Metal fix! ACCEPT and Sonata Arctica on the same day, with Belgium’s very own Nightqueen! Each day has some powerhouse headliners. Whoa and Metal be thy name.

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For more info on Power Prog & Metal Fest:

www.ppmfest.com

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

VOYAGER – Australian Prog Architects Confirm 2012 North American Tour

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, progressive rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , on March 24, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Australian Prog-Rock heavyweights VOYAGER will be heading to North America to tour as main support for iconic Italian Symphonic Power Metal band Rhapsody Of Fire this Spring!

Fresh on the heels of releasing their latest critically acclaimed masterpiece The Meaning of I, and after winning over stateside crowds at the prestigious annual ProgPower USA festival in 2011, VOYAGER are pumped to hit North American shores once more to spread the ‘V’ message far and wide. The comprehensive tour will run from coast to coast and everywhere else in between.

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VOYAGER North American tour with Rhapsody Of Fire:

5/25/2012 The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA

5/26/2012 Soundstage – Baltimore, MD

5/27/2012 The Palladium – Worcester, MA

5/29/2012 Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY

5/30/2012 Club Soda – Montreal, QC

5/31/2012 Imperial de Quebec – Quebec, QC

6/01/2012 Mod Club – Toronto, ON

6/03/2012 Peabody`s – Cleveland, OH

6/04/2012 Altar Bar – Pittsburgh, PA

6/05/2012 Mojoes – Joliet, IL

6/06/2012 Station 4 St. Paul, MN

6/08/2012 Gothic Theater – Englewood, CO

6/10/2012 El Corazon – Seattle, WA

6/11/2012 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR

6/12/2012 Slim’s – San Francisco, CA

6/14/2012 House of Blues – San Diego, CA

6/15/2012 The Grove – Anaheim, CA

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VOYAGER‘s peculiar and unique sound merges Amorphis’ thirst for melody, Soilwork’s heaviness and the crystal vocal clarity of A-Ha’s Morton Harket into a sound all their own. The Meaning of I was released in October via Sensory Records, in conjunction with the band’s ultra-successful first tour on North American soil alongside labelmates Creation’s End, including their stellar performance at ProgPower USA.

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(Source: Earsplit PR)

For more info on VOYAGER, click on the links below:

http://www.voyager-australia.com

http://www.facebook.com/voyageraustralia

http://www.lasersedgegroup.com

LONG LIVE VOYAGER.

Stone.

UFOMAMMUT ‘Oro: Opus Primum’ – A Multi-Sound, Metal Mind Quest

Posted in doom metal, drone metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on March 12, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

UFOMAMMUT – Oro is the title for UFOMAMMUT’s latest work and encompasses ten (tracks) movements overall. To be released separately as two albums, the first is Oro: Opus Primum, which will be released April 17th, 2012, via Neurot Recordings. The second chapter of OroOpus Alter, will be released in September of 2012. This album’s press release states Both Oro chapters are to be interpreted as a “single track” (to make a long story short) due to the way in which the music was written and flows.

For anyone unfamiliar with UFOMAMMUT, this band can get quite deep with their album concepts. I will use this album’s press release quote to sum up what Oro is conveying conceptually. Believe me, I would never be aware of this album’s concept from just listening to the music itself. Who could? Here it is:

“As with all previous UFOMAMMUT albums, the concepts behind Oro are expansive and multi-faceted, mutating the Italian palindrome which translates to “gold” with the Latin translation of “I prey.” Oro explores the concept of knowledge and its power; the magical stream controlled by the human mind to gain control of every single particle of the World surrounding us. Oro is the alchemical process to transform the human fears into pure essence; into Gold”.

Here is my honest interpretation of Oro: Opus Primum, based on the music, Metal and sounds I’ve taken in. Please note, all five (songs) movements are instrumentals:

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EMPIREUM opens Oro: Opus Primum and swirls its ambient vibrations of spacey progressiveness throughout my thoughts. It’s Pink Floyd meets a psychotic thriller soundtrack. While building up its thick temp, the Doom atmosphere picks up mid-way through EMPIREUM, without losing grip on its creepy sound scape. I can get really, really lost in this opening track and love every second of it. At nearly 14 minutes long, EMPIREUM ends with a subdued atmosphere of sound, bringing about a melancholy affect upon me which I easily embrace.

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AUREUM – Opens with a more crunchy guitar sound and the Metal has arrived. The drum beats and bass lines are heavier and very distinct. With a copious backdrop of synthetic sounds, AUREUM flows along like strong river rapids, only these rapids are controlled with musical precision. The overall Metal wall of sound is worthy to bang your head to while throwing down some cold brews in the process. At 12:28 long, could this be Psychedelic Metal at it’s finest? It surely can be interpreted that way by me.

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INFEARNATURAL – Begins with an epic-like feel with its off in the distance chorus. There is plenty of Metal stomp, with chunky Doom laden guitar that never ceases throughout. Synth layers are aplenty, with more unique sounds than my ears can grasp, even after multiple listen-throughs. There are remote-like spoken words that are both audible and inaudible. Overall, this is a multi-layered movement that I found captivating and its strong Metal personality wins the day. At 7:26 this is the shortest movement on this album.

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MAGICKON – This is by far the “foreboding entry” amongst these five movements I’ve listened to on Oro: Opus Primum. I just get that overall dark and cavernous vibe from MAGICKON. Doom, Doom, Doom and Doom again. MAGICKON just throws that Doom hammer down and covers me over in its heavy Doom blanket of sound. MAGICKON plays out at 7:57 long.

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MINDOMINE – The tempo and repetitions of MINDOMINE could be considered by some as Drone Metal. With Doom riffs and distant screams ever the continuum, this movement can produce some chills. It’s a fine-line trying to consider some of these distant screams as being nearly “tribal-like” chants. An eerie ending to this first chapter of Oro is MINDOMINE. Picture yourself floating in outer-space (thanks to the synths) while the skull melting sounds of Drone and Doom Metal encircle your senses. Clocking in at 9:18, that’s MINDOMINE.

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Musically complex, while consistently maintaining a Metal feel and vibe throughout its totality of sound, Oro: Opus Primum has allowed me to open my own mind to its world of unique sounds. Richly textured and layered, there is no doubt, that with each synth sound, drum beat or note, it all opens the doors to a vast wealth of other audible vibrations. Weaving itself through the Doom, Drone, Progressive, Psychedelic and Ambient Metal genres, Oro: Opus Primum is both a listening experience and Metal mind quest.

UFOMAMMUT:

Poia – guitars and effect

Urlo – bass, vocals and synths

Vita – drums

Ciccio – soundlord

Lu – visuals

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For more info on UFOMAMMUT, click on the links below:

http://www.ufomammut.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/UFOMAMMUT/83336386071

http://www.neurotrecordings.com

LONG LIVE UFOMAMMUT.

Stone.

ASCARIASIS – Debut EP “Ocean of Colour” Is Available Now!

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive death metal, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on March 4, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Canadian Progressive Death Metal band Ascariasis have released their debut EP Ocean of Colour. The EP consists of five songs: Shatter, Torchbearer, Eleven, Ocean of Colour, and Carving the World. The album art was designed by Cameron Gray, notable for creating album art for bands such as Born of Osiris, Dead Letter Circus and Fallujah.

Ascariasis embodies a new breed of Modern Canadian Metal. This four piece, founded in 2009, includes Evan Watton (vocals), Devin Kendall (bass), Mike Valeri (guitars), and Mark Poelmann (drums). They bring a unique mix of crushing brutality, agonizing passages and soaring melodies to the scene. With influences ranging from the most technical and chaotic Metal styles to Ambient and Classical, the band seeks to break beyond expectations and deliver a fresh blend of Melodic, Technical and Progressive Death Metal while staying true to their local roots.

“I think this EP is a good window into the mindset that shapes our view on music and Metal in general,” says bassist Devin Kendall. “We look at it in the sense that we don’t have to assign a particular genre to our sound and we leave it as free-form and thought-provoking as possible.”

Ascariasis has been featured in various publications including heavyblogisheavy.com. They are currently working on their debut album, which is set to be released in 2013.

ASCARIASIS originates from Burlington, Ontario.

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For more info/Metal on ASCARIASIS, click on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/user/AscariasisBand

Download (name your price) and/or stream Ocean Of Colour:

http://ascariasis.bandcamp.com/album/ocean-of-colour

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LONG LIVE ASCARIASIS.

Stone.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA – Announce Intimate Club Shows In The Southeast For Spring 2012

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, progressive rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on February 28, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

INTIMATE CLUB SHOWS IN THE SOUTHEAST

As reported on Coheed And Cambria Newsletter:

Howdy All,

We are excited to announce a string of intimate club dates in the Southeastern U.S. (and a couple in the Midwest) this Spring. These will be Josh’s first shows with us in a long time, and we hope you can come show him some Southern Hospitality for his return! We’ll be working out some new songs and a bunch you already know. Joining us will be Moving Mountains and Pianos Become The Teeth.

We’re also playing Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, TN.

The dates officially go on sale this Friday and Saturday, March 2nd and 3rd, at 10AM local time. YOU CAN GET YOURS TOMORROW, starting at noon through our special fanclub links.

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IRON MAIDEN TICKETS GO ON SALE THIS WEEKEND!

In addition to our Southeastern U.S. dates, Iron Maiden tickets will also go on sale this Friday and Saturday – We start July 24th in Winnipeg, MB. More info HERE.

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COHEED AND CAMBRIA FULL TOUR DATES

With Moving Mountains, Pianos Become The Teeth 
General on sale March 2nd* and March 3rd** 10AM local time.

Apr 29 Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater*

Apr 30 Charleston, SC – Music Farm*

May 3 Gainesville, FL – Florida Theater*

May 5 Athens, GA – 40 Watt**

May 6 Memphis, TN – Beale Street Music Festival

May 7 Chattanooga, TN – Track 29*

May 8 Bloomington, IN – Bluebird** (21+)

May 10 Lexington, KY – Kentucky Theater*

May 11 Urbana, IL – Canopy Club**

May 12 Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theater*

May 13 Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theater*

May 15 Tallahassee, FL – Coliseum*

May 16 Birmingham, AL – Workplay Soundstage*

May 17 Baton Rouge, LA – Varsity Theater**

May 18 Gulf Shore, AL – Hangout Festival

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With Iron Maiden

Jul 24 Winnipeg, MB – MTS Center*

Jul 26 Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome*

Jul 27 Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place*

Jul 29 Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum**

Jul 30 Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre**

Aug 1 Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre**

Aug 3 San Francisco, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre*

Aug 4 Sacramento, CA – Sleepy Train Amphitheater*

Aug 6 Phoenix, AZ – Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion**

Aug 9 Irvine, CA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre**
A

ug 10 Irvine, CA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre**

Aug 12 Albuquerque. NM – Hard Rock Pavilion**

Aug 13 Denver, CO – Comfort Dental Amphitheatre**

Aug 15 San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center**

Aug 17 Dallas, TX – Gexa Energy Pavilion**

Aug 18 Houston, TX – The Woodlands**

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For more information go to CoheedAndCambria.com

LONG LIVE COHEED AND CAMBRIA.

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN.

Stone.

JON OLIVA’S PAIN – To Perform & Celebrate SAVATAGE Classic: ‘Hall Of The Mountain King’

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on February 27, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the SAVATAGE classic – Hall Of The Mountain King

One U.S. performance only, to be held on June 16th, 2012, at The Ritz Ybor in Tampa, Florida

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As reported on Jon Oliva’s Pain official facebook page, February 17th, 2012:

JOP Tampa Show news: We will be filming this show on June 16th at the Ritz. This will be the only US show, and you now fully realize that you must be there to be a part of this documented, epic event! Tickets are selling fast, and I think this post will add another element of fuel to the fire for all of you sitting back and waiting…you have been warned!

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For ticket and venue info, click on the link below:

THE RITZ YBOR

For more info on JON OLIVA’S PAIN, click on the links below:

JON OLIVA’S PAIN – Official facebook

http://www.jonoliva.net

http://www.myspace.com/jonoliva

LONG LIVE JON OLIVA’S PAIN.

LONG LIVE THE LEGACY OF SAVATAGE.

Stone.

FOREVERS EDGE – Team All About The Music Welcomes Progressive Metallers To Their Roster!

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, progressive metal bands, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , on February 18, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

There certainly is something in that New Jersey water that can produce some incredible music. FOREVER’S EDGE is a conglomerate of Metal’s finest featuring Clay Barton (Suspyre), Salvatore Pisano, Andrew Distabile (Suspyre), Mike Pignataro, Samus Paulicelli (Decrepit Birth, ex-Suspyre, ex-Mutiny Within, ex-Abigail Williams), and Sharon MacPherson.

FOREVER’S EDGE has some of the most technical musicianship layered with soaring vocals by Barton and complex song structures. For anyone who has even the slightest interest in Progressive Metal, this is a band that will have you hooked.

The band is currently in the studio (Erypsus Studios) recording their second, as of yet unnamed, masterpiece. The album is due to be out in the summer of 2012 with a load of updates and announcements in the mean time.

To pump up the fans, FOREVER’S EDGE has re-released their highly acclaimed debut album Chaotic Silence. When guitarist Salvatore Pisano was asked what Chaotic Silence was about, he stated:
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“It was like testing the waters for what we could do with such musicians from well-respected bands coming together. The album itself is an emotional journey that evolved in its music as I evolved and matured in life. It has within it stories like the Trilogy of Music: A story about a girl who was deaf, and a boy who loved her could only communicate with her through music and song to tell her how he feels. And the sad story of how she got pregnant, and the boy in the end died when he lost them both.”
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(Source: Team All About The Music – Publicity, Management, A&R)
For more info FOREVERS EDGE, click on the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Forevers-Edge/48688245803
LONG LIVE FOREVERS EDGE.
Stone.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA – Announces 2012 Tour Dates With IRON MAIDEN

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on February 17, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

It’s been a busy week in Coheed world! We are in the studio working on our sixth studio album, and we just announced we’ll be touring this summer with IRON MAIDEN in the US and Canada as part of the “MAIDEN ENGLAND WORLD TOUR!” According to IM’s management, the tour will closely mirror, in terms of production and content, Maiden’s original 1988 concert video of the same name, shot on the “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Tour.”

We will begin our stint with them on July 24th in Winnipeg and end on August 18 in Houston, with stops in Seattle, Denver, Dallas and Los Angeles along the way. Tickets go on sale March 2nd and 3rd. Full dates below, and more info will be coming soon.

We will also be appearing at this years HANGOUT FESTIVAL in Gulf Shores, AL with Jack White, Wilco, Skrillex, and many more.

With IRON MAIDEN:

Jul 24th – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Center

Jul 26th – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome

Jul 27th – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place

Jul 29th – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum

Jul 30th – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre

Aug 1st – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre

Aug 3rd – San Francisco, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

Aug 6th – Phoenix, AZ – Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion

Aug 9th – Irvine, CA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

Aug 12th – Albuquerque. NM – Hard Rock Pavilion

Aug 13th – Denver, CO – Comfort Dental Amphitheatre

Aug 15th – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center

Aug 17th – Dallas, TX – Gexa Energy Pavilion

Aug 18th – Houston, TX – The Woodlands

* Check out the new look of CoheedAndCambria.com!

(Source: FanBridge/on behalf of  – Coheed And Cambria)

LONG LIVE COHEED AND CAMBRIA.

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN.

Stone.

TRIBUNE – Reveal Album Artwork and Track Listing For “Elder Lore/The Dark Arts”

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , on February 15, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

The Melodic Thrash / Prog Metallers of Burnaby, BC’s TRIBUNE are proud to reveal the album artwork and track listing from their upcoming 8 track annihilator “Elder Lore/ The Dark Arts” that will be officially released on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 under their independent label Corpse Corrosion Music.

“Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, our album -“Elder Lore / The Dark Arts”– has come to usher in a new era of Canadian Melodic Thrash Metal, so come bask with us in this radiant, and dynamic vision. -“for none but death shall stop this lone revolution.” – lyrics from Bryan Baker of Tribune from the song “The Warrior Mentality”.” Commented TRIBUNE bassist Ryan O’Shea.

This is TRIBUNE‘s third studio effort and second full length since the band of friends and brothers inception in 2005. Mixing elements of Death Thrash Metal with melodic vocals, the album will feature new material along with classic fan favourites and is an album capturing the raw energetic sound the band projects naturally live.

In additional news,  TRIBUNE will also be kicking off their two month USA and Canada tour in support of “Elder Lore/ The Dark Arts” on April 2012 with dates soon to be announced.

(Source: Asher Media Relations)

Original artwork by Ryan O’Shea.

Art production by: Steve Kwasniewski

1. It Came From The Swamps…
2. The Succubus
3. Chemistry Arrives
4. The Warrior Mentality
5. Below
6. We, The Black
7. Man On The Outside
8. The World’s Greatest Cynic
_________________________________________________
VideoTribuneComing of Cain (from Rotting Core EP 2010) – http://youtu.be/8pJGDQXNoe0
______________________________________
Show Date:
February 24, 2012 – Funky Winkerbeans – Vancouver, BC w/ Bushwacker, Slagduster (Grand Forks, BC), Dead Asylum (Facebook Event Link: http://www.facebook.com/events/341050369250241/)
_________________________________________________
Genre defying. Accessible. Iconoclastic. This can only be Tribune.

LONG LIVE TRIBUNE.

Stone.

MASTODON, OPETH & GHOST – Heritage Hunter Tour – North America 2012: Tour Dates Listed

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, progressive rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on January 31, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

HERITAGE HUNTER TOUR 2012NORTH AMERICA DATES:

Mastodon and Opeth will head out on a co-headlining US tour with Ghost opening all dates, starting May 4th. General ticket sales begin on February 3rd and 4th, but you can get tickets before anyone else by heading to http://mastodon.artistarena.com starting tomorrow, February 1st at 3pm local time. Check out the dates below!

And make sure to tune in to the Grammy Awards on February 12th on CBS to see if Mastodon win for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance.

HERITAGE HUNTER TOUR 2012 – NORTH AMERICA DATES:

04/04 – Portland, ME @ State Theater

04/05 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theater

04/06 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis

04/07 – Toronto, ON @ Sony Centre

04/09 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory

04/10 – Wallingford, CT @ The Dome

04/11 – New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom

04/13 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre

04/14 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection

04/15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE

04/16 – Knoxville, TN @ TN Theater

04/18 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom

04/19 – Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom

04/20 – San Antonio, TX  @ Back Stage Live

04/21 – Corpus Christi, TX @ Concrete Street

04/23 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium

04/25 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues

04/26 – Los Angeles, CA @ Gibson Amphitheatre

04/27 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre

04/28 – Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Resort

04/30 – Seattle, WA @ The Paramount

05/01 – Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum Theatre

05/03 – Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Events Center

05/04 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall

05/05 – Saskatoon, SK @ The Odeon

05/06 – Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre

05/09 – Washington, DC @ The Fillmore

05/10 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore

05/11 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues

05/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Music Park

(Source: Mastodon Official Website)

* For more info, click on the links below:

Mastodon – Official Website

OPETH – Official Website

http://ghost-official.com

LONG LIVE MASTODON, OPETH & GHOST.

Stone.

PHARAOH – ‘Bury The Light’ – Weaves Both Melodic and Epic Metal, While Keeping It Heavy

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, melodic metal, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on January 31, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

PHARAOH –  Returning with their new full-length, Bury The Light, Pennsylvania’s Pharaoh has weaved Melodic and Epic Metal together, with slivers of progressiveness, making for a marvelous listen. This being the fourth album from Pharaoh, it is a 10 song experience, guitar driven, rhythmically pumped and vocally solid. Tim Aymar is not just belting out Heavy Metal lyrics, he is singing songs of story-filled substance. The Helloweenish bass of Chris Kerns and stellar drumming of Chris Black are a potent and fun listen together, throughout this album.

Then there is the guitar playing of Matt Johnsen, where he embellishes that progressive tone on par with what I’ve grown accustomed to from the six-string wizards of Iron Maiden and Queensrÿche.   To a flirtatious degree, Matt exhibits the poignant tones of  Steve Howe’s eloquence. Matt isn’t all about tearing-it-up and piling-up the riffs, instead this is one polished guitarist who plays with a glorious respect for Melodic Metal.

If you’re unfamiliar with Pharaoh, Tim Aymar is a vocally muscular Dan McCafferty. Gritty, sandpapered vocal cords and still able to sing on a melodic level. I could no doubt deny that Tim Aymar could sing the entire No Mean City album from the legendary Nazareth and  blow my mind away in doing so. Regardless of my comparative silliness, Pharaoh is a paradigm for younger bands to hear and realize that Heavy Metal as music isn’t just about booze, fast women and overdosing to near death.

Castles In The Sky is the signature song on Bury The Light for my ears. Flowing with every nugget of Melodic Metal that Pharaoh can muster, while infusing synthetic vocals akin to that of ELO or Mr. Roboto, this band can turn a surprise progressive trick when they want to. The Year Of The Blizzard is the epic that you must hear, to understand fully just how authentic Pharaoh is as a group of musicians. Summoning up the twilight dreamscape of RUSH’s brilliance from 2112, Pharaoh has genuinely tapped into a progressive realm they can surely call their own on The Year Of The Blizzard.

Please excuse all the previous musical comparisons, only when an album this great can trigger my mind to recall works of art from Hard Rock and Metal of years long past, then said album may indeed one day be recalled a work of art itself. For now, Bury The Light is that honest and great album of Melodic Metal from skilled musicians, an album that doesn’t compromise on heaviness, nor shall it short change you on its dynamical presentation.

BURY THE LIGHT – Track Listing:

Leave Me Here To Dream

The Wolves

Castles In The Sky

The Year Of The Blizzard

The Spider’s Thread

Cry

Graveyard Of Empires

Burn With Me

In Your Hands

The Spider’s Thread (reprise)

Bury The Light will be released on March 6th, 2012, via Cruz Del Sur.

* For more info on PHARAOH, click on the links below:

PHARAOH – Reverbnation

http://solarflight.net

http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com

LONG LIVE PHARAOH.

Stone.

PHARAOH – Premieres ‘Castles In The Sky’ From Their Forthcoming Album ‘Bury The Light’

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, melodic metal, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on January 21, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Cruz Del Sur Music officially presents the first track off of the upcoming PHARAOH album Bury the Light. The song, entitled  Castles In The Sky features Mike Wead of King Diamond fame on guitar. To stream Castles In The Sky, visit Cruz Del Sur Music here:  CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC On SoundCloud. Bury the Light is PHARAOH’s fifth album and will be officially released in Europe on February 24th, 2012, and in North America on March 6th. Available formats include CD,  limited gatefold LP and digital. For more, visit http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com.

BURY THE LIGHT – Track Listing:

Leave me Here to Dream

The Wolves

Castles in the Sky

The Year of the Blizzard

The Spider’s Thread

Cry

Graveyard of Empires

Burn with Me

In Your Hands

The Spider’s Thread (reprise)

PHARAOH:

 Tim Aymar – vocals

 Matt Johnsen – guitars

 Chris Black – drums

 Chris Kerns – bass

* PHARAOH originates from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(Source: ClawHammer PR)

* For more info on PHARAOH, click on the links below:

PHARAOH – Reverbnation

http://solarflight.net

LONG LIVE PHARAOH.

Stone.

ZEBULON PIKE – Full Album Stream Of ‘Space Is The Corpse Of Time’ Available At The Obelisk

Posted in doom metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, instrumental metal, instrumental music, metal music, Music, progressive metal, progressive rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on January 13, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Minneapolis-based instrumental Prog/Doom goliaths ZEBULON PIKE unleashed their Space Is The Corpse Of Time full-length in 2011. Inspired in equal parts by heavy sounds of the ’70s (Mountain, Pentagram, Captain Beyond, early Judas Priest), Progressive Rock (King Crimson, Rush), and 20th century Classical (Bela Bartok, Arvo Part, and many others), the self-released, five-track offering is the band’s fourth and most ambitious work to date.

Dubbed “an epic feast of might and majesty” by Aquarius Records, ZEBULON PIKE churn an intriguing mixture of melodic melancholy, old-school guitar-isms, and Wagnerian dynamics that marks a mighty presence in the world of heavy music.



As a treat for those who’ve yet to witness the band’s unsung sonic sanctity, the fine folks at The Obelisk are currently streaming Space Is The Corpse Of Time in its entirety at THIS LOCATION.

(Source: Earsplit  PR)

* For more info on ZEBULON PIKE, click on the links below:

https://www.facebook.com/zebulonpike

http://www.zebulonpike.com

LONG LIVE ZEBULON PIKE.

Stone.

BEAK – Debut Album, EYRIE, Set For April 3rd, 2012 Release

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, melodic metal, metal music, Music, progressive metal, progressive rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on January 10, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Jan. 10, 2012, Chicago – Beak, the Post-Metal quartet formed by local Chicago luminaries Chris Eichenseer and Jason Goldberg previously of The Timeout Drawer, release Eyrie, the band’s debut album on Apr. 3 via Someoddpilot Records.

Recorded and mixed in late-2011 at Engine Studios by Neil Strauch (Sage Francis, Bonnie Prince Billy), the five-track release highlights the band’s adept combination of blistering heaviness and melodic prog-rock.

“Metal for the sake of it just doesn’t interest us. We need more than heavy riffage and the trappings of the genre,” expained Eichenseer. “I wish we could call it something else, because to me it’s more. We’re not afraid to carry influence from our roots in post to Punk Rock. We’re very aware of storytelling and depth. We’re not interested in skulls.”

Vocalist Jon Slusher discussed the conceptual aspect of the debut album: “Eyrie is the nest of a bird of prey built in a high, inaccessible place.  The album is conceptual.  It’s the path of ruin, the crumbling of empires and the marching of time. ”

Beak is Andy Bosnak (Guitar), Chris Eichenseer (Drums), Jason Goldberg (Bass, Vocals) and Jon Slusher (Guitar, Lead Vocals).

EYRIE – Track Listing:

Angry Mother of Bones

Hands Collide

Men at Arms

Billions of Eyes

The Weight & Time

* The band’s next performance is February 23rd, at Reggie’s (Chicago) with Anvil. An April tour will be announced shortly.

(Source: Speakeasy PR)

* For more info on BEAK, click on the links below:

www.beakmusic.com/

www.facebook.com/pages/Beak/183159646995

Stone.

Metal Odyssey’s Top Ten Metal Albums Of 2011

Posted in Metal with tags , , , , , , on December 17, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Top Ten Metal Albums Of 2011 – Oh the Metal albums I listened to during 2011! Metal be thy name, there were a Metal many. Metal many again. Regardless of how many Metal albums that did rip my eardrums apart and psyched me out during the process, I couldn’t possibly listen to every Metal album released this past year. It’s not humanly possible. I’ve compiled below, a list of ten Metal albums that for all Metal intents and purposes… kicked my Metal lovin’ ass during 2011.

Yes, you will see a couple of albums tied in this top ten list and my Metal boss (me) said it was all good. Choosing my top ten Metal albums for any given year is not easy! However, choosing my number one Metal album for 2011 was easy and Hemoptysis is without a doubt in my Metal mind, one of the best Metal bands to come forth in the past ten and possibly twenty years. You can call Hemoptysis Thrash, Death Thrash, Extreme and Metal. I call this band exceptional and their Misanthropic Slaughter album is number F’n ONE!

Hopefully you may agree with a few of these albums I’ve chosen for my top ten. A personal list of Metal taste it is. Each Metal album here for me bestows quality musicianship and songs, from beginning to end. The common thread each band below shares with one another, that can never be denied: They are all Defenders Of The Metal Faith and I salute each and every one!

Metal Odyssey’s Top Ten Metal Albums Of 2011:

#10

HUNTED – WELCOME THE DEAD

(MASSACRE RECORDS)

#9

ANA KEFR THE BURIAL TREE (II)

(Muse Sick)

#8

SARAH JEZEBEL DEVA – The Corruption Of Mercy

(Listenable Records)

#7

MORBID ANGEL – Illud Divinum Insanus

(Season of Mist)

#6 (Tie)

SPEED\KILL/HATE – OUT FOR BLOOD

(HAMMERFIST RECORDS)

#6 (Tie)

EASTERN FRONT – BLOOD ON SNOW

* (Was released in North America on January 25th, 2011)

(Candlelight Records)

#5 (Tie)

ANTHRAX – WORSHIP MUSIC

(MEGAFORCE RECORDS)

#5 (Tie)

MASTODON – THE HUNTER

(Reprise)

#4

ARCH / MATHEOSSYMPATHETIC RESONANCE

(Metal Blade Records)

#3

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME

THE PARALLAX: HYPERSLEEP DIALOGUES

(Metal Blade Records)

#2

AMON AMARTHSURTUR RISING

(Metal Blade Records)

#1

HEMOPTYSIS – Misanthropic Slaughter

(Rock It Up Records)

* To read the complete album review I wrote for Misanthropic Slaughter posted on January 22nd, 2011, click on the large header link below!

HEMOPTYSIS “Misanthropic Slaughter” – Debut Album Is CAN’T MISS Thrash Metal For 2011 and Beyond!

Congratulations and THANK YOU to all the METAL bands above! 

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

* For more cool “Best Of 2011 Lists” of Rock, Hard Rock and Metal Albums, click on the links below to visit these other fantastic blogs/websites!

All Metal Resourcehttp://allmetalresource.com/

Bring Back Glamhttp://bringbackglam.squarespace.com/

The Crash Pad of Ray Van Horn, Jr. – http://www.rayvanhornjr2.blogspot.com/

Hair Metal Mansionhttp://hairbangersradio.ning.com/

Hard Rock Nightshttp://hardrocknights.com

Heavy Metal Addictionhttp://heavymetaladdiction.com/

Heavy Metal Time Machinehttp://metalmark.blogspot.com/

Imagine Echoeshttp://www.imagineechoes.com/

Layla’s Classic Rockhttp://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/

Metal Excesshttp://metalexcess.com/

The Ripple Effecthttp://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/

Stone.