Texas Hippie Coalition have released a video for "Hard Habit", featured on their new album, The Name Lives On, available via MNRK Heavy. The band's seventh studio effort is a hard-hitting, riff-heavy sonic assault from beginning to end.
The video was directed by David Parada, and sees the band enjoying the spoils of touring, including a stop at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally earlier this year.
Texas Hippie Coalition is often compared to the many great southern rock and Texas bands that came before them. But they are proving to the world that THC is not just following in their footsteps, they are leaving giant footprints. THC has etched out a place for themselves in the multi-genre fields of music, and have also created their own genre, "Red Dirt Metal." You have to hear it to understand it. Words are not enough to convey how powerfully big their sound is.
Tracklisting:
"Hell Hounds"
"| Come From The Dirt"
"Built For The Road"
"Scream"
"Hard Habit"
"Believe"
"License To Kill"
"Keep My Name Out Of Your Mouth"
"| Teach Angels How To Fly"
"The Name Lives On"
Kill The Lights, the five-headed metal behemoth which features former members of Bullet For My Valentine, Throw The Fight, Threat Signal, and Still Remains, released their debut album The Sinner, in 2020 via Fearless Records. Today, they've dropped gargantuan new single, "Scapegoat", and its official video.
Classic and modern metal styles collide head on in "Scapegoat." The band storm out of the gates from the opening note, with galloping, intricate riffs kicking the song into high gear. Guttural, savage roars give way to clean, melodic vocal sweeps with seamless ease, the contrast of light and dark effectively showing just how brutal Kill The Lights can be and just how far they've come. It is a monster of a track.
"'Scapegoat' discusses the feeling of being trapped in your own head, believing that there is no escape or place that you can turn to for help," the band explains. "The constant cycles of self-doubt, anger, and depression eat away at your confidence and willingness to make changes. It's like you're setting yourself up to fail - always choosing the path with the most negative outcomes or most toxic situations."
Earlier this summer, Kill The Lights unveiled new single "Broken Bones," bursting with pulsing riffs, racing solos, and unforgettable melodies that make for one helluva fist-pumping anthem to incite moshpits the world over. The band perfectly executes their classic yet modern metal sound.
"'Broken Bones' tells the story of someone who is in the depths of loss, heartbreak, and tragedy," the band states. "Frozen with fear, they are forced to watch their life play out like a bad movie. Only hope keeps them from drowning in their own struggle with mental health. Every breath a struggle, each day a battle. On hands and knees, they fight just to get through the day."
Follow up metal banger, "Hear You Scream" was equally well received. A flawless marriage of shreddy, finger-slicing riffs, with ferocious solos, and modern vocal harmonies, it also weaves in screams that have ascended from the bowels of hell and two utterly seismic breakdowns.
"'Hear You Scream' is about being trapped in a toxic relationship and not knowing how to escape," says singer James Clark. "You convince yourself over and over that things will get better, but all along, you are being used. When the mask of 'fake love' is peeled back, the web of lies and deceit are unveiled. You slowly and strategically bide your time and exact your revenge."
Orange County, CA-based classic metal band, Leatherwolf, have released their latest video/single, "Only The Wicked", off their most recent full-length album, Kill The Hunted, mixed by legendary studio whiz, Randy Burns (Megadeth, Kreator, Suicidal Tendencies). The video can be viewed below, and the track is available on Bandcamp and all digital platforms.
The "Only The Wicked" clip was filmed at a West Los Angeles CA location with award winning Spanish director Eric Boadella of Nlight Productions whose credits include L.A. Guns, Black Swan, and Revolution Saints.
"'Only The Wicked' is one of the songs off Kill The Hunted that's been receiving the most positive feedback and it's a personal favorite of mine as well," states drummer/founding member, Dean Roberts. "In another era, this would've probably been our lead-off single - it's got a strong chorus and definite radio potential. The thought of doing a video and hopefully giving the song some extra attention had actually been lingering for a while so I'm glad we made it a reality. We had a blast shooting with Eric and his dedicated crew and we're all pretty stoked how it turned out. Hopefully the fans will dig it as well."
Leatherwolf recently issued a limited edition double vinyl version of Kill The Hunted, including a bonus track remake of their 1989 Street Ready classic, "Thunder". Retitled "Thunder (MMXXII)", the song features a lead guitar special guest appearance by Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Iconic, Trans-Siberian Orchestra). Copies are available on the band's Big Cartel store, here.
Concurrent with the release of the "Only The Wicked" video/single, the full Kill The Hunted album will be made available on all streaming services, including Spotify.
Lineup:
Keith Adamiak - vocals
Rob Math - guitars
Luke Man - guitars
Wayne Findlay - guitar & keys
Dean Roberts - drums
Brice Snyder - bass (live)
Barry Sparks - bass (studio)
Straight off the back of their run in Europe, Akilla reveals their brand new video. Taken from the debut album The Gods Have Spoken, this is "Blood & Bone". A full-on, groove-laden epic based on stories of Aztec ritual sacrifice that will have you wanting to mosh your arms off and roar your heart out in the space of five and a half minutes.
"Blood & Bone" was written, recorded and mixed by Akilla. Drum recording and mastering by Jack Helliwell at DC Studios. Music video was filmed on location in Norwich, UK and edited by Ross Wilson, the band's vocalist and guitarist.
Akilla have already played shows with the likes of Heidevolk, Akercocke and Winterfylleth and have smashed stages as far away as Reykjavik in Iceland, Germany and Belgium, but on the basis of "Blood & Bone" and its accompanying album, it's clear they're only just getting started. Merging epic metal riffs with gorgeous, multilayered guitar melodies, propelled by frontman Ross Wilson's ferocious growls and lashings of atmospheric, symphonic flourishes, The Gods Have Spoken is a true journey of emotions: rage, sorrow and catharsis all channeled through lyrics that majestically tackle the ancient legends of the world. It's a true heavy metal saga in the greatest traditions.
Tracklisting:
"Winds Of Winter"
"Serpent & The Son"
"Queen Of Heaven"
"Song Of The Seafarers"
"Blood & Bone"
"Cosmica"
"The Gods Have Spoken"
"Echo"
Johan Kihlberg's Impera present "Fighter", the second single and also bonus track from the forthcoming live CD/DVD set, Scandinavium Alive, out on October 27 via Metalville Records.
In autumn 2022, Johan Kihlberg was asked by the producers of the feature film Black Hills (an action film that will be released in February 2024) if he could write the film music and if Johan Kihlberg's Impera could also contribute the title song, "Fighter". "Fighter" is an atmospheric hard rock song that fits perfectly into the plot of the film.
Ever since he heard KISS' Alive for the first time in 1975, Johan Kihlberg has been a huge fan of the American band, and everything he did professionally later on has always revolved around KISS somehow. For example, he worked for Polygram Records in the '80s and '90s and got to know the guys from KISS during that time. At that time, he was also asked to lead their fan club.
Later, Johan Kihlberg toured with Vinnie Vincent and had some guest appearances with Bruce Kulick, who also played on the Impera debut, Legacy Of Life, in 2012.
In 2017, Johan Kihlberg published the book Kiss Klassified, in which he talks about his life with KISS.
After the announcement that KISS would be coming to Europe for some shows in 2020, it was all too understandable that Johan Kihlberg immediately tried to get his band Impera to support him at a show in Sweden. And indeed, just one week later, they were confirmed as special guests at the KISS show in Gothenburg. But then Corona came, and the concerts were put on hold.
On June 6, 2022, the time had finally come, and Johan Kilhberg's Impera entered the stage of the sold-out Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg.
The lineup of this unique show consisted of Lars Chriss from Lion's Share on lead guitar; Mats Vassfjord, who has been with Impera since the beginning, on bass; Magnus Ulfstedt (ex-Eclipse) on drums; Jonny Lindkvist (Nocturnal Rites) as singer; and Johan Kihlberg as second guitarist.
The gig was a milestone in Johan Kihlberg's music career and also for the rest of the band, as all musicians who were onstage together that night are big KISS fans.
The setlist consisted mainly of songs from the latest Impera album, Spirit Of Alchemy, plus a few tracks from Age Of Discovery. The show was filmed in full length and is, besides the audio version of the concert, part of the soon-to-be-released CD/DVD set Scandinavium Alive.
Tracklisting:
"Nothing Will Last"
"Lost Your Life To Rock 'N' Roll"
"That's The Way That Life Goes"
"When Souls Collide"
"All About You"
"Fear"
"In Heaven"
"Fighter"*
With the holiday season fast approaching and two weeks until the release of his first-ever Christmas album, Grammy Award-winning musician, producer, author as well as founding member of hard rock bands ALTER BRIDGE, CREED and TREMONTI, Mark Tremonti has released the second song from "Christmas Classics New & Old". "The Christmas Song" showcases Mark's unforgettable vocals alongside a contemporary arrangement by producer Carey Deadman over the timeless holiday classic. The track is now available via all streaming partners and fans that pre-order the album digitally will receive an instant download of "The Christmas Song" and the previously released "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year".
"Christmas Classics New & Old" is Mark's interpretation of nine holiday classics and one original penned song from the acclaimed songwriter himself. After the success of his interpretation of songs Frank Sinatra made famous on his album "Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra", Mark decided to partner up with the orchestra from that album to work on the holiday album. The album is scheduled for release worldwide on October 27 and is now available for pre-order at www.tremontichristmas.com.
From the opening horns of "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" to the slow fade of the Donny Hathaway classic "This Christmas", Tremonti showcases the music that was the bedrock of his childhood holidays. Mark's interpretations of songs like "Jingle Bells", "The First Noel" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" find their place among the many great versions that preceded them. "O Holy Night" is one of Mark's personal favorites and finds new life in the inspired arrangement by producer Carey Deadman. Mark also took the time to create his own holiday composition called "Christmas Morning". Piano twinkles as a marching band drum roll picks up the momentum. As if changing from black-and-white to technicolor, horns herald a wonderfully warm picture on the track's finale, "My lady and me will make sure our children believe in the glory of Christmas morning."
"Christmas Classics New & Old" will sit alongside the most cherished holiday albums and continues to showcase the musical diversity inside Tremonti. Music from the album will be released in the coming months and a teaser video for the holiday album can be seen below.
"Christmas Classics New & Old" track listing:
01. The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
02. Jingle Bells
03. The Christmas Song
04. Christmas Morning
05. The First Noel
06. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
07. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
08. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
09. O Holy Night
10. This Christmas
As a Grammy Award-winning multiplatinum musician, Tremonti's dynamic musical career spans influential bands from ALTER BRIDGE and CREED to his own TREMONTI, leaving an indelible imprint on hard rock with over 40 million albums sold, chart-topping debuts, countless television appearances and magazine covers, sold out arenas everywhere, and dozens of other accolades. To say he broadened his horizons with 2022's "Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra" might just be the understatement of the century though. He paid homage to 14 Sinatra classics backed by surviving members of Ol Blue Eyes' band in addition to a cadre of A-list session players. Right out of the gate, it incited widespread audience and tastemaker applause. Beyond features from Billboard, CBS New York, Washington Post and many more, Carson Daly spotlighted the project on "Today" and raved, "Bar none the best Frank Sinatra cover I've ever heard." Donating 100% of the album's proceeds to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) as part of his Take A Chance For Charity organization, NDSS notably honored Mark and his family at its annual gala and auction in 2023. Moreover, the album hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart, and he would go on to play a handful of sold-out shows in support of the album. However, he has yet to musically contribute to the happiest season of all — until now. Just in time for the holidays, he delivers "Christmas Classics New & Old" with nine renditions of holiday anthems and one original tailor made to "put a smile on your face, make you feel good, and get you into the Christmas spirit," according to Mark.
Crossbone Skully - the exciting new multidimensional project led by mastermind Tommy Henriksen (guitarist and musical director for Alice Cooper’s band & member of Hollywood Vampires) - recently released their incendiary new single, “The Boom Went The Boom”, featuring Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen, across digital platforms.
The track is the second taste of new music from Crossbone Skully’s debut album due in 2024 via Better Noise Music.
Legendary producer Mutt Lange emerged from retirement to executive produce the album and was reunited with Collen on this track after having produced and co-wrote several of Def Leppard’s monumental albums.
“The Boom Went The Boom” is available digitally here, and an official music video can be viewed below.
Crossbone Skully also announced the first of what will be a series of limited-edition 7” vinyl singles. This first 7” vinyl will feature “The Boom Went The Boom" (feat. Phil Collen of Def Leppard) and a yet-to-be-announced B-side track and will be available exclusively to order through the band’s Spotify page here. Each will come with a limited-edition signed copy of Crossbone Skully’s “Thing #1” ashcan comic. Proceeds from the sale of the limited edition 7” vinyl will be donated to the 501(c)(3) charity MusiCares who offer preventive, emergency, and recovery programs for musicians and music industry workers in times of need.
Describing the new track, Henriksen says: “Like dynamite beneath deceit, 'The Boom Went The Boom' reveals the truth's explosive power in song, shattering masks and echoing the reckoning of lies, for when trust erodes, The Misfits Will Rise!"
“I love the Crossbone Skully record and I've always loved Tommy's voice, especially as we've got to sing live together a few times,” shares Collen. “I've always wanted to hear that voice on something like this, so here it is, finally! I'm totally thrilled to be a part of it!”
"The Boom Went The Boom" video:
"The Boom Went The Boom" lyric video:
Crossbone Skully’s debut single, “Evil World Machine”, was originally released on the soundtrack for the 2022 thriller The Retaliators (Better Noise Films) and its music video was premiered later that year at Fan Expo in San Francisco. Crossbone Skully also represents the band’s mascot and main character of their graphic novel and animated film, “Thing #1,” which were also revealed at Fan Expo. For the film, Henriksen enlisted several of his bandmates and friends for voiceovers on both the album and the upcoming film including A-list actor Johnny Depp and rock icons including Alice Cooper, Nikki Sixx, Joe Perry and Kane Roberts.
The forthcoming debut album features Henriksen on vocals and bass and was recorded by a sterling group of musicians including guitarist Tommy Denander (Alice Cooper), keyboardist Jamie Muhoberac (My Chemical Romance, John Mayer, Seal), bassist Chris Wyse (Hollywood Vampires, Ace Frehley, the Cult, Ozzy Osbourne), drummer Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper, Hollywood Vampires), the late UFO bassist Pete Way and producer/mixer Mike Plotnikoff (AC/DC, Cher, Aerosmith).
On the heels of the recent announcement of the new Los Angeles quartet The Effect, the band comprised of Trev Lukather (son of Toto’s Steve Lukather) on guitars, Nic Collins (son of Phil Collins) on drums, Steve Maggiora (Toto) on keyboards and newcomer Emmett Stang on vocals is releasing their first single to the masses.
The song, “Unwanted”, is an upbeat rocker that showcases the band’s ability to create memorable rock melodies with mainstream pop appeal. Steve’s keyboards give way to a driving guitar riff by Trev and Nic’s pulsing drum beat.
The song is propelled by Emmett’s stand-out vocals as he declares, ”Walls down, in the heat of the moment, I found out my love’s unwanted.”
The track was produced by Trev Lukather who has worked Halestorm’s gold-certified self-titled album and Dorothy’s #1 rock album Gifts From The Holy Ghost. The music video is a frenetic performance piece that was directed by Madison Leigh Lukather.
“Unwanted” is available via all digital service provider here, and the music video can be viewed below:
The Effect recently announced their first show in Los Angeles on October 15. The band’s live debut will take place at The Knitting Factory in North Hollywood. The show will start at 8 PM and feature a collection of songs that will become the backbone for their upcoming album scheduled for 2024. Limited tickets remain for the show and can be purchased here.
The members of The Effect—Trev Lukather [guitar, producer], Nic Collins [drums], Steve Maggiora [keys], and Emmett Stang [lead vocals]—found each other at the perfect moment. Beyond serendipity, similar experiences cemented an instant bond between these musicians. Each member had logged miles on the road and countless hours in the studio on his own. Trev shined as a solo artist and producer and writer for the likes of Halestorm and Dorothy, Nic held down the drums on tour alongside Phil Collins, Genesis, and Mike + The Mechanics, Steve crisscrossed the globe in toto, and Emmett exploded with consistent viral success. Taking the connection one step further, Trev and Nic each grew up as the sons of rock icons—Steve Lukather of Toto and Phil Collins, respectively. They forged a friendship in 2023 and decided to write and record together, welcoming Steve and Emmett to the fold shortly after. The musicians congregated at Trev’s home studio in Los Angeles for “band camp” and immediately gelled, rallying around a signature sound infusing stadium rock energy and spirit with pop palatability. Now, they come together as The Effect, introducing their vision with the single “Unwanted” and more to come.
David Coverdale was a relatively unknown 21-year-old singer-songwriter when he joined Deep Purple in 1973. He went on to record three classic albums alongside the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers before embarking on his musical journey a few years later with his band, Whitesnake.
Coverdale is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his Deep Purple debut this year with a special version of The Purple Album, Whitesnake’s tribute to his three-year tenure with the legendary group. This newly remixed, remastered, and expanded edition of the 2015 album features previously unreleased recordings, including the very demo that secured Coverdale’s spot with Deep Purple.
The Purple Album: Special Gold Edition is out now as a 2-CD/Blu-ray set and a 2-LP set on resplendent gold vinyl. Order both versions here. The new remix of "Stormbringer" is available today digitally. Listen here, and watch a video below.
Coverdale recorded The Purple Album with guitarist Reb Beach, bassist Michael Devin, guitarist Joel Hoekstra (on his first Whitesnake album), and drummer Tommy Aldridge, reappearing on a Whitesnake studio album for the first time since 1989’s Slip Of The Tongue. The band cherry-picked gems from Burn (1974), Stormbringer (1974), and Come Taste The Band (1975), delivering inspired takes on fan favorites like “Lay Down Stay Down,” “Lady Double Dealer,” and “You Keep On Moving.”
The 2-CD/Blu-ray version of The Purple Album: Special Gold Edition goes beyond the original with the addition of live recordings and concert videos from The Purple Tour (“The Gypsy,” “Mistreated”), official music videos (“Sail Away,” “You Fool No One”), and an assortment of previously unreleased material, including six alternate mixes of album tracks. The Blu-ray also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the album’s making and a song-by-song commentary by Coverdale.
An exciting addition to the upcoming collection is the four-song demo Coverdale submitted to Deep Purple, hoping to become the band’s next singer. Recorded in 1972 with his former band, The Fabulosa Brothers, the reel-to-reel tape was extensively restored after Coverdale stumbled upon it among his late mother’s belongings. In the album’s liner notes, Coverdale says: “I had no idea my Mam had the tape…For me, to open my Mam’s trunk of personal items, 30 years after her passing, was a gift from Heaven.” The collection also features several demos Coverdale recorded while working on songs for Deep Purple’s 1974 album Stormbringer.
2-CD/Blu-ray tracklisting:
CD1: 2023 Remix
“Burn”
“Lay Down, Stay Down”
“Love Child”
“Holy Man”
“The Gypsy”
“Lady Double Dealer”
“Might Just Take Your Life”
“Mistreated”
“Stormbringer”
“Sail Away” (Interpolating “Elegy For Jon”)
“You Keep On Moving” – featuring the Hook City Strings
“Lady Luck”
“Coming Home”
“You Fool No One” (Interpolating “Itchy Fingers”) Dedicated in loving memory to Jeff Beck
“Soldier Of Fortune”
CD2: The Purple Tour Five Live
“Burn”
“The Gypsy”
“Mistreated”
“You Fool No One”
“Soldier Of Fortune”
Alternative Mixes:
“Holy Man” (Unzipped) *
“Stormbringer” (Punch In The Nuts Mix) *
“Love Child” (Alternate Mix) *
“Soldier Of Fortune” – featuring Joel Hoekstra & The Hook City Strings *
“Soldier Of Fortune” – featuring The Hook City Strings *
“Soldier Of Fortune” (Instrumental) – featuring The Hook City Strings *
The 1972 DC Purple Audition Tape Featuring The Fabulosa Brothers:
“Everybody’s Talkin’” *
“Get Ready” *
“Lonely Town, Lonely Street” *
“Dancing In The Street” *
1974 DC Demo Ideas For The Stormbringer Album *
Blu-ray:
Purple Music Videos:
“Lady Double Dealer”
“Stormbringer”
“Sail Away”
“Soldier Of Fortune”
“The Gypsy”
“Soldier Of Fortune” – featuring Joel Hoekstra & The Hook City Strings*
“Soldier Of Fortune” – featuring The Hook City Strings*
Purplesnake Videos:
“Lay Down, Stay Down”*
“Holy Man”*
“You Keep On Moving”*
“You Fool No One”*
Live Clips:
“Burn” – Live “Atlantis” Video
“Burn/Stormbringer” – Live In The Still Of The Night
“Soldier Of Fortune” – Starkers In Tokyo
The Purple Tour Five Live:
“Burn”
“The Gypsy”
“Mistreated”
“You Fool No One”
“Soldier Of Fortune”
The Purple Album: Behind The Scenes*
The Purple Album: Song-By-Song*
* Previously Unreleased
2-LP Track Listing
LP1:
Side One
“Burn”
“Lay Down, Stay Down”
“Love Child”
“Holy Man”
Side Two
“The Gypsy”
“Lady Double Dealer”
“Might Just Take Your Life”
“Coming Home”
LP2:
Side One
“Stormbringer”
“Sail Away” (Interpolating “Elegy For Jon”)
“You Keep On Moving”
“Lady Luck”
Side Two
“Mistreated”
“You Fool No One” (Interpolating “Itchy Fingers”) Dedicated in loving memory to Jeff Beck
“Soldier Of Fortune”
Named after their favorite Derringer album from 1977, SWTEVL (pronounced "Sweet Evil") is a new American rock project by the powerhouse husband & wife duo, Mick Murphy and Tairrie B. Murphy, formerly of My Ruin.
Vocalist / multi-hyphenate artist Tairrie B., who is also known for her previous bands (Tura Satana & Manhole) as well as being the first white female rapper (signed by Easy E of NWA) to release a full length solo album on a major label in the early 90's, met musical partner and multi-faceted instrumentalist / producer Mick Murphy (Neanderthal, Heavy 70's, Chevy Metal) at a party in the Hollywood hills in 2000 and have been making music in various forms together ever since.
"After 9 studio albums and years of touring, we decided to put My Ruin on a permanent hiatus and made the life-changing move from my hometown of Los Angeles, California to Mick's hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee where we spent 2022 into 2023 hyper-focused on making new music under a new moniker. We quietly wrote, recorded & produced 30 new songs (20 originals & 10 covers) in our home studio, The Magick Room. After 2022 came to a fitful end with two years of living through the chaos of a worldwide pandemic and the politics which accompanied it, like most of America, we were mentally exhausted. Reflecting on the past two decades, we also realized that we were not the same people we were when we lived in L.A. Like artists do, we changed and grew. Not wanting to revamp the past musically or relive those songs emotionally, we felt it was time to cut loose, kick off the dust and recharge our creative batteries. We took our time recording as we wanted to recapture our rock love of collaboration and reemerge reinvigorated with a forward-thinking, positive new perspective and approach to our songwriting with themes addressing who we are now as Gen Xers as opposed to who we were when we first met 23 years ago. With age comes introspection and with that in mind, SWTEVL doesn't spell the end of a musical relationship but rather the beginning of a new one as we move brazenly into our next chapter, without apology." - Tairrie B.
In contrast to the notoriously razor sharp throat shredding and confrontational screaming metal of their former band which could be considered more niche, SWTEVL is not a brutal bloodletting. The music as well as the lyrics are far more inviting. Combining a juxtaposition between contemplative dark & sultry atmospheric alternative and upbeat bouncy guitar driven straight head classic garage rock n' roll with a dash of post punk spirit. While Mick has played all the instruments, produced & mixed the new tracks, this time around the DIY minded duo are also sharing vocals in various ways on all the songs which adds another vibrantly fresh and unique dynamic to the overall vibe of the diverse recordings, including the covers which they plan to release as a full length album on their own in 2024.
Tairrie's distinct spoken to sung vocal styling seamlessly moves through Mick's signature organic seventies inspired solos, bass lines and drums with infectiously catchy hooks and an uncensored edge that sonically captures their synchronicity and authentic sound. Without compromise comes evolution and Mr & Mrs M are continuously expanding their musical repertoire with every release and reinvention as the couple's creative chemistry and unflinching honesty remains as present as ever for a new era.
With their upbeat fiery debut single fittingly named "Hellzapoppin'" dropping today, SWTEVL are unveiling their first official music video filmed & edited by the duo. A tenacious declaration of independence with a passion fuelled taste of their forthcoming self-produced, eponymous double album, Very Truly Yours, which will be made available worldwide on December 15. This raucous high energy anthem takes us to the dance floor with an uplifting message of rock n' roll resilience which permeates the tongue-in-cheek playfulness of the lyrics. A testament to persistence against all odds and a rebellious statement of self determination.
"Hellzapoppin'" is out now and available for download & streaming on all major music platforms, as well as Bandcamp.
Ruthless Swedish black metal collective, Watain, has shared a second single from the upcoming live album, Die In Fire - Live In Hell (Agony And Ecstasy Over Stockholm), out November 3 via Nuclear Blast Records. The live version of "Ecstasies In Night Infinite", the ferocious opening track of Watain's latest album, The Agony And Ecstasy Of Watain, coincides with the release of another music video for the single, once again directed by Johan Bååth.
Erik Danielsson commented: ”With the videos for the live album we have attempted to convey at least a fraction of the primal psychedelic malevolence that possess us when we perform. The majority of the footage is from the same concert in Stockholm at which the album was recorded. It was then slaughtered and remolded by the skilled and manic artists credited at the end of the video. Turn off your mind, shut out the modern world and dissappear into these analogue nightmare visions of darkness and ecstasy.”
After 25 years of madness and mayhem that manifested in seven studio albums, Watain‘s intense and much talked-about live rituals remain in a league of their own. Experience the raw power and fiery precision captured perfectly on this live recording from a sold out show that took place in October 2022 in Stockholm, and features fan favourites from albums such as Casus Luciferi, Lawless Darkness, The Wild Hunt, Trident Wolf Eclipse and of course the band's latest offering, The Agony And Ecstasy Of Watain, as well as the Bathory cover "The Return Of Darkness And Evil". The audio was recorded by Jamie Elton and mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio.
With all artwork created by vocalist and front man Erik Danielsson, Die In Fire - Live In Hell is not only a sonic but also a visual reflection of Watain’s touring cycle for The Agony And Ecstasy Of Watain, and beyond that a symbol of gratitude for their loyal followers worldwide! Die In Fire - Live In Hell is a very personal release dedicated to all those who have joined Watain on their path of lawless black metal darkness during the past 25 years.
Die In Fire - Live In Hell is available in the following formats:
- Digital Album
- CD
- Vinyl (2LP w/ 8-page booklet)
* 1LP transparent yellow, 1LP transparent red
* 1LP gold , 1LP oxblood - band exclusive
"Ecstasies In Night Infinite" (Live)
"Black Salvation" (Live)
"The Howling" (Live)
"Black Flames March" (Live)
"Reaping Death" (Live)
"Devil's Blood" (Live)
"Serimosa" (Live)
"Not Sun Nor Man Nor God" (Live)
"Before The Cataclysm" (Live)
"The Return Of Darkness And Evil" (Live)
"Nuclear Alchemy" (Live)
"Malfeitor" (Live)
Author & Punisher has released the official “Maiden Star” music video, from the 2022 release full-length Krüller.
“Maiden Star” video was shot during Author & Punisher’s 2023 June European tour by James Rexroad who joined A&P across the northern EU territories and edited by Augie Arredondo.
Author & Punisher comments on the video: “Every time I watch this video it hits me...it's a beautiful music scene and it really makes me so thankful that I get to do what I do. Thanks to James Rexroad for coming along and capturing the community, the energy and the power of heavy music in our lives. Shout out to my bandmate Doug Sabolick, John Cota (sound engineer) and Augie Arredondo for editing the damn thing. From the fjords of Norway, the wood fired saunas of Helsinki and Tallinn, to the beer halls of Bochum, with friends new and old, this one goes out to the fans who support underground music. The community is strong. We love you.”
Additionally, Author & Punisher and his intrepid gear company, Drone Machines, announce a partnership with visionary multi-discipline artist Arca designing and building machines for her live work Mutant;Destrudo at Park Avenue Armory in NYC now through October 15.
Author & Punisher comments on Arca: “There aren't many artists out there as innovative and groundbreaking as Arca. Her style of production and visual design is visceral, dark, and bleak; yet always intriguing and exciting. She's produced amazing solo works as well as music for Bjork, Kanye West, and FKA Twigs to name a few. When she asked me to build her some machines I immediately jumped on it. We've worked on this now for the past 8 months with Alejandra and her creative team focusing on building some industrial controllers that would interact with her DJ setup and allow her to make broader, more physical strokes with levers, sliders, and large knobs. There are five machines in total: one Fader, two Throttles, and two Platters that are all rack mounted above her DJ setup with the table suspended from the ceiling by chains. The aesthetic of Drone Machines (the small gear company birthed from Author & Punisher) is raw and industrial, with heavy machine components. Functionally, there is MIDI, USB, DSP Audio output, and CV/Gate; they are completely open source. Many thanks and shout outs to the team at Drone Machines working with me who helped on this project as well as the other devices we are making: Adam Reed-Erickson (mechanical engineer), Jason Begin (sound designer, producer, composer), and Hanri Thayyil (software engineer).”
Krüller can be ordered at this location, with the 8-song, 52 minute collection available on a selection of limited-edition vinyl variants, CD, cassette and digitally.
Finland's Amorphis are chomping at the bit: With their Halo European Tour 2023 as well as highly demanded shows in their home country coming up shortly, the group have released a proper appetizer for those dates in the form of a live opus titled "Queen Of Time" (Live At Tavastia 2021) today, and before they travel across Europe with Sólstafir and Lost Society from October 26 until November 18, the band have also unveiled another highlight chapter from the special offering which was recorded under different circumstances during the corona pandemic. Get your tickets and enjoy "The Bee".
Says the band: "'The Bee' has become one of our most popular songs lately and it's a killer live track. It was also the first song that we introduced from Queen Of Time before releasing the full album back then."
Order Queen Of Time (Live At Tavastia 2021) in the physical format of your choice, prsave it on your favourite DSP or order it digitally, here.
Queen Of Time (Live At Tavastia 2021) is available in the following formats:
- CD-digipak + Blu-ray (EU)
- jewelcase CD + Blu-ray (US)
- 2LP in gatefold (green marbled)
- 2LP in gatefold (red marbled; exclusively available at Atomic Fire Records)
- digital
Queen Of Time (Live At Tavastia 2021) trackisting:
"The Bee"
"Message In The Amber"
"Daughter Of Hate"
"The Golden Elk"
"Wrong Direction"
"Heart Of The Giant"
"We Accursed"
"Grain Of Sand"
"Amongst Stars" [feat. Anneke van Giersbergen]
"Pyres On The Coast"
"Wrong Direction" video:
"Amongst Stars" video:
Find the band's tour itinerary and ticket links here.
Amorphis lineup:
Tomi Joutsen - vocals
Esa Holopainen - guitars
Tomi Koivusaari - guitars
Olli-Pekka Laine - bass
Santeri Kallio - keyboards
Jan Rechberger - drums
SPIRITBOX has dropped a brand new single, "Cellar Door", arguably the band's heaviest track since the release of "Holly Roller" in 2020. The track is taken from SPIRITBOX's upcoming EP "The Fear Of Fear", set for release on November 3 via Rise Records/Pale Chord.
"The Fear Of Fear" builds on the momentum from SPIRITBOX's massively successful 2021 debut album "Eternal Blue", which topped charts and dominated critics' year-end lists. The six-track EP features previously released singles "The Void" and "Jaded".
"The Fear Of Fear" track listing
01. Cellar Door
02. Jaded
03. Too Close / Too Late
04. Angel Eyes
05. The Void
06. Ultraviolet
SPIRITBOX has been touring extensively this year, having played in Europe and North America, including the band's first-ever U.S. headline tour which completely sold out.
SPIRITBOX recently completed a U.K. headline run followed by multiple major summer festival shows, and is wrapping up the last few shows of an extensive run across the U.S. with SHINEDOWN and PAPA ROACH.
SPIRITBOX followed the release of "Eternal Blue" with the three-song "Rotoscope" EP, in 2022. The title track came accompanied by an official music video shot by Max Moore, which has run up over 3.6 million YouTube views. The EP has clocked up 28.5 million streams.
To date, SPIRITBOX have accumulated over 436 million career streams across platforms and 76.4 million YouTube views. They were also nominated for two Juno Awards last year for "Breakthrough Group Of The Year" and "Metal/Hard Music Album of The Year".
In a recent interview with Kerrang! magazine, SPIRITBOX singer Courtney LaPlante stated about her band's constant musical experimentation: "I feel like our sub-genre of metal is so obsessed with the idea that any song you hear from a band is a mission statement, as in, 'This is now what this band sounds like.' Maybe it's like this in every genre and I just don't see it as much, but when Doja Cat puts a song out, and she's singing, [the fans] don't go, 'She's never going to rap again!' We always have to tell people that when you hear a song, that doesn't mean it was created in a linear vacuum, where a band made a song and then they put out only that song. You might hear a song that was written two years after the next song you hear. You don't know when they came into existence.
"The messaging is always funny there, and I feel like bands never message that right either," she continued. "Every time they put out boring music, they're like, 'Oh, we've matured.' I'm like, 'No, I'm not mature or grown up, I just wrote a song that's more radio friendly. I also wrote an ass-beater song — you just haven't heard it yet!'"
Courtney also left the door open for SPIRITBOX to make any number of moves in the future.
"I don't feel like we’ve been around long enough to disappoint anyone," she said. "We are just getting started, and we're still figuring out what we are, and I don't even know if I want to find out. I don't care about genre, I just know we like making heavy music with low-tuned guitars. But I'm like, 'Take me or leave me, this is what we sound like.' I feel like a lot of bands are having fun with that too."
FIREWIND will release a new studio album, "Stand United", on March 1, 2024 via AFM.
"Stand United" will be available as CD, LP vinyl, digital formats and highly collectable bundles, including an autographed card, a FIREWIND cat patch plus a ticket for the band's upcoming European tour with MASTERPLAN. For every ticket bundle purchase, fans will also get the chance to win a meet-and-greet.
The official music video for the latest single from "Stand United", the album opening track "Salvation Day", can be seen below.
For more than 20 years, FIREWIND has enthralled heavy music fans with its exciting blend of hard rock and power metal. Razor-sharp riffs by guitar legend Gus G. (OZZY OSBOURNE, ARCH ENEMY, DREAM EVIL),big hooks and solos meet the incredible vocal skills of charismatic singer Herbie Langhans (AVANTASIA, RADIANT, SEVENTH AVENUE),who joined the band in 2019.
"Stand United" features nine brand new songs produced with Dennis Ward (MAGNUM, UNISONIC),as well as a cover of the 1980s pop rock classic "Talking In Your Sleep", originally recorded by THE ROMANTICS but given a metal twist in the style of FIREWIND. FIREWIND's tenth studio album also bears testament to the band's sheer enthusiasm and lyrical topics that could not be more relevant.
"I wouldn't exactly call 'Stand United' a classic concept album, but the album title indicates what we're about thematically," explains Gus, who has also contributed with more lyric ideas on this album than he did to any prior LP. "This world seems to be getting more and more out of balance, what with environmental disasters, the pandemic, the wars currently raging all over the globe. In such times, it's more important than ever for mankind to stand close together instead of fighting each other. That's what 'Stand United' is about."
This basic idea is also reflected in the cover artwork courtesy of Costin Chioreanu (GRAVE, MAYHEM).
Gus says: "I always loved the artwork of our debut album, which was based on a real hand painting. With 'Stand United' being our tenth album, I wanted an equally authentic template and that's how I came across Costin. The collage of faces on the cover represent war, greed, betrayal, but also love and unity, which are some of the album's lyrical themes. I'm just as proud of the artwork as I am of the songs on our new album."
"Stand United" track listing:
01. Salvation Day
02. Stand United
03. Destiny Is Calling
04. The Power Lies Within
05. Come Undone
06. Fallen Angel
07. Chains
08. Land Of Chaos
09. Talking In Your Sleep
10. Days Of Grace
FIREWIND released a concert album/Blu-ray, "Still Raging", on September 1 via AFM Records.
This past April, Gus was asked by Neil Jones of TotalRock if FIREWIND's previous single, "Destiny Is Calling", which was released in February, was a good representation of what fans can expect to hear on the upcoming LP. The guitarist said: "Yeah. I think it's definitely a good taste of what's to come. All the songs, I think, have that type of anthemic vibe to them. So, yeah, I thought it was a really good, strong track to kick things off."
In January, Gus told The Metal Voice about the musical direction of the new FIREWIND material: "I think it still sounds like FIREWIND. My goal was to make a little bit more anthemic type of tracks this time around. Because of the whole direction that was, 'Okay, let's work singles,' I thought every song should be a single. So I didn't write any kind of obscure type of tracks or didn't experiment in that type of area. I kind of focused on writing three- [or] four-minute songs that are very high energy, something that you can play in an arena in a festival in front of a large crowd. That was my philosophy behind this one this time. Which is good. It's not easy to write that type of songs. People think it's easy, 'Oh, it's so simple' and stuff. But it's not so easy to make that and resonate with a bigger crowd. So let's see how it does."
FIREWIND's ninth, self-titled studio album was made available in May 2020.
In early 2020, FIREWIND officially parted ways with guitarist/keyboardist Bob Katsionis and singer Henning Basse. The group's current vocalist is Herbie Langhans, who has previously played with AVANTASIA and SINBREED.
Gus and Langhans got to know each other back in the autumn of 2019, when the FIREWIND leader was looking for a suitable replacement for Henning Basse after the tour with QUEENSRŸCHE. Just a few weeks later, the recordings for "Firewind" were a done deal, ready for Swedish sound engineer Tobias Lindell (EUROPE, AVATAR, H.E.A.T.) to mix them in Lindell Audio Studios.
FIREWIND 2023 is:
Gus G. (guitar)
Herbie Langhans (vocals)
Petros Christo (bass)
Jo Nunez (drums)
Following the success of their latest album "Six", multi-platinum hard rockers EXTREME are back with a new music video for their single "Hurricane". The track, which features EXTREME's unique vocal interplay between Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, mixes velvet-smooth harmonies and a delicately plucked melody that mirrors facing "the storm before the calm."
Written after the loss of a close friend, Nuno's songwriting serves as a reflection on his own experiences.
"We get crushed by losing someone," he notes. "Time passes and we calm down, but the pain never goes away."
"That's where Nuno shines, man," adds Gary. "Everyone looks at him as a guitar hero, but he's a songwriter first. This is a beautiful piece of music."
The video, also directed by Bettencourt, features all four band members, including drummer Kevin Figueiredo and bassist Pat Badger, individually confronting losses of their own. While each face these difficult and intimate moments throughout the video, they triumph in together finding the strength to continue on.
"Six" came out on June 9 via earMUSIC and landed at position No. 10 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with first-week sales of 12,500 copies. The set marked the band's first studio album since 2008. The act was last in the Top 10 with "III Sides To Every Story", which debuted and peaked at No. 10 back in October 1992.
The first single from "Six" was "Rise", which has seen unprecedented success following its debut in March alongside a fiery music video which has received over three and a half million views to date. The critically acclaimed song has earned praise from international top tier media outlets, including Consequence, Classic Rock, Music Radar and Guitar World, in addition to accolades from such fellow musical peers as Brian May (QUEEN) and radio personality Howard Stern while peaking at No. 3 on the classic rock charts.
EXTREME's headlining "Thicker Than Blood" world tour stretches until December 16 and sees the band appear across the U.S., Australia, Japan and Europe, including special guests LIVING COLOUR (U.S., Australia and U.K. only) and THE LAST INTERNATIONALE (Europe only).
Nearly 40 years to the day, Varja delivers a reimagined version of Pat Benatar's original, "Love Is A Battlefield", showcasing the band's signature style and their ability to make a well-known song their own, with all of the elements and a great new spin on them. Varja's cover has a distinct and unique sound, given the band's penchant for blending different musical elements and their ethereal and heavy style.
The band transforms the song, creating an atmospheric and moody ambiance with a quick pummel to gut. Varja frontwoman Annamaria Pinna embodies the song on a cellular level. Pinna's raw, haunting and ethereal vocals emphasize the emotional depth of the lyrics as she adds her own unique vocal nuances that will bring a tear to your eye and a defiance to your spirit, all in under three and a half minutes. Varja combines djenty, layered, arpeggiated and soundscaped guitars with a melodic drum groove, hi-hat spice and jaw dropping fills, transforming the traditional backbeat and creating bombastic choruses.
"We don't normally do covers, but we wanted to pay tribute to one of our inspirations, and we wanted a song that had some room to 'Varjasize' and make our own. We were diving the New York Thruway singing along to the radio, and when Annamaria soared through this song, I knew it was the one." guitarist Dave Sussman remembers.
Pinna adds, "The song captures some of the confusion that I have in a world that feels upside down. We are all still recovering from the pandemic, shut-downs, and are embroiled in a broken economy. We haven’t fully healed. Music and art seem to be overshadowed by scripted reality TV, and I'm not sure where I fit anymore. I've been re-examining who I am, and singing this song grounds me to the earth, and inspires me to wipe my face, get in there, and figure it out."
About the video itself, Dave continues, "We came up with the concept, had a friend shoot the video, and we edited it ourselves. No green screens, no CGI, no costumes, no pseudo-angry faces... we’re not interested in competing with the slick big-budget hallmarks of modern metal videos. We simply wanted to put you right inside our Brooklyn practice space with us, and feel us…know us. We want you to dance around the room with us."
Varja has garnered a cult following, touring the US several times, Canada and Europe. The band is scheduled to play select dates this October.
Varja is:
Annamaria Pinna - vocals, flute, keys
Dave Sussman - guitars
Jimmy DeMarco - drums
John Heaney - bass
Germany's Endseeker are back with their fourth full-length album, Global Worming, which will be released via Metal Blade Records on October 27. The album contains 9 new tracks and will be made available across all Digital platforms, on CD Digipak, Vinyl (variants listed below), and as a limited Box-Set that will include the album on vinyl, exclusive 2-track 7-inch vinyl single, 4p. newspaper, sticker, beer cozy, and 3 buttons in hand printed box* (limited to 500 copies - available in Europe only).
Here's what the band has to say about their second single, "Hell Is Here": "'Hell Is Here' is a song about war and the constant fear of escalation on a very large scale. There are a lot of political tensions in the world these days. A constant threat to our supposedly safety. Something is brewing under the surface and it feels like all it takes is one madman pushing the wrong button and we all go to hell. It's bizarre, we've seen shit like this in movies and suddenly it becomes a possibility. That's just frightening."
Europe:
180g Black
Clear Blackdust (300 copies)
Red/White Marbled with 7-Inch (Boxset - 500 copies)
Global Worming tracklisting:
"Global Worming"
"Hell Is Here"
"Violence Is Gold"
"Wheel Of Torture"
"C.B.V."
"Terror"
"Hanging Gardens"
"Our Only Life"
"Nemesis"
"Violence Is Gold" video:
Death metal is the great undead of subgenres: rising, again and again, to take revenge on the living with maximum violence. Servants of the zombie code and masters of old school brutality, Germany's Endseeker have made their intent to kill again more than apparent over the last nine years. Formed in Hamburg in 2014, the quintet have swiftly built a reputation as one of European death metal's most dynamic wrecking crews.
From the aspirational evisceration of first full-length Flesh Hammer Prophecy, to Metal Blade debut The Harvest in 2019, and the widely acclaimed Mount Carcass two years later, Endseeker have cooked up such a formidable formula that their rise to glory seems almost inevitable. But like everyone else, they were stopped in their tracks by the Covid pandemic and its aftermath. As that global horrorshow fades in the rear-view, Endseeker are poised to return with their most crushing and charismatic album to date: Global Worming. As guitarist Ben explains, overcoming a host of new obstacles eventually led to a fruitful return to the studio.
"We played some intense, weird, strange, funny and bizarre shows during the Covid pandemic and enjoyed some almost 'normal' touring when Covid started to fade out," he recalls. "But the number of shows we could do was still quite limited, touring changed a lot, and became more expensive, and bookings were harder due to a bazillion bands trying to tour at the same time! So we slowly began to start writing new songs every now and then."
After the effusive reception received by Mount Carcass, Endseeker began the writing process for their fourth album with plenty of confidence. Before long, the creative juices began to flow to such an extent that a more formal plan of attack was required.
"At one point we decided that we need to take some time off from playing shows and completely focus on songwriting like we did for Mount Carcass," Ben notes. "So after we played our last show on October 1st 2022, in our hometown Hamburg, we totally dived into the songwriting and pre-production to make sure we had everything set for our studio time in 2023. We wanted to be as well prepared as possible."
Working once again with esteemed engineer and mixing maestro Eike Freese, Endseeker hit the studio like a nailbomb in a graveyard. The result is Global Worming - both the Germans' finest creation to date and a pulverizing new template for old school death metal. These nine new songs remain rooted in Endseeker's beloved bedrock of DISMEMBER-style savagery, but from the slithering monstrosity of the opening title track and the ultra-catchy stab 'n' stomp of Hell Is Here, to the neck-wrecking madness of Our Only Life and the epic grandiloquence of closer Nemesis, Global Worming is an unusually vivid and versatile piece of work.
"I guess our main goal was to write a record that was at least as good as Mount Carcass and to follow the path we have set with that record even further," says Ben. "We wanted the songwriting to be more on point while at the same time to be a bit wider when it comes to the boundaries of the death metal genre. We wanted the songs not only to be heavy and brutal but also to have a certain atmosphere to give them real depth."
To match the punishing splendor of Global Worming's monstrous production, Ben and his bandmates - guitarist Jury, bassist Torsten, drummer Andre and vocalist Lenny - have conjured some new tales of torment. An album that determinedly reflects the horrors of the world back at us, Endseeker's new opus is unflinching in its duty to the darkness.
"Global Worming revolves around a dystopian future where zombie worms overrun our planet and eat us all until we go extinct," states Ben. "All that's left is this enormous amount of slimy, nasty, undead worms and bugs, nesting inside empty skulls and other human remains, and living their best undead life. It's the kind of classic end-of-the-world story we have in death metal! Phonetic similarities between the song title and possible real life future events that threaten our very existence are totally by chance and unintentional!"
Aside from the impending onslaught of undead invertebrates, Global Worming also delves into the relentless upheavals and pointless polarisations of the modern world. Songs like the grotesque and grinding Wheel Of Torture and the aptly-named Terror revel in the harrowing darkness of real world conflict and catastrophe. Put simply, the human race is pretty fucked up right now and Endseeker have composed the soundtrack.
"We were inspired by all sorts of shit that's going on in the world. I mean, take a look around!" Ben laughs. "There's a deep cut ripping right through our society. People are angry beyond reason. They turn towards hate and fascist ideologies. They choose the path of destruction and denial. We have a war going on in Europe. Obvious boneheads get elected. Scientists tell us for decades that we're heading straight into drastic climate change and nobody seems to care. It's wild! You can't make this crap up!"
Death metal is a serious business and Global Worming is Endseeker's most focused and sophisticated offering to date. Nonetheless, there is always room in the underground sewers for a brain-eating monster or two, and fans of zombie-centric death metal will be more than satisfied with the new album's brilliant, bloody contents.
"Not everything about this album is deadly serious!" Ben grins. "We like to goof around a lot and we love to throw around some funny clichés, and have songs about zombies and whatnot. Adulthood ends at the doorstep of the tour bus!Some of our lyrics, like C.B.V. for example, have their origin in tour bus bullshit talk after endless hours of being crammed into a fucking van and getting cooked by the sun in an awful traffic jam on the Autobahn. It all comes from those moments where you're just one tiny step away from insanity!"
Consumed in its belligerent entirety, Global Worming soon emits the acrid stench of a future classic. Endseeker have stayed true to their deathly roots, while also writing some of the most imaginative songs in their history. Supremely catchy but as brutal and ugly as the arcane gods demand, Global Worming promises to burrow under the world's skin with maximum force.
"All our albums are unique and mark a certain era in our history," Ben concludes. "Global Worming is no exception. It's probably our darkest and heaviest album. It probably just reflects the era we're living in. I guess we just process all of this through the music and try to turn the world's shit into something we and hopefully a lot of other people can enjoy. We're definitely super excited to see where Global Worming will carry us and what lies ahead!"
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