Hailing from Cleveland, OH, Olathia (oh-lay-thee-ah) is a four-piece female fronted heavy metal band. Their music is a captivating blend of traditional heavy metal, power metal, and thrash influences, creating a melodic and powerful sound that pushes the boundaries of the genre. On November 17, Olathia released their new full-length album, The Forest Witch, on all digital platforms and on CD from the Olathia Bandcamp page. BraveWords is premiering the video for the title track - watch "The Forest Witch" below:





The band comments on the video:




“In a remote Ohio forest, we dedicated 12 hours to filming The Forest Witch video. Towering trees, blistering sunlight, and uneven terrain put us on our asses a few times, but the sweat flowed, metal jammed, and the witches delivered the desired essence of creepiness. Gabe Fedor of Riffster Productions worked his magic, turning a sunny day into an eerie tale through video.


“We wanted to create a fast paced, heart pounding urban tale. Picture a car careening into a ditch, saved by a resilient Forest Witch emerging from magical woods. The driver undergoes a profound transformation, blurring reality and enchantment. Uncertainty, temptation, and consequences weave through this dark narrative. Is the trade divine, or has the Forest Witch cast a spell to free herself?”


For more on the making of the video, read Gabe’s blog on riffster.com.


"In our latest album, The Forest Witch, we weave tales of light and darkness, riding the line between thrash and traditional metal," Chris E. (lead singer) states. "We're staying true to our roots and doing what feels right to us, weaving in the battles we’ve faced and the good time that rage on. Riffs, melodies and lyrics burrow down deep. Let ‘em in and see where they take you."


"Metal" Tim Henderson from BraveWords.com said this about Olathia: "Imagine a reincarnated Nevermore meeting Savatage with soaring female vocals and you’ve got the thrash-tastic Olathia that will surely have you doing a double take, they are that good."


Having heard a early preview of "The Forest Witch", Bill Peters from WJCU adds, "The Forest Witch pulverizes you from the cauldron of metal with a relentless sonic attack that never let's up. Olathia's HEAVIEST offering to date!"


Olathia's music is often characterized as "power thrash," offering a melodic, driving, and purposeful experience that supports storytelling of dark and light themes while fearlessly pushing the boundaries of songwriting and musicianship. Their ability to meld together catchy melodies, heart stopping rhythms and bone crunching chords has given them a rabid fan base in Ohio and throughout the Midwest.


Olathia embodies the heart and passion that defined 1980s heavy metal, infusing it with a melodic twist that resonates with the spirit of the metal world today. They draw inspiration from iconic acts such as Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Pantera, Heart, Halestorm, and Dio. Yet, what truly sets Olathia apart in the modern heavy metal landscape is their extraordinary female vocalist, Chris E., whose versatility captures the emotional essence of their songs.


Their songwriting dives deep into universally relatable themes, including battles with inner demons, the sting of betrayal, the weight of depression, the ache of loss, and the warm embrace of camaraderie. If heavy metal runs through your veins, Olathia's music is the electrifying elixir that promises to deliver the thrilling experiences cherished by dedicated


The band members bring their own unique talents to the stage. Terry “Bull” Johnson handles the bass and contributes menacing backing vocals, delivering a stage performance that's not to be missed. Joe Lowrie, behind the drum kit, provides metronome-perfect timing with powerful precision. Dylan Andras, with his lightning-quick fingers, unleashes crushing riffs and blistering shredding solos that set listeners ablaze.


Brace yourself for an auditory journey that harkens back to the golden era of metal while pushing the genre's boundaries into exciting new territories by blending classic influences from both sides of the Atlantic. Olathia is a blazing comet in the metal constellation, destined to leave a lasting mark on the genre.”


Order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"Insatiable"
"The Forest Witch"
"Shotgun"
"Fight"
"Who’s The Devil"
"Last Breath"
"Satan On My Mind"
"Hall Of The Mountain King"





Production Details:


Recorded, mixed and mastered by Noah Buchanan at Mercinary Studios in Avon, Ohio. Produced by Olathia & Noah Buchanan.


Lineup:


Chris E. - vocals
Dylan Andras - guitar
Joe Lowrie - drums
Terry Johnson - bass

The family of late POWER TRIP frontman Riley Gale has issued a new statement clarifying some of its earlier comments about a surprise performance by surviving POWER TRIP members Blake Ibanez (guitar, vocals), Nick Stewart (guitar, vocals), Chris Whetzel (bass) and Chris Ulsh (drums) which took place on December 1 at Mohawk in Austin, Texas. They were joined for the set by SKOURGE vocalist Seth Gilmore, who also plays with Ibanez in FUGITIVE, which was the official headliner of the Mohawk gig.

After FUGITIVE finished its set, Gilmore and Blake remained on stage and were soon accompanied by Stewart, Whetzel and Ulsh for performances of POWER TRIP songs "Soul Sacrifice", "Executioner's Tax", "Hornet's Nest", "Manifest Decimation" and "Crucifixation".

On Tuesday (December 5),Riley's father Brandon Gale released the following statement via social media: "The Gale family posted a message on December 2nd and we were saddened to hear that many fans interpreted our original message as some attempt to grab money, which is absolutely not the case. The wishes communicated were simply the ones Riley had shared with his friends and family given the state of the world in 2020, prior to his death. They were never demands. Please take a moment and allow us to correct any confusion we created.

1. The loss of our son, brother and friend Riley is something we will never recover from.

2. The Riley Gale Memorial Foundation (RGF) was established after Riley died by Riley's family and a handful of his friends and POWER TRIP fans. The mission of the foundation is to continue the legacy Riley created by raising money for the social causes that were important to Riley and his fans.

3. The Riley Gale Memorial Foundation is an IRS approved 501 c 3 non-profit legal charity and any funds raised must be handled by the laws governing non-profits.

4. 100% of the net funds raised for the foundation are distributed to the causes that Riley supported.

5. The RGF has no employees, no paid executives and only distributes funds to charitable causes. It operates completely by the kindness and dedication of volunteers.

6. Riley's surviving siblings and his parents agreed that all royalties and income due to Riley's estate go into the foundation.

7. The Gales have not taken a single dollar nor benefited in any way financially from Riley's estate and in fact the Gale family has used its own resources to fund the establishment of the foundation and all expenses for the fundraising events.

8. To date, the foundation has made significant contributions to Dallas Hope Charities (over $100,000 in direct contributions and donations from RGF) and Dog Ranch Rescue.

9. The RGF established The Riley Gale Band Tour Grant to help up and coming hardcore/metal artists to cover touring expenses. The first recipient of the band grant was FROZEN SOUL, who also headlined the foundation's fundraiser, Riley and Friends Vol. 2 in August of '22.

10. The RGF will continue to support Dallas Hope Charities, animal rescue and re-homing organizations, The Riley Gale Band Tour Grant, and mental health & wellness support organizations going forward.

"We also would like to specifically appreciate and thank Seth Gilmore. He really put his all into that performance.

"Our only mission is to embrace the incredible legacy of caring for and comforting those who are marginalized, discarded, or simply forgotten by society. Those of you who truly knew Riley know this was and is his legacy. We are grateful that Riley's passion for the hardcore community and his work growing POWER TRIP to one of the best bands in the world will help fund Riley's wishes for decades to come.

"As Riley's dad and the person who wrote the original message, it broke my heart to hear that I got it wrong. I humbly request that you understand the raw emotions we face and how they impact us every day thinking about what the world lost when Riley died.

"Respectfully, Brandon Gale on behalf of the Gale family and The Riley Gale Memorial Foundation".

A day after the Mohawk concert, the Riley Gale Memorial Foundation and Gale family released the following statement via social media: "The Riley Gale Memorial Foundation & Gale family are aware of the event that took place at Mohawk in Austin, TX on December 1st, 2023. It caught us entirely by surprise.

"At no point in the planning or lead up to that moment was anyone in the Gale family consulted, or even invited. We were not asked our thoughts or feelings about it taking place. If we were, we would have liked to discuss who would fill in on vocals, since Riley had laid out very specific requests for this exact scenario.

"We would have requested it take place in Dallas, where Riley and POWER TRIP were born, and where Riley was instrumental in building up the Dallas hardcore and metal community before even setting foot on stage as a performer. We would have liked it to be a surprise and wonderful addition to the Riley Gale & Friends Day concert, the main fundraising event for the Riley Gale Memorial Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that supports the causes Riley cared about as well as aiding up-and-coming bands through the Riley Gale Band Touring Grant.

"Riley's family would have liked the opportunity to show our appreciation to you, Riley's fans who continue to support him by listening and buying albums because we know how much his lyrics and music meant to his fans.

"As Blake said on stage at Mohawk, they owe a lot to Riley, and the Gale family agrees wholeheartedly.

"Riley's family was not included, and that's unfortunate, but for those among you who love Riley and what he stood for, you can show your love by buying albums directly from Southern Lord Records and becoming a part of the Riley Gale Memorial Foundation at the link below.

"Keep an eye out for our announcement of Riley And Friends Vol. 3 early next year — it will feature bands that Riley knew and loved along with hundreds (hopefully thousands) of Riley's fans and family.

"'Birth. Life. Death. Repeat. The goal is to manifest higher than before.'

"REST IN POWER. www.rileygale.org ".

Prior to the December 1 gig, featuring openers DRESSCODE and NINTH CIRCLE, the Mohawk venue teased a "special guest" on the concert flyer and added, "Less than 100 tickets left, trust us you don't want to miss this show."

Less than three years ago, the Gale family sued POWER TRIP's surviving members, seeking ownership over Riley's share in the band's business. Some of POWER TRIP's response to the original lawsuit and a follow-up document filed by the Gale family's attorney can be found online.

Gale died on August 25, 2020. An autopsy report for Gale ruled that he died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, while the manner of death was ruled accidental.

Following the news of Gale's death, a number of other artists shared tributes to the frontman, including members of CODE ORANGE, ANTHRAX and COHEED AND CAMBRIA.

Riley guested on the track "Point The Finger" on BODY COUNT's "Carnivore" album, released in March 2020, and BODY COUNT frontman Ice-T later suggested in an interview with Stereogum that Gale's death was opioid-related. Ice-T said in December 2020: "When we shot the video [for 'Point The Finger'], he looked healthy. It was a good vibe. That's why I got blindsided when I got the call from his dad, who said that Riley passed away. Apparently, he was dealing with the same bullshit everyone is — this opioid stuff. He'd gotten clean, and when you relapse, you go back to the same dose you're used to and it kills you. It was a really sad thing."

Gale's autopsy report noted that he died from pulmonary edema — a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs. This was caused by "the toxic effects of fentanyl" in Gale's system. The fentanyl in Gale's blood was measured at 22.5 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter),and he tested negative for all other drugs and alcohol.

The report went on to note that Gale had a "history of Xanax abuse" and a "history of depression," and revealed Riley was found "unresponsive on the floor at home."

In October 2020, plans were announced for the Riley Gale Library at the Dallas Hope Center — the city's sole shelter for LGBTQ+ youth.

POWER TRIP released two albums on Southern Lord, 2013's "Manifest Decimation" and 2017's "Nightmare Logic". A rarities compilation, "Opening Fire: 2008-2014", followed in 2018.

"Nightmare Logic" peaked at No. 22 on Billboard's Hard Rock Albums chart.

POWER TRIP was said to be working on its third album at the time of Riley's death.

As an organization of family and friends committed to continuing Riley's legacy, we ask for a moment to correct any confusion we created

Posted by The Riley Gale Memorial Foundation on Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Please keep supporting Riley directly by listening to Power Trip and purchasing albums directly from Southern Lord #RGF #RILEYGALEFOREVER #powertrip #powertriptx #cicadas

Posted by The Riley Gale Memorial Foundation on Saturday, December 2, 2023

Epic metal pioneers, Warlord, are on a mission in tribute to fallen bandmate, William J Tsamis, and return once more with a new album in 2024.


With Free Spirit Soar, a brand-new studio album by Warlord with all songs having been recorded between March and September 2023, singer Giles Lavery and drummer Mark Zonder honor their bandmate, Bill Tsamis, who passed away in 2021. They are joined by Jimmy Waldo on keyboards/synthesizer, Philip Bynoe on bass and Eric Juris on guitars.


“We wanted to finish these pieces of music that were started ‘for Bill’,” explains Lavery, “and the material we felt was certainly strong enough to inspire us to do so.”




Regarding the guitar parts he specifies: “Bill is there where we could pull his tracks off the demo recordings, in much the same way the Beatles were recently able to rescue John Lennon’s voice from an old demo tape. however be assured this album is not "a demo", nor does it sound like one, our new guitarist Eric does most of the heavy lifting as far the recording, but all of the music was written by Bill and we stayed very very faithful to what he wrote.”


Tracklisting:


"Behold A Pale Horse"
"The Rider"
"Conquerors"
"Worms Of The Earth"
"The Watchman" (CD-exclusive track)
"Free Spirit Soar"
"The Bell Tolls"
"Alarm"
"Twin" (CD-exclusive track)
"Revelation XIX"


Watch out for further news, such as the album cover, pre-order info and the first single, coming soon.


Lineup:


Mark Zonder - Drums           
Philip Bynoe - Bass
Eric Juris - Guitars
Jimmy Waldo - Keyboards
Giles Lavery - Vocal

In a new interview with Marcelo Vieira of the Igor Miranda YouTube channel, MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars was asked why former MÖTLEY CRÜE singer John Corabi is not featured on his upcoming debut solo album, "The Other Side Of Mars". Mick said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[John] was doing… I really wanted him to sing on it, but I know he was busy with DEAD DAISIES and doing these other things. I don't know… He was kind of, like, not adamant, but kind of unsure. John is a good friend of mine, and we both kind of decided that [we should] not repeat the '94 album. Yeah, that kind of thing. I think we made the right choice to have him not to sing, even though he's got an incredible voice."

Mick previously discussed John's absence from "The Other Side Of Mars" this past October during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Asked why the songs he recorded back in 2016 with Corabi are not included on the LP, Mick said: "I felt the songs were just a little — not strong enough. And there is a certain person that kind of interfered with that. And I'm not gonna say his name, but he kind of like messed some things up. The songs were wrong, parts in there that shouldn't be there and blah blah blah. It isn't a long story, but it was kind of like, 'That ain't gonna fly.' So I shelved it."

Asked by host Eddie Trunk to clarify that it was a third party who was involved in the project — not Corabi — who "kind of mucked it up," Mick said: "[I was] kind of duped — that's all I have to say — by a third party. And that's it. That's all. I got rid of him and went on and searched for other people. I mean, look, I found [producer] Michael Wagener after a while. He lives just down the street."

Back in 2016, Mars released snippets of two solo songs, apparently called "Gimme Blood" and "Shake The Cage". The tracks, which were recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, where Mars has lived for about a decade, featured Corabi, who appeared on CRÜE's 1994 self-titled album. Corabi later said that he didn't contribute to the writing process for the two songs, but that he was open to collaborating with Mars on some brand new material.

During a December 2021 Facebook Live session, Corabi was asked about the fate of the material he recorded with Mars. He responded: "A couple of years ago, Mick asked me to sing a couple of songs, and I did it. He put snippets of them out, but he's gone on to do a full record. And as of right now, I have no idea whether or not Mick is using those songs. It's Mick's solo record. He just asked me to sing two tunes. Unfortunately… I wanted to do more, and Mick wanted me to do more, but I wasn't able to, because of my schedule and because of Mick's schedule. So we'll all just have to wait and see. I'm as excited to hear Mick's record as you are. And we'll see. Hopefully he used those songs. Maybe he didn't. I don't know."

Birmingham, Alabama rocker Jacob Bunton collaborated extensively with Mars on "The Other Side Of Mars", which will arrive on February 23, 2024 via Mick's own label 1313, LLC, in partnership with MRI.

Bunton had previously collaborated with former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler and CINDERELLA frontman Tom Keifer, and has songwriting credits with Mariah Carey, Steven Tyler and Smokey Robinson, among others.

Bunton sings lead on all but two of the 12 songs on "The Other Side Of Mars".

Other guests on the LP include WINGER/ALICE COOPER keyboardist Paul Taylor, KORN drummer Ray Luzier, and Brion Gamboa, who handled lead vocals on the songs "Undone" and "Killing Breed".

Bunton previously fronted the Alabama bands MARS ELECTRIC and LYNAM.

Gibson, the iconic instrument brand, has announced the launch of the Gibson Band, which features a revolving collective of Gibson artists.





Today, the Gibson Band is launching the first single, “Deconstruction”, which was co-written by Serj Tankian of System Of A Down and Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson, and features Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath on guitar. Listen to “Deconstruction", out now on Gibson Records, here, and check out a lyric video below:







Gibson Records, Cesar Gueikian, Serj Tankian, and Tony Iommi will donate all proceeds from the sale of the song “Deconstruction,” as well as the funds raised from the auction of Serj Tankian’s painting and a unique Les Paul guitar (details below) via Gibson Gives, and the Corporación America Foundation will match the funds raised from the auction - with all funds going to Armenia Fund’s Artsakh Refugee Initiative. Tankian, Gueikian, and the Eurnekian family are all of Armenian descent, and the Armenia Fund provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Armenia and global Armenian communities through the development of vital infrastructure projects, educational, cultural, healthcare, and disaster relief programs, as well as direct assistance to families and individuals. For more information, head here.


In addition to fronting System of a Down, Serj Tankian is also an accomplished painter. The single cover artwork for “Deconstruction” is based on an original work of art by Serj Tankian titled “Our Mountains.” Tankian stated, “’Our Mountains’ harks back to the twin peaks of Mount Ararat, a symbol of the Armenian nation and the location for the rebirth of Noah’s civilization.” Tankian’s original “Our Mountains” painting - a 48” x 36” acrylic on canvas - as well as a one-of-a-kind Gibson Les Paul Standard customized with the “Our Mountains” artwork, will be part of an exclusive global auction from Friday, December 8 through Monday, December 18, closing at 11 AM, PST, via Julien’s Auctions, here.





Lot 1:


"Our Mountains" Original Painting by artist Serj Tankian. 48” x 36” acrylic painting on canvas.


Acrylic on canvas original artwork titled “Our Mountains,” by System of a Down founding member Serj Tankian. An accomplished artist as well as a musician, Tankian created this work to be sold in conjunction with the release of “Deconstruction,” the first single from the Gibson Band. “Our Mountains,” was used as the cover artwork for the single’s release. The painting is accompanied by a unique musical score that is unlocked via smartphone or tablet using optical recognition software via the Arloopa app.





Lot 2:


2023 Gibson Les Paul Standard Guitar, Customized with Serj Tankian’s “Our Mountains” artwork.


The 2023 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar serial #232030094 was custom built by the luthiers and craftspeople of Gibson USA using a proprietary, pure lacquer, technique that perfectly recreates the center portion of the original painting “Our Mountains,” painted by Serj Tankian of System of a Down. The guitar comes with a Black USA Modern hardshell case.


“We are thrilled to launch the Gibson Band project and release the first song, ‘Deconstruction,’" says Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson. “We have been working on this project for a very long time. The concept of the Gibson Band was born out of a love of writing and recording new music and having a new venue for collaboration between our team and our Gibson artists. The first song, ‘Deconstruction,’ brings multiple emotions together for me, including the dream of collaborating with Serj Tankian and Tony Iommi, two artists I admire and who have been influential and transformational in so many ways. Serj and I are both diaspora Armenians therefore, we immediately decided we wanted ‘Deconstruction’ to be dedicated to the Armenian community. I hope everyone loves ‘Deconstruction’ as much as we loved making it!”


“It’s a dream come true to have collaborated with my good friend, Cesar Gueikian, and Tony Iommi, who I have collaborated with before,” says Serj Tankian. “I am happy that we are using our platform to donate the music, my art, and Gibson’s incredibly unique guitar for such a great charity. Music with the right intentions can inspire and also create positive change.”


“It was great to hook up with Serj again and also to do a track with Cesar (I think that he’s trying to steal my job!! ) ha-ha!! The Armenian people are really lovely people, and it’s a great pleasure, a great cause, and I’m very happy to be involved in it.” -Tony Iommi


“We are delighted to participate in this initiative alongside Gibson Records,” says Martin Eurnekian, CEO of Corporación América Airports. “We are committed to fostering positive change within our communities, and we pledge to contribute a donation to the Armenia Fund which will match the funds generated from the auction of Serj’s painting, and the Gibson Les Paul guitar. This collaboration with Gibson presents an exceptional opportunity for us to further our strategic goal of making a meaningful impact in Armenia.”


(Photo - Gibson)

Frontiers Music Srl has issued the new release from Blue Öyster Cult, entitled 50th Anniversary Live - First Night. Watch the official video for "Dancin' In The Ruins" from the release below:





The legendary American hard rock band, Blue Öyster Cult, celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a very special set of 3 sold-out shows in a row in September 2022 at Sony Hall in NYC.




For this historic career milestone, each show featured the band playing in its entirety one of their first three albums ('Blue Öyster Cult', 'Tyranny and Mutation', and 'Secret Treaties'), followed by a set of deep cuts and classics from their other albums. Founding member Albert Bouchard was a special guest on all three nights.


The band played for nearly 3 hours and delivered an amazing set performing the S/T debut album back to back and the second set also included some fans’ favorite and deep cuts along with some of their best-known songs. Blue Öyster Cult were truly on fire. All in, they played for nearly three hours for the delight of the fans that filled the venue. Frontiers will release each night as a special individual package.


For over five decades, Blue Öyster Cult has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs. Indeed, the Long Island, NY-based band is revered within the hard rock and heavy metal scene for its pioneering work. They occupy a unique place in rock history, because it’s one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim and commercial success.


The band is often cited as a major influence by other acts such as Metallica, and BÖC was listed in VH1’s countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time.


Upon the release of BÖC’s self-titled debut album in 1972, the band was praised for its catchy-yet-heavy music and lyrics that could be provocative, terrifying, funny or ambiguous, often all in the same song. BÖC’s canon includes three stone-cold classic songs that will waft through the cosmos long after the sun has burned out: The truly haunting “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” from 1976’s Agents Of Fortune, the pummeling “Godzilla” from 1977’s Spectres, and the hypnotically melodic “Burnin’ For You” from 1981’s Fire Of Unknown Origin. Other notable BÖC songs include “Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll,” “Then Came The Last Days Of May,” “I Love The Night,” “In Thee,” “Veteran of the Psychic Wars,” “Dominance And Submission,” “Astronomy,” “Black Blade” and “Shooting Shark.”


The intense creative vision of BÖC’s original core duo of vocalist/lead guitarist Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and vocalist/rhythm guitarist Eric Bloom is complemented by Richie Castellano on guitar and keyboards, and the longtime rhythm section of bass guitarist Danny Miranda and drummer Jules Radino.


“We realized we’re a ‘classic rock’ band. That’s what we are, that’s what we do best, and that’s what we know,” declares the band.


They’re proud of BÖC’s classic sound, and pleased the band is creating vibrant work for disenfranchised music lovers who don’t like the homogenized, prefabricated pop or sound-alike, formulaic rap-metal that monopolizes the radio airwaves and best-seller charts.


Order 50th Anniversary Live - First Night here.





Tracklisting:


Disc 1:
"Transmaniacon MC"
"I’m On The Lamb But I Ain’t No Sheep"
"Then Came The Last Days Of May"
"Stairway To The Stars"
"Before The Kiss, A Redcap"
"Screams"
"She’s As Beautiful As A Foot"
"Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll"
"Workshop Of The Telescopes"
"Redeemed"


Disc 2:
"Dr. Music"
"Burnin’ For You"
"Train True (Lenny’s Song)"
"Tainted Blood"
"Harvest Moon"
"Dancin’ In The Ruins"
"The Vigil"
"Career Of Evil"
"Box In My Head"
"Godzilla"
"(Don’t Fear) The Reaper"
"In Thee"
"That Was Me"
"Hot Rails To Hell"


DVD - Blu-ray:


"Transmaniacon MC"
"I’m On The Lamb But I Ain’t No Sheep"
"Then Came The Last Days Of May"
"Stairway To The Stars"
"Before The Kiss, A Redcap"
"Screams"
"She’s As Beautiful As A Foot"
"Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll"
"Workshop Of The Telescopes"
"Redeemed"
"Dr. Music"
"Burnin’ For You"
"Train True (Lenny’s Song)"
"Tainted Blood"
"Harvest Moon"
"Dancin’ In The Ruins"
"The Vigil"
"Career Of Evil"
"Box In My Head"
"Godzilla"
"(Don’t Fear) The Reaper"
"In Thee"
"That Was Me"
"Hot Rails To Hell"








Blue Öyster Cult are:


Eric Bloom – Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
Donald “Buck Dharma ” Roeser – Guitars, Vocals
Richie Castellano – Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
Danny Miranda – Bass, Vocals
Jules Radino – Drums


Special Guest:


Albert Bouchard - Drums, Percussion, Guitars, Vocals

Melodic power metal band Signum Regis has released a lyric video for "Servants of the Fallen One", the latest single from their new album, Undivided. The album was released on CD, limited vinyl editions and digital on November 17 via Ulterium Records.


Ronnie König of Signum Regis comments: "'Servants of the Fallen One' was written, recorded and added to the album as the last song, just to make sure that there were enough songs with the 'hit' characteristics on it. It looks like this decision was a home run, because fans consider it to be one of the catchiest or the catchiest song on the album."







Undivided was produced, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Kamelot, Evergrey) and the epic artwork was created by Uwe Jarling (Grave Digger, Mystic Prophecy). Guests on the album includes guitarists Jimi Cimbala (No Control) and Daniel J. Fries (Affector) and vocalist David Åkesson (Moonlight Agony, Quantice, Symphonity).


The songwriting on Undivided is strong and the songs that ended up on the album were cherry picked from many. On the album you will find fast power metal songs, epic heavy metal songs, lots of catchy melodies, neoclassical influences and uplifting lyrics. Throughout the entire album you hear the strong musicianship that Signum Regis are known for, crowned by the excellent vocal delivery by Jota Fortinho.


The album marks the return of Signum Regis to Ulterium Records, the label where the band released three successful releases from 2013-2015: Exodus, Through The Storm and Chapter IV: The Reckoning.





Tracklisting:


“Daniel’s Prophecy”
“Ministry Of Truth”
“Salt Of The Earth”
“Interpreter Of Dreams”
“Pilgrim Road”
“Servants Of The Fallen One”
“Sea Of Galilee”
“Prepare For War”
“Undivided”
“Shield My Soul”


"Daniel's Prophecy" lyric video:





“Salt Of The Earth”:

Following the success of their albums Nihil and Ascension, the Belgian black metal ensemble Serpents Oath has inked a deal with Odium Records for their third album, Revelation, scheduled for release on January 20, 2024.


The band recently unveiled "Pandaemonium", the third video from the upcoming album. This new release showcases a blend of fierce rage and dramatic elements, culminating in what the band describes as an "epic hymn." The song, according to Serpents Oath, symbolizes the "Final Harvest," a time when the Undead Gods emerge to reign supremely and harvest human Lifeforce, signifying their open rule over creation.







The album's cover art is crafted by the renowned artist Nestor Avalos. Revelation will be available in various formats:

• Wooden Box: Limited to 50 copies, including a Red marble LP, digi pack CD, exclusive design t-shirt, pendant, and patch.


• Die Hard LP: Red marble, heavy vinyl, gatefold, limited to 100 copies.


• Black LP: Heavy vinyl, gatefold.


• Digi Pack CD: 6 panels with a 12-page booklet

Tracklisting:


"Invocatio Genesis"
"Blood Covenant" 
"Gateways To Tiamat"
"Purification Through Fire"
"Invocatio Apocalypsis"
"Beyond The Void"
"Drakonian Gnosis"
"Path Of The Serpent"
"Invocatio Resurrectio"
"Cult Of Death"
"Unto Typhon"
"Pandaemonium" 


"Blood Covenant" video:





"Purification Through Fire" video:





For further details, visit Serpents Oath on Facebook.


 

Toronto hard rockers Xephyr have announced details for their fourth studio album, No Signal. Bursting with guitar-driven tracks, the album lyrically delves into the undertaking of new journeys, continuing in the face of adversity and overcoming personal struggles. No Signal is a massive step forward for the band following their 2019 offering Iron Wine, in terms of production, performance and songwriting. No Signal will be unleashed on January 12, 2024.


To celebrate this announcement, Xephyr has also shared the first single and video from the album, "Remember". 







The band comments: "No Signal is a representation of every struggle and triumph we've experienced and endured over the last few years from both the world and within as both a band and individuals. We really pushed the boundaries of our songwriting, and we have a monolithic album on our hands that we could not be more proud of, which we believe features Xephyr at our hungriest, most mature and most visceral point ever. Every success and every failure has led us to this very moment right here. No Signal is this moment in time."


Featuring 14 brand new hard-hitting tracks, No Signal offers everything from Xephyr's most simplistic and melodic material, to their heaviest and most technical offerings. All with a more polished and punishing production, the track list explores numerous styles from melodic hard rock to thrash metal and everything in between. The first half of the album begins in a nightmare-ish, dystopian scenario filled with uncertainty. However, the latter half takes a more optimistic turn and is about coming to terms with the fact that while the world may be messed up, everything is going to be okay. 





Tracklisting:


"Shot In The Head"    
"Remember"    
"Wanted You To Know"    
"I'm Here For Blood"    
"Figured You Out"    
"Wrench"    
"The Disparation"    
"Realignment"    
"Morning Sun-Callahan"    
"Goodbye To Love"    
"Pulse"    
"Worlds Go Dark"    
"Insane"    
"Back For Good"


In addition, Xephyr is pleased to announce their album release show will be held at The Rockpile in Toronto, Ontario on January 19, 2024.





 

UK thrash metallers Shrapnel have released their blazing new single and video, "In Gravity", which features Scott Kennedy (Bleed From Within) via Candlelight Records.


Commenting on the new single: "'In Gravity' marks the launch of a new chapter for Shrapnel. We've channelled every bit of suffering, devastation, and emotion that we've experienced in recent years, and created the most hard-hitting and urgent song we've ever written. Never have we been so confident about our own material. With Jens Bogren producing and Scott Kennedy from Bleed From Within on guest vocals, it’s been hard to keep our excitement under wraps. They’ve helped us raise the bar higher than ever and made 'In Gravity' a definitive statement that we are only looking forward. We can’t wait for everyone to join us on this next stage of our journey."







Stream / download "In Gravity" at this location.





Born from a period of pain, tragedy, isolation, yet hope for the future, "In Gravity" emerges as an uplifting and crushingly precise statement about where Shrapnel are currently, with a taste of what to expect from the band in 2024. A cathartic exercising of demons, this is not a track that dwells on the past or leans on well-worn tropes but looks excitedly forward.

Drawing on Shrapnel's ever-deepening well of experience and influence, "In Gravity" marks a band at the height of their songwriting prowess. Whether dealing in extremity and complexity, Gojira-inspired bludgeoning heaviness, or a newly emerging sense of modern melodic maturity, Shrapnel are able to weave their sonic palette in new, genre-defying directions.


Formed in 2009, Shrapnel have been on a campaign of destruction ever since. From the blistering underground EP No Saviours, through to their 2020 release, Palace For The Insane, the band have grown from strength to strength with no intention of slowing down.


(Band photo credit: Andy Ford)