Whythre has unleashed the first single “Scorchbreath” off their forthcoming album Impregnate My Hate due out this coming May 2023. The Seattle melodic death metallers have been together since 2015 and this is their third release. Over the course of the nine tracks on the album they experiment with a variety of techniques from aggressive mindlessness to slow and somber moments…with some catchy hooks.


The single "Scorchbreath" describes adventures Adam and Shon experienced on trips to Colombia (Santa Marta) and Detroit (Movement Music Festival). "Scorchbreath" chronicles a code word that was spoken to engage in after-hour events and various forms of libations. These travels hold a special place in the hearts of Adam Chambers (vocals/guitars/synths) and Shon Petrey (guitar/synths) and this song brings back fond memories. Musically, the single has some punchy/thrashy verses with a big carnival vibe of a chorus, all while incorporating fun shred moments. 


The band explains the single and the album further:




“This song is our single because it kind of displays all the elements of the album in a very condensed way. This is the song that kicked off the inspiration to start this album. We felt like we found something here that was worth exploring. The album title Impregnate My Hate, as a phrase, really sums it up. In modern times most folks are jumping down each other’s throats, willing vessels to the online projection of what modern entertainment and communication should be. Society is fragmenting into niche groups; how each individual deals with this is literally making or breaking their existence.”


Whythre was officially started in 2010 by Petrey and remained a solo project until 2012 when he met an opera-trained singer named Jeran Michaels, the first album was released and slowly a full lineup began to form. They have since formed into an impressive force of symphonic riffs and growls.


An aggressive introduction to the album, “Scorchbreath” is an onslaught of big solos, slamming breakdowns, subtle orchestration, and a sing-along chorus that embodies Whythre’s deft formulation of melodic death metal singed with a blackened edge. Wear appropriate protection.


Impregnate My Hate is being released on May 26, 2023 via High Point Records and is available for preorder here.





Tracklisting:


“Scorchbreath”
“Impregnate My Hate”
“Can’t Escape This”
“Scorpions Of Sinai”
“C Section S1lurpee”
“Death Frontier”
“Tantric Aspects Of The Cross”
“Immanence”
“Run It Red”


“Scorchbreath” video:





(Photo: Carolina Chambers)

Metal Justice Tokyo has shared single-cam, footage of UK extreme metal legends, Carcass', entire Loud Park 2023 show in Tokyo, Japan, which took place on March 26th. Check out the show below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Kelly's Meat Emporium"
"Buried Dreams"
"Incarnated Solvent Abuse"
"Under The Scalpel Blade"
"This Mortal Coil"
"Tomorrow Belongs To Nobody"
"Death Certificate"
"Dance Of Ixtab"
"Black Star"
"Keep On Rotting In The Free World"
"The Scythe's Remorseless Swing"
"Corporal Jigsore Quandary"
"Heartwork"
"Tools Of The Trade"
"Carneous Cacoffiny"




Carcass are gearing up for a US headline tour with support from Municipal Waste, Sacred Reich, and Creeping Death. The tour launches on March 31 in Santa Ana, CA, and wraps up on April 30 in Los Angeles, CA.


Tour dates:


March
31 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory


April
1 - Mesa, AZ - The Nile Theater
3 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk
4 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
5 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
7 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
8 - Tampa, FL - The Orpheum
11 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
12 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Sound Stage
13 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
14 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
15 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
16 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
18 - Chicago, IL - Metro
19 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
20 - Lawrence, KS - The Granada
21 - Denver, CO - The Gothic Theatre
22 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
24 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
25 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
26 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
28 - Berekely, CA - The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall
29 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory
30 - Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco

BraveWords is hosting the exclusive premiere for the new video from recently reformed British metalcore mob Sworn Amongst. “Restitution” marks the end of the band’s hiatus and is set for release on March 30, 2023.





Speaking about the inspiration behind the song, the band stated:




“‘Restitution’ is a conceptual piece born from the German phrase ‘Man sieht sich immer zweimal im Leben’, the translation being ‘In life, you always meet twice.’ In short, this phrase urges us to be wary of burning bridges with our acquaintances, as there is always a chance you may meet later in life.


“The lyrics explore the theoretical actions of somebody who has been spurned and are a criticism of those who fail to heed such a warning. Those people who all too eagerly burn those bridges, and the consequences of those actions. The title ‘Restitution’ born from the fact that if we refrain from burning our bridges, new life may be given to relationships further down the line.”





The band went on to explain what led them to ending their hiatus and what’s on the horizon for them in 2023:


“During the 2020 pandemic we made a collective decision to put Sworn Amongst on hiatus, reason for this was genuinely down to commitment within the band. We’ve now brought Sworn back to life with original members as we all feel that spark again, to write music and tour together. We will be playing two hometown shows in Hull & Derby, as well as two full length tours towards the end of Q3 and some festival appearances which we can’t name yet.


“Our new EP is an honourable mention to the album where it all started, during 2020 it would’ve been ten years since our album Severance was release which through that we were able to experience things we’d only dreamed of. This new venture is a mixture of that and a modern twist, something for old and new fans to enjoy and relate to. We feel it’s our best material yet.”


A well renowned name throughout the UK and Europe, both in the press and on the live circuit, Sworn Amongst’s relentless touring and pummelling live performances have seen them grace stages all over Europe and beyond. Sworn Amongst have previously toured with numerous acts including playing main support to Canadian speed metal legends Annihilator as well as Gama Bomb, Our Hollow, Our Home, Lotus Eater, Bonded By Blood, Susperia, Breed 77, Man Must Die, Evile, and The Rotted.


They’ve also shared stages with the likes of Cannibal Corpse, Napalm Death, The Faceless, Anthrax, Sepultura, Chimaira, Skindred, Meshuggah, Bleed From Within, While She Sleeps, Dark Tranquillity, Asking Alexandria, and Sylosis. They have appeared at a variety of prestigious festivals including Download Festival, Bloodstock, Metal Heads Mission, Wurzburg Metal Fest, and Metal Invasion to name but a few.

Atomic Kings, featuring Greg Chaisson (formerly of Badlands and Red Dragon Cartel) along with Ryan McKay (formerly of the Crash Street Kids), will be releasing their debut record through ToneHouse Records on May 3. The album features nine tracks, and is very diverse in sound and style.


ToneHouse Records will release a 90-second promo video with snippets of songs from the record on March 28. Pre-orders for the record will begin April 1 on the ToneHouse Records website.


For more information, visit the Atomic Kings Facebook page here.

Mexican metallers Agora have released their riff-fuelled new single, "In The Name Of Destruction", via Crusader Records/Golden Robot Records. It’s the second single off their upcoming album Empire and can be streamed on all major platforms now. 


"In The Name Of Destruction" depicts a horrific, dystopian world in which zombies are spreading across the land, threatening to annihilate humanity. It's a powerful musical statement that takes a new but classic approach to dramatic heavy metal compositions. The keyboards are a significant highlight, expertly played by musical titan Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper), whose characteristic sound can be heard throughout the song.


The single is available via digital platforms found here.







Through a period of continuous work, Agora have four albums under their belt, a live DVD and have also performed at well-known national and international festivals such as Vive Latino, Rock al Parque, Hell & Heaven and Fronterizo Fest.


After sharing the stage with bands like KISS, Judas Priest, Guns & Roses, Megadeath, Mötley Crüe, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, they’ve built a large and faithful audience and a large fanbase that follows them in their social networks and concerts.


In 2020, Agora decided to release their most important album to date, Imperio. Imperio is loaded with 11 tracks consisting of new textures, harmonies and instruments such as the eight - and seven - string guitars, fretless basses, drums with varying beats, tunings and frequencies, along with Eduardo Contreras’ voice that acts as a catalyst and the central axis.


All of this converges and results in new, powerful, fresh and innovative themes within the distinctive style that the band has achieved. Imperio includes 2 special tracks in collaboration with the talented, multi award-winning and renowned American keyboard player Derek Sherinian (Sons of Apollo, Black Country Communion, Dream Theatre, Billy Idol and Alice Cooper).


2023 is looking strong for the band as they prepare to release their next album with the support of Crusader Records/Golden Robot Records.

At the start of 2023, guitar legend Steve Vai announced a return to Europe for planned appearances in March through May. The second leg of European dates on the Inviolate World Tour began in Lisbon, Portugal on March 24. Fan-filmed video from the show is available below.


The setlist on the night was as follows:


"Avalancha"
"Giant Balls of Gold"
"Little Pretty"
"Tender Surrender"
"Lights Are On"
"Incantation"
- bass solo - (Phillip Bynoe)
"Candlepower"
- guitar solo (Dante Frisiello)
"Building the Church"
"Greenish Blues"
"Bad Horsie"
"I'm Becoming"
"Whispering a Prayer"
"Dyin' Day"
- drum solo - (Jeremy Colson)
"Teeth of the Hydra"
"Zeus in Chains"
"Liberty"
"For the Love of God"




Encore:
"Fire Garden Suite I - Bull Whip"











The tour itinerary will bring Vai through Spain, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, and Estonia prior to wrapping on May 7 in Helsinki, Finland. For tickets and a variety of EVO Experience VIP bundles available, head here.


Steve Vai shares, “Our previous fall tour of North America was outstanding. Myself and the band are as oiled up and ready as ever. I’m excited to finally bring the Hydra guitar to Europe as I missed doing that on the last EU run. The response from Inviolate was tremendously positive and it showed in the press, the attendances and the energy in the audience and we are so much looking forward to this EU tour.”





Dates:


March
29 - Huelva, Spain - Gran Teatro de Huelva
31 - Madrid, Spain - La Riviera


April
1 - Bilbao, Spain - Santana 27 – Sala Gold
2 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Parallel 62
4 - Vigo, Spain - Auditorio Mar de Vigo
5 - Gijón, Spain - Audiotorio de La Universidad Laboral
7 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Dal Verme
8 - Jesolo (Venezia), Italy - PalaInvent
11 - Munich, Germany - Technikum
12 - Budapest, Hungary - Akvarium Klub
13 - Zagreb, Croatia - Culture Factory
14 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Refinery Gallery
18 - Ankara, Turkey - Congresium Ankara
19 - Istanbul, Turkey - VW Arena
21 - Thessaloniki, Greece - Principal Club
22 - Athens, Greece - Fuzz Live Music Club
24 - Bucharest, Romania - Sala Mare (The Great Hall)
25 - Sofia, Bulgaria - NDK Hall 3
26 - Skopje, N. Macedonia - SRC Kale
27 - Belgrade, Serbia - MTS dvorana
28 - Brno, Czech Republic - Semilasso
29 - Prague, Czech Republic - Lucerna Music Bar


May
1 - Wroclaw, Poland - Majowka Festival - Hala Stulecia
2 - Krakow, Poland - ICE
3 - Lublin, Poland - CSK
5 - Riga, Latvia - Palladium
6 - Tallinn, Estonia - Noblessner Foundry
7 - Helsinki, Finland - House of Culture

Shortly before MORBID ANGEL was scheduled to perform at the Apollo Theater in Belvidere, Illinois, on Friday night (March 31),the venue roof collapsed, killing one person and injuring at least 28 more, five of them severely.

The Belvidere Police Department said 260 people were in the venue when the collapse occurred as a heavy storm rolled through the area. The capacity of the theater is around 1,500.

Officials were notified by the National Weather Service of a tornado warning at 7:45 p.m. CT. The roof collapsed ten minutes later, according to Belvidere Fire Department chief Shawn Schadle.

Belvidere police chief Shane Woody described the scene when police arrived as "Chaos. Absolute chaos. When officers are first on the scene, when the fire department and first responders get here, they do the best they can to control the chaos as much as possible," he said. "But ultimately, we go in, and ultimately try and find people, and save as many people as we possibly can — and bring them to safety as best as we can."

One person who was inside the theater when the collapse happened told Rockford Scanner (see video below): "It was in between sets. The first band had just played. People were going outside to smoke. And then all the people came running back in, 'cause the rain started coming down real heavy. Then all of a sudden the door that they came out of was swinging back and forth, slamming super hard. All the power went out in the building and the entire ceiling collapsed on everybody in the front area — right at the stage, on the stage, the people behind the stage; that sector of the building. When it came down, it blew me out towards the exit door. I crawled out a hole through the door and I escaped without a scratch; I don't know how I did. But there's definitely casualties and 50, about a hundred wounded — severely. It's horrible."

"Initially, I was confused because it felt like an earthquake, and I was thinking, 'Why would there be an earthquake right now?'" an audience member at the concert who narrowly escaped injury told The New York Times. "As soon as that happened. I watched as the entire roof collapsed on everybody, basically right where we were standing."

The concert was part of MORBID ANGEL's 2023 U.S. tour, featuring support acts CRYPTA, SKELETAL REMAINS and REVOCATION.

According to the venue's official Facebook page, doors were scheduled to open at 6:00 p.m., with CRYPTA set to perform at 7 p.m., SKELETAL REMAINS at 7:45 p.m., REVOCATION at 8:40 p.m. and MORBID ANGEL at 9:40 p.m.

MORBID ANGEL took to Facebook to write that the show was being canceled "due to a Tornado that hit the Venue, and caused the roof, over the area in-front of the stage , and marquee to collapse.

"We ask anyone who is still traveling to the venue to please seek shelter and stay safe," the band added. "We are currently sheltering in place, and want to extend our support and hope that everyone at the show tonight is safe.
Right now our focus is on making sure everyone in the venue tonight is ok and gets home."

Janell Emmanuel, the mother of MORBID ANGEL guitarist Trey Azagthoth (born George Emmanuel III), took to her Facebook page to write: "Concerning the tornadoes that destroyed a venue MORBID ANGEL would be playing tonight. I spoke with Trey. He was in the back of the bus when this happened but he said everyone was OK. I could tell he is physically shaken by this as he saw the building collapse and knew their were people inside. All of the band members from the four bands thank God we're safe. It seems like it happen after CRYPTA finished, and before the next band entered the stage. Trey said a very large oak tree just missed the bus but that they were safe.

"Our saddest regrets and prayers go out to the members of the families who have lost love ones. Please be as respectful for those that are hurting.

"Trey was not sure about the continuing of the tour but I will do my best to keep you updated. Again, let's give our thoughts and prayers to those who have lost their love ones.

"I am totally shaken by this and I think God all band members are unhurt."

CRYPTA guitarist Tainá Bergamaschi said in an Instagram post that all the bands that were scheduled to perform tonight "are safe."

CRYPTA vocalist/bassist Fernanda Lira took to the BLABBERMOUTH.NET Facebook page to write: "We're all safe and sound (bands and crew). We (CRYPTA) lost our RV since a part of the ceiling fell on it. Lots of fans injured, i heard there's 2 deaths."

The collapse was reported as severe storms with 90 mph winds blew through the area.

According to local reports, at least 20 ambulances were dispatched to the theater, which is located roughly 14 miles outside of the city of Rockford.

Illinois governor JB Pritzker said of the disaster: "My administration is closely monitoring the roof collapse at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere tonight.

"I've been in touch with officials for updates and to direct any available resources we can. As we learn more, please follow the guidance of all local authorities."

Photos and video taken at the venue show that the theater's marquee and façade had crashed on to the street, with debris littering the area as first responders worked to help the injured.

Belvidere is located in Boone County, about 72 miles from Chicago.

The Apollo Theatre opened in 1921 as a stage play, movie, and vaudeville venue.
WATCH: Roof collapses during Morbid Angel concert in Belvidere, Illinois. Reports of multiple victims pic.twitter.com/iDGF09NA4A

— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) April 1, 2023



#BREAKING - Crews are on scene of a reported Mass Casualty Incident in Belvidere, Illinois after a roof collapsed on a...

Posted by WFCN News - Illinois on Friday, March 31, 2023

Apollo Theater Roof Collapse

Roof collapse at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, Illinois during a concert during tonight's high wind sever thunderstorms. We're working to find the original video.

#Belvidere #Illinois

Posted by Chicago Journal on Friday, March 31, 2023

LIVE UPDATE: Storm causes roof collapse at Belvidere's Apollo Theater during heavy metal concert

LIVE: Officials give an update on the roof collapse at Belvidere's Apollo Theater during heavy metal concert as a storm brought heavy winds through the area.

Posted by Eyewitness News on Friday, March 31, 2023

ROOF COLLAPSE

ROOF COLLAPSE - We're LIVE in Belvedere, Illinois where a roof has reportedly collapsed on concertgoers at a local theater. Several reports say multiple people were injured in the incident. https://bit.ly/3K2RtZ3

Posted by FOX 13 News on Friday, March 31, 2023

Incredibly difficult visuals sent in of drone footage from above the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere following tonight's...

Posted by David Greenberg on Friday, March 31, 2023



LATEST ON APOLLO: 23 News is live in Belvidere with the latest updates on the roof collapse at the Apollo Theater.

Posted by WIFR TV on Friday, March 31, 2023



LATEST ON APOLLO: 23 News is live in Belvidere with the latest updates on the roof collapse at the Apollo Theater.

Posted by WIFR TV on Friday, March 31, 2023

Personal experience with the Apollo theater Belvidere, IL roof collapse! So so sad! Apollo Theater #belvidereillinois

Posted by Paul Turner on Friday, March 31, 2023

*ATTENTION*
Tonights show is Canceled due to a Tornado that hit the Venue, and caused the roof, over the area in-front...

Posted by Morbid Angel on Friday, March 31, 2023

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tainá Bergamaschi (@tainabmaschi)

Florida death metal veterans OBITUARY have announced the "Barely-A-Live-Stream", set to take place on April 22 and April 23 from the band's RedNeckStudio. They will perform fan favorites from their historic discography on April 22 and their latest album, "Dying Of Everything", in full on April 23.

* Saturday, April 22 at 5 p.m. EST
The Hillbilly Bash: Beer Drinkin' - Hell Raisin' & Performing The Fan Favorite Songs

* Sunday, April 23 at 5 p.m. EST
"Dying Of Everything" - Full Album Studio Performance

For tickets, visit www.ObituaryLive.com.

OBITUARY will embark on a North American tour in the spring. The trek, which will feature support from IMMOLATION, BLOOD INCANTATION and INGROWN, will kick off on April 28 and end in late May.

"Dying Of Everything" was released on January 13 via Relapse Records.

OBITUARY drummer Donald Tardy recently told Metal Wani about "Dying Of Everything": "Somehow magically all the stars lined up for us. We took a long time writing this record. We don't ever force ourselves into songs; we let the songs find us. But once we really got down to it and started writing and putting the songs together, we were excited right from the beginning. We were, like, 'Holy shit, man. We've got something going on here.' And then, of course, when we were done with the recording, the actual tracking of the songs, we sent it to our boy Joe Cincotta, and he's been our live engineer for 15 years, but he's also done the last three albums with OBITUARY at his studio up there in New York City, Full Force Studios. So, just perfect chemistry we've got going on right now. The band's on fire. I think we played our instruments well. We played clean on this record, which makes engineers' lives very easy. It was very easy, from what Joe said, to produce this album 'cause we handed him product that was heavy but clean and well performed. So [I'm] super, super stoked on this album."

In February 2022, Donald told Finland's Chaoszine about the musical direction of the follow-up to OBITUARY's 2017 self-titled effort: "It is fucking awesome. It is OBITUARY, absolutely 100 percent, meat and potatoes, but with Ken's [Andrews, lead guitar] influence and him being able to write a few songs with me on this one, he brings a much more old-school thrash metal feel. So it's fresh, it's killer, it's exciting on some of those songs, but then also the meat and potatoes, there are some songs that are so heavy on this record, man. I'm so proud of it. I can't wait for people to hear it. And the production — we recorded it at our studio and then we sent it off to Joe Cincotta, my boy who's done the last four albums with us. He did an amazing job; the sound of this record is fantastic."

In March 2021, John Tardy told France's United Rock Nations about what fans can expect from OBITUARY's new LP: "I think it's just gonna sound like OBITUARY. [Laughs] You know us — we're kind of cavemen; we don't like to evolve too much. We like to change it up and do a little here and there, but we're getting too old to change too much, I think. So as long as it's heavy and pounding, then that's what you can expect."

Last year, Decibel Books released "Turned Inside Out: The Official Story Of Obituary", the fully authorized biography of OBITUARY. In the book, David E. Gehlke — author of "Damn The Machine: The Story Of Noise Records" and "No Celebration: The Official Story Of Paradise Lost" — provides an unprecedented look at the death metal legends through all-new, in-depth interviews with bandmembers past and present, recording engineers, scene contemporaries and music industry veterans who've worked directly with the band throughout OBITUARY's nearly four-decade career. Packed with hundreds of rare and never-before-seen photos, as well as a foreword from Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, SEPULTURA),the 328-page hardcover "Turned Inside Out: The Official Story Of Obituary" is exclusively available for order via decibelmagazine.com.

Photo credit: Tim Hubbard

During an appearance on yesterday's episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley offered an update on the progress of the recording sessions for his new studio album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I got back off the road. I did a two-week tour of California, which was eight sold-out shows. And I came back, took a week off just to rest and recuperate, and I started getting in the studio. And within six days I had written and recorded five new songs, which is unprecedented for me. So right now it looks like the album's gonna be completed — not mixed but [recorded] — probably in another week."

Frehley went on to say that he has been working on his new LP with TRIXTER's Steve Brown and Peppy Castro of the BLUES MAGOOS. He added: "Back in the '60s, [the BLUES MAGOOS] had the big hit '(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet'. I grew up with him in the Bronx. He inspired me to become a rock star. I remember going to Orchard Beach in the Bronx, and all of a sudden I hear Peppy's song on the radio. I go, 'Jesus Christ. If he can do that, I can do it. I'm better looking than him.' [Laughs] He actually taught me how to play bar chord in the basement of an apartment building… But we've been friends ever since, and we've followed each other's career. And he's been in my studio a half dozen times. And he also hooked me up with Tommy Denander. He wrote three songs for me that I'm probably gonna rearrange at least one or two of them and add vocals. But me and Steve have been doing a song a day. It's insanity."

According to Ace, his upcoming LP will include at least one cover song.

"If my memory serves me correctly, the last two studio records I did both had one cover on them and one instrumental," he said. "I have two or three songs that can be instrumentals or I could add lyrics to it. I'm just deciding which one is gonna be the best one for an instrumental, because if I don't do an instrumental, my fans are gonna be upset, because every one of my studio albums have had an instrumental track on it. It all started with 'Fractured Mirror' in 1978."

Peppy previously collaborated with KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons as a songwriter and performed on Frehley's and KISS frontman Paul Stanley's solo records.

Ace's next all-original album will be the follow-up to "Spaceman", which was released in October 2018 via eOne.

Frehley's latest release was "Origins Vol. 2", the sequel to his 2016 collection of cover songs that inspired the former KISS guitarist.

"Origins Vol. 2" featured cover versions of THE BEATLES' "I'm Down", DEEP PURPLE's "Space Truckin'", LED ZEPPELIN's "Good Times Bad Times", THE ROLLING STONES' "Jumpin' Jack Flash", THE KINKS' "Lola" and THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE's "Manic Depression", among others. A cover of the 1975 KISS tune "She" also appeared as a bonus track. Guests on the set included CHEAP TRICK's Robin Zander, Lita Ford and former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons co-wrote two tracks on "Spaceman", "Without You I'm Nothing" and "Your Wish Is My Command", the latter of which also features Simmons's bass playing.

Swedish death metal band, Demonical, returns with a surprise EP, Into Victory, featuring one new, original track and a cover of a Ramones song. The EP is out today on Agonia Records in CD and digital. Its title track received a lyric video, which can be viewed below.


The new material marks a lineup change, with the band debuting a new singer. "With the release of 'Into Victory', we hereby welcome Charlie Fryksell as our new vocalist," comments Demonical. "Like an unstoppable force, we will push on towards new greater goals and this EP is another step on that path. So ladies and gentlemen, join us in death!"


Into Victory followed the footsteps of Mass Destroyer (2022) to Glashuset and Sellnoise Studios, where it was recorded & produced by Demonical, Jonas Arnberg and Johan Hjelm. Mixing and mastering was done by Ronnie Bjornstrom at BLP Studios (Meshuggah, Blood Red Throne). The cover artwork was painted by Belial Necroarts.







Formats:


- CD
- Digital


Click here to buy Into Victory.





Tracklisting:


"Into Victory
"Somebody Put Something In My Drink" (Ramones cover)


"Into Victory" lyric video:





Lineup:


Charlie Fryksell - vocals
Eki Kumpulainen - lead guitars
Johan Haglund - rhythm guitars
Martin Schulman - bass
Ronnie Bergerstahl - drums


(Photo - Jens Ryden)

Ballads play a very special role in the history of rock music. For one, they document the emotional side of the genre and show that behind (almost) every rocker`s hard chest beats a soft heart. Secondly, those quieter songs are being played by radio stations without rock-affinity – and are loved by listeners for their emotional depth. Additionally, in an increasingly hectic world, ballads offer brief moments of pause, of reflection on the essential things in life.


So, it is no wonder that the ballad compilations of Axel Rudi Pell are an absolute success. Over 250,000 copies have been sold of The Ballads I (1993) to The Ballads V (2017) alone. And nine of the current Top-10 most streamed Pell songs on Spotify are ballads! So it comes as no surprise that fans of the Bochum guitarist and songwriter regularly push for a continuation of this release series.


On April 21, The Ballads VI will be released on CD, double vinyl LP, and digital download via Steamhammer/SPV, and will come with a few small surprises.




"Diamonds And Rust", the new digital single and visualizer, are out today.


Axel Rudi Pell: "A true classic in music history. Original artist Joan Baez has given this song very personal and emotional lyrics. There are already many cover versions, but an ARP typical interpretation could not be missing. We definitely had a lot of fun recording it."





Not only is The Ballads VI the latest edition of the popular ARP ‘The Ballads’ series, but also the direct successor to his latest studio album, Lost XXIII, which landed at #2 on the official German album sales charts in April 2022. This exciting new compilation comes with a total of 13 ballads “made by ARP,” five of them being brand new recordings.


Axel Rudi Pell sums up his growth as a songwriter and musician, “Looking back, there is not a single ballad during the almost 35 years of my solo career that I need to be ashamed of, quite the contrary: some of them are still among my favourite songs today."





The Ballads VI will be released as:


- CD DigiPak (incl. poster)
- 2LP Gatefold (trans orange black vinyl)
- CD/LP bundle with shirt (only at the Steamhammer Shop)
- Download and stream


Pre-order here.





The Ballads VI tracklisting:


"Revelations" (new instrumental)
"Diamonds And Rust" (new cover version)
"Morning Star" (new song)
"Dust In The Wind" (new cover version)
"Hidden Secrets" (new instrumental)
"Gone With The Wind"
"She's A Lady"
"Room With A View"
"Fly With Me"
"As Blind As A Fool Can Be"
"I Put A Spell On You"
"Beyond The Light"
"Quarantined 1"


"Morning Star" lyric video:





Lineup:


Johnny Gioeli - Lead and Backing Vocals
Axel Rudi Pell - Lead and Rhythm Guitars
Ferdy Doernberg - Keyboards
Volker Krawczak - Bass
Bobby Rondinelli - Drums

After almost 25 years, Elegy celebrate the release of their entire 8 album collection on special picture disc vinyls with The Reunion tour, starting in 2023. Looking back upon their long career, Elegy have sold more than 250,000 albums in more than 60 countries worldwide. 


The origins of the band name Elegy as dictionary’s explanation is rock solid. A poem written in elegiac meter; a lament or song of sorrow. However, the band's entire musical history was nothing more than a unique success story in the annals of Prog rock metal.


Antje Lange (Noise Records): "Elegy is one of the most talented bands I worked with. Extremely creative and virtuosic. We worked together for many years and it was always a pleasure sharing ideas with this dedicated band. I am really happy to hear that Elegy has re-united and I wish them all the best from the depth of my heart."




Elegy has reunited with their ultimate line-up;


Ian Parry – Vocals
Henk van der Laars – Guitar 
Gilbert Pot – Guitar / keyboards 
Martin Helmantel – Bass
Dirk Bruinenberg – Drums


The band will perform songs from their first three albums - Labyrinth Of Dreams, Supremacy, and Lost - as well as their internationally successful State Of Mind record from  1997, and followed Manifstation Of Fear from 1998, produced by Helloween's Keeper Of The Seven Keys producer Tommy Newton.


Stay tuned for updates.


Elegy released seven albums and one EP between 1992 and 2002:


Labyrinth of Dreams (1992)
Supremacy (1994)
Lost (1995)
Primal Instinct (EP) (1996)
State of Mind (1997)
Manifestation of Fear (1998)
Forbidden Fruit (2000)
Principles of Pain (2002)

The world's favorite hard rock monsters, Lordi, add the next chapter to their spooky history with their eighteenth studio album, Screem Writers Guild, released today (March 31st) via their new label home, Atomic Fire Records.


Check out the official viedo for new single "Dead Again Jayne" below.







Screem Writers Guild was produced by Mr. Lordi with Mana and Janne Halmkrona as executive producers. Ilkka Herkman took care of mixing and Pauli Saastamoinen mastered the record. The artwork was also designed by Mr. Lordi himself who has made a name as director for the band's vision since the early '90s.


Screem Writers Guild is available in the following formats:


- Limited Collector's Box Set - Includes alternative cover artwork, digipak CD, 2xLP in gatefold, exclusive Live At Masters Of Rock DVD featuring five live songs, five band member portrait art prints plus Lordi notebook.


The box set will be available in three color variants:


- Red/Black Splatter vinyl @ Atomic Fire Records Mailorder
- Green Marbled vinyl @ EMP
- Purple/Black Marbled vinyl @ Atomic Fire Records US Mailorder, Nuclear Blast, and Levykauppa Äx


Other configurations:


- digipak CD
- 2xLP gatefold (Transparent/Blue Marbled)
- 2xLP gatefold (Red/Black Splatter; only available in Europe)
- 2xLP gatefold (Green Marbled; only available @ EMP)
- 2xLP gatefold (Purple/Black Marbled; only available @ Atomic Fire Records US Mailorder, Nuclear Blast, and Levykauppa Äx)
- digital





Tracklisting:


"Dead Again Jayne"
"SCG XVIII: Nosferuiz Horror Show"
"Unliving Picture Show"
"Inhumanoid"
"Thing In The Cage"
"Vampyro Fang Club"
"The Bride"
"Lucyfer Prime Evil"
"Scarecrow"
"Lycantropical Island"
"In The Castle Of Dracoolove"
"The SCG Awards"
"Heavengeance"
"End Credits"


"Thing In The Cage"





"Lucyfer Prime Evil" lyric video:





Lordi lineup:


Mr. Lordi - vocals
Kone - guitars
Hiisi - bass
Hella - keyboard
Mana – drums


(Photo - Eero Kokko)

Following the success of their acclaimed 2022 sophomore effort Rumble Of Thunder, groundbreaking Mongolian rock group The Hu —who use traditional Mongolian instrumentation, throat singing and perform entirely in their native language—have announced a deluxe version of the album will be released June 30 via Better Noise Music. Rumble Of Thunder: Deluxe Album will further highlight the band’s “stadium-sized metal riffs and thunderous vocal melodies” (Revolver Magazine) with seven new tracks: four acoustic renditions and three newly recorded singles featuring guest appearances and English-translated vocals from some of rock’s top musicians including William DuVall of Alice In Chains, Serj Tankian (System of A Down), DL of Bad Wolves and international solo artist LP (Laura Pergolizzi). Pre-orders for the album across all digital platforms as well as physically on CD and vinyl are available now at this location.
 
The Hu have unveiled the deluxe album’s second single, the volcanic anthem "Black Thunder (feat. Serj Tankian and DL of Bad Wolves)". Following the release of the eco-conscious single "This Is Mongol (feat. William Duvall of Alice In Chains)”, in February, the new track includes a refreshed look at the culturally shaped track with a new perspective and English-translated vocals. Its original “visually stunning” (Louder Sound) music video was filmed in The Hu’s home country of Mongolia, logging 3 million views to date. The video of the Serj Tankian and DL featured track directed by Michael Lombardi (The Retailiators, Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach)--is also out today. View it streaming below.



 
The Hu band leader Gala comments: "'Black Thunder'—the latest single from our sophomore album, Rumble of Thunder—is the composition we worked on the longest, and because of that, we recorded many different variations of the song, The lyrics and the video have several different meanings on the surface as well as on a deeper level. Therefore, every version of 'Black Thunder' carries a certain unique idea. Our producer and our band members were amazed by the additions that were made by DL and Serj and their unique singing styles, which added to our beloved song. DL’s powerful vocals, topped by the Serj’s signature voice and one-of-a-kind Armenian-American style, is shedding different light to The Hu’s music. We hope our fans enjoy this featured version and feel the soul of the song through their ears.”
 
Tankian shares his experience working with The Hu: "I had discovered the Hu’s music from a YouTube video that a friend sent me and was instantly struck by their powerful and delightful merging of Mongolian folk and metal. A few years back I had scored a film called Furious where we also used the legendary Tuva singing and heavy guitars. So, when they reached out to collaborate, I was intrigued. I appreciate the pride with which they represent their culture through music. It led me down a historical rabbit hole of Mongolians and Armenia. Genghis Khan conquered Armenia along with the rest of Europe, but the Mongols also later teamed up with Armenia to fight the Turkish hordes. Happy I had the chance to collaborate with the Hu and learn all of this in the process."
 
Says DL: "Working on this version of The Hu's 'Black Thunder' was so much fun and so different from what I normally get to do. Their vision, their voices…they’re special. This is more than music, it’s a movement, it’s culture, and I’m honored that I was presented with the opportunity to be part of it." 


The Hu will bring their enveloping live show to audiences across Europe this summer as they embark on a headlining run in support of their 2022 sophomore album, Rumble Of Thunder, via Better Noise Music. The tour kicks off June 6 with their set at Nova Rock Festival in Nickelsdorf, Austria on and includes venue and festival stops across the UK and Europe until they reach their last stop on July 22 at Malakofff Festival in Norway. 
  
Rumble Of Thunder European Tour dates are as follows:
 
June
7 - Nickelsdorf, Austria – Nova Rock
8 - Interlaken, Switzerland - Greenfield Festival
10 - Southampton, UK – Southampton Guildhall
11 - Donington, UK – Download Festival
13 - Liverpool, UK – O2 Academy Liverpool
14 - Bristol, UK – O2 Academy Bristol
16 - Landgraaf, Netherlands – Pinkpop 2023
17 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
20 - Lille, France – L’Aeronef
21 - Norwich, UK – University of East Anglia
22 - Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow
23 - Newcastle, UK – NX Newcastle
27 - Frankfurt, Germany – Batschkapp
28 - Strasbourg, France – La Laiterie Artefact
30 - Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter 2023




July
2 - Helsinki, Finland – Festival Helsinki
4 - Hamburg, Germany – Grosse Freiheit 26
5 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Rockhal
6 - Aix-les-bains, Framce – Musilack 2023
8 - Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool Festival 2023
10 - Marseille, France – Espace Julien
12 - Munich, Germany – Backstage Werk
13 - Dresden, Germany – Alter Schlachtohf
15 - Wroclaw, Poland – Center Concert A2
16 - Vizovice, Czech Republic – Masters of Rock
17 - Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Park
20 - Bontida, Romania – Electric Castle Festival
22 - Nordfjordeid, Norway – Malakoff Festival

Ruïm was formed in 2020 by the Norwegian born, Grammy award winning guitarist Blasphemer (Rune Eriksen), known from acts such as Vltimas and Mayhem. Joining Blasphemer on drums is French born drummer César Vesvre (Agressor, Thagirion).


Driven by a firm desire to revisit the style of music he has dedicated himself to and been associated with since the mid-‘90s and inspired by the rediscovery of a long lost tape of old, unused Mayhem-era riffs from 98/99, the concept of starting a new project based around these ideas manifested itself quickly. Soon, a new vision was born for an album immersed in Brazilian witchcraft and the left-hand path of the Umbanda tradition - a practice in which Blasphemer himself is taught in - to deliver a new blackened opus in the vein Blasphemer has been synonymous with since his inception into Mayhem back in 1994 (until 2007).


Black Royal Spiritism – I – O Sino da Igreja is Ruïm’s debut studio album. It presents a glimpse of something new, unique, visionary and highly eclectic. This album marks the beginning of a concept set to span a trilogy of releases exploring and incorporating a deeply personal expression of Blasphemer’s own beliefs regarding the greater spirits of the left-hand path. A pitch-black offering, Black Royal Spiritism is steeped in ominous and eerie, unnerving darkness. Each track is meticulously woven with a sinister undercurrent, given flesh by Blasphemer’s highly distinctive brutal riffing style, with atmospheric, ambient, and clean passage interludes featuring among the chaos.




Vocals on Black Royal Spiritism – I – O Sino da Igreja are also handled by Blasphemer himself, sung in a mix of English, Portuguese and Norwegian, with lyrical themes rooted in a celebration and dedication to the lore and rituals of linha da esquerda.


The album was recorded at Drudenhaus Studio in France and mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door and artwork created by Sindre Foss Skancke.


Black Royal Spiritism – I – O Sino da Igreja will be released on Peaceville Records on May 26 on CD / LP / Limited edition gold coloured vinyl and digitally. Preorder options available here.





Tracklisting:


“Blood.Sacrifice.Enthronement”
“The Triumph (Of Night & Fire)”
“Black Royal Spiritism”
“Evig Dissonans”
“Fall Of Seraphs”
“Ao Rio”
“O Sino da Igreja”


(Photo: Mara D'Eleán)

Metal On Metal Records has published two videos featuring Kingdom Of Tyrants, a U.S. power/heavy metal band comprising veterans of the Boston, MA, metal scene, whose debut album Architects Of Power is slated to be released on CD and digitally on April 20.


"A Boston Metal Story" is an interview with guitarists Kevin Curran (Steel Assassin) and Michael Mooney (Steel Assassin), vocalist Mike Munro (ex-Meliah Rage), drummer Stu Dowie (Meliah Rage) and bass player Dave Liolios who talk about their shared history and their new project.


"The blend of band mates is just top-notch. You couldn't ask for better men to be surrounded by; friends, musicianship, no pressure, everybody's doing this for the same reasons and that's just because we want to. We didn't do it because we had to, we're doing it because we want to, because we love each other, because we had never played all together in this particular arrangement before. And once we started writing songs, the chemistry became evident, and it just flows. I am probably head over heels about this project more than anything I've ever done." - Michael Mooney.







As mentioned in the interview, the band has recently filmed two video clips, one of which is for "Ghosts Of Industry", a song inspired by the History Channel series about the Gilded Age called "The Men Who Built America" and, like the interview, directed and produced by Rudy Childs.

Spirit In The Room is pleased to unveil a live video for the track "I Used To Be A Machine”. The disquieting hymn appears on the band’s Flamingo EP, released last year via Housecore Records.


If you ever wondered what goes on in the head of a film noir hitman, horror novel asylum inmate, or a golden age silver screen villain, it might sound something like Spirit In The Room. The vision of Louisiana-born and Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Dennis R. Sanders unfurls through cigarette smoke, cheap booze, and distortion like an anachronistic fever dream soundtracked by a collision of gothic vocal hues, immersive alternative architecture, and jarring metallic catharsis. It’s scary at times. It’s sad at other times. However, it’s always unpredictable - especially on Flamingo.


Elaborates Sanders of "I Used To Be A Machine,” “We invited a couple of friends and shot a live session at Center Staging in Burbank recently. This is one of the songs we filmed. It’s also my favorite song from the Flamingo EP. It’s a song about being at war with your shadow self. Which I’m sure is something we can all relate to.”







Spirit In The Room has confirmed a host of live dates through April and May including an appearance at Days In Space Festival in Bakersfield, California, with additional shows to be announced in the weeks to come.


Dates:


April
6 - Transplant Brewery – Palmdale, CA
19 - Alex’s Bar - Long Beach, CA
28 - Kensington Club - San Diego, CA
29 - Days In Space Festival @ The Empty Space – Bakersfield, CA


May
4 - The Monty Bar – Los Angeles, CA


(Photo – Ekaterina Gorbacheva)