Nightwish vocalist Floor Jansen has shared the following end-of-tour message with her fans:


"Just minutes before the final show of our European tour at the sold out O2 Arena in Prague, I am filled with so many emotions. This tour has been an incredible journey for me, both personally and professionally.


On a personal level, it's been a challenge recovering from surgery and preparing for radiation therapy, but every day has gotten a little better thanks to the energy of performing with Nightwish, love from friends and family, and feeling the power and love from our amazing fans. And on a professional level, it's been an unforgettable experience. From the two sold out shows in Amsterdam where we were joined by Henk Poort for a special performance of 'The Phantom Of The Opera', to the 22 shows we've played across Europe, every moment has been a highlight.




I am so grateful for the opportunity to do what I love, and for the support of our fans, who have been with us every step of the way. Thank you for your undying support." 





Jansen recently announced the release of her debut solo album, Paragon, on March 24.


This album showcases Jansen's impressive vocal range and powerful voice on a diverse collection of pop-infused tracks and emotional ballads influenced by the sounds of her career. Paragon has something for everyone and is a must-listen for fans of Jansen.


Says Floor: "‘Look at me now, I’m already there!' To renew yourself and take leaps into the unknown makes you grow. To age is a gift not everyone gets. I am a fortunate woman who got to make an album I never knew I could make. One that even defines me, where I am on my path. I have reached my PARAGON! I am so proud of this work! And grateful for all the amazing people in this beautiful life that helped me get here!"


With its mix of influences and powerful vocal performances, Paragon is an album that will appeal to fans of pop music and metal alike. It's the perfect addition to any music collection, and a must-have for fans of Floor Jansen and Nightwish.


Paragon will be released digitally and physically on CD, vinyl, and a limited edition deluxe box set. The album will be available on all major streaming platforms and at music retailers worldwide. You can pre-order/pre-save the album here.





Tracklisting:


"My Paragon"
"Daydream"
"Invincible"
"Hope"
"Come Full Circle"
"Storm"
"Me Without You"
"The Calm"
"Armoured Wings"
"Fire"


""Me Without You" video:





"Storm" video:





"Fire" video:





Following the release, Jansen will embark on a tour of The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in April and May of 2023. Fans can expect to hear more details and possibly some sneak previews of the album in the coming months.

Last week, Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA released a new song, "Rise Again", featuring a guest appearance by Simone Simons of EPICA on vocals. Accompanied by an artistic and unique music video directed by Lisa Mann, "Rise Again" is a new version of APOCALYPTICA's instrumental track "Rise", taken from the band's most recent album "Cell-0".

A short video in which APOCALYPTICA's Eicca Toppinen explains how the collaboration with Simons came about can be seen below.

When "Rise Again" was first made available, Eicca said in a statement: "It was so great to make 'Rise Again' with Simone Simons! When we were putting the 'Epic Apocalypse' tour together, we were thinking of making this collaboration with EPICA even deeper by releasing a song together. 'Rise' from our 'Cell-0' album had the beauty and feel which we felt could fit perfectly for Simone's unique voice. We are so happy about the song and really excited about this tour with EPICA as it will be something really special and amazing!"

APOCALYPTICA and EPICA's "Epic Apocalypse" tour will kick off on January 23 in Oslo and will conclude on March 29 in Leipzig, Germany. Support on the trek will come from WHEEL.

At this year's Louder Than Life festival, Toppinen told Knotfest about when fans can expect to hear a new full-length album from APOCALYPTICA: "That's very hard to tell, because now we just released this EP ['Metal Classic, Classic Metal', featuring cello-metal reinterpretations of classical bangers]. Probably in December or January — I can't recall the date — there's gonna be the next song; it's a vocal feature. I can't reveal what it is yet. But that's gonna be out then. And there's gonna be other singles released next year. I would guess the next album is not gonna be before '24 — a full album."

He continued: "We are kind of following different paths, because the digital world gives you the possibility that it's not the old-school way that you release an album and then you tour for two or three years and then you make a new album. It's not like that. The modern world requires, in a way, to deliver something new and fresh pretty much constantly. And we have this classical covers world, then we have the original instrument APOCALYPTICA world, and then we have the vocal world of APOCALYPTICA. We have kind of three tracks we are [following]. At the same time when we are working on a new album, we are also working… Because an album is always a little bit more like a concept — it's one type of full structure of an idea — and we don't want to stick only on that. Even [while] we go for this one album structure, we want to keep these both other paths alive at the same time. So that's why it's very hard to say exactly what's gonna happen in which order."

"Metal Classic, Classic Metal" was released in September. The effort includes the focus track "Flight Of The Bumblebees", originally by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakow. "Metal Classic, Classic Metal" also contains a new version of Beethoven's "5th Symphony" as well as a remake of Maurice Ravel's "Bolero".

Eight months ago, Eicca told Mexico's Summa Inferno about his band's plans for a follow-up to 2020's "Cell-0" LP: "We have started to talk about the next possible album. But in the meanwhile, we've been recording individual songs so we could release something constantly…. I would guess we'll start to write for the new album. We've been starting to talk about what it could be, what would be exciting to do for us, but [those discussions have] not [gone] very far yet. Because the mindset is now we're doing the 'Cell-0' tour. And it's not that easy at the same time to get very high inspiration and motivation to write a new album, because writing a new album and recording it is a huge process; it takes a lot of time [and] a lot of energy. So, now we have so much touring that it's not possible to do it now. But I think we [will be] starting on it [soon]."

This past March, APOCALYPTICA released the "I'll Get Through It" single, which was written for the band by American award-winning songwriter Diane Warren. It features Franky Perez — guest vocalist in APOCALYPTICA's 2015 record "Shadowmaker" — as well as Geezer Butler of BLACK SABBATH on bass guitar. The song was born out of a visit Geezer and Franky paid to their friend Diane, who had already written the track "Not Strong Enough" for APOCALYPTICA, included in their 2010 record "7th Symphony".

2015's "Shadowmaker" was APOCALYPTICA's first album to feature just one singer — Perez — instead of guest collaborators. The disc was recorded with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES, MASTODON).

Prior to enlisting Perez, who accompanied APOCALYPTICA on the band's 2022 North American tour, the group released eight albums that melded the classically trained cello mastery of the three core bandmembers with the harder elements of the rock world, including drums and guest vocalists, such as Gavin Rossdale from BUSH, and Corey Taylor of SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR fame.

In April 2021, APOCALYPTICA released the official music video for its collaboration with PAPA ROACH singer Jacoby Shaddix on a cover version of the CREAM classic "White Room". The track was produced by Howard Benson at West Valley Recording Studios in Woodland Hills, California and mixed by Chris Lorde-Alge.

"White Room" was the first release from APOCALYPTICA since "Talk To Me", which arrived in August 2020. That song was a collaboration with HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale.

"Cell-0" came out in January 2020. The effort was the band's first fully instrumental record in 17 years.
Here's a little behind the scenes info about collaborating with @Epica's @SimoneSimons and how the song came together!

Hear it in full here: https://t.co/aBcr2Qiujhpic.twitter.com/rgFbzboDzd

— Apocalyptica (@apocalypticafi) December 22, 2022

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have released a 10-minute video in which singer Bruce Dickinson takes you behind the scenes of the band's recently completed "Legacy Of The Beast" tour.

The fall 2022 North American leg of "Legacy Of The Beast" ended on October 27 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida with yet another sold-out U.S. show in front of over 12,000 fans.

A few days after the final gig of the tour, MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood of Phantom Music Management issued a statement, saying: "On behalf of the band, myself and all at Phantom, we'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made this 'Legacy' tour such a special and memorable experience. First and most importantly you, the fans, especially those affected by problems caused by the global pandemic which led to the 2020 European stadium shows having to be rescheduled not just once but twice! Your patience and good-will in holding on to your tickets and waiting until we could finally bring the 'Legacy' show to you was very much appreciated. You truly are the best and playing to over 3 million of you over the extended tour was a hell of an achievement so thanks to each and every one of you for making this both possible and also making it incredible fun for the band who enjoyed pretty much every minute on stage.

"We'd also like to thank our brilliant touring Killer Krew — both the longstanding and newer members to the MAIDEN family, who never cease to rise to any challenges thrown their way — and there were a few — no mean feat considering this tour covered 33 countries and 139 shows played since we started in Tallinn way back on May 26 2018.

"Thanks also to all our Special Guests and support acts who played on the tour since 2018: AIRBOURNE, AVATAR, FOZZY, GOJIRA, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, LORD OF THE LOST, MASTODON, POWERWOLF, RAGE IN MY EYES, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, SABATON, SERPENTOR, SHINEDOWN, TEMPT, THE HELLACOPTERS, THE RAVEN AGE, TREMONTI, TRIVIUM and WITHIN TEMPTATION. Thanks also to our suppliers, our agents, promoters, merchandisers and everyone else involved in bringing this show to you night after night, city after city.

"And finally, both personally and, I am sure, on behalf of all of you — massive thanks to Bruce, Steve, Dave, Adrian, Janick and Nicko who never let up, played, and sang! magnificently and matched every crowd for passion and enthusiasm every single night, wherever they were. Guys — I don't know how you do it but we are all bloody glad you do!!

"We are all now going to take a well-earned break and we'll be back again next year with a great new show, 'The Future Past Tour' playing just Europe this time as the 2022 'Legacy' tour was such a long run to enable us to see as many of you fans as possible post-pandemic. However, 'The Future Past Tour' will continue into 2024 and who knows where it will go… ..so stay tuned!!"

IRON MAIDEN's "The Future Past Tour" will feature previously unperformed songs from the band's most recent studio album, "Senjutsu", along with a focus on 1986's iconic "Somewhere In Time" record, plus other classic cuts.

"Senjutsu" came out in September 2021. It marked MAIDEN's second consecutive double album behind 2015's "The Book Of Souls" which is the longest MAIDEN album, with a running time of 92 minutes.

IRON MAIDEN's first album in six years, "Senjutsu" was recorded in 2019 in Paris with longstanding producer Kevin Shirley and co-produced by bassist Steve Harris. It features three tracks whose running time exceeds 10 minutes each.

For "Senjutsu" — loosely translated as "tactics and strategy" — the band once again enlisted the services of Mark Wilkinson to create the spectacular Samurai-themed cover artwork, based on an idea by Harris.

"Senjutsu" bowed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, charting higher than even the band's early classics like "Powerslave" and "The Number Of The Beast". Nearly 90 percent of the LP's 64,000 equivalent album units earned came from pure album sales. The critically acclaimed double album debuted one place higher than 2015's "The Book Of Souls" and 2010's "The Final Frontier", which both peaked at No. 4.

"Senjutsu" was MAIDEN's 13th album to top in the Top 40 in the U.S.

LOVEBITES, the all-female heavy metal band from Tokyo, Japan, has returned from its hiatus with a new member, a new music video and news of a fourth studio album coming in February 2023. The LP is also available to preorder today from JPU Records, and is available physically in three editions.

"Judgement Day", the fittingly titled album, will be the first to feature the band's new lineup, which includes bassist Fami, who was selected after an audition process and is just 20 years of age. The fast, melodic and heavy metal sound that LOVEBITES has excelled at since its debut is still burning strong, but has been sublimated further. Newcomer Fami also brings an added charm to the quintet, including her signature slap technique. The album contains ten completely new songs, mixed and mastered by Finnish masterminds Mikko Karmila and Mika Jussila, who have worked on all of the band's studio albums.

Fans can get a taste of the new LOVEBITES today with the release of the digital single and music video to the album's title track, available to download, stream and watch now.

The cover art for the album features a wolf, an incarnation of the band that has appeared on all of LOVEBITES's previous albums. This time, as the title suggests ("Judgement Day"),the wolf clutches scales that weigh good and evil within its jaws, and is captured sprinting between the sun and the moon. Further meaning from the cover art can be discovered in the title track's music video, and further details will likely be revealed in the future too.

"Judgement Day" will be released digitally worldwide on February 22, 2023, and released on CD from JPU Records from February 24, 2023. A video-on-demand and CD bundle is also available directly from JPU Records' web site. It features a documentary of the bassist auditions which includes interviews with the members of the band, as well as Fami while she was still one of the finalists — all with English subtitles. It also includes four studio sessions; "The Hammer Of Wrath", "Golden Destination" and "Shadowmaker" from the audition finals, and "Bravehearted", the first session with Fami as an official member of LOVEBITES. There is also a third edition that includes the CD, the video on demand content and a "Judgement Day" t-shirt. Additionally, 50 orders of this latter bundle will randomly receive a sleeve case that has been signed by the members of the band.

"Judgement Day" track listing:

01. We Are The Resurrection
02. Judgement Day
03. The Spirit Lives On
04. Wicked Witch
05. Stand And Deliver (Shoot 'Em Down)
06. Victim Of Time
07. My Orion
08. Lost In The Garden
09. Dissonance
10. Soldier Stands Solitarily

LOVEBITES formed in 2016 with vocalist Asami, guitarists Midori and Miyako, bassist Miho and drummer Haruna. The band's EP "The Lovebites" EP was mixed by Mikko Karmila and mastered by Mika Jussila, a team of talented Finnish engineers known for their work with NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM and AMORPHIS. In May 2017 LOVEBITES made their debut and released "The Lovebites" EP through London's JPU Records, followed by full length album "Awakening From Abyss" in October 2017 and had a series of shows in Japan and the U.K.

In 2018 LOVEBITES made their first festival appearance at Vans Warped Tour Japan 2018, as well as a headline show in June for mini album "Battle Against Damnation". In July they participated in Headstrong Fes.18 organized by ANTHEM, followed by performing at the world's biggest metal festival Wacken Open Air in Germany and Bloodstock Open Air in the U.K. They also toured Europe with X-ray Touring. After returning to Japan, LOVEBITES completed their second album "Clockwork Immortality" by the end of the year, and performed at Metal Mania, which also featured LOUDNESS.

LOVEBITES began 2019 by touring Japan, followed by supporting ARCH ENEMY on tour in China. First live album "Daughters Of The Dawn: Live In Tokyo 2019" was released in July, recorded at Mynabi Blitz Akasaka in Tokyo in support of "Clockwork Immortality". The same month the band toured festivals, including Download Festival in the U.K., Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium, and Download Festival Madrid in Spain. At Download Festival in the U.K., Asami joined HALESTORM on stage to sing "Love Bites (And So Do I)", the song that gave LOVEBITES their name. When the band returned to Japan they toured Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka before appearing at Summer Sonic 2019. They then joined DRAGONFORCE for their U.K. tour in November as special guests.

In January 2020, the band released third album "Electric Pentagram". It became the band's first album to enter Japan's Oricon Top 10 rankings, peaking at number nine. The band then kicked off tour of Japan in February and released "Five Of A Kind: Live In Tokyo 2020" in July, recorded at Zepp DiverCity, which reached number one in the Oricon Music Blu-ray chart.

In March 2021 they released mini album "Glory, Glory, To The World", which reached No. 10 in the Billboard general chart. Immediately afterwards the band began the "Ride For Vengeance" tour 2021, touring four cities across Japan. In August Miho left the band and it was announced that LOVEBITES would take a break. In the meantime, "Heavy Metal Never Dies – Live In Tokyo 2021" was released in the U.K. as a CD and video on-demand release, featuring the Tokyo show from the "Ride For Vengeance" tour 2021, followed by best album "In The Beginning: The Best Of 2017-2021".

In April 2022, the band held an audition for all nationalities, ages, and genders worldwide to find a new bassist. After a long selection process, fami joined in October of the same year, leading to LOVEBITES once again being composed of five members.

Japanese supergroup THE LAST ROCKSTARS has released its debut single, "The Last Rockstars (Paris Mix)". The track was made available via the quartet's global distribution deal with Ingrooves, which is part of Universal Music Group's Virgin Music Group.

THE LAST ROCKSTARS — which consists of Yoshiki, Hyde, Sugizo and Miyavi, four major forces from Japan's rock scene — will unleash their debut live performances on January 26 and January 27 at Ariake Arena and January 29 and January 30 at Tokyo Garden Theatre. U.S. shows will take place on February 4 at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York and February 10 at Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

Two song teaser videos have been released, one for "The Last Rockstars" (lyrics by Yoshiki, composed by Yoshiki) and the other for "Psycho Love" (lyrics by Yoshiki/Hyde, composed by Hyde).

"We've come together to start this challenge for the world out of Japan," Yoshiki said.

"This may be our last chance at this challenge," Sugizo said. "We want to put what's left of our lives on the line to make the world rock with our music."

Yoshiki has several monumental accomplishments under his belt both as the leader of X JAPAN and as an accomplished solo artist. He has been named "one of the most influential musicians and composers in Japanese history" by Consequence Of Sound and has composed Hollywood film soundtracks, a concerto for the Emperor of Japan, and the official theme song for the Golden Globe Awards. He has performed at the world's greatest stages, including Madison Square Garden, Wembley Arena, Coachella music festival, and Carnegie Hall. In addition to his music, Yoshiki has been internationally recognized for his philanthropy, and was awarded a Medal Of Honor by the Japanese government.

Hyde is internationally recognized as the vocalist for L'ARC-EN-CIEL, VAMPS and as a successful solo artist. L'ARC-EN-CIEL has sold over 40 million albums worldwide, headlined Madison Square Garden, and were also the first rock band to headline Japan National Stadium. Hyde has also had great success touring internationally as a solo artist.

Sugizo has worked and performed globally as a member of LUNA SEA, X JAPAN, and U.K.'s JUNO REACTOR, a group credited with creating psychedelic trance. As a solo artist he has been pursuing his unique style of electronic music while creating for multiple movie and theater soundtracks.

Miyavi "The Samurai Guitarist" has enthralled the world with his transcendent unconventional "slap style" of playing his guitar, which has taken him around the world nine times to tour in over 30 countries. In 2014 he made his debut as a Hollywood actor in "Unbroken". He was the first Japanese public figure to be featured in Gucci's global campaign, and has been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNCHR, providing support for refugees.

With their illustrious experience in Japan's most influential rock bands, remarkable sales records individually, and hit collaborations with global artists, these four musicians coming together is a monumental occurrence. THE LAST ROCKSTARS are here to usher in a new legendary era of rock.

Upcoming shows:

January 26 - Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan
January 27 - Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan
January 29 - Tokyo Garden Theater, Tokyo, Japan
January 30 - Tokyo Garden Theater, Tokyo, Japan
February 04 - Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, United States
February 10 - Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, United States

Three Celtic Frost classics will be reissued on vinyl on February 3. Fans that pre-order Morbid Tales Red 2LP, To Mega Therion Silver 2LP, and Into The Pandemonium Gold 2LP will receive a free limited edition Celtic Frost collectable heptagram USB drive containing mp3s of the expanded editions of all three albums. Pre-order here.





It almost seems churlish to regard Celtic Frost as one of the great extreme metal bands, because they were so much more than that. It’s better to hail them as among the finest extreme and experimental bands of the 1980s. Refusing ever to do what was expected or demanded, the band constantly changed musical direction, always brought in surprising influences, and kept people guessing as to where they might venture next. Their catalogue of albums is formidable and unmatched. Each is not only unique, but part of an entire tapestry that only now can be appreciated for being a remarkable part of music history. Despite, or maybe because of, constant turmoil on so many fronts, Celtic Frost achieved an artistic level few others would even have dared to dream of aspiring towards. They climbed high because they were never afraid to fall. Which is why the band are now rightly regarded as icons, and iconoclasts.




Released in 1987, only now can people understand just how far ahead of its time this album was. Not only did it have maniacal rhythms, but introduced electronica into extreme metal. On every level, it was a remarkable record, full of visionary ideas and ideals. This release includes alternate versions of tracks from the album and a cover of Dean Martin! The concept and art direction of the release was done by the man behind Celtic Frost, Tom G. Warrior.


Tracklisting:


"Mexican Radio"
"Mesmerized"
"Inner Sanctum"
"Tristesses de la Lune"
"Babylon Fell (Jade Serpent)"
"Caress Into Oblivion (Jade Serpent II)"
"One In Their Pride" (Porthole Mix)
"I Won't Dance (The Elders' Orient)"
"Rex Irae (Requiem)"
"Oriental Masquerade"
"Sorrows of the Moon"
"The Inevitable Factor"
"In The Chapel, In The Moonlight"
"One In Their Pride" (Re-Entry Mix)
"The Inevitable Factor" (Alternate Vox)


It almost seems churlish to regard Celtic Frost as one of the great extreme metal bands, because they were so much more than that. It’s better to hail them as among the finest extreme and experimental bands of the 1980s. Refusing ever to do what was expected or demanded, the band constantly changed musical direction, always brought in surprising influences, and kept people guessing as to where they might venture next. Their catalogue of albums is formidable and unmatched. Each is not only unique, but part of an entire tapestry that only now can be appreciated for being a remarkable part of music history. Despite, or maybe because of, constant turmoil on so many fronts, Celtic Frost achieved an artistic level few others would even have dared to dream of aspiring towards. They climbed high because they were never afraid to fall. Which is why the band are now rightly regarded as icons, and iconoclasts.


Released in 1985, the band’s second album had an ominous pall of doom and gloom, enmeshed in a sound both primitive yet also Wagnerian in its vast scope. Many claim this was a massive inspiration for black metal bands later in the decade. In truth, though, none matched what was here. This release includes the ‘Emperor’s Return’ EP as well as a remix of Visual Aggression, and the concept and art direction of the release was done by the man behind Celtic Frost, Tom G. Warrior.


Tracklisting:


"Innocence and Wrath"
"The Usurper"
"Jewel Throne"
"Dawn of Meggido"
"Eternal Summer"
"Circle of the Tyrants"
"(Beyond the) North Winds"
"Fainted Eyes"
"Tears In a Prophet's Dream"
"Necromantical Screams"
"Circle of the Tyrants"
"Visual Aggression"
"Suicidal Winds"
"Journey Into Fear"
"Visual Aggression"
"Return to the Eve"


It almost seems churlish to regard Celtic Frost as one of the great extreme metal bands, because they were so much more than that. It’s better to hail them as among the finest extreme and experimental bands of the 1980s. Refusing ever to do what was expected or demanded, the band constantly changed musical direction, always brought in surprising influences, and kept people guessing as to where they might venture next. Their catalogue of albums is formidable and unmatched. Each is not only unique, but part of an entire tapestry that only now can be appreciated for being a remarkable part of music history. Despite, or maybe because of, constant turmoil on so many fronts, Celtic Frost achieved an artistic level few others would even have dared to dream of aspiring towards. They climbed high because they were never afraid to fall. Which is why the band are now rightly regarded as icons, and iconoclasts.


The debut album from the band was released in 1984, and was quickly recognised as the work of agitated and agitating talents. This album was a huge influence on the burgeoning death and thrash scenes at the time. A masterclass of riff tirades and unholy sentiments. This reissue includes rehearsals from 1984 and the concept and art direction of the release was done by the man behind Celtic Frost, Tom G. Warrior.


Tracklisting:


"Human" (Intro)
"Into the Crypts of Rays"
"Visions of Mortality"
"Dethroned Emperor"
"Morbid Tales"
"Procreation (Of the Wicked)"
"Return to the Eve"
"Danse Macabre"
"Nocturnal Fear"
"Morbid Tales" (1984 Rehearsal)
"Messiah" (1984 Rehearsal)
"Procreation (Of the Wicked)" (1984 Rehearsal)
"Nocturnal Fear" (1984 Rehearsal)


(Photo - Sergio Archetti)

Diabolical black/death metal squadron, Belphegor, performed the track "Virtus Asinaria - Prayer" - from their new album The Devils - during their set at the 2022 edition of Bloodstock Open Air festival. Watch professionally-filmed footage below:





With The Devils, Belphegor unleash their twelfth studio album upon the masses, which proves to be one of the strongest and most elaborate records in the group’s career. Mixed & mastered at renowned Fascination Street Studios by Jens Bogren (Kreator, Rotting Christ, At The Gates), The Devils sounds absolutely crushing and dynamic, sonically pushing the immense variety of the eight tracks to new heights.




Order/save The Devils here.





Tracklisting:


“The Devils”
“Totentanz – Dance Macabre”
“Glorifizierung des Teufels”
“Damnation – Höllensturz”
“Virtus Asinaria – Prayer”
“Kingdom Of Cold Flesh”
“Ritus Incendium Diabolus”
“Creature Of Fire”
“Blackest Sabbath 1997” (re-recorded medley of “Blackest Ecstasy” and “Blutsabbath” from 1997’s Blutsabbath album)


"The Devils" video:





“Virtus Asinaria – Prayer” video:





“Totentanz – Dance Macabre” lyric video:

Twenty-seven years into a career that continues to grow, Swedish metal band, Narnia, take huge steps into an exciting chapter with the new album, Ghost Town. The seasoned five-some once again shows how to shape a masterpiece with this melodic metal future classic.


On the ninth studio album, Ghost Town, Narnia has picked the icing on the cake from its vast catalog. You can’t simply label this album a neoclassic metal album or a power metal album, even though these elements are present. There are also parts that are progressive, modern, heavy, or just creatively different. But you can summarize by saying this is well-crafted piece of classic and melodic metal.


Co-founder, guitarist, and producer CJ Grimmark is the crucial architect of the band's sound, and also its primary songwriter along with co-founder and lead singer Christian Liljegren and bassist Jonatan ”Jono” Samuelsson. Through well formulated lyrics and melodies created to enhance the music, the songwriting team has explored new modes of expression that are well represented in songs such as "Thief", with its dramatic arrangement, anxiety-laden, expressive imagery, and the progressive "Modern Day Pharisees", a song dealing with the subject of hypocrisy.




The title track, "Ghost Town", was first introduced to the cheering live-audience at Sweden Rock Festival 2022 and is now an obvious part of the set list with its bombastic four on the floor-pulse and sing along chorus. The heartbeat of Narnia, Andreas "Habo" Johansson, does a tremendous job behind the drums, and spares no energy.


Martin Härenstam and his keyboards have been given a large but tasteful space on the record, and range in sound from vintage synths to grand piano.


The record's neoclassical gem, "Rebel", with a nod to the band’s earliest influences, should appeal to longtime fans. But also, more immediate songs like the soon-to-be crowd pleasers "Hold On", "Wake Up Call", and "Alive". "Descension", on the other hand, is more progressive, but there is a constant and clear common thread throughout the entire production that ties it together brilliantly.


"Out Of The Silence" picks up where 2019's "The War That Tore the Land" left off as the album's only ballad. Featured by Saviour Machine’s frontman Eric Clayton, who reads the Lord’s prayer with his deep baritone operatic voice. 


"Glory Daze" is perhaps the album's heaviest song, which also addresses one of today's biggest problems: Stress and chasing the wind. Something that Liljegren himself experienced during a burnout.


"Different songs will appeal to different people lyrically, but we cover a variety of topics throughout the album, and I’m sure people will be able to relate to them, both musically and spiritually. Some of these songs stand out a bit from our previous repertoire, but without abandoning our historical influences," Liljegren explains and continues,


This is an album with a positive message combined with bombastic music. You can't have one without the other when it comes to Narnia."


Lyrics that make you reflect combined with the broad musical breadth the band possesses, along with a solid production, is Narnia’s musical trademark which runs throughout the entire album. If the latest studio album From Darkness To Light from 2019 marked the way, Ghost Town is a more than worthy sequel with a life of its own.


Ghost Town is produced by CJ Grimmark, mixed by the band"s sound engineer Viktor Stenquist, and mastered by Thomas Piec Johansson. It will be available on all digital platforms, CD, and vinyl on March 10, in collaboration with Sound Pollution Distribution.


Pre-save / pre-order Ghost Town here.





Tracklisting:


"Rebel"
"Thief"
"Hold On"
"Glory Daze"
"Descension"
"Ghost Town"
"Alive"
"Modern Day Pharisees"
"Out Of The Silence"
"Wake Up Call"


Lineup:


Christian Liljegren: Vocals
CJ Grimmark: Guitars, backing vocals
Jonatan Samuelsson: Bass, backing vocals
Martin Härenstam: Keyboards
Andreas “Habo” Johansson: Drums


(Photo - Mats Vassfjord)

DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie spoke to Pete Pardo of Sea Of Tranquility about the band's plans for 2023. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We leave on the 11th of January, and we fly to Tel Aviv. And our first two shows are in Tel Aviv — on the 13th and 14th. And then we fly to Spain and then continue from there — [we play in] Spain and [do shows] throughout Europe. I think our last show is February 21st in London… And then the plan is that we're supposed to do something in the spring throughout North America. And then we'll finally get over to Asia, because we haven't been there… That was supposed to be our next leg when we finished in Glasgow in February 2020, just before the pandemic. We were supposed to be in Asia in April [2020]. That never happened. So we have to get to Asia, go through Asia. And then I think that's it. I think we're winding down this tour. And then we'll take a bit of a break, and then start working on another album."

Regarding when fans can expect the follow-up to 2021's "A View From The Top Of The World", LaBrie said: "If I'm seeing the timeline the way that it usually unfolds, I can't see us going into the studio until the beginning of '24. I don't think it would make sense to be in there before then. But don't quote me on that. Some things always change.

"So that's the plan of action at this point," he continued. "We're all looking forward to it. It's just great to be out there and be with our fans and just do what we love to do."

Two months ago, DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he couldn't see him and his bandmates returning to the studio until the end of 2023. "If you kind of just look forward to next year, you see the way it's gonna lay out, and we've got festivals. Before you know it, it's August," he explained. "There's not gonna be any studio work done before the fall; I highly doubt it. So a new record wouldn't be [released before] the following year."

"The Alien", a track from "A View From The Top Of The World", landed DREAM THEATER its first-ever Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category at the 64th annual Grammy Awards, which was held in April in Las Vegas. DREAM THEATER's previous Grammy nominations were for the song "On The Backs Of Angels", from 2011's "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" album, and the single "The Enemy Inside" from 2013's "Dream Theater".

"A View From The Top Of The World" was described in a press released as "DREAM THEATER at its musical finest, expanding on the sound they helped create while maintaining the elements that have garnered them devoted fans around the globe." The seven-song album also marked the second studio album with InsideOut Music/Sony Music. The artwork was created by longtime cover collaborator Hugh Syme (RUSH, IRON MAIDEN, STONE SOUR). "A View From The Top Of The World" was produced by Petrucci, engineered and additional production by James "Jimmy T" Meslin and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap.

PUDDLE OF MUDD frontman Wes Scantlin has reflected on his band's cover version of NIRVANA's "About A Girl", saying that "it looked and sounded like total shit."

Although PUDDLE OF MUDD's acoustic performance at the SiriusXM studios had been online since January 2020, it only blew up on YouTube three months later, with detractors blasting Scantlin's off-key take on the iconic 1989 song.

Asked in a new interview with Songfacts what his thoughts are on his band's "About A Girl" cover, Scantlin said: "Oh, yeah. You know what? I was acclimating and it was a tiring day, and I had already performed five or six songs at one time, and by the time I got to that one — which I shouldn't even have done because I cannot nail that song — I was a little tired. It looked and sounded like total shit. But live to fight another day, dude."

In April 2020, Scantlin posted a message on social media in an apparent response to negative Internet chatter over who PUDDLE OF MUDD's rendition of "About A Girl", calling the critics "toxic."

"Rise above others who try and take you down… I'm at my BEST NOW… and that's all that matters," he wrote. "I pray for all of you because we care. Jealousy is toxic, and toxic people are a waste of time. We walk away with nothing but a SMILE"

As of this writing, PUDDLE OF MUDD's version of "About A Girl" has surpassed 1.7 million views on YouTube with just around 4,700 likes.

Wes had almost non-stop problems with the law, alcohol, finances and other issues, before claiming to have gotten sober in 2017. Scantlin said that he ended up going back to rehab and receiving treatment "because there's really nowhere else to go." He also credited his family and fans for giving him the strength to try to get better.

PUDDLE OF MUDD was formed in 1991 in Kansas City by Scantlin, the only original member still with the band. The group into the mainstream with 2001's "Come Clean", which yielded three hits — "Control", "Blurry" and "She Hates Me".

PUDDLE OF MUDD's latest album, "Welcome To Galvania", was released in 2019 via Pavement Entertainment.

As part of Jonathan Montenegro's "My 3 Questions To" series, former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach was asked what he misses about the music industry of the late '80s and early '90s. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I would say what I miss about the music industry is the music industry. There really isn't one anymore. It's more based on social media.

"What do I miss about then in music industry? Well, back then we used to have to go to a record store, spend a couple of hours choosing what music you wanted to buy," he continued. "Nowadays you can just press a button and get every song recorded by man. So it was much more invested. Also, not just anybody was making records in the '80s. You had to get a record contract and you had to prove that you were worthy of making records. There was no such thing as Pro Tools to adjust your performance in the studio; it was a much more organic, realistic way of recording then, 'cause we just didn't have the technology that we have now."

Bach added: "Two other things that I miss is rock videos on television. MTV used to be so much fun, doing 'Dial MTV', everybody voting for their favorite videos of the day and then seeing who won at the end of the day on 'Dial MTV'. That was so much fun. The other thing I miss is radio. Rock radio these days, to me, is just like one station. In the '80s, each city had its own distinctive radio station with personalities and specific DJs. They played more of what they wanted instead of just a national playlist [of songs]."

Earlier this month, Bach told the "I Am All In With Scott Patterson" podcast that he has "a new record label" and that he will be "putting out a new record very soon."

Regarding what has taken him so long to get the new record ready for release, Bach said: "Basically, I kind of had to take this year off a little bit, because I — I'm not supposed to say this stuff — I've been working on music since two SKID ROW singers ago. [Laughs] I've been working on music since before the pandemic, so I have amassed a lot of music. And the thing about putting out music in 2022 is that you have to figure out a way to cut through the clutter, because everybody and their cousin puts out an album or has a YouTube page. A long time ago, there used to be record companies that you had to be good to get signed. Not just anybody could put out records; it was a privilege, and you had to work for it. But with the advent or Pro Tools and technology, you can be a wrestler and then just wake up the next day and go, 'I'm gonna be a rocker.' … And then you just walk in there and waffle out some half-ass take and then fix it up on a laptop. So with there being no gatekeepers, you've got to have a plan. And if noticed, albums that are big now, they have such a long setup time. An artist will put out three or four songs, or three or four videos even before the album comes out. So it's this big plan. And there's also the vinyl backlog. You have to get in line to produce vinyl right now, because vinyl is so hot — everybody collects it — that you have to have six months lead time even to get into the vinyl pressing plants.

"So, that's very boring, but that's what's happening," he added. "We are amassing the plan."

Among the musicians who have assisted Bach during the writing and recording process for his new music are Orianthi (ALICE COOPER, Michael Jackson),John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON),Steve Stevens (Billy Idol),Devin Bronson, Brent Woods, Eli Santana and Jeremy Colson.

Less than two years ago, Sebastian told The Aquarian Weekly that he was working on a new album but he declined to name the record company that will be putting it out. "Yes, I have a new American label and I have been working somewhat on the album during this damned quarantine," he said. "But there is only so much I can do in my house. I have been sending files back and forth [to my bandmates], but it is not as exciting as being together in the same room. Maybe Taylor Swift lives with her whole band. I don't know how that works."

He added: "My new album is going to be heavy. In many ways it is my follow-up to [2007's] 'Angel Down'. I am trying to make the best record I have ever made. There will be a lot of heavy [music] coming your way."

Back in 2018, Bach told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF 101.1 FM radio station that he was going to ink a deal with a U.S.-based heavy metal record label that would help him make a "career-defining" new solo album.

Bach hasn't released a full-length disc since "Give 'Em Hell", which came out in March 2014. Like its predecessor, 2011's "Kicking & Screaming", the disc was released through Frontiers Music Srl, the Italian label which specializes in what's commonly called AOR, a term that once signified a popular radio format ("album-oriented rock") but nowadays applies to acts whose airplay is marginal.

Although Bach had said in some of his interviews a few years ago that his next record would be less musically aggressive and it would be "more uplifting and fun," he told WRIF that he has since had a change of heart.

"Well, before [the new record deal] happened, I was thinking of doing more of an acoustic-based record because I've done a lot of solo records," he said. "I've done 'Angel Down', which I'm very proud of that album,. Then 'Kicking & Screaming', which is a great album. 'Give 'Em Hell'… Not to mention 'ABachalypse Now', which is a three-record set. 'Forever Wild' DVD, 'Bring 'Em Bach Alive!'… I've put out a lot of records. And putting out the last one, when I put so much time and effort into it and it doesn't get the attention that it deserves, for me as an artist, I'm, like, 'Fuck!' So I was, like, you know what? If I'm gonna put out another heavy metal, hard rock album, I need help. I need a company around me that's gonna put the same kind of attention and time and effort into it as I am. So now that looks like it's happening. So now I'm changing the way I'm looking at things."

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist DJ Ashba has released the official lyric video for his latest single, "Cryptonite", featuring British singer and writer Sarah de Warren. Sarah has written for and is featured on dozens of records for A-list DJs, as well as attaining more than two million monthly Spotify listeners on her own artist project and a total 100 million streams across her songs.

"It was a pleasure collaborating with Sarah on our new single 'Cryptonite'," says Ashba. "We had a crazy idea to write a song around falling in love in the metaverse and losing all concept of reality. More now than ever, people are creating their perfect digital life online while neglecting their real lives. So we thought it would be interesting to put that into a song." Sarah adds: "We ended up writing a tragic love story based in the metaverse. When you can be anybody you want, and create a perfect world around you, then you suddenly have everything to lose. At some point you have to wake back up and face reality."

This past summer, Ashba collaborated with his wife, an Italo-Colombian influencer Nathalia Ashba who goes by the name Natyash, on his "Malosa" single, a dance/rock hybrid he calls GDM (Guitar Dance Music).

"Malosa" was Ashba's first single since last year's release of "Bella Ciao", a modern-day EDM-driven makeover of the Italian folk classic. "Bella Ciao" marked Ashba's first release of 2021 and followed a series of tracks that were released in late 2020 through Edgeout Records/UMG/UMe, including "Hypnotic", "Let's Dance" and "A Christmas Storm".

In December 2020, Ashba told "The Mark And HooGie Show" that he isn't concerned about getting any pushback from his rock fans over the musical direction of his new venture: "Honestly, I'm at a point in my career where I could give two fucks," he said. "I could care less. If people don't like it, kiss my ass. Go listen to SIXX:A.M. If what I'm doing right now isn't rock enough, I've got a rock band. They can go listen to that then.

"My fanbase, thank God, has been, throughout my whole career, just very, very accepting," he continued. "They know me — they know I'm always trying to really push myself as an artist outside the box.

"If I had to live within this box, I'd rather honestly not play music. Playing music is a form of art, and if I can't truly be an artist and be true to what it is inside — whatever that is that keeps me going… I have to stay inspired. You can only write so many three-chord rock songs. So, to me, this is something that I'm kind of more doing for myself, and I feel like I kind of have earned that at this point in my career. And I'm just having fun.

"Surprisingly… It was weird. I was totally expecting for all my fanbase just to hate it — not get it," Ashba added. "'Cause I really, really go deep down in EDM — I stayed very, very true to the EDM sound — and I really thought they were gonna hate it, and I was okay with that. 'Cause in my mind, I'm writing this for the EDM, the young kids that go to those festivals. This is full-on festival music. And surprisingly, I got no pushback. My rock fans really, really were freaking out on it, which kind of freaked me out. I was expecting them to really not get it or maybe push it aside. But they've been nothing but supportive. I'm very thankful that they gave it a chance."

ASHBA's "Let's Dance" single featured a guest appearance by James Michael, co-founder and lead singer of SIXX:A.M., which he and DJ formed with Nikki Sixx (MÖTLEY CRÜE).

Ashba told the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the musical approach of his new effort: "I would go to a lot of EDM concerts, and their shows are so over the top and, you know, all these young kids just losing their minds, right? And the one thing that I've noticed is … it lacks guitar, you know, and I saw an opportunity, like five years ago, going, 'If I could take what I do and somehow inject it into this world.' A lot of kids are not being exposed to a lot of guitar in that world."

Although Ashba initially started work on the project as a collaboration with Michael — under the band name PYROMANTIC — it has since evolved into an Ashba solo venture, with Michael announcing in 2018 that he was stepping away from the group.

TRIXTER guitarist Steve Brown recently spoke to Tulsa Music Stream about his nearly 30-year friendship with Eddie Van Halen. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's mindblowing to think, first off, that he's not here anymore. That's the hardest thing for me and I think for so many of us. The guy was our superhero. He was my friend, but, man, I always caught a moment where I'd go, 'Shit, that's Eddie Van Halen.' I remember me and P.J. [Farley, TRIXTER bassist] being backstage at a [VAN HALEN] gig one time, and it was one of the first times I brought P.J. to really hang. And it was just me and P.J. in the dressing room with Eddie Van Halen. And he was warming up. And I think Ed went to the bathroom, and I just looked at P.J. and I go, 'Are you fucking kidding me?'

"Ed was just the coolest, nicest, sweetest guy — to me and to my family, my friends, everybody. And the greatest compliment I always got from him was he [would tell me], 'Steve, you're part of the family. Me and my brother, we love you, man.' That was always the coolest thing, where he would say, 'Man, you're part of the family.' And he always knew that he could always call me at any time to shoot the shit.

"Look, man, when you're a band guy, sometimes you need to talk to another guy in a band because we speak the same language — whether it's bitching about your singer, bitching about your record company, your producer. Sometimes you need someone to bitch to, and we did that a lot to each other.

"I think a lot of people [say], and you've heard this story: 'Be careful about meeting your heroes because they're probably gonna let you down.' The greatest thing in the world that happened to me was meeting my hero. I wouldn't be here without Eddie Van Halen. That is God's honest truth. He was the single biggest influence, power force behind me wanting to do this and do it at the level that I'm still doing it at now. And so to meet him and him be so sweet… The first time I met him, man, he just came up to me, and it was at the 1991 NAMM show, and he came up, walked up on stage, shook my hand and he goes, 'Hey, I'm Ed.' He didn't say, 'Hey, I'm Eddie Van Halen.' He just said, 'Hey, I'm Ed.' And that's really… Anybody who's ever met him and who'd ever become friends with him, that's what he says and that's what you call him…

"The reason Ed and I bonded was not because of the music. Yeah, I got to meet him at a great time in my life — I was No. 1 on MTV with 'One In A Million' and 'Give It To Me Good'… But it wasn't what we bonded over. I immediately started telling him some funny, dirty jokes, and he just fucking laughed and laughed. And that was always the thing, where we would always just tell each other really funny jokes. And it wasn't, like, 'Hey, Ed. Can you show me how to play 'I'm The One'? Can you show me how you do that?' Never, man. It was always about, 'How's your family? How's Val?' It was right before Wolf was gonna be born. He was gonna be a dad. So it was about family. It wasn't about music, 'cause everybody just would bother him about that… But the core of it all was he was just such a fun, warm-hearted guy — and a regular dude… No rock-star trip whatsoever with him."

Steve previously spoke about his Eddie Van Halen friendship in a 2021 interview with The Rock Shop With Ralph. At the time, he said: "When I bought my house and was moving in and building my studio, I went out to see VAN HALEN and my wife and I were in Ed's dressing room and I had that great picture [taken] with me and him. It was the week after I bought my house and I [was] building the studio. And I told him, I said, 'Yeah, man, I'm building my studio.' And he goes, 'What are you, building something to make demos?' And I go, 'No, man. I'm building a studio, like you.' I said, 'You've got 5150. My studio's gonna be 6160.' And started cracking up. And he was so happy. We [had] many conversations about our studios and making records.

"The most important thing that Ed taught me was always keep writing, keep making music," he continued. "And he would always be, 'I don't fucking give a shit about the old days. I'm making new music.' And that was one of the things. And one of the greatest things Ed — and Alex [Van Halen] — always taught me was… Ed would always say, 'Steve, we're musicians. We make music, motherfucker. That's what we do. No matter what.' He didn't give a shit. He never gave a shit if it sold ten million records or it sold two million. We make music for ourselves first. And if the people like it… And that was one of the biggest lessons I learned from him. And, of course, the biggest inspiration in building my studio was that he built his own studio. And to be able to have a place where you have control and you can make music whenever you want, 24-7. And that's what I do here. And that's one of the greatest inspirations and gifts that my friendship with Ed Van Halen, that he taught me that. And he wanted me to build my own studio and encouraged me. And that's always the joke — that he had 5150 and I have 6160."

Brown also discussed his friendship with Eddie Van Halen in an interview with "Sound Matters" conducted a few days after the iconic guitarist's passing. At the time, he said: "[Eddie] was the best. And just to clarify, I was friends with him. It was much different than a lot these guys that you see who maybe met him once or twice. I see a lot of these guys online. I had almost a 30-year relationship with him. And the coolest thing I can only say is that he always said, 'Steve, you're family. You're family.' He would call my house while he was on tour, whether it was on the 'Balance' tour or the '98 tour or 2004, when he was even really in a bad place. But all I can tell you is this: he loved my wife, he loved my friends. P.J. from TRIXTER, we hung out with him. Some of the other guys in my band got to meet him and spend time with him. He treated everybody like a normal person, because that's all Ed was, and that's all he ever wanted to be.

"Listen, we can talk all about the music, the gear, his innovations, how he inspired the world to play guitar. But what I can say is I know the guy, and I loved the guy, and he loved me, and he loved his friends, and people that were part of the family, like I told you," he continued. "And that's the greatest thing, because he was that guy. That smile was as real as it gets. He wasn't an act. He was never an act. He got the most joy when he was up on stage playing, and that smile was two hundred percent real. And that is the truth.

"All I can say, above and beyond that, is he was sweet. He was gracious. I had these incredible times when he would call me on the road and he would leave messages on my answering machine. He didn't call my house once or twice — he called my house probably ten or fifteen times. Luckily, now, I did miss the call a bunch of times, and I was able to save those answering machine messages, which someday I might play for some people, but they are cherished memories now. But some of the times when I would be sleeping, or just getting in from a gig, and hear my phone ring at two o'clock in the morning, because Ed didn't work on the same schedule, and when Ed wanted to talk to somebody, he'd call you, whether it was five o'clock in the morning. And I'd see the phone, and I'd see the phone number, and it would say 'Ed Van Halen'. And I'd be, like, 'Well, I've gotta talk to Ed now.' And I'd talk to him. My wife and I would sit there or we'd be laying in bed, 'Oh, Ed's calling. Let's talk to him.'

"The proudest moment of his life was when he became a dad," Steve added. "I was there with him before Wolfgang was born — it was right when I met him. And then afterwards, a year and a half later, I'm at his Malibu beachhouse playing volleyball with [his then-wife] Valerie and a couple of other guys. Wolfgang's walking around in his diapers. And those are the times that I cherish the most — just being a regular with Eddie, and not having to see any bullshit from other bandmembers or deal with managers or tour managers, everybody trying to keep you away.

"One of the other cool things was anytime I would go to a show, Ed would be, like, 'You never have to knock on the dressing room door. You come in.' I would walk in the dressing room, and Ed would be half naked, getting changed to go on stage. I'm, like, 'You want me to leave?' And he'd be, like, 'No, man. Sit down. C'mon. You're family.' And Alex [Van Halen], the same way, man. He treated me like a brother.

"The only regrets I have were that I never took more pictures. But back, especially in the early '90s, that wasn't the thing that we did. But I've got enough memories to last me a lifetime."

Eddie died in October 2020 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

The iconic VAN HALEN axeman passed away from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.

View this post on Instagram

God Bless You Ed ...My idol , my pal 💔🙏🏻!!!
A post shared by STEVE BROWN (@stevebrownrocks) on Oct 6, 2020 at 1:06pm PDT

Canadian orchestral metal ensemble, Opus Arise - featuring members of Svneatr, Thousand Arrows, Ysgaroth - released their sophomore album, The Network, on December 2. The cyberpunk concept record brings together classical strings and metal rhythms to create luscious soundscapes to dissonant chaos. To send listeners on a journey into their "Electric Jungle", they are sharing with fans a new visualizer for the track.


The band explains the storyline behind the track and the album: "The plot of this album is a CyberPunk-inspired world. Research involving chord progressions that manipulate space and time. Our main character does research involving the Progressive Frequency Phenomenon. He has never found proof it existed, but his studies involved finding this evidence, as well as aiming to gain control of it. Many years into his research, he comes across the inner skepticism progression, and this is where his journey begins.


"The 'Electric Jungle' track is about the protagonist learning that character 1 is also from a different space time, and the electric jungle opening progression was the one he used in one of his compositions back in his time. When he played it for the first time after composing it in 1976, a wormhole brought him here as well. He didn’t know what had happened, so he eventually accepted this as his fate and had given up hope of returning. He called it the electric jungle because of the scenery in the place they are in; there is lots of advanced circuitry, electronic billboards, holograms, etc. Now he has faith in the protagonist’s research, it is their only hope of returning to their time space. After finding a network substation and stalking around, they notice several network users with their FOB-type holograms that immediately grant them access. The protagonist’s knowledge of computer science has allowed him to steal the encoded digital lock from the unsuspecting users. All he has to do is turn the electronic data into combinations of frequencies and play it back in front of the substation."







Order the new album at Bandcamp.





Tracklisting:


“Inner Skepticism”
“Electric Jungle”
“Antimatter”
“Digital Soundscape”
“Reminiscence”
“Change”
“Timeshift”
“The Unanswered Question”


“Reminiscence” video::





(Photo – Jade Weekes)

In a new interview with DJ Force X of TotalRock, IN FLAMES frontman Anders Fridén spoke about why it's important for him and his bandmates to still release full-length albums instead of focusing on singles. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That's how I grew up. That's how I listen to music. I understand, you have to adapt to the situation we're in, and I understand a lot of people listen to [music on the streaming services]. You listen to 15 seconds of a song and say, 'That's not for me,' and you move on. But you can't judge an artist in 15 seconds; you've gotta give 'em time.

"Who knows what's gonna happen in the future, but for me, the album is extremely important," he reiterated. "That's how I want to present this band, at least. And what others do, that's fine.

"In a way, we work as hard on one song as the next song as the 13th song, whatever. And you will work on an album, and maybe the 13th song doesn't get as much exposure as you would like, because it's last. But whatever — for me, the album is important.

"I get why some people just wanna release singles. That's not for us, at least," Anders added.

Fridén's latest comments echo those of his bandmate, IN FLAMES guitarist Björn Gelotte, who told Guitar Interactive in a 2019 interview: "We're old enough to come from the vinyl era. For us, when we write music, we write an album. We don't write singles. We might do an EP, but that would still be this old format, like, you have an A and a B side. And you're supposed to listen to the album from the first song to the last song. That's how we write it. And then how people wanna listen to it, as long as they listen, I don't give a shit. As long as they listen, at least [they will] have the experience. Then they can decide if it's good or bad — to their liking or not. But this is how we write. So this is how we listen to bands as well. So it's hard to really get into bands if they only release one single or they write one song at a time. Then you listen to the record, and it sounds nothing like it. So that could be hard.

"The world is moving on, and we have to adapt, all of us," he continued. "And we do. I think. We have people that we work with — our record label, our management and everything; they get to choose whatever they wanna present first [as a single]. Because, for us, the record is done; you should listen to it from there to there. And that's how we write too. Really early on in the process, it's, like, as soon as we have a bunch of songs, we're, like, 'Okay, let's put them together in the right order and see what we're missing.' So you get this blueprint, in a way, and you see the holes where you need to fill. And then you write those songs. And it's a nice journey throughout the whole record. That's how we work."

IN FLAMES' fourteenth studio album, "Foregone", will arrive on February 10, 2023 via Nuclear Blast.

Joe Stump's Tower Of Babel are back! The band announced new activities earlier this year and are currently in the studio recording their second album.


Joe Stump's Tower of Babel lifted the dark clouds after the pandemic and return with a new album in progress, the follow-up to Lake Of Fire, which was released in 2017. In 2021 the band announced their new singer Jo Amore (Nightmare, King Of Crown) and celebrated their first concert after three years at the Mennecy Metal Fest 2022 in France.


Jo Stump stated: “It was not easy to find the right vocalist and to be honest, we were very fortunate this time. We were of course looking for the tone that matches our music, which is, as you all know a classic rock mixture with strong Rainbow, Dio, etc. elements. That being said, it's now full speed ahead!”




Drummer Mark Cross adds: “It's been a rough time for every musician being absent from the scene and live playing for so long. Nevertheless, we are back and have been working on this album for quite some time now and still do. I guess the pandemic slowed us all down a bit but now it's full speed ahead. We're looking forward to the future and a release with new music.”


Below you can watch a reel of fan footage from the Mennecy Rock Festival, France from September 16, 2022, featuring Jo Amore (vocals), Joe Stump (guitar), Mistheria (keyboards), N I c Angileri (bass), Mark Cross (drums).





(Photo - Esther W.Pink.Photographer)