Coming off their most recent single/video “Last Drop,” Velvet Chains are sharing more new music from their second as-yet-untitled full-length album (due in October) with the hard-hitting track “Back On The Train,” out digitally August 12. The Las Vegas hard rock outfit collaborated with award-winning director Dean Karr (Ozzy Osbourne, Velvet Revolver) for the song’s hauntingly twisted music video and acclaimed artist Tim LeNoir (Guns N’ Roses, Rolling Stones) for the cover artwork.





“Back On The Train” is sonically inspired by one of the band’s primary influences, Velvet Revolver, and lyrically explores romantic desire, seduction and obsession. The track’s
heavy riffs, melodic guitars, soaring vocals and driving rhythms were captured at Monster Sound and Picture in Vegas with producers Darren Trentacoste and James Boldt and sent for mixing and mastering by Tristan Hardin (The Hideout Studio). It was written by Goldschmidt and the band’s drummer Jason Hope along with multi-platinum songwriter Drew Lawrence (Lindsey Stirling, Christina Perri).




With a refreshed lineup consisting of Nils Goldschmidt (bass), Brazilian brothers Laurent (lead guitar) and Larry (rhythm guitar) Cassiano, drummer Jason Hope and Chilean-bred lead singer Ro Viper, Velvet Chains will bring their new music to audiences at Blue Ridge Rock Fest (Alton, VA) on September 1. They also performed this past July at Rock Fest (Caddott, WI) and opened in June for Todd Kerns (Slash Feat. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, The Age of Electric) at Count’s Vamp’d in Vegas. Look for Velvet Chains to support Kerns again at Count’s Vamp’d on Friday, September 16 and catch them in Vegas weekly on Monday’s beginning on August 29 at The Barbershop speakeasy at The Cosmopolitan.

This past May, GREAT WHITE announced that it had parted ways with singer Mitch Malloy and had replaced him with Andrew Freeman (LAST IN LINE). Malloy had been in GREAT WHITE for nearly four years, having joined the group in 2018 following the departure of Terry Ilous. Asked in a new interview with "Barstools & Bandtalk" if Freeman's addition to GREAT WHITE had been in the works for a long time, guitarist Mark Kendall said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Not necessarily. Not by design. It seems like everything that happens to us, some freak thing happens. What happened was we played with FOREIGNER up north in California [last October], and our singer at the time [Malloy] had to cancel the gig to go do a VAN HALEN tribute show. [Laughs] So we got Andrew to fill in for that gig. We didn't rehearse or anything; in a hotel room, we went over the songs and he kind of learned them at home. And he blew our minds. He just sang the songs so perfect in that short amount of time that we wanted to know if he was available, 'cause we really liked his vibe. I could read him pretty good right away that he wasn't into any kind of weird head trips or ego or anything like that; he was just straight-forward. He engaged the crowd really good and it seemed totally natural. For a guy going out and singing with GREAT WHITE for the first time ever, and we don't even rehearse, and he's getting the crowd up on their feet. And also not just doing that, but just not scripted just rapping to the crowd. So it wasn't just that arena rap; it was kind of just natural, and I really liked that too. I liked the way he was onstage. So when he told he was available, we went and rehearsed for a couple of days in Vegas, and he blew our minds again. He goes, 'Do you guys still do 'Stick It'?' And I go, 'How would you…?' 'Cause he's younger than us, a little bit. I go, 'How do you know 'Stick It'?' And he's, like, 'Oh, when I was 13, me and my buddy, we used to get these songs on 'Metalshop', and that one was always in the loop.' I go, 'Okay. Let's do 'Stick It'.' So we launched in, did 'Stick It'. He sings it perfect. So it was kind of cool to see all the different sides to his voice. I mean, obviously, LAST IN LINE is straight-ahead kind of metal delivery, but he has some different sides to his voice that I really like. So for us to be able to play 'Stick It' and him hit all the notes, and actually not ditch any notes in our other songs either… And a lot of 'em are kind of geared in a higher range; it's difficult to sing these songs — some of 'em. But he handles it all, and he's really prepared, real professional in that sense too."

Kendall went on to say that interpersonal relationships within GREAT WHITE are smoother now than they have been in a while.

"The vibe within the band, there's no… Everybody's, like — I don't know — just at ease and just enjoying ourselves," he said. "These days, if somebody has some big ego or there's… I told this one journalist, I'm, like, it'd be like you go to a party and you see cocaine, you see blow on the table, and you're going, 'They still have that stuff?' That's how I feel if somebody has a big ego. I go, 'They still do that?' At our age, we're gonna have a big ego or have some kind of head trip or something? I just don't get it. I just like to go out and play hard and play our hearts out and leave all the weird stuff away."

This past June, Freeman discussed his GREAT WHITE gig during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Regarding how he approaches singing the classic GREAT WHITE songs originally recorded by the band's founding vocalist Jack Russell, Freeman said: "When I'm playing with GREAT WHITE, that's their thing, and I'm just there to try to do the songs like Jack. If we do original material, great. We're talking about it.

"I wanna make that band tough again, like it was when Jack was in it," he explained. "Jack would do a show and then bust a bottle over your head off the side of the stage."

Freeman, who has already played a dozen or so shows so far with GREAT WHITE since he joined the group, continued: "The hits — the 'Once Bitten' [1987] and '...Twice Shy' [1989] and that stuff — they're fun songs to play, but I think if the wrong person is presenting them, they come off like — I don't want anybody to get mad at me — they come off like a lesser, more glammy type of band. And I've never seen GREAT WHITE as that, as a glammy-type band. Everybody had the big hair; even Ozzy [Osbourne] had the big hair and the glitter and all that stuff… I never really saw them as that. I always see them as… when everybody was in the leather pants and the leather jackets and the cuts over the leather jackets with their band name on the back and stuff — that's how I see 'em. I see Jack… Even now when I see him on the road, 'cause I've done gigs with him — he doesn't know me from Adam — but he still seems like that guy [who's] gonna hit you with his cane. [Laughs]"

Andrew went on to say that he was a GREAT WHITE fan from the early 1980s. "I really loved the first album," he said. "I got the first album when I was young, alongside with MÖTLEY CRÜE's 'Too Fast For Love'."

In a recent interview with Dr. Music, Mark stated about Mitch's departure: "We were going in separate ways in the sense that he was always by himself; he didn't really talk to us much. He just kind of showed up… That's just not the way a band works, as far as we're concerned. He's a wonderful singer. I don't think he's used to him not being in full control of everything because he's been a solo artist for so many years. He's a sweet guy. I really liked him. I think a few of our songs are a little out of his range, so it's a little bit of a struggle. But nothing real heavy — no big, huge fights. Nothing ever came to fisticuffs, if you will. [Laughs] So it wasn't a case of that."

Kendall went on to say that he doesn't think Malloy is upset about being out of GREAT WHITE. "He likes his solo career," Mark said. "I saw his post [about his exit from GREAT WHITE] where he said, 'Get ready for my VAN HALEN experience. And I'm gonna be doing an acoustic show, a storytellers show,' and all this stuff. So I'm encouraging people to go check him out when he gets in your area and wishing him to do well."

Asked if he and his bandmates had given any thought at all to the idea of reuniting with original GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell, Mark said: "That's the other thing. [People say,] 'Why don't you patch things up with Jack?' What people don't understand is we never even got in fights [with Jack]. In 25 years together, we might have gotten in two arguments. The thing that took him out is the horrible demons of addiction, and it's really affected his health. I just saw a video the other day where he's not even standing — he's using wheelchairs and he's sitting in a stool. So for us to go back to that, it just feels dark. I'd rather remember him… 'Cause I'm very proud of our career — I'm very proud of the past. I'm so lucky to be a part of it. And I wanna remember it like that, where he's flying around on stage and getting the crowds pumped and singing his heart out — not a sick person. So going to that…

"My goal has always been to deliver the best show we can possibly deliver and have the fans be beyond impressed," Kendall explained. "And the way Andrew sings, I really like the way he delivers the songs, because it's what you wanna hear. So that's important to me, just to have the songs — the big songs, especially — be sung right and with full power. It just makes everything — it makes us play better, believe it or not. So that's the whole thing with me."

GREAT WHITE's current lineup is rounded out by Audie Desbrow (drums) and Scott Snyder (bass).

Ilous, frontman of '80s L.A. hard rockers XYZ, joined GREAT WHITE in 2010 after stepping in for touring vocalist Jani Lane (WARRANT).

The Ilous-led GREAT WHITE released two albums, 2012's "Elation" and 2017's "Full Circle", before Terry was dismissed from the group.

This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE, which features Russell alongside Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar, Dan McNay on bass, Tony Montana on guitar and Dicki Fliszar on drums.

Whitesnake revisit its multi-platinum career as it remixes some of its biggest hits for the new collection that spotlights updated versions of classic tracks like “Still Of The Night,” “Here I Go Again,” and “Is This Love.”


Whitesnake's Greatest Hits is available now on digital and streaming services, on CD, 2LP, and fans are invited to order the collection by going here.


The band have released this remastered video for "Sweet Lady Luck":







In another clip, David Coverdale looks back on "Sweet Lady Luck":





David Coverdale had 16 tracks remixed and remastered for this collection. He explains: “We’ve definitely expanded on the original Greatest Hits, took them all out of the sonic time capsule of the ’80s and ’90s, and brought them up to date, sound-wise … as always, we have the original albums for those who consider them holy relics.”


Keyboardist Derek Sherinian, who also appeared on Whitesnake’s recent Red, White and Blues trilogy, adds Hammond organ to more than half the songs on the collection. His scorching contributions can be heard on the #1 smash “Here I Go Again,” “Fool For Your Loving,” “You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again,” and more. New performances by former Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg can also be heard on “The Deeper The Love” and “Judgement Day” from the 1989 album, Slip Of The Tongue.


Along with those new additions, Coverdale also went back to the vault to unearth vintage performances by guitarist John Sykes that didn’t appear on the original recordings, including a solo on “Slide It In” and rhythm guitar on “Give Me All Your Love.”


Whitesnake Greatest Hits focuses extensively on three blockbuster albums the band released during the 1980s: 1984’s Slide It In (2x platinum), 1987’s Whitesnake (8x platinum), and 1989’s Slip Of The Tongue (platinum). But the collection goes deeper with songs like “Sweet Lady Luck,” a b-side on the 12” single for “The Deeper The Love,” and “Forevermore,” the title track from the band’s 2011 album.


Whitesnake have embarked upon a farewell tour with special guest, Europe. Coverdale said: “I pray every day we can all make this happen & once again, share unforgettable evenings together & celebrate the amazing journey we have been on for almost 50 years!!!”





CD/Blu-ray tracklisting:


“Still Of The Night”
“Here I Go Again”
“Is This Love”
“Give Me All Your Love”
“Love Ain’t No Stranger”
“Slide It In”
“Slow An’ Easy”
“Guilty Of Love”
“Fool For Your Loving”
“Judgment Day”
“The Deeper The Love”
“Now You’re Gone”
“You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again”
“Sweet Lady Luck”
“Crying In The Rain”
“Forevermore”


"You're Gonna Break My Heart Again" remastered video:





"The Deeper The Love" remastered video::





"Judgement Day" remastered video:





"Fool For Your Loving" remastered video:





"Guilty Of Love" remastered video:





"Slow An' Easy" remastered video:





"Slide It In" remastered video:





"Love Ain't No Stranger" remastered video:





"Give Me All Your Love" remastered video:





"Is This Love" remastered video:





“Here I Go Again” remastered video:





"Still Of The Night" remastered video:

Miss May I have released the newest single from the upcoming Curse Of Existence album.


Miss May I vocalist Levi Benton shares "This song ‘Free Fall’ is our open invitation to anyone who wants to take that leap they never had the courage to take. When you reach the edge of a journey you have struggled to travel through and you back out before the final step, this is your chance to take that leap off the edge and see where the journey takes you. I know the popular term for this is ‘imposter syndrome’ and for anyone who has felt the relief of pushing through, this song is your anthem."


Get the single here, and watch the video below:







Curse Of Existence, the seventh studio album from Miss May I, explodes with the life experience of an established band, the uncertainty of mental health struggles, the isolation of the global shutdown, and the perspective gained from the most extensive time away from the road of each man’s adult life.


"Curse Of Existence is exactly what it reads, the curse we have in our existence. This doesn’t mean anything strictly negative, but it covers all existence that is the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, the sorrow and the joy. Everything that comes with life comes with a lesson and a price and that is what we have put into this new album. It tells our lessons over our lives that have shaped us and have brought us to the very bottom of our lowest low and the tallest point to our highest high. We know the reflection we all went through during the world coming to a halt and that experience brought a lot of these sheltered emotions to light!" - Levi Benton


Produced by Will Putney (A Day To Remember, The Amity Affliction, Every Time I Die), Curse Of Existence is the sound of five people prying victory from the jaws of defeat. Unbroken by isolation, fearless in the face of fear, Miss May I wrestle with demons real and imagined all over the album.


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"A Smile That Does Not Exist"
"Earth Shaker"
"Bleed Together"
"Into Oblivion"
"Hollow Vessel"
"Free Fall"
"Born Destroyers"
"Unconquered"
"Savior Of Self"
"Bloodshed"


"Earth Shaker" visualizer:





Miss May I are:


Levi Benton - Vocals
B.J. Stead - Lead Guitar
Justin Aufdemkampe - Guitar
Ryan Neff - Bass/Vocals
Jerod Boyd - Drums


(Photo - Ross Theisen)

Coheed And Cambria have shared the official music video for their new single, "A Disappearing Act". The song finds frontman Claudio Sanchez swapping his signature Gibson Explorer for a synthesizer that blasts a mighty dance riff.


Directed by Max Moore, the video sees Coheed And Cambria whipping up a high energy dance party in the underground lair of the villain Candelaria from their new album and story, Vaxis - Act II: A Window Of The Waking Mind.


In the video, Candelaria is out to get the members of Coheed And Cambria. The band first teased the video last Friday with a ransom note to fans from the villain threatening to make the band “Disappear”. For those familiar, Candelaria is the highly illustrious, deeply depraved leader of the black market syndicate known as The Liars Club and the central villain in Vaxis II.







Coheed And Cambria are currently out on their 2022 North American summer headline tour which features special guests Alkaline Trio and Mothica. Deemed the “A Window Of The Waking Mind Tour,” the run marks the band’s first major headline tour in five years and has seen them performing at some of the largest venues of their career.


This October, Coheed And Cambria will embark on a massive European co-headline tour with Thrice. Touché Amoré are confirmed as special guests. Coheed And Cambria will close all dates in the UK, while Thrice will close in mainland Europe  The upcoming trek will kick off on October 14 and see the band performing across mainland Europe and the UK.  


Earlier this summer, Coheed And Cambria released their new album - the latest chapter of “The Amory Wars” saga - Vaxis II: A Window Of The Waking Mind.





Tracklisting:


“The Embers Of Fire”
“Beautiful Losers”
“Comatose”
“Shoulders”
“A Disappearing Act”
“Love Murder One”
“Blood”
“The Liars Club”
“Bad Man”
“Our Love”
“Ladders Of Supremacy”
“Rise, Naianasha (Cut The Cord)”
“Window Of The Waking Mind”


“Comatose” lyric video:





 “The Liars Club” video:





“Rise, Naianasha (Cut The Cord)” video:





“Shoulders” video:





(Photo - Alexandra Gavillet)

Celebrate 20 years of Epica with reissues of the first three albums (including unreleased bonus tracks), plus Live At Paradiso and We Will Take You With Us. Head to epicamerch.com to pre-order The Phantom Agony, Consign To Oblivion, The Score and the unreleased/rare live albums on a variety of (limited!) formats. It's all out September 2 via Nuclear Blast.


The band have released the video below, stating: "The performance was Epica's first-ever major TV appearance and hasn't been available physically since 2007. It will be available as a part of We Still Take You With Us, which bundles it together with their legendary (and never released) live performance, Live At Paradiso, as well as their first three albums: The Phantom Agony, Consign To Oblivion and The Score."







Live At Paradiso is the 2006 Amsterdam show that is mythical among Epicans, as it's never been officially released. Now, the holy grail is available as a part of We Still Take You With Us, which bundles it together with their (long sold-out) first major TV performance/DVD release, We Will Take You With Us, as well as their first three albums: The Phantom Agony, Consign To Oblivion and The Score.





Pre-order it on an 11-disc vinyl box set, Earbook with 36-pages and 8 discs or 8-CD box clamshell. Live At Paradiso and We Will Take You With Us will also be available to download or stream, while Live At Paradiso will be released on 2-CD+Blu-ray, too.


"Sensorium" (Live At Paradiso) video:





"Solitary Ground" HD remastered video:





Epica recently announced their 20th anniversary livestream event, scheduled for September 3. Watch a video trailer below, and tickets and limited edition merchandise here.





Says the band: "While we’d love to see all your faces in the crowd on our 20th-anniversary show on September 3rd, we are aware that not every one of you is able to attend the SOLD-OUT party live in Tilburg. Therefore, we’re happy to offer you the chance to be part of the celebrations and join us right from your living room through an exclusive pro-shot live stream of the entire show that will contain plenty of surprises, several guests and spectacular stage effects!


"In addition, you will also get to witness the return of a band that has disappeared from the face of the earth for 20 years and will finally be back for a one-off live performance as opening act on this special night: Sahara Dust. Don’t miss their show, because although you might have never heard of them, their history is heavily interwoven with Epica’s inception, and you will surely be able to sing along to a few of their songs…


"Starting live at 19:30 CEST, the shows will remain online for 72 hours to re-watch in your account at any time within that period.


"Early bird tickets are available until August 12th, and you can also get bundles with exclusive anniversary show merchandise that will only be available with the stream and at the show in Tilburg, so don’t miss out!"

Legendary guitarist Steve Hackett recently announced Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out & More, the visual document of his 2022 UK tour celebrating the classic Genesis live album. Set for release on the September 2, 2022 (with vinyl following on the November 25), it sees Steve and his band perform Seconds Out in full and in sequence, as well as a selection of solo material including tracks from his most recent studio album Surrender Of Silence.


Today, Hackett launches a live clip for the track, "The Devil’s Cathedral", a track originally featured on Surrender Of Silence.


Steve comments: “I’m thrilled to be releasing Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out + More, giving everyone a chance to see this dynamic show… Enjoy ‘The Devil’s Cathedral’, an exciting dark Gothic track that includes all the boys in the current band line-up at their most explosive!”







Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out & More will be available as Limited 2CD + Blu-ray & Limited 2CD + DVD, both including 5.1 surround sound, behind the scenes documentary & promo videos. Steve Hackett and his band comprise Roger King, Rob Townsend, Jonas Reingold, Nad Sylvan & Craig Blundell, and they were joined by Amanda Lehmann as special guest on the night.


It will also be available as Ltd Gatefold 180g 4LP+2CD, and as Digital Audio Album (in 16 & 24bit). Preorder here.





Tracklisting:


“Apollo Intro”
“Clocks – The Angel Of Mons”
“Held In The Shadows”
“Every Day”
“The Devil’s Cathedral”
“Shadow Of The Hierophant”
“Squonk”
“The Carpet Crawlers”
“Robbery, Assault And Battery”
“Afterglow”
“Firth Of Fifth”
“I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”
“The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”
“Musical Box (Closing Section)”
“Supper’s Ready”
“The Cinema Show”
“Aisle Of Plenty”
“Dance On A Volcano”
“Los Endos”


“Squonk” video:





Steve Hackett and his band have just completed a run of shows in New Zealand and Australia, and will continue their Seconds Out & More tour in Japan, Europe and North America throughout the rest of year. In September and October 2022, they will present their Foxtrot at Fifty 25-date tour in the UK. 

Swedish heavy metallers, Trial (Swe), have set September 2 as the release date for their new full-length, Feed The Fire. For a preview of the album, a new video for the single "In The Highest", directed by Christoffer Tönnäng, can be viewed below:





Twin guitars, romping rhythms, towering vocals and distinctive melodies - heavy metal is alive and well in the hands of Trial (Swe). Returning five years after 2017's 'Motherless' with new vocalist Arthur W. Andersson on board, the quintet is hungry, and it shows in the tracks that comprise the mighty Feed The Fire, perhaps the most urgent record in their repertoire.




"Hearing Arthur's voice made me want to write more up-tempo songs," explains lead guitarist Alexander Ellström. "That desire didn't occur to me prior to him joining. We owe him a lot in shaping the new record after his voice. The result is a fast-paced, ferocious yet melodic album, and is about giving everything for something you hold dear, and letting it ruin you. This is visualized through a canticle of a goddess. For me, the goddess is very specific, I know who the goddess is, and what she means for me. Are you willing to find your equivalent and let it engulf you? I will happily feed the fire knowing what I get in return."


Recorded at Welfare Sounds in Gothenburg, with Per Stålberg, Kalle Lilja and Olle Björk as engineers and producers, the band were in the studio every day for almost two weeks, and they approached recording differently than before. "On this album we focused more on playing with feel rather than perfection. In the past, we could spend too much time on parts that ultimately didn't end up better than the first takes we did. This time around we all felt much more relaxed about the situation, knowing what was needed of us to perform." The band also recruited none other than Tomas "Tompa" Lindberg from At The Gates to do some vocals on the song "Snare Of The Fowler".





Feed The Fire will be available in the following formats:


- digipak-CD w/ 2 bonus tracks
- 180g black vinyl (limited to 500 copies)
- transparent violet vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 400 copies)
- transparent orange/red splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 250 copies)
- wood brown marbled vinyl (Kingsroad & US exclusive - limited to 250 copies)


Pre-order here.





Feed The Fire tracklisting:


"Tria Prima"
"Sulphery"
"Thrice Great Path"
"In The Highest"
"Snare Of The Fowler"
"Feed The Fire"
"The Faustus Hood"
"Quadrivium"
"The Crystal Sea"


CD Bonus Tracks:


"Sisters Of The Moon"
"Die Young"


"Sulphery" video:





Trial (Swe) lineup:


Arthur W. Andersson - Vocals
Alexander Ellstrom - Guitars
Andreas Johnsson - Guitars
Andreas Olsson - Bass
Martin Svensson - Drums

Southern Californian death/thrash battalion, Exmortus, has officially joined the roster of Nuclear Blast Records. In addition to the signing announcement, the band is giving fans a taste of their next album with the single, "Oathbreaker", which is available for streaming now and accompanied by the video created by Wayne Joyner (Dream Theater, Devin Townsend).


Commenting on the signing, founding guitarist Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez says: "We are very excited to announce that our upcoming album will be our first with Nuclear Blast as our new label. We're working with them to bring you what we consider to be our best album yet!"







Adding about the single, Conan states: "'Oathbreaker' is the perfect teaser for the new album. Not only is it fast, heavy and filled with shred, but it's inspired by Tolkien's haunting lore of the Dead Men of Dunharrow in the Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King. While our previous work focused more on the heroic aspect of fantasy and sword & sorcery, this album expresses the darker side with tragic heroes and horrors of humanity. Enjoy the new track cause we feel it belongs in our setlists for years to come!"





Exmortus' new single was produced and mixed by Zack Ohren (Machine Head, Fallujah) and is the first new music since 2018's full-length The Sound Of Steel and subsequent 2019 EP, Legions Of The Undead. The band recently supported Death Angel on the road and are expected to announce additional touring soon.


(Photo - Hugo Juarez - Juarez Photography, Heavy Defender)

One of Norway’s most creative black metal bands, Dimmu Borgir, released the groundbreaking Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia album in 2001. The band celebrates this seminal album by releasing a brand-new sonic experience.


The band is now releasing the rehearsal version of "Puritania", from the bonus album, Dust Of Cold Memories.







Stream "Puritania" here, and below, and pre-Order Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (Remixed & Remastered) here.





Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (Remixed & Remastered) is available as a 3 LP Box, CD Digipak and digital. Dust Of Cold Memories includes extensive bonus material, which includes the pre-production of Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia and instrumental rehearsals.


- 3LP Box,
* Black
* Red
* Gold (Sold Out)
- CD Digipak





Tracklisting:


Side A
"Fear And Wonder" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Kings Of The Carnival Creation" (Remixed & Remastered)


Side B
"Hybrid Stigmata - The Apostasy" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Architecture Of A Genocidal Nature" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Puritania" (Remixed & Remastered)


Side C
"IndoctriNation" (Remixed & Remastered)
"The Maelstrom Mephisto" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Absolute Sole Right" (Remixed & Remastered)


Side D
"Sympozium" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Perfection Or Vanity" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Burn In Hell" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Devil's Path" (Remixed & Remastered)


Side E
"Hybrid Stigmata - The Apostasy"
"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny"
"IndoctriNation"
"Architecture Of A Genocidal Nature"
"Absolute Sole Right"


Side F
"Fear And Wonder"
"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny"
"Kings Of The Carnival Creation"
"Puritania"
"The Maelstrom Mephisto"
"Sympozium"


"Puritania":





"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny":

Purpendicular's forthcoming third album, Human Mechanic, is set for international release on September 23 via Metalville Records. Featuring Ian Paice of Deep Purple, Purpendicular create Godly rootsy hard rock, understandably steeped in a 'Purple tradition: hearing is believing, and then you're hooked for good.


Today, Purpendicular release the official lyric video for "Human Mechanic", the first single and title track of the upcoming album. Watch the clip below.


Purpendicular was founded in October 2007 by Irish singer Robby Thomas Walsh. With over 25 years of experience, he played in several semi-pro bands before becoming a full professional with Purpendicular.




Purpendicular's success story is astonishing. In their first year on tour, the band already completed a short European tour with Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice.


"This band is one of the top bands I work with. You will love them; these guys are so good, I only have myself to worry about." - Ian Paice 2012


Ian had grown fond of Purpendicular due to their great musicianship and his friendship with singer Robby Walsh, who were introduced to each other by chance before their first show in Vienna in 2004. In the first two years, the band did shows in Austria and Germany, focusing mainly on the Steve Morse lineup era of Deep Purple. In 2012, the band embarked on the official 40th anniversary tour of Machine Head, supported by Ian Paice. Also in 2012, Purpendicular was the most booked Deep Purple tribute show in the world. This was repeated in 2013 and 2014.


In August 2015, Purpendicular released their debut album, tHis is the tHing#1. 2016 saw another collaboration with Ian Paice for Purpendicular. This tour was by far the most successful and earned rave reviews from the media. Ian Paice himself said, "I have to seriously thank my friends in Purpendicular. They are a fine band of very talented musicians who give me the chance to play when I'm not with Purple. We always have a great time." The band's second studio album, Venus To Volcanus, was released in May 2017.


Over the years, Purpendicular worked with such great musicians as Roger Glover, Tony Carey, Paul Morris, and also Neil Murray.


In 2020, the band began work on the third studio album, Human Mechanic. Robby Walsh and Ian Paice made important decisions regarding the lineup to move forward. Unfortunately, the album itself was delayed by almost two years because of Covid.


Musically, Human Mechanic offers the typical Ian Paice grooves and funky bass lines, but without neglecting the heavy hard rock sound. You won't find a copy of Deep Purple here, but many influences. But Hammonds and guitars are still strongly in the foreground.





Human Mechanic tracklisting:


"The Nothing Box"
"Ghost"
"No One's Getting Out Alive"
"Something Magical"
"Human Mechanic"
"TV Stars & Internet Freaks"
"Made Of Steel"
"Soul To Soul"
"Four Stone Walls"
"Passing Through"


"Human Mechanic" lyric video:





"Ghost":





Purpendicular lineup:


Ian Paice - drums
Nick Fyffe - bass
Robby Thomas Walsh - vocals
Christoph Kogler - Hammond keyboards
Herbert Bucher - guitars


(Photo - Valeria Dimitrova)

During an appearance on a recent episode of the "Hardcore Humanism With Dr. Mike" podcast, Adam "Nergal" Darski of Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH spoke with clinical psychologist and life coach Dr. Mike Friedman about the importance of women's rights and gender equality.

"Hardly anyone in the metal scene talks about women's rights," Nergal said. "I know it's a chauvinistic genre, and even talented and beautiful women that are very successful, they get a lot of shit from men, or are not being treated equal, which is absolutely wrong, because some of those women… Like for example, Alissa [White-Gluz] from ARCH ENEMY that we've just toured with, she's got bigger balls than most of metalheads that I know and I've met and she's probably even stronger and braver than I am, being a man.

"Women's rights, what just happened in the U.S. a few weeks ago, and Poland, and abortion laws and stuff… If you are open-minded and if you're about equality — you don't need to be socialist to think that way — but women deserve their rights, same as men," Nergal continued. "And it still feels like there's a massive imbalance in between.

"We need women. We love women. I love women. And I appreciate them. I appreciate my mom and everyone's mom and I appreciate my lovers and my fan females.

"Yeah, we should really speak up and talk about it and be vocal about it, because it's very important," Nergal added.

Back in January 2021, Nergal blasted the Polish government's near-total ban on abortion, saying the country was "moving back to the obscure, scary, medieval past."

In October 2020, the predominantly Catholic nation's Constitutional Court ruled to ban terminations of pregnancies with fetal defects. Abortion is now only permitted in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother's health or life is in danger.

Last month, the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reported that the number of legal abortions in Poland fell by 90% in the year after the landmark court ruling. 107 legal abortions were recorded in the country of more than 40 million people in 2021, compared to 1,076 the year before.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal right to abortion and left states to regulate the service.

The conservative-leaning Supreme Court's ruling came in a case involving Mississippi's request to overturn Roe v. Wade — the court's 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the United States — and uphold a state law that bars the procedure 15 weeks after conception.

Roe v. Wade affirmed the right to receive an abortion under the 14th Amendment, ruling that abortions were constitutionally protected up until about 23 weeks when a fetus can typically live outside the womb.

BEHEMOTH will release its 12th studio album, "Opvs Contra Natvram", on September 16 via Nuclear Blast.

In a new interview with Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", BULLETBOYS frontman Marq Torien recalled hanging out with members of METALLICA in the 1980s while both bands were on the rise on the California hard rock and metal scene.

"I love [METALLICA frontman] James Hetfield," Marq said. "He was a big champion for the BULLETBOYS when we first started playing and would come to all of our shows when we played up north. He would come walking in, and he would hang with us, love on us, drink some whisky and beer with us and stay there through the whole show."

He continued: "When we started playing up in 'Frisco, we played at a place called The Stone, and he was always there to come and see us. He said that [the first BULLETBOYS] record [blew] his mind because he didn't think a band could come out and have that sound. He goes, 'The sound that you have and Ted Templeman.' And he said, 'This record is gonna last forever.' We laughed, 'cause he goes, 'No, no. no. Listen to me.' And that's young James — with his moustache, handlebar moustache, full of piss and vinegar. He's looking at us with that look in his eyes, and it was kind of scary. He goes, 'Dudes, I'm telling you right now. Don't eff this off. This will be for the rest of time, this album. I know you idiots don't know it right now, but I'm telling you, this is one of the greatest rock records that I've ever heard.'

"I love METALLICA," Marq added. "Back in the day, my place to go was The Troubadour because at the front bar you'd get the hottest chicks. We were all young, and all the big stars would hang out there. And when METALLICA was first starting, that's where they would hang out… They used to hang out with all of our friends. And everybody at one point used to hang out with them, and they were really good people. They were a full thrash band, though, when they first came out. It was like something that you'd never heard before. It was very, very dangerous. They didn't care. Cliff Burton [bass] was in the band, and Cliff, for all intents and purposes, he was the guy writing the songs with James."

This past June, the new BULLETBOYS lineup, featuring Torien, guitarist Ira Black (OF GODS & MONSTERS, LIZZY BORDEN, METAL CHURCH), bassist Brad Lang (Y&T, BURNING RAIN) and drummer Fred Aching (POWERFLO, BILLYBIO), released the official music video for its first single, "Holy F*ck". The track, which was written by Black and Torien, produced and mixed by Black, and mastered by multi-Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Howie Weinberg, was made available via Rock Avenue Records USA. The clip was co-produced and co-directed by Black and Arron Kinser from Studio Vista.

BULLETBOYS' latest lineup made its live debut in January at RokIsland Fest in Key West, Florida. Torien launched the new version of BULLETBOYS after the band's original lineup fell apart following a two-year reunion. Original bassist Lonnie Vencent failed to show up for a scheduled BULLETBOYS performance at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California in December, forcing the gig to be canceled. Torien instead delivered an acoustic set with Black. It was later announced by guitarist Mick Sweda and drummer Jimmy D'Anda that they would not be returning to the band.

The original BULLETBOYS lineup made its live return in December 2019 with a sold-out performance at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

Aside from one show in 2011, original BULLETBOYS members D'Anda, Sweda, bassist Lonnie Vencent and Torien had not performed together since 1993.

BULLETBOYS formed in 1988 at the very peak of the Los Angeles glam metal movement. As a collection of talented musicians, BULLETBOYS were able to quickly capture the attention of music fans around the world. Unlike other rockers of the day, the BULLETBOYS possessed more hard rock-blues fusion than pure hair metal. Thanks to comparisons to the likes of AEROSMITH and VAN HALEN, talent scouts came running and the band quickly received their first major label contract.

BULLETBOYS' self-titled debut was released in 1988 via Warner Bros. and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned two hit singles, a cover of the O'JAYS classic "For The Love Of Money" and "Smooth Up in Ya", both of which charted on the Mainstream Rock chart and saw regular airplay on MTV. BULLETBOYS went on to release two more albums, 1991's "Freakshow" and 1993's "Za-Za", before splitting up.

Dream Theater drummer Mike Mangini has shared another drum cam video shot on the road in Europe back in May.


Mangini: "Here's a live video from the Dream Theater 2022 (May) Tour. It contains the live click track. It's another staple Portnoy drum part off of the Awake album.  Playing this is fun and I can see why people always seem to like this song and the drums in it.  I try slightly different things each night on every song by accenting different vocal inflections, guitar 'jdunks' and slight variations of the drum parts. This one is no exception.  I like how the off-16th hat hits feel when the snare plays on the upbeats so it's a little different than how the first solo feels when the hihat hand follows the accents as it does on the album's verses. Sometimes I play the album's verse hihat part with either my left or right hand. This helps me stay really focused. I also like to motor out double bass 16ths at the end.  It's fun. The click is cool because the speaking sample, guitar delays, and other effects settle in the pocket each night. The guys feel very comfortable with that, so I'm happy to do it."







In a recent interview with Sarah Hagan, Mangini discusses returning to tour life after the pandemic, his solo album, the process of auditioning for Dream Theater, the band's  recent Grammy win, and his reunion with former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy.


"We were friends before I got this job. I mean, literally - he's in my place in LA, we're hanging out, he was the one that invited me to all the Dream Theater shows. He was the person I was closest with (in the band). He said all kinds of nice things about me all the time to people in magazines. So, the audition thing happened and he had left, and our relationship kind of just went into a holding pattern. And that was that... whatever that means. It just might have been awkward for him or whatever - I don't know."

Become The Apex, from Boise, Idaho, are coming out swinging with their debut self-titled EP. Stream on Spotify.





The EP contains four completely new tracks in addition to the recently released singles "Fallknot" and "Far From Over" (videos below). A balanced blend of melodic hookiness and outright heaviness, this debut EP firmly signals the arrival of one of the most exciting new prospects in modern metalcore.




Become The Apex are comprised of members from One Shot One Kill, Life Upon Liars, Living In False Eyes, Beyond Conviction, Abaasy and Immurge, with previous collaborations from these members including the likes of Fit For A King, As Blood Runs Black and Left to Suffer.








Lineup:


Patrick Richardson (Lead Guitar)
Kaos Montegomery (Vocals)
David Green (Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals)
Gabe Hodges (Drums)

Guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian metal pioneers ANVIL spoke to Metal Temple about the fact that he and his bandmates failed to break through to the mainstream success enjoyed by many of their peers.

"When people go, 'Hey, man, they could have been bigger.' I don't wanna be bigger," Lips said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I'm very fucking happy. I'm making a living doing what I love, and I'm playing all over the fucking world. Fuck you. If you want me to be AC/DC, you're fucking dreaming. We're not a commercial band — never were, never wanted to be. What kind of fucking judgment is that? It doesn't even make sense.

"I read [comments from some people online], 'What would ANVIL sound like with a real singer?' I sit there and go, 'Then we wouldn't be ANVIL, would we?'" Lips continued. "What is a real singer? What is the criteria? What is a real singer?

"There are real singing guys [in rock and metal]. Bruce Dickinson [IRON MAIDEN] I would classify as real singing. [Rob] Halford [JUDAS PRIEST] only to a certain degree. He also falls into the category of a character. [DEEP PURPLE's Ian Gillan is] also a character. There's limitations. Yes, he's got the ability to scream. We like his voice, but it's a character voice. … He did 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. He gets my approval. Ian Gillan is part of that…

"There's a lot to be said about what we're talking about," Lips added. "But character singing is by far the highest caliber and the most identifiable. So when you hear Lemmy, you can't imagine… You don't say, 'What would MOTÖRHEAD sound like with a real singer?' It wouldn't be MOTÖRHEAD. How can you say MOTÖRHEAD without Lemmy? Like, fucking go away! ANVIL without Lips is not ANVIL. Certainly JUDAS PRIEST without Rob Halford is not JUDAS PRIEST. They tried it; it didn't work. They got a soundalike [Tim 'Ripper' Owens], but no one accepted it, did they?

"Most of what metal is is the identity of that voice. It's not how great the guy sings; it's the sound of it that you immediately go, 'I know who that is.' And that's what the whole fucking thing is. It's like having the brand name. It's the audio of the brand name."

As previously reported, a remastered edition of ANVIL's acclaimed documentary, "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil", will be released in theaters this fall and on digital later this year via Utopia alongside Portobello Electric.

The new version of the film will arrive in time for its 13th anniversary and will feature remastered picture and sound, as well as a new exclusive epilogue interview with director Sacha Gervasi and Kudlow and ANVIL drummer Robb Reiner moderated by former MTV host Matt Pinfield.

The remastered "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil" will receive its premiere in conjunction with Beyond Fest on September 22 in Los Angeles at the Saban Theater, where ANVIL will also perform, along with appearances from surprise musical guests. This will be followed by a question-and-answer session with Kudlow, Reiner, producer Rebecca Yeldham and Gervasi, moderated by Steve-O from "Jackass".

"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" was named one of 2009's best documentaries by a slew of film critics associations across the continent, including critics in Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and Las Vegas, as well as the International Documentary Association, the Online Film Critics Society, and the National Society of Film Critics. It also made the year-end Top 10 lists in publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, and Village Voice.

"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" was the directorial debut of screenwriter Gervasi and was produced by Yeldham ("The Kite Runner" and "The Motorcycle Diaries"). The film follows Kudlow and Reiner and their band, ANVIL, which released one of the heaviest albums in metal history, 1982's "Metal on Metal". The album influenced an entire musical generation of rock bands, including METALLICA, SLAYER, and ANTHRAX, who all went on to sell millions of records. ANVIL, on the other hand, took a different path — straight to obscurity. The film was both entertaining and touching as it followed their last-ditch quest for the fame and fortune that has been so elusive to them.

ANVIL's latest album, "Impact Is Imminent", arrived in May via AFM Records.

Like its three predecessors, "Anvil Is Anvil" (2016),"Pounding The Pavement" (2018) and "Legal At Last" (2019),"Impact Is Imminent" was produced by Martin "Mattes" Pfeiffer and Jörg Uken at Uken's Soundlodge studios in Germany.

Female-fronted symphonic metal band, Oknos, have released a video for the song "Rotten To The Core", featured on their album, From Ashes. Watch the clip below.


Oknos guide into a fantastic universe of sounds, tear down the border between reality and fiction and let the listeners forget their dreary daily life. A sold and punchy sound, filled with hard riffs, is accompanied by an epic orchestra, expressive vocals and powerful choirs.  


Founded in 2013, Oknos soon started writing their own songs. Their debut album Old World was released in 2017. It is a concept album with the central topic of a tragic love story and the philosophical  question of what would be possible if you could change the past - would there be the chance to make things right or would all end in tears again?  




Their second album From Ashes was released in July 2022. In contrast to Old World it does not tell one self-contained story. Instead the lyrics approach various topics - from witch persecution and the myth of Loreley to friendship, hate and love.  


The album is extremely elaborate produced and displays a various musical range. There are classical symphonic-metal-songs as well as epic choirs and gentle ballads, and also hard riffs and modern syntheziser.  


Besides various guest musician a childrens choir is involved. Mix and mastering was done by Danish producer Jacob Hansen (Amaranthe, Volbeat, Epica and many others).  

At this past June's Hellfest in Clisson, France, vocalist Fernando Ribeiro of Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL was asked if he had any regrets or things about his career that he wishes he could go back and change. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I would never have formed the band. I would be a teacher. That's what I was studying for, [to be a] teacher of philosophy."

He continued: "I know it's a good question, but it's hard for me to think about the band like this, because time doesn't stop. We are 30 years [old] this year. Sometimes it looks like we are in the band for 300 years when we are very tired; sometimes it feels like it just started yesterday.

"I think that only when the band is no more can we answer properly that kind of question: 'I should have done this', 'I should have done this.' Obviously, there's mistakes, there's things that you could have avoided, maybe. But it's time wasted to be thinking about what you've done. But not only about the stuff you regret but also the stuff you are proud of — because you are as good as your last show, you are as good as your last album and your legacy. So everything else is just a fabrication of people.

"Sometimes people will tell me, 'Oh, you were so good on 'Wolfheart'.' I say, 'We weren't so good. We were very young back then.' And you're not angry at me because we're doing different music; you're angry with the world and we are a scapegoat because you were young and you could drink all night and not have a hangover. So this nostalgia thing, et cetera, it can be beautiful but it also can disturb, can get in the way. That's why I always try to listen… For instance, if I just like [IRON MAIDEN's] 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' or 'Powerslave', I would have missed 'Senjutsu'. I would have missed it, and it's a great album. If I only liked, and I do love, 'Walls Of Jericho' from HELLOWEEN, I would have missed the opportunity of listening to the new one, which is amazing; it's one of the best albums.

"So, yeah, I think that music, it's a constant flow and we cannot handle the time. So I never regret anything and I don't specially proud. I feel lucky most of the days to come out of Portugal and to play at the Hellfest… Not many Portuguese bands played here. And that's just already the fourth or the fifth time. So that's what I am happy for."

Last month, MOONSPELL announced a very special Blu-ray/DVD and album release. On September 23, they will unleash a live performance of their latest studio album, "Hermitage" (2021),with "From Down Below - Live 80 Meters Deep" via Napalm Records.

Recorded live at Grutas de Mira D'Aire, one of Portugal's seven natural wonders, "From Down Below - Live 80 Meters Deep" invites you on a memorable adventure worthy of a Guinness Book record. The recording boasts a one of kind sound and visual sensation, with its heavy dose of cinematic flavor, unreal atmosphere and the encircling, resounding nature in its raw form. Tracks such as "Entitlement", "Hermitage" and "Apoptheghmata" perfectly settle in with the album's unique environment.

"From Down Below - Live 80 Meters Deep" is not only an epic live momentum of "Hermitage" — one of the deepest, heaviest and most sincerely heart-breaking records the band has ever written — but a truly revolutionary experience, as MOONSPELL brought along a select number of fans and a production team (literally) underground. Brilliantly directed by Guilherme Henrique, "From Down Below – Live 80 Meters Deep" is something truly special that you have never, ever seen or heard before.

MOONSPELL's 13th studio album, "Hermitage", was released in February 2021 via Napalm Records. The LP was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (PARADISE LOST, PRIMORDIAL, GHOST, SÓLSTAFIR) at the Orgone Studios in the U.K.

In 2020, MOONSPELL parted ways with original drummer Miguel "Mike" Gaspar and replaced him with Hugo Ribeiro (no relation to Fernando Ribeiro).

MOONSPELL will embark on a North American tour later this month. Support on the trek, which will kick off on August 25 in New York and end on September 18 in Boston, will come from SWALLOW THE SUN and WITHERFALL.

On August 4th, former Accept frontman Udo Dirkschneider hit the stage at Wacken Open Air 2022 for a full set of Accept classics. Check out pro-shot video of 


The setlist was as follows:


"Starlight"
"Living for Tonite"
"Midnight Mover"
"Breaker"
"London Leatherboys"
"Princess of the Dawn"
"Restless and Wild / Son of a Bitch"
"Screaming for a Love-Bite"
"Up to the Limit"




Encore:
"Metal Heart"
"Fast as a Shark"
"Balls to the Wall"











Udo Dirkschneider released his new album, My Way, on April 22nd via Atomic Fire Records. According to the label,  Dirkschneider made the sensational jump to #4 in the official German album charts. For the 70-year-old metal icon, this is the highest chart entry of his career, outshining Accept's 1986 classic  Russian Roulette (#5) and the U.D.O. 2018 album, Steelfactory (#7).





He is THE constant among the German metal scene - Udo Dirkschneider. Originally becoming world-famous as a founding member of Accept, he continues to steadily expand upon his international successes with his U.D.O. and Dirkschneider outfits. Remaining true to himself over the years in a way few musicians could, Dirkschneider consistently bucks music industry trends in favor of following his heart. Yet his most personal and extraordinary album to date will be released on April 22: My Way.


This new release contains 17 cover versions of the very songs that have influenced the musician and singer the most. All kinds of classics from music history are among them - including those that you might not expect from Udo. Not only does a very personal story lie behind each of the tracks, but also a sometimes surprising arrangement that, despite the very individual implementation, lives and breathes Udo’s manuscript throughout. “Now when I hear the song, I remember the time when, as a very young Udo, I’d go out to light up the town and lived all the stories that can only be experienced late at night in the clubs."


Here, Alex Harvey’s "Faith Healer" allows the artist to feel those days of an era long past. The fact that "Nutbush City Limits: is also on the album reveals a secret rarely told until now: “What hardly anyone knows so far: I was a huge fan of Ike and Tina Turner, and especially Tina’s voice, once. We always covered this song during Accept rehearsals in the early days. It was one of the mainstays of our Accept rehearsal repertoire for years. Regrettably, there is no recording of it.”


With Wolfsheim's "Kein Zurück", Udo sang in German for the first time in his career: “I immediately felt like the words understood me. It seemed to me that the lyrics were telling the story of my career, of my highs and lows and all the good and bad experiences that life has. There simply is ‘no going back’ for those who choose to live as a musician.”


The cover album also makes one thing clear: Just how many in the music industry have come and gone over the years. Yet, Udo Dirkschneider is still here.





Tracklisting:


"Faith Healer" (Alex Harvey)
"Fire" (Crazy World Of Arthur Brown)
"Sympathy" (Uriah Heep)
"They Call It Nutbush" (Tina Turner)
"Man On The Silver Mountain" (Rainbow)
"Hell Raiser" (The Sweet)
"No Class" (Motörhead)
"Rock And Roll" (Led Zeppelin)
"The Stroke" (Billy Squier)
"Paint It Black" (Rolling Stones)
"He's A Woman, She's A Man" (Scorpions)
"T.N.T." (AC/DC)
"Jealousy" (Frankie Miller)
"Hell Bent For Leather" (Judas Priest)
"We Will Rock You" (Queen)
"Kein Zurück" (Wolfsheim)
"My Way" (Frank Sinatra)


"We Will Rock You"





"He's A Woman, She's A Man"

Upon Your Grave is a death metal band from Quebec City, Canada that spin wicked tales set to harsh, fast, and infectious music. They have joined forces with heavyweight producer Christian Donaldson from Cryptopsy to ensure that this offering delivers nothing but brutality. The first single “Supremacy” is an ode to things returning to normal, people getting back on stage, people getting back in the pit. 


Vocalist Jordan Jolicoeur explains in further detail:


“This song symbolizes the death and rebirth of live shows caused by the pandemic. Shining a glimmer of light that attracts us to reunite and prepare for the return in music that binds us together: a united pack. It's fast-paced and effective with an awesome chorus that we love. It's an energetic song that really shines live and one of the first songs we created since we revived the band from the dead. It may cause some heavy headbangs.”




Over the course of five tracks spanning under twenty minutes, main composer/guitarist Sim Diamond (Finalist of Banger TV's Shredders of Metal Season 1) gets straight to the point with a wicked whirlwind of riffs, he conspires with Jolicoeur afterward to add the lyrics and the rest of the band fleshes out an impressive golem of aggressive death metal.


Upon Your Grave got together in 2009 and released their first single “Haunting Of The Beast” in 2011, since then they have come a long way from just being five teens, jamming in their parent’s garage wanting to make their own band and create songs. They wanted to live the dream, create a kickass metal band, play shows, party, record albums, and do it all like their faves do it. They have continuously poured energy, and passion into the band, emerging with musicianship and chemistry, evident on “Gold & Decay”.


A total running time of 18 minutes delivers an intense and succinct battery of blast beats that will grab the listener and refuse to let go. The record was mixed and mastered by Donaldson and the EP artwork was done by Meike Hakkaart. It is recommended listening for fans of Decapitated, Lamb Of God, and Daath.


Gold & Decay is out on October 7. 





Tracklisting:


“Revived”
“From Beyond”
“Pandora”
“Supremacy”
“Transcend”


“Supremacy” video:





(Photo – Etienne Dionne / Mute Drummer)