Sean Dowdell, the drummer for Chester Bennington's pre-LINKIN PARK band GREY DAZE, has once again opened up about his late friend's mental state before his tragic death nearly four years ago. The singer's passing was ruled a suicide soon after his body was found in July 2017 at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California. Bennington had been candid about mental-health battles in numerous interviews over the years, saying he grappled with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and substance abuse.

Asked in a new interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio if he was surprised that Chester ended his life, Dowdell said (hear audio below): "Over the years, he did struggle in several different areas. But in the weeks and months leading up to his life-ending choice, I guess, is the best way I can put that, I did not sense anything. I talked to him two nights before he passed. He was on top of the world. He was excited about starting rehearsals. He was excited about a lot of things. We were working on a new business location together. I didn't sense anything. Now, eight or nine months before that, my wife sensed something in him and said, 'Chester's not right. Something's off.' And I said, 'No, no, no. He's just trying to go for a new look or whatever.' And she said, 'No. I can see something in his eyes.' And she literally said that to me. And I just blew it off, like, 'No. I don't think so.' And then, of course, what happened, happened. And it's easy to look back and go, 'Oh, yeah. She saw it.' But you never truly know what's happening in someone's mind."

He continued: "Had Chester been thinking rationally, I don't think he would have done what he did at all. I just think that that's what depression does — it removes the rational thought process from the moment that you take that choice. And sometimes there's somebody there to help talk you out of it or to guide you in a different way or to distract you away from it, but the way this happened, it didn't. There was nobody else there. And when that hit him at that specific moment, there was nobody else for him to lean on at the time, and that's the most unfortunate thing, I think."

GREY DAZE's "Amends" album was released in June 2020. The LP contains updated versions of older songs in the group's catalog featuring newly recorded instrumentals accompanying the late Bennington's original vocal takes.

Bennington had been open with the press and public about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, which landed him in rehab twice around 2006.

Bennington's friends told Rolling Stone that he fell off the wagon for three days in August 2016 and drank until he blacked out, adding that he had been consuming alcohol again as recently as October 2016. Bennington's longtime friend Ryan Shuck, who played with the singer in DEAD BY SUNRISE, thought Bennington may have had "a couple of drinks" before hanging himself on July 20, 2017.

Investigators found no illegal drugs or prescription drugs while searching Bennington's home following his passing, although a partially consumed bottle of alcohol was found in the bedroom where the 41-year-old singer’s body was discovered.

LINKIN PARK paid tribute to Bennington in October 2017 with an emotional three-hour show that featured numerous guests joining the band onstage in Los Angeles.

LINKIN PARK released a concert album titled "One More Light Live" in December 2

Canadian thrashers Hyperia, formerly of Calgary, AB, now residing in Vancouver, BC will be self-releasing their new album Silhouettes Of Horror this coming March 2022. The full-length follows their 2020’s Insanitorium unleashed via Sliptrick Records and their 2019 EP Fish Creek Frenzy.


The mosh quartet has already shared two songs "Experiment 77" and "Operation Midnight" off the upcoming record, and today they are ready to get the pit moving once again with their third single "Prisoner of The Mind", a song about how we are all slaves to our thoughts and conditioning.


"This song opens with a neo-classical style lead that unleashes into a fast double kick run before transitioning into a thrashy and in-your-face verse. The chorus on this song is arguably the catchiest on the album, with a power-meta-lesque sing-a-long feel to it. Another song that showcases the dynamics of Hyperia between melodic harmonies and balls to the wall thrash," adds guitarist Colin Ryley.




Hyperia's forthcoming second album Silhouettes of Horror sees guitarist Colin Ryley behind the soundboard producing and mixing the record with mastering done by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland (Children of Bodom, Nightwish, Battle Beast). Album artwork was created by Andrei Bouzikov (Vektor, Municipal Waste, Skeletonwitch, Toxic Holocaust).


“We think that we have polished our sound and pushed ourselves to create what we believe is a newly refined vision. This record has pushed the whole band to their limits, and the songwriting, performance, and production value is a huge step up. We feel the fans will enjoy this new album even more than our first full-length,” adds Collin Ryley.


Energetic, melodic, fast, psychotic, and dynamic are the elements that make Silhouettes Of Horror that old and new fans of thrash, NWOBHM, and power metal will appreciate. The band even included a cover hommage of Abba’s “Gimme Gimme Gimme”. For the recording of Silhouettes Of Horror, Hyperia also recruited good friend and session drummer Gord Alexander (Tessitura, Tides of Kharon, Immunize).


Most of the lyrical themes on the album revolve around inhumane government experiments, sleep disorders, and night terrors. 


Preorder on Bandcamp.


Silhouettes Of Horror is due out on March 18, 2022 and is recommended for fans of Exmortus, Arch Enemy, Unleash The Archers, and Havok.





Tracklisting:


"Hypnagogia" 
"Intoxication Therapy" 
"Experiment 77" 
"Severed" 
"Prisoner Of The Mind" 
"Terror Serum" 
"Whitecoat" 
"Silhouettes Of Horror" 
"Operation Midnight" 
"Pleonexia" 
"Gimme Gimme Gimme" (Abba cover) 


"Prisoner Of The Mind":





"Experiment 77":





"Operation Midnight":

Besvärjelsen have released the video clip “Digerliden” as the first single taken from their new album Atlas. The Swedish forest rockers have also revealed artwork, tracklist, and further details of their sophomore full-length, which can all be viewed below. Atlas has been slated for release on May 27. Find preorders here.


The quite literally sick video “Digerliden” that takes its title from a harsh but magical place far up north in the Swedish Finnmark is now streaming.


"This song was a treat to work with," tells singer Lea Amling Alazam and reveals: "The lyrics deal with people in love who hate themselves. After watching Alice in Chains' MTV Unplugged, I was very inspired by the way their harmonies work and the kind of numb yet powerful melodies. I also felt a bit of a need for an Arabic harmony, so I wanted to find a way to combine grunge and Middle Eastern influences."




Andreas Baier explains the title: "The song's title 'Digerliden' takes its name from a place in Sweden's Dalecarlian Finnmark which roughly translates  as 'the dire suffering', which relates to the hardship that its ancestral people endured while trying to survive and grow crops in its vast forests and mountains,” the guitarist and vocalist writes. "It is a magical and mysterious please, and its native folk music was a well of inspiration for this song."


Erik Bäckwall adds some words about the video: "We didn’t originally plan on doing a video, but I remembered a simple idea one of us had, so we decided to see if we could actually film it ourselves", comments the drummer. "We shot the clip in just an hour and a half and didn't tell anyone we were doing it, just in case the outcome sucked. In the end, we dig it."





Tracklisting:


“The Cardinal Ride”
“Acheron”
“Clouds”
“House Of The Burning Light”
“Paradise”
“Digerliden”
“Descent”
“Celestial”
“Obscured By Darkness”
“Divided Ends”


“Digerliden”:

"Mars Recall" is the second single from Digital Race, the first full-length of Spanish heavy/speed metal band, Redshark. The lyrics and music were inspired by some sci-fi movies and books and spoke about someone remembering a space mission, in a big galactic war, after his return from Mars to the Earth. The open end of this story is inspired by Roy Batty's final speech in Blade Runner: "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...".





Redshark was founded in 2012 in Barcelona, Spain by Philip Graves (guitar) with the aim of delivering classic pounding heavy speed metal. Their traditional 80s metal influences may plunder the nostalgia circuit but Redshark are ruthlessly carrying the torch with great attitude, and powerful melodic songwriting.




Redshark have since honed their gloriously raw yet precisely incisive, dark, catchy and addictive speed heavy metal crunch staying faithful to their original influences taken from undisputed metal legends like Judas Priest, Savatage, Exciter and Metal Church.


Their new album, Digital Race, was recorded in 2021 and will see a release at the end of March. It was produced by Jaume Perna (Jack Dark) and mixed & mastered by Gonzalo Vivero in In The Red Audio. Cover art was made by Jose Antonio Vives.





Tracklisting:


"The Drill State"
"Never Too Late"
"Digital Race"
"Arrival"
"Mars Recall"
"Kiill your Idol"
"The Death Rides"
"Burning Angels"
"Pallid Hands"
"I'm Falling"


"The Death Rides" lyric video:

March 4 will see Swedish post-rock duo, Oh Hiroshima, release their haunting fourth studio album, Myriad, via Napalm Records. The band have released a lyric video for the haunting, third single, "Ascension".


It’s that mixture of emotions – from infinite sadness to moments of clarity and heart-rending melodies blending into a rumbling volcano of aesthetic noise and ferocious power, but also the unique use of trumpets, cello and trombones throughout – that sees Oh Hiroshima outclass and grow renowned not only in post-rock circles, but beyond. Following their latest magnum opus, Oscillation in 2019, and due to pandemic lockdowns, for Myriad the band channeled all of their time and creativity into delivering an epic successor.


Tracks such as "Ascension" - with its glistening guitar lines and the otherworldly voice of Jakob Hemström - leave you lost in a sphere of said sadness mixed with light and hope, matching the imposing sonic melancholy of the track and throughout the record.




“We’re very happy to present one last song before the release of our coming record Myriad on March 4th," Jakob Hemström comments. "'Ascension' is one of the more dreamy and mellow tracks on the album, meant to offer a nice balance to Myriad as a whole - Though we couldn’t resist to put the ending of the song on fire.”





Recorded by Kristian Karlsson (pg.lost, Cult Of Luna), and once again mixed and mastered by Cult Of Luna’s Magnus Lindberg, with Myriad, Oh Hiroshima demonstrate outstanding ability - melding captivating melody with epic, fulminating fervency, and delivering a majestic masterpiece that will undoubtedly be an early album of the year contender.


Myriad will be available in the following formats:


- 6 Page CD Digipak
- Purple Gatefold Vinyl LP
- Digital Album


Pre-order here,





Myriad tracklisting:


"Nour"
"Veil Of Certainty"
"All Things Pass"
"Ascension"
"Humane"
"Tundra"
"Hidden Chamber"


"All Things Pass" video:





"Humane" video:





(Photo - Oskar Nilsson)

Pattern-Seeking Animals, the California-based progressive rock band featuring Ted Leonard (lead vocals & guitars), Jimmy Keegan (drums & vocals), Dave Meros (bass) and John Boegehold (keyboards), will release their third album, Only Passing Through, on April 1 via InsideOut Music.


Pre-order the album here, and watch a video for the new single, "Rock Paper Scissors", below.


John Boegehold comments: "This is a cheery little tune about kids and the games they once played in a dystopian, alternate universe."







Offering eight songs (and two bonus tracks) that are as varied as they are excellent, Only Passing Through is a work that will deliver on all fronts. From the opener "Everdark Mountain" to the weighty "Much Ado" and the 13-minute epic "Time Has A Way", the album has something to please fans in all quarters. If you ever wondered what Spaghetti Western Cinema would sound like in the world of 2022 prog, have a listen to "Said The Stranger". For some jazzier stylings, lend an ear to "Here With You With Me".


Boegehold is justifiably proud of the album: “Only Passing Through picks up where Prehensile Tales left off but soon takes several stylistic detours as it progresses. Everyone involved made this album a lot of fun to make and we're all looking forward to it finally being heard."





Tracklisting:


"Everdark Mountain"
"I Can't Stay Here Anymore"
"Time Has A Way"
"Rock Paper Scissors"
"Much Ado"
"Only Passing Through"
"Said The Stranger"
"Here With You With Me"


Bonus tracks:


"I'm Not Alright"
"Just Another Day At The Beach"


"I Can't Stay Here Anymore" video:

Extreme metal outfit, Obsidious, have released a lyric video for their new single, "Under Black Skies". The track will feature on the band's debut album, Iconic, set for release on October 28 via Season Of Mist. Pre-save the single here, and watch the new clip below.


Bassist Sebastian Lanser comments on the track: “'Under Black Skies' turned out to be a very complex and demanding tune involving/incorporating multiple meter changes and metric modulations. Regardless of its complexity it has a lot of catchy moments. Our producer V. Santura once said: '‘Under Black Skies’ sounds like Dimmu Borgir on steroids'.”







In April 2020 guitarist Rafael Trujillo, bassist Linus Klausenitzer and drummer Sebastian Lanser decided to move on from their former band Obscura to continue their musical path with the completely new band Obsidious. Free from former boundaries, Obsidious merge extreme metal with other genres of music into a unique style that people will somehow find familiar, but haven‘t heard yet. Together with their singer Javi Perera they set out to create a musical evolution: With a fresh name, reaching for new fan groups utilizing modern marketing ideas. Obsidious’ band members have many facets and influences to build upon, using virtuosity & technique to write great songs.


Rafael Trujillo, Linus Klausenitzer and Sebastian Lanser built a strong bond after years of worldwide touring and recording together with Obscura. With their last record Diluvium, that was primarily composed by the trio, the band celebrated their biggest success to date. Formerly unseen chart positions alongside massive praise by prominent media outlets & magazines document the success of this team. Obsidious aims to expand the existing fan base that they’ve gained: All (ex-)formations of the Obsidious members were defined through their musical characters.


The four band members that are based in Europe are known for their high musicianship and virtuosity. Their advanced technical level is an essential and unique part of their compositions. Guitarist Rafael Trujillo has a multicultural background and studied music in different countries all around the globe. Linus Klausenitzer is one of the busiest session bassists in the scene and renowned for his 7-string fretless bass sound. Strong drum independence skills and stylistic diversity make Sebastian Lanser one of the most influential drummers of the new generation. The web community shares the Ex-Obscura members’ excitement about singer Javi Perera being celebrated for his diverse and charismatic vocal skills.


Obsidious' music consists of modern riffs, strong decisive energetic melodies, virtuosity and epic unison lines. They love music that’s heavy, catchy, fast, and wild.


Obsidious previously released the tracks and videos, "Sense Of Lust" and "Iconic". Watch videos below, and stay tuned for further album details and pre-order info.








Lineup:


Linus Klausenitzer - Bass
Rafael Tujillo - Guitar
Javi Perera - Vocals
Sebastian Lanser - Drums

Rising Swedish “adventure rock” stars, Hällas, return with an evocative, feel-good blend of nostalgic 70’s hard rock, prog, proto-metal, folk and psychedelic influences on their upcoming third studio album, Isle Of Wisdom, out April 8 via Napalm Records.


With its blend of 70’s rock, folk, and psychedelic influences, single “Elusion’s Gate” enchants. In addition to the unique vocal tone of Tommy Alexandersson, the band pairs groovy electric guitars and synth lines, creating another standout single of their upcoming album Isle Of Wisdom. Every instrument in this piece awakens feelings of 70’s rock nostalgia.


Check out a visualizer for “Elusion’s Gate”:







Isle Of Wisdom starts with synthy “Birth Into Darkness”, with an incredibly clever topline from the one of a kind vocals of singer and bassist Tommy Alexandersson. The musical journey continues with the mystical single “Earl’s Theme” embellished by choral voices, and proceeds with exceptional “Elusion’s Gate” - a piece that, by making room for the guitar lines of Alexander Moraitis and Marcus Petersson, highlights the overall epic and mysterious atmosphere of the album. Isle Of Wisdom was produced in collaboration with Linn Fijal and Vilma Colling at Riksmixningsverket studio, which has hosted the diverse likes of Arch Enemy, ABBA and Celine Dion. Comprised of eight bold opuses, Isle Of Wisdom is a deft new step in the noteworthy sonic trajectory of Hällas, cementing them as a band to watch.


This collection of fresh tracks allows the listener to emerge in a brand new realm soaked in mystery and retro atmosphere - key features of Hällas’ fantasy and sci-fi driven auditory aesthetic. Isle Of Wisdom, the successor to Hällas’ full-length offering Conundrum (Top 50 on the Swedish Charts, P3 Guld Award nominee), is set for release just before they hit the road on an extensive European tour.


Hällas on Isle Of Wisdom: "An escape from unwanted happenings doesn't always lead you towards the better as danger can be found in any universe or time. Welcome to the Isle of Wisdom."





Isle Of Wisdom will be available in the following formats:


- Die Hard Edition - 1LP Gatefold Marbled Violet/Black + poster and slipmat (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive - limited to 300 copies worldwide)
- 1LP Gatefold Purple (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive - limited to 300 copies worldwide)
- 1LP Gatefold Black
- CD Digipak
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Birth/Into Darkness"
"Advent Of Dawn"
"Earl's Theme"
"The Inner Chamber"
"Elusion's Gate"
"Gallivants (Of Space)"
"Stygian Depths"
"The Wind Carries The Word"


"Earl's Theme" visualizer:





"Stygian Depths":





Formed in 2011 and named after the main character featured in the stories of their lyrics - a knight in a parallel medieval universe destined to take part in a religious war caused by a tyrannical queen - Hällas are the originators of the "Adventure Rock" genre, devoting themselves to the aforementioned sonic fusion and eccentric imagery inspired by rock greats of yore with a fantastical twist.


Hällas are:


Tommy Alexandersson - vocals / bass
Marcus Petersson - guitar
Kasper Eriksson - drums / percussion
Nicklas Malmquist - organ / synthesizer
Alexander Moraitis - guitar


(Photo - Marcus Carlsson)

Audio Reign, in conjunction with MR Records, announces the March 17 digital release of the repackaged International Deluxe Edition of their self-titled album, Audio Reign, with a brand new single "Angel".





"Angel is available now to purchase and stream here. The physical release of the album will occur on March 31. Pre-order here.




Watch a teaser for the "Angel" music video:





"MR Records is extremely proud to release Audio Reign’s ‘International Deluxe Edition’ CD. The original CD was previously only available in the Australia market. A new EP was in production and after deep discussions within the label, it was decided that the debut album deserved to be redesigned, repackaged and introduced to the world. This new edition consists 14 tracks including three unreleased bonus tracks, completely new artwork, designed by world renowned album designer Nello Dell’Omo." - Peter Naylor, MR Records


Although Audio Reigns’ self-titled debut album release was well received in Australia, MR Records believed this album was a powerhouse and deserved world recognition. As such, the album has been completely redesigned and repackaged as an International Deluxe Edition with some brand-new bonus tracks for world release 2022.


The album already boasts some explosive singles like "Betrayal", a hard rock tour de force. Hard-hitting and relentless, it sets a musical and lyrical tone that is abundant throughout the album: raw emotion and undiluted power. Vivisecting an act of treachery, the song casts a stark light on a shadowy deception, delivered by the unmistakable voice of frontman/guitarist Jake Fleming. Driving his vocals like a battering ram; the irreplaceable legion of Alek Dyrynda (lead guitar), Ash Lovett (bass) and Dieter Schoell (drums).


The release of Audio Reigns International Deluxe Edition sees a brand-new single emerge into the light. "Angel" is a truly authentic hard rock ballad which begs an answer to a declaration of love. This heartfelt offering once again harnesses the raw emotion of the band and delivers the dynamics and spine-tingling heights that you would expect from such a song. Although the International Deluxe Edition will release a radio edit of "Angel", the band are currently working on another album which will contain the full album version.





Tracklisting:


"Betrayal"
"Pill"
"Senses"
"One Way"
"Broken"
"The Portrait"
"Shining Light"
"Make Me Feel"
"Falling"
"Breaks Me"
"Jezebel"


Bonus tracks:


"Relentless" [Radio edit]
"Angel" [Radio edit]
"Forgotten You"


Audio Reign is:


Ashley Lovett (bass/backing vocals
Jake Fleming (vocals/rhythm guitar)
Alek Dyrynda (lead guitar)
Dieter Schoell (drums/backing vocals)

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT, the musical meeting of minds between Grammy-nominated STONE SOUR guitarist Josh Rand and PARALANDRA vocalist/guitarist Casandra Carson, will release a new four-song EP, titled "Big F.O.U.R.", on March 18 via Bloodblast. The collection features a clutch of cover versions, one each from heavy music's pioneering icons METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX. The duo's take on ANTHRAX's "Caught In A Mosh" is revealed today, to coincide with the EP's pre-order. In addition, the single's sleeve artwork was designed by none other than ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante.

Rand comments: "Recording a 'Big F.O.U.R.' cover EP is something that I have wanted to do for a very very long time, and last fall I decided to finally do it with THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT.

"Without these four bands (METALLICA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER), my musical career wouldn't be where it is today. In some ways, you could say this project is paying homage to them or, how I see it, a return to where it all started in my parents' house as a teenager trying to learn just a piece of the music.

"Each of the four songs that I picked were pivotal in my development as a musician, whether it was learning the intro to 'One' on guitar, drums on 'Symphony [Of Destruction]' or bass lines in 'Caught In A Mosh'.

"This EP was a true love and passion project for myself. I feel I captured the vibe and the spirit of the original but with THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT sound. Hopefully you hear it too!"

Rand continues; "'Among The Living' is a top three album of all-time for me, so covering 'Caught In A Mosh' was a no-brainer for us to do."

Carson adds: "'Caught In A Mosh' has an infectious energy to it, and I'm absolutely stoked with how it turned out."

Meanwhile, ANTHRAX's own Frank Bello comments: "Casandra sounds great and Josh did an amazing job nailing all the parts on 'Caught In A Mosh'. Great job, guys."

Stylistically, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is a fluid combination of classic metal sensibility and Rand's penchant for pushing the boundaries of contemporary heavy. THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT's debut self-titled EP came out last summer and is available exclusively through the band's webstore or via the Nuclear Blast store.

Josh and Casandra's debut single, "The Nothingness", was featured on several major playlists across streaming platforms, including Rock Hard on Spotify, Breaking Metal on Apple Music, Break Through Rock on Amazon and Metal Radar on Deezer. "The Nothingness" was also included on SiriusXM Octane's "Test Drive" show on release.

Idol of Fear, hailing from Toronto, Canada formed out of a necessity to make something of the darkness that swirls around us all. Completely dedicated to the highest quality music, they have worked tirelessly on Trespasser for years, even before their second album Grave Aperture was released in 2018.


What started out as close to 40 demos was whittled down to nine tracks, running for just over 45 minutes. The second track is their new single “Angel Dust”, a steamroller of a song with evil groovy, alien-sounding guitar riffs and pummeling drums. The lyrics are quite personal, centered on loss. The band comments on how this new album compares to the last:


“It can be tough to discern from the inside looking out but we definitely feel this album comes from a heavier, doomier place. We try to give each album its own personality so it may not be a linear “evolution” exactly. ‘Angel Dust’ is us stealing our favorite parts from third-wave avant-garde black metal and setting it to a more pop structure. Mournful, scornful.”




Idol of Fear have made music together for a very long time, and the result is an album that exudes musicianship, passion, and dedication. They are always on the move as far as songwriting goes, so work has begun already on the next release.


Aggressive and brooding, black metal fans should brace themselves for the heavy darkness from the North. They are recommended for those who listen to Deathspell Omega, Mgla, and Emptiness.


BraveWords is premiering the audio stream of “Angel Dust”; listen below!





Trespasser will be released on March 11, 2022 via the band's own label Somnolence Productions. Preorder on Bandcamp.





Tracklisting:


“The Flayed Horizon”
“Angel Dust”
“Cheirotonia”
“Phantom”
“Trespasser”
“In The Cold Light Of Dawn”
“Alone With You”
“What You Came To Find”
“Endless”


“Cheirotonia”:





(Photo by A.J.)

Notorious Swedish black metal collective WATAIN has unleashed "Serimosa", the second single from its upcoming new studio album, "The Agony & Ecstasy Of Watain", which will be released on April 29 via Nuclear Blast.

"Serimosa" sees a shift in pace from its furious predecessor "The Howling", heading towards more of a gloomy and gothic landscape, yet bearing the unmistakable black mark of WATAIN. Lyrically, its contemporary acuteness and prophetic quality is just as unnerving as it is comforting.

Vocalist Erik Danielsson states: "'Serimosa' tells of the electric notion of the coming of a great power. The appearance of cracks in the dam that holds the flood of the great sea. A visitor from the beyond, crossing the threshold into the material world.

"Just like 'Watain', 'Serimosa' is a word/name of power communicated out of unknown origin, appearing into the world sans history, to be approached with thought and reverence. Its linguistic root may be traced from the Latin word Seri ('serum'), along with Dolorosa ('pain'), Nebulosa ('starfog') and Lacrimosa ("tearfilled"), as if those words and their meanings were spoken as one. In her hand she holds the stern light of renewal, of transformation, of merciless cleansing. Thematically, Serimosa also holds similarities to the fiery Samhara aspect of Nataraja, the doomsday dance of Shiva marking the dissolution of order at the end of an eon.

"May she bring you far and deep."

"The Agony & Ecstasy Of Watain" track listing

01. Ecstasies In Night Infinite

02. The Howling

03. Serimosa

04. Black Cunt

05. Leper's Grace

06. Not Sun Nor Man Nor God

07. Before The Cataclysm

08. We Remain

09. Funeral Winter

10. Septentrion

WATAIN will join forces with infamous Norwegian black metal legends MAYHEM for a tour through North America, aptly labeled "The Sanguine Sodomy Of North America", starting on March 7. They will be supported by U.S. blackened speed metal punks MIDNIGHT.

Scorpions recently released their highly anticipated new album, Rock Believer. Today, the band shares a Rock Believer full album player, featuring samples of each song on the album. Listen below:





Rock Believer can be ordered here.







Rock Believer tracklisting:


"Gas In The Tank"              
"Roots In My Boots"              
"Knock 'Em Dead"              
"Rock Believer"              
"Shining Of Your Soul"              
"Seventh Sun"              
"Hot And Cold"              
"When I Lay My Bones To Rest"              
"Peacemaker"
"Call Of The Wild"              
"When You Know (Where You Come From)"             


Limited deluxe edition bonus tracks:


"Shoot For Your Heart"    
"When Tomorrow Comes"    
"Unleash The Beast"    
"Crossing Borders"    
"When You Know (Where You Come From)"


"Gas In The Tank" lyric video:





"When You Know (Where You Come From)" video:





"Seventh Sun" lyric video:





"Shining Of Your Soul":





"Rock Believer" video:





"Peacemaker" video:





Rock Believer - The Journey videos:


Part 1:





Part 2:





Part 3:





Scorpions will kick off their Rock Believer World Tour this month in Las Vegas, where the band will play nine shows as part of their residency at Planet Hollywood Hotel. Afterwards, they will cross the Atlantic to Europe where they will play six concerts in France and six shows in Germany supported by Wolfgang Van Halen’s new band, Mammoth WVH.


Skid Row will be the opening band for all nine shows of Scorpions' Sin City Nights 2022 Las Vegas residency, thereby replacing previously announced support act, Queensrÿche. Scorpions' stint in Vegas was originally supposed to happen in July 2020, then it got pushed back to May 2021, only to be rescheduled to March - April 2022 at Zappos Theater inside Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.


Tour dates:


March
​26 - Zappos Theater - Las Vegas, NV
30 - Zappos Theater - Las Vegas, NV


April
1 - Zappos Theater - Las Vegas, NV
3 - Zappos Theater - Las Vegas, NV
7 - Zappos Theater - Las Vegas, NV
9 - Zappos Theater - Las Vegas, NV
12 - Zappos Theater - Las Vegas, NV
14 - Zappos Theater - Las Vegas, NV
16 - Zappos Theater - Las Vegas, NV


May
10 - Altice Arena - Lisbon, Portugal
13 - Zenith Toulouse Metropole - Toulouse, France
15 - Zenith De Lille - Lille, France
17 - Accorhotels Arena - Paris, France
21 - Hallenstadion - Zurich, Switzerland
23 - Arena Di Verona - Verona, Italy
26 - O2 Arena - Prague, Czech Republic
28 - Tauron Arena - Kraków, Poland
30 - Laszlo Papp Sports Arena - Budapest, Hungary


June
3 - Rockfest - Helsinki, Finland
8 - Schleyerhalle - Stuttgart, Germany*
10 - Olympiahalle - Munich, Germany*
12 - Festhalle - Frankfurt, Germany*
16 - Mercedes-Benz Arena - Berlin, Germany*
17 - Zag Arena - Hannover, Germany*
19 - Westfalenhalle - Dortmund, Germany*
23 - Hellfest - Clisson, France
25 - Rock Imperium Festival - Cartagena, Spain
28 - Palais Nikaia - Nice, France
30 - Le Galaxie - Amneville, France


July
2 - Zenith D'Auvergne - Clermont-Ferrand, France


* with Mammoth WVH

SHINEDOWN has released the official music video for its new single, "Planet Zero". You can now watch it below.

"Planet Zero" is the title track of SHINEDOWN's seventh album, which will be released on April 22 via Atlantic Records.

According to a press release, the "Planet Zero" video "brings to life a glimpse of a dystopian future (complete with a menacing A.I. character named Cyren from the album's interludes who we hear at the end of the music video) that warns of the dangerous and dehumanizing consequences of cancel culture run rampant. 'Planet Zero' provokes a thoughtful question about if cancel culture has gone past the point of holding people accountable for bad words and actions that deserve it, into people shutting down anyone that has a different perspective or opinion that they don't agree with, which can cause us to lose a lot — empathy, our respect for one another, and our ability to communicate in a way that leads to actual progress and understanding. Part potent social commentary and part in-depth exploration of the human psyche, the 'Planet Zero' album serves up an incisive look at some of society's most critical issues, including the increasingly toxic division among those of differing ideologies, the need for honesty in our public discourse, and the corrosive effects of social media and cancel culture on mental health and humanity. There is also triumph, hope and reminders that we all need one another on this album. 'Planet Zero' was written for everyone regardless of background or affiliation with the hope that our culture can stop looking at each other as demographics or talking points and start seeing each other as people with individual life experiences and perspectives."

Vocalist Brent Smith stated about the new disc: "If we shut each other down and allow ourselves to be divided by the information we consume and the way we talk to each other, we lose our humanity. When you look outside of your phone, you'll see there are so many people doing good things and trying to take care of each other. But we're starting to see parts of society slip into an unknown. 'Planet Zero' was written for all of us. The fact is that we're all here on this planet no matter what, so it's time to actually move forward together with empathy, perseverance and strength. With that said… welcome to PLANET ZERO."

In December, Smith told 95.9 The Rat's Carl Craft about the new LP's more "stripped-down" approach: "We wanted to push everything to the front. And what I mean by that is we've proven that we can make these records that there's a lot of musicianship involved in it, and we have layered our records over the years because we love music and we love sound and we try to make really cinematic records. So with that, you have a lot of instrumentation that is not just drums, bass, guitar and vocals — we use orchestras, we use a lot of synthesizers, we use a lot of techniques that… We don't believe in… Don't tie your hands up when you're making a record. Make the record that you wanna make. And ultimately, though, what we wanted to do with this album was make it just as ferocious as the other records but not utilizing so much of some of the style that we've done in the past with layering and layering guitars, adding lots of synth beds, stacking the vocals."

He continued: "I come from the Freddie Mercury school when it comes to vocals and layering and backgrounds and things of that nature because I try — I say 'try' — try to use my voice as an instrument. But this is about really less is more. So the majority of this record is authentically drums, bass, guitar. There are piano songs; there's two really, really very intense-subject-matter piano songs that are gonna be in SHINEDOWN seven. But we wanted to make a real rock record, we wanted to make a real record where we focus on just making sure that the band is being heard the way the band needs to be heard. So, not a lot of layering. It doesn't mean it's any less powerful; it's just we're not dealing with a lot of stacks. We're just putting things left to right stereo, pushing everything to the front. The vocals aren't layered a ton — not a lot of effects on the vocals, so not a lot of delays and reverbs and things like that. A lot of the vocals on the record are dry and kind of right up in your face."

Smith also talked about the lyrical themes covered on the new SHINEDOWN album, saying they were inspired at least in part by the ongoing pandemic and resulting impact on the community, residents and businesses.

"Going through everything that the world went through last year, and we wrote the majority of the record last year, and this year, we couldn't turn a blind eye to everything that was going on," he said. "And we talk on this record, and we express on this record — we're not trying to dance around certain subject matter. We're trying to be very honest and very real. In a lot of ways, this is a very humanitarian record."

Asked if SHINEDOWN will "piss people off" with some of the lyrical positions that are taken on the upcoming LP, Smith said: "Possibly. But the thing about it is I don't necessarily think it's about pissing people off; it's about understanding what we all went through but where we need to go now. I think that it gets lost. It's never supposed to be about… And I say this because I'm being very, very bold and very honest about it. This country, it's not called the Divided States Of America; it's called the United States Of America, and we want people to understand that that comes down to the people; that comes down to us. And us being able to not only work with each other, to grow with one another. But when you have certain people in power that do not have your best interests in mind, you have to stand up and make your voice heard. When I see what's going on in regards to people's freedom of speech and it being censored and people being pushed into a corner because of their opinions and what have you. You need to be able to have constructive conversations with each other in order to get actual action to happen for positive change."

Regarding the first single from SHINEDOWN's seventh album, Brent said: "It honestly addresses everything that society has dealt with from a planetary platform, if you will — not just here in the U.S., but the whole world — what the last 18 months has been like, and, at least in our opinion, how we've gotta move forward.

"Listen, the record… We're talking about things that we've never talked about before," he revealed. "We're opening up the conversation into different subject matters that SHINEDOWN has never addressed. We have the full support of our label, our management and hopefully our fanbase, whether they've been there from day one or they're just kind of finding out who we are. But it's a record that I think some people will consider controversial, I think some people will consider to be very provocative, especially for SHINEDOWN, but it's also something that we feel that it is very important and that it is necessary… Don't get me wrong either — there's a lot of triumph on this record, but there's also a lot of having to take a step back and go, 'What's really going on? And how do we stop it from happening if it's going to be something negative on the human race as a whole?' Our society, the way that we live with one another, we share this planet with a lot of different organisms and creatures. It's not just about us. It's important that everybody really takes a step back and doesn't always make it about them. We have to work together — like, all of us; we've really gotta start working together with each other and really creating a positive change forward for not only society but also for this beautiful planet that we've been given."

The follow-up to 2018's "Attention Attention" was recorded in part at a new studio in Charleston, South Carolina spearheaded by the group's bassist and producer Eric Bass.

Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine

The five nominees for the 2022 JUNO Award for "Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year" have been announced. Fighting it out this year are:


- Archspire - Bleed The Future (Season Of Mist)
- Brand of Sacrifice - Lifeblood (Independent)
- Danko Jones - Power Trio (Sonic Unyon)
- Spiritbox - Eternal Blue (Rise/BMG)
- The Agonist - Days Before The World Wept (Napalm)


Spiritbox are also nominated in the "Breakthrough Group Of The Year" category.




A complete list of JUNO Award nominees can be found here.


The 51st Juno Awards are scheduled to take place in Toronto on May 15 at the open-air Budweiser Stage at Ontario Place. The show will be broadcast at 8 PM, ET/5 PM, PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music's Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages. Tickets go on sale March 4 at 10 AM, ET.











(Top photo of The Agonist by Eric Sanchez)

There are few rock guitarists on this planet who have had such a lasting influence on so many renowned musicians as Michael Schenker. With his outstandingly fluid style, inexhaustible wealth of ideas and instinctive feel for hooks and melodies, Michael Schenker is a living legend who, despite his longstanding and distinguished history, still impresses with his unflagging energy and drive. The blond stringsman from Sarstedt, Germany began his international career in the early 1970s with the SCORPIONS, achieved worldwide fame after joining British rock group UFO and then seamlessly continued his exceptional global success story under his own name, as well as with acts such as MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (MSG for short), TEMPLE OF ROCK and MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST. Schenker and his career, which has spanned more than fifty years, are absolute exceptions in the otherwise short-lived music industry.

Now his latest MSG album is about to be unleashed, scheduled for release on Atomic Fire Records on May 27 under the programmatic moniker of "Universal". His latest offering will feature all the strengths of this exceptional musician: first-rate songs with anthemic melodies, catchy guitar riffs and inspiring solos. As we have come to expect from him, Schenker has once again enlisted a number of prestigious fellow musicians for the recording of his new studio production, among them, as main vocalist Ronnie Romero (RAINBOW, VANDENBERG), who will also be MSG's frontman on their upcoming tour, Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN) and Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR), keyboard player Steve Mann (LIONHEART), drummers Simon Phillips (TOTO, THE WHO), Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER), Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW) and Bodo Schopf (ELOY), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (BLACK SABBATH), Barry Sparks (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DOKKEN) and Barend Courbois (BLIND GUARDIAN, ZAKK WYLDE), with Tony Carey as a very special guest.

Like its predecessor "Immortal" (2021) and the MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST albums "Resurrection" (2018) and "Revelation" (2019), "Universal" was produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss (LESSMANN/VOSS, MAD MAX) at Voss's Kidroom Studio, which has become something of a creative home away from home for Schenker.

"Michael Voss is happy to wait until I have worked out an idea and takes the time to really get to know the song, simultaneously developing ideas for the vocals," Schenker describes the fruitful collaboration which has one cog intermesh with the other. "Then we work out the drums, bass and some keyboard parts together. He always has plenty of great ideas up his sleeve."

Compositional highlights abound on "Universal", from the haunting opener "Emergency" and the subsequent "Under Attack" with its casually driving groove to "The Universe", featuring an atmospheric duet by Ronnie Romero and Gary Barden, "Wrecking Ball", performed as brilliantly as ever by Ralf Scheepers, and "London Calling" with its homage to the British capital's musical spirit.

The rock anthem "A King Has Gone" and its intro "Calling Baal" both have a special significance: The track, sung by HELLOWEEN frontman Michael Kiske, is a tribute to the immortal Ronnie James Dio, in particular to his performance on the 1976 hard rock classic "Rainbow Rising". For this reason, Schenker has brought together an original RAINBOW rhythm section consisting of Bobby Rondinelli and Bob Daisley, additionally enlisting keyboardist Tony Carey, who also played on "Rainbow Rising", for a terrific Moog synth intro — a direct reference to the iconic intro of the 1976 album opener "Tarot Woman". The impressive result "Calling Baal"/"A King Has Gone" is already considered to be one of the most important and successful songs in Schenker's career to date, both musically and lyrically.

In line with all these highlights, the spectacular album cover designed by Zsofia Dankova (POWERWOLF, among others) features Schenker in a futuristic spaceship, floating high up in orbit. The artwork is based on the guitarist's own visions.

"I had the original idea for the album cover a few years ago, but only now does it seem to fit perfectly," he says. "So I sent some older sketches to my label Atomic Fire Records, and based on this the final artwork and album title were created."

Photo credit: Tina Korhonen

German progressive metalcore djentlemen Time, The Valuator, have introduced their new lead singer, Daniel Moczarski.


"When we were looking for a new singer, we found Daniel through YouTube covers and auditions for Eskimo Callboy, in which he made it to the shortlist", says the band. "After that, he joined and immediately started working on the new album with us, providing an impressive vocal feat that captures the energy of our style, aside from bringing fresh conceptual ideas to the table. We are looking forward to sharing what we've been cooking up during the last 3 years."


Check out this short snippet of Daniel performing a song from the next Time, The Valuator album:







With songs full of emotion, powerful vocals, and infectious groove, Time, The Valuator have risen to become one of the most promising new acts in the modern rock sphere. The German quintet impresses not only with their music but also with their message. In the words of guitarist Rene Möllenbeck, "Time, The Valuator strive to create something to be remembered."





Lineup:


Daniel Moczarski (vocals, songwriting, co-production)
Rene Möllenbeck (guitars, keys, songwriting, co-production)
Cedric Dreyszas (guitars, songwriting)
Ryan Voosen (bass, co-songwriting, co-production)
Yunus Proch (drums, co-songwriting, production)