Australia's Victoria K will be releasing their first official DVD Live Isolation Concert on January 29, 2021 via Rockshots Records. The top-notch live DVD experience was recorded during the pandemic crisis and includes all the songs from debut album Essentia unleashed during April 2020.

Leading up to the DVD's release, Victoria K is sharing the video clip for the track "Freaks", streaming belwo.

The band adds: "The song Freaks is based on the book Freaks by author Kieran Larwood.  In the book, The Freaks are a band of misfits, trapped in a nightly Victorian sideshow.  The song Freaks, therefore, explores how outcasts don’t fit in with the norms of society and are shunned by others and how these outcasts work through figuring out a way to finally accept and love who they are.

“The DVD was the only way we could share a concert of our music with the world during the global pandemic.  It shows how adaptable and resilient we can all be during times of crisis and that nothing can stop the music that brings people together and transcends race, religion, and even a global crisis.  As artists to be able to leave a legacy even during times of global crisis is humbling and a reminder that we can overcome all adversity.  Critically to be able to give something back to the fans for all their support over the years was very important to us and we a grateful for how the album Essentia was received.  So the live isolation show was really a thank you to all our fans and a reminder that together we can get through this pandemic."

The DVD is available for pre-order here. The live show will be also released as a digital album on the major online stores.

Tracklisting:

"The Haunting"
"Mist Filled Sky"
"Forsaken"
"Humanity"
"Surreal"
"Freaks"
"Shroud Of Solitude"
"Lacuna"
"Freedom Uncharted"
"Matrix"

"Freaks":

For further details, visit Victoria K on Facebook.

 

TEN YEARS AFTER is often considered one of the top and trailblazing blues rock acts of all-time — particularly due to a simply show-stopping performance at the first-ever Woodstock festival in 1969. And from the beginning, the drummer that has kept the beat has been Ric Lee, who recently put pen to paper and wrote his autobiography, "From Headstocks To Woodstock".

"It was something I'd always wanted to do and I actually started it more than 10 years ago, but kept stopping and starting for various reasons," explains Lee. "Then a chance conversation with a friend in Los Angeles persuaded me to get it finished." Comprised of 448 pages, the book is available for purchase directly via Lee's web site, ricleetya.com.

And while the book touches upon all eras of his career, there are certain parts that stand out as favorites for the drummer. "My early days in bands in the Mansfield (my hometown) area, my stories about meeting people like Sir David Frost, Muhammad Ali, THE WHO, LED ZEPPELIN, Miles Davis and many others, and, of course, playing at Woodstock."

As a result, fans will get a better understanding of TEN YEAR AFTER's contribution to rock music in an era when TYA's peers included some of the most renowned names of the classic rock genre. "Hopefully, it'll also be an inspiration to any aspiring young musicians to keep going against all adversity to finally win through," Lee says. "And they'll also need a little luck plus, importantly, the ability to recognize a potential direction that may lead to success."

It turns out that by releasing "From Headstocks To Woodstock", Lee has been bitten by the book bug. "I've started the second volume of my autobiography," he says. "Whether I'll ever get it finished is anybody's guess but I aim to keep going. I also have a novel on the back burner."

And that's not all concerning upcoming projects. TEN YEARS AFTER is planning a new bluesy album to be recorded for release later this year to follow on from the U.S. release in March this year by Deko Entertainment of "A Sting In The Tale" deluxe version." Tours of Europe and the USA, certainly for 2022 and hopefully, depending on the COVID-19 situation and the changes that are bound to follow the pandemic, to maybe tour both continents in summer and autumn of 2021.

EVANESCENCE's Amy Lee took part in a little game of "Rock & Tell" with AXS TV where she showed off all of her amazing memorabilia she has gathered during her time as the frontwoman of the Grammy Award-winning band. Watch the four-and-a-half-minute segment below.

EVANESCENCE's first album of original music in a decade, "The Bitter Truth" will be released on March 26 via BMG.

Fans can pre-order a digital version, CD, vinyl and a limited-edition deluxe fan box set featuring a bonus CD, journal, poster and special cassette of exclusive audio from the making of "The Bitter Truth". Every pre-order will automatically come with downloads of already-released songs "Wasted On You", "The Game Is Over", and "Use My Voice", as well as "Yeah Right".

"The Bitter Truth" is an epic, guitar-driven collection inspired by the (often-bitter) realities of the 21st Century and our world. The already-released songs have received early accolades from Elle, Billboard, SPIN, American Songwriter, and more, and showcase the "ferocious and hymnal" (The New York Times) sound that made EVANESCENCE a household name, as well as the drama and powerhouse vocals that made Amy Lee "one of rock's definitive voices" (Rolling Stone).

EVANESCENCE's new music was produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who also worked on 2011's self-titled LP.

On the topic of "The Bitter Truth" album title, Amy previously told Rock Sound: "As the lyrics had started to form, and just my feeling in this moment in general, there's a big theme of disillusionment for me. Just growing up and seeing that fairy tales aren't really real. And it's hard to be a grownup — it really is. Because somebody else isn't in charge, we really have to be able to make our own decisions, find out our own information, protect ourselves. People die — we're all going to. There's no magic castle. So that sounds like a lot of doom and gloom when I say it, but there's a choice to accept that truth and live in it and embrace it and choose to live and choose to live in a moment, and the choice to just give up. And there's a struggle there, but my choice is most definitely to take that pill."

Malacoda has announced the April release for their next EP, Crawling Chaos, independently. The first single “Crawling Chaos” will hit all streaming services on February 5. Crawling Chaos is the band’s first new release since 2018’s Restless Dreams and is a return to the band’s more cinematic and gothic roots as heard on Ritualis Aeterna (2016) as well as a deeper exploration of melodic vocal hooks as heard on their self-titled debut (2014). In the summer of 2019 the band formed a new live lineup and embarked on a small tour around Ontario, including a final show at Toronto’s legendary Rockpile venue before heading into the studio.

While looking for a drummer, the band recorded throughout the rest of 2019/2020 with friends behind the drum kit.

Tracklisting:

“Crawling Chaos”
“Deadlights”
“From The Depths” (feat. James Delbridge)
“The Harsh Law”

Israeli progressive metal outfit Subterranean Masquerade prepares to release their new single, "Ascend", through Sensory Records this Friday. Preceding its official release, a video for "Ascend" can be seen below.

While their new LP for Sensory Records is finalized for spring release, Subterranean Masquerade presents "Ascend" through a lively video captured on the band's European tour with Orphaned Land before the global pandemic halted performances.

With the new video's premiere, the band's founding guitarist Tomer Pink notes, "It is with an utmost excitement, to finally share with the world 'Ascend,' the first single from our album Mountain Fever, our most diverse album yet. We think there's something for everyone here. Turn off the lights and let's dance!"

Offers the band's new vocalist Vidi Dolev, "We've been working on this one for quite a while and thanks to COVID-19 we have been waiting even longer to release it. We played 'Ascend' live on our latest European tour. We filmed the song throughout the shows and were astonished by how well it was accepted. We dedicate this one to our friends and followers; you might find yourself in this video! A last memory from the live concerts before the world had stopped. Ascend is about the good things that make you feel bad and the bad things that make you feel better. Enjoy."

"Ascend" will see release across all digital services this Friday, January 22, paired with an instrumental version of the song as a bonus track. Find exclusive new merch for the single here.
 
Full details on Subterranean Masquerade's Mountain Fever LP will be issued in the weeks ahead and will see release this spring.

Mountain Fever will be Subterranean Masquerade's their first release for new label home, US-based Sensory Records. Their fourth LP, and sixth overall release, Mountain Fever was recorded between Golan Heights to Fascination Street Studio (engineered by David Castillo) and mixed by Jens Bogren (Leprous, Katatonia, Opeth). Here, Subterranean Masquerade continues pushing the balance between pioneering experimentalism to their own take on modern pop culture and its manifestation in the Middle East. Revealing an album composed of African and Balkan brass sections, Arabic violins, extended vocal techniques, and several special guest appearances, the band explores radio friendly hooks that emerge out of heavy riffs and polychromatic arrangements.

(Photo - Yalon Schori)

Polish pagan alchemists Varmia have premiered their new music video for “Upperan”, the second single from their upcoming third album (and M-Theory Audio debut) bal Lada. The clip was shot on location at a castle in the band's home region of Warmia and features a guest appearance from Polish “whitevoice” vocalist Jagna.

“Upperan” is also now streaming on all major platforms and is one of two instant downloads that are included with digital pre-orders of bal Lada, which will be released on March 12. CD and limited-edition brown-marble double-LP editions of the album are now available for pre-order here.

Varmia pays tribute to their Baltic roots by combining black metal with traditional instruments such as the goat horn and the tagelharpa. All of the group’s albums to date have been recorded in culturally significant regions throughout their native Poland. The band continued this practice during the making of the music video for “Upperan”.
 
Vocalist/guitarist/band founder Lasota had this to say of the video for “Upperan” and the song itself: "An ecstatic dance of flames as they devour the flesh. To disassemble the bones to leave the soul naked in the cold. Nothing brighter than the burning pyre. Nothing colder than the stone stained with the stream of blood. 'Upperan' in ancient Prussian language means "sacrifice." We performed the song at the castle where such stone still stands. Deep in the ground, veiled by the numbness of the centuries, yet still pulsing with its coldness. It conducted these tones."

“The album title 'bal Lada' is a wordplay,” explains Lasota. “It's most obvious in Polish, but should translate well in other languages as well. It means both 'ballad' and 'Lada's ball'. The term 'ballad' could refer to a literary form, but is also understood as a sad song. 'Lada' or 'Lado' is an ancient deity associated with both Baltic and Slavic cult heritage. She and/or he was most likely responsible for harmony, fertility and well-being. The title represents our take on the medieval dance of death concept and its depiction in the danse macabre allegory - the 'bal' of life forces, circle of cycles, primal lusts, desires and thus deprivations and metamorphoses of flesh and spirit. This is a ritual dance in the oldest forest on one hand, but it's also a whole universe's life and death cycle on the other. The lyrics are mainly in Polish, but with some elements of ancient Prussian language. The cover art and graphic design is made by our band member Piotr, who plays all the ethnic instruments on the album. Follow the Moon and walk into the silent woods of Warmia.”

Varmia recently unveiled a taste of the sounds to be found on “bal Lada” with the premiere of the music video for the first single from the record, “bielmo”. The visually stunning tribute to the band's home region can be viewed below.

Varmia was formed in 2016 by vocalist/guitarist/composer Lasota with a mission of fusing black metal with musical influences that pay tribute to the ancient Baltic tribes of the historical Warmia region of northern Poland. On vocal duties, Varmia emits harsh growls that shroud the band's music and native Polish lyrics in a visceral aura, the only breaks from this vocal assault occurring when using the traditional, ancient technique of “whitevoice” clean singing as utilized during ancient East-Central European rituals, rites of passage and festivals. Meanwhile, the power of the band's metal influences are enhanced on Bal Lada by traditional ethnic instrumentation of the Baltic Rites via sounds of tagelharpa, goat horn, wood tuba and krivula. The final result is a compelling mix of dark metallic sounds that channel the spirit of early Enslaved, Satyricon, and Wolves in the Throne Room and folk elements that drive acts such as Wardruna.

Varmia has released two albums to date - 2017's Z mar twych and 2018's W ciele nie. The group records all of their music in culturally significant remote locations throughout their native Poland, and Bal Lada continues that practice, as the 11 tracks of ominous and atmospheric pagan black metal contained within were recorded in a makeshift studio set up by the band in an old 19th-century manor in Northern Poland, where they recorded while playing together as a live unit with no sound editing.

With the forthcoming release of bal Lada, M-Theory Audio is set to spread the band's native sounds to a worldwide audience. Says Lasota, “With two releases so far, Varmia has shouted out the voice of our land mainly on the Polish soil - the voice of disquiet, passion and agitation. It is now time to hear it echo throughout the whole world. Varmia still has many stories to tell, and we are very excited to work with such well-respected people from overseas. We have many spirits yet to summon.”

Lineup:

Lasota - guitars, vocals
Alle - bass, backing vocals
Svarrge - drums
Piotr - percussion, tagelharpa, goat horn, wood tuba, krivula, backing vocals

New England-based extreme metal quintet, Aversed, has released a video for the scientific-inspired track, “Laboratory”, from the band’s upcoming release, Impermanent, out March 19,

“‘Laboratory’ turns self-reflection and actualization on its head, discussing the consequences of ignoring and exploiting the natural world for our own gain regardless of its spiritual or intellectual benefit,” says drummer Jeff Saltzman. “In this interconnected world, we sow the seeds of our mechanized destruction if we only look inward rather than aim to help others."

“Laboratory” was inspired by Saltzman’s own time working in a biology laboratory and its effects on the world outside of the lab. “Despite our cutting-edge research, we weren’t helping a soul,” he says. “What’s the point? ‘Laboratory’ is my criticism of the pursuit of scientific progress just for the sake of progress.”

Mixed and mastered by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy, The Agonist, Shadow Of Intent), Impermanent illustrates Aversed’s unique approach to songwriting with nine diverse compositions full of catchy hooks and vast melodies.

Pre-orders for Impermanent are available now at this location. In addition to the album, a variety of bundles are also available.

With the release of Impermanent, Aversed presents a metal experience cultivated of unprecedented beauty and torment. The third release following 2011’s self-titled EP and 2016’s Renewal EP, Impermanent marks a turning point for the New England scene veterans as they pivot from melodic death metal towards a nuanced balance of blackened and orchestral melodic metal.  

Tracklisting:

"Natsukashi"  
"Close My Eyes"
"Laboratory"
"Impermanent"
"Abandoned"
"The Solar Sea"
"Malaise"
"Spiraling"
"Nightshade"

"Impermanent" video:

Aversed is:

Haydee Irizarry - vocals
Sungwoo Jeong - guitars
Alden Marchand - guitars
Peter Albert de Reyna - bass
Jeff Saltzman - drums

Following the unexpected, sinister cover of Eiffel 65's 1998 hit single "Blue (Da Ba Dee)", orchestral death metal masters Fleshgod Apocalypse have released a playthrough video for their version of the track, featuring their monstrous drummer Eugene Ryabchenko.

Commenting on the playthrough, Ryabchenko states: "Not gonna lie, I never thought a pop hit could be this challenging on drums. With Fleshgod's signature sound the arrangements took a completely different form. I am pretty sure one way or another it "blue" some people's minds."

Frontman Francesco Paoli adds: "We did this cover as a joke, but tracking it wasn't that funny 😅. Seeing is believing!"

Stream "Blue (Turns To Red)" via the digital platforms found here. Check out the official lyric video below.

Fleshgod Apocalypse recently released a new single titled "No", produced by Jacob Hansen (Epica, Volbeat), and an accompanying music video directed by Marina L. McLean (Sanda Movies). The standalone single's cover was created by Travis Smith (Opeth, Katatonia) who also provided the art for the band's recent acoustic rendition of "The Day We'll Be Gone".

Commenting on the single, Fleshgod Apocalypse frontman Francesco Paoli states: "We live in a world where people are searching for easy answers to complex questions. Self-styled gurus, fake news and miracle pills show up on screen as the silver bullet that may cast out all your fears and troubles. If you need shortcuts to dominate the intricate reality we live in, be aware that the outcome might not be what you expect. Will you find a way to save this world on Google? No. Will things change if we don't act? No. Will self-delusions lead us somewhere? No. Can music, and art in general, help us cope with this chaos? Absolutely yes."

Francesco Paoli adds: "This release marks another milestone for our lineup, featuring Veronica, Fabio and Eugene as official band members."

Stream "No" on all digital services, here. Watch the video below:

“It is the year 3025. Humanity has conquered space ... but this is not a fair universe!”

Heavy/power metal band, Airborn, is about to release the Cosmic Rebels video game. Powered by Unity 3D Engine, the game will be available for free on well known indie gaming platform Itch.io, starting on December 20. The game was developed by the band's frontman Alessio Perardi.

After 25 years of career, spent dealing with Sci-fi themes, the next step for the band is to bring fans inside those worlds with an interactive game: a 3D space shooter inspired by old school classics, in a new and modern key. With a 4 chapter single player campaign, Cosmic Rebels will bring you through 12 levels, filled with enemies, giant bosses, bonus stages, ships to unlock, loot and everything else making the life of a space pirate worth living.

Original Soundtrack, available at launch at arpmusic.bandcamp.com, will feature instrumental renditions of Airborn songs, from most recent numbers to fan favourites like “The Hero”, “Heavy Metal Wars” and, of course, “Cosmic Rebels”. The new versions were recorded by Airborn for the video game and were never released before.

Cinematic trailer:

Gameplay preview teaser:

Suit up and prepare to fight the evil corporation that seized the Milky Way, in the epic video game Cosmic Rebels.

Requirements: The game will be available on Windows PC 64bit, with 3D capable video card and will support keyboard and joypad.




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Horror-occult-goth metal/rock fusers, Bloody Hammers, have released a new video trailer for their new horror punk-inspired full-length album. The 11-track offering, Songs Of Unspeakable Terror, is out now via Napalm Records and marks a new, eccentric chapter in the Transylvania County, North Carolina-based husband and wife duo’s musical story.

Watch the trailer, Chats Of Unspeakable Terror #2, below:

Songs Of Unspeakable Terror is available in the following formats:

- CD Jewelcase
- LP Gatefold Black
- LP Gatefold Red/Black Split-Splatter (limited to 100, European Napalm Mailorder Only)
- Deluxe Vinyl Edition: LP Gatefold Red + 2 Patches - (limited to 100, North American Napalm Mailorder Only)
- Digital Album

Order here.

Songs Of Unspeakable Terror tracklisting:

"A Night To Dismember"
"Hands Of The Ripper"
"Witchfinder General"
"Not Of This Earth"
"The Ones Who Own The Dark"
"Waking The Dead"
"Night Of The Witch"
"We Are The Damned"
"The Brain That Wouldn't Die"
"Lucifer's Light"
"I Spit On Your Corpse"

“Not Of This Earth” video:

“Hands Of The Ripper” video:

"A Night To Dismember" video:

Chats Of Unspeakable Terror #1:

Legendary Dutch death doom elite, Asphyx, will release their 10th full studio album, Necroceros, this Friday (January 22) via Century Media Records.

Necroceros was recorded at Tom Meier’s Tom Meier Studio and at Paul Baayens’ The Mörserstudio and then finally mixed and mastered by Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann at Greenman Studios. The album once again features front cover artwork by Axel Hermann.

Necroceros will be available in the following formats:

- Standard Jewelcase CD
- Digital Album
- 180g LP
- Limited Mediabook CD+DVD
- Strictly limited Deluxe Gatefold 2LP+DVD

The limited Mediabook CD edition comes with an expanded booklet of 40 pages as well as the Bonus DVD “30 Years of Death Doom Domination, with over 2 hours of playing time. The DVD contains 2017’s special Asphyx live-show for their 30th band-anniversary with raw and pure camera-sound, as well as rehearsal footage and interviews with all current and former band members who attended this remarkable event.

Watch a trailer for the bonus DVD below:

The strictly limited Deluxe 2LP version of Necroceros is available either as dark green-yellow-white splattered vinyl (Limited to 500x copies via CM Distro or the band) or as white-black marbled vinyl (Limited to 500x copies available from Nuclear Blast). Next to the 30 Years of Death Doom Domination Bonus DVD, this Deluxe format of the album will come in Gatefold packaging with a bonus 12” vinyl, featuring 2 bonus-tracks (“Full Death Metal Scenario” and “Triple D”) on side C and an Etching on side D. This edition also includes the double-sided A2 poster, an exclusive LP booklet of 24 pages as well as an originally signed Asphyx photocard.

The album’s LP version will come on 180g vinyl and with a double-sided A2 poster in the following variations and limitations:

- Black LP: Unlimited
- Clear LP: 200x copies (via CM Webshop Europe)
- Dark green LP: 400x copies (via CM Distro Europe)
- Transparent petrol green LP: 200x copies (via District 19 Webshop)
- Deep blood red LP: 200x copies (via EMP)
- Grey LP: 200x copies (via High Roller)
- Mint colored LP: 200x copies (via Supreme Chaos)
- Transparent blue LP: 200x copies (via Sound Of Records)       
- Olive green LP: 500x copies (via CM USA / All Outlets) *
- Brick red LP: 500x copies (via CM USA / Indie Outlets) *
- White LP: 200x copies (via CM USA / Revolver) *
- Transparent orange LP: 200x copies (via CM USA Webshop) *

* Please note that the US versions of the LP will be available as of February 12, 2021.

Pre-order Necroceros in all its various formats here.

Tracklisting:

"The Sole Cure is Death"
"Molten Black Earth"
"Mount Skull"
"Knights Templar Stand"
"Three Years of Famine"
"Botox Implosion"
"In Blazing Oceans"
"The Nameless Elite"
"Yield or Die"
"Necroceros"

“The Nameless Elite” video:

"Knights Templar Stand" lyric video:

“Botox Implosion” video:

Asphyx lineup:

Martin van Drunen - Vocals
Paul Baayens - Guitars
Alwin Zuur - Bass
Stefan “Husky” Hüskens - Drums

On March 19, Dvne will release their sophomore album, Etemen Ænka, via Metal Blade Records. For a first preview of the record, a video for the new single, "Sì-XIV", can be viewed below.

Dvne comments: "With the context of COVID and the strong travel restrictions we've had in the UK and Europe, shooting 'SI-XIV' was a real challenge, but we're glad we could make it happen. The video was split between two shoots: we worked once again with our close friends Just-Aurèle Meissonnier, Louis Macéra, Gilles Garniers and Michel Jocaille for the creature part of the shoot (shot in Paris); the rest of the video footage was shot in Edinburgh by Calum McMillan and our light tech Sam Jones. We've always loved prosthetic effects and wanted to use our own creations in the video, but the overall aesthetic takes no small amount of inspiration from some of our favourite 70/80s sci-fi horror films. We had this concept of a weird humanoid-type creature facing the overwhelming harshness and the hopeless nature of its existence. The video symbolically follows the narrative theme of the track within the new album, with the creature attempting to escape its nature through metamorphosis throughout the video. It was an incredibly fun few days setting up and shooting all the creature parts in Paris."

Dvne are a band of great contrasts, weaving titanic heaviness and intricate gentleness together, complex lyrical ideas with engaging storylines, and this has only been expanded upon and concentrated on second album Etemen Ænka.

"It's an album that has a narrative musically, and we hope that will encourage the listener to explore the universe we've created around it," states guitarist/vocalist Victor Vicart. "It is a very dense and layered album which will reward multiple listens, and while this is becoming a recurring aspect of our music, we feel that we went further with it this time. It's also a very polarizing album, emotionally speaking. The heavy sections are, well, very heavy, while the clean sections are much more intricate and delicate - and in a way wouldn't be out of place in a Studio Ghibli anime soundtrack."

Exploring everything in greater depth in every way, it is a profound step forward from 2017's Asheran, starting an exciting new chapter in the existence of one of the most thrilling and imaginative metal bands active today.

"We knew we wanted to include keys and synths in the equation. We wanted to be able to add new textures and new sounds that weren't on our previous releases, and we felt that this was something that will give us more options creatively. Looking back, that was a great decision because we've used synths for everything, with ambient sounds, heavy subs and actual leads, which really added a new dynamic to this album. We've also kept this balance between down-tuned heavy riffs and clean movements, which were already present in 'Asheran', but we really wanted to make sure we could capture more details and subtleties once recorded," explains Vicart.

Synths are in fact so present, and at times so unapologetically 80s, that they sound like the soundtrack to a classic sci-fi, which may well surprise fans, the band confident in every step they took musically.

Etemen Ænka is also Dvne's second collaboration with producer Graeme Young in Edinburgh's Chamber Studio, having developed a great working relationship with him on Asheran - "he acts like an extra member of the band and really pushes us to do better takes." This made for a smooth and productive recording process, the challenging part coming before they entered the studio.

"The composition was challenging because we second guess every riff that gets written. We want to keep things fresh, and we want to keep the energy high too, so the initial creative stage can become intense. Then, because our tracks are pretty big and dense with ideas and movements, we didn’t finalize each track structure until we started laying down the drums. But I think it's what made the whole recording process so much fun too, because it allowed us to really think about the different options available without committing to a final structure too early in the process."

The record also features guest vocals courtesy of Lissa Robertson, who sings on "Omega Severer" and "Asphodel" and contributes spoken word on "Weighing Of The Heart" - her voice adding yet another depth to the heavily layered collection.

Etemen Ænka can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:

- digisleeve-CD
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- raisin rouge marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 400 copies)
- grey / yellow-green marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- gold / black dust vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- clear / black dust vinyl (Kings Road exclusive - limited to 100 copies)
- dark goldenrod marbled vinyl (US exclusive)
- clear ash gray marbled vinyl (US exclusive)

Etemen Ænka tracklisting:

"Enûma Eliš"
"Towers"
"Court Of The Matriarch"
"Weighing Of The Heart"
"Omega Severer"
"Adræden"
"Sì-XIV"
"Mleccha"
"Asphodel"
"Satuya"

"Sì-XIV" video:

International heavy metal group, Beast In Black, have released a bass playthrough video for "From Hell With Love". Watch Mate Molnar chugging through the title track from the band's sophomore album, below:

Having released two sensational records through Nuclear Blast Records, Beast In Black have played numerous thrilling shows, including mostly sold out international headline tours in Europe, Russia and Japan, supporting Gloryhammer in the UK and festival appearances around the world (Sweden Rock, Graspop, Summer Breeze, Heavy Montréal etc.)

Now, the five-piece Helsinki based band announce their upcoming European Tour for November / December 2021, which will take them through 13 countries, ready to spew its unrivaled heavy metal fury all over them!

Beast In Black have issued the following statement: "Not easy to say any wise words in these dark times so just let us smoothly announce our upcoming European Tour for November / December 2021! Although it's still far away we hope that everybody who reads these lines now will be able to attend the shows in his / her best health! That's our wish for 2021."

The tour schedule is below.

(Photo - Jarmo Katila / Toni Kilpinen)

TOMAHAWK, the band featuring Duane Denison (THE JESUS LIZARD, UNSEMBLE), Trevor Dunn (MR. BUNGLE, FANTÔMAS), Mike Patton (FAITH NO MORE, MR. BUNGLE) and John Stanier (HELMET, BATTLES), will release its first full-length album in eight years, "Tonic Immobility", on March 26 via Ipecac Recordings.

"'Tonic Immobility' could just be something in the air we're feeling," says Denison. "It's been a rough year between the pandemic and everything else. A lot of people feel somewhat powerless and stuck as they're not able to make a move without second guessing themselves or worrying about the outcomes. For as much as the record possibly reflects that, it's also an escape from the realities of the world. We're not wallowing in negativity or getting political. For me, rock has always been an alternate reality to everything else. I feel like this is yet another example."

Pre-orders are available now, with the album available in the following formats: digital, CD digipak, and 180-gram LP in textured gatefold packaging. Vinyl variants include standard black, coke bottle clear (indie retail exclusive — 5,000 available), opaque metallic silver (Ipecac webstore exclusive — 2000 available), and crystal clear (Newbury Comics exclusive — 1,000 available).

"Tonic Immobility" track listing:

01. SHHH!

02. Valentine Shine

03. Predators and Scavengers

04. Doomsday Fatigue

05. Business Casual

06. Tattoo Zero

07. Fatback

08. Howlie

09. Eureka

10. Sidewinder

11. Recoil

12. Dog Eat Dog

The album art and visualizer were created by Eric Livingston.

2013's "Oddfellows" was TOMAHAWK's first CD in over six years.

TOMAHAWK was dormant for five years after releasing a trio of albums: "Tomahawk" in 2001, "Mit Gas" in 2003 and "Anonymous" in 2007.

Reunited San Francisco Bay Area thrashers VIO-LENCE have entered Trident Studios in Pacheco, California to begin recording their new EP, tentatively due in late summer via Metal Blade Records. Helming the sessions is producer Juan Urteaga, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, MACHINE HEAD and EXODUS, among many others.

Earlier today, guitarist Phil Demmel shared an Instagram photo from the studio, and he wrote in an accompanying caption: "It's been just over 30 years since we've recorded an album together. I never thought this would be happening and that anyone would even care after so long. All of the support is so appreciated and we hope you enjoy the 5 new songs we are tracking. Perry [Strickland, drums] is working hard on his tracks and we'll start guitars next week. Going to be fun. Thanks again for joining us on this ride."

Singer Sean Killian previously described VIO-LENCE's new material as "a cross between 'Eternal [Nightmare]' [1988], 'Oppressing [The Masses]' [1990] and also our '93 demo. It's fast, it's heavy. We've got a couple of good chunk riffs and stuff like that," he explained. "We wanna get stuff in that's gonna start a pit up too. But we think people are gonna go crazy when they hear it. We've got some heavy lyrics, some heavy subjects. I mean, we're not a political band by any means, so when I say 'heavy,' it's just heavy shit that comes out of my demented head."

Last May, Demmel told EXODUS frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza's YouTube channel, Zetro's Toxic Vault, that VIO-LENCE was taking its time coming up with the best material possible. "When [the songs are] ready, they're ready," he said. "This [coronavirus pandemic] has given us more time. But still, it's gotta be fucking killer. I had a riff that the [other] dudes were kind of digging, and I'm all, 'I don't got a boner with this one.' I want a 10-foot boner with everything that we're doing now. It's gotta be better, it's gotta be fucking kick-ass… I don't wanna put out some crap."

In August, VIO-LENCE released a new digital single, "California Über Alles", a cover version of the DEAD KENNEDYS classic. The band also filmed a music video for the song with director Scott Kirkeeng.

In January, VIO-LENCE parted ways with guitarist Ray Vegas and replaced him with Bobby Gustafson (ex-OVERKILL). The band's current lineup also includes bassist Christian Olde Wolbers (ex-FEAR FACTORY).

VIO-LENCE released three studio albums between 1988 and 1993. The group reunited soon after Demmel left MACHINE HEAD in late 2018.

The band performed its first comeback concert in April 2019 at the Oakland Metro in Oakland, California and spent most of the ensuing months playing select shows in the U.S. and Europe.

Although MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn was part of VIO-LENCE's classic incarnation and played on the band's debut album, "Eternal Nightmare", he wasn't approached about taking part in any of the comeback shows.

Killian underwent a successful liver transplant surgery in March 2018. The year before, Killian was diagnosed with stage four liver cirrhosis, which was caused in part by a genetic condition called hemochromatosis.

VIO-LENCE's last album, "Nothing To Gain", was recorded in August 1990, but wasn't released until 1993.

Photo credit: James Willard
























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MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil was a guest on this week's episode of Zane Griggs's "Hunger Hunt Feast" podcast⁠. Speaking about the immense public interest in the band's "The Stadium Tour" with DEF LEPPARD, POISON and Joan Jett, which was originally scheduled to take place this summer before being postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Vince said (see video below): "It's a nice feeling, that so many people want us to get back together. Because we basically broke up five years ago — we basically called it quits and said that it was a good run, it was a lot of fun, okay, we're done. So I continued to tour with my solo band up until COVID, and now I've had basically almost a year off because of not being able to tour with my solo band. 'Cause everything got shut down — everything. But it looks like it's loosening back up. I have a couple of solo shows coming up in the next couple of months. It's gonna be fun just to get back and sing a little bit. I've never gone this long without performing or singing in my entire life, since I was 16. So it'll be fun to just get back out there.

"A lot of people were pretty bummed out when we decided to retire, basically," he added. "The excitement around the tour has just been pretty amazing. We have fans that maybe we didn't know we had. [Singer] Carrie Underwood had her podcast the other day, and she was talking about her number one band that she loves is MÖTLEY CRÜE. And she's been singing MÖTLEY CRÜE since she was a kid, singing 'Smokin' In The Boys Room', 'cause her older sisters thought it was funny. So it's pretty cool. People like that and everything in between. A lot of different generations — there'll be people that grew up with us, and their kids are coming out."

The 30-date "The Stadium Tour" was originally scheduled to kick off this past June. Inspired in part by the success of MÖTLEY CRÜE's Netflix biopic "The Dirt", the trek was meant to run through the entire summer, hitting major cities including Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Detroit before wrapping up September 5 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

When it happens, "The Stadium Tour" will mark the CRÜE's first live dates since wrapping its 2014/2015 farewell tour. CRÜE toured with POISON back in 2011 and DEF LEPPARD teamed up with POISON for a string of road dates in 2017 — but the upcoming jaunt marks the first time all four acts have hit the road together for an extended tour.

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante has recorded a guitar cover version of the IRON MAIDEN classic "Revelations".

Benante uploaded the video to his YouTube channel (see below), and he wrote in an accompanying message: "I've always loved the IRON MAIDEN Song Revelations, I think it's the highlight off of #pieceofmind . I wanted to do a version with just an army of guitars, layer after layer . This is a shorter version than the one I am going to do but you get the idea. I changed it a bit and had fun with it."

Back in 1988, all of the members of ANTHRAX were big IRON MAIDEN fans. Not only did they love MAIDEN's music, but they appreciated and learned from the band's professionalism, the way they cared about their road crew and their fans, examples they apply to this day with their own crew and fanbase.

In support of ANTHRAX's then-new album "Persistence Of Time", the band did two major tours with IRON MAIDEN — the 1988 European leg of Monsters Of Rock, and the European and North American legs of MAIDEN's "No Prayer For The Dying" in 1990-91. Over the course of the two tours, Benante took over for MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain at one show, playing "Number Of The Beast", "Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter" and the show's closer, "Sanctuary". For ANTHRAX's final show of the "No Prayer For The Dying" tour on March 19, 1991 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the band joined MAIDEN on stage to perform "Sanctuary".

"We were always big IRON MAIDEN fans," Benante said. "The two camps always got along. I've known Steve Harris [MAIDEN bassist] since, like, 1982. That guy, to this day, is the same guy that I met back then. He's just a genuine person and just a great guy. I always wanted to model the band after them, 'cause I always felt that they were just so professional and they really cared about their fans and their crew. It's a good vibe with them.

"So we were on tour together. I was watching Nicko play. And I've always said I wanted to get up and play with them. And the one night I got up and played 'Sanctuary'. Fuck, I was on fire that night; I was just flying. I knew all the parts and all the little cues and stuff like that, and at one point, I was playing and I see Bruce [Dickinson, MAIDEN singer] turn around, and he gives me a 'thumbs up.' And I'm, like, 'I know IRON MAIDEN songs. C'mon.' And then, fast forward to about a year or two after that, we were on the 'No Prayer For The Dying' tour, and I got up and played with them again. This time I did two different songs, and the whole band got up and played.

"It was awesome. To be on stage with your heroes, you feel as if your feet are not touching the floor. It's just a weird thing.

"I remember just playing with them, and Steve was coming up and jamming with me.

"If a bubble could have come out of my head like in my comic books, the bubble would have just been, like, 'Fuck!' It was that amazing. And to this day, I love those guys."

Punk rock icons BAD RELIGION have just released "Emancipation Of The Mind", an outtake from the band's critically acclaimed 2019 album "Age Of Unreason". The track's upbeat messaging calls for reason and open-mindedness as a new administration is welcomed into the White House today. BAD RELIGION has always advocated for humanism, reason, and individualism, which has never been more essential.

"I think the song really is a celebration of enlightenment values that can be cultivated through enthusiastic learning and open-mindedness," says co-songwriter and vocalist Greg Graffin. "So often we're told what to think. But learning how to think (as opposed to learning what to think) is a true feeling of emancipation from the constraints of indoctrination that are so commonplace in our society."

Last month, BAD RELIGION celebrated its 40 years of making music with "Decades", a four-episode online streaming event captured live at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, California. The band felt it important to commemorate the conclusion of 2020 as a strange moment in history when they reached that 40-year milestone. The celebratory episodes included live performance footage, exclusive interviews, and a peek at their rehearsals leading up to the taping of "Decades".

In August, BAD RELIGION released its autobiography, "Do What You Want: The Story Of Bad Religion", written with the group's full cooperation and support. It reveals the ups and downs of the band's 40-year career, from their beginnings as teenagers experimenting in a San Fernando Valley garage dubbed "The Hell Hole" to headlining major music festivals around the world. The book predominantly features the four principal voices of BAD RELIGION in a hybrid oral history/narrative format: Graffin, Brett Gurewitz, Jay Bentley and Brian Baker. It also includes rare photos and never-before-seen material from their archives.

In September, Graffin spoke to "The Five Count" radio show about what keeps him inspired to make new music four decades into the veteran punk band's career.

"That's the thing that's unique about BAD RELIGION, is our long catalog, our extensive catalog of songs and albums," he said. "Even though a lot of bands are 40 years old, most of them are playing songs or hits from 30 years ago, because they don't put out new music.

"When BAD RELIGION decides to put out new music, it's not just because the world is in turmoil; I don't think that's very inspiring as a songwriter," he explained.

"We write music that we hope speaks to some kind of a sentiment of optimism, even though our music is rather pessimistic. [Laughs]"

He added: "It's funny, 'cause a lot of fans say, 'Your music is about such serious stuff. A lot of it is tragic stuff about the human condition. But it always makes me feel so good.' [Laughs] And these are not dark people — they're not negative, nihilistic people.

"There's something hopeful and uplifting about our music, and that's something that I do feel a great sense of artistic satisfaction about."

In early 2016, Ricardo Escobar (lead guitar) and Antonio Valdés (bass) arrived in Finland, finally realising their dream of moving to Finland to make metal music. By this point they had been working on a band project that would become Ulthima for 6 years, first in Mexico and then a couple years in France. In Finland they went through several candidates, before finally establishing a stable lineup in late 2018 with Jon Welti on rhythm guitar, Niko Sutinen on keys, Ville Nummisalo on drums and Tuomas Antila on vocals. Last year Ulthima recorded their debut album out of material that has been in the making since the early days of the band in Mexico.

Ricardo’s greatest source of inspiration when writing music for Ulthima has been Finnish death metal of the early 2000’s like Children of Bodom and Kalmah. They have been said to sound a lot like Norther. Ulthima’s music is all about epic melodies, rough vocals and fast riffs.

Ricardo Escobar: "'Tears of Fire' marked the beginning of Ulthima as one of the first songs made for the band while we still performed in Mexico. In my mind it's perhaps the most iconic song of the band, combining epic melodies with some more aggressive riffing."

The band's forthcoming album will be released through Inverse Records. A release date will be revealed soon.

Check out Ulthima's official Facebook page here.

Photo by Juho Suni

SOEN, the progressive heavy rock group featuring world-renowned drummer Martin Lopez (formerly of AMON AMARTH and OPETH), will release its fifth album, "Imperial", on January 29, 2021 via Silver Lining Music. The official music video for the latest single, "Illusion", which follows the tale of a father and daughter in their quest for survival in a dystopian universe, can be seen below. The song is described in a press release as "an addictive ballad brimming with bewitching guitar riffs, powerhouse-soaring chorus and a poignant message for all of us to reflect on."

Says Lopez: "'Illusion' is a song about the shared responsibility amongst us if we wish to improve the world, change has to be made by us, you and me... the people. It's about the frustration of feeling powerless but also the hope in realizing that things can be changed for the better, if we stop criticizing each other and making enemies of ourselves by blindly following the ideas of politicians and their media."

Vocalist Joel Ekelöf adds: "We can't just sit around and wait for those in power to help. They are preoccupied with battling each other in matters of greed and power."

Video producer Daniele Zed Berretta says: "The 'Illusion' video is about dreamers. There are people who are ready to lose everything to follow their dreams, no matter the cost. Others are afraid of making dreams come true, so they stop right before fulfilling them, just to keep dreaming."

"Imperial" continues SOEN's unique journey through the psyche of our species and the conundrum of our times. Founding members Ekelöf and Lopez, along with Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards and guitar), Oleksii "Zlatoyar" Kobel (bass) and Cody Ford (lead guitar) have never shied away from challenging perceptions of life and humanity and have conjured eight crisp and supremely constructed songs spanning themes of frustration, reflection and hope. "Imperial" is the most fierce and dynamic release of SOEN's journey, one which continues to be deeply therapeutic for both the group's dedicated followers and the band themselves.

Lopez states: "In my life, I try to be as real as possible, but I think that the music, and nature, of SOEN are the only place that I really, really feel I can be myself. When you're home, doing music, writing lyrics, that is where you really get to express yourself without any judgement and with total freedom."

Produced by Iñaki Marconi and the band, "Imperial" was mixed and mastered by Kane Churko, who has worked with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Bob Dylan, giving songs such as "Illusion", "Modesty" and the epic closer "Fortune" a dimension and richness which will reach yet more ears and minds. The power and poetry of SOEN's dynamics are honed more now than ever, something which is perversely a product of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It has obviously been a crazy, terrible thing for everyone, and for us as a band it has been really frustrating not being able to play shows," says Martin, "but also it has given us a clear window of opportunity to realize this album completely. We were able to spend 12 hours a day for many months bringing 'Imperial' to the place we truly wanted, mainly working on the groove and flow of the album."

Lead single "Antagonist" storms through the gates with a massive heavy riff of intent, followed by an epic blend of strength, beauty and defiance of all the world's darkest power mongers, captured in the lyrics "Dependency dampens the wild / Inequity weighs down the motion of progress / Life isn't just to survive."

"We will always be a band that has the old will to fight for freedom and all the important things in life, the people, the underdog," says Lopez. "You have to take on the big question marks such as what the fuck are we doing with our lives and where's the empathy. Why do we keep on testing and crushing ourselves as a species?"

"Imperial" track listing:

01. Lumerian

02. Deceiver

03. Monarch

04. Illusion

05. Antagonist

06. Modesty

07. Dissident

08. Fortune

"Imperial" is an album which will engage the listener immediately and sustain long after this crazy time has passed, its rich details destined to make it a classic metal album of this era.

"As we continue, we find inspiration in the sad fact that the world is getting more and more polarized, that it's more complex and it's not consensus or people getting along" says Ekelöf. "We continue to try and understand why and how that will affect us all."

Suzi Quatro, the 70-year-old pioneering female rocker who burst on to the scene in the 1970s, will release a new studio album, "The Devil In Me", on March 26 through SPV/Steamhammer. The disc's first single will arrive on February 19.

The reasons for Suzi's remarkable creative explosion: on the one hand, the lockdown, which kept her from her usual touring life in spring 2020, and on the other another collaboration with her son Richard Tuckey, which had already worked out extremely well on her predecessor album "No Control".

Says Suzi: "Starting spring 2020, almost one hundred of my shows were canceled, and Richard would also have been on tour with his band had not all concerts been canceled or postponed. So I said to him, 'We should make the most of our free time, write new material and allow ourselves to be inspired by the things that are currently going on in the world.'

"I already knew that Richard and I make a brilliant team; after all, 'No Control' had been a major success and a very special recording for us. Although I would never have thought that we'd be able to surpass it. But everybody who's heard 'The Devil In Me' and all the people who had worked on the previous album have told us, 'This album is even stronger.'"

"The Devil In Me" presents Suzi's full range of musical diversity plus a number of surprises. From rock tracks such as "The Devil In Me", "Get Outta Jail", "Motorcity Riders" and "Hey Queenie" to fairly unusual numbers such as the pub atmosphere-inspired "Loves Gone Bad", with its intimate mood, or "In The Dark", which is accompanied by elegant piano and provocative saxophone sounds, Suzi presents herself from a whole range of different aspects.

Suzi says: "Richard wanted this album to have a through line, so that you could put any track on, and it just fit… He also said he wanted this album to be as important and groundbreaking as my first one. So that is how we approached this project, and that is what we accomplished."

Track listing:

CD Version

01. The Devil In Me

02. Hey Queenie

03. Betty Who?

04. You Can‘t Dream It

05. My Heart And Soul (long version)

06. Get Outta Jail

07. Do Ya Dance

08. Isolation Blues

09. I Sold My Soul Today

10. Love‘s Gone Bad

11. In The Dark

12. Motor City Riders

2 LP Version:

Side A:

01. The Devil In Me

02. Hey Queenie

03. Betty Who?

04. You Can‘t Dream It

Side B:

01. My Heart And Soul (long version)

02. Get Outta Jail

03. Do Ya Dance

04. Isolation Blues

Side C:

01. I Sold My Soul Today

02. Love‘s Gone Bad

03. In The Dark

04. Motor City Riders

Side D:

01. Can I Be Your Girl (bonus track)

02. Desperado (bonus track)

LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT, the instrumental progressive rock/metal project featuring DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess and guitarist John Petrucci, alongside ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy and progressive rock icon Tony Levin (bass) of KING CRIMSON and PETER GABRIEL fame, will release its third album, "LTE3", on March 26 via InsideOut Music. The effort will arrive 22 years after the release of 1999's "Liquid Tension Experiment 2".

The official music video for the first single from the album, "The Passage of Time", created by Christian Rios, can be seen below.

Said Portnoy: "'The Passage Of Time' was the very first song we composed together when we reunited this past summer.

"It was so exciting to be back in a room creating together again after so long (22 years for all four of us and over 10 years for the three of us since being together in DREAM THEATER).

"This serves as a great first taste for the listeners as it combines so many of the musical elements that makes LTE unique."

Added Petrucci: "This was the first song we worked on, and when it was done, we all knew once again how amazing it was to be working together. We knew we were on to something and that this was going to be a really amazing album. Nothing about the passage of over two decades could've done anything to change that. To me, this song truly reflects the collaborative songwriting efforts of all four of us."

Rudess stated: "There is an undeniable chemistry that happens when the four of us are together.

"Entering the studio and starting work on 'The Passage Of Time' after 22 years literally gave me a whole new perspective on these important musical (and personal) relationships and the way time is so relative. We just jumped right in — it was like no time had passed at all — and we created a song that has so many of the elements that make LTE unique.

"Not a day has gone by since our last release when I wasn't asked, 'When is LTE getting back together again?' Now we can finally deliver, and I can't wait for everybody to hear our creation."

Levin said: "From the murky depths of the lockdown, LTE has re-emerged, galvanized, dripping with ideas, and taking no prisoners. 'The Passage Of Time' is just the beginning."

"LTE3" track listing:

01. Hypersonic (8:22)

02. Beating The Odds (6:09)

03. Liquid Evolution (3:23)

04. The Passage Of Time (7:32)

05. Chris & Kevin's Amazing Odyssey (5:04)

06. Rhapsody In Blue (13:16)

07. Shades Of Hope (4:42)

08. Key To The Imagination (13:14)

The bonus disc includes almost an hour of improvised jams.

The album will be available as:

* Limited deluxe hot pink 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray Box Set (including a poster and 4 artcards, Blu-ray includes a 5.1 surround mix with visuals, and full band interview from the studio)

* Limited 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook

* Limited 2CD Digipak

* Gatefold black 2LP+CD

*Digital album (2CD)

Last May, Rudess addressed the prospect of a LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT reunion while filming a video message on Cameo, which lets users hire celebrities to record brief, personalized video messages about virtually any topic.

Asked if he thinks LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT will ever get back together, Jordan said: "Well, the answer is we are looking at our schedules, we are organizing a time. With the [coronavirus] pandemic, it's been a little difficult to coordinate personal kind of gatherings, but it looks very good, my friend."

In February 2019, Portnoy and Rudess reunited on stage during the Cruise To The Edge to perform "Instrumedley" from DREAM THEATER / LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT. They were joined by NEAL MORSE BAND guitarist Eric Gillette and HAKEN bassist Conner Green.

Back in April 2015, Portnoy and Rudess both joined the British progressive metal band HAKEN on stage in New York City. Three months earlier, they were photographed having what appeared to be friendly banter at the 2015 NAMM show in Anaheim, California.

Four years ago, Portnoy posted a photo of him hanging out with Petrucci in a move that clearly represented a thawing of tensions between the two musicians who had been friends for more than three decades. More recently, Portnoy laid down the drum tracks on Petrucci's second all-instrumental solo album, "Terminal Velocity", which was released in August through The Orchard Music on John's Sound Mind Music record label.

In February 2019, Rudess discussed his Cruise To The Edge encounter with Portnoy during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation", which is hosted by Eddie Trunk. The keyboardist said: "I think it's really nice. People whose music you love, you wanna see them getting along. So, even from my perspective, I see John and Mike together, and I'm, like, yeah, that makes sense. They were so close. They made so much music together."

He continued: "I told Mike the other night. I said, 'The way I look at our relationship is that we've toured around the world together numerous times, we've written all this music together, we've been on tour buses everywhere. How many people in this lifetime that we're in can you be that close to and have that many experiences with?"

Although Portnoy and his former bandmates in DREAM THEATER engaged in a public war of words following his exit from the group, Rudess said that he harbors no resentment toward his longtime friend.

"When Portnoy left the band, there was tension — natural tension — because it was a big deal," Jordan told "Trunk Nation". "But what's really important to me is finding that… especially somebody who I care about, who I had so much life experience with. And he's a really great guy. There are so many wonderful things about him. So I wanna enjoy that.

"People will say, 'Oh my God! DREAM THEATER is gonna have Portnoy back in the band.' That's not what it's about," Rudess added. "This is about people and people who spent a lot of time together being able to be close together and be friends."

Rudess acknowledged that some of his other DREAM THEATER bandmates have "their own feelings" about maintaining a connection with their former drummer. "But Mike and I enjoyed hanging out and chatting about old times and all the stuff," he said. "So it was really cool."

In November 2017, Mike told Loud that he left DREAM THEATER because he wanted to expand his musical horizons. "[I didn't] want to go to my grave and just be the drummer from DREAM THEATER," he said. "I knew there was way more to what I had to offer."

Photo credit: Tony Levin

Transatlantic - the prog supergroup of Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt & Pete Trewavas - will release their fifth studio album, The Absolute Universe, on February 5. In this new video, Portnoy performs "Looking For The Light":

Representing the band’s first new music since 2014’s Kaleidoscope, with The Absolute Universe the band have done something unique and created two versions of the record: The Absolute Universe: The Breath Of Life (Abridged Version) & The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (Extended Version).

Each album will be available on CD, LP & digitally. But there will also be what has been called The Absolute Universe: The Ultimate Edition, which collects both versions together in one lavish package that includes 5LPs, 3CDs & a Blu-ray that contains a 5.1 surround sound mix with visuals & a behind the scenes documentary. All editions have unique artwork created by Thomas Ewerhard featuring the airship by Pavel Zhovba.

As Portnoy explains: “We've got two versions of this album. There is a two CD presentation, which is 90 minutes long, and a single one - that's 60 minutes. However, the single CD is NOT merely an edited version of the double CD. They each contain alternate versions and even in some cases, new recordings. We wrote fresh lyrics and have different people singing on the single CD version tracks as compared to those on the double CD. Some of the song titles have also been changed, while others might remain the same, but compositionally what you'll hear has been altered. You must appreciate that what we have done is unique. We revamped the songs to make the two versions different.” Pete Trewavas adds: “We did write some new music for the single CD, what's more, there are also differences in the instruments used on some of the tracks across the two records.”

The full list of formats is below, and you can pre-order here

The Absolute Universe: The Breath Of Life (Abridged Version):
- Special Edition CD Digipak
- Gatefold 2LP+CD
- Digital Album

Tracklisting:

"Overture"
"Reaching For The Sky"
"Higher Than The Morning"
"The Darkness In The Light"
"Take Now My Soul"
"Looking For The Light"
"Love Made  A Way" (Prelude)
"Owl Howl"
"Solitude"
"Belong"
"Can You Feel It"
"Looking For The Light" (Reprise)
"The Greatest Story Never Ends"
"Love Made A Way"

The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (Extended Version):
- Special Edition 2CD Digipak
- 3LP+2CD Boxset
- Digital Album

Tracklisting:

Disc 1:
"Overture"
"Heart Like A Whirlwind"
"Higher Than The Morning"
"The Darkness In The Light"
"Swing High, Swing Low"
"Bully"
"Rainbow Sky"
"Looking For The Light"
"The World We Used To Know"

Disc 2:
"The Sun Comes Up Today"
"Love Made A Way" (Prelude)
"Owl Howl"
"Solitude"
"Belong"
"Lonesome Rebel"
"Looking For The Light" (Reprise)
"The Greatest Story Never Ends"
"Love Made A Way"

The Absolute Universe: The Ultimate Edition:
- Limited Deluxe Clear 5LP+3CD+Blu-Ray Box-set – contained within a foil-finished lift-off box with extended 16-page LP booklet & 60x60cm poster

Blu-Ray tracklisting:

"Overture" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Reaching For The Sky" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Higher Than The Morning" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"The Darkness In The Light" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Take Now My Soul" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Bully" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Rainbow Sky" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Looking For The Light" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"The World We Used To Know" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"The Sun Comes Up Today" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Love Made A Way" (Prelude) (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Owl Howl" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Solitude" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Belong" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Lonesome Rebel" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Can You Feel It" (5.1 Surround Mix)
"Looking For The Light" (Reprise) (5.1 Surround Mix)
"The Greatest Story Never Ends "(5.1 Surround Mix)
"Love Made A Way" (5.1 Surround Mix)
The Making of The Absolute Universe (Documentary)

"Looking For The Light" video:

"The World We Used To Know" video:

"Overture / Reaching For The Sky" video:

Trailer:

Initial tracking began in September 2019 when the band met up in Sweden to write and arrange the new material. As Portnoy explains: “Over a period of 10-14 days, we mapped out the songs. Then we all went back to our home studios and did the recording. That's the way we always do it. At one point, though, it was suggested that instead of doing what was by that time going to be a double album, we should just be content to do a single CD.”

“What happened was that everything kept expanding and expanding,” recalls Stolt. “Therefore we decided it made sense to make it a double album. It was Pete and Neal who then came out and said they felt this would be too long, and we should reduce it to one…But we were already recording, and it didn't seem feasible to cut it back. There were so many pieces that each of us loved in what we were planning and didn't want to lose. That's when we ended up in discussions over the best way forward.”

This album also marks a return to the concept album for Transatlantic. “Well, the idea of Transatlantic deciding to do a concept record this time around won't shock anyone, right?” laughs Portnoy. “What we have is essentially one giant composition, split into chapters. The storyline is about the struggles facing everyone in society today.” “We didn't start out with the idea of this being conceptual,” admits Stolt. “The way things work with us is that we have a load of ideas, and these are developed spontaneously when we meet up. Everything happens in the moment.”

So, how does this new ground-breaking album compare to Transatlantic's previous four albums?

“I always try not to compare albums as much as possible,” insists Morse. “It’s very difficult when you’re trying to be creative, because your natural instinct is to constantly compare. But in order to create you have to kind of step away from that. Having said that, I would say this would have more in common with 'The Whirlwind' album  (the band's third, from 2009) than others that we’ve created.” For Trewavas, 'The Absolute Universe' is a momentous project.

“I think it is right up there with the very finest albums we've done. As the others have said, it compares very well to 'The Whirlwind', which I believe represents Transatlantic at our best. As on that album, we took our time to write and arrange everything, and that shines through. I am very excited for people to hear it.”

Transatlantic were originally formed in 1999, releasing their debut album SMTPe the following year as well as its follow-up Bridge Across Forever in 2001. Following a 7-year hiatus, the band reconvened to record and release the much-acclaimed epic 77-minute, single-track album The Whirlwind followed by a world tour in 2010 which included an appearance at High Voltage Festival in London where they were joined by legendary Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. The band’s fourth album Kaleidoscope arrived in 2014, going on to win ‘Album Of The Year’ at the Progressive Music Awards.

Frontiers Music Srl will release "One Shot", the new solo album from Danish vocalist Ronnie Atkins, album on March 12. The official music video for the disc's second single, the title track, can be seen below.

"To be honest, I initially had no intention to do a solo album to begin with, but for various reasons, and in particularly my own personal health situation, I finally decided to have a crack at it," says Atkins.

"Around Easter 2020, and only some six weeks after I was told that everything seemingly looked very positive for my health, I was, unfortunately, diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and told it was incurable, which was devastating news for me. Needless to say, that was a total game changer and I went into kind of a panic situation for a while. But when the dust had settled, I realized there were two ways to approach the situation. I could sit down, accept the facts, and feel pity for myself or I could pull myself up, set some goals, pursue my dreams, and carry on living. And with fantastic backup from my family and true friends, I went for the latter."

With the global pandemic shutting down touring for the foreseeable future, Atkins knew a tour promoting the latest PRETTY MAIDS album, "Undress Your Madness" (2019), was not going to be in the cards anytime soon. Suddenly, the timing for working on a new solo album seemed to have presented itself.

"Well, I couldn't change the way things were, by any means," he says. "The whole world was on a lockdown and the future prospects of concerts were very uncertain and still is to this day. Basically, that meant that if I was gonna carry out the idea of a solo album, it had to be now since I don't necessarily have all the time in the world. I had all these ideas recorded on my iPhone that I felt were too good to never see the light of day and I was writing a lot at the time to help ease my frustrations."

Ronnie's next step was to hook up with good friend and PRETTY MAIDS bandmate and producer Chris Laney to begin the work of putting these ideas together into songs. Chris is overseeing production, Jacob Hansen will mix, and musicians/singers appearing on the album include, in addition to Laney, Allan Sørensen, Morten Sandager, Pontus Egberg, Pontus Norgren, Kee Marcello, Olliver Hartmann, John Berg, Anders Ringman, Linnea Vikström Egg and Björn Strid.

"Not being able to handle the recordings myself since I'm old school and a complete idiot when it comes to IT, Pro Tools, etc. I hooked up with my PRETTY MAIDS friend and firesoul Chris Laney, who literally cheered me up and convinced me to go ahead with it," Ronnie says. "So, I decided to get moving and literally recorded my ideas on either piano or guitar and with a mellotron click to keep the beat and the accompanying vocal. Then I would send these along to Chris, who did the instrumentation in Stockholm and would then send back demos to me. Then I recorded the vocals first, which is totally the opposite of what you'd normally do, but based on the uncertainty of my health situation, I wanted to get them down. After that we did the basic tracks, drums, guitars, keys, backing vocals, etc. Odd way of doing it, for me at least, but it worked. And so, this procedure slowly moved on during the summer and finally turned into an album of 12 new songs."

"I wouldn't have been able to carry out this project without the enthusiasm of Chris, who has been my constant partner in this project from day one," Atkins adds. "On top of that, I had the pleasure of working with a variety of great musicians/singers such as Pontus Norgren, Kee Marcello, Olliver Hartmann, Pontus Egberg, Linnea Vickström Egg, Björn Strid, and at last, but not at least, my PRETTY MAIDS relatives Allan Sørensen and Morten Sandager.

"Musically and lyrically, this album has been a different process for me, considering everything going on. Musically, it could have gone in various directions. It's always a question of what you want it to be. A good song is a good song, so it's really a matter of how it is packaged. But I decided to make it appeal to the fans, the supporters who've been following me for almost 40 years, so this is basically a melodic rock album with a heavy twist. Lyrically, it also has a different approach. I found it hard to write about sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll, etc. due to the situation I'm wrapped up in, so I guess it turned out a bit more personal and maybe melancholic at times. But it reflects my thoughts at the given time these lyrics were written."

"One Shot" track listing:

01. Real

02. Scorpio

03. One Shot

04. Subjugated

05. Frequency Of Love

06. Before The Rise Of An Empire

07. Miles Away

08. Picture Yourself

09. I Prophesize

10. One By One

11. When Dreams Are Not Enough

Lineup:

Ronnie Atkins: Lead and backing vocals

Chris Laney: Rhythm guitars, keyboards and backing vocals

Allan Sørensen: Drums

Morten Sandager: Keyboards

Pontus Egberg: Bass

Acoustic guitars: Anders Ringman

Lead guitars/solos: Pontus Norgren, Kee Marcello, Olliver Hartmann, John Berg, Chris Laney

Additional backing vocals: Chris Laney, Linnea Vikström Egg, Olliver Hartmann, Björn Strid

Produced by: Chris Laney

Mixed by Jacob Hansen

The 56-year-old Atkins was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019 and underwent at least 33 radiation and four chemotherapy treatments in the fall of that year before being declared cancer-free. In October 2020, he announced that his cancer had returned.

Photo credit: Tallee Savage

Canadian producer Bob Rock, who has been responsible for some of the biggest rock and metal albums of the last 30 years, including all of METALLICA's studio output during the 1990s and early 2000s, has sold his share of rights from a catalog of 43 songs to Hipgnosis Songs Fund.

Rock first teamed with METALLICA for the band's self-titled 1991 album (a.k.a. "The Black Album"). The Elektra set debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for 281 weeks. Rock helmed METALLICA's subsequent albums, through 2003's "St. Anger".

"The breadth of Bob Rock's enormous successes are almost impossible to match by any creator in the history of music," said Hipgnosis Songs founder Merck Mercuriadis. "From METALLICA's most famous Black Album to Michael Bublé's 'Christmas', he has produced some of the biggest albums of all time that continue to be evergreen, year in and year out.

"Everyone who has worked with Bob knows he is a difference maker, which is why the artists he has produced end up making multiple albums with him which are almost always their biggest successes.

"Bob is very special and as a fellow Canadian, it is a pleasure to welcome him and his incredible productions to the Hipgnosis family."

Rock was represented by longtime manager Bruce Allen and lawyer Mark L. Kovinsky.

Rock said: "I put my heart and soul into these recordings.

"I know how much Merck loves music, so it was an easy deal to put together.

Allen said: "I've known Merck for years. He has a passion for music and those who make it. I look forward to working with Hipgnosis."

"Metallica" was the pivotal moment in METALLICA's evolution into the premier heavy metal band and, as one of the bestselling albums of the last 30 years, launched the group into true mainstream global superstardom. Debuting at No. 1 in 10 countries, the LP spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard Top 200 and in December 2019 became the fourth release in history to enter its 550th week on the Billboard 200. Achieving widespread commercial acclaim, "The Black Album" was named No. 255 by Rolling Stone in its "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" chart. Its five singles — "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters", "Wherever I May Roam" and "Sad But True" — are all considered to be among METALLICA's best-known songs. Songs from the album have been streamed more than seven billion times across all services, just in time to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

In 2014, "Metallica" became the first album to sell 16 million copies since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking sales in 1991.

"Metallica" in 2009 surpassed SHANIA TWAIN's 1997 record, "Come On Over", as the best-selling CD of the SoundScan era.

Rock, 66, told Reuters in 2006 that he felt "20 years younger" after his split with METALLICA, whose last studio effort, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", was helmed by Greg Fidelman.

During the making of 2003's "St. Anger", a petition that some 1,500 fans signed subsequently was posted online calling for METALLICA to dump Rock, claiming he had too much influence on the band's sound.

"The criticism was hurtful for my kids, who read it and don't understand the circumstances," Rock told Reuters. "Sometimes, even with a great coach, a team keeps losing. You have to get new blood in there."

METALLICA co-manager Peter Mensch argued that Rock "nursed METALLICA out of almost complete collapse on that record. Bob is one of the five best producers on the planet. But it was time to shake things

FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares says that his vehicle was struck by a bullet earlier today.

The 54-year-old musician, who lives in Los Angeles, took to his Twitter this afternoon to share a photo of his car windshield, with the bullet still stuck in the glass.

He wrote in an accompanying message: "Bullet hole in my windshield today, Los Angeles Police Department asked me if I have any enemy's I said 'yes' and named 3 people. Let's see where this investigation goes. LAPD said it looks like a 45 caliber, it's a big bullet."

When one Twitter user commented that it's "interesting" that the bullet "didn't go all the way through," Cazares responded: "The metal bar that's part of the frame that holds the front dash stopped it from going all the way through".

Last weekend, Dino revealed in an interview that the new FEAR FACTORY album will arrive in the next "two or three months." A single will precede the full-length effort "soon."

In September, singer Burton C. Bell issued a statement officially announcing his departure from FEAR FACTORY, saying that he "cannot align" himself with someone whom he does not trust or respect.

Bell's exit from FEAR FACTORY came more than two weeks after Cazares launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist him with the production costs associated with the release of FEAR FACTORY's long-awaited new album.

Bell later told Kerrang! magazine that his split with FEAR FACTORY was a long time coming. "It's been on my mind for a while. These lawsuits [over the rights to the FEAR FACTORY name] just drained me. The egos. The greed. Not just from bandmembers, but from the attorneys involved. I just lost my love for it.

"With FEAR FACTORY, it's just constantly been, like, 'What?!' You can only take so much. I felt like 30 years was a good run. Those albums I've done with FEAR FACTORY will always be out there. I'll always be part of that. I just felt like it was time to move forward."

Pressed about whether there is any chance of a reconciliation with FEAR FACTORY down the line, Burton said: "I'm done. I haven't spoken to Dino in three years. I haven't spoken to Raymond [Herrera, drums] and Christian [Olde Wolbers, bass] in longer than that, and I have no intention to. I'm just moving forward with my life."

In October, Dino issued a statement in which he said that the door for Burton to come back to FEAR FACTORY wouldn't "stay open forever." The guitarist also revealed that Burton "lost his legal rights" to the FEAR FACTORY name "after a long court battle" with Herrera and Olde Wolbers. "I had the opportunity to do something right, and I felt that obtaining the name in full was the right thing to do for the both of us, so after nearly four years we can continue as FEAR FACTORY, to make more records and to tour," he said. "That is why it is sad to hear that he decided to quit and, in my opinion, for whatever issues he has it seems like it could've been worked out."

In explaining his reasons for starting a fundraising campaign, Cazares said that all donations will go toward covering newly incurred production costs involved with the making of the new FEAR FACTORY LP, including re-recording the drums, guitars, bass and keyboards, as well as mixing and mastering by Andy Sneap. Burton's original lead vocals, which were recorded in full in 2017, will remain on the new version of the album.

FEAR FACTORY's fundraising campaign marked the first public activity from the band since it completed a 2016 U.S. headlining tour on which it performed its classic second album, "Demanufacture", in its entirety.




Bullet hole in my windshield today, Los Angles Police Department asked me if I have any enemy’s I said “yes” and named 3 people. Let’s see where this investigation goes. LAPD said it looks like a 45 caliber, it’s a big bullet. pic.twitter.com/VArPo8i9XV

— Dino Cazares (@DinoCazares) January 21, 2021








The metal bar that’s part of the frame that holds the front dash stopped it from going all the way through https://t.co/GlGF649hex

— Dino Cazares (@DinoCazares) January 21, 2021








The bar that’s part of the frame that holds the dashon the inside stopped it from going all the way through https://t.co/GlGF649hex

— Dino Cazares (@DinoCazares) January 21, 2021

In the two years since Memoriam released Requiem For Mankind, the band haven't rested on their laurels. Their fourth studio album, To The End, is due for release on March 26th via Reaper Entertainment. Today, the band presents the first digital single "Onwards Into Battle". The song is available on every major streaming platform now. The official lyric video can be viewed below.

Vocalist Karl Willetts comments: "'Onwards Into Battle' is the opening track from the new album, To The End. A powerful introduction that sets the tone of the album and gives the listener a taste of what is to come. Lyrically, the track provides continuity from the previous album, Requiem For Mankind, and is similar in many ways to the track 'Fixed Bayonets'. 

The lyrics focus on the start of battle Zero Hour which is appropriate for the start of the album, within the theme of war the lyrics explore the brutally of trench warfare specifically. 

The war continues. Let battle commence."

Marking the beginning of a second trilogy of albums, To The End serves as something of a prologue to the first three Memoriam albums. Working backwards and narrating the life story of the leader whose demise was depicted in the first trilogy, the lyrics on the album may play out in a fictional realm, but they incorporate inspiration from real life. A central theme of war is coloured with political fulminations and everyday experiences that combine to create a cohesive and enthralling chronicle.

The four-piece returned to producer, Russ Russell, for the recording of To The End. For the first time, the band demoed the songs and entered the studio with a new level of preparedness. Coupled with their close relationship with Russell, this created an environment that allowed for greater experimentation, as demonstrated by the diverse array of textures and sounds present on the nine tracks on the album.

From the earliest days of the band, they had their eye on the art Dan Seagrave (Benediction, Dismember, Hypocrisy, Suffocation etc) as an accompaniment to their music. Having created the artwork for the first three Memoriam albums, he has also created the cover for To The End.

The band comment:

"We are really chuffed to be collaborating with Dan, his vision and interpretation of ideas are totally unique and its fantastic to be involved in the creative process with him - seeing the ideas that we have transformed into stunning images that we are proud to have as artwork for our albums. His style is second to none, so much so that using any other artist at this point would seem like a compromise; his attention to detail is incredible. To The End is the first album of this trilogy and features the events that led up to the scenes depicted on our first album, For the Fallen. The art shows the king leading his troops into the last battle in which he was killed. It looks bloody killer."

Seagrave elaborates:

"In this moment we’re capturing the dawn of the onslaught of the city; visible from the industrial outskirts, as the forces descend with a pincer movement into the valley, spreading destruction towards their goal. The king character to me at this stage has become something of a creature - beyond human. There is an elemental shift in its DNA and a detachment of its ordinary senses. Held together by earthly materials, I feel its presence brings with it a surrealistic sickness that affects the immediate environment and those who tread within its boundaries.

"My aesthetic look of this was to combine the retro military tech of the early 20th century with the memory of renaissance times art. For example, tanks that have bas relief sculpture, and inventions such as the flying wingsuit - a metallic armoured vehicle contraption worn by the foreground figure. There's less of a literal darkness in the depiction. Here there seems to be a permeating flow of dust particles, like a concocting mist of specular ice and grey concrete. The dawn of a bright day reacting with it, both illuminating and deadly."

Memoriam is:

Karl Willetts - vocals (ex-Bolt Thrower)
Frank Healy - bass (ex-Benediction)
Spike T Smith - drums (Sacrilege, Conflict, Killing Joke, The Damned)
Scott Fairfax - guitars (As The World Dies, ex-Benediction)

Helsinki-based symphonic death/black metal band Abstrakt released their second single Etherstorms from the upcoming second studio album, Uncreation. The album is set to be released on February 25th via Inverse Records. 

The band comments: "Even though 'Radiant Darkness' left you missing some teeth and with blackened eyes, it was just a calm before the storm. The esoteric rage of 'Etherstorms', massive choirs and overwhelming orchestrations will expand the listener's mind and open a portal to another dimension."

 
  
Following is a brief band history:

"Abstrakt was formed by Nightderanger and Azul Corax in spring of 2008. Abstrakt was a two-man project and our first demo was recorded with session musicians in February 2011. Progress was slow but steady and after two more demos, we began to create our first album, Obsidian and to recruit more musicians. Obsidian was published in November 2013 and finally in spring of 2014 it was time for our first gig. Shortly after our first gigs, we were again without a drummer and bassist. Nightderanger, Azul Corax and Apostate continued composing new material. In August 2016 we recorded our last demo, which included three songs which all are included in our second album. We regained a full line-up and some gigs were played. In January 2019 the final recordings of our second album had begun, slowly but surely, and the recordings were completed in October 2020. Now our second album, Uncreation, is finished and Abstrakt is in its best shape ever, hungrier, angrier and better than ever before."

Tracklist:

"Ex Vanitas"
"From Chaos to Creation"
"Etherstorms"
"The Great Chasm of Humanity"
"Prophet of Fire"
"The Ascendant"
"Inferno"
"Radiant Darkness"
"Screaming for Vengeance"
"Uncreation"

Bitter Loss Records has announced April 30th as the international release date for Within Death - the debut album from Australian old-school death metal band The Plague - on CD and Vinyl LP formats.

Formed in 2016 in Sydney, The Plague self-released their debut EP, Mass Genocide, in 2017 and thereafter spent a great deal of time as a force on the live front, supporting Angelcorpse, Master, Entombed A.D., and Ensiferum among many others. And while Mass Genocide is a monster in its own right, The Plague make their ultimate first statement on Within Death.

Brimming with both crush and clarity, Within Death is as aptly titled as it comes: this is death metal for death metal maniacs by death metal maniacs. Each song literally explodes with intensity and focus, fiercely sharpened to a lethal degree by The Plague. And each of those ten songs gets in, gets out, and fucking destroys! Simply put, Within Death is a stunning 34-minute display of deadly economy - no fat, no filler, no escape!

Find out for yourself with the brand new video for "Spawn Of Monstrosity":

Pre-order your copy of Within Death at this location.

Tracklisting:

"Mind Eraser"
"Torment The Living"
"Spawn Of Monstrosity"
"Effigy Of The Rotten"
"Hand Of Greed"
"Drones"
"Slave To Addiction"
"Dismal Solitude"
"Within Death"
"Festering In Sickness"

For further details, visit The Plague on Facebook.

 

One week ago, "An Epoch Ellipsis", the second single of The Amenta's forthcoming album Revelator, was unveiled. Now, Debemur Morti Productions presents a sinister and horror-esk video clip for the composition. The black and white visual components of The Amenta's art complete the nasty and unrelenting, yet often complex sonic approach. Together, the moving pictures and the aural attack form a tantalizing unity.

In contrast to the video clip for the first single "Sere Money", The Amenta decided to craft moving pictures in black and white for "An Epoch Ellipsis". This has a reason, as composer and keyboard player Timothy Pope explains elaborately:

"The black and white style for this film clip seemed to suit the track well, which is a much nastier affair than the last single ‘Sere Money’. Where that clip was a multi-coloured fever dream, this time we wanted to show something that was a bit darker and grimier, and the black and white style seemed the perfect way to show this while differentiating the two clips.

The last clip was filmed by our vocalist, Cain Cressall, in Perth where COVID was less of a concern and he was able to bring together a larger crew and cast. This time, we filmed in all the home states of the band and we were forced to be a lot more economical with our production as we had recently had some resurgence of the virus and couldn’t get out as much, but I don’t think that held us back. All it did was force us to dig into our subconscious to pull out images that are perhaps simpler, but effective on a gut level."

Taking a closer look at the perfomance of frontman Cain in this video clip, one cannot help but notice that some similarities to the rite of crucifixion exist:

"Cain’s shots were inspired by religious iconography, particularly Catholic images of the crucifixion, as they speak to even the irreligious on a primal level. I think that may be mixed in with some inspiration for films like Begotten and Andres Serrano’s Piss Christ images. All that inspiration goes into our brains and gets spewed out, alchemically changed as something new. When we are talking about imagery and themes, especially this time around, we’re less interested in what they mean, more interested in how the 'feel'. If the juxtaposition of images feels true in some primal sense then the meaning is inherent, even if it isn’t clear. Which is a fancy way of saying that the imagery is there to spark interest and confusion in equal measure. To shoot Cain’s parts, we once again worked with Garth Hurley (who also edited the film clip) who shot and directed the ‘Sere Money’ clip as well. Cain and Garth created a pool filled with blackened water. I don’t know what substance they used to blacken the water. Considering Cain’s predilection for maggots and rot, I’m too afraid to ask. The room was blacked out with black plastic, as all our shots were, and Cain tried to sing while drowning himself in the black pool," narrates Timothy Pope about the genesis of the clip.

Revelator will be released on CD, vinyl, tape and digitally on February 19th. Pre-orders can be placed now in both the band's EU shop and US shop.

Recorded by the band and mixed by guitarist Erik Miehs, Revelator is the most openly organic and crushing the band has sounded to date. Mastering has been meticulously crafted by Maor Applebaum (Faith No More, Sepultura) and the album features artwork by the legendary Metastazis (Morbid Angel, Behemoth). Graced with an incisively dynamic pummeling from drummer-extraordinaire David Haley (Psycroptic, Pestilence) and an avowedly contemporary, genre-defying performance from vocalist Cain Cressall, Revelator sees a band always dead-set on boundary-pushing reveling in a fresh sense of renewal as they combine harrowing concepts, inventively virtuous musicianship and immediate song craft into the landmark record of a lauded career.

Tracklisting:

"An Epoch Ellipsis"
"Sere Money"
"Silent Twin"
"Psoriastasis"
"Twined Towers"
"Parasight Lost"
"Wonderlost"
"Overpast"
"Parse Over"

"Sere Money":