Dark folk project, The Devil's Trade, has released a live video for the highly emotional track, "Dead Sister". The song is taken from TDT's debut album, The Call Of The Iron Peak, which is out now. The video was recorded during the very special album release show in Budapest last month.

The Devil's Trade comments: "After a seven months long hiatus in playing live, especially in these times of uncertainty and resignation, stepping on a stage was such a moving experience! I know I am among the luckiest musicians to have the chance to do what I love the most and can't give enough thanks the people who made this possible. The venue Dürer Kert is one of the last independent underground facilities in Hungary that is home for so many musicians and music lovers since 2008. It is now the next victim of the greed of our government. Not only do we have all these beautiful memories of the concerts of the bands we admire or our own shows but a few hundred bands had their rehearsal places and studios here. Both of the last two The Devil's Trade albums were recorded here. This place was a shelter for us but we have to move out and the venue has a hopeless future too. The release show of 'The Call Of The Iron Peak' was the last one for me there."

The Call Of The Iron Peak can be ordered here.

Tracklisting:

"The Iron Peak"
"Dead Sister"
"III"
"No Arrival"
"Expelling Of The Crafty Ape"
"IIIIIIIIIIII"
"Három Árva"
"Eyes In The Fire"
"IIIIII"
"Dreams From The Rot"
"The Call Of The Iron Peak"

Album stream:




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Spanish melodic death metal band Dormanth, has revealed details of what will be their fourth album to be entitled Complete Downfall, which will be released December 15th, 2020 through Xtreem Music on CD format.

Complete Downfall contains 11 tracks where the double bass drums, melodies and catchy choruses prevail in many of the songs along with other mid tempo tunes, continuing their traditional style of melodic death metal influenced by Paradise Lost, Amorphis, Amon Amarth, and In Flames.

Tracklisting:

"Dreamcatcher"
"Fire"
"Tragicomic Day"
"Beyond The Gates"
"Odyssey In Time"
"The Origin"
"Dark Times For The God's Creation"
"-273º K"
"Brainstorm"
"Crystal Bone"
"Bloody Scars"

"Fire":

 

 




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Rochester, NY band Ovtlier have signed with Zoid Entertainment, who will be releasing the band's single, "Who We Are", on October 23rd via INgrooves.

Ovtlier is a band that the Zoid Entertainment team believes in: “When their manager (Dennis Sanders) played Who We are, we felt this was a project on which we wanted to work,” said Zoid President Peter Tsiolis. “As we continued to discuss what role we could play in the band’s future,” he continued, “we decided we wanted Ovtlier to be part of what is an extremely limited roster of bands that we want to have on the label side of Zoid Entertainment Group.”

“We believe 'Who We Are' is a beginning full of promise,” Tsiolis said. “The hook is infectious, and the lyrics will speak to today’s youth in a way that has been missing in recent years. “With the release of the track on October 23rd, we start the journey together with Ovtlier and INgrooves.”

The band premiered their official music video for single "Who We Are" back in July. Watch below.

"Who We Are" is about accepting the individuality of ourselves and others. Understanding that trauma, especially stemming back to childhood plays a vital role in the years to come of ones life. We all have things that shape and make us into who and what we are."" says Arena.

Ovtlier has grown into a roaring rock band of stadium ambitions. Led by the enigmatic frontman Joey Arena, Ovlier has already captured the hearts of more than 60K daily followers online, more than 2.1 million views of fan-curated content on YouTube, over half a million streams Spotify, and has been selling out shows around the Northeast. Their latest release, What Doesn’t Kill You, takes the listener on a roller-coaster jaunt. Drawing influences from Breaking Benjamin, 30 Seconds To Mars, Korn, Periphery and others, Ovtlier brings the rock and metal edge to a new height of intensity.

The band's first single "Buried Me Alive" is in regular rotation at Octane/ Accelerator. Watch the video below:

(Photo - Taylor Rambo)




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West Virginia metal outfit, Byzantine, pay special tribute to late Megadeth drummer Nick Menza on the 30th anniversary of Rust In Peace.

Says the band: "Today marks the 30th anniversary of Megadeth's Rust In Peace! It made sense to not only celebrate this monumental record but to also honor the man behind the kit; the late, great Nick Menza! Using footage from his final studio recording - we bring you, 'Tornado Of Souls'! Hope you guys enjoy!

"Nick rightfully earned his place as heavy metal's fiercest drummer during Megadeth 10-year peak at the top."

- Byzantine Videography: Screaming Butterfly Entertainment
- Audio engineering: John Gasper at Seven West Studio and Jay Hannon at 7over8 Recording Studio
- Mixed and mastered by Jay Hannon at 7over8 Studios




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German death metal unit Act Of Creation are back with The Uncertain Light, the follow-up to their 2014 offering Thion, which is set to be released on October 16th via Black Sunset / MDD.

This five-piece was previously known as E605, being among the veterans of the German death metal scene. They have just issued a new video for the track "Break New Ground", which can be seen below.

The drums for The Uncertain Light were recorded at Kohlekeller Studios, while the other parts were set up at Cursed Studios. Mix and mastering was done by Dennis Koehne (Sodom, Exhumer, Caliban), while the artwork was conceived by Timon Kokott.

Tracklisting:

"The Burning Place"
"Break New Ground"
"Violet Red"
"Reflection"
"Sector F"
"Legion"
"State Of Agony"
"Confused Illusion"
"Hatefriend"
"The Uncertain Light"

Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.

(Photo by Peter Herzmoneit)




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BMG has announced the release of IRON MAIDEN's new double live album on November 20 worldwide. Containing over 100 minutes of classic Maiden music and available in multiple formats, including a limited edition Mexican Flag, triple colored (180g) vinyl and a limited-edition deluxe two-CD book format, "Nights Of The Dead, Legacy Of The Beast: Live In Mexico City" was recorded during the band's three sold-out arena shows there in September 2019 and is a celebration of their "Legacy Of The Beast" world tour which began in 2018 and will finish next summer in Europe.

The track listing is:

01. Churchill's Speech

02. Aces High

03. Where Eagles Dare

04. 2 Minutes To Midnight

05. The Clansman

06. The Trooper

07. Revelations

08. For The Greater Good Of God

09. The Wicker Man

10. Sign Of The Cross

11. Flight Of Icarus

12. Fear Of The Dark

13. Iron Maiden

14. The Number Of The Beast

15. The Evil That Men Do

16. Hallowed Be Thy Name

17. Run To The Hills

IRON MAIDEN founder and bass player Steve Harris comments: "When the final leg of our 2020 'Legacy' tour this summer had to be cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, the whole band was very disappointed and deflated and we know our fans felt the same. We'd been really looking forward to bringing the show to even more countries and although we've been able to reschedule most of our European own-shows for 2021, we thought we'd take a listen to the recordings from the tour so far and see if we could create a definitive live album souvenir that everyone, everywhere could enjoy. I'm very pleased with the results, especially as this set list includes songs which have never made it to a live CD before, such as 'For The Greater Good Of God' and other older songs like 'Where Eagles Dare', 'Flight Of Icarus', 'The Clansman' and 'Sign Of The Cross', which haven't been included in our live set releases for many years.

"We've never released a live album from Mexico before and I think this recording does justice to the passion and joy of our Mexican fans who always give us such a fantastic welcome whenever we play there."

MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood adds: "All the shows on the tour so far have been amazing and our fans have loved the whole 'Legacy' extravaganza with the elaborately themed stages, props and drapes, not to mention the killer setlist!

"When our 2020 tour got cancelled, putting together a live album seemed the obvious thing to do and I think Steve, along with co-producer Tony Newton, has perfectly captured the essence of the 70,000-strong crowd across these three nights in Mexico City.

"The album serves both as a celebration of this tour, which almost two million fans have already seen, and as a taster for, hopefully, next year's final run for anyone who hasn't yet experienced the show."

The album will be available in these formats:

* 2-CD digipak

* Limited-edition deluxe 2-CD book format

* Heavyweight 180g triple black vinyl

* Limited-edition heavyweight 180g Mexican flag triple colored vinyl

* Digital (streaming and download).

Last year, it was rumored that IRON MAIDEN had completed work on a new studio album. The group hasn't issued any fresh music since 2015's "The Book Of Souls" LP, which was recorded in late 2014 in Paris, France with longtime producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley.

If the reports of a new MAIDEN album are true, it will mark the band's 17th studio effort and the sixth to be produced by Shirley, who has worked with MAIDEN for the past two decades.

"The Book Of Souls" was the longest MAIDEN album, clocking in at 92 minutes, with lyrics heavily based in the themes of death, reincarnation, the soul and mortality.

Progressive power metal band Black Fate has shared the lyric video for "Nemesis", the second single off their new album Ithaca.

The band comments about the song: "'Nemesis' is probably the darkest song of Ithaca. Haunting lyrics combined with wicked melodies, atmospheric orchestrations, grandiose guitars, and delightful rhythm section signals - a new era for the band."

Ithaca is the fifth studio album from Black Fate, scheduled for release October 23 via Rockshots Records.

The first single to be released from Ithaca was "Savior Machine". According to Black Fate, it's "A fast tempo song, maybe the fastest track of the album with aggressive guitars, dark melodic and catchy vocals, fast drumming, and intense choral keyboards."

Black Fate is inspired by the giants of their genre - Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Kamelot, Nightwish, Iron Maiden, and Dio - and look forward to showcasing their blend of melodic progressive power metal in the next chapter of their two decade career.

 




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On February 16th, Evanescence vocalist / founder Amy Lee joined Japan's WagakkiBand on stage as part of the band's Premium Symphonic Night Vol.2 Live & Orchestra for a performance of Evanescence's breakthrough hit, "Bring Me To Life. It took place at at Osakajo Hall in Osaka, Japan. 

Wagakki Band, launched in 2012 features the band playing rock music with wagakki (traditional Japanese musical instruments). Check them out via Facebook here.

Evanescence will release their first album of new original music in nine years, The Bitter Truth (BMG) over the course of this year, beginning with the first song and video, "Wasted On You", in April.

The video for “Wasted On You” was shot by each band member - lead singer-songwriter and pianist Amy Lee, bassist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, lead guitarist Troy McLawhorn, and guitarist Jen Majura - on their iPhones while currently in isolation. Building on the piercing intensity for which the band is known, the intimately shot video (directed by P.R. Brown in collaboration with the band) breaks through the emotional stillness and numbness of the current time to reflect the internal highs and lows that each of us cycles through now, on a daily basis.

Perfectly encapsulating the current moods of disconnection from the world, lack of control, and purposelessness felt by so many, the video finds the band members alone at their homes and with their families, biding time and trying to create in a world and for an audience that seems smaller than ever. Paired with Amy Lee’s stunning vocals and the band’s signature pure-rock sound, the song’s central refrain is shockingly timely & universal:

I don’t need drugs
I’m already six feet low
Wasted on you
Waiting for a miracle
I can’t move on
Feels like we’re frozen in time
I’m wasted on you
Just pass me the Bitter Truth

As Amy explains, “We were recording this music right up until we couldn’t go into the studio anymore and finished it remotely through file sharing and phone calls. Tweaking mixes, adding background vocals, creating the video and album art all from home has been like water in the dessert for me, my light in a dark time. We are still writing and have a lot more work to do on this album, but this time we wanted to release the songs individually, as we create, to live more in the moment with our fans and our music.

"'Wasted On You' wasn’t the song we were planning to release first, but when the whole world went into indefinite lockdown and everything changed, so did the feeling and meaning of what we wanted to say right now. I didn’t write these lyrics about what we’re all now going through, but somehow that’s exactly what they are.

"The whole video was shot by the band and our families on our iPhones, in isolation in our homes many miles apart, then edited together by Paul Brown. We can’t be together to make a video right now, but we took that and used it to tell the story of our real lives in this moment, and to show that although we are apart, we are all still connected.

"As far as business is concerned, this is considered a terrible time to release. But we believe that people need music now more than ever. We do, and we’re not going to wait to share it because who knows what tomorrow brings. Who knows if it even comes? This is who we really are and we’re calling out across the world for a connection.

"One thing that has come from this crazy time is it’s stripped away the illusion of control- from all of us. Proof that we really don’t have any when it comes down to it. A big new theme in the new music so far is disillusionment. Growing up and realizing life can be so hard, nobody’s gonna come rescue you, and fairy tales aren’t real- BUT, standing up and saying I’ll take the truth rather than live in denial. Rising up, through the ashes of death and pain and everything just rising up even though it hurts and taking it to move forward. No more lies. The bitter truth is all that impossibly hard stuff. And I’m taking it. Choosing to live.”

Director P.R. Brown adds, “It's a time where nothing makes sense and we are all forced to see a reality we don't want to believe exists. It was clear that we all collectively needed to create something, we needed to say something.

"After we started looking at the footage it was clear that the band members were each going through similar things. I started building an edit and seeing those scenarios play out over and over again and linked them together to tell their stories.

"The band inspired me and is helping me through all of the madness around us through their vulnerability and creative grace. The hope is that it helps others get through it as well and see that there is a light at the end, even if it's dark outside.”

The Bitter Truth takes its foundation in the epic, signature sound that has earned Evanescence two Grammy awards and more than 23 million album sales worldwide beginning with their landmark debut Fallen, and blends it with the thought-provoking lyrics, musical sophistication, and heavy themes that Amy Lee has become known for. Producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Deftones) has been tracking with the band in Nashville since late January. In a break from the past, the band will be rolling out a series of songs from the album incrementally, culminating in the release of the full album.




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Connecticut hardcore/metal masters HATEBREED will release their new album, "Weight Of The False Self", on November 27 via Nuclear Blast Records. The official lyric video for the LP's first single, the title track, can be seen below. The cover artwork, which can be seen below, was painted by artist Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with SOULFLY, TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH and SODOM, among others.

"When writing lyrics and riffs, I try to be in the moment, getting a mental picture of my current reality in order to convey what I want to say," says singer Jamey Jasta about the new material. "Sometimes, I think my reality consists of two irreducible elements, expressed by the age-old interior battle of the dualistic self. The angel on one shoulder stands firm, providing reason, wisdom, and compassion while the devil dances angrily on the other, ranting with passion, spite, and dark desire. I often wonder if a truly centered mind is attainable, an effortless and non-dualistic state of equilibrium. Until then, I'll just listen to both sides of my personality and hope I make the right choice. At the end of the day, the listener will choose to hear what they want, but when I am writing, I imagine the voice of the angel to be a lil' louder."

"Weight Of The False Self" was produced by frequent HATEBREED collaborator Chris "Zeuss" Harris and it arrives on the heels of the sold-out anniversary shows that HATEBREED embarked upon throughout 2019 and the unprecedented success of 2016's "The Concrete Confessional". Not only did the latter tally over 42 million Spotify streams, but the single "Looking Down The Barrel of Today" also clocked 30 million-plus Spotify streams. The band also covered Revolver and The Guardian bestowed a 4-out-of-5-star rating on the album, proving that over 20 years deep into its career, this Connecticut hardcore metal institution remains as vital as ever.

Renowned for their ability to provide an intense and cathartic release for their fans, HATEBREED challenged themselves and their writing style in order to produce material that is exceptionally relatable in a contemporary world flooded with overstimulation, emotional dampening, and lack of social patience.

"'Weight Of The False Self' is a perfect representation of HATEBREED in 2020, a fresh onslaught of soon-to-be classics with all the elements that led you here since day one," explains guitarist Frank Novinec.

Drummer Matt Byrne shares: "There's no shortage of beefy riffs and adrenaline-fueled drums on this record. I'm proud to say that we will consistently provide a soundtrack to which you can mosh in your living room and destroy your apartment."

This past February, HATEBREED released its first new single in four years, "When The Blade Drops". At the time, Jasta described the track as "just a taste of what's to come… The speed, intensity, and brutality that people have come to expect from us is on full display."

"Weight Of The False Self" track listing:

01. Instinctive (Slaughterlust)

02. Let Them All Rot

03. Set It Right (Start With Yourself)

04. Weight Of The False Self

05. Cling To Life

06. A Stroke Of Red

07. Dig Your Way Out

08. This I Earned

09. Wings Of The Vulture

10. The Herd Will Scatter

11. From Gold To Gray

12. Invoking Dominance

Smackbound, the new hard rock/metal band from the robust and acclaimed Finnish music scene, released their debut album, 20/20, via Frontiers Music Srl back in June. An official video for the song "Run" can be seen below.

The album was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios, produced by Tuomas Yli-Jaskari mixed and mastered by Jesse Vainio (Sunrise Avenue, Apocalyptica, Poets Of The Fall).

Tracklisting:

"Wall Of Silence"
"Drive It Like You Stole It"
"Close To Sober"
"Run"
"The Game"
"Those Who Burn"
"Hey Motherfuckers"
"Troublemaker"
"Date With The Devil"
"Wind And Water"

"Run" video:

"Wall Of Silence" video:

"Close To Sober" video:

"Those Who Burn" lyric video:

"Drive It Like You Stole It" video:

"The Game" video:

Lineup:

Netta Laurenne - Vocals
Teemu Mäntysaari - Guitars
Rolf Pilve - Drums
Vili Itäpelto - Keyboards
Tuomas Yli-Jaskari - Bass




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Arizona's Realize channels Godflesh, Nailbomb, and Meathook Seed with their sophomore full-length, Machine Violence, assembling an abrasive and hyper-aggressive take on industrial metal. The band, featuring Kyle Kennedy (Sex Prisoner), Matt Underwood (Sex Prisoner), and Matt Mutterperl (North, Languish), amalgamates crushing metal riffs with driving, yet often unorthodox industrial rhythms and dissonant noise.

Machine Violence will be released via Relapse Records tomorrow, Friday, September 25, on CD, LP, and digital formats. Physical pre-orders are available here and digital downloads/streaming services here. Find a full album stream below.

The pace of Machine Violence is unrelenting throughout. Realize tackles stark themes such as isolation, altered reality, simulations, and anxiety, taking inspiration from science fiction writers such as Phillip K. Dick and Frederik Pohl. Redefining "heavy," tracks such as "Disappear" and "Slag Pile" see the band unleashing menacing riffs against in-your-face, confrontational vocals, while "Alone Against Flames" and "Melted Base" thrash the listener straight away with faster tempos and a hardcore swagger.

Adhering to an old-school approach to writing and recording, Realize and Machine Violence reflect on the advancing convergence of organic life and machines. No amps or drums were used in the recording process; vocals, guitars, and bass all used computerized amps and effect modulations, and drums were programmed on an Alesis machine. With Machine Violence, Realize leaps forward and showcases industrial metal at its most ferocious and uncompromising.

Machine Violence tracklisting:

"Alone Against Flames"
"Melted Base"
"Ghost In The Void"
"Long Stare"
"Hypermech"
"Disappear"
"Simulated World Down"
"Slag Pile"
"Gateway Trial"
"Heavy Legs In The Mansion"

Album stream:

"Melted Base" video:

"Slag Pile" video:

"Disappear" video:

(Photo - Kiley Kennedy)




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Death/thrash outfit Raider, hailing from Waterloo, Canada unleashed their debut album Guardian Of The Fire this past March. The eight-track LP is a rush of E-standard mayhem, thrash overtones, and blackened vocals. Lyrically, the album’s theme revolves around overcoming lies and hatred that stand between all of us and the truth.

Fans of bands of Sepultura, Annihilator, and Skeletonwitch, Raider is one of the underground death/thrash bands to keep an eye on in 2020 as they continue to raise hell in the moshpit.

The band has shared their latest music video "No Sign of The Dawn", a groovy thrash attack about the cost of taking our world for granted. It's a reflection on getting human priorities straight.

One of Sweden’s finest power metal acts, Persuader, is back with their Frontiers Music Srl debut and fifth album overall, Necromancy, on December 4. Pre-order/save Necromancy here

Today, fans can get their first taste of music with the single and lyric video "The Curse Unbound". Watch below.

"This release will mark the beginning of a new chapter for us and we look forward to working together for many more albums in the future,” says guitarist Emil Norberg. "The new album is probably our most aggressive album to date, without sacrificing melody, as our previous releases prove. It also marks our first album with guitarist Fredrik Mannberg (Nocturnal Rites) and it is safe to say that we are delighted to have his fierce songwriting skills and proven stage presence in our ranks.”

Regarding "The Curse Unbound", Emil continues, "We're ready to descend upon our fans with yet another new album and we thought we'd give them a taste of what's to come with 'The Curse Unbound'. The lyrics are based on a movie and if you think you know which one, send us a message on our Facebook page!"

Originally formed in 1997 in the north of Sweden, Persuader have delivered raw, melodic, and in your face power metal since their inception and their upcoming Frontiers' debut promises absolutely zero compromises in that department.

Thus far, the band has released four albums between 2000 - 2014 and has always presented a dynamic and aggressive slice of power metal. In 2019, the band reconvened in the studio and started working on a new set of songs which eventually became the powerhouse that is their new opus. Titled Necromancy, maybe for their uncanny ability to rise from the dead again and again, the new album features seven new original compositions making up nearly 50 minutes of new music that may arguably be their most ambitious effort to date.

A new chapter begins for Persuader... and the face melting of power metal fans continues on.

"Thin Lizzy: Every Album, Every Song", a book examining each one of THIN LIZZY's songs, will be released on November 27 via Sonicbond Publishing.

THIN LIZZY emerged as a four‐piece in Dublin as the 1960s drew to a close, when guitarist Eric Bell and keyboard player Eric Wrixon, both from Belfast, encountered a band named ORPHANAGE, which included Dubliners Brian Downey on drums and charismatic frontman Philip Lynott. The band evolved through a number of incarnations, through psychedelic power trio of the early years via classic four‐piece guitar‐toting rockers of the "Live And Dangerous" era, and ending with their incarnation as heavy metal heroes.

With the ever‐present Lynott and Downey at its core, THIN LIZZY rose to become one of the most powerful and iconic rock bands in Europe, before the erosive effects of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle took their toll.

This book presents a history of the band through its music. It covers every song released through official channels, presented in context. From the difficult early years of the early 1970s, which did produce the surprise hit single "Whisky In The Jar", via their breakthrough album "Jailbreak" and the heavy-rock excesses of the early 1980s, this book follows the evolution of THIN LIZZY and its stellar cast of guitarists, from start to finish, through their music, track by glorious track.

About the author: Graeme Stroud is a musician and writer, having played lead guitar in bands since the 1970s. He has written on websites and blogs on many subjects, both musical and non‐musical, for several years. He was a reviewer, interviewer and feature writer for Rock Society magazine for five years, specialising in the blues and rock genres. Since 2019, he has performed interviews and written feature articles, gig and album reviews for the rock web site VelvetThunder.com. His first book, "Status Quo - Song By Song", was published in 2017. He lives in Kent, U.K.

AC/DC has released a 30-second teaser of "Shot In The Dark", the first single from the band's long-awaited comeback album. The follow-up to 2014's "Rock Or Bust" will feature AC/DC's 2020 lineup of Brian Johnson (vocals), Phil Rudd (drums), Cliff Williams (bass), Angus Young (guitar) and Stevie Young (guitar).

The teaser is the latest sign of activity from the legendary hard rock band, which is expected to reveal more details about the upcoming disc in the coming days. Earlier this week, a mysterious poster appeared outside Angus's old school in Sydney, Australia. The poster placed outside of Ashfield Boys High School reads: "Are You Ready? SYD PWR UP." At the bottom of the advertisement, there was a link to a web site with the iconic AC/DC red neon lightning logo. On the web site itself, there are links to the AC/DC store as well as a "Power Up" e-mail sign-up, leading to speculation that the band's long-awaited new album is called "Power Up".

On Monday, AC/DC updated its social media with a short video clip featuring the lightning bolt alongside the sound of a guitar or musical instrument plugging into an amplifier.

Earlier in the month, images seemingly taken from a new video shoot were apparently posted on the band's official web site before being swiftly removed. The photos, which were obtained by a Brazilian fan site, appeared to show Johnson joined by Rudd, Williams and Angus and Stevie Young. The pictures were the first of Phil and Stevie sharing a stage, adding weight to the rumor of Rudd's return.

Earlier in the year, prior to the coronavirus outbreak, it was rumored that AC/DC was about to announce a world stadium tour. The trek will apparently include Johnson, who was forced to leave the band mid-tour four years ago due to a dangerous level of hearing loss. He was eventually replaced on the road by GUNS N' ROSES vocalist Axl Rose.

Two years ago, Brian and Phil, along with Angus and Stevie, were photographed outside Vancouver's Warehouse Studios. Based on the pictures, the assumption was that AC/DC was in the midst of making — or at least planning — another album, with Rudd and Johnson both back in the lineup.

Ever since AC/DC completed the tour cycle for its 2014 album "Rock Or Bust" four years ago — a turbulent trek that weathered the forced retirement and eventual death of co-founder Malcolm Young, plus the departures of Johnson, Rudd and Williams — fans have wondered whether sole remaining founding member Angus Young would keep the band going or decide it was time for AC/DC to pack it in.

In February 2019, a photo surfaced on social media suggesting that Williams has also returned to AC/DC and will appear on the rumored comeback album.

A September 2018 report from JAM! magazine cited a "reliable source inside the AC/DC camp" as indicating that the band was recording a new LP which would utilize previously unreleased guitar tracks from Malcolm Young on all the songs.

Rudd was ousted from AC/DC when he was sentenced to eight months of home detention by a New Zealand court in 2015 after pleading guilty to charges of threatening to kill and drug possession.

Rudd, who has appeared on all but three of AC/DC's 18 studio albums, toured in support of his 2014 solo debut, "Head Job". It was the release of that album that led indirectly to Rudd's arrest, with the drummer allegedly so angry at a personal assistant over the way the record was promoted that he threatened to have the man and his daughter killed.

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have shared a new video message from singer Bruce Dickinson in which he discusses how he and his bandmates have been dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and their plans for the coming months.

He said in part: "We've all had a bit of a torrid time — everybody in the whole world, MAIDEN included. We wanna be out on tour.

"A lot of things haven't happened this year — that's blindingly obvious — and it's very, very frustrating. However, we do have plans. In the meantime, what are we doing? Well, we're doing bits of writing. I'm talking to Steve [Harris, IRON MAIDEN bassist]. We've been working together a little bit in the studio. On what, I can't tell you, 'cause they'd have to kill me.

"All our crew are all on board with us," he continued. "Obviously, after the cancelation of the shows and rescheduling of the shows this year, all of our lives were canceled. The killer crew is still on board for when we resume normal service next year, whenever that is.

"In the meantime, we're all still here, we're all still gagging and raring to go. We are not going away. We are solid, and there's gonna be some great stuff happening in the near future."

IRON MAIDEN's longtime manager Rod Smallwood recently urged everyone to listen to the experts when it comes to deciding how to respond to the coronavirus crisis.

The British heavy metal legends have been forced to postpone or cancel a number of shows this spring and summer as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the globe.

Last year, it was rumored that IRON MAIDEN had completed work on a new studio album. The group hasn't issued any fresh music since 2015's "The Book Of Souls" LP, which was recorded in late 2014 in Paris, France with longtime producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley.

If the reports of a new MAIDEN album are true, it will mark the band's 17th studio effort and the sixth to be produced by Shirley, who has worked with MAIDEN for the past two decades.

"The Book Of Souls" was the longest MAIDEN album, clocking in at 92 minutes, with lyrics heavily based in the themes of death, reincarnation, the soul and mortality.

New York City hardcore legends SICK OF IT ALL have released a live session of "The Bland Within", the second video of the band's quarantine sessions.

SICK OF IT ALL vocalist Lou Koller comments: "Here's the second video from our quarantine jams! Off of the excellent album with an ugly cover, here the track 'The Bland Within'. This track would the whole place jumping crack in the early 2000s it was hard not having room to groove when we recorded here! One of our favorites off that album!"

SICK OF IT ALL's twelfth studio album, "Wake The Sleeping Dragon!", was released in November 2018 via Century Media. The follow-up to 2014's "The Last Act Of Defiance" was produced by Jerry Farley (EVERY TIME I DIE, DEMON HUNTER) over a two-and-a-half-week period at Nova Studios in Staten Island, New York and was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (MESHUGGAH, THE HAUNTED, MADBALL). The cover artwork was created by Ernie Parada.

"Wake The Sleeping Dragon!" features guest appearances by RISE AGAINST vocalist/guitarist Tim McIlrath and HOT WATER MUSIC frontman Chuck Ragan.

Rob Halford says that JUDAS PRIEST "deserves" to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The British heavy metal legends were on the ballot for Rock Hall induction this year, but failed to receive enough votes to make the class of 2020.

Having been eligible for induction since 1999, PRIEST was previously on the ballot for the 2018 class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but was ultimately left out of the inductee list.

Asked in new interview with NME if he is disappointed that PRIEST hasn't been inducted into the Rock Hall yet, Halford said: "I've always admired it. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame isn't any different from those other institutions they have in America, like the one for football, where you'll always get some people complaining one player deserves to be there over another. Emotions always run high whenever these awards take place. But I've always supported it — only because of the company we'd be in.

"I think if any metal band deserves to be in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, it's PRIEST," the singer continued. "And beyond that, there needs to be more metal there, because there's not enough."

Even though artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, iconic hard rock and metal bands like PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN and MOTÖRHEAD have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that group's first year of eligibility.

Rock Hall rules state that artists become eligible a quarter century after their first records were released, but the Hall also claims that other "criteria include the influence and significance of the artists' contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock 'n' roll," which is, of course, open to interpretation.

Eligible for induction since 1999, KISS didn't get its first nomination until 2009, and was finally inducted in 2014.

DEEP PURPLE was eligible for the Rock Hall since 1993 but didn't get inducted until 2016.

After this year's Rock Hall inductees were announced in January, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner said that it made no sense that DEPECHE MODE, Whitney Houston, NINE INCH NAILS and Biggie Smalls were going into the Rock Hall before PRIEST. "Hence why the Rock Hall holds no credibility for me and never has," he tweeted.

On November 20, 13 Winters will be released through InsideOutMusic offering a comprehensive sonic journey through the dynamic, daring and exciting past releases of UK’s Frost*.

Spanning eight discs, the group’s mastermind Jem Godfrey is looking forward to share this anthology artbook with all of you: “It’s been a long time coming and has been a lot of work, but we’re finally there! My thanks to everybody at InsideOut for all their hard work on getting this together and also to Paul “Vitamin P” Tippett for the amazing new take on the album art!”

The 13 Winters artbook is limited to 3,000 copies worldwide and also features liner notes by Nick Shilton (PROG). Presales are available here. Check out a trailer for this massive set below.

In addition to the limited physical edition, all discs included in this set will be available digitally on November 20 as well.

13 Winters tracklisting:

Disc 1 - Milliontown (2006) Remaster 2020
"Hyperventilate" (Remaster 2020)
"No Me No You" (Remaster 2020)
"Snowman" (Remaster 2020)
"Black Light Machine" (Remaster 2020)
"The Other Me" (Remaster 2020)
"Milliontown" (Remaster 2020)

Disc 2 - Experiments In Mass Appeal (2008) Remix/Remaster 2020
"Experiments In Mass Appeal" (Remix/Remaster 2020)
"Welcome To Nowhere" (Remix/Remaster 2020)
"Pocket Sun" (Remix/Remaster 2020)
"Saline" (Remix/Remaster 2020)
"Dear Dead Days" (Remix/Remaster 2020)
"Falling Down" (Remix/Remaster 2020)
"You/I" (Remix/Remaster 2020)
"Toys" (Remix/Remaster 2020)
"Wonderland" (Remix/Remaster 2020)

"The Secret Song" (Remix/Remaster 2020)

Disc 3 - Falling Satellites (2016) Remaster 2020
"First Day" (Remaster 2020)
"Numbers" (Remaster 2020)
"Towerblock" (Remaster 2020)
"Signs" (Remaster 2020)
"Lights Out" (Remaster 2020)
"Heartstrings" (Remaster 2020)
"Closer To The Sun" (Remaster 2020)
"The Raging Against The Dying Of The Light Blues In 7/8" (Remaster 2020)
"Nice Day For It" (Remaster 2020)
"Hypoventilate" (Remaster 2020)
"Last Day" (Remaster 2020)

Disc 4 - Falling Satellites - Instrumentals (2016) Remaster 2020
"First Day" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)
"Numbers" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)
"Towerblock" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)
"Signs" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)
"Lights Out" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)
"Heartstrings" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)
"Closer To The Sun" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)
"The Raging Against The Dying Of The Light Blues in 7/8" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)
"Nice Day For It…" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)
"Hypoventilate" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)
"Last Day" (Instrumental/Remaster 2020)

Disc 5 - Falling Satellive - Live 2017
"Numbers" (Live at Dingwalls, London, 24th November 2017)
"Towerblock" (Live at Dingwalls, London, 24th November 2017)
"Signs" (Live at Dingwalls, London, 24th November 2017)
"Lights Out" (Live at Dingwalls, London, 24th November 2017)
"Heartstrings" (Live at Dingwalls, London, 24th November 2017)
"Closer To The Sun" (Live at Dingwalls, London, 24th November 2017)
"The Raging Against The Dying Of The Light Blues In 7/8" (Live at Dingwalls, London, 24th November 2017)
"Nice Day For It…" (Live at Dingwalls, London, 24th November 2017)
"Hypoventilate" (Live at Dingwalls, London, 24th November 2017)
"Last Day" (Live at Dingwalls, London, 24th November 2017)

Disc 6 - Others - EP
"Fathers"
"Clouda"
"Exhibit A"
"Fathom"
"Eat"
"Drown"

Disc 7 - The Philadelphia Experiment - Live 2009
"Intro" (Live at The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, 2nd May 2009)
"Hyperventilate" (Live at The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, 2nd May 2009)
"Wonderland" (Live at The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, 2nd May 2009)
"Black Light Machine" (Live at The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, 2nd May 2009)
"Snowman" (Live at The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, 2nd May 2009)
"Saline" (Live at The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, 2nd May 2009)
"Milliontown" (Live at The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, 2nd May 2009)
"The Other Me" (Live at The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, 2nd May 2009)

Disc 8 - This And That – B-Sides And Rarities
"The Dividing Line"
"Lantern"
"British Wintertime"
"The Forget You Song"
"Numbers" (Day 1 Demo)
"Towerblock" (Day 1 Demo)
"Heartstrings" (Demo)
"Closer To The Sun" (Demo)
"The Raging Against The Dying Of The Light In 7/8" (Day 1 Demo)
"Last Day" (Demo)
"Hyperventilate Hypoventilate Paulstretch Test"

Trailer:

A new album by Frost* is expected to be released in spring 2021.




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On October 30, King Diamond will release CD and LP versions of The Dark Sides via Metal Blade Records. Released in 1988, The Dark Sides contains five tracks and an outro, released on previous albums.

The Dark Sides tracklisting:

"Halloween" (previously released on Fatal Portrait)
"Them" (instrumental track, previously released on Them)
"No Presents For Christmas" (previously released as the A-side of "No Presents For Christmas" single; later as a bonus track on the 2007 remastered version of Fatal Portrait)
"Shrine" (previously released as the B-side of "The Family Ghost" single; later as a bonus track on the 2007 remastered version of Abigail)
"The Lake" (previously released as a B-side of "Halloween" single and as a bonus track on CD versions of Fatal Portrait)
"Phone Call" (previously released on CD versions of Them)

King Diamond states: "These are not remasters. These are the albums as they were originally done in the old days from the original production masters. They retain all the original dynamics that were captured at the time. It's very exciting to present these to fans as they were originally released."

The vinyl editions feature spined sleeves with a download card; the CD contains a mini-LP CD-insert. See below for an overview of available formats; pre-order your copies via the links below:

- US
- Europe
- UK

The Dark Sides CD and LP formats:

- hardcover digisleeve "mini-LP" CD
- orange / white marbled vinyl (US exclusive)
- charcoal marbled vinyl (US exclusive)
- 180g black vinyl
- red / orange / white marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 500 copies)
- maroon marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- peach skin brown marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- black / white "melt" vinyl (EU webshop exclusive - limited to 100 copies)




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Italian modern death metal force, Hideous Divinity, get back to business whilst releasing a brand new video for their song, “Actaeon”, taken from the 2019 released album, Simulacrum.

The band states: “Time for some pretty special video content: a timelapse video of Simone "Strx" Strige creating a new, astounding design based on the concept of the song 'Actaeon' from our latest album Simulacrum. Join us in the nightmare where the hunter becomes the hunted."

Order/stream Simulacrum here.

(Photo - Dema Novakova)




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Glacier will release their new album, The Passing Of Time, on October 30 via No Remorse Records. The album will be released on vinyl, CD and a limited edition box set.

It was in 1985 where the same-titled EP of Glacier was released, one of the greatest "mini releases" of the '80s, including five tracks of US heavy/power metal majesty. Few more recordings followed by various incarnations of Glacier until 1990, when the band was put to rest.

While the legend was growing, in 2016 there was formed a tribute band under the name Devil In Disguise (featuring Glacier singer, Michael Podrybau) and was offered a slot at the Keep It True Festival of 2017.

"Devil In Disguise was only to perform once at a festival in Chicago, IL as a tribute set", Glacier adding detail to the story. "We started learning/rehearsing the original material in late 2016 and, a few months later, came to find that the festival had been cancelled. With good fortune and help, we were offered a slot at the Keep It True festival for the following year and things continued to grow from there. It was sometime after our third live performance that the conversation began about using the official name. That would have been winter of 2017. We had already been in contact with other original members, who had been watching our progress and were noble enough to endorse us. By spring of 2018, we were booking dates officially as Glacier."

After the successful Keep It True show, the band started working on new material with the idea of recording a new studio EP. However, there were a few lineup changes and after becoming Glacier, the new goal was the recording of a full length album.

"The overall tracklist is various in origins but the final shaping was a very collaborative process, with Podrybau getting in on the vocals/lyrics", drummer Adam Kopecky adds. "The conceptual direction didn't occur until we saw the original painting Daniel Charles did for us later that year, which we quickly decided to feature as the cover art."

At that moment, Glacier already had established a perfect lineup consisting of Michael Podrybau (lead vocals), Mike Maselbas (guitar), Marco Martell (guitar, vocals), Alex Barrios (bass) and Adam Kopecky (drums).

The album was produced by Lasse Lammert at LSD Tonstudio and recorded at Swift Road Studios by Vincent Ippolito.

Adding a further connection to the past, the tracks "Live For The Whip" and "Sands Of Time" were originally written in the '80s and recorded by the current line-up while original members Tim Proctor (bass) and Loren Bates (drums) play on these songs. Both of them, also perform on the "Infidel" track and there is also a guest performance of bassist Phil Ell Ross (ex-Manilla Road) in two songs.

Drummer Adam Kopecky adds: "There's the visual on the cover art, which sparked the idea. Then there's the thirty-some years between activity, wherein the old recordings slowly spread to new ears and the fan base grew internationally. That original cover art featured an hourglass, which of course represents time, so the album title also works as the proverbial passing of the torch. Getting to work with original members Tim Proctor and Loren Bates on previously unreleased material gave that process extra depth. We hope to carry it forward well!"

A lyric video for the song, "Eldest And Truest", can be found below.

The Passing Of Time tracklisting:

"Eldest And Truest"
"Live For The Whip"
"Ride Out"
"Sands Of Time"
"Valor"
"Into The Night"
"Infidel"
"The Temple And The Tomb"

"Eldest And Truest" lyric video:




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Set your sails for an intoxicating, symphonic reverie backed by the marvellously talented Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague. Visions Of Atlantis reveal their second live single, “Release My Symphony”, along with an atmospheric music video, cut from their very first live DVD / Blu-Ray / CD, A Symphonic Journey To Remember, out October 30 via Napalm Records.

Delicate violin lines encircle the marvellous intro, exploding in fast-paced drums and electrifying riffs until it has unfolded to the full potential of the symphonic vanguard. With the orchestra's backing and heart-wrenching duets of Clémentine Delauney and Michele Guaitoli, Visions Of Atlantis present a new peak in their musical output and underline that they’ve arrived in the royal symphonic league.

Enter the maritime depths with Visions Of Atlantis and watch the live video for “Release My Symphony”:

In 2019, Visions Of Atlantis realized their dream of captioning their symphonic experience at the highest level. Supported by the orchestral accompaniment of the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague for the very first time, the quintet captivated the audience once again with their impressive headliner set at last year’s Bang Your Head!!! festival. This unique experience is captured on Blu-ray/DVD and audio formats - 17 atmospheric tracks guide listeners and viewers through the unparalleled, powerful discography of Visions Of Atlantis. The outstanding symbiosis of Clémentine Delauney’s and Michele Guaitoli’s vocals, accompanied by the band’s breathtaking soundscapes and impressive scenery, will guide fans through the deep valleys of the untamed seas.   

This unforgettable live experience will be available as a special Blu-ray/DVD/Audio CD bundle as well as a double vinyl Gatefold, as an exclusive deluxe edition and via all audio streaming services.

This unique experience will be available in the following formats:

- Blu-ray / DVD / CD Digipak, vertical format
- Blu-ray / DVD / CD Digipak, vertical format + Shirt Bundle
- 2 LP Vinyl Gatefold Black (incl. DVD)
- 2 LP Vinyl Gatefold Splatter Blue/White (incl. DVD)
- Deluxe Fan Gym Bag (incl. Flag, blu-ray/DVD/CD Digipak Bundle + signed Booklet, VIP Pass & Laynard)
- digital via all audio platforms

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

Intro
"The Deep & The Dark"
"New Dawn"
"Ritual Night"
"Lost"
"The Last Home"
"Memento"
"Release My Symphony"
"Words Of War"
"Heroes Of The Dawn"
"Wanderers"
"Seven Seas"
"A Journey To Remember"
"The Grand Illusion"
"Nothing Lasts Forever"
"Passing Dead End"
"Return To Lemuria"

"Heroes Of The Dawn" live video:

(Photo - Emilie Garcin)




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During an appearance this past Monday (September 21) on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley confirmed that he has been approached by the producers for the upcoming official "definitive" documentary on his former band. "They offered me a small fee to be involved with it, and I turned them down," Ace said. "I thought the fee was embarrassing, because I know how much money they're gonna make on it. So, either share the wealth, or c'est la vie. So I decided not be involved. But they have plenty of old footage of me, and they'll probably use that and get by. But it won't be the same as if they get current footage. Unfortunately, I decided the money that they offered me wasn't anywhere near what I felt I deserved, so I turned it down. The footage you're gonna see of me in this documentary is only gonna be old footage."

Earlier in the year, it was also announced that a KISS biopic was in the works. KISS manager Doc McGhee revealed that producer Mark Canton, who worked on the movie "300", is involved in the project. Asked if he would like to see a biopic made on KISS, and which actor he would like to see play him, Ace told "Trunk Nation": "I'm not even thinking about a KISS movie; I'm thinking about an Ace Frehley movie, because I think I'm the most interesting member of the four founding members. And I have the best stories and the most interesting life. I grew up in the Bronx, poor, lower middle class, living in a one-bedroom apartment, and next thing you know, I'm in one of the biggest rock groups in the world. That's a huge success story. I've already been pitching to eOne, my record label, who also has a division for movies — they put out films. And I was talking to the president of eOne, plus I was also talking to the president of [toy giant] Hasbro, because Hasbro just acquired eOne… They did all the 'Transformers' movies. They made billions off those films. Hasbro has billions of dollars. So Hasbro has acquired eOne. And I did a Zoom call, and I told those guys, 'Hey, we've gotta do an Ace Frehley movie. And let's get [Martin] Scorsese to direct it, because he grew up in the Bronx, and he would get it better than any other director.' So, I planted the seed, and we'll see what happens. Maybe in a couple of years, the Ace Frehley story. I'm not concerned with the KISS story. Everybody knows the KISS story. How many documentaries have we done? [Laughs]"

This past March, KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer told Sweden's RockSverige.se that the band's official documentary was "at least halfway" done. "The director is John Dorsey and he's done great things before," Tommy said. "We've done interviews on camera and he's putting together a lot of historic footage and talking to a lot of different sources, including us and our archives. It's coming along. I've seen a little bit and I think it will be really exciting and really well done."

As for the fan-submitted material that will be included in the documentary, Thayer said: "I know some guys that are big collectors and there's this guy called Mark Cicchini, he's one of the 'Three Sides Of The Coin' [KISS] podcast guys and he's not only contributed material, but he also pointed John Dorsey in a lot of good directions as far as making contact with a lot of fans. We have a lot of great stuff in our archives for certain, but there's still a lot of other unique and rare stuff out there that we don't have. It's a matter of sourcing that stuff."

KISS's current lineup consists of original members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, alongside later band additions, Thayer (since 2002) and drummer Eric Singer (on and off since 1991).

Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, Frehley and drummer Peter Criss, KISS staged its first "farewell" tour in 2000, the last to feature the group's original lineup.

Finnish melodic death/doom metal band 2 Wolves have released a new single and lyric video, "Towards Nothing". The track has been issued via Inverse Records.

Drummer Niko Pennanen comments: "'Towards Nothing' is all the the things 2 Wolves is about. With heavy riffs and haunting melodies it paves a path for the listener to the darker and gloomier side of all things. Lyrically, it is the cold-eyed person in the mirror with nothing more to say but to state the inevitable. Nowhere to go except Towards Nothing."
 
The single was recorded, mixed and mastered by Saku Moilanen at Deep Noise Studios.  
 

Line-up:

Niko Pennanen - drums, keys, programming
Ilkka Valkonen - vocals
Sami Simpanen - bass
Petri Määttä - guitar
Jere Pennanen - guitar

For information and update son 2 Wolves check out their Facebook page here.

Photo by Petri Määttä




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Canadian progressive metal outfit and one of the hottest rising bands in heavy music, Spiritbox, have announced that they have signed with globally renowned label, Rise Records in association with Pale Chord.

To celebrate this new partnership, the band have launched pre-orders today for a special 7" vinyl limited to only 1,000 copies of their hit single "Holy Roller". The vinyl will feature the original version of the single as well as a previously unreleased remix with guest vocals from Ryo Kinoshita of Crystal Lake which will be released on Friday, October 2nd. Vinyl pre-orders are available here.

Spiritbox released "Holy Roller" in July to huge acclaim from both fans and media. The track debuted at #25 on Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs and has spent the last 6 weeks at #1 on SiriusXM Liquid Metal's "Devil's Dozen", clocking up an impressive 3.7 million global streams and 976k views on YouTube to date. Watch the nightmarish music video for the track, inspired by the recent cinematic horror masterpiece, Midsommar, below:

Speaking on the announcement of their new signing and the upcoming release of the 7" vinyl, Spiritbox vocalist, Courtney LaPlante says, "We have always dreamed of partnering with a label that embraces our DIY mentality and respects our independence, a label that understands immediately what we want to accomplish and how we want to get there.

"It has been surreal getting to know the team at Rise Records, never feeling like we have to be anything other than our authentic selves. They are not some monolithic corporation, but individuals with a passion for music. They understand us and allow us to just be Spiritbox, now with the resources and guidance that we have always wanted. I keep thinking I am going to wake up from some fever dream and it was all in my head.

"To our fans. We are so excited to celebrate this milestone with you. We know how hard you have worked to spread the word about our band and we are so grateful for the time, energy and belief you have invested in us. We understand that with more resources comes higher expectations. We will not let you down, I promise!"

Sean Heydorn, Head of Rise Records adds, "We’re very excited to welcome Spiritbox to the Rise Records family and kick off this partnership with Pale Chord. The band caught our attention some time ago, and watching their exponential growth throughout an otherwise tough year for artists has been really inspiring. Despite all the band have already accomplished and done with Pale Chord, we feel it’s just the beginning."

The husband and wife duo Courtney LaPlante and Michael Stringer made their debut with a self-released EP in October 2017, quickly building a cult following. In 2018 the duo found their musical counterpart in bass player Bill Crook and partnered with Pale Chord Music to continue to create and release music in single and EP formats.

Spiritbox have quickly become hotly tipped as one of the most exciting, creative, and unique new forces to erupt from the world of heavy music. Pushing boundaries both sonically and visually with their beautifully haunting music videos that perfectly match the the juxtaposition of the ethereal, velvet textures of Courtney's singing voice and the visceral power of her screams as they soar over complex soundscapes that ebb and flow between brutally heavy riffing and and progressive, other-worldly, electronic-tinged passages. Drawing their name from a device that some believe is capable of communing with the dead, the band have a paranormal undertone that runs through everything they do, using EVP (electronic voice phenomena) recordings both at their live shows and within their tracks. A quick look at the music videos for fan favourites such as Belcarra, Blessed Be, and Rule of Nines and it's clear to see that the band are no strangers to the macabre or paranormal.

Having toured the world many times over with their previous bands - metal outfit iwrestledabearonce (Courtney and Mike) and pop punk band Living With Lions (Bill) - Spiritbox absorbed the highs and lows of living as working musicians and decided to try a different and more sustainable approach when it came to releasing their music. They took the concept of supply and demand and applied it to their release model, focusing on making fans across the globe by using the social media tools available to them, releasing shorter bodies of music and removing touring from the plan until a demand was built. In doing so they quickly garnered a cult-like online following which has lead to over 15,000,000 streams across all platforms and sell outs on every physical release and most merch items they've released to date.

In February 2020, Spiritbox jumped on a plane and finally went on tour in support of After The Burial across Europe, which was unfortunately cut short due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Despite having to return to Canada early, Spiritbox have remained busy - recording Holy Roller, shooting its accompanying video, launching their new Patreon and working on their debut LP expected out in 2021.

Lineup:

Courtney LaPlante - Vocals
Mike Stringer - Guitar
Bill Crook - Bassist




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