BMG will continue their reissues series of the IRON MAIDEN catalog with the second set of digipak CD titles in "The Studio Collection - Remastered", to be released on March 22.

Following on from 2014/2017's black vinyl releases and 2015's "Mastered For iTunes" project, "The Studio Collection - Remastered" features recordings taken from the same remasters as the 2015 hi-res digital releases. The albums supersede the previously available studio catalog and all titles will also be made available on streaming platforms.

As a bonus for collectors, one CD from each batch of releases will also be optionally available in a specially artworked box featuring a 1:24 scale figurine and exclusive patch. In the March 22 batch, this will be "Somewhere In Time".

MAIDEN founding member and bassist Steve Harris says: "We've wanted to revisit these for a long time and I was delighted with the remastering we did in 2015. I thought it was the best that our albums have ever sounded and it was only right that we made them available on CD now too."

All four albums in this second batch are available for pre-order now from studiocollection.ironmaiden.com.

The first four albums in this collection were released in November 2018.

IRON MAIDEN will continue its "Legacy Of The Beast" tour in 2019 across North, South and Central America, including a headlining show at Brazil's Rock In Rio in October. The tour opened in Europe last year, playing to over 750,000 people at sold-out stadium, arena and headline festival shows and was hailed by fans and media alike as the must-see show of the summer.

German heavy metal act Scanner have announced new guitarist Ted Hetfield.

The band comments:

“After over eleven intensive years our guitarist Andreas Zeidler is leaving the band due to personal reasons. We can't thank Andreas enough for his commitment and all the great and special moments we shared during this long time. We respect his decision, while at the same time we regret his departure and wish him the very best!

“Andreas is replaced by Ted Hetfield on the guitar.

“We are very happy that we have found a superb guitarist and extremely talented musician in Ted (Wicked Disciple, ex-Black Messiah), who fits perfectly within our band!”

(Photo by: David Chebbi / Editing: Ursula Deja)




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Technical death metallers from Santa Cruz in California, Decrepit Birth, will re-release their 2010 album Polarity on April 26th worldwide (excluding North America) via Agonia Records. The album will be available for the first time in LP format, alongside a digipack CD and digital re-release.   

Polarity is nearly decade-old and has aged handsomely into a technical death metal classic. All thanks to its cosmic formula and innovative sound that place Decrepit Birth among the genre's heavy hitters. 

At the time of its original release, Polarity was well received by critics and entered the Billboard Heatseekers Chart at #18, selling well over a thousand copies in its first week of release in North America. The album was followed by a massive tour with Decapitated, The Faceless and All Shall Perish (the Summer Slaughter tour 2010).

Formed in 2001, Decrepit Birth released four studio albums to date, which got them a premiere spot on the death metal radar. Their music, infused with technical and progressive twists, managed to forge a very solid international fan base, and continues to forge their path into the future, as one of the genre's finest. The 2017 album Axis Mundi is the latest addition to their discography, and the only album released since Polarity.

Polarity was recorded at Legion Recording Studio (except for drums at Shark Bite Studios), mixed at Castle Ultimate Studios and mastered at West West Side Studios. Artwork by Dan Seagrave (Entombed, Hypocrisy, Vader) graces the album cover.

Formats:
- Digipack CD
- Black LP
- Orange LP
- T-shirt
- Digital

Tracklisting:

“(A Departure Of The Sun) Ignite The Tesla Coil”
“Metatron”
“The Resonance”
“Polarity”
“Solar Impulse”
“Mirroring Dimensions”
“A Brief Odyssey In Time”
“The Quickening Of Time”
“Sea Of Memories”
“Symbiosis”
“Darkness Embrace”




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The popular vinyl collectible company Funko — best known for its big-headed Pop! figures — has once again joined forces with legendary rockers KISS.

The latest series of Pop! Rocks vinyl figures includes all four members of the band. These stylized Pop! vinyl figures were announced at the New York Toy Fair.

As of this writing, the KISS collectibles are listed as "coming soon." A release date and price point have not yet been announced.

The original KISS Pop! Rocks figures were released in 2011 but have been discontinued and now sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay.

More recently, KISS collaborated with Funko on a limited release of plushies.

Other artists who have gotten the Pop! Rocks treatment include METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, AC/DC and OZZY OSBOURNE.

During a brand new question-and-answer session with Meltdown of Detroit, Michigan's WRIF 101.1 FM radio station, TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider spoke about his appreciation for METALLICA's work ethic after the two bands toured together in their early days.

"Those motherfuckers earned every fucking dollar they made," Dee said (hear audio below). "They didn't give an inch — until they [made] an 'Alternica' record. Which I thought was a great record, but they gave an inch. But up to that point, they just fought hard."

He continued: "This is a true story. We're on tour with METALLICA, and we're in Holland, and I'm standing on the side of the stage and I'm watching them doing their set. And I turn to my bass player and I go, 'These guys have got a lot of heart, but they're never gonna go anywhere.'

"Like I said, I'm brutally honest. I said that out fucking loud. What an asshole! I didn't wanna be against them. I just said, 'They're so heavy.' But they made people just accept how heavy they were, and that's the great thing about METALLICA."

Snider also defended METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich over band's infamous lawsuit in 2000 against Napster. METALLICA sued the pioneering music file-sharing service, claiming that it was illegally allowing users to download the group's tracks without paying royalties to the band.

Recalling the days before illegal music downloading was first introduced, Dee said: "It's like you go into a fruit stand and you're thinking about buying some strawberries or some grapes. Most fruit stands that I've been to will say, 'Taste one,' and they'll let you taste a strawberry, and they'll let you taste a grape. And you go, 'You know what? They're not ripe yet,' and you walk away. Or you say, 'Wow! I really like those.' At that point, you don't steal the grapes or the strawberries — you pay for the strawberries. So, to me, sampling was a great thing. It goes back to the '50s when people used to go into record shops, and they would get to put on the record with a pair of headphones and listen to the music. So when you listen, you go, 'I like this,' and you buy it, or, 'This sucks,' and you don't buy it, that's cool. That's fine."

Dee went on to say that "people were villainizing METALLICA" for going after Napster and suing unnamed users of the MP3-trading program, along with three universities, claiming copyright infringement.

"I don't think [Lars] explained [METALLICA's position] right," Snider said. "But he got crucified."

METALLICA sued Napster after the band discovered that a leaked demo version of its song "I Disappear" was circulating on the service before it was released.

In May 2000, Ulrich famously delivered a literal truckload of paper to Napster Inc., listing hundreds of thousands of people who allegedly used the company's software to share unauthorized MP3s of METALLICA's songs.

METALLICA representatives compiled the more than 60,000-page list of 335,435 Napster user IDs over one weekend in response to Napster's promise to terminate the accounts of users who trade material without permission. Real names were not included in the list.

"Watch You Fall", a new song from KILL THE LIGHTS, the international band featuring former BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE drummer Michael "Moose" Thomas, can be seen below.

As a founding member of Welsh metal titans BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, Thomas lived a rock'n'roll dream that few ever get to see with their own eyes — winning awards, selling millions of albums, touring with his idols, and playing numerous sold-out headline shows, becoming one of the biggest metal exports in U.K. history. After parting ways with the band he formed to focus on his family three years ago, 2019 sees the drummer extraordinaire back where he belongs in international new band KILL THE LIGHTS.

"I'm super grateful and excited to be back. I can't wait for everyone to hear this," grins Moose, of the new project completed by singer James Clark (THROW THE FIGHT), guitarists Jordan Whelan (STILL REMAINS) and Travis Montgomery (THREAT SIGNAL), and bassist Davey Richmond (GLAMOUR OF THE KILL).

"When I parted company with the old band, musically I was just sitting around doing fuck-all and realized I had worked too hard and come too far to turn around," continues Moose. "I thought I'd get in touch with Jordan and sent him a text asking, 'Got any riffs or what?!' Before I knew it, he had sent me 30 or 40 songs. I was like, 'Erm, okay!' I couldn't believe it."

"I'm a hobby songwriter," explains Jordan, "which means I'm writing every day, whether it's for a band or not. I've known Moose since I was a 19-year-old kid. Funnily enough, his first tour in the States was opening up for my band, then he said we should jump on a tour with them through the U.K. — which ended up being the Kerrang! Tour of 2006. The chemistry was there right off the bat and I knew right away this could be something that takes over the world."

Frontman James Clark joined after auditioning on a demo of what would become the group's debut single, "The Faceless".

"We all want to do something fresh, and for me it was about exploring some of the throwback metal more like [IRON] MAIDEN or [JUDAS] PRIEST that I felt had gotten lost over the years, but in a new way, " says the singer. "'The Faceless' is a song for those that have spent their lives in the shadows, never felt good enough, or just struggled to fit in or feel a part of something. The song is a message to the broken... it's time to be seen, it's time to be heard. From darkness to light we are all the same - we are the faceless."

"The Faceless" was recorded in Blackpool with esteemed producer/mixer Colin Richardson (SLIPKNOT, TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD). The accompanying video was directed by Video Ink and can be seen below.

American rock queen Suzi Quatro has released the official music video for the song "No Soul/No Control". The track is taken from her forthcoming studio album, "No Control". The clip was filmed at the Peppermint Pavillion and the Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany and was directed by Frank Suffert.

Suzi says about the new song: "So, here is my first single, 'No Soul/No Control', from my new album 'No Control'. You may get the idea the word 'control' is very important. It is. I am in control. The song is organic, the sessions were organic, the album is organic, the video is organic. Everything just happened naturally. Kudos to my son Richard. Real music, made by a real artist who has been around the block and back again. 55 years after all!! I am so proud of this project, I have come back 'home where I belong.'"

"No Control" will be released through SPV/Steamhammer on March 29 2019 as CD digipak, 2LP gatefold, download and stream.

Quatro presents eleven new songs (plus two bonus tracks) on "No Control". The majority of the material consists of collaborations with her son from her first marriage, Richard Tuckey. Suzi explains: "This was our first attempt at writing and recording something together. The creative progress began with 'Don't Do Me Wrong'. And through this unusually beautiful English summer of 2018, we sat outside, acoustic bass, acoustic guitar, iPad recording app, and lots of paper, throwing ideas back and forth." With amazing results, as the new album proves — to Suzi herself not only on a musical but also on a personal level.

For example, on "No Soul/No Control", the first single to be released which features the message "Don't let go of yourself for anyone." Suzi: "This is my personal mantra. All you have in this world is you." Remembering the conception of the number, she says: "We were busy as hell, buried in the songs. Richard had a new idea and showed me. It was very unusual and I liked it. A very basic guitar and drum track was put down for me to work on the melody and lyric. I went into the living area of the studio and about 15 minutes later, it was done. It flew out of its own accord, as the best songs do."

The same applies to numbers such as "Macho Man" (Suzi: "It's a no-brainer that this is an opening live song. You cannot help headbanging to it, it just grabs you"), "I Can Teach You To Fly" ("a definite throwback to the sixties"), "Easy Pickings" ("I've been playing this riff on acoustic guitar forever, at least the last ten years. Then, all of a sudden, it became a song") and "Love Isn't Fair" ("Got this idea sitting in our Hamburg home. I wanted to create a BLONDIE-meets-MAVERICKS song, and I think I accomplished that").

Perhaps the most unusual track on the album is called "Strings" and has developed into a true little masterpiece during the studio recordings. Suzi: "This is all about the strings that tie our lives together. Great riff. I drove everyone mad singing nonstop in this weird voice 'Strings'. I couldn't get it out of my head, and — hallelujah — it came out in the recording exactly as I'd imagined."

You can tell how proud Suzi Quatro is of "No Control". Pride and delight at a career which has lasted for five decades and has maintained the creativity of the American rock icon to the present day. Says Quatro: "I've never stopped releasing through the years. 'Back To The Drive' in 2006, 'In The Spotlight' in 2011, 'Quatro, Scott & Powell' in 2016. These albums were thought about and planned out in great detail. I am proud of all three releases, very proud. But my new album 'No Control' is its own animal."

Track listing:

01. No Soul/No Control

02. Going Home

03. Strings

04. Love Isn't Fair

05. Macho Man

06. Easy Pickings

07. Bass Line

08. Don't Do Me Wrong

09. Heavy Duty

10. I Can Teach You To Fly

11. Going Down Blues

Metal Blade Records has welcomed FATES WARNING to its worldwide roster.

FATES WARNING began in the early 1980s, playing a traditional style of heavy metal. However, they quickly began to adopt a more technically proficient style and are considered by many to be the first true prog-metal band. While the band has subsequently moved in more melodic and ambient directions, they have remained a vibrant and well-respected cornerstone for the prog camp within the heavy metal strata.

FATES WARNING singer Ray Alder comments: "All of us in FATES WARNING are happy to announce that we are back with Metal Blade Records. Metal Blade has been there for us since the very beginning and we are proud to call them part of our family. The journey begins again and we cannot begin to say how excited we are to work together once more. A big thank you to our fans for sticking with us through all these years. We could not be here today without all of you. That is a fact. Thank you everyone. Here's to making some new memories!"

FATES WARNING released its latest album, "Live Over Europe", last year to critical acclaim. The first live release featuring the current lineup, it contains 23 songs and was recorded at various European locations during the band's January 2018 headlining tour for "Theories Of Flight" (2016).

Next month, FATES WARNING will head back out on the road with QUEENSRŸCHE, touring the USA in support of "Live Over Europe". After the conclusion of this trek, FATES WARNING will begin work on its 13th studio album, set for a 2020 release.

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

MEMORIAM, the Birmingham, United Kingdom-based death/grind metal band featuring Karl Willets (BOLT THROWER) on vocals, Frank Healy (BENEDICTION, CEREBRAL FIX) on bass, Scott Fairfax (CEREBRAL FIX) on guitar and Andy Whale (BOLT THROWER) on drums, has entered Parlour Studios in Kettering, U.K. to begin recording its third album with renowned producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR, AT THE GATES, AMORPHIS). A summer release via Nuclear Blast is expected.


The band states: "So here we are on our second week of recording our third album at Parlour Studios with the infamous Russ Russell at the desk. Personally, we think this is the album people wanted to hear from us when we set out with MEMORIAM, a big gritty production, aggressive vocals and music and a few curveballs thrown in to keep the grey matter active! In hindsight, it feels like the previous two albums were a preparation for this one. Our most satisfying work personally to date. We hope you feel the same once you get to hear it. Anyway, onwards with the recording."

MEMORIAM's second album, "The Silent Vigil", was released in March 2018 via Nuclear Blast.

MEMORIAM was primarily developed to fill the void that was left following the tragic death of Martin "Kiddie" Kearns, the drummer from BOLT THROWER, back in September 2015. BOLT THROWER subsequently placed all activity on hold for the foreseeable future which gave Karl Willetts an opportunity to develop a new project with friends that had expressed interest in forming a band for some time.

MEMORIAM is an old-school death metal band, maintaining the standards set by their previous bands, focusing on the themes of death, loss and war. Initially, the bandmembers got together to play covers of songs that had influenced them throughout their careers within the death metal scene. However, it soon became apparent that the new songs that they created were of a superior standard.

Fan-filmed video footage of OPERATION: MINDCRIME, the band led by former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate, performing on February 13 at Principal in Thessaloniki, Greece can be seen below (courtesy of Industry Kills channel).

For most of 2018 and the first couple of months of 2019, Tate has celebrated the 30th anniversary of QUEENSRŸCHE's "Operation: Mindcrime" by playing the iconic concept album live in its entirety.

The "Mindcrime" live set covers all 15 songs from the album including such fan favorites as "Revolution Calling", "Operation: Mindcrime", "I Don't Believe In Love" and the closing track, "Eyes Of A Stranger".

His current touring band features Kieran Robertson from Scotland on guitar, Bruno Sa from Brazil on keyboards, Jack Ross from Scotland on bass, Scott Moughton from Canada on guitar, and Josh Watts from England on drums.

Geoff told the Reno, Nevada radio station 105.7 KOZZ about performing "Operation: Mindcrime" in full on tour to commemorate its 30th anniversary: "I have to say, this tour especially has been really an interesting time for me, because I kind of got to take a step back from the album, looking at it with different eyes. I've got a really young band of musicians who are playing with such enthusiasm and passion, and I'm listening to all the stories from the audience members and people who have been affected by the album over the years, and really hearing a cross-section of what the album has meant to people. It's very humbling, and I'm very grateful for all the attention the album has and how strongly people feel about it. It's fantastic."

OPERATION: MINDCRIME has released three albums over three years as part of a trilogy: "The Key" (September 2015), "Resurrection" (September 2016) and "The New Reality" (December 2017).

Entombed – the legendary Swedish death metal act – released their To Ride, Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth EP in January and are teasing even more in this new coming soon video below:

The tracks for the EP release (“To Ride, Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth” and “Damn Deal Done”) were chosen by diehard supporters as part of a crowdfunding campaign and only 500 were made. The EP references the band’s classic 1997 album, DCLXVI: To Ride, Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth. DCLXVI is 666 in Roman numerals.

Entombed - led by guitarist Alex Hellid - released their most recent full-length album, Serpent Saints – The Ten Amendments, in 2007 on Candlelight Records.

Vision Divine and Scarlet Records have signed a deal for the release of their new album, coming out in 2019. The band is enthusiastic about the idea of reforming the same team that gave life to some of its fan favorites and most critically acclaimed albums such as Stream Of Consciousness, The Perfect Machine and The 25th Hour. 

After the incredible reception received by their first single “Angel Of Revenge”, the group is working hard to complete the new album, the first one made by the new line-up, which will finally see Mike Terrana on drums (although he’s officially been in the band for over 2 years) and Ivan Giannini on vocals (his performance on the single is outstanding and he is ready to repeat himself). Stay tuned.




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Forming just two years ago, New York City’s The Infection has quickly infiltrated the hard rock scene with their heavy modern grooves and accessible hooks and melodies. Now, after teaming up with renowned Engineer Anthony Rocky Gallo (John Legend, Jon Bon Jovi, The Cult), they release their debut single “Consequences”. Their full album Time To Heal Friday, March 8th.

Featuring veteran musicians Rick Dunn (Vocals), Tommy Guarnieri (Guitar), Santiago Helman (Bass) and Vinnie LaRocca (Drums), The Infection describes their songs as “hard rock with meaning” and according to Dunn, they always strive to connect with their fans on multiple levels.

“We want our fans to relate and feel the life experiences of the band through its lyrics, melody, riffs and grooves,” said Dunn. “You know, in life one is never always angry or always happy. People have ups and downs and we write music that reflects those same emotional swings, giving fans something to grab on to.”

This raw emotion that is conveyed throughout the writing was brought to life in the studio thanks to Gallo’s precise recording style and unique perspective on the project.

“Recording with Rocky was a lot different than we had experienced in other studios previously,” said Dunn. “He preferred to record the song over and over and use the best takes, rather than going back and fixing individual parts. We weren’t really sure what to make of this at first, but in the end, this really helped us create a great product that sounds both polished and raw at the same time.”

In conjunction with the single, the band have unveiled the video for “Consequences”. Directed by Eric DiCarlo (SquareUp Studios), the video puts a spotlight on current news events with the underlying message that “you reap what you sow”. Watch below.

“We can all find something we've done where we've had to pay the consequences,” said Dunn. “And every day there is a new scandal or corruption breaking in the news. As our first single, I hope ‘Consequences’ resonates with fans and gives them a glimpse into who we are as a band.”

Tracklisting:

“Consequences”
“Here We Go Again”
“Hate To Lose”
“The Brave”
“Waiting”
“For One Night”
“Vagrant”
“Time To Heal”
“There Goes The World”
“Waiting” (Radio Edit)

“Consequences” video:




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Sworn Enemy will release their punishing new album, Gamechanger, on April 5th via M-Theory Audio. The song "Prepare For Payback" is now available on all streaming platforms. A lyric video can be seen below.

The album - produced by Robb Flynn of Machine Head, and engineered, mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren (Suffocation, Fallujah, Warbringer) - features 11 tracks that expertly fuse metal, thrash and New York hardcore.

Vocalist and founding member Sal Lococo says the new album - nearly five years in the making - will be worth the wait. “The new album is savage as fuck,” he says. “Now it’s time to get back out on the road and show everyone how fucking great this new shit is!”

The album is available now for pre-order on CD and limited-edition blue splatter vinyl, here. As a bonus, the first 100 pre-orders include a bonus Sworn Enemy fanny pack and three button pins. Digital pre-orders via iTunes, Bandcamp and other platforms include “Prepare For Payback” as an “instant grat” track.

Gamechanger tracklisting:

Intro
"Prepare For Payback"
"Seeds Of Hate"
"Coming Undone"
"Justify"
"DOA"
"Fragments Of A Broken Lifev
"The Fall Of Modern Man"
"Selling A Dream"
"The Consequence"
"Integrity Defines Strength"

"Prepare For Payback" lyric video:

Teaser:

The band will celebrate the release of Gamechanger with three record release shows in late April. Additional tour dates will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
April
26 - Brooklyn, NY - The Kingsland
27 - Falls Church, VA - VFW 9274
28 - Brockton, MA - Dylan's

Lineup:

Sal Lococo - vocals
Matt Garzilli - guitar
Mike Pucciarelli - bass
Jeff Cummings - guitar
Taykwuan Jackson - drums




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Swiss black metal pioneers, Samael, are back and will re-release their legendary albums Lux Mundi and Solar Soul on April 19th via Napalm Records.

Samael awakened on the 14th of July 1988 when brothers Xytraguptor and Vorphalack loaded their musical gear into an atomic bunker. Almost 20 years after that day the band experienced a rebirth with the release of Solar Soul (2007). The album, co-produced by longtime producer Waldemar Sorychta and mixed by Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein, Within Temptation) is now fully remastered and will be released with the addition of nine bonus tracks (two remixes, six instrumental songs, one live track).

After resurrecting black metal in the early '90's with their debut album Worship Him, introducing symphonic metal in 1994 with Ceremony Of Opposites and pionieering industrial metal with Passage in 1996; Samael released Lvx Mvndi in 2011, a record that built a bridge over the 20+ years of the band's history by melting all sides and personalities of the band into a masterpiece. Now the album has been remixed from stems, remastered and will be released with the addition of seven bonus tracks.

Watch a new lyric video for "In The Deep" below, and stay tuned for further details.

(Photo - Joseph Carlucci)

Byron Bay, Australia-based extreme metal band, From Crisis To Collapse, have released a video for "Slow Burn", featured on their debut EP, The Seventh Tree, out now via Art Is War Records. Watch below.

"Slow Burn" was recorded with Chris Ross at Pulpitation Studios in Brisbane, Australia. Says the band: "The music video was curated and shot by our close friend and fellow Byron Bay Creative Alister Vann from Ali Vann Film. This track and accompanying music video is very deep and personal to us and reflects the struggles that individuals go through, but also the spiritual empowerment that we can obtain for our survival. We hope that people connect with it and enjoy."

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS have released the official music video for the song "Call Of The Wild". The clip was shot in Poland during the band's "Living The Dream" 2019 tour and was directed by Sturge Media.

"Call Of The Wild" is taken from SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS' latest album, "Living The Dream", which was released last September via Slash's own label Snakepit Records, in partnership with Roadrunner Records.

Regarding the "Call Of The Wild" track, Slash says: "'Call Of The Wild' is a riff I brought to the band when we were on a break during the 'World On Fire' tour. I can't remember the nucleus of it or where it came from, but it just was a cool riff and something I felt pretty strongly about. In my mind, it was always of paramount importance to get back to that particular riff and chord progression. Sometimes you get an idea and you're committed to it and you have to see it through. And this was one of those ideas."

Added singer Myles Kennedy: "It's probably one of my favorite riffs on the record. And the whole thing came together really nicely. The lyric revolves around the idea of burning out on this technology-obsessed world that we live in and coming to the realization that it's time to power down and get back to the essence of living. 'Call of the wild,' you know?"

"Living The Dream" is Slash's fourth solo album, and third with Slash and his bandmates Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass and vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar and vocals). The artwork was created by renowned visual artist Ron English.


"It's a natural progression from 'World On Fire', for sure," Slash said of the new album. "I think it has a little more diversity — some of the ideas are not really what I would consider to be predictable." At the same time, he adds, "The record is also a bit more structured, with songs that are shorter and more to the point than last time." Kennedy concurred. "I don't know that there are as many of those sort of 'epic sonic journeys' that we took on the last record," he said. "Although there are songs that take you on a trip, like 'Lost Inside The Girl'. But overall, a lot of these songs — things like 'My Antidote', 'Read Between The Lines', 'Slow Grind' — they're pretty precise statements, and they definitely fall in line with the type of sound we're known for. There's a certain type of sonic calling card that we've developed over the years, and you can hear it front and center on this record."

"It's just a snapshot of where we're at," Slash continued, summing up "Living The Dream". "Which is what we're going for with each new album — to be present in what we're doing and come up with something that is representative of and reflects this moment in time."

After 10 years give or take Imagika is back with a new CD for 2019. The most successful lineup of the band with guitarist Steven D. Rice (Kill Ritual, Imagika), vocalist Norman Skinner (Skinner, Niviane, Hellscream, Imagika), bassist Jim Pegram (Mudface, Angerhead, Imagika) and guest drummer Matt Thompson (King Diamond) have recorded a blistering new CD that is a modern take of where Imagika left off on their last CD Portrait Of A Hanged Man. 

The new eight track effort entitled Only Dark Hearts Survive reflects a updated modern version of the band with massive riffs, hook laden vocals and tight grooves that will be released by a yet to be determined label (yeah get in touch). The CD is currently being mixed and mastered by Andy La Rocque at Sonic Train Studios. Artwork for the release has been handled by Sledgehammer Graphix/Jobert Mello. The band will also release two videos and plan on live appearances in throughout 2019 to support the release.

Tracklisting:

“Where Our Demons Dwell”
“Cast Into Damnation”
“Prisoners Of Fate”
“Suffocate On Hate”
“The Spiteful One”
“The Faceless Rise”
“Firefight”
“Only Dark Hearts Survive”




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Swiss melodic metal band Dreams In Fragments released their first lyric video for the song “Nightchild”, the band’s contribution to Brazilian Label Imperative Music’s 22-track compilation DVD The Global Metal Compilation – Volume XVI, featuring bands from all over the world and distributed by Nuclear Blast, Napalm, Season of Mist and Relapse Records, among others.

Dreams In Fragments are a melodic metal band in the vein of Delain or Nightwish, bringing together Seraina Schoepfer’s delicate, operatic vocals and Christian Geissmann’s harsh growls, overlaying dreamy orchestral extravaganzas with raging guitar assaults. Summer of 2019 will see the release of the band’s debut album, “Reflections Of A Nightmare”, launched in time for Dreams In Fragments trek through Eastern Europe with fellow Swiss dark metal outfit, Forge, on their Heimdall Tour 2019.

Dreams In Fragments are:
Seraina Schoepfer: vocals
Christian Geissmann (Majesty Of silence, Proxima): guitar, growls
Jan Thomas (Rainforce, ex-Pÿlon): bass
Frank Fritschi: drums




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Gone In April, the symphonic melodic death metal ensemble featuring Testament bassist Steve Di Giorgio, have unveiled a new music video for the song “The Curtain Will Rise", which was filmed and edited by Norwegian artist Thomas Mortveit. The track is taken from the band's second album, Threads of Existence, recorded at WaveTransform Studio, USA. 

Commented by Gone in April: “This track is a very special one for the band and for the fans. In addition to carrying the theme of the second album, the fight to stay alive, it possesses a certain elegance that we wished to portray. We found the perfect blend of strength and elegance in the Historic Southern Railway Station, an old train station from 1903 located in Tennessee.”

Gone in April is presently working on a third album, scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2019, as well as new music videos to support the new album. Featuring musicians of Testament, Death, Quo Vadis, Märchenbilder and Vivaldi Metal Project, Gone in April combines elements of symphonic, death, speed and folk metal in a blend of their own. 

Gone In April features musicians from Testament, Death, Quo Vadis, Märchenbilder and Vivaldi Metal Project and combines elements of symphonic, death, speed and folk metal in a compelling and aggressive blend sure to please a wide audience.

“Our Future Line” video:

“As Hope Welcomes Death" video:




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The official video for the song "Moonglow" from EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA project can be seen below. The track is the title cut of AVANTASIA's new album, which is being released today (Friday, February 15) via Nuclear Blast.

Tobias comments: "Yes, we've found a song on the new album that is below the four-minute benchmark and it would work as a single. And despite being rather short, it's also representative for the world of AVANTASIA. Somehow in hindsight I think that my admiration for Mike Oldfield shines through here, which wasn't intentional, but you can't really control that. And, by and large, I find the song to be a typical AVANTASIA song nevertheless. The enchanting Candice Night [BLACKMORE'S NIGHT] did an amazing vocal job, and in all modesty, I think so did I, ha! 'Moonglow' is a declaration of love to the moon, the night; it's about entering a different world and the sacred experiences that go along with it."

Comprising 11 tracks, the new opus features several other guest vocalists. This time around, Tobias worked not only with such well-known faces as Ronnie Atkins (PRETTY MAIDS), Eric Martin (MR. BIG), Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE), Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN) and Bob Catley (MAGNUM) but also with new collaborators like Candice Night (BLACKMORE'S NIGHT) and Mille Petrozza (KREATOR). The cover artwork was created by Alexander Jansson. "The Raven Child" features lead vocals by Sammet, Kürsch and Lande.

Comments Sammet: "I really can't wait to unleash 'Moonglow'. First reactions by press and friends are the most enthusiastic comments I have ever gotten in my whole career of 27 years. No bullshit; it's the truth. Sascha and I are overwhelmed!

"In order to avoid boredom, in the middle of promotion and tour preparations, I was getting myself involved in every detail of the album sleeves, booklets and packaging, to make sure the album drags the listener into a different world. I wanted 'Moonglow' to be an overall experience for escapists like myself.

"My favorite edition is the giant super strictly limited art book edition with bonus track and a bonus CD. A massive coffee table book with photos, interview, liner notes and illustrations of Victorian painter Grimshaw who has been very inspirational to me. This book edition is everything it takes to invite the listener into the world of 'Moonglow' and its productional process. There is also a smaller digibook version that features one bonus track and that is limited and beautiful as well. And, of course, there are also vinyl editions to hug, feel, watch, smell and caress.

"I am extremely proud of all these little treasures and can't wait to unleash them!"

"Moonglow" track listing:

01. Ghost In The Moon

02. Book Of Shallows

03. Moonglow

04. The Raven Child

05. Starlight

06. Invincible

07. Alchemy

08. The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

09. Lavender

10. Requiem For A Dream

11. Maniac

12. Heart (bonus track)

Progressive extreme metal masters, Fallujah, will release their fourth full-length album, Undying Light, on March 15th via Nuclear Blast Records. The new song “Dopamine” can be heard below.

“With Undying Light we pushed the boundaries of what we consider to be progressive music. The album presents the listener with as varied a sonic terrain as you would come to expect from Fallujah. We're excited to share with you some of the darker moments from Undying Light. 'Dopamine' highlights the struggle for authenticity in an increasingly inauthentic world. The fleeting pleasure and false loves of our time. We set out to create a new sound within the atmospheric tradition of Fallujah, and 'Dopamine' reveals the deepest moments of rejection and rebellion found on Undying Light. This current tour with Obscura, Allegaeon and First Fragment is connecting us with so many new and old fans that we feel we have to share this song with in a live setting, face to face. European friends and family come to a show and check out 'Dopamine'.” - Scott Carstairs (guitar/vocals)

Undying Light was mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis. Drums and vocals were tracked by Lewis while guitars and bass were recorded by guitarist Scott Carstairs. Cover artwork was created by Nick Keller.

Pre-order Undying Light in a bundle and in various physical and digital formats, here.

Undying Light tracklisting:

"Glass House"
"Last Light"
"Ultraviolet"
"Dopamine"
"The Ocean Above"
"Hollow"
"Sanctuary"
"Eyes Like The Sun"
"Distant And Cold"
"Departure"

"Ultraviolet" video:

"Ultraviolet" video "making of":

Trailer:

(Photo - Hristo Shindov)




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After winning the Swedish Grammis Award in the category “Best Hard Rock/ Metal Album” for their most recent album, Down Below, Tribulation are releasing a live video for “Nightbound”.

Watch their performance in Oberhausen, captured by Dirk Behlau, produced by Beastwoodfilms and mixed & mastered by Linus Björklund of Hi Filer Productions, below:

In other news, the band's Melancholia EP is now available in the following vinyl formats:

- Black LP
- Transparent magenta LP (Sold Out)
- Clear LP
- Dark green LP
- Transparent red LP

Get your format of choice here.

Tribulation's co-headline tour with Gaahls Wyrd starts on February 21st. US black metal hopefuls Uada have been confirmed as main support. Check out a tour trailer:

Tribulation comment on the tour: "We're proud to announce that we'll be joining forces with Gaahls Wyrd and Uada early in the year of their lord 2019 through Europe! We're looking forward to give you all a longer setlist more in line with our vision!"

Says Gaahls Wyrd: “We have a lot of respect for our travel partners, Tribulation and Uada, and can’t wait to join forces for what we believe will be a thoroughly enjoyably and diverse package the we are confident will hit home in the metal community. We’re also massively eager to present songs from our brand new album that will be released next year. 2019 can’t come soon enough.”

European tour dates are as follows:

February
21 - Hamburg, Germany - Kronensaal
22 - Essen, Germany - Turock
24 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Helling
25 - London, UK - O2 Islington Academy
26 - Paris, France - Petit Bain
28 - Munich, Germany) - Backstage

March
1 - Winterthur, Switzerland - Gaswerk
2 - Vienna, Austria- Viper Room
3 - Prague, Czech Republic Nova Chmelnice
5 - Poznan, Poland - U Bazyla
6 - Warsaw, Poland - Proxima
7 - Berlin, Germany - BiNuu
8 - Leipzig, Germany - UT Connewitz
9 - Weinheim, Germany - Cafe Central
10 - Leeuwarden, Netherlands- Neushoorn

(Photo - Ester Segarra)




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Finnish folk metal superstars Korpiklaani have released an official lyric video for "Øl Øl", featuring Trollfest. A message from the band follows:

"Beer, sax & violins! What more do we need to say? We hope you enjoy this as much as we did with our friends we love to drink and tour with!"

Says Trollfest: "We got super excited when one of our all time favourite bands asked us to do a Trollfest version of this classic tune! Today we got to show the world the result. Grab a beer and enjoy 'Øl Øl'. Much love from TROLLKLANI / KORPIFEST."

Korpiklaani continues: "Next week, we will embark on our highly anticipated European run with Turisas and Trollfest. What better way to celebrate this tour than by revealing a brand new song? There's none, that's why we are happy to present a lyric video for 'Øl Øl', which features our longtime drinking mates Trollfest."

The track is taken from the Kulkija (Tour Edition), which is out now. Order here.

Find the band's live itinerary here.




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On March 22nd, Switzerland's Cellar Darling will release their new concept masterpiece, The Spell, which tells the story of a girl who falls in love with death. With the two previous singles, "Insomnia" and "The Spell", fans could already see the band taking a turn towards heavy progressive rock while still not neglecting their folk roots.

Today, the trio consisting of Anna Murphy, Merlin Sutter and Ivo Henzi have revealed another chapter of The Spell - their third single, "Death". Cellar Darling once again surprise with the incredible variety in their music: an enormous, sweeping chorus that goes straight under the skin, bone-crushing riffs that do the song’s name justice, and a doomy instrumental section that quotes Black Sabbath and features an epic flute solo.

The video for the epic track was once again created by Costin Chioreanu and can be found below. And stay tuned: On March 8th, the band will unveil their fourth single, "Drown", which has been chosen by hundreds of fans in online voting.

Pre-orders for The Spell are available now; you can get the album as a 2 CD-digibook (featuring 13 songs + an audiobook of Anna Murphy telling the story behind the concept), black vinyl or digitally at this location.

Tracklisting:

"Pain"
"Death"
"Love"
"The Spell"
"Burn"
"Hang"
"Sleep"
"Insomnia"
"Freeze"
"Fall"
"Drown"
"Love Pt. II"
"Death Pt. II"

"Death" video:

"The Spell" video:

"Insomnia" video:

Grab the first chance to see the songs performed live on the March/April 2019 European tour, with more shows being confirmed as we speak. Tickets are available here.

Tour dates:

March
21 - Sheffield, UK - Studio
22 - Pwllheli, UK - Hammerfest
23 - Cardiff, UK - The Globe
24 - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds
26 - Norwich, UK - The Waterfront Studio
27 - Hull, UK - The Welly 2
28 - Glasgow, UK - Audio
29 - Dublin, Ireland - On The Rox
30 - Manchester, UK - Academy 3
31 - London, UK - The Jazz Café Camden

April
2 - Utrecht, Netherlands - De Helling
7 - Retorbido (PV), Italy - Dagda Live Club
9 - Rome, Italy - Traffic Live
27 - Bruguières, France - Echoes & Merveilles Festival

May
2- Winterthur, Switzerland - Salzhaus
4 - Solothurn, Switzerland - Kulturfabrik Kofmehl

June
13 - Interlaken, Switzerland - Greenfield Festival




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UK-based melodic metal band The Raven Age, featuring Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris's son George Harris, will release their sophomore album, Conspiracy, on March 8th. Pre-order the album in various formats and bundles here, and listen to the new single, "The Day The World Stood Still", below.

 Named after a collective of ravens, Conspiracy is a cryptic soundtrack to the immersive fantasy world that the combined minds of bandmates Matt James (vocals), George Harris (guitar), Tony Maue (guitar), Matt Cox (bass) and Jai Patel (drums) have created. A world that delves into history’s myths and legends, with the stories re-told through their music and imagery. Clues left within their artwork and lyrics connect everything together to be part of a bigger story, pointing to what may later come to pass for The Raven Age.

Conspiracy is an inventive, mature and thrilling body of work that’s full of twists and tangents that carry the excitement from start to finish.

Conspiracy tracklisting:

"Bloom Of The Poison Seed"
"Betrayal Of The Mind"
"Fleur De Lis"
"The Day The World Stood Still"
"Stigmata"
"Surrogate"
"Seventh Heaven"
"Forgotten World"
"The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships"
"Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier"
"Scimitar"
"Grave Of The Fireflies"

"The Day The World Stood Still":

"Fleur De Lis" lyric video:

"Betrayal Of The Mind" video:

Having already built a solid live presence after touring the globe with the likes of Tremonti, Killswitch Engage, Shinedown, Mastodon to name a few and appearing at a number of festivals including Waken Open Air, Bloodstock and Download, they will be supporting this release with their biggest headline run to date across the UK and Europe throughout March and April with support from Defences.

They will then continue the year as support to Iron Maiden on their North and South American leg of the Legacy Of The Beast tour from July to October.




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Finland's Hexvessel will release their new album, All Tree, on February 22nd via their own imprint Secret Trees, in an exclusive partnership with Century Media and Prophecy Productions for North America. The record will be available as Digipak CD and Gatefold LP with an exclusive bonus track. Pre-order here.

Today, the band release a video for the song "Changeling". The song features guest vocals from Neige from Alcest and prog legend Dirk Chapman from Uriel/Arzachel/Egg/National Health on flute. The video was directed by Vesa Ranta and Aapo Lahtela for Kaira Films.

Mat McNerney from Hexvessel says:  "The song is about change, be it growing up from childhood to adulthood or hearing the call of a vocation you feel compelled to undertake. Metamorphosis in the knowledge that, in the spirit of Kinky Friedman’s “find what you love and let it kill you,” there may never be a way back. Irreversible transformation. I think that's kind of my interpretation of Metsänpeitto (which literally means "covered by the forest"), the Finnish folklore phenomenon, where people went missing in the forest for unexplained reasons. Once the call of the forest gets in your blood, you never truly belong to the man-made world again, and you're never coming back. Eventually the forest draws you back home. This same myth, in various forms, also exists in Irish folklore with “changeling children” for example, who were switched by the fairies in infancy. The mythology of my upbringing, and of the country I have settled in, converging together into our "wyrd-folk" story. We are also especially honoured to have our dear brother Neige from Alcest on guest vocals and Dirk Chapman on flute for this song."

Founded in the magical forests of Finland, via the green and pleasant lands of England and Ireland, Hexvessel are wyrd folk. Formed in 2009 by Mat "Kvohst" McNerney, who having already made a name for himself in extreme metal bands in the UK where he was born and raised, and again in the Norwegian black metal scene, finally found his home in the land of the midnight sun. Settling in a country where mythology, tradition and pre-Christian heritage is still alive, McNerney, (who also fronts 1980s-excess-tinged gothic pop band Grave Pleasures), found solace in the constant reflection of Finland's pagan past, awakening secret knowledge that led to the formation of Hexvessel.

Since acclaimed debut album Dawnbearer (2011), Hexvessel have released two further albums of forest folk and bewitching psychedelia. They have played sold out headline tours in their homeland, been nominated for two Finnish Grammy awards, toured Europe together with bands like Sabbath Assembly and Alcest, graced the main stage at Roadburn in Holland and performed at SXSW in Texas, seeing their music on the charts and on many critics lists. They embellished their sonic rituals with mushroom-induced psychedelia on third and most recent best-selling album When We Are Death to widespread critical acclaim and continue to develop their sound.

Their new album All Tree sees the band expand upon McNerney's personal spiritual journey. Reunited with his co-songwriter from Dawnbearer, Andrew McIvor, they unfurl their primordial storytelling with a contemporary command of song-craft. During the writing of All Tree, as he sat by the fire in his summerhouse in the Finnish wilderness, McNerney recalled the summers of his youth, spent listening to Celtic ghost stories on his father’s family farm in Galway, Ireland. He began to write music that grew out of that connection between myth and nature and wanted the album to symbolize a pathway toward a spiritual revival of the old fables. From a youth spent in pastoral England to the boggy marsh woods of Ireland, to his homeland forests of Finland, McNerney’s Hexvessel reveals nature’s universal tales of hidden spirits.

The pagan wilds are portals to reality. You go through them and you enter the universe. Hexvessel write songs in the oral tradition of the old balladeers. They weave everyman stories that create a bond between the teller and the audience, bringing alive a sense of shared purpose and spiritual history. With wife and collaborator Marja Konttinen, like-minded troubadour and co-writer Kimmo Helén, guitarist Jesse Heikkinen, the primal rhythms of Jukka Rämänen (Dark Buddha Rising), and the occult found-sounds of Antti Haapapuro (Aural Hypnox/Arktau Eos), Hexvessel has truly become a melting cauldron or “vessel,” a potent “hex” of spellwork.

By drawing on older folk acts like Shirley Collins, Vashti Bunyan, later folk rock bands such as Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention and King Crimson, to more recent artists such as Nick Cave and Coil, imbued with Karelian and Nordic folklore rhythms, Hexvessel have created a sound that is both ancient and modern. All Tree is about connection and roots, bringing the spirits of the past that we all share to a more mystical and fulfilling vision of the future.

Tracklisting:

"Blessing"
"Son Of The Sky"
"Old Tree"
"Changeling"
"Ancient Astronaut"
"Visions Of A.O.S."
"A Sylvan Sign"
"Wilderness Spirit"
"Otherworld Envoy"
"Birthmark"
"Journey To Carnac"
"Liminal Night"
"Closing Circles"
"Summer Fires" (bonus track)

"Son Of The Sky" video:

“Old Tree”:

“Closing Circles” live:




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ALTER BRIDGE is tentatively planning to release the follow-up to 2016's "The Last Hero" album in October.

Guitarist Mark Tremonti, who has spent much of the last year touring with his band TREMONTI, spoke about ALTER BRIDGE's next LP during a recent interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio.

When asked if the new ALTER BRIDGE record will be out this year, Tremonti replied: "Yeah. I think the plan is to have it out this fall. I think maybe October is kind of the target."

According to Mark, the songwriting process for the ALTER BRIDGE's upcoming disc is in full swing. "I'm in the process now where I'm up till four in the morning every night writing, writing, writing," he said. "And on [the TREMONTI] tour, I'll be recording demos and whatnot, so once we get off this tour, I'll be going right into the studio with ALTER BRIDGE through March and April. And then after that, we'll do another TREMONTI run, which will be the final TREMONTI tour for this cycle. And then we'll be setting up for the tour later on with ALTER BRIDGE at the end of the year."

As for the direction of the new ALTER BRIDGE music, Tremonti said he's "trying to come from a different place. It's hard to explain. I'm trying to make it not be the same," he said. "We always try to reinvent ourselves with every record. Right now, it's a little early [to tell], 'cause me and Myles [Kennedy, guitar/vocals] haven't gotten together. So far, it's been me writing stuff and Myles writing stuff, and when we come together and combine the stuff, we really see what it's gonna sound like. But I'm trying to make it sound a little different than it has in the past. We'll see how it turns out."

Last fall, Kennedy told Myglobalmind that "a whole bunch of ideas" were "being thrown around" for ALTER BRIDGE's sixth album. "It's pretty exciting stuff. There is too early to tell what the vibe is just yet or what will make the cut," he said. "Mark and I tend to come up with a lot of ideas that we throw up against the wall to see what will stick. The songs we pick will decide the mood of the record and we won't know that until April."

ALTER BRIDGE's fifth studio album, "The Last Hero", was released in October 2016 via Caroline Records in the United States/Canada and Napalm Records throughout the rest of the globe. The 13-track opus was produced by longtime friend and collaborator Michael "Elvis" Baskette (SLASH, TREMONTI, TRIVIUM) and mastered by Grammy Award winner Ted Jensen.

German prog and extreme metal virtuoso Hannes Grossmann (ALKALOID, TRIPTYKON) will release his third solo album, "Apophenia", on March 11.

Grossmann is a world-renowned drum maestro, formerly of NECROPHAGIST, OBSCURA and BLOTTED SCIENCE, and he can also be heard on many other guest projects, such as HATE ETERNAL and DARK FORTRESS, either as a session drummer, producer or as a guest live performer as well.

"Apophenia" features current members of ALKALOID — Linus Klausenitzer (bass), Danny Tunker (lead and rhythm guitars), Morean (vocals), and Christian Muenzner (guest guitar solo) — as well as other revered guest artists, such as Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY), V. Santura (DARK FORTRESS, TRIPTYKON) and guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman (MEGADETH).

Grossmann's sophomore effort, "The Crypts Of Sleep" (2016) was critically praised by reviewers and fans, alike. "Apophenia" promises the same brutal and beautiful experience as his other works, with poignant commentary on the modern-day human existence.

"My main inspiration and intention is escapism," Grossmann says. "Just like country music or also pop music sometimes tries to escape the world we live in by fleeing into a fantasy world of joy and happiness, I'd rather try to escape into dark worlds, which are unsafe and negative, and that is also featured on the album."

Listen to the first track, "The Flying Pizza Conundrum", below.

"My dear friend Morean was kind enough to contribute lyrics for three of the songs, which deal with conspiracy theories, and more precisely with the Flat Earth Movement," Grossmann says. "The main topic of the album deals with these ideas — and basically tells extremists to leave us alone with their stupidity and keep the made-up bullshit to themselves."

The title "Apophenia" means a "tendency to mistakenly perceive connections and meaning between unrelated things," a term invented by German psychiatrist Klaus Conrad in his 1958 publication on the beginning stages of schizophrenia. Grossmann chose this title because he deems the "unmotivated seeing of connections [accompanied by] a specific feeling of abnormal meaningfulness", which was Conrad's definition of the term, as something that has become more and more visible — in the Internet, as well as in the public debate, but even in speeches or tweets of famous political leaders.

There are eight tracks on "Apophenia", each featuring its own facet of the overall theme:

01. Deep

02. Reeks Insidious

03. The War On Intelligence

04. Vacant Dreams

05. They

06. Dianetics Declined

07. Apophenia

08. The Flying Pizza Conundrum

All songs are written, arranged, mixed and produced by Grossmann at his Mordor Sounds Studio in Veitsbronn, Germany.

Photography by Alex Morgan Imaging

Apophenia by Hannes Grossmann