The clip below, shot during former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman's recent Tokyo Jukebox Tour 2021 through Japan, features Friedman performing the Crowded Houe classic "Don't Dream It's Over" with special remote guest Mateus Asato on guitar. The footage was shot on April 6th in Osaka at Bigcat and shared by AMSA Records.
Los Angeles-based Asato is a guitarist from Campo Grande, Brazil and rose to fame through by posting videos of himself playing guitar on Instagram, and amassed over one million followers before shutting the page down in February 2021. He has toured with several pop artists has his own signature model guitar through Suhr Guitars. In 2019, Guitar Magazine named him one of the 50 most exciting young guitarists in the world
Friedman released the new studio album Tokyo Jukebox 3 via The Players Club / Mascot Label Group on April 16th. The record is the third in a series that began with Tokyo Jukebox in 2009, and then Tokyo Jukebox 2 following in 2011.
The trilogy presents Friedman’s inspired performances to Japanese repertoire he’s chosen to cover. He shares, “I've been playing stuff from the first two 'Jukebox' albums live all over the world, and it's taken on a life of its own. Especially in places like North and South America, Australia, Italy, France and even India. My fan base is very dedicated, and what I have found is that lots of new fans have been introduced to Japanese music and culture through me, which is very gratifying. On the tours it seems like aside from the dedicated guitar fans, the Japan fanatics have been noticeably growing, so now felt like the right time to do Tokyo Jukebox 3.”
Friedman put a lot of energy into selecting the right songs to cover for the album, He shares, “In Japan, you have to get permission to record and release cover versions, and that can be a very tricky and long process. So, the last thing I wanted to do was to ask permission to do a song, only to wind up not recording it for whatever reason. That would be very impolite. I spent several weeks choosing songs and demoing them to see whether I could create versions that I could get pumped up about, before I even approached any publishers. I came up with a short list of 20 songs, and from this chose about 15 that I knew I could really score with.”
Friedman has also included “The Perfect World,” which he wrote, recorded and originally released in 2018. This is the only track on the album with vocals. He reflects, “Back then I did the song with Jean-Ken Johnny from Man With A Mission on vocals, and that was used as the main theme for the Netflix series B: The Beginning. On the day of release, the song went straight to the top of the Japanese iTunes chart.” This recording is a new, fresh interpretation with Alfakyun, one of Japan’s premier female J-Pop singers performing the vocals. As Friedman offers, “It's really a self-cover, so it fits in with the idea of this being a covers album.”
Friedman has also included “Japan Heritage Theme Song,” another of his own compositions on which he worked with the Tokyo Philharmonic orchestra. He reflects, “I was asked by the Japanese government to compose an official song to be played at government sponsored events which celebrate Japanese heritage. This was a huge honor, and it was wonderful to be able to work with such a prestigious orchestra which, rather conveniently, my wife plays cello in. Doing this was a little different from what I am used to, because instead of playing a completed track to record company people I had to face Japanese government officials. I recall looking at their stony faces after they heard it and sweating anxiously awaiting their reaction. Thankfully, they liked what I'd done. I felt this was a great, uplifting way to close the album.”
Much of the recording process was done at Power House Studios in Tokyo, with Friedman, who was also the producer on the project, joined by bassist Kiyoshi and drummer Anup Sastry. He shares, “Kiyoshi has been in my band for about six years now doing all my tours and recordings. She is a powerhouse, and I honestly have never seen anyone hit the bass as hard as she does, especially while keeping up with my kind of challenging music. Anup was a member of Skyharbor (an Indian/American progressive metal band) and has been on my last three albums. He is just plain phenomenal as well.”
The recording process started in January, 2020 and was due to end in March with a release in May. Then the pandemic struck, and everything was pushed back. Friedman had no firm deadline to finish the album within, and he took advantage of the time, reflecting on executing his vision without limitations. He offers, “I kept reworking the music, and improving everything. In the end it took several months to get the album completed, but it was time well spent. I believe the music turned out so much better because I wasn't under any deadline pressure.” The mixing was handled by Jens Bogren at his own Fascination Studios in Sweden. He's a resource Friedman has the utmost confidence in offering, “Jens has mixed my last three albums and he’s one of the best in the business. He knows what I want, and I know he'll get it for me.”
Friedman's remarkable attention to detail on this album goes beyond the music. The cover image presents the guitarist dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono, with make-up that honors authentic tradition. He offers, “I have to admit that getting this done was a hellish process. It could easily have just looked like a dude in drag and therefore rather stupid. It does take a very serious attitude and approach to pull this off properly. If you look at the covers for the first two 'Jukebox' albums, I had on kabuki make-up. There was no photoshop used at all and that’s precisely why they came out so well. This time I brought on the absolute top professionals in the unique field of wardrobe and make-up, and I believe we've hit the bullseye. I am actually wearing two kimonos in the photo, as well as padding to fill me out a little like a sumo wrestler. You'd never believe I am this skinny rock dude from the East Coast of America!”
Tracklisting:
"Makenaide"
"Senbonzakura"
"Gurenge"
"Kaze Ga Fuiteiru"
"Echo"
"The Perfect World" (feat. Alfakyun)
"U.S.A."
"Shukumei"
"Ikuze Kaitou-Shoujo"
"Sazanka"
"Time Goes By"
"Japan Heritage Official Theme Song"
"Tragedy rocks sweet balls and can do no wrong! They are great fun!" - Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden
If you’ve never headbanged to the tunes of Slayer’s thunderous riff-fest “Raining Blood” combined with “It’s Raining Men” by American duo The Weather Girls, it's about time. Get wild with the world's hottest metal tribute to The Bee Gees and beyond, as New York based cover song reinventors Tragedy have just released a remastered version of this insane mash up, “Raining Blood" / "It's Raining Men”.
The song is taken from their remastered favorites album, Disco Balls To The Wall, to be released this Friday, July 30 via Napalm Records. Born out of the impenetrable divide of disco and metal, these fearsome brothers fearlessly take disco, soft-rock and pop classics and completely reimagine them as glorious, red-hot heavy metal. Their music is sure to get your head bangin’, your booty shakin’, and put a smile on your face immediately!
Tragedy on “Raining Blood" / "It's Raining Men”: “What happens when we mix Slayer with The Weather Girls? A sensual downpour of the unexpected! Hot metal riffs meet goddess sexuality. Hormones rage. Worldviews collapse. Underwear becomes irrelevant. Tragedy will get you absolutely soaking wet!”
It doesn’t matter at all if you love or hate disco or metal - you will unabashedly love Tragedy and their bombastic, crazy mix of disco, metal, glitter and revelry. The band’s first offering with Napalm Records will include Tragedy’s unique twist on hits such as Abba’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” and “Dancing Queen”, Toto’s “Africa”, Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” and Adele’s intense super-hymn ''Skyfall”, just to name a few. These fearsome brothers drop the perfect selection of all-time favorite disco, soft-rock and pop favorites - completely reimagining them as glorious, red-hot heavy metal treatments.
Get your body shaking when Tragedy start to rock out with The Bee Gee’s “Stayin' Alive”, “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Tragedy”, and headbang to the tunes of Slayer’s heavy riffing thrash thunder “Raining Blood” combined with “It’s Raining Men” from American duo The Weather Girls in a way absolutely never heard before. Disco Balls To The Wall is finally topped by a smashing live version of Donna Summer’s fabulous “Hot Stuff”, featuring Alex Skolnick of Testament on lead guitar.
The band adds: "Disco Balls To The Wall is the biggest, sexiest collection of hits we've ever released. It’s as if the Bee Gees turned into werewolves, ate some teens, then bred with the local dog population; thus creating the world's most beastly recordings of disco and soft-rock songs ever made. Sharing this album with your friends and lovers will make you 500% more desirable.”
Disco Balls To The Wall will be available in the following formats:
- 2-LP Gatefold (Orange transparent) - strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
- 1-CD Digipack
- Digital Album
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
"You're The One That I Want"
"Evil / Baker Street"
"Stayin' Alive"
"Sweet Caroline"
"Raining Blood" / "It's Raining Men"
"How Deep Is Your Love"
"Aquarius" / "Let The Sunshine In"
"Africa"
"Total Eclipse Of The Heart"
"Tragedy"
"Dancing Queen"
"Skyfall"
"Hot Stuff"
“Sweet Caroline” video:
"Stayin' Alive" video:
"You're The One That I Want" video:
Tragedy is:
Disco Mountain Man - lead vocals, lead keyboards
Mo'Royce Peterson - lead vocals, lead guitar
Andy Gibbous Waning - lead bass, lead vocals
Garry Bibb - lead guitar, lead vocals
The Lord Gibbeth - lead drums
Lance - towel boy, complete idiot
Inglorious will release their first ever covers album, Heroine, on September 10 via Frontiers Music Srl. The album sees the band tackling covers by a varied selection of female artists whom they respect and admire. Today, fans can get a taste of the album with the release of the single and video for their take on Heart's classic, "Barracuda". Watch the video below:
Pre-order/save Heroine on CD/Color Vinyl/Digital here. The band has two different color LPs available exclusively on their webstore and is donating £1 from every copy sold on their webstore to the fantastic charity Women's Aid, who do amazing work supporting women and young girls.
The following LP colors are available:
- Blue (everywhere)
- Red (Band exclusive)
- Gold (Band exclusive)
Additionally, the band will play A Newday Festival on August 22, Stormin The Castle on September 4, and head out on a headline run in September and October before playing Winterstorm on November 26. Latest tour dates for the band and links to buy tickets can be found here.
Hot on the heels of the successful February 2021 release of Inglorious' fourth studio album, We Will Ride, their first with the new line-up of Nathan James, Phil Beaver, Danny De La Cruz, Dan Stevens, and Vinnie Colla, the band headed right back into the studio to record a very special new album. The up-and-coming British hard rockers' new release, titled Heroine, is a tribute to the various outstanding female musicians who have influenced the band either musically and/or vocally. From putting their own hard rock imprint on pop hits from Whitney Houston, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, and Christina Aguilera to taking on timeless classic rock songs by Tina Turner, Heart, and Joan Jett, and contemporary rock by the likes of Evanescence, Alanis Morissette, and Halestorm, Inglorious showcase their versatility with the song selections for this covers album.
"First things first, we know it is impossible to make these songs better, the originals are perfect and the performances legendary, so acknowledging that we weren't even gonna come close to the magic of the originals took the pressure off and we could just enjoy making this super fun album. It's about bowing to these incredible artists and, for me personally, saying thank you for sharing their gifts with the world. People assume that the singers I idolise are bluesy rock men, but they couldn't be more wrong. Everyone of these artists has inspired me as a performer, writer, singer, or person. Whether it be the unbeatable voice of Whitney, the charisma of Tina, the honesty of Alanis, the intensity of Lzzy, or the control of Amy Lee. I love the fire all these women bring to their music and that's what we wanted to say thanks for. Not only to these artists, but the awesome women in all of our lives who have loved us and continue to support us. With this in mind we are donating a pound from every copy sold on our webstore to the fantastic charity Women's Aid (https://www.womensaid.org.uk/), who do amazing work supporting women and young girls," says vocalist Nathan James.
The band's new lineup is now more gelled and cohesive after having toured the band's third album, writing and recording together for the fourth album, and now the recording of this fifth album. The guitar duo of Danny Dela Cruz and Dan Stevens interplay and feel shines and the rhythm section of Phil Beaver and Vinnie Colla is tighter than ever. Vocalist Nathan James takes on the daunting task of performing songs originally done by such amazing singers with respect and confidence. The overall results are astounding and a pleasant surprise for the band's fans, who likely weren't expecting a new batch of recorded music this quickly.
Inglorious are five young men with a mutual love and respect for two long-running tentpoles of hard rock music: big guitar riffs and soulful vocals. Formed in February 2014, the band is fronted by Nathan James, who made a name for himself having sung for the multi-platinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra and legendary Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth. Nathan was looking for like-minded musicians that desired to make incredible rock music in a very honest fashion. The band’s self-titled debut album received critical and fan acclaim. The follow up album, II, was another well received affair and was followed by the band’s third album, Ride To Nowhere. Their fourth studio album, We Will Ride was released in February 2021 and charted in the UK, US, and several European countries.
Tracklisting:
"Queen Of The Night (Whitney Houston cover)
"Barracuda" (Heart cover)
"Midnight Sky" (Miley Cyrus cover)
"Nutbush City Limits" (Tina Turner cover)
"Bring Me To Life" (Evanescence cover)
"Fighter" (Christina Aguilera cover)
"I'm With You" (Avril Lavigne cover)
"I Hate Myself For Loving You" (Joan Jett cover)
"I Am The Fire" (Halestorm cover)
"Time After Time" (Cyndi Lauper cover)
"Uninvited" (Alanis Morissette cover)
"Midnight Sky" video:
Lineup:
Nathan James - Lead Vocals
Danny De La Cruz - Guitar
Dan Stevens - Guitar
Vinnie Colla - Bass Guitar
Phil Beaver - Drums/Percussion
EMN (Every Mother's Nightmare) have released the fourth video from their latest record, Resurrect The Faithful. Check out "Drown By Luv" below:
Recorded at Supernova Sound Memphis, Resurrect The Faithful differs from any of its predecessors. With a unique wall of guitars and a thunderous rhythm section, Resurrect The Faithful stands above anything the band has written and crosses various musical boundaries. The lyrical content delves into profound subject matter that can be determined by the listener as it relates to their own lives and situations. Each song takes on a life of their own – 11 scorching tracks of pure rock ‘n roll bliss at its finest and perhaps the most defining record in the bands career.
Tracklisting:
"Getaway"
"Breathe"
"Here's To The Ones"
"Sin In My Heart"
"When It Goes Away"
"Resurrect The Faithful"
"Fray"
"Sorry Today"
"Unstained"
"Drown By Luv"
"Love Can Make You Blind" (2020)
NIGHTWISH played a special "secret" concert earlier tonight (Wednesday, July 28) in Oulu, Finland. The Finnish/British/Dutch symphonic metallers performed at Club Teatria disguised as a NIGHTWISH cover band called NEVSKI & THE PROSPECTS, although speculation about the group's actual identity was strong enough to cause the event to sell out.
NIGHTWISH played the Oulu show as a warm-up for its festival appearances in Finland this week: July 30 at Qstock and July 31 at Kuopiorock.
The Oulu gig marked NIGHTWISH's first fan-attended show in more than two a half years. It was also NIGHTWISH's first proper concert with session bassist Jukka Koskinen's (WINTERSUN), who stepped into the group as the replacement for longtime NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marko "Marco" Hietala. Hietala announced his departure from the band in January, explaining in a statement that he hadn't "been able to feel validated by this life for a quite a few years now."
Koskinen made his live debut with NIGHTWISH at the band's two interactive experiences in late May. The shows reportedly drew 150,000 viewers, setting the record for the largest paid virtual concert in Finland's history. Most of the viewers came from Europe and North America, but the performance was a truly global event, with fans in 108 countries purchasing tickets to the show and the box office gross exceeding one million euro.
In May, NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen said that Hietala's decision to leave the band "came as a bit of a surprise." He told Finland's Kaaos TV: "Marko informed us in December last year [that he was leaving the band]. And even though he has been very open about his state and problems during the past years, it still came as a bit of a surprise for us. So it was a really tough pill to swallow. And for a few days, I was actually quite confident that there's no coming back, that this is it. I remember talking to Emppu [Vuorinen], the guitar player, and we were, like, 'You think this is it?' 'Yeah, I think this is it.' I mean, enough is enough. So much has happened in the past. Something that broke the camel's back, as they say. Then, after some time had passed — a few days — we started to think that it's been such a ride of 25 years, with so many ups also, that this is not the way to end it."
NIGHTWISH's latest album, "Human. :II: Nature.", was released in April 2020. The follow-up to 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful", "Human. :II: Nature." is a double album containing nine tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters, on CD 2.
Finnish legendary melodic metal band Dark The Suns have released an official video for "Enkelsiipi", taken from their fourth studio album, Suru Raivosi Sydämeni Pimeydessä, which was released on April 9th via Inverse Records. Check it out below.
Mikko Ojala comments: "'Enkelsiipi' is the last song from our latest album, Suru Raivosi Sydämeni Pimeydessä. The music video is filmed in the beautiful Finnish nature. It was really athmospheric evening, the Sun was setting down and everywhere was silent."
Tracklist:
"Spirit In The Dark"
"Everywhere"
"Suru Raivosi Sydämeni Pimeydessä"
"Hope In Our Hands"
"The Secrets Of Time"
"Seeker"
"Storm Of Fire"
"Taivas Itki Tulta"
"Shadows In The Void"
"Enkelsiipi"
Go to the official Dark The Suns Facebook page here.
On Saturday, July 17, Los Angeles-based band WARRIOR reunited to celebrate the life of its bass player Rob Farr at Cooks Corner in Trabuco Canyon, California. This was the first time WARRIOR has performed live since its performance at the Keep It True festival in Germany, on April 26, 2014.
Farr was very well liked and frequented the Southern California rock scene, playing in a variety of bands over the years. His other band NATIONAL DUST and RADIO EIGHTIES also performed on July 17 at Cooks Corner. Roy Z and Ira Black headed up an all-star jam to finish off the day.
The WARRIOR lineup included founding member Joe Floyd, AC Alexander (LIZZY BORDEN) on guitar, Dave Ducey (RHINO BUCKET) on drums, Mike Davis (HALFORD, LIZZY BORDEN, DEATH DEALER) on bass and Sean Peck (CAGE, DEATH DEALER, THE THREE TREMORS) on vocals. There are suggestions that WARRIOR may be preparing new original material for release and booking additional live performances in the near future.
The WARRIOR setlist was as follows:
01. Fight Or Fall
02. Mind Over Matter
03. Only The Strong Survive
04. Cold Fire
05. Defenders Of Creation
06. Fighting For The Earth
07. Welcome Aboard
Farr grew up in the San Fernando Valley era of Los Angeles but was a resident of Oceanside, California at the time of his death. He began playing in bands at the age of 13 and was part of the bustling 1980s L.A. music as a member of thrash pioneers DÉTENTE, HIT & RUN and TIGER ROSE. He joined WARRIOR in time for the band most recent album, "The Wars Of Gods And Men", which featured Marc Storace of KROKUS on lead vocals, and subsequently recorded three albums with biker rockers NATIONAL DUST between 2005 and 2012.
Grammy-winning rock band GRETA VAN FLEET has released a new live performance video for album track "Built By Nations". The song was the top single debut for GRETA VAN FLEET with more than two million streams during its first week. It has since gone on to surpass 8.5 million streams.
GRETA VAN FLEET's sophomore studio album, "The Battle At Garden's Gate", came out in April via Lava/Republic Records.
A bold evolution from the band's 2018 full-length debut "Anthem Of The Peaceful Army", "The Battle At Garden's Gate" came together primarily on the road or while in the studio after the runaway success of 2017's "Highway Tune" led to the band packing up, leaving home, and eagerly soaking up new experiences on an extended road trip around the world.
Over the past three years, GRETA VAN FLEET — vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist Sam Kiszka, and drummer Danny Wagner — played to hundreds of thousands of people across North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, South America and New Zealand. While driving to gigs, the first-time world travelers passed many unfamiliar sights, from the favelas in Sao Paulo to the Gold Coast of Australia and everywhere in between, meeting and enjoying conversations with fans and other musicians that opened up new worlds to them. To cap off the change-filled era, the quartet moved from Michigan to Nashville, immersing themselves in Music City's rich history. The melding of all these experiences opened their eyes to amazing new worlds of culture, history, philosophy and spirituality — and ushered in an entirely new way of looking at life and the approach to their music.
Accordingly, GRETA VAN FLEET poured everything they experienced into these new songs - the music reflects their spiritual and intellectual growth, increased awareness of the inequalities plaguing the modern world, and deep empathy for what other people are going through.
Sonically, "The Battle At Garden's Gate" also feels bracingly modern, an embodiment of genre-blended musical freedom. Recorded in Los Angeles with Greg Kurstin (FOO FIGHTERS, PAUL MCCARTNEY), the album is ambitious and expansive, marked by epic journeys such as the second single, "Age Of Machine", and the Top 5 rock hit "My Way, Soon", which boasts a towering chorus hook and rip-it-up-and-start-again lyrics.
Pittsburgh, PA-based slamming deathcore powerhouse, Signs Of The Swarm, have released a video for "Hollow Prison" featuring Despised Icon singer, Alex Erian. The track will be featured on the band's upcoming album, Absolvere, out worldwide on September 24.
Watch the video below, and pre-order/pre-save the new album here.
Tracklisting:
"Hymns Ov Invocation"
"Boundless Manifestations"
"Dreaming Desecration"
"Totem"
"Nameless"
"Absolvere"
"Revelations Ov A Silent King"
"Hollow Prison" (Feat. Alex Erian)
"Blood Seal"
"Death Whistle"
SATANIC PLANET has released the official Dennis Bersales-directed music video for the song "Strangers". The track is taken from the band's self-titled album, which came out on May 28 via Three One G Records.
SATANIC PLANET is the creation of Lucien Greaves (The Satanic Temple co-founder and spokesperson), Luke Henshaw (PLANET B, SONIDO DE LA FRONTERA), Dave Lombardo (SLAYER, MISFITS, MR. BUNGLE, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, DEAD CROSS) and Justin Pearson (THE LOCUST, DEAD CROSS, SWING KIDS, DEAF CLUB). With the birth of SATANIC PLANET, hip-hop producer Henshaw and punk provocateur Pearson joined co-founder and spokesperson of The Satanic Temple, Lucien Greaves — the most prominent and outspoken contemporary Satanist in the world. Greaves has gained international attention as an advocate for religious liberty and the voice of the Satanic Reformation, delivering lectures nationwide and featured in national media outlets, including MSNBC, NPR, Huffington Post Live, CNN, Harper's Monthly, Newsweek, Fox News, Vice, Salon, Rolling Stone and many more. As the trio were diligently working, and nearly completed with, the music for their debut album, the worldwide pandemic hit, seemingly bringing things to a halt. However, with the onset of this new way of living, the newly formed band was in a unique position to enlist the legendary Lombardo, who found himself not touring for the first time in years, and suddenly having more time to work in his home studio on projects that interested him. With the addition of this iconic drummer, SATANIC PLANET was complete. Along the way, an eclectic range of guest appearances arose, including CATTLE DECAPITATION's Travis Ryan, Nomi Abadi, SILENT's Jung Sing, Shiva Honey, Eric Livingston (also known as his artist moniker First Church Of The Void), and HEXA's Carrie Feller. This collaboration embraces the avant garde to create sci-fi sermons that range from doom and industrial to evil exotica.
"Satanic Planet" was recorded and produced by Henshaw and Lombardo. It was mixed and mastered by Brent Asbury.
THE OFFSPRING has launched "Cockpit Karaoke", a video series featuring frontman Bryan "Dexter" Holland and guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman singing along to some of the band's biggest hits from inside a private jet that's being flown by Holland, who is a licensed pilot.
"We know everyone's heard of 'Carpool Karaoke', but 'Cockpit Karaoke'??? No one's done that!!" Holland told SPIN, which premiered the first clip, featuring the duo singing "Come Out And Play", with the "Keep 'Em Separated Guy" along for the ride. "Since I'm a pilot, we thought it would be great if Noodles and I had some fun and got to sing along to some of our many hits."
THE OFFSPRING's latest album, "Let The Bad Times Roll", arrived in April via Concord Records. The follow-up to 2012's "Days Go By" was once again produced by Bob Rock, who also worked on the band's last two LPs.
Holland, Wasserman, drummer Pete Parada and new bassist Todd Morse wrote and recorded "Let The Bad Times Roll" in the last few years at various locations, including the band's studio in Huntington Beach, California.
Fresh off last week's announcement of their upcoming 11th studio album "Horizons/East", California-based rock band THRICE has dropped a visually stunning music video in support of its newest single "Scavengers". Directed by DJay Brawner, the video transports viewers to a different world; one of mystery and disguises that leaves viewers unsure of whom to trust and where to turn. Sonically, "Scavengers" is driven by a dark and intricate braid of guitar and drum grooves, while the lyrics challenge listeners to discern between the issues and information that bond us versus those that disintegrate and destroy.
"Horizons/East" is available for pre-order now and will be released September 17 digitally and October 8 physically via Epitaph Records. The album exemplifies art as a work of recognition — the human task of perceiving oneself amid details, disasters, and blessings as a relentlessly relational phenomenon among others. In this, "Horizons/East" is the rare rock album on which interrelatedness is a theme, painting an adventurous and lush landscape mixed by Scott Evans that the band produced and recorded at their own New Grass Studio.
With the new album, THRICE addresses, with candor and courage, the fragile and awkward arrangements that pass for civilization, while inviting us to dwell more knowingly within our own lives. Without surrendering any of the energy and hard edge of their previous albums, they've given us a profoundly meditative work, which serves as a musical summons to everyday attentiveness.
Some of the writing even began with open-ended challenges that the band laid on themselves like building a song using the quartal chords they found in much of the jazz they loved, or taking the Fibonacci sequence and turning it into a guitar riff.
"Horizons/East" track listing:
01. The Color Of The Sky
02. Scavengers
03. Buried In The Sun
04. Northern Lights
05. Summer Set Fire To The Rain
06. Still Life
07. The Dreamer
08. Robot Soft Exorcism
09. Dandelion Wine
10. Unitive/East
Formed in 1998, the Orange County-based four-piece is widely regarded as one of the most innovative rock bands of its generation.
THRICE features frontman Dustin Kensrue, guitarist Teppei Teranishi, bassist Eddie Breckenridge and drummer Riley Breckenridge.
THRICE will be touring this fall with special guests TOUCHÉ AMORÉ, JIM WARD (appearing at select dates only) and SELF DEFENSE FAMILY.
California rockers BUCKCHERRY have released the third video from their "Hellbound" album, for the track "Wasting No More Time". The clip was directed by Kurtis "KasterTroy" Imel and was shot at Nelson's Landing, a legendary ghost town 45 minutes from Las Vegas. It follows videos for the songs "So Hott" and "Hellbound".
Earlier in the month, BUCKCHERRY postponed a couple of weeks' worth of tour dates after two members of the band tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
"Hellbound" was released on June 25 via Round Hill Records. The follow-up to 2019's "Warpaint" was recorded last fall in Nashville, Tennessee with producer and songwriter-for-hire Marti Frederiksen, who has previously collaborated with AEROSMITH, DEF LEPPARD, Jonny Lang and Sheryl Crow, among many others.
Last summer, BUCKCHERRY recruited JETBOY's Billy Rowe as its new guitarist. He joined the group as the replacement for Kevin Roentgen, who left BUCKCHERRY in July 2020.
In 2019, BUCKCHERRY recruited Francis Ruiz as its new drummer. He joined the group as the replacement for Sean Winchester, who exited BUCKCHERRY after laying down the drum tracks on "Warpaint".
On September 24, Rivers Of Nihil will release their fourth full-length, The Work, via Metal Blade Records. For a first preview of the album, a video for the new single "Clean" (directed by Mike Truehart) can be viewed below.
Reading, Pennsylvania's Rivers Of Nihil have never fit neatly into a box, but with 2018's Where Owls Know My Name, they transcended all labels applied to them. Returning in 2021 with The Work, they have forged further into new territory, delivering an album that is as cerebral as it is visceral, and that covers a staggering sonic range, definitively placing them in a category of their own. Inarguably a very dense, heavy collection, The Work is far too dynamic to be considered a solely metal record, and there is a genuine warmth that shows through, particularly on "Wait" and the gorgeous "Maybe One Day," and the band have included far more clean vocals alongside the screaming that tears through many of the heavier tracks. Courtesy of their friend Zach Strouse, saxophone once again adds extra layers of atmosphere to the collection, utilizing baritone, soprano and alto saxes to great affect.
With guitars and synths/keys tracked at Uttley's home studio, the band then we went back for the third album in a row to Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Atrium Audio to do drums, vocals, bass, sax, and mixing.
"We've done so many sessions with those guys that they're basically an extension of our band at this point. They usually know what we like, and we always encourage them to roast us to make stuff better," says guitarist Brody Uttley.
Alongside the band, James Dorton from Black Crown Initiate provided some vocals on "Episode," Grant McFarland played cello on "The Void From Which No Sound Escapes", and Uttley's friend Stephan Lopez helped out with all of the field recordings, an integral part of the sonic textures of the record.
The Work can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:
- digipak-CD
- deluxe box set (hardcover box includes: CD digipak (w/ bonus track), blue w/ black & white splatter vinyl, 52-page photo book, slipmat, and exclusive download content)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- silver w/ blue & black splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 500 copies)
- natural clear w/ black & red splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- crystal clear w/ white & turquoise splatter vinyl (Kings Road exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- red / white melt vinyl (EMP exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- transparent orange w/ black swirls vinyl (Eyesore exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- silver / black marbled vinyl (Impericon exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- aqua blue / canary yellow galaxy vinyl (US exclusive)
- white / cyan blue galaxy vinyl (US exclusive)
The Work tracklisting:
"The Tower (Theme from "The Work")"
"Dreaming Black Clockwork"
"Wait"
"Focus"
"Clean"
"The Void from Which No Sound Escapes"
"MORE?"
"Tower 2"
"Episode"
"Maybe One Day"
"Terrestria IV: Work"
"Clean" video:
Rivers of Nihil lineup:
Jake Dieffenbach - lead vocals
Brody Uttley - lead guitar, keyboards
Adam Biggs - bass, backing vocals
Jon Topore - rhythm guitar
Jared Klein - drums, backing vocals
Metallica have released another preview for their upcoming reissue of The Black Album. Below you can watch "Enter Sandman" (Psycho Band Pass) from the “Music Videos” DVD included in the box set edition. It's an early rough cut of the band performance footage from the “Enter Sandman” music video.
You knew it was coming, you’ve been patiently waiting, and finally The Black Album reissue is here. Remastered for ultimate sound quality, multiple formats will be hitting the physical and digital universe on September 10, and are available for pre-order now.
Says Metallica: "Can you believe it’s been almost thirty years since its original release? Neither can we! Then off we went to hit the road for a massive 300+ show tour, and the ‘Tallica experience went to a whole new level. To celebrate this milestone, we had to go all out with a wide variety of configurations for all your listening pleasure, including 180-gram double vinyl LP, standard CD and 3CD expanded edition, and digital (including high-def versions).
"There’s also the ultimate release for die-hard fans: a Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set containing over 24 hours of music including the album remastered on 180-gram 2LP, a picture disc, three live LPs, 14 CDs (containing rough mixes, demos, interviews, and live shows), 6 DVDs (containing outtakes, behind the scenes, official videos, and live shows), a 120-page hardcover book, four different tour laminates, three unique lithos, three guitar picks, a Metallica lanyard, a folder with lyric sheets, and a download card.
"But wait… of course there’s more! In addition to the reissue of The Black Album, we’re also pretty pumped about the release of The Metallica Blacklist which features an unprecedented 50+ artists spanning an unbelievably vast range of genres, generations, continents, and more, each contributing a unique interpretation of their favorite Black Album cut.
"Everyone who pre-orders any configuration of either release will receive digital instant grats delivered right to your inbox throughout the summer. Keep watching this site and our socials for lots of video and audio previews as well as all kinds of other Black Album related activities… it’s definitely going to be one black summer!"
Metallica recently checked in with the following update: "We told you about the re-issue of The Black Album, but we’re also really proud and excited to be releasing The Metallica Blacklist, a compilation of 50+ artists spanning an unbelievably vast range of genres, generations, continents and more, each contributing a unique interpretation of their favorite Black Album cut. Available now for pre-order, digital formats hit the internet on September 10th, CDs and LPs in stores and at your favorite online retailer on October 1st.
"With contributions from countries all over the globe from the US to Nigeria, there are tracks from singer-songwriters, country artists, electronic, and hip-hop artists alongside punk rockers, indie darlings, icons of rock, metal, world music, and many, many more covering the entire spectrum from musicians we’ve shared the stage with, to some who were not even born yet when the original album was released!
"The Metallica Blacklist will be available in multiple formats including digital (standard and high-def versions), 4CD, and a limited edition 7LP vinyl pressing. Pre-orders will instantly receive multi-platinum selling recording artist, songwriter, philanthropist, and trailblazer Miley Cyrus’ version of “Nothing Else Matters” featuring Watt, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, and Chad Smith, as well as Columbian-born rock/pop superstar, and winner of 20+ Grammy & Latin Music Grammy Awards, Juanes’ interpretation of “Enter Sandman.” Additional digital instant grat tracks will be delivered right to your inbox throughout the summer.
"One hundred percent of the profits go to charity – 50% to our own All Within My Hands and 50% to a charity of each artist’s choice. In addition to raising money for charity, we wanted to show that Metallica’s music transcends genres, distance, and cultures, and we like to think that – with everyone’s help – we’ve done just that. It was important to us that the artists could choose whichever song they most connected to; it didn’t matter if we already had multiple versions of a song, if an artist wanted to cover that song, so be it. We were honored to have artists of this caliber want to be a part of the project and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together!
"One album, 12 songs, 53 artists, unlimited possibilities."
The Night Flight Orchestra is back! Sweden's most famous cabin crew recently announced the second part of the "Aeromantic" saga, seeing the light of the day on September 3. Aeromantic II is another thrilling journey to the band's core and their passion for traveling and being in motion - accompanied by the balance act of bittersweet sadness and pure joy of life.
The band states: "Aeromantic II is about circling around the globe in the stratosphere, never wanting to land. A continuation of the journey we started all these years ago. The Swedish melancholy and the simultaneous love of life, creating a new alternative world for all the restless souls out there. We know that you are there. We feel you. And The Night Flight Orchestra will guide you into a better place. Where the nights are made of Chardonnay and every day is burning. Just take our hands and flounce about with us in the twilight zone, where everything is possible."
The Night Flight Orchestra have released a video for the single, "Chardonnay Nights". Stream "Chardonnay Nights" here and watch the clip below.
The band about "Chardonnay Nights": "This song tells the story of endless summer nights and a young man’s desperate fight to push his tomorrows away. To immerse himself or herself in the emergency of the present tense. The way the secrecies of the night reveal unknown truths, and you don't have to see things too clear, you just have to see them."
Tracklisting:
"Violent Indigo"
"Midnight Marvelous"
"How Long"
"Burn For Me"
"Chardonnay Nights"
"Change"
"Amber Through A Window"
"I Will Try"
"You Belong To The Night"
"Zodiac"
"White Jeans"
"Moonlit Skies"
"Reach Out"
"Chardonnay Nights" video:
"Burn For Me" video:
"White Jeans" video:
The Night Flight Orchestra is:
Björn Strid – Lead and Backing vocals
David Andersson – Guitars
Sharlee D’Angelo – Bass
Sebastian Forslund – Guitars, percussion
Jonas Källsbäck – Drums
John Manhattan Lönnmyr – Keyboards
Anna Brygård – Backing Vocals
AnnaMia Bonde – Backing Vocals
Frontiers Music Srl recently welcomed the new melodic metal project, Between Worlds, to the label. The band is a vehicle for vocalist Ronny Munroe (ex-Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Metal Church) and highlights his incredible vocal talents.
The self-titled debut album will be released on September 10, 2021. Written and produced in partnership with Alessandro Del Vecchio, this album is a must hear for fans of classic American heavy/power metal. A new preview of the album is available today with the release of the song "Soul Chaser", featuring Whitesnake guitarist, Joel Hoekstra. Listen below, and pre-order/save Between Worlds here.
Ronny Munroe first came to prominence in the metal world when he stepped into the role of frontman for the legendary band Metal Church. During an audition for a project principal Metal Church member Kurdt Vanderhoof was working on, Ronny was first put on Kurdt's radar. After watching Munroe's performance, Vanderhoof decided to resurrect Metal Church with Ronny on lead vocals. He would go on to sing four albums with the band, The Weight Of The World (2004), A Light In The Dark (2006), This Present Wasteland (2008), and Generation Nothing (2013). Ronny would also wind up singing for Vanderhoof's progressive rock project, Presto Ballet, further showcasing his vocal talents.
In another sign of the power of his voice, in 2011, Ronny was asked to join the mighty Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which further highlighted his vocal talents and showcased his voice to the popular act's audience.
After a break from music for personal reasons, Ronny joined Steve Smyth’s (Forbidden, Nevermore) band One Machine in 2019 before starting work on the, at the time, as yet untitled Between Worlds project with Alessandro Del Vecchio. Munroe and Del Vecchio got in touch at the end of 2019 with the idea of writing some songs together and creating a musical project centered around Ronny's vocal abilities and songwriting. Alessandro invited his longtime songwriting partner Pete Alpenborg to join forces with them and sent the first four demos to Frontiers, who moved quickly to sign them to the label. Between Worlds was thus formally born.
Ronny and Alessandro wanted to involve people in the project that would resonate with Ronny's history in music and put their mark on this incredible set of songs, so Johnny Lee Middleton (Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Chris Caffery (TSO, Savatage, Spirits Of Fire), Jack Frost (Seven Witches, Savatage), and Joel Hoekstra (also of Whitesnake) all contributed. Fans of Crimson Glory, Metal Church, and Classic American power metal will revel in hearing Ronny deliver some of his best vocal performances to date, while telling the story of his rebirth in music. Ronny poured his soul into the performance, with musical power and melody lifting him up during the process.
Tracklisting:
"Between Worlds"
"These Walls"
"Life Enough For Me"
"Times Of Change"
"No Escape"
"Soul Chaser"
"Scent Of An Angel"
"Beautiful Disaster"
"Flip The Script"
"Beneath The Surface"
"Calm Before The Storm"
"Soul Chaser":
"Between Worlds" video:
Lineup:
Ronny Munroe - Vocals
Alessandro Del Vecchio - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Pete Alpenborg - Rhythm Guitars
Jack Frost - Lead Guitars
Alex Jansen - Bass
Michele Sanna - Drums
John Lee Middleton - Bass On “No Escape”
Joel Hoekstra - Lead Guitar On “Soul Chaser”
Chris Caffery - Lead Guitars On “Angel” And “No Escape”
Following up to the announcement of their new album Molotov Rocktail, out September 3 via Napalm Records, and releasing their single “Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)”, Norwegian power trio Bokassa are not stepping down from their stoner punk rampage, revealing their new single “Burn It All (P.T.S.D.E.A.D.)”. Airtight, dense production and raspy, unmistakable vocals by guitarist Jørn Kaarstad make this heavy rock banger an unmatched joyride. The melodic chorus and speedy guitar solos prove Bokassa to be on top of their stoner punk game.
Says the band: “’Burn It All’ is just a great song in our opinion. A perfect uptempo Bokassa track. Everything from the stoney lead riff, the melodic verses and choruses to the metal riffage in the bridge makes this song pop. One of our favorites on the record. And it probably includes our coolest solo yet. The video was really fun to shoot as well, although we wouldn’t recommend dressing in corpse paint with fake blood when it’s 30 degrees and a hell of a lot of mosquitos around!”
Hailing from Trondheim, Norway, hard rock trio Bokassa have recently made a name for themselves with their brand of hard-hitting, melodic, catchy punk and stoner rock, right from the first full length, Divide & Conquer (2017). During the Worldwired tour with Metallica, the band released the critically acclaimed Crimson Riders (2019). On top of this, the Norwegians were nominated for the prestigious Spellemann-Award as Breakthrough of the Year in 2020. Now, Bokassa are ready to enter the next explosive chapter with their exciting new album, Molotov Rocktail.
Vocalist and guitarist Jørn Kaarstad’s unmistakably raspy voice and crushing guitar riffs hit satisfyingly hard with the snappy drumming and fat bass tone of drummer Olav Dowkes and bassist Bård Linga. Songs like “Herticules” effortlessly pull off the transition between melodic choruses and punishing breakdowns, while the title track “Molotov Rocktail” is two minutes of pure stoner punk paradise with its dense songwriting and dynamic production. The album closer’s intro riff (“Immortal Space Pirate 3 Too Old For This Sith”), meanwhile, could be lifted straight off a classic Behemoth album. On Molotov Rocktail, Bokassa’s daring but cohesive tightrope act of singalongs and neck breaking grooves is highly contagious – mixed and mastered by Machine - the powerhouse from Trondheim misses no chance to entrance the listener with every second of runtime.
Molotov Rocktail will be available in North America in the following formats:
- CD Digipak
- 1 LP Gatefold Pink - limited to 300 copies worldwide
- 1 LP Gatefold Black
- Digital Album
"Freelude"
"So Long Idiots!"
"Pitchforks R Us"
"Hereticules"
"Low (And Behold)"
"Godless"
"Molotov Rocktail"
"Burn It All (P.T.S.D.E.A.D)"
"Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)"
"Code Red"
"Immortal Space Pirate 3 Too Old For This Sith"
"Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)" video:
Bokassa are:
Jørn Kaarstad - Lead Vocals,Guitar
Bård Linga - Bass, Vocals
Olav Dowkes - Drums, Vocals
On July 25th, Fractal Universe held a livestream event in support of their new release, The Impassable Horizon. This show was the one and only time that the band would perform The Impassable Horizon in its entirety.
Fans who couldn't watch the initial stream are able to re-watch it through Veeps until August 8th; additionally, an exclusive shirt design is available for purchase during the show at Veeps. Tickets can still be reserved at veeps.com. Fractal Universe has shared "Falls Of The Earth" from the livestream:
Fractal Universe comments: "With the release of The Impassable Horizon, we received messages from fans all around the world asking us when we'll be able to perform in their countries. While we don't have an answer for that, with The Impassable Horizon - Alive we want to give all of you the opportunity to experience a Fractal Universe show from home! We've prepared a unique setlist: this is our one and only time performing the new record in its entirety, alongside some of your favorites from our previous albums, all of that with our brand new stage production! So make sure not to miss it!"
The Impassable Horizon can be ordered here on CD, vinyl, as well as digitally.
Fans can also visit Fractal Universe's official store for additional vinyl and more.
The Impassable Horizon tracklisting:
"Autopoiesis"
"A Clockwork Expectation"
"Interfering Spherical Scenes"
"Symmetrical Masquerade"
"Falls Of The Earth"
"Withering Snowdrops"
"Black Sails Of Melancholia"
"A Cosmological Arch"
"Epitaph"
"Godless Machinists"
"Flashes Of Potentialities" (Unplugged)
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