El Paso, TX’s Scattered Storm have a debut EP Oblivion coming out this summer, and in advance are releasing the second single “Aeon Flux”. Scattered Storm’s music can be described as both primal and futuristic, a juxtaposition that can only be pulled off by seasoned musicians.
“Aeon Flux” was the first song written by Kevin Armstrong (guitars) who sent it off to Jay Arriaga (drums/keyboards/samples) and kickstarted what would become a state supergroup along with Andre Acosta and Ed Razor (Pissing Razors). The song lyrically focuses on a lot of fake friendships and backstabbing. The band continues to explain:
“The song musically is very percussive and has a very tribal feel all throughout. Its pulse is steady like the beating heart while there is all this chaos and aggression behind it. Andre took that aggression very well and kept it by growling continuously and not singing clean vocals. Again the primal aspects continue up until the end where it is obvious with the tribal chants that the ending breakdown is about to destroy. This was done intentionally to kick ass live.”
Full of catchy hooks and memorable vocals, Oblivion is a debut EP that will be eaten up by listeners. It was mixed by Jay Arriaga (drums/keyboards/samples) who then sent it to their good friend Alan Wallace from Eminence in Brazil to master.
Formed three years ago, Scattered Storm is a group of seasoned musicians that write very dark, futuristic heavy music with a lot of ambience. They are recommended listening for fans of Fear Factory, Gojira and Devin Townsend.
Last Temptation have signed a new record deal with Golden Robot Records/Crusader and are ready to present several new singles between June 2021 and January 2022, followed by their brand-new album Ashes ’N’ Fire in February 2022. The first single “I Don`t Wanna Be Your God” (supported by a video clip) is out now; check out the video below.
“You can feel that we’ve made a major step forward, both as a live band and as songwriters, all thanks to the shows we’ve played so far.” - Peter Scheithauer
Talking of the new line-up: In bassist Julien Rimaire (Los Dissidentes Del Sucio Motel) and drummer Vince Brisach (Mitch Ryder), along with Scheithauer and Vukovic, the band have a whole new rhythm section supporting them on Ashes ’N’ Fire. While Last Temptation’s self-titled debut still boasted a number of international guests, such as Bob Daisley, Vinny Appice, Stet Howland, James Lomenzo, Don Airey, Steve Unger and Rudy Sarzo, the band now consists exclusively of European musicians. “This step was necessary to make Last Temptation more flexible when it comes to the organizational side,” explains Scheithauer. “The new line-up makes it so much easier to rehearse spontaneously, play gigs at short notice and prepare album productions.”
No doubt about it: Last Temptation have grown into an even tighter unit, musically as well as logistically, and are positively bursting with enthusiasm. The songwriting team consisting of Scheithauer and Vukovic, together coming up with 16 tracks for Ashes ’N’ Fire, eleven of which have made it onto the album. They range from up-tempo numbers such as “Stronger Than Fate” and “Free Strong And Loud” to the Black Sabbath-esque “Going Crazy” and the ballad “In The Mirror”.
New Jersey based brutal death metal act, Cognitive, have released a video for "To Feed The Worms", from their fourth album, Malevolent Thoughts Of Hastened Extinction, out July 16 via Unique Leader. Watch the clip below, and pre-save Malevolent Thoughts Of A Hastened Extinction here.
Tracklisting:
"Eniac"
"The Maw"
"Arterial Red"
"From The Depths"
"Oroborous"
"To Feed The Worms"
"Malevolent Thoughts"
"Tearing Tendon From Bone"
"Destitute"
"Of A Hastened Extinction"
Infernalizer, a horror-filled creature conceived and brought to life by the creative mind of Claudio Ravinale, best known as the vocalist of Italian death metal veterans Disarmonia Mundi, shares his latest music video “Leave A Scar” from the debut album The Ugly Truth, released this past February via Rockshots Records.
Heavily influenced by '80s metal acts such as Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, and Danzig, Ravinale's new project Infernalizer relies on the use of gloomy keys and eerie samples, paying homage to more somber gothic rock acts like Type O Negative and The Sisters Of Mercy. Vocally closer to contemporary acts like Rob Zombie and Wednesday 13, the range of influences also include evocative cinematographic soundscapes that provide Infernalizer's songs with a more solemn and nocturnal atmosphere.
The album, The Ugly Truth, is ten tracks to take fans on a roller coaster ride into band founder Claudio Ravinale’s own horror-themed amusement park. Providing a modern take on the concept of heavy metal, the full-length features crooning vocals alternated with more harsh yet still melodic tones along with added layers of evocative keys and samples for a solid foundation deeply rooted in an '80s metal sound.
“I’m a child of the '80s that loves horror movies. So as soon as I started to think about how this band was going to sound, I really tried to focus on my main influences, the music I’ve grown up with and tried to filter all these influences giving them a more actual approach. To me, this record is like A Nightmare On Elm Street movie made music: there’s the horror part but without forgetting the lighthearted approach,” adds Ravinale.
The album was produced by NeroArgento at AExeron Studio (Turin, Italy) and mastered at Sterling Sound Studio (Nashville, TN) by legendary Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Ted Jensen (Guns N’ Roses, Korn, Pantera, Alice In Chains).
Tracklisting:
"Night Shift"
"The Outsider"
"Leaving So Soon?"
"In Retrospect"
"Cruel Intentions"
"The Ugly Truth"
"In This World Or The Next"
"Leave A Scar"
"I Don’t Wanna Be Me"
"Autumn Of Terror"
British extreme metal veterans CARCASS will release their long-awaited seventh studio album, "Torn Arteries", on September 17 via Nuclear Blast Records. Along with the announcement, the band has debuted a new song titled "Kelly's Meat Emporium" that is available now on all stream services.
Ferocious and uncompromising in their execution, CARCASS's ability to intricately dissect the innards of death metal and display them for us to sonically understand has been their point of excellence for over three decades. In 2019, the band released its first single in over five years, "Under The Scalpel Blade", followed by a four-song EP titled "Despicable" (October 2020), setting a potent precedent for "Torn Arteries". With the album title itself referencing an old demo created by original drummer Ken Owen back in the 1980s, "Torn Arteries" sits as a bookend on the modern side of the CARCASS discography, connecting directly back to where everything began over 30 years ago.
The "Torn Arteries" album artwork also rings reminiscent of the grotesque photography that appears on classic CARCASS album covers like "Reek Of Putrefaction" and "Symphonies Of Sickness". Artist Zbigniew Bielak traveled outside his normal wheelhouse to bring forth a time-lapsed set of photos showing vegetables shaped like a heart, rotting over time upon a white plate. This form of artwork was influenced by Japanese Kusôzu, meaning "painting of the nine stages of a decaying corpse."
"It's very clean, white, which we've never done before," explains vocalist and bassist Jeff Walker. "It doesn't look evil, or typically death metal, but I like how clean it is; almost like a coffee table book." This new album presents images, lyrics, and sounds that so distinctly scream CARCASS, but ferry us into a new era of production, songwriting, and art all together.
"I think as our seventh album, it does stand out from the others both sonically and stylistically," says Walker. "You can definitely tell that it's CARCASS; when you drop that needle on the vinyl, when you hear that guitar tone, you can tell it's Bill Steer, but each album is always a product of its time."
With "Torn Arteries", each track stands unique from the rest in its approach to guitar, bass, vocals and drumming, along with all the finer details. Filthy and dominating guitar work creates thick layers of tone and melody, piling on top of each other like the weight of dead flesh in tracks like "Kelly's Meat Emporium".
"The working title for 'Kelly's' was originally 'Stock Carcass'," laughs Walker. "We knew that one was a real meat-and-potatoes track for the album." Meanwhile, the elevated speed and catchy beat in "Dance Of Ixtab" tell a robust and airier story, one that is certain to get a reaction from live crowds. "We built this song around the beat. We had an approach to each song that was a definite idea," Walker says. "It's all about 'what haven't we done before?'"
Recording and production for "Torn Arteries" wasn't as simple as sitting down for a few weeks and knocking it all out, but rather spread out over the course of approximately one year bouncing back and forth between England and Sweden. Initially, drummer Daniel Wilding did session work in Sweden at Studio Gröndahl with David Castillo while guitars were recorded at The Stationhouse with James Atkinson in Leeds, England. Eventually needing some form of residential location to finalize vocals, bass, and other guitarwork, the band headed back to Studio Gröndahl in Sweden to continue work in a very relaxed atmosphere with Castillo. "There was no real big plan to do it this way, the process just organically grew on its own," says Walker.
Most will find that the only real struggle when indulging in "Torn Arteries" is fighting the desire to start it over the second it finishes. It covers substantial new ground for a band with such a reputation, while still retaining that addictive, time honored CARCASS sound that has come to represent the face of true death metal.
"Torn Arteries" track listing:
01. Torn Arteries
02. Dance of Ixtab (Psychopomp & Circumstances March No. 1)
03. Eleanor Rigor Mortis
04. Under The Scalpel Blade
05. The Devil Rides Out
06. Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment Limited
07. Kelly's Meat Emporium
08. In God We Trust
09. Wake Up And Smell The Carcass / Caveat Emptor
10. The Scythe's Remorseless Swing
"Torn Arteries" is available for pre-order in a variety of bundles and formats, including CD, box set and limited-edition vinyl pressings.
"Revolution", the second music video from HEAVY WATER, the new project featuring SAXON's Biff Byford and son Seb Byford of NAKED SIX, can be seen below. The song is taken from HEAVY WATER's debut album, "Red Brick City", which will be released on July 23 via Silver Lining Music.
Soaked in gritty, riff-baked blues yet rich with the sound and meter of classic hard rock, "Red Brick City"'s ten songs refuse to let you go. From the taut, elastic swing of the "Solution" riff to the rich, layered balladic strains of "Tree In The Wind", the LP moves with the class and cadence of a cracking journey uniting vintage rock 'n' roll sensibilities with the crackle and excitement of a fresh, youthful perspective.
With Seb on guitar and Biff on bass duties and both providing their vocal talents, the foundations for HEAVY WATER's sound are set in both that incredible father-and-son chemistry and a lifetime of know-how and experiences. Take the title track — and first single — "Red Brick City", all steam and smolder wrapped around a riff SOUNDGARDEN would've been proud of, and then there's the sun-soaked smile of "Follow This Moment" with harmonies evoking the BEACH BOYS relayed through LED ZEPPELIN, a gorgeous 1970s trip right down to the fadeout.
"We decided to do something together in these dark times and the family came together to help get this album off the ground," explained Seb and Biff.
Seb Byford recorded and engineered "Red Brick City" at the Big Silver Barn in York, U.K., while the drums were recorded by Ben Hammond at Reel Recording Studio in York. Seb produced the album with Biff, and Jacky Lehmann mastered. "Red Brick City" sees Seb take the reins on guitar and vocals, with Biff taking up the bass and vocal mantle. Tom Witts plays the drums, while Dave Kemp rounds out the HEAVY WATER lineup on keyboards and saxophone. To cap off this family affair, the packaging photos were taken by Steph Byford.
"We had great fun doing this album, working together on the songs and recording during lockdown," concluded Biff and Seb. "It's all recorded without samples or profiles... just loud and proud!"
This past March, Biff told Sweden's RockSverige that HEAVY WATER is musically similar to that of Byford's first solo album, "School Of Hard Knocks", which came out in February 2020. "The songs are also, stylistically, very similar to the [SACXON's] 'Inspirations' album," he explained. "There's some laid-back stuff and there's some heavy stuff. I wouldn't say there's any prog rock on there, but there are definitely two or three metal tracks on there. Seb's a great songwriter, and he likes to play heavy guitar riffs, so I'm sure people will be interested."
Asked what it's like working with his son, Biff said: "It's pretty cool. We're both pretty set in our ways, so it's working really well. It's great for me and for him, really. I'm getting off on his excitement and his first time doing things, and he gets off on my that wisdom that I've learned over the years."
"Red Brick City" track listing:
01. Solution
02. Turn to Black
03. Red Brick City
04. Tree in the Wind
05. Revolution
06. Personal Issue No. 1
07. Medicine Man
08. Follow This Moment
09. Now I'm Home
10. Faith
"Inspirations" was released in March via Silver Lining Music. The 11-track effort contains some of the classic rock songs that influenced Biff and the rest of SAXON.
Two Minutes To Late Night is back with a cover of the Jefferson Starship classic, "Jane". Watch below.
A message states: "You taste like a burger! We covered the best song by a band who has changed their name three times because we love Wet Hot American Summer that much. This is our 42nd bedroom cover made with the support of Patreon. Become a Patreon patron today and get access to exclusive rewards like patches, t-shirts, even custom songs! Plus, you get to see every cover we make before it publicly premieres."
This cover features:
Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative, Danzig, Silvertomb)
Johanna Sadonis (Lucifer)
Nicke Anderson (Lucifer, The Hellacopters, Entombed)
Mlny Parsonz (Royal Thunder)
Cory Barhorst (Kylesa, Black Tusk)
Jordan Olds aka Gwarsenio Hall
Majustice is a multinational power metal band formed in 2021 by guitarist Jien Takahashi (Stormheart, Baskerville), who was heavily influenced by Timo Tolkki's composition skills (during the “classic” Stratovarius period), as well as the guitar wizardry of Marty Friedman and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Majustice features the powerful vocals of Iuri Sanson (Eternity's End/ex-Hibria), the genius shred of keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Ring Of Fire), and the fretboard pyrotechnics of guitarist Kelly Simonz (Kelly Simonz's Blind Faith). The lineup is rounded out by bassist Kaz Nakamura (Kelly Simonz's Blind Faith, Mark Boals) and drummer Yosuke Yamada (Kelly Simonz's Blind Faith, Mark Boals).
The band’s debut album will be titled Ancestral Recall, with some of the tracks slated to appear include “Ancestral Recall”, “Tears Of The Sky”, and “Now Your Turn”. In addition, four songs written by Timo Tolkki will be appear on the album: “Sonata Black”, “Dangerous”, “Infinite Visions”, and “You Rock My World”; originally slated to appear on an album by Timo’s now-defunct band Infinite Visions, these songs were acquired by Majustice and given new life.
Ancestral Recall will also have special guest performances: legendary vocalist Mike Vescera (ex-Loudness, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) who will be singing two songs, and Loudness drummer Ryuichi Nishida playing on one track.
Majustice have released a preview video of the demo version of two songs which will be on their upcoming debut album, "Ancestral Recall" and “Now Your Turn” (featuring Mike Vescera). It can be viewed below:
Lineup:
Vocals - Iuri Sanson (Eternity’s End, ex-Hibria)
Guitar - Jien Takahashi (Stormheart, Baskerville)
Guitar - Kelly Simonz (Kelly Simonz’s Blind Faith, Mark Boals)
Keyboards - Vitalij Kuprij (Artension, Ring Of Fire, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
Bass - Kaz Nakamura (Kelly Simonz’s Blind Faith, Mark Boals)
Drums - Yosuke Yamada (Kelly Simonz’s Blind Faith, Mark Boals)
Guest Vocals - Mike Vescera (Animetal USA, ex-Loudness, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen)
Guest Drums - Ryuichi Nishida (Loudness)
(Photo - Day Montenegro, Hikaru Ohta, Dani Metalcry)
“First we wish to thank the hundreds of friends and fans that reached out to us on Cleve’s passing,” states Dominic St. Charles, Urn’s singer/guitarist. “He was loved by so many for all of his work spanning over three decades in the horror, film, and music industries. It has been a great loss to us on a personal level as well as professional. We are still hurting, but we are healing as well. Thank you and bless you all.”
Urn have released their new single and video for the song “Of Whom We Once Were”, which Mr. Hall himself filmed and directed before his passing. Additional footage was filmed in Florida as the Coronavirus pandemic hit the United States only a couple of weeks after principal photography took place in California.
The band reported that they had scheduled to initially release the single/video for the week after Mr. Hall passed, and elected to postpone so they could re-edit the video to include a memorial tribute to honor his memory. According to St. Charles, the band also filmed a second video during that same time frame for another upcoming single and look to release closer to the 20th Anniversary event in San Jose.
Cleve Hall’s daughter, Constance Hall, who officially announced his death also launched a GoFundMe to raise funds for burial costs of which the band has contributed and is help supporting:
St. Charles continued, “There is the adage of ‘living life on life’s terms” and that certainly has been the case for us these past two to three years. We wish to thank all of our fans, friends, family, and our team for being patient with us as it has been trying times. We’ve been looking to release the Semicolon album for a couple of years now, but major life and health events have kept delaying the process, but we are extremely determined to do so here in the very near future. Thank you for sticking with us”.
Urn also announced today they have rescheduled their 20th-anniversary concert event to Saturday, October 23, 2021 to be held at The Ritz in San Jose, CA.
Originally, to have been held on their actual anniversary date of May 5 in New Orleans, due to the untimely passing of keyboardist Cleve “Monster Man” Hall on March 30 from heart failure, as well as COVID protocols that were still in place with many businesses in the French Quarter, the band felt it was necessary to postpone.
More details on the 20th Anniversary event will be released in the coming weeks as the band is still confirming with many special guests and alumni who planned on participating in the initial event and are checking schedules for the new date.
A year after releasing their 3 EP during June 2020 via RFL Records, Canada's Sven Gali is kicking off summer 2021 with their new music video "Hurt", which premiered Friday, June 11 on BraveWords' Streaming For Vengeance. You can now watch the video below.
Says the band: "'Hurt' features the unmistakable melodic and attitude laced vocals of David Wanless; complimentary and crushing guitar performances from Andy Frank and Sean Williamson; and the solid foundation and groove laid down by Shawn Minden and Dan Fila. As you listen to it, you will hear the combination of classic Sven Gali along with the evolving sound of the band. We are looking forward to getting back out on tour and blowing people away with our high-energy, intense, and crushing performances. Best, SG."
Experiencing extensive touring worldwide where they have shared the stage with legends such as April Wine, Foreigner, Pearl Jam, and Def Leppard, Sven Gali's 3 EP marks their return since releasing 1995’s In Wire and 1992’s gold-selling and Juno Award-nominated self-titled debut album released on BMG Music Canada that featured hits “Under The Influence” and “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”.
Known for their fusion of 80s screaming hard rock and 90s blazing metal, Sven Gali's 3 EP is available on digital platforms from RFL Records, and on CD here.
3 tracklist:
"Kill The Lies"
"You Won't Break Me"
"Now"
"Hurt"
Sven Gali is:
Dave Wanless - vocals
Andy Frank - guitars
Shawn Minden - bass
Dan Fila - drums
Sean Williamson - guitars
Danko Jones have released a video for their new single, "Saturday", which can be seen below. The track is the second single from the band's new album, Power Trio, out August 27.
The music video was directed (filmed, produced and edited) by Trevor Bowman at Bridgeworks in Hamilton, Ontario in March 2021. The track is an absolute banger with massive power-chord roars and just the right amount of edge. It's undeniably catchy and about so much more than just horndog confessions and sexual conquests. It's about the search for true, everlasting love. Danko (frontman) just wants to spend the evening curled up on the couch with his missus.
The full-throttle album, Power Trio, sees the band reunited with Canadian independent label Sonic Unyon Records, who issued the trio's first recordings and who will release the band's latest masterpiece in North America. Pre-orders are available here.
Power Trio sees Danko Jones delivering each engine-revving riff, soul-shaking stomp, and shout-it-loud hook with a sniper’s precision. It's such a simple, self-evident title, but one loaded with significance, as it speaks to the special triangular alchemy Danko shares with his trusty bass-slinging accomplice JC and drummer Rich Knox. It also stakes out the band’s place on a storied lineage of three-piece titans Jimi Hendrix Experience, ZZ Top, Rush, Motörhead, Venom, Dinosaur Jr., and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, to name a few.
When you choose to start a power trio, you’re not simply forming a band, you’re entering a blood pact - a tacit acknowledgement that all three members need to carry their equal share of the weight lest the whole enterprise collapse. There’s nowhere to hide in a power trio - no second guitarist to cover your mistakes, no keyboard player to smooth things over, no horn section to distract the crowd. If you fuck up, the whole band fucks up. Everybody needs to be on their A-game at all times.
Power Trio follows the band's electrifying, world charting album, A Rock Supreme released in 2019. It also sees the band once again tapping into the production prowess of Eric Ratz, who previously amped up the bone-breaking boogie of 2017's full-throttle rocker Wild Cat and 2015's bloodlusty Fire Music.
Tracklist:
"I Want Out"
"Good Lookin'"
"Saturday"
"Ship Of Lies"
"Raise Some Hell"
"Blue Jean Denim Jumpsuit"
"Get To You"
"Dangerous Kiss"
"Let’s Rock Together"
"Flaunt It"
"Start The Show" (feat. Phil Campbell)
After recently releasing their third full-length album, Inertia, via Napalm Records, Greek modern metal five-piece Scar Of The Sun now drops an intense lyric video for album closing song “Anastasis”, which in their native language means “resurrection”. Its heaviness, together with an emotional vocal performance from singer Terry Nikas, immediately indicates a deep, personal meaning that pierces the listener to the bone.
Terry Nikas on the song: "'Anastasis' is the closing song of our new album Inertia, definitely it is emotionally the heaviest song we have ever created. It's an homage to a very close person of mine and I felt like doing something in order never to be forgotten. It's something everyone can relate. Life is full of scars and I wanted to make this scar stand out of the rest."
Watch the new lyric video for “Anastasis”:
On Inertia, Scar Of The Sun utilizes scientific terminology to transmit their impassioned messages of difficult trials and social awareness lyrically, conveying an overarching theme that reflects one of society’s heaviest burdens – that financial gain has flourished at the expense of humanity and the livelihoods of everyday people.
Terry Nikas about the album: “Third strike, this album is our punch to the world disarray! The most aggressive album we’ve done so far indicates our current intentions! The main concept of Inertia deals with how financial interests act against the lives of everyday normal people, no matter where you come from, since profit knows no ethics and nationalities. We become lab rats and we struggle in our everyday life while at the same time that extreme minority that runs the financial interests see people like numbers and value our lives like ants. These are matters that concern and annoy me and I had to get them out of my chest.”
Inertia was recorded and mixed by singer and songwriting mastermind Terry Nikas at Zero Gravity Studios in Athens, Greece and mastered by the legendary Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Dimmu Borgir) at Fascination Street Studios, Sweden.
"Hydrogen"
"Inertia"
"I Am The Circle"
"Quantum Leap Zero I: Torque Control"
"Quantum Leap Zero II: Transition To Turbulence"
"Oxygen"
"The Fallible Experiment"
"Quantum Leap Zero III: Thrust"
"Singularity Collapse"
"Zenith To Minos"
"Anastasis"
“Quantum Leap Zero II: Transition To Turbulence” live video:
Four years after the release of The Immortal Wars (2017), Juno award-nominated Ex Deo returns with more massive, brutal soundscapes than ever on their upcoming full-length album, The Thirteen Years Of Nero, out August 27 via Napalm Records.
The Canadian unit is led by founding frontman Maurizio Iacono (Kataklysm) and producer/guitarist Jean-François Dagenais (Kataklysm, Misery Index, Despised Icon), with the stylings of Stephane Barbe (Kataklysm) on lead guitar, Jeramie Kling (Venom Inc.) on drums, Dano Apekian (Ashes of Eden) on bass and Clemens Wijers (Carach Angren, Lindemann) manning the intense orchestral score.
On The Thirteen Years Of Nero, the Roman Empire inspired symphonic death metal band transports the listener back to Ancient Rome with 10 cinematic masterpieces that tell the emotional, conceptual story of the reign of Emperor Nero. Accented by sounds of ancient instruments like lyra and harp and detailing the harrowing stories of Nero’s surroundings, close allies and enemies, listeners will connect with intense psychological tones of political turmoil and paranoia.
Today, Ex Deo has revealed a bludgeoning brand new track from The Thirteen Years Of Nero, entitled “Imperator”, alongside a brutal, cinematic music video. The track connects with a colossal, threatening introduction before slithering into its verses with low guitars, trudging drums and haunting, multi-layered vocal passages.
Frontman Maurizio Iacono says about “Imperator”: “We wanted to release a heavy hitting first single and there was no doubt that 'Imperator' in all of its grandiose aura and power was the choice. On the album, the song introduces Nero as the new Emperor of Rome. For the video, we used acclaimed video director Scott Hansen and together we recreated a dinner party in true Nero style like you never seen before, you have been warned!”
Watch the brand new music video for “Imperator” below.
The Thirteen Years Of Nero pierces through the silence with its first auditory spear, “The Fall Of Claudius”, immediately drawing the listener in with a savagely heavy, grooving riff, ground-shaking swells and warning strings and horns. Discordant harmonies collide as a mosh-worthy battle riff chugs and pinches through the center of the song, showcasing the ruthlessness to come. “The Head Of The Snake” and unforgivingly immense “Britannia: The 9th At Camulodonum” balance sinister, spectral-like channels with up-tempo elements, racing like a chariot of symphonic death metal influences that careen the listener back to a sonic dimension of time forgotten. Standout opus “Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)” features the deft vocal stylings of Unleash The Archers frontwoman Brittney Slayes, the album’s weightiest thunderous percussion work and a glistening guitar solo, while the embers of pulsing “The Fiddle & The Fire” spark as the track traverses methodically yet steadfastly, like an iron striking a blade. “Son Of The Deified” and “What Artist Dies In Me…” bestow some of the album’s most strikingly dynamic guitar work, as well as ominous instrumentals, orchestral and choral pathways, before closing with the superb epic “The Revolt of Galba”. The track ebbs and flows between grooving, eerie piano-laden riffs and crystal-clear flourishes bestrewn with soaring strings.
With The Thirteen Years Of Nero, Ex Deo have released their finest work yet while telling a timeless story of political intrigue, suspicion, evil and tyranny!
Maurizio Iacono says about The Thirteen Years Of Nero: “When it comes to Ancient Rome, the content is long, rich and extensive, the personalities reflect every society imaginable from just, fair and generous to greed, evil and merciless. The world we live in today was shaped by Rome – it doesn’t take much see it all around you in the simplest things. For this record, it was the proper time to fallow the timeline of one Rome’s most controversial figures, Nero. On this album, we follow him through his thirteen-year journey as emperor of Rome and unveil the true face of one of the world’s most worshiped villains.”
The Thirteen Years Of Nero will be available in the following formats:
- 4 page CD Digipack
- LP Gatefold Black
- LP Gatefold Marbled Black & White (Napalm mailorder only – limited to 300 worldwide)
- Deluxe Wooden Box Edition: Digipack, Bonus Orchestral CD, Roman Coin, Band Logo Patch and Roman Banner (Napalm mailorder only – limited to 500)
- CD Digipack & Shirt Bundle (RoW Napalm mailorder only)
- Digital Album
"The Fall of Claudius"
"Imperator"
"The Head of the Snake"
"Boudicca (Queen of the Iceni)" Feat. Brittney Slaye
"Britannia: The 9th at Camulodonum"
"Trial of the Gods (Intermezzo)"
"The Fiddle & the Fire"
"Son of the Deified
"What Artist Dies in Me..."
"The Revolt of Galba"
Guitar legend Steve Vai has released an upscaled version of the official video for "I Would Love To", processed and upscaled from the original version by Mike Mesker. The track is taken from Vai's critically acclaimed second album, Passion And Warfare, released in 1990.
Back in May, Vai released an upscaled video for the Passion And Warfare album track, "For The Love Of God", also done by Mesker.
While Edge Of Paradise puts the finishing touches on their forthcoming studio album, The Unknown, which is due out this fall, the band has released a new single and music video, "Digital Paradise". The song and video serve as a prelude of what to expect from the band's upcoming opus, which seems them having taken a massive leap across the board in songwriting and performance. Watch the video below, and stream/download "Digital Paradise" here.
"'Digital Paradise' is set in a world where the line between reality and digital space disappears, where time becomes meaningless and the human soul and machine become one. It explores whether merging with technology could be our road to forever, our digital paradise, or demise!" says vocalist Margarita Monet of the lyrical meaning behind the new single.
"The song originated from an instrumental idea I made on the keys, that inspired lyrics about what an afterlife could look like," she continues. "When Dave put some driving guitars on the song, that led me to add industrial and cinematic elements, which inspired me to explore themes of technology and digital evolution. Once we had the demo, we went into the studio with Neil Sanderson and Mike Plotnikoff to record drums, guitars and solidify the vocal arrangement. After that, I recorded the final vocal track with Howard Benson, who elevated the song to a new level! Once ready, we sent it off to Denmark, for Jacob Hansen to mix and bring 'Digital Paradise' to life!"
Upcoming album, The Unknown, is Edge Of Paradise's fourth studio album, coming on the heels of their well-received third album, and Frontiers Music Srl debut, Universe. The band teamed up with renowned producer Howard Benson (Halestorm, Seether, Black Stone Cherry, etc.) who, together with Mike Plotnikoff (Halestorm, Three Days Grace) and Neil Sanderson (Three Days Grace) helped the band craft their biggest sounding album yet.
Edge of Paradise's founding members, vocalist/pianist/keyboardist Margarita Monet and guitarist Dave Bates, have found their perfect partners in crime with the addition of drummer Jamie Moreno and bassist Ricky Bonazza. The band, tighter than ever, is ready to blow everyone away once they are back on the road with this stunning new music in tow. Current plans are for the band to tour extensively through 2022 in support of The Unknown as well, with touring announcements coming up soon.
After the band’s debut album Mask, released independently in 2012, the band released their sophomore album Immortal Waltz in 2015, produced by the legendary Michael Wagener (Dokken, Accept, Skid Row). In March 2017, Edge Of Paradise released a five song EP, Alive, which was produced by Chuck Johnson (Korn, Slipknot) and mixed by Jay Ruston, Mike Plotnikoff, and Michael Wagener. The band then signed with Frontiers Music Srl for the release of their third album, Universe (November 2019) which saw them achieve well over one million streams on Spotify for the album's lead single, the title track. The band also enjoyed a successful European tour with Sonata Arctica at the end of 2019. While home preparing for multiple tours to support the album in 2020, the global pandemic hit and the band's touring plans were sidelined. When it became evident that touring likely wouldn't be in the cards, the band set themselves to writing music for what would ultimately become their fourth album, The Unknown.
Lineup:
Margarita Monet - Vocals, keys
Dave Bates - Guitars
Jamie Moreno - Drums
Ricky Bonazza – Bass
The Red Rocker himself, Sammy Hagar, and fellow guitarist Vic Johnson played Hagar's classic guitar rock song "I Can't Drive 55" as part of the pre-race festivities for the 37th annual NASCAR All-Star Race yesterday (Sunday, June 13) at Texas Motor Speedway. The two guitarists performed the 1984 radio and MTV hit from a stage located in the Texas Motor Speedway grandstands at Section PL 102. Check out video of their appearance below.
Hagar rose to fame in the 1970s with the band MONTROSE and the now-classic "Rock Candy". He then began a very successful solo career with songs like "There's Only One Way To Rock", "Your Love is Driving Me Crazy" and "Bad Motor Scooter". His success continued as the lead singer for VAN HALEN from 1985 to 1996. Since 2014, he has played in the supergroup SAMMY HAGAR AND THE CIRCLE with Johnson on guitar, former VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony on bass and Jason Bonham, son of legendary LED ZEPPELIN drummer John Bonham, on drums.
The Salinas, California native has also had great success in business, owning multiple nightclubs and restaurants, tequila and rum distilleries, a syndicated weekly radio show ("Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown") and the "Rock & Roll Road Trip With Sammy Hagar" television program.
Johnson is a guitarist and Los Angeles native best known for playing with THE BUSBOYS, which appeared in the Eddie Murphy/Nick Nolte hit movie "48 Hrs." as well as performing on "Saturday Night Live". A heavy sought-after session musician, Johnson has played in various bands with Hagar since 1997.
Hagar performed previously at Texas Motor Speedway on November 8, 2015 during pre-race festivities for the 2015 NASCAR Cup Series race.
A flickering red light glows in the darkness evoking images of a spooky lighthouse in the roaring sea - quite a suitable comparison for avant-garde black metal outlet Celeste, who continue their rise to one of the most promising extreme metal acts with their latest move...
Today, Nuclear Blast Records welcomes the band as the newest member of the worldwide family and is proud to announce the signing of a worldwide deal with Celeste.
Celebrating this new unholy union, Celeste reveals a new video for their song "Comme Des Amants En Reflet" today. Watch below:
The band states: "We’re thrilled to announce that we’re now part of the Nuclear Blast family. We want to thank them for the way they warmly welcomed us. We’re stoked to work with such a friendly and professional team. Times’ve been rough recently, but it strengthened us to work on our 6th album. We’re just coming back from the mixing sessions. Prepare yourself for some new material soon."
This fantastic news will be crowned by the band's appearance on this year's Hellfest From Home edition, featuring a stunning live show from Celeste broadcasting from the festival ground. The Hellfest From Home will take place during the weekend of June 17 - 20.
To get into the right mood before the festival show, find all the albums of Celeste for streaming here.
Jerome Riera, European Head Of Label for Nuclear Blast, adds: "There's no genre that can truly define Celeste, the music they create is in its own universe. I've always loved the band's ability to mix very strong, classy imagery with the darkest, blackest songs. It's a powerful and unique band that we're proud to welcome to the Nuclear Blast family."
Having played more than 500 shows around the world, including appearances at several prestigious extreme music festivals, theaters, and venues (Hellfest, Roskilde, Copenhell, SummerBreeze, Brutal Assault, Roadburn, Psycho Las Vegas...), with one EP and five albums under their belt, Celeste has succeeded in creating their own musical atmosphere and are today considered to be one of the most important bands of the "French Avant-Garde Black-Metal" scene.
After joining the Nuclear Blast label, Celeste will release a new album in 2022, recorded and mixed by Chris Edrich, and will go on an international tour to spread the darkness of its music.
Celeste is:
Johan Girardeau - Vocals & Bass
Guillaume Rieth - Guitar
Antoine Royer - Drums
Sébastien Ducotte - Guitar
KK'S PRIEST, the new band featuring former JUDAS PRIEST members K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals), along with guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE), bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE), will release its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", on August 20 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records. Original KK'S PRIEST drummer Les Binks (ex-JUDAS PRIEST), unfortunately, sustained a wrist injury, but will make special guest live appearances when the band tours.
The official music video for the blistering second single from "Sermons Of The Sinner", the LP's title track, is available today and can be seen below.
Of "Sermons Of The Sinner", Downing says: "The song and title track 'Sermons Of The Sinner' epitomizes the whole album in one just song. It is all-encompassing with its tribute to the history of our beloved genre of music, while updating the details for today's audience. In the song and video, we not only extend our humble gratitude to loyal fans of classic rock and metal but also present a subtle warning about the future of the genre.
"We are very hopeful that the song and album 'Sermons Of The Sinner' will inspire young and older musicians alike to pick up their instruments and keep alive the rock music that so many of us have become a part of, and that has become such a part of us."
The album cover features a mysterious figure robed in a monk's habit, whom Downing slyly states may or may not be him, holding a book of sermons. He says the "sinner" in the title refers to his famous solo in that classic song of the same name and also reflects his sense of alienation from the groundbreaking group that he helped create. "The whole concept is the fact that I continue proudly to be who I am and what I am and do what I do," declares Downing. "It's been nearly 10 years. I'm back making music."
And his disciples are ready to receive his sermons. He's brought a former bandmate along for the ride, and they have unleashed an album with a modern sound that hearkens back to what fans have always loved about Downing and his music and which still sounds fresh. "All of my life, people always wanted an album that we've made in the past," muses Downing. "'What's the new album like? Will it be anything like 'British Steel'? Will it be anything like 'Sad Wings'?' People hoping you're going to make a record that you've already made. So in a way this record just sounds like something that has already been made or should have been be made. It does have a lot of things that are connected to the past. For example, 'Brothers Of The Road'. If you take all the lyrics off and just listen to the music, maybe you could be listening to 'You've Got Another Thing Comin''."
After years of quietly enjoying life away from the rigors of the road and intense studio recording, Downing emerged again on stage in August 2019. From there, the conversation led to Downing performing a few songs with Ross The Boss at Bloodstock Open Air. The performance electrified the crowd and reinvigorated Downing. In November of that year, he put on a show in Wolverhampton, U.K. with Owens, Binks, MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and HOSTILE guitarist A.J. Mills. Downing had produced two albums for the latter band. Spanning JUDAS PRIEST's catalog, this superb and successful show sent shockwaves throughout the metal world: K.K. was back and the fans were clearly hungry for more.
Rather than simply rely on his past successes and go on the road performing classic JUDAS PRIEST songs, the renowned guitarist did what he has always done — make new music. And songs that fans would want to hear and sing along to in concert. Downing assembled Owens, Mills, Newton and Elg to create "Sermons Of The Sinner", an album that celebrates his classic metal roots and encourages us to cherish those iconic pioneers whom we still have with us. He jokes that KK'S PRIEST is "like a new old band. Or an old new band."
"The ultimate message is we've moved away from this music that we loved for so long and we're so dedicated to, and now we're in a situation where lots of people are actually passing away," explains Downing. "We've lost a lot of great people — [Ronnie James] Dio, Lemmy, I could go on — and that's gonna be accelerated over the coming years. Basically, enjoy everything that's left of this brand of metal including from me. It's not going to last forever."
Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the '80s. (Can you pick them out?) After partnering with Explorer1 Music Group, the album was originally intended for release a year ago, but with the COVID-19 pandemic curtailing everyone's release and touring plans, Downing pulled back and spent two more months tweaking the album to how he wanted it. The extra time paid off.
High-speed album opener "Hellfire Thunderbolt" offers a fictitious take on how metal arrived before the masses were ready for it, so it gestated in the late '60s before exploding in the '70s and '80s. Rousing rockers like "Raise Your Fists" and "Wild And Free" revel in the passion and excess that metal fans embrace. The guitar interplay is intense and inspiring, and the band is firing on all cylinders.
"The Return Of The Sentinel" is a bold choice to close the album. Not only is it a sequel to the classic track from JUDAS PRIEST's 1984's platinum-selling "Defenders Of The Faith" album, it's a nine-minute epic that doesn't play by the rules. The first half is stirring metal, and the latter half is somber and subdued, which reflects the tale of a being who, once a dispenser of justice and death, now faces his own mortality.
Conversely, KK'S PRIEST is alive and vital. They have plans to tour later this year with some Ripper-era JUDAS PRIEST songs tossed into the mix, and Binks hopes to make appearances at shows.
"Les was able to do the short set at the Steel Mill," says Downing. "But he had a wrist injury after that and wasn't able to do the album. Les wants to jump on the stage and a play a couple of songs, although he is not going to be able to play a full set. He will be our special guest."
Downing is hoping to reach as many headbangers as he can worldwide — from Europe to North and South America. "Sermons Of The Sinner" is a love letter to the music he helped create and evolve and to the devoted followers who have supported it. "I'm talking about the diehard fans that are not going anywhere," says Downing. "They're not certainly going to jump on a different genre of music just because a lot of their heroes are unfortunately passing away. And that sentiment is in this album where we said in the title track, 'time is running out for us, things may never be the same, but the sermons of the sinner center can help us rise again.' Because you never know when the last gig is going to be the last gig, so to speak. I'm pretty optimistic. I'm working on material for the second album."
"Sermons Of The Sinner" track listing:
01. Incarnation
02. Hellfire Thunderbolt
03. Sermons Of The Sinner
04. Sacerdote Y Diablo
05. Raise Your Fists
06. Brothers Of The Road
07. Metal Through And Through
08. Wild And Free
09. Hail For The Priest
10. Return Of The Sentinel
KK'S PRIEST, which pays homage to Downing's past, will play select shows to mark the 50th anniversary of PRIEST and Downing's career as a founding member. KK'S PRIEST's setlist will consist of PRIEST classics and new songs.
Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.
Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.
In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's upcoming 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.
In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."
Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.
THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT, the musical collaboration between STONE SOUR guitarist Josh Rand and songwriter and vocalist Casandra Carson, has unveiled another new song, "A World On Fire", from its debut self-titled EP, set to arrive on July 9. Watch the lyric video for "A World On Fire" below.
Pre-orders for CD, vinyl and cassette editions are available now here. All physical formats are all hand signed and numbered, with the Nuclear
Blast store stocking an exclusive gold vinyl edition.
Speaking about the third trackto be released from THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT's EP, Rand says: "When I started working on the music for 'A World On Fire', the idea I envisioned was to take the listener to different places within the song. From the main guitar riff to double time pre choruses to the soundscaping in the choruses. The hardest part when writing a song like that is to make sure it doesn't feel forced or choppy and all the parts are cohesive. I feel we achieved that."
Casandra adds: "This song is one giant metaphor for wanting to permanently log off of social media. After watching a documentary about how addictive it is and the negative impacts it has on mental health, I started realizing how much time, mental and emotional energy I was spending on it. Ever since then, I've started realizing I don't need the validation of getting likes and comments to measure my happiness or self-worth."
"A World On Fire" follows previous singles "Ignite" and "The Nothingness", which was featured on several major playlists across streaming platforms, including Rock Hard on Spotify, Breaking Metal on Apple Music, Break Through Rock on Amazon and Metal Radar on Deezer. "The Nothingness" was also included on SiriusXM Octane's Test Drive the week it was released.
Nurturing the project from concept to execution, the instrumentation was written, arranged, recorded and produced by Rand in his home studio and mixed by Josh Wilbur (KORN, MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD, PARKWAY DRIVE). Completing the collaborative effort with the addition of Carson, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT presents an important milestone in an already decorated career for Rand, one that was punctuated with the addition of a one-of-a-kind vocal lead that understood how to complement the music with her lyrical pen. The resulting introduction of THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is a five-track EP that offers a complete presentation of a songwriter asserting his stride after more than two decades steeped in his craft. Building off the sonic stamp he established during his six-album, 20-year tenure with STONE SOUR, Rand's current iteration holds true to his track record without relying on it, all while penning a new chapter in his artistic anthology.
Stylistically, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is a fluid combination of classic metal sensibility and Rand's penchant for pushing the boundaries of contemporary heavy. From the ethereal, cinematic soundscape of the piano-latent ballad in "Worthwhile" to the sonic sledgehammer of "A World On Fire", the broad spectrum resonates as especially impressive. Between Rand's instrumental framework, accentuated by Carson's ability to articulate poignant stanzas, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT remains a passion project culminating in perfect collaboration.
Lyria vocalist Aline Happ has released an a capella version of the Linkin Park hit "Numb". Check out the official video below.
"Numb" was released as the third single from Linkin Park's second studio album, Meteora, released in 2003. The song topped the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for 12 weeks, spending six weeks at the top of the chart in 2003 and six weeks in 2004. The song also spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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