Legendary Dutch progressive rockers Kayak recently announced they will return with their 18th studio album Out Of This World on May 7, 2021. Following the launch of the album’s first single in February, they have revealed the follow-up, titled “Waiting”. Watch the video, created by Kristoffer Gildenlöw below.
Ton Scherpenzeel comments: “Not the kind of song you’d expect from Kayak, I suppose, and all the more reason to do it. We get a little but disturbing peek inside the mind of someone who is overly obsessed by what he thinks is his love for another person.”
The album is now also available for preorder, arriving as a Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP + CD, and as Digital Album. An exclusive blood red vinyl edition is available directly from the band. Preorder here.
Out Of This World, the band’s eighteenth studio album, with 15 new tracks, spanning 70 minutes of energetic and incredibly diverse material- though still very much recognizable as Kayak. It is clear that the new found energy has gained even more momentum since Hans Eijkenaar rejoined the group. Although they were forced to cancel all tours because Ton Scherpenzeel suffered a heart attack at the end of 2019, and immediately after that because of the Covid pandemic, we’re hearing a band that, since the demise of Pim Koopman in 2009, has not sounded more together, balanced and motivated.
Tracklisting:
“Out Of This World”
“Waiting”
“Under A Scar”
“Kaja”
“Mystery”
“Critical Mass”
“As The Crow Flies”
“The Way She Said Goodbye”
“Traitor’s Gate”
“Distance To Your Heart”
“Red Rag To A Bull”
“One By One”
“A Writer’s Tale”
“Cary”
“Ship Of Theseus”
"Waiting" video:
“Mystery” video:
Teaser:
The current lineup of the band is as follows:
Ton Scherpenzeel - Keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Bart Schwertmann - Lead and backing vocals
Marcel Singor - Guitar, lead and backing vocals
Kristoffer Gildenlöw - Bass, lead and backing vocals
Hans Eijkenaar - Drums
Victor Smolski’s Almanac have issued previously unreleased version of "Kingdom Of The Blind," which originally was part of 2017’s Kingslayer album featuring vocalist Frank Beck (Gamma Ray) as well as new arrangements.
Victor Smolski comments: “On our European Tour 2020, Frank Beck became the main singer of Almanac. Kingdom Of The Blind was his favorite song from Almanac. So, we decided to do a new version of this song with great support from Belarus Symphony Orchestra, which brings the song to a new level.”
The track is available as a digital single on all platforms here.
Vanagandr is the forthcoming new full-length from long-running Swedish Viking/Pagan metal act, Thyrfing. Set for release on August 27 via Despotz Records, the record serves as the band’s first proper studio output in eight years.
Vanagandr was co-recorded and co-produced by Jakob Herrmann (In Flames, Machine Head, Evergrey) at Top Floor Studios, in Gothenburg, Sweden with renowned producer/engineer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, U.D.O., Katatonia) looking after the mix and mastering. The art concept for Vanagandr was executed by former Dark Tranquillity guitarist Niklas Sundin of Cabin Fever Media who reconnects with the band once again (he did the Vansinnesvisor album back in 2002).
In advance of the record’s official release, today Thyrfing unveil a video for first single, “Döp dem i eld” (translation: “Baptize Them With Fire”). A powerful, heavy, and aggressive track packed with groove and melody, it’s the perfect way to re-establish the band and celebrate their new union with Despotz Records. This will be the first of two new videos produced for the band by Patric Ullaeus (Dimmu Borgir, Europe, Arch Enemy).
Comments Thyrfing in a collective statement, “The opening track was actually the first song written for the album, back in 2015. It’s quite a straightforward song: a lot of aggression and intense drumming with our measures, still carrying both groove, melody, and epic moments. Also, it’s the first single and first-ever video for Thyrfing!”
Thyrfing emerged from the ever-growing underground scene in Sweden back in 1995. After seven full-length albums and numerous live performances worldwide, the band stands among the most revered of the Viking/Pagan metal genre and 2021 will prove that Thyrfing are so much more with a truly outstanding and self-contained musical offering.
Named in honor of the sword “Tyrfing” in Norse mythology, a cursed blade that appears in several tales and myths, mythology has played a profound role in the scenery and imagery of Thyrfing’s music and lyrics, something which is still intact in 2021. Despite there being no new studio recordings since 2013’s acclaimed De ödeslösa, Thyrfing has remained active on the tour circuit with appearances at the likes of Wacken Open Air, Summer Breeze, and Sweden Rock Festival, amongst many other shows and festival slots. The lure of creating new music always remained however, and beginning in 2015, plans were made for what would become Vanagandr, the band’s eighth studio release.
Brazilian metallers, Angra, have released a live video for the Secret Garden album track, "Upper Levels", from the band's Ømni World Tour. Watch below:
Check out the previously released live videos from the Ømni World Tour below:
Students Mitchell, Ben, Adam and Daniel of Canada's Metalworks Institute, which was founded by Triumph's founded by Gil Moore, recently collaborated virtually to inspire others with their cover of the Triumph song, "Lay It On The Line". The song was mixed and mastered at Metalworks Studios, established in 1978 by Gil Moore. Watch the video below:
"We are so excited to announce our 2021 Record Store Day Canadian Ambassadors, Triumph!," states a recent update from Record Store Day Canada.
"One of the greatest and most successful Canadian rock bands of all-time, Triumph first rose to prominence back in the golden era when vinyl was king – and the preferred format of most music fans. So, it makes perfect sense for Triumph - Rik Emmett (guitars/vocals), Mike Levine (bass, keyboards) and Gil Moore (drums, vocals) - to be named the 2021 Record Store Day Canadian Ambassadors!
"Plus, the band will release the 40th anniversary Allied Forces box set for the June 12 RSD Drops date!
"We couldn’t be more proud and honoured to welcome Triumph to the RSDC family!"
A rock music collector’s dream, the Round Hill Records-issued Allied Forces box set will include:
- Vinyl #1 : Picture Disc of Original Allied Forces Studio Album
- Vinyl #2 : 2xLP Live in Cleveland 1981
- Vinyl #3 : 7” Single – Tribute 2021
- Version of “Allied Forces” + “Magic Power” Live from Ottawa 1982 (Never Before Released)
- 11x17 Maple Leaf Gardens Poster (CANADA EXCLUSIVE)
- 24-page booklet featuring rare photos and behind the scenes. + Allied Forces essay
- 40th Anniversary Allied Forces retro tour book
- 40th Anniversary Allied Forces retro tour poster
- 40th Anniversary Allied Forces retro tour pass
- Rik Pics (3 Hand Drawn Cartoons)
- Handwritten Lyrics (Magic Power, Allied Forces & Fight the Good Fight)
Allied Forces tracklist:
Side A
“Fool for Your Love”
“Magic Power”
“Air Raid”
“Allied Forces”
“Hot Time (In This City Tonight)”
Side B
“Fight the Good Fight”
“Ordinary Man”
“Petite Etude”
“Say Goodbye“
2 X LP Live in Cleveland 1981 (remastered)
Live in Cleveland tracklist:
Disc 1 Side A
“Intro”
“Tear the Roof Off”
“American Girls”
“Lay it On the Line”
“Allied Forces”
Side B
“Fight The Good Fight”
“Blinding Light Show/Moonchild”
Disc 2 Side C
“Rock ‘N’ Roll Machine”
“I Live For The Weekend”
“Nature’s Child”
Drum Solo
Side D
Instrumental
“Rocky Mountain Way”
“Hot Time (In the City Tonight)”
Limited Edition 7” Single
Vinyl #3 : 7” Single – Tribute 2021 Version of “Allied Forces” + “Magic Power” Live from Ottawa 1982 (Never Before Released)
Los Angeles-based quintet Budderside bridge the gap between the sexy swagger of the Sunset Strip and the soulful depths of Seattle on their forthcoming sophomore release, Spiritual Violence, out March 26 via Motörhead Music/Silver Lining Music.
Its fourth single, “Amber Alert" (featuring Carla Harvey of Butcher Babies), is out today, streaming across all digital platforms here. In the video for the song, Budderside vocalist Patrick Stone and Harvey lead viewers into a circus where the devil is the ringleader - portrayed by music personality and host of KLOS’ ‘New and Approved’ show Matt Pinfield. Watch below.
“In LA everyone wants to be a rockstar but no one wants to put the work in,” says Butcher Babies vocalist Harvey. “Patrick is a long-time friend of mine that has always shown true tenacity in going after his dreams. Both of us have picked up the pieces and started over many times to come as far as we have. I’m super proud of what he’s done with Budderside, so naturally I said yes when he asked me to feature on ‘Amber Alert.’ I had a blast throwing a little estrogen on this banger!”
“Budderside are one of the most exciting bands out of LA in a really long time,” declares Pinfield. “For my money--what rock music should be. They have the goods--a frontman with real swagger and incredible players who deliver their songs with passion, power and conviction. Visually, the band’s videos for the new album are on an unparalleled level of creativity. I was honored to be a part of their new video for the single ‘Amber Alert.’ The song’s heavy groove is complimented by the vocal duet with Budderside’s charismatic frontman Patrick Stone and Butcher Babies’ Carla Harvey, who adds a heavy, menacing yet melodic interplay with this unforgettable in-your-face rock anthem that never lets up and doesn’t disappoint.”
Spiritual Violence was recorded with legendary producer Jay Baumgardner (Bush, Godsmack, Papa Roach) and mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage). Its 10 spiritually evocative and meticulously crafted songs are thoughtfully designed to resonate, both musically and lyrically, across the world.
Swiss melodic extreme metal band, Morrigu, have released "Omnia", the third single from their In Turbulence album.
Have you ever been so desperate that death scared you less than your current life? "Omnia" is exactly about this topic.
Omnia is Latin and means everything. There are two meanings in the lyrics of the song, the first meaning is when you are so desperate and reaching for a future and put everything on one card and the second meaning is that you should look at this planet as a whole, that everything belongs to each other. "Omnia" is about pain, suffering, despair and flight. They are stories that have to be heard. There are stories that simply have to be told. "Omnia" is one of them.
"Omnia" can be viewed below, and streamed at Spotify.
The band comments: "'Omnia' had the working title 'Paradise Lost' at the beginning. Adrian Erlandsson made fun of it when we were in the studio and recorded the song with his Paradise Lost signature drumsticks. For those who don't know, Adrian Erlandsson played for Paradise Lost from 2009-2016."
The band invited two important guest vocalists to appear on "Omnia": "Elektra Amber, she lives in lovely Italy and has a world class voice. She will enchant you in the song 'Omnia'. You can find her on Youtube with some really nice bands like Amber Town and Nightland. And Ricardo Borges, who is responsible for the harsh vocals on the entire album. He works at Fascination Street Studios of Jens Bogren, who also did the mastering for In Turbulence. Ricardo is really a very talented musician and sound engineer!"
Morrigu's upcoming album, In Turbulence, will be out on April 23. The album was mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Arch Enemy, At The Gates), with Niklas Sundin (Dark Tranquility, In Flames, Soilwork) drawing the phoenix artwork on the front cover.
Legendary Norwegian outfit TrollfesT have released their new dual-themed EP, Happy Heroes, via Napalm Records. To celebrate the release of this spectacular funfest, the band have released a crazy, colorful and hilarious music video for their cover of Pharrell Williams’ hit song “Happy”, animated by TrollfesT’s own Mr. Seidel.
This cover by TrollfesT truly rockets the worldwide hit into new dimensions: If you’ve ever wondered what this modern classic would sound like with hard-hitting drums, highly energetic, harsh vocals and metal riffs, TrollfesT deliver the answer.
Watch the animated music video:
Four vivid songs on Happy Heroes deliver a vast variety of spectacular musical romps, made evident by the catchy original title track “Happy Heroes”, wherein TrollfesT tells the story of evil, self-righteous troll superheroes whom you should probably not call if you’re in need of help. The EP then presents three re-energized cover songs – Balkan and folk metal re-imaginings of the world-famous “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, quite possibly the cheeriest song known to man, the newly released “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, by Bobby McFerrin, as well as the Aqua hit “Cartoon Heroes”. Each revitalized track keeps its original catchiness and will have you humming in K.A.O.S!
John Cooper, the frontman and bassist for the Grammy-nominated Christian rock band SKILLET, has blasted Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's performance of their hit song "WAP" during Sunday's Grammy Awards.
"WAP", whose title itself is an abbreviation for "wet ass pussy," is a track filled with explicit lyrics referencing female empowerment and sexual pride. During the show, the singers changed many of the original lines in "WAP", and CBS censored out others, while performing on a stage that featured a pole on a massive high heel, and ending with the two rappers writhing together on a giant bed.
Earlier today, the 45-year-old Cooper, who defines himself as "conservative in ideology," posted an episode of his "Cooper Stuff" video podcast in which he addressed Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's Grammy appearance and suggested that it was a good example of how humanity has always been dexterous at confusing evil with good.
He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're living in a world right now where there are certain Dr. Seuss books that you cannot sell on eBay," referring to the fact that six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be published because they "portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong," according to the business that preserves the author's legacy. "They are just too much for anybody to even be allowed to buy; they're being yanked down from all the bookstores and stuff like that. It's just too much; it's too evil. So you can't go on eBay and buy it — too evil. But you can, and must, applaud the sexual degradation of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion simulating sex together on the Grammys. This is the perfect example. You must celebrate it. In fact, if you don't celebrate it, then you're actually a bad person, and you kind of, like, don't love people. You're actually not nice. This is the perfect example, you guys."
Cooper went on to read chapter 5 verse 20 of the book of Isaiah, which states: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil." He said: "'I don't think that would ever really happen.' Really? It's happening right now. It's been happening in America for the last few years like crazy — especially the last five years, especially during the last year.
"Why would anybody ever call evil good and good evil? It's simple: because they just redefine the terms. The question is, who is going to define what is good, and who is gonna define what is evil?
"Every dictator in history says that what they were doing was good," he continued. "That's what they believe. If you go back and you read some of Hitler's speeches, he's, like, 'I'm gonna set people free — free from the bondage of the Ten Commandments.' In his mind, he's a liberator. It's always like that, you guys. All you do is you just redefine evil and you redefine good. That's what's happening right now on the Grammys.
"Now, I know there are people going — some of my 'woke' friends — 'John, you're making a big deal about nothing. It's always been oversexualized.' And yes, okay, of course, Grammys have always been oversexualized," Cooper added. "Music has always been oversexualized. Hollywood has always been oversexualized. Two differences, and they matter. Number one: this is just a step beyond what we've seen. That's all. I mean, you're right — it has always been that way. Fine. This is pretty overt, all right? This is pretty over-the-top stuff.
"But the biggest difference that is not the same is that 20 years ago, when Madonna did it — in fact, Madonna was really pushed into stardom from a performance like this. I can't remember if it was Grammys or was it MTV Awards. I don't really remember, but I watched a documentary on it a few years ago on Netflix; I can't remember what it was. She did this performance where she was simulating self-sex and rolling all around on the stage. The difference was this: nobody said that she was virtuous for doing it. That's a major difference, you guys. She was doing it because it was a climate of hedonism — it was a climate of sex, drugs [and] rock and roll. That's the motto of my generation and the generation before me — sex, drugs, rock and roll. It's a rebellion. It was a revolt against Christian values, traditional values, even just Western values in general. The family values — it was a revolt against traditional sexuality. But it wasn't because they were virtuous. Nobody looked at Madonna and was, like, 'She's such a virtuous person. I really want my daughter to live this way.' Nobody did that. That's the difference. Madonna was doing it and getting famous because she was courageous and brave to do something that was like shock rock. Now it's not just shock rock. Now it's, like, yeah, we're redefining what virtuous is. So we're taking paganism, and we're not just saying, 'Yeah, I'm gonna get famous 'cause I'm willing to be into paganism and hedonism and idolatry and sexual degradation,' and this and that and the other. No — we're saying, 'I'm doing all those things because I know what virtue is. I know what morality is. I define morality.' That is what it means to call evil good, and good evil."
Cooper recently published his first book, titled "Awake & Alive To Truth (Finding Truth In The Chaos Of A Relativistic World)". It "tackles the reigning philosophies of our day of post-modernism, relativism, and the popular view of the goodness of man-and combats these viewpoints by standing on the absolute truth of the Word Of God," the book's description reads.
In various interviews over the years, Cooper has said that he "always had faith in God" and that his mother was a "Jesus fanatic." He also claimed that he was willing to put his career on the line to take a stand for Christ.
Coming May 7, the release of the brand new Save The World album, Two. Frontiers will also reissue their debut album, One, on the same date. Available for streaming below is the official video for the new single, "Defenders Of The Faith".
Save The World pens emotionally charged songs with rich, melodic choruses, playing music that forgoes genre conventions in favor of a signature sound that’s modern, anthemic, and refreshingly dynamic. The band features chief songwriter Dan Tracey (Alan Parsons) on guitar, vocals, keyboards and Robert Wright on bass, vocals, keyboards, Taurus pedals, percussion, and drums.
Two tracklisting:
"Camera Obscura"
"Bones"
"Miss Muse"
"Defenders Of The Faith"
"Daphne Blue"
"When Amanda Hits The Stage"
"Man On An Island"
"Longer"
"Denslow Park"
"Automaton"
"Illuminati"
"Who's That Girl"
One tracklisting:
"Bleed"
"Comic Con"
"In Pieces"
"Circus Maximus"
"This Little Pill"
"Let Love Win"
"I Wish"
"Black Pearl"
"Cecilia Weiss"
"Princes & Thieves"
"Cern"
"The Light"
Emerging out of the gloom comes Replica Of A Strange Love - the new record from Wristmeetrazor. The album arrives June 11 on Prosthetic Records, illuminating the darkest corners of their every nightmare and representing a nihilistic plunge headfirst into an intoxicating mix of death, sin, and romance. The video for first single "Last Tango In Paris" can be seen below.
Isaac Hale of Knocked Loose made his production debut with Replica Of A Strange Love and also makes a guest vocal appearance on "Last Tango In Paris." Fans can also listen to "Last Tango In Paris" via Bandcamp. It will be available on all streaming platforms tomorrow, Friday, March 19.
"'Last Tango In Paris' is a song about desire and satisfaction through a nihilistic lens," shares vocalist/bassist Justin Fornof. "When writing for the record, it felt important to have a track that emphasizes the futility of complacency. We've been excited about this one from the first day we began writing in pre-production and Isaac's vocals added a lot to the finished product."
Hale adds, "I think the coolest part about singing on 'Tango' is that I was there for the creation of the song itself. That was a song that we were all so excited about from the very beginning. It covered new ground for the band and we knew it had to be a single. I was asked to sing on it in the spur of the moment, but it made sense because that was our most exciting song we made together. I can't thank them enough for involving me in the song and featuring me in the video. It's very sick to be a part of something you're also a fan of."
Replica Of A Strange Love is a modern take on metalcore - building on the foundations of their past to leave a shimmering trail of visceral energy in their wake. The album was engineered and mixed by Andy Nelson at Bricktop Recording Studios, before being mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege.
Through his lyrics, Fornof deconstructs his own psyche in the wake of Misery Never Forgets, observing heartbreak through a philosophical lens. Replica Of A Strange Love is introspective, utilizing the work of Nietzsche, Foucault, LaVey, and more to make sense of human reactions and sociological phenomena specific to ongoing events. Hopeless romanticism is the past - personal philosophy is the present.
From their roots as a DIY band - Jonah Thorne started WMR as a solo project before joining forces with Fornof for his creative vision before later welcoming Bryan Prosser and Tyler Norris for their eclectic skill sets and artistry - Wristmeetrazor have blossomed into a force to be reckoned with. Still driven by the desire to get down in the dirt in a live arena, expect to see this four piece in a town near you as soon as is possible.
Still fashionably dead, now is the time to take note of Wristmeetrazor.
Replica Of A Strange Love tracklisting:
"Our Distress Entwined"
"Last Tango In Paris"
"Sycophant"
"Nietzsche Is Dead"
"Love's Labor's Lost"
"Anemic (The Same Six Words)"
"Eyes of Sulfide"
"Dies Irae"
"99 & 44/100"
"A Fractured Dovetail Romance"
"This Summer's Sorrow II: Growing Old In The Waiting Place"
"All The Way Alive"
Punk rock band RISE AGAINST is back with a provocative and dynamic new album, "Nowhere Generation", the group's first new studio effort in four years. On the upcoming release, the outspoken band points a finger at big business and politics for stacking the social and economical deck against Millennials', Gen Y's and Gen Z's pursuit of The American Dream. Musically, the album is blazing, aggressive punk rock; lyrically, the eleven songs were inspired in part by input from band members' young children and RISE AGAINST's community of fans. "Nowhere Generation" is set for a June 4 release and is RISE AGAINST's first with new label Loma Vista Recordings.
Said frontman Tim McIlrath: "Today there is the promise of the American Dream, and then there is the reality of the American Dream. America's 'historical norm' that the next generation will be better off than the one that came before has been diminished by an era of mass social, economic, and political instability and a sell-out of the Middle Class. The brass ring that was promised by hard work and dedication no longer exists for everyone. When the privileged climb the ladder of success and then burn it from the top, disruption becomes the only answer."
Also, today RISE AGAINST debuts the "Nowhere Generation" music video, a stark-yet-dynamic piece shot entirely in black and white that contributes to the cohesive cross-campaign theme of the album: the critique of mainstream pop culture and those at the top who actively work to suppress true equality for all. The video also provides a first look at the visual motif that is woven throughout all aspects of the Nowhere Generation project, such as the album packaging and the band's socials.
For the "Nowhere Generation" project, the band worked with the Grammy-nominated creative director Brian Roettinger (Jay-Z, FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE, NO AGE) to craft an impressive and truly inspired capsule of album offerings. Those include:
* CD in a soft pack jacket with a multi-page lyric booklet
* 12-inch, limited edition vinyl picture disc (exclusive to the band's webstore)
* Deluxe album edition with a distinctive spinning wheel gatefold jacket with die-cut front cover; a 12-page album art booklet insert, and a bonus 7" featuring two "Nowhere Session" versions of album standouts "Nowhere Generation" + "Broken Dreams, Inc."; special vinyl color variants for retail worldwide as well as the band's webstore.
* Standard vinyl format that includes a single sleeve, dorado paper-wrapped jacket, with lyric insert featuring metallic ink; multiple special vinyl color variants for select retailers as well as the band's webstore.
* Exclusive versions of the album, on vinyl and CD available at Target. A jacket with exclusive interchangeable inserts and special colored vinyl for the LP and a bonus "Nowhere Session" song on the CD.
RISE AGAINST — McIlrath, Joe Principe (bass), Brandon Barnes (drums) and Zach Blair (lead guitar) — recorded "Nowhere Generation" at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado, under the tutelage of Jason Livermore, Andrew Berlin, Chris Beeble and longtime producer/engineer Bill Stevenson (BLACK FLAG, THE DESCENDENTS). Stevenson has worked with the band on nearly all of their acclaimed releases since their sophomore effort, 2003's "Revolutions Per Minute", and is often described as RISE AGAINST's fifth member. "Bill is our not-so-secret weapon," Principe explained. "He really has helped shape the band; he gets what we want to do and will go with us when we think outside the box. He's the perfect producer for the style of music we play because he has an insane pop sensibility and the hardcore side to him as well."
In addition to the communal call to arms embedded in "Nowhere Generation"'s dynamic title track, there's the fast and furious anti-establishment manifesto "Broken Dreams, Inc.", the moody ballad "Forfeit", "Sudden Urge", a true nod to the band's rock'n'roll side with an overall punk-vibe, the simplicity of "The Numbers" with a melody that will stick in your head, and the surprise pop candor in "Talking To Ourselves", a standout song about wanting to be heard and wondering if anyone is listening. "It describes a lot of what RISE AGAINST does," says McIlrath, "to speak and scream when we feel there are things that are happening that aren't being addressed."
"When I was growing up," said Principe, "I listened to bands like 7 SECONDS, BAD BRAINS, MINOR THREAT and BAD RELIGION. All of those bands' music had a sense of hope with the world, a truly positive global view of what life can be. From the beginning, we've wanted RISE AGAINST to have that same positivity, to have our music be an inspiration for people to bring about change in their own lives, they just have to put forth the effort and speak up."
The clip below features vocalist Robert Mason (Warrant, The End Machine), guitarist Ira Black (Of Gods & Monsters, Lizzy Borden), bassist Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot) and drummer Johnny Kelly (A Pale Horse Named Death, ex-Type O Negative) performing the Ozzy Osbourne classic "I Don't Know". The video was made as part of the David Z Foundation All-Star Fundraiser on Sunday March 7th, 2021.
The David Z Foundation fundraiser featured guest appearances and performances by Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Ray Luzier (Korn), Jeff Scott Soto (Sons Of Apollo), Dave Ellefson (Megadeth), Doug Aldrich (The Dead Daisies), Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses), Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big), Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Eric Singer (KISS), Russell Allen (TSO), Chuck Billy (Testament), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Robert Mason (Warrant), Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson), Dug Pinnick (King’s X), Rudy Sarzo (Whitesnake), Phil Demmel (Vio-lence), James LoMenzo (John Fogerty), Debby Holiday, Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot), Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative), Jen Cella (TSO), Ira Black (Of Gods & Monsters), Matt Starr (Mr. Big), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Kat Dyson (Prince), the band Buckcherry, the band Candlebox and many more.
About the David Z Foundation:
The David Z Foundation is a non-profit organization created in memory of David Zablidowsky & dedicated to transforming lives through the magic of music.
Our goal is to nurture that creative musical spark that a child has and help turn it into a sustainable reality. We are currently running original music programming nationwide, including private instruction, rock band, songwriting, production, and music business. In addition, we prepare kids for the music world by pairing them up with professionals in the field and showcasing their creativity through the various events we produce. Our focus is on providing these services to those who need it most. We are also working on innovative ways to address the staggering issue of youth mental health through initiatives such as the Music Mentor Songwriting program. We also offer scholarships through partnerships with music schools such as School Of Rock, Brooklyn College, and various other local organizations around the country.
David Zablidowsky, better known as “David Z.” tragically died in a roadside accident in 2017 while on tour with Adrenaline Mob. David Z was an incredible musician with an accomplished and celebrated career. He performed on stages all over the world, gaining recognition for his extraordinary ability on the bass guitar. He was best known for the bands ZO2, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), and Adrenaline Mob. David Zablidowsky was active in developing young people through music. To continue his legacy, the David Z Scholarship Fund has been created to offer education and financial need to young aspiring musicians.
London, UK rock outfit Black Orchid Empire will release Live In The Studio on April 16 via Long Branch Records. The live EP includes one song from each of their critically acclaimed full-length albums. These ferocious performances showcase the band's huge sound and machine-like tightness as the three-piece thrives in their natural environment - the recording and rehearsal space that gave birth to so many of their monstrous riffs.
Pre-order / pre-save Live In The Studio here. Fans can check out the music video for "Come In", below.
Black Orchid Empire guitarist and singer Paul Visser about the new EP: "Playing live in front of an audience is always an incredible experience, but much of our music was created in a more personal and isolated place. Filming three of our favorite songs in the room in which so many of them were written, thrashed out, and recorded was an amazing experience which we can't wait to share!"
Dream Theater keyboardist, Jordan Rudess, has released a video for "Weightless", the opening track of his recently released new solo album, A Chapter In Time. Get the album here, and watch the new clip below.
Tracklisting:
"Weightless"
"I Surrender"
"Light As A Feather"
"The Quiet Mind"
"After The Storm"
"Once Upon A Time"
"Empty Streets"
"And Breathe"
"Into Sleep"
"Flying"
"Patterns Of Thought"
"Touching Light"
"Twilight Rain"
"Stellar Enigma"
"Beyond The Clouds"
April 30 will see British thrash titans Evile release their brand new studio album, Hell Unleashed, via Napalm Records - the band’s first album in eight long years.
Since their formation in 2004, Evile have been turning heads and taking names, delivering four pure thrash offerings blended with an uncompromising death metal assault. Hell Unleashed, the long-awaited successor to their 2013 release Skull, will make no exception - but this time, the album features a new exciting lineup formation of Ol Drake on vocals/guitars and new member Adam Smith of RipTide as rhythm guitarist.
Following the recent release of the blistering album title track from Hell Unleashed, today, the band has released their second single - the sharp and hard-hitting new track “Gore”. With these raging riffs full of anger, Evile reach another dimension of pure evil, featuring the impressive backing vocals of American actor, comedian and musician Brian Posehn! Watch the new video clip for “Gore” in a worldwide premiere below.
Evile vocalist/guitarist Ol Drake comments: "Here it is! The second new Evile single from the upcoming album Hell Unleashed. This is a song about a topic that no other metal band has ever covered before; a serial killer. This song harkens back more to the first Evile album; it could easily be a track from our beginnings. It's heavy, it's fast, it has some great changes, and it will punch you in the face sonically. The overall message of this song/video is that these horrible individuals are hidden in plain sight. They could be our friends, family, or colleagues. We're also excited to welcome back the extremely hilarious and extremely metal comedian Brian Posehn. He was kind enough to provide us with some backing vocals in the chorus. Luckily, we only needed the one-word shouting, so we got a great collection of Posehn ‘Gore’s to sift through. Thank you, Brian! Turn it up LOUD, and enjoy ‘Gore’!"
One can be sure, Hell Unleashed is a raucous and masterful thrash metal attack! In just 41 minutes, the album unchains the unbridled forces of hell, catches some rousing demons of the past, and provides classical thrash metal with a contemporary yet hard-edged touch. The newly staffed four-piece strikes again on nine explosive tracks, leaving nothing but a hammering world of sound taken apart by thrash. Endangering guitar lines, which quickly build up to a furious thrash manifesto and attack the eardrum at breakneck speed, meet the merciless velocity Evile are known and loved for.
Hell Unleashed was produced by Chris Clancy at Backstage Studios, UK, and will not only feature explosive guest backing vocals from Brian Posehn, but also include a cover song.
Ol Drake adds: "This is the first album Evile have done to include a cover song in the tracklisting. I've been a big fan of death metal for a long time, and seeing as this album is on the more extreme side of thrash vocally and musically, we thought it was a perfect opportunity to cover Mortician's 'Zombie Apocalypse'. It has one of the greatest riffs in it! We're also very excited about the return of the legendary Michael Whelan (Sepultura, Obituary, Stephen King) as cover artist. He did the art for our second album and he's always a pleasure to work with."
In North America, Hell Unleashed will be available in LP format in black vinyl, as well as in limited edition red vinyl (limited to 200), CD Jewel Case and digital formats. A special Limited Diehard Edition is also available, including an LP in Red/White Splatter vinyl, as well as an exclusive Artprint and band logo patch (limited to 100).
"Paralysed"
"Gore" (feat. Brian Posehn)
"Incarcerated"
"War of Attrition"
"Disorder"
"The Thing (1982)"
"Zombie Apocalypse"
"Control from Above"
"Hell Unleashed"
"Hell Unleashed" video:
In just 41 minutes, Hell Unleashed unchains the unbridled forces of hell, catches some rousing demons of the past and provides classical thrash metal with a contemporary yet hard-edged touch. Evile are back – straight from the abyss!
Evile are:
Ol Drake - Vocals & Lead Guitar
Ben Carter – Drums
Joel Graham – Bass
Adam Smith - Rhythm Guitar
POP EVIL has debuted its new single "Set Me Free" today along with announcing May 21 as the release date for its much-anticipated sixth full-length album, "Versatile", via Entertainment One (eOne). The release finds the Michigan rock heavyweights pushing their instantly distinctive sound to uncharted territories, expertly balancing the styles they've explored on recent tracks "Let The Chaos Reign", "Work" and "Breathe Again", of which the latter two have blasted on to the Top 10 Rock charts joining previous No. 1 hits "Waking Lions", "Footsteps", "Deal With The Devil", "Trenches" and "Torn To Pieces", which was certified gold by the RIAA in 2020. The new single "Set Me Free" is a reminder of the band's ability to be a bastion for perseverance and positivity which features colossal riffs coupled with a formidable performance from vocalist Leigh Kakaty.
"We are very excited to announce our sixth studio album is being released May 21," POP EVIL said in a statement. "'Versatile' is available for pre-order now! With this launch we are releasing a brand-new track from the album, 'Set Me Free', which embodies the challenging times the world has faced this past year. We are very proud and humbled to see our current single 'Breathe Again' trending Top 5 on the rock radio charts, and the video being embraced by our fans. We can't wait for you all to hear the rest of the album, as we feel it's our strongest to date."
POP EVIL — which consists of Kakaty alongside lead guitarist Nick Fuelling, rhythm guitarist Dave Grahs, bassist Matt DiRito and drummer Hayley Cramer — has built a new rock 'n' roll institution on its foundation of showmanship, raw relatability, and hard rock hooks, both forward-thinking and timeless.
POP EVIL's songwriting on "Versatile" zeros in on their juxtaposition of cinematic melody and heavy, unflinching groove. Deftly mixing fist-pumping anthems and timeless power ballads, POP EVIL delivers their most ambitious rebirth yet with a jaw-dropping and unpredictable album. "Versatile" sounds exactly like the name suggests. It distills the soaring melodies and driving riffs of POP EVIL's past and introduces an ambitious exploration of the future.
"Versatile" track listing:
01. Let The Chaos Reign
02. Set Me Free
03. Breathe Again
04. Work
05. Inferno
06. Stronger (The Time Is Now)
07. Raise Your Flag
08. Human Nature
09. Survivor
10. Worst In Me
11. Same Blood
12. Fire Inside
Beyond the success story told by the charts, the one million units of "total activity" across their catalog, and the over 600 million streams of their songs on major platforms, POP EVIL's greatest strength is the diverse group of people captivated by the band's relatable storytelling and undeniable catchiness. These are fans earned, city by city, on tours with a modern rock playlist's worth of genre titans.
"Versatile" will be made available on CD exclusively via Target, which will offer a two- disc deluxe edition. The second disc duplicates the track listing from their 2020 "#1's" LP; which was pressed on 180-gram opaque gold vinyl and featured all of the band's No. 1 singles up until now.
"Versatile" Target-exclusive CD second disc track listing:
Polish hurdy-gurdyist Michalina Malisz, who has been a member of the Swiss folk metal band ELUVEITIE since 2016, has released her cover version of the METALLICA classic "Nothing Else Matters". The official video for the track, which features a guest appearance by her ELUVEITIE bandmate Fabienne Erni, can be seen below.
Malisz has been blending the sound of the hurdy-gurdy with her favorite genres: metal, Celtic and cinematic music. Her previous covers include songs from IRON MAIDEN, SYSTEM OF A DOWN and NIGHTWISH.
According to Wikipedia, the hurdy-gurdy is a stringed instrument that produces sound by a hand crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to those of a violin. Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses tangents—small wedges, typically made of wood—against one or more of the strings to change their pitch. Like most other acoustic stringed instruments, it has a sound board and hollow cavity to make the vibration of the strings audible. Most hurdy-gurdies have multiple drone strings, which give a constant pitch accompaniment to the melody, resulting in a sound similar to that of bagpipes.
The original version of "Nothing Else Matters" was released as the fourth single from METALLICA's fifth, self-titled album, which came out in 1991. The song reached position No. 11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart as well as top-ten positions on many European charts.
"Nothing Else Matters" was featured as a playable track in the music video game "Guitar Hero: Metallica" and has been covered over 40 times by a host of different artists, including STAIND, Shakira, Bif Naked, Macy Gray, DIE KRUPPS, REV THEORY and APOCALYPTICA.
On March 12, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT released "Nature's Light", its eleventh studio album and the first in six years, via earMUSIC. Today, the band, founded in 1997 by award-winning vocalist Candice Night and legendary guitar icon Ritchie Blackmore, has revealed the disc's fourth single, "Second Element". The official music video for the song, produced and directed by Jeffrey Pickett, can be seen below.
According to Blackmore, "Nature's Light" is dedicated to the unique magic of renaissance faires. "I heard something that was a similar kind of melody, so I took that melody and gave it to Candice," he describes the inception of the song. "I said, 'This represents people going to a faire, a very ceremonial thing, with the King and Queen coming through.' and it needed to have the bombastic pageantry of celebration. A regal announcement that royalty was coming to town."
The ten new tracks make for a quintessential BLACKMORE'S NIGHT album. Once again, Blackmore and Night successfully mix the tradition of folk music and their love for the Renaissance era, inspired by the myths and legends of ancient times.
While the album is rooted in a traditional approach, fans of Ritchie Blackmore's unique style will not be disappointed. Heartfelt ballads, such as a brand-new version of "Wish You Were Here", set the scene for the magical tales on "Four Winds" and "The Twisted Oak". On the two instrumental tracks — "Darker Shade Of Black" and "Der letzte Musketier" — Ritchie's guitar brilliance shines through.
"Nature's Light" wasreleased on multiple formats. Among these is a strictly limited 2CD hardcover mediabook edition, including a bonus CD featuring a carefully selected set of BLACKMORE'S NIGHT's masterpieces from their extensive back catalogue. Furthermore, the album has become available as a CD digipak edition, a strictly limited heavyweight 1LP gatefold edition on yellow vinyl, a 180g 1LP gatefold edition on black vinyl as well as digital.
Swiss/Dutch metallers BURNING WITCHES will release their fourth full-length album, "The Witch Of The North", on May 28 via Nuclear Blast Records. The official visualizer for the disc's first single, "Flight Of The Valkyries", can be seen below.
Following 2020's "Dance Of The Devil", which charted at #22 in Germany, and the "Circle Of Five" EP, vocalist Laura Guldemond, guitarists Romana Kalkuhl and Larissa Ernst, bassist Jeanine Grob and drummer Lala Frischknecht notably upped the ante on "The Witch Of The North", delivering their most dynamic, intricate and powerful album thus far. Perfectly mixed and mastered by V.O. Pulver and produced by German thrash titan Schmier (DESTRUCTION), the LP sees BURNING WITCHES stick to their irrefutable 1980s influences (JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, DIO, ACCEPT, WARLOCK, W.A.S.P., etc.) and inject irresistible energy and a refreshing vibe, topping it off with classic art by Claudio Bergamín (who illustrated JUDAS PRIEST's triumphant "Firepower"). From the epic title track to the album's catchiest anthem "We Stand As One" over to the ballad "Lady Of The Woods" and speedy riff attacks like "Thrall", "Flight Of The Valkyries" and "Nine Worlds", "The Witch Of The North" marks a new highlight in the band's career, with vocalist Laura brilliantly shifting from aggressive to seductive with ease.
"The Witch Of The North" track listing:
01. Winter's Wrath
02. The Witch Of the North
03. Tainted Ritual
04. We Stand As One
05. Flight Of The Valkyries
06. The Circle Of Five
07. Lady Of The Woods
08. Thrall
09. Omen
10. Nine Worlds
11. For Eternity
12. Dragon's Dream
13. Eternal Frost
BURNING WITCHES' first live performance with Guldemond took place in June 2019 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.
The vocalist of the Dutch symphonic metal band SHADOWRISE, Guldemond was recruited by BURNING WITCHES following the departure of Seraina Telli.
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