Serj Tankian's critically revered "Elasticity" EP, the SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer's first solo release since 2013's "Orca", is available now. The Los Angeles- and New Zealand-based musician has simultaneously unveiled a second video from the five-song collection, for the track "Electric Yerevan".
Tankian said of the tune: "The song was inspired by the successful 'Electric Yerevan' protests in Armenia in the summer of 2015 where people protested against proposed hikes in utility prices. My writing from that time is inscribed word for word in the song." The Garin Hovannisian-directed clip provides a visual timeline of the events leading up to the 2015 "Electric Yerevan" protests and the ensuing 2018 Velvet Revolution, while simultaneously showcasing the power of peaceful demonstrations across the globe.
Regarding how the idea for "Elasticity" came about, Serj said: "When I conceived possibly doing another record with the guys from SYSTEM OF A DOWN a few years back, I started working on a set of songs that I arranged in rock format for that purpose. As we weren't able to see eye to eye on the vision going forward with an SOAD album, I decided to release these songs under my moniker." With his trademark eclecticism and one-of-a-kind vocal style, Serj delivers a collection that runs the gamut from hard-driving, electronically enhanced anthems like the title track, a rallying cry for his beloved Armenia ("Electric Yerevan"), the tongue-in-cheek political mash-up of "Your Mom", the piano-laden "How Many Times?" and "Rumi", a song that Serj wrote both about his son Rumi and Rumi the poet.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN hasn't released a full-length album since the "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize" LPs, which came out in 2005.
In 2018, guitarist Daron Malakian publicly accused Tankian of not wanting to record, with Tankian responding that creative and financial issues with Malakian led to the stalemate. In a message on Facebook, Tankian wrote that Malakian wanted to control SYSTEM's creative process, take more of the publishing money and be the only band member to speak to the press.
A singer, poet, songwriter, visual artist, film producer, activist, and composer, Tankian has always created music as an outlet to express his thoughts and feelings with a level of passion and consciousness that few in today's world of music can rival. An Armenian born in Lebanon and re-rooted in Los Angeles, Tankian was introduced to the melding of cultures, ideas, and ideals from a very young age. The principles learned from this integration and adaptation have led to his understanding of the oneness of all things and have since maneuvered and transfigured into the music and art that he lives to create. As the lead singer and songwriter for SYSTEM OF A DOWN, Serj has released five studio albums, winning a Grammy Award in 2006 for "B.Y.O.B." and selling over 40 million albums worldwide. Despite this success, Serj has never grown complacent with his art, always striving to open up new channels of sound and arrangement to articulate his artistic expressions. He has released five albums of solo material, beginning with 2007's chart-topping hard rock album "Elect The Dead". His sophomore solo album, "Imperfect Harmonies", was released in 2010, followed by "Harakiri" in 2012. 2013 saw two distinct releases from Serj, the first being the critically acclaimed "Orca Symphony No. 1", released in June of that year, followed up with the very unique "Jazz-Iz Christ" one month later.
Over the past few years, his time spent in the recording studio has been focused on creating musical scores and compositions for film and video game projects. Serj recently lent his vocals to a modern-day cover of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT's rock classic "Godzilla" for the blockbuster Michael Dougherty film "Godzilla: King Of The Monsters". He also recorded a modern version of the Armenian folk song "Sari Siroun Yar" along with the Authentic Light Orchestra for the film "The Promise", directed by Terry George and starring Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac. Serj was also brought on by Survival Pictures, the producers of the film, to serve as an executive music consultant.
Most recently, Tankian composed the full musical score for award-winning documentary "I Am Not Alone" directed by Garin Hovannisian and the upcoming Live Nation Productions film "Truth To Power", which chronicles Serj's own journey through the crossroads of music and activism. In 2017, Serj composed music for Emmy-nominated "Intent To Destroy", a gripping film directed by award winning documentarian Joe Berlinger. That same year he created an intense score for the epic Russian action film "Furious - The Legend of Kolovrat", followed by his 2018 musical score for award-winning film "Spitak", directed by Alexander Kott. Additionally, Tankian composed the full musical score for independent films "1915" and "The Last Inhabitant", an original composition for Ilya Naishuller's "Hardcore Henry" and video game musical scores for "Midnight Star" and its sequel, "Renegade", which were created by one of the chief architects of the famed "Halo" game franchise.
Serj's resume also includes the formation of a record label, Serjical Strike Records (established in 2001), which has released albums from many critically acclaimed artists, including FAIR TO MIDLAND, Buckethead and DEATH BY STEREO.
Along with fellow musician Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, AUDIOSLAVE), Serj co-founded the non-profit organization Axis Of Justice in 2002, which strives to bring together musicians, music fans and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice. He has also dabbled in the world of broadcasting as co-host of the Axis Of Justice Radio Network, which can be heard via SiriusXM and KPFK in Los Angeles. With a mission of spreading diversity and understanding through music, poetry and activism, Serj will continue to surprise and enlighten those who listen to his music and hear his words.
In recent years, Tankian has split his time between holding a mic and a paintbrush, having feverishly created over 60 pieces of art since 2013. His journey into the world of fine art began with his "Disarming Time Musical Paintings", which were exhibited at Project Gallery in Los Angeles. Since then, he has had multiple exhibitions at galleries in both the United States and New Zealand. In 2015, his artwork was exhibited at the grand opening of New Museum Los Gatos in Northern California as part of a group exhibit that ran from May through September of that year. Most recently, Serj's artwork was exhibited at two notable galleries in New Zealand during February and March of 2019.
LAMB OF GOD has premiered the official video for "Memento Mori (Live)" from the "Live In Richmond, VA" DVD, which is part of the upcoming "Lamb Of God (Deluxe Version)", due out March 26 via Epic Records. The live track is also available now to stream on all DSPs.
The video, which was filmed in the band's native Richmond, Virginia, for a September 2020 livestream, is available today on YouTube and the band's web site.
Pre-orders for the three-disc deluxe version of last year's self-titled album are available now. The set features the critically acclaimed 2020 release with two bonus tracks and a live version of the album, along with a DVD featuring the first of LAMB OF GOD's two ultra-successful livestream events from the fall.
In addition to performing "Lamb Of God" in its entirety, the performance features an encore of four songs including "Ruin", "Contractor", "512" and the debut live performance of "The Death Of Us", a new song the band wrote and recorded in quarantine for the "Bill & Ted Face The Music" movie and soundtrack. The DVD also includes a new director's cut with bonus material. Digital copies will contain only Disc 1 and Disc 2. A separate vinyl edition of "Live From Richmond, VA" will also be available.
The first single from "Lamb Of God (Deluxe Version)", "Ghost Shaped People", has already received a response equal to the fervent reception the original release received last June, holding at No. 1 on the Metal Contraband metal radio chart for four weeks in a row.
"Lamb Of God", the quintet's first new album in five years, was met with universal acclaim upon release — not only among major rock journalists, but with all strata of metal fans around the world. But critics, media and the industry aside, perhaps the most telling statistic is the year-end U.S. Metal Radio chart, where the new album dominated at No. 1 by a massive margin (over 2,000 more spins than the album at No. 2). "Lamb Of God" spent nine weeks in the No. 1 spot and never left the top 10 since debuting on the chart in February. Metal Radio is the lifeblood of the U.S. metal world, largely staffed by college students and regional tastemakers, playing the music that they know their local metal fans want to hear.
"Lamb Of God" deluxe edition track listing:
Disc 1: "Lamb Of God" Original Album + 2 Bonus Tracks
01. Memento Mori
02. Checkmate
03. Gears
04. Reality Bath
05. New Colossal Hate
06. Resurrection Man
07. Poison Dream (feat. Jamey Jasta)
08. Routes (feat. Chuck Billy)
09. Bloodshot Eyes
10. On The Hook
11. Ghost Shaped People
12. Hyperthermic/Accelerate
Disc 2: "Lamb Of God - Live In Richmond, VA"
01. Memento Mori (Live)
02. Checkmate (Live)
03. Gears (Live)
04. Reality Bath (Live)
05. New Colossal Hate (Live)
06. Resurrection Man (Live)
07. Poison Dream (Live)
08. Routes (Live)
09. Bloodshot Eyes (Live)
10. On The Hook (Live)
11. Contractor (Live)
12. Ruin (Live)
13. The Death Of Us (Live)
14. 512
Disc 3: "Lamb Of God - Live In Richmond, VA" DVD
01. Memento Mori
02. Checkmate
03. Gears
04. Reality Bath
05. New Colossal Hate
06. Resurrection Man
07. Poison Dream
08. Routes
09. Bloodshot Eyes
10. On The Hook
11. Contractor
12. Ruin
13. The Death of Us
14. 512
Digital copies will contain only Disc 1 and Disc 2. A separate vinyl edition of "Lamb Of God - Live In Richmond, VA" will also be available.
"Lamb Of God - Live In Richmond, VA" vinyl track listing:
BORN OF OSIRIS makes its triumphant return with a blistering new single, "White Nile", out now via Sumerian Records. The official music video for the song stars the members of BORN OF OSIRIS as ringleaders in the heaviest 1950s nightmare of a circus.
Speaking on the release, the band shares: "We are so excited to bring you the first taste of new music with our track 'White Nile'.
"It has been a hard year for everyone, but we've been fortunate to lean on each member and each piece of this community we call BORN OF OSIRIS.
"Perseverance flows like the Nile, as so we push on. With the release of this track also comes the transition of Nick Rossi to guitar. We are thrilled to go forward with this lineup and have so much more to come."
Watch the "White Nile" music video below and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a new BORN OF OSIRIS album announcement coming May 3.
Mark Spiro has announced the release of his new solo album, Traveling Cowboys, on May 7 via Frontiers Music Srl. Today, the first single and video, "7 Billion People" has premiered. Mark is joined on the track by vocalist Julian Lennon and guitarist Tim Pierce. Watch the video below, and pre-order/save Traveling Cowboys here.
Mark Spiro’s new solo album Traveling Cowboys comes about one year after the career spanning “Best of” album which Frontiers released as a celebration of this great songwriter’s career. Once again, Spiro continues his legacy of excellent songwriting, which he has always done in a very personal and heartfelt way.
"I didn’t really have a goal other than the same goal I always have. When I write I want to reflect the world around me in a unique way. Both the outside and the inner world. I want to paint a picture with lyrics in ways they have never been used and surround them with melodies that add or change their intensity. It's magic to me when a simple thought is injected with a melody and the sum becomes bigger than the parts. Synchronicity," says Spiro of the songwriting process for Traveling Cowboys.
On what kind of album he wanted Traveling Cowboys to be, he says "A truthful one. I think every song is directly inspired by what I’m feeling these days. It’s vulnerable and a little bit risky to say some of these highly personal things. But..I think without vulnerability and risk, you are not an artist, you are simply a delivery system. Gotta have something to say!"
On Traveling Cowboys, Mark once again writes and sings songs about life, love, sacrifice, heartbreak, and everything in between, while wrapping everything up in a smooth melodic rock blanket. Mark was helped on the record by Tim Pierce and Gia Sky and also appearing on “7 Billion People,” as a duet partner with Mark, is none other than Julian Lennon.
"I’ve always been attracted to space travel and the possibilities of our universe. “7 Billion People” is about our Earth becoming unlivable and our only hope is to colonize Mars. The song is kind of a tragic comedy. It suggests that we’ll simply repeat our greedy, rich privileged mistakes. I think a lot about these subjects like dead soil, climate change, oppression and greed. I think they are worth writing about. I’ve also been working with folks on regenerative farming, homelessness and other challenges we face on this planet. Having co-written “Saltwater”with Julian Lennon, this duet was a natural fit for us. Julian is one of my closest friends…beyond music. We had a blast online making the video with him at home in France and me at home in L.A… Really hope people enjoy it!" adds Spiro of the first single and video.
Traveling Cowboys is another album of which Mark Spiro can be truly proud. It showcases a man with a talent for writing catchy yet thoughtful songs, songs that any fan of good music will enjoy listening to.
Tracklist:
"Traveling Cowboys"
"Rolls Royce"
"Vanderpump"
"Going"
"7 Billion People" (Featuring Julian Lennon)
"Someone Else"
"Kingdom Come"
"I Ain't Leaving"
"Between The Raindrops" (Revisited)
"Dance"
"Feel Like Me"
"Let The Wind Decide"
"Nothing In Between Us"
"The Fisherman 3 2020"
"Still"
Reigning as one of the most well-known and highly acclaimed experimental instrumental groups out there with a respected musical legacy spanning nearly 20 years, Irish four-piece God Is An Astronaut just reached a career benchmark with the release of their 10th studio album, Ghost Tapes #10, out now via Napalm Records.
Now, the band has released the official video for “In Flux”. The six-minute piece of art contains a sample taken from the US Propaganda campaign “Operation Wandering Soul”, in which US forces used eerie sounds and altered voices, with the intention of pretending to be killed Viet Cong, to instill a sense of turmoil and fear. It features one of the album’s most challenging time signatures, needing time to unfold before it sticks in the listener’s head. The song comes together with a stunning and artsy black and white video that perfectly underlines the overall vibe of “In Flux”.
German power metal institution, Orden Ogan, released their new album, Final Days, on March 12 via AFM Records. Order the album here, and watch a video for "Let The Fire Rain" below.
Where to go from the Wild West? Singer and producer Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann explains: "Final Days is a dark-science-fiction-concept-record and it features all Orden Ogan trademarks such as fat and modern riffs, epic chorusses and melancholic orchestral arrangements. On this record you will find the best songs that we have ever written. Gunmen was a strong and important record for us, but Final Days takes it to the next level."
Tracklist:
"Heart Of The Android"
"In The Dawn Of The AI"
"Inferno"
"Let The Fire Rain"
"Interstellar" (featuring Gus G.)
"Alone in The Dark" (featuring Ylva Eriksson)
"Hollow"
"It Is Over"
Portuguese dark metal godfathers, Moonspell, have released a guitar playthrough video for "All Or Nothing", featured on the band's 13th studio album, Hermitage, out now via Napalm Records. Watch below:
With Hermitage, Moonspell is not only approaching their 30th band anniversary more ambitiously and stronger than ever, but they take us on an entertaining and emotional ride through the darkest days of human existence. Moonspell’s new record is a wonderfully intuitive, yet epic masterpiece, and a testament to what the band has always loved the most: Honest metal that binds us even in these dark times.
Hermitage was recorded, mixed and mastered this past summer by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Primordial, Ghost, Sólstafir & many more) at the Orgone Studios in the UK. Building upon the album’s dark, revolutionary and sensitive facets, it’s a wonderfully intuitive and epic ride by one of the most distinctive dark metal bands of all time, and a testament to what they’ve always loved the most: Honest, emotional metal that binds us even in the darkest times.
Hermitage is available in several highly limited and collectible Deluxe and Die-Hard Editions, Mediabook, and Cassette (all of them including the Candlemass cover "Darkness In Paradise") but also in Jewelcase and Digital formats. The Deluxe Box includes an etched 7’’ Vinyl with another special bonus track, “The Great Leap Forward", as well as much more exciting additional collectible items.
"The Greater Good"
"Common Prayers"
"All Or Nothing"
"Hermitage"
"Entitlement"
"Solitarian"
"The Hermit Saints"
"Apophthegmata"
"Without Rule"
"City Quitter" (Outro)
Bonus tracks:
"Darkness In Paradise" (Candlemass Cover – LP, Box, Cassette + Mediabook)
"The Great Leap Forward" (7" Vinyl – Deluxe Box)
The Couch Riffs crew are back with a cover of the Paul Young classic, "Every Time You Go Away". Watch below.
A message states: "This Paul Young hit from the 80s was actually written by Daryl Hall and first released by Hall & Oates on their 1980 album, Voices. The version Couch Riffs is covering here is the Paul Young take on the tune which is highlighted by Pino Palladino's unequaled fretless bass prowess. I actually became so obsessed with this song and bass line that I converted one of my Yamaha BB basses to fretless JUST TO LEARN THIS SONG! Then, I convinced some friends to get in on the action here with me. This song features some amazing talents. Let me run it down for you...
Drums: Frank Ferrer (Guns 'n Roses)
Vox: JB Strauss (solo artist)
Keys/BVs: Katie Cole (solo artist/touring member of Smashing Pumpkins)
Guitar: Bryan Ewald (Starbelly/session musician/PRS demos)
Bass: Mike Squires (Duff McKagan's Loaded)
"If you're enjoying Couch Riffs please consider supporting us through Patreon. Your direct support is what makes this series and podcast possible and your patronage is greatly appreciated! Thank you for watching, listening, and for your continued support."
FM will release the new double live album, Tough It Out Live, on April 9 via Frontiers Music Srl. Watch a video for "Someday (You'll Come Running)" below, and pre-order the album here.
Says the band: "Relive those heady nights on the Big 3-0 Tour when we came together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of our second album, Tough It Out. We are pleased to announce the forthcoming release of Tough It Out Live - a 2-CD set of live tracks to make you party like it's 1989! CD1 features the Tough It Out set recorded live on our tour with Gun and Dan Reed Network in December 2019. CD2 includes previously unreleased live recordings of songs which have featured in the FM set over the years."
Tracklisting:
CD1:
Intro
"Tough It Out"
"Don't Stop"
"Bad Luck"
"Someday (You'll Come Running)"
"Everytime I Think Of You"
"Burning My Heart Down"
"The Dream That Died"
"Obsession"
"Can You Hear Me Calling?"
"Does It Feel Like Love"
"Feels So Good"
CD2:
"Digging Up The Dirt"
"Tough Love"
"Hollow"
"Dangerous"
"Hard Day In Hell"
"Wildside"
"Breathe Fire"
"Only The Strong Survive"
"Blood And Gasoline"
"I Ain't The One"
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine"
"Someday (You'll Come Running)" video:
"Tough It Out" video:
Teaser trailer:
Lineup:
Steve Overland – Vocals & Guitar
Merv Goldsworthy – Bass
Pete Jupp – Drums
Jem Davis – Keyboards
Jim Kirkpatrick – Guitar
A video of ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS vocalist Myles Kennedy discussing his new solo single, "In Stride", and performing it live for the first time at the legendary Fox Theater in Spokane, Washington can be seen below. The track is taken from Kennedy's sophomore solo album, "The Ides Of March", which will be released on May 14 via Napalm Records.
During his time at home due to all touring being canceled, Myles created the framework for the song ideas that would make up "The Ides Of March". He then called up his cohorts from his "Year Of The Tiger" debut — longtime friend and drummer Zia Uddin and bassist/manager Tim Tournier — and the three musicians drove to Florida to record the album with longtime producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette.
From the slide guitar riffs of the album opener "Get Along" to the pensive blues style of closer "Worried Mind", it is clear that Myles has crafted a formidable follow up to his debut solo album. While "Year Of The Tiger" was more of an acoustic exploration through Myles's mind, "The Ides Of March" finds him strapping on his electric guitar and pushing himself as a guitarist/songwriter. Tracks like "A Thousand Words", "Wake Me When It's Over" and "Moonshot" showcase the diverse musical arrangements that have garnered Myles fans globally across all of his projects. The epic "The Ides Of March" clocks in at over seven minutes, and Myles, Tim and Zia showcase their musical chops on the track.
The first single, "In Stride", opens with Myles showcasing his slide playing before delivering a lyrical message to "take it all in stride." The video for "In Stride" marks a return by Stefano Bertelli (who created the recent "Native Son" video for ALTER BRIDGE) and shows an animated Myles as he takes the end of the world in stride.
"Chill out. That pretty much sums it up," explains Myles about the single. "The lyric paints a picture of a survivalist preparing for an impending zombie apocalypse. It was inspired by the first wave of lockdowns as everyone was buying vast amounts of toilet paper and supplies. I started to ask myself if it might be wise to try and gain some perspective and not overreact… keep calm and carry on."
"The Ides Of March" track listing:
01. Get Along
02. A Thousand Words
03. In Stride
04. The Ides Of March
05. Wake Me When It's Over
06. Love Rain Down
07. Tell It Like It Is
08. Moonshot
09. Wanderlust Begins
10. Sifting Through The Fire
11. Worried Mind
In November, Myles told Kylie Olsson about how "The Ides Of March" compares to "Year Of The Tiger": "It dawned on me last night as I was listening [to the new album], I was, like, 'You basically made a rock record.' [Laughs] I don't know if I went into it with that intention initially. And I feel like it definitely is still a continuation of the overall style that was established for the solo project on 'Year Of The Tiger'. There's a fair amount of acoustic instrumentation; there's a lot of lap steel [guitar]. I love the lap steel; I just love the way you can make it weep — it's got a very vocal quality. But then I realized there's just a lot of guitar and a lot more solos — you know, guitar geek stuff that I enjoy."
A month earlier, Kennedy told Terrie Carr of the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA that it was a joy to reconnect with Uddin, Tournier and Baskette for the making of the new LP. "Oh, yeah, it was great," he said. "It was great, because we actually drove [to the studio in Florida]. So Zia, my drummer, who, we've played together for the last 30 years, off and on, since we were in high school. He's, in my opinion, one of the greatest rock and roll drummers alive; he's so good, it's mind-boggling. So we started driving. We left Spokane, with the gear in tow. And then we met Tim about halfway. I think we met somewhere in Tennessee, maybe. Then we after driving to Orlando, we all quarantined. Zia did his drums and then he went home, and then Tim finished up. He hung around for a little while. And then I was there for, I think, seven weeks with Elvis."
He continued: "It's a fun environment. We all love each other dearly. I'm serious when I say this: we're a bunch of middle-aged children. I mean, it's as if we've taken a time machine and we're in the seventh grade. And the humor is ridiculously silly. I don't even know how to articulate how ridiculous it gets when you put all of us in a studio together. [Laughs]"
Myles's tour in support of "Year Of The Tiger" featured music from the album as well as selections from Myles's work with ALTER BRIDGE, THE MAYFIELD FOUR and SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS.
On March 13th, Italian hard rockers released their new single "North-East Boulevard" from their self-titled debut EP. It features former Accept singer David Reece and ex-Hardcore Superstar guitarist Thomas Silver as musical guests. Check it out below.
Deperation Blvd is a new project from Italy, born of an idea from guitarist Alex 'Crown' Corona and drummer Elvis 'Hell' Ortolan. The trio is completed by bassist Matteo 'Matt' Martinelli. Clear echoes of other well-known cult bands such as Faster Pussycat, Bulletboys, L.A. Guns, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bang Tango, Vain, Babylon A.D., Tuff and Dangerous Toys round off the band's sound
Tracklist
"November Pain"
"Queen Of Heartache"
"Henhouse Tales"
"North-East Boulevard"
"Hold Back The Rain" (Duran Duran)
"Sorry (I Don't Want You)"
The clip below features vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (Sons Of Apollo), guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), bassist Rudy Sarzo (The Guess Who, ex-Quiet Riot), drummer Jonathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett (Michael Jackson, George Micahel) and keyboardist Spike Edney (Queen) covering the Stevie Wonder classic "Superstition". 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.
Italian metallers Secret Rule have released new single and video for “Black Swan” and have also revealed the artwork and tracklisting of their new album, Mea Culpa. Preorder packages available here.
"For this music video we wanted something different, unlike anything we've ever done, so we decided to realize a little story with a 2D animation. It will remind you of a Tim Burton movie, where you could meet strange characters and of course, an impossible love story will end with some sort of sacrifice. It's a song that will embrace your heart and intertwine with your feelings, leaving you breathless," says Angela.
Andy adds: "Yes, this song is almost poetry, we worked a lot on the images of the words. After this last year, we think people need to dream. We wanna give them these almost 5 minutes to get up off the ground blocking out reality, forgetting for a ‘short moment’ the situation we're living and have been living for over one year.”
Sebastiano's statement: "The film shoot with my bandmates has been a magical moment. The atmosphere we created with the smoke, the blue lights, wearing our trench coats (by Punk Rave we wanna always thank them), and Angela with her blue hair (fairy or witch?) has been something perfect for what we were playing, like when every single piece is in the right place."
Secret Rule: "Take your time to watch the new video, and check the web-store to grab your special pack! A new chapter has begun!"
The new album will be released on the June 3, and will be distributed physically only on the official pages of the band.
About the album, Michele says: “Times are changing, so we decided to have total control over our music, we are releasing this album by ourselves. There will be awesome special packages for the pre-order campaign, and a lot of great items, get a look at our web-store!”
Tracklisting:
“Blunder”
“A New War”
“Black Swan”
“Born This Way”
“Whore”
“The King Has Fallen”
“Welcome To Hell”
“Lost”
“Mother Earth”
Hailing from the Carolinas in the US comes Xael (ft. members of Nile, The Reticent, Rapheumets Well), bringing with them epic symphonic death metal like no other. They have recently released an album entitled Bloodtide Rising (February 12, 2021) and now have a music video for the title track, which features guests Mathieu Marcotte (guitarist from Augury and Humanoid) and Nate Miller (Chinese Violin).
The title track was the first song written for the new album, and thus sets the tone of the entire full length. It is primal and epic, showcasing the brutal nature of the main antagonist of the record's story.
Xael explains the track and album in their own words: “It’s an auditory odyssey, it’s brutal and emotional all at once. The story of the album really focuses on the members of the band who are called the “watchers of Xan” in which we navigate the different worlds. This album focuses on our arrival to Vuul Athmar as our characters are sold off from the prison of Dreadrift. We craft our own multiverse and create our own lore. The entire band is crafted from the dark and complex set of dimensions.”
The video for the album's title track can be found below.
Bloodtide Rising is a concept album rooted in a science fiction universe that Xael revolves all their music around. The extreme symphonic release chronicles the journey of a character named Darmak, an immortal who is trying to find purpose in a chaotic and complex multiverse.
Xael was initially meant to be a personal project by drummer Joshua “Nassaru” Ward, however, when other musicians showed interest it evolved into a full-fledged project with each member contributing equally towards this current full length and the band's first album The Last Arbiter (2018).
Fans of progressive and brutal metal along with sci-fi enthusiasts will take interest in what Xael is doing. It’s different, and listeners can get lost in the complex multiverse that they have conceived. Epic and extreme, it is recommended for fans of Septicflesh, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and Nile.
Tracklisting:
"Suun Rai Aru (Passion Begets Ruin)"
"As Decreed: The Law of Vuul Athmar"
"The Waste of Dreadrift"
"Srai - The Demon of Erring"
"Dark World Mirrors"
"Bloodtide Rising" (ft. Mathieu Marcotte of Augury)
"The Red Odyssey"
"The Red Odyssey Part 2: The Temple of the Sky Eater"
"The Odium and the Contrition"
St. Louis synth metal trio, The Lion's Daughter, will be releasing their fourth full-length, Skin Show, on April 9 via Season Of Mist. The band have released the nightmarish and intense music video for their new single, "Curtains". The clip, which was directed by Guilherme Henrqiues, is a disturbing look at obsession turned deadly. Watch the video below.
The band comments: '"Curtains' is about the way that obsession and paranoia can lead to destruction. And how sometimes when you try to kill that thing that waits in the dark, you actually only hurt yourself."
Director Guilherme Henriques adds, "As a director, you truly live for these type of clips where everybody around you is as invested technically and emotionally on the project as you are from the very beginning. The Lion's Daughter is one of the most cinematic and disturbing bands I ever worked with and ideas flow so well and so organically. This clip brings you a devastating episode where control and despair collide, where sadness takes you away on a journey through the depths of a broken spirit.
Moreover, The Lion's Daughter will be celebrating the April 9 release of Skin Show with brand new live stream. The stream is part of a four night event by Sinkhole and will air on Sunday, April 11 at 8 PM, EST. The band will also be joined by Hell Night for a double feature. Tickets and merch bundles are available here
Skin Show could serve as the soundtrack to Times Square in the 1970s - the epicenter of sin and salacious misdeeds; a haven for sex, drugs, and crime beneath the inviting glow of neon signs from sleazy adult video stores; a place one would not dare walk alone after midnight unless tempted by devil himself. Its deviant, raw, nasty, disturbing, and yet, the most lively, evolved, and polished version of the trio yet.
Genghis Tron have released a hypnotic 4K video for “Pyrocene” less than two weeks before the release of their new album, Dream Weapon. Watch the Yoshi Sodeoka-created video below.
Hamilton Jordan comments: "'Pyrocene' was the first song we finished for Dream Weapon. It all started with a single drumbeat that I wrote during an extended stay in the Arizona desert. I gave that beat to Michael, and within a few weeks he built an entire sinister, pulsating world around it. We knew, well before finishing the album, that this had to be the opening song on the record."
The band’s first new studio outing in over a decade, Genghis Tron’s Hamilton Jordan and Michael Sochynsky are now joined by two new collaborators: vocalist Tony Wolski and Sumac/Baptists drummer Nick Yacyshyn.
Together, the lineup perfects the unique mix of extreme rock and electronic music Genghis Tron has pioneered over their storied career. A melding of hypnotic rhythms and densely layered synth soundscapes, Dream Weapon was recorded and produced alongside long-time collaborator Kurt Ballou at God City Studio in Salem, Massachusetts, with additional production and engineering by Ben Chisolm (Chelsea Wolfe) JJ Heath (Rain City Recorders) and was mastered by Heba Kadry.
Dream Weapon is out March 26 on CD/LP/Digital. Physical pre-orders via Relapse.com are available here. Digital Downloads/Streaming are available here.
Tracklisting:
"Exit Perfect Mind"
"Pyrocene
"Dream Weapon"
"Desert Stairs"
"Alone In The Heart Of The Light"
"Ritual Circle"
"Single Black Point"
"Great Mother"
With the world on the verge of the pandemic pause in March of 2020, New Jersey-based hard rock group One Hundred Thousand was ready to share its new album, Zodiac. The band launched the album’s lead track, “Aries”, that month and invited fans to take the Zodiac journey in real-time, one song per month, until the twelfth and final track, “Pisces”, arrived in February 2021.
Now, Zodiac has been packaged as a full-double album available digitally everywhere on April 9, 2021, and for pre-order in a special-edition vinyl set, available here.
The band are also pleased to share the new video for the track “Aries”, which you can see below.
"Zodiac is an album that asks uncomfortable questions that aren’t being explored elsewhere. We can’t claim to have the answers, but we learned something from the journey. We wanted to make a risky, dynamic, and dangerous record to reflect our time and place." – OHT
After touring on its 2016 debut album, The Forms In Which They Appear (co- produced by the band and Sevendust’s Clint Lowery), One Hundred Thousand solidified its heavy progressive sound, completed their five-piece band lineup in mid-2017, and began laying the groundwork for Zodiac.
Zodiac is an explosive musical revelation that explores the life and death of the ego through soaring melodic peaks, visceral percussive battery and evocative lyrics.
The music for the album was inspired by the classic character traits of each sign of the Zodiac. The lyrics trace a protagonist’s path from a devastating personal loss, through the illusion of hope to an enigmatic finale over the course of one year.
One Hundred Thousand’s Zodiac is a valuable statement in rock at a time when the genre is begging for disruption. Its showcase of musicianship is buoyed by an unwavering loyalty to composition and is just what modern progressive rock and metal are looking for.
California metallers ATREYU have released the official music video for their new song "Warrior" (featuring BLINK-182 drummer Travis Barker). The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Baptize", which is due on June 4 via Spinefarm Records. The clip arrives five months after the release of "Save Us", which was the first taste of the band's music since the departure of vocalist Alex Varkatzas in September.
"Warrior" and "Save Us" showcase ATREYU's current lineup consisting of drummer Brandon Saller focusing completely on singing after previously sharing lead vocals with Varkatzas for most of the band's two-decade-plus existence. Sitting behind the kit is Saller's HELL OR HIGHWATER bandmate Kyle Rosa, who had filled in for Saller on drums in 2019 after Varkatzas bowed out of the band's European tour while dealing with serious back and hernia issues.
ATREYU said: "Sometimes life punches you in the face. The fist hurts — and the floor hurts worse. But getting back up feels incredible. 'Warrior' is a song about the war within. There is a daily battle inside all of us, as well as the knowledge that we each have the power to not only get back up, but also have the fire we need to thrive and burn brighter than ever."
The band previously stated about the track: "'Warrior' is song about persistence and never giving up. We hope this song can be the puzzle piece that helps people realize that we ALL have the capacity for greatness. Sometimes, greatness can exist in the shadows and lives buried under negativity, trauma, or anxiety. 'Warrior' is about searching through all of that endless darkness to finally find the sunrise.
"When we wrote 'Warrior', the idea to do a big marching drum break came about. We wanted it to feel like a hometown football game. Travis Barker was the perfect person to bring this to life. It's cool to have him be a part of the song and to perform in a different light than what people may be used to."
"Baptize" track listing:
01. Strange Powers Of Prophecy
02. Baptize
03. Save Us
04. Underrated
05. Broken Again
06. Weed
07. Dead Weight
08. Catastrophe
09. Fucked Up
10. Sabotage Me
11. Untouchable (feat. Jacoby Shaddix)
12. No Matter What
13. Oblivion (feat. Matt Heafy)
14. Stay
15. Warrior (feat. Travis Barker)
Asked in a recent interview with the "RRBG Podcast"if fans have responded positively to ATREYU's new single and lineup change, guitarist Travis Miguel said: "For the most part, yeah. There's obviously naysayers and people who are bummed out. And that's totally fine — I mean, we all expected that. Because change in any shape or form, really, can be very uncomfortable. Especially for a band that loses their frontman, a lot of bands, they either thrive or it just doesn't resonate the same with the listeners. But luckily, it's not like we got a complete stranger coming in and moving up to the frontman spot. Brandon, obviously, did just about 50 percent of the vocals on all ATREYU stuff anyway. And he's been working his ass off kind of transitioning from literally the dude from behind the drums to into the front of the stage.
"That being said, not this past summer, but in 2019, we did a tour in Europe, and Alex, at the time, he had injured his back and he literally couldn't sit on a plane for 11, 12 hours to fly over to Europe, so he had to sit that one out," he continued. "So we went over to Europe with this lineup that we have now. So there wasn't a whole lot of thought [put into it]. It was kind of a no-brainer. Kyle Rosa, who is now playing drums for us, it was almost like that was his tryout, and we didn't even know it. So it's just kind of weird how things pan out."
Speaking about the musical direction of the new ATREYU material, Travis said: "There are definite heavy bangers on there. It's definitely ATREYU, which that could mean just about anything, really. A lot of people would consider that complete shitty music. Some people think it's the greatest thing on earth. It's all over the place, really, which is kind of what we've always done."
ATREYU spent the first couple of months of 2020 working on material for its eighth album with producer John Feldmann, who previously helmed 2018's "In Our Wake" and 2007's breakout LP "Lead Sails, Paper Anchor".
In August 2019, ATREYU released a deluxe edition of "In Our Wake" via Spinefarm Records. The new version featured the original "In Our Wake" album, along with seven additional tracks. The bonus material included B-sides from the sessions for both "In Our Wake" and 2015's "Long Live", along with alternate versions of the title track and "The Time Is Now" from "In Our Wake". The deluxe edition featured completely redesigned artwork and a total of 19 songs.
Sammy Hagar and his CIRCLE bandmates have once again teamed up via the Internet, this time to record a version of "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" is a 1978 song, written and originally recorded by Moon Martin, and sung a year later by Robert Palmer.
In a statement accompanying the YouTube release of the CIRCLE version of "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)", Sammy wrote: "I always loved this song written and recorded by Moon Martin, and taken to the top by the one and only Mr. Robert Palmer. As we continue our @ Home Sessions, we hope be able to bring it to you live in 2021 #FingersCrossed #DoctorOrders #TheCure #LiveRockAndRoll".
SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE released their massively popular "Lockdown Sessions" as an album collection titled "Lockdown 2020" on January 8.
"Lockdown Sessions" began in March 2020, when the COVID-19 shelter-at-home order went into effect. With time on their hands and their upcoming tour in limbo, the band's legendary drummer Jason Bonham challenged Hagar, Michael Anthony and Vic Johnson to record a warmup jam they'd been playing backstage before concerts for several years. Equipped with iPhones and their respective instruments, they each laid down their individual tracks from the den, music room, closet and even showers of their homes, and "Funky Feng Shui" and the band's "Lockdown Sessions" were born.
"When we first start doing these lockdown sessions, it was only meant to stay in touch with the fans until we could get back out on the road again," Hagar explained. "But as the weeks and months drew on, it also became a fun way to keep the band together, musically and creatively."
Over the next eight months, their "Lockdown Sessions" became a hit with critics and fans alike, producing 10 tracks and reaching an online audience approaching 30 million. The sessions gave the band the opportunity to throw down raw and raucous compact covers of classic hits that they'd jammed to backstage but never planned to record, including THE WHO's "Won't Get Fooled Again", Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds", AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" and more. When plans for an album came to fruition around the holidays, the band came together to record one more track, a cover of David Bowie's "Heroes" which they'd offer as an instant download or single purchase.
"With the addition of 'Heroes', it made sense to help those who are struggling from the effects of COVID-19," Hagar said. "It probably wouldn't have happened without it."
ÑØÀ
Serj Tankian
![=]](/img/news-bord-shr.gif){kind=small}
Øâåöèÿ
Èðëàíäèÿ
Ãåðìàíèÿ
Ïîðòóãàëèÿ
?
Âåëèêîáðèòàíèÿ
Èòàëèÿ
