Touch was the first band to play at the inaugural Monsters Of Rock Festival at Castle Donington in 1980, along with Rainbow, Scorpions, Judas Priest and Saxon. A live version of their hit, "Don't You Know What Love Is", appeared on the compilation LP Monsters Of Rock, documenting the performances at the festival.
Touch's first album was released on Atco Records and their first singles, "Don't You Know What Love Is" and "When The Spirit Moves You", charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up album was recorded in 1982 and produced by Todd Rundgren, The record never came out and Touch disbanded thereafter.
They are known for memorable and diverse songs, stellar musicianship, lush vocal harmonies and dynamic stage performance. One of the top AOR bands, their debut album is considered by many to be among the best melodic rock albums of all time. The original band have now reformed after almost 40 years to create the new album, Tomorrow Never Comes, which is already being hailed as their best work to date.
Keyboardist Mark Mangold had this to say about the making of this new album, “Feels like déjà vu all over again.” Guitarist Craig Brooks continues, “The things you see when you ain’t got a gun”. Doug adds, “I’ll have the shark sandwich, please, Toasted.” Glenn concludes, “It’s not over till it’s over”.
Check out the new album's title track, "Tomorrow Never Comes", below. The album will be released on April 30.
For a limited time you can get the Tomorrow Never Comes CD and Tee Bundle (while supplies last), which can be ordered here.
Bundle includes:
One (1) Touch "Tomorrow Never Comes" CD
One (1) Touch T Shirt
Tomorrow Never Comes tracklisting:
"Tomorrow Never Comes"
"Let It Come"
"Swan Song"
"Try To Let Go"
"Fire and Ice"
"Trippin' Over Shadows"
"Frozen Ground"
"Lil Bit of Rock N Roll"
"Glass"
"Scream at the Sky"
"Wanna Hear You Say"
"Run For Your Life"
German power metal institution, Orden Ogan, will release their new album, Final Days, on March 12 via AFM Records. The digipak and limited box set edition of the album include a bonus DVD. Watch a live video for "The Things We Believe In" from the bonus DVD, below:
The record features guest appearances by Firewind guitarist Gus G. and Brothers Of Metal vocalist Ylva Eriksson.
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"
The official video for HALESTORM's cover version of THE WHO's "Long Live Rock" can be seen below. The song was recorded in connection with the upcoming film "Long Live Rock…Celebrate The Chaos", which will premiere worldwide on March 12 as a Watch Now @ Home Cinema Release via global distributor Abramorama.
"Long Live Rock…Celebrate The Chaos" is a deep dive into the culture of hard rock music. This genre, beloved by its millions of fans, is often misunderstood and maligned by media and the music industry. In intimate interviews, titans of rock discuss the genre and the special relationship they have with their diehard audience. Featuring members of METALLICA, GUNS N’ ROSES, SLIPKNOT, KORN, ROB ZOMBIE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, GRETA VAN FLEET, HALESTORM, Machine Gun Kelly, SHINEDOWN and many more, "Long Live Rock" was filmed over the last few years at various U.S. rock festivals, following passionate fans as they take time out from their everyday lives to commune with their "rock families."
Veteran film, TV producer and longtime music supervisor Jonathan McHugh makes his directorial debut with "Long Live Rock", and also co-produced the film, along with Gary Spivack and Jonathan Platt.
McHugh says: "Gary Spivack and I wanted to make a film celebrating the chaos of rock culture. Growing up in New York City, I would do whatever it took to get in to see bands like [LED] ZEPPELIN, BLACK SABBATH and other rock icons. We are so proud to shine a light on the most passionate fans in the world and the music that drives them."
"Jonathan and Gary did a terrific job showing how powerful the communal experience is at rock shows everywhere," says Abramorama's head of music Evan Saxon. "All skin colors, religions, professions, political views and levels of financial status are welcomed into this one family…the audience. Our team at Abramorama is very pleased to share 'Long Live Rock…Celebrate The Chaos' with fans around the globe."
"Long Live Rock" will launch with an online global premiere screening event March 11, including a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers, bandmembers and some surprise guests. The following day, "Long Live Rock" will be available to music fans around the world @ LongLiveRockMovie.com.
SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor has released an acoustic version of his solo single "Samantha's Gone". The song is taken from his debut solo album, "CMFT", which came out in October. Corey recorded the effort with his band consisting of Jason Christopher on bass, Dustin Schoenhofer on drums, and Zach Throne and Christian Martucci (STONE SOUR) on guitar. The LP was completed at Kevin Churko's The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas with producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER and STONE SOUR, among others.
The official music video for the album version of "Samantha's Gone" was made available in January. Joining Corey in the clip were a number of his friends, including Tom Sandoval of Bravo's "Vanderpump Rules", actor Dean Cameron ("Summer School", "Ski School", "Straight Outta Compton"), STEEL PANTHER, plus actor Greg Grunberg, Ace Von Johnson, Travis Miguel and Jonah Nimoy.
About the visual, Taylor told Bravo's "The Daily Dish": "The video for 'Samantha's Gone' served two purposes: making fun of so-called 'indie rock' bands and getting all my friends together to hang out and have a good time. We all went back and forth between having fun and social distancing. Watching the first 'band' was great, then being fired from our OWN song in favor of STEEL PANTHER was the icing on the cake."
Taylor recently made history as he reached No. 1 at Active Rock Radio with his powerful single "Black Eyes Blue". The achievement put Taylor in a class all his own, making him the first artist in the history of the format to reach No. 1 with three separate projects, following chart-topping efforts from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR.
"CMFT" made impressive debuts on charts around the world in October, entering at No. 1 on Billboard's Current Hard Rock Albums chart, while claiming No. 2 on Current Rock Albums, No. 6 on Vinyl Albums, and No. 9 on the Top Albums charts. Furthermore, "CMFT" landed Top 10 on the official album charts in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, with Top 20 debuts in the United Kingdom, Finland and Japan (international chart).
Featured in Rolling Stone's "Fall Album Preview 2020," "CMFT" has been garnering widespread critical applause, with Forbes affirming, "Corey Taylor's singing is undeniably the best it's ever been. From SLIPKNOT's last album to his new solo material, Taylor is easily among the best sounding rock singers alive." Kerrang! raved, "Corey Taylor certainly couldn't have predicted how important a sense of uninhibited joy would be on his debut solo effort, it's just what 2020 needs — and, even more importantly, exactly what he delivers." The Daily Beast attested, "'CMFT' finds the singer broadening his horizons and showing off his considerable versatility," while Stereogum noted, "Corey Taylor's lived several lives in the span that it takes most of us to push through just one, and it's clear that he cherishes every experience he's had so far." New York magazine added that "CMFT" "bridges his vast tastes and influences, dabbling in punk rock, metal, reflective acoustic tunes, plaintive piano ballads, and hip-hop, with Taylor's power-house vocals and introspective lyrics acting as a guide."
"CMFT" is highlighted by the singles "Culture Head", "HWY 666", "CMFT Must Be Stopped" (featuring Tech N9ne and Kid Bookie), and the Active Rock radio hit "Black Eyes Blue". Taylor also hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hard Rock Songwriters chart following the unprecedented debut of "Black Eyes Blue" and "CMFT Must Be Stopped", the latter of which has racked up more than four million YouTube views for its star-studded music video. Furthermore, Taylor debuted the pummeling "Culture Head" during WWE's NXT broadcast on the USA network, illuminating yet another facet of "CMFT" and showcasing the broad spectrum of this fiery and fearless rock 'n' roll opus, as Taylor touches on lifelong influences ranging from hard rock to classic rock, punk rock to hip-hop. 14-time world champion and EVP of global talent strategy and development at WWE, Triple H, also shared a WWE exclusive performance of Taylor and his band tearing through the MOTÖRHEAD classic "Ace Of Spades".
"CMFT" has been a long time coming for Taylor, with newly written tracks alongside some dating back to his teens.
Portuguese dark metal godfathers, Moonspell, have released a guitar playthrough video for "Common Prayers", 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)
SMITH/KOTZEN, the electrifying collaboration between guitarists and vocalists Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen, will release its self-titled debut album on March 26 via BMG.
The official lyric video for the disc's third single, "Running", can be seen below.
Adrian says of the song: "It's a really cool sort of driving track, one of the heavier ones on the album and we're excited to get it out there ahead of the album release. We've both been thrilled by the reaction to our music so far and are very much looking forward to meeting up again as soon as we can, to write some more songs together."
Richie adds: "'Running' was the first song Adrian and I worked on. Adrian came in with that heavy verse riff, which led me to conjuring up what lives as our chorus to the composition. 'Running' is surely one of my top three favorites on the SMITH/KOTZEN album and I really look forward to playing this one live."
As well as the duo co-writing, co-producing and sharing guitars and vocals, Richie also plays bass and drums on the track.
Recorded on the Turks & Caicos Islands in February 2020, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, this nine-track opus is a consummate collaboration between these two highly respected musicians who co-wrote all the songs and also share lead vocals and trade off on guitar and bass duties throughout the record.
Exploding with powerful melodies and harmonies, the album embodies the spirited attitude of 1970s classic rock with a melting-pot of influences ranging from blues, hard rock, traditional R&B and more, blending the pair's backgrounds and life experiences to result in a thoroughly contemporary sound.
Track listing:
01. Taking My Chances
02. Running
03. Scars
04. Some People
05. Glory Road
06. Solar Fire
07. You Don't Know Me
08. I Wanna Stay
09. 'Til Tomorrow
The record features special guest performances by Adrian's IRON MAIDEN bandmate Nicko McBrain on drums for the track "Solar Fire", and Richie's longstanding friend and touring partner Tal Bergman on drums for "You Don't Know Me", "I Wanna Stay" and "'Til Tomorrow", with Richie picking up the sticks on the other five songs.
Smith comments: "Richie and I started working together a couple of years ago. We'd been jamming as we'd been friends for a few years before that. We both share a love for classic rock and bluesy rock, so we decided to get together and start writing some songs and it went from there. Pretty much everything on the album is handled between Richie and myself, including the production. We had developed a really strong idea of how we wanted it to sound, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. There's a lot of cool songs on there that we are really happy with.”
Kotzen adds: "We had a very fluid process in writing. Sometimes Adrian would send me a riff and I would immediately hear some kind of melody or a vocal idea. And sometimes it was the other way round, so it was a kind of circular motion. We'd get together whenever we could and throw some ideas around and it just evolved, which was great because there was no pressure and nothing other than just a natural course and I think the record really speaks for that."
Smith is best known as one of IRON MAIDEN's principal guitarists, having also enjoyed success as a solo artist. Kotzen is the frontman for THE WINERY DOGS as well as having been the guitarist for both MR. BIG and POISON during his long and acclaimed career, which has to date seen him release more than 20 solo albums. Both artists are also prolific songwriters.
Adrian comments, "I think Richie and I complement each other really well. He's a virtuoso guitarist but he's got a great sense of melody — the whole thing just felt very natural."
Richie adds: "We found common ground in classic and blues-based rock — we both come from that mentality. We've been writing and recording together for the past year and I'm ecstatic with the results."
Smith has spent the last few months promoting his memoir, "Monsters Of River & Rock", which was released in September via Virgin Books.
In February 2020, Kotzen released his 22nd solo album, "50 For 50", via his own custom label, Headroom-Inc. The three-disc collection is just what the title implies: a collection of 50 previously unreleased compositions produced, performed and written by Kotzen in honor of his birthday. It's the follow-up to his critically acclaimed "Salting Earth" album, which came out in April 2017 via Headroom-Inc.
Norway's Vreid have released the haunting video for their new song, "The Morning Red", The track is taken from the band's unique new album and accompanying film, Wild North West, which will be released on April 30 via Season Of Mist.
Vreid comments on the film's historic location: “The more than 100-year-old sanatorium lies completely isolated in the mountainside above the world’s longest fjord, Sognefjorden. Once built to shield people from infectious diseases and later the asylum of the wild northwest, it became our creative center during the pandemic. With the world closed down, we admitted ourselves to one of Scandinavia’s most mythical and majestic buildings to record the movie. The massive building has been abandoned for almost 30 years, and the harsh climate has taken its toll as the building are being consumed by nature day by day. The history and destinies that these roughed walls embrace are fascinating, vile and dark to say the least. And with Wild North West, we have become a part of this majestic white castle’s history.”
Wild North West is a concept album that developed alongside an entire movie. Inspired by both true events and pure imagination, the listener is taken on a whirlwind of a journey, diving deep into themes of war, fear, betrayal, loss, anxiety, and madness with thought-provoking lyrics that embody human nature. It captures the Nordic heart at the core of their sound, taking cues from Norway’s rugged landscape as it ricochets between eternal darkness and the solace of bracing light.
The cover for Wild North West was created by Remi Juliebø (Deformat Design).
Tracklisting:
"Wild North West"
"Wolves At Sea"
"The Morning Red"
"Shadows Of Aurora"
"Spikes Of God"
"Dazed And Reduced"
"Into The Mountains"
"Shadowland"
"Wild North West" video:
Trailer:
From its tumultuous inception, the Norwegian metal scene has always been about pioneering. While embracing the illustrious black metal history as part of their musical heritage, the many iconic bands have now evolved in various directions. Leading the black ‘n roll movement in Norway, Vreid are the perfect example of that. The band arose in 2004 from the ashes of Winder after the tragic perishing of Terje ‘Valfar’ Bakken. The Sognametal legends declared the mission of exploring new musical paths, which they have pushed to even greater heights on their new record Wild North West.
The ninth record is not just a collection of songs, but a concept album that developed alongside an entire movie. Throughout eight chapters you will be taken on a journey deep into the mountains, to a dark place where the borders between reality and fantasy fade and where death is only one step behind you: The Wild North West. Not just in sheer size of the project but also in terms of music videography, creativity, and determination, Vreid have done something truly unique and lifted their art to a new dimension.
On the concept, founder and bass player Jarle Hváll Kvåle states: "Wild North West is a concept story about life itself and its eternal shadow: death. It is built around the world of our fictional character E, but it is surely inspired by my own life, my band’s life, historical events and many tales that have inspired me over the years. Is it a true story or fictional? I would have to say both, and sometimes is hard tell the difference.”
Wild North West features the most extreme and intense work of the band to date, as well as heavy and melodic rock songs. These influences have always been a part of Vreid’s DNA, and it is this combination that makes up the spirit of Sognametal. A remarkable homage to that same musical spirit is the song “Into the Mountains”. The ideas for that track were written in 2002 by Jarle ‘Hváll’ Kvåle and Terje ‘Valfar’ Bakken (Winder). Inspired by these ideas, Hváll wrote the song and included the original demo keyboard tracks from 2002, recorded back then by Valfar.
Vreid have always chosen a course of constant evolution that is marked by thematically denoted phases regarding their often historically inspired lyrics. This became particularly clear with albums ‘I Krig’ (2007) and ‘Milorg’ (2009), which both revolved around concepts dealing with resistance and liberation of Norway during World War II. With their following three records, the pitch black brigade returned to their Norse roots on ‘Sólverv’ which received high critical acclaim in 2015.
In 2018, the Norwegians teamed up with Season of Mist for their previous full-length ‘Lifehunger’, a record that successfully blended elements of 70’s rock, 80’s classic metal, and Norwegian black metal and which featured a remarkable guest contribution from Solstafir’s vocalist Addi Tryggvason on the track “Hello Darkness”.
Vreid have hammered out their success partly by being a heavily touring band. The four-piece performed more than 500 shows in 25 countries so far. Their everlasting march to conquer new territories has led the Norwegians to headline tours in Europe, North America, Japan, and India.
The band’s onward march did not come to a halt in 2020, a year that will go down as devastating for the international music scene. Vreid launched their own beer, which turned out to be the biggest success of the Balder Brewery as the first batches were sold out immediately. Instead of waiting to be able to tour again, the Norwegians invited the fans to their home region and hosted a massive streaming concert among the beautiful mountainous surroundings of the Sognefjord. The concert, ‘Into the Mountains of Sognametal’ took place in June 2020 was viewed by over 140.000 people from more than 40 countries.
In 2021, Vreid will once more invite the fans to their dark, cold, and wild universe but tread carefully as from these haunted mountains, no man can descend.
The Vintage Caravan have unveiled their second single, “Crystallized”, cut from their upcoming album, Monuments, out April 16 via Napalm Records. Those who have not hopped The Vintage Caravan train yet will be convinced with “Crystallized”: the nearly six-minute joyride is injected with blues, prog rock and even funk-inspired elements, showcasing the band’s palpable, dynamic talent and mastery of varying inspired influences of the past while maintaining a fresh approach.
Talent for crafting swirling, grooving sonic journeys aside, the peculiar “Crystallized” music video truly showcases that these youngbloods are anything but one note. Displaying their noteworthy knack for slow-build humor, the video depicts the band waking up under very bizarre circumstances, eventually trying to find their way back home. On the flipside, the video provides a bold commentary on technology gone wrong. Watch this one ‘til the end.
The Vintage Caravan vocalist/guitarist Óskar on the new single “Crystallized”: “‘Crystallized'’ is the second single and second track on Monuments. Lyrically, the song is about a man travelling alone in a car through a blizzard in Iceland during a red weather warning. Eventually he loses his way and leaves the car and walks out into the unknown and disappears. Unfortunately, these lyrics were inspired by the many people who travelled our dangerous and unpredictable island and did not make it, so this is a warning song of sorts.”
Óskar adds: “We don’t take ourselves too seriously when it comes to videos. We take the music very seriously, but we like funny music videos. Our friends from the rock band Volcanova make a special appearance at the end of the video, they are great! We buried ourselves in the black desert sand for a few hours for your pleasure. Enjoy!”
Step into the rabbit hole and watch/listen to the new single “Crystallized” below:
On 11 diverse tracks, these fast-rising musicians from Reykjavik truly cast a spell on fans of bewitching, guitar-driven classic and blues rock influences. The album opener, “Whispers”, clearly showcases the band’s musical progression without sacrificing their tried-and-true, retro-inspired sonic trademark. “Crystalized '' convinces with light blues influences, encircling the listener in enchanting guitar lines and quickly rising to the full extent of its power while evoking anecdotes of retro nostalgia. “Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind” takes its listener on a blistering ride through pounding drums, intense guitar solos and an undeniably catchy chorus, while tracks like “This One’s For You” represent a stunning blueprint in The Vintage Caravan’s musical universe with unconventional, surprisingly calm melodies and Óskar’s gripping, tranquil vocal power. In contrast, bold drumming merges with fast-paced riffs, enveloping an impressive galloping vortex and pronouncing tracks like “Dark Times” and “Said and Done” as top notch rock pieces. The softly plugging, atmospheric sound of album closer “Clarity” symbolizes the crowning culmination of a 60-minute journey through the eternal landscapes of Iceland and the poetic lyricism of the trio.
With their new studio-album, Monuments, and its captivating, stellar arrangements, these rising stars definitely know how to put their very own stamp on the retro rock wave.
Monuments will be available in North America in the following formats:
- 1 CD Digipak
- 2 LP Gatefold Vinyl Black
- 2 LP Gatefold Vinyl Marbled Yellow/Red - limited to 300 copies
- Limited Diehard Edition - 2 LP Gatefold Vinyl Multicolor Splatter + Patch, Slipmat - limited to 200 copies
- Digital Album
"Whispers"
"Crystallized"
"Can’t Get You Off My Mind"
"Dark Times"
"This One’s For You"
"Forgotten"
"Sharp Teeth"
"Hell"
"Torn In Two"
"Said & Done"
"Clarity"
"Whispers" video:
The Vintage Caravan are:
Óskar Logi Ágústsson – lead vocals, electric guitar
Alexander Örn Númason – bass guitar, backing vocals
Stefán Ari Stefánsson – drums, percussion
Frontiers Music Srl will release the self-titled debut album from Italy's ScreaMachine on April 9. Pre-order the album here, and watch a video for the song "The Metal Monster" below.
Hailing from Rome, Italy, ScreamMachine is a driving heavy metal driving force. Armed and dangerous with molten metal riffs, the quintet is ready to take the world by storm with their blazing sound inspired by titans like Judas Priest, Metallica, Iced Earth, Savatage, and Accept. Even if the guys from ScreaMachine are in love with that legendary 80’s metal sound, they are not living in the past. Their aim is to deliver an aggressive and traditional heavy metal sound blended with a modern production and songwriting.
The musicians in ScreaMachine are no strangers to the metal scene, since most of them are members of respected Italian acts like Stormlord, Kaledon, and Lunarsea, all of whom have been active since the ‘90’s with wide discographies and hundreds of gigs under their belts.
Born from an idea by bassist Francesco Bucci, (bassist and songwriter for the extreme epic metal act Stormlord), the five metalheads have joined forces to deliver one of the heaviest metal debuts of the year.
Some of their friends have heard the metal call and delivered some killer performances to the lair of the ScreaMachine. The fretless bass hero Steve Di Giorgio (Testament, Death, Spirits Of Fire, etc.) and the powerful singer Herbie Langhans (Firewind, Avantasia, Sonic Haven) are featured in the epic hymn “Wisdom Of The Ages”. Additionally, four of the best Italian guitar players, Simone Mularoni (DGM), Massimiliano Pagliuso (Novembre, Oceana), Andrea Angelini (Stormlord), and Francesco Mattei (Noveria), are shredding their ass off on four more songs.
ScreaMachine is now eager to unleash its rage worldwide, storming the stages and the ears of all those people who are still in love with heavy metal music.
Tracklisting:
"Demondome"
"The Metal Monster"
"The Human God"
"Darksteel"
"Mistress Of Disaster"
"52Hz"
"Wisdom Of The Ages"
"Silver Fever"
"Dancing With Shadows"
"Scream Machine"
"The Metal Monster" video:
"Demondome" video:
Lineup:
Valerio “The Brave” Caricchio - Lead Vocals
Francesco Bucci - Bass
Alex Mele - Guitars
Paolo Campitelli - Guitars
Alfonso “Fo” Corace - Drums
Sharpen your blades and prepare for war with fast-rising US black metal export, Stormruler. The St. Louis-based two-man project = featuring the dark lyrical genius and deft skill of guitarist/vocalist Jason Asberry and drummer Jesse Schobel = have built a noteworthy subterranean following since their formation. Thus, the band has signed a worldwide record deal with Napalm Records and will release their stunning debut full-length, Under The Burning Eclipse, on May 28.
Stormruler combines unrelenting black metal atmosphere and vision from varying metal genres with a brutal, modernized twist of inspiration culled from high-fantasy and history. Listen carefully - you may just be able to identify themes from some of your favorite stories, games and more…
Featuring 19 tracks alternating between ominous instrumental ambience and incendiary black metal riffs and fury, the album tells harrowing tales of war, death, victory and defeat, and delivers an unmatched, hellscaped auditory experience. This is proven evident on first single “Reign Of The Winged Duke” - a searing track made rich with blackened thrashy blastbeats, infernal riffage and powerful progressions as it tells the tale of an immortal magical beast. Its accompanying video sees Stormruler donning their finest armor and swords, readying for battle.
Stormruler offers about the track: “‘Reign Of The Winged Duke’ is a great lead off track because we feel it most strongly represents our overall sound. The imagery of the song lends itself well to video performance too!”
Grab your axes, spears and swords and watch the epic music video for “Reign Of The Winged Duke” below.
The banners of imperial black metal brigade Stormruler are flown high! Creeping in like menacing sonic smoke, instrumental ambient intro track “Shine Of Ivory Horns” launches directly into opener “Reign Of The Winged Duke”, instantly careening into a cascade of pummeling drums and charred riffage. Under The Burning Eclipse evenly ebbs and flows between warning mystical atmosphere and ghastly action, evident on the likes of blackened headbobbers “Age Of Steel & Blood”, “Dawn Of The Eternal Fire” and unrelenting 8+ minute title epic “Under The Burning Eclipse”. Standout burner “Of Hollowed Souls & Distant Flame” looks to the north with archaic screams and memorable, colossal progressions, while combat-ready tracks like “At The Cliffs Of Azure City” incorporate ruminations of classic heavy metal combined with scorched, war-torn percussion. The album traverses desolate musical peaks and valleys before closing with the otherworldly brutality of “Fear The Old Blood” - a non-stop onslaught of black metal attack - and ambient, acoustically-driven finisher of olde “Fields Of Mortal Shame”. Under The Burning Eclipse is a solid hour of fantasy-laden, grim fables transfixed in blackened scourge. Fans of extreme metal will not want to miss this debut offering from the mighty Stormruler.
Stormruler adds about the album: “We sought to take all of the elements we love about black and death metal and make the album we always wanted to hear. Early on, we formulated the idea to compose interludes between the songs to segue the moods, yet maintain a cohesive nature. As long-time fans of dark fantasy and historical warfare, it seemed like the proper path lyrically.”
Stormruler comments on signing to Napalm Records: “We are thrilled to embark upon this journey with a solid label like Napalm Records. Many bands that have inspired us have found their home on Napalm in the past and presently. We hope to forge our own path amongst their legacies!”
Sebastian Münch, A&R, Napalm Records adds: “Stormruler is living proof that excellent black metal is not an entirely Scandinavian business! Under The Burning Eclipse is probably the best black metal album of the last 10 years!”
Stormruler also recently signed with Hard Impact Management, led by Maurizio Iacono (Ex Deo, Kataklysm). Maurizio says: “When Sebastian at Napalm called me up to check out Stormruler, I immediately saw the fire and did not hesitate to make them part of the Hard Impact family. Scandinavia was the birthplace of black metal, but I think America is now crafting some of the most forward thinking black metal bands in the world. Stormruler has the work ethic and the songwriting magic to compete amongst the best in the genre, and I look forward to helping develop them to their full potential.”
Under The Burning Eclipse will be available in North America in the following formats:
- CD Digipack
- 2LP Gatefold Vinyl Black
- Limited DieHard Edition: 2LP Gatefold Vinyl Orange/Black Splatter + Slipmat & Logo Patch (Napalm Mailorder Only - only 200 copies worldwide)
- 2LP Gatefold Transparent Orange (Napalm Mailorder Only - limited to 300 copies worldwide)
- Digital Album
"The Shine Of Ivory Horns"
"Reign Of The Winged Duke"
"The March Onto Golden Lands"
"Age Of Steel & Blood"
"Culling Of The Blood Moon"
"Blood Of The Old Wolf"
"Journey To The Unknown"
"Under The Burning Eclipse"
"Prithee, Chosen"
"Of Hollowed Souls & Distant Flames"
"An Empire Of Ash & Dust"
"At The Cliffs Of Azure City"
"Illuminating The Ancient Sky"
"Dawn Of The Eternal Fire"
"A Message From A Foreign King"
"Mark Of The Valkyrie"
"Blood Ritual"
"Fear The Old Blood"
"Fields Of Mortal Shame"
"Reign Of The Winged Duke" video:
Stormruler is:
Jesse Schobel - Drums
Jason Asberry - Vocals & Guitars
QUIET RIOT played a socially distanced concert last night (Saturday, March 6) at The Landis theater in Vineland, New Jersey. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.
QUIET RIOT's current lineup includes drummer Johnny Kelly (DANZIG, TYPE O NEGATIVE), who replaced Frankie Banali last year.
Banali, who joined QUIET RIOT in 1982 and played on its breakthrough album, 1983's "Metal Health", died in August after a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
The surviving members of QUIET RIOT said it was "Frankie Banali's wish that the band continue and we keep the music and the legacy alive."
Asked in a recent interview with the "Music Mania" podcast how Johnny came to be involved with QUIET RIOT, guitarist Alex Grossi said: "When Frankie got sick, one of the first phone calls he made to me was regarding getting a substitute drummer. And Johnny and I had worked together, and still work together, in that band HOOKERS & BLOW, that cover band we do for fun. And he just made perfect sense on so many levels, because he's not totally intertwined in the L.A. music scene and doesn't really get involved with the gossip and this and that. Because keep in mind, Frankie wasn't public about his cancer until several months after his diagnosis."
He continued: "Johnny, he's family to me, and Frankie and him were friends. And he can definitely fill the role onstage and off; he's a total pro and he's a friend. It worked out great, because the first show that Frankie was gonna miss was in Dallas, Texas, which is when Johnny Kelly lives. So we were able to fly in, do one song for soundcheck, and then trial by fire, do the whole show. He had never played with us before. And Chuck [Wright, bass] and our singer had never even met him. So it was definitely a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-type moment, but Johnny rose to the occasion, and we're thankful he's onboard to help us out."
Speaking about the discussions that Frankie and the other members of QUIET RIOT had about continuing without him, Alex said: "There really wasn't any one specific conversation. It was just, 'Keep it going. Business as usual.' We're not gonna miss any dates. We're not gonna make a thing of it. We're gonna keep the band rolling.
"Frankie put so much of his life into building, helping to build, keeping the band going through good times, through bad — '80s, '90s, 2000s — if you think about it, and that's his baby; that's his legacy. And when the reality is that you're not gonna be around anymore, you still want your baby to grow and your legacy to grow, and that basically was always this unwritten thing. And I'm really glad.
"I always tell people I wish I could have found a way to fix his ailments, if you will, but, obviously, no one can do that," Grossi added. "But I take a lot of pride in knowing that we pulled it off last year and we're moving forward the way he wanted to and delivering a great show to people. So that I find comfort in. So that's been a positive."
At some of QUIET RIOT's 2019 and 2020 shows, Banali was replaced by Kelly or Mike Dupke (W.A.S.P.), depending on each musician's availability.
QUIET RIOT's shows in 2019 with Kelly and Dupke marked the first time ever that the band performed without any of the members from its classic lineup: Banali, singer Kevin DuBrow, guitarist Carlos Cavazo and bassist Rudy Sarzo.
QUIET RIOT initially featured the late guitar legend Randy Rhoads and went through some early lineup shifts before securing the musicians that recorded "Metal Health".
Wright has been a part of QUIET RIOT, on and off, since 1982, having initially been involved in the "Metal Health" recordings (he played bass on the tracks "Metal Health" and "Don't Wanna Let You Go"). Grossi was in the last version of the band, from 2004 through 2007, before Kevin passed away, and was asked by Banali to return in 2010.
QUIET RIOT went through two vocalists — Mark Huff and Scott Vokoun — before settling on Jizzy Pearl in 2013. Pearl announced his exit from QUIET RIOT in October 2016 and was briefly replaced by Seann Nichols, who played only five shows with the group before the March 2017 arrival of "American Idol" finalist James Durbin. Pearl returned to QUIET RIOT in September 2019.
Finnish legendary melodic metal band Dark The Suns have released a new single and music video, "The Secrets Of Time", from their upcoming fourth studio album, Suru Raivosi Sydämeni Pimeydessä, which is set to be released on April 9th via Inverse Records. Watch the video below.
Mikko Ojala comments: "With the lyric video of our song 'The Secrets Of Time' we wanted to exhibit the beautiful wintery nature of Finland, continuing with the theme set with our previous videos. This song is one of our personal favourites among the songs releasing on our new album in April."
Tracklist:
"Spirit In The Dark"
"Everywhere"
"Suru Raivosi Sydämeni Pimeydessä"
"Hope In Our Hands"
"The Secrets Of Time"
"Seeker"
"Storm Of Fire"
"Taivas Itki Tulta"
"Shadows In The Void"
"Enkelsiipi"
Go to the official Dark The Suns Facebook page here.
L.A. power-packed heavy metal trio Void Vator has unveiled "I Want More", the second video taken from their upcoming new album Great Fear Rising, due out April 23rd on Ripple Music.
About this new video, the band comments: "'I Want More' is a continuation of the story that we started with our previous video 'I Can't Take It'. Rock and roll has been shut down in our town, so Void Vator packs up and drives off to play shows in Arizona where there is more freedom. They say that life imitates art, and in our case art and life happen to be the same thing."
"We've been working on our new record Great Fear Rising since our tour got cut five days in due to the lockdowns last year. Recording and following through all the necessary creative steps for its release has kept Void Vator alive. Great Fear Rising is our best album to date. 'I Want More' represents our attitude on life. We want more, we don't accept being tied down, we won't ask for permission, and we don't wait for an 'OK'. 'We keep doing what we want to do, and continue to find a way to play."
Fearlessly and relentlessly hammering all speakers, this new metal onslaught from the Los Angeles trio is definitely their hungriest and most assured record to date, with their sun-drenched brand of heavy metal taking absolutely no prisoners, while pulling influence from the likes of Power Trip, Megadeth, Metallica, Van Halen or Turbonegro. Void Vator's new album Great Fear Rising will be released worldwide on April 23rd through Ripple Music.
Tracklisting:
"I Can't Take It"
"I Want More"
"There's Something Wrong With Us"
"Losing Control"
"Great Fear Rising"
"McGyver's Mullet"
"Encounter"
"Poltergeist"
"Infierno"
"I Can't Take It":
Void Vator have been striking since 2014 and quickly developed a reputation as a take-no-prisoners live act. Positioning themselves as worthy heirs of the New Wave of Traditional American Heavy Metal, they previously collaborated with Grammy-nominated producer Ulrich Wild (Pantera, Deftones, Metalocalypse) on their 2017 debut EP Dehumanized, then with world renowned producer Bill Metoyer (Slayer, DRI, Body Count) on their 2019 EP and Ripple Music debut Stranded. Shortly afterwards, their drummer Moura had to return to his homeland Germany due to visa issues. Fueled by anger and frustration, the band started work on the record immediately after their last tour was abruptly ended just five dates in, when the pandemic effectively put a stop to live music activities in the States for the rest of 2020.
As the world struggled to adjust to life after Covid, Void Vator went to the studio to record guitars, bass, and vocals with Michael Spreitzer of Devildriver at Audio Vault Studio in Torrance, CA. Louder and faster than their previous records, the songs on Great Fear Rising pull influence from Power Trip, Turbonegro, The Ramones, Megadeth, Sepultura, Metallica, Van Halen, Thin Lizzy and deals with "getting off your ass and going for what you want, climb the highest mountain, and feel like you're in control." The album was mixed and mastered on the East Coast in Milford, CT by Nick Bellmore of Toxic Holocaust / Kingdom Of Sorrow at Dexter’s Lab Recording, and will see an April 23rd, 2021 release on Ripple Music. Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.
Cincinnati based doom metal quartet, Blessed Black, have shared the video for their single, “La Brea”. This song comes as the band prepares to enter the studio to record their next full-length album, and serves as a preview of the exciting things to come from Blessed Black in 2021.
Vocalist and guitarist Joshua Murphy says, "We spent the majority of 2020 like most bands: lamenting the loss of live music, and writing a ton of new music. Over the course of the last year or so we have stockpiled a ton of new material, and we found a lot of new growth in our sound that we really feel represents us finally finding our sound.
With plans to record a new full length album in early spring of 2021. We wanted to record 'La Brea' as a single so we could release something in the interim that would show what we believe represents us finally finding that sound as band. It was recorded at Threshold Studios with engineer Brian 'Bone' Thorburn, who also recorded our first EP, and we are extremely excited for our fans and friends to hear the growth we have undergone in the last year."
Transcending genre barriers and infusing influences from the worlds of traditional heavy metal, post punk, and grunge, while incorporating the best elements of the doom genre, Blessed Black is primed and ready to be the new name in the crowded stoner / doom landscape.
Formed in 2017, what started as a few riffs and a casual hangout in a dirty Cincinnati band space quickly became a project of passion and determination amongst four friends. Frontman and guitarist Joshua Murphy brings a plethora of experience to the table as a member of the accomplished thrash metal band War Curse, complimented by the creativity of fellow guitarist and long time friend Chris Emerson, the seasoned chops of drummer Ray Bates, and powerhouse bassist Brad Bellamy.
Blessed Black unleashed their debut album titled, Beyond The Crimson Throne, in January 2020. The band said of this seven-song offering, "Beyond The Crimson Throne is a representation of the journey we took together as musicians, finding our sound and learning to become a band. The result is better than we could have imagined and we hope you all enjoy it."
Nürnberg, Germany-based thrashers, Entera, have released a video for their track "Pagar Por Tocar", from the current album Hate Factory. This is the first Entera song with Spanish lyrics. Watch the clip below:
King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his singer wife Toyah Willcox are back with another episode in their "Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch" series. This time they take on the Britney Spears hit "Toxic".
Watch Robert & Toyah's renditions of the Black Sabbath classic “Paranoid”, Metallica's "Enter Sandman", and Alice Cooper's "Poison" below:
Supergroup Halloween Jack, featuring drummer Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), guitarist Gilby Clarke (ex-Guns N’ Roses), bassist Daniel Shulman (Garbage), and keyboardist Teddy "Zig Zag" Andreadis (ex-Guns N' Roses), has released their video for "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", a song by English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer Elton John, recorded for his seventh album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973).
Denmark's Iotunn recently released their new album, Access All Worlds, via Metal Blade Records. Access All Worlds can be ordered here.
The new video below features a discussion and acoustic performance of the song "Safe Across The Endless Night":
Formed in 2015, Iotunn (which is old Norse for "Giant") entered the scene with their acclaimed EP, The Wizard Falls (2016), which was mixed by Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica, Morbid Angel, Blind Guardian, Rainbow) at Sweet Silence Studios. After some line-up changes, the band found their voice and narrator in March 2018: Jón Aldará (Hamferd), plus bassist Eskil Rask (Sunless Dawn) in October 2019. The quintet - completed by Jens Nicolai Gräs (guitars), Jesper Gräs (guitars), Bjørn Wind Andersen (drums) - then began work on their first full-length and Metal Blade Records debut: Access All Worlds.
Mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström (In Flames, At the Gates, Dimmu Borgir) at Fredman Studios, Access All Worlds is seven songs driven by creative curiosity and artistic honesty, that also initiate feelings and reflections. An epic, cosmic and contemplative journey of energetic beauty and ferocity, Access All Worlds reflects on human existence, set in a storyline following daring space travelers. The music is grounded in roaring, colorful drumming and crushing bass, while the sonic horizon is painted with a vast spectrum of guitar-driven expression, all overarched by narration through diverse vocals. "We wanted to make an epic, strong and atmospheric yet rocking record both musically and lyrically. Jón came with the idea based on space travelers trying to find answers to the apocalypse, which reflects many of the impressions, feelings and thoughts human life holds that originates from something vast, mysterious, chaotic and breathtakingly spectacular. Everything just went berserk regarding the album theme. Is everything occurring in the lyrics just a dream? Is the album an allegory for any individual's chapters in life? Where does the album actually start and end? Stuff like that. We find that the album can be interpreted in various ways. For us, the album is a truly exciting journey, and we hope it will be for the listener as well, on his or her own terms", says guitarist Jens Nicolai.
Visually, Access All Worlds is completed by Nicole Kantor (design and layout) and Eliran Kantor (artwork), known for their work with Testament, Atheist, Hatebreed, Soulfly, etc.
Access All Worlds tracklisting:
"Voyage Of The Garganey I"
"Access All Worlds"
"Laihem's Golden Pits"
"Waves Below"
"The Tower Of Cosmic Nihility"
"The Weaver System"
"Safe Across The Endless Night"
Polish pagan black metal alchemists, Varmia, have released a video for "ten blask co po nim śmierć", from their upcoming third album (and M-Theory Audio debut) Bal Lada, out this Friday, March 12. Find the clip below.
CD and limited-edition brown-marble double-LP editions of the album are now available for pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
"woanie"
"bielmo"
"ruja"
"Upperan"
"nazachód"
"Zari Deiwas"
"O"
"głody"
"ten blask co po nim śmierć"
"koniec"
Golden Robot Records recently announced the signing of the legendary VANILLA FUDGE. To celebrate this announcement, VANILLA FUDGE released a remastered version of its cover of LED ZEPPELIN's "Immigrant Song" and accompanying video. Now it's another ZEPPELIN classic, "Rock And Roll", which gets the FUDGE treatment. Check it out below.
"Rock And Roll" is without doubt one of the greatest rock tracks of all time, performed by one of the greatest rock bands of all time. VANILLA FUDGE gives the track its own slant, adding a little soul vibe and some amazing organ interludes. This version definitely has a life and identity of its own.
VANILLA FUDGE was one of the first American groups to infuse psychedelia into heavy rock sound to create "psychedelic symphonic rock," an eclectic genre which would, among its many offshoots, eventually morph into heavy metal.
Although, at first, the band did not record original material, they were best known for their dramatic heavy, slowed-down arrangements of contemporary pop songs which they developed into works of epic proportion.
Originally, VANILLA FUDGE was a blue-eyed soul cover band called THE PIGEONS, formed in New Jersey in 1965 with organist Mark Stein, bassist Tim Bogert, drummer Joey Brennan and guitarist, vocalist and U.S. Navy veteran Vince Martell. They built a following by gigging extensively up and down the East Coast and earned extra money by providing freelance in-concert backing for hit-record girl groups. In early 1966, the group recorded a set of eight demos that were released several years later as "While the World Was Eating Vanilla Fudge".
The East Coast, in particular New York and New Jersey, created a sound all its own. Inspired by groups such as THE RASCALS and THE VAGRANTS (fronted by guitarist Leslie West of MOUNTAIN fame), THE PIGEONS reworked many of their own existing arrangements of covers to reflect their unique interpretation of this "East Coast Sound."
In late 1966, drummer Joey Brennan moved out to the West Coast. THE PIGEONS immediately drafted drummer and vocalist Carmine Appice, a disciple of the renowned Joe Morello (DAVE BRUBECK BAND) and a seasoned veteran of the club scene. In early 1967, THE PIGEONS manager Phil Basile convinced producer George "Shadow" Morton (producer for THE SHANGRI-LAS and Janis Ian), to catch their live act. Impressed by their heavy-rocking, trippy and psychedelic version of THE SUPREMES' "You Keep Me Hangin' On", Morton offered to record the song as a single. This resulted in a deal with the Atlantic subsidiary Atco, which requested a name change. The band settled on VANILLA FUDGE.
VANILLA FUDGE celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 and is still rocking the world as hard as ever.
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