METALLICA celebrated the 35th anniversary of its classic third album, "Master Of Puppets", by performing the song "Battery" on last night's (Wednesday, March 3) episode of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert".
This is not the first time that METALLICA has appeared on a talk show hosted by Stephen Colbert. In May 2017, METALLICA performed the song "Now That We're Dead" on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert". Prior to that, the band sat down for an interview and performed on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" in September 2013. More recently, METALLICA performed "Enter Sandman" on "A Late Show: Super Bowl Edition", a live special edition of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert", on February 7.
"Master Of Puppets" was the first album METALLICA recorded after signing a major label deal with Elektra Records.
The set only reached No. 29 on the Billboard album chart but has sold over six million copies in the U.S. since.
It is the last record to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who was killed later that year in a tour bus crash.
Several songs from the album are still staples of METALLICA's live set, including "Battery", "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" and the title track.
Germany’s answer to Swedish old school death metal in the style of Dissection, Necrophobic and Unanimated, Thulcandra, will re-release their three albums - Fallen Angel’s Dominion, Under A Frozen Sun and Ascension Lost - on strictly limited coloured vinyl via Napalm Records on April 23. All three albums have gained classic status within the genre and are currently completely sold out on vinyl.
Thulcandra remark: “The overall feedback to the just announced vinyl re-releases has been overwhelming! The first edition of all three albums totally sold out within three days. Pick up one of the last vinyls in silver, exclusively available through Napalm Records! In the meantime, we worked hard on our upcoming new album and just finished all songwriting duties. More news, updates and hopefully shows coming soon!”
To celebrate the upcoming releases, Thulcandra have debuted the live video for "Night Eternal", recorded in 2010 in their hometown Munich.
Thulcandra on the re-releases: “With sheer endless patience our fans asked constantly for new vinyl editions of our first three albums. While Thulcandra are working in full swing on the new album, Napalm Records granted our wish to re-release Fallen Angel’s Dominion, Under A Frozen Sun and Ascension Lost as limited editions featuring massive gatefold covers. Since 2010, each record has been ornated and adorned with a grand artwork of Kristian - the Necrolod - Wahlin. To savour each album in its full glory, listen to the music, read through all lyrics and discover each and every detail in those ice cold, freezing and lastly inimitable cover artworks.”
Fallen Angel’s Dominion and Under A Frozen Sun will be available in the following format:
- LP Gatefold Vinyl Silver – strictly limited to 200 (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
Ascension Lost will be available in the following format:
- 2 LP Gatefold Vinyl Silver – strictly limited to 200 (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
All three albums will also be available on bronze vinyl, strictly limited to 100 (Thulcandra Store only).
Tracklisting:
"In The Realm Of thousand Deaths"
"Night Eternal"
"Fallen Angel's Dominion"
"Frozen Kingdom"
"Everlasting Fire"
"Spirit Of The Night"
"Legions Of Darkness"
"In Silence We Eternally Sleep"
"The Somberlain"
Tracklisting:
"In Blood And Fire"
"Black Flags Of Hate"
"Ritual Of Sight"
"Under A Frozen Sun"
"Aeon Of Darkness"
"Echoing Voices (A Cold Breeze Of Death)"
"Gates Of Eden"
"Life Demise"
Tracklisting:
"The First Rebellion"
"Throne Of Will"
"Deliverance In Sin And Death"
"Demigod Imprisoned"
Interlude
"Exalted Resistance"
"The Second Fall"
"Sorrow Of The One"
"Ascension Lost"
Outro
"Perishness Around Us" (Bonus Track)
"Frozen Kingdom" (Bonus Track)
"Dreaming" (Bonus Track)
"Immortality" (Bonus Track)
Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess has posted part of his recent Kronos synth stream for Patreon on YouTube along with the following message:
"Join me on my Patreon to listen to this entire stream as well as lessons, behind the scenes and chats. Next month, Mike Portnoy will be my guest on my Patreon live chat here."
Liquid Tension Experiment, the legendary supergroup comprised of Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic, Sons Of Apollo), John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), and Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel), return with a new album, LTE3, out March 26 via InsideOutMusic, twenty-two years after the bands’ last studio album.
Today, the band are pleased to share the video for the album’s second single, “Beating The Odds”. You can watch the video, created by Christian Rios, below.
“This was a riff that I brought into the sessions that I thought was interesting because it's in an odd time and phrased in a way that is hard to wrap your head around at first until you understand where the groove is. When I first presented it to the guys, their initial reaction was “how are you feeling that?” When the band enters after the opening riff it probably sounds a little “odd” because the time signature is a bit unclear until the song gets going. If LTE ever had a 'prog pop hit' this would be it!” - John Petrucci
“I remember the look of confusion on ALL our faces when JP started playing that opening riff! It’s was seemingly so straight ahead but with a bizarre rhythmic twist! Took a while to internalize that but then we all loved it! One of the great things about LTE is the fact that we just let ourselves loose and have FUN!” - Jordan Rudess
“‘Beating The Odds’ is the 2nd song we wrote in the LTE3 sessions. I jokingly referred to it as “the feel-good song of the Pandemic” in the studio as it has a very upbeat happy feel to it...but also takes a few cool musical twists & turns ranging from the glorious melodic chorus & end vamp to the dark driving solo sections” - Mike Portnoy
“Starts with an off-step riff, kind of like walking upstairs backward, but at the repeat you get it. Then it opens up into “anthem land”. Later there are unison bass lines where both Jordan and John got flangy sounds that work well with the bass. Mike’s unstoppable energy is evident here, and we’ve got more fantastic J&J solos. At only five and a half minutes we start fading out… a short song by our standards. But we’re just getting warmed up.” - Tony Levin
The new album will be available in the following formats:
• Limited deluxe hot pink 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray Box Set (incl. a poster and 4 artcards, Blu-ray includes a 5.1 surround mix with visuals, and full band interview from the studio)
• Limited 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook
• Limited 2CD Digipak
• Gatefold black 2LP+CD
• Digital album (2CD)
"Hypersonic"
"Beating The Odds"
"Liquid Evolution"
"The Passage Of Time"
"Chris & Kevin’s Amazing Odyssey"
"Rhapsody In Blue"
"Shades Of Hope"
"Key To The Imagination"
Bonus Disc: Includes almost an hour of improvised jams.
“The Passage Of Time” video:
Teaser:
In 1997, Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, and Tony Levin, joined forces to create Liquid Tension Experiment. The foursome would release their iconic, self-titled debut album in 1998 and the dazzling follow-up, LTE2 in 1999, creating a dynamic, frantic, and inventive sound all their own. The incredible creativity between the collective would prompt Petrucci and Portnoy to invite Rudess to join Dream Theater, effectively marking the end of this side project. However, since that time, there have been few reunions more in demand. Now, with the world in lockdown and calendars unexpectedly aligned, the inconceivable has finally happened… a new Liquid Tension Experiment album.
Swedish metallers GHOST have released a new music video for the song "Life Eternal". The black-and-white clip, which can be seen below, features footage filmed at the final show of the band's "Prequelle" tour, which concluded exactly a year ago — on March 3, 2020 — at Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico.
Last October, GHOST mastermind Tobias Forge told Sweden Rock Magazine that he was planning to enter the studio in January to begin recording GHOST's fifth album. "The actual recording will last around six weeks and then there's two to three weeks of mixing and mastering," he said. "So sometime in March the record should be finished, but it won't be released until after the summer. As it looks now, knock on wood, we will then go on tour. We won't release an album until we know that we are actually going on tour. The album release will coincide with the start of a tour. Of course, we could announce an album release date and then, for some reason, it might not be possible to tour, but that's a whole other matter."
In March 2020, at the aforementioned GHOST concert in Mexico City, the band introduced the new character who will front the act for its next LP phase: Papa Emeritus IV.
Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs, with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it. Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of 2018's "Prequelle" album.
In October 2019, Forge confirmed to U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine that there would be a new character fronting GHOST by the time the group's next LP sees the light of day.
"Prequelle" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and features the chart-topping singles "Rats" and "Dance Macabre".
In December 2018, GHOST nabbed two Grammy nominations, "Best Rock Album" for "Prequelle" and "Best Rock Song" for "Rats".
Five years ago, GHOST became the first Swedish rock band ever to win a Grammy — 2016's "Best Metal Performance" for the song "Cirice".
Grammy Award-winning four-piece GRETA VAN FLEET has unveiled a live video for "Heat Above", the latest track from its sophomore LP "The Battle At Garden's Gate", due April 16 via Lava/Republic.
"'Heat Above' is theatrical, eloquent, and exaggerated," explains the group. "This is a dream in the clouds, a moment of peace in the storm. Thematically, we are dead center in the cult of Heaven, surreal, strange, alive and free."
"The Battle At Garden's Gate" reflects heavily on the group's personal and spiritual growth, as well as deepening empathy for the struggles and inequalities others are experiencing.
"We realized that while growing up, we had been shielded by many things," describes drummer Danny Wagner. "As we started to travel a lot, meet new and different people and experience different cultures, our definition of 'normal' changed." Bassist Sam Kiszka adds, "I suppose that everything has changed except what got us here in the first place…our perception of the world, perception of life itself, what it means to be an artist, what it means to be part of a beautiful, gorgeous society. We've gained a larger understanding of why we're all here."
"The Battle At Garden's Gate" was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Greg Kurstin (Paul McCartney, FOO FIGHTERS, Adele). "There was a lot of self-evolution happening during the writing of this album that was prompted by experiences I had, experiences we all had," explains vocalist Josh Kiszka. "It's reflecting a lot of the world that we've seen, and I think that it's reflecting a lot of personal truth," says guitarist Jake Kiszka.
"Certainly after this, we've grown in so many ways," Josh explains. "This album has taught us a lot, about life in general, about ourselves, about all of us, about the world we live in."
Formed in Frankenmuth, Michigan back in 2012, GRETA VAN FLEET consists of three brothers, vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist/keyboardist Sam Kiszka, as well as drummer Danny Wagner. Together they have gone on to sell one million concert tickets across multiple continents, perform on "Saturday Night Live" and "The Tonight Show", top the Billboard U.S. Mainstream Rock and Active Rock charts with their debut single "Highway Tune" in 2017, and win the Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album" in 2019 for their debut full length album, "From The Fires".
Finally, there’s a cvlt worth joining! As it often seems modern rock music has lost its sense of palpable danger and mystique, Finnish occult murder pop innovators Cvlt Ov The Svn mark its return in full force with their grim, addictive first full-length, We Are The Dragon! Slated for release on May 7 via Napalm Records, Cvlt Ov The Svn’s debut embodies a reverberating sense of eeriness, danger and fear, enriched with a pinch of gothic romanticism and pitch-black seduction.
With the unveiling of previously-released goth-boppers like “Twilight”, “The Pit”, “Whore Of Babylon” and “Luna In The Sky Forever”, Cvlt Ov The Svn have already proven how to successfully merge seething heaviness and sweet pop melodies. Now, the mysterious visionary behind the cvlt, who actually started out as a black metal drummer, finally sets free his casket full of morbid horror theatrics. Inspired by movies like The Exorcist and the all devouring darkness itself, he also draws inspiration not only from the heavy rock genre and greats like Type O Negative and Turbonegro, but the nostalgic influences of mainstream artists like Roxette as well.
Today, Cvlt Ov The Svn have shared the new single “My Venom”, a track that will send shivers down your spine! First evoking an eerie horror atmosphere in the verse, the mystical vocal performance of the project’s mysterious frontman leads into a sweet and seductive refrain shortly after. Join the cvlt and watch the brand new clip below:
The anonymous band mastermind states: "‘My Venom’ represents the issues within my soul. I think it's important to go and face your fears, or they will rule you. The video has a dark mood, which is what I always want present in my work. I don’t do the videos with a big crew as I want my own vibe in them. I’m sort of a dictator in that sense. Spread the word!"
Cvlt Ov The Svn’s sound feels dangerously unsettling, lacing its churning heaviness with pop melodies that travel right through your ears to your central nervous system. Conceptually conveying a variety of extreme emotions, each of the album’s twelve tracks cut through the noise of society like a razorblade, leaving a long-lasting impression on the listener that’ll have them clamoring for more!
“When I wrote these songs, I wanted to push people’s boundaries,” he adds. In addition to the macabre thrills of their music, there’s the character he takes on stage, twisting the dagger of perception even further like your favorite horror flick and making for a combined experience that cuts deep and close to the bone.
The creative cvlt leader continues: “It’s easier to tell those grim stories through another identity, another character. Black cloaks just go with it, obviously. I’m a big fan of suspense and this kind of content is all about the surprises. I find it is an intriguing realm to explore. Whatever lies ahead, Cvlt Ov The Svn will adapt and thrive.”
Tracklisting:
"We Are The Dragon"
"My Venom"
"Don’t Be Tender Love Me Cruel"
"Hellbound"
"Dancing With The Devil"
"Twilight"
"I’m Gonna Find Out"
"Luna In The Sky Forever"
"The Murderer"
"Whore Of Babylon"
"The Pit"
"Another Infinity"
Cvlt Ov The Svn’s We Are The Dragon will be out on May 7 through Napalm Records and available as CD and Digital formats. The album pre-sale just went up at this location.
LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia has explained the band's decision to take part in an initiative dubbed "L'Ultimo Concerto?" (Last Concert) to highlight the increasingly uncertain future of music venues. Instead of delivering live performances as part of a scheduled free virtual stream on Saturday, February 27, each of around 130 Italian artists was filmed taking the stage at a different venue and then standing there in silence as a way of commemorating the one-year mark since the first Italian venues closed.
Earlier today (Sunday, February 28), LACUNA COIL's social media was updated with a video message from Cristina, in which she said: "I know that a lot of you guys have been connecting to the web site ultimoconcerto.it expecting a live concert that never happened. What you saw was a video of us entering the venue Alcatraz in Milano and standing still on the stage, looking at an empty club. What we did was taking part in an Italian strike, and I'm here explaining it in English because a lot of you guys probably couldn't read what was written on the web site and couldn't figure out that this event was already really strange from the beginning, because more than 120 Italian bands playing from different clubs at the same time was already something very unusual — let alone the fact that we never really promoted it, we never really talked about it, we never reposted some of your posts, and if you think about [LACUNA COIL's September 2020] 'Live From The Apocalypse' [virtual concert], we always did that.
"Of course, we couldn't say anything, because the purpose was to make noise," she continued. "So I absolutely understand your frustration, I absolutely understand your anger, and believe me, all of us [in] LACUNA COIL wanted to be on that stage to play a real concert for you. What you have to understand, though, [is] it is not easy to organize a concert, and there are costs behind [it] that you cannot imagine. So the point of the Italian strike that happened yesterday was to bring attention to the fact that clubs have been closed for a year because of the pandemic, and we don't know when they are gonna be reopening again. So I want to thank you guys, because even with your angry messages, even with your disappointment, you helped us to scream even louder.
"Some of you guys wrote, it is useless to 'attack' or 'use the fans,' which is something that we never did intentionally. Well, think about the fact that the band is followed by a lot of journalists as well, so your angry comments are even more helping the music scene, because people will see this and will see that music without live clubs is missing a huge part.
"So I'm here to thank you guys and to tell you that we're really hurt by some of the comments, but we know that this will be worth it," Scabbia added. "So we want to thank you.
"[We'll] hopefully see you in a real club, in a real show very, very soon. And thank you for the understanding. We] love you guys."
Organized by KeepOn Live, Arci, Assomusica and Live DMA, the "L'Ultimo Concerto?" campaign was announced last month when the venues shared images on social media of their year of foundation and the year 2021 with a question mark, suggesting that their closures due to the coronavirus pandemic could be permanent.
Between March and June 2020, the Italian government imposed a national lockdown by restricting people's movements to contain the pandemic. Thus, museums and cinemas closed and all cultural events were either canceled or rescheduled.
Around 300,000 people working in theaters, music venues, cinemas and cultural spaces in Italy have been rendered jobless since they shut their doors due to the coronavirus crisis.
Earlier on Saturday, Italy announced it was tightening restrictions in five of the country's 20 regions in an effort curb the spread of the coronavirus.
There have been more than 2.9 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 97,500 deaths in Italy since the pandemic began. It is the second-highest death toll in Europe after Britain and the seventh-highest in the world.
‼️ Important message from us ‼️
Please watch.
Thank you
L'Ultimo Concerto Alcatraz - Milano
Posted by Lacuna Coil on Sunday, February 28, 2021
Carolinas based heavy rock band The L.A. Maybe - fronted by lead singer Alvi Robinson, made famous when he was nearly selected to front AC/DC in 2016 - have released the official music video for their second single, "Sucker Punch".
"Sucker Punch" appears on The L.A. Maybe's upcoming, freshman album, Dirty Damn Tricks, due out March 26th.
"For our second single, we wanted to showcase a slightly different side of the band. 'Sucker Punch' is a high-energy rocker that comes together when you combine a huge rock anthem chorus with a relentless driving groove, sprinkle in some Southern Carolina heat, and bring it all into the 21st Century. This track is an anthem for those who fly the flag of the New Wave of American Rock. It’s about always being told no, but never accepting defeat. But most of all, it’s a call to arms for rock n’ roll fans everywhere to stand up, get loud, and to never let the music die without a hell of a fight." - The L.A. Maybe
The L.A. Maybe is a six-piece rock n' roll band hailing from the southern heat of the Carolinas. If you’re a fan of Guns N' Roses, The Black Crowes, or Van Halen… you will feel right at home adding LAM to your record collection.
Lead vocalist Alvi Robinson (who was one of only four singers to audition to replace Brian Johnson in AC/DC in 2016) lays down gritty, passionate vocals while the rest of the band back him up with slithering riffs, huge catchy hooks, and ripping guitar solos.
LAM firmly plants its feet at the very forefront of the New Wave of Classic Rock movement and you’re sure to have at least one of their choruses stuck in your head at any given moment.
Drawing influence from nearly every style of music, The L.A. Maybe put on an electrifying live show and stand for everything you love about rock music, old and new.
Check out "Mr. Danger", the first single and video from Dirty Damn Tricks.
"'Mr. Danger' is our ode to living fast and loose. As our debut single, it serves as a call to arms for rock n’ roll fans everywhere to stand up, get loud, and to never let the genre die without a hell of a fight." - The L.A. Maybe
For further details, visit The L.A. Maybe on Facebook.
Frontiers Music Srl announces the upcoming release of the The Treatment's new studio album, Waiting For Good Luck, on April 9. Today, fans can get another taste of the new album in the form of new single and video, "Wrong Way". Watch the clip below, and pre-order/save Waiting For Good Luck here.
Waiting For Good Luck is the fifth full-length album from British hard rockers The Treatment. Showcasing an intense sonic power only hinted at thus far, The Treatment is truly firing on all cylinders now. A first listen will instantly reveal hulking riffs and memorable choruses and further listens reveal more and more as the listener delves into this love letter to hard rock. Waiting For Good Luck truly is a classic album in the making.
Produced by UK rock maestro Laurie Mansworth (Airrace) and mixed by Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Black Country Communion, etc.), Waiting For Good Luck is The Treatment’s second album featuring Tom Rampton on vocals (new bass player Andy Milburn joined after the recording of the album). Rampton's raspy, whisky-soaked vocal style suits the band's driving, hard rock style perfectly and the results of him having toured with and gelled further with the band can really be heard distinctly here.
A magnificent slice of groove-laden, fist-pumping, unapologetic rock 'n roll anthems, which showcase a band hungry for more and showing no signs of slowing down, Waiting For Good Luck is the most realized offering yet from The Treatment.
“We honestly all believe this album is a huge step forward for The Treatment and we can't wait for you to hear it. We will be touring as soon as circumstances will allow us and we look forward to seeing all you Treatment troops at our shows next year,” says the band.
Tracklisting:
"Rat Race"
"Take It Or Leave It"
"Lightning In A Bottle"
"Vampress"
"Eyes On You"
"No Way Home"
"Devil In The Detail"
"Tough Kid"
"Hold Fire"
"Barman"
"Let’s Make Money"
"Wrong Way"
"Rat Race" video:
Lineup:
Tom Rampton - Vocals
Dhani Mansworth - Drums
Tagore Grey - Guitars
Tao Grey - Guitar and Bass
Nanowar Of Steel, who recently retired from their brand of parody heavy metal but have been lauded with viral songs such as “Valhallelujah” and “Uranus”, reveal their next emotional single.
On "Biancodolce", Nanowar Of Steel pursue their newly found path of Italian pop music. Emotional piano melodies lead into heart-wrenchingly sung verses, evoking goosebumps like classic Eros Ramazotti records. The vocals complement each other in a grand, majestic finale - Nanowar Of Steel prove themselves to be aficionados of Italian pop.
Says the band: “Biancodolce” (white-sweet) is Nanowar Of SteelL's anthem for the most epic Italian Music Festival - the world-renewed Festival Di Sanremo. On our way to becoming the most hated metal band (and the most loved pop one) this song is a step further towards our ultimate plastification and na-na-na-na-na-na-ification. We hope you'll be disappointed one more time!"
Nanowar Of Steel are:
Gatto Panceri 666 - Bass
Potowotominimak - Vocals
Mr. Baffo - Vocals
Abdul - Guitar
Uinona Raider - Drums
Finnish melodic metal stalwarts, Arion, have released a video for "In The Name Of Love" (Feat. Cyan Kicks), featured on the band's new album, Vultures Die Alone, out April 9 via AFM Records. Watch the clip below.
Beautifully balanced, meticulously honed, and streamlined to modern metal perfection, Arion’s third album is an extremely addictive album.
From the fierce opening riffs of “Out of My Life” to the ending salvo of “I Don’t Fear You”, you’ll get gently pummeled to sweet oblivion with a flurry of catchy melodies. You will be breezily battered by a barrage of nimble riffs while Lassi Vääränen’s vocal delivery throws a jab after another until your ears ring with happiness. Guitarist Iivo Kaipainen‘s frenetic fretwork dances like a butterfly and stings like a bee while you can’t but marvel the overall musical aptitude of Arttu Vauhkonen (keys), Georgi Velinov (bass), and Topias Kupiainen (drums). Finally, the two guest appearances – by Battle Beast’s metal goddess Noora Louhimo in the album’s leading single “Bloodline”, and Finland’s newest modern pop metal sensation Cyan Kicks in “In the Name of Love” – are the combo of uppercuts that will have you on the ropes and eventually drops you down for the count that is the soothingly beautiful coda “Until Eternity Ends”.
This triumph was achieved with the assistance of seasoned cornermen. Vultures Die Alone was produced with Matias Kupiainen (Stratovarius) at the helm and expertly mixed by Adam "Nolly" Getgood (Periphery).
"Out Of My Life"
"Break My Chains"
"Bloodline" (Feat. Noora Louhimo)
"I'm Here To Save You"
"In The Name Of Love" (Feat. Cyan Kicks)
"A Vulture Dies Alone"
"I Love To Be Your Enemy"
"Where The Ocean Greets The Sky"
"I Don't Fear You"
"Until Eternity Ends"
Cody Ford from Swedish metal group, Soen, contributed a guitar playthrough of the band's song "Rival" to the Wacken World Wide streaming event in 2020. Watch below:
Soen, featuring founding members Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums), along with Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards and guitar), Oleksii “Zlatoyar” Kobel (bass) and Cody Ford (lead guitar), released their fifth album, Imperial, via Silver Lining Music back in January.
Produced by Iñaki Marconi and the band, Imperial was mixed and mastered by Kane Churko, who has worked with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Bob Dylan. Eight crisp, sharp, and supremely constructed songs spanning frustration, reflection and hope, Imperial is the most fierce and dynamic release of Soen's journey, which will engage the listener immediately and sustain long after this crazy time has passed, its rich details destined to make it a classic metal album of this era.
Imperial is available as a CD Digipak, Vinyl Album, digital formats and special D2C bundles. Order here.
Frontiers Music Srl recently announced the signing of Sweden's Seventh Crystal to the label's roster of young, up-and-coming talent. The band's debut album, Delirium will be released on May 14. Fans can get their first taste of this new rock band via their first single and video, "Say What You Need To Say. Watch the clip below, and pre-order/save Delirium on CD/Color LP/Digital, here.
"'Say What You Need To Say' is about fighting those repressed inner conflicts that a lot of us carry inside ourselves and having the strength to acknowledge them. It's about just saying what you need to say. To stop faking that smile and letting it all out," says the band of their first single.
"We recorded the video on two different occasions. The band was filmed by Christofer Carlson outside of Gothenburg in a town called Alingsås (Sweden). We needed a dark room to get all the light and smoke effects. They had what's called a "black box" in one of their facilities and it worked out great. Funny side story...since we used a lot, A LOT of smoke, we were a bit worried about the fire alarm. We discussed the matter with our contact person, who then spoke to the janitor. And it was no problem whatsoever. Well, until there was. The fire alarm went off about 20 times during the video shoot and we had to have one of our helping hands by the plug disabling the alarm every time it went off!" tells the band of the filming of the video.
They continue, "The ballet/dance part of the video was filmed by Max Zachrisson in Bern, Switzerland. We wanted a different flavor, more than just a performance video. Max and the dancers (Marina Sánchez Garrigós, Anthony Ramiandrisoa, and Lisa Horten-Skilbrei) did a fantastic job illustrating the lyrics in a complex and entangling choreography. We couldn't possibly be more happy about the outcome."
"We put everything we've got into making Delirium, the album of our lives, so far. Every note, beat, and harmony has undergone an immense meticulousness whilst not losing that human feeling and soul. We are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished. But, this is just the start. We have only just begun our journey and we've got more coming. Enjoy the album and share it with your friends!," the band says.
Seventh Crystal, a new rock band from the fertile Swedish music scene, was put together by singer Kristian Fyhr. Initially, Kristian wanted to pursue a solo project, but when the songs started to take form, he realized he wanted to involve more musicians. So, he moved to vocals only and brought in Johan Älvsång (Pinstripe Conspiracy, Lamashtu) on keyboards/piano and Olof Gadd (Osukaru) on bass as the first key pieces, and then recruited Anton Roos on drums and Emil Dornerus on guitar to complete the lineup.
Seventh Crystal's music can best be described as arena hard rock with melodic rock influences. The band comments, “We would describe the band’s music and sound as an “intelligent” hard rock, but still very melodic. Our songwriting is very varied. We like to write songs in a pop style and then "beef" them up and make it rock. We're big admirers of everything from Cheiron Studio and Max Martin to Behemoth and Iron Maiden. So our influences come from a lot of different bands and music. But we kind of end up in the modern hard rock and arena rock sound, since that's where we have our common roots. When it comes to the songwriting, it is usually one or two of us who write the basic idea. But then each member adds their own touch and flavour and what comes out is the heavy, intriguing and exciting sound of Seventh Crystal!"
If you love the new wave of Scandinavian hard rock embodied by bands such as One Desire, H.E.A.T., and other bands who bring a huge sense of melody to modern rock, then this band is going to be right up your alley.
Tracklisting:
"Say What You Need To Say"
"When We Were Young"
"Broken Mirror"
"Delirium"
"When I'm Gone"
"Should've Known Better"
"So Beautiful"
"Time To Let It Go"
"Déjà Vu"
"Bright And Clear"
"Hope It Will Be Alright"
"Say What You Need To Say" video:
Lineup:
Kristian Fyhr - Lead Vocals
Johan Älvsång - Keyboard/Backing Vocals
Emil Dornerus - Guitar/Backing Vocals
Olof Gadd - Bass/Backing Vocals
Anton Roos - Drums/Percussion
Finnish melodic death metal mainstays, Wolfheart, will release their new EP, Skull Soldiers, on March 5 via Napalm Records.
With Skull Soldiers, Wolfheart continues the heroic battle forged on their 2020 full-length, Wolves Of Karelia, with two new, frostbitten Winter War-inspired singles and two special rarities.
Today, following the recent release of the EP's searing title track, “Skull Soldiers” (featuring guest vocals from Petro Solovey of Ukranian band Wolfanger), Wolfheart have revealed another unrelenting new track, entitled "Hereditary", alongside a new band playthrough video. Conjuring a frigid blackened metal landscape, the track explores soaring symphonics and low rhythm guitars backed by massive vocals, while telling the brave tale of Winter War warriors fighting some of the most epic battles in Finnish history.
Wolfheart frontman Tuomas Saukkonen says about “Hereditary”: "Musically, 'Hereditary' is a clear contrast to our previous single 'Skull Soldiers', which was our most death metal oriented song ever written. It's a melodic and almost heroically forward driven song that still carries the dark theme of the war with the timeless fact: When pushed far enough, everybody becomes a killer, and that wrath is buried in each one of us."
Watch the new band playthrough video for “Hereditary”:
The Skull Soldiers EP’s unrelentingly heavy offerings bring to life a sonic aura of freezing winter temperatures and the crushing weight of the Finnish army that was never willing to surrender. In addition to its aforementioned new studio tracks, the EP is also accented by two rarities: the first - an eerie new acoustic version of the Shadow World (2015) track, “Aeon Of Cold”, featuring the airy, chilling clean vocals of bassist Lauri Silvonen, and the second - a flawless live version of the Wolves of Karelia single “Reaper”, recorded during the band’s virtual concert stream performance that aired in 2020. Skull Soldiers is a must-have for diehard and new Wolfheart fans alike, staving off cravings until the band’s next offering!
Saukkonen says about the EP’s concept: "I did a lot of research about the Winter War for the Wolves of Karelia album, but after the album was out, a few reporters gave me some additional details during the interview cycle and it turns out I managed to miss some really cool hidden gems. One of them was a small "elite group", or "Winter War special unit", who called themselves Skull Soldiers - ninja level soldiers who painted skulls and skeletons on their helmets. I really felt that I had to write some kind of a sequel for Wolves of Karelia, and since lockdown brought a lot of free time, we decided to make an EP while waiting for the world to open up again for touring.”
He adds about the EP’s rarity tracks: “The acoustic version of ‘Aeon Of Cold’ is something we have been thinking for a while now. Our bass player, Lauri, has awesome clean voice and we would like to play a full unplugged gig at some point, and based on that idea we have already been arranging some of the songs with acoustic guitars. Since there are no gigs at the moment, we wanted to try out the idea in studio. Same goes with live version of ‘Reaper’. We did a multitrack recording when we did our first streaming gig last April and since we are unable to play live to our fans, this is the second-best thing we could offer."
The Skull Soldiers EP will be available in the following formats:
- 12 inch Vinyl EP in Silver + Patch (Napalm Mailorder - strictly limited)
- 12 inch Vinyl EP in Silver + Patch + Shirt (Napalm Mailorder - strictly limited)
- Digital EP
Late Megadeth drummer Nick Menza's camp has released the new video below, which features Nick performing a playthrough of Megadeth's "Wake Up Dead". The footage was filmed on August 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
The recently announced official Nick Menza documentary film, This Was My Life - The Story of Nick Menza, is described in a press release as "an unflinching exploration into the life of one of the most successful thrash-metal drummers of all time, authorized by the Menza family. From his childhood all the way through to the end of his life including a true blow-by-blow account of the repeated failed attempts of the classic Rust In Peace lineup."
This Was My Life will feature rare and never-before-seen photos and video footage from Nick's archived VHS tape collection, personally filmed by Menza himself from 1988 through 1991. Included will be exclusive content showcasing Nick working at the studio, personal home movies, casual time and party time with his fellow band members, as well as other well-known artists of the era that Nick toured with.
Bolger said: "I am very excited to be working with Screaming Butterfly Entertainment on Nick's official documentary. "There's a lot of published misinformation out there about Nick that isn't true and I am very happy to bring the truth forth. Nick loved his fans and always said without the fans none this would be possible. I really think Nick's fans will enjoy this journey through his life."
Executive producer Holly Mollohan from Screaming Butterfly Entertainment added: "As both a filmmaker, and fellow metalhead who deeply values the metal community, I am honored and excited to go on this journey alongside all of you."
Late in the evening on May 21, 2016, Nick collapsed after suffering a heart attack during a concert with Chris Poland and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari in their band OHM: at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said Menza died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Nick rightfully earned his place as one of heavy metal's fiercest drummers during Megadeth's 10-year commercial peak. The highlight of his career, Nick said, was playing Rock In Rio before more than 100,000 people. The lowest point was being fired by Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine while he was still in a hospital bed after surgery to remove what doctors feared was a cancerous growth.
Alice Cooper's new studio album, Detroit Stories, was released last Friday, February 26, via earMUSIC. Join Alice as he goes behind the scenes into the inspiration and recording of his new record in About Detroit Stories, Part 5: Resurgence In Rock:
About Detroit Stories - Part 1: Hard Rock Capital:
About Detroit Stories - Part 2: Where's The Party?:
About Detroit Stories, Part 3: The Myth:
About Detroit Stories, Part 4: 2020:
Named for the city that launched the original Alice Cooper group on the road to success, Detroit Stories follows last year’s Breadcrumbs EP as a modern-day homage to the toughest and craziest Rock n Roll scene there ever was.
In 1970, fledgling producer Bob Ezrin walked into a farmhouse on the outskirts of Detroit to work with the Alice Cooper band. Abandoning flower power Los Angeles, because they were the opposite of the hippie peace and love ideal, Alice had brought his decidedly darker gang back to his birthplace to the legendary rock scene that gave birth to hard rock, garage rock, soul, funk, punk…and more.
Ezrin drilled the band for 10 hours a day to define their signature sound. Whenever they nailed a song, the inmates at the hospital for the criminally insane across the road cheered and thus the classic Alice Cooper sound was born.
“Detroit was Heavy Rock central then,” explains Alice, “You’d play the Eastown and it would be Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, the Stooges and the Who, for $4! The next weekend at the Grande it was MC5, Brownsville Station and Fleetwood Mac, or Savoy Brown or the Small Faces. You couldn’t be a soft-rock band or you’d get your ass kicked.”
“Los Angeles had its sound with The Doors, Love and Buffalo Springfield,” he says, “San Francisco had the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. New York had The Rascals and The Velvet Underground. But Detroit was the birthplace of angry hard rock. After not fitting in anywhere in the US (musically or image wise) Detroit was the only place that recognized the Alice Cooper guitar driven, hard rock sound and our crazy stage show. Detroit was a haven for the outcasts. And when they found out I was born in East Detroit… we were home.”
50 years later Alice and Ezrin gathered some legendary Detroit musicians in a Detroit studio to record Detroit Stories, Alice Cooper’s new album that celebrates that spirit for a new era. If 2019’s “Breadcrumbs” EP laid down the trail to the city, Detroit Stories drives like a muscle car right down Woodward Ave.
“We recorded with Wayne Kramer (guitarist and writer from the MC5), Johnny “Bee” Badanjek (drums - from the legendary Detroit Wheels), Paul Randolph (legendary Detroit jazz and R&B bassist) as well as the Motor City Horns and other local musicians,” explains Ezrin, “We had musical ideas and encouragement from John Varvatos, the support of the folks at Shinola, and we recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak. This was Made In Detroit for Detroit by Detroit denizens!”
Discover Detroit Stories as they were meant to be told.
Detroit Stories is available on CD, CD+DVD Digipak, CD Box Set (including CD, Blu-ray, T-shirt, face mask, torch light and 3 stickers), and 2LP Gatefold on February 26th 2021 on earMUSIC.
The DVD and Blu-ray show the incredible live performance “A Paranormal Evening At The Olympia Paris” for the first time on video. With the whole concert culture being shut down due to covid-19, Alice Cooper felt the need to share one of his latest shows with his fans as he cannot wait to get back on the road - better than ever.
"Rock ‘N’ Roll"
"Go Man Go" (Album Version)
"Our Love Will Change The World"
"Social Debris"
"$1000 High Heel Shoes"
"Hail Mary"
"Detroit City 2021" (Album Version)
"Drunk And In Love"
"Independence Dave"
"I Hate You"
"Wonderful World"
"Sister Anne" (Album Version)
"Hanging On By A Thread (Don’t Give Up)"
"Shut Up And Rock"
"East Side Story" (Album Version)
Full album preview:
"Social Debris" video:
“Our Love Will Change The World” lyric video:
"Rock 'N' Roll" visualizer:
Just one day after the release of Alice Cooper’s newest album, Detroit Stories, he’s already planning his next. The legendary rocker says that his next album will feature the current lineup of his touring band.
Alice, his wife Sheryl, and all the members of his current touring band, Nita Strauss, Ryan Roxie, Tommy Henriksen, Chuck Garric and Glen Sobel, met up online Saturday, February 27 and gave fans a sneak peek at one of their band meetings. The Band Meeting or After-School’s Out Special was a unique episode of In the Trenches, Ryan Roxie’s weekly podcast, and streamed on YouTube and Facebook.
Coop’s new release Detroit Stories, his 21st solo album, is a first full-fledged tribute to the city that helped shape him. The album’s producer Bob Ezrin even popped on the show to tout the accolades that have already been bestowed upon the album by critics and fans alike. The album includes Detroit musicians like Mark Farner, members of the original Alice Cooper Band, some original tunes as well as covers of songs by Bob Seger, the MC5, Mitch Ryder’s Detroit and Outrageous Cherry.
“So now we’ve gotta think what’s next. And what’s next to me is showing off this band. And I think that the only way to do that is to take it on the road, write songs now but rehearse them during soundcheck on the road, and, at some point, on the road, record the whole album live in one of the venues that we’re doing.”
“With this band, the whole idea is to show off how tight the band really is, so we’ll write the songs, rehearse them on the road, record it on the road, and call the album The Road or just Road. That would be the concept for the whole album; stories about the road.”
Missing the road was a big part of the band’s discussion, but Coop is optimistic that they will all be back out on tour this year. Let’s hope!
The At The Movies project - launched by Pretty Maids guitarist Chris Laney due to the COVID-19 pandemic - caught fire over the course of 2020, and project has now moved on to movie soundtrack covers from the '90s. Check out "(I Just) Died In Your Arms" by the Cutting Crew, taken from the 1999 movie Never Been Kissed starring Drew Barrymore.
The core At The Movies players are:
Björn "Speed" Strid (Soilwork) - lead / backing vocals
Linnéa Vikström Egg (Therion) - lead / backing vocals
Chris Laney (Pretty Maids) - guitars
Allan Sørensen (Royal Hunt, Pretty Maids) - drums
Morten Sandager (Pretty Maids) - keyboards
Pontus Norgren (HammerFall) - guitars
Pontus Egberg (King Diamond) - bass
Drummer Mike Terrana, known for his work with Yngwie Malmsteen, Artension, Axel Rudie Pell and Tarja to name a few, has posted a playthrough video of the Pantera classic "Walk". It is accompanied by a sinple message:
"God Bless Dimebag & Vinnie"
In July 2020, Norway’s Gaia Epicus announced the addition of Terrana for their new album, Seventh Rising.
Mainman Thomas Chr. Hansen commented: "I am very honored and proud to annouce that Mike Terrana is the drummer for the new Gaia Epicus album, Seventh Rising. Mike has done a great job in making this album come to life. It's also a great honor to announce that Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth) Is making a guest performance on the track called 'Gods Of Metal'."
Seventh Rising is the follow-up to the band’s Alpha & Omega album, which was released in December 2018. The new album is the seventh studio album from Gaia Epicus.
Tracklisting:
“Like A Phoenix”
“Rising”
“Nothing To Lose”
“From Ashes To Fire”
“The Dream”
“Invisible Enemy”
“Dr. Madman”
“Number One”
“Gods Of Metal”
“We Are The Ones”
“Eye Of RA”
Album lineup:
Thomas Chr. Hansen - guitars, bass and vocals
Lukky Sparxx - lead guitars
Mike Terrana - drums
Tavares Project - comprised of vocalist / guitarist Fernando Tavares and drummer Rob Kay (both formerly of J.F. Wylde) - have filmed a quarantine video for their cover of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Warrant.
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" originally appeared on Warrant's second album, Cherry Pie, released in 1990. Named after the classic novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, first published in 1852, the song tells the story of a witness to the involvement of local police in a double murder. Warrant's video for the song, set in Louisiana, can be seen below.
"It’s been a few months since King Eddie Van Halen passed away. We are all inspired by His music. For respect, we have been working on some tribute recordings/videos," says The Dirty Movies.
The Dirty Movies features half of Toque - vocalist Todd Kerns (Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators, The Age Of Electric) and drummer Shane Gaalaas (Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker) - along with guitarist Toshi Yanagi (Jimmy Kimmel Live), and bassist Coray McComic (Willie Nelson, Neil Young).
In the video below, The Dirty Movies cover "Outta Love Again", from Van Halen's second album, Van Halen II, released in 1979.
Previously, The Dirty Movies covered "On Fire", which is the final track on Van Halen's self-titled debut album from 1978.
Get your own digital copy of The Dirty Movies' version of "On Fire" now at this location.
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