Los Angeles quintet HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD has released the official music video for the new track "Idol", featuring a guest appearance from rapper Tech N9ne. Continuing to push the boundaries of ingenuity, "Idol" sees HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD effortlessly blend heavy riffs, huge hooks, dubstep-tinged industrial bombast and impassioned lyrical dexterity into a hard-hitting sonic canvas that is uniquely and undeniably their own. "Idol" is out now via BMG/Dove & Grenade Media.
Speaking on the new video, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD's Johnny 3 Tears says: "I think the video best represents the chaos and turmoil of the song itself. Organized and introspective. But something insidious always right below the surface."
"Idol" is the first track to be released from the upcoming "Vol. 2" of HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD's two-part opus "New Empire", produced by Matt Good (ASKING ALEXANDRIA, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS). The first part, "New Empire Vol. 1", was released back in February of this year and spawned hits "Already Dead", "Time Bomb", "Heart Of A Champion" and "Nightmare". They hit the road for a mammoth European tour with PAPA ROACH and ICE NINE KILLS in support of "Vol. 1", but it was unfortunately cut short when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Since the release of HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD's RIAA-platinum-certified 2008 debut album, "Swan Songs", their distinctive and infectious music has incited a cult audience of millions of fans, resulting in sold out shows across the globe and huge festival appearances at Reading and Leeds, Rock Am Ring, Rock On The Range, and more. The band has shared the stage with AVENGED SEVENFOLD, KORN, STONE SOUR and CYPRESS HILL, in addition to receiving nods in the press from the likes of Consequence Of Sound, Billboard, Alternative Press, Rolling Stone and Revolver. The quintet has also garnered massive mainstream appeal, with its 2011 sophomore record, "American Tragedy", going gold and hitting No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. Their 2013 full-length, "Notes From The Underground", seized the #2 spot, and in 2018, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD crossed one billion total global streams across its catalog.
U.K. grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH will release their new studio album, "Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism", on September 18 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2015's "Apex Predator - Easy Meat" was again recorded with longtime producer Russ Russell and features artwork by Frode Sylthe.
The official music video for the second single off "Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism", a song called "Amoral", can be seen below. The clip was created by Michael Panduro.
NAPALM DEATH vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway commented: "A good shout to work once again with Michael Panduro, as he really adapts his style video to video rather than just using a singular approach. We delight in a generous helping of the absurd, so for one thing, the footage of children seemingly at play but displaying signs of systemic obedience really propels Shane's [Embury, bass] lyrical thrust of our default powerlessness within the pecking order. As sonics go, I think it's post-punk as fuck and grooves massively and accordingly."
Greenway stated about the upcoming album and its theme: "The phrase sticking in my mind when I started thinking about the lyrical direction for this album was 'the other.' You could recognize at the time that there was a rapidly growing fear and paranoia being generated about everybody, from migrating people to people with fluid sexuality and this was starting to manifest itself in very antagonistic reactions that you felt were almost verging on violence. Not everybody resorts to such reactions, of course, but even the basic lack of understanding can become toxic over time. I'm not saying that this is an entirely new phenomenon, but it has been stoked in recent history by some particularly attack-minded people in more political circles and, as ever, I felt that it would be the natural antidote to endorse basic humanity and solidarity with all.
"The artwork specifically uses a white dove as a centerpiece, which, of course, is a commonly recognized symbol of peace and cooperation. The dove has been mauled very violently by a sterilizing hand and in death appears particularly broken and bloodied. However, through the violence you can see an equality symbol in blood on the chest of the dove, which perhaps demonstrates — visually at least — that equality cuts through in the end. A positive amidst many negatives then, much like the album title itself being a bit of an oxymoron — the celebration of humanity even in the mangling jaws of negativity."
Regarding the LP's musical direction, Greenway told Kerrang! magazine: "I've definitely done some stuff on this album vocally that I've never done to this degree before. We're heading into the noise-rock territory, loosely. SWANS, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, THE YOUNG GODS — we're heading more down that path. But there's some more traditional, fast, chaotic stuff as well. Again, as long as it's aggressive, confrontational, abrasive, even when it's less full-pelt, it's always NAPALM DEATH."
Atheist are widely regarded by those in the know as the pioneers of technical death metal, influencing many of today's top technical extreme metal bands. During quarantine, members Daniel Martinez, Chris Martin, Yoav Ruiz-Feingold and Anthony Medaglia kept their chops and produced a series of playthrough videos.
The first of the series is for "Mother Man' off Atheist's second album, Unquestionable Presence, and can be viewed below.
Vocalist Kelly Shaefer comments: "Hope everyone is getting through this very oddball year. Just before all of this madness happened, we were fortunate enough to do an amazing U.S. tour supporting Cattle Decapitation. As some of you know, my fellow founding member Steve Flynn and I have worked with several different musicians since 2006 when we returned from a 17-year hiatus. Steve loves writing, and making records but many times cannot tour, and that has prevented us from being out there on your doorsteps as much as we might have liked to. So, two years ago we decided we would adopt a touring drummer with the Flynn seal of approval.
In addition, we put together what I believe to be the strongest Atheist lineup since the original. Young, fiery bad-asses who play this material in a frighteningly accurate way. Most can attest to this when they saw this lineup on the aforementioned tour in December 2019. Daniel, Chris, Yoav and Anthony have put together some playthrough’s of two classic tracks from our second album. I am so proud of how it came out we thought what a great way to introduce you to the new band members. I am so excited to make music and tour with this humble, uber talented group of guys. I cannot say enough about them as people, and musicians!
So, roll one up or pour yourself a self a shot, and have a listen, and know that when we finally get back out on the road to see you all these are the guys that will be behind me crushing your minds!! I can't wait till we can play for you live, but in the mean time I present Atheist 2020!"
Atheist line-up:
Kelly Shaefer – vocals (founding member)
Steven Flynn – drums (founding member)
Daniel Martinez – guitars
Yoav Ruiz – bass
Anthony Medaglia – drums
Chris Martin – guitars
Tomorrow, Friday, August 21, the 30th anniversary deluxe edition of Anthrax's fifth studio album, Persistence Of Time, will be released. To wrap up the six-episode video series of the stories behind the making of Persistence Of Time, here is Episode Six, the final clip, "Got The Time".
On this, Anthrax's Charlie Benante reveals how the then-new Persistence Of Time album was the result of everything the band had learned up to that point, incorporating elements of Spreading The Disease, Among The Living and State Of Euphoria. He also points out Scott Ian's evolution as a lyricist, that on Persistence Of Time, Ian became more outspoken on subjects like racism and politics.
Watch previous episodes below.
Episode One: "Dali":
Episode Two: Public Enemy, "Bring The Noise":
Episode Three: "Iron Maiden":
Episode Four: "Married With Children":
Episode Five: "Tour Stories":
On August 21, 2020, 30 years to the day after its initial launch, Anthrax will celebrate with the release of the deluxe anniversary edition of their fifth studio album, the Gold-certified Persistence Of Time, produced by Anthrax and Mark Dodson (Megaforce). Available exclusively on disc and vinyl, the CD package will include two CDs and one DVD, the vinyl edition offers four LPs, as well as revised cover art that reflects what had been the album's original visual concept. Pre-orders can be placed here.
As with Anthrax's previous anniversary deluxe editions, the band's Charlie Benante shepherded the one for Persistence Of Time. Disc One is comprised of the 11-track album, fully-remastered by Paul Logus (who mastered Anthrax's Worship Music and For All Kings. the Anthems EP, and the DVDs Kings Among Scotland and Chile on Hell). Disc One also features a special "bonus B-side" version of "I'm The Man" from 1990 that leans more hip-hop than rock, and a live version of "Time" that was recorded at Michigan's Palace of Auburn Hills in 1991. The final two songs on Disc One, as well as all nine tracks on Disc Two, are special recordings from "Charlie's Stash," an incomparable wealth of Anthrax music from the band's rehearsals, writing sessions, preproduction, and live performances that Benante has recorded over the past 40 years and has been kept safely filed away. These recordings will put listeners "in the room" with the band, privy to the evolution of the songs on Persistence Of Time starting with Benante's original riffs and demos for the songs, moving on to Frank Bello, Scott Ian, Joey Belladonna, Dan Spitz, and Benante shaping the songs in rehearsal, then into preproduction, and finally into the recording studio. Said Benante, "you'll hear parts of songs that never made it to the final recording or songs with an arrangement different from the finished song."
The 40-minute "guerilla-style" DVD was shot when Anthrax was on tour with Iron Maiden in 1991 and features live footage of Benante taking over the drums for Iron Maiden's Nick McBrain, as well as backstage and dressing room footage with members of both bands. The piece wraps with Benante, Bello, and Ian joining Iron Maiden on stage for the final song of the night, "Sanctuary."
Check out the first single/music video from album's 1990 release, "Got The Time":
With revealing liner notes written by Scott Ian that pull back the curtain on some of the incidents that fueled the album's lyrical content, the artwork showcases a selection of mementos from the Persistence Of Time cycle: script pages from the band's 1992 "My Dinner with Anthrax" episode of the TV sitcom "Married With Children," band photos and magazine covers, backstage passes, and an assortment of vintage promo items. Also, the deluxe package's cover art has been revised. Explained Benante, who also oversees all of Anthrax's artwork, "We had been a band for only about five years, but so much had been and continued to be crammed into those few years, and we realized we couldn't stop time, it was just persistent. Simultaneously, I was at the height of my Salvador Dali phase, I was just absorbed in his art, and I wanted to tie the two together - Salvador Dali and time. I loved what [artist] Don Brautigam did with the original cover, but for this deluxe edition, I wanted it the way I had originally seen the cover in my head - with the clock melting, so that's what we did."
"Recording the vocals for this album was a great experience," said vocalist Joey Belladonna. " I really liked working with Steve Thompson and Mark Barbiero, everything came together nicely, we all became good friends. And it was great to work in Manhattan again, especially at Electric Lady Studios. That place has such an aura, recording in the same place where Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Led Zeppelin did, it was a really cool experience."
"One of the things I'll never forget from the 'Persistence Of Time' tours," added Frank Bello, "was when we played the songs 'Time' and 'Got The Time' live. We had this big clock on our stage, the 'Persistence Of Time' clock, and the hands on this clock went around and around while we played the songs 'Time" and "Got The Time." Today, something like that would be motorized, but back in 1990, it had to be done manually using a hand crank on the back of the clock. My bass tech from that time, Troy, it was his job to keep those hands turning during those two songs, throughout the entire songs. I mean, what a workout that guy got from turning that crank."
"It was a weird time for us for a number of reasons," added Benante, "but at the same time, a lot of great things happened. We did 'Married with Children,' we toured with Slayer and Megadeth on the 'Clash of the Titans Tour," and we recorded 'Bring The Noise' with Public Enemy, and that turned everything around."
Persistence Of Time/Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition Vinyl tracklisting:
Side A
"Time" (Remastered)
"Blood" (Remastered)
"Keep It In The Family" (Remastered)
Side B
"In My World" (Remastered)
"Gridlock" (Remastered)
"Intro To Reality" (Remastered
"Belly Of The Beast" (Remastered)
Side C
"Got The Time" (Remastered)
"H8 Red" (Remastered)
"One Man Stands" (Remastered)
"Discharge" (Remastered)
Side D
"I'm The Man" (The Illest Version Ever)
"Time" (Live at The Palace of Auburn Hills)
"Got The Time" (Pre Production)
Side E
"In My World" (Pre Production - Scott Guide Vocal)
"H8 Red" (Rehearsal Room/Charlie's, Riff Tape/Pre-Production)
"Discharge" (Charlie's Riff Tape/Rehearsal Room/Pre-Production)
Side F
"Keep It In The Family" (Rehearsal Room/Scott Guide Vocal)
"Blood" (Rehearsal Room/Pre-Production)
Side G
"Intro To Reality" (Pre-Production)
"Belly Of The Beast" (Tracking)
"Gridlock" (Tracking)
Side H
"One Man Stands" (Pre-Production)
"Time" (Pre-Production, Scott Guide Vocal)
"We put a lot of work into Persistence Of Time. We pushed ourselves harder, self-analyzed, criticized, and agonized more than any of the previous records, and we were really proud of it." - Scott Ian, from the Persistence Of Time liner notes
Charlie Benante: "Here is a peak of some of the video footage you may see..."
Foreigner have released the video for "Double Vision", from their 2019 release, Double Vision: Then And Now, which was released on CD+DVD, Blu-Ray+CD, Limited 2LP+Blu-Ray, and Digital. Order the title here, and watch the video below.
Album tracklisting:
"Cold As Ice"
"Head Games"
"Waiting For A Girl Like You"
"Headknocker"
"The Flame Still Burns"
"Urgent"
"Juke Box Hero"
"Feels Like The First Time"
"Double Vision"
"Blue Morning, Blue Day"
"Long, Long Way From Home"
"Dirty White Boy"
"I Want To Know What Love Is"
"Hot Blooded"
DVD / Blu-Ray tracklisting:
"Cold As Ice"
"Head Games"
"Waiting For A Girl Like You"
"Headknocker"
"Say You Will"
"Urgent"
"Starrider"
"Juke Box Hero"
"Feels Like The First Time"
"Double Vision"
"Blue Morning, Blue Day"
"Long, Long Way From Home"
"Dirty White Boy"
"I Want To Know What Love Is"
"Hot Blooded"
Bonus:
"The Flame Still Burns"
"Fool For You Anyway"
EN MINOR, the new "depression core" project of Philip Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN), will release its full-length debut, "When The Cold Truth Has Worn Its Miserable Welcome Out", on September 4 via Housecore Records in the U.S. and Season Of Mist in Europe. The official music video for the second single from the LP, "Mausoleums", can be seen below.
Anselmo comments on the track: "We were not able to shoot the video we initially had in mind because of the pandemic, but the video rendered is beautifully somber. I'd like to thank the crew responsible for putting it all together, and I hope you enjoy it. Love to everyone."
"When The Cold Truth Has Worn Its Miserable Welcome Out" track listing:
01. Mausoleums (4:57)
02. Blue (5:07)
03. On The Floor (5:22)
04. Dead Can't Dance (2:38)
05. Love Needs Love (3:39)
06. Warm Sharp Bath Sleep (4:20)
07. Melancholia (3:19)
08. This Is Not Your Day (3:03)
09. Black Mass (4:40)
10. Hats Off (2:52)
11. Disposable For You (4:27)
A project inadvertently in the making since Anselmo's earliest days as a child in the French Quarter, EN MINOR is an experimental and eclectic musical endeavor that finds the legendary frontman exploring a softer, graver vocal style, delivering brooding tales of pain, remorse, and sorrow. The band released a self-titled seven-inch EP this summer via Housecore Records, with a proper full-length to see official unveiling in the New Year.
"The initial strains — in the most primitive sense — came about when I was given my first guitar at nine-years old," relays Anselmo of the EN MINOR project. "I didn't have the patience to learn other people's music, so I wrote my own. And some of those early parts are still prevalent in the songs we're working with now. Fast forward to 1988 when I bought my first four-track recorder; those old songs took on a new life and newer songs were written. Heavy metal was at the forefront of my performance-based output, but these little four-track songs were always there. I always had an apprehension about allowing them to be heard though, because they were so different; only a small circle of close friends got to hear them."
By 1993, Anselmo moved back to his hometown of New Orleans and his home became an instant magnet for local musicians and artists. "At ungodly hours, these old four-track songs took on an even newer life jamming with these cats," he says. "We learned a few of the songs and wrote several more, and soon we were recording under the moniker BODY & BLOOD. We wrote more songs, all recorded on a newer model four-track. It was fun. We did it for the vibe. And it was pleasing to break away from multi-tracking studios and heavy metal. Metal music consumed most of our time and lives. Those 'B&B' sessions were damned-near therapeutic."
Without a clear plan for the band, the project remained a periodic therapy session. "We kept things simple and just jammed when everyone was home and played our recordings for friends," he says. "Then I eventually moved again, Hurricane Katrina hit, and life sent all of us in different directions."
In 2012, Anselmo met Stephen "Schteve" Taylor and EN MINOR truly took shape. "He and I began experimenting with some vibey stuff, and soon after began recording the sessions," Anselmo says. "This led to the current incarnation of EN MINOR. Together, we re-worked a few of the old four-track songs and wrote several new ones in short order. These sessions are hypnotic and pulling. And we continue to write songs suitable for this project to this day. Ugly and beautiful, EN MINOR, isn't 'party music.' This is 'kill the party music.'"
ANTHRAX played the song "Time" during the Wacken World Wide digital festival, which was held earlier in the month. Video of the performance, which was recorded while all five members of the band were in quarantine, can be seen below.
The 30th-anniversary Deluxe Edition of ANTHRAX's "Persistence Of Time" album is due on August 21 via Megaforce Records. Produced by ANTHRAX and Mark Dodson. it will be available exclusively on disc and vinyl. The CD package will include two CDs and one DVD, the vinyl edition offers four LPs, as well as revised cover art that reflects what had been the album's original visual concept.
Earlier this week, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian said that the band has "a lot of material" written for its next studio album.
The follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" will be ANTHRAX's third full-length release since the 2010 return of singer Joey Belladonna, who came back into the fold for the "Big Four" shows with METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH, in the process helping inspire a new wave of creativity.
In an interview with Syfy Wire's "Metal Crush", Ian stated about the progress of the ANTHRAX songwriting sessions: "We had already started working on stuff with the intent of finishing it up in the springtime of this year, of '20, and then maybe getting in the studio and either having a record out later this year or early '21. But obviously all those plans have now changed [in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic]. We have still been working on stuff through the magic of the Internet. We can do a lot over Zoom and FaceTime, sending music back and forth through e-mail and all that. But we need to really get in the room and work on the arrangements and really play something, like, 30 times until you really understand it and feel like, 'Okay, this is what this arrangement needs to be.' But that's kind of the holdup at this point. But we certainly have a lot of material, which makes me very excited about when we can actually get in a room together and [work on stuff]."
At last year's Download festival in the United Kingdom, drummer Charlie Benante said fans can expect to hear some surprises on ANTHRAX's next disc. "There's some extreme stuff on this record that we touched on," he said. "There's different things that we're gonna try and do that's gonna make it next level."
Earlier last year, Benante told Australia's "Everblack" podcast that ANTHRAX's new music is shaping up to be "a little more in the aggressive style."
"For All Kings" was called by some critics ANTHRAX's strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the band experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the 2011 release of comeback LP "Worship Music".
Hungarian avant-garde formation, Thy Catafalque, released their new album Naiv earlier this year via Season Of Mist. A visualizer for the track “Sirály”, taken from the 2016 record Meta, is available below.
Cherie Currie and Brie Darling have released a stirring new cover of SOUNDGARDEN's "Black Hole Sun" to benefit the Chris And Vicky Cornell Foundation.
Currie explains why she and musical partner wanted to be involved in the project: "His artistry shown in everything he touched. He loved people more than he loved himself. There will never be another Chris Cornell."
Darling echoes the sentiment when asked about the song selection. "Immediately, I knew the song I would like us to do, my favorite... 'Black Hole Sun'!" she says. "I felt Cherie's and my voices would work well on his beautiful and haunting melody. I love her and my different sounds and styles that work so well together. What a gift and inspiration, Chris's talent was truly special."
This single marks the third entry of Blue Élan's "We Are The Highway" project, an upcoming charitable collection of Chris Cornell cover singles. "We Are The Highway" proceeds will benefit the Chris And Vicky Cornell Foundation — helping children who are facing homelessness, poverty, abuse, and neglect worldwide. The collection will feature five cover versions of songs written and performed by Cornell, in an effort to uphold Cornell's legacy and keep the promise as a way to make positive change through music, made to him by Blue Élan co-founder, and personal friend, Kirk Pasich.
Beyond forwarding proceeds, Blue Élan hopes that it will also bring awareness to this charitable foundation that now, more than ever, is necessary to help children in need. As Kirk states: "We cannot think of a better musical way to do that than sharing the music of Chris Cornell, in his memory, and to help children."
Darling agrees: "With the staggering number of people struggling with so many issues that this world faces now, what better way to contribute to something good, than being a part of Kirk Pasich's project, recording a collection of Chris Cornell songs to contribute to Chris and Vicky's organization that benefits children in need."
Cornell was a client of prominent insurance coverage attorney Pasich. What started as a business relationship quickly turned to a friendship over their shared love of music. Kirk has made it his mission to uphold Cornell's legacy and keep the promise as a way of making positive change through music. With that in mind, several Blue Élan artists and friends have chosen songs from Cornell's catalog. These songs have inspired each artist's own journey to survive, to persevere, and to thrive in hopes of maintaining the promise of the Chris And Vicky Cornell Foundation.
SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor will release his debut solo album, "CMFT", on October 2 via Roadrunner Records. Taylor recorded the solo 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 first two singles from the effort, "CMFT Must Be Stopped" and "Black Eyes Blue", were released last month and are available on all streaming platforms now. A new Djay Brawner-directed music video for "Black Eyes Blue" can be seen below.
"I love what I've done in the past, I love the projects that I've been attached to, but this, honestly, was probably the most enjoyable album that I've done since the first SLIPKNOT album," Corey told Kerrang! magazine. "There was such a sense of, 'We're doing it together.' I hadn't felt anything like that for a really long time, man. People grow apart, relationships become fractious… people stop liking each other sometimes, in certain bands, you know? But with this, it was totally different, because we were all friends before that. We just happened to all play together, and then we formed a band around that friendship, and it all really galvanized it.
"This has definitely made me appreciate making music again, let's put it that way," he added.
"CMFT Must Be Stopped" and "Black Eyes Blue" lluminate 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. On "Black Eyes Blue", Taylor's vocals soar with nostalgia, while on "CMFT Must Be Stopped" his rhymes recall his work on SLIPKNOT's debut record and run alongside bulletproof bars from multi-platinum artist Tech N9ne and U.K. MC Kid Bookie. The track is joined by another Djay Brawner-directed music video, which sees Taylor taking the CMFT championship belt as friends such as Marilyn Manson, Lars Ulrich, Rob Halford, Chris Jericho, ZillaKami and more making cameos.
"I was talking to my wife about this the other day — I was, like, 'Fuck! There's nobody for me to hide behind!'" Corey told Kerrang! "It's easy to take risks when you have the benefit of a well-established name — and by that, I mean the bands that I've been in for 20 years. But I also feel like I've earned the right to put something out there and throw people for a loop — not only with the things that I've done with both bands, but the guest spots that I've done with several bands: everybody from TONIGHT ALIVE to Zakk Wylde to Tech N9ne. I mean, I've really spread out, in a cool way. I've never sequestered myself to one corner of the genre; I've never allowed myself to be painted into a corner. And I think because of that, people's minds are a lot more open when they hear that I'm putting something out. They're gonna come into it with this mindset of, 'Okay, I don't know what the fuck I'm about to hear. This should be interesting. I think by doing that, that really sets the tone for your career."
Taylor previously worked with Tech N9ne on a song called "Wither" in 2015, and with Kid Bookie on a reworked version of the rapper's track "Stuck In My Ways" last year.
SLIPKNOT recently canceled all of its previously announced summer 2020 tour dates, including the "Knotfest Roadshow", Knotfest UK and Knotfest At Sea, due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.
Just months after Lost Symphony raised the bar on classical-infused metal with their debut, Chapter I, the ensemble is returning with new album, Chapter II. BraveWords is premiering the new video for "No Exit", featuring Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, Arch Enemy guitarist Jeff Loomis, and House Of Lords / Autograph guitarist Jimi Bell. The video was directed and edited by Brian Cox and stars Harri Charli.
"‘No Exit’ is about feeling trapped to the point of panic. The music is the soundtrack to the torment that goes through your mind when one is deprived of their regular day. It’s truly a dream come true to be able to play with David Ellefson, Jimi Bell and Jeff Loomis on a song. Never in a million years did I think my anxiety would lead to my dreams coming true." - Benny Goodman
Primarily composed before, yet eerily perfect for the age of the Pandemic, the eight-track opus - due out October 16 - strains beauty through aural apocalypse. The collective founded by multi-instrumentalist and producer Benny Goodman and comprising his brother Brian (compositions, arrangement), Cory Paza (bass, guitar), Kelly Kereliuk (guitar), Paul Lourenco (drums), and Siobhán Cronin (violin, viola, electric violin) has once again welcomed a revolving cast of virtuosos to join them for the next phase. This installment includes Marty Friedman, David Ellefson, Jeff Loomis, Bumblefoot and many more.
Lost Symphony was set in motion when Benny Goodman invited guitarists Kelly Kereliuk and Conrad Simon to add another dimension to the classical demo he had composed. An early recording of “Leave Well Enough Alone,” which appears on Chapter II, made its way to All That Remains co-founder and guitar hero Oli Herbert, who quickly jumped aboard as a chief collaborator. Upon arrival, Chapter I immediately received widespread critical acclaim.
“With All That Remains, I'm doing about 16 bar solos on every song, so I have a very modest amount of time to say what I need to say,” Herbert previously said. “With this, [Ben]'s like ‘Hey man, I want you to play over like 64 bars.’ So, I have to really think differently about my structure and approach. It's kind of like more is more, and it lets me really get that side out of me. It really made me consolidate all my resources and put down as much material as possible. I think it's made me a much better player and musician.”
"The World Is Over" (feat. Marty Friedman & Jeff Loomis)
"Leave Well Enough Alone" (feat. Jason Costa & Conrad Simon)
"Negation Delirium" (feat. Oli Herbert, Joey Concepcion & Jimi Bell)
"No Exit" (feat. David Ellefson, Jeff Loomis & Jimi Bell)
"The Garden Of Earthly Delights" (feat. Oli Herbert, David Abbruzzese, Rusty Cooley, Jimi Bell, Joey Concepcion, Matt LaPierre & Conrad Simon)
"Conflagration" (feat. Oli Herbert, Matt LaPierre & Conrad Simon)
"A Murder Of Crows" (feat. Jon Donias, Matt Bachand & Jimi Bell)
"The Long Wait For The End" (feat. Oli Herbert, Conrad Simon & Matt LaPierre)
Steve Lukather and Mascot Label Group/The Players Club have announced the release of a newly recorded composition titled "Run To Me", and an accompanying video. The song is heavily influenced by the artist's fond connection to music from the late 60's.
"Run To Me" was co-written by David Paich, Joseph Williams and Lukather. Performances include Lukather on guitar, Joseph Williams on keyboards and background vocals, John Pierce from HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS on bass, alongside Lukather's bandmate and close friend Ringo Starr making a special appearance in both the video and on the record itself.
Lukather shares: "I wanted to release this now because it fits the moment. A time where we all need a happy song for an unhappy time.
"When I got together with Joseph Williams and David Paich to collaborate on the songwriting, there was pure collective inspiration amongst the three of us to articulate this message of hope directed towards our daughters.
"Musically, the song is absolutely influenced by my growing up in the sixties, inspired by some of my favorite elements of the repertoire that defined that indelible era.
"And, Ringo, what can I say. It is an honor to have his contribution captured on a song of mine, much less his gracious presence in the video. Over the course of the last decade, we've become dear friends travelling the world with one another, and much like Paich and Williams, I am certainly blessed to have these talented, amazing human beings in my life as both band mates and friends.
"As we all look towards the unknown of this crazy world we are living in, simply my hope is this tune brings a little peace, love and pleasant distraction to these uncertain times."
The recording was mixed by Kenneth Freeman, and mastered by Freeman's body double. Additional engineering by Bruce Sugar (for Ringo) and Joseph Williams.
Details on Lukather's forthcoming solo album, coming in early 2021, will be shared in the coming months.
Over the course of five decades, Lukather has placed an indelible stamp on pop culture. Alongside his tenure as the only member of TOTO to never take a hiatus from the band, he has performed on thousands of albums as a session musician. Amongst these musical contributions are some of the most successful, influential and enduring records of all time, including Michael Jackson's "Thriller". Additionally, he released a memoir titled "The Gospel According To Luke", which was a global best-seller. He continues to be TOTO's band leader, a member of Ringo's ALL-STARR BAND, and a solo artist performing with multiple ensembles which include NERVE BUNDLE.
TOTO has enjoyed a celebrated resurgence over the last several years tied to the band's 40th anniversary, wherein over a thirty month period they performed for millions of fans across North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. The band's repertoire has been streamed over a billion times, while album sales exceed 40 million copies.
Reunited San Francisco Bay Area thrashers VIO-LENCE have released a new digital single, "California Über Alles", a cover version of the DEAD KENNEDYS classic. The band also recently filmed a music video for the song with director Scott Kirkeeng. Check it out below.
VIO-LENCE comments: "Being musicians in the Bay Area thrash metal scene, VIO-LENCE believes it is important to acknowledge the music that had a huge influence on thrash metal — which was Bay Area punk rock. With that in mind, VIO-LENCE looked to one of the most influential bands of that scene — the DEAD KENNEDYS — and their iconic song 'California Über Alles' to perform.
"'California Uber Alles' is a song VIO-LENCE has been wanting to perform live for some time. We decided that since we weren't going to be able to do that this year, and since fans haven't heard any recordings from VIO-LENCE since 1994, that now was a good time to bring it to our fans. We recorded it in our rehearsal studio with our new lineup of Phil Demmel, Perry Strickland, Christian Olde Wolbers [ex-FEAR FACTORY], Bobby Gustafson and Sean Killian. So we hooked up the recording equipment and got to work. On a good day, it was about 95 degrees Fahrenheit, which was a motivator to nail our takes to minimize the time we had to sweat. Once the song was recorded, Christian headed home to Venice and got to work mixing and mastering the recording. We all agree that he did a great job, giving the song excellent sound without losing the raw rehearsal studio sound that we wanted to keep.
"Once recorded, the band moved onto the task of filming a video for the song. We met with Scott Kirkeeng, senior producer with East Peak Media, to discuss ideas. With Scott heading the production, Dan Brown editing, and Tatiana Peavy working the music playback, the video shoot began. We spent the day filming at The Back Lounge, a bar owned by Phil and Marta Demmel. The location must keep be confidential for fear of the California Secret Police locking us up for life. The band invited 10 friends, including Chris Collins (the guy wearing the helmet camera in the 'World In A World' video) and family members (including Sean's son, Seamus), to join in the fun as masked zombie metal maniacs. Nurse Marta 'Demmon' showed up to give the band a shot of 'OBEE-D-ENCE', which was emphatically rejected. We had a great time recording and filming the video and song, and we hope you enjoy the VIO-LENCE version of 'California Über Alles'."
This past January, VIO-LENCE parted ways with guitarist Ray Vegas and replaced him with Gustafson (ex-OVERKILL).
VIO-LENCE is currently working on material for a new EP, tentatively due in early 2021 via Metal Blade Records.
Killian previously described VIO-LENCE's new material as "a cross between 'Eternal [Nightmare]' [1988], 'Oppressing [The Masses]' [1990] and also our '93 demo. It's fast, it's heavy. We've got a couple of good chunk riffs and stuff like that," he explained. "We wanna get stuff in that's gonna start a pit up too. But we think people are gonna go crazy when they hear it. We've got some heavy lyrics, some heavy subjects. I mean, we're not a political band by any means, so when I say 'heavy,' it's just heavy shit that comes out of my demented head."
VIO-LENCE released three studio albums between 1988 and 1993. The group reunited soon after Demmel left MACHINE HEAD in late 2018.
VIO-LENCE performed its first comeback concert in April 2019 at the Oakland Metro in Oakland, California and spent the last year playing select shows in the U.S. and Europe.
Although MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn was part of VIO-LENCE's classic incarnation and played on the band's debut album, "Eternal Nightmare", he wasn't approached about taking part in any of the comeback shows.
Killian underwent a successful liver transplant surgery in March 2018. The year before, Killian was diagnosed with stage four liver cirrhosis, which was caused in part by a genetic condition called hemochromatosis.
During Tom Petty's final interview with the Los Angeles Times, as the triumphant 40th anniversary tour with THE HEARTBREAKERS was coming to an end, he announced that his next big focus would be to finally revisit his 1994 masterpiece "Wildflowers", co-produced with Rick Rubin and Mike Campbell.
"Wildflowers" in many ways changed Tom's creative life — as a recording artist, collaborator and band leader — while a profound, personal crisis transformed the stories and emotional thrust in his songs. Tom ultimately wrote more songs than he could release at the time. In fact, Tom, Rubin and Campbell completed the album as a double CD with 25 songs, nearly two hours of music, but his label advised restraint. Released on November 1, 1994, "Wildflowers" — a single CD with 15 songs, still more than an hour in length — was Tom's most acutely confessional album to date.
The resurrection of "Wildflowers" has been a long time coming. In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Tom detailed his plans for the reissue, telling the magazine: "I broke through to something else. My personal life came crashing down, and it derailed me for a while. But I was at the top of my game during that record." Then again in 2016 on SiriusXM's Tom Petty Radio, he discussed his desire for a "Wildflowers" tour to coincide with a reissue. Tom had always intended to release the second half of the album — a collection he named "All The Rest", featuring ten songs from the "Wildflowers" recording sessions that were left off the original version and five unreleased tracks (different versions of four other songs would appear on the soundtrack to the 1996 film "She's The One").
"Wildflowers & All The Rest", the long-awaited "Wildflowers" reissue and comprehensive collection, will be released on October 16 via Warner Records. Tom's vision of the project is becoming a reality due to the commitment of his loving family, bandmates and collaborators who helped unearth many previously unheard gems. The compilation was curated by Tom's daughters, Adria and Annakim Petty, and his wife Dana Petty, who call it "many, many hours of pure sonic joy," as well as HEARTBREAKERS' Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, and was produced by Tom's longtime engineer and co-producer Ryan Ulyate. Together they stewarded the warmth Tom created through his music and relationship to his fans.
Today, "Wildflowers (Home Recording)", a solo demo version of the classic title track, is premiering alongside a video featuring never-before-seen footage of Tom at his home, shot by Martyn Atkins during the recording of "Wildflowers". The video was co-directed by Alan Bibby and Jonny Kofoed and produced by Assembly. The significance of the song was revealed in David Fricke's essay written for the liner notes of the collection: "It would be some time before he understood the complexity of 'Wildflowers'. It was, he realized, 'me singing about me.'" This morning, Mike Campbell, Adria Petty and Ryan Ulyate spoke with Fricke about the new collection and premiered the home recording on SiriusXM's Tom Petty Radio (channel 31).
"Wildflowers (Home Recording)" is available now with pre-order of the Deluxe Edition, in addition to the recently released songs "There Goes Angela (Dream Away) (Home Recording)" and "You Don't Know How It Feels (Home Recording)".
"Wildflowers & All The Rest" will be released in multiple formats. "Wildflowers & All The Rest - Deluxe Edition" features 15 recordings made by Tom in his home studio as he was writing the album. These solo demos provide an intimate look at Tom's songwriting process, where he plays all the instruments and revises lyrics as he works. The "Deluxe Edition" is rounded-off with 14 live performances of songs from "Wildflowers", recorded on various tours from 1995 to 2017. "Wildflowers & All The Rest - Super Deluxe" is a direct-to-consumer limited-edition set featuring "Finding Wildflowers" — 16 studio recordings of alternate takes of "Wildflowers" songs as Tom, band members and Rubin honed-in on the final album.
The collection features incredibly special packaging across the various formats. The "Super Deluxe Edition" is the most complete; it includes an introduction penned by Rick Rubin, the aforementioned essay written by David Fricke — "Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty's Road To Wildflowers", lyrics to all the songs on "Wildflowers & All The Rest", as well as an in-depth track-by-track by Jaan Uhelszki with contributions from Rubin, Ulyate, "Wildflowers" engineer Jim Scott, HEARTBREAKERS live mixing engineer Robert Scovill, and HEARTBREAKERS' Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench and Steve Ferrone.
Adria Petty also oversaw the creative direction for the "Wildflowers" project, with original packaging illustrations by Blaze Ben Brooks, original cover beadwork by Maria Sarno, as well as "Wildflowers"-era photography by Mark Seliger, Robert Sebree and Martyn Atkins.
Tom Petty released 16 studio albums and over 180 songs over the course of his 40-year career. "Wildflowers" was the first album of a long-term renaissance. It was Petty's fastest-selling album and was certified triple platinum only nine months after its release. The album was always deeply significant to him. As proof, five of the 18 songs performed at his final live concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles came from the album. "Wildflowers" — his solo masterpiece, a personal triumph and the album Petty needed to make at that moment, at any cost — is finally here as he intended it and beyond.
Video footage of METALLICA performing the song "For Whom The Bell Tolls" from the upcoming "Metallica And San Francisco Symphony: S&M²" release can be seen below.
METALLICA and San Francisco Symphony's September 6 and September 8, 2019 "S&M²" concerts were historic on multiple levels: They served as the grand opening of San Francisco's Chase Center, reunited the band and Symphony for the first time since the 1999 performances captured on the Grammy-winning "S&M" album, and featured the first-ever symphonic renditions of songs written and released since those original "S&M" shows.
The sold-out concerts were rapturously received by the 40,000 fans who traveled from nearly 70 countries, as well as the media: Rolling Stone raved "the group proved that anything was possible," Variety noted an atmosphere "buzzing with excitement," while the Mercury News witnessed "a concert that fans will be talking about for decades to come," and Consequence Of Sound hailed "a true celebration of METALLICA and their musical prowess."
On August 28, "S&M²" comes to life once more with the release of "Metallica And San Francisco Symphony: S&M²". "S&M²" will be available in a staggering array of formats, ranging from a digital album on all leading streaming outlets, to 4LP vinyl, 2CD, DVD and Blu-ray versions, to a limited edition color vinyl 4LP + 2CD + Blu-ray Deluxe Box featuring sheet music, guitar picks, poster and more, all the way up to a Metallica.com exclusive Super Deluxe Box, limited to 500 copies, each featuring actual sheet music used by the Symphony during the shows and hand-signed by all four band members (in addition to including everything in the Deluxe Box). With this long-awaited Blackened Recordings release, "S&M²" can be fully experienced by others beyond those who squeezed into the Chase Center over those two unforgettable evenings.
"S&M²" is a landmark release in the METALLICA catalog, both sonically and visually. Produced by Greg Fidelman with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, the "S&M²" live album captures more than two and a half hours of James, Lars, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo joining forces with the nearly 80-strong San Francisco Symphony, legendary music director of the orchestra Michael Tilson Thomas, and conductor Edwin Outwater. The concert film is a brand-new edit done by Joe Hutching ("Through The Never") and both the audio and visuals have been taken to the next level from the October 2019 theatrical version that played in over 3,700 cinemas worldwide.
The three-hour concerts were split into two parts and included a rendition of "Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)" from METALLICA's debut album, "Kill 'Em All", performed as a solo by the Symphony bassist Scott Pingel in tribute to METALLICA's late bassist Cliff Burton.
Ulrich told Kerrang! magazine: "The 'Anesthesia' bass solo was incredible. The way the fans reacted to that was goosebump-city. I loved the dare of playing 'Iron Foundry'. I loved revisiting songs we don't play so often like 'The Outlaw Torn' and 'The Call Of Ktulu'.
"I loved how Edwin brought one sort of dynamic when he was conducting the more rock stuff, and how Michael Tilson Thomas — the maestro, the elder statesman of his world — brought in some different pieces and encouraged the fans to understand where the symphonic and rock worlds overlap.
"Most of all, though, the fact that there was no barricade stood out. When was the last time you went to a rock show of that size without one? What does that barricade do? What does it mean? It's a safety thing, but in essence it's something that separates people. I loved just being able to walk out with the fans. At one point, I leaned back and let myself go into their embrace. That was a great moment."
"S&M²" is available for pre-order now, preceded by the "S&M²" versions of "All Within My Hands" and "Nothing Else Matters", both now available across digital platforms.
"Metallica And San Francisco Symphony: S&M²"
Configurations:
* Deluxe Box (limited edition 4LP color vinyl, exclusive photobook, 2CDs, Blu-ray, sheet music, five guitar picks, poster, download card)
* Super Deluxe Box (all of the above + original sheet music signed by the band. Limited to 500 via Metallica.com)
* Black 4LP set w/photobook and download card
* Color 4LP set w/photobook and download card (exclusive to indie retail + Metallica.com)
* 2CD set w/36-page booklet
* 2CD/Blu-ray set w/36-page booklet
* 2CD/DVD set w/36-page booklet
* Blu-Ray
* DVD
* Digital Album
* Digital Movie
Track listing:
CD 1
01. The Ecstasy of Gold (Live)
02. The Call of Ktulu (Live)
03. For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live)
04. The Day That Never Comes (Live)
05. The Memory Remains (Live)
06. Confusion (Live)
07. Moth Into Flame (Live)
08. The Outlaw Torn (Live)
09. No Leaf Clover (Live)
10. Halo on Fire (Live)
CD 2
01. Intro to Scythian Suite (Live)
02. Scythian Suite, Opus 20 II: The Enemy God And The Dance Of The Dark Spirits (Live)
03. Intro to The Iron Foundry (Live)
04. The Iron Foundry, Opus 19 (Live)
05. The Unforgiven III (Live)
06. All Within My Hands (Live)
07. (Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth (Live)
08. Wherever I May Roam (Live)
09. One (Live)
10. Master of Puppets (Live)
11. Nothing Else Matters (Live)
12. Enter Sandman (Live)
DVD / Blu-ray
01. Menu (features "Moth Into Flame")
02. Intro (features "Wherever I May Roam" and "All Within My Hands")
03. The Ecstasy of Gold (Live)
04. The Call of Ktulu (Live)
05. For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live)
06. The Day That Never Comes (Live)
07. The Memory Remains (Live)
08. Confusion (Live)
09. Moth Into Flame (Live)
10. The Outlaw Torn (Live)
11. No Leaf Clover (Live)
12. Halo on Fire (Live)
13. Intro to Scythian Suite (Live)
14. Scythian Suite, Opus 20 II: The Enemy God And The Dance Of The Dark Spirits (Live)
15. Intro to The Iron Foundry (Live)
16. The Iron Foundry, Opus 19 (Live)
17. The Unforgiven III (Live)
18. All Within My Hands (Live)
19. (Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth (Live)
20. Wherever I May Roam (Live)
21. One (Live)
22. Master of Puppets (Live)
23. Nothing Else Matters (Live)
24. Enter Sandman (Live)
25. Credits
26. Behind the Scenes: Making of the Show
27. All Within My Hands Promo
LP 1 / Side One
01. The Ecstasy of Gold
02. The Call of Ktulu
03. For Whom the Bell Tolls
LP 1 / Side Two
01. The Day that Never Comes
02. The Memory Remains
03. Confusion
LP 2 / Side Three
01. Moth Into Flame
02. The Outlaw Torn
LP 2 / Side Four
01. No Leaf Clover
02. Halo on Fire
LP 3 / Side Five
01. Intro to Scythian Suite
02. Scythian Suite, Opus 20 II: The Enemy God and the Dance of the Dark Spirits
03. Intro to The Iron Foundry
04. The Iron Foundry, Opus 19
05. The Unforgiven III
LP 3 / Side Six
01. All Within My Hands
02. (Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth
03. Wherever I May Roam
LP 4 / Side Seven
01. One
02. Master of Puppets
LP 4 / Side Eight
01. Nothing Else Matters
02. Enter Sandman
Digital Film
01. Intro (features "Wherever I May Roam" and "All Within My Hands")
02. The Ecstasy of Gold (Live)
03. The Call Of Ktulu (Live)
04. For Whom The Bell Tolls (Live)
05. The Day That Never Comes (Live)
06. The Memory Remains (Live)
07. Confusion (Live)
08. Moth Into Flame (Live)
09. The Outlaw Torn (Live)
10. No Leaf Clover (Live)
11. Halo on Fire (Live)
12. Intro to Scythian Suite (Live)
13. Scythian Suite, Opus 20 II: The Enemy God And The Dance Of The Dark Spirits (Live)
Oozing with rock ‘n’ roll vibes, Junkowl is coming for ya out of Montreal, QC, Canada. The 2019 "En Route To Heavy Montreal Champions" are a slick combination of stoner riffs, hardcore energy, and groovy bass, who recently released their debut album Making Out With My Death this past June.
As a whole, Junkowl's debut album Making Out With My Death is a slow dark ride. Heavy riffs; big dirty bass lines, in your face drums and gut-wrenching screams telling tales of self-loathing, confusion, and intoxication. This is a solid album, something to enjoy with a few beers, smoke a joint, and bang your head off for 30 minutes.
With the state of the current world of Covid days and societal ills, Junkowl is unveiling their new music video "Sickness Lives".
Vocalist Jesse Frechette adds:
"We had a lot of fun shooting this video. It’s our second time working with Dark Moon Productions, and we’re really stoked to share this one. We chose the song 'Sickness Lives' because we found it really fit with the times. The track is about living in a sick society ruled by greed, and turning to drugs and alcohol to try and escape that reality... but now with everything going on in the world, I’m sure people will interpret it differently and we’re okay with that."
Frechette explains the lyrical content on the album: “Most of my lyrics are about past regrets or self-destructive behaviour. Kind of indulging in negative thoughts and emotions. A lot of them were written while I was wasted. I like to think that the next album will have a much different lyrical theme but hey, old habits die hard.”
"Snakecharmer"
"Quarantine Us All"
"Shake Me"
"Dead Hooker"
"Little Scum"
"Crawling Up My Feet"
"Sickness Lives"
"Relapse"
"Straitjacket"
"10,000 Vultures"
Icelandic black metal formation Auðn will be releasing the studio album Vökudraumsins fangi on October 30 via Season of Mist. In conjunction with the announcement, the band has shared "Eldborg," the first new single from the record. The song and accompanying music video, which was created by Auðn's own Andri Björn Birgisson, can be found below. Preorder here.
Auðn comments: "It is with great pleasure that we unveil the first track from Vökudraumsins fangi, a track that embodies Iceland's furious awe and fear inducing pits of fire. These ever looming harbingers of destruction have countless faces, this is 'Eldborg.'"
Artwork by Mýrmann:
“Einn um alla tíð” (08:15)
“Eldborg” (04:08)
“Birtan hugann brennir” (05:33)
“Verður von að bráð” (05:50)
“Drepsótt” (03:16)
“Næðir um” (05:03)
“Horfin mér” (06:42)
“Á himin stara” (03:47)
“Ljóstýra” (05:54)
“Vökudraumsins fangi”
On September 25, The Ocean will release their 8th full-length, Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic, via Metal Blade Records (CD / digital) and the band's own Pelagic Records (vinyl).
In 2018, The Ocean released Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic - the first half of a sprawling but superbly cohesive paleontology concept album. Now, the group is ready to release the concluding parts of the Phanerozoic journey.
For a preview of Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic, a video for the new single "Oligocene" (filmed by band members Loic Rossetti, David Ahfeldt and Robin Staps, plus edited and animated by Craig Murray) can be seen below.
The video was shot in the Aragats mountains in Armenia, during the band's Siberian Traps tour in the summer of 2019, which brought them to Russia, Kazachstan, Armenia, Georgia and Japan.
"We found this place by accident: the dilapidated ruins of a soviet observatory & research station for cosmic radiation," comments guitarist and founding member Robin Staps. "The building itself looked like a spaceship that had crash-landed up high in the mountains, but there were lots of interesting structures scattered across the landscape: concrete cubes, underground tunnels, rusted machinery, fallen power poles and watchtowers. It all looked like taken straight out of Andrej Tarkovsky's 'Stalker' movie," concludes Staps, referring to the ingenious classic that was also the backbone of The Ocean's 2013 album Pelagial.
The instrumental track was written by drummer Paul Seidel, but recorded with synth player Peter Voigtmann on drums. It serves as a transitional track from the busy and heavy first half of the record (Mesozoic) into the more relaxed, spacious and cold ambient vibes prevailing on the second half of the record (Cenozoic).
The new album can be preordered on MetalBlade.com in the following formats:
- Deluxe edition CD (tri-fold digipak)
- Instrumental CD (Remus spine digipak w/ UV gloss)
- Box set completion bundle (tri-fold vocal version CD digipak, instrumental version CD digipak, 2 posters, pin, and sticker)
* Exclusive bundles with shirts and merch items, plus digital options are also available!
Widely hailed as their finest work to date, Phanerozoic I brimmed with moments of wide-eyed melodic brilliance, alongside the expected warping and weaving of post-metal conventions. "The first part of Phanerozoic really is a 'no-regrets' album, which is quite rare," says guitarist Robin Staps. "Maybe even the first time I can ever say that."
In contrast with the compositional directness of Phanerozoic I, the new album - Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic - is a vastly more progressive and perverse piece of work. "Phanerozoic II is more experimental, more eclectic in musical style and direction, and more varied in terms of tempos, beats, guitar work and the use of electronics," notes Staps. "This was an intentional choice: we wanted Part I to feel rather streamlined and to have a strong cohesion between the individual songs. We wanted to create a certain vibe to linger from the first until the last note throughout the whole record. We kept the weirder, more daring and more progressive material for Part II."
Tracked in Iceland, Spain and Germany and produced by esteemed studio guru Jens Bogren, Phanerozoic II is underpinned by some of the most imaginative and challenging music that The Ocean - completed by drummer Paul Seidel, keyboard maestro Peter Voigtmann, bassist Mattias Hagerstrand and guitarist David Ramis Åhfeldt - have made yet. Divided into two sections - Mesozoic and Cenozoic - the album once again showcases the detail and depth that have become two of The Ocean's most enduring trademarks. While ostensibly delving into the extraordinary realities of the Earth's shifting temporal tides, Staps and his comrades have long drawn hazy parallels between their chosen subjects and the emotional experiences that their music strives to convey. Phanerozoic II is essentially an album about time, with some very poignant and pointed allusions to the modern world woven into the new music's spiritual fabric.
Staps explains, "The outcome is a record that is a real journey. It starts in one place, and concludes in a totally different place. In a way, it relates to 2013's Pelagial, which was similar in that it was also a journey: but a more guided, focused and predictable one. Phanerozoic II on the other hand is closer to the experience of free fall."
Latvian hard rockers, Bloody Heels, have released a video for "Black Swan", a track from their new album, Ignite The Sky, out now via Frontiers Music Srl. Watch the clip below, and order the album here.
Formed in 2012 in Riga, Latvia, Bloody Heels have a musical style that could be best described as a sort of missing link between Crashdïet and Crazy Lixx, with heavier elements like early W.A.S.P. and Kissin’ Dynamite. The band have already made a name for themselves with the EP Summer Nights (2014) and the album Through Mystery (2017). They’ve played shows all around Europe including Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, and the Baltic States.
Tracklisting:
"Ignite The Sky"
"Criminal Masterminds"
"No Matter"
"Sugar & Spice"
"Farewell To Yesterday"
"Black Swan"
"Stand Your Ground"
"Thin Line"
"Silhouette"
"Healing Waters"
"Streets Of Misery"
Symphonic metal fire-starters, Ad Infinitum, have released an atmospheric music video for “Fire And Ice”, cut from their debut album, Chapter I: Monarchy, out now via Napalm Records. Watch below.
The video was taken from a very special concert in order to satiate the desire for dearly missed live performances, and even showcases some exclusive behind the scenes material. The full show will be available for streaming beginning October 9.
“Fire And Ice” marks another epos that represents the band’s diversity and passion for what love doing the most. The energetic and equally melodic tunes of the vigorous ballad perfectly illustrate the heart-wrenching tones of Ad Infinitum.
Ad Infinitum on “Fire And Ice”: “2020 started with its amount of disappointments. Our plans got cancelled and we were very sad that we couldn’t present our debut album the way we initially wanted to. But in the end not being able to play live shows in front of an audience forced us to be more creative and to produce more content to share with the world! And that’s what we did. 'Fire And Ice' is the first result of this work. Other surprises will come later this year including a complete live show on October 9th!”
"Infected Monarchy"
"Marching On Versailles"
"Maleficient"
"See You In Hell"
"I Am The Storm"
"Fire And Ice"
"Live Before You Die"
"Revenge"
"Demons"
"Tell Me Why"
"See you In Hell" (Acoustic)
"Tell Me Why" (Acoustic)
"Marching On Versailles" (Instrumental)
"See You In Hell" (Instrumental)
"This Is Halloween"
"Live Before You Die" lyric video:
“See You In Hell” video:
“Marching On Versailles” video:
Lineup:
Melissa Bonny - vocals
Adrian Theßenvitz - guitars
Jonas Asplind - bass
Niklas Müller - drums
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