Canadian independent Gothic/symphonic metal artist Cecile Monique and her band have recorded a new cover video of Apocalyptica’s 2010 hit, “Not Strong Enough”, written by the legendary Diane Warren. Recorded by Monique and her band from their respective home studios, the quarantine session pays tribute to Monique’s love of the Finnish cello metal band.
“Apocalyptica is my favourite band; they’ve been a huge inspiration to me musically, and ‘Not Strong Enough’ has always been one of my favourite Apocalyptica vocal tracks,” says Monique of the video. “Apocalyptica released two versions of this song with two different male vocalists (Brent Smith and Doug Robb), so I wanted to try my hand at a female-fronted version that would bring a different feel to the song while maintaining its overall spirit.”
Cecile Monique’s previous cover release, the Gothic re-working of Rammstein’s “Reise, Reise”, has achieved viral popularity on YouTube, attracting international media attention on outlets such as Germany’s DW network.
Cecile Monique is an up-and coming independent Gothic/symphonic metal artist from Ontario, Canada. A classically-trained vocalist, composer and arranger, Cecile Monique was one of only five international finalists (and the only North American) chosen for the M’era Luna Newcomer Contest in 2016 for a chance to play the main stage at the largest Gothic music festival in the world. Her debut full-length album, Genesis, is currently available online and in-store at Sunrise Records locations across Canada and through Cecile Monique’s online store.
Italian hard rock/heavy metal band, Hell In The Club, have announced the upcoming release of their new studio album, Hell Of Fame, on September 4 via Frontiers Music Srl. Today, the band has also released the first single and video from the album, "We'll Never Leave The Castle". Watch the clip below, and pre-order/save the album here.
"With Hell Of Fame, we've tried a slightly different approach compared to See You On The Dark Side. It is definitely more straight ahead album and I was honestly a bit skeptical about it at first. But as often happens, simple and instinctive thinking beat out overthinking. Expect a straight ahead, yet still addictive and exciting hard rock album with the familiar sound and trademark of Hell In The Club," says vocalist Dave.
Adds bassist Andy, "I'm very happy about the release of our fifth album. Obviously I think it's a very good album, but mainly a very GENUINE one. We had a more direct approach this time and let the songs be more natural, with less frills than usual. I already love it as much as I love all our discography and I'm sure you'll like it as well!"
Hell In The Club released their first album in 2011. Hell Of Fame is their fifth album and introduces their strongest material to date. Combining and taking to the next level the freshness of previous releases Let The Games Begin (2011) with the maturity of Devil On My Shoulder (2014) and Shadow Of The Monster (2016) and the professional approach of 2017's See You on the Dark Side (their last album and most popular release to date), Hell Of Fame sees the band angling for the world stage. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Simone Mularoni (DGM) at Domination Studio in San Marino, Italy, the new album is an explosive hard rock statement.
Featuring members of acclaimed folk metallers Elvenking, progressive metallers Secret Sphere, and heavy metallers Eternal Idol, Hell In The Club have earned their place in the scene over the course of four albums, but their music stands out as something totally different: they mix classic hard rock and modern sounds, heavy metal and party songs, fifties rock’n’roll, and anything in between. Who said metal can't be fun?
Tracklisting:
"We'll Never Leave The Castle"
"Worst Case Scenario"
"Here Today, Gone Tomorrow"
"Joker"
"Last Of An Undying Kind"
"Nostalgia"
"Lullaby For An Angel"
"Mr. Grouch"
"No Room In Hell"
"Tokyo Lights"
"Lucifer’s Magic"
"We'll Never Leave The Castle" video:
Lineup:
Dave - Vocals
Andy - Bass
Picco - Guitars
Mark – Drums
Swedish melodic progressive metal band, Darkwater, have released a bass playthrough video for "In Front Of You", taken from their new album Human (Ulterium Records). Watch the clip below.
Tracklisting:
“A New Beginning”
“In Front Of You”
“Alive (Part I)”
“Alive (Part II)”
“Reflection Of A Mind”
“Insomnia”
“The Journey”
“Burdens”
“Turning Pages”
“Light Of Dawn”
The wolves of Varg return to their roots with their seventh full-length album, Zeichen (translated: Signs), to be released on September 18th via Napalm Records. The album marks a new era of the wolves haunted by wild battles, death and bloodlust - a resurrection from the fields of Pagan Metal, pairing razor-sharp melodic death riffs with Freki's furious vocals. Forget anything you have seen or heard about them in the past few years and embrace the new album as a reboot of a band that never ceased to evolve and has gotten rid of everything superfluous.
Varg sets an uncompromising sign with first monumental single "Zeichen", which comes along with an official video and introduces the concept behind their upcoming offering. Visually and lyrically, their first single draws the listener deep into the Viking era, picturing their traditions, a strong community cohesion, ancient runes, the old gods and their beliefs. The chorus gets stuck in your head, coalesces with the blasting power of riffs and perfectly showcases the reincarnation of Varg. "Zeichen" is the ultimate hymn heralding the age of the wolves.
Singer Freki states: "'Zeichen' is the heart of our new album, maybe even of the 'new' Varg. It was important to us to release the title song first along with an official music video, since it reflects the energy of our new full-length both musically and visually, and invites our fans to the legendary era of the Vikings. Follow us on a journey!"
After a three-year hiatus, acclaimed hard rockers Palaceburn are exploding back on to the scene with their provocative Black Lives Matter anthem “And You Wonder Why They Kneel,” available now on all DSPs. The timely new song, which the band says was four years in the making after the 2016 murder of Philando Castile, was one that they say “NEEDED to be heard even if all it meant was adding one more voice to the masses who fight injustice, systemic racism, and police brutality” in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
“As a black woman, artist and songwriter, I couldn’t sit idly by and not use my voice to fight for justice and equality during this time,” said Meredith Bell, frontwoman for Palaceburn. “My amazing band of brothers were equally as inspired to get this message out and after only a few texts we not only had the group back together but had plans to write and release new music as well. This whole experience has been very visceral.”
Deciding to keep the entire project in-house, Palaceburn self-produced “And You Wonder Why They Kneel,” and bass player Michael Marks engineered, mixed and mastered it at his studio Milestone Audio located outside of Philadelphia, PA. The band is also working on several new songs, which are scheduled for a 2020 release and have plans for a full album in 2021. The new tracks feature all four original members, with the addition of Bon Soma on drums.
“The new songs are much more of a collaborative effort than ever before. In the past, songwriting was primarily handled by one or two members doing the bulk of the writing,” said Palaceburn Guitarist Darren Makins. “Now, starting with the current single ‘And You Wonder Why They Kneel,’ we have the first complete collaboration between all of the members from start to finish. The mix of influences has sparked some of our best writing so far.”
To coincide with “And You Wonder Why They Kneel,” Palaceburn also released an eight-minute and 46-second video depicting scenes from united protests in the band’s hometown city of Philadelphia, PA., as well as Washington, D.C., Denver, CO, and Seattle, WA, featuring footage filmed by the members’ friends who were at the heart of the movements. The video was directed and produced by Makins.
“And You Wonder Why They Kneel” is the group’s first release since their amicable split in 2017 to pursue other career interests. The band first began receiving national recognition in 2013 with their debut EP The Awakening and they quickly became a household name in 2015 with their sophomore EP Curses, which quickly led to them sharing the stage with such bands as Nonpoint, Suicidal Tendencies, Death Grips, Candiria and Letlive. Palaceburn continued their success from 2015-2017 opening up for Sevendust, Trivium and Like a Storm and performing at such high-profile festivals as AfroPunk.
On this weeks SepulQuarta session, Sepultura welcomed the great Danko Jones for a Q&A session and a performance of "Sepulnation", taken from their 2001 album, Nation.
Derrick comments: "We first met Danko Jones on a European tour that we did together in 2003, this is where our friendship began. I was already a fan of the band before the tour started, so it was a great pleasure to share the stage with such an extreme powerhouse. Our friendship with our brother has continued till this day. I’m definitely anxious to catch up and chat about what’s been going on!!”
Sepultura have announced the rescheduled North American Quadra tour with Sacred Reich, Crowbar and Art Of Shock for next spring. All tickets purchased for the previously scheduled tour will be honoured.
Andreas Kisser comments, "So happy to announce the rescheduled North American tour with our friends from Sacred Reich, Crowbar and Art Of Shock. I can’t wait to go back to the stage to perform the new material from our album Quadra and to jam our history to you all! Stay safe and SEE YOU ALL SOON!!"
Tour dates:
March
6 - Sacramento, CA - Ace Of Spades
7 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
8 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
10 - Milwaukee, WI - Rave II
11 - Iowa City, IA - Wildwood
12 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
13 - Detroit, MI - Harpo's
14 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
15 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theater
17 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
18 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
19 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theater
20 - Boston, MA - Big Night Live
21 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA
22 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
23 - Cleveland, OH - House Of Blues
25 - Charlotte, NC - Underground - The Fillmore
26 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
27 - Ft Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
28 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz
30 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
31 - Austin, TX - Parish
April
1 - Dallas, TX - GMBG
2 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
3 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
5 - El Paso, TX - Rockhouse
6 - Phoenix, AZ - Van Buren
7 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
8 - Ventura, CA - Ventura Theatre
9 - Los Angeles, CA - Belasco Theater
10 - Berkeley, CA - UC Theatre
Primitive Man return after three years with the extreme, terrifying, and confrontational new album, Immersion, set for release on August 14 via Relapse Records. A music video for the song "Menacing" can be seen below.
Guitarist/vocalist Ethan McCarthy comments: “‘Menacing’ is about asking the unhinged whirlwind of chaos that controls life to guide you through the various trials and tribulations one might encounter. And in what ways that can mold/shape a person’s character. I also speak on the lonely road that one can follow when they refuse to compromise on what they want in this life. Whatever that may be. And that there is a certain level of self-doubt and insanity that blankets all of this. Life is messy.”
True to the band's ethos, every moment of Immersion is overwhelming; from the sonic pummelling of the album opener "The Lifer" to the brooding, unnerving guitars whirring throughout "Entity", Immersion builds and builds. The tension throughout the record is palpable. Hair raising tracks such as "Menacing" push and pull constantly, shifting from passages of harsh doom to an endless corridor of horrid screaming, blast beats, and a formidable low end.
Adding to the album's darkness, a pervasive lyrical anxiety erodes throughout the record. A stark look at a mirror, Immersion's themes tackle sobering views on existential crises, a general distrust among another, and the current state of the world. Frontman Ethan McCarthy elaborates, "Souring your view on your existence and everything you had worked towards... allowing yourself to become possessed by the darkest parts of your mind that you have carried around your entire life and not dealt with."
True to these dark times, Primitive Man's Immersion is an introspective look into ruin and undoing. As McCarthy explains, Immersion dives into the point of no return. "Now you're a grown man and you're fucked."
Immersion will be released on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats via Relapse. Physical pre-orders are available here. For digital downloads and streaming services go here.
Immersion tracklisting:
"The Lifer"
"Entity"
"Menacing"
"∞"
"Foul"
"Consumption"
"The Lifer" video:
Primitive Man lineup:
Ethan Lee McCarthy - guitars, vocals
Jonathan Campos - bass
Joe Linden - drums
Frontiers announces the release of Rising Steel's upcoming label debut, Fight Them All, on September 4. Today, the band has released the first single and video from the album, "Mystic Voices". Watch the clip below, and pre-order the new album here.
Rising Steel is an up-and-coming heavy metal band from Grenoble, France, who also happens to be the first French band signed to Frontiers Music Srl. After their Warlord EP (2014) and full-length Return Of The Warlord (2016), the band shared stages with acts like Annihilator, Jaded Heart, Sister Sin, Nightmare, ADX, Nashville Pussy, and more, which garnered them more exposure to a larger international audience and eventually led them to connecting with Frontiers, who eagerly asked them to join the label's expanding metal roster.
After three years of gigging and writing new material, the band is now ready to storm the international scene with their next album, Fight Them All. Due for release on Frontiers Records on September 4, the album presents a delightfully aggressive mixture of power, heavy, and thrash metal. Explosive riffing, crushing rhythms, and songs that will make you bang your head are the order of the day on Rising Steel's upcoming record. The quintet delivers a “not so” classical heavy metal sound with their influences coming mainly from the 80’s NWOBHM, hard rock, and thrash metal scenes. Solid and powerful metal music, the band is inspired by the legacies of legends like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden and is recommended for fans with diverse metal palates who like bands ranging from Nevermore, Queensrÿche, Iced Earth, early Metallica, and the like.
Tracklistinh:
"Mystic Voices"
"Fight Them All"
"Steel Hammer"
"Blackheart"
"Savage"
"Gloomy World"
"Malefice"
"Metal Nation"
"Pussy"
"Led By Judas"
"Master Control"
"Mystic Voices" video:
Lineup:
Emmanuelson- Vocals
Tony Steel - Guitars
Steel Zard- Drums
Flo Dust - Bass
Mat Heavy Jones - Guitar
Def Leppard were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2019. Official video of the band performing "Rock Of Ages" at the ceremony can be seen below:
The Stadium Tour, featuring Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, was postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
A joint statement from the bands reads as follows: "We are excited to share our new dates for The Stadium Tour. All tickets will be honored for the new dates. If you are a ticket holder and you cannot make the new show, you will receive an email from your ticket provider or you can visit livenation.com/refund. We look forward to seeing you in 2021."
New 2021 dates:
June
19 - Nashville, TN - Nissan Stadium
21 - Cincinnati, OH - Great American Ballpark
24 - Charlotte, NC - Bank of America Stadium
26 - Miami, FL - Hardrock Stadium
27 - Orlando, FL - Camping World Stadium
July
3 - Cleveland, OH - FirstEnergy Stadium
6 - St. Louis, MO - Busch Stadium
8 - Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Stadium
10 - Detroit, MI - Comerica Park
13 - Philadelphia, PA - Citizens Bank Park
15- Flushing, NY - Citifield
17 - Boston, MA - Fenway Park
18 - Boston, MA - Fenway Park
20 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium
22 - Pittsburgh, PA - PNC Park
August
7 - Jacksonville, FL - TIAA Bank Field
9 - Washington, DC - Nationals Park
12 - Buffalo, NY - New Era Field
15 - Atlanta, GA - Truist Park
17 - Houston, TX - Minute Maid Park
20 - San Antonio, TX - Alamodome
22 - Arlington, TX - Globe Life Park
24 - Kansas City, MO - Kauffman Stadium
26 - Denver, CO - Coors Field
28 - Milwaukee, WI - Miller Park
29 - Chicago, IL - Wrigley Field
September
3 - Phoenix, AZ - State Farm Stadium
4 - Los Angeles, CA - Sofi Stadium
7 - Seattle, WA - T-Mobile Park
10 - San Francisco, CA - Oracie Park
12 - San Diego, CA - PETCO Park
Greek symphonic death metal masters, Septicflesh, have released the official live video for "The Vampire From Nazareth", featured on the upcoming Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX DVD / Blu-Ray. Find the clip below.
The Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX concert was taped in February 2019 during a sold out show at the Metropolitan Theater in Mexico City, Mexico. The unforgettable night was the largest production of its kind at the venue, which included the band, over 100 musicians from the Symphonic Experience Orchestra, the Enharmonía Vocalis Choir, and the National University of Mexico Children’s and Youth Choir.
The Blu-Ray / DVD is set for worldwide release on July 31st via Season of Mist and pre-orders are available now at this location.
Septicflesh comment on the event: "We are very excited to share with our fans the chance to pre-screen Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX, our very first concert with a full orchestra and choir on stage, which was filmed in the heart of Mexico City. Our management team at Hard Impact arranged an exclusive streaming event for all of you to witness this before the official Blu-ray release. Ticket link will be issued at purchase and will be valid for 12 hours to view from the start of the event. Sit back in the comfort of your home and watch the symphonies come to life!"
Tracklisting:
“Intro”
“Portrait Of A Headless Man”
“Martyr”
“Prototype”
“The Pyramid God”
“The Enemy Of Truth”
“Communion”
“The Vampire From Nazareth”
“Dogma Of Prometheus”
“Lovecraft’s Death”
“Dante’s Inferno”
“Persepolis”
“A Great Mass Of Death”
“Anubis”
“Dark Art”
ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante has teamed up with his longtime girlfriend, Carla Harvey (BUTCHER BABIES), TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES bassist Roberto "Ra" Diaz to record a cover version of KISS's 1975 classic "C'mon And Love Me", filmed they were in quarantine.
Benante uploaded a video of the performance to his YouTube channel, writing in an accompanying message: "Here is a song we put together to help remember fallen musician and KISS super-fan David Z.
"In an industry not always known for its quality of character, Dave Z shone like a bright light in the darkness. With every musical collaboration, from the arenas to the clubs, Dave forged lasting friendships, valued people over pettiness, never held a grudge and approached it all with a playful smile.
"This video debuted last night July 14th (3 years from his passing) as part of an elaborate and moving online fundraiser for David Z Foundation, started by Dave's brother @pauliezofficial. Paulie's nonprofit organization helps bring music education — which has been discarded from most US school systems — to deserving kids.
"Visit David Z Foundation on FB to view the entire event with many great performances and testimonials (5 hrs worth!) and for info on supporting.
"While the three of us — Charlie, Alex and Ra — have done several videos of music that's a bit more complex (RUSH, Dave's other favorite band), we enjoyed the chance to let loose by covering Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter. 'C'mon And Love Me' is a 70's KISS tune full of swaggering macho male innuendo, but here it gets a feminine makeover, courtesy of our vocalist, the lovely Carla Harvey.
"We hope you enjoy this track dedicated to Dave Z, whose KISS fandom was, much like his own personality and musicianship, larger than life.
Canadian melodic power metal quartet, Unleash The Archers, recently announced the upcoming release of their fifth full-length album, Abyss, out August 21 via Napalm Records. With Abyss, the band re-cements themselves as an unequalled, undeniable metallic force with their strongest album to date.
Today, as a follow-up to the otherworldly first single and video "Abyss", the band have unveiled another blazing new single, "Soulbound", alongside a cinematic, high-concept music video. Powered by Brittney Slayes' powerful mezzo-soprano, the virtuosic guitar stylings of Andrew Kingsley and Grant Truesdell, and the thunderous drumming of Scott Buchanan, "Soulbound" pulls the listener into a melodic, lightning-fast journey. Its massive chorus and skyrocketing symphonics will echo in your ears for days to come.
Frontwoman Brittney Slayes says about "Soulbound" and the music video concept: "This song is what we call a 'quick-banger' in the UTA camp. It's short, fast, catchy, and never lets up. We always have one of these on every record; the kind of song that makes you want to turn the dial up to 11, maybe drive a little faster, perhaps even stand up and headbang by yourself in the middle of the room. This track re-introduces the four sons of The Matriarch as enslaved, unstoppable, half-dead beings that won't give up until The Immortal is destroyed, and we feel like it can stand on its own while not giving too many of the album's secrets away... Get out your air-guitars 'cause this one is blistering!"
The video was shot by Runegate Studios in Victoria BC, Canada and uses two very different environments to differentiate between the world of the living, and the world of the 'Soulbound'. The bright, white, indoor scenes portray a reality much like our own, while the dark, rain-soaked, outdoor scenes take the viewer to a visually stunning reality that will give you goosebumps and make your skin crawl! In this dismal place, The Matriarch has complete control over the Soulbound, and she can compel them there whenever she desires, no matter how hard they may resist."
Thematically, Abyss is the direct sequel to the band’s 2017 album Apex. Beginning with a dreamlike acoustic introduction accented by the smoky beckonings of singer Brittney Slayes, opener “Waking Dream” quickly punches into a colossal wall of sound, setting the stage for the auditory escape that is Abyss. Powerful anthems such as the immense power metal-encapsulated title track “Abyss” and metallic pop-tinged earworm “Through Stars” conjure classic elements while maintaining an entirely fresh, forward-thinking approach. Guitarists Andrew Kingsley and Grant Truesdell turn heads with wicked work on stellar tracks such as “Legacy” (fans of artists like Devin Townsend and Astronoid, take note), while Slayes showcases her incredible vocal diversity and range on mighty epics like “Return To Me” and “The Wind That Shapes The Land”. Drummer Scott Buchanan makes technical strides on burners “Soulbound” and “Faster Than Light” – setting breakneck twists and turns ablaze with his bandmates. Unleash The Archers rounds the edge of Abyss with throwback-hued “Carry The Flame”, and wraps up with the soaring, rewarding concept closer “Afterlife”.
Abyss was once again engineered, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen of Hansen Studios in Denmark (Volbeat, Delain, Amaranthe), with production by guitarist Andrew Kingsley. Additionally, transcendent closer track “Afterlife” features orchestration contributions from Francesco Ferrini of Italian symphonic death metal machine Fleshgod Apocalypse. Fans will notice that, unlike on Apex, Abyss incorporates a weighty dose of synth in the mix, and for the first time ever, all tracks were written on seven strings - adding to the massive expanse of the album’s sound as it explores the celestial realm.
As mentioned, the Deluxe Earbook edition of Abyss features two bonus tracks - synthwave and gothic folk-pop versions of “Abyss” and “Soulbound”, respectively. This is something Unleash The Archers has never done before, turning their singles into something completely different!
Abyss tracklisting:
"Waking Dream"
"Abyss"
"Through Stars"
"Legacy"
"Return To Me"
"Soulbound"
"Faster Than Light"
"The Wind That Shapes The Land"
"Carry The Flame" (feat. guitarist Andrew Kingsley on guest vocals)
"Afterlifev (feat. orchestration by Francesco Ferrini)
"Abyss" video:
Lineup:
Brittney Slayes - Vocals
Scott Buchanan - Drums
Grant Truesdell - Guitar, Vocals
Andrew Kingsley - Guitar, Vocals, Synth
Joan Jett has released her interpretation of the T. REX hit "Jeepster", from the Hal Willner-produced collection "Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan And T. Rex", due out September 4 on BMG.
Jett delivers a stunning tribute to her teenage idol, harkening back to her formative years on the Sunset Strip absorbing everything Bolan and T. REX had to offer. For her reimagining of the standout track from the 2020 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee's chart-topping "Electric Warrior" album, Jett is joined by a group of luminaries, including Marc Ribot on guitar, Jim White (PJ HARVEY, CAT POWER) on drums, Thomas Bartlett arranging and on piano (THE NATIONAL, SUFJAN STEVENS) and production by the late Hal Willner.
"Jeepster" is the fourth song to be released from "Angelheaded Hipster", following Kesha's "Children Of The Revolution", Devendra Banhart's "Scenescof" and Nick Cave's "Cosmic Dancer". Each of the 26 tracks on "Angelheaded Hipster" was produced by the acclaimed Hal Willner, who passed away from COVID-19 in April. Willner had previously served as the "Saturday Night Live" sketch music producer for nearly 40 years, produced albums for Lou Reed, Marianne Faithfull and William S. Burroughs, and concept albums drawing upon the music of Thelonious Monk, Kurt Weill, vintage Disney films and others.
For "Angelheaded Hipster", Willner brought together a wide-ranging cast to reimagine Bolan's greatest songs — Jett, Kesha, Banhart and Cave plus Marc Almond, Børns, Helga Davis, Perry Farrell, Elysian Fields, Gavin Friday, Emily Haines, Jesse Harris, King Khan, Sean Lennon & Charlotte Kemp Muhl, Maria McKee, Father John Misty, John Cameron Mitchell, Gaby Moreno, Nena, Beth Orton, Peaches, Todd Rundgren, Lucinda Williams, Victoria Williams with Julian Lennon and U2 feat. Elton John.
"Angelheaded Hipster" will be available on CD, LP and digital.
Hal Willner worked on "AngelHeaded Hipster" for several years, with sessions spanning continents, from New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans, to London, Paris and Berlin. The project was conceived and executive produced by Bill Curbishley and Ethan Silverman. Kate Hyman had the creative vision to ask Willner to produce it.
Marc Bolan was a folk pop troubadour, glam rock's metal guru, a pop star who burned as bright as any, a brilliant guitarist, style icon and poet. He has been famously cited as a major influence by some of the biggest names in music, from David Bowie to Johnny Marr. He died in 1977 aged just 29, after a car crash in London.
"Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan And T. Rex" track listing:
01. Children Of The Revolution - Kesha
02. Cosmic Dancer - Nick Cave
03. Jeepster - Joan Jett
04. Scenescof - Devendra Banhart
05. Life's A Gas - Lucinda Williams
06. Solid Gold, Easy Action - Peaches
07. Dawn Storm - Børns
08. Hippy Gumbo - Beth Orton
09. I Love To Boogie - King Khan
10. Beltane Walk - Gaby Moreno
11. Bang A Gong (Get It On) - U2 feat. Elton John
12. Diamond Meadows - John Cameron Mitchell
13. Ballrooms Of Mars - Emily Haines
14. Main Man - Father John Misty
15. Rock On - Perry Farrell
16. The Street And Babe Shadow - Elysian Fields
17. The Leopards - Gavin Friday
18. Metal Guru - Nena
19. Teenage Dream - Marc Almond
20. Organ Blues - Helga Davis
21. Planet Queen - Todd Rundgren
22. Great Horse - Jessie Harris
23. Mambo Sun - Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl
24. Pilgrim's Tale - Victoria Williams with Julian Lennon
25. Bang A Gong (Get It On) Reprise - David Johansen
26. She Was Born To Be My Unicorn / Ride A White Swan - Maria McKee
STATIC-X has released the official music video for the song "Bring You Down". The track is taken from the band's latest album "Project Regeneration Vol. 1", which came out on July 10.
The first of two volumes, "Project Regeneration Vol. 1" features 12 brand new tracks, containing many of the final vocal performances and musical compositions of late STATIC-X frontman Wayne Static, along with the original "Wisconsin Death Trip" lineup of bassist Tony Campos, drummer Ken Jay, and guitarist Koichi Fukuda. Both volumes are being worked on by longtime STATIC-X producer Ulrich Wild.
"Project Regeneration Vol. 1" track listing:
01. Regeneration
02. Hollow (Project Regeneration)
03. Worth Dyin' For
04. Terminator Oscillator
05. All These Years
06. Accelerate
07. Bring You Down (Project Regeneration)
08. My Destruction
09. Something Of My Own (Project Regeneration)
10. Otsego Placebo
11. Follow
12. Dead Souls
In total, "Project Regeneration" volumes one and two will consist of more than 20 brand new or previously unreleased STATIC-X songs and will feature all of the remaining works left behind by Wayne Static, along with the original "Wisconsin Death Trip" band lineup. The individual albums are expected to contain creative packaging elements that will allow fans to marry the two volumes together.
Last year, STATIC-X wrapped up a world tour comprised of nearly 100 mostly sold-out dates in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its platinum-selling debut album "Wisconsin Death Trip". The shows also served as a traveling memorial for Wayne, who passed away more than five years ago.
While the identity of STATIC-X's touring singer Xer0 has not been officially revealed, strong rumors suggest that DOPE frontman Edsel Dope is the one performing with Jay, Fukuda and Campos and appearing in all of STATIC-X's promotional videos.
Static died after mixing Xanax and other powerful prescription drugs with alcohol, according to the coroner's report. The 48-year-old Static, whose real name was Wayne Richard Wells, was found dead in his Landers, California home on November 1, 2014.
Static founded STATIC-X in 1994 and achieved commercial success with "Wisconsin Death Trip", which included the rock radio hit "Push It".
The group issued five more studio albums before disbanding permanently in June 2013. Static had been pursuing a solo career at the time of his death.
DEF LEPPARD has launched a new video series called "30 Day Fitness Challenge With Phil Collen". Join the guitarist for the month of July as he takes on a 30-day fitness challenge. Use the hashtag #PhilCollen30Days to follow along as Phil works on his exercises, his diet and overall health.
Week two of the "30 Day Fitness Challenge With Phil Collen" is available below.
At 62 years old, Collen is a prime example of the "no-excuse" rule when it comes to being active, fit and healthy.
As a rock and roll guitarist in an internationally successful rock band, Collen didn't start out as a health and fitness enthusiast. After years of playing hard, partying hard, and leading a self-described "very unhealthy lifestyle," Phil decided to make a change. In his early thirties, Collen decided to quit drinking and partying. His live-saving conversion came just before his DEF LEPPARD bandmate and "terror twin" of the party scene, Steve Clark, died of a prescription drug and alcohol overdose in early 1991. Inspired to lead a healthier lifestyle, the sober Collen no longer needed to "recover" each day from the previous night's debauchery, and instead found himself with numerous free hours in his day. Collen began exercising, running to start, and later taking up the martial art of Muay Thai kick boxing.
Collen stopped eating meat in the early 1980s and went vegan in 2011. He told the Los Angeles Times: "I always thought it was a bit weird eating dead bodies even though my parents said it was all right. But I saw 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre', and that did it. In the movie, they're doing the same thing to people that they do to animals, and so I gradually got off eating meat.... The health thing came way later. Veganism came [nine] years ago, and it was more of a health decision."
EMGtv has uploaded a video of former former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman playing the Japan heritage official theme song. The track was written by Friedman and originally performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, with strings arranged by Akira Sasaki, bass played by Kiyoshi, piano by Yukiko Takada, tsuzumi by Shonosuke Okura, and drums by Mitsuru Kurauchi.
Friedman said: "It was a thrill and an honor to be asked by the Japanese government to compose this music.
"As a foreigner living in Tokyo, I'll always appreciate the gracious treatment I've received here and welcome this kind of responsibility in the future."
In November 2016, Friedman was named an ambassador to Japan heritage for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which was originally scheduled to be held in Tokyo. The mantle involved him promoting important elements of cultural heritage, such as dance and cuisine.
Friedman believes a reason he was chosen is because he can talk about Japan as an insider. "It's one thing for a Japanese person to explain what Japan's like," he told Billboard. "But it's another thing for someone who grew up in America to tell you."
In July 1999, Friedman was onstage performing at Woodstock '99 in front of a sea of fans as the lead guitarist for MEGADETH. Since joining the band in 1990, Marty played a crucial role in their rise to stardom with his unorthodox style of virtuoso guitar playing, selling millions of records worldwide, and being nominated for multiple Grammy Awards. Just six months after Woodstock, in an unexpected move that shocked his friends, family, and especially his bandmates, despite platinum albums and sold-out tours, for reasons unknown, he suddenly quit the band and walked away from it all. Unbeknownst to his U.S. fans, Marty moved to Tokyo to pursue his love of Japanese pop music, and in the process, reinvented himself as a wildly successful Japanese TV celebrity. Marty has appeared on 700-plus television programs, commercials and motion pictures since then, and become was dubbed "the Ryan Seacrest of Japan" by Billboard magazine in the USA.
Friedman's latest solo LP, "Wall Of Sound", was released in August 2017 via Prosthetic Records. The disc was produced by Friedman, engineered by Paul Fig (GHOST, RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS) and mixed by Jens Bogren (KREATOR, OPETH, SEPULTURA).
UK black metal outfit Burial, who hail from the bleak industrial landscapes of Manchester, have dropped a lyric video for the track "Encircled By Wolves" - the song is taken from their latest album, Satanic Upheaval, which came out earlier this year via Apocalyptic Witchcraft.
The band comments: “'Encircled By Wolves' is a frantic journey into darkness, characterized by gritty howling vocals and a distinctly old school black metal sound. Lyrically the song recalls hammer horror themes and these combine perfectly with the delivery to form a tight, aggressive song true to the Burial sound.”
Satanic Upheaval, which is Burial’s third album, follows the band's take on occult themes with a misanthropic view of the world. The album was recorded by Chris Taylor at Noiseboy Studios and mastered by at Foel Studios by Chris Fielding (Conan, Electric Wizard, Primordial, Winterfylleth).
Satanic Upheaval tracklisting:
"Encircled By Wolves"
"Void Of Decay"
"Hellish Reaping Screams"
"Beneath The Filth"
"Destruction Absolute"
"Decayed By Time"
"Barren Lands"
"Devour Your Soul"
"Satanic Upheaval"
"Curse By The Light"
Draconian have released their second single, “Sorrow Of Sophia”, off their upcoming album, Under A Godless Veil, out October 30 via Napalm Records.
The opening epos on Draconian’s new offer epitomizes the story behind the album and introduces the world of Gnosticism to the listener. Delicate guitar lines weave throughout “Sorrow Of Sophia” while the ethereal vocals of singer Heike Langhans accompany the melancholic vibe of the song. At the very latest, when the heavier guitar and drum parts start, the song will draw you into the world of Draconian. Heavy growls underline the sudden change in the song and will make you remember the essence of the band. The beautiful conceptualized lyric video perfectly underlines the narrative and musical atmosphere of “Sorrow Of Sophia”. Their stunning second single showcases another expressive facet off their upcoming full-length and shouldn’t be missed in every well groomed gothic/doom metal collection.
Vocalist Anders Jacobsson comments: "'Sorrow Of Sophia' was the first lyric, and one of the first songs written for Under A Godless Veil. This was years ago now, and I remember I’d just finished a lecture on Gnostic cosmology by Terence McKenna. He’d been speaking of the goddess Sophia’s ordeal and her story affected me on a very deep level. It’s sad yet heart-wrenchingly majestic bringing all of existence into it. I knew I had to do something with it for Draconian as I was already having a few of Johan’s new song-ideas. This sparked what was later to become a whole album inspired by this story. It started here, with this song.
"'Sorrow Of Sophia' is a complex song about a complex spiritual being. With it comes a diverse nature consisting of an initial minimalist soulful expression to feisty, heavy riffing with a harsh demonic formula to post-rock melancholia and symphonic soundscapes. Heike’s pure and crystalline vocals are beautifully entrenched holding the very spirit of the song."
Watch the lyric video for “Sorrow Of Sophia”:
The upcoming full-length delivers a captivating mélange of dreary doom and contrasting vocals and is already the second offer featuring the stunning singer Heike Langhans: The mix of Heike’s angelic, female voice and Anders Jacobsson's thrilling death growls will drag the listener into a sorrowful cosmos. Already the first notes of the opener will draw you into the void of interweaving beauty, coalescing with paralyzing depression that leaves nothing but the desire of total immersion in the whole record. Under A Godless Veil carries the legacy of gothic doom metal à la My Dying Bride into a new decade of the genre.
Draconian states: "To us, Under A Godless Veil is by far the most diverse album we have created. Inspired by some of the music closest to Johan’s heart; everything from traditional Doom to scaled-down, Gothic rock-inspired pieces and more. Some will perhaps describe the songs as more refined and meditative. Some ambient elements have been added to the mix without overshadowing the traditional characteristics that are Draconian. Resonating with the compositions, Anders’s lyrical direction is ambiguous and a progression of the first two-three albums, yet more subtle while embracing the Gnostic philosophy more directly. One could say Under A Godless Veil is an act of contemplation; About living and dying and remembering who we are in a strange, abrasive world far from home.“
Under A Godless Veil will be available in the following formats:
- CD Jewelcase
- 2LP Gatefold Black vinyl
- 2LP Gatefold Gold vinyl
- Digital Album
Under A Godless Veil is available for pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
"Sorrow Of Sophia"
"The Sacrificial Flame"
"Lustrous Heart"
"Sleepwalkers"
"Moon Over Sabaoth"
"Burial Fields"
"The Sethian"
"Claw Marks On The Throne"
"Night Visitor"
"Ascend Into Darkness"
“Lustrous Heart” lyric video:
Draconian is:
Anders Jacobsson - vocals
Heike Langhans - vocals
Johan Ericsson - guitar
Daniel Arvidsson - guitar
Jerry Torstensson - drums
(Artwork - Natalia Drepina; Top photo - Eleni Liverakou Eriksson)
Today, Virgin Steele release a marathon/epic video album of 10 video clips. The first clip is a full-length Movie/Documentary type video clip. This documentary is an in depth “Inside The Music” look into the Gothic Voodoo Anthems album, which is one of the three new releases included in the Seven Devils Moonshine 5 CD box set. It takes the viewer/listener on a journey through that album and explores the origins of that style and how the group arrived at that particular place for that release. It also ventures far beyond that album and discusses the beliefs & philosophies of the group, the songwriting ideology, etc.
In addition to this “movie”/documentary: Inside The Music - A Journey Through The Gothic Voodoo Anthems Album, Virgin Steele are also issuing nine more video clips of tracks from that specific Gothic Voodoo Anthems release. So yes a total of 10 new videos in all.
Watch "Inside The Music - A Journey Through The Gothic Voodoo Anthems Album" below.
The additional video clips are as follows:
"I Will Come For You" (Orchestral Version)
"The Black Light Bacchanalia" (Orchestral Version)
"Zeus Ascendant/By The Hammer Of Zeus (And The Wrecking Ball Of Thor)" (Orchestral Version)
"Queen Of The Dead" (Orchestral Version)
"The Gothic Voodoo Suite-featuring: (Rumanian Folk Dance No.3, The Delirium Excerpt & Snakeskin Voodoo Man)"
"The Enchanter"
"The Fire & Ice Medley: Featuring: (Bone China/No Quarter & Bone China Reprise)"
"The Passion In The French Quarter Medley: Featuring: (Chloe Dancer & Gentle Groove)"
"Death Letter Blues"
The group states, “We could have decided to drag everything out… releasing the videos bit, by bit, but… instead we have decided to unleash everything all at once, as the Gothic Voodoo “Movie” and all the other 9 video clips work together, and capture a day in the life, since they are all part of one day’s performance."
Finnish folk-influenced black metal band Hiidenhauta are set to release their third studio album, Riivin, on September 18th via Inverse Records. The first single and music video "Riidenlieko" was released today. Check it out below.
Hiidenhauta's third album, Riivin, is most easily labeled as folk-influenced black metal, but above all it is a balanced ensemble of Finnish Devil, which represents both humanity, mischief, but also an eternal will of revenge for those who do wrong. This album exudes the band's ability to regenerate and transform. Once again, Hiidenhauta is like a story they created: earthy, raw, angry, but also sounding like the endless beauty of nature. On the record, the band takes another real leap into a new area where it tears and breaks, and just when it’s used to be still, it leaves again and looks for new trails to carry.
Hiidenhauta began composing and lyricizing the third album in the summer of 2019, and in December of the same year, it marched into the studio with its backback full of the band’s best songs. Through a few twists and turns, the theme of the album eventually became “The Devil in Finnish folk tradition”, the discovery of which the band's singer-lyricist Tuomas describes it:
“In the beginning, the idea was to make a theme album about gnomes and such creatures in Finnish folklore, and other perhaps more invisible characters. However, after reading books like Myytillisiä Tarinoita, Suomalainen Piru and Olevaisen Yöpuoli, it was pretty clear that the theme of the album must be the Devil in the Finnish folklore, which at first glance may seem like a rather worn out subject more than the first thought about it. The Finnish Devil is versatile; it can be a moral guardian, vindictive, cruel, helpful, playful, humane, visible, invisible, and everything in between. It’s a concrete and at once strangely multi-level figure in folklore, and people’s experiences of the Devil have been mind-bogglingly realistic. And it must be remembered that the Devil of Finnish folklore is not even remotely related to the Devil of Christianity, and these should not be confused with each other.
The songs on the album were born really naturally without much pain. A few ideas come right from the aftermath of the previous album, but all the songs were put together between the summer and winter of 2019. Four of the songs are composed by our guitarist Otto, four by our bassist Henri, and I composed one song myself, as well as vocal melodies for each song. For the first time in the band’s history, it felt like the pieces really fell into place, and there was nothing too much at any point, and at no point at any point did the record-making have to make compromises that diminished the artistic value. This time the direction was completely common and the idea of the end result was clear and strong."
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