HIGHLY SUSPECT has released the official music video for "These Days", starring Tony Cavalero from HBO's "The Righteous Gemstones" and Netflix's "The Dirt", and directed by duo Rock And Egg. The clip takes viewers on an all-too-relatable journey, questioning what really is "normal" when a family's dinner turns into a chaotic brawl and unseemly secrets are revealed.
Cavalero said: "I've been a huge fan of Johnny and the HIGHLY SUSPECT crew for years now. Their lyrics and musical stylings are both prolific and brilliant! It was such an honor and a privilege to collaborate with them on this video. I'm super grateful for HIGHLY SUSPECT having me. My character represents the point of view of the everyman' in a situation that represents a much bigger picture. I love the juxtaposition between what is presented and what's really happening behind the scenes. It's that kind of hypocrisy that we're really struggling with in society right now and a topic that really plays out in 'The Righteous Gemstones' as well. 'These Days' is releasing at the ripe time where I think everyone is going to relate!"
HIGHLY SUSPECT frontman Johnny Stevens commented: "I have this thing where I'm too close to my art. We (HIGHLY SUSPECT) are, for as long as I can remember, difficult to really collaborate with, not because I'm a snob but maybe more so out of fear — that somehow all of the hard work I put in will get bent into a shape I don't find aesthetically pleasing. We're getting better at letting other people into our tight-knit community. When you find someone with as much passion as you, sometimes it's worth giving it a shot. This time that man was Tony Cavalero. Tony has an incredible mind and a work ethic comparable to Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. He is also hilarious.
"HIGHLY SUSPECT has been touring pretty heavily but also needed to get this video done. So, we just said to ourselves, 'F*ck it.. let's give Tony the lead.'
"Other than writing and performing the song and lending my dog as a guest star, we have to give credit where it's due. Tony and his team along with Lallie Jones and the team at 300 Entertainment worked really hard and put together this video that's just incredible, and hilarious while still getting a very relevant point across.
"It's really kind of mind-blowing to see other people's take on 'your work.'
"I had read the treatment briefly but put trust into the people actually making the video so I only got to see the final version a few days before you do. I feel just as excited as you guys because for once it's still new to me. Usually once I'm finished with a project, I've been so close to it that by the time it reaches your eyes and ears I've moved on.
"We couldn't be happier with the video or more thankful to the people that were involved in making it come to life. It's a shiny little distraction from how much these days really suck.
"Bravo, Tony and all. You've taught me that it's okay to trust a little more."
"These Days" is taken from HIGHLY SUSPECT's latest album, "MCID", which came out last November. The disc follows the band's 2016 sophomore album "The Boy Who Died Wolf" and showcases 16 songs total, including "Canals" and "Upperdrugs".
Moon Destroys is the brainchild of guitarist Juan Montoya (ex-Torche) and drummer Evan Diprima (Brother Hawk, ex-Royal Thunder). Having written together in various configurations for over a decade, they now come together under the auspices of celestial forces with a new project to unveil their mesmerizing debut EP Maiden Voyage.
Watch the NSFW John Bradburn-directed, psychedelic music video for their second single, "Stormbringer", featuring guest vocals from Paul Masvidal (Cynic) and synthesizers from Bryan Richie (The Sword), below.
Conscious that they're releasing music during a turbulent time, Montoya and Diprima said that they hoped “Stormbringer” could act as a sonic escape and a healthy distraction for listeners.
“Now is the time to connect with people, through music, through love,” Montoya says. “‘Stormbringer’ is from my soul. We will weather the storm together.”
Adds Diprima: “Let these rhythms help you escape for a while… The storm always ends, bringing a new, stronger outlook on life.”
An experiment of truly galactic proportions, Moon Destroys blend heavy riffage with psychedelic flourishes and vivid imagery across two intricately designed centerpiece tracks; “Blue Giant” along with “Stormbringer” featuring the gorgeous vocals of Paul Masvidal (Cynic) and layers of synths from Bryan Richie (The Sword). Three instrumental bursts connect the pieces together to create one mind-melting trip across the cosmic highway! Maiden Voyage is an absorbing, dynamic and forward-thinking debut that explores the new frontiers of heavy music in the 21st century.
Maiden Voyage will be released on March 27 on LP/Digital via Brutal Panda Records and is available for preorder at Bandcamp.
Tracklisting:
“At The End Of Time”
“Blue Giant” (feat. Troy Sanders)
“The Shores Of The Cosmic Ocean”
“Stormbringer” (feat. Paul Masvidal)
“The Edge Of Forever”
Full Of Hell have released a video for the song "Angels Gather Here", lifted from their latest album, Weeping Choir, available via Relapse Records. Order the album here, and watch the clip below.
On Weeping Choir, Full Of Hell have once again culled the extreme elements from hardcore, metal, and power electronics to redefine darkness and sheer brutality. Distorted guitars, and ominous, disparate electronics grind and gnash against rapid-fire drumming, as Full Of Hell take themes of religion, loss, hatred, and set them ablaze. Recorded by the critically acclaimed Kurt Ballou at GodCity Studio, Weeping Choir sees Full Of Hell fully unleashed. Abrasive, confrontational, none equal!
Tracklisting:
"Burning Myrrh"
"Haunted Arches"
"Thundering Hammers"
"Rainbow Coil"
"Aria Of Jeweled Tears"
"Downward"
"Armory Of Obsidian Glass"
"Silmaril"
"Angels Gather Here"
"Ygramul The Many"
"Cellar Of Doors"
Finland's psychedelic black metal band, Oranssi Pazuzu, have released a video for their recently unleashed single, "Uusi Teknokratia", off their new album Mestarin Kynsi ("The Master's Claw"), out on April 17. Stream or download "Uusi Teknokratia" here, and watch the music video below.
The band states, "The video Zev Deans made captures the paranoid vibe of the track and expands it further by adding a whole new visual realm in to it. An apocalyptic vision that leaves no other choice but to obey.”
"Uusi Teknokratia" was directed by Zev Deans, produced by Rachel Kitson. Ryan Michael Kelly shot the video with executive producer Noah Young and associate producerDaniel Litt, starring Leslie Barany and Johnny Scuotto. Rachel Kitson and Zev Deans were responsible for the production design, Christine Snider for the talent management and Madeline Quinn for the VFX assistance.
Uncovering the intensity and the metal inherent in non-metal, the avant-garde and anti-traditionalist inclinations of Oranssi Pazuzu have always had transcendental goals at heart.
Through the rabbit hole and out the other side to 2020 with the release of their fifth album, Mestarin Kynsi. Inking a deal with German-based industry giants Nuclear Blast, Oranssi Pazuzu subvert the idea of world domination to open a conceptual discourse on indoctrination and propaganda itself. Their psychological nightmare evolves a philosophical and earnest tone, where occult future meets troubled reality.
Mestarin Kynsi will be available as CD, 2LP Black Vinyl and 2LP Gold Vinyl. Pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
"Ilmestys"
"Tyhjyyden Sakramentti"
"Uusi Teknokratia"
"Oikeamielisten Sali"
"Kuulen Ääniä Maan Alta"
"Taivaan Portti"
Trailer:
As “Oranssi”, meaning “orange” in their native Finnish language, is the colour of cosmic energy and “Pazuzu” is the ancient Mesopotamian demon of the wind, their swirling kaleidoscope of psychedelia has blown through the underground to redefine boundaries ever since their inception in 2007.
Jun-His: “We definitely wanted to look for new horizons, but on the other hand continue something we began building already on “Värähtelijä”. Some big influences were electro albums that inspired an idea about having a song that would travel through different kinds of portals whilst being mutilated and mutated by the new environment.”
On “Mestarin kynsi” the doors of perception are not only evoked but off their hinges. Working again with their co-producer Julius Mauranen, who also helped craft their acclaimed 2018 Roadburn Festival commissioned, Waste Of Space Orchestra collaboration live show/album Syntheosis, in their home-city of Tampere, Finland, the familiarity served a greater purpose towards the evolution of the album. As singer/guitarist Jun-His puts it, “there is a city heart pumping on this album somewhere.”
Frozen Crown vocalist Giada Jade Etro and guitarist / vocalist Federico Mondelli are streaming a self-isolation live acoustic set via Facebook. Check it out below.
Frozen Crown issued the following update in the wake of their recent European tour supporting Dragonforce:
"So, the tour came to an end, and along with it ends the best experience we had as a band so far. We're extremely grateful with Dragonforce for bringing us with them as special guests, and most importantly, for sharing with us a lot more than a headlining band is supposed to, treating us as brothers and sisters.
This awesome journey taught us a lot from both a musical and a human perspective, fortified our bond and gave us a stronger perception of ourselves as a band. We feel extremely sad right now, but we're sure we will make a treasure out of this experience, and that this conclusion will be the beginning of something else.
Many, many thanks to the Dragonforce guys and to the crew, to Athanasia, and to everyone involved in this awesome tour, including every single crowd we had the chance to perform in front of, that just blew us away with their overwhelming enthusiasm and support.
Wayward Sons have released a video for "Long Line Of Pretenders", a track from their latest album, The Truth Ain’t What It Used To Be, available via Frontiers Music Srl. Order the album here, and watch the new clip below.
The Truth Ain’t What It Used To Be could be called a concept record, as there is a narrative thread that connects the twelve tracks, but singer/guitarist and songwriter Toby Jepson, prefers to call it a 'protest' record and describes the new materials as 'political' but not of the sort that seeks to hammer the message home, more of a reflection of his take on where the world and we are. Jepson admires and draws influence from storytellers like Elvis Costello, David Bowie and Queen - artists who could pass on their message through their storytelling craft.
Wayward Sons is a UK guitar act made up of Toby Jepson (Vocals/Guitar), Sam Wood (Guitar), Nic Wastell (Bass), Dave Kemp (Keys) and Phil Martini (Drums). They have an impressive resume of groups they have previously worked with - Little Angels, Gun, Spear Of Destiny, Treason Kings and Chrome Molly to name a few - which is reassuring in terms of the band as players, but doesn’t really hint at their sound. Wayward Sons sound nothing like the sum of their parts. The music is hard rock, but mixed with a vitality and energy - both musically and lyrically.
Frontman Toby Jepson was, of course, the singer and songwriter in British rock act Little Angels, who enjoyed great success at home and abroad and achieved a UK number one album with their third release Jam.
Tracklisting:
"Any Other Way"
"Black As Sin"
"Joke's On You"
"Little White Lies"
"Feel Good Hit"
"Fade Away"
"Have It Your Own Way"
"Long Line Of Pretenders"
"If Only God Was Real"
"The Truth Ain't What It Used To Be"
"Punchline"
"Us Against The World"
METALLICA has will launch a new concert series, "#MetallicaMondays", tonight, where the band will stream the complete video of a METALLICA live show for fans on the group's YouTube channel and on Facebook every week.
The heavy metal giants announced the series in a social media post earlier today. The band wrote: "While we're all doing our part and staying home, we find ourselves missing live music, so how about we dive back into a few of our favorite shows at a socially responsible distance? Not to sound too cheesy, but now more than ever, we're in this together, and staying connected is how we'll get through it. With that in mind, we're bringing a series of Live METALLICA shows right to your couch!
"Starting at 8 PM EDT tonight, we'll be debuting our brand new concert series, #MetallicaMondays, where we'll stream the complete video of a live show for you on our YouTube channel and on Facebook every week.
"We're kicking it off with an iconic location, so please tune in tonight to watch METALLICA: Live at Slane Castle - June 8, 2019.
"Slane is just the beginning… tune in weekly for #MetallicaMondays to get a taste of live METALLICA. We know… it's not quite the same as the real deal, and trust us, we wish we could be out there with you again!
"Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notified when our weekly concerts begin streaming."
METALLICA has been largely out of the public eye since last fall when the band canceled an Australian tour and announced that frontman James Hetfield was returning to rehab for the first time since 2002 to battle his addictions.
Hetfield made his first major public appearance since entering rehab on January 30, when an exhibit featuring 10 of his classic custom cars opened at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
Earlier today, METALLICA announced that its South American tour, which was originally planned for April, has been postponed until December. In addition, the band's appearances at three Danny Wimmer Presents-produced festivals in May have been canceled: Epicenter in Charlotte, Welcome To Rockville in Daytona and Sonic Temple in Columbus.
Need to take a break from Netflix before you binge-watch the entire library? Introducing our brand new concert series:...
"I’m bored and decided to create this YO! Watch The Beat series," states Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante. "This is a pop KlassiK 'My Sharona'. Drummers (occasionally) forget about the flam on the toms, it has to be in there!! I always admired Bruce Gary, I thought he was such a powerful drummer, he is missed as is Doug Fieger... love The Knack."
"Another in the YO! Watch The Beat series. There is a funk to the 'Living After Midnight' beat, emphasis on tha One... it’s one of their signature tunes and I believe the intro sets the mood for this classic song #daveholland had such a great feel for these Judas Priest songs, very underrated #britishsteel is a masterpiece in Hard Rock Heavy Metal music. Let me list the other Priest drummers right now before any smart asses complain - Les Binks, Scott Travis, John Hinch,Simon Phillips, Alan Moore all added the amazing back beats to these metal gods and of course some are legendary as well."
"YO! Watch The Beat - this beat is from the album The Long Run by The Eagles. This is such a heavy beat, anytime it would come on I’d stop what I was doing and air drum to it thanks Don Henley - Joe Walsh and Don Felder both play talkbox on this one. As far as I know, it's the only double-talkbox solo in existence. That's Felder and Walsh on talkbox at the end singing "Butt out...butt out...." year’s later the Beastie Boys sampled it for the song high plains drifter which makes this beat have a totally different feel - go put on 'Those Shoes' from The Long Run album and then 'High Plains Drifter from Pauls Boutique - 2 great songs from one great beat."
"I've always Loved John Bonham and Bernard Purdie! Both had a distinctive style and confidence in their playing. The beat in Led Zeppelin's 'Fool In The Rain' always reminded me of Steely Dan's 'Home At Last', with its signature "Purdie Shuffle" like groove. In this video, I attempt to show you what I mean by playing along to the track and then doing my own isolated version. I'm using my Roland TD-50 again. One of my favorite things about the TD-50 Is the ability to sample sounds and import them into the unit. I think it adds to the whole vibe of the video. Thank you for watching."
Without any shows to attend and the instruction to stay away from others as much as possible, German psychedelic rockers Motorowl provide a special goodie for you. Check out the live video for “Norma Jean”, which was shot in November 2019 at UT Connewitz in Leipzig.
Motorowl comment: "If you’ve ever been to a Motorowl show, you know that our last song is always 'Norma Jean'. It’s about the dramatic thing of living in a world wich stares at you and your only way to hide is to pass away. Norma talked to the people for the very last time in 1962. She talked about happiness, being nice to each other and how to socialize. A few days later she decided to leave. This song is about socializing in
many ways."
Upcoming Motorowl shows (not postponed yet):
July
25 - Freisenbüttel, Germany - Burning Q Festival
August
8 - Schlotheim, Germany - Party.San Festival
September
12 - Poland - Summer Dying Loud Festival
Motorowl are:
Max Hemmann - Guitar, Vocals
Vinzenz Steiniger - Guitar
Martin Scheibe - Drums
Tim Camin - Bass
Daniel Dettlev - Keys
"When we decided to cover 'Give Peace A Chance' it was meant to be a call for peace with a known enemy in a traditional war. It has now evolved into a call for peace among individuals, not just nations, as things get worse for the world in the days and months ahead," says Chicago's Aftermath.
“John Lennon’s urgent call for peace in 'Give Peace A Chance' is more important today than ever, and our call for peace with this cover is the perfect message to follow up our previous album. We released a dark concept album with a bleak message and felt it was important to follow that up with something positive. The visuals in the video are as important as the lyrics in a way. We live in a visual world today and this video needed to get out the message of HOPE. Having a young girl be the focus of the video was our way of getting that across. Seeing only positive acts when she puts on Lennon’s famous glasses was the perfect visual metaphor. Lennon’s message is transmitted not only through his lyrics but also through the perspective created by his unique lenses,” says the band.
The video was directed by critically acclaimed video director Steven Nathan in New York City.
WDR Rockpalast has uploaded professionally-filmed footage of Blind Guardian's full performance from the 2016 edition of the Rock Hard Festival in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Watch below.
Setlist:
"The Ninth Wave"
"The Script For My Requiem"
"Nightfall"
"Fly"
"Tanelorn (Into The Void)"
"Prophecies"
"The Last Candle"
"Lord Of The Rings"
"Time Stands Still (At The Iron Hill)"
"Journey Through The Dark"
"Imaginations From The Other Side"
"Sacred Worlds"
"Valhalla"
"The Bard's Song - In The Forest"
"Mirror Mirror"
"Majesty"
Blind Guardian's new studio album is expected in the first half of 2021. Hansi Kürsch told Loud TV: "The real production for the album will start around April, and what we have in mind is mixing in November. So, I would guess that this album will be released in the first half of 2021"
Alt-rock duo LOCAL H has shared a live video for its recently released single "Hold That Thought".
Scott Lucas says about the clip: "Ryan got a GoPro for Christmas, so we decided to put it to use. It's a pretty good video representation of what that tour with SOUL ASYLUM was like. The decision to start dressing like WHAM! and wear those 'Choose Life' shirts seemed like a pretty obvious idea to me — our new record is called 'Lifers' — but I'm not sure people got it. I think some people thought we were making some kind of a pro-life statement. We were not making a pro-life statement."
"Hold That Thought" is a exuberant, riotous track which revamps classic rock tones with LOCAL H's signature style. The offering is the third single from the band's most ambitious and exciting album to date, "Lifers", due April 10 via AntiFragile Music.
Frontman Scott Lucas candidly divulges of the inspiration behind the track: "I was getting into that first Love record and thinking how great it would be to cover 'My Little Red Book'. Of course, then I realized it was a cover — and that it had been covered many, many times. So what choice did I have? I had to rip it off. At first, we were worried that it was too bouncy. Too poppy. But then we wondered if a younger band — like TWIN PEAKS, for example — would give two fucks about something like that. Pretty quickly, we decided to get over ourselves."
Featuring contributions by an array of respected friends and guests —including Juliana Hatfield, John McCauley of DEER TICK and legendary rock engineer Steve Albini — "Lifers" is the first album from LOCAL H in five years, and the release coincides with the group's 30th anniversary.
On the genesis of the album, Lucas explains: "When the re-release of the White Album came out a few years ago, I became re-obsessed all over again. One aspect that really hit me about it (this time) was how it's not really a concept record — but it feels like a concept record. I wanted to do that with 'Lifers'. This might be a concept record about the end of the world. Or it might just be a party record with loud guitars and cowbells."
Unlike so many of their peers from the '90s, LOCAL H has refused to slow down. Since the band's formation in 1990, they have released eight studio albums, countless EPs and live records, a well-received series of "Mix Tapes" featuring a surprising mix of cover songs, and a steady stream of memorable singles that include "Eddie Vedder", "Hands On The Bible", "California Songs" and the rock radio staple "Bound For The Floor". In addition to all of that, guitarist/vocalist Scott Lucas and drummer Ryan Harding have maintained a near constant international touring schedule — forging a blistering live show that has amassed a loyal and enthusiastic fan base.
Robert Plant is celebrating the second season of his hugely popular podcast, Digging Deep With Robert Plant, with the release of a very special limited edition 7’’ singles box set. Digging Deep includes 16 A-sides and rare B-sides spanning three decades, remastered versions available on vinyl for the first time. The eight-disc collection also features restored artwork from the original 7’’ releases, packaged in a bespoke hardback book.
Plant has restored the music videos of the songs featured in the box set including his live video of “Tie Dye On the Highway”, from the album Manic Nirvana (1990), performed live at Knebworth June 30, 1990.
A new video of former ICED EARTH vocalist Matt Barlow performing an acoustic version of the band's song "I Died For You" can be seen below. The track originally appeared on ICED EARTH's fourth album, 1996's "The Dark Saga".
Barlow posted the video on his Facebook page and included the following message: Brothers and Sisters! I wanted to see if I could raise some spirits and join my fellow musicians in solidarity, by performing a fan-favorite ICED EARTH tune in a lonesome cowboy style. I’m obviously not Jon Schaffer on guitar, but I hope you can still find joy my performance. Please keep all of my friends and family (musicians, sound techs, guitar techs, drum techs, road crews, tour managers, etc.) in your hearts and minds, as they will likely be hit very hard by all of the shutdowns. Helping where you can, will be greatly appreciated!"
ICED EARTH played its final show with Barlow at the 2011 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.
Barlow announced his departure from ICED EARTH in March 2011. In a heartfelt statement, he cited his commitment to his family and the need for ICED EARTH to tour more as the reasons for his retirement; however, he committed to performing with ICED EARTH on all 2011 European festival dates, including Wacken Open Air.
Current ICED EARTH singer Stu Block (formerly of INTO ETERNITY) made his live debut with the band in November 2011.
ICED EARTH's latest album, "Incorruptible", came out in June 2017 via Century Media.
I wanted to see if I could raise some spirits and join my fellow musicians in solidarity, by performing a fan-favorite Iced Earth tune in a lonesome cowboy style. I’m obviously not Jon Schaffer on guitar, but I hope you can still find joy my performance. Please keep all of my friends and family (musicians, sound techs, guitar techs, drum techs, road crews, tour managers, etc.) in your hearts and minds, as they will likely be hit very hard by all of the shutdowns. Helping where you can, will be greatly appreciated! ?
The official music video for the song "Salvation" from Arizona thrash metal veterans SACRED REICH can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Awakening", which was released last August via Metal Blade Records. SACRED REICH's first LP in 23 years was produced by Arthur Rizk, who has previously worked with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, POWER TRIP and CODE ORANGE, among others. The album marks SACRED REICH's first release since the return of drummer Dave McClain.
SACRED REICH bassist/vocalist Phil Rind comments: "We want to put something positive out there right now. 'Salvation' is about music's ability to encourage and inspire us and bring us together."
"Awakening" is described in a press release as "a timeless collection comprised of blistering thrash, crushing grooves, killer solos and socially conscious lyrics that demonstrate a true understanding of everything that matters most in the world today."
Early last year, SACRED REICH guitarist and founding member Jason Rainey exited the band for "health reasons" and was replaced by Joey Radziwill. A week ago, Rainey died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 53.
Speaking about SACRED REICH's current lineup, Rind said: "Dave is such a killer drummer and person. He works every day to become a better drummer, and I mean every day. His work ethic is inspiring. As much as he has accomplished, he is still open to what comes. Joey brings a higher level of musicianship and tightness to our band, and he brings a freshness to us. He gives us an opportunity for us to see things from a different perspective, and all of us were blown away by what he can do with a guitar and how effortlessly he does it."
"Awakening" was engineered by John Aquilino and was mastered by Maor Appelbaum.
Regarding the new LP's musical direction, Rind said: "Going into it, we had a loose idea as far as knowing that we wanted some fast, heavy songs to honor the old school fans that have supported us and gotten us to this point. We wanted everything to happen naturally. We didn't want to force anything and we are super stoked with every song. It is easily the best thing we have ever done. Regardless of what happens with the record, the experience of making it was enough to satisfy us. Obviously, we hope people like it, but even if it tanked, it could not change the way we feel about it. We know what we did."
Members of acclaimed chart-topping rock bands FLYLEAF and P.O.D. have gone in a new musical direction and collaborated to form a new band called BELLE AND THE DRAGON. The group is celebrating the release of an acoustic video for their next single, "Trees".
Vocalist and guitarist Sameer Bhattacharya explains: "I wanted the acoustic version of 'Trees' to feel lonely and fragile, reflecting the feeling of isolation when one begins to explore new ideas without the support of the community in which they were brought up."
Bhattacharya, primary songwriter and guitarist for FLYLEAF, began writing and recording his own solo songs during the band's indefinite hiatus. He recruited fellow band member and bassist Pat Seals, along with beloved P.O.D. drummer Noah "Wuv" Bernardo, to record what would become BELLE AND THE DRAGON's debut album, "Birthrights". The album, produced by Dave Hidek and recorded at the Professor Bombay Sound studio in San Diego, weaves through different genres, tempos and emotions. BELLE AND THE DRAGON has been a passion project and labor of love for Bhattacharya, who was able to write and record without a filter.
"BELLE AND THE DRAGON is a project I've had in the back of my head for a while," Bhattacharya revealed. "I've written many songs for FLYLEAF, but ended up having all of these songs that didn't fit that style and would get buried in a hard drive. With BELLE AND THE DRAGON, I made a conscious decision not to cage myself in with styles, genres or lyrics — but to make each song its own. 'Birthrights' is the first experiment."
BELLE AND THE DRAGON made its live debut on the ShipRocked cruise earlier this year, and plans to tour in support of "Birthrights". The album is available on all streaming platforms and on limited-edition vinyl. Made in the USA, each 12x12 album is a unique and true piece of art. Every vinyl in this limited-edition numbered collection set of 560 is a different color and no two are alike. Every vinyl cover is autographed by all three artists: Bhattacharya, Seals and Wuv.
Maryland rockers CLUTCH have released a new studio recording of the track "Willie Nelson". The single is the sixth in a series of new studio recordings that comprise the "Weathermaker Vault Series".
"'Willie Nelson' is a song we wrote close to 20 years ago," says singer Neil Fallon. "It started making appearances in our sets recently, so we figured now was a good time to re-record it. This time around, Shawna Potter (WAR ON WOMEN) added back-up vocals and is in the video as well. And for what it's worth, 'Red Headed Stranger' gets regular play on our tour bus."
"Willie Nelson" was re-recorded and remixed by J. Robbins (JAWBOX, JAWBREAKER, THE SWORD, AGAINST ME!), and the track comes in at 3:21.
"Willie Nelson" was originally released in 2003 on CLUTCH's album "Slow Hole To China: Rare And Unreleased".
Other CLUTCH songs which were previously made available as part of the "Weathermaker Vault Series" include a reworked version of "Spacegrass", renditions of the Willie Dixon 1950s classic "Evil" (later recorded by CACTUS), ZZ TOP's "Precious And Grace" and CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL's "Fortunate Son", as well as a new version of "Electric Worry".
CLUTCH drummer Jean-Paul Gaster told Cory Blose of TotalRock Radio's "The Valley" about "Weathermaker Vault Series": "We got into the studio [in early 2019]. After we finished another U.S. tour, we jumped in the studio and we recorded a selection of songs. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a full album. But the idea is just to release a few things. And these will be completely just digital releases as well. We're sort of experimenting with that format — just releasing stuff for streaming purposes. And we'll see how that goes."
He continued: "It was fun to get in the studio, and we picked some songs that sort of all meant something to us in different ways. We also re-recorded a few CLUTCH classic songs, so those will be coming out as well. I suppose maybe in some ways it's sort of just a way to tide us over until we really get the juices flowing to record another album."
Gaster said that CLUTCH's insistence on recording and releasing new music comes from a pure place.
"As we all know, there's not a tremendous amount of money to be made in releasing albums anymore, so you have to do it because you wanna do it," he said. "And also too, it just gives us an opportunity to play some new stuff when we get out there on the road and play shows. We do not wanna be a band that gets up there and just plays the hits and that would be the end of it. This is not a nostalgia thing for us. For us, this is still very much a live working rock band. We have the desire to be creative and to play music, so we try to foster that in whatever way we can."
He added: "I can see a scenario where we'll release this collection of singles and maybe a few more, and then eventually we might put these all on a vinyl record and put them out.
CLUTCH's latest album, "Book Of Bad Decisions", was released in September 2018. The record sold 26,000 copies in America during its first week of availability, giving the group its third consecutive Top 20 album on the Billboard 200.
"Book Of Bad Decisions" was recorded was completed at Sputnik Sound studio in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Vance Powell.
German symphonic metallers BEYOND THE BLACK have released "Misery", the first single from their upcoming album "Hørizøns", to be released via Napalm Records on June 19.
The explosive quintet manages to perform a tightrope act between scene solidarity and the constant motivation to conquer new musical horizons: With their newest offering, BEYOND THE BLACK prepares their powerful manifesto of self-confidence and leaving the "Misery" of the past behind. The track takes its listeners into a wide melodic range between melodic mellifluousness and uncompromising energetic rock and metal fragments.
Along with an artful, moody conceptualized visual, BEYOND THE BLACK defeats the demons of the past and enters another spectra of their musical identity. Jennifer Haben's remarkable and striking vocals underline her standing as a powerful frontwoman and hit the listener's senses with full force.
"Misery" presents one first sparkle of the manifold facets off the upcoming album: With this omen to their upcoming album, BEYOND THE BLACK are remaining and reinventing themselves at the same time.
Haben on the new album: "With 2019 having been the biggest year in our career as a band so far, we were thrilled and anxious to get back to the studio and start writing again — not just to make up to the fast and amazing development that has happened in the band since our last album, but to pin this development down also musically for everyone to hear and see.
"'Hørizøns' is unmistakably a BEYOND THE BLACK album, but with so many new facets and personality adding up to the classic BEYOND THE BLACK ID that make it a true band album. For us this has definitely been a walk on the tightrope and we feel to have it accomplished to its fullest. Without beating around the bush, we can say that we're extremely proud and confident that 'Hørizøns' is the best BEYOND THE BLACK album to date."
The female-fronted quintet unbolts their unequalled, differentiated spectra of symphonic and melodic rock spiced with sonorous melodious metal soundscapes in 13 manifold songs. The album kicks off with its heavy, yet atmospheric title track, spanning the range of intumescent soundscapes and Haben's crystal clear, striking vocals.
Beautiful yet strong harmonies, emotional storytelling and powerful vocal lines weave throughout "Wounded Healer" (featuring Elize Ryd from AMARANTHE) and will light your way in gloomy times. Dark subliminal grooves coalesce with harmonizing guitar lines and form the prevailing nexus of "Human" and its unmistakably catchy chorus. Another facet rises with "You Are Not Alone", which is dominated by electronic influences as well as symphonic sounding violins.
"Hørizøns"'s atmospherically dark harshness creates the stylistic bow over the distinctive melodic rock meets pop sound in symbiosis with fragile yet strong fragments. The charismatic outfit persuades with a rousing, emotional clout and their strong, confident message off self-assertion.
Track listing:
01. Horizons
02. Misery
03. Wounded Healer (feat. Elize Ryd)
04. Some Kind Of Monster
05. Human
06. Golden Pariahs
07. Marching On
08. You're Not Alone
09. Out Of The Ashes
10. Paralyzed
11. Coming Home
12. I Won't Surrender (feat. Tina Guo)
13. Welcome To My Wasteland
This autumn, BEYOND THE BLACK joins forces with AMARANTHE for a co-headline tour.
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