Sweden’s Corroded have released an official music video for "Breathing", the third single from the band's fifth album, Bitter. This is the third and last episode in a trilogy of videos produced by Bullsize Productions. Watch all three clips below:
The official music video for "No More Hollywood Endings", the title track of the forthcoming fifth album from Finnish metallers BATTLE BEAST, can be seen below. Due on March 22 via Nuclear Blast, the 11-song disc was recorded by keyboardist Janne Björkroth, Viktor Gullichsen and guitarist Joona Björkroth at JKB Studio. The production and mixing duties were handled by Janne. The cover artwork was created by Jan Yrlund (KORPIKLAANI, MANOWAR), who previously worked with BATTLE BEAST on 2017's "Bringer Of Pain".
The "No More Hollywood Endings" video was directed by Markus Nieminen and produced by Oy Routafilmi AB / Tuotantoyhtiö Legenda.
Keyboardist Janne Björkroth comments on the track: "The song tells a story about living up to other people's expectations and becoming a kind of a sidekick in one's own life. Hollywood conventions and media set unrealistic expectations and narrow ideals about such things as beauty and happiness, and it's easy to get lost while trying to fit the mould. The song claims that there isn't a universal pattern for happiness, but everyone has a right to be respected as they are and live a life that suits for themselves. It's a hymn to individuality."
"No More Hollywood Endings" track listing:
01. Unbroken
02. No More Hollywood Endings
03. Eden
04. Unfairy Tales
05. Endless Summer
06. The Hero
07. Piece Of Me
08. I Wish
09. Raise Your Fists
10. The Golden Horde
11. World On Fire
Bonus tracks (digipak and 2LP only!)
12. Bent And Broken
13. My Last Dream
BATTLE BEAST singer Noora Louhimo told Metal Casino about the musical direction of "No More Hollywood Endings": "We're gonna keep the same spirit as on the previous album. With the previous album, we learned a lot what we wanna do with our music, so it's gonna be maybe even more epic [laughs] than the last time."
Noora also talked about how the songwriting process has evolved since the band's split with longtime guitarist and main songwriter Anton Kabanen and addition of Joona Björkroth. "It has changed a lot, or totally," she said. "Of course, different songwriters. The previous album, the whole band wanted to contribute, and now after we had Joona in the songwriting process and kind of changed the whole dynamics in the band, we contributed, the whole band, in the songwriting process. I think it was… Not just because of the songwriting, but also the atmosphere nowadays, I think, it's very healthy and we like each other and I love to work in this band. And I think it's great to have more than just one person doing the songwriting and giving the opinions. Of course, someone has to say, 'Okay, this is the decision,' and not everyone can just decide about everything. But we also have to do compromises, because we are six people, six different opinions. But I think we are already on the way to see everybody's… who can do what in the band. I feel like my priority is to do the good vocals and performance and visual things, and I can happily leave songwriting to our most productive guys, like Janne and Joona — they have been so productive. And also our bass player, Eero [Sipilä], has written a few songs. So we are in a good place."
"Bringer Of Pain" was BATTLE BEAST's first album to feature Björkroth, who joined the band in 2015.
BATTLE BEAST in February 2015 parted ways with Kabanen due to "insurmountable disagreements" with the other members of the band.
Danish masters of viking metal, Vanir, have delivered a first taste of their new album, Allfather, due to be released on February 15th via Mighty Music. "Fejd", the first single, comes with a fitting new music video in a day when the Danish Vikings are confirmed in Udgårdsfest, the new pagan/folk/viking festival taking place in Pumpehuset, Denmark, May 31st - June 1st.
"Fejd" deals with one of Denmark's most significant family reigns. The story about the son Svend Tveskæg and his father Harald Bluetooth. A showdown that not only dealt with different views of the culture, where Harald stood for change and the new "Christian path", and his son wanted a more conservative direction rooted in the Nordic gods. It is also a showdown that leads to a united Scandinavia through a strong commander who ruled from Denmark to England before his death in 1014. The album Allfather is a tribute to Tveskæg's accomplishments and the importance it had not only for the northern countries but also the English and European cultural heritage. "
Clean vocals on "Fejd" are sung by Martin Steene of Danish power metallers Iron Fire. All vocals are sung in Danish.
Since the formation of the band in 2009, Vanir have released four full-length albums and is now ready to launch their fifth album, Allfather.
There is no doubt that Vanir is the greatest Viking-metal act coming out of Denmark, with a discography that ranges from folk to death / black-metal influenced Viking metal.
With Allfather, Vanir have once again created a melodic death / black metal experience with a sharp focus on melody and brutal riffs, which should appeal to all fans of Amon Amarth, Immortal, Ensiferum, etc.
Vanir has in recent years focused on the Nordic countries as well as Germany and has played over 150 shows in Norway, Sweden, Germany and Denmark. In addition, the band has performed at a number of festivals including Hörnerfest, Boarstream Open Air, Barther Metal Open Air, Copenhell, Aalborg Metal Festival to name some of them. The band has received great praise for its energetic live performance.
The official video for "Fear", a brand new song from former ACCEPT guitarist Herman Frank, can be seen below. The track is taken from Frank's upcoming fourth solo album, "Fight The Fear", which will be released on February 8 via AFM.
Frank has been an integral part of the German metal scene since the early '80s, from ACCEPT to VICTORY to his solo project and his work as a producer.
Featuring MASTERPLAN frontman Rick AltziRAGE drummer André Hilgers and JADED HEART bassist Michael Müller, Frank's new album contains razor-sharp riffs, sublime, hell for leather solos, consistently delivered high-class vocals between melody and heaviness, and a rhythm section, that drives every single song forward like a clockwork.
"We've never had this kind of band structure before," Herman enthuses. "Each of us plays an active part in our collaboration, and the result is a fantastic and highly constructive approach to our work."
In particular, when it comes to the group's lyrics, Frank has always believed in his proven dictum. "I feel that the vocalist should contribute the lyrics, because at the end of the day he's the one who has to get them across to the audience and fill them with life," Herman says. "That's the way I've been working with Rick since 'Right In The Guts' and the result speaks for itself."
Altzi sums up his lyrical approach: "It wasn't my intention to make any political statement on this album but my frustration concerning where we are in the world today somehow led me to write lyrics about that. How do we adapt to the threat and the fear of violence? Mankind seems to have a short memory keeps on doing the same mistakes over and over again. How we in modern time still let's religion dictate and form the decisions made by people and governments?"
With a slight grin, Rick adds, "but I only wrote eight out of fourteen lyrics, so there's enough room for love songs and pure rock 'n' roll.”
Track listing:
01. Until The End
02. Fear
03. Terror
04. Sinners
05. Hatred
06. Hail & Row
07. Hitman
08. Stay Down
09. Rock You
10. Don't Cross The Line
11. Are You Ready
12. Wings Of Destiny
13. Waiting For The Night
14. Lost In Heaven
Vocals - Rick Altzi (MASTERPLAN)
Drums - Andre Hilgers (ex-RAGE)
Bass - Michael Müller (JADED HEART)
Guitars - Herman Frank
Herman joined ACCEPT in 1982 shortly before the release of the band's "Restless And Wild" album and exited the group for the first time after the arrival of 1983's "Balls To The Wall" LP.
When ACCEPT reunited for festival appearances in 2005, Herman handled second-guitar duties alongside founding axeman Wolf Hoffmann, with Stefan Schwarzmann sitting behind the kit.
Frank and Schwarzmann were involved in ACCEPT's comeback with new singer Mark Tornillo and appeared on the reunited group's first three studio albums: 2010's "Blood of the Nations", 2012's "Stalingrad" and 2014's "Blind Rage".
IMPELLITTERI's music video for the song "Phantom Of The Opera" can be seen below. The track is taken from IMPELLITTERI's latest album, "The Nature Of The Beast", which was released in October via Frontiers Music Srl.
Chris Impellitteri told Guitar World: "'The Phantom of the Opera' is a song I have wanted to remake since I was a kid. Yes, I realize that other bands like NIGHTWISH have also covered it, as well as IRON MAIDEN having a song with the same title, and I respect both artists immensely, but our version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's masterpiece is very much IMPELLITTERI."
"When we created our musical arrangement for this song, our collective band vision was to basically take the phantom on a wild musical ride through Hell! We wanted to turn the song into a speed/power metal type song. I will say our version can seem fairly challenging to play as a guitarist due to the various complex scale sequences, modes and speed at which we are playing. At the same time, the lead vocals are quite brutal on our singer, Rob Rock, as he had to sing both the male tenor part as well as the female vocal part, which resides in the alto and soprano ranges.
"I am very pleased with the outcome of this song, especially my solos and tone. I used my Charvel custom shop Stratocaster and various vintage modified Marshall amps, pedals, and speaker cabs, while bassist James Pulli got a great growly bass tone with his Spector bass and vintage Ampeg SVT rigs."
30 years into their musical career, IMPELLITTERI have created a mind-blowing, highly energetic and thrilling new musical adventure with "The Nature Of The Beast". The band is on fire with their musical acrobatics, addictive riffs, shredding guitar solos, speed metal drumming, and screaming power metal vocals that are all ingredients in these killer songs!
Like many of their talented peers, IMPELLITTERI continue to carry the torch for guitar driven heavy metal. On "The Nature Of The Beast", the band shines throughout, especially on songs like the power metal driven "Run For Your Life", the highly energetic remake of BLACK SABBATH's "Symptom Of The Universe", the lunacy of "Gates Of Hell", the addictive riff of "Hypocrisy", and the speed metal cover of "Phantom Of The Opera".
"The new music was written with passion and a sincere love for heavy metal," states Chris Impellitteri. "I think as a band we grow stronger with each new album. Our artistic abilities seem to get better with age, but at the same time we seem to sound even more energetic, crazy, and youthful with this release. You could say the music on this newest musical child is an extension of our previous record, 'Venom'. I love the 'Venom' record, but I am currently obsessed by 'The Nature Of The Beast'. We are thrilled to share this new music with our FANS and friends around the world and I really hope they like it!"
IMPELLITTERI recorded "The Nature Of The Beast" in Los Angeles, California with legendary engineer/producer Mike Plotnikoff (VAN HALEN, AEROSMITH, IN FLAMES), mix engineer Greg Reely (OVERKILL, FEAR FACTORY), and engineers Jun Murakawa and Sean Shannon.
Like their childhood musical heroes, including Vivaldi, IRON MAIDEN, QUEEN, BLACK SABBATH, Al DiMeola, Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin and Pavarotti, IMPELLITTERI strive for greatness — creating, performing and recording this new music with all four band members, Chris Impellitteri (guitars), Rob Rock (vocals), James Pulli (bass), and Jon Dette (drums) contributing stellar performances. The album was recorded in a grand fashion using large tracking rooms and vintage analog equipment to capture the bands live musical energy and performance.
"As a guitarist, I challenge myself to conquer my human limitations," continues Chris. "I practice for hours each day to improve my technique. I also spend a lot of time customizing my guitars, amps, and pedals to achieve this crazy guitar sound. On this new record my guitar sound is really me trying to create a tone that sounds a bit like a chainsaw blended with a beautiful Stradivarius violin. It is Beauty and the Beast with lots of pick attack! The guitar solos have lots of technical shredding elements, but at the same time they are very melodic and I think fun for everyone to listen too. The riffs are also exciting for me to play as there is a lot of obvious influences that I brought to this new record."
"Lotus", the new Costin Chioreanu-created video from SOEN, the progressive heavy rock group featuring world-renowned drummer Martin Lopez (formerly of AMON AMARTH and OPETH), can be seen below. The track is the title cut of SOEN's fourth album, which will be released on February 1 via Silver Lining Music.
"'Lotus' is a summoning of like-minded people that have reached that turning point in their lives where they have had enough. Enough of meaningless and shallow societies and their expected standards," notes Lopez of the track, "Only once you have liberated yourself from these fake ideals and leave all of that behind, one can be truly free."
Having spent the last six months digging deep into the muddy depths of their emotions, the nine songs comprising "Lotus" are intoxicating, addictive aural therapies, questioning much of today's darkness while juxtaposing them with moments of great escape and hope.
"We are all very fortunate to have this place where we can go and explore thoughts, perspectives and emotions which everyday life maybe does not have the room for," says Lopez, one of SOEN's founding members. "There are definitely things that we say, and places we go, in SOEN which would be very hard to express without us coming together and creating music."
Produced by David Castillo and Iñaki Marconi at Ghostward Studios and Studio 6 between July and October 2018, the album marks the first recorded SOEN work of new Canadian-born guitarist Cody Ford, whilst the center-point of the album remains those trademark, snap-heavy, progressive SOEN riffs. Songs such as "Rival", "Covenant" and "Martyrs" are dissertations on modern societies, fraught with poetic, finitely designed confusion and chaos, yet as the name "Lotus" suggests, there is still strength, beauty, and purity to be extracted from what at times seems like an endless cycle of human regression.
"The world right now is undeniably a very strange, tense place," says Lopez. "I think the songs clearly reflect that, but they also reflect that we must now be stronger than ever in challenging, confronting, and dealing with the pandemonium life throws at us all."
The lavish "Lotus" artwork features nothing other than an enigmatic and engaging copper-reflective pyramid, offering elements of the sixth sense and greater consciousness before gate-folding open to reveal a girl touched by the copper aura.
"We each have our own personal ideas as to what it means," says Lopez, "but we'd much rather discuss what others think, what our audience thinks, what the media thinks... I think it's extremely important that we all communicate with each other and take the time to fully conceive our own meanings and interactions with life and creativity."
"Ultimately," concludes vocalist Joel Ekelöf, "'Lotus' is about rising from whatever darkness, or dark places, you might find yourself. And its inspiration comes from a deep motivation to not just settle for the situation you might find yourself in. 'Lotus' is about changing life — both your own and your surroundings for which we must all take responsibility — and make them better rather than letting darkness pacify you and take you down."
"Lotus" track listing:
01. Opponent
02. Lascivious
03. Martyrs
04. Lotus
05. Covenant
06. Penance
07. River
08. Rival
09. Lunacy
SOEN will bring "Lotus" on the road as it tours Europe starting in March.
"You Never Know", the new video from BEARTOOTH, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's third album, "Disease", which was released in September via Red Bull Records. The disc was recorded at BlackBird studio in Franklin, Tennessee with producer Nick Raskulinecz (DEFTONES, KORN, FOO FIGHTERS).
Vocalist Caleb Shomo told Kerrang! that "You Never Know" was written with with Drew Fulk. "It was the first song we wrote together," he said. "We wrote it about 40 minutes. We just went and got coffee and talked about things going on in our lives and our mental states at the time and just sort of came to a common ground and the song just rolled out from there."
"It's a jammer — play it loud!" Shomo advised.
Caleb previously called "Disease" "by far the hardest" album to make so far. "This was hands down the most difficult record I've ever made — it's the most depression and anxiety-fuelled album I've ever made" he said. "It was a really, really hard thing to get through. Emotionally, I mean, good Lord! By the end, I was in a really fucking bad place. It was tough to fight through.
"Once I've committed to making a record a certain way, there's no fucking backing out," he added. "Say I'm doing a drum track, and a few of the snare hits are off, you just throw a drum sample on and nobody knows any difference. But I couldn't do that, because I chose for it to be real instruments. So I would sit there and do fucking drum take after drum take, and it was this psychotic fucking thing of, 'It probably can't be played any better, but it's not fucking good enough!' And then freaking out and playing it over and over again. There was a whole lot of stress that I felt making this album. It was basically between the fight of: 'Do I really make a fucking true and honest record?' or: 'Do I just cop out and make the singles that I know people are going to want to hear? What do I do?' But I chose to make an honest record, and I'm really glad I made that choice."
IMONOLITH — the new metal band featuring vocalist Jon Howard (THREAT SIGNAL, ARKAEA), drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen (DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT), guitarist Brian Waddell (DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT), bassist Byron Stroud (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY), and second guitarist Kai Huppunen (METHODS OF MAYHEM, NOISE THERAPY) — has released a new single, "Hollow", available to stream/download for the first time today.
"Hollow" serves as the perfect introduction to IMONOLITH, a band whose mission is simple: to write the heaviest riffs, the biggest hooks and most monstrous grooves.
Recorded and produced by Brian Howes and Jay Van Poederooyen (NICKELBACK, CHRIS CORNELL, AIRBOURNE, HINDER, DAUGHTRY) at Van Howes Studios in Los Angeles, California, "Hollow" is immediately setting the bar high.
Van Poederooyen comments: "'Hollow' is a song about the personal battles we all can face internally. Social pressures and self expectation can drive you to a point of feeling hollow inside if you don't meet specific standards in your mind. The song itself actually has a positive message built into it. It's not about feeling hollow, it's more about preventing that hollow feeling that any one of us can develop through negative thinking and limited beliefs."
Fans can expect many surprises as they unveil more music. The drummer continues: "As for 'Hollow', musically it represents the catchier side of IMONOLITH's music. We have varying influences spread throughout the band and we don't like to play just one style of music. We have a more metal crushing side, a catchier radio side and then music that fits in-between our heavy and catchier vibes. We always aim to make IMONOLITH's overall sound diverse and interesting. Most of all, we're always focused on trying to write a great song, no matter if it's heavy or catchy."
IMONOLITH was officially formed in February 2018 by Van Poederooyen and Waddell, although the pair started writing their own brand of heavy music in 2015 whilst playing together in the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT. Van Poederooyen and Waddell then went on to recruit Howard, Stroud and second guitarist Jed Simon (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) completing a fearsome lineup. Simon has since been replaced by Huppunen.
Since teasing demos and video clips online, IMONOLITH has amassed a dedicated legion of supporters worldwide, and with the release of the new single, their following is set to expand by the thousands. With their first run of shows throughout Canada announced and big international plans in the pipeline, 2019 is set to be a huge year for IMONOLITH.
Dutch death thrash ragers IZEGRIM have released a video for the song "Retraumatized", which is taken from their latest EP, titled "Beheaded By Trust". The clip follows the band throughout its performance at the sold-out Eindhoven Metal Meeting festival, which took place on December 14. The video was directed by Sebastiaan Spijker of Ik Wil Ook Een Videoclip.
IZEGRIM's Marloes comments: "From preparations, to soundcheck, to the gig at the prestigious sold-out Eindhoven Metal Meeting: it's all packed into Izegrim's latest videoclip. No expensive props, no bluescreens, no storyline or silly choreography. This is 100% IZEGRIM at its best!"
"Beheaded By Trust" was recorded, mixed and mastered at Kohlekeller Studio (ABORTED, BENIGHTED) in December 2017. The cover artwork came courtesy of Kirill Semenov.
"Beheaded By Trust" is the follow-up to 2016's "The Ferryman's End", which drew a positively roaring press response worldwide and saw the band touring and sharing stages with the likes of FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, KREATOR, ANNIHILATOR, ONSLAUGHT and more.
Female vocalist Pamela Moore, who is best known for her performance as Sister Mary on QUEENSRŸCHE's 1988 epic release "Operation: Mindcrime" and 2006's sequel "Operation: Mindcrime II", has released a performance video for the song "Rise". The track is taken from Moore's latest album, "Behind The Veil", which came out last year.
The "Rise" clip was filmed at the "Behind The Veil" CD-release party in Seattle, Washington.
A team of masterful musicians helped bring this masterpiece to life: Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE) on bass, Casey Grillo (KAMELOT, QUEENSRŸCHE) on drums, Michael Posch on guitar and orchestration and newcomer Craig Church on guitar and orchestration. The record also features special guest appearances by Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR), Randy Piper (W.A.S.P.) and Elliot Anders.
"I am very grateful and deeply honored to have such amazingly talented friends who agreed to join me on this album," Pamela said.
"'Behind The Veil' is by far my most personal work yet. The sudden loss of my mother really hit home and left me asking some very difficult questions. It was a reality check of sorts and that's what I would say 'Behind The Veil' has become... a reality check.
"Life is short. Don't waste it. Run for your life and always be grateful that you still can run!"
Moore is a proven musical powerhouse and veteran entertainer. A native of Seattle, Washington, Pamela moved to New York City in the late nineties to become the singer for RADAR, recording the band's 2000 release, 'R.P.M." When RADAR dissolved in 2001, Pamela returned to the Pacific Northwest. Pamela continued following her passion, making guest appearances on various albums in the next decade. Pamela also toured with QUEENSRŸCHE between 2003 and 2008 as a featured vocalist and stage actress. That tour reignited Pamela's desire to record her own album, and she began writing songs with former RORSCHACH TEST guitarist Benjamin Anderson. The two found instant chemistry as Pamela's lyrics and melodies brought Anderson's musical ideas to life. "Stories From A Blue Room", released in 2006 under Planet Sweet Records, was the compelling result. The eleven-track album featured guest vocals from Terri Nunn (BERLIN) and contributions from guitarists Michael Wilton (QUEENSRŸCHE) and Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE).
After touring extensively with QUEENSRŸCHE, Pamela took her time finding the perfect collaborators for her next album, "Resurrect Me". Chicago-based guitarist Michael Posch (RADAKKA) provided potent, addictive metal grooves and soundscapes. Combined with Pamela's stylistic, emotive power vocals and inquisitive lyrics, they created pure metal magic. "Resurrect Me" was released in 2013, with very happy fans across the globe.
666-Pack is the impending new full-length from Austrian crossover thrashers Insanity Alert. In advance of its release, today the band has unveiled the official lyric video for "The Body Of The Christ Is The Parasite."
Forged in Innsbruck in 2011 and influenced by the likes of SOD, DRI, Suicidal Tendencies, Nuclear Assault, Bones Brigade, Municipal Waste, and Toxic Holocaust, Insanity Alert are the kind of people who know what to bring to a party: a big dose of humor with a dash of darkness, party tunes, and a six pack. It's these ingredients that make up the basis of the band's third full-length. A relentless, twenty-one-track ripper, 666-Pack brings the classic spirit of speed metal's salad days back with savage metal precision. Ultra-catchy riffs, vicious vocals, and empowering gang vocals are packed into short, sharp rapid-fire attacks delivering everything great about thrash in spades.
666-Pack was produced and mixed by Toni "Meloni" Loitsch (Die Toten Hosen, Silbermond, H-Blockx) at Nautilus Sounds Studio, mastered by Dan Randall (Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust, Ghoul, Cannabis Corpse) at Mammoth Sound Mastering and comes wrapped in the gruesome cover creation of Mark Riddick (Rotting Christ, Horrendous, Revocation, etc.).
Insanity Alert's 666-Pack will be released on January 25th on CD, LP, and digital formats via Season Of Mist. Find preorder options at this location.
DEVILMENT — the British band led by frontman Dani Filth of CRADLE OF FILTH — has released an official live music video for the track "Hell At My Back". Check it out below.
The band states: "The live video for 'Hell At My Back' was taken from DEVILMENT's performance at Bloodstock 2017, which was an awesome show played at an awesome festival. We had quite a riot at Bloodstock that year, with some truly unforgettable moments courtesy of meeting bands and friends amid many alcoholic beverages. This was actually the last show for both Lauren and Nick, who left the band amicably not long after the show for commitments in the real world.
"'Hell At My Back" is a precursor to our forthcoming appearance at this year's HRH Metal III. Lyrically, the protagonist of the song is constantly haunted by his past, hunted by the horrors he has confronted since time immemorial. Awful things he has done in the name of love. But it is again another song of defiance, of staying the inevitable, of the eternal struggle of 'being.' Of evading the clutching powers of Hell."
"Hell At My Back" is taken from DEVILMENT's latest album, "II: The Mephisto Waltzes", which was released in November 2016 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.
"It's All In Vain", the first video from DIEKLUTE, the new industrial project featuring DIE KRUPPS frontman Jürgen Engler, FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares and Danish musician Claus Larsen of LEÆTHER STRIP, can be seen below. The song is taken from DIEKLUTE's debut album, "Planet Fear", which will be released on February 1 via Cleopatra Records.
The "It's All In Vain" video was filmed last July with director Vincente Cordero of Industrialism Films. The video features clips of the upcoming indie film "The Relic", which was produced and written by William Shatner, who also stars in the movie. "It's All In Vain" will be featured in the film, which was directed by Jared Cohen and is due later in the year.
"I'm honored to collaborate with two industrial giants Claus Larson and Jürgen Engler," said Cazares. "I'm really looking forward to unleashing this futuristic industrial metal onslaught to the world, Get ready for 'Planet Fear'. In order to create you must first destroy all boundaries."
"It has been a pleasure dealing with Claus and Dino," added Engler. "Claus I have known for a long time and we have worked together, as remixers and in live situations. We are old buddies, so it was an easy accomplishment. Dino I have met on several occasions when DIE KRUPPS and FEAR FACTORY have played together in the past, last time at Cold Waves Festival in Chicago 2014. We had never discussed working together, but as the result of our fruitious collaboration proves that it was just meant to be. Our personal styles seamlessly fit together, no compromises were necessary. I'm proud and happy with the outcome, and cannot wait to get feedback from the many fans we have around the globe! DIEKLUTE is here to stay, you better believe it!!!"
Larsen said: Creating this band from scratch and composing our debut album has been a very creative and a big learning experience for me. I do most of my music on my own here at Strip Farm Studio, so having these two legends as production partners has been amazing and very different from what I've been used to. I hope we will be able to take this album to stages around the world. We each bring our own thing to the songs and I really feel that we've created something very special here."
"Planet Fear" includes 10 original songs plus a supercharged version of PUBLIC ENEMY's 1988 classic "She Watch Channel Zero?!"
According to a press release, the disc "combines the efforts of all three musicians who prove that they are hard to beat at what they do best. Aggressive electronic beats, sequencers and guitars, that feel like you are getting punched in the face. Lyrics that critically address the current political situations, spat out with conviction and anger."
A performance clip of "Black Horsemen (Live at The Fillmore)", taken from the forthcoming KING DIAMOND DVD/Blu-ray, "Songs For The Dead Live", can be viewed below. The set will be released on January 25 via Metal Blade Records.
There is only one King Diamond, and for more than thirty years the great Dane has been dropping classic albums and putting on shows fans remember for the rest of their lives. Perhaps the only downside to having such a formidable catalogue is that there are just too many great songs to fit into a single set. However, you would be hard-pressed to find a fan who wouldn't want to hear 1987's seminal "Abigail" in its entirety, and "Songs For The Dead Live" captures this, twice, and in very different locales. Boasting eighteen songs per set, each of the two shows — Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting in June 2016 and Philadelphia's Fillmore in November 2015 — features a brace of classic KING DIAMOND and MERCYFUL FATE tracks, including "Welcome Home", "Halloween" and "Eye Of The Witch" before launching into "Abigail". The performances of the all-star lineup of musicians, comprising of guitarists Andy LaRocque and Mike Wead, bassist Pontus Egberg and drummer Matt Thompson, are absolutely ferocious, hammering home every single moment.
* Blu-ray (includes audio digital download of Philadelphia Show)
* special edition box set with 5 discs (2DVD, 2CD, 1 Blu-ray) plus poster, flier, laminate, setlist, ticket, sticker, and guitar pick (limited to 3000 copies)
* opaque blue with white splatter vinyl (U.S. retail exclusive - limited to 600 copies)
* opaque red with black splatter vinyl (U.S. webstore exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
* opaque white with black splatter vinyl (U.S. webstore exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
* pink blue marbled vinyl (Ebay exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
Captured on film by director Denise Korycki for Wild Wind Studios, she worked closely with King on every aspect of filming, and throughout the viewer finds themselves front and center as the shows unfold. This includes some inventive camera placement, such as riding in on the back of the wheelchair as it is wheeled out to "Out From The Asylum" at the start of the show, or looking up from the coffin at the commencement of "Abigail" opener "Funeral", which adds an extra dimension to proceedings. Naturally, the theatricality that has become synonymous with KING DIAMOND is there in full force, making for an even more immersive experience. The gothic stage set and the participation of actors playing out certain scenes tying into the songs definitely increases the drama and the sense of complete disconnect from the trappings of reality, ensuring that the shows remain riveting from start to finish.
While the setlists are virtually identical, the drastic difference in the two venues make for distinctly different atmospheres. The sweeping, epic scale of Graspop and the virtual sea of baying metalheads makes for a particularly thrilling spectacle, King holding them all in the palm of his hand. The Fillmore show is immediately more intimate, and rather than a mixed bag of metal lovers drunk on a weekend of the heavy stuff, the audience is comprised entirely of the KING DIAMOND devout, screaming back every word, their love for their hero bleeding from every frame. "Songs For The Dead Live" gives those who missed out on seeing these shows in the flesh a chance to vividly experience them, offering so much deeper an experience than your run of the mill live DVD.
Canadian whiplash tyrants Fallen Legion have unleashed their new music video "Monster Reborn" via BraveWords in support of their latest EP Downfall (which peaked #7 on the Top 20 July 2018 Canadian College Radio Loud Charts). Released during May 2018, the EP features six energetic, unorthodox, progressive, spirited and memorable tracks along with guest vocals and keyboard from Cradle of Filth's Lindsay Schoolcraft on the song "New Skin". Since their formation in 2008, Fallen Legion have played with bands like Soilwork, Havok, Unearth, Battlecross, and 36 Crazy Fists along with releasing two other well-received EPs Screams From The Dungeon (2012) and Infinite Archive (2015). The band is an eclectic metal brigade of influences from Gojira, Korn, Iron Maiden, Dethklok and Antonio Vivaldi.
The band adds:
“This time around, we wanted to do a more light-hearted video showing the fun side of Fallen Legion.”
Finland's Steve'N'Seagulls have released an official live video for "Faster Than Light", an original track from the band's 2018 release, Grainsville. Watch below:
Watch the band cover KISS' "I Was Made For Lovin' You", ZZ Top's "Gimme All Your Lovin'", Van Halen's "Panama", and AC/DC's "Thunderstruck", below:
Former ASKING ALEXANDRIA singer Denis "Stoff" Shaforostov has launched a new band called DRAG ME OUT. The group's debut single, "I'm Sorry", has just been released digitally via Sumerian Records. Also available is an accompanying music video, which can be seen below.
Denis recorded one album with ASKING ALEXANDRIA, "The Black", before exiting the band in October 2016. Guitarist Ben Bruce said in a video message that Shaforostov had "just stopped talking to us."
He added: "When Denis first joined the band, people within the music industry and fans alike, they all told us these different things about Denis's past, and we got many warnings, and we said, that's his past — forgive and forget; we don't know any of that side of things. So we gave him the benefit of the doubt, and, you know, there's no smoke without fire, and I guess we found that out the hard way."
Shaforostov has not spoken out about his departure from ASKING ALEXANDRIA, although he did tweet at one point that he "left AA because I can't be in a touring band at this point in my life. There's no drama and I don't want to be a part of it."
Singer Danny Worsnop rejoined ASKING ALEXANDRIA in the fall of 2016.
Los Angeles metalcore outfit SPADES AND BLADES has released the official video for the brand new track "My Worst Enemy". The song, which features a guest appearance by BLEEDING THROUGH frontman Brandan Schieppati, was produced by FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares and mixed by Chris Collier (PRONG, METAL CHURCH, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM).
SPADES AND BLADES was formed in 2006 by Jason Todd (vocals) and Justin Bullock (guitar, vocals). The band's debut album, "Blood Of The Innocent", was released in 2010. An EP, "Proud To Be Loud", followed in 2013, with another LP, "The End Is Near", arriving in 2016.
Since 2014, SPADES AND BLADES has toured the U.S. multiple times, sharing the road with FEAR FACTORY, SOILWORK, INCITE and STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, among others.
Altitudes & Attitude, the collaboration between Anthrax’s Frank Bello and Megadeth’s David Ellefson - two virtuosic bass players who’ve anchored some of the fiercest thrash records of all time - have released a video for the song “Late”, from their debut album, Get It Out, available on January 18th via Megaforce, featuring a guitar solo by Ace Frehley. Watch below:
Altitudes & Attitude have confirmed a handful of appearances ahead of their debut album, including an inaugural US show on Saturday, January 19th at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn.
Additional NYC appearances include an up-close Q&A and performance January 17th as part of the Guitar World Backstory series at the Cutting Room, an in-store signing January 18th at Rough Trade. Los Angeles events include a Q&A on January 22nd with Loudwire at the Musicians Institute, and appearances at NAMM on January 25th, before the band heads to Europe in February.
A kind of rock ‘n’ roll primal-scream therapy, Get It Out is the result of nearly four years of writing and recording sessions - and decades of touring, searching, striving and living.
“I’ve learned that writing songs is very cathartic,” says Bello, who has long made songwriting a daily practice. When Anthrax is off the road, he tries out new material at open mics around New York City. “A lot of these lyrics are about the inner struggles of my life, and about the rage that has built up from my life experiences - my brother’s murder; my father abandoning my family when we were young, leaving us with no funds to pay the bills. The ups and downs of life in general. I’ve always had an anger inside that music really helps me deal with.”
“The album has the perfect title,” Ellefson adds. “This is music that has been living inside of us for so long. There’s a big musical part of each of us that doesn’t get heard anywhere else.”
Boasting producer Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour, Steel Panther), drummer Jeff Friedl (A Perfect Circle, Devo, Filter) and a deep bench of guest stars including Ace Frehley (the track “Late”) and Gus G., the record also represents the fulfillment of a lifelong but little-known ambition for two uniquely gifted artists.
As Bello puts it, “All I ever wanted to do was write good songs. I’ve always been a melody guy. I love hooks; I love catchy songs with a good riff.”
Tracklisting:
"Get It Out"
"Late"
"Out Here"
"Part Of Me"
"Slip"
"Talk To Me"
"Leviathan"
"Cold"
"Another Day"
"All There Is"
"Booze And Cigarettes"
"Tell The World"
"Here Again"
"Out Here" lyric video:
The Altitudes & Attitude story begins in 2010, when Bello and Ellefson started touring together to lead bass clinics for the amp manufacturer, Hartke. In need of backing tracks to support their demonstrations, they embarked upon some writing sessions and discovered their chemistry.
Bello and Ellefson debuted Altitudes & Attitude in early 2014, with a self-titled three-song EP that earned the duo airplay on SiriusXM and an appearance on VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show. Those tracks - “Booze And Cigarettes”, “Tell The World”, “Here Again” - are included on Get It Out as bonus cuts, in remixed and remastered form.
Ellefson explains that “A&A could have only happened at this moment in time” - when the titans of thrash metal’s Big Four are older, wiser, kinder and more open creatively. “When you’re still climbing up the hill,” he says, “there’s no room for friendly competition. But once you’ve been to the top of the hill and you’ve seen the view - which all of the Big Four have - it’s OK to break bread, hang out, have a drink.”
Or, in the case of Altitudes & Attitude, delve into hard-rock songwriting in a profound way. “To hear other sides of us as artists - not just as musicians and performers, but as artists.”
Altitudes & Attitude previously announced UK/European tour dates including six shows with Slash f/Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators in support of their debut album.
Dates:
February
7 - Rescue Rooms - Nottingham, UK
9 - Academy 3 - Manchester, UK
10 - Underworld - London, UK
12 - Waterfront - Norwich, UK
14 - 013 - Tilburg, Netherlands
15 - Bett - Frankfurt, Germany
16 - Backstage - Munich, Germany
17 - Zeche - Bochum, Germany
22 - Zenith - Paris, France*
23 - Cirque Royal - Brussels, Belgium - SOLD OUT*
24 - AFAS Live - Amsterdam, Netherlands - SOLD OUT*
27 - Sentrum Scene - Oslo, Norway - SOLD OUT*
28 - Annexet - Stockholm, Sweden*
Statement, one of the hardest working bands in Denmark, will release their third opus, Force Of Life, on March 1st via Mighty Music. The record was produced and mixed by Soren Andersen (Mike Tramp, Glenn Hughes) and features 10 songs of melodic rock/metal for fans of Disturbed, Metallica and Pretty Maids. Artwork was done by Jobert Mello/Sledge Hammer (Sabaton, Primal Fear).
The Copenhagen based hard rock band Statement is a living proof that raw talent, ambition and honesty can still prevail in an ailing music industry. The backbone of their work? Old school Hard Rock songs with a new twist.
Statement recently returned home after a European tour with British metal legends Diamond Head. “This tour was the first real tour for us and we met new friends and had a good spirit between all four bands. Diamond Head was the headliner act, and Gin Annie, Statement, and Blinding Sparks were the three support bands the tour. We have been playing a lot of shows in these last 5 years but never so many in a row, but we are sure that this tour was just the beginning and one out of many more. Tour life is focus on only one thing, and that’s your performance and that is what we are there for”, says Niels Alex (lead guitars, vocals).
The first two albums were recorded and mixed by Tue Madsen/ Antfarm Studios (Sick Of It All, Moonspell, etc.) The new album, Force Of Life, has been produced and recorded by Soren Andersen at Medley Studio (Glenn Hughes/Mike Tramp/Artillery). Force Of Life was recorded in Medley Studio in two sessions. The first session was tough and a “feel kinda thing” to see if we should continue the new work with Soren Andersen behind the desk. We quickly found out that our minds melted into one, and it totally changed the sound of Statement to something we never expected”, adds vocalist Jannick Brochdorf.
Niels Alex concludes: “On the Diamond Head tour we found ourselves some very good friends in Gin Annie from the UK. They have an album recorded and are doing a release tour in the UK and Statement is invited to play all the shows together with them. We are looking forward to play in UK – it’ll be the first time for us! We’ll be playing 10 shows and we are looking forward to meeting the British audience”.
A music video for "I Wonder Why", to be included on Force Of Life, can be seen below"
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