The official video for the song "Bitter" from RED DRAGON CARTEL, the band led by former OZZY OSBOURNE and BADLANDS guitarist Jake E. Lee, can be seen below. The track is taken from RED DRAGON CARTEL's sophomore album, "Patina", which was released on November 9 via Frontiers Music Srl.
The follow-up to RED DRAGON CARTEL's eponymous 2014 debut, "Patina" marks the group's first release with drummer Phil Varone (SAIGON KICK, SKID ROW) and bassist Anthony Esposito. The band's current lineup is rounded out by singer Darren James Smith.
RED DRAGON CARTEL's new album was recorded at Esposito's Obscenic Arts studio in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania and was mixed by legendary producer Max Norman, who has previously worked with OZZY OSBOURNE, MEGADETH, SAVATAGE and LOUDNESS, among others.
In addition to being the new bassist for RED DRAGON CARTEL, Esposito co-produced the album alongside Lee.
I think we had a great production partnership," says Jake. "He never discouraged me from trying things that were a bit outside the box; in fact, he encouraged it. His attention to detail in the recording of everything was exceptional. Much more than I alone would have toiled over. He has an incredible work ethic that kept me from lapsing into complacency. If we disagreed on how something should be, we'd find a perfect marriage of the two sides, or completely reimagine it. We didn't settle on anything unless we both agreed it was perfect. If I do another album, I'd love it to be with him again."
Another new member to RED DRAGON CARTEL is drummer Phil Varone, whose style Lee really appreciated. "Phil is a very solid and groove-oriented player, who is not afraid to turn things upside down to give the song a more unique flavor," explains Lee.
"Patina" marks a change of style from the debut RED DRAGON CARTEL album, featuring a more bluesy hard rock direction as opposed to its predecessor's heavier leanings.
Lee says: "The first album was more of a piecemeal production with some of the song ideas being 10 years old and never having more than one player in the room at any time. I wanted to do this one from scratch with all the songs originating and worked on with everyone in the room, on their instruments. It felt much more organic, like the way I used to do it for the first 20 years of my career — more honest to my roots."
When asked about his musical inspirations for the record, Jake says: "My inspirations for 'Patina' are from the artists I loved during my youth. Robin Trower, Santana, BLACK SABBATH, CAPTAIN BEYOND, THIN LIZZY, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, David Bowie… I could go on and on, but let me also say that there are also hints of SLY & THE FAMILY STONE, Dick Dale, psychedelia and even some George Benson. Don't let any of that scare you — it all makes sense!"
"Patina" is a definitive statement of Jake's unbelievable skills with a monster production from Esposito and a perfect mix, courtesy of Norman, whose relationship with Jake dates back to the guitarist's days with OZZY OSBOURNE.
The track listing for the disc is as follows:
01. Speedbag
02. Havana
03. Crooked Man
04. The Luxury Of Breathing
05. Bitter
06. Chasing Ghosts
07. A Painted Heart
08. Punchclown (bonus track)
09. My Beautiful Mess
10. Ink & Water
The official music video for "Havana" can be seen below.
"I chose 'Havana' as the first song to be released from the new album for a few reasons," Lee told Guitar World. "First off, it begins with a lone guitar playing the riff, promoting the idea that this is a guitar-heavy record. The song's production is about as straightforward and basic as it gets on this album and I wanted it to be apparent that, overall, it's more of an old school approach, as opposed to its predecessor [RED DRAGON CARTEL's self titled, 2014 debut album.] And, it's just a cool riff I couldn't wait to share with anyone interested in what I'm doing!"
Back in September 2015, RED DRAGON CARTEL was rejoined by Darren James Smith after a period of several months during which the band played shows with a number of other vocalists, including former JONES STREET frontman Shawn Crosby, Canadian singer Paul D'Eath (CITIZENS UNITE, MUSHROOM TRAIL), Chas West (Jason Bonham, LYNCH MOB, 3 LEGGED DOGG) and Michael Beck.
Issued in January 2014, RED DRAGON CARTEL's debut CD sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 69 on The Billboard 200 chart.
BORN OF OSIRIS will release its new album, "The Simulation", on January 11, 2019 via Sumerian Records. A music video for the song "The Accursed" can be seen below.
Guitarist Lee McKinney states: "The first single and video for 'The Accursed' plays exactly off of the album titles and themes. People are stuck and addicted to machines, social media, virtual realities and anything that creates a life or reality that's not their own. Our phones have become an extension of ourselves, a body part. We play games or throw on virtual headsets that literally suck us out of the reality we live and into a fantasy. What's the future going to look like, a simulation? Could the simulation have already begun?
"Also, this new album keeps the integrity high across the board. I want to make the best songs I could for the people who are listening (and myself), and I want to perform them to their best ability on stage to give the people attending our shows those ‘wow' moments. We want to give them those concert memories that'll last a lifetime."
Vocalist, keyboardist and synth player Joe Buras adds: "We welcome the incorporation of steel, or have we already? It's hard to prove we are not already in a simulation with the development of AI, advances in brain mapping technology and the inevitable singularity. We now see an age that is either here or on the horizon."
b>"The Simulation" track listing:
01. The Accursed
02. Disconnectome
03. Cycles Of Tragedy
04. Under The Gun
05. Recursion
06. Analogs In A Cell
07. Silence The Echo
08. One Without The Other
BORN OF OSIRIS's U.S. tour with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and CROWBAR will start on November 16 and run through December 9.
"By The Numbers", the new video from West Coast metal veterans METAL CHURCH, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming 12th full-length studio album, "Damned If You Do", which will be released on December 7 via Rat Pak Records. The effort will also be available in Europe via Nuclear Blast and Japan via King Records. The latest release is the follow-up to 2016's "XI", which saw the return of legendary frontman Mike Howe.
In a case where art imitates life, the "By The Numbers" clip tells the story of a successful businessman who also plays double duty as a rock star lead singer, something Howe knows all too well.
"Damned If You Do" is described in a press release as "a cross between the band's iconic 'Blessing In Disguise' and 'The Human Factor'. This new offering features ten fully charged, classic-metal-influenced songs that showcase the sound that has garnered the band a solid fanbase for over three decades," the press release adds.
Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof comments: "I feel this album is a very powerful statement to what METAL CHURCH has always been about. A tough and aggressive old-school metal album while maintaining a level of musicality and melodic sensibilities."
b>"Damned If You Do" also features Stet Howland (ex-W.A.S.P., LITA FORD), who joined METAL CHURCH as the replacement for longtime drummer Jeff Plate. Soon after hooking up with the group, Stet was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Miraculously, his treatments for the aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma worked and he was able to begin recording the new album.
Speaking of the new album, Stet said: "From the minute we started tracking this new CD, I had the feeling that it was going to be something special. I knew that I was going to do my best to deliver a top drum performance, not only because of the high standard set by past METAL CHURCH drummers, but also because this is my first CD release after being sick. I'm beyond happy with all aspects of this CD — great songs, great performances, great production; just an overall great CD! I love it!"
"Damned If You Do" is something truly unique and special. The songs are powerful, precise, and METAL CHURCH's musical vision is unified. From the haunting opener "Damned If You Do" to the final hard-edged track "The War Electric", this new album is sure to resonate with fans from the band's early years while garnering new ones. Songs like "By The Numbers", "Guillotine" and "The Black Things" are sure to become instant favorites!
Howe comments: "I'm very excited about the new release. It all came together way better than I even imagined. It's a great feeling to work really hard on a musical project pouring your heart into it and hoping it comes out as something you can be proud of in the end. I have been listening to it every day and loving it! I hope our fans do as well!"
"Damned If You Do" is available in various formats and bundle configurations, including a limited blue, black and white vinyl pressing with an alternate track sequence also an Ultimate Fan Bundle that includes a personal "thank you" phone call from Howe.
BILLYBIO, the solo project of BIOHAZARD and POWERFLO guitarist Billy Graziadei, will release its debut album, "Feed The Fire", on November 30 via AFM Records.
The official 360-degree music video for the "Rise And Slay" single can be seen below.
Says Graziadei: "I love the beginning of a band's career when the spirit is raw and unbridled, the fire still burning strong in their hearts. You know the feeling — when everything is new and fresh AF! I wanted to capture this moment of the group and preserve that early live intensity in 360 degrees, like you are there with us.
"I always drive directors insane with my ideas, but in the end, Reinout Hellenthal helped me capture the high-powered live experience and bring you on stage with us during the chaos. You can watch this video 100 times and still find new details. Don't forget to look up!"
b>"Feed The Fire" can be pre-ordered at this location.
Music has always been the central, unifying force in Graziadei's life. Early musical training took place on the Graziadei family's old, forever out-of-tune upright piano and he began studying music under the guidance of his grandfather and uncle, both of whom he had always admired. So he expanded his musical vocabulary while growing up, finding inspiration in so many forms of music but it wasn't until he stumbled into the underground world of punk-rock music that his musical taste was really sparked into growth.
Immersing himself in the sounds, perspective, and culture of the punk underground, Billy's desire to create new, innovative music led him to the late-'80s hardcore scene in New York City, from Sunday-matinee hardcore shows at CBGBs to Friday-night metal shows at Brooklyn's L'Amour metal/rock club. It was here that he found his musical home and it was here that Billy helped form a band that would take the metal/hardcore scene by storm. It was the birth of BIOHAZARD. As one of the first bands they combined the urban sounds of hardcore, metal and rap with scorching lyrics describing the forces at work in our modern urban lives.
With an audio-engineering degree and years of experience recording BIOHAZARD, Graziadei opened Firewater Studios. This studio became an incubator for Billy's creativity, where he continues to cultivate his talent while producing upcoming bands. During the years of touring with BIOHAZARD, Graziadei collaborated with many different musicians. As a result of this, the friendship with CYPRESS HILL singer Sen Dog turned in 2016 into the supergroup POWERFLO along with bassist Christian Olde Wolbers (ex-FEAR FACTORY) and guitarist Roy Lozano (DOWNSET). While Graziadei continues to work on new POWERFLO songs as he tours around, he decided that the time finally has come for his solo venture.
Billy states: "I've always wanted to do a solo release and the timing of everything that I have been working on just seemed to fall in place.
"I always let the creative juices flow, I don't try and restrict them to fit a certain genre.
"With BILLYBIO, it's 100% me. No influence from anyone else. This is who I am and what I've become. I'm a product of everyone I've met, talked with, shared my stories with… and a bit of their stories as well.
"Anyone who's a fan of what I've done, especially with BIOHAZARD, will love this! There's something there for every fan of heavy underground music!"
According to Billy, "Feed The Fire" is "heavy, fast, groovy and full of energy. I couldn't have it any other way," he says. "It's full of my roots but modern."
Producer Tue Madsen, who worked on "Feed The Fire", agrees. "When I was brought in to mix this record, it was with big expectations, and boy, were they met," he says. "These songs keep the energy level so high and have so much to say. Great deliverance, great songwriting and now me mixing the whole thing. I couldn't be happier."
The official music video for the song "Hold On To Love" from Jason Becker can be seen below. The track is taken from the guitarist's new album, "Triumphant Hearts", which will be released on December 7 via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group.
Becker's story is one of brilliance, talent, determination, adversity, and, ultimately, triumph. A child prodigy on guitar, Jason rose to prominence as a teenager when he was one half of the technical guitar duo CACOPHONY, with his great friend Marty Friedman. In 1989, at only 19 years old and after wowing audiences all over the world, the young virtuoso became the guitarist for David Lee Roth, following in the huge footsteps of Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai. He wrote and recorded on Roth's third solo album, "A Little Ain't Enough", and was poised for superstardom when a nagging pain in his leg was diagnosed as Motor Neurone Disease (MND), also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's Disease, the same condition Stephen Hawking lived with for over five decades. It is a fatal condition with a life expectancy of maybe five years. Maybe.
That was 29 years ago. He lost the ability to play guitar, walk, talk, and breathe on his own. But never lost his will to live or his desire to create music. Communicating through a series of eye movements with a system developed by his father, Jason spells out words as well as musical notes and chords. He imparts his musical vision to his team who then can input the notes into a computer, edit the parts to his exacting standards, and then generate charts for session musicians. His inspiring music and life story have been the subject of countless news articles, magazine cover stories, and an award-winning documentary, "Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet".
The album's 14 tracks showcase Jason's gift for melody and his deep knowledge of classical composition and orchestral arrangement. Many of the guitar parts are performed by a who's who of six-string gods, including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert, Joe Bonamassa, and many others. And, in what will absolutely delight his fans, Jason's amazing guitar playing — recorded in the '80s and '90s — features throughout.
he first song to be released from the album is the beautifully mesmerizing nine-minute-and-five-second instrumental "Valley Of Fire" that features The Magnificent 13 — Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Paul Gilbert, Neal Schon, Marty Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, Mattias IA Eklundh, Greg Howe, Jeff Loomis, Richie Kotzen, Gus G., Steve Hunter and Ben Woods. A phenomenal cast to feature on a single song.
The album opens with the title track, featuring Jason's old bandmate Marty Friedman and an astounding violin performance. "I wrote 'Triumphant Heart' and it made me feel triumphant," says Becker. "When Marty found out I was making this album, he told me he would play anything I needed. I sent him this, and his wife, Hiyori Okuda, who is a cellist, also offered to play on it. The great violinist Glauco Bertagnin recorded my violin parts in Italy. That fast solo section I wrote is way too hard; I don't know how Glauco pulled it off. He put so much soul in the whole song."
"Hold On To Love" is the first vocal song on the record, although it didn't start out that way. "It was going to be an instrumental," explains Jason, "but after I wrote the chorus with lyrics, I knew I had to tell my story, to explain how I can continue living without feeling hate. I hadn't written many lyrics before." In addition to its beautiful, gospel-tinged choir, the heartfelt song features Bay Area singer Codany Holiday on lead vocals.
"Fantasy Weaver" displays the four-string magic of world-renown ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro and harp arpeggios that were written back in Jason's CACOPHONY days. "Once Upon A Melody" not only features two Jason Becker guitar solos from his CACOPHONY era, but also audio of him as a three-year-old. The full-circle nature of having little boy Jason, guitar virtuoso Jason, and modern-day composer Jason all on the same song is a breathtaking accomplishment while "We Are One" features soulful FLIPSYDE vocalist Steve Knight, and more Becker guitar delights.
Uli Jon Roth appears on "Magic Woman", along with ex-MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick who counts both Uli and Jason as big influences. Fans of Jason's work with David Lee Roth will be thrilled by the inclusion of two previously unreleased outtakes from the "A Little Ain't Enough" sessions, the hard-rocking "Taking Me Back" and the blues-infused "Tell Me No Lies". There are also performances by Joe Satriani, Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse, Trevor Rabin, and many others.
"Some people feel sorry for me," he concedes, "and I understand that. I really feel lucky though. I don't miss playing guitar anymore. I'm sure that's out of necessity, but I am grateful for so much more. I am surrounded by loving people, and I can still make music."
The official video for the song "One With The Sun" from Boston's UNEARTH can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Extinction(s)", which will be released on November 23. For its seventh release and Century Media debut, the band worked with Will Putney (EVERY TIME I DIE, BODY COUNT, GOJIRA, THY ART IS MURDER, SILENT PLANET) at Graphic Nature Studios. Additionally, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Adam Dutkiewicz recorded drums for the effort.
Frontman Trevor Phipps states: "We chose 'One With The Sun' as the first video off 'Extinction(s)' because we feel it's one of the hardest-hitting tracks in our entire catalog. Musically, it's everything UNEARTH is about, and lyrically, it deals with the effects of climate change we are feeling today as well as the bleakness of our future unless we make drastic changes now. Tim Dennesen and the guys at Punchdance, Inc. did a great job capturing the imagery needed to get the message across. You'll be sure to hear this one at our live shows as it's already become a staple in our set. See you out there."
According to a press release, "Extinction(s)" "is full of venom toward the wrongs of the world, fighting back against the precarious position civilization is in, determined to effect some kind of change. The inevitability of death, loss, and tragedy is a persistent theme throughout 'Extinction(s)', deep within the band’s most profound and hard-hitting lyrics thus far."
"Extinction(s)" track listing:
1. Incinerate
02. Dust
03. Survivalist
04. Cultivation Of Infection
05. The Hunt Begins
06. Hard Lines Downfall
07. King Of The Arctic
08. Sidewinder
09. No Reprisal
10. One With The Sun
After an awe-inspiring 20 years of blazing trails and dominating stages, UNEARTH is now institutionalized as a relentless force in heavy metal, standing the test of time with consistently triumphant creative output, tireless road warrior resilience, blue collar-style workmanship and a resolute determination to deliver the goods.
With over 500,000 in worldwide album sales, UNEARTH's continued staying power has also hinged on its highly interactive and toweringly heavy live performances.
UNEARTH etched its name into the annals of hard rock history through unrelenting determination, tireless energy and a catalog of stone-cold classics. Two decades into a triumphant career, the Massachusetts-bred New Wave Of American Heavy Metal trailblazers are both elder statesmen and newly relevant all over again.
Rising stars of Japan's metal scene LOVEBITES will release their sophomore full-length album, "Clockwork Immortality", on December 7 via Arising Empire. The official music video for the disc's first single, "Rising", can be seen below.
"Rising" is available as an instant gratification track on iTunes ahead of the album's physical release. The track was written by the band's guitarist and pianist Miyako, who was also the main composer for half of the album.
Miyako comments: "One of the key sections to 'Rising' is a piano and vocal part in the middle, I used this piece to pay my respects to Chopin. If you listen carefully, you may be able to notice it. I believe this song will be one of LOVEBITES' defining tracks."
LOVEBITES leader and bassist Miho adds: "'Clockwork Immortality' features the strongest, most powerful elements of our second EP, 'Battle Against Damnation', with the speedy and melodic elements of our debut album, 'Awakening From Abyss'. This is the evolution of LOVEBITES so far. I would be happy if you can feel the power overflowing from each song."
b>"Clockwork Immortality" includes ten new recordings and sees Finnish engineer supremoes Mikko Karmila and Mika Jussila return to mixing and mastering duties, respectively. It is the same team responsible for working on releases from CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHTWISH and STRATOVARIUS, among many others.
The album's spectacular artwork, featuring a wolf smashing through an hourglass, also sees the return of Spanish creative forces David López Gómez and Carlos Vincente León. The pair had worked on the cover art of LOVEBITES' previous two releases, as well as HELLOWEEN's 30th anniversary book "Hellbook" and single "Pumpkins United".
LOVEBITES consists of Asami (vocals), Miho (bass), Haruna (drums), Midori (guitars) and Miyako (guitars/keyboard). The LOVEBITES sound owes a debt to the many great overseas heavy metal bands that have directly influenced their writing. Coupled with their own unique take on music, taking a piece from each member's eclectic background and experiences, everything has culminated into forging a truly formidable group.
Last fall, Asami, Haruna, Midori, Miho and Miyako performed their first overseas live show in London. On the heels of this success, the all-female band won the "Best New Band" award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards in June 2018. LOVEBITES released its second mini album, "Battle Against Damnation", that same month, and followed it up with appearances at Wacken Open Air in Germany and Bloodstock Open Air in the U.K.
LOVEBITES' first European tour kicked off on November 13 and will include stops in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the U.K.
Italy’s Shadygrove, featuring members of Elvenking, Evenoire, and Sound Storm, have released a live video for "The Port Of Lisbon", a song from the band's debut album, In The Heart Of Scarlet Wood, released earlier this year via Rockshots Records.
"Scarlet Wood"
"My Silver Seal"
"The Port Of Lisbon"
"Eve Of Love"
"This Is The Night"
"Cydonia"
"Northern Lights"
"Let The Candle Burn"
"Queen Of Amber"
"Scarlet Wood" video:
Shadygrove is:
Lisy Stefanoni - Vocals, Flute
Fabio “Lethien” Polo - Violin
Matteo Comar - Guitar
Elena Crolle - Keyboards
Davide Papa - Bass
Simone Morettin - Drums, Ethnic Percussions
Danish composer, vocalist and classically trained multi-instrumentalist, Myrkur, has unveiled her powerful new ballad and video, "Juniper". Director Philippe de Grenade, gorgeously captures her ethereal performance on 16mm film as she stuns listeners with an infectious chorus and lush string arrangements.
Myrkur is Amalie Bruun. For her forthcoming Juniper EP, she's joined forces with Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Paradise Lost, Solstafir, Cathedral) at Orgone Studios in Bedfordshire, England. The album's B-Side, "Bonden og Kragen", is a solo reinterpretation of a traditional Danish folk song from the 1600s. Together, both tracks exquisitely display Myrkur's eclectic sound and captivating personality.
A limited edition of the 7" will coincide with the digital release, December 7th on Relapse Records. Pre-order via Relapse.com here and on all streaming services here.
Napalm Records will release Warkings' debut album, Reborn, on November 16th. Pre-order the album here.
Today, it is not only Warkings Wednesday, it's Warkings week! Starting last Friday with unveiling the third single "The Last Battle", today The Spartan raises his voice to spread the stories of the most heroic battles of his time, before the whole story will be Reborn this Friday.
300 Spartans against the Empire - this heroic fight can't be forgotten and so Odin sent The Spartan as one of the four Kings Of War back to planet earth. This brave king was one of the few who stood side by side to hold the place of doom when the superiority of the Empire tried to fight them back, armed by not much more than their iron will.
Spartans are men of few words. They prefer to go straight to action. So The Spartan summoned two attendants: From the seventh circle of hell, the Queen Of The Damned arises to lend her voice to the Warkings! Hear (and watch) her in the video below. For the album Reborn that appears next Friday, Odin sent another of his disciples for the song. Stay tuned!
Queen Of The Damned: "I've come a long way to meet the kings again. Now listen to the sound of our voices dancing with the screams of our weapons."
Reborn album details below.
Tracklisting:
"Give Em War"
"Never Surrender"
"Hephaistos"
"Gladiator"
"Holy Storm"
"Battle Cry"
"Fire Falling Down"
"Sparta"
"The Last Battle"
"Die Flut" (Bonus Track)
"The Last Battle":
"Hephaistos" lyric video:
"Gladiator" video:
Tour dates:
December (with Dragony, Illuminata, Titan Killer)
8 - Vienna, Austria - Szene
January (with Amaranthe, Follow The Cipher)
31 - Nijmegen, Netherlands Doornroosje
February (with Amaranthe, Follow The Cipher)
1 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix
2 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
3 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Den Atelier
4 - Hamburg, Germany - Grünspan
6 - Malmö, Sweden - KB
7 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Pustervik
8 - Helsingborg, Sweden - Tivoli
9 - Örebro, Sweden - Frimis
11 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset
12 - Uppsala, Sweden - Katalin
13 - Stockholm, Sweden - Klubben
July
3-6 - Ballenstedt, Germany - Rockharz Festival
Melodic hard rock band, Ten, have released a video for "The Esoteric Ocean", featured on the band's new album, Illuminati, out now on CD/LP/Digital via Frontiers Music Srl. Order the album here, and watch the video below.
Illuminatii was produced by Gary Hughes and mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. Ten's longstanding professional association with Dennis has been ongoing since he mixed their 2011 album, Stormwarning and has always guaranteed albums with stunning sound and production.
Tracklisting:
"Be As You Are Forever"
"Shield Wall"
"The Esoteric Ocean"
"Jericho"
"Rosetta Stone"
"Illuminati"
"Heaven And The Holier-Than-Thou"
"Exile"
"Mephistopheles"
"Of Battles Lost And Won"
Italian thrash/death killing machine, Methedras, have released a video for "A Deal With The Devil". The track is featured on the band's new album, The Ventriloquist, out on December 7th via Massacre Records. Watch the clip below.
The Ventriloquist was mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio. Artwork by Maurizio Piccinelli.
Tracklisting:
"A Deal With The Devil"
"Sham Knockout"
"Blind"
"Dead Silence"
"Fire Within"
"Stab Me Again"
"Alive Or Convict"
"Sleepwalking"
"Into The Maze"
"Watch Me Fall"
THE RAVEN AGE, the U.K.-based band led by IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's son George Harris, has shared the incendiary video for its brand new single, "Betrayal Of The Mind".
Fueled by an explosive band performance laden with fire, the video explores the darkness and emotion that can affect someone as a result of issues such as mental health. It reflects the lyrical content of the track, which was written about the band's individual experiences and desire to spread awareness and the feeling of community through their music.
George Harris reveals: "With the 'Betrayal' video, the idea coincides with the narrative. The actress represents someone who is stuck inside her own mind, it's eating her up as she loses the ability to simply get through the day without her dark thoughts taking over. The performance concept, however, was pretty straightforward. We wanted a big space with lots of fire! The plan was to use it in certain sections, but when we saw how cool it looked, we were, like, 'Nah, just go nuts!!' I'm pretty sure Jai had no hair left at the end of the shoot, but it was worth it!"
Vocalist Matt James adds: "The 'Betrayal' video not only had to look visually appealing but had to be true to the message of the song. It's hard sometimes to get the balance of simplicity but also portraying a narrative. I think the directors Richard and Adam did a great job with that. It's a step up in production from the last video, and hope people will relate to the message. The track itself is a big heavy/groove-orientated track which we love playing live as it gets the crowd headbanging. It's been going down a blast on the amazing shows we're playing with TREMONTI and we can't wait to be playing it, along with loads of other new material next year when we get the chance to tour with IRON MAIDEN. That's a dream come true!"
b>"Betrayal Of The Mind" is the second THE RAVEN AGE track with Matt James as vocalist, following the previously released "Surrogate", and the next dose of what to expect from the band's soon-to-be-announced album coming in 2019. Their acclaimed 2017 debut LP, "Darkness Will Rise", saw them championed by the likes of Metal Hammer, Kerrang! and Planet Rock, and now with the new lineup the band have shifted up the gears musically, creating material which will see them continue stamping their mark within modern metal.
Following a relentless touring schedule over the past year, THE RAVEN AGE is currently on the road in Europe with American rockers TREMONTI, which includes five U.K. dates in Nottingham, Manchester, Bristol, London and Edinburgh in December. The band will be touring extensively throughout 2019, and has just been announced as the support act for IRON MAIDEN as the metal legends continue their "Legacy Of The Beast" world tour throughout North and South America.
All proceeds generated from the first month of sales of "Betrayal Of The Mind" have been donated to The Blurt Foundation, an amazing charity that works tirelessly to make a difference to anyone affected by depression.
Last month, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS called out to fans to help create their new live music video at the band's electrifying two-hour show on the final date of their sold-out fall U.S. headlining tour at the Palladium in Hollywood, California. Fans shot live footage of the concert via the Cinebody app which was assembled by director and editor Clifton Collins to create the final "Mind Your Manners" clip.
"It was great to involve the fans to make this video," says Slash. "They did an awesome job! Having Clifton shoot as well as edit it all together was just perfect."
"Mind Your Manners" is taken from SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS' latest album, "Living The Dream", which was released in September via Slash's own label Snakepit Records, in partnership with Roadrunner Records.
Regarding the "Mind Your Manners" track, Slash says: "I wrote this song on the spot to help the band get up and running once we got back in the studio this past January. It's just a go-for-it type of song. Pretty straightforward rock and fun to play."
b>Kennedy adds: "'Mind Your Manners' was something I didn't hear until the guys had started jamming together. It's a cool, up-tempo sort of thing and I knew immediately it would have its own place on this record. Lyrically, it's about how when things are going well there always tends to be someone who tries to rain on your parade and knock you down. You have to keep people like that in check and not let them get to you."
"Living The Dream" is Slash's fourth solo album, and third with Slash and his bandmates Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass and vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar and vocals). The artwork was created by renowned visual artist Ron English.
"It's a natural progression from 'World On Fire', for sure," Slash said of the new album. "I think it has a little more diversity — some of the ideas are not really what I would consider to be predictable." At the same time, he adds, "The record is also a bit more structured, with songs that are shorter and more to the point than last time." Kennedy concurred. "I don't know that there are as many of those sort of 'epic sonic journeys' that we took on the last record," he said. "Although there are songs that take you on a trip, like 'Lost Inside The Girl'. But overall, a lot of these songs — things like 'My Antidote', 'Read Between The Lines', 'Slow Grind' — they're pretty precise statements, and they definitely fall in line with the type of sound we're known for. There's a certain type of sonic calling card that we've developed over the years, and you can hear it front and center on this record."
"It's just a snapshot of where we're at," Slash continued, summing up "Living The Dream". "Which is what we're going for with each new album — to be present in what we're doing and come up with something that is representative of and reflects this moment in time."
British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have released an official video for the song "Run To The Hills", filmed during the European leg of their "Legacy Of The Beast" tour. Check it out below.
IRON MAIDEN will bring "Legacy Of The Beast" to North America in 2019 for an extensive series of arena and amphitheater shows produced by Live Nation, including a first-ever headline appearance at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. The tour will cover a total of 33 cities right across the U.S.A. and Canada, including Portland, Oregon where they haven't played since 1987 on the "Somewhere In Time" tour, Hartford, Connecticut where they last played in 2005, and many other places not visited since the "Maiden England" 2012-2013 tour.
The band's triumphant first leg of the "Legacy Of The Beast" tour opened in Europe earlier this year to outstanding critical acclaim, not just by the 750,000-plus fans who came to see the show but right across national press and rock media, including The Times (UK) newspaper calling it "an extraordinary show filled with world class theatrics… a masterclass in performance and staging."
MAIDEN vocalist Bruce Dickinson comments: "We're excited to return to North America and share the 'Legacy Of The Beast' tour with all our friends there! We're immensely proud of this show and we've had great reactions from the many fans who came to see us in Europe earlier this year. The production is based on our mobile game 'The Legacy Of The Beast' which basically takes various incarnations of Eddie into many different MAIDEN worlds. This inspired us to put together a stage show to take our fans through different worlds and experiences set to appropriate songs. It is not that easy designing different worlds on stage and we put a huge amount of work into this to make it work and the end result we feel is our most spectacular and certainly the most complex show to date. We've got all kinds of crazy things going on, including a replica Spitfire plane dominating the stage during 'Aces High', tons of pyro, a giant Icarus, muskets, claymores and some truly marvellous flame-throwers which I have a hell of a lot of fun with, as you will see! And, of course, we have Eddie, as you've never seen him before, and absolutely loads of other surprises. I've had the time of my life playing with all these magnificent props on stage, it's been fantastic, we can't wait to bring this show to you!"
b>Steve Harris, bassist and founder member, adds: "We gave a lot of thought to the setlist for this tour as the songs needed to follow the narrative of the changing worlds of the stage show. We feel we ended up with a very strong and well balanced set mixing songs we haven't played in many years, like 'Flight Of Icarus', 'Sign Of The Cross' and 'The Clansman' with songs we know the fans want to hear like 'The Trooper', '2 Minutes To Midnight', 'The Number Of The Beast', 'Fear Of The Dark', 'Run To The Hills', 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' and others, reflecting the journey through the different themes of the show. The whole band is really enjoying this tour and we are really looking forward to seeing everybody again!"
Support on the 2019 tour comes from THE RAVEN AGE. Additionally, FOZZY will be guests for the Banc of California Stadium show in Los Angeles.
For the 2019 shows, IRON MAIDEN will, in conjunction with the promoters, be implementing a partial digital ticketing system in as many venues as possible. This technology, being used by the NFL amongst others, is a progression of the paperless system that MAIDEN have been successfully using since 2010 and has worked well in lessening ticket scalping and the drain of prime tickets into the Secondary market.
Fans in the USA and Canada will once again be able to enjoy a Trooper VIP Upgrade package allowing early access to the venue, a pile of Trooper goodies, Trooper beers, food and a designated area to meet with other fans, plus the opportunity to win some great prizes. Packages will be available from IronMaiden.com, priced at $220 ($290 CAD for Canadian shows), with a 10% discount for IRON MAIDEN fan-club members.
Bon Jovi have released another official live video, shot in Philadelphia, PA on the 2018 This House Is Not For Sale tour. Watch the band perform "Whole Lot Of Leavin'" below:
More footage from the Philadelphia show can be seen below:
Jon Bon Jovi, will curate two special fan cruise experiences titled Runaway To Paradise, offering 2,200 of his most passionate fans the vacation of a lifetime in two idyllic settings.
The Caribbean trip will set sail April 12th - 16th, 2019 from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, on Norwegian Jade while the Mediterranean excursion follows August 26th - 30th, 2019, from Barcelona to Palma, Majorca, on Norwegian Pearl.
“Ever since we started Runaway Tours, it’s given me such joy to entertain and tell stories of where my songs came from. What I’ve realized after all these years is that my fans have found that these are not only my stories, but their own,” says Jon Bon Jovi. “Hundreds of people have gotten together every time we take off for a destination, and long lasting friendships are born. We want to continue that tradition in Runaway’s fully-immersive vacation trips. Get ready, we’ll see you out there!”
Co-produced by Runaway Tours, creators of world-class intimate artist experiences, and Sixthman, the industry leader in music festival vacations, the Runaway To Paradise immersive fan experience will feature Jon Bon Jovi joining guests on board the ship at each destination port. Guests will be treated to a full rock show on the pool deck starring Jon Bon Jovi and the 11-piece Kings of Suburbia band, a second acoustic storyteller set where cruisers can ask Jon all of their burning questions, multiple shows from support artists (to be announced), and panels with key figures from Bon Jovi’s storied history, all the while sipping Jon and Jesse Bongiovi’s new wine, Hampton Water rosé and enjoying the stunning amenities of Norwegian Cruise Line Jewel class ships.
The action on Runaway To Paradise goes far beyond the music. Guests will get up close with historic memorabilia in the Jon Bon Jovi Gallery, shop for new looks in the Hart N Dagger pop up shop, and even enjoy a meal while giving back to those in need at The JBJ Soul Kitchen that will be brought to life on board. All guests will take home an autographed event lithograph, and fans who book in the first 400 staterooms on each cruise will get an opportunity to take a picture with Jon Bon Jovi.
Watch the invite video from Jon Bon Jovi below:
Double occupancy staterooms on Runaway To Paradise begin at $1,895 (USD) per person for the Caribbean sailing, and $2,221 (USD) per person for the Mediterranean sailing, plus taxes and fees. Prices for the four-night music festivals at sea include access to all shows and activities, all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, customized Jon Bon Jovi Runaway to Paradise gift, commemorative event program, custom event lanyard and laminate. Low deposits and flexible payment plans are available. For the best selection of staterooms, fans are encouraged to register for the cruise pre-sale at runawaytoparadise.com.
Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Pearl are destinations of their own, each offering guests Norwegian Cruise Line’s signature freedom and flexibility, which allows guests to design their ideal cruise vacation on their schedule with no set dining times, a variety of world-class entertainment options and no formal dress codes. The ships also features fourteen onboard bars and lounges, 15 unique dining experiences, a casino, two outdoor pools, five hot tubs, and a full menu of treatments at the onboard Mandara Spa.
“We are beyond excited to host Runaway To Paradise aboard Norwegian Jade and Pearl,” said Andy Stuart, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Hosting an international rock and roll sensation like Jon Bon Jovi is a testament of our commitment to offering world-class entertainment for all who board our ships. We have been working with Sixthman to host musical experiences at sea for the past six years and believe that our guests are in for the vacation of a lifetime.”
German melodic death/doom metallers, Nailed To Obscurity, recently announced the release of their Nuclear Blast debut, Black Frost, on January 11th. Today, the band have unleashed a first taste in the form of the album's title track.
Directed and produced by Dirk Behlau (Pixeleye Interactive Design Studio & Film Production), the official video can be found below. Purchase the track here.
Vocalist Raimund Ennenga explains the song's meaning, "While we try to route our sanity through daily grind and to skip facing our fears, our darkest emotions are able to create a burden in secrecy - they are able to cause our mind to capsize. We tried to capture this atmosphere in the lyrics and the music of our song 'Black Frost'. A sinister maelstrom."
In addition, Black Frost is now available for pre-order in various formats, here. Pre-order the album digitally to receive the title track instantly.
Tracklisting:
"Black Frost"
"Tears Of The Eyeless"
"The Aberrant Host"
"Feardom"
"Cipher"
"Resonance"
"Road To Perdition"
To celebrate, the band has just announced an album release show in Aurich, Germany, which will take place on January 10th at JUZ Schlachthof. Support will come from Apallic.
Tour dates (with Amorphis, Soilwork and Jinjer)
January
11 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle 2
12 - Nijmegen, Netherlands - Doornroosje
13 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
14 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio
15 - Stockholm, Seden - Fryshuset
16 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller Music Hall
18 - Hanover, Germany - Capitol
19 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
20 - Krakow, Poland - Klub Kwadrat
23 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Universiada Hall
25 - Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra Music Club
26 - Vienna, Austria - Arena
27 - Zlín, Czech Republic - Masters of Rock Café
28 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Majestic Music Club
29 - Berlin, Germany - Kesselhaus
30 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
February
1 - Geiselwind, Germany - MusicHall
2 - Cologne, Germany - Essigfabrik
3 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix Muziekcentrum
4 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
6 - Paris, France - Cabaret Sauvage
7 - Toulouse, France - Le Bikini
8 - Madrid, Spain - Mon
9 - Barcelona, Spain - Salamandra
10 - Lyon, France - Le Transbordeur
12 - Trezzo sull'Adda, Italy- Live Music Club
13 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
14 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
15 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
16 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
SLIPKNOT has set a new personal record on YouTube with the video for its latest song, "All Out Life". The clip, which was directed by the band's own M. Shawn Crahan, amassed 3.4 million views in the first 24 hours after the video was released. It debuts on the U.S. Top Music Videos chart at No. 84. Views on the video are currently approaching the 10-million mark.
According to ABC Radio, the record for most views in 24 hours for a music video belongs to K-pop superstars BTS, whose "Idol" video generated more than 45 million views in one day.
"All Out Life" will appear on SLIPKNOT's upcoming follow-up to 2014's ".5: The Gray Chapter" album, due next year via Roadrunner.
SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor told "Zane Lowe's World Record" about the lyrical inspiration for "All Out Life": "Everybody talks about toxic masculinity and toxic fandom these days. For me, it's more about this toxic idea that unless something came out 10 minutes ago, it's not any good, and that bothers me. It's, like, I love new music, but at the same time, don't turn your back on the music that's been. Don't turn your back on the people that worked to make a platform for you to have a platform in the first place, so for me, it's really about ... It's a rallying cry for everyone. It's about all of us getting together and saying, 'You know what? Let's not talk about old. Let's not talk about new. Let's talk about what is. Let's talk about what's good, what's real, and get behind that and start embracing things that matter because there's history there and not just because it's the next best thing.'"
b>Taylor went on to call the new album "one of the darkest chapters in SLIPKNOT's history — it's that good. It's complicated, it's dark, it's heavy, it's melodic, it's fierce, it's angry and it's real, it's raw as hell and it's gonna be talking about a lot of things that people are going to need in their life right now."
".5: The Gray Chapter" was released following a six-year hiatus during which founding SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray died and drummer Joey Jordison was dismissed.
".5: The Gray Chapter" sold around 132,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores in October 2014 via Roadrunner.
Gray died in 2010 from a drug overdose, while Jordison was let go in December 2013, just before SLIPKNOT began recording the last album.
Dallas, Texas metalcore band MEMPHIS MAY FIRE will release its new album, "Broken", on November 16 via Rise Records. The official music video for the disc's first single, "The Old Me", can be seen below.
"'The Old Me' is about my struggle with anxiety and depression," said singer Matty Mullins about the intensely personal song. "What feels like a war between good and evil, loathing the person I become mentally when it consumes me, and trying to remember what life was like before I lived with the symptoms. Ultimately hoping to one day become that person — 'The Old Me' — again."
"Broken" track listing:
01. The Old Me
02. Watch Out
03. Sell My Soul
04. Who I Am
05. Heavy Is The Weight
06. Over It
07. Fool
08. Mark My Words
09. You And Me
10. Live Another Day
b>MEMPHIS MAY FIRE will hit the road this fall, touring with ATREYU and ICE NINE KILLS.
Guitarist Anthony Sepe exited MEMPHIS MAY FIRE in early 2017 after a five-year stint with the band.
ASHES OF ARES, the band featuring former ICED EARTH members Matt Barlow and Freddie Vidales, has released a video for the song "The Alien". The clip was directed by David Brodsky for MyGoodEye. The track is taken from the band's second album, "Well Of Souls", which is being released today (Friday, November 9) via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records.
Barlow comments on the song: "'The Alien' is a tribute to Earth's original superhero. It's the story of our hero's relationship with his family, and a world that may never fully realize, his strength is matched only by his love of humanity."
"Well Of Souls" was recorded during June and July 2018 and was mixed and mastered in August 2018 at The Terrarium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All music and lyrics by were written by ASHES OF ARES except "You Know My Name", which was written by Chris Cornell and David Arnold.
"Well Of Souls" was recorded and mixed by Rob Oesterlin, and was mastered by Jacques Wait. The disc was produced by ASHES OF ARES and Rob Oesterlin and features artwork by Kamil Pietruczynik. Guest musicians on the album include Van Williams (GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS, ex-NEVERMORE) on drums and Jonah Weingarten (WE ARE SENTINELS, PYRAMAZE, TERAMAZE) on the keyboard intro composition.
b>"Well Of Souls" track listing:
01. Consuming The Mana
02. The Alien
03. Unworthy
04. Soul Searcher
05. Sun Dragon
06. Transcending
07. Let All Despair
08. In The Darkness
09. Spirit Of Man
10. Time Traveler
11. The God Of War
12. You Know My Name (bonus track)
Back in February 2017, ASHES OF ARES parted ways with Williams. His replacement has yet to be announced.
ASHES OF ARES's self-titled debut album was released in September 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded in part at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida with legendary producer Jim Morris (ICED EARTH, OBITUARY, JON OLIVA'S PAIN, JAG PANZER).
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