"California Son", the new video from heavy rockers LUCIFER, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Johanna Sadonis and Emil Klinta.
"California Son" is taken from LUCIFER's second studio album, "Lucifer II", which will be released on July 6 via Century Media Records.
Apart from a new label home, the follow-up to 2015's "Lucifer I" also marks the first studio release of the new LUCIFER incarnation now consisting of vocalist Johanna Sadonis, guitarist Robin Tidebrink, and multi-instrumentalist Nicke Andersson, who plays drums and also took over bass and guitar when recording "Lucifer II". The band's live lineup also features Martin Nordin (DEAD LORD) on guitar and bass player Alexander Mayr.
"Lucifer II" was recorded at the Honk Palace in Stockholm. It was mixed by Ola Ersfjord (DEAD LORD, TRIBULATION, PRIMORDIAL) at Cuervo Recording Service in Madrid.
Sadonis comments: "We are beyond thrilled to roll our heavy rock tank to the monster fortress of Century Media. What better place to kick off the new chapter! This should go together like Buck Dharma and his mustache. Here's to an unholy union!"
Jens Prüter, head of A&R at Century Media in Europe, adds: "We are very proud to support LUCIFER's next chapters. I met Johanna a couple of times and was always impressed about her strong vision for LUCIFER. The addition of Nicke Andersson makes it even more interesting, because he always contributed the highest level of rock 'n' roll to every band he has been involved in. Looking forward to see LUCIFER rising!"
Originally, LUCIFER formed in Berlin back in 2014 consisting of Sadonis and members of CATHEDRAL, ANGEL WITCH and LADYTRON. The first seven-inch single, "Anubis", and debut album, "Lucifer I", were released by British label Rise Above Records, quickly establishing the group as a promising new act offering excellent 1970s hard rock with a good dose of proto metal and doom added to the mix. Citing BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, LUCIFER'S FRIEND, STEPPENWOLF, 70's HEART and FLEETWOOD MAC as inspiration, LUCIFER corrupted the souls of many and achieved international recognition on tours through Europe, USA, Canada and Japan.
With a shift of constellation within the band in 2016 and Sadonis moving from Berlin to Stockholm, LUCIFER is now ready for an exciting new chapter in its career. With Nicke Andersson, Sadonis found a congenial new songwriting partner, and "Lucifer II" turns out to be a strong sonic statement.
As a first glimpse at what is to come, the doomy single "Faux Pharaoh" was released in December 2017 and can be heard below.
Next up is the launch of the album's opening track and first video, "California Son". The song will be released as a seven-inch via U.S. label Electric Assault and digital single via Century Media Records on May 4.
LUCIFER is already booked for a number of international festivals and concerts, like Psycho Las Vegas, Hellfest, Desertfest and Germany's cult TV show "Rockpalast".
"Feast Of Flesh", the new video from EXMORTUS, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's upcoming album, "The Sound Of Steel", which will be released on June 8 via Prosthetic.
EXMORTUS founder, vocalist and guitarist Jadren "Conan" Gonzalez said: "As some may have noticed on my personal page, I don't just post guitar or band stuff, but a lot of food pictures, and I'm no vegan.
"'Feast of Flesh' is a celebration of our carnal needs and desires. I'm not trying to make any political/environmental statements, but I feel this song expresses the ugly and brutal nature of humans and other animals. It ain't pretty, so we thought it would be fun to shoot the band chowing down on actual raw flesh fresh from the meat market. My girlfriend was willing to play the hapless victim of the carnage, which made the whole experience quite fun and yet funny since we were all trying to act and not laugh at the whole idea. The song itself is more of a caveman stompy headbanger so the music works beautifully with the lyrics and visuals in bloody harmony. So, sit back and enjoy the 'Feast Of Flesh'! Cheers!"
Produced by Zack Ohren (MACHINE HEAD, FALLUJAH, SUFFOCATION) at Sharkbite Studio, "The Sound Of Steel" delivers a visceral call to arms in a maelstrom of thrashing, neo-classical, blackened death as EXMORTUS tears fresh wounds into its ever-pioneering discography. Soaring to unprecedented heights, the ineffable kings of California thrash effortlessly mix sonic precision with raw, bloody savagery.
"The Sound Of Steel" will be released by Prosthetic worldwide except Japan, where it will be overseen by Marquee Inc. The effort will be available on all digital outlets, compact disc and LP, with 1,000 records being pressed initially in the follow colors:
* 250 battle axe blood splatter (Prosthetic webshop and sold by the band on tour)
* 250 blue and black marble (Prosthetic webshop and sold by the band on tour)
* 400 clear with blue and orange splatter (available in retail stores worldwide)
Miracle have released a video for "Night Sides", a track from their new album The Strife Of Love In A Dream, out now via Relapse Records. Watch the clip below.
This is the union of two artists with rich and unique trajectories in music. Steve Moore as one half of the progressive post-rock duo Zombi, composer of contemporary horror soundtracks including The Guest and The Mind’s Eye and solo producer of masterful synthesizer music cruising the hinterland of new-age kosmische, galactic disco and bakelite infused techno. Multi-instrumentalist Daniel O’Sullivan has explored the omniverse with a myriad of art rock luminaries including Ulver, Grumbling Fur, Æthenor, Sunn O))), Guapo, Mothlite and This Is Not This Heat. His solo career has seen him embark upon a bricolage of neo-classical composition, electroacoustic music, and luminous psychedelic songcraft.
On The Strife Of Love In A Dream (a title borrowed from the early renaissance allegorical novel ‘Hypnerotomachia Poliphili’), a haunted jukebox plays the soundtrack to a silvery universe of sulphurous canyons, lunar gardens and prismatic megastructures. A gothic psychodrama drawing on visions of the distant past and near future. Reconciling polarities of the arcane and the hypermodern, the sacred and the profane, the small and the infinite, the phantasmic and the familiar, paranoia and clarity.
Physical orders are available via Relapse.com here and digital downloads are available here.
Tracklisting:
"The Parsifal Gate"
"Light Mind"
"Night Sides"
"Sulfur"
"The Seventeen Nineties"
"Dreamours"
"Mind Environment"
"Angelix"
California-based hard rockers Motograter recently announced their upcoming spring and summer Desolatour dates, set to begin on May 6th in Las Vegas, NV. The tour will run through July 7th when the band performs at Mosh Out to the Masses festival in Muncie, IN. See below for all currently confirmed tour dates.
In advance of the tour, Motograter reveal a music video for their hard-hitting, melodic anthem "Daggers". The track can be heard on the band's 2017 full-length release, Desolation, released via Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson's EMP Label Group. Watch the video, directed by Matt Lord Zane in Los Angeles, below.
Guitarist Matthew "Nuke" Nunes says, "Firstly, we would have never been able to pull this off without the support of Mikey Doling at JaxxRock Ent and Angel Chavez at DW Drums. Shooting the 'Daggers' video was a great experience all around. We are very proud of what we were able to accomplish. The director Matt Lord Zane and crew - especially the amazing Laney Chantal (makeup/paint) - were nothing short of incredible to work with. We would be remiss to not give a huge shout out to Mike Tempesta at Jackson EVH for loaning us the awesome amps and heads. Motograter is truly excited to show the world something we feel is a true piece of art. See you on the road soon!"
Motograter's Desolatour dates are listed below.
Dates:
May
6 - Las Vegas, NV - Beauty Bar
7 - Bakersfield, CA - 1933
8 - Sacramento, CA - Holy Diver
9 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Lounge
10 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
12 - Idaho Falls, ID - The Gem
13 - Kennewick, WA - Eagles Lodge 2491
14 - Jerome, ID - Diamondz Event Center
15 - Lewiston, ID - 3rd Wheel
16 - Eugene, OR - W.O.W. Hall
18 - Fresno, CA - Full Circle Brewery
19 - West Hollywood, CA - The Viper Room
20 - Fullerton, CA - Slidebar
June
2 - Pipestem, WV - Metal In The Mountains
16 - Danville, IL - Slang Metal Fest - Shovelhead Saloon
July
7 - Muncie, IN - Mosh Out The Masses - The Water Bowl
Watch Motograter's official lyric video for the single "Parasite", directed by Brian Cox of Gemini Syndrome and Hollywood Undead:
Brutal death metal rulers Aborted have released a new video clip for the song “Fallacious Crescendo”, taken from their Bathos EP (2017). The video was shot at Aborted’s impressive live appearance on last year’s Wacken Open Air and presents the band in flawless shape. Behold:
Aborted’s new studio album TerrorVision is about to be finished in May. The release date is set for September 22nd. We dare to say that this new work of relentless brutality is going to have no equals. If you loved Retrogore and Bathos, you will surely worship TerrorVision. More news in the upcoming weeks.
Shortly after the release of the new album Aborted will start the Hell Over Europe II headline tour, supported by Cryptopsy, Benighted and Cytotoxin.
Tour dates:
November
1 - Leeuwaarden, Netherlands - Neushoorn
2 - Mulhouse, France - Noumatrouff
3 - Sint Niklaas, Belgium - Casino
4 - St. Brieuc, France - La Citrouille
5 - Paris, France - Petit Bain
7 - Nantes, France - Le Ferrailieur
8 - Biarritz, France - Atabal
9 - Madrid, Spain - Caracol
10 - Barcelona, Spain - Boveda
11 - Lyon, France - CCO
12 - Brescia, Italy - Circolo Colony
13 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Orto Bar
14 - Fribourg, Switzerland - Fri-Son
15 - Vienna, Austria - Arena
16 - Munich, Germany - Feierwerk
17 - Uherske, Switzerland - Hradiste Mir
18 - Prague, Czech Republic - Futurum
19 - Poznan, Poland - Klub Y Bazyla
20 - Berlin, Germany - Cassiopeia
21 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumphuset
22 - Hamburg, Germany - Bambi Galore
23 - Essen, Germany - Turock
24 - Weinheim, Germany - Café Central
25 - Eindhoven, Netherlands Dynamo
Aborted lineup:
Sven De Caluwe: Gurgloroth
Mendel Bij De Leij: Flesh Upon The Razor Wire
Stefano Francescini: Nocturnal Pulse
Ken Bedene: Hymen Blaster
Ian Jelekis: Immaculate Resection
Singer/guitarist Zach Slaughter (frontman for Skull Fist) has announced his new project, Freedumb. The musical style includes punk, acoustic, doom and traditional metal all combined with a cheeky sense of humour. The debut album Skate N Die will be released on May 18th via Boonsdale Records.
Zach Slaughter comments: "Since we're pulling a chinese democracy on the new Skull Fist album I decided to say goodbye to any credibility I have left. Nine tracks of pure bullshit. From doom or punk to classic heavy metal with some high notes and a few guitar solos... I think I might need to start drinking again?"
Check out the official video for "S.O.S. (Soldier of Satan)"
Freedumb’s debut release unleashes nine tracks of high energy punk/metal in the vein of Candlemass, Bad Religion, Dead Kennedys, Skull Fist, trademarked with Zach’s unique vocal style along with metal elements and virtuoso guitar solos, plus the lyrical humour of NOFX / Frank Zappa. Skate N Die offers an alternate approach to mainstream music that can give attention to the counter culture of today’s social circles.
Tracklisting:
"Punch Patrol"
"S.O.S."
"Shark Attack"
"Grand Canyon"
"Jerkathon"
"Skate N Die"
"Anarchy Will Prevail"
"Street Surfing Man"
"Finding Emo"
Cult Swedish metal band ICE AGE has released the official music video for the song "Clever". The track is taken from the group's debut album, "Breaking The Ice", which came out last October via GMR/PHD. The disc, which was laid down at Gothenburg Rock Studios, features re-recorded versions of five classic songs from the original demos plus five brand new songs.
Regarding the video for "Clever", frontwoman Sabrina Kihlstrand says: "We are incredibly happy to present our second video from our album 'Breaking The Ice'. The video is directed by Berget Bergman (MMI, REIGNSAW) and was filmed during our Scandinavian tour with REIGNSAW and F.K.Ü. The song itself is about being let down by a friend from an ironic perspective."
As one of the more acclaimed thrash bands in Europe during the 1980s, it was nothing short of criminal that the all-female lineup ICE AGE never got to release any material except via their classic demo tapes.
ICE AGE's current lineup consists of original members Sabrina Kihlstrand (rhythm guitar and vocals) and Viktoria Larsson (bass), alongside André Holmqvist (drums) and Linnéa Landstedt (lead guitar).
ICE AGE, from Gothenburg in Sweden, was formed in January 1985 by Kihlstrand and Pia Nyström, who met through an ad in a music store. The band lineup was completed with Sabrina's sister, Helena, and Tina Strömberg behind the drums.
During the band's early stages, they were more power metal-oriented, and this sound fed through their first demo, "Rock Solid", (which was the band's original short-lived name before changing to ICE AGE — something more akin with their origins in the cold winters of Scandinavia).
There then came the first of the band's lineup changes when Helena passed over her bass duties to Larsson at the end of 1986.
Their sound gradually became more raw, which distanced them from the more standard metal riffs of IRON MAIDEN and QUEENSRŸCHE, and more towards the thrash style of early MEGADETH and METALLICA.
ICE AGE played very technical thrash, which can be heard in their demos "General Alert" (1987) and another that was untitled (1988).
The band toured in several countries and played many festivals, including the well-known Open Air in Lamone, Switzerland, in front of five thousand people. They also played the legendary Marquee club in London.
The four Swedes gradually gained more and more popularity, which surged after the recording of their next demo, "Instant Justice", in 1989.
Midway through their next tour came a major problem though: vocalist Sabrina left the band due to irreconcilable problems with the band's then-manager.
Curiously, it wasn't one but two new members that replaced her: the Italian guitarist Isabella Fronzoni and American Debbie Gunn on vocals. This lineup existed only for six months and yet again, problems with the bands then-manager were too difficult to repair.
Finally, ICE AGE split in 1990 after having sold thousands of copies of their demos.
Over the years, the interest from fans worldwide has remained, and although ICE AGE may have long been split, they have not been forgotten.
IN THIS MOMENT has released the official music video for the song "Black Wedding". The track, which features a guest appearance by JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford, is taken from IN THIS MOMENT's latest album, "Ritual", which came out last July. The clip was co-directed by frontwoman Maria Brink and Robert John Kley and features a gloriously wicked and thoroughly dark take on the traditional matrimonial ceremony.
Brink said that having Halford guest on "Ritual" was "an honor." She also told "DOMKcast" that the PRIEST singer added his vocals after all the other parts were already laid down.
"We actually recorded the song first, we had all of our stuff on it, and then he came in afterward and put his parts into it," she said. "But we had already kind of shown him [how we wanted it to sound]."
According to Brink, "it's pretty common nowadays" for musicians to collaborate on records without actually being in the studio together, "because artists are always doing something — some of them are on tour" or in different parts of the world. "When I did our song on our last album with Brent [Smith] from SHINEDOWN, it was the same thing — we weren't in the studio at the same time," she said. "I wish we could be in the studio at the same time — it feels like it could be more connecting or something like that — but it went down this way. But it doesn't matter."
Maria added that "Black Wedding" is "definitely gonna be a single. And I think that's gonna be a favorite, for sure, on this album. And we're honored to have [Rob] be a part of it. He's a legend. So we're so excited. We became friends with him, and what an honor to have him be a part of it."
IN THIS MOMENT guitarist Chris Howorth told Metal Wani in an interview that Halford was a natural choice for the "Black Wedding" track.
"Maria was doing the lyrics — and it's almost like a duet, but she's singing to herself with the mother and the priest and we're, like, 'Rob Halford is the priest! He would be the coolest dude ever to have on this song.'
"A couple of years ago, he actually expressed interest in our band and came to see us. It blew our minds completely. We became friends with him from that point.
"He's been super influential to us and when we were doing the song, Maria was, like, 'I'm going to see if Rob's interested,' and he jumped right on it. It's so cool to have him on this song with us."
"Ritual" was released via Atlantic Records in partnership with Roadrunner Records.
"Prey", the new Neal Walters-directed video from the Australian metal band PARKWAY DRIVE, can be seen below. The song is taken from the group's upcoming studio album, "Reverence", which will be released on May 4 via Epitaph Records.
Frontman Winston McCall stated about the follow-up to 2015's "Ire": "'Reverence' represents the most honest and personal record we have ever created. It has been born through pain, sacrifice, and conviction, with the ultimate goal of expanding not only what PARKWAY DRIVE stand for musically, but who we are as people."
Regarding the album title, McCall told Rock Sound: "'Reverence' is basically making the most of what you have and the time you have, and being conscious of it. It's quite simply that. It comes from a very dark place and the revelation of that came from a very dark place too. It's the fact that what you have can be gone very quickly. You have no idea how fast it can all come crashing down. It's simply taking the time to realise just what you have, because, at the end of the day, time is the only thing that's worth anything. You can't buy it."
McCall also spoke about PARKWAY DRIVE's musical evolution, saying: "Very early on, we were, like, 'Let's just write whatever the hell we want.' 'Ire' was written in a way where we were searching for reinvention. It was really difficult and stressful. It was breaking our old walls down and forging something new out of it for us. Trying to find what we really liked and what we still loved and fusing the two together. It was going somewhere too scary for us too. So this time around, coming off the back of 'Ire', which is the most successful thing we've ever created, it was just us saying that we're going to do whatever the fuck we want. It was really awesome and it made writing the album really easy musically. We were so terrified. The band became far more successful than we ever hoped, and we were like, 'Shit! Do we stop now?' 'Vice Grip' was the 'what the fuck' moment, then the rest of it everyone was, like, 'Yeah, I get it.' This record, though, there is far more variation, but there isn't going to be anything that shocks anyone. PARKWAY DRIVE is still there, but we are there in a far different way."
"Reverence" track listing:
01. Wishing Wells
02. Prey
03. Absolute Power
04. Cemetery Bloom
05. The Void
06. I Hope You Rot
07. Shadow Boxing
08. In Blood
09. Chronos
10. The Colour Of Leaving
PARKWAY DRIVE is McCall, guitarists Luke Kilpatrick and Jeff Ling, bassist Jia O'Connor and drummer Ben Gordon.
Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE have released the official music video for their new single, "Over It". The song is taken from the band's sixth studio album, "Gravity", which will be made available on June 29.
The "Over It" clip was directed by Stuart T. Birchall of Numinous Pictures.
"Gravity" will be issued through BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's new label home, Search And Destroy, the imprint launched in 2014 by Spinefarm and international artist management company Raw Power Management. The follow-up to 2015's "Venom" marks BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's full-length recording debut with new drummer Jason Bowld (PITCHSHIFTER, AXEWOUND), who has been touring with the group for the past two years, and bassist Jamie Mathias (formerly of REVOKER), who joined the band after the last disc was completed.
"Over the last 12 months, I've been thinking about the word 'contemporary' a lot," singer/guitarist Matt Tuck says. "And I feel this is a contemporary record. It's not an old-school, heart-on-your-sleeve influences thing. We've done that so let's move forward and make the band more interesting. We don't want to alienate anyone… but we don't want to write the same shit anymore. Metalheads will enjoy this. I actually feel the softer electronic parts make the heavy moments even more crushing. It's about engaging the listener and taking them on a journey, messing with their heads a bit…"
The three years since "Venom" haven't been easy for BFMV's commander-in-chief. But instead of falling deeper down a tunnel of self-despair, he channelled his life experiences into art like never before. It would be one of the most introspective and revelatory processes of his life — by his own admission, a personal and creative evolution that simply needed to happen…
"This is me pouring my heart out into song," continues Matt. "It's all about that journey. I picked up my guitar, even though I didn't really want to, and it's like I couldn't stop it, like I couldn't fight it… Something boldly experimental can't be done on a whim, we had to be comfortable and eventually we got there. The album is so up and down, so positive on tracks like 'Not Dead Yet', which is all about seizing the day and catching the moment. Then 'Under Again' is all about the crushing depression I had about a year ago. The whole thing captures the character of… well, me — with some help from [producer] Carl Bown. There's so much weight to this music without being complicated. That's exactly what this album is: very uncomplicated."
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE recently completed an extensive American tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BREAKING BENJAMIN.
Canadian hardcore metal punks CANCER BATS have just released an animated video for "Gatekeeper". Directed by Stevie Gee and written by Gee and Essy May, who both worked on MASTODON's "Steambreather", the super-awesome '80s-inspired animated short features motorbike-riding ghouls, a sorcerer and the CANCER BATS performing in a crystal ball.
"'Gatekeeper' is one of the best tracks off the new album so I was so stoked to be making a video for it," says Stevie Gee. "I've been wanting to make a goofball violent '80s cartoon for a while so I was super happy to do that for my friends, the CANCER BATS. Hail destroyer!"
Of the video, lead vocalist Liam Joseph Cormier says: "We are way too excited to release one of the greatest videos we have had the pleasure of being connected to. We cannot take any credit for it, Stevie Gee is the creative mastermind behind the whole thing and he drew all of it!!"
Lifted from the CANCER BATS' sixth album, "The Spark That Moves", "the song is about those people we have the misfortune of crossing paths with in our lives, who use lies schemes and deceit to make their way through this world," says Cormier. "Everyone has a choice and its theirs to continue down this path that will never work out for them. They are the gate keepers to their own future."
CANCER BATS surprise-released "The Spark That Moves" on April 20 through the band's own record label Bat Skull Records in partnership with New Damage Records in Canada and the U.S.
"We were just tired of waiting," said Cormier. "We spent all of 2017 working hard on this album, all while playing shows and talking with our fans, who were constantly asking, 'When can we hear new music?' We figured why make anyone wait any longer, let's just drop the entire new album all at once," Cormier enthused. "I know as a fan, I just want to hear everything right away, let me buy the record right now! We figured, why not release our own music the way we want."
On top of releasing all 11 tracks off of their new record, CANCER BATS decided to pull "a bit of a Beyonce" and have dropped a music video for every song on the album.
"The Spark That Moves" track listing:
01. Gatekeeper
02. Brightest Days
03. We Run Free
04. Space & Time
05. Bed of Nails
06. Headwound
07. Fear Will Kill Us All
08. Rattlesnake
09. Can’t Sleep
10. Heads Will Roll
11. Winterpeg
"The Spark That Moves" follows the band's critically successful album "Searching For Zero" (2015), which landed CANCER BATS their fourth Juno Award nomination for Metal/Hard Music Album. Recorded in Winnipeg, Manitoba under the watchful eyes and ears of JP Peters (PROPAGANDHI) at his studio Private Ear and mixed by longtime collaborator and award-winning producer Eric Ratz (producer of "Hail Destroyer", "Bears Mayors Scraps & Bones" and "Dead Set On Living"), "The Spark That Moves" is CANCER BATS at its finest. Combining all of the elements from the band's last five releases, the 11 tracks that make up the album blend together the group's most melodic moments with their most aggressive, becoming a savage sprint of hardcore, punk, sludge, and metal that leaves the listener craving more. Drummer Mike Peters and lead bass player Jaye Schwarzer seamlessly collide together like two wild beasts, while guitarist Scott Middleton blasts his signature layers of squeals and destruction over top. All of this thunderously led by singer Cormier's now fully formed melodic growl as he fires both positive, inspiring lyrics and scorching damnation as displayed on album opener "Gate Keeper". Without skipping a beat, they fire on track 2, "Brightest Days", shifting back to a classic BATS positive party anthem. The record seamlessly keeps this pace of raw, catchy, anthemic, metal and punk. Halfway through it breathes with the melodic standout "Bed Of Nails", a touch of desert rock they add into the mix before diving back into the chaos that is "Head Wound". This pace continues right until the crushing album closer "Winterpeg", an ode to the very city they recorded in, featuring guest vocals from Chris Hannah of the legendary Winnipeg punk band PROPAGANDHI.
Swedish metallers ENTOMBED A.D. recently entered the studio to begin recording their third album for a tentative late 2018 release.
A short clip from the studio can be seen below.
ENTOMBED A.D.'s second album, "Dead Dawn", was released in February 2016 via Century Media.
Last fall, vocalist Lars-Göran "LG" Petrov spoke to Finland's Rauta about ENTOMBED's decision to release change its name to ENTOMBED A.D. in order to avoid a legal battle with ENTOMBED guitarist Alex Hellid who didn't want his former bandmates to use the ENTOMBED moniker.
"[ENTOMBED and ENTOMBED A.D. are] the same thing — just some minor complications on the way," he said. "But we are here and playing music and headbanging, and that's the most important. But it's the same. It's the same."
Petrov added that he and his bandmates "don't think about" the slight alteration in the group's name. "We just let it roll. As long as we are out, nobody can stop us."
Asked what inspires him to make music and write lyrics these days, Petrov said: "It's boring to sit at home. [Laughs] No, you can always be productive and be out on tour and have no sleep. But that all doesn't matter when you come to the show and you see your brothers in metal. Then it's all worth it."
On the topic of ENTOMBED's musical evolution over the years, Petrov said: "As you go on in life, you experience new things, you wanna try out other things, and ENTOMBED has always tried to do that. Maybe more than for our own good sometimes, but now we're just going straightforward and we just do it again — over and over again. And as long as you don't get tired of it, you just continue. If you get tired of it, you should quit. You don't do it because… If you don't like it, step aside and let it roll."
GHOST has set "Prequelle" as the title of its new album, due on June 1 via Loma Vista Recordings. The disc was recorded last year at Artery studios in Stockholm with producer Tom Dalgety (OPETH, ROYAL BLOOD) and was mixed in January at Westlake Studios in West Hollywood, California with Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, SLAYER).
The official video for the disc's first single, "Rats", can be seen below.
"Prequelle" track listing:
01. Ashes
02. Rats
03. Faith
04. See The Light
05. Miasma
06. Dance Macabre
07. Pro Memoria
08. Witch Image
09. Helvetesfönster
10. Life Eternal
"Prequelle" marks the introduction of GHOST's new leader, Cardinal Copia, who made his live debut with the band on April 6 at a private, three-song acoustic performance in Chicago.
The last Papa, Papa Emeritus III, was forcibly taken from the stage during the final show of the band's "Meliora" tour cycle last fall, with Papa Zero arriving to announce the beginning of "the Middle Ages." Of course, all the Papas — except the elder Zero — and Cardinal Copia are the same man, GHOST founder and vocalist Tobias Forge.
Forge's new alter ego will play his first full live show with GHOST on May 5 as the Swedish band kicks off a run of North American dates in Riverside, California.
Forge told Revolver about "Prequelle": "It is loosely themed around the concept of death and doom. It's a themed album around medieval times, but it's definitely clinging onto a lot of very current things. The Black Death [plague] is a great example of a turning point for a whole civilization. Complete villages were annihilated. Most people knew very little, so all of it was God or the Devil — and about their faith being questioned: Why are we being stricken down by this great scourge? It must be because of our not fearing God enough and all this superstitious bullshit.
"There's a lot that you would recognize today in online mannerisms," he continued. "In many ways, we've gone back a few steps because now it's closer to how it was back in the old days when people were standing at the square and all of a sudden, it's like in Monty Python's 'Life Of Brian': 'Stone him! Ra! Ra! Ra!' Public trials are very unsupervised and extremely swift and speak to the most primordial parts of us."
In a separate interview with Metal Hammer, Forge talked about the musical direction of "Prequelle", saying: "It's a very bright-sounding record. And it's a very heavy record, I'd say, but not from a Metal Hammer point of view, meaning all metal through and through. But it's a heavy record with a heavy theme. I think the overall ambience is very serious.
"Technically, a GHOST song could just be piano and vocals but it could also be full pounding, heavy-thrashing hard rock," he added. "I'm not in any way comparing us to them but I guess our modus operandi is a little like what QUEEN did — just decide to play really good songs and not focus too much on sticking to a recipe."
Forge last year revealed his identity while responding to a lawsuit filed by four former members of GHOST, who accused him of cheating them out of their rightful share of the profits from the group's album releases and world tours.
Swedish metal act Follow The Cipher have released a video for "Carolus Rex", a track from the band's upcoming self-titled debut album, which will be available on May 11th through Nuclear Blast. Watch the video below, and pre-order the album here.
Follow The Cipher tracklisting:
"Enter The Cipher"
"Valkyria"
"My Soldier"
"Winterfall"
"Titan's Call"
"The Rising"
"A Mind's Escape"
"Play With Fire"
"I Revive"
"Starlight"
"Carolus Rex"
Bonus DVD
"Valkyria" - Music Video
"Carolus Rex" - Music Video
"A Mind's Escape" - Lyric Video
"The Rising" - Lyric Video
"Enter The Cipher" - Live from Masters of Rock
"My Soldier" - Live from Masters of Rock
"A Mind's Escape" - Live from Masters of Rock
"Winterfall" - Live from Masters of Rock
"I Revive" - Live from Masters of Rock
"My Soldier" - Live from Falkenberg w/ studio sound
"Carolus Rex" - Live from SOA w/ camera sound
Presentation - Ken Kängström
Band Interview
Masters Of Rock - Vlog
Sabaton Open Air - Vlog
Behind The Music Videos - Vlog
"Carolus Rex" video:
"Valkyria" video:
"The Rising" lyric video:
Trailer #1:
Trailer #2:
Trailer #3:
Follow The Cipher live dates:
June
1-3 - Pilsen, Czech Republic - Metalfest Open Air
21 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
Unprocessed have released a video for "Ghilan", a track from the upcoming album Covenant (Long Branch Records). Watch the clip below.
Unprocessed is a progressive metal band hailing from Hessias central City Wiesbaden in Germany. Ever since the band was founded in 2014, Unprocessed has shared the stage with bands like Monuments, Betraying The Martyrs, Being As An Ocean, Napoleon, and As They Burn, went on a first EU tour and played numerous shows in and around Germany, promoting the first releases, In Concretion (2014) and Perception (2016).
Unprocessed's sound features insanely fast palm muted, chugged guitar-riffs and shredding solos that meet soundscapes from another dimension, guttural vocals that are contrasted by lucid and melodic clean singing. A sharp bass tone and groovy, yet detail oriented drum-lines form a massive rhythm section and add a lot of pressure to the bands overall sound. This mixture shows that this young band is ready to conquer the scene.
The official video for the song "Immortal" from German metallers CREMATORY, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's new album, "Oblivion", which is being released today (Friday, April 13).
Like all great rock bands, CREMATORY has based its success on the creativity of a well-rehearsed songwriting team. With Germany's leading gothic metal act, it's drummer Markus Jüllich in collaboration with the producer of each individual album that's kept the group's compositions on course for more than 25 years. At the same time, Markus Jüllich has enough experience to know that the band's evolvement depends on fresh ideas and new influences. So, by enlisting guitarists Tosse Basler and Rolf Munkes and, soon after, bassist Jason Mathias he has ensured that the band has remained contemporary and diverse ever since their 2016 release "Monument", reaping the fruits his efforts on "Oblivion".
"In particular, the sound and the selection of songs reflect the impact our three new band members have had," comments Markus Jüllich. "Tosse is a fantastic rhythm guitarist who adds even more diversity to the material with his clean vocals, and our lead guitarist Rolf enhances the record with his solos. Jason has added lots of drive to the deep frequencies, which is why we've consciously opted for a loud mix of the bass parts."
Along with Markus's wife Katrin (keyboards and samples) and vocalist Felix Stass, the three new additions are important factors that ensure that CREMATORY find themselves in a contemporary and forward-looking position in 2018.
In fact, the band went one step further on "Oblivion": while Markus Jüllich and producer Kristian Bonifer were busy working on the basics of their new recording at the Kohlekellerstudio, Stefan Glass, Dirk Riegner and Walter Stobbe were asked to contribute additional input to the creative process.
"Dirk comes from the indie genre and helped to add an important new nuance to the characteristic CREMATORY approach," Markus Jüllich explains. "Stefan Glass is a specialist for orchestral arrangements and Walter Stobbe is a real riff virtuoso on the guitar." The result is thoroughly compelling as well as ingenious. CREMATORY's unmistakable style manifests itself on programmatic numbers such as "Ghost Of The Past" and "Revenge Is Mine", but also on the anthemnic "Wrong Side" and the melancholy title track. The Stefan Glass-inspired orchestral arrangements can be heard on the dark opener "Salvation" as well as on "Until The Dawn", "Blessed" and "For All Of Us". Walter Stobbe's penchant for heavy metal features on "Cemetary Stillness" and on the album's impressive finale, "Demon Inside".
CREMATORY has rarely sounded as multi-faceted and timeless as on "Oblivion". The group's classic trademarks, such as Felix Stass's deep growls, are still present, at the same time new influences emphasise their great commercial potential. Markus Jüllich says: "So far we've had a special motto to set the direction of each of our albums, but 'Oblivion' simply combines all our strengths and experience. Over the years we've learned to blend different styles into the typical CREMATORY sound without ever losing sight of the importance of playing in a way that benefits our music. The motto 'less is more' applies to our compositions 100 percent. CREMATORY songs never lose themselves in exaggerated effects but always go the whole hog. That's partly due to the fact that we've remained very much down to earth."
Which is exactly what CREMATORY's countless fans will be able to witness when the band embarks on its 15-show tour of Germany at the end of April. As Markus Jüllich aptly puts it: "Even if we know exactly what matters when you tour, we want to learn something new with every new concert."
GONE IS GONE, the project featuring MASTODON's Troy Sanders, AT THE DRIVE-IN's Tony Hajjar, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's Troy Van Leeuwen and guitarist-keyboardist Mike Zarin, has released the video for "Phantom Limb". It's a visual feat, like a watercolor painting come to life and set to the beautiful, dirge-like music. It was directed and edited by Bryan Bankovich and produced by Meredith Kooi.
"'Phantom Limb' is a tale of seek and find," says Sanders. "The song explores a cause of sensation and is inspired by one's ability to overcome what was once there."
He continues: "We shot this in one beatiful day amongst the ruins of Fort Dade on the isolated island of Egmont Key in the Gulf of Mexico. It was filmed with our good friends at Newmerica, which was once again a most pleasurable experience."
GONE IS GONE released "Phantom Limb" last November as part of a seven-inch red vinyl single for Record Store Day's Black Friday.
GONE IS GONE's debut album, "Echolocation", entered Billboard's Heatseekers Chart at No. 3.
Hailed by Clash as "a crisp, compact document, one laced with energy and sweeping songwriting," "Echolocation" was produced by the band and mixed by Ken Andrews (BECK, A PERFECT CIRCLE).
GONE IS GONE was formed by multi-instrumentalist Mike Zarin and Hajjar, who previously collaborated on various film trailer projects for Sencit, Zarin's music production, licensing and supervision company. Together they've put together a wildly diverse sound production resume that includes trailers for the Internet-breaking television series "Stranger Things", Christopher Nolan's 2010 sci-fi thriller "Inception", multi-Emmy-winning television series "Game Of Thrones" and the Marvel Comics blockbuster film "X-Men Apocalypse", to name but a few. They brought in Troy Van Leeuwen, known for his work with QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, FAILURE, A PERFECT CIRCLE, EAGLES OF DEATH METAL and SWEETHEAD, who, in turn, brought in Troy Sanders from multi-Grammy nominees MASTODON.
UK rockers City Of Thieves will release their new album, Beast Reality, on October 12th. Pre-order the album here, and check out a music video for the first single "Buzzed Up City" below.
The buzz has been spreading about City Of Thieves - no frills, no messin' around, no gimmicks - it is heavy rock in it's purest form and will send you running straight to the front of the stage with no-nonsense sledgehammer riffs, hooks and melodies.
Working with acclaimed artist and producer Toby Jepson (Little Angels, The Answer, Wayward Sons), City Of Thieves frontman/bassist Jamie Lailey knew at an early stage the band wanted to take rock by the scruff of it's neck and give it a good shake. "We knew what we wanted to do, we'd been devouring the songwriting and if we were inclined, we could have released a ton of material out of the gate. Toby took what we had and refined it. I'm glad we sat back and digested things with him, it was a major turning point for the band."
With producer Toby Jepson at the helm, Mike Fraser on mixing duties and mastering by Simon Francis (Kodaline, Kaiser Chiefs, Primal Scream) the presentation of this new material was in the best of hands.
When asked what he thought about City Of Thieves, Mike Fraser simply replied, "Killer band... killer songs". This is not a throwaway comment, this is from a true craftsman who has worked on albums for Metallica, AC/DC, Slipknot, Aerosmith, and more.
So what about the songs? "The new material has bags of groove, different speeds and attitude. We mix it up but keep it genuine and made sure everything flows. Why play something that's monotonous, I'm not saying we're reinventing the wheel but if you think your own music is boring, why inflict that on your audience?" says Will Richards (drums). "We can't wait to unleash the other tunes and get on the road to play live," chips in Lailey.
Tracklisting:
"Reality Bites"
"Fuel And Alcohol"
"Buzzed Up City"
"Lay Me To Waste"
"Control"
"Incinerator"
"Animal"
"Right To Silence"
"Born To Be Great"
"Damage"
"Give It Away"
"Something Of Nothing"
"Buzzed Up City" video:
Lineup:
Jamie Lailey - Bass/Vocals
Ben Austwick - Guitar
Will Richards - Drums
"Gallows Tree", the new video from Swedish metallers ENGEL, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's fifth studio album, "Abandon All Hope", which will be released on May 11 via Gain.
Recorded and mixed at Crehate Studios in Gothenburg by Oscar Nilsson, Marcus Sunesson, Mikael Sehlin and Steve Drennan, together with musical director Niclas Engelin (also of IN FLAMES), "Abandon All Hope" was mastered at Panic Room by Thomas "Plec" Johansson. The collaboration was fruitful, resulting in what is probably ENGEL's strongest album to date.
Engelin comments: "When people hear this album, I think they're going to instantly know that it's the new ENGEL without us repeating the same song over and over, and that's something the band is incredibly proud of."
Doomsday Outlaw will release their new album, Hard Times, on May 11th. The band have released a video for the song "Bring It On Home", which is available for streaming below. Order the album here, or via PledgeMusic.
Doomsday Outlaw is a ten-legged hard rock, blues tinged juggernaut based in darkest Derbyshire. Coupling huge riffs and killer grooves with soaring, soulful vocals to deliver timeless tales of heartbreak and redemption, the group is set to show off its distinctive sound to the legions of hard rock faithful around the globe via a new album, Hard Times, which is set for worldwide release in May.
Doomsday Outlaw vocalist Phil Poole says: "Not wanting to sound clichéd, but we’re so excited to be sharing our new album with the world. We’ve given everything to create something we are really proud of and having the opportunity to share it is really what's it's all about. Whether you buy the record, just listen to it, or come and see us live, getting feedback from fans is amazing and is a feeling that never gets old. This is a big year for us and we can't wait to get cracking. Look out for some big announcements coming your way and we'll see you on the road! Much love."
Drummer John Willis adds : “Phil is our ace in the hole. Everything else was in place with the songwriting and performance, but Phil has helped take the band to the next level.”
Poole joined the already well-oiled quartet of Steve Broughton and Gavin Mills (guitars), John ‘Ironfoot' Willis (drums) and Indy (bass) in June 2015, after which the band really gelled as a cohesive unit. Wasting no time in crafting a killer new set, they subsequently hit the road and have shared stages with the likes of Stone Broken, Warrior Soul, Vintage Caravan and Electric Boys.
Tracklisting:
"Hard Times"
"Over And Over"
"Spirit That Made Me"
"Into The Light"
"Bring It On Home"
"Days Since I Saw The Sun"
"Will You Wait"
"Break You"
"Come My Way"
"Were You Ever Mine"
"Too Far Left To Fall"
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