Minneapolis, MN-based progressive/technical death metal group, Reaping Asmodeia, will kick off their upcoming North American tour with headliners Inanimate Existence on June 16th in Sacramento, CA. The tour will visit several cities before coming to a close in Monterey, CA on July 1st, with select solo Reaping Asmodeia dates scheduled afterward. See below for all currently confirmed tour dates.
In anticipation of the tour, the crushingly heavy four-piece have revealed a brand new music video for their track "Carnal Declivity", cut from their February 2017 Prosthetic Records release, Impuritize. Check out the music video below.
Tour Dates (with Inanimate Existence):
June
16 - Sacramento, CA - Starlite Lounge
17 - Bend, OR - 3rd Street Pub
18 - Portland, OR - The Analog Cafe
19 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
20 - Vancouver, BC - Astoria Pub
21 - Nelson, BC - The Royal
22 - Spokane, WA - The Pin!
23 - Boise, ID - The Shredder
24 - South Lake Tahoe, CA - American Legion
25 - Las Vegas, NV - Adrenaline Sports Bar & Grill
27 - Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction
28 - Hollywood, CA - Whisky A Go Go
29 - San Diego, CA - The Merrow
30 - Fresno, CA - Full Circle Brewery
July
1 - Monterey, CA - Planet Gemini
3 - Salt Lake City, UT - Loading Dock (no Inanimate Existence)
5 - Thornton, CO - Trailside Saloon (no Inanimate Existence)
6 - Kansas City, KS - The Riot Room (no Inanimate Existence)
Swedish melodic metallers, Narnia, are back with a new, self-titled album, to be released on July 21st via Massacre Records. A first impression comes in form of the official video for the single "Thank You", which you can watch below.
The new album was mixed and mastered by Thomas "Plec" Johansson. The cover artwork was created by Markus Sigfridsson.
Narnia will be available as a digipak CD with exclusive bonus tracks. Additional details will be released soon.
Tour dates:
July
8 - Halmstad, Sweden - Gullbrannafestivalen
August
4 - Rejmyre, Sweden - Skogsröjet Festival
18 - Falun, Sweden - Sabaton Open Air
19 - Sävsjö, Sweden - Sävsjö Celebration
A video for “Born Free”, from Halloween founding member Kai Hansen’s show at last year’s Wacken Open Air festival, is available for streaming below. “Born Free” is the opening track on Hansen & Friends - Thank You Waken Live, due for release on June 23rd.
The following formats will be released: Digital, CD+DVD, LP, and Blu-Ray+CD.
Filmed and recorded on a muddy vibrant summer evening at last year’s Wacken Open Air Festival, Thank You Wacken is a unique snapshot in time as this was the first and only performance of Kai Hansen’s band, with whom he recorded and co-wrote his 2016 solo debut XXX – Three Decades In Metal.
He was joined on stage by Alex Dietz on bass (Heaven Shall Burn), Eike Freese on guitar (Dark Age), Michael Ehré (Gamma Ray) on drums, Corvin Bahn on keys (Crystal Breed), Clémentine Delauney (Visions Of Atlantis) and Frank Beck (Gamma Ray) on backing vocals.
A special treat was the performance of Michael Kiske (Helloween, Unisonic) who joined Kai on stage to perform Helloween classics that for a few minutes set Wacken on fire.
Tracklisting:
“Born Free”
“Ride The Sky” (Hellowen cover)
“Contract Song”
“Victim Of Fate” (Hellowen cover)
“Enemies Of Fun”
“Fire & Ice”
“Burning Bridges”
“Follow The Sun”
“I Want Out” (Hellowen cover)
“Future World” (Hellowen cover)
“All Or Nothing”
“Save Us” (Hellowen cover)
Texas power metal kings Helstar have released the video for “Awaken Unto Darkness”, the new single from their current LP Vampiro, a continuation of their classic 1989 Metal Blade release Nosferatu.
Preorder a limited edition copy of Vampiro on blood-red double gatefold vinyl. Order now and receive your copy by early June. A very limited amount will be available from retail and direct from EMP Merch. Order now. The album will also see a 2017 Russian release through Fono Records.
Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes has released the official video for the song "T.F.M.F.". The track is taken from his latest album, "Shitting Bricks", which was released in 2015 via M & O Music. Having first toured Europe last year, Holmes's new band, MEAN MAN, plays no less than seven W.A.S.P. classics in its set and includes a crowd invitation to three members of the audience to come and join in on "I Wanna Be Somebody", promising for a very memorable night. Free meet-and-greets are organized at the end of each gig at the merch booth.
In an interview with Noisey, Holmes talked about his decision to move to France back in 2014. He said: "My wife is from France. But since I left W.A.S.P. I dangled around in L.A., trying to find musicians to play with, but it just didn't work out. The change of culture in the last ten years… My kind of music isn't played that much — not like it was in the '80s."
He continued: "[A few] years ago, I pulled into a 7-11, and this kid got out of his car. He wasn't listening to rock. When I was his age, that's all I listened to. That made me realize the kind of music I do here anymore… [He was listening to] hip-hop. And I just don't play that kind of music."
Holmes added: "I was talking to one of my friend's kids — he's in high school — and I asked him, 'Why don't you listen to rock, like DEEP PURPLE or something?' And he said, 'Man, that's pussy music.' This is a white kid. So I thought, if people don't listen to this kind of music anymore, why should I even be here? I'm in my 50s, but I want to still keep on going, kind of. So I talked to my wife and we decided to move. They listen to rock more over here. There's lots more concerts and stuff."
Holmes joined W.A.S.P. in 1982 and remained with the group until 1990. In 1996, Holmes rejoined W.A.S.P. and stayed with the band until 2001. Holmes has not played with W.A.S.P. since.
Holmes in 2013 released a solo album called "Nothing To Lose". Chris composed, performed, and produced the music and vocals, and teamed up with former MOTÖRHEAD drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor to perform on and engineer the effort.
PAPA ROACH's video for the song "Periscope" can be seen below. The track, which features a guest appearance by Skylar Grey, is taken from the band's ninth studio album, "Crooked Teeth", which was released on May 19 via Eleven Seven Music. The disc was made available digitally and physically, as a standard (10 tracks) and deluxe (10 tracks + 3 brand new tracks + 16 Live tracks Live at the Fillmore Detroit) editions.
The "Periscope" video was directed by award-winning firm The Uprising Creative (Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Big Sean, Lil Jon), which said the inspiration for the clip was "to create a moody, different look for the band using a stylistic light exploration — exploring color through light, projection and dynamic performances of the performers."
PAPA ROACH vocalist Jacoby Shaddix said: "'Periscope' is inspired by the realization that sometimes within a relationship you might not be worth being loved or that the other person may not be worth your love, and the struggle within that — how much effort it takes to make things work. One part that I think is really meaningful in the video is when Skylar and I are in the shot at the same time, yet we're not engaging with each other. It represents the 'disconnection' with two people, which is very much what the lyrics describe." Grey added: "You are loving someone from a distance, not able to reach them."
Regarding how the Grey collaboration came about, Shaddix told the Q103 radio station: "We wanted to have a guest female vocal on ['Periscope'], and on the last album, we had Maria Brink from IN THIS MOMENT on 'Gravity'. I didn't wanna just go in and grab another rock chick. I wanted to work with somebody that was outside the box and different but that I was a fan of. So I've been listening to this girl Skylar Grey for [a few] years now. And she's been on some great tracks — she's been on some Dre stuff, some Eminem stuff, she's been on a FORT MINOR track. But she's kind of this indie, alternative, pop type of girl, and she's just got a lot of credibility in that scene, and she's got a great voice, and I'm a big fan."
Written and recorded in a cramped North Hollywood studio, "Crooked Teeth" was produced by first timers Nicholas "RAS" Furlong and Colin Brittain, with the exception of "Born For Greatness", which saw the band collaborate with writer/producer Jason Evigan (Jason Derulo, Demi Lovato, Zedd, MAROON 5) for this positive, pulsating anthem. Furlong and Brittain, who grew up listening to PAPA ROACH, inspired the band to revisit some of the traits that personally endeared the band to them, most notably singer Jacoby Shaddix's remarkable rapping technique and the band's intense live energy.
"The first time we met up with RAS and Colin, they said that [2000's] 'Infest' was on constant rotation when they were growing up and they wanted to bring back some of that fire," says Shaddix. Adds Furlong, "The whole idea was to take the classic elements of PAPA ROACH that everyone loved and revamp them into a modern version of the sound through the creative process, and we ended up with a bold, courageous and more adventurous version of PAPA ROACH."
The Furlong/Brittain production team worked to bring in elements of music from different genres and parts of the world, and pockets of rhythm people associate more with rap or reggae, while still staying true to PAPA ROACH's sound. "The people who have wanted to hear me rap for years are gonna love some of the viciousness on this record," Shaddix proclaims.
From the instantly infectious nature of the title track to the atmospheric sheen of the moody ballad "Periscope" and the acoustic/ hip-hop rock mashup of "Sunrise Trailer Park" (featuring Machine Gun Kelly adding a verse to Shaddix rap) "Crooked Teeth" displays the various sides of PAPA ROACH and illustrates why they've managed to remain relevant while other musical trends ebb and flow. "We didn't go into this album with the intention of trying to write radio singles," guitarist Jerry Horton explains. "This collection of songs was really about bookending everything that we've done prior to this album and reintroducing PAPA ROACH to people who didn't realize the depth that we have," says drummer Tony Palermo.
In many ways making "Crooked Teeth" reminded Shaddix of the band's earliest days, well before they sold millions of albums and became a household name. "When we were in the rehearsal space I wasn't thinking about who I needed to impress, I was thinking about how much I love making music with the guys in this band." "It [the album] feels honest and pure and that's all we could hope for," adds bassist Tobin Esperance.
Terry Ilous, lead singer for Great White, and founder of '80s metal band XYZ, has released his third solo venture, Gypsy Dreams. A video for the first single from the album, a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love", can be viewed below.
Gypsy Dreams is a cover album of classic rock and hard rock favorites with a Latin and flamenco edge. It features an amazing cast of LA based artists including:
Terry Ilous - vocals
Luis Villegas - guitar
Jose Garcia - guitar
Mike Paganini - bass
Mike Bennett - bass
Ben Woods - guitar
Jesse Stern - drums / percussion
Chris Trujillo - drums / percussion
Al Velasquez - drums / percussion
Natalie Gelman - background vocals
Gypsy Dreams tracklisting:
“Whole Lotta Love” - (Led Zeppelin)
“Boys Of Summer” - (Don Henley)
“In Your Eyes” - (Peter Gabriel)
“Long Train Running” - (The Doobie Brothers)
“Wicked Game” - (Chris Isaak)
“Heaven And Hell” - (Black Sabbath)
“Ride Like The Wind” - (Christopher Cross)
“Love Bites” - (Def Leppard)
“Kill The King” - (Rainbow)
Terry states: "This album is just the start in a series of different projects I have in mind for the future. I decided to start with covers of familiar rock favorites to introduce the Latin / Flamenco Rock sound to my audience, and I plan to start up a series of intimate club shows reminiscent of close-knit Latin and Gypsy gatherings.”
Terry on recording “Long Train Running”: "In the late '80s I would warm up with 'Long Train Running' while on the road with XYZ; and for years I wanted to record the song with more of a Latin edge."
Terry Ilous on recording “Heaven And Hell”: "Dio was arguably one of the biggest inspirations in music. And this is one of the songs that really influenced my decision in making this album.”
Order your copy of Gypsy Dreams now at this location. Check out the album trailer:
Global Music Award-winning nomadic folk metal group, Tengger Cavalry, released their new full-length album, Die On My Ride, last week via M-Theory Audio, in addition to kicking off their current North American headline tour with support from Felix Martin, Malphas, Sicocis and Helsott.
Today the band follows up with a fast-paced music video for one of the most politically-charged tracks on the new album, "Independence Day".
On "Independence Day", the band uses their voice to incite social change and raise awareness in the name of equality. Frontman Nature G says: "Growing up in China and seeing what the regime has done to its citizens to suppress their individuality, free speech and activism through education has awoken me to how other countries and their leaders treat their citizens. These leaders force their people into becoming sheep-like and afraid to stand up to authority. Speaking up and challenging mainstream thought is considered dishonourable.
“It saddens me that even coming from brave origins, inhabitants of this country are still letting things slide and pretending as if everything is just fine. We ignore the atrocities happening right in front of us - such as minorities being seen as less than other citizens because of their skin color and those of a different sexual identity being discriminated for just being who they are - and a leader who seems to be passive about it all.
“After experiencing life both in China and the US, I decided to write "Independence Day". It is an anthem for anyone who embraces their independent identity, fights for the truth and speaks up against any manipulator. We are all sons and daughters of the sky and we all have the right to decide who we want to become!"
Die On My Ride was self-produced at Nature G's production studio Raiding Media, and is available to order in both physical CD and vinyl format via M-Theory Audio or digitally via the band's Bandcamp page.
Tracklisting:
“Snow”
“Die On My Ride”
“Independence Day”
“To The Sky”
“Prayer”
“Strike”
“Ashley”
“Cursed”
“The Frontline”
“The Choice Of My Mind”
“Me Against Me”
“We Will Survive” (Bonus)
“Burn” (Bonus)
"Cursed" lyric video:
“Ashley” lyric video:
“Die On My Ride”:
Tour Dates with Felix Martin, Helsott:
June
8 - Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme
9 - Indianapolis, IN - Taps Live
10 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen
11 - Fargo, ND - Aquarium
13 - Winnipeg, MB - Windsor Hotel
14 - Saskatoon, SK - Amigos
15 - Edmonton, AB - Brixx
16 - Calgary, AB - Distortion
18 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater*
19 - Seattle, WA - Highline*
21 - Portland, OR - Dantes*
23 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*
24 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar*
25 - Phoenix, AZ - Club Red*
27 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive*
28 - Kansas, City MO - Riot Room
29 - St Louis, MO - Fubar
30 - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
July
1 - Nashville, TN - East Room
3 - Atlanta, GA - 529
4 - Asheville, NC - Mothlight
5 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter
6 - Philadelphia, PA - Fire
7 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
8 - Manchester, NH - Jewel
Swedish hard rockers, JD Miller, have released a video for “Journey Through The Past”, the opening track of their new album, World War X, out now via Mighty Music. The new clip is available for streaming below.
World War X sounds like the musical child bred by Eclipse and Evergrey. If you like melodic, guitar driven rock fronted by edgy vocals and soaring harmonies all wrapped up in modern production - JD Miller is your thing.
World War X was recorded at Studio Haga and Studio Berghem in Sweden by JD Miller themselves. The album was mixed by former member Christian Svedin as he understands the sound of JD Miller, and it was mastered by one of Swedens true audio greats in Thomas ’Plec’ Johansson at The Panic Room.
Tracklisting:
“Journey Through The Past”
“Against The Wind”
“My Open Arms”
“Evergrey”
“Power”
“Clouded Minds”
“Forgotten”
“Isolation”
“Wanderer Of Light And Sorrow”
Laser’s Edge division Sensory Records recently announced the re-emergence of UK-based Prospekt, as the band completes their textured second album, The Illuminated Sky. Closing a four-year void since the release of their lauded The Colourless Sunrise debut, the follow-up will see release this July. BraveWords is premiering the new track “Alien Makers Of Discord”, which features a solo from guitarist Greg Howe, the shredding guitarist who has appeared on albums from James Murphy, Dream Theater’s Jordan Rudess, Jason Becker, and Michael Jackson. Listen now!
"'Alien Makers Of Discord' is a great example of what fans can expect from the new album. It's got all the technical stuff in there as well as some cool orchestration and classically inspired moments - an excellent showcase of what we are about as a band musically. It's an absolute also absolutely honour to have guitar legend Greg Howe perform a stunning guest solo on the track. He's been a massive influence on our guitarist Lee's playing for many years and to have him appear on the album is absolutely amazing. Think you'll agree that Greg's solo is sensational!"
Prospekt spent 2016 writing and recording The Illuminated Sky, during which they acquired two iconic guest artists to take part in the album. Guitar virtuoso Greg Howe of Michael Jackson fame provides an eclectic solo on the powerful “Alien Makers Of Discord” and vocalist Marc Hudson of DragonForce provides a stellar contrast to Morris’ voice on the epic “Where Masters Fall.” Combine with that the excellent production, thanks to the mixing skills of Øyvind Larsen at Lionheart Studios, and the massive mastering job by mastermind Jens Bogren, and artwork by Mattias Norén, and the result is an album that has progressed upon their first album and will no doubt open the floodgates to new fans.
From technical power metal, laden with soaring vocals and blistering guitar work, to epic orchestral driven prog, Prospekt has produced their best effort to date. The Illuminated Sky is an album that excites and takes the listener on a journey through the cosmos via the wonders of prog.
State the members of Prospekt, “It's been a long time in the making but we are super excited for everyone to listen to the new album. We feel it's our best work to date - more progressive, polished and at the same time heavier, with a stronger emphasis on the melody. New members Rox and Michael have given awesome performances alongside guest artists Greg Howe and Marc Hudson. Musically, each composition has its own unique identity. From the cinematic title track to the Japanese inspired 'Akaibara', all of the songs come together and form an album that flows and connects. We wanted to create an album that could be described as ‘a journey through music’ and hopefully the listeners will feel that, when they enter The Illuminated Sky."
Tracklisting:
“Ex Nihilo”
“The Illuminated Sky”
“Titan”
“Distant Anamnesis”
“Beneath Enriya”
“In The Shadows Of The Earth”
“Alien Makers Of Discord”
“Cosmic Emissary”
“Akaibara”
“Where Masters Fall”
Sweden's self-styled “Alfapokalyptic Rockers”, Alfahanne, have released a music video for “Satans Verser”, the track featuring Kampfar singer Dolk that is featured on the band’s new album, Det Nya Svarta, out now via Indie Recordings. The new clip is available for streaming below.
Det Nya Svarta was recorded at the Dödskult studio by Alfahanne's Pehr Skjoldhammer and Mixed and mastered by Stamos Koliousis. Guests on the album include Kampfar’s Dolk, David Lindh from Yvonne & Broder Daniel, Sanrabb from Gehenna, and Nadine Skjoldhammer
Tracklisting:
“Satans Verser” (with Dolk from Kampfar)
“Stigmata”
“Avgrundsgravitation” (with David Lindh from Yvonne & Broder Daniel)
“Klubb 27”
“Mitt mörker är mörkare än ditt” (with Nadine Skjoldhammer)
“Dödsmaskin” (with Samrabb from Gehenna)
“Även hund har sin dag”
“Svarta får”
“Det nya svarta”
“Satans Verser” video:
"Stigmata" stream:
Order the new album on CD and vinyl formats here, and in a digital format here.
"The Dying Embers Of Life", the new video from THE RAVEN AGE, the U.K.-based band led by IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's son George Harris, can be seen below. The song is taken from THE RAVEN AGE's debut album, "Darkness Will Rise", which was released on March 17 via BMG.
George told The Moshville Times about THE RAVEN AGE's musical direction: "We label ourselves as melodic metal. Pretty broad, I know, but it describes us perfectly. We're a modern metal band, which you could say sounds metalcore musically, but we use clean vocals only on top of the low-tuned heavy music, which makes it a different thing. We're also influenced by film score and epic music, which I think is apparent in our songs."
Regarding THE RAVEN AGE's influences, George said: "Luckily, we're generally into similar music. We all have our favorites, but are definitely on the same wavelength when it comes to bands. I think metalcore and modern styles of metal were breaking through at the time when we started getting into rock music, so, naturally, we fell in love with bands such as BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, TRIVIUM, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, AS I LAY DYING, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, PARKWAY DRIVE, etc. These are the bands, I think, we take most influence from musically, even though we're slightly different."
"Darkness Will Rise" track listing:
01. Darkness Will Rise02. Promised Land03. Age Of The Raven04. The Death March05. Salem's Fate06. The Merciful One07. Eye Among The Blind08. Winds Of Change09. Trapped Within The Shadows10. My Revenge11. The Dying Embers Of Life12. Angel In Disgrace13. Behind The Mask
THE RAVEN AGE is a melodic metal band from London, United Kingdom consisting of five individuals who very quickly became friends through sharing a love for heavy music and a passion for songwriting.
In 2009, guitarists Dan Wright and George Harris began establishing their vision of a band that combines contemporary heavy music with powerful melodic vocals to create an epic and unique sound.
After writing their first album, they began searching for likeminded musicians to join the band and make their vision a reality.
Taking on bass player Matt Cox in 2012, with vocalist Michael Burrough and drummer Jai Patel joining in early 2013, the lineup was complete and ready to take their music to the stage.
KORN's music video for the song "Black Is The Soul" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's latest album, "The Serenity Of Suffering", which came out at the end of October.
Said KORN singer Jonathan Davis: "'Black Is The Soul' is a song about being pulled away from the right path and the video reflects that experience of trying to navigate those conflicting emotions." Guitarist James "Munky Shaffer added: "I feel that this songwriting and production paired with the aesthetic look of the video shows a maturity and growth from the band that is continually evolving."
"Black Is The Soul" was reportedly written on the birthday of KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch's mother. Welch said in a track-by-track video interview: "The working title for that song was 'Mary Ellen Thrash', 'cause her name is Mary Allen and then it turned into 'Black Is The Soul', which is kind of creepy after it being named after my mom."
Welch continued: "Jonathan wrote that as one of the first songs, and he really did a good job on that one. And the lyrics… I love that line, actually: 'Black is the soul that's led astray.' 'Cause we've all been there — we've all been led astray in some in life that is unhealthy."
KORN and STONE SOUR will join forces for a summer tour, set to get underway June 16 at the USANA Amphitheatre in Salt Lake City, Utah and then continue through early August.
Crusty death/doom outfit, Vallenfyre, have unveiled a horror-themed music video for the single "The Merciless Tide". Directed and filmed by Ash Pears (Paradise Lost, The Sisters of Mercy), the video is now available for streaming below.
Vocalist and guitarist Greg Mackintosh states: “”The Merciless Tide” is about the relentless march of time and also wishing you could be in someone else's shoes to save them suffering. In the video we see a man going through immense suffering over a long period of time, never being able to grasp the things he craves, whilst faceless tormentors observe in indifference. This is incredibly grim, so enjoy."
”The Merciless Tide” is featured on the band’s third album, Fear Those Who Fear Him, out now via Century Media Records.
Recorded by the band’s new core lineup consisting of Gregor Mackintosh (vocals and guitar), Hamish Glencross (guitar and bass) and Waltteri Väyrynen (drums), Fear Those Who Fear Him was once again produced by Kurt Ballou (Converge, Nails) at GodCity Studio in Salem, MA and mastered by Brad Boatright (Obituary, Beastmilk, YOB) at Audiosiege Mastering in Portland, OR.
The cover artwork was created by Hal Rotter (rottinggraphics.com).
Greg Mackintosh comments: “Most bands refine their sound over the first two or three albums. Becoming more technically adept and honing their craft. Vallenfyre have done almost exactly the opposite. We have devolved, made things simpler and crush most of the melody under swathes of rotting noise. From A Fragile King to Splinters and now to Fear Those Who Fear Him, we have become more savage, more raw and less compromising!”
Fear Those Who Fear Him is available as Gatefold LP+CD on limited coloured and regular black 180 gram vinyl, as Special Edition Digipak (international version), Jewelcase CD (Canada, US, Mexico only) and on all digital / streaming platforms. Click here to see further selected stores and download/streaming platforms.
The tracklisting of this 39-minute long aural atrocity reads as follows:
“Born To Decay”
“Messiah”
“Degeneration”
“An Apathetic Grave”
“Nihilist”
“Amongst The Filth”
“Kill All Your Masters”
“The Merciless Tide”
“Dead World Breathes”
“Soldier Of Christ”
“Cursed From The Womb”
“Temple Of Rats”
“Nihilist”:
"An Apathetic Grave" lyric video:
“Kill All Your Masters” video:
Onstage, Vallenfyre perform as a quintet with live members Sam Kelly-Wallace (rhythm guitar) and Chris Casket (bass) completing the lineup.
Tour dates:
July
6 - Torgau, Germany - In Flammen Open Air
August
9 - Josefov, Czech Republic - Brutal Assault Festival
19 - Saint-Nolff , France - Motocultor Festival
Later this month, By Norse will release the debut album, Hydrogen, from BardSpec, the ambient project/band featuring Enslaved composer/guitarist Ivar Bjørnson and Today Is The Day's Steve Austin. A David Hall-directed video for the track “Bone” can be seen below.
Hydrogen will be released on June 23rd across all formats. The six-panel CD digipak is available as a limited first pressing of 1,000 and includes bonus track "Teeth”. The double-gatefold LP is limited to 500 on black vinyl; the digital format will also include the bonus track. Access the "Fire Tongue" radio edits now via iTunes and Apple Music.
Pre-orders for the the limited CD, LP, and shirt are available at the following locations: North America, Europe.
Having launched at Roadburn in 2015, BardSpec has since evolved into a fully-fledged band, with Steve Austin on guitars/effects, David Hall presenting the live visual aspect of the project, with the layout created by Josh Graham (Soundgarden, Neurosis, IIVII, etc.).
BardSpec combines stirring, hallucinatory synth-sounds with mercurial guitar effects and hypnotic rhythms that navigate illusory landscapes. Field recordings, and other found-sounds also drift and evaporate into the ether. Working intuitively with these elements and with sharpened senses, attuned to inner impulses, this is immersive music that can exist anywhere and anytime within the minds of the listener.
Whilst BardSpec might essentially be the same brain and personality making the music, compared to Enslaved, it is a widely different entity. Thematically and sonically, BardSpec is about minimizing, subtracting, and meditating upon the simplest essence of "things;" the single points exemplified through song titles like "Bone," "Salt," and so on, the basic elements and foundations that make up the whole. There is an element of "space" in the music and the artwork, as a representation of the inner workings of the mind and the subconscious.
Inspired by the German masters Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schultze, and Conrad Schnitzler in addition to contemporary ambient music like Norwegian one-man-band Biosphere and abstract modern electronic music like When (Norwegian also), as well as the electronic/industrial-driven metal like Godflesh. Ivar describes the appeal and trance-inducing aspects of such music to him, "I remember listening to Richard Burmer and his album Mosaic from 1984. I thought I fell asleep but I was in a semi-lucid state where I still registered music - but not much else. At the end of side A there's an explosion so violent and extreme that I jumped two feet into the air and was totally shocked. The weird thing is, I couldn't remember it being there. When I revisited the music again it was just a little 'thud.' I was just experiencing a trance so deep into the music that this deviation from the pattern and frequencies in the foregoing half hour of monotony totally shocked me. I loved it!"
Syteria, the Yorkshire, UK-based rock band featuring Girlschool guitarist Jackie Chambers, have released a video for “When I Get Out Of High School”, a track from their debut full-length album, Rant-O-Bot, released on May 30th. The new clip is available for streaming below.
Rant-O-Bot is available from TuneCore, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music and a variety of online music stores. You can also order a CD featuring a booklet containing lyrics and photos directly from the band's official website here.
Rant-O-Bot tracklisting:
“Revolution”
“When I Get Out Of High School”
“Complication”
“Sheeple”
“I'm All Woman”
“Get A Life”
“Stupid Girl”
“Loner”
“Hypocrite”
“Kamikaze”
“If”
“New World Order”
“When I Get Out Of High School” video:
“I”m All Woman” video:
Syteria lineup:
Julia Calvo - Vocals
Jackie Chambers - Guitars/Vocals
Keira Kenworthy - Bass Guitar/Vocals
Pablo Calvo - Drums/Vocals
Boston tech-metal quartet, The Summoned, have released the official video for "Faradic”, a song from the forthcoming album, Sessions. The video was directed, edited, and filmed by Stephen Thompson. Check it out below.
The Summoned will release their sophomore full-length, Sessions, on June 16th. Pre-order the album here.
Sessions is a concept album about the journey through the mind of a troubled mental patient who is struggling to confront his own personal demons through a series of sessions with a psychiatrist. Each individual song resembles those sessions. Whether they're spastic (to give the feeling of panic the patient is feeling), or offering triggering the epiphany that is his own reality, Sessions is not just an album... it's an experience. A lyric video for album cut "Fractal Patterns" is also available for streaming below.
Often compared to a plethora of bands and genres, The Summoned are no strangers to pushing the boundaries of traditional heavy metal. With technical riffs, head bobbing grooves, sing-along choruses, jazzy interludes, and epic solos, there is always something for the discerning listener to grasp, resulting in a sound that will appeal to a variety of fans.
Sessions was produced by The Summoned and Evan Sammons. The album was engineered, mixed and mastered by Evan Sammons in Belgrade Maine.
Tracklisting:
“The Pendulum Swing”
“Faradic”
“Fractal Patterns”
“The Grave Mistake”
“Built Of Glass”
“Vertiginous”
“Primogenial Birth”
“Recollection”
“Satori”
“Faradic” video:
“Fractal Patterns” lyric video:
Additional Engineering on "Recollection" by Jarred Sullivan
All songs written and performed by The Summoned
All lyrics written by Stephen Thompson and Shaun Murphy
Clean Vocals on "Fractal Patterns" and "Built of Glass" by Shaun Murphy
Orchestration and Synth by Shaun Murphy and Evan Sammons
Artwork and Concept by Joseph Schmalke
Layout by Joseph Schmalke and Stephen Thompson
Logo design by Adam Cutler at Motionless Visions
Lineup:
Stephen Thompson - Vocals
Shaun Murphy - Guitars and Vocals
Jarred Sullivan - Guitars
Sam Hang - Drums
Formed in 2012, Arizona-based rock 'n' rugged five piece, As Thick As Thieves, have crafted a unique and honest sound with innuendos throughout their lyrics that encourage their listeners to think twice before making decisions. They launched with their debut record The Space Between Seconds in 2013, which was produced by Hiram Hernandez.
With the success of the record it caught the attention of Escape The Fate and The Dead Rabbits, where they toured across the country together in 2014. With significant praise the band continued to push on and opened for national acts: Devil You Know, Mushroomhead, Powerman 5000, Orgy, John5, Wednesday 13 and more.
After spending several years on the road the band unleashed their latest EP Whiskey Bent in 2016 which was also produced by Hiram Hernandez and featured single "Take You Down”.
Today, the band unleash their follow-up single for "Straight To Hell”, which has been featured on 98KUDP Arizona's hard rock station. The band dives in to their latest single, "Straight To Hell" by stating, “This is a song about someone completely losing tour with them self and with reality. The subject of the song alienates herself from family and friends and finds herself involved in even darker and dangerous situations."
Fans can watch the brand new "Straight From Hell" music video below:
On June 16th, Igorrr - the brainchild of French musician and eclectic composer Gautier Serre - will release their new album, Savage Sinusoid, via Metal Blade Records. On this record, electronic manipulations, accordion, saxophone, sitar, harpsichord, mandolin and strings sit comfortably alongside ruthless blastbeats, chunky riffs, death grunts and soaring operatic vocals - and as chaotic as this might sometimes seem, there is no lack of heart behind everything thundering from the speakers.
For a preview of Savage Sinusoid, a video for the new single, "Cheval" (featuring guest vocals by Cattle Decapitation's Travis Ryan), can be watched below.
The album can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:
- Digipak CD
- pale skin clear vinyl (limited to 500 copies)
- cream/white splatter (limited to 200 copies - EU exclusive)
- golden yellow vinyl (limited to 100 copies - Bandcamp exclusive)
- tan-marbled vinyl (limited to 200 copies - US exclusive)
* exclusive bundles with a shirt, plus digital options are also available.
To realize Savage Sinusoid as a completely sample-free record, Serre reunited with vocalists Laurent Lunoir and Laure Le Prunenec, along with drummer Sylvain Bouvier, and collaborated with more musicians than on any of his previous releases - one of those guests being Cattle Decapitation's Travis Ryan, who lends his vocals on "Cheval", "Apopathodiaphulatophobie" and "Robert".
While Savage Sinusoid draws from a plethora of genres, Serre has no intention of baffling or alienating potential listeners. As he explains: "I just want to make the music I love, without asking myself if it's gonna be too complex or too far from what people like. I want to make the music which has sense to me, with no restrictions, like a big party with metalheads, electronics nerds, classical and baroque-heads and gypsy violinists getting drunk and joining together to bring the best of every genre."
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