After gaining over 20,000 plays in less than 72 hours, Crash Midnight’s controversial new video for the single, “Roxy” (produced by Steve Thompson -Guns N’ Roses, Rolling Stones, Prince, David Bowie, etcs) has been taken down from YouTube amidst a storm of debate regarding artistic censorship.
“Roxy” is the band’s first single off the upcoming worldwide re-release of their Lost In The City album, which is being remixed with new high-octane production by Bobby Ferrari at Vegas View Recording and is slated for a September release. In response to the take down, the label has created a censored version of the video that is now available below:
Dating back to the group’s formative years where they were routinely banned from Boston-area venues for their wild shows and outspoken views on certain local city officials, Crash Midnight has become notorious for putting their music first and not backing down from clashes with authority.
In light of this latest battle, the band has decided to make the controversial video available exclusively on their new Crash Midnight App (Available now on the App Store and Google Play) and encourage fans to post it and share it to support the power of artistic freedom.
"We've always been against censorship of the arts" says vocalist, Shaun Soho, "and we're not going to let sites like YouTube, that pays artists next to nothing for their content, dictate what our fans get to see. We need your help to spread the word and show that if they're going to censor us, artists will always find new and even more powerful ways to reach our fans."
To check out the uncensored “Roxy” music video, created by director Ron Sperling, head to this location.
Swedish masters of black metal, Dark Funeral, have launched a video for “Unchain My Soul”, a track from their upcoming album, Where Shadows Forever Reign. Watch below:
Six years after the release of their latest album, Dark Funeral will finally release their new album on June 3rd via Century Media Records. It was recorded at the Dugout Studios in Uppsala, Sweden and produced by Lord Ahriman and Daniel Bergstrand (In Flames, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth). The stunning artwork was created by Necrolord (Dissection, Necrophobic, Emperor).
Where Shadows Forever Reign will be available as Ltd. CD Digipak in Slipcase, Jewelcase CD, Gatefold LP and digital album.
The Digipak folds out as an inverted cross and includes not just the regular booklet, but also a 4-page poster booklet featuring the cover artwork.
The Gatefold LP will be available in the following vinyl colours:
- Black vinyl (unlimited)
- Transparent blue vinyl (limited to 100 copies, exclusively available at CMDistro EU)
- Clear vinyl (limited to 200 copies, exlusively available at Sound Of Records)
- Clear-blue-black splatter vinyl (limited to 700 copies, available at CMDistro and Nuclear Blast)
- Transparent red vinyl (limited to 200 copies, only available in North America)
“Unchain My Soul”
“As One We Shall Conquer”
“Beast Above Man”
“As I Ascend”
“Temple Of Ahriman”
“The Eternal Eclipse”
“To Carve Another Wound”
“Nail Them To The Cross”
“Where Shadows Forever Reign”
“Where Shadows Forever Reign”:
Dark Funeral live dates:
June
3 - Metallsvenskan - Örebro, Sweden
5 - Fortarock 2016 - Nymegen, Netherlands
17 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Dessel, Belgium
18 - Hellfest - Clisson, France
July
29 - Metaldays - Tolmin, Slovenia
August
13 - Brutal Assault 2016 - Jaromer, Czech Republic
18 - Bucovina Rock Castle - Suceava, Romania
Portland’s Red Fang have announced a run of headlining European and UK dates this coming fall. Direct support for the entire tour will come from label mates Torche, while God Damn will appear on the UK dates. An opener will be announced shortly for the European dates. A complete listing of dates is available below.
Red Fang recently completed recording their third full-length album with famed producer Ross Robinson (At The Drive In, The Cure, Sepultura) at Robinson’s Venice, California studio. The as-yet-untitled album is tentatively scheduled for a fall 2016 release, with more info to be announced shortly.
Additionally, Red Fang just released a new music video in collaboration with students from My Voice Music at MVM Studios in their hometown of Portland, Oregon. Watch the clip for "Crop Circles" below:
Red Fang tour dates (with Torche):
September
26 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2*
27 - London, UK - Koko*
28 - Bristol, UK - Bierkeller*
29 - Leeds, UK - Leeds Stylus*
30 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Academy 2*
October
2 - Birmingham, UK - Institute 2*
3 - Glasgow, UK - Garage*
4 - Newcastle, UK - Riverside*
5 - Southampton, UK - Engine Rooms*
7 - Athens, Greece - Desert Fest
9 - Paris, France - Trabendo
10 - Munich, Germany - Strom
11 - Vienna, Austria - Szene Wien
12 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys
13 - Cologne, Germany - Essingfabrik
15 - Leipzig, Germany - Conne Island
16 - Hamburg, Germany - Markethalle
18 - Odense, Denmark - Posten
19 - Oslo, Norway - John Dee
20 - Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser Medis
21 - Malmo, Sweden - KB
22 - Munster, Germany - Skater’s Place
23 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Substage
24 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg (OZ)
Frost*, the brainchild of keyboard player and songwriter Jem Godfrey, released their new album, Falling Satellites, on May 27th. A new video for the album track “Numbers” can be found below.
Joined by guitarist and vocalist John Mitchell (Lonely Robot, It Bites), drummer Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson) and bassist Nathan King (Level 42), Falling Satellites is the band's first album in 8 years and the follow-up to Experiments In Mass Appeal.
Comprising 11 songs, the final six forming a 32-minute long suite, this album also sees a guest appearance from Grammy-nominated guitar legend Joe Satriani, who Godfrey played with on the G3 tour in 2012.
Jem had this to say about the album: "It's been a long time coming, but we got there in the end. I think this is our strongest album to date and moves the sound forwards whilst still referencing what's gone before. It's also great to have finally co-written some songs with John in a Frost* context. The end results were better than either of us could have imagined, we just can't wait to get out and play it all live now."
The album is available on limited edition CD digipak (incl. 2 bonus tracks), gatefold 2LP + CD & digital download.
Tracklisting:
“First Day”
“Numbers”
“Towerblock”
“Signs”
“Lights Out”
“Heartstrings”
“Closer To The Sun”
“The Raging Against The Dying Of The Light Blues”
“Nice Day For It...”
“Hypoventilate”
“Last Day”
“Lantern” (bonus track)
“British Wintertim”e (bonus track)
“Numbers” video:
“Heartstrings” lyric video:
The band will also head out on tour in the UK in support of the new record, including an appearance at Ramblin Man Fair in July.
Confirmed dates:
June
17 - Voodoo Rooms - Edinburgh, UK
18 - Montgomery Hall - Wath-Upon-Dearne, UK
19 - The Robin 2 - Bilson, UK
July
23 - Ramblin' Man Fair - Maidstone, UK
29 - Thekla - Bristol, UK
30 - 02 Islington Academy - London, UK
31 - The Portland Arms - Cambridge, UK
Frost* is (above left - right):
Jem Godfrey - Vocals, Keys, Railboard, Guitar
Craig Blundell - Drums
John Mitchell - Guitars, Vocals
Nathan King - Bass
German metal band, Rage, will release their new album, The Devil Strikes Again, on June 10th via Nuclear Blast Records. An official live video for the album track “My Way” can be found below:
The Devil Strikes Again will be released in various formats: CD / Digibook (2CD)/ Deluxe Digibook (3CD) / 2LP. Pre-order the new album at this location.
Tracklisting:
CD/LP:
“The Devil Strikes Again”
“My Way”
“Back On Track”
“The Final Curtain”
“War”
“Ocean Full Of Tears”
“Deaf, Dumb And Blind”
“Spirits Of The Night”
“Times Of Darkness”
“The Dark Side Of The Sun”
Bonus (Digibook/ Deluxe / LP)
“Bring Me Down”
“Requiem”
“Into The Fire”
“Bravado” (Rush Cover)
“Slave To The Grind” (Skid Row Cover)
“Open Fire” (Y&T Cover)
CD Live 2016 (Deluxe only)
“Black In Mind” (live)
“Sent By The Devil” (live)
“End Of All Days” (live)
“Back In Time” (live)
“Down” (live)
“My Way” (live)
“Until I Die” (live)
“Don't Fear The Winter” (live)
“Higher Than The Sky” (live)
A video for “Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” from Nylon Maiden’s upcoming double CD, Preserved In Time, can be seen below. Nylon Maiden is headed up by Dutch classical guitarist Thomas Zwijsen - known for his acoustic renditions of some of metal’s greatest songs and arrangements of Iron Maiden tracks.
Nylon Maiden’s Preserved In Time is due for release in June. Thomas has gained almost 10 million views on YouTube with his arrangements of Iron Maiden songs for classical guitar, making this his most anticipated album to date.
Preserved In Time promises to be Zwijsen’s ultimate Iron Maiden tribute album. It makes the classical guitar world a bit more metal by adding 16 Iron Maiden songs (and two Bruce Dickinson songs) to its repertoire.
Zwijsen’s long-time collaborator Blaze Bayley is one of the returning guest musicians on this album, performing two tracks from his Iron Maiden days, as well as a unique version of “Blood Brothers” off the Brave New World album! This is the first time Blaze performs an Iron Maiden song from the post-Blaze era. It gives Iron Maiden fans an idea of what it would have sounded like if Blaze had stayed with the band.
Tracklisting:
Disc 1
“If Eternity Should Fail”
“Stranger In A Strange Land”
“Judgement Of Heaven” (with Blaze Bayley & Anne Bakker)
“Ghost Of The Navigator”
“Powerslave” (Thomas & band)
“Burning Ambition”
“Tears Of The Dragon” (Bruce Dickinson song)
“Blood Brothers” (with Blaze Bayley)
“When The Wild Wind Blows” (Thomas & band)
Disc 2
“Afraid To Shoot Strangers”
“Como Estais Amigos” (with Blaze Bayley & Anne Bakker)
“Wrathchild”
“Tears Of A Clown”
“Jerusalem” (Bruce Dickinson song)
“For The Greater Good Of God”
“Reach Out”
“Fear Of The Dark”
“Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” (Thomas & band)
Zwijsen comments: “In our attempt to choose the best track listing for the most fulfilling, surprising and complete Iron Maiden tribute album, we simply couldn't fit all the songs on a single CD, so we decided to make it a double CD this time. Many of the songs were requests from people on YouTube. If this were to be the setlist at an Iron Maiden concert, I’d be very happy!”
People who pre-order the album get some cool extras:
- Their names printed in the booklet of the album, preserved in time!
- The album signed by Thomas
- A free specially designed stainless steel Nylon Maiden dog tag.
Stoner power doom and sludge metal outfit High Fighter have unveiled a first music video from their upcoming debut album Scars & Crosses for the track “Blinders”.
Formed in the summer of 2014 by former band members of A Million Miles, Buffalo Hump and Pyogenesis, this band is a volatile cocktail of heavy as hell riffs fueled by beer and the mighty weeding riffs. Add a heavy dose of the blues and these deadly schizophrenic vocals, and these guys and girl offer something special to the Sludge, Blues and Stoner Scene. After their debut EP The Goat Ritual released end of 2014, followed by numerous shows over Europe including UK dates, festivals, several tours and shows with bands such as Ahab, Mammoth Storm, Crowbar, Corrosion of Conformity, The Midnight Ghost Train and many more, High Fighter will release their first full-length album Scars & Crosses on June 10th with Svart Records!
While the band follows their DIY- attitude, the self-produced video for “Blinders” was filmed and edited by High Fighter's bassist Constantin Wüst. Vocalist Mona Miluski tells The Obelisk:
“This shot was fun, 100%-DIY. I also think this track perfectly represents one of the main issues we deal with on our debut record. Scars & Crosses is about a dark past, about the wounds and scars of your soul that life may have given you. It's about your inner demons, and especially people in society or in any relationships will find your scars as a bad attitude, a bad character. You often need to be a 'Blinder', change yourself until you will be accepted, liked or loved. On this album we say no, having your scars are not a bad character and you should not change yourself or try to ignore these scars until you're ‘worth’ to be loved. Learn to also love those who have their scars, we all have them...these darkest days, moments and demons in life, your entire history, our scars engrave us, they belong to you as much as the good sides.”
Scars & Crosses was recorded live at RAMA Studio in Mannheim, Germany (Ahab, The Hirsch Effekt, Fjørt) by Jens Siefert, and is mixed and mastered by Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Big Business) in Los Angeles. Again the band worked with artist Dominic Sohor from the UK, who has already been responsible for the stunning artwork of The Goat Ritual back in 2014, on the band's upcoming album:
Tracklisting:
“A Silver Heart”
“Darkest Days”
“The Gatekeeper”
“Blinders”
“Portrait Mind”
“Gods”
“Down To The Sky”
“Scars & Crosses”
"Blinders" video:
Teaser #2: “Darkest Days”:
After the band formed in the summer of 2014 and in one band year only, High Fighter heavily toured across Europe including UK dates, shared the stages with bands such as Ahab, Mammoth Storm, The Midnight Ghost Train, Corrosion of Conformity or Greenleaf, and played festivals in 2015 such as Stoned from the Underground, Sonic Blast in Portugal, Red Smoke Poland, Hamburg Metaldayz and an exclusive press showcase live at Wacken Open Air 2015.
Born Of Fire announce the release of their new single, a rendition of the 1976 Kansas classic “Carry On Wayward Son”.
Says the band: “To accompany this single we have put together a very cool unique style video with some fantastic artistry and visuals. This is definitely a very different type of video from what you would typically see from us but we feel this unique artistry style gives it that epic throw back feel this classic song deserves.”
Born Of Fire continue: “The band wanted to put out a single before starting the writing process for the next album and to show our support to the fans we are offering the song as a free download on our website. We sincerely hope you all enjoy the song and the video. Most importantly thanks to everyone around the world for your support!!”
Get your free download of the track at this location.
The two guitar heroes Mika Vandborg and Soren Andersen (Glenn Hughes, Mike Tramp, D-A-D), aka Electric Guitars, are keeping themselves busy. After 50+ gigs in 2015, the Brothers Of Passion DVD and the release of their second album, String Fever, the band continues to grow and work hard.
Last year Soren Andersen stepped in as temporary bass player in D-A-D and a bond was made between D-A-D- and Electric Guitars in various ways. The two bands have played several big shows together and D-A-D guitarist Jacob "Cobber" Binzer is now on board as producer for Electric Guitars.
The first results is ready now in the shape of the new single "Swagman" – the, no doubt, heaviest song ever written by Electric Guitars. The song is taken from the upcoming third studio album to be released in fall 2016.
The "Swagman" single and video are released today, May 27th. Check out the video below:
Electric Guitars lineup:
Soren Andersen – Guitars & vocals
Mika Vandborg – Guitars & vocals
Morten Hellborn – Drums
Peter Kjøbsted - Bass
Artery Recordings has announced the signing of Auckland, New Zealand groove/progressive metal outfit Set On End. The band's debut full-length, The Dark Beyond will be available through Artery on July 15th. The video for "Dissent” is streaming below.
Originally formed in 2005, Set On End took a break in 2009 after releasing their debut EP. Fast forward to 2016 and they've returned with renewed energy, a revamped lineup, and their first full-length album. The LP was recorded between their own studio, Mindset, and Zorran Mendonsa Productions in Auckland, mixed and engineered by Zorran Mendonsa (New Way Home, Saving Grace) and mastered by Ermin Hamidovic (Periphery, Plini) at Systematic Productions in Melbourne.
The band comments: "The album explores humanity's journey as a species and as individuals, striving for a better world, striving to further our knowledge of who and where we are. Sometimes the path we should take is obvious, and at other times we simply wander into the dark, reaching out for the unknown."
Evil Masquerade have released a video for the track “Lost Inside A World Of Fear”, featured on their new album, The Outcast Hall Of Fame, out now via Dark Minstrel Music.
The band have announced Nicklas Sonne (see video above) as their live singer at the upcoming headliner show at the Breaking Bands Festival (UK) this weekend.
The new album was produced by Henrik Flyman, and was mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids, Jorn). Featured vocalists include Mats Levén (Candlemass), Rick Altzi (Masterplan, At Vance), Apollo Papathanasio (Spiritual Beggars), and Nicklas Sonne (Defecto, Malrun). Backing vocals by Yenz Leonhardt (Stormwarrior, Lacrimosa).
The album’s front cover was once again painted by David Troest, who also did the artwork for the albums The Digital Crucifix and 10 Years In The Dark.
Tracklisting:
“The Outcast Hall Of Fame”
“Death Of God”
“Darkness (I Need You)”
“One Thousand Roses And A Lot Of Pain”
“Lost Inside A World Of Fear”
“The Spineless”
“Märk Hur Vår Skugga”
“On No Way To Broadway”
Chilean thrashers Nuclear have released a new video, covering Death’s classic "Evil Dead”. Originally released 29 years ago and given Nuclear’s extreme makeover, the video includes tour footage, as well as shots from the recording sessions of the band's latest release, Formula For Anarchy (Candlelight Records 2015).
Nuclear had this to say about the video: "It is just our humble tribute to one of the greatest musicians metal music had the opportunity to listen. Chuck Schuldiner's indelible mark is still influencing tons of new metal acts around the world and Scream Bloody Gore was one hell of a start for all of us.”
Nuclear is currently working on new material and a new album is expected to be released in 2017 by Candlelight/Spinefarm Records.
Sensory Records has locked the summer release date for Machina Viva, the vast fifth studio album from leading Swedish progressive metal outfit, Wolverine. The band has released a video for the track “Our Last Goodbye“, which can be seen below.
Recorded and produced by Wolverine in various locations throughout Sweden during the fall and winter months of late 2015 and early 2016, Machina Viva was mixed at Spacelab Studio in Germany by Christian "Moschus" Moos (Everon, Haken, Delain, Cloverseeds), and mastered by Grammy Award winning audio engineer Bob Katz.
A natural progression from the band's previous album, Communication Lost, released in 2011 via Candlelight Records, Machina Viva invites the listener into the harmonious yet portentous and sullen musical dimensions of Wolverine with perhaps their most dynamic album to date. From the fourteen-minute epic and powerful "The Bedlam Overture" and the dark electronic landscapes of "Machina," to the naked and organic nature of "Pile Of Ash" and "Sheds," Machina Viva is the next step in Wolverine's explorations in the progressive field. The layout features microbiological photos by Arturo Agostino and cover art by drummer Marcus Losbjer. Additionally, the CD edition will bear an additional bonus cello version of "Pile Of Ash”.
Wolverine's first title for the Sensory Records division of US progressive powerhouse Laser's Edge, Machina Viva will see worldwide release on July 8th. Additional video and audio samples of the album will be issued over the weeks ahead.
Tracklisting:
“The Bedlam Overture”
“Machina”
“Pile Of Ash” (ES335 version)
“Our Last Goodbye”
“Pledge”
“When The Night Comes”
“Nemesis”
“Sheds”
“Pile Of Ash” (cello version) *
Decapitated have released an official live video for “Blood Mantra”, the title track of their latest album. The footage was shot during the band’s March UK tour with Sylosis. Watch below:
Decapitated played an exclusive session for Last.fm when they were in the UK recently, and you can watch “The Blasphemous Psalm To The Dummy God Creation” from that session below”
In support of their recent European tour with Heart Of A Coward, Decapitated released an official video for their track “Veins”. The unique animated video was created by Polish based animator / concept artist Łukasz Rusinek and depicts an apocalyptic universe featuring droids and feuding superpowers. Watch the video below.
Łukasz commented on the video: "Animation is an area extremely time-consuming and the fact that I work alone only adds to the sad fact that, especially during complex productions such as the video for the song 'Veins' by Decapitated, my little ones await their father to come back home in the evenings in vain and my newlywed wife withers at the window longing to see me. Despite these minor inconveniences, I do not complain because I love to combine sound with vision. On most occasions I prepare scripts myself. And so it was this time. I came up with a short story with the apocalypse in the background, set in a slightly imaginary universe in which droids fight on battlefields instead of humans, intelligence cells of feuding superpowers plot their rise to power, and the relics of the Cold War keep waiting for someone to finally press that 'damn button'. Enjoy."
Bloody Hammers have released a video for “The Reaper Comes”, a track from the new album, Lovely Sort Of Death, which will be released on August 5th via Napalm Records.
"This album is certainly the darkest album I've ever recorded", states Bloody Hammers mastermind Anders Manga, who stays on the dark path to the nether world and opens the seven gates with Lovely Sort Of Death.
Lovely Sort Of Death tracklisting:
“Bloodletting On The Kiss”
“Lights Come Alive”
“The Reaper Comes”
“Messalina”
“Infinite Gaze To The Sun”
“Stoke The Fire”
“Ether”
“Shadow Out Of Time”
“Astral Traveler”
“Catastrophe”
Deluxe Edition Bonus CD:
“Altar Of Fear”
“The Shrine”
“Halloween”
“At Dawn They Sleep”
Fomats:
Limited 4 Panel Digipack CD
1LP Gatefold edition
Strictly Limited 4 Page Digipack & Bonus CD - 300 worldwide
Strictly Limited 1LP Gatefold & Bonus CD - 200 worldwide
Anders Manga on Lovely Sort Of Death: "We live high on a mountain with a steep treacherous driveway so when any snowfall happens, we're stuck for days. Luckily, as a result of all the isolation, my songwriting mood ended up much more on the darker side than previous records. The songs are heavy, but not always heavy. I wanted to create more atmosphere than before. It's a stylistically varied record, which I'm very proud of. I used the Moog more on this album, which blends well with the heavy guitar fuzz tones. It's definitely my favourite album so far in every way."
Bloody Hammers are a duo who hail from the mountains of Transylvania County, NC. The project and first self-titled release was originally formed as a studio only project with vocalist/songwriter, Anders Manga producing and recording all instruments. Soon Anders decided to take the project from the studio to a real band by recruiting his wife Devallia to play keyboards and other local musicians for live shows.
In late 2013 Anders was approached by one of Europe's largest rock and metal labels, Napalm Records. In 2014 Napalm released Bloody Hammers' third official album titled Under Satan's Sun. Through the snowy winter of 2015, Anders began writing again, but this time took a much darker and atmospheric direction. For the first time he added thick Moog sounds along with his normal fuzzed-out guitar, with more atmospheric keys provided by Devallia. They emerged from the winter with Lovely Sort Of Death, their darkest album yet.
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