Avantasia kicked off their Ghostlights World Tour 2016 on March 14th in Berlin, Germany. Several shows were sold out before the tour started and many more will sell out shortly. If you want to see the show and don't have a ticket yet, you shouldn't wait any longer.
Check out fan-filmed video from the Berlin show below.
On February 25th, Avantasia performed in the preliminary round of the Eurovision Song Contest for their native Germany. The goal was to be chosen to represent their country later this year in Stockholm, Sweden for the main Eurovision event. Avantasia placed 3rd out of the 10 acts on the bill.
Mastermind Tobias Sammet posted the following update after the winner, Jamie-Lee Kriewitz, had been declared.
"Hey folks, thanx for your votes. It was great fun! Germany is not a rock ’n roll country, but that girl has got great talent. I wish her all the best for her future. I’ve met a lot of great vocalists here. Thank you for your support, and now we’ll get ready for the world tour! Can’t wait to present you our new stage production. Cheerz!"
Twin dual harpists Camille And Kennerly are back with a cover of the Within Temptation track “Ice Queen”. Check out the new video below:
Check out some of Camille And Kennerly’s previous videos below:
“Carry On Wayward Son” (Kansas):
"Silent Lucidity" (Queensrÿche):
“One” (Metallica):
“Nemo” (Nightwish):
On their new album Harp Attack 2, the duo perform 14 harp duet covers of rock and metal songs from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s, plus a 15th bonus track featuring special guest musicians.
Gothenburg, Sweden-based death metal band, Miasmal, have released their third studio album, Tides Of Omniscience. This 10-track piece of inexorable and absolute death metal is available via Century Media Records. The band have also released a video for the track “Deception”, which can be found below.
Tides Of Omniscience is the logical follow-up to the band’s 2014 achievement Cursed Redeemer, adding an extra portion of doom-laden melodies and hook-filled riffs as well as an overall eerie atmosphere.
The beautiful cover artwork was again done the talented Mr. Mattias Frisk who did the cover for Miasmal’s previous albums as well as artwork for bands such as Vanhelgd, Vampire, Sacral Rage, Ghost and others.
Tracklisting:
“Axiom”
“Deception”
“The Pilgrimage”
“Venomous Harvest”
“Perseverance”
“Key To Eternity”
“Earthbound”
“Dark Waters”
“Fear The New Flesh”
“The Shifting Of Stars”
Professionally filmed video footage of FEAR FACTORY's entire July 18, 2015 performance at the Resurrection Fest in Viveiro, Spain can be seen below.
FEAR FACTORY will embark on a U.S. headlining tour later this month. Support on the trek, which will see the band perform its classic second album "Demanufacture" in its entirety, will come from Swedish metallers SOILWORK.
FEAR FACTORY's latest album, "Genexus", was released on August 7, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The follow-up to 2012's "The Industrialist" was co-produced by longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber, along with guitarist Dino Cazares and vocalist Burton C. Bell and mixed by Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD). Artwork was once again handled by Anthony Clarkson. Drums on "Genexus" were performed by Mike Heller (MALIGNANCY).
FEAR FACTORY last year parted ways with bassist Matt DeVries (previously of CHIMAIRA, where he played guitar, and SIX FEET UNDER) and replaced him with Tony Campos (ex-SOULFLY, STATIC-X, PRONG, MINISTRY).
London, UK-based metal band, KilliT, have unveiled a music video for their brand new single, “Take The Power”. Check it out below:
“Take The Power” is taken from the forthcoming album Shut It Down, which is set for a self-release on May 6th. The album was produced by KilliT & Phil Kinman/MTR Studios, recorded at Resident Studios and mastered by Ade Emsley of Table Of Tone Mastering.
Hot off the back of a rammed Borderline show last night, KilliT have also announced they will be playing at Nambucca on March 18th supporting Cairo Son.
KilliT’s members have extensive experience of touring the live circuit and rocking hard, born from bands which featured current members of Judas Priest and We Are Harlot, the band have begun to prove their worth in the capital playing sold out shows at The Monarch, 12 Bar and Cargo.
Originally hailing from Hungary, Israel, Argentina and Britain, KilliT was founded at the beginning of this year and they quickly released their first video for single and album title track “Shut It Down” which has to date racked up close to 100K views.
Former FLYLEAF vocalist Lacey Sturm has released a new video for her latest solo single, "Impossible". The clip, which was filmed on February 4 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California, is a mixture of commentary on "Impossible" and live performance.
"Impossible" is taken from Lacey's debut solo album, "Life Screams", which was released on February 12 via Followspot Records with The Fuel Music distribution. Writing alone, as well as with husband/guitarist Josh Sturm, SKILLET's Korey Cooper and Grammy Award-winning writer and producer David Hodges, Lacey created a record that is the sonic successor to FLYLEAF's celebrated self-titled debut (which spent a staggering 133 weeks on The Billboard 200 chart). Sturm in 2014 opened up about some of the reasons why she quit FLYLEAF in the fall of 2012, shortly before the release of the band's third album, "New Horizons". Speaking in a video to promote her memoir, Sturm said that several events, including getting married, having a baby and enduring the death of the band's sound engineer Rich Caldwell changed her priorities. Sturm explained: "The one that hit the hardest was the death of our sound engineer. We did one last show with FLYLEAF as a benefit for his wife Katy and their son Kirby. And it was really hard to do a show without him, and it was really hard to think it could be our last show. So I remember looking at my son after Rich had passed and just wondering to myself, if this was the last year I had with my son, how would I spend it?"
Sturm added: "It was really amazing to recognize this season changing in my life and the freedom that I was gonna be able to focus on my family. And I'm so thankful for that time. And although it was really hard, I'm thankful. And that's the reason I stepped down from FLYLEAF."
FLYLEAF recruited singer Kristen May as Sturm's replacement and released its fourth album, "Between The Stars", in September 2014.
"Take Me To Heaven", the new video from FILTER, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's seventh studio album, "Crazy Eyes", which will be released on April 8 via Wind-Up Records. The follow-up to 2013's "The Sun Comes Out Tonight" was produced by FILTER founder, singer and guitarist Richard Patrick.
"Take Me To Heaven" rides a pulse-pounding gallop into an entrancing and ponderous refrain. "I was looking into the eyes of my father when he was passing away, and I held his hand," Richard recalls. "He glanced at me really quickly, focused on me, had this look of gratitude, and then he slipped away. I was almost like, 'I hope you're going to heaven'. Scientifically, the idea doesn't make any sense to me, but if there is a heaven, take me there. That's what happened."
On "Crazy Eyes", Patrick collaborated with old friends such as the man behind 1999's seminal platinum-certified "Title Of Record", producer Ben Grosse (THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS, MARILYN MANSON), and Michael "Blumpy" Tuller (NINE INCH NAILS). He also worked closely with new bandmates Oumi Kapila (guitar, programming), Ashley Dzerigian (bass), Chris Reeve (drums) and Bobby Miller (keyboards), plus former FILTER bandmates Johnny Radke and Danny Lohner. Mixing, meanwhile, was taken care of by Brian Virtue (JANE'S ADDICTION, THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS, DEFTONES), with the mastering being handled by the colorful Howie Weinberg (VAN HALEN, THE MARS VOLTA, THE WHITE STRIPES). "FILTER is the mind," exclaims Richard. "It's your interpretation or my interpretation. Our thing is to look at people's unexplainable behavior and assess it, using sound. It's a way to approximate the insanity of the human condition. The reason this record is so fucking heavy and strange is it's exactly the opposite of what's popular. It's not pretty. It's not cute. It's real." Rather than partner with a producer, Richard took up the reins and oversaw the production side himself… "You recognize it's us from my aggression and singing, but the instrumentation had to change," he admits. "It wasn't about just stacking guitars like we might've done on the last couple of records. There are way more electronics and sound design used." Ultimately, it all comes back to the fact that Richard remains honest. "I'm completely into this for the music," he concludes. "Being yourself is the most important thing. I authentically went to places I'd never gone before. That was from my heart. I'm trying to be as genuine as possible to what FILTER is. It's about sounding fucking different, forward and original."
German metallers, Varg, have premiered a video for the song "Streyfzug", a track from their new album, Das Ende Aller Lügen, available via Napalm Records.
With their fifth album, Varg prove that offense is often the best defense – and how impulsivity and unpredictability always makes the best generals. In this battle you will need the best and only the best, those who surreptitiously allure one into the trap, but are also open minded for the frontal attack. In this battle you need the brute force that is called Varg, and this force alone.
Tracklisting:
“Der große Diktator”
“Das Ende aller Lügen”
“Revolution”
“Streyfzug”
“Achtung”
“Dunkelheit”
“Totentanz”
“Einherjer”
“Wintersturm”
“Ascheregen”
“Streyfzug” video:
"Achtung" video:
German and English versions of the music video for “Dunkelheit” are streaming below:
Slovakia's Wastage are a brutal blend of thrash, hardcore and metalcore with no-nonsense lyrics about the dystopian society we live in. Featuring former members of Xibalba, Stone Cold Bitch, Eternity and The Weed, Wastage released their debut album worldwide last October via Sliptrick Records. Now the band have released a music video for the album cut “No Way Out”. Check it out below.
Slave To The System tracklisting:
“Away From Darkness”
“Slave To The System”
“Game”
“No Way Out”
“Ham-Let”
“You Can’t Stop”
“Right Now”
“I Walk Alone”
“Nobody”
“Let Me Go”
“Confidence”
Swiss death metal horde, Omophagia, have released a video for the track “Down We Fall”, featured on their upcoming album, In The Name Of Chaos. Watch below:
Omophagia is the latest addition to Unique Leader Records' expanding roster of extreme metal.
Comments the band in a collective statement, "We couldn't be happier about the fact that we just signed a label contract with Unique Leader Records for the next few Omophagia album. It's an absolute dream come true and we feel honoured to be part of that specific label which brought out so many bands we love. It's been our absolute first choice and we are very glad that Unique Leader is putting enough trust in us to sign us. We are looking forward to a great cooperation over the next few years."
Omophagia, a name relating to the consumption of raw flesh, will unleash their eleven-track, sophomore release In The Name Of Chaos on April 15th. The record was tracked at the band's own studio in Switzerland, mixed and mastered at Hertz Studio in Poland (Decapitated, Vader, Behemoth, Hate etc.) and promises to be their fastest, heaviest and most brutal output to date.
Tracklisting:
“Intro”
“Willing Whore”
“Man Machine”
“Until The Sky Turns Red”
“The Leader”
“Despair”
“The Dominant”
“Love Song”
“Down We Fall”
“Wheel In The Engine”
“Instramentalized”
In conjunction with its release, Omophagia will bring their sonic savagery to the stage on a near-two-week run of European live abrasions supporting Morgoth, Incantation and DarkRise.
Spanish thrash squadron Crisis has released a new video for “Strange”, taken from their new album From Blue To Black, set for North American release on April 15th via Listenable Records.
Crisix comment on the video: "'Strange' was the first track that we composed and possibly the song that made From Blue To Black as it is. That's why we chose 'Strange' to be the first contact with the album." The seventh song on From Blue to Black, "Strange" consolidates all of Crisix's characteristics: quality, mosh-friendly thrash metal fusing the modern and the traditional with catchy grooves and a strong message.”
Formed in Barcelona, Spain in 2008, Crisix have gone from fearsome youthful talented thrash metallers winning the Wacken Metal Battle contest in 2009, being voted as best Spanish upcoming band in Rock Zone magazine for their debut album The Menace (2011), to one of the most revered new European powerhouse in the thrash metal genre.
The band’s new album, From Blue To Black, showcases the band's catchiest, most powerful, devastating material. Although not celebrating a multifaceted metal, Crisix inject such crisp ,velocity and entertainment that it results in a departure from a well worn thrash metal format.
From Blue To Black tracklisting:
“Conspiranoia”
“Journey Through The Fire”
“G.M.M. (The Great Metal Motherfucker)”
“T-Terror Era”
“Psycho Crisix World”
“From Blue To Black”
“Strange”
“Five As One”
“Fallen”
Minneapolis outfit After The Burial have released an official music video for “Collapse”, from their new album, Dig Deep, out now via Sumerian Records.
Dig Deep was recorded at Graphic Nature Audio in New Jersey with producer Will Putney (The Amity Affliction, Upon A Burning Body). The album is the first where the band partnered with a producer.
Tracklisting:
“Collapse”
“Lost In The Static”
“Mire”
“Deluge”
“Laurentian Ghosts”
“Heavy Lies The Ground”
“Catacombs”
“The Endless March”
“Sway Of The Break”
“Collapse” video:
Teaser:
“Lost In The Static”:
After The Burial join label mates Born of Osiris, Veil of Maya, Bad Omens and ERRA for Sumerian Records’ 10 Year Tour:
March
2 - Tampa, FL - The Orpheum
4 - San Antonio, TX - Korova
5 - Houston, TX - Walters Downtown
6 - Austin, TX - Dirty Dog Bar
7 - El Paso, TX - Tricky Falls
8 - Mesa, AZ - Nile Theater
9 - Hollywood, CA - The Roxy Theatre
10 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
11 - Fresno, CA - Strummer’s (with Veil of Maya only)
12 - San Diego, CA - Soma
13 - Pomona, CA - The Glasshouse
14 - Las Vegas, NV - Eagle Aerie Hall (headlining date)
15 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre (with Born of Osiris only)
16 - Denver, CO - The Summit Music Hall
17 - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater
18 - St. Louis, MO - Fubar
"Fight The Good Fight", the new video from Detroit, Michigan's WALLS OF JERICHO, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "No One Can Save You From Yourself", which will be released on March 25 via Napalm Records.
WALLS OF JERICHO frontwoman Candace Kucsulain recently told Toxic Online about "No One Can Save You From Yourself": "It's been a long time since we've put out a record, but not that much has changed. We are still pissed, it's still heavy as shit, maybe a bit more than before, and it still rips! We have a unique energy on stage, something we've worked hard on for the past 17 years, and with all the time between records, it helped us realize what was important to us for our live shows. So through that, we focused on a record with our live show in mind and made a record that represents us and the energy we create. Lyrically, a lot of shit has gone down in my life, and this record you can feel the pain, darkness and chaos. It's a soundtrack to all of it."
Regarding the "No One Can Save You From Yourself" album title, Candace said: "We have been doing this for a long time, and you never stop finding a reason to fight. We feel that real change can't happen until you look inside yourself and own up to your part. We are our own worst enemy, and that can apply to life limitlessly. It's about progress not perfect, but once you know the difference, there's nothing left to do but take action."
"No One Can Save You From Yourself" track listing:
01. Intro02. Illusion Of Safety03. No One Can Save You From Yourself04. Forever Militant05. Fight The Good Fight06. Cutbird07. Relentless08. Damage Done09. Reign Supreme10. Wrapped In Violence11. Anthem12. Beyond All Praise13. Probably Will
WALLS OF JERICHO released a demo version of the song "Relentless" in 2014.
Corners Of Sanctuary (COS) has officially released a new video for the song “Wrecking Ball”, from their recent album, Metal Machine, now available on Metalizer Records Germany in Europe and independently through the band website for the rest of the world.
Gguitarist Mick Michaels states: “We planned to include a heavier visual support for Metal Machine, more than we had done in the past with previous albums.Expect at least two more videos to follow in the coming months.”
The “Wrecking Ball” video, as with the previous one, was produced and directed by Philadelphia-area Indie artist Zen Say, who stated: "It's been a pleasure working with Corners of Sanctuary and sharing ideas across multiple mediums.”
"Wrecking Ball" incorporates the now public domain scenes from the 1936 British science-fiction film, Things To Come – an adaptation of H.G. Well’s story depicting a world at war. The original film was produced by Alexander Korda and directed by William Cameron Menzies. The music video is also laced with on location shots filmed with the band.
The video's message is centered on the horror and devastation brought on during such conflicts and the effects it has on every walk of life. "Though the clips of the movie are based on a fictional story, the reality of what war holds is all too real to simply dismiss," added Zen Say.
"Wow, holy freakin’ fudge pop intense," exclaimed lead singer Frankie Cross, who again finds himself the focal point of the video's imagery.
"This song captures the horror, patriotism and pride of war while the images convey a seriously, emotional landscape. The metaphor of the song will be clearly felt by some... like a wrecking ball”, stated lead singer Frankie Cross when asked about his take on the video's backdrop of war for the song. ”It's just so beautifully frantic... the true star is the production team," he added.
Corners Of Sanctuary is currently supporting Metal Machine with the Wrecking Ball Tour. A new crowdfunding page has been created to assist in supporting the band’s efforts and is now live, here.
Fans’ financial support is being gifted with several Official COS Metal Machine Merchandise Packages which include autographed photos and CDs, concert shirts, patches and supporters having their names listed on the COS website.
Upcoming 2016 Corners Of Sanctuary shows:
March
5 - Memories - Waldorf, MA
11 - Reverb - Reading, PA
April
1 - 3065 Live - Buzzards Bay, MA
8 – Bar XIII - Wilmington, DE
15-16 - 2016 NEPA Metal Metaldown Fest - Pittson, PA
May
12 - The Wire - Berwyn, IL
13 - The Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN
14 - New Dodge Lounge - Hamtramck, MI
21 - Diane’s Cafe - Pittston, PA
28 - Metal Eternal Fest Tour - Ardmore, PA
German epic melodic metal band, Human Fortress, have released a video for the track “Thieves Of The Night”, the title track of their new album, out on March 18th. The clip can be found below.
Two years after the group had returned to the style of their successful first releases from the early 2000’s with Raided Land – and also introduced new vocalist Gus Monsanto (ex-Timo Tolkki’s Revolution Renaissance, ex-Adagio) - Human Fortress continues right where they left off.
Songs such as the catchy title track, power metal hymns (“Rise Or Fall”, “Vicious Circle”) or the slightly modern - but not less epic “Thrice Blessed” will amaze every fan of the Hannover-based band. But Thieves Of The Night additionally could appeal very well to worshippers of Virgin Steele’s ‘80s/’90s classic releases, Kamelot and Avantasia.
Tracklisting:
“Amberstow”
“Last Prayer To The Lord”
“Rise Or Fall”
“Thieves Of The Night”
“Thrice Blessed”
“Hellrider”
“Just A Graze”
“Vicious Circle”
“Smite On The Anvil”
“Dungeons Of Doom”
“Gift Of Prophecy”
“Alone”
Perris Records will release, It's A Mouthful, the new album from Sweden's Captain Black Beard on March 25th.
The video for "Divided Feelings" from It's A Mouthful, is finally available for your viewing pleasure.
It's A Mouthful artwork and tracklisting:
"Divided Feelings"
"Take Me To The City"
"She's The One"
"Tearin' Me Apart"
"Far Gone"
"All I Need"
"Mouthful Of Love"
"When It's Love"
"Something She Said"
"Coast To Coast"
"South Beach"
"Falling"
"Operation: E.A.E.", the new video from THE UNGUIDED — the Swedish band featuring former SONIC SYNDICATE members Richard Sjunnesson (vocals), Roland Johansson (vocals) and Roger Sjunnesson (guitar; Richard's brother) — can be seen below. The track is taken from THE UNGUIDED's latest album, "Lust And Loathing", which was released on February 26 via Napalm Records.
Once you get past the harsh melodic death metal exterior, epic clean vocals and catchy keyboard tones await. Dynamic and strong songwriting with that special Scandinavian massive production and delicate guitar solos turn "Lust And Loathing" into the best gem the band's discography has to offer.
Comments Richard Sjunnesson: "This is the last part of an album trilogy that's been in the making for six years, and what a climax it is indeed. Expect the unexpected! We poured everything and more into this one."
"Lust And Loathing" track listing:
01. Enraged02. The Worst Day (Revisited) 03. King Of Clubs04. Heartseeker05. Photobs Grip06. Black Eyed Angel07. Operation: E.A.E.08. Boneyard09. Hate (And Other Triumphs)10. Mercy (bonus track)11. Judgment (bonus track)12. Betrayer Of The Code (live)
ANTHRAX's Jack Bennett-directed video for the song "Blood Eagle Wings" can be seen at RollingStone.com. The multipart eight-minute epic is taken from the band's latest album, "For All Kings", which was released on February 26 via Megaforce in North America and Nuclear Blast in Europe.
ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian told RollingStone.com about "Blood Eagle Wings": "I think it's our masterpiece of a song. It's the biggest, coolest thing we've ever written."
Regarding the theme of "Blood Eagle Wings", Ian said: "Any great city, whether it's London, Rome, Paris, New York, Los Angeles — these cities are alive because of how many people were killed to make these cities what they are, how much blood was spilled over time."
According to music industry web site Hits Daily Double, "For All Kings", is likely to sell between 20,000 and 23,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The SPS figure is expected to be between 21,000 and 24,000.
SPS, a practice used by Billboard magazine, stands for "sales plus streaming," which includes album sales and converted track sales plus converted streaming data.
For those interested: 10 tracks sold equal one album sale (since $1.29, the cost for an individual track, multiplied by ten gives you $12.99, a common price for an album, and 1,500 streams is equivalent to one album sale.
ANTHRAX's previous album, 2011's "Worship Music", sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The disc followed up 2003's "We've Come For You All", which opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122
ANTHRAX's U.S. tour with LAMB OF GOD came to a close on February 12 in Los Angeles, California.
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