The Covers Challenge is back with this impressive version of "Lunch" by Billie Eilish, performed by Six Burning Knives.
A message states: "In response to the enthusiastic reception of The Covers Challenge, a groundbreaking initiative by El Jevilongo in collaboration with Art Gates Records, we are thrilled to announce the launch of an exhilarating new metal version.
"Six Burning Knives has embraced the challenge of transforming Billie Eilish's song, 'Lunch', infusing it with their distinctive metal edge, showcasing their versatility by transforming a synth-pop/electro-rock anthem into a definitive metalcore rendition.
"In this vocal performance, Noel demonstrates his full vocal prowess, highlighting his adaptability and powerful delivery."
David Reece has just been confirmed as the headliner of Pirates Metal Night - 10 Years El Puerto Records. Reason enough to give an impression of his live concerts with a new video.
"Tomorrow Don't Matter Today" uses live footage from his release tour through the USAand Scandinavia, which took place directly after the release of his latest album, Baptized By Fire, on March 1. Watch below:
Not much more needs to be said about David Reece. Since the late 80s, his charismatic voice has enhanced successful albums by Accept, Bangalore Choir, Bonfire and the Sainted Sinners, among others. In addition to this, however, he also continued to focus on his solo career.
As the cover and title Baptized By Fire already suggests, his latest album is significantly "heavier" than its two predecessors. Twelve new songs full of power, mature and varied. One reason for this is certainly his new band lineup. In his adopted home of Italy, he found three highly talented, creative collaborators with whom he was able to work on the songs around the clock. A paradise for a "thoroughbred" musician like Reece.
Baptized By Fire is available via via El Puerto Records. The artwork was created by Newton Artworxx.
Tracklisting:
"Enemy Is Me"
"We've Lost The Fight"
"Wrong Move"
"Payback's A Bitch"
"No Rest For The Wicked"
"Twilight of the Gods"
"Seasons Of A Man"
"Closer To God"
"Archbishop Of Anarchy"
"My Heart Burns"
"Acceptance Of Denial"
"Tomorrow Don't Matter Today"
"Enemy Is Me" video:
Lineup:
David Reece – Vocals
Riccardo Demarosi – Bass
Niccolò Savinelli – Guitars
Giovanni Savinelli - Drums
Swedish prog rock/metal legends, Opeth, performed at the Tuska Festival in Helsinki, Finland on June 30th. Fan-filmed video of the entire show, courtesy of The Cinescapader's Music Channel, can be viewed below.
Setlist:
"The Grand Conjuration"
"Demon of the Fall"
"The Drapery Falls"
"Heir Apparent"
"Ghost of Perdition"
"Deliverance"
Opeth recently announced that Swedish heavy metal masters, Tribulation, will be their special guests on their upcoming North American tour.
Says Tribulation: "We’re honored and very glad to announce that we’ll be joining our good friends in Opeth on their upcoming tour across North America this fall, finishing everything off nicely on Halloween. It’s been far, far too long since we last made a proper run across the pond and we couldn’t be happier that we’re doing it with Opeth. We hope to see a lot of old friends and new ones, we can’t wait!"
The video below from Opeth features a special message from Frederik Åkesson about Montreal, the North American Tour 2024, and to announce that Tribulation will be joining as special guests."
Tickets for the tour are on sale now. Get them here.
Tour dates:
October
11 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave / Eagles Club
12 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater & Ballroom
14 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre
15 - Montréal, QC - L'Olympia
16 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
18 - Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre
19 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
20 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
22 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
23 - New Orleans, LA - Fillmore New Orleans
24 - Austin, TX - Emo’s Austin
25 - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre
27 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom
29 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
30 - Los Angeles, CA - YouTube Theater
31 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
Japanese metal band Bridear released their new album, Born Again, on June 28 via Psychomanteum Records. A vinyl release is planned for later in the year. A CD and merchandise bundle is available to order now at psychoshop.net.
To celebrate, they have unveiled the spectacular video for their new single, "Cult", one of the highlights of the album. The video, which sees two witches waging war for the soul of a willing victim, was created using a mixture of real world and AI technology, and is the perfect accompaniment to the fast-paced, high-energy track, full of guitar pyrotechnics and pummelling rhythms alongside lead singer Kimi’s impassioned vocals.
The quintet from Fukuoka, Japan jetted out to Gothenburg, Sweden to record their sixth studio album with the legendary metal producer Fredrik Nordström (In Flames, At the Gates, HammerFall, Bring me the Horizon) at Studio Fredman.
Lead singer Kimi comments, “We are very honoured to work with Fredrik Nordström on ‘Born Again’. He has worked with the top names in metal and we are proud he wanted to produce the album! Working with Patric Ullaeus on the video was also a great privilege. I think it shows us moving up to the next level. It captures the energy of this album and presents us in such a powerful way!”
Fredrik Nordström adds, “I really enjoyed working with Bridear. ‘Born Again’ is for sure in my Top 5 albums of my career! They are an amazing band and this is a world-class album.”
Bridear deliver a mission statement of raw and unapologetic heavy metal on Born Again. It is the ultimate showcase of their unique blend of captivating melodies and intense atmosphere alongside unforgiving no-holds-barred walls of mighty riffs, epic solos and bone crushing drums. The album also features the band’s first ever guest with Dream Evil’s Nick Night providing his high-flying vocals on “Die Like This” which closes the record.
Tracklisting:
“Still Burning”
“Braver Worlds”
“Born Again”
“Cult”
“Empty Mind”
“Scar Of Reunion”
“Real Is Real”
“Fight It Down”
“No Angels”
“Die Like This”
Slugging their way through the underground with unrelenting force, Oklahoma's slamming brutal death metal titans, Peeling Flesh, announce their new album, The G Code, set to be released on September 6 via Unique Leader Records.
Alongside this announcement, the band has unleashed a bone-crushing new double A-side single “Shoot 2 Kill" and "Perc 3000”, accompanied by a visceral performance video of "Shoot 2 Kill" with the live audio mixed by Buster Odeholm of Humanity's Last Breath.
Stream “Shoot 2 Kill" & "Perc 3000” here and watch the live performance video of "Shoot 2 Kill" below. Pre-orders for 'The G Code' are available now, here
Peeling Flesh, known for their relentless, slamming sonic assault, have crafted The G Code as a definitive statement of their sound. The album pushes the boundaries of slamming brutal death metal with intensified slams and innovative new elements, enriched further by some incredible guest appearances.
Commenting on the album, Peeling Flesh share: “With this new record we feel we’ve really cracked our sound as a band. We wanted to put out something that embodies PF to its fullest but with a fresh angle and we’ve definitely done that… We’ve had some great tours recently that have given us the opportunity to really see what works in the live setting, so we’ve put that into the album’s writing approach too. The slams are the heaviest they’ve EVER been but we’ve tried a few new things. On top of this we’ve brought in some insane guest appearances to add to the mix. We can’t wait to play these jams live! See y’all on the road.”
Peeling Flesh has built a reputation for intense live performances and has amassed a dedicated following in the world of extreme metal. The upcoming release of The G Code'marks a new pinnacle in their discography, promising fans and newcomers alike an onslaught of ferocious brutality.
Tracklisting:
Intro
"Shoot 2 Kill"
"Perc 3000" (feat. DJ MRD)
"Concrete Curb Enforcement" (feat.Tim Louth of Cold Hard Truth)
"Full Of Lead "
"Skin Blunt "
"Barbarianism"
"The Fuckening" (feat. Cerebral Incubation)
"The G Code" (feat. Alex Erian & Steve Marois of Despised Icon)
"Creepin’ Out The Cut" (feat. Matti Way Ex - Disgorge/Liturgy/ Abominable Putridity)
Outro
"Shoot 2 Kill" live video:
Catch Peeling Flesh bringing their explosive energy to stages across the US on their Get Rich Die Hard headline run kicking off in August and hitting 25 cities across the country.
Following on from their electrifying performances at Download Festival in the UK and Vainstream Rockfest in Germany and their US tour with Vukovi, Calva Louise have shared the video for new single, "La Corriente", out now on Mascot Records. Watch below.
"'La Corriente' is about escaping prefabricated opinions and judgments, affecting our perception of self," the band's Jess Allanic explains. Translated to "the current" in Spanish it can mean the river current but also figuratively it can mean following someone's flow. Allanic adds, "By trying to be agreeable and trying to fit in, I let someone's current drag me away from my own self in the past, undermining my opinions, and eventually feeling trapped in expressing myself. This song for me is regaining that power back."
The music video for "La Corriente" is indirectly part of the sequel of "Under The Skin," as the beginning of the prequel takes place in 1994: the day a young Jonnie had to agree to become an apprentice to a commander coming from the Fractalworld. "'La Corriente' takes place at the show where his fate is sealed, setting the tone of the story that will be unfolding in the next video," the band says. 'We are very grateful to everyone who took part in the video, especially Sunbird Records bar in Darwen that allowed us to shoot those two music videos in four days at their venue. It was a hard but fulfilling experience especially for Allanic as she is directing and editing the videos."
Last month, the band finished a 5-week tour of the US with Vukovi as well as playing Sonic Temple and Welcome To Rockville festivals in the US. Talking about the tour the band says, "Touring with Vukovi was one of the best experiences we've had! They are a wonderful band and amazing people! We also got to see so many great places and meet wonderful new people who travelled all over the U.S. to come to the shows! We had a great time and hope we get to do it again soon!"
They recently released their explosive single "Under The Skin". Watch a video for the song below.
"Under the Skin" was co-written by Allanic and Pendulum's Gareth McGrillen and is a mesmerizing blend of raging metal riffs, swirling electronica, and Allanic's extraordinary ability to flit between ethereal vocals and demonic howls. It swoons in and out of a stunning narrative, with melodic twists along the way that are penetrated by an attack of hypnotic aggression. The song and video follows a complex Sci-Fi narrative and is the introduction of a conceptual storyline about the characters and their counterparts, The video is an incredible feast for the eye and was directed and edited with VFX by Allanic.
The British based band is truly International with its members hailing from across the globe and has been ripping through the UK underground for the past few years, driven by the creative vision of Venezuelan born Jess Allanic (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboard) along with French born Alizon Taho (Bass/Backing Vocals - France) and New Zealander Ben Parker (Drums/Backing Vocals).
Calva Louise are a captivating live band that has seen their recent live performances take them to another level. 2024 will prove to be the year of Calva Louise.
The Black Dahlia Murder have released a playthrough video for "Aftermath", the first single from their tenth studio album, Servitude, out September 27 via Metal Blade Records. Watch below:
"Before the tragedy, no one ever thought this band was going to exist without Trevor."
That's The Black Dahlia Murder's co-founder Brian Eschbach telling it like it is. With the tragic passing of the band's frontman and co-founder Trevor Strnad in 2022, Eschbach, bassist Max Lavelle, drummer Alan Cassidy, and producer/guitarist Brandon Ellis were faced with a decision: Close the door on one of the most beloved death metal bands of the last twenty years, or carry on in their fallen brother's charismatic spirit?
"Everyone that's in the band now is someone that Trevor and I searched for," Eschbach says. "We spent so much time on the road together that everyone understands the mission statement. We don't really need to talk about it. We just need to make great music and try to make people happy playing it."
After a period of profound grief and deep soul-searching, Eschbach moved from guitar to vocals, setting aside his lifelong identity as a live guitarist for the survival of the band. Former The Black Dahlia Murder member Ryan Knight returned to the fold to take Eschbach's place on guitar. The new lineup made their debut in TBDM's hometown of Detroit in late October 2022 for a tribute show for Strnad.
Fast forward to right about now: The Black Dahlia Murder's new album is the one that many would have thought impossible. Servitude marks Eschbach's recorded debut as The Black Dahlia Murder's lead vocalist and lyricist - and their first with Knight on guitar since 2015's Abysmal.
"I just had to lean into it hard," Eschbach says of approaching Servitude in a completely new role. "Honestly, writing the lyrics for this album was easier for me than writing the music for the three songs that I wrote music for. I'd pick a subject, research it, and just kinda dive in. Even though it's not something I'd really ever done before, there was a natural flow to it once I started."
You can hear the thrilling results on "Aftermath," the ripping lead single, which envisions a post-apocalyptic cannibal scenario. "We wanted that one to be heard first because it's one of the faster songs on the album, if not the fastest," Eschbach says. "We wanted that very aggressive Black Dahlia melodic death metal feel coming right at you. Lyrically, it's about a meteor that fucks up the whole planet, but there's still people living. Kind of like The Walking Dead, but with no zombies-so you get right to how people deal with it. And by the end, they're eating each other."
Watch The Black Dahlia Murder's video for "Aftermath," created by My Good Eye: Music Visuals, below.
The members of The Black Dahlia Murder know that some will be skeptical of an album without Trevor's inimitable presence. But many fans have already embraced the band's decision to move forward.
"More than pressures or expectations from the fanbase, I feel their trust and support," Ellis says. "We've always done what we do for them, and they've appreciated our consistency over the years. The global outcry following Trevor's passing has shown us how important the band's music has been to so many people, and how important it is that we continue in his honor. Under all that weight, I think we all knew what needed to be done."
"We put in everything we had, and this is the album that felt right to make," he adds. "I'm proud of it and proud of the five of us. You can never please everybody, but I know that this music will be a healing and positive force for those who embrace it!"
The guitars, bass and vocals for Servitude were recorded at Ellis' home studio in New Jersey. The drums were recorded by Mark Lewis in Nashville, Tennessee where the album was also mixed. Servitude was mastered by Ted Jensen.
Servitude will be released on digipak CD, cassette, and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants and special editions:
- Electromagnetic (US)
- Rising Smoke (US)
- Transcosmic Blue (US)
- Endless Tide (US)
- Utopian Black (US)
- Cursed Creation (US - Exclusive Band Tour Variant)
- Limited Edition Box Set *(with Ephemeral vinyl variant and a bonus LP that Includes 3 Live Tracks (US - Ltd. 400 / EU - Ltd. 600)
- 180g Black (EU)
- Bloody Pulp (EU - Ltd. 1000)
- Nature's Grain (Impericon Exclusive - Ltd. 300)
- Blood Spray (EMP Exclusive - Ltd. 200)
- Stone Cold (EU - Ltd. 200)
- Lost Nobility (UK - Ltd. 300)
June
14 - Z! Live Rock Fest - Zamora, ES
16 - Download Donington - Park, UK
17 - Limelight - Belfast, UK
18 - Opium - Dublin, IE
20 - Arch Club - Athens, GR
21 - Block 33 - Thessaloniki, GR
23 - Graspop - Dessel, BE
24 - Hirsch - Nuremberg, DE (with Suffocation)
25 - The Black Lab - Lille, FR (with Suffocation)
26 - Im Wizemann - Stuttgart, DE (with Shadow Of Intent)
27 - Mergener - Hof Trier, DE
28 - Club Vaudeville - Lindau, DE (with Suffocation)
29 - Jera On Air - Ysselsteyn, NL
30 - Hellfest - Clisson, FR
July
31 - Rockstadt Extreme Fest - Brasov, RO
August
2 - Dortmund Deathfest - Dortmund, DE
3 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, DE
4 - Full Rewind - Roitzschjora, DE
6 - Lifestyle Café - Cham, DE
7 - Brutal Assault - Jaromer, CZ
8 - Party San Open Air - Schlotheim, DE
9 - Szene - Wien, AT
10 - Menza Pri Koritu - Ljubljana, SI
11 - Slaughter Club - Milano, IT
13 - Rockhouse - Salzburg, AT
14 - Kiff - Aarau, CH
15 - Summer Breeze - Dinkelsbuhl, DE
16 - Reload Festival - Sulingen, DE
17 - Chinasstraat - Gent, BE (with Decapitated)
18 - Motocultor - Carhaix, FR
The Black Dahlia Murder will join Dying Fetus for a North American co-headlining tour this fall. See all confirmed dates below:
October
3 - Agora Ballroom - Cleveland, OH
4 - Egyptian Room - Indianapolis, IN
5 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
6 - Fillmore - Minneapolis, MN
8 - Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
10 - The Depot - Salt Lake City, UT
11 - Knitting Factory - Boise, ID
13 - Neptune - Seattle, WA ^
14 - Rickshaw - Vancouver, BC ^
15 - Roseland Ballroom - Portland, OR
17 - UC Theatre - Berkeley, CA
18 - The Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA
19 - Observatory North Park - San Diego, CA *
20 - The Novo - Los Angeles, CA *
21 - The Marquee - Tempe, AZ
23 - The Factory at Deep Ellum - Dallas, TX
24 - Vibes Event Center - San Antonio, TX
25 - Warehouse Live Midtown - Houston, TX
27 - The Ritz Ybor - Tampa, FL
28 - Buckhead Theatre - Atlanta, GA
30 - The Fillmore - Charlotte, NC
31 - Fillmore Silver Spring - Silver Spring, MD
November
1 - Fillmore - Philadelphia, PA
2 - Palladium - Worcester, MA
3 - Irving Plaza - New York, NY
5 - M-Telus - Montreal, QC
6 - The Phoenix Concert Theatre - Toronto, ON
9 - Royal Oak Music Hall - Detroit, MI
10 - Concord Music Hall - Chicago, IL
^ no AngelMaker
* no Spite
The Black Dahlia Murder:
Brian Eschbach - lead vocals
Max Lavelle - bass
Alan Cassidy - drums
Brandon Ellis - lead guitar, backing vocals
Ryan Knight - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
At a press conference during last weekend's Hellfest in Clisson, France, SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser spoke about his involvement with SAVAGE LANDS, the non-profit organization founded by MEGADETH drummer Dirk Verbeuren and his partner, Sylvain Demercastel. Launched in 2022 to help finance forest restoration projects and purchase lands in order to preserve natural forests that would otherwise be threatened, SAVAGE LANDS' mission is amplified by a series of singles featuring members of the metal community including Kisser, OBITUARY's John Tardy, members of HEILUNG and Chloe Trujillo, the wife of METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo.
Kisser said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "On the lockdown [during the pandemic], we all remember when no planes, no cars, no pollution, no construction. You see how nature responded so quickly. The air got better, animals started to get out of their hiding places. You see that nature is very alive and very aware. We don't let that that happen. So we need to find ways to embrace nature instead of fucking destroying and construction and stuff like that. So it is a proof, on the lockdown, that it's possible. That's why there's hope that it's possible that nature will respond very quickly if we change our way of dealing with it."
Kisser who performed at Hellfest with SAVAGE LANDS as part of a lineup that included Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH),Vincent Dennis (BODY COUNT),Daniel De Jongh (TEXTURES),Silje Wergeland (THE GATHERING),Jesper Liveröd (NASUM),Alejandro Montoya (CULTURA TRES) and Chloe Trujilo, went on to speak about the heavy metal community's increasing support for environmental causes. He said: "We should let [all the musicians in the scene] know that this is happening. And a lot of people — some musicians come and want to be a part. Some other musicians have to pay attention to this kind of stuff. And there's a lot of friends. I mean, the amount of people that are already here today. We have SEPULTURA, NAPALM DEATH and THE GATHERING, BODY COUNT, CULTURA TRES. There's a lot of stuff involved, many different ways of seeing metal or aggressive music, if you will, but all with that purpose. It's a fantastic movement, and it's growing. Like I said, it's just the beginning, so the metal community slowly will be more aware of this, and hopefully we can make this bigger."
During their hour-long set at Hellfest on June 28, SAVAGE LANDS performed classic metal covers along with other songs off their upcoming album, including new single "No Remedy", which features HEILUNG's Maria Franz.
Whether they're planting trees or holed away in the studio, SAVAGE LANDS foster the spirit of collaboration. Recently, they made history by signing a joint manifesto that addresses the need for forest and wildlife preservation. This marks the first time that three active Costa Rican / U.S.-based non-profits have officially banded together over a shared mission statement.
"No Remedy" follows the same approach, though to different results than SAVAGE LANDS' first two singles. Sylvain still comes speeding out the gate with another burning riff that ignited the crowd at Hellfest, but this is the most melodic song they've ever written. When the band hit the chorus, the guitars don't crunch but crest into warm, washed-out power chords.
"That's one of the beautiful things about SAVAGE LANDS," Sylvain says. "As a band, we're not limited to just one genre. We can adapt to boost the strengths of whoever is joining us".
BLACK BOMB A experts know Sébastien "Poun" for his explosive screams, but on "No Remedy", he simmers down in service of guest vocalist Maria Franz. HEILUNG are also partnering with SAVAGE LANDS by donating $1 for every ticket sold on their 2024 U.S. tour to support their reforestation efforts, but their faithful followers might be surprised to hear that her soothing clean singing fits right at home with a heavy metal band.
"Supporting what SAVAGE LANDS is doing on the ground in Costa Rica was an easy decision," Maria says. After all, HEILUNG have a tradition of donating to tree planting initiatives. "But when Sylvain sent me 'No Remedy', there was a sense of melancholy to the song that really resonated with me".
Protecting the environment is the heartbeat of every SAVAGE LANDS song. "No Remedy" can be seen as a reflection on destroying the planet. The video was shot in an abandoned, run-down building that was once owned by Napoleon. But the song speaks to other human concerns. "I am locked in my head / And I lost the key", Poun bemoans, his quiet desperation only answered by Maria's haunting echo ("Never, never now").
"We are all helpless to stop the passing of time", Sylvain says. At the end of the video, the band members disappear from the screen, one by one, using an old-school film technique. "Each of us is left with only our memories".
Still, "No Remedy" does find a silver lining. "What do we need to live together?" Poun and Maria sing, their voices climbing, almost circling each other, before locking into perfect harmony. They might look mad as hell while yelling at each other across the kitchen table, but the whole video crew was in stitches after the sixth take of Maria throwing water on poor Poun. "Whether we're talking about the environment or our friendships, it's vital that we appreciate what we have during our time on this earth", Sylvain says.
Just listening to "No Remedy" helps support SAVAGE LANDS. 100% of the song's royalties fund the musician-run non-profit's preservation efforts in Costa Rica.
Bay Area death/thrash crew Laceration delivers the crushing new single “Strangled By Hatred,” along with a new video for the ripping track. The song is the latest preview of the band’s impending second LP, I Erode, set to drop at the end of the month, their inaugural release for 20 Buck Spin. The video was created by Sam Caparros and Stench Reel.
Years of work and subtle refinement manifest in the band’s most assured and vicious material to date.
Absolutely loaded with hallmarks of US death metal’s peak era, I Erode vehemently explodes out of the gate with merciless riffs, savage tempos, tastefully fleshripping solos, and the malevolent undercurrents of aggressive death thrash perfection. Striking an ideal balance of technical and straightforward, high-speed and mid-paced breaks, and a concise, to the point attack packed with variety, I Erode offers a purely addictive shot of real death metal adrenaline in a lineage that includes Demolition Hammer to Morgoth to Suffocation.
While perhaps invoking a sense of nostalgia, the fact is Laceration’s evolved confidence and commitment to a song’s unsparing execution erase any focus on era on the neck-breaking I Erode. The dedication to the death metal form’s timelessness and high standards for true acknowledgment mark Laceration’s output now more than ever.
Recorded at Dark Corners Studios by Matt Harvey of Exhumed and Gruesome, mixed and mastered by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios (Undergang, Vastum, Ulthar, High On Fire), and completed with artwork by James Bousema (Frozen Soul, Kerry King, Celestial Sanctuary, Morgul Blade), photography by Bill Batchalor, and layout by Dan Fried, Laceration’s I Erode is a crucial listen for fans of Malevolent Creation, Dawn Of Possession-era Immolation, Devastation, Monstrosity, Morbid Angel, Asphyx, Pestilence, Demolition Hammer, Skeletal Remains, Morgoth, and Master.
I Erode will be released July 26 on LP, CD, MC, and digital formats. Preorder on Bandcamp.
Tracklisting:
“Degradation (Intro)”
“Excised”
“Sadistic Enthrallment”
“Vile Incarnate”
“Dreams Of The Formless”
“Carcerality”
“Strangled By Hatred”
“Impaling Sorrow”
“I Erode”
"Strangled By Hatred" video:
“Excised”:
Laceration is currently booking tour dates in support of I Erode, with a release show for the album confirmed August 10 in Santa Rosa. The band is also finalizing a West Coast tour running from the end of August through the first week of September which will be announced shortly, with additional tour updates to post over the months ahead.
Laceration:
Luke Cazares – vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar on “Dreams Of The Formless”
Donnie Small – lead and rhythm guitar
Aerin Johnson – drums
Eli Small – bass
Capricorn Rising is the upcoming concept album and extreme metal rock opera from Thirteen Goats, which will be released for metalheads around the world next month. Is it thrash? Death? Groove? Thirteen Goats don’t care, and neither should you. This Vancouver four-piece tramples all over subgenre conventions to create an alchemical style of infernal riffs, huge hooks, and uniquely theatrical songwriting.
They have a music video out now for the single “Murder Lives in the Heart”, which lead vocalist and guitarist Graham K. Miles comments on:
“The song is about the nature of vengeance. Vengeance feels good when you’ve been wronged. But just because something feels good, that doesn’t make it right.
“I wrote the song after getting my heart broken, to remind myself that the pain would make me a monster if I let it. In the story we’re telling on the record, our main character Shepherd experiences that when he loses his faith in humanity and sells his soul to become the Antichrist.
“The video explores the same theme from a different perspective. It’s about three women who murder the members of the band one by one and reanimate them into zombies. Their reasons are never shown, but we get a strong sense that they feel justified in what they’re doing.
“Whether it’s right or wrong is left up to the audience. We’re not here to tell you when revenge is okay or not—but we want to show that it always has a spiritual cost.”
It’s been two years since the release of their debut, Servants Of The Outer Dark, and the band has worked their asses off to bring everything fans loved about that record back with a vengeance—the frenzied fretwork, the humongous hooks, and the subtly humorous lyrics that mask much darker and more serious subjects. Two songs (including this one) also feature guest vocals by Carly Ellen Jones. Thirteen Goats is recommended for fans of Carcass, Lamb of God, and Mastodon.
Due out on July 12, 2024, Capricorn Rising is available from Exitus Stratagem Records for album preorder at exsrmusic.com.
Tracklisting:
“Sign Of The Goat”
“Murder Lives In The Heart”
“A Wolf In Shepherd’s Clothing”
“Global Fuckup”
“Beheading Zoo”
“Permission To Die”
“Beating The Disease”
“Goats Of War”
“Animal Kingdom”
"Murder Lives In The Heart":
"Sign Of The Goat" video:
In additional news, following their performance at this year's Armstrong Metal Fest (July 12/13), Vancouver's Thirteen Goats will be hitting the road this month and August for their first Western Canadian tour. They will be co-headlining the Planet Of The Goats Tour with Edmonton's Fall Of Earth.
Dates:
July
19 – Red Deer, AB - The Vat
20 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
21 - Lloydminster, SK - The Sticks
23 - Brandon, MB - Eastside Eatery
24 - Winnipeg, MB - Bulldog Event Center
25 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
26 - Lethbridge, The Slice
27 - Calgary - Rec Room
31 - Kelowna, BC – Revelry
August
1 – Kamloops, BC – The Blue Grotto
2 – Penticton, BC – Clancy’s
3 – Vancouver, BC – The Fox Cabaret
During Metallica's performance at the Tons Of Rock festival in Oslo, Norway on June 26, the band were joined on stage by Diamond Head guitarist Brian Tatler for a performance of his band's classic song, "Am I Evil?" Metallica have released the official live video of the performance, which can be viewed below.
Metallica famously covered Diamond Head's "Am I Evil?" for the B-side of their "Creeping Death" single in 1984. The song was later featured on Metallica's covers album, Garage Inc., released in 1998.
"Relive the June 26 concert from Tons Of Rock with the ultimate souvenir... an official live audio recording on CD," states a recent message from Metallica. "The show is available now for pre-order in the Met Store and includes an extra heavy version of “Am I Evil?” featuring the amazing Brian Tatler from Diamond Head. Thanks again for an amazing show in Oslo. We hope to see you all again soon!"
Pre-order here. Expected availability is August 30.
Setlist:
"Whiplash"
"Creeping Death"
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
"Enter Sandman"
"72 Seasons"
"If Darkness Had a Son"
"Fade to Black"
"Shadows Follow"
"Am I Evil?" (Diamond Head cover with Brian Tatler)
"Nothing Else Matters"
"Sad but True"
"Lux Æterna"
"Seek & Destroy"
"One"
"Master of Puppets"
Velvet Chains, known for their soul-stirring hard rock music, takes a daring leap with their latest release, "Enemy". Mixing the grit of grunge with nu-metal intensity, the track delves deep into raw emotion and inner turmoil, offering a visceral journey into the shadows of the mind.
Produced by Heavy and mixed by Josh Wilbur, "Enemy" is a sonic powerhouse. Accompanied by a captivating music video produced by TFP Studios depicting a clay character brawl that reminds us of MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch, the band maintains their intensity while embracing a creative approach.
"Enemy" is now available on all major streaming platforms, inviting listeners to join Velvet Chains in embracing the darkness and unleashing their inner demons with this powerful new single. The band's current lineup features: Ro Viper on vocals, Nils Goldschmidt on bass guitar, Lahi Cassiano on lead guitar, Von Boldt on rhythm guitar & backup vocals, and Jason Hope on drums.
Fresh from touring with Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators in South America, Velvet Chains is currently captivating audiences on radio-sponsored shows across the Southwest, Northwest, and Midwest. With their previous single "Stuck Against The Wall" spending nine weeks on Mediabase and Billboard Top 40 Active Rock charts, Velvet Chains continues to rise as a formidable force in rock music.
For further details, visit Velvet Chains on Facebook.
Dark Sails Entertainment announces the release of "Chronophobia", the title track from Violence System's new EP, set to drop on July 5, 2024.
Formed in 2015, Violence System has rapidly become a dominant force in the melodic death metal scene, captivating fans with their unique blend of beauty and brutality. Their latest single, "Chronophobia", exemplifies their signature sound and sets the stage for the upcoming EP. Fans of Thy Art Is Murder, Decapitated, and Dimmu Borgir will find much to appreciate in this powerful track.
Chronophobia was recorded at True Fiction Audio & Sawyer Sound Studio and mixed and mastered by Aaron Pace at AP Audio. The EP's striking artwork, crafted by Armaada Art, perfectly encapsulates the band's intense aesthetic.
For further details, visit Violence System on Facebook.
Following the success of their last two singles "Portable Door" and "Pictures Of You", legendary British hard rockers DEEP PURPLE have released "Lazy Sod" today, the third song from their upcoming album "=1".
"Lazy Sod" is now available for streaming and as instant gratification track with all digital download pre-orders for "=1". Alongside the single release, the official music video for "Lazy Sod" can now be seen below.
Asked about the song's inspiration, DEEP PURPLE frontman Ian Gillan explained in an interview with Rocks magazine: "Recently a young journalist asked me how many songs I had written in my life. I replied that the last time my assistant counted, twenty years ago, it was over 500. I felt quite accomplished until she pointed out Dolly Parton's 5,000 songs, calling me a lazy sod. I couldn't help but agree and wrote down the exchange in my notebook."
"=1" is due on July 19 via earMUSIC. The LP marks DEEP PURPLE's first material with new guitarist Simon McBride, who stepped in two years ago following Steve Morse's departure.
McBride said: "The new album will reflect what the five of us create in the rehearsal room. Many of the songs, like 'Portable Door', were written in the first sessions and literally came together in 5 or 10 minutes. It all was so easy and natural."
Gillan added: "Throughout DEEP PURPLE's history, our best songs have always been those that were written in no time at all. We've played what felt good and developed songs as we have always done."
DEEP PURPLE continues its charge of recent years, releasing hit albums and filling arenas around the world, adding yet more layers to its 100-million-album-selling legacy. The band is credited as one of the key originators of heavy rock and has constantly progressed its boundaries of music. They are fronted by Gillan, whose vocals have defined generations, accompanied by the masterful bassist Roger Glover, the powerhouse drummer Ian Paice, and the maestro on keyboards Don Airey.
"=1" is the band's first album with McBride, who seamlessly slotted in when longtime member Morse left due to personal circumstances. Since 2022, Simon has already played to DEEP PURPLE audiences totaling more than half a million people.
But DEEP PURPLE is more than just their members and "=1" embodies the essence and attitude of their 1970s incarnation possibly more than any other album in recent memory. With the legendary Bob Ezrin once again producing, the record evokes the pioneering band's classic sound, without relying on nostalgia.
The enigmatic title "=1" symbolizes the idea that in a world growing ever more complex, everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence. Everything equals one. Its full meaning will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the artwork also playing its part. Fans have already been speculating after mysterious equations and depictions of multiverses appeared in London, Paris and Berlin in recent days.
With three consecutive No. 1 albums in their back pocket and a resurgent new energy powering them forward, this is DEEP PURPLE at their pinnacle. "Now WHAT?!" (2013),"inFinite" (2017) and "Whoosh!" (2020) have sold over one million copies worldwide, making DEEP PURPLE one of the most successful rock bands currently active. The latest studio album, "Whoosh!", reached No. 1 on the album charts in seven countries and charted in the top 10 in another 12.
"=1" will be released as a limited CD+DVD (digipak),CD (jewel case),2LP gatefold (black, 180g),limited purple 2LP gatefold (180g),limited crystal clear 2LP (180g) and limited box set (CD+DVD digipak, 2lp black gatefold, 3x exclusive 10" vinyl editions feat. live recordings from DEEP PURPLE's 2022 tour, exclusive collector's T-shirt, 2x exclusive guitar picks, 1x exclusive art print, 1x exclusive lanyard, and the chance to win a Golden Ticket giving access to all shows on the DEEP PURPLE "=1 More Time" tour). All LPs include a rich 12-page vinyl sized booklet. The bonus DVD features the approximately 60-minute documentary "Access All Areas" joining DEEP PURPLE backstage on tour and providing an exclusive look behind the scenes.
"=1" track listing:
01. Show Me
02. A Bit On The Side
03. Sharp Shooter
04. Portable Door
05. Old-Fangled Thing
06. If I Were You
07. Pictures Of You
08. I'm Saying Nothin'
09. Lazy Sod
10. Now You're Talkin'
11. No Money To Burn
12. I'll Catch You
13. Bleeding Obvious
There simply aren't enough superlatives to properly acknowledge the contribution DEEP PURPLE has made to rock music. Having sold more than 100 million albums and filled global arenas for decades, there's little wonder that the respected British radio station Planet Rock named the group the "Fifth Most Influential Band Ever". The band were also presented the Legend Award at the 2008 World Music Awards and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2016. DEEP PURPLE truly are "rock royalty".
With a body of work spanning seven decades, DEEP PURPLE has helped pioneer and define the hard rock genre while progressively moving into new areas, both keeping their sound fresh and attracting new fans to the legions who have remained loyal since the band's inception. The celebrated MKII line up of Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore were responsible for creating many of the defining rock albums of the early 1970s, including "Made In Japan", universally accepted as one of the most important and influential live albums of all time.
Known as one of the hardest working bands ever, DEEP PURPLE has continued to release No. 1 albums and tour globally since forming in 1968, with little rest. In 2007 (almost 40 years after being formed),the band performed 40 dates in France to an award-winning audience, and they continue to spend much of their year on the road selling out arenas across the globe.
DEEP PURPLE has stayed true to its musical roots taking from an eclectic mix of styles to create a distinctive sound that defines the band today, but which in turn, has created a legacy that very few bands could ever hope to replicate. The band has written and produced so many "classic", well-known songs, that its audience range widely in age and background — something the band has readily embraced.
DEEP PURPLE's recent studio album "Whoosh!" (2020) followed their worldwide chart-topping albums "inFinite" (2017) and "Now WHAT?!" (2013). 2024 sees the release of their brand-new album "=1". On all albums, DEEP PURPLE joined forces with producer Bob Ezrin, who has worked with the likes of KISS, PINK FLOYD, Lou Reed and Alice Cooper.
Furthering their collaboration with Ezrin, in 2021 and during the pandemic the band recorded a collection of cover songs from their own homes (normal for most bands nowadays, revolutionary for a band that records everything together in the studio),creating an eclectic and celebratory history of their roots in music, in the shape of "Turning To Crime".
In 2022 came the sad news of Steve Morse's departure due to personal circumstances, but DEEP PURPLE, never a band to let a set back throw them off course, sought out the masterful skills of guitarist Simon McBride and played the year out in style, exciting crowds with a new energy and excitement.
Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Simon McBride continue with renewed vitality, pushing the boundaries of hard rock to audiences around the globe, proving that DEEP PURPLE are very much here to stay.
Photo credit: Jim Rakete (courtesy of The Outside Organisation
Lithuanian-born Swedish artist Michael Palace shares the new single and accompanying video “Girl Is An Angel”, taken from his upcoming new record Reckless Heart, set for release on July 12, 2024.
The unofficial soundtrack music video for "Girl Is An Angel" was made with clips from the cult classic 1996 movie "Barb Wire" featuring Pamela Anderson. Set in a dystopian future, "Barb Wire" stars Anderson as a nightclub owner and bounty hunter in Steel Harbor. Directed by David Hogan, the film blends noir and cyberpunk elements and is known for its gritty aesthetic and action-packed sequences. Despite mixed initial reviews, it has gained a cult following for its ‘90s charm and iconic style.
Describing the track, Michael commented: "‘Girl Is An Angel’ is a driving AOR rocker powered by a pumping synth bass and a scorching guitar solo! This is my personal favorite from the new album, so I wanted to make something special and made an edit of the movie ‘Barb Wire’ to accompany the song and give you the full soundtrack experience!”
This explosive musical journey of Reckless Heart resurrects the essence of the 1980s, each track pulsating with the potential to score a classic action blockbuster or drive the adrenaline of a training montage.
“It was time to go back to the roots, as they say, and finally make that true '80s AOR album that I’ve dreamt of creating since I started Palace. It's the missing link between 1985 and 2024,” said Michael.
Inspired by genre-defining icons such as Aviator, FM and Dare alongside contemporaries Chez Kane and Crazy Lixx, Michael Palace meticulously rebuilt the Palace sound from the ground up, returning to the true origins and inspiration of the project. Reckless Heart is an essential cornerstone in any AOR and melodic rock aficionado's collection.
Michael Palace embarked on his journey with Frontiers as a songwriter and guitarist for various projects such as First Signal, Cry Of Dawn, Toby Hitchcock and Kryptonite. These successful collaborations paved the way for a deal with Frontiers, enabling Michael to deliver songs aligned with his vision under the name Palace. Reckless Heart marks the fifth release, maintaining a bi-annual album release schedule since 2016. Recently, Michael has produced albums for Kent Hilli and Nevena and done work across diverse genres while taking on various roles such as a songwriter, musician, producer, and engineer.
Embracing a hands-on approach, Michael has written all of the songs, played all instruments, produced, mixed and mastered the new album. Reckless Heart stands as a testament to his ongoing musical evolution, inviting fans of Master Of The Universe, Binary Music, Rock and Roll Radio, and One 4 The Road to plunge into the captivating world of AOR and the iconic soundscape of the 1980s.
Tracklisting:
"Reckless Heart"
"The Widow’s Web"
"Back In Your Arms"
"Girl Is An Angel"
"You Give Me A Reason To Live"
"Back To ‘85"
"For The Love"
"Turn This Car Around"
"Weightless"
"Move Me"
"Stronger By The Day"
CATEGORY 7, the new band featuring former MACHINE HEAD and current KERRY KING guitarist Phil Demmel, ex-ADRENALINE MOB guitarist Mike Orlando, ARMORED SAINT/ex-ANTHRAX singer John Bush, OVERKILL/SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner and EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson, will release its self-titled debut album on July 26 via Metal Blade Records. The official music video for the LP's third single, "Mousetrap", can be seen below.
Comments Bush: "The music for this one felt like a mysterious caper to me. I drew inspiration from 'The Three Musketeers' where a police tactic was used to apprehend someone who went to the residence of a person who was previously arrested. The whole thing feels like a black-and-white movie with scenes of entrapment, interrogation, and a corrupt warden. Even though it feels like something old, it also feels like it could be applied to what is happening in our modern justice system. Round and round we go."
With veteran musicians from so many legendary bands, it's hard not to think of CATEGORY 7 as a supergroup.
"I think we're pretty super," jokes Demmel, who has also earned mega-metal cred over the decades as a member of VIO-LENCE and has played as a fill-in road guitarist for SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, OVERKILL and others. "Really, I feel like this is a band, not a side project. And I feel like we have written this incredible piece of music, and we're not done. I'm so proud of the way this came together and the people who were involved. And I think we all feel super positive about this and what else we can do with it going forward."
The songs on the band's self-titled debut speak for themselves. As crushing and confrontational as an armed rebellion, as rhythmically thunderous as a storm of golf ball-sized hail, and as fiercely melodic as infectious riffs and aggressive vocals can be, CATEGORY 7 is a new breed of metal that lives up to the storied histories of its members. They're as heavy as a battleship, yet the songs are meticulously structured, skillfully balancing thrash beats, New Wave Of British Heavy Metal rhythms, punk metal attitude, blistering and ferocious dual guitar work, and scar-inflicting vocals.
"It's all about big verses and big songs, and it has a lot of the elements we've explored in our other bands," explains guitarist and main songwriter Mike Orlando (ADRENALINE MOB, SONIC UNIVERSE, NOTURNALL).
Take the upbeat album opener "In Stitches", which starts with piledriving double-bass drums, a feral thrash passage, and a fiery lead before toning down just enough for the distinctive vocals to stand out.
"It gets heavy, it's thrashy at times, but it opens up in the verses, and then the double-bass drums come in and knock you off your chair, but in a great way," Orlando says.
Bush further elaborates, "I read an article on an unhoused pregnant woman named Stitches who resided in Los Angeles obviously living a very difficult life that was compounded by mental illness and drug abuse. The encampment situation in my beloved city drives me bats. I balance between serious empathy and complete anger. The combination of imagining her life as well as my own internal turmoil led me to an almost humorous insanity state while writing this scathing album opener."
"Land I Used To Love" is slightly slower and more melodic, with guitar chords that complement the harmonized vocals and a searing guitar fill over the chorus that ups the temperature on the molten riffage. Then there's the propulsive, piledriver "Exhausted", which features blazing guitar licks, a punchy riff, and hammering thrash beats that climax with another unforgettable chorus.
The album closes with the explosive eight-minute instrumental, "Etter Stormen", in which Orlando and Demmel engage in a contest of dueling guitar leads over volleys of battering beats and riffs that see-saw between pounding metal and whiplash-inducing thrash.
CATEGORY 7, named after the numerical designation for the most powerful wind storms, came together from a batch of musicians who strived to play music they loved and weren't hearing elsewhere, and wanted to do so with bandmates they enjoyed being with. Orlando and Demmel became friends after taking part in a batch of tributes to the late OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Randy Rhoads. The seeds of CATEGORY 7 were then cemented one night a couple years later when Orlando went to hang out at the Clifton, New Jersey metal club Dingbatz as Demmel was filling in on lead guitar for OVERKILL, which also featured SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner.
"We were hanging out and tearing it up, and between beers we were like, 'Hey, we need to do something,'" recalls Demmel. "We need to write some new music. We've got three-fifths of a band here. Let's get together and do some songs."
Since OVERKILL was practicing in New Jersey for a couple days before launching a tour, Demmel and Bittner were hanging out in the area. So, the day after the Dingbatz conversation, the guitarist got back in touch with Orlando, and the two decided to get together after the show and jam to see if their playing styles meshed.
"We just started throwing around some riffs, and it was pretty incredible, but different," Orlando says. "We immediately clicked together as writers. And to me, it was such a joy because the bands I have been in have always been just one guitar player. I never had a partner. So, to have a dude I liked, who plays really well, to bounce ideas around with was freaking awesome."
"Mike had this idea of doing stuff that was a little more mainstream than the heavier stuff that I've done. But we didn't want anything to sound contrived," adds Demmel. "So, the first thing we did had all these different parts and crazy tempos and it kind of sounded like RACER X-meets-PANTERA. But we liked it and had fun doing it, so it was a great start."
Adds Bittner: "The funniest part about that was me and Phil were rehearsing for OVERKILL in New Jersey, and I had no idea I was two rooms over from you writing this song. So, after we practiced for five hours you guys worked on a song for another two hours. I couldn't believe that. And I went, 'Okay, next time you guys do something, count me in.'"
As a staple of the Bay Area thrash scene, EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson was the natural choice to expand CATEGORY 7, and he was intrigued by the idea of stepping into a new pair of shoes. "When I first heard the song they did, I really liked that it was heavy and melodic, which is very different than the stuff I play with EXODUS, which is very rhythmic and chromatic."
By far, the greatest challenge for CATEGORY 7 was finding the right singer. Not that the members couldn't agree on who they wanted. They all wanted ARMORED SAINT and ex-ANTHRAX vocalist John Bush; there wasn't even a second option. But getting him to agree to join the band was an exercise in patience and persuasion. When he was invited to join CATEGORY 7, Bush wanted to hear the band's music. But the only song they had recorded was the RACER X-meets-PANTERA-style instrumental, which they feared wasn't going to vibe with Bush's interest or ability. So, they put a couple more demos together, which were far more melodic, and they sent them to Bush, then waited on tenterhooks for him to get back to them.
"I listened to the music they sent me, and I was like, "Wow, this is pretty scathing stuff,'" Bush recalls. "It's awesome, but the question was, what could I do with it vocally that would fit? As Jason said, 'These guys are riff maniacs.' So, I wasn't totally sure right away that I was the right guy for it. But I started tinkering around with it and writing, and, to my satisfaction, everything came out relatively easy."
With Bush onboard, CATEGORY 7 went into overdrive. Now that they had a vocalist locked in, they were able to structure the songs to work with his melodic vocal style. Orlando worked separately and then together, assembling dynamic riffs and rhythms that peaked in complexity and heaviness during the intros, midsections and outros, and settled into a sparser, more melodic pocket for the verses and choruses.
"There was a cognizant effort to give the verses some space and to let John create his vocal melodies for them and the choruses," Demmel says. "Because he's the 'Bush hooks man.'"
CATEGORY 7 quickly realized the best way for Orlando and Demmel to combine their considerable talents as songwriters was for Orlando to write the skeletons for the tunes and have Demmel contribute fills, middle eight sections and leads. For Orlando, writing for the band became far easier once he had a vocalist in mind for his songs.
"When John Bush entered the picture, I knew who I was writing for and that helped me immensely," he says. "I wasn't just writing for the sake of writing; I was writing parts specifically for John Bush to sing. That was great for me not only because gave me a goal to strive for, but because, as a fan of John Bush's vocals for decades in ARMORED SAINT and ANTHRAX, it was exciting to know he was gonna be on these songs."
Even though CATEGORY 7 purposely wrote songs that gave Bush the room he needed to make the material shine, they stopped short of writing together anything that sounded like the bands Bush was best known for. That left Bush filtering through the complex rhythms and sometimes unconventional melodies to find the right spots in which to sing and the tone for those passages. While the work was sometimes challenging, it was equally rewarding and imbued songs like "Land I Used to Love", "Exhausted" and "Through Pink Eyes", with urgency and immediacy.
"Working on these songs opened up a big part of my brain to just be real creative," Bush says. "It all came out sounding very fresh and new. And it was really liberating for me because I was able to open up a whole new door for myself. Because working with these guys was just different than what I've done before because they're different people and the way they write, the way they create, and the way they play is new for me. And that compelled me to gravitate to what they were doing, which created this fresh sound that's unlike anything I've done or heard."
Bush also entered new territory with his lyrics. While he has addressed current events and the downfall of society in the past, with CATEGORY 7 he wrote about the desperation that pervades society and the destructive divide that has evolved and separated people for decades but is now worse than ever. As much as anything, Bush wanted songs like "White Flags & Bayonets", "In Stitches" and "Land I Used To Love" to inspire thought while being open to interpretation.
"I just say it's social commentary, man," Bush says "There's a slew of information there to choose from and it's all in there. Obviously, every single day you could wake up and check out the news and have conversations with people and friends and feel a lot of the way I did when I was writing these songs. So, I just ran with that. But there's a certain ambiguity to some of the lyrics because I don't want to spell out exactly what these songs are about because they could be about a lot of things. And I want people to use their imagination. I want to touch on all these particular topics and scenarios that feel very current without telling people what they need to think."
CATEGORY 7 started working together on March 2023. During the months that followed, Orlando and Demmel wrote on a regular basis, and during the pre-production stage, Bittner recorded drums to the tracks at his home studio. When he sent them back to the guitarists, they would send him the next batch of songs to work on. Not only did Bittner bring on the kind of technical drum skills he has exhibited in SHADOWS FALL and OVERKILL, he went above and beyond, injecting a tumbling, barreling feel into the variegated songs.
"Jason is not only technically incredible, his parts are musical, and his feel is musical," Orlando says. "He's the ideal drummer for this band because he exudes this fire and passion which I love because that's the only way I play guitar."
Bush started recording his vocals after Orlando, Bittner and Gibson laid down all their tracks at Orlando's recording facility, Sonic Stomp Studios, where he produced, engineered, mixed and mastered the album. With the songs in their final form, it was just a matter of fine-tuning a mix here or overdubbing a part there. And Orlando had almost as much fun finishing the album as he did writing it.
"One thing I love to do is to be able to take the guitar player hat off and become the producer and studio guy," he says. "And it was easy with these guys because we all had the same vision, and we were so prepared. But it took a little bit of tinkering because I wanted this album to sound big - not in the sense of overly produced but big in a way that it knocks you out of your shoes and off your feet. And we all wanted the same thing, so there was no conflict whatsoever."
In the end, CATEGORY 7 have created an album that is fresh and familiar. The mixture of NWOBHM, thrash, punk-metal and traditional metal is cohesive and sonically rewarding, establishing an eclectic musical backdrop for Bush's instantly identifiable vocals. At the same time, the diversity of styles creates its own template that's ideal for headbanging, moshing, and voluble sing-alongs.
"I think the sound of this band really comes down to the odd connection that all of us have," Bittner says. "We've known each other for years as friends and peers. And we've all looked up to each other and know that one day we'd have to work together. It's taken almost two decades for that to happen, but lo-and-behold, once it did there was no stopping us."
"Category 7" features art and layout by Carlos Fides at Artside Studio (ANGRA, EVERGREY, KAMELOT). The record will be available on CD and digital formats as well as several vinyl color variants.
"Category 7" track listing:
01. In Stitches
02. Land I Used To Love
03. Apple Of Discord
04. Exhausted
05. Runaway Truck
06. White Flags & Bayonets
07. Mousetrap
08. Waver At The Breaking Point
09. Through Pink Eyes
10. Etter Stormen
Demmel spoke about CATEGORY 7 in an August 2023 interview with former EXHORDER and PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS guitarist Marzi Montazeri. Regarding how the musicians first came together, Demmel said: "I [was] doing a one-off [show], [filling in as the guitar player for] OVERKILL, and this is just right after things are opening up. It's in Jersey, so we go up to Dingbatz, or what's… there's the bar and then there's the venue. So whatever the bar is, we go to the bar. And Orlando comes and meets us, and it's Corey Pierce from GOD FORBID. And so we're there all getting loaded. And at a certain point, it was just, like, 'Man, we got the band right here, man. Why don't we do something? Why don't we write music together?' And we're all, 'Yeah, let's do.' And then the next day, we're kind of hung over, going, 'Hey, man, did we mean it? Did we mean that? Yeah, let's see can happen.' And I came back [to the East Coast]. I forget what I was doing when I came back. And me and Orlando got together and we just got in the room and started throwing riffs at each other and came up with, like, a dozen or so riffs that he took back. And you know Mikey O — he's got his own studio, and he gets behind something. And he's got such a great ear. He's a phenomenal guitar player. And he's got a great ear for music and melody. So he starts putting the shit together. And we're, like, Damn, this is fucking cool.' … And then so we're thinking, it's, like, all right, well, bass player and vocalists. Vocalists, who would you guys want? Let's make our list. Start at the top.' And then bang, bang, bang. All at the top was 'John Bush', 'John Bush', 'John Bush'. We're, like, 'Hmm.' I said I know him from [playing together in] METAL ALLEGIANCE. We broed down a little bit — we talked sports and stuff — so I said, I know him enough to call him up and ask him. So I did. And he was super… We were in the friend zone for a while — you know, non-committal. And it's been bit by bit by bit."
Phil went on to describe the new band's musical direction as "heavier than the early VAN HALEN and the early PANTERA stuff that's on the — you know, the shuffle beat. It's on the upbeat; a lot of it's on the upbeat, not on the down. So it's the head-bobbing type of type of BPMs, you know? So it's different. Nobody's really doing that now."
Orlando was the guitarist/founding member of the hard rock group ADRENALINE MOB. As owner of his own recording studio, Sonic Stomp Studios, he handles everything from engineering, producing, mixing and mastering.
Demmel left MACHINE HEAD at the end of the band's fall 2018 North American tour. He was in MACHINE HEAD for nearly 16 years, during which time he played on five of the group's studio albums: "Through The Ashes Of Empires" (2003),"The Blackening" (2007),"Unto The Locust" (2011),"Bloodstone & Diamonds" (2014) and "Catharsis" (2018).
Widely known as the drummer from American metal band SHADOWS FALL, Bittner has won numerous awards, including Modern Drummer magazine's No. 1 Metal Drummer in 2005 and 2006, No. 1 Up-And-Coming Drummer in 2004 and 2005, and No. 2 Clinician for DRUM! magazine in 2011. In 2014, Bittner hooked up with the thrash metal band FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and has since joined OVERKILL.
Bush continues to record and tour with ARMORED SAINT, which he co-founded in 1982.
John fronted ANTHRAX between 1992 and 2005 but was sidelined when the group reunited with Joey Belladonna for a 20th-anniversary tour. When that collapsed, and relationships disintegrated with next frontman Dan Nelson, Bush returned for a time before Belladonna took the job back in 2010.
In 1996, eight albums into EXODUS's career, Gibson joined the band and has remained with the group ever since. In addition to his work EXODUS, he has fathered a bluegrass brainchild, COFFIN HUNTER, a band that combines Gibson's love for Nashville music and for playing banjo, giving off a vibe of true Americana like a mix of C.W. McCall, Jerry Reed and Sergio Leone.
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