The End Machine have released their new album, The Quantum Phase, via Frontiers Music Srl. Check out a lyric video for album opener, "Black Hole Extinction", below:
This new record from The End Machine signals a notable change in personnel. Singer Robert Mason has officially parted ways with the group, paving the way for Girish Pradhan, the rising superstar vocalist known for his work under the moniker Girish And The Chronicles and, more recently, with Joel Hoekstra’s 13. The addition of Pradhan to the band is a testament to the keen discernment of Serafino Perugino, president, and founder of Frontiers Records. Perugino, who serves as the executive producer for The End Machine, recognized the incredible talent and potential in Pradhan and brought him to the attention of the band.
Established in 2018, The End Machine released their eponymous debut album, The End Machine, in 2019 bringing early acclaim for not only contemporary production and a modern attitude, but also their perfectly crafted songs, paying homage to their roots and the music that they love. This attitude and talent was equally on display with their 2021 sophomore album, Phase2.
In delivering 2024's The Quantum Phase, The End Machine has not only surpassed expectations but has penned the record of their lives! With each note and lyric, they have exceeded their own artistic aspirations, collectively crafting the album they always wished they had written. This monumental work stands as a testament to The End Machine's evolution, showcasing not only their musical prowess but also their unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of their creative expression.
"Black Hole Extinction"
"Silent Winter"
"Killer Of The Night"
"Hell Or High Water"
"Stand Up"
"Burning Man"
"Shattered Glass Heart"
"Time"
"Hunted"
"Stranger In The Mirror"
"Into The Blazing Sun"
"Killer Of The Night" video:
"Silent Winter" video:
Produced By: Jeff Pilson for Pilsound Music Inc
Studio: Pilsound Studios, Santa Clarita CA
Recorded By: Jeff Pilson and Girish Pradhan, additional engineering: Olivia Pilson
Mixed By: Alessandro Del Vecchio
Mastered By: Alessandro Del Vecchio
Band members:
George Lynch
Girish Pradhan
Steve Brown
Jeff Pilson
Making his name in ground-breaking heavy metal bands such as Black Label Society, In This Moment, Sixx:A.M., and Filter, Jeff Fabb decided to pioneer his own sound with his debut album released in November of last year with Stealing Souls, which held his first radio single, “You’re Complete”.
Jeff released another new single in February of this year called “Hell In The Hallway” which is currently being played on radio stations such as 94.3 The Shark, 90.1 WUSB. HITH is also currently being added to Spotify playlists.
Jeff’s new single, “See No Evil”, is a refreshingly upbeat and infectious tune that highlights Fabb’s artistry in a whole new way.
“See No Evil” combines the best of Jeff Fabb - his booming vocals, poetic lyrics, a catchy melody, and of course, his masterfully powerful and precise drumming. This track is an example of what Fabb is truly capable of, and showcases many of his varied artistic influences, such as Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, and Led Zeppelin. Fabb’s true genius is in his ability to layer textures reminiscent of the styles of great artists of the past, while incorporating modern touches and his unique flair.
Not only is Fabb known for his powerful drumming capabilities, but he plays essentially every instrument on his own in his solo work, aside from contributions from Fabb’s long-time friends and collaborators Brian Green and Dario Lorina on his previous debut release Stealing Souls.
Jeff’s new single “See No Evil” also showcases long-time friend and past band member Blake Bunzel (In This Moment), who is playing guitar, mixing, and producing.
The new single speaks to the nature of embracing uncertainty, with lyrics like “Imagination, my mind’s creation, realization when life’s hell on Earth. There is no glory, as I tell the story, I need to let it go.”
“See No Evil” means sometimes it can feel like no one wants to help you, everyone is passing you by. It feels like you’ll never finish what you’ve started…, but sometimes slow and steady will get you where you wanna be.” -Jeff Fabb
"Till The Death"
"As The Wind Blows"
"You're Complete"
"Reaper"
"Abandon Yourself"
"Drowning Fears"
"Rebellion Dogs"
"Hollow World"
"Gallows Pole"
"Time Stops The Bleeding"
"Lionhearted"
"War On The Weasel"
"Fascination"
Highly respected drummer and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Fabb found his path in heavy metal and hard rock scenes, with his “claim to fame” in drumming for iconic rock bands such as In This Moment, Filter, and Sixx AM, and Black Label Society.
Starting his drumming career at the ripe age of 11, Fabb has a long history of music that’s followed him throughout his whole life. Beginning his journey growing up in Long Island, Fabb played in various bands throughout high school and eventually formed the band Tripface.
After spending much of his early career on the East Coast, Fabb moved to L.A. in 1998, to dive head-first into the music scene of Silver Lake. From there, he contributed to many esteemed bands in the rock and metal circles, always known for shaping the sound of each group he is a part of with his masterful drumming techniques.
Covid was a big catalyst for wanting to pursue his solo project, and he worked tirelessly to release his heavily anticipated solo album Stealing Souls in 2023. His debut album is highly regarded for combining a booming voice with slamming guitar and drums to create an album full of textures such as hard rock, rock, metal, grunge, and alternative rock. With slower tracks like “As the Wind Blows”, Fabb tunes into his more classic influences, and tunes into his harder rock influences with “Reaper”.
With influences ranging from Alice In Chains, Mad Season, Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, and Tool, to Led Zeppelin, Fabb creates a unique sound reminiscent of many great names in rock, while adding his own unique flair to everything he creates.
His diverse musical capabilities have allowed him to succeed in the rock and metal communities, making him a highly respected, and multi-faceted artist.
French heavy metal pioneers NIGHTMARE have unleashed new details about their upcoming, brand new studio offering entitled Encrypted! The band's twelfth album is slated for a release on June 7 2024 via AFM Records, the pre-sale has just started at https://shop.afm-records.de/nightmare/
Following the re-recorded, 2023 version of "Eternal Winter", today, NIGHTMARE are premiering a music video for their new album single "Saviours of the Damned"! The track is out now on all digital services via https://nightmare.bfan.link/saviours-of-the-damned, watch the video clip streaming below.
Founded in 1979, NIGHTMARE have been an integral part of the European metal scene for the past three decades, and have been prolific with their album releases, all the while updating and evolving their sound.
The band released eleven much acclaimed studio albums and toured worldwide, playing some of the biggest metal festivals like Wacken, Hellfest, 70,000 Tons Of Metal, Motocultor Open Air or Gods Of Metal, and supporting the likes of Def Leppard, Sabaton, Saxon, Grave Digger and Blind Guardian to name just a few. 2020 seen NIGHTMARE release their latest album, Aeternam, via AFM Records. At the end of 2022, the band parted ways with singer Madie and welcomes their new, exceptional vocalist: Barbara Mogore!
As the band states: "With the arrival of Barbara transcending NIGHTMARE in new dimensions, we have decided to move to new heights in terms of musical approach to make Encrypted our most ambitious album to date in terms of production, musical direction and achievement... You can find here some traditional power metal riffing in the trademark of NIGHTMARE but also extreme metal parts and some highlights even reaching melodic death metal... making Encrypted our most varied opus so far, beyond all boundaries and expectations...”
Encrypted was produced by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio, the artwork was created by Franck Jeannin.
Tracklist:
01 - Nexus Inferis
02 - The Blossom of my Hate
03 - Voices from the Other Side
04 - Saviours of the Damned
05 - Wake the Night
06 - Encrypted
07 - Incandescent
08 - White Lines
09 - Borderlines
10 - Eternal Winter (2023 Version)
Judas Priest have just released the official music video for "Invincible Shield", the title track of the band's new album, out now. Watch the clip below:
Over the past 50 years Judas Priest have sold over 50 million albums worldwide and headlined the world’s biggest stages. With their evolving music and live performances also came a powerful unique identity, a look which has both defined the group and influenced future generations of metal bands the world over. With each year, the Judas Priest legend continues to grow; 2022 saw them inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and complete a sold-out rescheduled world tour in support of their 50th Anniversary. As we roll into 2024, Judas Priest continue to retain their crown as one of the biggest and best British bands in the world.
"Panic Attack"
"The Serpent And The King"
"Invincible Shield"
"Devil In Disguise"
"Gates Of Hell"
"Crown Of Horns"
"As God Is My Witness"
"Trial By Fire"
"Escape From Reality"
"Sons Of Thunder"
"Giants In The Sky"
Deluxe edition bonus tracks:
"Fight Of Your Life"
"Vicious Circle"
"The Lodger"
"Panic Attack" video:
"The Serpent And The King" video:
"Invincible Shield" lyric video:
"Devil In Disguise" lyric video:
"Gates Of Hell" lyric video:
"Crown Of Horns" lyric video:
"As God Is My Witness" lyric video:
"Trial By Fire" video:
"Escape From Reality" lyric video:
"Sons Of Thunder" lyric video:
"Giants In The Sky" lyric video:
"Fight Of Your Life" lyric video:
"Vicious Circle" lyric video:
"The Lodger" lyric video:
Judas Priest will delight fans with a world tour this year, the UK leg kicks off in Glasgow on March 11 before taking on North America in April and May. See below for full North American tour routing and head to judaspriestinvincibleshield.com for tickets.
Tour dates:
April
18 - Wallingford, CT - Toyota Oakdale Theatre
9 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
21 - Reading, PA - Santander Arena
24 - Bangor, ME - Cross Insurance Center
25 - Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway
27 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Center*
28 - Indianapolis, IN - Everwise Amphitheater at White River
May
1 - Rosemont, IL - Rosemont Theatre
2 - Minneapolis, MN - The Armory
4 - Kalamazoo, MI - Wings Event Center*
5 - Maryland Heights, MO - St Louis Music Park
7 - Huntsville, AL - VBC Propst Arena*
9 - Daytona, FL - Welcome to Rockville^
11 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
12 - Mobile, AL - Mobile Civic Center Arena*
14 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion
16 - Columbus, OH - Historic Crew Stadium ^
17 - Evansville, IN - Ford Center*
19 - Washington, DC -The Theater at MGM National Harbor
21 - Albany, NY - MVP Arena
22 - Syracuse, NY - Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
Stormborn, the melodic heavy metal powerhouse from Kent, UK, have released a video for "Serpentine", the new single from their upcoming Zenith album, out April 26 via Rockshots Records. Watch below:
While drawing inspiration from the titans of metal – Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, and the rest, Stormborn blazes a unique trail, adopting influences from across the metal spectrum. Their sound is a fusion of classic elements and bold, modern innovation. Stormborn isn't just walking in the footsteps of giants; they're crafting a new path in heavy metal, dominated by great riffs, a strong melodic backbone, and powerful vocals that you can't help but sing along to.
After the release of their first album, Stormborn cut their teeth gigging up and down the UK, especially in London where their regular appearances at the legendary Intrepid Fox were attended by the likes of Herman Li from DragonForce and Mark Cross - ex Helloween and Firewind. They were soon chosen by Rob Chapman to support his band Dorje as well as Phil X & The Drills on a UK tour in 2013, playing at various O2 Academys around the country.
Career highlights include supporting Rhapsody of Fire at the Camden Underworld in 2023, winning the 2012 Metal 2 the Masses for London, playing at Bloodstock festival, winning the 2013 Summer Breeze New Blood award, and opening the main stage of Summer Breeze Festival 2013.
Pre-order Zenith at the Rockshots Records webshop.
Tracklisting:
“Call Of The Void”
“Land Of The Servant King”
“Fear Of A Monster”
“The Unending Night”
“Dawn Will Come Again”
“Out In The Weird”
“Serpentine”
“Death Incarnate”
“Echo”
“Fear Of A Monster”:
Stormborn are:
Andrew Felton (Drums)
Laurence Armitage (Guitar)
David Viner (Guitar)
Simon "Steve" Ball (Bass)
Christopher Simmons (Vocals)
“Sometimes you have to die first to fully understand what life is.” - Francesco Paoli
Death… our inevitable ruin that calls for us sooner or later. Many who are fortunate enough to temporarily escape its fatal clutches experience life altering changes, finding renewed purpose, rejuvenated creative spirit and a reawakening of the soul. Such as the story goes for Fleshgod Apocalypse frontman Francesco Paoli who in 2021 was involved in a tragic mountain climbing accident that left him clinging to life with years of recovery ahead, and ultimately inspiring the band’s first music in years.
Today marks the monumental return of Paoli and Italian symphonic metal giants Fleshgod Apocalypse as the band releases their first new music since the devastating accident. Inspired by horrific event, the new single, "Pendulum" swings with intense ferocity and baroque classical movements, seething with anguished pain.
Commenting on the song, Paoli says: “This is the first song we release since my ‘dance’ with death, back in August 2021. It's obvious that such a life changing event would have affected our music. It took a toll on me, physically and mentally, and sharing my experience is also part of my healing process. Pendulum is just the opening chapter of a bigger story, which is yet to be told…”
Mixed and mastered by Grammy-nominated producer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Epica, Arch Enemy), "Pendulum" encapsulates all the core elements that Fleshgod Apocalypse are known for: sheer violence, majestic orchestrations and soaring operatic melodies. The stunning artwork was created by Italian artist Ludovico Cioffi.
The new single is accompanied by a stunning music video directed by Martina L. McLean (Ghost, Oceana).
Paoli adds about the video: “The music video, realized by visionary Italian director Martina L. McLean, turned my unfortunate incident into a monumental visual experience, an awe inspiring blend of obscure symbolism, surreal architectures and nightmarish mythological creatures. It perfectly portraits the struggle and the desperation of that day, a day of defeat... but also the day of my rebirth.”
Stream "Pendulum" here, and watch the music video below:
Tour dates:
March
23 - Manila, PH - Pulp Summer Slam XX
25 - Perth, AU - Rosemount Hotel
27 - Adelaide, AU - Lion Arts Factory
29 - Brisbane, AU - The Back Room
30 - Sydney, AU - Crowbar
31 - Melbourne, AU - The Espy
Finnish melodic metallers, Sonata Arctica, have released their new album, Clear Cold Beyond, via Atomic Fire. In celebration, the band have released a music video for the track, "California".
Says Tony Kakko: "This is a song about persons who think that it's possible and okay to charm and have any and all people for themselves - use and lose - and who don't care about the amount of pain and broken hearts left behind. And now you're the target, but you know better and make sure that this will not happen until 'California falls into the sea,' what I've come to understand is impossible and will never happen, at least in the sense of science fiction. Simply put: The track deals with self-protection. If you're strong enough, you can of course give such persons a serving of their own poison what can be satisfying."
Clear Cold Beyond is packed with strong songs and fuses the best of all periods of Sonata Arctica's multifaceted work: From high-speed anthems such as the aforementioned "First In Line" and "California" to emotion-laden tracks such as "The Best Things" and the closing title track, this record offers something for each and every Sonata Arctica fan.
The album's artwork, reminiscent of their early works, was created by Niko Anttila and the band returned to mixing engineer Mikko Karmila (Finnvox Studios; Ecliptica [1999] - Stones Grow Her Name [2012]). Final mastering was handled by Svante Forsbäck, who has also been part of other Sonata Arctica productions.
Clear Cold Beyond is available in the following formats:
- CD-digipak
- jewelcase CD (US)
- 2LP vinyl [winter night marbled (white/black) | icy-blue marbled (transparent/blue)]
- digital
Oder the album in the physical format of your choice, save it on your favourite DSP or order it digitally, here.
Clear Cold Beyond tracklisting:
"First In Line"
"California"
"Shah Mat"
"Dark Empath"
"Cure For Everything"
"A Monster Only You Can't See"
"Teardrops"
"Angel Defiled"
"The Best Things"
"Clear Cold Beyond"
Bonus Tracks (digipak + vinyl only):
"A Ballad For The Broken"
"Toy Soldiers" (Martika cover)
"Dark Empath" video:
"A Monster Only You Can't See" lyric video:
"First In Line":
Lineup:
Tony Kakko - vocals
Elias Viljanen - guitars
Pasi Kauppinen - bass
Henrik "Henkka" Klingenberg - keyboards
Tommy Portimo - drums
"Chaos Reign" is the new single from Fall Of Serenity's forthcoming new album, Open Wide, O Hell, which is set to be released on March 22nd via Lifeforce Records. CHeck out the official video below.
Fall Of Serenity are back with a new album ten years after their reunion. Their split lasted from 2009 to 2012. For the last five-four, the quintet has been preparing the release of Open Wide, O Hell. The album comes up with a good dose of surprises, and its basis still lies in melodic death metal, which is associated with the East German band founded in 1998. But a black metal impact is also to be attributed to the new song material and changes the musical face decisively. Besides, impressive melodies continue to lead Fall Of Serenity through their songs.
With the new record, the band continue where they left off in 2009. Open Wide, O Hell - after Bloodred Salvation (2006) and The Crossfire (2007) the third album of the group for Lifeforce Records - convinces with raw aggression and threatening darkness.
Tracklist:
"Thy Pathway"
"Darkness, I Command"
"I Don’t Expect I Shall Return"
"Wastelands"
"I"
"Chaos Reign"
"A Winter Song"
"To Tear the Flesh"
"… But Grim Will Follow"
"II"
"I Am the God"
Seven Spires will release their new studio album, A Fortress Called Home, on June 21st via Frontiers Music. To celebrate the announcement, the band has shared a music video for the first single, "Almosttown", which can be seen below.
Bassist Peter de Reyna on A Fortress Called Home: “This album will build you up and tear you down in true Seven Spires fashion. I couldn’t be prouder of the life that’s been created in this, our fourth record. Revel in the anguish, bask in the glory, and we will see you on the other side.”
About the single "Almosttown", frontwoman Adrienne Cowan comments: “It's a song about questioning yourself, your choices, the road behind and ahead, and the lonely bed you habitually make and lie in. It’s yearning for the impossible; the elusive, the intangible.”
Guitarist Jack Kosto follows up: “We knew pretty early on that this would be a perfect first single, as it’s a really fun and somewhat gentle introduction into the subject matter of this album. It’s got all of the fun stuff: riffs, hooks, musical chops, and a gorgeous castle we were lucky enough to film the music video in!”
A Fortress Called Home, Seven Spires' fourth studio album is the follow-up to Gods Of Debauchery (2021), and takes their signature blend of symphonic power and extreme metal to new heights, dragging the listener to the deepest abysses in the process.
Adrienne Cowan comments: “I visited the void twice while writing this album. I don’t know which begat the other. It’s ugly. I love it and I hate it, and I think it’s our best work yet.”
A Fortress Called Home was produced, mixed, and mastered by Jack Kosto who had this to say about it: “If our previous albums have intended to take you on an emotional journey of our design, this album forces you to confront the one of your own making. Good luck and enjoy!”
Tracklisting:
"A Fortress Called Home"
"Songs Upon Wine-Stained Tongues"
"Almosttown"
"Impossible Tower"
"Love’s Souvenir"
"Architect Of Creation"
"Portrait Of Us"
"Emerald Necklace"
"Where Sorrows Bear My Name"
"No Place For Us"
"House Of Lies"
"The Old Hurt Of Being Left Behind"
Pre-order A Fortress Called Home now at this location.
Seven Spires’ 2024 touring schedule includes a European tour with Skálmöld and Atavistia in March, four North American shows as direct support for Kamelot with Ad Infinitum in April, a headline set at Mile High Power Fest in Denver, CO, in August, and their first-ever headlining Japanese tour with Lords Of The Trident in December. Further details can be found here.
British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST have released lyric videos for all 14 songs from the band's latest metal masterpiece, "Invincible Shield". You can check them out below.
"Invincible Shield" is being released today (Friday, March 8) via Sony Music.
The release date for PRIEST's follow-up to 2018's "Firepower" was announced last October during the band's performance at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California.
After BLACK SABBATH's "War Pigs" played as the intro to PRIEST's set, a graphic was displayed on the video screens announcing "Invincible Shield".
The cover artwork for the CD and vinyl versions of "Invincible Shield" can be found below.
"Invincible Shield" track listing:
01. Panic Attack
02. The Serpent And The King
03. Invincible Shield
04. Devil In Disguise
05. Gates Of Hell
06. Crown Of Horns
07. As God Is My Witness
08. Trial By Fire
09. Escape From Reality
10. Sons Of Thunder
11. Giants In The Sky
Deluxe edition bonus tracks:
12. Fight Of Your Life
13. Vicious Circle
14. The Lodger
In a recent interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner spoke about "Invincible Shield". Asked about his previous comment that the follow-up to 2018's "Firepower" would be "a little bit more progressive", he clarified: "I think 'progressive' means different things to different people, so it's not super, super complex DREAM THEATER magic, but I think it's complex and progressive in the way that there's some twists and turns and it doesn't really follow any scripts if it doesn't have to. There's two solos in [the LP's first single, 'Panic Attack']. There's a part in it that's 7/8 time [signature]. There's two kind of bridges. So it just goes out of the box a little bit, without being unaccessible, that's what I mean. So I think compared with 'Firepower', it's a little bit more progressive, a few more twists and turns along the journey of the song."
Asked what the inspiration was to make the music a bit more progressive this time around, Richie said: "That was the stuff we were coming up with. When I come up with music, it's usually the riffs first. I sit down with the guitar and the guitar kind of pulls it out of me, really, wherever it comes from. And it just so happened that some of those parts were a bit more unorthodox, time-changey stuff or different time signatures. And the record takes on its own character by itself. As you write a record, you might have an idea of where you wanna go, but the record takes on its own flavor by itself, and you go with that — you recognize where it's going and go with that. So, that's what we were coming up with, and sort of went with that mindset, really."
Regarding his own personal contributions to the songwriting process on "Invincible Shield", Faulkner said: "Well, it's a fairly shared thing. I'm not a lyricist, and obviously Rob [Halford, PRIEST singer] is, for example. Me and Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist] write a lot of the guitar parts and musical parts and Rob writes a lot of the vocals and vocal melodies. And Rob's got a great sense of phrasing as well. He might come in one day with an idea for a song and it's got some melody and it's got some timing and you can attach yourself to that timing and come out with a riff. So it's kind of — we get in a room, like me and you put a band together, and 'what have you got?' and 'what have I got?' and we put them together and come up with new songs. And it's fairly organic like that."
Richie also addressed the fact that the main "Invincible Shield" album contains 11 songs, with three additional tracks being made available on various versions of the album. He said: "We wanted to keep it around 10, 11 tracks on the main record. But the bonus tracks, we didn't wanna put them on the shelf never to see the light of day. We wanted to get them out. We wanted people to hear those as well without being part of the standard release. So we released everything we had in different formats."
Faulkner then elaborated on the musical direction of "Invincible Shield", saying: "It's a pretty intense record. There's no real moment where there's a ballad or something like that. It stays up there.
"When you release a record, it's exciting," he explained. "It's also scary at the same time, 'cause is it gonna be well received or not? You never quite know when you let it out in the world. So it's an exciting time, for sure."
Bassist Ian Hill is the sole remaining original member of PRIEST, which formed in 1969. Halford joined the group in 1973 and Tipton signed on in 1974. Rob left PRIEST in the early 1990s to form his own band, then came back to PRIEST in 2003. Original guitarist K.K. Downing parted ways with the band in 2011, and was replaced by Faulkner.
Slash, the iconic, Grammy-winning guitarist and songwriter, has announced his highly anticipated sixth solo album titled "Orgy Of The Damned", will be released on May 17 via Gibson Records.
A collection of 12 dynamic songs that shakes up and revitalizes blues classics with a stripped-down, instinctive approach, "Orgy Of The Damned" creates a singular expression that pays homage to the blues.
The first single "Killing Floor" — which features Brian Johnson of AC/DC on vocals, and Steven Tyler of AEROSMITH on harmonica — is an electrifying, raucous and gleefully unbridled take on Howlin' Wolf's 1964 Chicago blues standard.
The new video for "Killing Floor", which can be seen below, offers a first look at Slash and his blues band Johnny Griparic (bass),Teddy Andreadis (keyboards),Michael Jerome (drums),and Tash Neal (vocals/guitar),recording the song in the studio.
Slash says: "'Killing Floor' is one of my favorite Howlin' Wolf songs, but also one of the iconic blues riffs that turned me on as a young guitar player. I've always wanted to cover it in some capacity and this record was the perfect vehicle. But playing it with this band, and with Brian Johnson singing, it was an achievement I would never have imagined back then. Let alone Steven Tyler providing the harp."
Johnson states: "When Slash asked me to sing on 'Killing Floor', I said yes immediately. It was one of the first songs I learned in my very first band, and when he played me the backing track it was a no-brainer, and Steven's harmonica is so bloody hot. I had a ball with Slash in the studio, and I think we did this great old song justice. Rock on."
By celebrating both well-known and largely undiscovered songs, Slash offers a nostalgic nod to the past while reinvigorating the songs with his inimitable guitar playing and the spirit of collaboration. For "Orgy Of The Damned", the acclaimed guitarist reteamed with storied producer Mike Clink and enlisted the album's diverse guest vocalists which include Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Stapleton, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Chris Robinson and Beth Hart, in a similar way to his 2010 self-titled solo LP "Slash". To round out his band in the studio and on the road, Slash reunited with two of his bandmates from his BLUES BALL outfit in the '90s, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, and brought on drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.
Although he grew up in England, Slash's American grandmother turned him on to the blues early on and he was immediately taken with B.B. King. At the same time, his parents raised him on a healthy diet of '60s British rock 'n' roll, from THE WHO to THE KINKS. Once he moved to Laurel Canyon, Slash found himself surrounded by rock and folk singers like Joni Mitchell, CROSBY, STILLS & NASH and Neil Young — all of whom eventually inspired his playing and songwriting. It wasn't until he began playing guitar himself that Slash realized all of his favorite musicians had been influenced by the same B.B. King blues records he'd listened to as a young kid.
"Orgy Of The Damned" encompasses a broad range of styles within the blues genre, veering from an upbeat, rowdy take on Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" to a plaintive, twanging rendition of T. Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday". Some of the songs, like STEPPENWOLF's "The Pusher", Charlie Segar's "Key To The Highway" and Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign", had been performed by SLASH'S BLUES BALL while others, like Stevie Wonder's "Living For The City", were longtime favorites for Slash. "Hoochie Coochie Man", written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters in 1954, showcases the in-the-moment nature and unrestrained energy of "Orgy Of The Damned", with ZZ TOP's Billy F. Gibbons stepping in on guitar and vocals. The group went into a rehearsal room in North Hollywood and began hashing out soulful, rollicking takes on the classic songs. Everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation which resulted in a collection of dynamic, energized songs that are immediate, raw, and distinctly familiar.
As Slash was considering vocalists, he approached his old friend and collaborator Iggy Pop, who had long wanted to record a blues song. Pop suggested Lightnin' Hopkins's 1962 track "Awful Dream", a sparse, drawling number originally laid down on acoustic guitar. The duo decided to recreate that stripped back vibe and recorded their own languid, emotionally-resonate version sitting on two stools in Slash's studio.
"Iggy's interpretation of that song is actually sublime," says Slash. "And it's something that nobody's really heard from him. At the end of the track, you can hear him just singing the harmonica parts."
Elsewhere on "Orgy Of The Damned", Demi Lovato lends her powerhouse voice to "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone", a fervent, soulful version of the 1972 single by THE TEMPTATIONS that Slash admired as a kid. Although the song veers more towards R&B, the guitarist wanted to give it his own impassioned spin. The album concludes with a soaring original instrumental number, "Metal Chestnut", penned specifically for "Orgy Of The Damned" by Slash.
"Orgy Of The Damned" showcases a lesser-heard aspect of Slash's musical prowess. While he has always embraced a broad range of styles and genres, the album offers a rare opportunity to explore a unique side of his playing and bring to the forefront a rollicking journey through his strong, blues inspirations, that have long been in the background of his illustrious career.
"Orgy Of The Damned" track listing:
01. The Pusher (feat. Chris Robinson)
02. Crossroads (feat. Gary Clark Jr.)
03. Hoochie Coochie Man (feat. Billy Gibbons)
04. Oh Well (feat. Chris Stapleton)
05. Key To The Highway (feat. Dorothy)
06. Awful Dream (feat. Iggy Pop)
07. Born Under A Bad Sign (feat. Paul Rodgers)
08. Papa Was A Rolling Stone (feat. Demi Lovato)
09. Killing Floor (feat. Brian Johnson)
10. Living For The City (feat. Tash Neal)
11. Stormy Day (feat. Beth Hart)
12. Metal Chestnut
Although Slash's upcoming LP will be his second under the "Slash" banner, he has released a handful of albums with his long-running band SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, in which he is joined by ALTER BRIDGE frontman Myles Kennedy.
Last month, Slash resumed touring with SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS.
SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS' latest album, "4", was released in February 2022 via Gibson Records in partnership with BMG.
"4" was Slash's fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring Kennedy, Brent Fitz (drums),Todd Kerns (bass, vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar, vocals).
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA has released the official music video for the brand new single "Ritual". The song, which was co-produced by Grammy-nominated Tyler Smyth (I PREVAIL, FALLING IN REVERSE) and mixed by Zakk Cervini (BRING ME THE HORIZON, BLINK-182),finds the band further experimenting with and pushing the boundaries of its signature sound.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA states: "With 'Ritual', we are kicking off the new era of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA with a bang. 'Color Decay' saw us diving into the emotional struggles so many of our generation are going through, so we wanted to write a song that amped up the energy level. Lyrically, 'Ritual' is about the mundane experiences of life, surrendering to the monotony rather than going against it."
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA continues to smash boundaries and expectations. They are truly operating in the height of their career, having moved over 75,000 tickets on the "Metalcore Dropouts" tour, during which they've been playing material almost exclusively new material from 2022's "Color Decay". Rather than focus on their deep (and much-loved) catalog, the band is leaving fans even hungrier for even more new songs.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA will appear at two major upcoming festivals — So What?! in Texas in June and When We Were Young in Las Vegas in October.
"Color Decay" followed 2019's "The Act". As Revolver stated when selecting the record as one of the "50 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2022," "THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA have proven time and time again that it's possible to never stop sonically experimenting — with screamo, with spoken word, with atmospheric electronica, with sludge — and never lose their own crushing identity. Anticipating their next successful risk is one of the things that makes being a TDWP fan so rewarding."
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA have been consistently delivering since forming in 2005. Fans voted 2009's seminal "With Roots Above And Branches Below" one of the "5 Greatest Metalcore Albums" in a Revolver poll, with the magazine christening it "a true metalcore landmark." The group has notched six consecutive Top 5 debuts on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart, including "Dead Throne" (2011),"8:18" (2013),"Space" EP (2015),"Transit Blues" (2016),"The Act" (2019) and "ZII" EP (2021). The latter served as a sequel to one of their most beloved projects — 2010's "Zombie" EP. In the wake of the EP, the group exceeded a quarter of a billion cumulative streams and views. During 2021, the musicians decamped to remote hideaways together in Wisconsin and Desert Hot Springs, California. This time around, keyboardist/programmer Jonathan Gering took the reins as producer, collaborating closely to assemble a rich sonic architecture for what would become "Color Decay".
Former FEAR FACTORY frontman Burton C. Bell has released his debut solo single, "Anti-Droid". Like his previous work, which continually explored themes of dystopian angst, identity, technology gone wrong, and resilience, the new track arrives with a potent message. "I severed the machine that no longer served me," he screams in the moody, synth-heavy, sci-fi metal missive. It's a defiant statement delivered with a confident bombast. Bell is back on the offensive.
"I'm starting my solo career," Burton says enthusiastically. "I'm working with different producers and co-songwriters, making music that I love, with full control of the music and creative direction."
Bell's discography includes multiple live and recorded collaborations with BLACK SABBATH icon Geezer Butler and JOURNEY's Deen Castronovo (as G/Z/R); industrial maverick Al Jourgensen and MINISTRY; and guest vocal appearances with PITCHSHIFTER, CONFLICT, SOIL, STATIC-X, SOULFLY and DELAIN, among others. He's the vocalist of ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS and CITY OF FIRE and, of course, the co-creator of FEAR FACTORY and the only musician to appear on every FEAR FACTORY release from 1992 through 2024.
"FEAR FACTORY ushered in an entirely new strand of metal when they emerged from the sweatboxes of L.A. in the early '90s," Metal Hammer wrote. "'Demanufacture' was so innovative that it sounds as fresh today as it did then; a blistering collision of metal and hardcore that easily rivals any of its peers. In short, a masterpiece," wrote Kerrang! in an anniversary retrospective. It's a Decibel magazine Hall Of Fame album, alongside classic records by SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST, SLAYER, ANTHRAX and EMPEROR.
FEAR FACTORY created a sound that revolutionized extreme metal, defined in no small part by Bell's innovative scream/sing dichotomy and the influences he brought from post-punk and industrial. Songs like "Replica", "Linchpin", "Edgecrusher", "Fear Campaign", "Archetype", "Cyber Waste" and "Zero Signal" are modern metal anthems. "Demanufacture" (1995) and the RIAA gold-certified "Obsolete" (1998) are genre-redefining works heralded by fans and critics as essential albums. Orwell, Bradbury, "Blade Runner", and sophisticated sci-fi and fantasy works fed Bell's lyrics and concepts.
The band toured the world with METALLICA, SLIPKNOT, KORN, MEGADETH and OZZY OSBOURNE, taking bands like SYSTEM OF A DOWN and STATIC-X out as support acts in their early stages. After years of behind-the-scenes band member turmoil and legal issues, Bell left FEAR FACTORY in the fall of 2020.
In the chorus of "Anti-Droid", he declares: "I'd rather be dead than a slave to the factory."
Bell says "Anti-Droid" is "a statement about breaking free. Breaking the bonds of what I felt was a prison in many ways. Not just financially or contractually but creatively, as well. I felt constrained to this format we'd written ourselves into. The 'factory' doesn't have a capital F. It's the factory of the music industry, a certain form of business, and priorities. Being a slave to an established way of thinking is not really freedom. I am moving forward."
Like the faithful cover of RAMMSTEIN's "Du Hast" he released in 2023, or the cover of "Enter Sandman" recorded with DANZIG's John Christ and METALLICA's Robert Trujillo more than a decade before, Bell's solo work embodies the best of hard rock, metal, and industrial's past, present, and future. "Anti-Droid" is but the opening salvo in a brand-new campaign, which will see Burton C. Bell releasing increasingly innovative yet classic feeling, ever-engaging solo material. It also sets the stage for future live performances, certain to deliver the anthems that have defined his body of work, songs rarely played from CITY OF FIRE and G/Z/R, and diverse deep cuts from the FEAR FACTORY catalog.
The 55-year-old Bell had been largely inactive on the musical front since officially announcing his departure from FEAR FACTORY in September 2020. At the time he said that he could not "align" himself with someone whom he did not trust or respect, an apparent reference to FEAR FACTORY founding guitarist Dino Cazares.
During an appearance on a May 2023 episode of the "Home Is Where The Dark Is" podcast, Bell reflected on his musical journey so far, saying: "I've had a lot of incredible ups in my career, a lot of incredible high points. I've had some devastatingly low points. But for me, this is all I wanna do.
"I consider myself an artist — multifaceted, but first and foremost I'm a musician; I'm a singer. So I wanna keep continuing that," he explained.
"I love performing on stage. I love being out in front of the crowd. I love the energy of the audience, and I miss it completely.
"I am making plans — I'm making steps to get back onstage."
At the end of the chat, when host Alex Crescioni thanked Bell for his "inspiring" musical output over the years, including that with FEAR FACTORY and ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS, Burton said: "People will hear those again. When I get back on the road, I'll be playing… I'm proud of 99 percent of the songs we did [with] FEAR FACTORY. Not every song is a winner, but I'm proud of all the work I did with FEAR FACTORY, THE WATCHERS, GZR, CITY OF FIRE, MINISTRY, HATEFACE. There's all these bands I've been part of. So when I go on the road, I will be playing music from all of these bands. Obviously, a lot from FEAR FACTORY, 'cause I got 30 years of that. But it's not gonna be all about FEAR FACTORY. It's gonna be FEAR FACTORY, WATCHERS, classic GZR, CITY OF FIRE — just do all of it. It's gonna be fun. And I'm jamming with some guys right now. We're working on it and making those steps to make that happen."
In March 2023, Bell was asked by Joshua Toomey of the "Talk Toomey" podcast how it felt to see FEAR FACTORY going out on tour with someone else singing the parts he originally wrote and recorded with the band. He responded: "It doesn't affect me at all. To be honest, I haven't been this happy in a long time. More power to them, but I'm just moving forward in my own life, my own career, and I'm just trying to make a name for myself."
Asked if he has checked out any of the videos on YouTube of FEAR FACTORY performing with his replacement, the Italian-born singer Milo Silvestro, Bell said: "No, I don't. I don't care to."
Burton went on to say that he doesn't mind being asked about FEAR FACTORY despite the fact that he is no longer in the band. "FEAR FACTORY, it's what I'm known for," he explained. "And the 30 years I had with FEAR FACTORY were some of the proudest moments of my career. And everything I've ever done in FEAR FACTORY I'm very proud of. Even some of the questionable things I've done in FEAR FACTORY I'm still proud of. It was a great legacy."
During an April 2022 appearance on an episode of "The Ex-Man" podcast hosted by Doc Coyle (BAD WOLVES),Bell touched upon FEAR FACTORY's latest album, "Aggression Continuum", which was released in June 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. The LP, which was recorded primarily in 2017, features Bell and fellow original FF member Dino Cazares (guitar) alongside drummer Mike Heller.
"I was just happy that record finally came out," Burton said. "We finished that record in 2017. By the time it came out, I'd forgotten all about it. 'Oh, yeah, I remember that song. Oh yeah.'
"There's some good songs on that record. The song 'Collapse' is a good song. The title track 'Monolith' is a good song," he added, referencing the LP's original working title, before it was changed by Cazares.
When Coyle noted that the mix on "Aggression Continuum" is "great," Bell hesitated for a couple of seconds before reluctantly agreeing. "I guess," he said. "When I finished the record [in 2017], the record was done and agreed upon and then further work was done without my say."
Elsewhere in the chat, Burton said admitted that "it was difficult" for him to leave FEAR FACTORY. "Stepping away from FEAR FACTORY was not an easy decision by [any] means," he said. "But what I experienced for the 10 years before that, the lawsuits, the acrimony, that was the one that killed me. And I just had to step away to realize, you know, they can take all this stuff from me — they can take the money, they can take the royalties, they can take the trademark away from me — and I realized that didn't define me. They can take that, but I'm still Burton C. Bell, motherfucker, and whatever I have they can't take. So I'm just kind of moving forward and doing new things."
According to Bell, hardship is par for the course for most musicians, who often find themselves victims of bad contracts, unscrupulous management and, all too often, what appears to be a penchant for self-destruction.
"I knew a long time ago I wanted to be an artist — way before I was in FEAR FACTORY," he said. "When I was in high school, I was, like, 'I wanna be an artist.' To be an artist, you've gotta suffer. You've gotta understand that people wanna take from you the entire time — what you create they wanna make money off of and take it away from you and just give you a pittance. But being bitter is not my style — never has been.
"Whatever negativity has happened in the past with FEAR FACTORY doesn't even hold up to the amount of positivity that has happened," he continued. "If you think about the negative, it can weigh you down so much, but it's not really that much in comparison to what the band achieved, what we created, what we provided to the music world, and for that I'm proud and very happy.
"No one likes to talk to a bitter person at all," Burton added. "Me for one. It's, like, 'Man, just get over it and just move on.' 'Cause holding on to the past doesn't serve me anything, it doesn't serve anybody else anything. Move on and show 'em what you can do from that point forward."
Bell's exit from FEAR FACTORY came more than two weeks after Cazares launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist him with the production costs associated with the release of FEAR FACTORY's latest LP.
Bell later told Kerrang! magazine that his split with FEAR FACTORY was a long time coming. "It's been on my mind for a while," he said. "These lawsuits [over the rights to the FEAR FACTORY name] just drained me. The egos. The greed. Not just from bandmembers, but from the attorneys involved. I just lost my love for it.
"With FEAR FACTORY, it's just constantly been, like, 'What?!' You can only take so much. I felt like 30 years was a good run. Those albums I've done with FEAR FACTORY will always be out there. I'll always be part of that. I just felt like it was time to move forward."
Last year, Bell unveiled "Paradise Found", his debut exhibition of photographic works, at the Vincent Castiglia Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The photographs Bell presented were representational of his industrial and science-fiction aesthetic.
"Paradise Found" consisted of 20 original full-color photographs of abandoned industrial buildings taken in darkness and fog from 2002 to 2003. Bell's images are printed on aluminum using the dye sublimation process — an approach Bell calls "celluloid impressionism."
Bell's ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS project released its second full-length album, "Apocrypha", in October 2020 via Dissonance Productions.
Germany’s hottest modern metalcore unit, Setyøursails, tears up the scene once again. After extensive touring with Annisokay, Emil Bulls, Cypecore and Lord Of The Lost, and last year’s outstanding festival performances at Summer Breeze and Fullforce, the Cologne based outfit recently announced the new studio album and drops its brand-new second single, “Lately”, today.
Their second full-length via Napalm Records, entitled Bad Blood, will be released on April 12, 2024 and features ten hard-hitting tracks, shaking the listener to the core. Cut from Bad Blood, “Lately” drops with an official music video and showcases the versatile vocal expressions of frontwoman Jules, ranging from vicious screams over powerful singing to compressed whispering, while raging drums and heavy guitar support the catchy refrain.
To celebrate what’s to come, Setyøursails will hit the road on a German co-headline tour alongside Rising Insane, kicking off in April.
Vocalist Jules Mitch on “Lately”:
"‘Lately’ shows the intimate, vulnerable side of us that we have never revealed before. Coming to terms with your demons is never easy, but writing a ballad about it and publishing it is even harder. I hope that people find themselves in this song and understand that they are not alone."
Jules Mitch says about Bad Blood: “With our new album Bad Blood, we are ushering in a new era in our band's history. This album is louder, more aggressive and more honest than anything we've ever done before. It is another step towards self-discovery and healing. It covers various topics such as betrayal, mental health, but also sex and a lot of complex emotions. Topics we have never addressed before. We are ready for a change, for a new chapter. A new opportunity for further development.”
Bad Blood kicks off with the charged-up banger “Bad Blood”, followed by the former standalone single “Best Of Me”, which was released alongside an official music video. The track represents the new chapter of the unit, pushing the boundaries of different genres while vocalist Jules Mitch skillfully unites both beautifully melodic and fiercely heavy passages. Created to play on repeat, the highly-infectious song “Bad Company” is dominated by smashing electronic beats combined with brutally melodic guitar lines and highlighted by a ground shaking breakdown. With tracks like “Lately” and “Heart Attack”, Setyøursails lyrically shares their softer side by addressing personal conflicts and mental health concerns, and wraps the songs in a strikingly melodic atmosphere.
Prepare for a sonic onslaught as these German metalcore sensations gear up to unleash their second studio album, Bad Blood – promising a fierce and intense masterclass in modern metalcore.
Bad Blood will be available in the following formats:
- 1 LP Gatefold Pink/Black Marbled
- 1 CD Digisleeve
- Digital Album
U.S. metalcore act LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES will release its new album, "The Cycles Of Trying To Cope", on May 10 via UNFD.
Today, the band has shared the video for the explosive juggernaut of a new single "Kintsugi", which also shows off the melodic and contemplative side of the band. Watch it below.
Each single that the band has released is related to a coping "cycle" and associated word. "Kinstugi" is "Cycle Two: Fracture."
"Kintsugi" is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with a mixture including powdered gold — essentially repairing the cracks with gold.
"When things go wrong, I think we are left to pick up the pieces and forced to choose which piece to leave with," says singer Chris Roetter. "If it's not possible to leave with everything the way it was before it broke, how do you know what piece to hold onto?"
As for the album as a whole, Roetter shares: "The record encapsulates the many varying emotions we go through when trying to grow through life. The last few years, I really tried to harness some of those emotions as a catalyst to get through whatever I was going through at the time. I think we all have our own unique ways to cope and these are mine."
"The Cycles Of Trying To Cope" track listing:
01. Angels Weep
02. Paradigm Trigger
03. Over The Garden Wall
04. Gone Without A Trace
05. Dissociative Being
06. The Shepherd's Crown
07. To Know Is To Die
08. Kintsugi
09. Everything That Once Held It Together
10. The Depths I Roam
11. What Do We See When We Leave This Place?
LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES is:
Chris Roetter - Vocals
Zach Pishney - Guitar
Roman Garcia - Drums
Cody Cavanaugh - Guitar
British heavy metal legends SAXON have released the official music video for the song "Madame Guillotine". The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Hell, Fire And Damnation", which came out on January 19 via Silver Lining Music.
"Hell, Fire And Damnation" is an album which sees SAXON investigate all areas of history and mystery amid ten of the band most confident and thunderously powerful songs yet. In "Madame Guillotine", lead singer and founding member Biff Byford, chooses to give voice to the infamous torturing device, best known for its use in the French Revolution between 1789 and 1799.
"Both this and the title track songs are written by me and Brian [Tatler, guitar] actually, and this is very 'SAXON', so much as I don't think anybody else could pull that off," comments Byford. "I sung it as if the guillotine is a person, that the actual guillotine has a bit of a conscience. I love the groove; it's got a great groove!"
On "Hell, Fire And Damnation", Biff delivers his richest vocals in years, Nigel Glockler and Nibbs Carter on drums and bass, respectively, lay down the rhythmic law with bombastic power, and the guitars of Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler are fresh and fiery, a perfect complement to each other, carrying an overall energy and fury which will have fans salivating. Musically, SAXON bring it all to the table. There's a furious tribute to actual heavy metal in the denim-and-leather-coated super-sprint "Fire And Steel", a wonderful nod to the NWOBHM's birth in the electric mid-pace "Pirates Of The Airwaves", but maybe the true treasure amidst the jewels is "There's Something In Roswell", with the sort of expansive groove and embrace which deserves arenas.
Produced by Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, EXODUS, ACCEPT) and Byford, with Sneap mixing and mastering, "Hell, Fire And Damnation" strides the perfect line between confident, current power, and gloriously irreverent flexing of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal muscle which SAXON co-created.
"I think this album's one of the best he's done sound-wise, and he's done a lot of albums," Biff declared. "It has a really raw, vibrant sound... if you compress the total time making this album, it was four weeks tops… you can hear everything brilliantly, nothing's overcomplicated, nothing's over compressed. The guitar sounds are fucking immense, they're just great, raw guitar sounds. And we haven't done a lot of overdubbing on there, it's just playing. I really, really like it."
"Hell, Fire And Damnation" track listing:
01. The Prophecy
02. Hell, Fire And Damnation
03. Madame Guillotine
04. Fire And Steel
05. There's Something In Roswell
06. Kubla Khan And The Merchant Of Venice
07. Pirates Of The Airwaves
08. 1066
09. Witches Of Salem
10. Super Charger
The cover art was created by Péter Sallai and can be seen below.
Early last year, SAXON guitarist Paul Quinn announced that he was stepping back from touring with the band. As a result of his decision, SAXON canceled its April 2023 South American tour as well as the appearance at the Monsters Of Rock cruise. Quinn has since been replaced on the road by DIAMOND HEAD's Brian Tatler.
Brian has already joined fellow guitarist Doug Scarratt, drummer Nigel Glockler, bassist Tim "Nibbs" Carter and Byford for several European shows but will continue to be a member of DIAMOND HEAD.
Byford and Quinn are the sole remaining original members in SAXON's current lineup.
Originally from South Yorkshire, England, SAXON has gone on to sell about 23 million albums and has produced such classic songs as "Denim And Leather", "Princess Of The Night", "Wheels Of Steel" and "Power And Glory".
Faroe Islands-based Viking metal collective, Týr, today unleash their latest single and accompanying video for "Hammered". The track comes by way of the group's ninth full-length studio album, Battle Ballads, set for release on April 12 via Metal Blade Records!
When Týr teamed up with the Symphony Orchestra of the Faroe Islands on February 8th, 2020, to record the double-disc/DVD release A Night At The Nordic House, founding frontman Heri Joensen was thrilled to bring together two of the music forms he loves most - folk and classical - into his band's unorthodox form of music. But at the time, he couldn't have imagined what a profound impact the collaboration would have on his musical vision, and how much it would influence and inform the album he would write a few years later.
"There's a reason classical music is called classical," Joensen says. "It's the classical way of doing it. And it creates these epic sounds that fit in perfectly with the kind of metal we do in Týr. So, there's full orchestration on all of the new songs."
With Battle Ballads, Týr has crafted an album that resounds with their trademark Viking metal sound - a crushing, soaring, batch of classical embellished songs that conjure images of galloping steeds, clashing swords, and hard-fought victories. At the same time, the band has experimented with new writing styles and musical techniques and created songs that are structurally simpler, yet musically more variegated. For Joensen, it's a clear illustration of how he plans to continue exploring different approaches in the future while staying true to the spirit of thunderous Viking metal.
"We consciously decided to make this a more direct album with songs that are easier for listeners to get right away than some of the stuff on our last album, or maybe even on our 2006 album Ragnarok, which was very progressive," says Joensen. "With Battle Ballads, there are progressive elements here and there, but we tried to keep the songs based on one or two musical ideas each, and work on everything from there. So, in a way, it's more concise than our last album, but it's more epic because of the symphonic elements."
There's no escaping the masterful blend of melody and savagery on Battle Ballads straight from album opener and latest single, "Hammered," which funnels infectious riffs and searing licks through a variety of rhythm and tempo changes.
Joensen comments, "The song begins with the hammering of metal against metal, forging, then melodic riffing over a simple but classical chord progression that evolves throughout the song. Driving drums, heavy metal over a symphonic soundscape. An adventurous backdrop to the forging of weapons of war, blades of battle. This used to be in the past but now it's here with a fast-paced singalong chorus. Thoughts on the apparent inevitability of war and our reaction to it. Balancing our enthusiasm against our defeatism."
Watch the "Hammered" video below:
As much as Týr would have liked to write, rehearse, and record with a symphony, schedule conflicts made it impossible to have the band and classical musicians to be in the same place at the same time. So the band did the next best thing. With Joensen at the helm, they wrote ten thunderous songs for Battle Ballads, then the bandleader sent the compositions to a Danish colleague Lars Winther living in England, who added the orchestral samples, paying close attention to the tone and tempo of the songs so the violins, violas, cellos, woodwinds, and horns fit complimented the traditional rock instruments. When the samples were all in place the album sounded impressive, but the tones weren't perfectly blended. So, Týr sent the album to veteran producer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, The Black Dahlia Murder, Amaranthe) in Denmark to put together the final mix.
Battle Ballads features the stunning artwork of by Gyula Havancsak and will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
- Sea Blue Smoke (US)
- Maroon Marbled (EU - Ltd. 800)
- 180g Black (EU - Ltd. 500)
- Thunderous Sky Blue Marbled (EU - Ltd. 300)
- Teal Green Melt With Red Splatter (EU - Ltd. 200)
- Flame Splattered (EU - Ltd. 200)
Týr will return to North American stages this spring. The Battle Ballads headlining tour begins March 28 in Baltimore, Maryland and makes its way through over two dozen cities, coming to a close on April 26 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Support will be provided by Trollfest, Æther Realm, and The Dread Crew Of Oddwood. The tour marks Týr's first North American run since 2019.
Tour dates:
March
28 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
29 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theater
30 - Boston, MA - Middle East Downstairs
31 - Quebec City, QC - La Source De La Martinière
April
1 - Montreal, QC - Studio TD
2 - Ottawa, ON - Brass Monkey
3 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
4 - Detroit, MI - The Sanctuary
5 - Chicago, IL - Reggies
6 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theater
7 - Winnipeg, MB - Park Theater
8 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
9 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
10 - Calgary, AB - Dickens
12 - Vancouver, BC - The Rickshaw
13 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
14 - Portland, OR - Bossanova Ballroom
15 - Berkeley, CA - Cornerstone
16 - Los Angeles, CA - 1720
17 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
18 - Mesa, AZ - Nile Theater
20 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
21 - Dallas, TX - The Granada
22 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
24 - Orlando, FL - Conduit
25 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Hell)
26 - Greensboro, NC - Hangar 1819
Týr are:
Heri Joensen - vocal, guitar
Hans Hammer - guitar
Gunnar Helmer "Gunz" Thomsen - bass
Tadeusz "Tad" Rieckmann - drums
Full Of Hell burst forth with incredible force from the small, dagger-shaped city of Ocean City, Maryland, 15 years ago. Over five full-lengths, five collaborative full-lengths, and countless splits, EPs, singles, and noise compilations, they’ve evolved at extraordinary speed, their music becoming more complicated and technical without ever slowing down or losing its soul. Everything on a Full Of Hell album feels like a blur: smears of guitar, harsh noise shaken like gravel in a bag, singer Dylan Walker’s snarl and bite carrying him into outer space or into the core of the earth. They’re coiled, interlocking, impossible to penetrate, and they move with alarming speed.
They have now reached terminal velocity. Having created their own context, they’re now able to walk around within it, to survey its terrain, to visit far corners and see who’s nearby. Their forthcoming album, Coagulated Bliss, sounds like Full Of Hell, but it’s nothing like any Full Of Hell record that’s come before it. These songs are trimmer, less freighted with anxiety, more interested in opening up than speeding away. Its bile is sometimes funnelled into traditional song structures. It never shies away from the extreme harsh noise, unrelenting spirit, and pitch-black sadness of previous Full Of Hell records; if anything, the leanness of these songs makes them feel even heavier. Nevertheless, there are tracks here you might find yourself whistling hours after listening. It’s an extraordinary and unexpected evolution in sound for a band who made their name on rapid metamorphosis, and it’s the logical endpoint of everything Full Of Hell has covered so far. “I wanted to try to take every aspect of what we’ve done from previous releases and integrate it into this one,” guitarist Spencer Hazard says.
These songs feel huge, totemic, groundshaking. Take the album's first single, "Doors To Mental Agony" - which premieres today alongside a music video directed by Erich Richter - which sets up a circle pit, then blasts it apart with a grindcore chorus, and slides away on a slanted riff. Walker comments, "In this life there are many doors. Rural America exists in a vacuum with its own mundane horrors and dead ends. Every person you know will stumble through one of these doors at some point, falling into mistakes that can’t be undone. Look on reality and weep."
Watch the "Doors To Mental Agony" music video below.
Coagulated Bliss was written and recorded shortly after Full Of Hell completed When No Birds Sang, their collaborative album with Nothing. Working with the Philadelphia shoegazers gave Full Of Hell new insight into the emotional and artistic power of classic pop songwriting, and to the importance of following a song where it wants to go. “That was a good experience of learning how to find what actually services a song,” Hazard says. “Even with Roots of Earth Are Consuming My Home, even when we’ve had an extreme grindcore influence, I still wanted it to be catchy.” Walker also cites the band’s work with The Body for helping him to “recognize that there was value in pop music.” Accordingly, Coagulated Bliss features some of Full Of Hell’s strongest songwriting: Gone is the frenetic flailing of Garden of Burning Apparitions and Weeping Choir; in its stead is a richer, thicker sound, one that’s considerably less ornamented—and somehow heavier than ever.
While the focus on songwriting already makes Coagulated Bliss the most grounded album in Full Of Hell’s catalog, it’s also the first Full Of Hell record that tries in earnest to reflect the world around it—not in some broad, monotony-of-evil way, but the everyday horrors of life in small town America. Three of the four members of the band were raised in Ocean City. Hazard and Bland still live there, while Walker is located in central Pennsylvania and bassist Samuel DiGristine relocated to Philadelphia. “The American dream is small towns,” Hazard says. “But anyone that’s grown up in a small town realizes it’s just as fucked up in a small town as it is in a big city—if not more, because it’s more condensed.”
Walker’s lyrics have always framed their suffering with what he calls “fantastical, metaphorical shit,” but on Coagulated Bliss his writing is clear and direct. The album’s title is meant partly to reflect the idea of the over-pursuit of happiness leading to misery—whether in addiction, greed, or anything else. “Your happiness is just out of reach and you don’t know why,” he says. “Too much of this bliss, you think you’ve found your endpoint, but it’s really just this small, tiny, little thing that’s going to ruin your fucking life. And that could be anything." The album’s viciousness and Walker’s clear reading of the world around him might scan as misanthropy, but it comes from a place of disappointment that’s driven by a deep love for people and life and the world. “There’s not a lot of anger, to be honest,” he says. “I’ve never felt anger when we’re playing, ever. It feels like electricity that’s built up in my body that has to get out. But I feel more profoundly sorrowful than I ever do anger.”
The world may be in a constant state of bitter flux, but Full Of Hell have never sounded more at home in it.“We’ve shed any kind of ‘do we belong in this space, what do people expect of us,’” Walker says. “The joy is in the pursuit.” The loosening of their grip on the direction of their music has made it feel paradoxically closer to the bone. “People tend to burrow themselves so deeply into things they love,” Walker says. “It’s too much of a good thing, and it almost cheapens it.” By paring back their sound, Full Of Hell aren’t just finding a new way forward: They’re proving that a little bit less of a good thing can add up to so much more.
Coagulated Bliss was recorded at Developing Nations in Baltimore by Kevin Bernstein, mixed by Taylor Young at The Pit Recording Studio in Van Nuys California and mastered by Nick Townsend of Infrasonic Sound in Los Angeles California.
Coagulated Bliss is out April 26 via Closed Casket Activities and is available for pre-order here. See Full Of Hell on the road in April + May with Dying Fetus (dates below) and look for more news soon.
Coagulated Bliss,cover art by Brian Montuori.
Coagulated Bliss tracklisting:
"Half Life Of Changelings"
"Doors To Mental Agony"
"Transmuting Chemical Burns"
"Fractures Bonds To Mecca"
"Coagulated Bliss"
"Bleeding Horizon"
"Vomiting Glass"
"Schizoid Rupture"
"Vacuous Dose"
"Gasping Dust"
"Gelding Of Men"
"Malformed Ligature"
"Doors To Mental Agony" video:
Full Of Hell is Spencer Hazard (guitar/electronics), David Bland (drums/vocals), Samuel DiGristine (bass/sax/vocals), and Dylan Walker (vocals/electronics/lyrics), with new guitarist Gabriel Solomon joining following the album’s completion.
Full Of Hell tour dates:
April
25 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore ^
26 - Sayerville, NJ - Starland Ballroom ^
27 - Syracuse, NY - The Song & Dance ^
28 - Albany, NY - Empire Live ^
30 - Quebec City, QV - Theatre Capitole ^
May
1 - Montreal, QC - Beanfield Theatre ^
2 - Ottawa, ON - The Brass Monkey ^
3 - London, ON - London Music Hall ^
4 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre ^
5 - Buffalo, NY - Electric City ^
7 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom ^
8 - Columbus, OH - The King of Clubs ^
9 - Joliet, IL - The Forge ^
10 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave ^
12 - Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre ^
13 - Saskatoon, SK - Louis ^
14 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room ^
15 - Calgary, AB - The Palace Theatre ^
17 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre ^
18 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon ^
19 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater ^
July
13 + 14 - Los Angeles, CA - Exposition Park (Sound & Fury)
KK'S PRIEST, which features former JUDAS PRIEST members K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals),alongside guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE),has shared a dark, visually eerie animated video for the menacing track "Keeper Of The Graves". The song is taken from KK'S PRIEST's sophomore album, "The Sinner Rides Again", which came out in September 2023 via the Austrian label Napalm Records.
Downing says about "Keeper Of The Graves": "The Keeper Of The Graves is the defender, the sentinel, and the protector of all of the dead. This ageless being, throughout many centuries, has fought many battles with marauders that seek to prey on the souls of the buried and entombed. But alas, it would be inevitable that one day the kiss of Judas would land on his lips and the cold steel of the evil ones would thrust forward and penetrate the heart drawing the blood of death. As the moon turns red, no one will be saved. Who will avenge the Keeper Of The Graves?"
KK'S PRIEST will embark on its first-ever U.S. headlining tour later this week. The trek will kick off on March 7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and will feature support from L.A. GUNS and BURNING WITCHES. The tour will be the first of at least a two-leg USA run of shows, planned to continue later in 2024.
KK'S PRIEST made its live debut on July 6, 2023 at Downing's KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
KK'S PRIEST kicked off a five-date "Priests, Killers & Witches" U.K. tour on October 7, 2023 at O2 Institute in Birmingham.
K.K. formed KK'S PRIEST after JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour. It followed a couple of celebrated stage appearances, first with former MANOWAR guitarist Ross The Boss in the summer of 2019, then with a one-off lineup that included former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and former PRIEST drummer Les Binks later that year.
KK'S PRIEST released its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.
Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the 1980s.
Downing was reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in November 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.
Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.
In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.
In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."
Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.
Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.
Photo credit: Sam Singer (courtesy of Napalm Records / Freeman Promotions)
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