Last Friday, Def Leppard brought their full 2022 Whisky A Go Go set exclusively to their YouTube channel for 24 hours only. Although the full clip has now been removed, the band are rolling out individual videos from the show.
You can now watch the band perform "Armageddon It" and "Pour Some Sugar On Me" in these just released videos:
Footage of Def Leppard performing "Hysteria", "Animal", "Take What You Want" and "Kick" at the concert can be viewed below:
Def Leppard and Journey are teaming up for the Summer Stadium Tour 2024 with Steve Miller Band, Heart, and Cheap Trick. The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame icons are once again coming together for a night of hits.
July
6 - St. Louis, MO - Busch Stadium ^
10 - Orlando, FL - Camping World Stadium ^
13 - Atlanta, GA - Truist Park *
15 - Chicago, IL - Wrigley Field *
18 - Detroit, MI - Comerica Park *
20 - Nashville, TN - Nissan Stadium *
23 - Philadelphia, PA - Citizens Bank Park *
25 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium *
27 - Pittsburgh, PA - PNC Park *
30 - Cleveland, OH - Progressive Field +
August
2 - Toronto, ON - Rogers Centre +
5 - Boston, MA - Fenway Park +
7 - Flushing, NY - Citi Field *
12 - Arlington, TX - Globe Life Field *
14 - Houston, TX - Minute Maid Park *
16 - San Antonio, TX - Alamodome *
19 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Field *
23 - Phoenix, AZ - Chase Field *
25 - Los Angeles, CA - SoFi Stadium *
28 - San Francisco, CA - Oracle Park *
30 - San Diego, CA - Petco Park *
September
4 - Seattle, WA - T-Mobile Park ^
8 - Denver, CO - Coors Field ^
* with Steve Miller Band
^ with Cheap Trick
+ with Heart
As Killington Pit prepare to release their first original material later in 2024 and play their first live shows, the band have released another of their hugely popular cover songs, a stunning cover of the Judas Priest classic, “Riding On the Wind”.
The track comes from Priest’s seminal 1982 Screaming For Vengeance album and is another perfect showcase for the sound and chemistry of newcomers Killington Pit. The track features a performance video from the band. Watch below.
The new cover version follows the bands initial two single releases. Their cover of Accept’s “Balls To The Wall” and Rainbow’s “Kill the King” now have over one and a half million streams on Spotify and hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.
The members of Killington Pit connected during the pandemic lockdown and began recording together. As time progressed friendships grew and a core band formed with Terry LeRoi, Will Hunt, Troy McLawhorn and Chuck Garric. “Kill The King” also featured veteran guitarist Stef Burns (Alice Cooper/Huey Lewis & The News) and vocalist guitarist Jeff Blando (Slaughter/Lynchmob/Vince Neil).
Will Hunt says, “‘Riding on the Wind’ was always my favorite Priest tune, before Scott Travis, of course. I definitely tried to approach it in a way I thought Scott would play it to give it some modern energy. The fellas and I had a lotta fun with this one!”
Troy McLawhorn comments,“Glenn and KK were my teachers when I was learning to play the guitar. Not literally, but I listened to Priest constantly when I was a kid and spent a lot of hours trying to figure out how to play their songs on the guitar. Judas Priest is one of my all-time favorite bands! It was a lot of fun and a challenge to try to recreate the guitar parts for our rendition of 'Riding on the Wind'. Again, I stuck pretty closely to the original because I respect and honor what they wrote and recorded, and I wanted to do it justice. I’m not trying to re-invent the song. I just wanted to feel the joy of playing it!!!”
Chuck Garric adds, “Ian Hill of Judas Priest is a bass icon! Thats what you get from a Metal God.”
Terry LeRoi says, “Screaming For Vengeance is one of my all time favorite records. It’s been a huge inspiration for me over the years. 'Riding On The Wind' is the stand out track for me. Rob Halford’s voice is nothing short of amazing on this song and his midrange tones are ear shattering. His singing style and his willingness to pushing vocal limits is unparalleled and has always been my reference point. When Killington Pit started exploring possible songs to cover…this one was at the top of our list. It’s been such an honor to play with Will, Chuck and Troy and a privilege and great joy to pay tribute to Judas Priest!”
LeRoi adds, “Over the coming months we will be releasing our full length covers album with accompanying videos. 2024 will see us playing select shows worldwide and releasing original Killington Pit music. We’re looking forward to sharing this with all of the fans!”
Killington Pit is:
Vocals - Terry LeRoi
Drums - Will Hunt
Guitar - Troy McLawhorn
Bass - Chuck Garric
Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has shared the official music video for the song "Cherry Medicine" from his upcoming solo album, "10,000 Volts". The clip, which was directed by Justin H. Reich of Three Thirty-Three Creative and produced by Reich and Steve Seabury, can be seen below.
On "Cherry Medicine", a mean palm-muted chug underlines Ace's pensive vocals where he confesses, "I knew I had to change my ways for sure to keep you by my side." The track showcases another side of Frehley with its saccharine and sweet, soaring hook as he promises, "I love you, cherry medicine. You heal my every need and some." He seals the sentiment with another powerhouse solo.
The 11-track "10,000 Volts" LP was produced by Ace and Steve Brown (TRIXTER) and will be released on February 23 via MNRK Music Group (formerly eOne Music).
Earlier this month, Ace released the music video for the song "Walkin' On The Moon" from "10,000 Volts". The clip was filmed last month with Wreck'd Productions at the company's studio in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. The entertaining visualizer was directed by Alex Kouvatsos from Black Wolf Imaging.
On "Walkin' On The Moon", Ace's voice rings out between towering distortion as a lovestruck hook echoes, "When I wake up, you're all I see. You got me walkin' on the moon!" His string bends practically engage in a call-and-response with the refrain while another celestial solo resounds.
In a recent interview with VRP Rocks, Ace praised "10,000 Volts", saying: "I'm very happy with the way the record turned out. Now, a lot of times I've recorded records where sometimes you look at three or four songs on the album and you consider them not as good as some of the other ones and you kind of consider them as filler. But I don't think there's any filler on this album. I think every song has merit to it."
He added: "I think it's one of the best albums I ever did. I mean, I think it's probably as good as my solo album in 1978, which everybody seems to think is my best album to date. But I think this new album is equally as good as my 1978 solo album, and I think there's more than one hit single on the album. So, if I was a KISS fan or an Ace Frehley fan, I'd go out and buy it immediately when it's released on February 23rd, because you're in for a treat."
Ace released the single "10,000 Volts" on November 28. The track's music video — directed by Alex Kouvatsos from Black Wolf Imaging — has garnered more than a million views on YouTube.
"10,000 Volts" track listing:
01. 10,000 Volts
02. Walkin' On The Moon
03. Cosmic Heart
04. Cherry Medicine
05. Back Into My Arms Again
06. Fightin' For Life
07. Blinded
08. Constantly Cute
09. Life Of A Stranger
10. Up In The Sky
11. Stratosphere
In October, Frehley told Jeff Napier of Nuvo about "10,000 Volts": "It's probably the best record I've ever done. I'm very excited about it. It's the fIrst time I ended up writing most of these songs with a good friend of mine, Steve Brown. He used to play in TRIXTER and has a group called RUBIX KUBE. Anyway, we live 40 minutes from each other, and my fiancée Lara hooked us up. I'd met him several times over the years, but just briefly, but she knew him when she was in her twenties, and she said, 'You've gotta get together with Steve.' He's a great songwriter and guitar player. He sent me a song, and there was one line that just jumped out from his chorus, and it was 'Walkin' On The Moon'. So I said, 'Listen, let's get together and rewrite this song, and the hook will be 'Walkin' On The Moon',' because it wasn't the end of the chorus he had prepared. So, we rewrote the song, and it came out great. We were actually gonna call the album 'Walkin' On The Moon' until we recorded a song called '10,000 Volts', which came out amazing. I got Anton Fig, my old drummer, who played on my original '78 solo album and most of my solo stuff, to play drums on that. So, working with Steve has made a huge difference in my playing and writing because when he and I put our heads together, it just clicks. If I'm at a loss for a chord or a verse or a line, he comes up with it and vice versa, and within three or four hours, we write a song.
"So that's how the record's been going," Ace added. "Then, once you record the basic track, you gotta do the overdubs and double and triple the vocals, harmonies, and stuff. He's an excellent engineer. So I didn't have to pay an engineer to engineer this record. So I saved money on that, working with Steve as well, which is nice."
Asked if making "Origins Vol. 2", the sequel to his 2016 collection of cover songs that inspired the former KISS guitarist, affected the way he put together the new record, Frehley said: "It's one thing doing an 'Origins' record because you don't have to write the songs. Basically, I was picking songs that influenced me that were written by other people. So it's a lot easier to do than when you do a regular studio record where all the songs are original. On this record, all the songs are original except for one. I did one cover of a song called 'Life Of A Stranger', written by a gal named Nadia. When she did the song, it was Europop, and it was very sparsely recorded. I listened to it and loved the melody, and I loved the lyrics. I played it for Steve, and he said, 'We could kill this song with heavy drums and power chords and stuff and keyboards even.' It came out great. All the other songs did as well. There's really not a weak song on the record. Most people do a record, and they concentrate on three or four songs that they think might be singles, and then the rest of it is a lot of filler. But every song on this album I can hear on the radio. I hope DJs agree with me."
Ace's next all-original album will be the follow-up to "Spaceman", which was released in October 2018 via eOne.
"Origins Vol. 2" featured cover versions of THE BEATLES' "I'm Down", DEEP PURPLE's "Space Truckin'", LED ZEPPELIN's "Good Times Bad Times", THE ROLLING STONES' "Jumpin' Jack Flash", THE KINKS' "Lola" and THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE's "Manic Depression", among others. A cover of the 1975 KISS tune "She" also appeared as a bonus track. Guests on the set included CHEAP TRICK's Robin Zander, Lita Ford and former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick.
Simmons co-wrote two tracks on "Spaceman", "Without You I'm Nothing" and "Your Wish Is My Command", the latter of which also features Gene's bass playing.
Today sees the release of the highly anticipated music video, "A Song To Save Us All", by acclaimed metal vocalist Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy). This poignant composition serves as a rallying cry against the tragic plight of animals ensnared by the fur industry, doubling as the official soundtrack for the award-winning documentary, Ending Real Fur, produced by Arise Productions.
"A Song To Save Us All" is more than just a piece of music; it is a testament to the transformative power of art in advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves. With haunting melodies and evocative lyrics, Alissa White-Gluz's latest music video compels viewers to confront the brutal realities of animal exploitation, igniting a fervent call for change.
Alissa White-Gluz, often heralded as a trailblazer for women in metal, expresses her deep commitment to the cause: "Through 'A Song To Save Us All,' I aim to amplify the voices of those silenced by the fur industry's cruelty. Music has the power to transcend boundaries and evoke empathy, and I hope this song serves as a catalyst for meaningful change."
Taimoor Choudhry, director of the acclaimed documentary Ending Real Fur, shares his sentiments on the collaboration: "Working with Alissa White-Gluz on this documentary and music video has been a truly enriching experience. Her dedication to shedding light on the egregious practices of the fur industry aligns seamlessly with our mission to raise awareness through film and inspire action. Together, we strive to create a world where compassion triumphs over cruelty."
Watch the “A Song To Save Us All” music video below:
To learn more, watch the award-winning documentary, Ending Real Fur, below:
Last Friday, Def Leppard brought their full 2022 Whisky A Go Go set exclusively to their YouTube channel for 24 hours only. Although the full clip has now been removed, the band are rolling out individual videos from the show.
You can now watch the band perform "Hysteria" in this just released video:
Footage of Def Leppard performing "Animal", "Take What You Want" and "Kick" at the concert can be viewed below:
Def Leppard and Journey are teaming up for the Summer Stadium Tour 2024 with Steve Miller Band, Heart, and Cheap Trick. The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame icons are once again coming together for a night of hits.
July
6 - St. Louis, MO - Busch Stadium ^
10 - Orlando, FL - Camping World Stadium ^
13 - Atlanta, GA - Truist Park *
15 - Chicago, IL - Wrigley Field *
18 - Detroit, MI - Comerica Park *
20 - Nashville, TN - Nissan Stadium *
23 - Philadelphia, PA - Citizens Bank Park *
25 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium *
27 - Pittsburgh, PA - PNC Park *
30 - Cleveland, OH - Progressive Field +
August
2 - Toronto, ON - Rogers Centre +
5 - Boston, MA - Fenway Park +
7 - Flushing, NY - Citi Field *
12 - Arlington, TX - Globe Life Field *
14 - Houston, TX - Minute Maid Park *
16 - San Antonio, TX - Alamodome *
19 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Field *
23 - Phoenix, AZ - Chase Field *
25 - Los Angeles, CA - SoFi Stadium *
28 - San Francisco, CA - Oracle Park *
30 - San Diego, CA - Petco Park *
September
4 - Seattle, WA - T-Mobile Park ^
8 - Denver, CO - Coors Field ^
* with Steve Miller Band
^ with Cheap Trick
+ with Heart
Morta Skuld will release their new album, Creation Undone, on February 23 via Peaceville Records. The album will be released on LP, limited edition Green LP, CD and digital. Pre-order the album here. New single and video for "Perfect Prey" is streaming below.
"The song ‘Perfect Prey’ is about control and how the powers that be can really put a stronghold on us as humans, I felt it was like shooting fish in a barrel and that we as people were the perfect prey," Dave Gregor, Morta Skuld
Scribe Greg Pratt scored the album a 7.5 in his review – read here.
Scaling new heights of brutality for the longstanding US death metal veterans, Creation Undone is the latest work of inspired extremity from frontman and mastermind Dave Gregor and co. In a time when the band’s iconic and celebrated debut Dying Remains reaches its thirty year milestone, and with recent live activity on both sides of the Atlantic seeing the quartet performing to a ravenous fanbase of metalheads both old and new, Morta Skuld now returns with a ten track opus of pure death metal in their unrelenting and unwavering pursuit of heaviness, still going strong after three decades, as the band unleashes their successor to 2020’s Suffer For Nothing.
With themes exploring an increasingly savage, corrupt and destructive state of the world in present times, and executed with a razor-sharp precision, with ferocious and hook-laden compositions to match and even exceed any of their highly regarded early output, Creation Undone was recorded and mixed at Belle City Sound Studios by Chris Djuricic, with mastering work conducted at Flatline Audio with Dave Otero.
Morta Skuld formed in Milwaukee in 1990, quickly producing two demos before going on to release three albums on Peaceville Records (initially via legendary sub-label Deaf Records) in the early-mid 90's. Many years later, and with a new lineup, founder and main-man David Gregor then reunited with Peaceville for the opuses Wounds Deeper Than Time, and Suffer For Nothing, showing that none of the brutal & inspired magic of the band's former years had been lost.
Tracklisting:
"We Rise We Fall"
"The End Of Reason"
"Painful Conflict"
"Unforeseen Obstacles"
"Perfect Prey"
"Soul Piercing Sorrow"
"Into Temptation"
"Self Destructive Emotions"
"Oblivion"
"By Design"
Arizona death metal specialists make their triumphant return with their first new track since 2021’s An Unexpected Reality. “Caught In The Treads” is heavily rooted in the high-powered energy that fuels the contagious atmosphere that they have encountered in their recent global live endeavors. The single, produced and mixed by Kurt Ballou of Converge fame, features infectious guitar melodies and drum passages that audiences will cling to with their refined attitude as the purveyors of the new wave of American death metal.
Chase H. Mason states, "Lyrically the song is about a supernaturally charged fleet of tanks that have been possessed by the souls of fallen soldiers. It's about revenge and crushing your enemies." Expanding on the music video he mentions, "As soon as we finished recording, we started sneaking this song into our live set. We brought along our own VHS camera and had our friends film the shows where they could."
Stream “Caught In The Treads” on all streaming platforms now.
Gatecreeper will tour the U.S. with headliners and label mates In Flames.
Dates:
May
1 - Portland, ME - State Theatre
2 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
3 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
4 - Wilmington, DE - The Queen
5 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
7 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall
8 - Greensboro, NC - Piedmont Hall
9 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead
10 - Daytona, FL - Rockville
12 - Huntsville, AL - Mars Music Hall
14 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
16 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre
17 - Buffalo, NY - The Town Ballroom
18 - Columbus, OH - Sonic Temple
19 - Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee Metal Fest
21 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews
22 - St. Louis, MO - The Hawthorn
23 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
24 - Austin, TX - Emo's
25 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
26 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
This Friday, February 23, Austrian Death Machine - the unmissable brutal metal project helmed by As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis - will return with their first new album in a decade, Quad Brutal. Featuring 10 tracks of heavyweight thrash-infused extremity and sprint-worthy speed, the album will instantly have listeners coming back for more - ready for endless reps and skipping nothing (except maybe leg day).
Today, Austrian Death Machine racks up their fourth and final single from Quad Brutal, entitled "Judgment Day". Ricky Hoover of deathcore unit Ov Sulfur lends his vocal attack to unrelenting ripper - one of the new album’s most spine-tingling, breakneck tracks with an unforgettable chorus and a punishing closer of unmatched brutality.
Tim Lambesis says about "Judgment Day" and its video:
"Neeyahhh! The over-the-top visual theme behind the 'Judgment Day' video represents our promise to keep marching forward and persist in having a good time no matter what happens, until the final moments of Judgment Day make that impossible. Until then, don't be too serious and find a way to keep going! I've found a community of good friends that make it easier to stay on my feet - I wouldn't have made Quad Brutal without my band mates reminding me that I don't need to create Austrian Death Machine songs alone like I've done with many songs before this album."
In historic Austrian Death Machine fashion, Quad Brutal is supported by a slew of guests on each track - in addition to vocal contributions from Dany Lambesis (HELLBØRN), tracks on Quad Brutal are supercharged by professional bodybuilders and vocalists Craig Golias and Rob Bailey, vocalist Ricky Hoover (Ov Sulfur, ex-Suffokate), guitar virtuosos Angel Vivaldi, Clayton King, Brandon Richter (Bleeding Through), Joey Alarcon (Wolves At The Gate, Born Through Fire) and more. Oh, and Ahhnold himself, of course.
Absolute units like relentless debut single “No Pain No Gain”, hammering “Get Down”, apocalyptic harbinger “Judgment Day” and massive “I Never Quit” blister and groove with unmatched fury, while death-meets-metalcore burners like “Destroy The Machines”, “MeatGrinder” and “Don’t Be Lazy” explode with the colossal strength of Ahhnold himself. On the other end of the weight bench, large and in charge head-spinners like “Conquer” and “Hey Bro Can You Spot Me?” bring the brutality without sacrificing melody, and will have fans of Lambesis’ other projects turning their heads.
Lambesis says about Quad Brutal: "Being commissioned by The Govournator to sonically encompass the brutality of 80s action, bodybuilding, and judgment day into one album is a task that comes with great responsibility. First, I had to make it brutal of course. Then, I had to make sure to include choruses so that people don't forget the great wisdom of Ahhnold's words. And since it's the fourth album, I had to really work on my quad strength at the gym to someday be ready to carry the weight of the world from the album cover when it's passed along to me someday. The result is an album that is much more diverse than any ADM album I've written, and in the spectrum of heavy, it is the most brutal by a long shot when you hear all 10 songs."
Quad Brutal will be available in the following formats:
- CD Digisleeve
- 1LP Blue Gatefold Vinyl
- 1LP Transparent Marbled Violet Gatefold Vinyl + Art Print and Slipmat (Napalm mail order only, limited to 300)
- Digital Album
"No Pain No Gain (feat. Craig Golias, Angel Vivaldi)
"Conquer (feat. Hellbørn, Clayton King)
"Hey Bro Can You Spot Me? (feat. Craig Golias, Alarcon)
"Judgment Day (feat. Ov Sulfur)
"Everybody Pities The Weak (feat. Hellbørn)
"Don't Be Lazy (feat. Craig Golias)
"Get Down (feat. Craig Golias)
"Destroy The Machines (feat. Dany Lambesis)
"MeatGrinder (feat. Hellbørn)
"I Never Quit (feat. Kill Rob Bailey, Craig Golias, Bleeding Through)
2023 JUNO Award-winners, Voivod, performed at the 2023 edition of Germany's Wacken Open Air. You can now watch professionally-filmed footage of the band performing "Rebel Robot" at the festival. Watch below:
Voivod's Morgöth Tales album is nominated in the "Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year" category for The 53rd Annual JUNO Awards. This year’s winners will be revealed in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada on Saturday, March 23 and The JUNO Awards Broadcast on Sunday, March 24, live on CBC. Find a full list of nominees here.
Voivod and Prong are are set to embark on their much-anticipated co-headline trek. This tour marks a reunion of sorts for the two bands, who have long admired each other's work and have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to hit the road together once again.
The decision to embark on this tour was an easy one for both bands, united by their fresh and acclaimed new records. Voivod, the Canadian heavy metal connoisseurs, recently released their latest album, Morgoth Tales, under the banners of Century Media, The Orchard, and Sony Music. This record is a testament to their enduring impact in the metal scene, showcasing their evolution and prowess.
The upcoming tour promises to be an exhilarating experience, as both Voivod and Prong are known for their dynamic and powerful live performances. Fans can expect a blend of new hits and classic favorites, delivered with the raw energy and passion that both bands are renowned for.
February
28 - Columbus, OH - King of Clubs
29 - Milkwaukee, WI - The Rave
March
1 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
2 - Kansas City, MO - recordBar
3 - Denver, CO - Oriental Theater
4 - South Salt Lake, UT - The Commonwealth Room
6 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
7 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
8 - Eugene, OR - John Henry's
9 - Berkeley, CA - The UC Theatre
10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre
12 - San Diego, CA - Brick by Brick
13 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
15 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
16 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
17 - St. Louis, MO - The Golden Record
20 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
21 - Fort Wayne, IN - Piere's Entertainment Center
22 - Knoxville, TN - The Concourse
24 - Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Theater
Rotting Christ have released a music video for their new single, "Like Father, Like Son". Watch the clip below.
Says the band: "We can proudly present to you the first video clip from our upcoming album, Pro Xristou. A song inspired by the strong relationship between a father and son. Covered by a temple of soulful melodies, 'Like Father, Like Son' gives you a taste of the epic metal sound behind our new album. Thanks for your attention. We hope that you'll enjoy our new creation, as there are many more to come! Stay tuned for updates!"
Rotting Christ have stood the test of time. While their name has caused plenty of gatekeepers to clutch their pearls, Sakis Tolis and has brother Themis have risen from Greece's blackened catacombs to one of metal's most formidable bands.
This year, Rotting Christ are celebrating 35 years of evil excellence with their 14th album. ΠΡΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ (Pro Xristoy) is bound to hold a revered place in the band's heretical history. Always true to their name, with Pro Xristoy ("Before Christ"), the band pay tribute to the last of the Pagan kings by offering up more towering, gothic, melodic black metal.
Now that Rotting Christ are closing in on four decades, some followers might've wondered if there was any sacred ground left for them to conquer. But Pro Xristoy is a testament to a band that's still on the rise.
"This album was inspired by the might of ancient pagan wisdom", says Sakis. "It's a tribute to those who resisted the coming of Christianity, which destroyed all the values, traditions and knowledge of the ancient world".
Pro Xristoy comes out May 24 via Season Of Mist.
Tracklisting:
"Pro Xristoy (Προ Χριστο?)"
"The Apostate"
"Like Father, Like Son"
"The Sixth Day"
"La Lettera Del Diavolo"
"The Farewell"
"Pix Lax Dax"
"Pretty World, Pretty Dies"
"Yggdrasil"
"Saoirse"
"Primal Resurrection" (Bonus Track)
"All For One" (Bonus Track)
In the dimly lit catacombs of extreme metal, one name stands as a monolith: Rotting Christ. Sakis Tholis and his brother Themis started this band together back in 1987. In the three decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They’ve released 13 studio albums and played more than 1,3000 concerts around the globe. Underneath all this hard work, Rotting Christ have but one vision - an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.
Rotting Christ’s evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embraces refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervour. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to bush boundaries.
But the real turning point came in 2007, when Rotting Christ signed a pact with Season of Mist. They unleashed a series of albums for the French label that defied any and all expectations. From the piercing Theogonia and the symphonic grandeur of Aelo to the ritualistic intensity of Κατ? Τον Δα?μονα Εαυτο?, the cinematic experiences created by Rotting Christ became a spectacle of bombastic atmospheres, mesmerizing choirs, and neo-classical arrangements. The unexpected is their modus operandi, with the use of various languages (Latin, Arabic, Greek, English) as well as the extensive use of famous poetry woven into their music, like Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ on The Heretics.
In 2019, Rotting Christ’s epic journey continued with The Apocryphal Spell compilation, which offers fans an intimate glimpse into unreleased and rare material. This allowed them to gather strength, preparing for the release of their next, highly anticipated, 14th full-length studio album: Pro Xristoy.
Pro Xristoy (‘Before Christ’ in Greek), serves as a fervent tribute to the last Pagan kings who resisted the onslaught of Christianity, guarding their ancient values and knowledge. In this thematic odyssey, intricately woven through tracks such as ‘The Apostate’ and ‘Ygdrassil’, Rotting Christ delves into the legacies of historical figures such as Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic mythological kings, embodying the might of Pagan wisdom in the face of Christian adversity. The album encapsulates the essence of Rotting Christ’s signature style - melodic, yet harsh at times - reinventing themselves yet again, while remaining rooted in their 35-year legacy.
Guest Musicians:
Amdroniki Skoula - Vocals (on "La Letra Del Diavolo")
Nikos Kerkiras - Keyboard
Christina Alexiou - Choir
Maria Tsironi - Choir
Alexandros Loyziotis - Choir
Vasilis Karatzas - Choir
Andrew Liles - Narration (on 'The Apostate', 'Pretty World, Pretty Dies')
Kim Diaz Holm - Narration (on 'Ygdrassil')
Recording Studio:
Deva Sounds Studios (Athens, Greece)
Producer:
Sakis Tolis
Sound Engineer:
Fotis Bernando
Aggelos Karatzas
Mixing:
Jens Borgen at Fascination Street Studios (Örebro, Sweden)
Mastering:
Tony Lidgren at Fascination Street Studios (Örebro, Sweden)
Artwork Artists:
Thomas Cole - Artwork
Adrien Bousson - Digital Processing
Bloodstock Festivals has released footage of New Jersey's Fit For An Autopsy performing "Hellions" at the 2023 edition of Bloodstock Open Air. Watch below.
A message states: "Immerse yourself in the unparalleled ferocity of Fit For An Autopsy's breathtaking live show at the esteemed Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival, held on the memorable day of August 11th, 2023. Witness firsthand the electrifying surge of 'Hellions', a remarkable composition that shines brightly among their latest musical endeavours, showcased right here for your viewing pleasure. This track, known for its intricate blend of technical prowess and raw, unbridled aggression, encapsulates the essence of what makes this band a titan in the deathcore scene.
But the journey doesn't end with 'Hellions'. Our channel is poised to reveal an array of additional tracks and the entirety of this monumental performance, ensuring that fans and newcomers alike can relive the intensity of that night. From the first note to the last, Fit For An Autopsy's set at Bloodstock 2023 was a masterclass in musical ferocity, blending death metal's brutality with hardcore's impassioned energy and technical metal's complexity.
Prepare to be captivated by the band's dynamic stage presence, as they not only blur but completely erase the lines between genres, offering a performance that's as thought-provoking as it is visceral."
Wake Up! Music Rocks, a division of Wake Up! Music, a leading independent record label, is excited to announce the signing of Los Angeles band, Venrez, a dynamic and electrifying rock band.
With their unique blend of hard rock, punk, and metal, Venrez has been making waves in the music industry and is now ready to continue their voyage with their new single, "Sip the Cup". Stream the song here, and watch the official music video below.
Formed in 2009, Venrez has been making a name for themselves with their high-energy live performances and powerful music. The Venrez rock band is comprised of Ven (as he is known to his friends) on lead vocals, Jason Womack on guitar and backing vocals, who has played with such acts as Fuel and Juliette Lewis and the Lick’s; Victor Singer on drums who provides the powerful beat; and Gabe Maska on bass whose undeniable talent has resulted in him becoming a fixture on the Sunset Strip.
The band has released four albums to critical acclaim and has toured extensively, sharing the stage with legendary acts such as Slash, Alice Cooper, and mega bands including Buckcherry, Fuel, Hardcore Superstar, Michael Schenker, and punk legend Richie Ramone. Though the lead singer Steven Berez entered the music business later in life, he is showing the world how it is done. Venrez has won a global following on their own terms by doing it the hard way, sweating it out in front of packed houses the world over.
Wake Up Music is known for its commitment to supporting independent artists and providing a platform for them to reach a world-wide audience of Nu Music Listeners. The label's founder and CEO, Pepper Gomez, expressed her excitement about the new partnership with Venrez, stating, "We are thrilled to have Venrez join the Wake Up Music family. Their music is profound, energetic, and truly embodies the spirit of rock and roll." She feels that Venrez and their unique rock sound will not only fit in at the Label, but will also thrive with the freedom that the Wake Up! Music, which focuses only on new music, offers its artist to create.
Venrez says, “The band is thrilled to have signed a record deal with Wake Up! Music Rocks as well as the soon to be released first single from our new EP title track with music video ‘Sip The Cup’.”
Venrez will release a 6-song EP commencing late February, 2024. Produced by platinum and Grammy award winning, Malcolm Springer and mastered by Ted Jensen. The music video was directed and shot by Hollywood cinematographer, Domonick Giorgianni of Domino Effect Productions. Tour date announcements will follow.
The signing of Venrez to Wake Up Music marks an exciting new chapter for the band and their fans. With the label's support, Venrez will have the opportunity to reach an ever growing audience and continue to make their mark in the music industry.
Earlier this year it was confirmed that Birmingham, England's Becky Baldwin is Mercyful Fate's new bassist, replacing Joey Vera (Armored Saint) in the band lineup.
Today, Baldwin - who toured North America with Mercyful Fate in late 2022 - has shared a bass playthrough video for "A Corpse Without Soul".
Says Becky: "One of the more challenging covers I've tackled in this collection - mostly due to being one of the band's earliest recordings. The sound of the first EP does not have the quality of the following albums (understandably so!) so as much as I love the raw intensity of this recording, it makes picking out the basslines precisely quite a challenge! As well as recording to it, without the track isolation and ability to sync to a metronome which always helps with a rhythmic instrument. That could well be due to my own lack of computer skills... But never mind, their recording is raw, and so was this take!
"I also gotta say, thank you all for the kind comments over the last month since being announced as the permanent bass player for Mercyful Fate! This has been an incredible start to the year, but my change in status won't prevent me from making these tributes to Timi. I want to keep sharing his original lines in playthrough videos until all my favourites are out there. Thank you for supporting me through this journey from fan to band member!"
In an interview with That Metal Interview Podcast, Baldwin talked about her experience touring with Mercyful Fate in 2022, and her feelings now that she's a full-time member. She also gives us an update on her band Fury, and their future plans and recordings.
On when we can expect new music from Mercyful Fate, Becky reveals: "My guess is gonna be toward 2025, maybe towards the end of 2025. But it depends how it all goes, 'cause King is working on a King Diamond album first, so we've got a little bit of time there. And they'll have to tour that as well, give it the full world tour treatment and everything. But there is something in the works. I've listened to (Mercyful Fate guitarist) Hank (Shermann)'s demos. He sent me, I think about nine songs, a couple of weeks ago and I've been listening through those. So it's on the way. It's all just been in the works for kind of a while, and now things are just starting to fall into place."
Japanese rockers, Crossfaith, have returned with a roaring new single, titled "Zero". Watch the video below.
The song comes out of the gates swinging, throwing hellacious haymakers from start to finish. It finds the band continuing to cross-pollinate metal and industrial music into a DNA-distinct blend. The accompanying visual finds the band performing with a fierce fire in its belly that is utterly impossible to extinguish.
"After approximately one year of hiatus, we're finally coming back in the game," the band states. This song is filled with primitive energy, showcasing our distinctive style to the fullest. It becomes a music full of the desire to tear through the dark abyss with our own hands and be reborn anew."
Additionally, the band has announced Daiki Koide as its new guitarist. Koide issued the following statement about his new role:
"Since July 2022, I have been playing on many stages with Crossfaith as a support member, and I am delighted to announce that I have officially joined Crossfaith as a guitarist. I have known Crossfaith members for more than 10 years now, since I was a part of my previous band, Her Name Is Blood. Back when my own band broke up, I was struggling and seriously thought if I should stop pursuing a music career. However, Crossfaith was the one that reached out to me and brought me back on the stage. We have been making music and performing together on the same stage for a while, and I always felt like I was part of the band, but officially being the member now, I am ready to go all out without holding back. Everything I want to express will be poured into our new music. I am very excited to be able to express myself through music again. Please keep supporting us."
About Crossfaith:
"Playing heavy music is how I feel alive," says singer Kenta Koie. "We want Crossfaith to be the band making music that no one has ever heard before. Crossfaith formed in 2006 and released their debut album The Artificial Theory for The Dramatic Beauty in 2009, followed by The Dream, The Space (2011), Apocalyze (2013), Xeno (2015), and Ex Machina (2018). Each one saw the band blend its love of punk rock, metal, and electronic music in daring new ways. "Good art is how I express myself to other people. It's hard to talk from the bottom of my heart, that's why I write these songs," Koie says. In keeping with their progressive musical journey, 2020's Species EP saw the band continue to push their own sonic soundscape to new grounds. The band dropped the pandemic-penned single "Gimme Danger" in 2022.
Cave, the original band founded by former Metal Church vocalist, Ronny Munroe, have released a music video for their new song, "Rat In A Hole". Check it out below:
Cave will soon release their new album, One. Details are forthcoming. The band previously released a music video for "Hero", as well as a lyric video for another song, titled "The Gold Crown". Watch both clips below:
Cave is:
Ronny Munroe - Vocals
Chris Lorey - Guitars
Roberto Palacios - Bass
Chris Schwinn - Drums
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