American singer David Reece, who fronted ACCEPT in the late '80s, will release a new solo album, "Baptized By Fire", on March 1, 2024 via El Puerto Records.
The official music video for the LP's first single, "Enemy Is Me", can be seen below.
With "Enemy Is Me", Reece sends a first hint at the musical direction of the new CD — much heavier than its two predecessors. The reviews so far immediately draw comparisons with ACCEPT — which was clear, given his musical history — and other heavy metal heavyweights.
"Enemy Is Me" showcases Reece's new band consisting of three Italians: Riccardo Demarosi, Niccolò and Giovanni Savinelli.
Track list:
01. Enemy Is Me
02. We've Lost The Fight
03. Wrong Move
04. Payback's A Bitch
05. No Rest For The Wicked
06. Twilight of the Gods
07. Seasons Of A Man
08. Closer To God
09. Archbishop Of Anarchy
10. My Heart Burns
11. Acceptance Of Denial
12. Tomorrow Don't Matter Today
Recording lineup:
David Reece - Vocals
Riccardo Demarosi - Bass
Niccolò Savinelli - Guitars
Giovanni Savinelli - Drums
Reece, who is based in Italy, was recruited for ACCEPT's "Eat The Heat" LP in 1989. His higher-pitched delivery was in sharp contrast to original ACCEPT singer Udo Dirkschneider's distinctive style, and overall, the album was a critical and commercial disappointment. Midway through the "Eat The Heat" tour, differences between the band and Reece had come to a head, leading to the altercation between the singer and bassist Peter Baltes in Chicago. By the end of 1989, ACCEPT had hung it up.
Asked by Via Nocturna 2000 YT how he looks back on his time with ACCEPT, Reece said: "Well, I can be blatantly honest — it was super positive and super negative, but I wouldn't be speaking with you right now if I hadn't done that album. The doors were opened; the floodgates happened. The critics hated me. Some loved me. But I have to be honest and say that was an opportunity of a lifetime. I did the best I could. I have no animosity towards those guys. I don't care what they're doing; they don't care what I'm doing; but I'm grateful for the opportunity. It speaks volumes as a singer that I was chosen over 50 people to be the guy. It was a difficult job."
David went on to say that his association with ACCEPT landed him a call from JUDAS PRIEST after the latter band parted ways with Rob Halford. "At that time I could really sing like that," he said. "It was myself, Ralf Scheepers [PRIMAL FEAR] and Ripper Owens; [we] were the top three guys. So they chose Ripper. But they were contacting me six months later: 'Come over to England and let's jam.' So, obviously, it did a lot for me in a positive way."
According to Reece, he looks back on "Eat The Heat" fondly. "I mean, everybody has an album they regret, but if you regret an album, maybe you're not thinking clearly about the personal turmoil that was going on during the album," he explained. "That could affect how you think about it. And I've gotten to my old, mature state where I can go, 'That's pretty damn good.' I still play 'X-T-C' and 'D-Train' and 'Hellhammer' live, and 'Generation Clash', and people go crazy. So those songs are timeless for people."
In January 2021, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann called "Eat The Heat" "a dark time in our history of ACCEPT. I would say that all of the '90s were very difficult and very dark in a way, and I don't even like to think about it so much," he told Hardrock Haven. "If only you journalist guys didn't constantly ask me about it, I would never even think about it. [Laughs] 'Cause it was just a time when heavy metal was going through a very dark period. The traditional sound was out of style and nobody wanted to listen to it, so it was sort of searching for a new direction — especially in the '90s. 'Eat The Heat' came out at the beginning of that era and it was meant to be a new chapter, but it's just never panned out because basically everything went wrong with that album. And it's just something you go through in life. I don't see why I still have to defend myself in a way… People always ask me this question almost in a provocative way, as if I have to defend myself about this album. It's ridiculous… It's almost like people have to apologize that they like it."
He continued: "There's something about this album that rubs a lot of people the wrong way and they have such a strong opinion about it… It's sometimes laughable. In my mind, it had some fantastic songs but it was just never executed properly, and it was not meant to be. But over the years, I've met so many fans who said exactly the same thing, 'Man, I really wanna apologize, but I really like this album… I know nobody likes it, but I think it's great.' And I think that's so bizarre. If you like it, you like it. It's so strange that people are so opinionated about it.
"It's just music," Wolf explained. "You can like it or not, but it's not more than that. In any case, it wasn't the period of time that I like to even think about much, 'cause it was very difficult."
Reece has also played with BONFIRE and BANGALORE CHOIR.
Professionally filmed video of Elegant Weapons's full show at Resurrection Fest on June 29, 2023 in Viveiro, Spain can be viewed below.
Elegant Weapons is comprised of Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest) on guitar, Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, MSG) on vocals, Dave Rimmer (Uriah Heep) on bass, and Christopher Williams (Accept) on drums.
Setlist:
"Do or Die"
"Blind Leading the Blind"
"Horns for a Halo"
"Dirty Pig"
"Downfall Rising"
"Bitter Pill"
"War Pigs" (Black Sabbath)
In May 2023, Elegant Weapons released their debut full-length, Horns For A Halo (produced by Faulkner’s Judas Priest bandmate, Andy Sneap and featuring album performances by Pantera’s Rex Brown and Judas Priest's Scott Travis), via Nuclear Blast Records.
Check out this official interview featuring all four members:
"Dead Man Walking"
"Do Or Die"
"Blind Leading The Blind"
"Ghost Of You"
"Bitter Pill"
"Lights Out"
"Horns For A Halo"
"Dirty Pig"
"White Horse"
"Downfall Rising"
Judas Priest recently released "Crown Of Horns", the third single from their upcoming Invincible Shield album, due for release on March 8. Check out the official video for the song 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"
"Crown Of Horns"
"As God Is My Witness"
"Trial By Fire"
"Escape From Reality"
"Sons Of Thunder"
"Giants In The Sky"
"Panic Attack" video:
"Trial By Fire" video:
Invincible Shield album trailer:
Judas Priest will also 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
Svalbard have released a video for their track “To Wilt Beneath The Weight”, taken from their breathtaking latest studio album The Weight Of The Mask. The track is a combative clincher to the record, acknowledging the dark reality of personal demons and the fight against them. The video beautifully captures Svalbard's highly-charged performance of the track at Cult Of Luna's Beyond The Redshift festival in London last year.
To celebrate the release of The Weight Of The Mask, Svalbard recently announced a UK and European tour for March, with Norwegian psychedelic proggers Enslaved and American metal band Wayfarer.
Svalbard's Serena Cherry commented:
"We filmed this live video at The O2 Forum in London, which is the very same place that I saw one of my first ever metal shows! (It was Mudvayne!) The feeling of walking out onto that stage where I have seen so many inspiring metal musicians play was surreal. Truly one of those 'pinch me' moments. To have this wonderful memory of performing at Beyond the Redshift is very special to me, it was one of those awesome festivals where you get to watch and meet so many fantastic artists.
“‘To Wilt Beneath The Weight’ is about the pressures and sacrifices you make as a touring musician. The lyrics explore the strain it can put on relationships and the challenging times that come with being away so often. This song features my favorite Svalbard lyric, which is "grit your teeth when they've just been broken." Which represents the determination against all odds to keep persevering with your passions.
It also features the lyric I find the most painful, which is: ‘completely at the mercy of every form of insincerity.’ Every time I scream that line on stage I choke up because it feels so raw and real."
Dates:
March
6 - Islington Assembly Hall - London, UK
7 - Brudenell Social Club - Leeds, UK
8 - Club Academy - Manchester, UK
9 - Slay - Glasgow, UK
10 - Opium - Dublin, Ireland
12 - Cacaofabriek - Helmond, Netherlands
13 - La Machine - Paris, France
14 - Geneva PTR/l’ Usine - Geneva, Switzerland
15 - Victoire 2 - Montpellier, France
16 - Legend - Milan, Italy
18 - Futurum - Prague, Czech Republic
19 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
21 - Club Volta - Cologne, Germany
22 - Taubchenthal - Leipzig, Germany
23 - Hole44 - Berlin, Germany
24 - Proxima - Warsaw, Poland
Greta Van Fleet has released a video performing the Starcatcher track “Meeting The Master” live from RCA Studio A.
Greta Van Fleet recently announced the extension of their Starcatcher World Tour with the addition of 12 new dates throughout the US this year.
The 2024 leg, produced by Live Nation, kicks off on Saturday, April 27 in St. Louis, with stops in Kansas City, Austin, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee (full dates below).Tickets are on sale now.
Dates:
April
27 - St. Louis, MO - Chaifetz Arena#
29 - Lincoln, NE - Pinnacle Bank Arena#
May
1 - Rogers, AR - Walmart Amp#
2 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center#
6 - Austin, TX - Moody Center#
8 - Huntsville, AL - Orion Amphitheater#
12 - North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Coliseum#
14 - Duluth, GA - Gas South Arena#
16 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Center#
18 - Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena#
19 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena#
21 - Milwaukee, WI - Fiserv Forum#
HateSphere has released a video for "The Truest Form Of Pain", the fourth single taken from their latest album, Hatred Reborn, released in 2023 through Scarlet Records. Watch below:
Scarlet Records will release the yellow marbled vinyl version (300 copies) of HateSphere's Reduced To Flesh on February 16.
Originally released in 2018, Reduced To Flesh marked the return of the Danish dukes of thrash & death metal to the label that launched their career in the early 00's - a successful partnership recently renewed for the Hatred Reborn killer album - and the first vinyl run (black) went quickly sold out.
Notorious and prolific Cleveland cult, Midnight, will unleash its sixth full-length, Hellish Expectations, on March 8 via Metal Blade Records.
One-man-army, Athenar, has been churning out an ungodly racket, dropping countless demos, splits, and EPs for over two decades, ultimately slaying the metal/punk underground with his own, highly addictive brand of lust, grime, and sleaze. Filthy, belligerent, and unapologetically obnoxious, Midnight makes music to start fights to and in 2024 Athenar returns with Hellish Expectations, a ten-track sonic assault of blackened heavy metal nefariousness.
"It’s a knuckle dragger with a fat cutoff,” elaborates Athenar, “Pure testosterone meat. Probably the most concise and straight to the point Midnight album to date, and all written in a weekend. The album was written on pure reaction upon leaving the studio after listening to raw tracks from the previous album Let There Be Witchery. The final mix of that album was good, but at the time of laying it down in the studio, I didn't like what I was hearing and demanded a new leviathan of an album to be written that weekend."
In advance of the official unveiling of Hellish Expectations, Midnight has dropped the record’s first single, album closer “F.O.A.L.” (aka “Fuck Off And Live”), alongside an accompanying video. Proclaims Athenar, "‘Fuck Off And Live’ is an ode to the people who peacefully want to die to escape the realities of life, while they should really live and suffer."
Watch the video below, and pre-order the new album here.
Tracklisting:
"Expect Total Hell"
"Gash Scrape"
"Masked And Deadly"
"Slave To The Blade"
"Dungeon Lust"
"Nuclear Savior"
"Deliver Us To Devil"
"Mercyless Slaughtor"
"Doom Death Desire"
"F.O.A.L."
German heavy metallers Attic have announced their third album Return Of The Wichfinder, to be released April 5, 2024 on vinyl, compact disc, box set (vinyl + CD + mc) and via the known digital channels via Ván Records. Preorder at van-records.com.
First single and video for “Darkest Rites” is available below.
The artwork was created by the exceedingly talented Daniele Valeriani Art. It was recorded, mixed and mastered by Marco Brinkmann in the crypts of his Hellforge Studio.
Tracklisting:
“The Covenant”
“Darkest Rites”
“Hailstorm And Tempest”
“The Thief’s Candle”
“Return Of The Witchfinder”
“Offerings To Baalberith”
“Azrael”
“Up In The Castle”
“The Baleful Baron”
“Synodus Horrenda”
Extreme experimental death metallers JOB FOR A COWBOY have released the official music video for their song "Beyond The Chemical Doorway". The track is taken from the band's first album in 10 years, "Moon Healer", due on February 23, 2024 via Metal Blade. The follow-up to 2014's "Sun Eater" was produced by Jason Suecof, who has previously worked with TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL and DEVILDRIVER, among others, and marks the band's first release with new drummer Navene Koperweis, who previously played with JOB FOR A COWBOY vocalist Jonny Davy in the side project FLESHWROUGHT.
But why the extended wait? "I had to take a step back in the band for family. It was the catalyst that eventually created a fork in the road for all of us. We all drifted into our separate paths," explains Davy. "Fatherhood, additional music projects, academic degrees, and careers outside the band took priority and life's focus," so the band agreed on a prolonged hiatus, but with the door open for a return. "Everything lined up for us to collaborate on a new project together, it was time to cross the threshold for something new," states Davy.
Originally based in Arizona, JOB FOR A COWBOY's long-awaited new album is a vivid illustration of what happens when creativity, aggression, and volatility tangle for the first time in years. Like "Sun Eater", "Moon Healer" is musically multifaceted, unabashedly brutal, and compellingly conceptual. The first single, "The Agony Seeping Storm", is a mathematically mind-blowing hybrid of bludgeoning death metal specializing in unconventional riffing that echoes the resemblance of legendary experimentalists like CYNIC, ATHEIST and GORGUTS. A newly refreshed and reinspired lineup — Davy, guitarists Tony Sannicandro and Al Glassman, bassist Nick Schendzielos and Koperweis — all seamlessly pick up the mantle where "Sun Eater" left off. "The Agony Seeping Storm" unequivocally signifies JOB FOR A COWBOY's triumphant return. "The Forever Rot" stands in stark contrast, delving into a lonesome and haunting guitar melody, then evolving into shimmering reflections of OBITUARY, CORONER, VOIVOD and even hints of NEUROSIS. In other words, forget about your preconceived perceptions of what this band was. This twists vocal tropes, chord forms, and melodies into loops of razor wire.
"The evolution of our sound has become a big part of the band," Davy says. "As we mature as musicians, our tastes and interests naturally expand. With age comes more experience and ideas that we wouldn't have considered in our earlier years."
Compared to past offerings, "Moon Healer" is as bone-crushing as JOB FOR A COWBOY has ever been. But it's more consistent and conceptual — composed with the utmost enthusiasm and confidence.
"As most bands have at one point or another found themselves in the situation of having to meet strict deadlines, this was not the case for 'Moon Healer'," Davy says. "We started laying the groundwork for this album in 2018. Being as busy as we were in life, we managed to slowly chip away. This slow pace gave us significantly more time to analyze and dissect what we were doing, which in turn helped make a better album."
When discussing the lyrical genesis of songs like "Beyond The Chemical Doorway", "Grinding Wheels Of Ophanim" and "Into The Crystalline Crypts", Davy's writing gets cryptic and elliptical-sounding, part Philip K. Dick, part Timothy Leary.
"I envision this as a death metal album born from the mystical confines of an alchemist's laboratory," he says. "The music acts as potent potions, inducing hallucinogenic journeys that unlock the secrets of the universe."
Right when it seems like Davy is suffering from some particularly strong psychedelic trip that went wrong, the vocalist explains that the entire album is the second part of a dark, surreal concept that began with "Sun Eater". "'Sun Eater' was an arrangement of melodies inspired by a close friend of the band who lost touch with reality due to excessive hard drug use," Davy says. "This person was predisposed or was already experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder and/or schizophrenia. They believed the drugs were providing them with eye-opening epiphanies. They believed that the drugs allowed them to cross into a reality closer to God. Likewise, they didn't have the self-awareness that they were falling further down the depths of their own mental illness. The songs reflected the thoughts, ideas, and situations this person encountered."
"Moon Healer" offers JOB FOR A COWBOY's fresh perspective on the protagonist from "Sun Eater". Instead of descending into madness, the character achieves transcendence through chemical indulgence.
"The concepts in the album follow someone attempting to explore a different human existence," explains Davy. "They considered themselves a pseudo-alchemist. They obsessed over esoteric methods to access altered states of consciousness through various pathways, including a focus on the pineal gland, a small endocrine gland within the center of the brain is believed to potentially play a role in entheogenic experiences. They cooked mind-altering consumables. But contrary to what others viewed as their descent into delusion, they were under the belief that they were unlocking the gateway to some form of profound enlightenment."
Davy creates vivid, startling, and otherworldly imagery reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft and Aleister Crowley through a combination of studied composition and stream-of-consciousness writing.
"Take me to the divine concept that is not understood by the human eye / The place where only a transcendent image will reside / The walls softly breathe with life as my heart shudders with misery / Cells throughout my flesh vibrate against a devolving visual periphery," Davy shouts over a vortex of snarling guitars and mind-melting bass work with "Into The Crystalline Crypts". In "The Agony Seeping Storm", he immediately references the Emerald Tablet, the ancient text attributed to Hermes Trismegistus: "As above, so below / As within, so without / As the universe, so the soul / I find myself infectiously waiting for a glimpse at the dismal sun." Later references include Carl Jung's philosophies on the death of ego and its relation to drug use.
And in "Beyond The Chemical Doorway", Davy explores Gnosticism (an occult teaching based on Gnosis, a state of transcendence achieved through intuitive, unconventional means) by way of Hieronymus Bosch's art. "Horrors of lower Gnostic realms have been crusted shut and are never to be unsealed / A crystallized coating obscures unraveling hells from my occultic eye, forever to be congealed / But this membrane decalcifies, it exposes the organ of souls It bestows an immense gravity, weaving subatomic black holes / I rot in repetition, an eternal decomposition."
Explaining his morbid wordplay, Davy credits his efforts to tap into the brain's ability to tear down inhibitions and produce horrific visions. "When under the influence of these drugs, this individual claimed to encounter entities and find themselves in indescribable worlds that defy rational comprehension. Many who undergo such experiences draw intriguing parallels between diverse facets of Gnostic philosophy, biblical depictions of angels, and the stages of Bardo delineated in the Tibetan Book of the Dead."
JOB FOR A COWBOY delved deeply into the music of "Moon Healer", as Davy did for the vocals and lyrics. The band traveled to Sanford, Florida to record with Suecof at his Audiohammer Studios. Having already collaborated on three previous records with JOB FOR A COWBOY, the band had developed a strong rapport with Suecof, establishing a level of trust and familiarity.
"Jason Suecof has a supernatural ear in the ability to find hidden potential in music," Davy says about the time in the studio. "We've gone through this same ritual with Jason for a multitude of reasons. But the most obvious one is that he's a masterful songwriter, guitar player, and even vocalist. He has an ear for ideas that very few seemingly have. He totally understands where we're coming from as a band."
"Moon Healer" is the first JOB FOR A COWBOY album to feature session drummer Koperweis (ex-ANIMOSITY). Davy previously worked with Koperweis in the progressive death metal side project FLESHWROUGHT, which released the Metal Blade album "Dementia/Dyslexia" in 2010. Koperweis has also worked as a session drummer for MACHINE HEAD and WHITECHAPEL and is currently in the band ENTHEOS, whose third full-length came out on Metal Blade in March 2023.
"Navene and I shared a bond that goes back to my late teens when we became comrades in the metal scene," Davy says. "Some of JOB FOR A COWBOY's earliest shows and tours were with ANIMOSITY. So, reaching out to Navene to play a major part in this project was a no-brainer."
Although JOB FOR A COWBOY worked tirelessly on their new batch of complex, multi-faceted songs, recording "Moon Healer" was ultimately a labor of love that reminded Davy why he wanted to be in a band in the first place.
"There's so much spontaneity and fun experimentation that occurs when we work with Jason Suecof," Davy says. "It's a nostalgic energy that brings you back to the days when you were teenagers writing riffs in garages."
With "Moon Healer", JOB FOR A COWBOY has woven the thematic qualities of "Sun Eater" and used them as a platform to launch deeper into inner and outer space, using fictional situations to ponder the possibilities of existence outside the carbon-based form. For fans of experimental, progressive, and extreme death metal, "Moon Healer" is a satisfying, transformative metal journey unlike any other. And for those who wish to dig a bit deeper, it's a sonic epiphany, with or without psychoactive substances.
"Moon Healer" track listing:
01. Beyond The Chemical Doorway
02. Etched In Oblivion
03. Grinding Wheels Of Ophanim
04. The Sun Gave Me Ashes So I Sought Out The Moon
05. Into The Crystalline Crypts
06. A Sorrow-Filled Moon
07. The Agony Seeping Storm
08. The Forever Rot
InsideOutMusic announces the signing of US-based rising instrumental progressive metallers, Sometime In February, to a worldwide deal. Originally founded as an instrumental solo project for guitarist Tristan Auman in 2020, Sometime In February became a fully rounded prog rock trio with the addition of drummer Scott Barber and bassist Morgan Johnson after making the jump from studio to stage following the release of their Here Goes EP in 2021.
To celebrate, the band have launched a brand new single, and you can listen to "Hiding Place" here, and below.
Tristan comments of the track: “Up to this point, nearly all of the writing for Sometime In February had been my responsibility, and for the past year, we’ve been focused on switching gears to a full band dynamic. The resulting collaboration is wholly new, and unmistakably us, and sets the stage for our upcoming sophomore album.”
The Carolina-based group has kept their foot on the gas ever since, touring throughout the Southeast US and releasing their follow-up, the debut LP There Goes, in 2023. Their first full-length record gained attention from prog fans and peers alike, with Tristan receiving an invitation to join Between The Buried And Me in a live capacity throughout the Parallax II: Future Sequence Tour.
The band comments: “We are thrilled to be signing to the world’s premier label for progressive music, InsideOutMusic. Sometime in February wouldn’t exist without many of the artists on their roster, and it’s an honor to stand beside them. Thomas Waber has been supportive and encouraging to us for some time now, and we’re excited that we found the right moment to work together and make InsideOutMusic the home for the next era of Sometime In February.”
InsideOutMusic label-head Thomas Waber adds: "We are extremely excited to be working alongside this talented young US band. After talking to them for a while, it felt like now was the right time to welcome them to the fold, and on the evidence of the new track ‘Hiding Place’, bright things are ahead!”
The band are about embark on some select live shows in the US, and you can catch them at the following dates:
February
1 - The East Room - Nashville, TN
2 - The 27 Club - Asheville, NC
3 - Boggs Social - Atlanta, GA
4 - New Brookland Tavern - Columbia, SC
Today, Spanish metal inquisition, Iron Curtain, reveal the new video "Devil's Eyes". The track is the third to be revealed from the band's fifth album, Savage Dawn, set for international release on February 23 via Dying Victims Productions.
For nearly 20 years now, Iron Curtain have been stalwart defenders of the faith. With a discography that includes four full-lengths and twice as many EPs, splits, and demos, Iron Curtain’s ever-sturdy sound was forged in the fires of the early ‘80s: largely nodding to the eternal Motörhead as well as Tank, but also Canadian gods like Exciter and Razor, to the Teutonic might of early Iron Angel and Grave Digger, to Scandinavian gods OZ and Heavy Load, to cult American icons Abattoir and Savage Grace, and the shores of Britannia with the likes of Diamond Head, Raven, and Girlschool. And with the Dying Victims release of career highpoint Danger Zone in 2019, that sound’s become even more rocking than ever.
After a quick-hitting mini-album (again through Dying Victims) titled Metal Gladiator whereby the band presented the new alongside re-recordings of the old, Iron Curtain return to assume their throne with Savage Dawn. Doubtlessly (and vividly!) displayed by its photographic cover art courtesy of Daniel Rabandan, Savage Dawn is indeed a new dawn for Iron Curtain: a concerted return to their rough-hewn roots, only spit-shined with the gleaming chrome that’s come to define them in recent years. Thus does Savage Dawn exhibit a unique dichotomy: their ancient metal’s more juiced-up than ever, but the craggy edges come through in the content while the form is powerfully professional – “slick” only in the very best sense, with mixing by the esteemed Javi Félez (Teitanblood, Destroyer 666, Graveyard) and mastering by the equally esteemed Jaime Gómez Arellano (Ghost, Satan, Mayhem) providing that punch. As such, across these ten new tracks (anthemically presaged by “Rattlesnake” on Metal Gladiator, as vintage four-piece Motörheaded as it comes) do we hear Iron Curtain throw the likes of classic Riot, Jaguar, and Running Wild into their by-now-characteristic blender, with leads and melodies more soaring than ever.
Cool songs, catchy choruses, straightforward riffs, and pure heavy metal with all killers and no fillers – what more do you need?! Iron Curtain drop the biggest sledgehammer with Savage Dawn.
Ah, the sense of traveling, on the road and in the air! The ease of life as a touring minstrel of the 21st century! The miles passing by like the soft breeze of your perfectly tempered air condition, while a brash little waterdrop breaks away from your fogged-up soft drink glass... Whether this is a good moment to wake up or not is surely debatable, because this would probably mean missing out on a wealth of sincerely dreamed-of pleasures. On the other hand, the true adventure begins on arrival, doesn’t it? It sure did for Brazilian power progsters Noturnall – or better for what was left of the band after a 4-day-trip of horror in order to traverse from Brazil to the first Australian show of their extensive ongoing tour.
From vanished singer to missing bass guitar to total loss of all clothes - fate really had it in for the guys this time round!
Maybe sometimes your life’s gotta turn to shit a wee bit for your own perspective to make the world shine a little more? From condoning audiences to street musicians lending you their bass to the relief that only fellows willing to share their underdaks could give you – it’s the awesome things in life that count. Even more awesome is when your drummer gets to battle it out live on stage with a legend such as Mike Portnoy! The awesomest thing could then be to make a ritualistic habit out of this and see where it leads. Curious? Here we go, "Scream! For!! Me!!!" (Live in Sao Paulo feat. Mike Portnoy) and "Scream! For!! Me!!!" (Live in Nova Friburgo feat. Mike Portnoy). Get the tracks here.
And while we’re on the brink of mocking the dear guys for losing their singer in the middle of a massive tour, let’s make up for it by appreciating the sheer insanity of Thiago Bianchi’s incredibly dynamic vocal range with a brand new, over the top music video of their timeless power ballad, "Shadows (Walking Through)":
The song is also featured on the international release of their latest album Cosmic Redemption, which marked a pathway for Noturnall into global metal territory by the end of last year. On the CD, 13 magnificent tracks, including features from renowned artists, such as James LaBrie, Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) and others, deal with the cosmic turns the world takes – on the micro level as the struggles of individuals, as well as on the macro level in the shape of corruption and battles in society.
The term Cosmic Redemption represents the objective for each human to grow as a person and leave the world as a better place than it was. The album was written during the disruptive time of the pandemic and motivated the band members to keep going.
Speaking of going: The guys are back together and should be having a great time right now together with some of you lucky peeps – rocking the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise! These remarkable shows will be something very special, as on the ship Noturnall will meet and enter the stage with guitar hero Mike Orlando again, who greatly contributed to the album. With their trip back to Brazil after the cruise, the band will close the great circle that led them lapping around the world: Brazil – Europe – Australia – USA – Brazil.
The tour may be over soon, just not for long: At least for South America, the restless band will reach out to fans very shortly with a ton of new tour dates for 2024.
In the meantime, Noturnall are very happy to announce that a new deal got signed with Rubicon Music (Japan) to make Cosmic Redemption available on the Japanese market as well. And since the guys just can’t sit still, they will be touring Japan later this year, too!
Conquest have announced their new album Paradox, to be released digitally as well as on CD and vinyl on Dark Star Records April 19. The second single and video "Walking Dead” is being premiered exclusively through BraveWords!
Preorders for Paradox include an autographed CD and vinyl bundles are available here.
Paradox is a pure heavy metal record from top to bottom. With the speed of “King Of The World” and “Valley Of The Damned”, and the dynamics of “ Of The Devil’s Creed”, and the thought provoking lyrics of “Save Me”, the depth of this record is by far their greatest accomplishment. Melodic guitar solos and crunchy rhythms, with a furiously tight and precise drum performance, add a touch of lyrical bass melodies and vocals of poise and aggression producing a unique vocal style. Paradox is a heavy metal record with many flavors to choose from.
Derrick Brumley: “By far the best work I have ever done, recording Paradox was a great experience. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
Dark Star recording artists Conquest are strong, aggressive, high energy musicians from the Midwest, Conquest has rocked the nation with their pure breed of modern heavy metal stemming from the old school influences of Metallica, Judas Priest and Testament with a definite presence of their own musical flavor.
Tracklisting:
“Of The Devil’s Creed”
“Walking Dead”
“Save Me”
“He Shall Return”
“Celtic Mist”
“Love Amplified”
“Valley Of The Damned”
“Dying To Live”
“World Of Hate”
“Writing On The Wall”
“King Of The World”
“In The Heavens”
“Babylon America”
“The Killing Time”
“Last Goodbye”
“Man On The Silver Mountain” (Rainbow cover)
"Man On The Silver Mountain":
Production Credits:
Derrick Brumley: Lead Vocals, guitar
Mike Crook: Lead guitar, BG. vocals
Rob Boyer: Bass, BG. vocals
Lee Skyles: Drums, BG. vocals
Bridging the gap between the gritty swagger of the Sunset Strip and the soulful depths of Seattle, Budderside resurrect and renew the purity of rock n’ roll with their high-energy anthems. The Los Angeles-based alt-rockers have released an explosive new single, “Good For Nothing,” produced by Matt Good (Asking Alexandria, Hollywood Undead) available now digitally here.
“‘Good For Nothing’ is straight-up grunge & punk,” says vocalist Patrick Stone. “The song instantly feels like riding a nuclear missile bareback with your pants on fire through the apocalypse. Working with producer Matt Good always delivers an exciting and modern twist.”
The “Good For Nothing” video delivers visual fireworks, notes Stone. “The video is a cinematic spectacular honoring movies like ‘Fury Road’ and ‘Sin City’ with a seriously sick sense of Tarantino type humor.”
Watch the “Good For Nothing” video below. Directed by longtime collaborator Vicente Cordero (Industrialism Films) with VFX by Brennan Karem (Wasteland Entertainment), the thrill-seeking, action-packed music video stars the band and a slew of guests - including music personality/VJ Matt Pinfield - being pursued after a money heist with an edge-of-your-seat car chase emphasized by the track’s chugging guitar riffs and pulsing anthemic vocals.
Budderside consists of founder/vocalist Patrick Stone, lead guitarist Sam Koltun (Dorothy, Faster Pussycat, Crossbone Skully), rhythm guitarist Logan Nikolic (Diamante), drummer Jeff Dewbray and new bassist Eliot Lorango. The group are currently working on their third full-length album (due later this year) which will include “Good For Nothing” and their recent 2023 single “Power Hour.” It was written as the official theme song AXS’s weekly countdown show of the same name hosted by Matt Pinfield, SiriusXM VJ Caity Babs, and music industry personality Josh Bernstein.
Having previously toured with bands including Motörhead, Slayer, Anthrax and L.A. Guns as well as on festival stages such as Welcome to Rockville, Rocklahoma, Wacken Open Air, Motörboat, Malmö Festival, and the Monsters Of Rock cruise, Budderside will join gothic rockers The 69 Eyes on their “Death of Darkness” tour across the US this spring. The 16-date tour will stretch across the northern and southern east coast from March 26 to April 13. See the tour poster below for full dates. Tickets are on sale now, here.
Always a wet dream for all sleaze / hard rock fans, Kickin Valentina is back with a brand new digital single and official video, teasing their upcoming studio album, Star Spangled Fist Fight. “Takin A Ride” is a shadowy tune about a high-speed chase through the apocalypse... And a renegade outlaw at the wheel who is desperate to escape his past.
In April 2024, the world will be a bit less shitty, as Kickin Valentina will release their fourth full-length album titled, Star Spangled Fist Fight. Ten bullets of loud, unapologetic rock’n’roll are fired, aiming at the hearts and jugulars of all hard rock fans with a sleaze rock fallout. And, with an almost cynical precision, the four guys in Kickin Valentina, knock each and every one of us with catchy choruses, indecently strong riffs and a sexy rhythm groove that’s almost pornographic.
Once again, the album was produced by Andy Reilly (UFO, Bruce Dickinson, Cradle Of Filth) at Muse Productions in Atlanta, and mastered by Joel Wanasek. “It’s been way too long since our last album, and we are really excited about Star Spangled Fist Fight,” bassist Chris Taylor states. “I know every band says this, but I think this is our best album so far. Everything just seemed to click while we were writing it”.
Kickin Valentina still plays the proverbial loud unapologetic rock’n’roll in 2024, as the band enters the second decade of its existence. Except that Star Spangled Fist Fight is a bit louder and a bit more unapologetic.
Star Spangled Fist Fight will be released on LP (black vinyl, limited to 500 copies), digipack CD and digital formats via Mighty Music on April 19th, 2024. Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.
Tracklisting:
"Gettin Off"
"Dirty Rhythm"
"Fire Back"
"Man On A Mission"
"Turn Me Loose"
"Died Laughing"
"Takin’ A Ride"
"Amsterdam"
"Ride Or Die"
"Star Spangled Fist Fight"
For further details, visit Kickin Valentina on Facebook.
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