UK death metal juggernauts, Ingested, will unleash their new full-length studio album, The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams, on April 5 via Metal Blade Records.
Not many top-tier death metal bands can record and release an album a year and follow it with an extensive tour. That's hardly ever been the case for Manchester, England's crushing, visceral Ingested. Since the release of their fifth album, 2020's Where Only God May Tread, the band has been on a creative tear that has produced almost a full record every year - even through the COVID-19 pandemic - but has resulted in the kind of musical growth that only comes from constantly practicing, playing, and writing.
The band's latest output, The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams, is not only as innovative and brutal as their last disc - the bleak, firestorm Ashes Lie Still - it showcases a band willing to expand its creativity without sacrificing the ferocity that made it one of the most impressively destructive, technical death metal bands on the scene. The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams is proof that once Ingested sniffs out a trail of musical blood, they ravenously follow it until they've uncovered a festering feast.
Produced by the band with the guidance of recording engineer Nico Beninato, the record includes a guest appearance by Chimaira's Mark Hunter who provides guest vocals for the track "In Nothingness" and Sylosis singer Josh Middleton who contributes to "Expect To Fail," as well as the striking cover art of David Seidman.
Whether pummelling listeners with double-bass rolls, blast-beats, and grinding rhythm; breaking it all down with jagged, staggered riffs, and piercing harmonics; or flooding the mix with rapid-fire bursts of minor key melodies, Ingested has injected all of their experience, skill, and artistry into the ten trenchant new songs on The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams. Where the new album differs from its predecessor isn't in its brutality or melodicism, it's in the songwriting and the way the tunes flow together in a way that's vicious, but not morose.
"Ashes… was constructed in the COVID period, and the mood of that album definitely reflects that time," the band notes, "With The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams, we wanted to bring the energy up a bit. As much as we like what we did with Ashes…, its depressive tone isn't something we wanted to continue to explore quite as much. There are definitely some dark moments on …Tide…, but for the most part, we took a more upbeat approach to the songs this time round."
In advance of the record's release, today the band revealed the first single, "Paragon Of Purity," and its accompanying video. The track seamlessly contrasts devastating guitar chugs and a spine-tingling minor-key licks with a wall of blast beats and a balance of intense, dizzying riffs that explore both sides of the sonic spectrum; it's alternately reminiscent of Obituary and Morbid Angel.
Elaborates guitarist Sean Hynes, who penned the lyrics for this particular track, "It's about loving what we do, how hard we've worked for it, and the support we have from our families back home. Missing them and being on the road is hard, but we couldn't do it without them."
Watch the video below.
The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams will be released on CD, digitally, and LP in the following color variants:
The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams tracklisting:
"Paragon Of Purity"
"Endless Machine"
"Where No Light Shines"
"Expect To Fail" (feat. Josh Middleton of Sylosis)
"Starve The Fire"
"Numinous"
"In Nothingness" (feat. Mark Hunter of Chimaira)
"Pantheon"
"Kingdoms Of Sand"
"A Path Once Lost"
"Paragon Of Purity" video:
Lineup:
Jason Evans - vocals
Sean Hynes - guitars, backing vocals
Lyn Jeffs - drums
Finnish folk metal superstars, Korpiklaani, have released a brand new single called "Saunaan", the first song to whet your appetite for their upcoming new studio album, Rankarumpu, which is due to be released on April 5. The pre-order for the album starts today.
Rankarumpu, like the two previous records, was executed with recording / mixing engineer and producer Janne Saksa. It seems that the collaboration between the band and Saksa has reached a whole new level with Rankarumpu.
Korpiklaani's twelfth studio album is once again full of tasty folk metal and its different flavors, but it also offers new spices. One of the most wonderful features of Rankarumpu is related to the folk instruments. Although Korpiklaani has done one or maybe even a couple of unforgettable things in the realm of folk metal, this time new permanent member Olli Vänskä's violin and Sami Perttula's accordion may surprise even die-hard fans.
One of the best showcases of this new chapter in Korpiklaani's career is the fast paced, violin-driven and playful folk metal tune "Saunaan". With its irresistable lead melody and a chorus for the ages, "Saunaan" is one of the strongest Korpiklaani songs to date, and it should fill any fan of the genre with pure delight.
Olli Vänskä commented: "I actually composed 'Saunaan' already months before I even knew I would be playing for Korpiklaani. I was working on an upbeat folk metal song and less surprisingly KK – Kings of Folk Metal – was definitely one of the influences.
Then, one thought led to another and suddenly I found myself actually playing for Korpiklaani and we were talking about material for an upcoming album. One night during a festival van ride I played a couple of demo tracks for the guys and Jonne was immediately giving me thumbs up. We worked with the arrangement a little bit and the end result is a pretty pretty good song!"
Watch the video below, and pre-order/pre-save the new album here.
Tracklisting:
"Kotomaa"
"Tapa sen kun kerkeet"
"Aita"
"Saunaan"
"Mettään"
"Kalmisto"
"Rankarumpu"
"No perkele"
"Viikatelintu"
"Nouse"
"Oraakkelit"
"Harhainen höyhen"
"Saunaan" video:
Korpiklaani have massive touring plans for 2024, starting with an extensive UK tour with Alestorm and Heidevolk in February and March, two album release shows in Mexico on April 5 and 6, followed by a North Amercan tour with Visions Of Atlantis & Illumishade (feat. members of Eluveitie) in April and May, a good number of big European Summer festivals and a European tour towards the end of the year.
Tour dates:
February (with Alestorm & Heidevolk)
21 - London, UK - O2 Forum Kentish Town
22 - Norwich, UK - LCR UEA
23 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
24 - Bournemouth, UK - O2 Academy
25 - Bristol, UK - O2 Academy
27 - Belfast, UK - Limelight
28 - Dublin, UK - Academy
29 - Cardiff, UK - SU
March (with Alestorm & Heidevolk)
1 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy
2 - Oxford, UK - O2 Academy
3 - Glasgow, UK - O2 Academy
5 - Mancheste, UKr - O2 Victoria Warehouse
6 - Liverpool, UK - O2 Academy
7 - Leeds, UK - O2 Academy
8 - Newcastle, UK - NX
9 - London, UK - O2 Forum Kentish Town
April (album release shows)
5 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro28
6 - Monterrey, Mexico - Cafe Iguana
April (with Visions Of Atlantis & Illumishade)
8 - Reading, PA - Reverb
9 - New York City, NY - Gramercy Theatre
10 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
11 - Montreal, QC - La Tulipe
12 - Ottawa, ON - Brass Monkey
13 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
14 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot
15 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
17 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre
18 - Winnipeg, MA - Park Theatre
19 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
20 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
21 - Calgary, AB - Dickens
23 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
24 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
25 - Portland, OR - BossaNova Ballroom
26 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
27 - Los Angeles, CA - 1720
28 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
29 - Phoenix, AZ - The Nile
May (with Visions Of Atlantis & Illumishade)
1 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
2 - Lincoln, NB - The Bourbon Theater
3 - Joliet, IL - The Forge
4 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr Smalls Theatre
5 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
2024 Festivals
June
27-30 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
July
12 - Laundresse - La Guerre Du Son
28-August 3 - Velenje, Slovenia - MetalDays
August
9-11 - Cercoux, France - Festival 666
9-11 - Walton on Trent, UK - Bloodstock Open Air
9-11 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz Festival
14-17 - Dinkelsbühl, Germany - Summer Breeze
15-17 - Zámek Moravský Krumlov, Czech Republic - Rock Castle
24 - Pindelo dos Milagres, Portugal - Milagre Metaleiro Open Air
Platinum-selling rock juggernaut P.O.D. — Sonny Sandoval (vocals),Marcos Curiel (guitar) and Traa Daniels (bass) — will release its 11th album, "VERITAS". It will arrive May 3 via Mascot Records.
Last fall, the band debuted the video for "Drop", which features a vicious vocal cameo from LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe. It earned quick press accolades from Metal Injection, Consequence, Revolver, Idioteq, The Pit, Yahoo! and Knotfest. They followed with the video for equally eruptive single "Afraid To Die", featuring JINJER vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk. The tracks combined have garnered seven million streams.
Now the band has shared the video for "I Won't Bow Down", yet another banger that further introduces "VERITAS". Watch it below.
"We can't wait for you all to hear the new album in its entirety," states Curiel. "We've put so much heart and soul into this recording. We are extremely proud of it. We hope to see all your beautiful faces in city near you. Thank you for your unwavering support. We love and appreciate you all."
Sandoval furthers: "There's a first time for everything and the writing and recording process of this record will definitely not be the last. We might've just created our best album yet!"
"This will most likely be one of my favorite P.O.D. records," adds Daniels. "There are some songs on this record that are so different from one another, but still have that P.O.D. So Cal flavor."
"VERITAS" track listing:
01. Drop (feat. Randy Blythe)
02. I Got That
03. Afraid To Die (feat. Tatiana Shmayluk)
04. Dead Right
05. Breaking
06. Lay Me Down (Roo's Song)
07. I Won't Bow Down
08. This Is My Life (feat. Cove Reber)
09. Lies We Tell Ourselves
10. We Are One (Our Struggle)
11. Feeling Strange
P.O.D. has been a band — and a vital one at that — for more than 30 years. But ask the members what still inspires them after all this time, and they'll tell you they still operate as if they're perpetual underdogs. Yes, with every new album they release, with every show they play, these musical lifers still feel they have something to prove.
"We're still here and we're still creating some of the best music we've ever made," says Curiel. "When it comes to heart, grit and soul, P.O.D. is your band." Adds Sandoval, "We're always still proving who we are — always having that punk-rock mentality."
It's this mindset, this unrelenting grit that has long defined the platinum-selling P.O.D. and continues to do so as they march proudly into the next era of their long-winding journey of a career. Now, nearly five years removed from their previous studio album, "Circles", which to date has been streamed more than 50 million times and spawned the Top 25 hit "Listening To Silence", the band returns in a major way with "VERITAS", the eleventh P.O.D. LP and arguably their hardest-hitting record yet.
Lovers of all forms of music, P.O.D. have forever incorporated everything from rock to reggae, hip-hop to punk in their art. "We flirt with so many different styles," offers Curiel. This go-round, however, P.O.D. decided to get back to the basics. "We made a conscious decision to keep it in the rock zone this time," says Sandoval adding that there's "a certain bounce and a certain two-step" to the 11 tracks that comprise the album. "These songs are a throwback to me and remind me of the raw unbridled energy of classic South San Diego P.O.D.," offers Daniels.
Written over the course of several years, with the band typically writing a tune or two at a time with the Los Angeles-based production duo called the Heavy (Jason Bell and Jordan Miller),"VERITAS" is a cannon-shot of adrenaline to the ear drums. And for a band that has never shied away from wearing their heart on their sleeve, it's also one of the most emotionally inspired albums of the band's career.
The word "Veritas" — which translates to "Truth" in Latin — defined the emotional core of the album, and the album art further encapsulates that message: to Curiel, the "VERITAS" album cover, which pictures a child with its eyes blacked out, signifies “a culmination of innocence and dark hidden truths.
P.O.D.'s audience has always been at the core of everything the band does, and to that end, their live shows remain essential to who they are. They've played major festivals including the Sick New World, INKcarceration and Hell And Heaven, and have shared stages with the likes of KORN, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, EVANESCENCE and SEETHER.
Now, as they look to the future with "VERITAS" as their anchor, P.O.D. are nothing if not amped about where things go from here. Well, that, and extremely grateful. "30 years ago there wasn't this end goal," says Sandoval. "It was always about the next record, the next show, the next tour. We've always enjoyed where we’re at. We're still hustling and we're still working hard."
In a recent interview with Ethan Jackson of Topeka's rock radio station KDVV/V100 conducted at this year's Rocklahoma festival, Curiel said about the "VERITAS" album title: "It's the old Latin dialect. You know, the old one that the priests are laying down when people are demonly possessed. It stands for truth. It's our truth because we wrote this record during the pandemic. Individually and collectively, it's our truth as a band, what we've been through, what we've all been through during that time, dude."
Last August, Sandoval was asked by "The Jesea Lee Show" if the next P.O.D. album will see him and his bandmates returning to their "old-school" sound or if it will represent "a whole new era" for the group. Sonny said: "All we know how to do is be ourselves. But I think this album is definitely more rocking. The last album, 'Circles', was a little bit more on the alternative side and a little bit of all the elements of our styles and flavors. But this one, it's just kind of rock, you know what I mean? But I dig it. I think it's kind of the album that we needed. Not everybody gets all the different flavors and styles and the soulfulness of P.O.D. Sometimes I compare it to… I don't eat McDonald's, but they're the number one food chain for a reason. People, they know what they get, they know what to expect. I'm more of a foodie, so I like a great burger or maybe a steak. But people love their McDonald's, so sometimes you just kind of give 'em what they want."
REVOLUTION SAINTS, the band led by JOURNEY vocalist/drummer Deen Castronovo, will release a new album, "Against The Winds", on February 9, 2024 via Frontiers Music Srl.
The follow-up 2023's "Eagle Flight" sees Castronovo once again joined by fellow rockers bassist Jeff Pilson (known for his work with FOREIGNER and DOKKEN) and guitarist Joel Hoekstra (of WHITESNAKE and NIGHT RANGER).
The official music video for the song "Changing My Mind" can be seen below.
Pilson commented: "'Changing My Mind' is another powerful track showing that amazing Deen Castronovo voice with a melodic and shredding solo from Joel Hoekstra. God he's good!! This is REVOLUTION SAINTS operating on full tilt. Can't wait for fans to hear this!!!!!"
Hoekstra added: "'Changing My Mind' is a fun, melodic rock track that shines a light on the amazing singing and drumming of Deen Castronovo and the always stellar, tasteful bass work of Jeff Pilson. I'm honored to be playing with these guys! I hope you enjoy it!"
REVOLUTION SAINTS was initially conceived by Serafino Perugino, the president and head of A&R at Frontiers, to showcase the remarkable vocal talents of Castronovo. While Castronovo had always been respected as a drummer, those who took notice of his background vocals and witnessed his lead vocal performances during JOURNEY shows, soon recognized his exceptional singing prowess.
REVOLUTION SAINTS was, and continues to be, a platform to spotlight Deen's incredible vocal abilities.
"Against The Winds", primarily produced and composed by Alessandro Del Vecchio (who also contributes on keyboards and background vocals),delivers what you would expect: captivating vocals, enchanting melodies, and hooks that will linger in your mind for days.
With this album, REVOLUTION SAINTS exhibits a heightened sense of cohesion, energy, and emotion. They solidify their status as giants in the genre, and this album unquestionably reaffirms why they belong at the pinnacle once again.
"Against The Winds" track listing:
01. Against The Winds
02. Changing My Mind
03. Fall On My Knees
04. Can't End It Right Now
05. Lost In Damnation
06. Will I See You Again
07. Show Me Your Light
08. Save All That Remains
09. Been Said And Done
10. Diving Wings
11. No Turning Back
For the first three REVOLUTION SAINTS albums, "Revolution Saints", "Light In The Dark" and "Rise", Deen was joined by bassist/vocalist Jack Blades (NIGHT RANGER) and guitarist Doug Aldrich (ex-WHITESNAKE, DIO). Produced by Del Vecchio, those three albums brought back the classic melodic rock style that thrilled and delighted legions of fans in the 1980s and 1990s and still does today. Inspiring, uplifting vocals, soaring melodies, and hooks for days is what you get in spades across those three albums.
While REVOLUTION SAINTS, MK I left an indelible mark on the melodic rock world, it was time for MK II to be born. Deen, having recently rejoined JOURNEY, was feeling invigorated and inspired and ready to sing his ass off. Filling Blades and Aldrich's shoes would be no easy feat, but, mercifully, the exact right guys were found for the job.
Hoekstra is a current member of WHITESNAKE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and ICONIC, as well as having his own solo project, JOEL HOEKSTRA'S 13, and is an absolutely stunning guitar player, able to play multiple styles. Pilson, currently a member of FOREIGNER, BLACK SWAN and THE END MACHINE, is also known for his time in DOKKEN and of course, his more recent production work. Two stellar musicians to compliment Deen's singing and drumming is exactly what was needed for REVOLUTION SAINTS, MK II and that's what we've got here. As with the first three albums, Del Vecchio handles production as well as contributing keyboards and background vocals.
Grammy-nominated extreme power metal frontrunners DRAGONFORCE have unveiled their new single, "Astro Warrior Anthem", together with an official music video. The breathtaking opening track from the epic new album, "Warp Speed Warriors", out on March 15, 2024 via Napalm Records, lives up to DRAGONFORCE's reputation as the world's fastest band — captivating the listener from the very beginning and stunning with guitar solos delivered at an extreme speed.
DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li comments on "Astro Warrior Anthem": "'Astro Warrior Anthem' captures all the elements of DRAGONFORCE's music, fused with an explosive music video. I am sure our fans will love it."
On "Warp Speed Warriors", DRAGONFORCE — composed of of guitar virtuosos and founding members Herman Li and Sam Totman, singer Marc Hudson, bassist Alicia Vigil and drummer Gee Anzalone — explore a wider range of varying musical styles than ever before, evolving their sound throughout the exciting musical journey while still staying true to their roots.
Herman stated about "Warp Speed Warriors": "After four years of creative incubation, we are beyond excited to release what we believe to be our most ambitious and grandiose record yet. This album showcases multiple facets of our artistic abilities, and we invite metal aficionados from every corner of the genre to discover something captivating within its layers. We can't wait to share this chapter of our musical journey with you, it's going to be EPIC!"
"Power Of The Triforce" keeps the volume high before DRAGONFORCE temporarily slows it down for the ballad "Kingdom Of Steel". Rapid drum patterns and thrilling guitars carry the catchy "Burning Heart", while chanting "Space Marine Corp" features a strong and uplifting chorus. Electronic influences on grandiose power metal anthem "The Killer Queen" hypnotize, as singer Marc Hudson's vocals reach for the skies. On "Doomsday Party", 1980s rock influences meet captivating retro video game soundscapes and epic guitar solos in true DRAGONFORCE manner. The last original track on "Warp Speed Warriors", "Pixel Prison", is followed by DRAGONFORCE's unexpected yet brilliant cover of Taylor Swift's "Wildest Dreams (Taylor's Version)" as a bonus track that wraps up the epic adventure.
"Warp Speed Warriors" was produced, mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited in Los Angeles, California with Sam Totman and Herman Li. This album is a matchless, innovative listening experience that continues the band's legacy with songs that will, without a shadow of a doubt, become instant classics in and beyond the DRAGONFORCE canon.
"Warp Speed Warriors" track listing:
01. Astro Warrior Anthem
02. Power Of The Triforce
03. Kingdom Of Steel
04. Burning Heart
05. Space Marine Corp
06. Doomsday Party
07. Prelude To Darkness
08. The Killer Queen
09. Pixel Prison
In November 2022, DRAGONFORCE released a music video for the song "The Last Dragonborn". The track is taken from "Extreme Power Metal", which came out in September 2019. Produced in Los Angeles, California by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited, the LP was also recorded, in part, on Li's livestream channel on Twitch with participation from the fans.
"The Last Dragonborn" was the first DRAGONFORCE music video to feature Vigil, who first joined the band as a touring member in January 2020.
DRAGONFORCE's platinum-selling single "Through The Fire And Flames" brought the London-based Grammy-nominated extreme power metal group international acclaim and was featured as the most challenging song on "Guitar Hero III".
In March 2019, the "Through The Fire And Flames" music video reached a new milestone: it surpassed one hundred million views on YouTube — DRAGONFORCE's first music video to do so.
"Through The Fire And Flames" is the leadoff track from 2006's "Inhuman Rampage" album, which was officially certified gold in July 2017 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies.
In August 2019, DRAGONFORCE parted ways with longtime bassist Frédéric Leclercq. He has since joined German thrashers KREATOR.
DRAGONFORCE is:
Herman Li - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Sam Totman - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Marc Hudson - Vocals
Alicia Vigil - Bass, Backing Vocals
Gee Anzalone - Drums, Backing Vocals
After nearly 10 years of absence, AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE muscled its way back into the scene with the announcement of its first new album in a decade, "Quad Brutal". Scheduled for release on February 23, 2024 via Napalm Records, "Quad Brutal" features 10 tracks of heavyweight thrash-infused extremity and sprint-worthy speed. It will instantly have listeners coming back for more — ready for endless reps and skipping nothing (except maybe leg day).
Following the band's raging latest singles "No Pain No Gain" and "Don't Be Lazy", AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE — the unmissable project helmed by AS I LAY DYING frontman Tim Lambesis — returns with another new burner, the "Terminator"-inspired track "Destroy The Machines". Featuring vocals from Tim's third wife, Dany Lambesis, and deft guitar work by Mark MacDonald and Joey Alarcon (WOLVES AT THE GATE, BORN THROUGH FIRE),the track combines the most blistering metalcore and thrash-infused savagery known to both man and machinekind.
Tim Lambesis says about "Destroy The Machines": "AI has begun taking over, and it happening pretty quickly. Arnold warned us about it back in 1991, and we should have listened. 33 years later I'm doing to best I can to spread the message that will save humanity. We must destroy the machines. Or at very least we should have a lot of fun singing about it.
"The vision I had in mind while writing the opening riff was to create a war march. Since AI can create song now, I challenge it to write one this aggressive. It's my sonic war against the machines, and I believe I'm victorious… at least for now."
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.
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's 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" track listing:
01. No Pain No Gain (feat. Craig Golias, Angel Vivaldi)
02. Conquer (feat. HELLBØRN, Clayton King)
03. Hey Bro Can You Spot Me? (feat. Craig Golias, Alarcon)
04. Judgment Day (feat. Ov Sulfur)
05. Everybody Pities The Weak (feat. HELLBØRN)
06. Don't Be Lazy (feat. Craig Golias)
07. Get Down (feat. Craig Golias)
08. Destroy The Machines (feat. Dany Lambesis)
09. MeatGrinder (feat. HELLBØRN)
10. I Never Quit (feat. Kill Rob Bailey, Craig Golias, BLEEDING THROUGH)
AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE launched 15 years ago as a one man band, triumphing as the metal scene's newest obsession with their 2008 debut album, "Total Brutal". After releasing two more acclaimed albums in 2009 and 2014, the one-man band did the impossible — they broke up. After a decade of regrowth and rebirth, and with the help of good friends by his side, Lambesis finally felt inspired to work on new music for the project, now emerging as "Quad Brutal" — chock full of the band's most heavy, breakneck riffage, non-stop pummeling rhythms and Ahhnold-approved ferocity yet. AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE is prepared to climb back to the top of their weight class - packing more punch than Mr. Universe himself with "Quad Brutal".
ENTER SHIKARI and FEVER 333 lead singer Jason Butler have shared their new collaborative single "Losing My Grip".
"Losing My Grip" marks the first new music from ENTER SHIKARI in 2024, following the band's biggest year to date which included the release of their first-ever U.K. No. 1 album "A Kiss For The Whole World" and the announcement of a huge world tour. They closed their 2023 with live runs through Europe and Australia, and will begin their biggest ever U.K. headline tour later this month.
Linking up with longtime friend and upcoming tourmate Butler for "Losing My Grip" is a characteristically inquisitive and probing single that beats its chest and locks eyes with a world spinning out of control. It again showcases the collaborative talents of a band that in the last year alone have worked on singles with AViVA, Cody Frost, WARGASM and YOU ME AT SIX.
Talking about their new single, lead singer and producer Rou Reynolds says: "We've known Jason for years now and have toured much of the world together. I think we always thought that it'd be great to collaborate on something when the right opportunity surfaced. This track certainly felt right. It required a thoughtful intensity, which Jason provides effortlessly in whatever he sets his mind to.
"We can't wait to take FEVER 333 out on our U.K. and Europe tour, it's been too long since we shared a stage together.
"'Losing My Grip' oscillates between two of our favorite and foundational genre influences; drum and bass and hardcore punk. Lyrically, it's about the immense power that our species now wields, and the pressure and weight that that adds to our lives. We're the only species capable of destroying itself (and all others) completely and, increasingly, it appears as though we're only too willing. 'Losing My Grip' is about the fight to stay sane whilst living in a deeply and dangerously flawed system."
Butler adds: "I've always been a fan of ENTER SHIKARI. Yes, them as a band, but moreover, them as people. Yes, what they do, but even more so how they do it. They are an entity in their own lane and I'm honored to have had an opportunity to swerve in it for a second and very excited to be rockin' with them on this upcoming tour. WE ARE GODS."
ENTER SHIKARI will be continuing its world tour in Europe this February and March. The band's U.K. tour is a groundbreaking tour during which £1 from every ticket sale will be donated to the Music Venue Trust in support of grassroots venues.
Photo credit: Paul Harries (courtesy of Cosa Nostra PR)
Brutal metallic sludge outfit Mastiff will release their Deprecipice full-length on March 22nd via MNRK Heavy.
Everything Mastiff does is in the name of intensity. Since forming amid the misery of Kingston-upon-Hull in 2013, the UK five-piece have crashed extreme metal, sludge, and hardcore together to create the most brutal sonic onslaughts possible all in the name of keeping their music fresh, raw, and seething.
Signing to MNRK Heavy three years ago, Mastiff’s commitment to blunt-force aggression remains untempered. Now comes the next release: Deprecipice – an album that, somehow, smacks even harder than anything this band has unchained before, produced by longtime collaborator Joe Clayton (Wallowing, Ithaca, Tuskar) at Manchester’s No Studio.
“We’ve gone quite a lot towards a hardcore sound,” says vocalist Jim Hodge. “Where the last one was more death metal, this one’s a lot more staccato: a lot more defined, riff-wise.”
Unlike so many of their extreme metal peers right now, though, Mastiff didn’t source this rejuvenated savagery from the anxieties and frustrations of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the lockdowns ended and real life started to resume in 2021 and 2022, Hodge and guitarist/vocalist James Lee Ross noticed the spirits of the world around them lifting. Feelings of trauma and isolation were beginning to enter people’s rear-view mirrors – and it was an overcoming that the duo couldn’t relate to. Ross was mourning the loss of his mother, while Hodge realized he was still grieving over the death of his five-day-old son, Isaac, in 2010.
“The album’s called Deprecipice, and that pretty much sums up where me and James were when we wrote it,” says the singer. “We were both standing back on the edge of a depressive void.”
The first single from Deprecipice is the furiously aggressive “Serrated,” featuring the blistering vocals of Harry Nott, the vocalist for South London’s Burner who’s debut It All Returns To Nothing was one of the hottest debut albums of 2023 featuring in Metal Hammer’s 10 Best Death Metal Albums Of 2023 and 50 Best Albums Of 2023, released on Church Road Records. Also appearing on the song, ripping a Slayer inspired solo, is Dan James, guitarist from Hull band XIII, who played with Mastiff on their 2023 tour with theatrical metallers, Avatar.
Elaborates Hodge, “The track lyrically is about the ‘bullshit machine;’ people blowing smoke up your arse but you trying to stay grounded. It’s too easy to fall foul of the reverse of imposter syndrome. We met Harry and the Burner boys when they came to Hull when they were supporting Employed To Serve and it turned out Burner were fans of us and after about 30 seconds of them playing we all became some of their biggest fans too.”
Adds Nott, “‘Serrated’ is a relentless track and the vibe clicked instantly - went in the studio and smashed it in a couple of takes with some quickly penned lyrics. Mastiff is the epitome of darkness, so I went hard on some apocalyptic imagery.”
With Deprecipice, Mastiff has a made a magnum opus that bleeds with genuine pain. The record will be released on CD, LP, and digital formats. Preorder/pre-save here.
Tracklisting:
“Bite Radius”
“Everything Is Ending”
“Void”
“Cut-Throat” feat. Primitive Man’s Ethan Lee McCarthy
“Skin Stripper”
“Serrated” feat. Burner’s Harry Nott and XIII
“Worship” feat. Yersin
“Pitiful”
“The Shape”
“Thorn Trauma”
“Serrated” video:
To support Deprecipice, Mastiff will hit the road in March touring the UK, which includes a stop at London’s legendary The Black Heart, alongside UK extreme metal outfit, Yersin.
Dates:
March
22 – Hull – Polar Bear
23 – Glasgow – Audio
24 – Edinburgh – Bannermans
27 – London – The Black Heart
28 – Brighton – Green Door Store
29 – Bristol – Crofters Rights
30 – Birmingham – Devils Dog
31 – Nottingham – Rough Trade
The award-winning progressive rock band Big Big Train will release their 15th studio album The Likes Of Us on March 1, 2024. The album is the internationally-based group’s first full collection of songs since the unexpected passing of long-serving lead vocalist David Longdon in late 2021. Besides marking the debut of new frontman Alberto Bravin, a former member of the Italian band Premiata Forneria Marconi, it also heralds the beginning of a new relationship with InsideOutMusic, the group having self-released their music for almost two decades.
Today the band are pleased to reveal a second track taken from the forthcoming album. “Miramare” is an edited version of a song that features in a longer format on The Likes Of Us. You can watch the video for “Miramare”, created by Miles Skarin of Crystal Spotlight below.
Gregory Spawton comments of the track: “BBT is known for its story songs, and I was keen to find a story which is set in Italy. Alberto lives in Trieste and mentioned the story of Maximilian and Carlotta, which was both a romantic (but doomed) love story and also a tale of the end of empires.
“Miramare was their castle home, a castle of dreams, set on the shore just outside Trieste. It turned out to be a grand folly and a place of madness and nightmares. Alberto had written a lovely piece of music and melody to set the words to and so it was simply a process of reading some books on the history and finding the way to tell the story.”
Alberto Bravin adds: “Having grown up in Trieste, and recently returned here after living for some years in London and Milan, the Miramare castle has been a backdrop for most of my life.
“Putting the story of Maximilian and Carlotta into music with Greg has been hugely satisfying for me. It was very fulfilling to co-write this song together and create what will hopefully be regarded as a Big Big Train future classic. With all its twists and turns as the story progresses, Miramare should be great to play live as well.”
The Likes Of Us will be released on several different formats, including for the first time as Dolby Atmos mixed by The Pineapple Thief’s Bruce Soord, while the stereo mixes were undertaken by the band’s regular engineer Rob Aubrey together with Alberto Bravin. The Dolby Atmos mix will come as part of the Limited CD & Blu-ray Mediabook edition that also contains the album as 5.1 Surround Sound & 24-bit high-resolution stereo.
The album will also be available as a Gatefold 180g 2LP (available in black, sky blue, olive green and orange formats), Standard CD Jewelcase and Digital Album. The stunning artwork was created by the band’s longstanding collaborator Sarah Louise Ewing, with layouts by Steve Vantsis.
“Light Left In The Day”
“Oblivion”
“Beneath The Masts”
“Skates On”
“Miramare”
“Love Is The Light”
“Bookmarks”
“Last Eleven”
"Miramare" video:
“Oblivion” video:
Big Big Train will perform for the first ever time in the USA in March 2024, including an appearance on Cruise To The Edge.
March
1 – Fort Wayne, IN – Sweetwater Performance Theatre
2 – Rutherford, NJ – Rivoli Theater at The Williams Center
3 – Rutherford, NJ – Rivoli Theater at The Williams Center
5 – Boston, MA – Regent Theatre
Remember the glory days of the '80s.... and the world's most jacked and shirtless saxophone player Tim Cappello (Tina Turner, 1987 vampire film The Lost Boys)...? Well, the shred masters in Striker have resurrected that nostalgic sound from those iconic years with their saxophone mashup track, "Give It All", beautifully wrapped up in a retro-fitting music video that can be viewed below.
"'Give it All' is a song written for the soundtrack of an 80s action movie that doesn’t exist. It’s for the kid risking it all to win the big game, or the down-and-out cop that’s gotta push it to the limit to survive," adds the band.
This latest single from Striker is off their forthcoming new album, ULTRAPOWER, produced with Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Tallah, King 810) and due out on February 2. The seventh full-length from Striker follows their Juno Award-winning self-released record Play To Win (2018) unleashed on their label Record Breaking Records and features the band's latest lineup addition of long-time friend and guitarist John Simon Fallon (The Order of Chaos).
With the band writing material since 2018, ULTRAPOWER is a collection of Striker tinkering and exploring new avenues. From the album's opening track "Circle of Evil", a Malmsteen-esque metal banger about secret societies and the evil dealings behind closed doors to their previously released single "Best Of The Best Of The Best" serving up some big riffs and hockey arena vocals to "Blood Magic", which might be one of Striker's most progressive songs, taking cues from bands like King Diamond, with its unconventional structure and punctuated guitar solos. From the band delving into their obsession for late 80s AOR and pop rock with "City Calling", an ode to 1987, and bands like Toto and Kenny Loggins with their hook-powered albums. To fans experiencing the band's first attempt at a synth-wave track with "Live to Fight Another Day", this new offering sees Striker making a shredding love letter to the hard-rocking era of guilty pleasures.
The band comments on the upcoming album: "Starting with the album cover, we wanted the artwork to represent how we feel as a band right now. We are an engine that is fired up and ready to roll. We’re made of metal and our circuits gleam! The album itself is an amalgamation of 5 years of writing and exploring music. With influences from AOR to Speed Metal, Hardcore to Hair Metal, Steely Dan to Deathcore, you name it, it made its way into the album. In the end with the help of Josh Schroeder’s guiding hand, we melted it all together to present something uniquely Striker. Lyrically we’ve stuck to the Striker tradition of writing montage songs for movies that don’t exist, songs about our spiraling serfdom, and lyrics about the evils that lurk in the shadows."
The album artwork created by Al Perez / Ramone Sketch (@ramonesketch) and the tracklisting for ULTRAPOWER can be seen below. ULTRAPOWER is available for pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
"Circle Of Evil"
"Best Of The Best Of The Best"
"Give it All"
"Blood Magic"
"Sucks To Suck"
"Ready For Anything"
"City Calling"
"Turn The Lights Out"
"Thunderdome"
"Live To Fight Another Day"
"Brawl At The Pub"
CROWNSHIFT, the new band featuring members of NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, WINTERSUN and FINNTROLL, has released its first single, "If You Dare". The track is the first single from CROWNSHIFT's upcoming debut album, which is set to be released in the first half of 2024 via Nuclear Blast.
Irresistible banger "If You Dare" pairs the razor-sharp riffing and vicious breakdowns of contemporary metal with the gorgeous and otherworldly harmonics of Finnish melodic death metal. It's the perfect song for CROWNSHIFT to mark their territory as a new household name to be mentioned alongside the beloved genre greats from their home country.
Born as the longtime idea of four friends, CROWNSHIFT's members come from the ranks of Finland's finest exports such as NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, WINTERSUN and FINNTROLL, are thrilled to start a new journey together and spread their authentic sonic print across the globe.
Seamlessly covering a diversity of styles, the quartet has a unique signature to their modern sound. Hypnotizing melodies paired with ripping riffs, from moody mid-tempo songs to fierce prog-death-metal opuses, CROWNSHIFT was born to be master of all trades.
Their forthcoming debut album will undoubtedly be a showcase of relentless ambition that will take you through a wide musical spectrum, with no compromises or boundaries, proving that the band are on a quest to put a striking mark on the map.
CROWNSHIFT commented: "We're super happy to start this new chapter in our career with Nuclear Blast. Their history, reputation and devotion as a metal label is incomparable and it is a privilege to embark on this exciting journey together."
Nuclear Blast Records added: "It's a pleasure to start working with this highly talented group of musicians.
"We wouldn't call it an all-star band but it's a five-star result of their collective experience from various bands. And sometimes it takes a while until the right musicians are coming together and find the perfect chemistry. Jukka, Heikki and Daniel already played together in the last NORTHER lineup until 2012. Since then, they went different ways but always crossed each other's paths, and finally came back together as CROWNSHIFT with the addition of the amazing vocal talent of Tommy Tuovinen from MYGRAIN.
"Their music is, of course, rooted in the very unique style of Finnish melodic death metal, but CROWNSHIFT enrich it with their admiration for Devin Townsend, both his raging STRAPPING YOUNG LAD era, as well as the epic prog side, and combine it with a timeless yet modern heaviness similar to the most impressive aspects of metalcore and bands such as KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. Sounds ambitious? Yes, but that's what it' s all about: being ambitious. Welcome CROWNSHIFT!"
CROWNSHIFT recently joined the roster of Till Dawn They Count Ltd management (NIGHTWISH, BEAST IN BLACK, SONATA ARCTICA).
CROWNSHIFT is:
Tommy Tuovinen: Vocals
Daniel Freyberg: Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jukka Koskinen: Bass
Heikki Saari: Drums
Hard rock juggernaut Saint Asonia — comprised of heavy hitters Adam Gontier (former Three Days Grace frontman) and Mike Mushok (Staind guitarist/founding member), along with Cole Gontier (bass) and Cody Watkins (drums) — have shared the official video for the new version of their song "Wolf." This version features guest vocals from Skillet's John Cooper; the original appears on the Introvert/Extrovert album.
The anthemic song's crunchy riffs and confident vocals and lyrics are amplified by the addition of Cooper. The collaboration was born when both bands toured together in the spring and fall of last year.
"The video for 'Wolf' was shot live on November 22 in Salem, Virginia," says Gontier. "It was filmed and directed by Justin Reich, who directed both the' Above It All' and 'Devastate' videos, and has done a lot of photography for the band, as well."
He continues, "It was a really special night. We had John Cooper get up and perform 'Wolf' with us for the shoot, which we hadn't done on the tour up to that point. And let me tell you, John is a pro. He brought such a high level of intensity to the stage that night. We all just fed off each other's energy, and you can definitely see and feel that in this video."
Saint Asonia will turn to the road this spring.
Tour dates
February
13 - Destin, FL - Club LA
14 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
16 - Ft. Smith, AR - TempleLive Arkansas
17 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
18 - Kansas City, MO - Madrid Theatre
20 - Joliet, IL - The Forge
21 - Belvidere, IL - The Apollo Theatre
23 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
24 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI - Kewadin Casino - DreamMaker's Theatre
25 - Wyandotte, MI - District 142
27 - Pittsburgh, PA - Jergel's
28 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
March
1 - Hampton Beach, NH - Wally's
2 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theater
3 - Wilmington, DE - The Queen
5 - Virginia Beach, VA - Elevation 27
6 - Charlotte, NC - The Underground
8 - Greensboro, NC - Hangar 1819
9 - Lexington, KY - Manchester Music Hall
Sylosis have released a video for the track “Absent”, taken from their most recent album, A Sign Of Things To Come. The introspective cut displays a new side of Sylosis, as they showcase their masterful understanding of dynamics through post-industrial atmospherics set against their trademark brand of visceral modern metal.
Josh Middleton comments on “Absent” and its accompanying video:
“Despite having always included darker and quieter songs in our discography, ‘Absent’ represents uncharted territory for Sylosis, while staying true to our commitment to melody and emotion in our music. The video also breaks away from our usual style, and we're grateful for director Daniel Grey's efforts in creating something out of our comfort zone. We're excited to have invited our new friends, Zetra, to bring a fresh perspective to the track with their reimagined remix. Their dark synth influence really adds a new dimension to the song, which we love!”
In regards to the song's lyrics, Josh continues:
“This is a more personal song and I wanted to push myself to try a different direction lyrically as well as with the music video. The song is about being so wrapped up in your own troubles that you neglect to see or appreciate that other people around you may be hurting or in a far worse place than yourself.”
Alongside the new video, the band have also revealed a remix of the track by shadowy labelmates Zetra. Their reinterpretation of the track drags the industrial elements of the original to the fore, creating a driving and intense portrayal.
Zetra comments:
“A candle has been lit.
Summoned by the riff, we answered the call to transport ‘Absent’ into our realm.
To strip flesh from bone and be born anew.
Witness its transformation.
Thank you, Sylosis.
Always, Zetra.”
Sylosis will head out on a run of intimate headline shows this April. The dates are their first UK & Ireland headline dates in eight years. Norwich and Dublin are already sold out, and a majority of the other days have low ticket warnings, so make sure you secure yours now.
Dates:
April
3 – Southampton – Engine Rooms
4 – Bristol – The Fleece
5 – Norwich – The Waterfront Studio (SOLD OUT)
6 – Dublin – Whelan’s (SOLD OUT)
7 – Belfast – Limelight 2
9 – Edinburgh – La Belle Angele
10 – Glasgow – Cathouse
11 – Leeds – The Key Club
12 – Colchester – Arts Centre
13 – Cardiff – The Globe
14 – Nottingham – Rescue Rooms
Ross Valory, regarded as one of rock’s best bass guitarists and an original member of the multi-platinum band Journey until his 2020 departure, returns today with the video for "Tomland". It’s the hypnotic first single from the bassist and songwriter’s debut solo album All Of The Above due out this April (exact date TBA) via OID Music.
The single will be released this Friday (January 19), and the movingly atmospheric video, directed by Michael Cotten, can be viewed below.
Penned by Valory, the all-instrumental “Tomland” marks the second piece recorded for the project - and the first done entirely at his new studio in the East Bay area of Northern California. The track builds to a ripping, climactic solo by red-hot guitarist Miles Schon, drummer Prairie Prince and keyboardist Eric Levy. Valory had the basic parts kicking around since shortly after leaving the Steve Miller Band in 1972, a bluesy set of chords that roll into each other mellifluously, something he had jammed on a lot over the years. He pulled it out to fashion a piece that not only recalls the passing of collaborator Tom Size (accomplished engineer known for his work with Mr. Big, Y&T, and Aerosmith), but also offers an affirmation of resolve to move forward, the sunlight of optimism illuminating the process.
Ross Valory always had pieces of music tucked away that he had written, although songwriting contributions to Journey slipped away after the first three “experimental” albums. As a member of Journey, Valory concentrated on shaping the rhythm section and contributing his baritone vocals to the background blend.
During the band’s second coming following the 1995 reunion album Trial By Fire, Valory began sorting through his files and polishing up some of his old notes. In between tour dates, he pulled together a tight-knit group of collaborators and slowly began to finish what he started. After a lifetime in music, Valory scrupulously etched All Of The Above. The album was produced by Valory and co-produced by Jacob Stowe and Eric Levy.
Valory developed a repertory company of musicians over the years that came together at his studio. He cultivated individual numbers like sprawling projects, experimenting with different arrangements played by an assortment of musicians. Sometimes spending years jamming on these ideas, the pieces took shape slowly. Different ideas were tried and discarded, remodeled and refurbished. The basic concept was to find the heart of the material and expand upon it until Valory could refine and shape the music’s path to his supreme satisfaction. He cast specific musicians to specific parts. The studio became his laboratory and the compositions his experiments.
From the Latin-fired intensity of “Wild Kingdom” to the ethereal dirge of “No One Wins A War,” the raucous party on “Low Rider” or the brilliant reprise of Santana’s “Incident Of Neshabur,” the album presents an evolved artist fully in command of his vision, a lifetime of experience behind the project, augmenting his core associates with guest musicians such as Gregg Errico of Sly & the Family Stone, drummer Steve Smith, and saxophonist Marc Russo. The nine tracks on the album represent the full maturity of Valory’s musical gifts, cutting a broad swath through the instrumental territory the music travels. He plays keyboards, guitar, and, of course, many basses in a display of cultivated virtuosity across a palette far broader than could be found in his work with Journey. He is stepping out from behind his bass and, for the first time in his more than half-century as a professional musician, representing his vision and his compositions.
Valory left Journey in 2020 and the band members worked out their issues in a peaceful mediated settlement. Valory, who spent most of his life as a member of Journey, has no regrets. He counts his blessings at having spent an amazing career with a remarkable group of musicians who succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
All Of The Above tracklisting:
"Wild Kingdom"
"Nightflower"
"Tomland"
"Touched, Part II"
"Windmill"
"Incident At Neshabur"
"Low Rider"
"No One Wins A War"
Running on the strong momentum of their sophomore album From The Ashes released during April 2023, along with multiple cross-Canada tours and a performance at Loud As Hell festival, Edmonton’s Fall Of Earth is unveiling their latest music video for the track “The Dead and The Soon To Be” exclusively through BraveWords!
"We are very proud to present the official video for ‘The Dead and The Soon To Be’, from our latest album From The Ashes. Ever since its conception, this has been one of our favourite tracks and a live staple for us. We were thrilled to have had the opportunity to capture the essence of this track by working with videographer Derek Kovacevic. As the song is about life being short and unfortunate with most people throwing it away before it’s too late, the comedic approach to this video was appreciated by all of us as we all need to enjoy the little things in life," adds the band.
Fall Of Earth has embraced labeling itself as “Hybrid Metal”, as its sound is a contagious mélange of genres, that is continuously being refined. The primary elements come from progressive, death, and thrash, and over time, they find a lot of their tracks becoming longer, more epic, and more dynamic becoming more melodic and groove-oriented, as well as utilizing a healthy balance between heavy sections and clean sections. The latest iteration of the Canadian quartet can be experienced with their recently released sophomore album From The Ashes.
Since writing this second album, Fall OF Earth says that they have a better understanding of what they want their music to become and where to steer the direction of their future works. All across the board, their lyrics come from a very personal place and hold a serious connotation.
Creative, unpredictable, and melodic, with a wide variety of influences, Fall Of Earth offers a little bit of something for everyone.
Verona On Venus will release its debut album, Popular Delusions, across all major music platforms on January 19. Popular Delusions represents the entry into frontman status for Mike Spreitzer, who for the last 20 years has been known and recognized as the lead guitarist of the groove metal band DevilDriver. Verona On Venus released its first single, “Rodent” on December 1, 2023, followed by the “Monarch Acid Test” release on December 15, 2023, with outstanding reviews from media, fans, and peers.
Popular Delusions showcases Spreitzer’s powerful vocal abilities and music writing with a variety of range and technical structure to each track. The album begins with a heavier melodic metal sound and progresses to an industrial-inspired style that wraps up with a cover of Acid Bath’s “The Bones Of Baby Dolls”. Popular Delusions sets the landscape for future single releases to be expected in 2024 that embody the eerie, heavy, and industrial sounds alike with provocative lyrics and vocals as heard on this debut album.
“Popular Delusions is music for people who are reasonably not crazy, most of the time,” says Spreitzer. “But in all seriousness, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, and I'm equally elated to share my music as I am pleasantly anxious about it all."
Since the announcement of Verona On Venus, there has been excitement surrounding the release of the album and the compelling creative that started with the release of the two band announcement teasers, Part 1 and Part 2. These videos served as the prequels to the debut single music video for “Rodent”.
Album artwork by Jayson Won at UNKN Creative / art inspired by Emil Melmoth:
Tracklisting:
“Rodent”
“Dead Heroes Hang”
“Floods Of Burden”
“The Hate Ballet”
“Dirty Cigarettes”
“Red Dead Rose”
“Popular Delusions”
“Monarch Acid Test”
“The Bones Of Baby Dolls”
German heavy metal/power metal unit, Hammer King, are back with a brand-new bombastic full-length full of true headbanger hits. The new offering, entitled König und Kaiser, continues the storyline of the band paying homage to the mighty Hammer King, and is set for release on March 22 via Napalm Records.
Today, Hammer King unleash the first new album single, “Hailed By The Hammer”, together with an official music video.
Hammer King, led by ex-Ross The Boss vocalist Titan Fox, was formed in 2015 and has convinced the scene with their previous offerings and live performances at Summer Breeze Open Air and beyond, following their highly acclaimed 2022 release Kingdemonium. On König und Kaiser, the band is flanked by noteworthy guest features from the likes of The Tribune of label mates Warkings, with whom Hammer King is heading out on a huge European tour in spring 2024.
Hammer King on König und Kaiser: "Welcome to the era of König und Kaiser! 2024 will be a busy year for Hammer King as we are blessed to release our new album, König und Kaiser, at the very beginning of our first big tour. We will join the mighty Warkings for 14 shows through central European countries and will make sure we Hail as many new fans as possible with the King's mighty Hammer! Therefore, here it is, the kick-off single for the next chapter in the legend of the Hammer King: 'Hailed By The Hammer’. Thou all shalt be! See you on tour, God bless the King."
Watch the video for “Hailed By The Hammer” below.
Hammering, fast-running double kick drums meet speed riffing on the 10 new metal hymns, crowned by memorable sing-along choruses that are meant to be sung with a fist raised in the air. On König und Kaiser, Hammer King continue their collaboration with Charles Greywolf (of genre giants Powerwolf), who recorded the new album at Studio Greywolf and produced it together with singer Titan Fox. König und Kaiser was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, infamous for his work with bands such as Amaranthe, Arch Enemy and Volbeat, to name a few. The album artwork is once again created by Péter Sallai.
With König und Kaiser, Hammer King presents yet another powerful album that is sure to cement the band’s standing in the scene. Join Hammer King in worshiping the Hammer King!
König und Kaiser will be available in the following formats:
- 1 CD Digipak
- 1 LP Gatefold Vinyl
- Digipak + Shirt
- Digital Album
"Hailed By The Hammer"
"The Devil Will I Do"
"König und Kaiser" (feat. The Tribune)
"Future King"
"Kingdom Of Hammers And Kings"
"War Hammer"
"Divided We Shall Fall"
"Kings Of Arabia"
"I Want Chaos"
"Gates Of Atlantia"
Bonus tracks:
"The Last Of The 7 Wars"
"König und Kaiser – Titan"
"König und Kaiser – The Tribune" (feat. The Tribune)
"Hailed By The Hammer" video:
Hammer King are:
Titan Fox V - vocals/guitar
Gino Wilde - guitar
Günt von Schratenau - bass
Dolph Aidan Macallan - drums
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