Guitar legend Michael Schenker brought MSG to O2 Shepherd's Bush in London, England on November 30th. Fan-filmed video of the entire show courtesy of Room With Mirrors can be viewed below.
Setlist:
"Into the Arena"
"Cry for the Nations"
"Doctor Doctor" (UFO)
"Looking for Love"
"Lights Out" (UFO)
"Red Sky"
"Shoot Shoot" (UFO)
"Emergency"
"On and On"
"Let It Roll" (UFO)
"Attack of the Mad Axeman"
"Natural Thing" (UFO)
"Armed and Ready"
"Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"
"Desert Song"
"Rock Bottom" (UFO)
"Too Hot to Handle" (UFO)
"Only You Can Rock Me" (UFO)
More MSG live dates:
June
3 - Ballyshannon, Ireland - Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival
8 - Zamora, Spain - Z! Live Rock Fest
July
8 - Knislinge, Sweden - Time To Rock Festival
29 - Pyras, Germany - Pyraser Classic Rock Night *SOLD OUT*
August
11 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz Metal Fest
12 - Villena, Spain - Leyendas del Rock
Current MSG touring lineup:
- Michael Schenker (lead guitars)
- Robin McAuley (vocals; until the end of 2023)
- Steve Mann (keyboards, guitars)
- Barend Courbois (bass)
- Bodo Schopf (drums)
Einar Solberg - frontman of Norwegian rock mavericks Leprous – released his debut solo album, 16, earlier this year. But back at the beginning of 2022, he took on an entirely different solo endeavour. For a special livestreamed performance, he reinterpreted the Leprous album, The Congregation in full, just piano and voice. Now that performance will see an official audio release as The Congregation Acoustic on February 16th, 2024.
The Congregation Acoustic will be released as a limited CD Digipak, Limited Gatefold 180g Black 2LP, and as Digital Album. The cover artwork was shot by Elena Sihida. Pre-order now here.
Einar comments on the release: “I'm both super excited but also kind of terrified for me to release this live version of The Congregation. It's raw and unedited and exactly how I did it on my livestream. Usually all musicians these days (myself included) are used to fixIng stuff in post-production, but on this one we've done nothing! I think it's cool sometimes to dare to show a more fragile and less "perfect" side of yourself. The Congregation is probably the least suitable album we've ever done to make an acoustic version of, but I think it turned out surprisingly OK!"
Check out Einar's performance of "The Flood" below. Album details will be revealed soon.
Perris Records announces the CD release of LastWorld's Beautiful Illusion on January 5. LastWorld returns once again with their fifth album in just under 5 years. One would think there would be a slow down having created all the music you've come to know and love, but no, Jim Shepard and David Cagle have once again filled their new album Beautiful Illusion with all the melodic hard rock you would expect from LastWorld. And as usual they have thrown a few surprises you would expect too.
The first single and video, "Don't Tell Me I'm Wrong", is out now. Get the single here, and watch the video below.
Jim Shepard from LastWorld, "When it comes to finally releasing a new LastWorld album (5 in 5 years) it's always exciting. We think every release is our best, but what really makes it great is when the fans (friends that is) post and email from around the world telling us what THEY think. Our new album "Beautiful Illusion" fits right in the middle of all our releases. Where our first outing opened the door for us, signing with Perris Records has kicked the door down, and now with Perris Records pairing with Michael Brandvold Marketing PR firm... I expect the music of LastWorld will be even BETTER known."
Tom Mathers, President Perris Records, "This is the fourth Lastworld CD on Perris Records and in only 4 years. The wonderful artwork again was done by Nello Dell'Omo and the music was mastered by JK Northrup. All melodic hard rock fans will enjoy the music written and played by Jim Shepard with the melodic, soulful rock voice of David Cagle."
Tracklisting:
"Don't Tell Me I'm Wrong"
"Younger Days"
"I Can't Explain"
"I Will Find My Way"
"Better Of Me"
"The Fantasy's Over"
"Destiny"
"Been There Before"
"You Never Listen To Me"
"A Step Beyond Death"
"Beautiful Illusion"
"Don't Tell Me I'm Wrong" video:
All lyrics & music written by Jim Shepard
Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Jim Shepard
Music Recorded and Mixed at Cheap Track Studios
Vocals recorded at Cagle Studios
Mastered by JK Northrup
Artwork by Nello Dell'Omo
Band members:
Jim Shepard - All Instruments
David Cagle - All Vocals
Hailing from Cleveland, OH, Olathia (oh-lay-thee-ah) is a four-piece female fronted heavy metal band. Their music is a captivating blend of traditional heavy metal, power metal, and thrash influences, creating a melodic and powerful sound that pushes the boundaries of the genre. On November 17, Olathia released their new full-length album, The Forest Witch, on all digital platforms and on CD from the Olathia Bandcamp page. BraveWords is premiering the video for the title track - watch "The Forest Witch" below:
The band comments on the video:
“In a remote Ohio forest, we dedicated 12 hours to filming The Forest Witch video. Towering trees, blistering sunlight, and uneven terrain put us on our asses a few times, but the sweat flowed, metal jammed, and the witches delivered the desired essence of creepiness. Gabe Fedor of Riffster Productions worked his magic, turning a sunny day into an eerie tale through video.
“We wanted to create a fast paced, heart pounding urban tale. Picture a car careening into a ditch, saved by a resilient Forest Witch emerging from magical woods. The driver undergoes a profound transformation, blurring reality and enchantment. Uncertainty, temptation, and consequences weave through this dark narrative. Is the trade divine, or has the Forest Witch cast a spell to free herself?”
For more on the making of the video, read Gabe’s blog on riffster.com.
"In our latest album, The Forest Witch, we weave tales of light and darkness, riding the line between thrash and traditional metal," Chris E. (lead singer) states. "We're staying true to our roots and doing what feels right to us, weaving in the battles we’ve faced and the good time that rage on. Riffs, melodies and lyrics burrow down deep. Let ‘em in and see where they take you."
"Metal" Tim Henderson from BraveWords.com said this about Olathia: "Imagine a reincarnated Nevermore meeting Savatage with soaring female vocals and you’ve got the thrash-tastic Olathia that will surely have you doing a double take, they are that good."
Having heard a early preview of "The Forest Witch", Bill Peters from WJCU adds, "The Forest Witch pulverizes you from the cauldron of metal with a relentless sonic attack that never let's up. Olathia's HEAVIEST offering to date!"
Olathia's music is often characterized as "power thrash," offering a melodic, driving, and purposeful experience that supports storytelling of dark and light themes while fearlessly pushing the boundaries of songwriting and musicianship. Their ability to meld together catchy melodies, heart stopping rhythms and bone crunching chords has given them a rabid fan base in Ohio and throughout the Midwest.
Olathia embodies the heart and passion that defined 1980s heavy metal, infusing it with a melodic twist that resonates with the spirit of the metal world today. They draw inspiration from iconic acts such as Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Pantera, Heart, Halestorm, and Dio. Yet, what truly sets Olathia apart in the modern heavy metal landscape is their extraordinary female vocalist, Chris E., whose versatility captures the emotional essence of their songs.
Their songwriting dives deep into universally relatable themes, including battles with inner demons, the sting of betrayal, the weight of depression, the ache of loss, and the warm embrace of camaraderie. If heavy metal runs through your veins, Olathia's music is the electrifying elixir that promises to deliver the thrilling experiences cherished by dedicated
The band members bring their own unique talents to the stage. Terry “Bull” Johnson handles the bass and contributes menacing backing vocals, delivering a stage performance that's not to be missed. Joe Lowrie, behind the drum kit, provides metronome-perfect timing with powerful precision. Dylan Andras, with his lightning-quick fingers, unleashes crushing riffs and blistering shredding solos that set listeners ablaze.
Brace yourself for an auditory journey that harkens back to the golden era of metal while pushing the genre's boundaries into exciting new territories by blending classic influences from both sides of the Atlantic. Olathia is a blazing comet in the metal constellation, destined to leave a lasting mark on the genre.”
Frontiers Music Srl has issued the new release from Blue Öyster Cult, entitled 50th Anniversary Live - First Night. Watch the official video for "Dancin' In The Ruins" from the release below:
The legendary American hard rock band, Blue Öyster Cult, celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a very special set of 3 sold-out shows in a row in September 2022 at Sony Hall in NYC.
For this historic career milestone, each show featured the band playing in its entirety one of their first three albums ('Blue Öyster Cult', 'Tyranny and Mutation', and 'Secret Treaties'), followed by a set of deep cuts and classics from their other albums. Founding member Albert Bouchard was a special guest on all three nights.
The band played for nearly 3 hours and delivered an amazing set performing the S/T debut album back to back and the second set also included some fans’ favorite and deep cuts along with some of their best-known songs. Blue Öyster Cult were truly on fire. All in, they played for nearly three hours for the delight of the fans that filled the venue. Frontiers will release each night as a special individual package.
For over five decades, Blue Öyster Cult has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs. Indeed, the Long Island, NY-based band is revered within the hard rock and heavy metal scene for its pioneering work. They occupy a unique place in rock history, because it’s one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim and commercial success.
The band is often cited as a major influence by other acts such as Metallica, and BÖC was listed in VH1’s countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time.
Upon the release of BÖC’s self-titled debut album in 1972, the band was praised for its catchy-yet-heavy music and lyrics that could be provocative, terrifying, funny or ambiguous, often all in the same song. BÖC’s canon includes three stone-cold classic songs that will waft through the cosmos long after the sun has burned out: The truly haunting “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” from 1976’s Agents Of Fortune, the pummeling “Godzilla” from 1977’s Spectres, and the hypnotically melodic “Burnin’ For You” from 1981’s Fire Of Unknown Origin. Other notable BÖC songs include “Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll,” “Then Came The Last Days Of May,” “I Love The Night,” “In Thee,” “Veteran of the Psychic Wars,” “Dominance And Submission,” “Astronomy,” “Black Blade” and “Shooting Shark.”
The intense creative vision of BÖC’s original core duo of vocalist/lead guitarist Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and vocalist/rhythm guitarist Eric Bloom is complemented by Richie Castellano on guitar and keyboards, and the longtime rhythm section of bass guitarist Danny Miranda and drummer Jules Radino.
“We realized we’re a ‘classic rock’ band. That’s what we are, that’s what we do best, and that’s what we know,” declares the band.
They’re proud of BÖC’s classic sound, and pleased the band is creating vibrant work for disenfranchised music lovers who don’t like the homogenized, prefabricated pop or sound-alike, formulaic rap-metal that monopolizes the radio airwaves and best-seller charts.
Disc 1:
"Transmaniacon MC"
"I’m On The Lamb But I Ain’t No Sheep"
"Then Came The Last Days Of May"
"Stairway To The Stars"
"Before The Kiss, A Redcap"
"Screams"
"She’s As Beautiful As A Foot"
"Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll"
"Workshop Of The Telescopes"
"Redeemed"
Disc 2:
"Dr. Music"
"Burnin’ For You"
"Train True (Lenny’s Song)"
"Tainted Blood"
"Harvest Moon"
"Dancin’ In The Ruins"
"The Vigil"
"Career Of Evil"
"Box In My Head"
"Godzilla"
"(Don’t Fear) The Reaper"
"In Thee"
"That Was Me"
"Hot Rails To Hell"
DVD - Blu-ray:
"Transmaniacon MC"
"I’m On The Lamb But I Ain’t No Sheep"
"Then Came The Last Days Of May"
"Stairway To The Stars"
"Before The Kiss, A Redcap"
"Screams"
"She’s As Beautiful As A Foot"
"Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll"
"Workshop Of The Telescopes"
"Redeemed"
"Dr. Music"
"Burnin’ For You"
"Train True (Lenny’s Song)"
"Tainted Blood"
"Harvest Moon"
"Dancin’ In The Ruins"
"The Vigil"
"Career Of Evil"
"Box In My Head"
"Godzilla"
"(Don’t Fear) The Reaper"
"In Thee"
"That Was Me"
"Hot Rails To Hell"
Blue Öyster Cult are:
Eric Bloom – Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
Donald “Buck Dharma ” Roeser – Guitars, Vocals
Richie Castellano – Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
Danny Miranda – Bass, Vocals
Jules Radino – Drums
Special Guest:
Albert Bouchard - Drums, Percussion, Guitars, Vocals
Toronto hard rockers Xephyr have announced details for their fourth studio album, No Signal. Bursting with guitar-driven tracks, the album lyrically delves into the undertaking of new journeys, continuing in the face of adversity and overcoming personal struggles. No Signal is a massive step forward for the band following their 2019 offering Iron Wine, in terms of production, performance and songwriting. No Signal will be unleashed on January 12, 2024.
To celebrate this announcement, Xephyr has also shared the first single and video from the album, "Remember".
The band comments: "No Signal is a representation of every struggle and triumph we've experienced and endured over the last few years from both the world and within as both a band and individuals. We really pushed the boundaries of our songwriting, and we have a monolithic album on our hands that we could not be more proud of, which we believe features Xephyr at our hungriest, most mature and most visceral point ever. Every success and every failure has led us to this very moment right here. No Signal is this moment in time."
Featuring 14 brand new hard-hitting tracks, No Signal offers everything from Xephyr's most simplistic and melodic material, to their heaviest and most technical offerings. All with a more polished and punishing production, the track list explores numerous styles from melodic hard rock to thrash metal and everything in between. The first half of the album begins in a nightmare-ish, dystopian scenario filled with uncertainty. However, the latter half takes a more optimistic turn and is about coming to terms with the fact that while the world may be messed up, everything is going to be okay.
Tracklisting:
"Shot In The Head"
"Remember"
"Wanted You To Know"
"I'm Here For Blood"
"Figured You Out"
"Wrench"
"The Disparation"
"Realignment"
"Morning Sun-Callahan"
"Goodbye To Love"
"Pulse"
"Worlds Go Dark"
"Insane"
"Back For Good"
In addition, Xephyr is pleased to announce their album release show will be held at The Rockpile in Toronto, Ontario on January 19, 2024.
UK thrash metallers Shrapnel have released their blazing new single and video, "In Gravity", which features Scott Kennedy (Bleed From Within) via Candlelight Records.
Commenting on the new single: "'In Gravity' marks the launch of a new chapter for Shrapnel. We've channelled every bit of suffering, devastation, and emotion that we've experienced in recent years, and created the most hard-hitting and urgent song we've ever written. Never have we been so confident about our own material. With Jens Bogren producing and Scott Kennedy from Bleed From Within on guest vocals, it’s been hard to keep our excitement under wraps. They’ve helped us raise the bar higher than ever and made 'In Gravity' a definitive statement that we are only looking forward. We can’t wait for everyone to join us on this next stage of our journey."
Born from a period of pain, tragedy, isolation, yet hope for the future, "In Gravity" emerges as an uplifting and crushingly precise statement about where Shrapnel are currently, with a taste of what to expect from the band in 2024. A cathartic exercising of demons, this is not a track that dwells on the past or leans on well-worn tropes but looks excitedly forward. Drawing on Shrapnel's ever-deepening well of experience and influence, "In Gravity" marks a band at the height of their songwriting prowess. Whether dealing in extremity and complexity, Gojira-inspired bludgeoning heaviness, or a newly emerging sense of modern melodic maturity, Shrapnel are able to weave their sonic palette in new, genre-defying directions.
Formed in 2009, Shrapnel have been on a campaign of destruction ever since. From the blistering underground EP No Saviours, through to their 2020 release, Palace For The Insane, the band have grown from strength to strength with no intention of slowing down.
A new chapter in the While She Sleeps story is firmly underway. After introducing a subversive new twist on their sound with the single "Self Hell" (also the title track to their new album which follows on March 29), the band powered into their biggest ever headline show at the 10,000 capacity Alexandra Palace to deliver a high intensity show in which their performance was equalled by their ambitious visuals.
Now While She Sleeps bring the curtain down on 2023 and line up an even bigger 2024 as they share the new single "Down", which features Alex Taylor of fellow Sheffield band, Malevolence. The track is accompanied by an exceptional video, which the band made DIY-style as a labour of love project.
While "Down" is informed by the band’s desire to bring a whirlwind of fresh sonic influences to the fore, it nonetheless maintains the fierce aggression that typified the band’s roots. The track opens with an ominous blare of an MS-20 synth, before grinding heavyweight riffs, industrial-tinged beats and a soaring melodic hook heighten its intensity. Completed by a ferocious verse from Alex Taylor, "Down" is indicative of where While She Sleeps are going in 2024: a maximalist, anything-goes attitude powered by swagger and self-belief.
Guitarist Sean Long says, “‘Down’ has been a central pillar in the new album throughout the writing process of Self Hell. Loz was completely on fire and it gave a reminiscent early Sleeps style to the track. The working title for this song was ‘Film-Riffs’ simply because it sounded like it could be in an action movie. And it will. That’s exactly what it is. A high-intensity new sound that you can’t not bang your head to. It was one of the first demos that we knew would be an integral part of the album, it houses all elements of the last 10+ years, yet we have also taken steps to excite ourselves in new areas and introduced new sounds to our advantage. The unmistakable MS20 has made its footprint on the new sound of Sleeps and gives the song an instant identity as soon as it starts.
"The song is about our deepest desire to feel free from the grips of our own compulsions; trauma, past, society, and everything in between. While we all face this journey in life there are always obstacles that hinder our progress on the path. More often than not these manifests in the form of people who simply get in the way of your freedom and bring you down.”
The accompanying video was directed and edited by the band, which was structured by editing together 1175 still photos - approximately five photographs of each second of the video. Factor in a characteristically explosive performance from the band, a larger-than-life guest appearance from Alex Taylor, 15 litres of paint, 7 cans of spray paint, 2 fire extinguishers and a box of fireworks, and you have an idea of the barely controlled chaos that ensues. The video will be available soon in flick-book form, a soft back version that you can sync with the audio to create a unique physical viewing experience.
Mat Welsh adds, “The video is created from the core of our ethos, we wanted to make something that embodied the attitude of Sleeps, in our most natural environment. In a time where AI is taking over and technology is everywhere you turn, the idea behind the video was to take things in the opposite direction by physically delivering the lyrics and emotion of the song. Using only ourselves, a small space, some paint and the creativity and expression we harness, it took us seven days to shoot and we definitely underestimated the level of detail it required. The shortest road doesn’t equal the best journey and we believe that good things come through focus and hard work. This video is a testament to that.”
Self Hell is available to pre-order here. Formats include black/white swirl and neo-orange vinyl, both of which are packaged with a signed photo, as well as a CD.
The album was produced by their long-term collaborator Carl Bown and the band’s guitarist, Sean Long. While She Sleeps - completed by Lawrence ‘Loz’ Taylor (vocals), Mat Welsh (guitar), Aaran Mckenzie (bass) and Adam Savage (drums) - recorded the album during sessions at Metropolis Studios in London, Treehouse Studio in Chesterfield, and their own Six Audio in Sheffield.
Tracklisting:
"Peace Of Mind"
"Leave Me Alone"
"Rainbows"
"Self Hell"
"Wildfire"
"No Feeling Is Final"
"Dopesick"
"Down"
"To The Flowers"
"Out Of The Blue"
"Enemy Mentality"
"Radical Hatred / Radical Love"
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