Isafjørd, meaning literally fjord of ice, is a shining new ethereal post-rock band from Iceland. Named after the town that both of their fathers came from, Ísafjörður, Aðalbjörn Addi Tryggvason (Sólstafir) and Ragnar Zolberg (Sign/ex-Pain Of Salvation) sculpt beautiful and desolate pop, as bright and dark as the sub-arctic seasons.
Isafjørd’s new album, Hjartastjak, is an infectious rush of euphoric melancholy, quiet-loud dynamism, lush instrumentation and unforgettable atmospheric landscapes of song.
Meeting on the road, night creatures of the same renowned Reykjavik music scene, Ragnar playing live session bass for Sólstafir, Addi and Ragnar’s musical paths finally intersect in Isafjørd with a sound that reaches like a stalactite from the past into a gleaming future. Holed up in the middle of winter, in an old house with a broken piano in the freezing cold, Hjartastjaki is an album of songs that were written straight from the heart, sometimes in a single day.
Watch the video for the new single "Mín Svarta Hlið":
Their chemistry as immediate as the climate they survive in, Isafjørd is a real meeting of spirits, with Ragnar’s sleek and cherubim voice a brilliant counterpoint to Addi’s dusty and aching cries, over orchestrated build-ups of soaring piano and sliding guitars. The catchy and haunting music that Addi and Ragnar create in Isafjørd is at once familiar in that lived-in, well-worn way a great song can touch your soul. Having both lived in Norway and speaking Norwegian, Addi and Ragnar speak the same language of the heart, as their Nordic melancholy makes for deep and mountainous music. Isafjørd’s songs are sincere icebergs of tundra-anthems that bring to mind Fields Of The Nephilim and Duran Duran jamming in a frozen valley, where the creative 80s New Wave meets GodSpeed You Black Emperor. With influences that range from Cardigans, Beatles, early Judas Priest and Neil Young, Addi and Ragnar have struck a vein of gold that crystallizes their own heritage of wide-screen Metal gloom into something new.
Now coming of age, matured into a shimmering diamond of Icelandic pop at its finest, Isafjørd is on another plain from Addi’s own Sólstafir, where their cinematic metal roots have been re-traced into sweeping glacial song-craft. A country known for their honest and heart–wrenching emotional take on pop music with Björk and Sigur Rós, Isafjørd gives a new definition of “landscape music”. When an album feels like a place you want to inhabit and experience, “Hjartastjaki” is a journey that you’re going to want to take.
Pre-save Hjartastjaki here. Pre-order on CD and 2LP here.
Baltimore-based death metal savants, Misery Index, recently released their new record, Complete Control. In continued support of the album, the band have released a new video for the track "Rites Of Cruelty", created by Chris Joao / Iron Elephant Studio.
Misery Index bassist/vocalist Jason Netherton checked in with the following comment about the "Rites of Cruelty" clip: "This video is a sincere shout-out to all the Misery Index fans who made the effort to come and rage with us this past summer on the various 'Complete Control' tours - from festival stages to dive bars, we've hit them all, and this video is a tribute to the good times of summer past as we enter the darker months of autumn. We chose the track 'Rites of Cruelty' as we feel it embodies all the pissed-off energy of our new album in one bombastic faceripper, from blast beats to tank-like breakdowns, it's become a staple of our live set, and hope you all dig it as well."
Complete Control was mixed by Will Putney, mastered by Jens Bogren / Fascination Street studios and features artwork by Matt Lombard, which can be seen below.
Complete Control tracklisting:
"Administer The Dagger"
"The Eaters And The Eaten"
"Complete Control"
"Necessary Suffering"
"Rites Of Cruelty"
"Conspiracy Of None"
"Infiltrators"
"Reciprocal Repulsion"
"Now Defied!"
“Complete Control” video:
"Infiltrators" video:
"The Eaters And The Eaten" video:
Misery Index lineup:
Darin Morris: guitar
Mark Kloeppel: guitar, vocals
Adam Jarvis: drums
Jason Netherton: bass, vocals
Argentinian metal band Domination has released a music video for “Origins”. The song is taken from their new EP Holy Order, which will be out soon.
Holy Order was recorded beetween September / October 2022 at Doble B Estudio (Buenos Aires). Mixed and Mastered by Leandro Bordicelli (Doble B Estudio).
Domination is a conceptual metal band born in Argentina in 2011. Their albums tells hidden stories based on world revolutions and human evolution. During 10 years of , Domination has released 3 LPs: Doom In Nation (2013), Beneath The Silence (2016) and Evil Seed (2019); and 3 EPs: Testimony (2011), My Name is Alice (2015) and Epiphany. The band has toured through Argentina, Uruguay and Europe twice.
Speed metal trio, Stälker, strikes again! Returning with their new 12” double single vinyl, Cranking Evil, they present two brand new Necronomicon-induced incantations to be revealed today.
Churning somewhere in between Judas Priest, Motörhead, and Venom, Stälker mercilessly dashes through the underground metal world. Summoning boundless evil, their reckless soundscapes will spew from the musical cauldron as Daif, Nick, and Chris have conjured up possessing, pure speed metal.
With unstoppable velocity, Stälker rushes towards the top of the genre with their new single “Kneel And Worship” and display their invincible power. The song rams like a speeding train, commencing a new era for the genre. Join the unstoppable sonic ride of “Kneel And Worship”.
Stälker on “Kneel And Worship”: “Against the iron gates, you stand at the brink of destruction. Will you kneel? Or has your time finally come?”
Never hitting the brakes, Stälker’s underground punk attitude introduces a new age that unites metal and rock n’ roll with no sweat. The group’s 2017 full length debut, Shadow Of The Sword, brought a new voice to the speed metal scene as the band battered their way through the underground metal world with 10 riff-packed tracks of pure Judas Priest, Motörhead and Venom worship! Soon after, fans rejoiced as the band released their heavily awaited sophomore album, Black Majik Terror, in 2020. The album brought another onslaught of pure speed metal cacophony filled with more power and more riffs, enchanting metalheads and rock n’ rollers to open up mosh pits left and right.
Cranking Evil is available in the following formats:
- 12” Double Single LTD White
- 12” Double Single LTD Red
- Digital Double Single
Canada’s The Wring is gearing up to release a third album Spectra next month, which promises to be an assertive mix of different styles including hard rock, jazz, metal, classical, ‘80s rock, ‘70s rock, and probably a few other things. Solo artist Don Dewulf had the idea and with the help of accomplished musicians, the project has been brought to life.
The next piece they are sharing is the single “Stiletto”, which Dewulf outlines:
“This song is about the debilitating need for social media attention and validation. The blade goes in and you never even feel it, then you slowly bleed out. The verses are in 5/8 and ⅞ creating a somewhat jarring effect, and also speaking to the theme. Chandler does a killer job on the chorus vocal and there is a very peculiar odd-time breakdown before the solo. Very fun song to play.”
He also comments that Spectra is a bit like a 1970’s King Crimson album, but without any ethereal soliloquies and certainly with a more significant hard rock/metal influence. Compared to last year’s full-length Project Cipher, this new offering carries on in the same tradition and headspace, but the songs are fuller and cohesive.
The album got its name because Dewulf feels that it really touches on a wide range of musical styles and themes. The mixes are much layered with a lot of detail; you can listen to it many times and still continue to pick out intricacies and small details each time.
Dewulf is writing constantly as he always has a lot of ideas to flesh out and bring to the ears of listeners around the world. He has no intentions of stopping soon, so fans of “Spectra” should keep an eye out for new music. The Wring is recommended for fans of King Crimson, Dream Theater, and Opeth.
BraveWords is premiering the video for “Stiletto” – watch below!
Spectra is due out on December 16, 2022, via WormHoleDeath Records. Pre-save the album at orcd.co.
Tracklisting:
“Stiletto”
“Stones & Bones”
“The Prince”
“The Wolf”
“Tin Man”
“From Mars”
“Sins”
“Fallen”
Metalcore band, Preacher, have released their new single, "Live Laugh Lobotomy", to all major platforms via Daeth Records/TLG/INgrooves. The single is from their forthcoming EP, Blur.
"Our fans summed it up perfectly!" says the band. They said, "Somehow this is giving me nostalgia. The way that you guys encapsulate that early 2010's post hardcore sound and still manage to make your music sound fresh and new is insane."
Preacher is a metalcore band from Reno, Nevada. In a short 5 years, 3 EPs and 5 singles later, they have managed to tour from coast to coast all on their own. The largest show of these tours included their festival debut at Blue Ridge Rock Fest 2022, one of the largest rock festivals in the United States. Preacher has never been afraid to dive into new genres and explore every avenue of what they can achieve. Their entire discography thus far including their 2022 EP Dream State was entirely self-produced, which showcases exactly why they are a force to be reckoned with in the metalcore genre.
Preacher are:
Nathaniel Garrison - Vocals
Stan Neill - Guitar/Vocals/Bass
Christopher Yancey - Guitar
Alan Terry - Drums
With seven studio albums in nearly two decades of band history, Sweden's root rock figureheads Siena Root are constantly working on something new. They've continually changed their approach and experimented with their sound - not only to keep their music fresh but to challenge themselves which is one of the main reasons why the group’s relevance remains after all these years.
Besides touring with acts such as Deep Purple and Dewolff, the quartet - founding members drummer Love Forsberg and bassist Sam Riffer with guitarist Johan Borgström and vocalist/keyboardist Zubaida Solid - have always brought an infectious performance to stages globally. Those lucky enough to attend one of Siena Root's post-pandemic tours earlier this year may already know how the band spent the Corona years recording a brand-new album that is finally set to be released next year via their new label home of Atomic Fire Records.
Comments the band, "The 'Dynamic Root Rock Experience' called Siena Root caught fire a long time ago. As we all know, you need to catch a fire to be burnin' and this time Siena Root caught an Atomic Fire: we are very proud and honored to announce that we are a part of the Atomic Fire Records family now. The new album, Revelation, will be released in early 2023, stay tuned!"
Atomic Fire Records CEO Markus Wosgien adds, "We're very happy to enrich our roster with Siena Root's innovative mixture of classic, folk, and psychedelic rock. Their musical path as well as their everchanging sound charmed us enormously, leading to their new opus Revelation, which is nothing short of amazing. It’s an album that surely won't only fascinate rockers but also fans beyond the genre. What an outstanding group. They truly know how to perform this music the right way!"
The record title definitely keeps its word: it's a sonic Revelation and has become the most versatile offering in Siena Root's long-spanning career, guiding listeners through a true journey rather than simply stringing together song after song. But that's not all: the first appetizer, new single “Little Burden” which premiered live in 2022, can be enjoyed alongside a music video, edited by Linus Grane, via YouTube.
Elaborates the band, "This is a first taste of Siena Root's journey when introducing the more acoustic side of the 'Dynamic Root Rock Experience.' The song deals with leaving the city and the experience that comes with that. 'Little Burden' is a song that describes the feeling of melancholy and battle one experiences when faced with the arbitrary issues of man and when burdens, however small and inconsequential, make you weary and sometimes even poison you."
More info on Siena Root's eagerly awaited eighth studio album as well as pre-order details will be unveiled before the end of the year. Until then, enjoy “Little Burden”:
Lineup:
Zubaida Solid - vocals, keys
Johan Borgström - guitars
Sam Riffer - bass
Love Forsberg - drums
Hailing from Canada, Alienatör is a sludge metal band that confronts tough issues with razor-sharp riffs and memorable hooks. They released their debut album, Pariahs, in 2019, and are now following it up this year with Regrets, which is darker, more focused, and more intense. They say it also boasts better songwriting and more dynamics. The themes of this upcoming release also explore some heavy topics including alienation, grief, pain, and disgust at the state of the modern world.
The single “The Priest” is no exception, which vocalist/guitarist Brad King explains: “This is the darkest song I’ve ever written. Another is where the bass really drives the song and the guitar comes in, jagged and angular on top. Ralph Rowe was an Anglican Priest who molested countless kids in fly-in reserves in the 70s and 80s. He ruined so many lives and plea-bargained for a prison sentence that was a slap on the wrist. There’s a documentary about him called “Survivor’s Rowe,” and I’ve met a few survivors through my work. Here, he serves as an example of the type of abuse of power we allow those in positions of trust. I’m proud of the dynamics of this one, lots of tension and release and the calm atmospheric part in the middle.”
The music video for “The Priest” can be seen below:
Composed during the claustrophobia of the 2020 election and the global pandemic the album channels rage and catharsis before lulling the listener into a sense of security and then thundering down again into a feedback-drenched conclusion.
Compared to their debut release, fans will recognize a more hard-hitting sound, depth of songwriting, dynamics, darker themes, and more vulnerable and introspective lyrics. Alienatör has matured and grown as musicians, with the addition of drummer Simon Paquette who has added a lot of depth to the sound, and bass player Sean Skillen becoming part of the writing process has added a new dimension. The band is a more cohesive unit and it shows in the material.
On February 24, Finnish metal melancholists Insomnium will release their ninth full-length, Anno 1696, via Century Media Records.
Anno 1696 is a gateway into another world. This time around, Insomnium tells us a tale based on a short story by Niilo Sevänen (bass/vocals), woven with sorrow and the last crumbling vestiges of hope, plus wrath and morbid lullabies. Welcome to 1696. Welcome to hell. This is an age of unrest. The age of great famine in the North. The witch hunt is in full swing all across Europe and the gruesome witch trials have even reached the remote and majestic landscapes of Finland and Sweden.
"The Torsåker witch trials were a horrible source of nightmarish inspiration," Sevänen says of his ghastly muse. "All that talk about 70 women beheaded in this small Swedish parish? It's real stuff from history!" he groans. "And as if that weren't enough, there are also some very dark tales of cannibalism and child murder from the years of the great famine." Stories don't get any more metal than this.
For a first preview of Anno 1696, the new single, "Lilian", can be streamed here; the video (directed by Riivata Visuals) can be viewed below.
Guitarist Markus Vanhala comments about the track: "'Lilian' is probably the most traditional Insomnium hit song on the album - and an easy starter as single - before the heavier main course comes in. It shows the lighter shade of the album, before all hope leaves."
Bassist/vocalist Niilo Sevänen adds: "This is Ville's composition, and it has some of that old Insomnium feel in it. Felt like a video-song from the start. Lyrically, it tells how the tragic couple in the story met each other in the first place."
Guitarist Ville Friman concludes: "One of the first songs to emerge during the pandemic era. It has this old Insomnium vibe and tonality that I tend to steer towards every time I pick up the guitar."
Mixed by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Orgone Studios) and mastered by Tony Lindgren (Fascination Street Studios), Anno 1696 is a tornado of tormented souls, set to a tragedy of Greek proportions. No doubt: this is Insomnium's most delicate tightrope walk yet - between sadness and anger, between silent desperation and cries of anguish. Trying to reach that fading light that still glimmers from beyond the trees. And at that, it's the epitome of the Finnish melancholy. "Can't deny it," guitarist Markus Vanhala laughs. "Insomnium is a soundtrack to both the Finnish mental and physical landscape. We all are strongly feeling melancholic Finns."
And as if a stunning feat like Anno 1696 is not enough, Insomnium continue the epic story on their addendum-like EP Songs of the Dusk, featuring three more journeys into a dark and foggy past. "We simply had eleven great songs, and we thought that this material is too good to be 'just' bonus tracks," Sevänen states. "They are part of the big story, so you can think of them as the director's cut material that tells a little extra. For those who want to have more."
The album will be available in the following formats:
- Standard CD Jewelcase
- Digital Album
In addition to the above-mentioned standard versions, fans can also purchase the limited Deluxe 2CD Artbook that has an extended booklet (44 pages!) and includes the Songs of the Dusk (EP), as well as the English and Finnish versions of the Anno 1696 short story by Niilo Sevänen:
- Ltd. Deluxe 2CD Artbook
The vinyl features an etching on Side D, plus a 12-page booklet with the English version of the 'Anno 1696' short story by Niilo Sevänen - available in the following variants:
- Gatefold black 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet
- Gatefold dark green 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via CMdistro.de (limited to 300 copies)
- Gatefold transp. light blue 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via CM Distro Wholesale EU & CMdistro.de (limited to 500 copies)
- Gatefold silver 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via Nuclear Blast & Napalm Records (limited to 500 copies)
- Gatefold white 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via Levykauppa Äx & EMP (limited to 500 copies)
- Gatefold transp. red-black marbled 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via Insomnium (limited to 500 copies)
- Gatefold black-white marbled 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via Insomnium (limited to 500 copies)
The vinyl available in the USA does not come with the additional CD:
- Gatefold black 2LP & LP-Booklet (USA version)
- Gatefold golden 2LP & LP-Booklet (USA version)
"1696"
"White Christ" (feat. Sakis Tolis)
"Godforsaken" (feat. Johanna Kurkela)
"Lilian"
"Starless Paths"
"The Witch Hunter"
"The Unrest"
"The Rapids"
Ltd. Deluxe 2CD Artbook tracks, incl. Songs Of The Dusk (EP)
"Flowers Of The Night"
"Stained In Red"
"Song Of The Dusk"
"Lilian" video:
Lineup:
Niilo Sevänen - Bass and Vocals
Jani Liimatainen - Guitars and clean vocals
Markus Hirvonen - Drums
Ville Friman - Guitars
Markus Vanhala - Guitars and clean vocals
W.A.S.P. recently kicked off their 40 Years Live World Tour at House Of Blues in Las Vegas, NV. In the video below, the band perform "Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue)", from 1992's The Crimson Idol album.
W.A.S.P. recently shared the video below from the VIP Experience/Personal Q&A With Blackie Lawless in Anaheim, CA.
W.A.S.P. are offering their first ever VIP meet and greet packages on the US leg of the 40 Years Live World Tour. VIP meet and greet packages are available for all dates on the US tour, including shows that are already sold out for show tickets.
In addition to meeting Blackie Lawless and getting a personal photo with him, fans will also be able get a photo holding Blackie's original B.C. Rich Widow bass guitar and get a photo standing next to "Elvis\rdblquote - Blackie's incredibly unique and one of a kind microphone stand.
To purchase your VIP ticket to meet Blackie Lawless visit WASPnation.com/tour and click the ticket link for your desired show. You will purchase the VIP ticket directly from the venue.
Blackie Lawless commented on offering VIP tickets, "For the 40th Anniversary Tour, and for our first time ever, we are offering VIP Meet and Greet tickets for all of you who\rquote ve wanted to have a genuine VIP Experience. I\rquote ll be doing a photo with everyone who participates as well as several other special offerings that will make this a pretty interesting package. But the one thing that will separate our VIP Experience from all others, and honestly the thing I\rquote m looking most forward to is, at the end of the photo and the autograph sessions I want to do a sit down Question and Answer session with all of you there . The only way I've ever wanted to do a VIP Experience is to have real time with all of you, not only to answer whatever questions you\rquote ve been wanting to ask me for however long, but it also gives me the chance to get to know you. Honestly, this was the only way I would agree to do this because I genuinely wanna hear what you have to say. So get ready and get your questions ready, but, be prepared, it\rquote s gonna work both ways, because if you think you wanna get inside my head\'85. then I\rquote m gonna get inside of yours."
The VIP Experience includes:
• Exclusive VIP Experience Meet and Greet with Blackie Lawless
• Personal Photo with Blackie
• Two Personal Items Signed by Blackie - No Guitars, Pick Guards or Instruments
• Signed VIP Tour Laminate
• $50 Credit at Merchandise Stand
• Set of 3 Blackie Lawless 40th Anniversary Guitar Picks
• Q&A with Blackie with all VIP's after all Photos and Autographs
• Take Photo Holding Blackie's original B.C. Rich Widow Bass Guitar
• Stand for photo next to "Elvis” - Blackie's Incredibly Unique and One of a Kind Microphone Stand
• Automatically Entered to Win a Signed Guitar at the End of the U.S. Tour
W.A.S.P. shared the video below from the October 28 show in Las Vegas, featuring the opening medley, "On Your Knees / The Flame / The Torture Never Stops / Inside The Electric Circus":
Grammy-nominated Lancaster five-piece August Burns Red - JB Brubaker [lead guitar], Brent Rambler [rhythm guitar], Matt Greiner [drums], Jake Luhrs [vocals], and Dustin Davidson [bass] - have announced their new album, Death Below. It arrives on March 24 via SharpTone Records. Pre-order it here.
"It's no secret that the past few years have been extremely dark and challenging," Brubaker says. "Death Below is here as a result of that time in each our lives and the emotions that came with it. We were motivated by uncertainty, fear, outrage, and triumph. I feel this is the darkest, most personal album we've ever written, and I couldnt be more proud of what the five of us made together."
Today, they have shared the video for the first single "Ancestry", featuring Killswitch Engage singer Jesse Leach. Watch below.
"'Ancestry' is a complex and technical ABR track held together by perhaps the most painful and personal lyrics Jake has ever written," says Brubaker. "I loved this song in every phase since its inception. From the instrumental rendition, to the lyrics and vocals being added, to finally bringing it all together with Jesse's anthemic guest vocals, 'Ancestry' is a song we've been looking forward to sharing with the world for a long time."
The album features additional guest spots from guitarist Jason Richardson, as well as JT Cavey of Erra and Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath.
Tracklisting:
"Premonition"
"The Cleansing"
"Ancestry" (Feat. Jesse Leach)
"Tightrope" (Feat. Jason Richardson)
"Fool's Gold in the Bear Trap"
"Backfire"
"Revival"
"Sevink"
"Dark Divide"
"Deadbolt"
"The Abyss" (Feat. JT Cavey)
"Reckoning" (Feat. Spencer Chamberlain)
"Ancestry" video:
August Burns Red recently announced the third annual Christmas Burns Red. The 2022 edition takes place December 16 + 17 at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, PA. Details regarding tickets, VIP packages, and lodging can be found here.
August Burns Red will headline both nights. It's the band's first time performing two nights at Freedom Hall. Previous years found the band playing a smaller kick-off show in a club setting and following with a show at Freedom Hall.
December 16 will also be "Solid State Day" and features a lineup of bands from the Solid State Record roster. ABR's set for this show will be comprised exclusively of material from their Solid State catalog.
"Christmas Burns Red is an event we've worked so hard to make better each year," the band says. "This is our first year doing two days in Freedom Hall and we can't wait to watch all these awesome and talented bands play across the weekend. These shows are always the highlight of ABR's year. We look forward to making new memories with everyone in December!"
The daily lineups are below.
December 16:
August Burns Red
Norma Jean
Silent Planet
Phinehas
Becoming the Archetype
Earth Groans
December 17:
August Burns Red
Erra
Shadow of Intent
Brand of Sacrifice
Invent Animate
Convictions
Avant-garde entity, Thy Catafalque, have released a live performance video for "Fekete mezők", featured on the band's 2011 album, Rengeteg. The clip is taken from the upcoming Blu-Ray, Mezolit - Live At Fekete Zaj, which will be released on November 25 via Season of Mist. Order here, and watch the clip below:
The band recently issued a guitar playthough video for "Szarvas", featured on their album, Vadak, released in 2021 via Season Of Mist. Watch below, and order Vadak here
Frontiers Music Srl recently announced the signing of Polish heavy metal band, Scream Maker, to the label. The band is currently working on a new studio album, which is anticipated for release in 2023. In the meantime, Frontiers will reissue the band's latest album, Bloodking, on December 9 on CD/Digital. Pre-order here, and watch a new video for "Bloodking" below.
Scream Maker formed in Warsaw, Poland in late 2010 when the original members, including current member Michał Wrona (guitar), gathered together out of a shared love of heavy metal. Wrona is joined in the current incarnation of Scream Maker by vocalist Sebastian Stodolak, bassist Jan Radosz, drummer Tomek Sobieszek, and guitarist Bartosz Ziółkowski.
Scream Maker has produced three full-length studio albums (2014's Livin In The Past, 2016's Back Against The World, 2022's Bloodking), plus one EP ("We Are Not The Same") and played over 300 shows in Poland and abroad, including gigs with luminaries such as Judas Priest, Motörhead, Megadeth, Saxon, Slayer, Nightwish, Primal Fear, Stratovarius, Onslaught, and many more.
The band recorded their debut album, Livin In The Past with producer Alessandro del Vecchio (Jorn, Hardline, Revolution Saints) and the album featured guest appearances from Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater and Wojciech Hoffmann of Turbo. The album was released by Perris Records in April of 2014 in the US and Europe and followed by a tour that included shows with Primal Fear, Paul Di'anno, Blaze Bayley, and more. In May 2014, the band toured China for the first time, playing six festivals and unexpectedly becoming the first Polish artist to have an album released by a domestic record label in China.
In the summer and autumn of 2015, between gigs with Saxon, Black Label Society, and Motörhead, Scream Maker gathered at HEAR Studio in Warsaw to record their second album, Back Against The World. The album was crafted under the guidance of Radoslaw Kordowski, as well as, once again, Alessandro Del Vecchio.
The album was releasing in May 2016 and once again the band got busy playings shows in support of the album, including shows with Megadeth, Korn, Slayer, another tour of China (their third, but not last, as China has become a regular touring destination for the band), as well as the third edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial that they had started pack in 2014, but this time, the tribute included several shows. The band would organize a fourth edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial in spring 2017 and in December 2017, the band opened the first ever Polish concert by the Dio Returns tour. The band has continued with the Ronnie James Dio Memorial shows as the years have gone on, turning it into a regular tradition.
Once the global pandemic hit in 2020 and slowed the band's regular busy touring schedule, they focused on fine-tuning and recording material for their third full-length album, BloodKing, which was released in January 2022.
The album was mixed by Tomasz "Zed" Zalewski, with two songs, "When Our Fight Is Over" and "Hitting The Wall" being mixed by Alessandro Del Vecchio. With touring opening back up, the band got busy playing gigs again and in early September 2022, they have planned their own two-day festival in Warsaw (with Polish legends Turbo headlining), which will also include another edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial. In the fall of 2022, the band will embark on another tour with the Ronnie James Dio Memorial, after which they will devote themselves to writing and recording their fourth full-length album.
Tracklisting:
"Invitation"
"Mirror, Mirror"
"Bloodking"
"When Our Fight Is Over"
"End Of The World"
"Scream Maker"
"Hitting The Wall"
"Join The Mob"
"Die In Me"
"Powerlust"
"Tears Of Rage"
"Petrifier"
"Candle In The Wind"
"Brand New Start"
"Too Late"
"Bloodking" video:
"Mirror, Mirror" video:
Lineup:
Sebastian Stodolak – vocals
Michał Wrona – guitar
Bartosz Ziółkowski - guitar
Jan Radosz – bass
Tomasz Sobieszek – drums
This Friday, November 4, will see Brussels-based rock act, Black Mirrors, return with their new masterpiece and sophomore studio album, entitled Tomorrow Will Be Without Us, via Napalm Records. Today, the band fronted by extraordinary vocalist Marcella Di Troia have shared a music video for the catchy new single, “Snake Oil”.
Says the band: "'Snake Oil' is one of the last songs we wrote for Tomorrow Will Be Without Us. As soon as we started working on it, we could feel its great potential - it absolutely had to be on our second album! We can already tell you that it’s the first track of our new record. It perfectly gives you an idea of the tone of our new album: raw and wild!
"The song is about being manipulated by someone… then realizing how stupid you’ve been not to notice the game they played to fool you.
"The idea behind the video was to combine the main theme of Tomorrow Will Be Without Us with the manipulation story of the song. So Marcella started to think of this girl being in a psychiatric hospital room, stuck, unable to see anything. Increasingly, she becomes the carrier of some important information that you get to see at the very end of the video.“
Black Mirrors’ sophomore outing is a deep, soulful and vividly textured 90's inspired rock record with umpteen layers begging to be picked apart with each spin, and lyrically, traverses humankind’s increasing apathy towards the world around them. The grunge-infused guitar lines meld in harmony, giving way to memorable riffs, rhythmic gems, big grooves and the addictive, beautifully unchained vocals of Di Troia. The album fluxes from fierce and blustery to often gentle and calming, channeling the flavor of MTV’s glory era showcasing acts such as Nirvana, Radiohead, Hole, Alain Johannes, Alice In Chains and beyond.
Contrary to the album’s title and its evocative themes about today’s society and a world falling apart, tomorrow does belong to Black Mirrors – there is no doubt they will own the next decade, providing us with the finest in heavy rock and melodic grunge grandeur the world of tomorrow unconditionally needs.
"Like all of us, we had to go through a lot during these past years. Tomorrow Will Be Without Us is our answer to all the questions we had during that time, our reflection on the ecological catastrophe we're all witnessing, our thoughts on our consumerist society, …“ the band comments. "Writing these songs gave us the strength to go forward and to heal us, it was our catharsis. We deeply hope it will bring you some light in these dark times."
Together with the touch of worldwide-acclaimed producer Alain Johannes (Eagles Of Death Metal, Queens Of The Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys, No Doubt,…), Black Mirrors have reset the bar to unexpected heights, and their new album promises to leave its mark on today’s rock scene worldwide! One can be sure, the music world of tomorrow would be a lonely place without Black Mirrors, and Tomorrow Will Be Without Us locks them at the top.
Tomorrow Will Be Without Us will be available in the following formats:
- CD Digisleeve
- LP Gatefold BLACK
- LP Gatefold Marbled BLACK/GOLD (ltd. 300)
- Digital Album
"Snake Oil"
"Lost In Desert"
"Tomorrow Will Be Without Us"
"Hateful Hate, I'll Kill You"
"Ode To My Unborn Child"
"Through The Eyes Of A Giant"
"Collapsology (Raise Your Voice)" feat. Alain Johannes
"Anthropocene"
"Tears To Share"
"Say It Again"
"Lost In Desert" video:
"Hateful Hate, I'll Kill You" video:
Current band lineup:
Marcella Di Troia (Vocals)
Pierre Lateur (Lead Guitar)
Yannick Carpentier (Drums)
Pierre Guillaume (Guitar, Synths, Backing Vocals)
VENDED, the band fronted by Griffin Taylor, the 20-year-old son of SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor, has released the official music video for its latest single, "Overall". VENDED's lineup is completed by Simon Crahan (son of SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan) on drums, Connor Grodzicki on rhythm guitar, Jeremiah Pugh on bass and Cole Espeland on lead guitar.
Griffin commented: "'Overall' is a song about getting trapped in your own head and having your thoughts self-sabotage you. And how sometimes YOU are the only person who can help yourself get out of that headspace. 'I salt the wound myself' has a double meaning; you either feel the pain from bad thoughts, or you lean into it and embrace them."
Late last year, VENDED dropped a duo of singles ("Asylum" and "Burn My Misery") ahead of its five-track debut EP, "What Is It / Kill It", which arrived at DSPs in November 2021. The collection was recorded with Griffin Landa of THE ACACIA STRAIN. The two singles bookended VENDED's first U.S. headline tour, after which the band went on to open the day's proceedings at the huge Knotfest Los Angeles show at the Banc Of California Stadium, playing alongside SLIPKNOT, BRING ME THE HORIZON, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, FEVER 333, CODE ORANGE and CHERRY BOMBS.
In July, VENDED released a new single, "Ded To Me", ahead of its first-ever European dates.
Last month, Griffin spoke to Heavy New York about his live approach with VENDED. He said: "Our goal is not to be up on stage and be, like, 'Look at us. We're so cool. We're so this.' Our goal is to entertain you; our goal is to make you feel better. Because everyone feels like shit nowadays. And it's just kind of nice to have someone just kind of hurt themselves on stage just screaming and then wake up the next morning with back problems and then have you go home and be, like, 'You know what? That was a really nice experience. I can kind of see where these guys are coming from.' And if you didn't enjoy our shows, that is completely fine. There have been shows that I have gone to where I was just, like, 'Oh, not my cup of tea.' And that's completely your choice to not like our music, because, honestly, it just makes us try harder and it makes us take steps to, not change ourselves so much that it's almost unrecognizable but change ourselves to the point where it's just, like, maybe we can do it again and maybe we can try again."
Formed in February of 2018 in Des Moines, Iowa, VENDED exhibits a furiously heavy sound built upon the foundations laid by the speed, power and precision of the rhythm section, layered with ferocious guitars, soul crushing solos and gutteral-yet-melodic vocals that portray the hardships and the harsh realities of life.
VENDED had its first mainstream exposure in 2020 when they performed as part of Knotfest.com's virtual "Pulse Of The Maggots" festival.
VENDED played its first headlining show in March 2020 at the iconic local club Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, Iowa.
Griffin, who looks a lot like his father, previously showcased his skills when he joined Corey onstage during STONE SOUR shows in 2017 and 2018. He's also played cover tunes with Simon Crahan, while Clown's daughter Alexandria Crahan-Conway has snapped some of VENDED's previous press pics.
Frontiers Music Srl announces the upcoming release of Big City's new album, Sunwind Sails, on January 20. Hailing from Norway, Big City plays exquisite melodic hard rock with metal influences.
A new single and video, "I'm Somebody", is out today. Watch the video below. The band has also released a second single today, "Now". Listen below. Both singles are available to stream on all digital music services and you can pre-order/save Sunwind Sails here.
2021's Testify X was the first Big City album to feature the band's extremely talented new vocalist, Jørgen Bergersen. Jørgen had cut his teeth in a Europe cover band, which will give you a sense of his vocal style, and quickly impressed when singing original material for Big City. On the band's new album Sundwind Sails, the band takes the formula they've established on preceding releases and kicks everything up a notch, pushing their sound forward and accentuating their collective talents.
Big City was originally put together by guitarist and songwriter Daniel Olaisen (Blood Red Throne, Scariot). His plan was to use a vast amount of song ideas and 80's metal influenced guitar riffs that he had stockpiled over the years for a batch of songs with the right players. Frank Ørland, who also played with Daniel in Scariot (prog/thrash/heavy band featuring Communic and Spiral Architect members), was an obvious choice to bring to Big City as the second guitarist. Frank Nordeng Røe (Withem, Maraton, session drummer for Circus Maximus and Leprous) was brought in on drums after being discovered by Daniel via some internet research. The band was then completed with Jan Le Brandt on vocals and Geir Inge Olsen, who was brought in as a session bass player.
The band's debut album, Wintersleep, was initially released in 2014 and later on re-released by the Greek label Rock of Angels in 2018 as part of a deluxe edition of their second album, Big City Life. Big City played their very first live shows the same month of the international release, including Norway Rock Festival and Rock the Boat with Miguel Pereira (Withem) joining the band as their new permanent bass player.
In 2019, the band started working on a new album and brought in a new singer, Jørgen Bergersen from Rock the Night (Europe cover band) and the new demos caught the interest of Frontiers who moved swiftly to sign the band. In July 2021, Testify X was released and met with a warm reception from the melodic rock community.
Now, the band is prepared to deliver their newest slice of delicious melodic hard rock in the form of Sunwind Sails, which will surely see their star burning even brighter.
Tracklisting:
"I'm Somebody"
"Sons Of Desire"
"Human Mind"
"Collin's Looking For A Hideout"
"Diamond In The Rough"
"Now"
"After The Raid"
"Sunwind Sails"
"Silver Line"
"Sparks Of Eternity"
"I'm Somebody" video:
"Now":
Lineup:
Jørgen Bergersen- Vocals
Daniel Olaisen – Rhythm, lead, & acoustic guitars
Frank Ørland – Lead, rhythm, & acoustic guitars
Miguel Pereira – Bass
Frank Nordeng Røe – Drums & percussion
W.A.S.P. kicked off their 40 Years Live World Tour on October 28, at House Of Blues in Las Vegas, NV. The band have shared video for the opening medley, "On Your Knees / The Flame / The Torture Never Stops / Inside The Electric Circus". Watch below.
The setlist was as follows:
"On Your Knees / The Flame / The Torture Never Stops / Inside The Electric Circus"
"Crazy"
"L.O.V.E. Machine"
"Wild Child"
"Heaven's Hung in Black"
"Arena of Pleasure"
"The Idol"
"The Great Misconceptions of Me"
Encore:
"Chainsaw Charlie (Murders in the New Morgue)
"Blind in Texas
Encore 2:
"Animal (Fuck Like a Beast) / The Real Me"
"I Wanna Be Somebody"
Watch fan-filmed video from the show below:
W.A.S.P. have announced they are offering their first ever VIP meet and greet packages on the US leg of the 40 Years Live World Tour. VIP meet and greet packages are available for all dates on the US tour, including shows that are already sold out for show tickets.
In addition to meeting Blackie Lawless and getting a personal photo with him, fans will also be able get a photo holding Blackie's original B.C. Rich Widow bass guitar and get a photo standing next to "Elvis\rdblquote - Blackie's incredibly unique and one of a kind microphone stand.
To purchase your VIP ticket to meet Blackie Lawless visit WASPnation.com/tour and click the ticket link for your desired show. You will purchase the VIP ticket directly from the venue.
Blackie Lawless commented on offering VIP tickets, "For the 40th Anniversary Tour, and for our first time ever, we are offering VIP Meet and Greet tickets for all of you who\rquote ve wanted to have a genuine VIP Experience. I\rquote ll be doing a photo with everyone who participates as well as several other special offerings that will make this a pretty interesting package. But the one thing that will separate our VIP Experience from all others, and honestly the thing I\rquote m looking most forward to is, at the end of the photo and the autograph sessions I want to do a sit down Question and Answer session with all of you there . The only way I've ever wanted to do a VIP Experience is to have real time with all of you, not only to answer whatever questions you\rquote ve been wanting to ask me for however long, but it also gives me the chance to get to know you. Honestly, this was the only way I would agree to do this because I genuinely wanna hear what you have to say. So get ready and get your questions ready, but, be prepared, it\rquote s gonna work both ways, because if you think you wanna get inside my head\'85. then I\rquote m gonna get inside of yours."
The VIP Experience includes:
• Exclusive VIP Experience Meet and Greet with Blackie Lawless
• Personal Photo with Blackie
• Two Personal Items Signed by Blackie - No Guitars, Pick Guards or Instruments
• Signed VIP Tour Laminate
• $50 Credit at Merchandise Stand
• Set of 3 Blackie Lawless 40th Anniversary Guitar Picks
• Q&A with Blackie with all VIP's after all Photos and Autographs
• Take Photo Holding Blackie's original B.C. Rich Widow Bass Guitar
• Stand for photo next to "Elvis” - Blackie's Incredibly Unique and One of a Kind Microphone Stand
• Automatically Entered to Win a Signed Guitar at the End of the U.S. Tour
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