DISTURBED has released a Monster Filmmakers-produced performance video for the song "Never Again", filmed this past June in Tel Aviv, Israel. The track, from 2010's "Asylum" album, was written about the Holocaust and calls out people who deny it.
DISTURBED frontman David Draiman sang a mid-show a capella version of the Israeli national anthem "Hatikvah" during the band's Tel Aviv Expo concerts on June 28 and June 29.
DISTURBED previously performed in Israel in 2019 in Rishon Lezion.
In addition to the Hebrew-speaking Draiman, who once trained to be a cantor and contemplated becoming a rabbi, DISTURBED includes guitarist/keyboardist Dan Donegan, bassist John Moyer and drummer Mike Wengren.
Draiman's father and grandfather served in the Israel Defense Forces and both of the singer's maternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors. His grandfather was also a cantor in Israel.
In May, Draiman announced that DISTURBED would play a second concert in Israel this past June in response to an overwhelming demand after their first show sold out.
"Israel, I'm amazing at the love you're showing us," he said in an Instagram video, announcing DISTURBED's June 29 concert in Tel Aviv to follow the Expo Tel Aviv show. "And we're planning to invite a couple more acts from the amazing Israeli scene to join us as well. He concluded by saying, "I'm so excited to come to see all of you and celebrate your beautiful metal scene along with your music. See you on June 28 and now June 29 in Tel Aviv."
In December 2021, Draiman said that he had lost thousands of social media followers since publicizing his trip to Israel in November of that year.
On November 30, 2021, Draiman lit a candle at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel at the Old City site of the terror attack that killed South African immigrant Eli Kay. He later claimed that he lost 4,000 followers after sharing photos of his "demonstration" at the Western Wall.
Draiman spent much of 2014 and early 2015 linking to articles by conservative and pro-Israel blogs and has often used his fame to speak out against anti-Semitism.
The United States Holocaust Museum has featured Draiman in its "Voices On Anti-Semitism" podcasts.
Gold-selling, billion-streaming rock band Beartooth performed at the 2023 edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival. ARTE Concert has uploaded professionally-filmed video footage of the band's full set, which an be viewed below.
Setlist:
"Devastation"
"The Lines"
"Disease"
"Sunshine!"
"Beaten In Lips"
"Bad Listener"
"You Never Know"
"Hell Of It"
"Might Love Myself"
"Body Bag"
"Hated"
"Riptide"
"In Between"
"The Past Is Dead"
"The Last Riff"
Beartooth - Caleb Shomo, vocals; Zach Huston, guitars; Will Deely, guitars; Oshie Bichar, bass; and Connor Denis, drums - have announced their fifth album, The Surface. It will arrive October 13 via Red Bull Records. Pre-order it here.
Like its predecessors, The Surface is an intensely personal and powerful journey for Shomo, who has never shied away from sharing his demons in his music and with his fans. However, the frontman has turned a corner with a more optimistic outlook and demonstrates exceptional growth as both an artist and a human being through the songs that comprise the album.
"Beartooth's entire discography has been snapshots of my inner monologue and emotional state over the years with a recurring theme: depression and self-loathing," says Shomo. "It's been tough to understand why I've felt the way I do for so long. During the pandemic, I was faced with two distinct paths in life. One — I continue doing nothing to manage the realities of my mental health and continue down a path of self-destruction, ultimately ending in my demise. Two — choose to do the work needed to maintain a healthier relationship with myself, no matter how difficult or painful."
He continues, "This album is the story of my beginnings in the new world I've created for myself. One focused on health, self love, positivity, understanding, hard work, and most of all second chances. At the end of the day, life is short for all of us. We can't escape the end, so why not make friends with it and live in a world focused on living a personally fulfilling life."
And with that impactful mission statement in mind, the band has shared the video for the first single, "Might Love Myself." Watch below.
"I truly believe mental health starts with a healthy relationship with one's self," Shomo further explains."Self-love was something I never believed would be a part of my life. I would focus on my depression and my sadness, believing those part of me were always the most prominent in my mind. But through hard work comes results. Self-love had to be a choice; it can't be an emotion. Emotions are fleeting and can change with a sunset or a single word. Choosing to put your own health (mentally and physically) as the highest priority in your life has been the only path I've found to self love. It helped me realize what I'm capable of, how strong I am, and that progress is more important than any immediate fix to my emotions. This song is about the first moment I realized something was significantly shifting in my life."
Tracklisting:
"The Surface"
"Riptide"
"Doubt Me"
"The Better Me" (Feat. Hardy)
"Might Love Myself"
"Sunshine!"
"What’s Killing You"
"Look The Other Way"
"What Are You Waiting For"
"My New Reality"
"I Was Alive"
Edmonton’s Fall Of Earth will be hitting the road for their first coast-to-coast Canada Tour of 2023 and the fourth of the year since touring across Eastern Canada earlier this year. Venturing across the country in support of their sophomore album From The Ashes, released this past April, this forthcoming tour also welcomes rhythm guitarist Matthew Lindholm to enhance the band's live sound and new bassist Myles Packer to replace Aaron Winklmeier who is on the band's latest album.
The "Road To Purgatory Tour" will kick off on September 8th in Peace River, AB, and trek across nine Canadian Provinces for two months of 40-plus performances that will wrap up in Saskatoon, SK on November 18th. Confirmed dates are as listed:
September
8 - Peace River, AB - Sharks
9 - Fairview, AB - New Grand Hotel
12 - Vancouver, BC - Lana Lous
14 - Nanaimo, BC - The Queens
15 - Victoria, BC - Phoenix Bar & Grill (Headlining 3n1gmatic Island Takeover Festival)
16 - Maple Ridge, BC - The Wolf Bar
17 - Port Coquitlam, BC - The Bennett
18 - Chilliwack, BC - Whiskey Richards Bar & Lounge
21 - Kamloops, BC - The Blue Grotto
22 - Penticton, BC - Clancy’s Pub
23 - Salmon Arm, BC - Solid Urban Studio
28 - Calgary, AB - Blox Art Centre
29 - Lethbridge, AB - The Slice
30 - Taber, AB - The Pin
October
1 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
3 - Winnipeg, MB - Bulldog Event Centre
4 - Kenora – Bob’s Burger Bar
6 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Soo Blaster
8 - Kingston, ON - Overtime Sports Bar
11 - Ottawa, ON - House Of Targ
12 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar (lower level)
13 - Victoriaville, QC - Chanvra En Ville
14 - Rimouski, QC - Underground Rimouski
15 - Woodstock, NB - Montieth Manor
18 - Clark’s Corner, NB - The Hollywood Star Room
19 - Fredericton, NB - Broken Record Bar
20 - Saint John, NB - Panic Room
21 - Moncton, NB – Igloo Beverage Room
22 - Halifax, NS - Gus’ Pub
26 - Sherbrooke, QC - Le Murdoch
28 - Guelph, ON - ONYX Night Club
29 - Peterborough, ON - Erben
31 - Toronto, ON – Tail Of The Junction
November
1 - Hamilton, ON - Vertagogo
3 - Chatham, ON - USB (Ultimate Sports Bar)
4 - Barrie, ON - The Queens
5 - London, ON - Grogette's Living Room
8 - North Bay, ON – The Fraser
11 - Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub
15 - Winnipeg, MB - Bulldog Event Centre
16 - Portage La Prairie, MB - TBD
17 - Brandon, MB - TBD
18 - Saskatoon, SK - Black Cat Tavern
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, more melodic and groove-oriented, as well as utilizing a healthy balance between heavy sections and clean sections. The latest iteration of the Canadian outfit can be experienced with their recently released sophomore album, From The Ashes.
Creative, unpredictable, and melodic, with a wide variety of influences, Fall Of Earth offers a little bit of something for everyone. From The Ashes is available at this location.
Tracklisting:
“Medusa”
“The Dead And Soon To Be”
“Block Out The Sun”
“Path To Self Destruction
“Crossroads”
“From The Ashes”
“Shores Of War”
“Purgatory”
“Into The Woods”
“Block Out The Sun”:
“From The Ashes”:
“Purgatory”:
(Photo credit: Darla Woodley, Red Socks Photography)
Following their recent signing with AFM Records and a first single, "I Witness", taken off their upcoming new album, today, Bavarian modern metal act Dust Bolt has unleashed a music video for the thunderous album anthem "Sound And Fury"! The band will release their much-awaited, fifth studio album, titled Sound & Fury, on February 23, 2024. The pre-sale is now available at this location.
"'Sound And Fury' was created during the probably darkest and most difficult time for the band," Dust Bolt reveals. "First time in our lives, since we were kids, we were somehow separated from another and the dream we lived together seemed to be stopped. It was during the pandemic days, when the band even decided to take a break from one another, when (guitarist) Flo came up with this beautiful piece of music - not knowing how he would channel and express our feelings, leading to (vocalist / guitarist) LB putting some Dust Bolt unusual, but heartfelt vocals on it and having (drummer) Nico introducing a disco beat to a metal song in the end. We didn’t know what was happening - we just did it. We did know, there’d be a million voices saying we can’t put this up on a Dust Bolt record. But more than that we knew, as long as we stick together, we can do anything the *** we want. 'Sound And Fury' is a story about friendship, struggle, and inner turmoil. 'Sound And Fury' is a story about us. 'Sound And Fury' is a different, open and honest Dust Bolt, sharing their emotion with you and your friends."
February 2024 will see the Germans release their fifth album, Sound & Fury, via AFM Records, an album that refines and noisily redefines the Dust Bolt sound for a new era. Written during those isolated months of pandemic lockdown, the new record represents the peak of the band’s creativity, and a major leap forward in every department. The first Dust Bolt record to feature new bassist Tom Liebing, alongside Lenny Bruce, guitarist Florian Dehn and drummer Nico Remann, Sound & Fury grew from a long period of self-reflection that began when the world shut down.
Although still rooted in thrash and old school metal, the new record adds dazzling colour and diversity to the band’s trademark sound. With pummelling grooves, spine-tingling dynamics and a startling, part-melodic vocal performance from Lenny Bruce ( who also produced and recorded the new album with an analogue mix by Moritz Enders [Revolverheld, Silbermond]), the new songs mark the beginning of a new era of Dust Bolt destruction. Simultaneously catchier than any previous record and grittier and heavier than before, Sound & Fury is the sound of a great band realising their full potential.
"Starting the process for this record one and a half years ago, we had literally nothing. No money, no budgets, no label, no nothing. Nothing, but a vision. A vision and us," the four-piece recently revealed. "That´s how we started recordings drums in Berlin and that’s how we continued, doing it all by ourself in the end, having me producing the album together with a friend (and so felt fifth band member) in a basement in Munich. Finally, we couldn’t be happier than getting Moritz Enders for the Mix & Mastering on board, too, closing the circle to our ideas and vision. This album marks the beginning of a new era for Dust Bolt. For metal in and from Germany. This is just the beginning."
Tracklist:
"Leave Nothing Behind"
"I Witness"
"I Am The One"
"New Flame"
"Burning Pieces"
"Sound And Fury"
"Love & Reality"
"Bluedeep"
"Disco Nnection"
"You Make Me Feel (Nothing)"
"Feel The Storm"
"Little Stone"
Redemption have released a video for “Seven Minutes From Sunset”, featured on their new album, I Am The Storm, out now via AFM Records. Watch the clip below, and order the album here.
Tracklisting:
“I Am The Storm”
“Seven Minutes From Sunset”
“Remember The Dawn”
“The Emotional Depiction Of Light”
“Resilience”
“Action At A Distance”
“Turn It On Again”
“All This Time (And Not Enough)”
“The Emotional Depiction Of Light (Remix)”
“Red Rain”
Vinyl Bonus Tracks:
“The Pearl Clutchers” (feat. Chris Poland)
“The Far Side Of The Clouds” (feat. Henrik Danhage)
French/Irish alternative rock-metal outfit Molybaron, known for their energetic, hard-hitting sound, will release their new album Something Ominous on September 15 via InsideOutMusic/Sony Music.
Today, Molybaron share the epic third single from the album “Reality Show”, a high-energy track, fusing driving guitars and bass with soaring synths, alongside a catchy memorable vocal melody. Watch below.
Something Ominous comes as CD in sleeve pack, 180g black LP in 12’’ inch vinyl sleeve and digital album. Stream the singles and pre-order the album here.
Tracklisting:
"Something Ominous"
"Set Alight"
"Billion Dollar Shakedown"
"Breakdown"
"Anyway"
"Daylight Dies In Darkness"
"Dead On Arrival"
"Pendulum"
"Reality Show"
"Vampires"
"Reality Show" video:
"Breakdown" lyric video:
"Something Ominous" video:
In addition, Molybaron will support Soen on their upcoming Memorial Tour 2023 in Europe, starting September 20.
Formed in Paris, early 2015, by Dublin-born singer/guitarist Gary Kelly, Molybaron have become one of the most talked-about bands in the modern metal scene. Fusing together elements of alt rock, hard rock, and modern metal to create an eclectic, sonically dynamic experience, Molybaron deliver an intensely raw, original musical signature, appealing to fans across the genres.
Molybaron is:
Gary Kelly – Guitar/Vocals
Florian Soum - Lead Guitar
Sébastien de Saint-Angel – Bass
Camille Greneron – Drums
On August 18, Swiss metal legends, Eluveitie, performed at the 2023 edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival. ARTE Concert has uploaded professionally-filmed video footage of the band's full set, which an be viewed below.
Setlist:
"Exile Of The Gods"
"Nil"
"Epona" (Metal Version)
"Deathwalker"
"Lvgvs" (Metal Version)
"A Rose For Epona"
"Thousandfold"
"Ambiramus"
"Breathe"
"King"
"De Ruef Vo De Bärge"
Baroness, who are days away from the release of their new album, Stone (September 15, Abraxan Hymns), celebrate the 10-track collection’s arrival with a series of acoustic record store performances, kicking off with a release day outing at New York City’s Rough Trade.
“Independent music stores are a huge part of our musical background,” John Baizley shares. “We discovered so much music in them as teenagers; they undoubtedly had a profound effect on all of our development as young artists (they still do). We are thrilled to be able to travel around the East Coast this September to play stripped down sets in some of our favorite shops.”
Gina Gleason adds: “We’re really excited for the opportunity to play these intimate performances and to connect with the fans as well as the record shop owners and operators who have been so incredibly supportive of us over the years.”
The announcement of the in-stores comes in tandem with the release of a Baroness-directed video for the recently released song, “Shine”, which Gleason, noting the band’s slate of DIY videos for Stone, said “feels like our most cinematic endeavor thus far!” Watch the video below.
Baroness Record Store Tour:
September
15 - New York, NY - Rough Trade
16 - Poughkeepsie, NY - Darkside Records
17 - Baltimore, MD - The Sound Garden
18 - Richmond, VA - Plan 9 Music
19 - Raleigh, NC - Schoolkids Records
20 - Charleston, SC - Monster Music
21 - Atlanta, GA - Criminal Records
See store for admission details.
Stone pre-orders and pre-saves are available now, here. The album features original cover art by John Baizley and is available on a variety of formats, including an indie exclusive LP and ten limited-edition custom vinyl variants themed after each song on the album and designed by Baizley himself, as well as CD, a limited-edition deluxe CD featuring a bonus disc of live tracks recorded on the “Your Baroness” tour, and a limited blue cassette.
Stone album cover; original painting by John Baizley.
Stone tracklisting:
"Embers"
"Last Word"
"Beneath The Rose"
"Choir"
"The Dirge"
"Anodyne"
"Shine"
"Magnolia"
"Under The Wheel"
"Bloom"
"Sine" video:
"Beneath The Rose" video:
"Last Word" video:
Baroness also recently announced an expanded slate of openers who will be joining them for the upcoming “Sweet Oblivion Tour.” The complete list includes Agriculture, Chat Pile, Cloud Rat, Destiny Bond, Escuela Grind, Hoaxed, Imperial Triumphant, Jesus Piece, KEN Mode, Midwife, Portrayal of Guilt, Primitive Man, Sheer Mag, Soul Glo, Spotlights, Uniform, Vile Creature, Wayfarer and Zorn.
Italian blackened death metal band Huronian have revealed the official music video of its newest creative effort “Blazing Bolt Of Hatred” from the band’s upcoming EP Beyond Frozen Heights.
The EP is set to be released on September 15 via Gruesome Records. The music video is an intimate experience, showing the band members playing their hearts out to the music. Preorder the EP on Bandcamp.
“Blazing Bolt Of Hatred” can be described as a cosmic rollercoaster of ethereal themes. Mixed with the band’s passion for classic melodic death/black metal, this makes the listening experience of the song truly unique. The lyrics of “Blazing Bolt Of Hatred” create grandiose images of cosmic proportions and explore a beautiful yet frightening world.
The band stated about the song:
“‘Blazing Bolt of Hatred’ is one of those tracks that didn't need to be changed/reworked much during the songwriting process. It was immediately accepted in its entirety - straightforward, aggressive, and full of obscure melody. Lyrics deal with Milton's opus Paradise Lost, bringing the listener into an obscure and mysterious trip filled with fear, beauty, and vengeance.”
Huronian was born in early 2020 by the will of DL and UMP, with the intention of recreating the sound of the golden age of melodic death metal and death/black metal, filtering the influences in a completely personal way.
After a few months MM joined the band as drummer and the trio recorded Demo 2020, a digital release containing two unreleased tracks and included a cover Dissection’s “Heaven’s Damnation”. Despite the global pandemic preventing the band from working in the rehearsal room, Huronian managed to complete the work on the debut album As Cold As A Stranger Sunset very quickly, thanks to the remote work and the great conceptual harmony between the members. It came out in October 2021 via Dolorem records (CD version) and Gruesome Records (tape version).
In the meantime, the live line-up has been completed with the inclusion of two session musicians respectively on the bass and the second guitar. The summer of 2022 saw Huronian playing in Portugal and Spain supporting the release and in February 2023 the band teamed up with French legends Mercyless as supporting act and performed three shows on a mini-tour in Italy.
The music was written by Umberto Poncina. The song arrangement was done by Huronian. The lyrics were written by Daniele Lupidi. The song was recorded by Umberto Poncina and Claudio Corvo Mulas. Drums and vocals were recorded at Art Distillery Studios. The song was mixed and mastered by Umberto Poncina. The photos were taken by Xaendar Movie of Andrea Bennici. The artwork was designed by Daniele Lupidi. The video was created by Xaendar Movie of Andrea Bennici.
Tracklisting:
“The Guild (Intro)”
“Torturer’s Creed”
“Over Frozen Heights Pt. 1”
“Over Frozen Heights Pt. 2”
“Blazing Bolt Of Hatred”
Professionally filmed video of METALLICA performing the song "Hardwired" on August 11 at Stade Olympique in Montreal, Quebec, Canada can be seen below.
As previously reported, METALLICA drew nearly 80,000 fans to the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday (August 25) at the first of the band's two shows at the venue. It was the biggest crowd in the history of the SoCal stadium, which opened in September 2020. The San Francisco Bay Area-based metal legends drew a similarly sized capacity crowd on Sunday, August 27.
Fans purchased more than 156,000 tickets for the two-concert stand, which was part of METALLICA's "M72" world tour.
The "M72" tour features a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage, allowing promoters to sell more tickets than usual. And since METALLICA's stage is hollow in the center, there is even more space available to accommodate fans.
According to Billboard, METALLICA's giant ring-shaped stage also includes eight towers of monitors and speakers, with each of the towers is anchored by a raised platform that doubles as VIP seating, with eight folding chairs decorated with the black-and-yellow color scheme of the band's new album, "72 Seasons".
Taylor Swift's recent six-night bow at SoFi was attended by 420,000 ticket-holders, with 70,000-plus in attendance each time.
The "M72" tour launched in late April in Amsterdam.
A portion of proceeds from the shows go to METALLICA's All Within My Hands foundation, which seeks to assist and enrich the lives of members of the communities who have supported the band and combat food insecurity; provides disaster relief; and bestows scholarships.
METALLICA's production travels in 87 trucks — 45 for the band and its setup, plus two groups of 21 each for the steel stage and towers. There are 130 people in the band's crew, plus 40 steelworkers, local hires and truck drivers.
METALLICA's manager Cliff Burnstein told Billboard that between 80% and 90% of fans at each concert are attending both shows.
METALLICA's two-night stand at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas earlier this month was livestreamed to movie theaters across the globe. It marked METALLICA's first appearance in Texas since November 2021, when the band played before, during and after a Triad Combat event at Globe Life Field.
Best known as the driving force behind Finnish metal icons AMORPHIS, guitarist Tomi Koivusaari steps into his own spotlight with BJØRKØ, his long-awaited solo project. A journey 15 years in the making, "Heartrot", the project's debut album, will be released this December through Svart Records.
The album's lead single, "The Heartroot Rots", rekindles Koivusaari's collaboration with Jeff Walker of CARCASS, a fitting choice for one of the heaviest tracks on the record.
For years, Koivusaari has been the one of the creative backbones of AMORPHIS, a band synonymous with innovation in heavy music. Now, with BJØRKØ ("Birch Island" in English),Koivusaari ventures beyond band dynamics to showcase his distinct artistic vision.
Unfettered by the structural limitations of a traditional band, "Heartrot" stands as a testament to Koivusaari's versatility and depth. "It's a collection of various songs and points of view," he says. "I didn't want a traditional approach to limit my artistic expression."
"Heartrot" serves as an emotional panorama, each track capturing a unique sentiment. Koivusaari describes it as "a soundtrack to an imaginary film" replete with a "strong visual connection to nature and an ever-present sense of melancholy."
BJØRKØ is far from a solo endeavor in the traditional sense. It features an all-star lineup of vocalists in multiple languages, contributing to an atmosphere that's rich and multi-layered. The talent of Waltteri Väyrynen (OPETH, ex-PARADISE LOST),Lauri Porra (STRATOVARIUS) and Janne Lounatvuori (HIDRIA SPACEFOLK) adds a rock-solid foundation to Koivusaari's artistry.
Finnish tech-death masters, Omnivortex, have released the second single from their upcoming sophomore album entitled Circulate. The new single, "Of Aeons Past", was inspired by the horror stories of HP Lovecraft:
Vocalist / guitarist Severi Saarioja comments: "As on our debut album, there are some references to HP Lovecraft, and his cosmic horror stories and Cthulhu-mythos. As for 'Of Aeons Past'. there are no direct references, but the stories of his has been a big inspiration lyric-wise. You can sense some of the horrors in the music video, but done kinda in a tongue-in-cheek manner. Musically, the song is all about fast paced spider riffs, slap bass, endless blasting, and terrifying monster voices. As it should be."
"Of Aeons Past" is available via digital platforms here. Check out the official video below.
Circulate will be released on September 29th via Inverse Records.
Tracklist:
"Dwells"
"Transforming To Pale Mist"
"Of Aeons Past"
"Slumbering In Black"
"Mechanical Motions"
"Husk"
"Harbingers Of Cosmic Death"
"Endless"
Line-up:
Mikael Reinikka - bass
Severi Saarioja – guitar, vocals
Mikko Pylkkö - guitar
Aaro Österman – drums, vocals
Vitalines have announced the upcoming release of their new album, Wheels Within Wheels, on October 20. The first single and video from the album, “Judgement Day Is Here” are out today. Watch the clip below, and pre-order/pre-save the album here.
Vitalines is a new melodic rock alliance formed by two real luminaries of the genre. On one side, the “voice from heaven” Robbie LaBlanc, singer of Blanc Faces and Find Me who has also recently appeared on the T3nors’ debut album, Naked Soul. On the other, one of the most esteemed and capable songwriters and musicians of the genre, Swedish studio wizard Tommy Denander.
“Robbie LaBlanc has been at the top of my wish list of amazing singers to work with for a long time so when this great idea came from Frontiers I was beyond thrilled to create something really strong and hopefully the start of many more albums,” explains Tommy Denander. “Vitalines means ‘life lines’ and both me and Robbie share a long life of living with sincere passion for music and that comes together on a very mutual ground when we work together.”
Robbie LaBlanc shares “a big thank you to Frontiers Records for allowing me to record this great record with Tommy. I hope all of you enjoy it. God bless you all.”
The two musicians have been planning to work together on a pure melodic rock album for several years and when the right time came, both took immediately the chance to build up another exciting musical alliance. The bar was set very high and the result is the fantastic Wheels Within Wheels: an amazing journey between melodies, guitar riffs, superb keys and spectacular vocals.
All the Toto, Journey, Survivor and Foreigner fans will find something to love on this album as Tommy outdid himself especially for the superb level of songwriting, while Robbie probably delivered his best vocal performance ever. Simply an absolute must for all AOR fans and one of the musical highlights of the entire season.
Wheels Within Wheels tracklisting:
"Judgement Day Is Here"
"Love Not Fantasy"
"Hello World - We Need To Talk"
"Cards From Another Game"
"Love and Thunder"
"When Spirits Fight"
"You Never Know With Magic"
"Life Waits For No One"
"You’re the Reason I Am"
"Wheels Within Wheels"
"Nothing But Silence"
"Judgement Day Is Here" video:
Lineup:
Robbie LaBlanc: vocals
Tommy Denander: Guitars, bass, keyboards
Featuring:
Neil Anami: Drums & percussion
Micke Devine: Backing vocals on track 2
Multi-platinum hard rock icons Extreme - Gary Cherone (vocals), Nuno Bettencourt (guitar), Pat Badger (bass), and Kevin Figueiredo (drums) - have released a static video for "Here's To The Losers", a track from their new album, SIX, out now via earMusic. Check it out below:
SIX was recorded at Nuno Bettencourt’s home studio in Los Angeles. The album swings between unapologetic fits of fret-burning hard rock and intimately introspective balladry. Order SIX here.
SIX tracklisting:
"Rise"
"#Rebel"
"Banshee"
"Other Side Of The Rainbow"
"Small Town Beautiful"
"The Mask"
"Thicker Than Blood"
"Save Me"
"Hurricane"
"X Out"
"Beautiful Girls"
"Here's To The Losers"
"X Out":
"Hurricane":
"Save Me":
"The Mask:
"Small Town Beautiful":
“Other Side Of The Rainbow” video:
"Banshee" video:
"#Rebel" video:
"Rise" video:
Extreme's headlining “Thicker Than Blood” world tour is underway. It will be followed by stops in Australia and Japan in September and has already sold-out dates in cities including Detroit, Hampton Beach, Tokyo and Yokohama. The band also announced an additional jaunt beginning November 27 in Newcastle, UK and wrapping December 16 in Milan, IT.
Special guests Living Colour (who will also be supporting Extreme on their US and Australian shows) will appear on the UK leg and The Last Internationale will appear across Europe. Tickets at extreme-band.com.
Tour dates:
August
29 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox #
September
6 - Perth, AU - Regal Theatre #
8 - Adelaide, AU - Hindley Street Music Hall #
10 - Melbourne, AU - Forum #
12 - Sydney, AU - Enmore Theatre #
13 - Brisbane, AU - Fortitude Music Hall #
17 - Sendai, JP - Sendai Gigs
19 - Yokohama, JP - KT Zepp Yokohama
21 - Tokyo, JP - Hitomi Memorial Hall
25 - Nagoya, JP - Shimin Kaikan Hall
26 - Osaka, JP - Zepp Namba
November
27 - Newcastle, UK - O2 City Hall #
28 - Glasgow, UK - O2 Academy #
30 - Manchester, UK - O2 Academy #
December
1 - Wolverhampton, UK - Civic Hall #
3 - Bristol, UK - O2 Academy #
4 - London, UK - O2 Forum #
8 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7 Konzertfabrik *
10 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys *
11 - Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall *
12 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg Max *
14 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix *
16 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz *
# with Living Colour
* with The Last Internationale
Ohio-based old-school thrash outfit, War Curse, will unleash their third full-length, Confession, on October 20 via Blacklight Media.
Having built a devout fan base for their thrash-oriented metallic attack starting with 2015's Final Days and cemented with 2019's Eradication, War Curse returns in 2023 a more refined animal. In fact, it could be argued that the ten tracks of Confession stand as War Curse's Black Album, having the courage to move beyond what they're known for and to focus on songwriting, groove, dynamics, and melody, without compromising on muscle one iota.
"We experimented with new sounds, old sounds, took in new influences, old influences, and let the songs come together as organically as possible," notes guitarist Justin Roth. "As far as our current direction, the music we consume is all over the map, a lot of it way outside of the metal sphere. I hear bands doing new, interesting things with their music and I want to be able to do the same with mine. If I lose my thrash card for it, oh well, I'll hand in my battle vest."
With extensive touring plans in 2020 falling apart due to the pandemic, War Curse spent several months in purgatory before deciding to dust off their instruments and start writing a new album. With the uncertainty of not knowing if they would ever get a chance to play music again, it was speculated that this could be the band's swan song. With the world in a strange place, motivation came and went, reflecting the tumultuous day to day change in information. This led to the writing process taking a year however it was time well spent.
"We demo recorded every song two or three times, picked them apart, edited them, and then rehearsed them in a room together. We allowed the process of collaboration and experimentation to take us wherever the wave carried us. Compared to previous releases, we were a lot more critical of ourselves during the writing and recording of this album. We set out to make an album in the truest sense of the word, not just a collection of songs."
This is very much apparent when listening to Confession, from the agitated, muscular title track with its widescreen chorus, to the driving "Power Of The Powerless," or the equal parts triumphant and steamrolling "Sowing Division," every track standing on its own while taking its place in the overall picture. A major aspect in pushing their sound forward is the vocal contributions of Blaine Gordon, who emanates confidence in ways he has not previously. "On Eradication, Blaine replaced our previous vocalist in the studio, on very short notice, and mimicked what was already written. This was the first time he got to add his creative input. He pushed us in a more melodic direction, and [guitarist Joshua] Murphy and I backed him up with guitar parts that felt harmonious with his vision. Likewise, when a part called for heavy or dirty vocals, Blaine returned the favor tenfold."
In advance of the release of Confession, today the band unveils the record's first single, "Miracle Broker", and its accompanying video. A hard hitting, vibey, melodic stampede that throws back to the band's hardcore roots, "Miracle Broker" takes on shady televangelists. Manipulative figureheads create mass psychosis through masterfully crafted brainwashing campaigns and suckers fall into the trap.
Elaborates Roth, "'Miracle Broker' is an unapologetic knife to the chest of corrupt religious figureheads, masquerading as modern day Gods. For years I've tried to disguise my hardcore roots, keeping our songwriting far away from outside influences. 'Miracle Broker' is the result of breaking that rule and writing a song for myself, not for an audience. It's moody, it's heavy, it gets straight to the point, and it's catchy as all hell. Consider it 'crossover reimagined.'"
Watch War Curse's "Miracle Broker" video below.
All songs on Confession were recorded, mixed, and mastered by Neil Tuuri at Amish Electric Chair Studios. The album art, layout, design, and photography were handled by Justin Roth. As an added bonus, the record includes a cover of Grip Inc.'s "Rusty Nail." Notes Roth, "Covering 'Rusty Nail' was our way of honoring our former bassist Jason Vie Brooks (Grip Inc., Exhorder). Blaine was tasked with filling the massive shoes of late Grip Inc. vocalist Gus Chambers, and the remaining band members agree that he did so with flying colors."
Confession will be released on CD, LP, and digitally. Find pre-orders here.
Confession tracklisting:
"The Nothing (That is Me)"
"Fortress Of Agony"
"Confession"
"Miracle Broker"
"Power Of The Powerless"
"The Convoy"
"Return To Dust"
"Sowing Division"
"Rusty Nail" (Grip Inc. cover)
"Illusion Of Choice"
"Miracle Broker" video:
War Curse lineup:
Blaine Gordon - vocals
Justin Roth - guitar
Joshua Murphy - guitar
James Goetz - drums
Johnnie Wallace - bass
FLAT BLACK, the new band featuring former FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Jason Hook alongside singer Wes Horton, bassist Nick Diltz and drummer Rob Pierce, has released the official music video for the song "Halo".
"Halo" and the other previously released song "It's Your Lack of Respect" will appear on FLAT BLACK's debut album, which will arrive later this year via Fearless Records. The LP, produced by Hook, was recorded at both Hook's home studio and The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas.
"I feel like FLAT BLACK is a secret I've been keeping for three years," Hook said. "It's finally time to unleash this band on the world."
Having left his prior band in February 2020, which was right before COVID-19 put the entire world on pause, Hook wanted to assume creative control and let his musical free spirit soar in a project that was truly his. He opted to gamble on himself. With great risk comes great reward and the decision to form FLAT BLACK clearly worked out in his favor.
"As a musician, I crave freedom and I wasn't ready to stop creating," Hook shared.
"Life is short," he continued. "We all want to feel satisfied and happy with what we are trying to accomplish in life."
The pandemic shutdown allowed him the opportunity to assemble the right musicians and carefully craft their debut album. FLAT BLACK is armed with an arsenal of riffs that'll rattle your teeth loose from your gums, stadium-sized hooks, arena-ready anthems, and choruses that are guaranteed to touch a nerve. All of those factors combined make FLAT BLACK poised for success.
The origin stories of the rest of the players are indicative of a lifelong love of music and plenty of road-worn experience. The desire to play courses through their veins and propels them forward, which is why they all meshed so well with Hook.
Horton was introduced to music at age 13, thanks to his sister and Guitar Hero. He honed his vocal chops by playing in local bands and making online videos. Various music industry friends and acquaintances would become the connective tissue between himself and Hook. Horton knew he wanted to be a frontman, and FLAT BLACK afforded him that opportunity. Wes loves the fact that his bandmates prioritize songcraft — and that allows him to be the singer he has always wanted to be.
Diltz, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, is the son of a legendary rock music photographer who brought him to concerts during his formative years. He recalls being inspired by watching a VHS video of U2 performing at legendary venue Red Rocks. Seeing fans clamoring for a piece of Bono in the footage is a vision that never left his head. This first exposure to the power of a true rock icon solidified Nick's destiny as a live performer.
Pierce hails from Nashville, a.k.a. Music City. His dad was a race car driver and his grandfather was a pastor. He grew up racing go karts and at first, wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps until he joined the fourth grade band and was bitten by the music bug. He chose the snare drum over the saxophone and from that moment on, music was the only thing that mattered. Rob got his first drum kit at age 11, which he set up in his dad's car shop. He learned to play his instrument next to 1,000 horsepower engines, which influences his highly energetic style to this day.
The chemistry between the players in FLAT BLACK is palpable. And while FLAT BLACK's songs are built to take up real estate in the brains of fans for weeks at a time, the true nature of the band's material is meant to be experienced live. FLAT BLACK are now ready to hit the road and bring these brutal bangers to the masses live and in the flesh.
FLAT BLACK made its live debut on August 24 at the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California as the support act for GODSMACK.
FLAT BLACK is:
Jason Hook - Guitar
Wes Horton - Vocals
Rob Pierce - Drums
Nicholas Diltz - Bass
In October 2020, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH confirmed that it had officially parted ways with Hook eight months earlier during the band's sold-out European arena tour. He has since been replaced by renowned British virtuoso Andy James, who made his recording debut with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on "Broken World", a song that was included on the second installment of the group's greatest-hits collection, "A Decade Of Destruction - Volume 2".
After his recovery from emergency gallbladder surgery at the end of 2019, Hook had to leave midway from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's tour of Europe to address further complications.
Jason, who joined FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH in 2009, said about his exit from the band: "As for the reason I'm leaving… well, there really isn't just one. I've been in bands my entire life and I feel like I've done all the good that I can here. It's time to pass the baton and move on to new challenges."
On October 6, Epica's new digital EP, Live At The AFAS Live, will be finally available, and today the band reveals another uplifting hit with "Beyond The Matrix".
Coen Janssen comments: “This is our ‘ultimate’ live track! We haven’t found an audience yet that didn’t bounce with is during the chorus. Can you imagine how awesome it looked to see the whole AFAS jump simultaneously?! A great view to end the show full of adrenaline!!”
For those who don’t want to wait another month to enjoy the live videos from the band’s biggest home country headline show to date, you can now tune in to the new heavy metal streaming platform Thunderflix, where Epica's latest BluRay release from 2021, Omega Alive, is exclusively available as full stream – check it out and subscribe to see many more metal shows here.
Epic have announced the vinyl reissue of 2012’s Requiem For The Indifferent on transparent red 2LP via Nuclear Blast on October 13. A 4K HD remastered video of “Storm The Sorrow” is available below. Head to epicamerch.com to pre-order.
Mark Jansen on the album—from over a decade ago: "This title refers to the end of an era. Mankind can no longer stick their head in the sand for the things that are happening around us. We are facing many challenges. There is an enormous tension between different religions and cultures, wars, natural disasters and a huge financial crisis, which is getting out of control. More than ever we will need each other to overcome these problems. As we are all connected; the universe, earth, nature, animals and human beings, this period in time will be the prelude to the end for those who still don't want to, or simply won't see it. A Requiem For The Indifferent but also a possibility for a new beginning with great new chances!"
Tracklisting:
Side A
“Karma – Prelude”
“Monopoly On Truth”
“Storm The Sorrow”
“Delirium”
Side B
“Internal Warfare”
“Requiem For The Indifferent”
“Anima – Interlude”
“Guilty Demeanor”
Side C
“Deep Water Horizon”
“Stay The Course”
“Deter The Tyrant Side”
Side D
“Avalanche”
“Serenade Of Self-Destruction”
“Nostalgia”
“Twin Flame (Regular Version)”
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