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)”
On the full moon, Thursday, August 31, the second full moon of August, Peter Gabriel releases the ninth track from the album i/o. This month the song is "Love Can Heal" and the first version to be heard is the Bright-Side Mix, by Mark ‘Spike’ Stent.
Written and produced by Peter Gabriel, "Love Can Heal" is ‘a dreamy, experiential piece with some abstract imagery, says Gabriel, "a carpet of sound, a tapestry where things are woven together, but not necessarily supposed to stick out, but just form part of a whole."
"Love Can Heal" is a song that has been performed during the recent i/o tour, but actually had its live premiere during Peter Gabriel and Sting’s Rock, Paper, Scissors tour of the North America of 2016.
"‘Love Can Heal' was written around 2016 and I did start playing it midway through the tour and dedicated it to Jo Cox, who was the British MP brutally murdered by an extremist and someone that I had met at a leadership conference. I think the song fits right in to the themes of the album in the sense that i/o is about feeling and being connected to everything and in a way, the next evolution of being connected to things is a feeling of love for everything."
Though not directly related to the song, there is this peripheral connection and inspiration that comes from Gabriel’s interest in the parallels between how people, over many centuries, have used psychedelic drugs for mystical experiences and the current clinical research of many Universities into their healing powers – "it sounds trite just to say ‘love can heal’, but I really believe that it is a key element and that when people feel interaction, warmth, giving, part of something alive and not isolated, that they're much more likely to do well and be able to offer more themselves. The music began with this meditative, repeated sequence and the essence of all these sounds was trying to create a sensual palette. With the work that Hans-Martin Buff's been doing on the immersive mix too, you're getting this sense of being touched in many places and it should be a place just to drift off into. That was my aim."
"Love Can Heal" was primarily recorded at Real World Studios, Bath and The Beehive, London but it also features live elements from Linnea Olsson (cello and vocal) and Jennie Abrahamson (vocal), ‘wonderful musicians’, recorded in Toronto during the Rock, Paper, Scissors tour. Their two voices are joined by those of Melanie Gabriel and also Ríoghnach Connolly on lead vocals creating ‘a warm, soft vocal blanket that surrounds you.’
This second August full moon release comes with artwork from the artist Antony Micallef and his work, ‘a small painting of what I think love looks like’.
"Antony Micallef is a stunning painter. I'd seen some of his portraits and they are with thick layers of paint, so there were references to Auerbach and Bacon for me, just very physical, very powerful and I just fell in love. Those paintings, in some ways, are more brutal, but this one is so tender and I think Antony manages to capture a lot of that intimate tenderness around love that is very hard to put into pictures. I was delighted when he was happy to be part of this."
Antony Micallef adds: "I was listening to a few of the songs and it's interesting because it's like putting on clothes and going ‘oh, this suits me’ or ‘that doesn't suit me.’ With Love Can Heal I could see my images coming up when I was hearing it so you begin to home-in and that's how it starts. I love artists who take risks and Peter’s always chopped and changed and I like to do that too with my work and you know it doesn't just rest on this one thing."
Micallef also collaborated with Aardman on the video that accompanies the song, "working with Aardman was amazing," he says. "I love processes, especially in other mediums and so I found the mechanics of how this stuff comes together really interesting."
"Obviously I worked quite a lot with Aardman in the past," says Gabriel, "and Antony loved their work, so we talked to them, not sure if this was something that they might want to do or not, and they did a beautiful job. Very simple, but very strong and I'm very pleased with it."
"Love Can Heal" comes with differing mix approaches from Mark ‘Spike’ Stent (Bright-Side Mix), released on the full moon 31 August, and also from Tchad Blake (Dark-Side Mix) and Hans-Martin Buff’s Atmos mix (In-Side Mix), released in mid-September on the next new moon.
Further details on the release plans for the full album will follow.
The i/o tour continues in North America in September and October.
Tour dates:
September
8 - Quebec City, Quebec - Videotron Centre
9 - Ottawa, Ontario - Canadian Tire Centre
11 - Toronto, Ontario - Scotiabank Arena
13 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
14 - Boston, Massachusetts - TD Garden
16 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Wells Fargo Center
18 - New York, New York - Madison Square Garden
20 - Washington, D.C. - Capital One Arena
22 - Buffalo, New York - KeyBank Center
23 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - PPG Paints Arena
25 - Columbus, Ohio - Nationwide Arena
27 - Cleveland, Ohio - Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
29 - Detroit, Michigan - Little Caesars Arena
30 - Chicago, Illinois - United Center
October
2 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Fiserv Forum
3 - St. Paul , Minnesota - Xcel Energy Center
7 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Rogers Arena
8 - Seattle, Washington - Climate Pledge Arena
11 - San Francisco, California - Chase Center
13 - Los Angeles, California - Kia Forum
14 - Palm Springs, California - Acrisure Arena
16 - Denver , Colorado - Ball Arena
18 - Austin, Texas - Moody Center
19 - Dallas, Texas - American Airlines Center
21 - Houston, Texas - Toyota Center
Swedish-American atmospheric melancholic duo, Silent Skies, are releasing their new full-length, Dormant, tomorrow, September 1 via Napalm Records. Today, the international ambient collaboration unveils one more single, “Reset”.
Diving deep into philosophical and existential themes through their poetic, reflective lyrics and tender piano melodies, with “Reset”, Silent Skies presents yet another heart-wrenching and beautiful original composition. The single is accompanied by a music video, directed by the international joint team of Patric Ullaeus and Paul Moore, which offers an evocative visual rendition of the song's central themes.
Silent Skies add: “Our third single, 'Reset,' from the album Dormant, explores issues of identity and inner spirit. Many of us struggle with feelings of dissatisfaction, a lack of inner peace, and pressure to meet societal expectations. The journey of self-actualization is difficult, and both external and internal forces work against us. Each day presents new obstacles as we strive for serenity and purpose. 'Reset' serves as an introspective examination, a candid and unfiltered reflection of our deepest existential worries, and, most importantly, an invocation to rediscover, revitalize, and reconnect with our true selves.”
Watch the official video for “Reset” below:
Silent Skies’ third offering is melancholic and calming, yet effervescent and incandescent, expanding the duo’s sonic universe in every direction - it is the result of brave sonic experimentation married to the tastefully artistic aesthetic that defines the group. Throughout the varied peaks and valleys of their compositions, it is their powers of expression, and reflection on the human experience - in their own words, “conversations with life, about life” - that give their music the power to speak to a vast array of lived experiences, and reach people with diverse tastes, as long as they are interested in appreciating art as a reflection of life itself.
Silent Skies on Dormant: “We are thrilled to present Dormant, our third record, crafted with immense joy and offered with satisfaction and eagerness to share our heartfelt dedication over the past 18 months. With Dormant, Silent Skies propels itself further into more uncharted territory, embarking on a journey whose destination remains unknown even to us. Like passengers on a train, we embrace the excitement and exhilaration of the ride, relishing in the uncertainty of our future direction. The freedom of creativity is a vital source of energy for us during the composition and production journey for our music. Within Dormant, you will find a multitude of intricate details, a plethora of musical landscapes, and an abundance of concepts, all waiting for you to dive in and explore their depths. At its core, Dormant delves into the awakening of a sleeping or forgotten consciousness, urging it to be present and take action in the now.
It is an album that, from the early stages, felt like a profound conversation with life, about life. It encapsulates the ongoing dialogue and introspection with our inner selves as we seek equilibrium and harmony. Ultimately, it is a realization that what we yearn for is a stillness of the mind and soul — a sense of contentment, pride, and connection with what is our most authentic selves. We believe that you will find resonance with many of the reflections we share within Dormant, and we eagerly anticipate continuing this dialogue with all of you.
This journey has only just begun. Let’s awaken together. Tom & Vikram”
Dormant will be available in the following formats:
- 1CD Digisleeve
- 2LP Gatefold Black
- Digital Album
"Construct"
"New Life"
"Churches"
"Just Above The Clouds"
"Reset"
"Tides"
"The Real Me"
"Light Up The Dark"
"Dormant"
"The Last On Earth"
"The Trooper" (Bonus Track)
"Dancing In The Dark" (Bonus Track)
"Numb" (Bonus Track)
“Churches” video:
“Construct” video:
"The Trooper" visualizer:
"Numb" visualizer:
Silent Skies are:
Tom S. Englund - Vocals, Production
Vikram Shankar - Piano, Keyboards, Production
Game Over has released a video for “Synthetic Dreams” (made by Rock For Rookies), first single taken from the new album Hellframes to be released on October 20 through Scarlet Records.
Recorded at Raptor Recording Studio and spine-chillingly illustrated by the horror master Mario López, Hellframes will be released in the following formats:
- jewel case CD
- vinyl (black/marbled red limited 100 copies/marbled blue limited 100 copies)
- digital
Hellframes is a neck-breaking album where Game Over keep delivering their rabid, insane brand of thrash metal and pushing the songwriting out of the comfort zone at the same time. A frantic mix of thrashing madness, punk attitude, infecting melodies and some creepy obscure atmospheres.
Lyrically-wise, a couple of tracks are intricately woven together, telling the tale of a 15th century priest who birthed an occult cult, re-discovered in modern times through technology and unleashing unspeakable evil from hell. Other songs delve into the depths of human existence and mind – exploring pain, fear, and the relentless struggles we face every day.
Artwork by Mario López:
Tracklisting:
“Visions”
“Call Of The Siren”
“Path Of Pain”
“The Cult”
“Count Your Breaths”
“Atonement”
“Deliver Us”
“Synthetic Dreams”
“My World Dies Screaming”
“Hellframes” (feat. Dome/Fulci & TV Crimes)
After a successful festival season, Austrian sci-fi death metal machine Mastic Scum has released "Create And Destroy", another video for a song from its current longplayer Icon. The album, full of massively groovy tech/death anthems, was released last fall and is available as CD as well as on red vinyl in stores, from the label or from the band.
In the following weeks the band will also play live shows in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Dates:
September
9 – St. Martin, Austria – Rockshock Theatre
29 – Eastend Berlin, Germany – Eastend Berlin
October
14 – Vysoke Myto, Czech Republic – Massacre in VM #10
Rise Above recording artists, Blood Ceremony, share with us a new single, entitled "Powers Of Darkness", accompanied by a new music video. The track, taken from their fifth studio album, The Old Ways Remain (released in May of this year), "Powers Of Darkness" finds the band tapping in to new areas of mystical melodies, with poptastic allure.
As founding member Sean Kennedy comments: “It’s been a decade since our last music video, and we're thrilled to unveil a new promo for ‘Powers of Darkness.' We drew inspiration from iconic ‘60s music programs such as Beat Club and Ready, Steady, Go!, and director Mark Cira captured a moody, live-off-the-floor atmosphere. The song is about invoking sinister elements, so there’s a heavy dose of pop-occult madness threatening to intrude on the performance.”
Watch the new clip below.
Seven years have passed since Blood Ceremony last released a full-length album, but that all changes in 2023. Pieced together during lockdown months, and brought to fruition with a host of esteemed special guests, the Canadians’ fifth album, The Old Ways Remain, is diverse, hypnotic and eminently groovy.
The new songs push Blood Ceremony’s sound into new territory while also honouring the atavistic ethos that has led them to such triumphs in the past. Initial plans to repeat the successful formula that birthed Lord of Misrule and fly to the UK to record again at Toe Rag Studios in London, fell victim to Covid restrictions, and so Sean and his comrades – Alia O’Brien (vocals/flute/organ), Lucas Gadke (bass) and Michael Carillo (drums) – switched to a simpler but equally satisfying Plan B.
“By late 2021, we realized that if we were ever going to finish a new album, we’d just have to record locally and do it ourselves,” says guitarist Sean Kennedy. “And that’s what we did. We started rehearsing the material again and were still really excited by it. Once we revisited everything, we had a new burst of energy. We found a local studio that had what we needed and we were off! Recording nearby allowed us to bring in friends like Laura Bates from (fellow folk-doom crew) Völur to play fiddle, Joseph Shabason added saxophone to 'Eugenie', and Mike Eckert played pedal steel on 'Hecate'. We produced ourselves, along with our friend, Paul Keyahas. We worked with an engineer named Chris Snow who immediately got what we were trying to do. Richard Whittaker mixed the tracks at his London, UK, studio, and we think he did a great job.”
A vital testament to Blood Ceremony’s collective efficacy, The Old Ways Remain is an album for those who love great songs, great riffs and cryptic tales from the outer limits. Order the album here.
Tracklisting:
“The Hellfire Club”
“Ipissimus”
“Eugenie”
“Lolly Willows”
“Powers Of Darkness”
“The Bonfires At Belloc Coombe”
“Widdershins”
“Hecate”
“Mossy Wood”
“Song Of The Morrow”
American black metal overlords, Wolves In The Throne Room, have released the official music video for "Twin Mouthed Spring", from their Crypt Of Ancestral Knowledge EP, out September 29.
Says the band: “Wandering away from the lush meadow, the spirit ventures into the mirrored depths of the underworld, drawn to an encounter with the master of the dark throne. The spell of lunar madness is broken and the stone of truth, aglow with radiant energy, crackles with newborn power.”
“Twin Mouthed Spring” features vocals and acoustic guitar performed by founding Wolves In The Throne Room drummer Cedar Serpent who has recently returned to the live stage after a years long hiatus from live performance. He comments, “This song travels to a deep wellspring of passion and creativity. Themes from Celtic Mythology are pulled apart and remade.”
The EP features four new tracks spanning the scope of Wolves In The Throne Room's cinematic black metal and dark acoustic folk, as well as two atmospheric industrial tracks that take the band into darker sonic territories.
Crypt Of Ancestral Knowledge is out September 29 on Vinyl/CD/CS/Digital. Pre-order via Relapse.com here. Digital downloads / streaming (in US & Canada) here.
Crypt Of Ancestral Knowledge EP opens with “Beholden to Clan”, a blazing slab of symphonic black metal. Regarding the EP opener, Guitarist Kody Keyworth comments, “Journeying high atop a sacred mountain, the song recalls the importance of the sacrificed king's cycle of rebirth through ancestral hallucinogenic rights of passage. It’s a wild trip. Hail Othila!”
Elsewhere, “Twin Mouthed Spring” follows. This new track features vocals and acoustic guitar performed by founding Wolves In The Throne Room drummer Cedar Serpent who has recently returned to the live stage after a years long hiatus from live performance. He comments, “This song travels to a deep wellspring of passion and creativity. Themes from Celtic Mythology are pulled apart and remade.”
Side B of the EP features a different side of the enigmatic band; “Initiates Of The White Hart”, an Atmospheric Industrial interpretation of “Spirit of Lightning”, takes this live-set stalwart into deeper dark psychedelic waters while “Crown of Stone”, a ritual dark ambient piece, connects thematically to “Mountain Magic” the lead track on 2021’s Primordial Arcana.
Crypt Of Ancestral Knowledge tracklisting:
"Beholden To Clan"
"Twin Mouthed Spring"
"Initiates Of The White Hart"
"Crown Of Stone"
"Twin Mouthed Spring":
Additionally, Wolves In The Throne Room begin the Crypt Of Ancestral Knowledge North America headline tour this fall through late September & October. Support throughout the tour will be provided by Blackbraid, Gaerea and Hoaxed.
Dates:
September
29 - St. Louis, MO - Red Flag
30 - Chicago, IL - Metro
October
1 - St. Paul, MN - Amsterdam Bar & Hall
3 - Detroit, MI - El Club
4 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace
5 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount
6 - Boston, MA - Big Night Live
7 - Hamden, CT - Space Ballroom
8 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Monarch
10 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
11 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
12 - Richmond, VA - The Canal Club
13 - Greensboro, NC - Hangar 1819
14 - Atlanta, GA - The Loft
15 - Tampa, FL - Orpheum
17 - Dallas, TX - Echo Lounge & Music Hall
18 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
20 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister
21 - Tucson, AZ - Encore
23 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Music Hall
24 - Denver, CO - The Oriental Theater
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