Rimouski, Quebec's Vortex has teamed up with Chris Kells of The Agonist to direct a new visual treat of an apocalyptic world where mankind must fight for their individual survival. The music video is for the title track from their latest album, The Future Remains In Oblivion, released this past June. It is one of the band's favourite songs off the full-length along with being the most intricate.
"'The Future Remains In Oblivion' (title track) has the most complex structure of the album, it may take a few listens to get into, but it’s a song that will stick over time. It is based around the orchestra and some technical playing and vocals; it is challenging to play live, and we get a kick out of nailing it," adds the band.
Vortex's third epic concept album is set to aggressive and beautiful orchestral melodic death metal with hints of black metal. Each song on The Future Remains In Oblivion is one chapter in their well-written sci-fi tale and there is a build-up in intensity and emotion that goes along with the storyline and the lyrics as you traverse the album. They share their thoughts:
“This is an orchestral death metal album with plenty of heavy riffing and melodies, technical vocals, and epic soloing. Some of the songs are riff-oriented and some others had the orchestra and melodies written before the drums and the guitars. We wrote all the lyrics before the music to make sure that it would fit the feel and emotion of each song/part of the story. When we start writing a song, we know exactly what feeling and emotion we are aiming at, it’s a good way to push ourselves creatively and write thoughtful music.”
Those familiar with the previous albums will note that they were more on the ambient / dramatic side. The new album’s songs are still melodic / orchestral but much more aggressive and some of them have a black metal influence. Vortex’s goal was to create songs that would have a greater impact on their live shows, and these aggressive songs work well live. They feel the album is a good combination of aggression / melody, and ugliness / beauty.
Creativity and storytelling are the key tenets of Vortex. Their masterful lyric writing is equally matched with their prowess in devising riffs, and orchestrations. They will transport the listener into a new world and are recommended for fans of Lorna Shore, Dimmu Borgir, and Fleshgod Apocalypse.
The band will also be touring from the months of September to January performing across Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, and PEI where they will be joined by Aeternam, Serene Dark, Strigampire (2023 Wacken Metal Battle Canada Champions), and Beyond Fiction on select dates.
October
20 - St-Georges, QC - Bar 4000 w/ Strigampire, Beyond Fiction
21 - Ottawa, ON - The House Of Targ w/ Serene Dark, Strigampire
November
3 - Saguenay, QC - CEM w/ Beyond Fiction, Strigampire
4 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar w/ Strigampire, Serene Dark
15 - Edmundston, NB - Ateepic w/ Aeternam
16 - Charlottetown, PEI - Trail Side Music Hall w/ Aeternam
17 - Moncton, NB - Xeroz w/ Aeternam
18 - Saint John, NB - The Panic Room w/ Aeternam
December
15 - Rimouski, QC - Le Paradis w/ Strigampire, Serene Dark, Beyond Fiction, Synyster
16 - Trois-Rivières, QC - L’Entité w/ Strigampire, Serene Dark, Born Divided
January
26 - Drummondville, QC - La Sainte-Paix w/ Aeternam
27 - Quebec, QC - L’Anti Bar w/ Aeternam
The Future Remains In Oblivion can be ordered here.
Tracklisting:
“From The Sun”
“Downfall”
“The Fool”
“The Walls”
“Our Possible End”
“First Blood”
“The Future Remains In Oblivion”
“When No More Words Will Be Heard”
Finnish chart-topping nu-metal stars Blind Channel have released their newest single, “DEADZONE”, along with an accompanying music video. The band’s latest track further realizes their ‘violent pop’ ambitions – showcasing catchy hooks, an anthemic chorus, and the melding of metal instrumentals with electronic/DJ effects. The new song is undeniably modern and infectious, while also cementing itself in the hard-hitting, irreverent sensibilities of heavy music from past decades. The backstory behind the wild, adrenaline-pumping music video traces back to the origins of the band’s formation.
Commenting on the single, Blind Channel share:
“'DEADZONE' is one of our favorite songs we’ve ever written. It’s a song about reaching the point of no return. You gotta make a choice, to give up or keep going. 'DEADZONE' is the moment of absolute uncertainty. We’ve been there. Maybe you’ve been there as well."
Addressing the musical chemistry of the song, the band adds:
“We wrote this song in Los Angeles with the rock-writer-legend Johnny Andrews, who’s written hits for Three Days Grace and Apocalyptica. During those sessions we managed to combine our musical DNA from the early 2000s rock music with everything we love in mainstream music today. The music video was inspired by the true story about the formation of Blind Channel ten years ago.”
“DEADZONE” was co-written by Johnny Andrews, whose works includes credits with Three Days Grace and Apocalyptica, mixed by Grammy-nominated engineer Zakk Cervini (Blink-182, Machine Gun Kelly, Yungblud), and produced by the band.
Atlanta, GA rock band, Blackberry Smoke, are set to release their new album, Be Right Here, on February 16 via 3 Legged Records/Thirty Tigers. Pre-order/pre-save the album here.
Today, the band debut the album's lead single, "Dig A Hole". Listen/share here. and watch a music video below.
Of the song, written by lead singer Charlie Starr and keyboardist Brandon Still, Starr shares, “The lyrics for this song came really quickly. We each have a finite amount of time on this earth, so you probably want to make the best out of it instead of wasting it. Eventually for all of us, they are going to you dig a hole, so try to have a good life before they do that.”
Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell), Be Right Here is a timely reminder to be present and live authentically. Across these ten tracks - a collection of their signature rock and roll anthems, Americana-leaning ballads and country rock jams - the band celebrates the simple joys of life, the fleeting moments and the little bits of luck found along the way.
Reflecting on the project, Starr shares, “We always track live together, but this time we had all our amps and drums and everything in the same room. It’s just as natural and as real as possible. The last album was very raw too, but with this one I remember different times I would say, ‘I think we should redo that,’ and Dave was like, ‘No, leave it that way. That way it’s magical.'"
Recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A and Cobb’s Georgia Mae in Savannah, the album features the band - Charlie Starr (vocals, guitar), Richard Turner (bass, vocals), Brit Turner (drums), Paul Jackson (guitar, vocals) and Brandon Still (keyboards) - alongside Preston Holcomb (drums) and Benji Shanks (guitar), as well as special guest vocals from The Black Bettys. Known for their electrifying live shows, the band will continue to tour through the end of this year. See below for complete itinerary. Full details can be found at www.blackberrysmoke.com/tour.
Throughout their prolific career, Blackberry Smoke has released seven studio albums including 2021’s You Hear Georgia, which celebrated their 20th anniversary as a band.
In addition to their studio albums, they have released several other projects such as their EPs Stoned, The Southern Ground Sessions and Live From Capricorn Studios as well as Homecoming: Live In Atlanta, a live album and concert film, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Album Sales chart.
Since forming in 2001, Blackberry Smoke has continued to tour relentlessly, building a strong and loyal community of fans. In addition to their work as musicians, the band is deeply committed to charitable work and formed the Lana Turner Foundation, a non-profit supporting several national foundations committed to curing children’s cancer. With these efforts, the band has raised over $1,000,000 to date benefitting children’s cancer research.
Be Right Here tracklisting;
"Dig A Hole"
"Hammer And The Nail"
"Like It Was Yesterday"
"Be So Lucky"
"Azalea"
"Don’t Mind If I Do"
"Whatcha Know Good"
"Other Side of the Light"
"Little Bit Crazy"
"Barefoot Angel"
"Dig A Hole" video:
Blackberry Smoke are:
Charlie Starr - Lead vocals/Guitar
Paul Jackson - Guitar/B.vox
Richard Turner - Bass/B.vox
Brandon Still - Keyboards
Brit Turner - Drums/Percussion
Benji Shanks - Guitar
Preston Holcomb - Percussion
Nourished by nightmares and the throbbing pulse of pragmatic terror, Carnifex have returned with their ninth full-length studio album, Necromanteum, out October 6 via Nuclear Blast Records. After existing as a band for over 18 years, Carnifex continue to experiment with fresh song arrangements, and adding a unique sense of atmosphere to their inherently deathcore foundation.
The band offers fans the next single from the album entitled, “Death's Forgotten Children” which features Tom Barber of Chelsea Grin. Lyrically the song was inspired by near-death experiences that Scott and Tom have lived through.
Carnifex's Scott Ian Lewis comments, “I really had a great time working with Tom. Not only did we collaborate on the vocal patterns but we co-wrote the lyrics, which is something I’ve never done before. The song came out great and we both hope the fans love it as much as we do.”
The recording process took place over the course of several weeks with producer Jason Suecof in Florida, and saw the return of live drums since COVID-19 restrictions made doing so on Graveside Confessions impossible. Mastered by Mark Lewis in Nashville, TN, the album was also co-produced by vocalist Scott Ian Lewis and drummer Shawn Cameron. The cover artwork glows with an emerald and lavender fog; a ghostly energy erupting from the depths of a cemetery. Designed by renowned comic book artist E.M. Gist, this gateway represents the questions we ask about what lies on the other side of reality.
Decades ago, wealthy intellectuals began installing psychomanteum in their homes; a secret room completely filled with mirrors, or a single mirror, and in complete darkness, in order to speak to the dead in other dimensions, and gain their knowledge. It was often used as a healing tool to help dissolve grief or considered a form of prophecy. Necromanteum presents the concept: what if you could use that kind of room to speak with death, itself? What secrets of the world could you uncover from a direct conversation with the grim reaper? Not a monster, but a fellow intellect.
Necromanteum will be available digitally and in the following formats:
- CD Jewel
- Vinyl (Neon Green w/ Purple Splatter)
"Torn In Two"
"Death's Forgotten Children"
"Necromanteum"
"Crowned In Everblack"
"The Pathless Forest"
"How The Knife Gets Twisted"
"Architect Of Misanthropy"
"Infinite Night Terror"
"Bleed More"
"Heaven And Hell All At Once"
Today, Temple Balls share the second single from their upcoming fourth album, Avalanche. due out November 10 via Frontiers Music Srl. The track is called "Trap" and is accompanied by a brand-new music video.
On the new single, “Trap”, the band says, “These days they talk a lot about reforming rock n’ roll. We’re not here to reform anything. We would rather rev the old engine so to speak. Comparing this to cars; it's that some people like to drive these modern day electric cars while we preferably cruise the old V8 machines with style. There’s nothing wrong with either of these styles. This is just what works for us and we hope other people like it too.”
Temple Balls are always keeping busy both in the studio, and on the stage. Opening for bands such as Sonata Arctica, Queen, Deep Purple, and Uriah Heep, the band has proven themselves more than capable of handling stages of any size, whether it be a big festival or local club stage. Live, this band will set your friggin’ pants on fire and turn you into a believer!
Temple Balls’ first official single, “Hell and Feelin’ Fine”, was released in September 2016 and got loads of airtime on Finnish rock radio. The band’s debut album was recorded at Karma Sound Studios (Thailand) in May, 2016, and saw daylight on February 24, 2017. It was produced by Tobias Lindell, who is known for his collaborations with Europe, Mustasch, and H.E.A.T..
Fall of 2017 started with a sold-out tour across Finland with Battle Beast. Temple Balls also played in Japan that year for the first time as well as making a five-day tour of Ukraine. After their swing through Japan, the readers of the biggest Japanese rock magazine Burrn! voted Temple Balls as “the second brightest hope,” and they were chosen as “The Newcomer of the Year” on Masa Ito’s Rock TV.
The second album, Untamed, dropped on March 8, 2019 and immediately got fantastic reviews from music media. The band also toured Europe as support for Sonata Arctica, cementing their reputation as a stellar live act.
Pyromide, their Frontiers debut and third album overall, was a tour de force of melodic hard rock that saw the band push themselves onto the world stage. Produced by none other than Jona Tee, the album is full of hooks, powerful rhythms, and anthemic rock 'n' roll like it was meant to be played.
In May of 2022, Temple Balls did a 3-week tour of Europe with the Swedish melodic metal masters H.E.A.T. and continued gigging in Finland during the festival season. The first single of their fourth album, "Strike Like A Cobra", was released in March of 2022 and was received brilliantly by fans and media alike.
As of now, the band have finished working on their upcoming fourth album titled Avalanche and the first single, ”No Reason”, dropped worldwide on June 22. See the video below.
"All Night Long"
"Trap"
"Lonely Stranger"
"Stand Up And Fight"
"Prisoner In Time"
"Strike Like A Cobra"
"No Reason"
"Northern Lion"
"Dead Weight"
"Stone Cold Bones"
"Avalanche"
"No Reason" video:
"Strike Like A Cobra" video:
Temple Balls are:
Arde Teronen – Vocals
Jimi Välikangas – Bass
Jiri Paavonaho – Guitar
Niko Vuorela – Guitar
Antti Hissa – Drums
Since 1983, the name Lizzy Borden has been synonymous with heavy metal music of the highest caliber. Now, Lizzy Borden returns with first new original music since his critically acclaimed release "My Midnight Things", released in 2018, with the digital single "Death Of Me", out now.
The new single was engineered, produced, mixed and mastered by Kane Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, PAPA ROACH, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, IN THIS MOMENT).
Lizzy Borden had this to say about the new song: "'Death Of Me' was a fantastic experiment! Kane Churko was Dr. Frankenstein, and I was the monster screaming in the vocal booth as he blasted bolts of electricity again and again, searching for the perfect vocal performance.
"Working with people that can push me out of my comfort zone is something I've always strived for. Because of that, I don't think I've recorded the same sounding album twice. Every song I write is a chance to try something new.
"In my first conversation with Kane about working together, he said, 'I don't know how to do what you do, and I don't think you've spent too much time in my world. Are you sure you want to try this?' I took that as a dare!"
Lizzy continued: "We spent the first two hours in the studio just talking. Kane was trying to get a sense of what kind of song I was looking to write with him. After recording album after album, and performing all over the world throughout the decades, the one word that came to mind was perseverance. The two of us might as well have come from different planets on the way we approach music, but treading your way through this life with one obstacle after another is a universal subject… that's the song I wanted to write.
"'Death Of Me' is a song about never giving up and never letting anyone take you down, and reveling in the fact that none of this will be easy but we're going to do it anyway. Cut me up 'till I bleed but you won't be the death of me."
In regard to the music video, Lizzy had this to say: "Working with Robert Graves was very reminiscent of when I worked with a young Zack Snyder ('Superman', 'Batman Vs Superman', 'Justice League') on the 'Love Is A Crime' video from the 'Master Of Disguise' album. They both have a very similar directing style, and it felt like we were making a movie instead of a music video. Robert heard the song and after a quick phone conversation came back with this storyline.
"We had a blast filming this little gothic horror story. Boy stalks girl, girl traps boy like a spider to a fly, boy finds out too late that he was the victim all along; a tale as old as time itself.
"I hope everyone has as great a time watching this video as we had filming it. See you on the other side."
Lizzy Borden has the following live dates scheduled for 2023/2024:
December 3, 2023 - Mexico City, MX @ Life After Death Horror Fest
February 23, 2024 - Hollywood, CA @ Whisky A Go Go
March 2-7, 2024 - Monsters Of Rock Cruise
OF MICE & MEN has shared the music video for the song "Castaway". The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Tether", due on October 6 via SharpTone.
"'Castaway' is about longing for connection with the people in our lives who tend to distance themselves when dealing with hardships, and how our inability to help them often feels like we're frozen in time," the band says.
Taking all creative matters into their own hands, the four members of the Southern California act produced and engineered all of the songs on "Tether", their eighth album. Bassist/vocalist Aaron Pauley mixed and mastered the album while drummer Valentino Arteaga designed and painted the album's artwork. As a legion of devoted listeners worldwide has come to expect, guitarists Phil Manansala and Alan Ashby, Aaron and Tino poured their hearts and souls into every note, creating another sonic document of their lives.
"With this one, we weren't really focused on how it sounded as much as we focused on how it felt," Pauley explains. "And that's a weird thing to do when all you're working with is sound. But that was really the goal. And we walked away from making it, feeling like we've accomplished that."
OF MICE & MEN takes sobering looks at depression, anxiety, loneliness, and existential dread, powering through the darkness, and emphasizing the importance of creativity as a balm for mental health. A commanding tempest of sounds coalesces within OF MICE & MEN, blending the uplifting eloquence of modern active rock with the atmospheric dissonance of experimental post-rock. The band first emerged as part of a vanguard of future aggressive rock hitmakers. Over the years, they've distinguished themselves with musicality, creative ambition, and resilient determination.
Album eight is no less ambitious. "Tether" is anchored by a reflective meditation on what it means to draw together as friends, family men, artists, and bandmates. What does it mean to be there for the people who depend on us, knowing we can't fully protect them from the hardships of life?
"Tether" is the next step in OF MICE & MEN's evolution, combining their core sound with experimental and ethereal sound designs. The creative process focused on the excitement of discovery rather than preconceived "goals." Pursuing the moments when the elusive "x factor" reveals itself in the songs. Those moments are palpable in songs like "Integration", "Warpaint", "Enraptured" and "Indigo".
The OF MICE & MEN core since 2016 — Aaron, Alan, Tino and Phil — maintain a powerful bond with their audience and each other, no matter the obstacles. Whether a powerful anthem or atmospheric confession, their songs translate in intimate clubs and massive festivals. "It's about creating moments for people," Pauley says. "Music is the soundtrack to people's lives."
OF MICE & MEN will hit the road this fall with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and VENDED.
Professionally filmed video of METALLICA performing the song "The Memory Remains" at the second show of the North American leg of the band's "M72" world tour, which took place on August 6 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey can be seen below.
The trek, which launched in late April in Amsterdam, sees the band playing two nights in every city it visits — with each "No Repeat Weekend" featuring two completely different setlists and support lineups. The "M72" tour features a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage, as well as the "I Disappear" full-tour pass and the debut of discounted tickets for fans under 16 years of age.
METALLICA launched the second East Rutherford show with "Whiplash" from the band's debut album, "Kill 'Em All", which came out in 1983. The group's 16-song set also included three new songs from METALLICA's latest LP, "72 Seasons": "Lux Æterna", "You Must Burn!" and "Too Far Gone?".
The setlist was as follows:
01. Whiplash
02. For Whom The Bell Tolls
03. Ride The Lightning
04. The Memory Remains
05. Lux Æterna
06. Too Far Gone? (live debut)
07. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
08. You Must Burn!
09. The Call Of Ktulu
10. The Unforgiven
11. Wherever I May Roam
12. Moth Into Flame
13. Blackened
14. Whiskey In The Jar
15. One
16. Enter Sandman
"M72", named after "72 Seasons", sees METALLICA playing two-night stands in cities around the world this year and through 2024, with "takeover" events taking place during weekends in the New York City area, Montreal, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, St. Louis and Detroit. Those events include film fests, pop-up stores, Ross Halfin book signings, tribute bands, special performances by friends and family, and more.
METALLICA's two-night stand at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas this past weekend 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. Prior to this past weekend, METALLICA last played AT&T Stadium in June 2017.
Hailed as "some of the deepest, hardest-hitting music of their career" (Rolling Stone),METALLICA's "72 Seasons" was released April 14 via the band's own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and clocking in at over 77 minutes, the 12-track "72 Seasons" is METALLICA's first full length collection of new material since 2016's "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct".
Formed in 1981 by Hetfield and Ulrich, METALLICA has become one of the most influential and successful rock bands in history, selling nearly 120 million albums worldwide and generating more than 15 billion streams while playing to millions of fans on all seven continents. METALLICA's catalog of multi-platinum studio albums includes "Kill 'Em All", "Ride The Lightning", "Master Of Puppets", "… And Justice For All", "Metallica" (commonly referred to as The Black Album),"Load", "Reload", "St. Anger", "Death Magnetic", "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" and "72 Seasons". METALLICA's awards and accolades include nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards, a 2009 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and Sweden's Polar Music Prize. In 2017, METALLICA established the All Within My Hands foundation to give back to communities that have supported the band.
Rock outfit DAUGHTRY fights for the heart and soul lost to an AI-run world in the epic visual for the band's new single, "Artificial".
Marking DAUGHTRY's first original material in over two years, the new Big Machine Records signees usher in a fresh sonic era as frontman Chris Daughtry faces down a cyborg clone against a backdrop of crumbling cities and raining fire. Their most ambitious project to date, the cinematic music video spins a cautionary tale about the dangers of a planet overrun by artificial intelligence, a narrative that feels even more timely as artist unions fight for fair pay and protections from AI interference.
"'Artificial' is about the potential nightmare that AI could become and the idea that everything and everyone could eventually be replaced, essentially to perfection, and rendered obsolete," Daughtry explains. "However, the heart and soul of humanity and the ability to feel love, sadness, and compassion can never be replaced. While there are plenty of applications where AI can improve our lives and assist in many areas of creativity, I feel it's imperative that we find a way to protect our musicians, actors, writers, and all creative outlets from being destroyed.
"I am so incredibly proud of this video," Daughtry continues. "Everyone worked so hard to see this vision come to life, and it is easily my favorite thing I’ve done in my career."
The release follows the launch of DAUGHTRY's "Bare Bones" tour, plotting a rare acoustic run with 26 new U.S. dates running throughout the fall. Alongside Billboard chart-topping rocker Ayron Jones, who is set to open on select stops, the upcoming performances mark a unique opportunity to highlight the stars' powerhouse musical versatility and vocal prowess in the most intimate of settings.
Coming in hot off the recent success with its Lzzy Hale duet, "Separate Ways (World's Apart)", DAUGHTRY's amped-up reimagining of the JOURNEY classic debuted at No. 1 on iTunes' All Genres chart and reached No. 6 on Mediabase's Active Rock chart. True to its roots with an updated grit, the single has racked up millions of streams across platforms, earning praise from heavy-hitters like Variety, Billboard, Consequence and American Songwriter, among others.
DAUGHTRY, one of the most visible and best-selling rock bands of the 21st century, has sold out concerts across the globe. Their debut album, the self-titled "Daughtry", was the top-selling album of 2007 and was the fastest-selling rock debut album in SoundScan history. It was also nominated for four Grammy Awards and won four American Music Awards and seven Billboard Music Awards, including "Album Of The Year". Subsequent albums "Leave This Town" (2009),"Break The Spell" (2011) and "Baptized" (2013) have all gone platinum, with "Cage To Rattle" (2018) certified gold. In 2021, DAUGHTRY released their album "Dearly Beloved", which marked a return to their rock roots and a return to the top of the rock charts with their singles "World On Fire", "Heavy Is The Crown" and "Changes Are Coming", each reaching the Top 10 on Billboard's Rock Airplay chart.
Former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing's new band KK'S PRIEST will release its sophomore album, "The Sinner Rides Again", on September 29 via the Austrian rock and metal empire Napalm Records. The official music video for the LP's third single, "Strike Of The Viper", can be seen below.
Downing says about "Strike Of The Viper": "Beware — 'Strike Of The Viper' is now here... These demons can sting and bite their way into your brain, what world are they from? I would very much like to see this one send all mosh pits spinning into a blur as KK'S PRIEST deliver up some fast and furious metal. Strike after strike — just like the viper."
With "The Sinner Rides Again", the powerhouse heavy metal amalgamation of iconic JUDAS PRIEST alumni and Grammy Award-winning/nominated musicians Downing and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals),along with guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE),double down on the ripping melodic force of their debut, which Metal Hammer U.K. dubbed "hugely enjoyable" and Metal Injection cited as boasting "catchy hooks and plenty of guitar wizardry". "The Sinner Rides Again" wields nine tracks of pure hellfire, produced and written by Downing and mixed/mastered by Jacob Hansen.
Last month, KK'S PRIEST released the first single from "The Sinner Rides Again", a song called "One More Shot At Glory". The track evokes a high-stakes battle with heroic chants and double bass, setting the stage for a spine-tingling guitar solo. The track was accompanied by an intense, high-quality music video.
Downing said about "The Sinner Rides Again": "To continue the legacy of the traditional rock and metal that I have been so fortunate to be a part of for over 50 years, this latest album, 'The Sinner Rides Again', has been created to take the listener on a journey that is both real and fictional with its characters, although sometimes ambiguous. These songs allow the imaginations of all fans of this wonderful genre of music to escape reality and join with us to continue our heavy metal experience into the future."
Downing added regarding the band's signing with Napalm Records: "With a brand new record that needed placement with a great record label, we discussed the labels we liked, and Napalm Records was one of those companies. It's fair to say that Napalm is a leader in the heavy metal genre and has been for a long time now. They have a fantastic roster of both established and new bands and artists that are a force to be reckoned with. So it's a roster of some of the top and leading metal bands in the world today, and for the foreseeable future. I am pleased to say that we are excited about partnering with Napalm Records and we look forward to working together."
Sebastian Münch, senior A&R at Napalm Records, said: "K.K. Downing has created, with the sophomore album 'The Sinner Rides Again', an absolutely brilliant heavy metal masterpiece — one, I believe, that will stand the test of time and will be listened to by metal fans around the world for many, many years. K.K. Downing is a genius and Tim 'Ripper' Owens's vocals are simply mesmerizing! Napalm Records is absolutely proud to help continue to build this legacy."
A haunting introduction of dual guitars carries the listener into the thundering "Sons Of The Sentinel", winding across a wasteland of burning riffs and a deftly dynamic guitar solo to kick off the record with relentless energy. The undeniably catchy anthem "Strike Of The Viper" proves itself as one of the album's most unforgettable tracks, before "Reap The Whirlwind" crashes in with a classic heavy metal power thrust of soaring leads, hair-raising harmonics and earworm vocal hooks. First single "One More Shot At Glory" raises its sword high, instantaneously calling for battle with its opening riff and beckoning verses. Heroic chants and unrelenting double bass set the stage for a galloping midsection as a spine-tingling guitar solo commands the song. Striding "Hymn 66" commands with sultry, slow and low metallic punches and a bluesy gait, while massive title track "The Sinner Rides Again" straddles balladic passages and sinister, head-bobbing choruses. Beginning with ominous bells, "Keeper Of The Graves" rounds the final bend of the album with roaring cascades and a dynamic performance from Owens, before charging "Pledge Your Souls" and rollercoaster closer epic "Wash Away Your Sins" rise as the final embers of a certified burner — proving itself as a must-hear metal album of the year by the greatest to ever perform the genre.
The immense and intricate art for "The Sinner Rides Again" was created by talented artist Andy Pilkington.
"The Sinner Rides Again" track listing:
01. Sons Of The Sentinel
02. Strike Of The Viper
03. Reap The Whirlwind
04. One More Shot At Glory
05. Hymn 66
06. The Sinner Rides Again
07. Keeper Of The Graves
08. Pledge Your Souls
09. Wash Away Your Sins
KK'S PRIEST will embark October U.K. headlining tour. The "Priests, Killers & Witches" tour starts at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Saturday, October 7, and visits London, Glasgow, Manchester and Nottingham. Special guest on all dates will be former IRON MAIDEN vocalist Paul Di'Anno who will be performing a full set of classics straight from the first two MAIDEN records, and opening up the bill is BURNING WITCHES.
"Sermons Of The Sinner" was released in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.
Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the 1980s.
K.K. formed KK'S PRIEST after JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour. It followed a couple of celebrated stage appearances, first with former MANOWAR guitarist Ross The Boss in the summer of 2019, then with a one-off lineup that included former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and former PRIEST drummer Les Binks later that year.
In a recent interview with Ernest Skinner of Border City Rock Talk, Owens spoke about the upcoming sophomore album from KK'S PRIEST. He said: "It's really good too. I like it better [than the debut LP]. It's a little heavier, a little edgier on the vocals — and even music, I think."
Downing was reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony last November at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.
Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.
In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.
In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."
Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.
Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.
Nearly two years ago, Downing said that he had no problems with fans making comparisons between PRIEST and KK'S PRIEST. "It's absolutely fine, because it's who I am and what I am and what I do and how I do it," he told Brazilian journalist Igor Miranda. "It's too late to change; I can't change. I can't go out and buy different guitars and different amplifiers and start to write differently and think differently. I have to do things the way that I like them to be done. And that's what I did in JUDAS PRIEST for all those years to the best of my ability. But even now that I don't have to consult with anyone else, really, then I feel a lot more freedom to be able to do this.
"I think I can do what I do better now than I did before, if that makes any sense," he continued. "Because I'm working and writing and putting things together for me — and, obviously, of course, the rest of the members in [KK'S PRIEST] as well. But I was on my own, for the most part, in the lockdown doing this. But there was a lot of things I wanted to say and get off my chest.
"The [KK'S PRIEST] album's full of emotions, sentiments and messages and also rejoicement. It's a lot of things, all in one package. And it was very important for me to be able to express myself through this album.
"I know that people will make comparisons, but that's fine. I either succeed or fail, like everyone else in life. But I'm a fan of this wonderful style of music, and if I like it, I'm hopefully sure that the fans will like it too. And I really hope they do. And I'm very much looking forward to the feedback from everybody all over the world.
"Towards the end for me in JUDAS PRIEST, it wasn't as energized as it was in former years, and I missed that. I remember the days when Rob [Halford, PRIEST singer] used to come offstage and he used to empty his boots out, and the water — which was sweat — used to just pour out of the boots. And it was the same for all of us. It was like we ran a marathon or something. So, hopefully we deliver that up. So I'm looking forward to doing that. I'm definitely gonna do my best, put it that way."
In September 2021, Owens said that there was no competition between JUDAS PRIEST and KK'S PRIEST. "I don't think we look at it [like that]," he told The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn in an interview. "There's one JUDAS PRIEST. They're JUDAS PRIEST. If [K.K. and I] wanted to take that angle, we would have called [our new band] KK'S JUDAS PRIEST. But I think fans are happy 'cause they know they do have two things that are the same vein, and they have K.K. back. I went nowhere — I've been putting music out like crazy — but they have Ken and I back together again. So there's no competition. I mean, how awesome would it be if we do shows with them? I don't care. I really don't. I love the guys in PRIEST. Rob's [Halford, PRIEST singer] my idol. And Richie [Faulkner, PRIEST guitarist] and I are friends. But this isn't a competition. We're not trying to make it a competition or another JUDAS PRIEST. That's why we put an album out first; that was the difference. If we were trying to make it that, we would start touring right away, doing the back catalog."
Asked if KK'S PRIEST is really open to touring with JUDAS PRIEST, Tim said: "I'm open to anything. I've never burned bridges. From the sounds of it, it's never gonna happen. 'Cause it never happened with me. I tried to get BEYOND FEAR to support JUDAS PRIEST on tour. Wendy Dio was my manager, and they were, like, 'Absolutely not. You're not gonna support us.' But we're all friends. I mean, I'm speaking for me — I'm not speaking for Ken. But, yeah, listen, I always look at it as how much fans would love stuff. How cool would it be if that happened?"
Montreal, Canada’s Vantablack Warship dives into the depths of AI (artificial intelligence) to present its first music video created by the machine and gives fans a message of awareness towards our use of digital tools. Entitled "Unplug The Drug" – premiered exclusively through BraveWords – the track has a sick groove and guitar solo for you to listen to and turn all your channels off.
The band adds about the song and video:
"We simply were inspired by the AI videos Above the Void made for Voivod Morgöth Tales and felt that was a great route to take for our next video ‘Unplug The Drug’, as it is a song about addictions to social media in a day an age where the internet has become a drug for many people and the arrival of AI which will only continue to create society's growing dependencies on such technologies. One can wonder with the more social media we have and the more we think we're connecting that perhaps we are really disconnecting from each other?" - Vantablack Warship
Vantablack Warship is made up of members who have worked in prominent groups of the Quebec underground scene for the last 30 years (Arseniq33, Ghoulunatics, Brutal Chérie, Foreshadow, Les Ékorchés, Buffalo Theory Mtl). With a self-titled EP and album “Abrasive Pulmonic Speak” under their belts, they have shared the stage with an impressive lineup of prominent bands. They now have a new partnership with the Quebec label BAM & Co. Heavy to present their new album Last Of The Hardmouthed Poets.
The title of the album speaks to blacklisted writers of yesteryear and reminds us not to take freedom for granted of expression and freedom of thought. Last Of The Hardmouthed Poets also refers to the ending eras, to dying races, to lost generations, and to cherish those who remain. It’s a hard-hitting bomb of an album ready to blow your mind with thrash metal riffs and expertly written lyrics. The band expects that people who are already familiar with them will be pleasantly surprised with what they consider their best effort yet. It’s pedal-to-metal driving music that would be an excellent soundtrack to road trips this summer.
The tracks on Last Of The Hard Mouthed Poets all came together organically, but were mainly inspired by the writings of Beat Generation authors, and various life themes such as loss, perseverance, anti-racism, and cherishing the important things in life. They are unapologetically fast, and addictive, most suitable for fans of Cancer Bats, Cro-Mags, Exodus, Slayer, and Pantera.
Last Of The Hardmouthed Poets is available via BAM & Co. Heavy. Order on Bandcamp. CD and vinyl available at this location.
Live dates:
September
6 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar
22 – Montebello, QC
October
14 – Granby, QC
20 – Alma, QC – Café du Clocher
November
10 – Trois-Rivieres, QC – Amphitheatre Cogeco
Elegy Of Madness will release the new album XI on October 20 through Scarlet Records. First single and video for "Broken Soul" is streaming below.
Recorded and produced by Simone Mularoni and Simone Bertozzi; mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio; beautifully illustrated by Diogo Soares/Gargantula Creations (Witchcraft, EyeHateGod, Stoned Jesus); 'XI' will be released in the following formats:
Modern, occult, epic symphonic metal at its best: XI represents a splendid rebirth for Elegy Of Madness, thanks to a redefined sound, a more concise songwriting and the enchanting soprano vocals of new frontwoman Kyrah Aylin.
Conceived in the post-pandemic time, the mood of XI tends towards obscure and melancholic atmospheres; the main topic revolves around the symbolic meaning of the number eleven. Each song actually involves some aspects of it, such as spiritual awakening and growth, strength, intuition, new beginning, disorder and chaos, and the sinful nature of man.
A sun ray can always break through the darker clouds: it's time to rise again from your own ashes.
Tracklisting:
“11:11”
“Broken Soul” (orchestral arrangements by Fleshgod Apocalypse’s Francesco Ferrini)
“Hybrid Love”
“Revelation”
“Insanity”
“Goddess”
“Moon”
“Portrait Of A Ghost”
“A.I. Slavery”
“Crawling”
“Legion”
"Broken Soul" video:
Elegy Of Madness:
Kyrah Aylin - vocals
Tony Tomasicchio - guitar
Marco Monno - guitar
Larry Ozen - bass
Francesco Caputo - drums
With the excitement continuing about the return of vocalist Jared Weeks and their latest single impacting rock radio, rockers Saving Abel are releasing the music video for the song “Fire.” The new single by the band comprised of Jared Weeks (vocals), Jason Null (guitars), Scott Bartlett (guitars), Scott Wilson (bass), and Dave Moraata (drums) is the follow up to the April 2023 track “Baptize Me” - which marked the first official song since Weeks returned to the band.
The latest track “Fire” talks about overcoming your personal demons and coming out on the other side from them. The video expands on that messaging with a chained-up vocalist Jared Weeks pleading to different versions of himself until he realizes he has always had the key to free himself and get past what was holding him back. The video was produced and directed by J. Austin Dellamano in conjunction with Weems Creative and can be seen below.
Saving Abel is hitting the road in support of the new single on the recently announced Into The Fire tour. The 32-city headline tour kicks off on October 20 in St. Charles, IL and wraps up on December 10 in Urbana, IL. Along the way, the tour will make stops in Lansing, MI (October 24); Syracuse, NY (October 30); Dallas, TX (November 15) and Las Vegas, NV (November 24). Autumn Kings, Harmless Habit and King Falcon will each be making appearances in support on select dates of the tour. Tickets for all shows are on-sale to the public on August 25 and information on all shows can be found at savingabel.com.
“We can’t wait to get out on the road and bring these new songs - and of course some fan favorites – to everyone on the Into The Fire tour. There is nothing we enjoy more than performing in front of our fans who have supported us through everything for the last 19 years. It is also exciting for us to bring some new talent out with us and having the Autumn Kings, Harmless Habit and King Falcon play with us is going to be a blast. These bands were handpicked by us and we can’t wait to bring this tour to you,” explains Jared Weeks.
Dates:
October
20 – St. Charles, IL – The Arcada Theatre *
21 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Piere’s Entertainment Center *
22 – Mount Vernon, IL – Granada Theatre *
24 – Lansing, MI – Grewal Hall at 224 *
25 – Chesterfield, MI – Diesel Concert Lounge *
27 – Saginaw, MI – The Vault *
30 – Syracuse, NY – The Lost Horizon #
November
1 – Manchester, NH – Angel City Music Hall #
3 – Erie, PA – Basement Transmissions +
4 – Ashland, KY – Paramount Arts Center +
5 – Jacksonville, NC – Hooligans Live +
7 – Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend +
8 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room +
9 – Fernandina Beach, FL – Sadler Ranch +
11 – Corinth, MS – Crossroads Arena
14 – Houston, TX – Bronze Peacock @ House Of Blues +
15 – Dallas, TX – Sundown at Granada +
16 – Buda, TX – Buck’s Backyard +
19 – Colorado Springs, CO – Sunshine Studios Live +
20 – Denver, CO – HQ Live Denver +
22 – Tucson, AZ -191 Toole #
24 – Las Vegas, NV – The Sand Dollar #
25 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee #
Nov 27 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah #
29 – Reno, NV – Virginia Street Brewhouse #
30 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post #
December
1 – Chico, CA – Senator Theatre #
3 – Portland, OR – Mission Theater #
4 – Boise, ID – KQXR Radio Show #
8 – Sioux City, IA – The Marquee #
9 – Iowa City, IA – First Avenue Club #
10 – Urbana, IL – Canopy Club #
* Autumn Kings
+ Harmless Habit
# King Falcon
Previously Announced Saving Abel Dates:
August
26 – Bonner Springs, KS – Tiblow Days Festival
September
4 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
October
6 – Hurricane, UT – Trial Hero Music Fest
7 – Madison, AL – Toyota Field
14 – Middlesboro, KY – Cumberland Mountain Fall Fest
28 – Lorain, OH – The Lorain Palace Theatre
With just over one week until Oxbow kicks off their European tour, the band shares a video for "The Night The Room Started Burning," which was directed by Chris Purdie. The song appears on their new album, Love's Holiday, out now via Ipecac Recordings.
“Lyrically it’s a purposeful take on Johnny Hartman’s ‘The Day the World Stopped Turning’ but instead of the power of love to alter our proximal relationships it’s, in my mind, all about the incendiary nature of suchlike love," explains Eugene Robinson. "It fulfills specifically because it fills you with that which burns. And that’s something that absolutely no one slow walks.”
Niko Wenner adds: "I began the music for 'The Night The Room Started Burning' on my fathers old folk/classical nylon string guitar, a tune to amuse my young son. My mother played clarinet in high school but it was my father who took me to see my first string quartet concert in Seattle when I was a kid, and who inspired my love for classical music. Including, as an influence heard in this song, baroque period music. “What’s not to like about baroque music? You can dance to it, it’s got a beat!”
And you can hear the steady dance rhythm in Room Burning. And a bit of baroque style in the way the guitar line sounds like two voices in a call and response, first higher “bah bah dee bah dee dee,” and the second, lower, answering the first and going down “BAH BAH BAH.” And of course the choir. The elephant in the room here is the guy whose name we should never speak in the same breath as our own, from humility, and respect. I’ll only say that the devine music of baroque composer J.S. Bach would by itself seem to prove the existence of what for lack of a better word, we call God. Q.E.D.? FIIK."
Oxbow is:
Dan Adams (electrical/acoustic bass)
Greg David (drums/percussion)
Eugene S. Robinson (vocals)
Niko Wenner (guitars/pianos)
ARTE Concert has uploaded footage of Powerwolf's full performance from Summer Breeze 2023. Watch below.
The German power metallers performed the following setlist on August 18:
"Faster Than The Flame"
"Incense & Iron"
"Army Of The Night"
"Dancing With The Dead"
"Armata Strigoi"
"Amen & Attack"
"Sainted By The Storm"
"Stossgebet"
"Beast Of Gévaudan"
"Demons Are A Girl's Best Friend"
"Where The Wild Wolves Have Gone"
"Resurrection By Erection"
"Fire And Forgive"
"Blood For Blood (Faoladh)"
"Sanctified With Dynamite"
"We Drink Your Blood"
"Werewolves Of Armenia"
Powerwolf recently announced four shows in Germany from October 31 to November 5. The holy heavy metal mass will be brought to Düsseldorf, Ravensburg, Bamberg and Leipzig. The wolves will get support from special guests Lord Of The Lost, Beyond The Black And Serenity.
Dates:
October
31 - Düsseldorf, Germany - Mitsubishi Electric Halle (with Lord Of The Lost, Serenity)
November
2 - Ravensburg, Germany - Oberschwabenhalle (with Lord Of The Lost, Serenity)
3 - Bamberg, Germany - Brose Arena (with Lord Of The Lost, Serenity)
5 - Leipzig, Germany - Quarterback Immobilien Arena (with Beyond The Black, Serenity)
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 "Hurricane", 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"
"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
24 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues #
26 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency #
28 - Portland, OR - TBD #
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
Welsh rock juggernauts, Those Damn Crows, have released a video for "Find A Way", filmed last month at the Steelhouse Live Festival in South Wales. Watch below:
"Find A Way" is featured on the band's latest album, Inhale/Exhale, available for order worldwide now at earache.com/thosedamncrows.
Inhale/Exhale tracklisting:
"Fill The Void"
"Takedown"
"Man On Fire"
"Wake Up (Sleepwalker)"
"This Time I'm Ready"
"I Am"
"See You Again"
"Lay It All On Me"
"Find A Way"
"Waiting For Me"
"Takedown" video:
"See You Again" video:
"Man On Fire" video:
"Wake Up (Sleepwalker)" video:
Those Damn Crows recently announced a string of headline shows in October. Tickets are available here.
Dates:
October
7 - Oxford, UK - O2 Academy
8 - Bournemouth, UK - O2 Academy
9 - Bristol, UK - O2 Academy
11 - Glasgow, UK - SWG3
12 - Leeds, UK - Stylus
13 - Wolverhampton, UK - Wulfrun Hall
14 - Manchester, UK - O2 Ritz
16 - Brighton, UK - Chalk
17- London, UK - O2 Forum Kentish Town
Rockers Of Limbo has premiered the music video for their new single “California Demon” through BraveWords!
Of Limbo’s Luke Davies says “The song explores the concept of “selling your soul for fame and fortune”, but in a literal sense. As if the devil was real - and young, innocent, corruptible people are actually coming to Hollywood and selling their soul to become a star. There’s a large section of the population, like our conspiracy theory loving uncle, who believe this to be 100% fact/reality. He sends us videos of stars in interviews implying they sold their souls, or clips from the latest award show performances from Sam smith or mumble rappers dressed up as Satan. He doesn’t believe this is just pageantry. He thinks it’s all some kind of televised satanic ritual.
He continues “I don’t know where I stand on it all honestly, but it’s always been interesting to us. One thing is for sure, “the elite” get up to some pretty weird Eyes Wide Shut style shit behind closed doors. Like that bohemian grove party all the politicians go to in Northern California every year, that shit is WILD! Burning mock human sacrifices under that huge demon owl effigy?! Total freak show.
“But yeah, it’s a concept we always felt was perfect for a rock song. Innocent girl comes to Hollywood with wide eyes and high hopes, only to find she has to sacrifice a lot more than she bargained for... HER SOUL.” 😉
The song was produced by Mike Pepe (Taking Back Sunday, Plain White T’s, Cassadee Pope) at Fab Factory studios in Hollywood, and mastered by Grammy Winning Jett Galindo.
The band’s Jake Davies adds, “The video was directed by Tony Vercelli and filmed at Baur Films in Long Beach and Nuvisions Studios in Santa Ana. It was produced by Todd Grilli of 4th Street Productions. Yes, we DID actually set Luke’s guitar on fire while he played it at the end. We had to douse Luke in flame retardant spray and pray to sweet baby Jesus that he didn’t get 3rd degree burns. It was definitely super sketchy at times! On a few takes I had to run in with a wet blanket to extinguish the flames.”
Italian maestros of modern melodic/symphonic metal, Temperance, will unleash their new concept album, Hermitage - Daruma's Eyes Pt. 2, on October 20 via Napalm Records. During their successful European tour with Tarja (ex-Nightwish) this spring, the band introduced its new lineup and proved once and for all that this new arrangement is more than just convincing.
Expanding the characteristic sound of the band with a new member - professional opera/metal singer and vocal coach Kristin Starkey - the essence of charismatic singer Michele Guaitoli (Visions of Atlantis) and mastermind singer/guitarist Marco Pastorino (Serenity) reaches a higher level. Guest musicians like Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie, Illumishade), Laura Fella (Faun) and Alessandro Conti (Twilight Force) complement the exciting journey of the new album.
Today, the five-piece have finally released their new single, “Daruma”, together with a colorful official music video that perfectly introduces the mood and exciting story of the multifaceted album. Galloping guitar passages open the single while the album narrator and multitalented Arjen Lucassen guides through the catchy melodies. The dark timbre of singer Kristin Starkey introduces the villain Anningan, who will turn the life of the album’s protagonist Viktor upside down.
Singer Kristin Starkey on “Daruma”: "I'm so excited for you to hear our new single called "Daruma". It not only sets the stage for the dramatic storytelling of our new album, Hermitage: Daruma's Eyes Pt. II, but also marks the beginning of my chapter with Temperance. I really believe our new sound will be loved by fans new and old, and I am looking forward to your feedback. See you on the road."
Watch the official music video for “Daruma” below.
Catapulted into another era by finding the Japanese doll, Daruma, protagonist Viktor wakes up in a magical village called Hermitage, exploring its secrets track by track. Getting into a fight between the siblings Anningan and Irin, only Viktor’s destiny is the key to their conflict. “Welcome To Hermitage” presents the magical world of Hermitage with fairytale-like flutes, twinkling chime elements, and the vocal arrangements of singers Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie, Illumishade) and Laura Fella (Faun). “No Return” glances with the band's characteristic sing-along refrain and operatic fragments while the track “Join Me” ranges from marvelous vocal harmonies to grand compositions. The spellbinding “Darkness is just a Drawing” and uplifting “Full Of Memories” gather the atmosphere of Hermitage - Daruma's Eyes Pt. 2 once again, before “Cliff” closes the album with rising melodies, epic orchestration arrangements, and inimitable vocal spotlights. The concept album was produced by Temperance guitarist and singer Marco Pastorino and mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni (Luca Turilli, Michael Romeo, Twilight Force) at Domination Studio in San Marino. Come explore Viktor’s legacy.
Guitarist and singer Marco Pastorino on the upcoming album, Hermitage - Daruma's Eyes Pt. 2: “We are so excited about this new chapter called Hermitage. Personally, I’ve dreamed of writing a real concept album like this since the release of the suite called Daruma’s Eyes Pt 1 on the album Of Jupiter and Moons, and finally, we made it - a complete story with six characters (represented by six singers) plus such a great narrator. We decided to change the production team, 100% from Italy; we worked together with Simone Mularoni on the mixing, as we did in the first three albums of the band, plus for the very first time, I worked together with someone else for the orchestrations: Daniele Mazza, the mastermind of Ancient Bards. The artwork also was made by the talented artist Giada Belviso. Get ready for a journey through magic and dreams, and welcome to Hermitage.”
Hermitage - Daruma's Eyes Pt. 2 will be available in the following formats:
- 2LP Gatefold Solid Red - ltd. to 300 copies worldwide
- 1CD Digipak
- Digital Album
"Daruma"
"Glorious"
"A Hero Reborn"
"Welcome To Hermitage"
"No Return"
"In Search Of Gold"
"Join Me"
"Trust No One But You"
"Darkness Is Just A Drawing"
"Into The Void"
"Brand New Start"
"Where We Belong"
"Full Of Memories"
"Cliff"
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