Progressive metal titans DREAM THEATER have released an official music video for another song from their 15th studio album, "A View From The Top Of The World". "Answering The Call" is the fifth video released and another CGI spectacle created by longtime collaborator Wayne Joyner. The track has been a fan favorite from the latest LP and will be making its way into the band's set list on their upcoming North American "Dreamsonic" tour.
DREAM THEATER is hitting the road for the final time in 2023 on the "Dreamsonic" tour. The 29-city trek features special guests Devin Townsend and ANIMALS AS LEADERS for a traveling progressive music spectacle. The tour kicks off June 16 in Cedar Park, Texas and wraps up July 26 in Phoenix, Arizona. Along the way, the trek will make stops in Orlando, Florida (June 23); New York (June 28); Cleveland, Ohio (July 8); and Denver, Colorado (July 15),to name a few.
"The Alien", a track from "A View From The Top Of The World", landed DREAM THEATER its first-ever Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category at the 64th annual Grammy Awards, which was held in April 2022 in Las Vegas. DREAM THEATER's previous Grammy nominations were for the song "On The Backs Of Angels", from 2011's "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" album, and the single "The Enemy Inside" from 2013's "Dream Theater".
"A View From The Top Of The World" was described in a press released as "DREAM THEATER at its musical finest, expanding on the sound they helped create while maintaining the elements that have garnered them devoted fans around the globe." The seven-song album also marked the second studio album with InsideOut Music/Sony Music. The artwork was created by longtime cover collaborator Hugh Syme (RUSH, IRON MAIDEN, STONE SOUR). "A View From The Top Of The World" was produced by Petrucci, engineered and additional production by James "Jimmy T" Meslin and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap.
Forty-five years young, British hard rock royalty, Girlschool, release their stomping new single, "It Is What It Is", taken from their 14th studio album, WTFortyfive?
"It Is What It Is" is classic Girlschool; fun, real, uncompromising - with an addictive mototörcharged scuzz and a chorus that is guaranteed to stay stuck in your head for many weeks to come. The song has a no-frills message of accepting the past, present and making the most of the hand you are dealt: “It is what it is, so what ya’ gonna do about it?”
Co-founding frontwoman and guitarist Kim McAuliffe explains, “It’s all about having no regrets. You can’t change the past, just get on and make the most of it! No point in crying over spilt milk… or beer, as the case may be - make the most of it now!”
The video, by Natalia Jonderko Śmiechowicz, can be viewed below:
Set for release on July 28 via Silver Lining Music, , WTFortyfive? is a deliciously dirty declaration that age is a number that shows how much real raw attitude you have when it really counts. With WTFortyfive?, Kim McAuliffe (guitar/vocals), Denise Dufort (drums), Jackie Chambers (guitar/backing vocals) and Tracey Lamb (bass) leave the grit under their finger nails and the scuzz on their crusty leather boots as they riff and stomp their way through 12 statements of intent showing major attitude, some great melodies, and a consistent crunch to every guitar.
Lead single "Are You Ready?" sets the pace, a racy, raunchy, fun-saturated shape-shifter co-written with Alcatrazz’s Joe Stump. Then there’s the the Wandsworth via Sunset Strip sway of "Bump In The Night", the youthful, punky romp of "Up To No Good" and the smart, sassy, rock ‘n’ roll hooks of "Believing In You", with McAuliffe’s vocals sounding as sharp and raucous as ever. And if THAT isn’t enough, their raunch roars and rolls alongside Biff Byford (Saxon), Phil Campbell (Motörhead), and Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) on a cracking cover of "Born To Raise Hell". So throw away your inhibitions and join these spectacularly wild women on the most glorious of rock ‘n’ roll rides. Lemmy knew, so should YOU!
WTFortyfive? will be released on 12” Vinyl, CD Digipak, Digital Download and Streaming and Special D2C bundles. Pre-order here
Head over to girlschool.tmstor.es for a chance to win a Girlschool WTFortyfive? custom made real leather jacket. T&Cs apply.
Tracklisting:
"It Is What It Is"
"Cold Dark Heart"
"Bump In The Night"
"Barmy Army"
"Invisible Killer"
"Believing In You"
"It’s A Mess"
"Into The Night"
"Are You Ready?" (feat. Joe Stump)
"Up To No Good"
"Party"
"Born To Raise Hell" (feat. Biff Byford, Phil Campbell & Duff McKagan)
Texas death metal behemoths, Creeping Death, today drop their ferocious new single and accompanying video for "Vitrified Earth”. The track appears on their Boundless Domain LP, set for release this Friday, June 16 via MNRK Heavy.
Produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (As I Lay Dying, The Acacia Strain, Underoath) Boundless Domain is, without question, a certified ripper from start to finish and stands towering among this year’s most volatile death metal offerings. In paying tribute to the passing of local icons Riley Gale of Power Trip and Wade Allison of Iron Age, the band - guitarist Trey Pemberton, singer Reese Alavi, bassist Eric “Rico” Mejia, drummer Lincoln Mullins, and guitarist A.J. Ross, III - found themselves digging deep into some of their metallic hardcore favorites making for a sophomore slab of monolithic weight, dimension, and relentless power.
“Vitrified Earth” showcases their increasingly innovative songcraft, most evident with the cadence and phrasing of Alavi’s vocals while never neglecting the sick riffs.
Offers Alavi,"The story this album tells is a mixture of optimism, pessimism, warnings, and consequences. Highlighting certain aspects of reality through fictional stories about the gods' influence on mankind, war, life, and death."
“Boundless Domain”
“Intestinal Wrap” (feat. Corpsegrinder)
“Vitrified Earth”
“The Parthian Shot”
“Creators Turned Into Prey”
“Cursed”
“Remnants Of The Old Gods”
“Looming”
“The Common Breed”
"The Common Breed" video:
“Intestinal Wrap” video:
Tour dates below.
Boundless Domain Summer 2023 Part 1 with Year Of The Knife, Fleshrot, Saintpeeler:
June
16 - Vibes Underground – San Antonio, TX
17 - The Rock – El Paso, TX
18 - 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ
19 - Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
20 - Supply & Demand – Long Beach, CA
21 - Kilowatt Bar – San Francisco, CA
23 - Dante's– Portland, OR
24 - El Corazon – Seattle, WA
26 - The Shredder – Boise, ID
27 - Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT
28 - The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
29/202389th Street – Oklahoma City, OK * No Fleshrot
July
1 - Mass Movement Community Arts – Tulsa, OK * No Fleshrot
Boundless Domain Summer 2023 Part 2 with Enforced (July 12 - July 16), Upon Stone, Saintpeeler:
July
10 - Chelsea's Live – Baton Rouge, LA
11 - 40 Watt Club – Athens, GA
12 - The Radio Room – Greenville, SC
13 - The Canal Club – Richmond, VA
14 - Lovedraft's Brewing Co. – Mechanicsburg, PA
15 - The Palladium – Worcester, MA
16 - Amityville Music Hall – Amityville, NY
18 - The Loud – Huntington, WV
19 - Eastside Bowl – Nashville, TN
20 - Vino's – Little Rock, AR
21 - Tulips FTW – Ft. Worth, TX
Germany’s hottest band to date, Feuerschwanz, have released a brand-new live video from their epic show at Wacken Open Air 2022, performing right after the headliner in front of one of the biggest crowds in their career. The performance – including a massive pyro show – was part of one of the band’s biggest shows to date, and the live version of the banger “Untot im Drachenboot” will also be available on the bonus CD of the band’s upcoming album, Fegefeuer, out July 7, 2023 via Napalm Records.
“Untot im Drachenboot” was originally released on Feuerschwanz’s successful #1 charting 2021 album, Memento Mori, and reigns as one of the band’s fan favorites - with several millions of streams and video views. At Wacken, the song was literally set on fire.
Feuerschwanz comments the new live video: “The first time on one of the main stages at Wacken was a particularly emotional moment for us! We want to share this moment with you, so we have cut a music video for 'Untot im Drachenboot' from the existing video material to capture this experience for you forever!”
Formed in 2004, the band has gradually shifted from their roots in comedic medieval folk into a much more serious direction. With the switch to Napalm Records ahead of the release of Das Elfte Gebot (2020), Feuerschwanz set their sights entirely on metal - soon becoming one of the most relevant German bands in the genre today. The band’s enormously successful previous album of original music, Memento Mori (2021), even stormed the official German charts, peaking at #1. On Fegefeuer, Feuerschwanz spice up their medieval inspired folk metal with true heavy metal influences.
Fegefeuer kicks off with outstanding opening track “SGFRD Dragonslayer”. Lyrical references to the legendary Siegfried Dragonslayer combine with heavy riffing and Nordic mythology. Successor “Bastard von Asgard” features beautiful vocals by Eluveitie’s Fabienne Erni. The catchy viking party anthem “Berzerkermode” calls for the listener to join the celebration and “party like a viking”, while the first three tracks, as well as heavy “Highlander”, are best proof of the band’s evolution from comedy rock to metal. Other tracks like the intense title track “Fegefeuer”, Lord of the Rings battlechant “Uruk-Hai” and “Die Horde” will be long-time fan favorites.
Fegefeuer stays lyrically true to trademark topics, exploring long forgotten legends and heroic battles, and shows off the band’s extraordinary musical skills. The album will be available in various formats, with some containing the live bonus album Live in Wacken 2022, which includes a recording of their co-headline show from the holy fields. With their new release, Feuerschwanz clearly confirm their outstanding position at the top of the German metal scene.
Fegefeuer will be available in the following formats:
- Deluxe Box incl 2 CD Mediabook with 40 pages booklet & 2CDs (Fegefeuer & Live In Wacken 2022), resin BIC lighter, letter of indulgence, trading card, flag - strictly limited to 2000 units worldwide, exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder
- 2-CD Mediabook Bundle incl. 0,5l jug (height 16cm, weight 1kg) & Mediabook, incl 40 pages booklet, 2CDs (Fegefeuer & Live In Wacken 2022) - strictly limited to 500 units worldwide, exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder
- 3-CD Earbook (Fegefeuer, Live in Wacken 2022, Instrumental) with 48 pages booklet - strictly limited to 1000 units worldwide, exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder and EMP
- 2-LP Red, Black Marbled Vinyl Gatefold Deluxe Box, incl 2 Vinyl (Fegefeuer & Live in Wacken 2022), 24 pages booklet, cloth bag, Record Butler - strictly limited to 500 units worldwide, exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder and EMP
- 2-CD Mediabook Bundle incl. patch & Mediabook, incl 40 pages booklet, 2CDs (Fegefeuer & Live In Wacken 2022) - strictly limited to 300 units worldwide, exclusively available via Feuerschwanz Shop, Napalm Records Mailorder and EMP
- 2-CD Mediabook, incl 40 pages booklet, 2CDs (Fegefeuer & Live In Wacken 2022)
- 1-LP Gatefold Black
- 1-CD Jewel Case, incl 24 pages booklet
- 2-MC Music Cassette Red transparent - strictly limited to 300 units worldwide, exclusively available via Feuerschwanz Shop, Napalm Records Mailorder and EMP
- Digital Deluxe Album
- Digital Album
"SGFRD Dragonslayer"
"Bastard von Asgard"
"Berzerkermode"
"Knochenkarussell"
"Fegefeuer"
"Die Horde"
"Uruk-Hai"
"Highlander"
"Morrigan"
"Eis & Feuer"
"Valkyren"
"Bastard von Asgard" video:
Various limited versions come with the bonus CD, Live in Wacken 2022, recorded during the band's co-headline set at Wacken Open Air 2022. Other versions include the instrumental version of all 11 album tracks.
Live in Wacken 2022 tracklisting:
"Intro (Das Elfte Gebot)" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Memento Mori" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Untot im Drachenboot" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Metfest" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Ultima Nocte" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Schubsetanz" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Methämmer" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Dragostea Din Tei" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Rohirrim" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Das Elfte Gebot" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Warriors Of The World United" (Live in Wacken 2022 / feat. Melissa Bonny)
"Die Hörner Hoch" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Extro" (Live in Wacken 2022)
Polish heavy metal rockers, Scream Maker, recently announced the upcoming release of their fourth studio album, Land Of Fire, on July 14. Check out a video for the new single, "See The Light", below, and pre-order/save the new album here.
"Land Of Fire is the first album where we achieved full stylistic coherence,” explains the band. “It's heavy metal, of course, but filtered through our musical tastes, experiences from recording previous albums, and a sense of what will work well in live performances. Land Of Fire may not be the most aggressive thing we've recorded, but it's not about aggression, it's about melodies and musicality. We made sure that the vocals are memorable, and the guitar solos capture the essence of what's best in classic heavy metal. Why the title Land Of Fire? We don't tell stories from Mordor on this album, nor do we directly refer to the current events that actually make the world burn. Land Of Fire is a metaphor for what's happening within us. We are torn apart by internal conflicts, contradictory thoughts swirl in our heads, paralyzing decisions. Sometimes, there's a true mental war raging within us, leaving behind ruins of memories, plans, and aspirations.”
Scream Maker formed in Warsaw, Poland in late 2010 when the original members, including current member Michał Wrona (guitar), gathered together out of a shared love of heavy metal. Wrona is joined in the current incarnation of Scream Maker by vocalist Sebastian Stodolak, bassist Jan Radosz, drummer Tomek Sobieszek, and guitarist Bartosz Ziółkowski. The band has produced three full-length studio albums (2014's Livin in the Past, 2016's Back Against the World, 2022's Bloodking), plus one EP (We Are Not the Same' and has played over 300 shows in Poland and abroad, including gigs with luminaries such as Judas Priest, Motörhead, Megadeth, Saxon, Slayer, Nightwish, Primal Fear, Stratovarius, Onslaught, and many more.
The band recorded their debut album, Living in the Past, with producer Alessandro del Vecchio (Jorn, Hardline, Revolution Saints) and the album featured guest appearances from Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater and Wojciech Hoffmann of Turbo. The album was released by Perris Records in April of 2014 in the US and Europe and followed by a tour that included shows with Primal Fear, Paul Di'anno, Blaze Bayley, and more. In May 2014, the band toured China for the first time, playing six festivals and unexpectedly becoming the first Polish artist to have an album released by a domestic record label in China.
In the summer and autumn of 2015, between gigs with Saxon, Black Label Society, and Motörhead, Scream Maker gathered at Hear Studio in Warsaw to record their second album, 'Back Against the World'. The album was crafted under the guidance of Radoslaw Kordowski, as well as, once again, Alessandro Del Vecchio. The album was released in May 2016 and once again the band got busy playing shows in support of the album, including shows with Megadeth, Korn, Slayer, another tour of China (their third, but not last, as China has become a regular touring destination for the band), as well as the third edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial that they had started back in 2014, but this time, the tribute included several shows. The band would organize a fourth edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial in spring 2017, and in December 2017, the band opened the first ever Polish concert by the Dio Returns tour. The band has continued with the Ronnie James Dio Memorial shows as the years have gone on, turning it into a regular tradition.
Once the global pandemic hit in 2020 and slowed the band's regular busy touring schedule, they focused on fine-tuning and recording material for their third full-length album, 'Bloodking', which was released in January 2022 and subsequently re-released by Frontiers Music Srl in December of the same year after the band signed a deal with the label. The album was mixed by Tomasz "Zed" Zalewski, with two songs, "When Our Fight Is Over" and "Hitting the Wall" being mixed by Alessandro Del Vecchio, and was very well received by both fans and critics, with Metal Hammer Poland giving it a glowing review. With touring opening back up, the band got busy playing gigs again and planned their own two-day festival in Warsaw (with Polish legends Turbo headlining) in September 2022, which also includedanother edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial. In the fall of 2022, the band embarked on another tour with the Ronnie James Dio Memorial, after which they devoted themselves to writing and recording their fourth full-length album, which would ultimately become Land Of Fire.
Tracklisting:
"Perpetual Burning"
"Can't Stop The Rain"
"Everybody Needs Illusions"
"Zombies"
"A Nail In The Head"
"The Rider"
"Dark Side Of Mine"
"Way To The Moon"
"Land Of Fire"
"See The Light"
"Below"
"See The Light" video:
"Can't Stop The Rain" video:
Scream Maker are:
Sebastian Stodolak - vocals
Michał Wrona - guitar
Bartosz Ziółkowski - guitar
Jan Radosz - bass
Tomasz Sobieszek - drums
Iconic Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Alice Cooper will release his new album, "Road", on August 25 via earMUSIC. The LP's first single, "I'm Alice", is available below.
Produced by longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, "Road" was written, composed and recorded with Alice's trusted, longtime bandmates — Ryan Roxie (guitar),Chuck Garric (bass),Tommy Henrikson (guitar),Glen Sobel (drums) and Nita Strauss (guitar). "Road" channels the spirit of old-school Alice with instantly recognizable grit and plenty of gusto. It's everything you'd hope for from him and more.
"In the past, the show got reviewed before the music did," laughs Alice. "We had hit #1 albums, but it was always about what we did on stage. For 'Road', I wanted the band to be involved in the foundation of all the songs. I only see these guys when we're on the road. So, I wanted them to be as tight as they are for the show but on all new material. That's what we did for this record. When you have a band this good, I believe in showing it off, and this is my way of doing so."
The album opener and first single "I'm Alice" sets the tone for the album with its driving drumbeat as guitars wail in the distance. Alice's instantly recognizable rasp takes hold, "I know you're looking for a real good time. So, let me introduce you to a friend of mine. I'm Alice. I'm the Master of Madness; the Sultan of Surprise…so don't be afraid, just look into my eyes."
"Road" is going to be released in a wide variety of formats and limited vinyl colors. Complementing the album's theme, the bonus DVD/Blu-ray comes with Alice Cooper's 2022 full live show at Hellfest and includes all the classics and rarely played gems.
"Road" track listing:
01. I'm Alice
02. Welcome To The Show
03. All Over The World
04. Dead Don't Dance
05. Go Away
06. White Line Frankenstein
07. Big Boots
08. Rules Of The Road
09. The Big Goodbye
10. Road Rats Forever
11. Baby Please Don't Go
12. 100 More Miles
13. Magic Bus
"Live At Hellfest 2022" (DVD/Blu-ray) track listing:
01. Feed My Frankenstein
02. No More Mr. Nice Guy
03. Bed Of Nails
04. Hey Stoopid
05. Fallen In Love
06. Go Man Go
07. Guitar Solo By Nita Strauss
08. Roses On White Lace
09. I'm Eighteen
10. Poison
11. Billion Dollar Babies
12. The Black Widow Jam
13. Steven
14. Dead Babies
15. I Love The Dead
16. Escape
17. School's Out
No stranger to doing things his own way, Alice has cast a long shadow over rock music with an unrivaled live show and timeless anthems like "School's Out", "No Mr. Nice Guy" and "Poison". Selling over 50 million albums worldwide, he earned a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2003, and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inducted him as part of its class of 2011.
Boasting one of the most influential catalogs in history, Rolling Stone cited 1971's platinum-certified "Love It To Death" among the "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time", while other platinum releases spanned the seminal "Killer" (1971),"School's Out" (1972),the Billboard 200 No. 1 "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973),"Welcome To My Nightmare" (1975) and "Trash" (1989),to name a few. The latter even graced Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums Of All Time." He's so embedded in generations of popular culture that he not only made a cult-classic cameo in "Wayne's World" during 1992, but he also starred alongside EGOT winner John Legend and Sara Bareilles in NBC's 2018 production of Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert" — not to mention, who else appeared on "The Muppets" in seventies and "That 70s Show" in the early aughts?!
Beyond hundreds of syncs, everyone from Etta James, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS, MEGADETH and THE FLAMING LIPS has covered his tunes. THE BEASTIE BOYS, DISTURBED, and countless others have sampled him. His collaborators have notably included the late Vincent Price, AEROSMITH, GUNS N' ROSES and Jon Bon Jovi, to name a few. Plus, he co-founded HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES alongside AEROSMITH's Joe Perry and Johnny Depp.
Most recently, 2021's "Detroit Stories" garnered widespread critical acclaim with Classic Rock grading it "4- out-of-5 stars" and hailing it as "his most concise bolt of precision-tooled heavy rock in 50 years." It bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Sales chart, hit No. 1 in Germany, and garnered nine Top 10 debuts worldwide.
Throughout 2022, he collaborated closely with his band members and longtime producer Bob Ezrin, putting together what would become "Road".
"I said to everybody, 'This is your album, so I want you all to bring songs in'," he recalls. "Hearing Ryan or Tommy gives it so much personality. The backbone is the group. Once they shared their ideas, Bob and I sat there and connected the songs. It was like directing a play. We're old school; we still write thematic albums."
Fittingly, the record opens with "I'm Alice". A dusty drumbeat sets the tone as guitar wails in the distance. Alice's instantly recognizable rasp takes hold, "I know you're looking for a real good time. So, let me introduce you to a friend of mine. I'm Alice. I'm the Master of Madness; the Sultan of Surprise…so don't be afraid, just look into my eyes."
"Ryan brought in 'I'm Alice', and we were like, 'This NEEDS to open the record'," he goes on. "You don't fight it. You just let it be what it is. It sets up the rest of the whole album."
Elsewhere, "White Line Frankenstein" hinges on a head-nodding riff as it steamrolls towards a chantable chorus, "They call me 'White Line Frankenstein'," before a Tom Morello solo, hot enough to burn rubber.
"If you're a truck driver who's been out there a long time, you rule the road," he adds. "In the song, this surreal tough guy is driving on white lines for his whole life, and he's probably DOING white lines. So, 'White Line Frankenstein' would be his CB handle. It's monstrous and definitely a stage song."
Ragtime piano and a funked-out bass line cut through the distortion on "Big Boots" as the lyrics detail a diner interaction with a whole lot of double entendre. "It's the funniest song," he grins. "You've got a waitress saying, 'Take me on tour', and the guy says, 'Well, she's got big boots'. That's the joke."
Kane Roberts (a touring and recording collaborator with Alice in years past who briefly rejoined Cooper on the road in 2022) makes a special guest appearance, contributing the raucous and rip-roaring "Dead Don't Dance". Other special contributors to the album include RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Tom Morello, who co-wrote, and plays and sings backing vocals on "White Line Frankenstein", and BUCKCHERRY's Keith Nelson and MC5's Wayne Kramer, who also co-wrote new songs with Alice. This particular sonic wrecking crew reupped "Road Rats" from 1977's "Lace And Whiskey" as "Road Rats Forever" as "a tribute to the roadies." On the other end of the spectrum, "100 Miles to Go" captured the yearning to get home at the end of a tour. They topped off the journey with a cover of THE WHO's "Magic Bus". Alice grins, "We love the original, so we made it more hard rock."
In the end, the road is as open as ever for Alice Cooper. "There's no downtime for me at all," he leaves off. "I've got this album, this tour, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, and a whole lot more. Most guys my age want to rest and relax. I've never felt more up. Physically, I'm in as good of shape as I've ever been. I'm not looking for any way out. I'm not going retire, and I don't want anyone to think I am. I'm at the top of my game right now."
Aftermath released their highly anticipated new album, No Time to Waste via Zoid Entertainment/TLG/INgrooves on March 17. This marks the third album in a trilogy, and is a departure from the previous dark, concept album installment in the trilogy. BraveWords is premiering the music video for "SLAVeABLE (We're Not Your Animals)" - described as "rebellious" and "snarling" by scribe Nick Balazs. Check out our review of No Time To Waste here and raise your fist in the air for the "SLAVeable" video below:
The band states: "From slaves with chains to sex slaves or debt slaves, slavery is a human concept. Invented by man against natural law. This song is about freedom. We aren’t your animals."
"We are really proud of this album. It completes a trilogy of albums that began with our debut. Written in the darkest period in modern history, we actually wrote this one as an album of hope. We streamlined it from our previous dark concept record. The ten songs on this album are heavy and energized. It’s a metal record with a message and that message is we can do this together but we have no time to waste." - Kyriakos "Charlie" Tsiolis.
"We Can Do This Together":
Lineup:
Kyriakos "Charlie" Tsiolis - Vocals
Steve Sacco - Guitar
Ray Schmidt - Drums
George Lagis - Bass
Tarja's Rocking Heels: Live At Metal Church is the document of a very special concert in the idyllic setting of Wacken Church. It will be released on August 11 via earMUSIC and is the first release of the live series Rocking Heels.
In front of just 300 handpicked fans, this onetime-only event opened the Wacken Open Air Festival in 2016. Tarja presents unique arrangements of rock and heavy metal classics by her favourite artists including "Numb" by Linkin Park, In Flames' "Alias," Metallica's "The Unforgiven," songs by Joe Satriani and Slipknot, as well as a Nightwish song and Tarja originals.
The first single, a cover of Linkin Park's "Numb," perfectly reflects the intimate setting of this concert. Tarja's operatic prowess and hauntingly beautiful vocals add an extra layer of ethereal magic to an already powerful masterpiece. The song explores themes of emotional isolation, frustration, and the struggle to find one's identity in a world that often feels overwhelming. The lyrics convey a sense of detachment and numbness, reflecting the emotional struggles and inner turmoil of the protagonist.
With its captivating performances of well-known songs paired with Tarja's iconic voice, this live album is a treasure for fans, as well as a discovery for Tarja-newcomers and all those who missed the chance to attend this exclusive concert. Rocking Heels: Live At Metal Church will be released as a Ltd. 2LP Vinyl Edition, CD Digipak in LP-replica design and on Digital.
June
14 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of The Living Arts
16 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
17 - New York, NY Irving Plaza
18 - Boston, MA - Big Night Live
20 - Detroit, MI - Saint Andrew's Hall
21 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues Chicago
22 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
24 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
26 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
27 - Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco
28 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues Las Vegas
30 - Berkeley, CA - The UC Theater
ENVY OF NONE, the new band from Alex Lifeson (RUSH),Andy Curran (CONEY HATCH),Alfio Annibalini and singer Maiah Wynne, has just released a new EP, "That Was Then, This Is Now", on June 9 via Kscope.
The all-star lineup continues its exponential growth of its trippy, edgy atmospheric sound that took the world by surprise. The new EP is made up of very adventurous tracks that consist of remixes of "Dumkoptf" and "Dog's Life" alongside "Lethe River" and "You'll Be Sorry", only previously released on the deluxe edition of their debut record.
Following these, the EP culminates with a newly recorded track "That Was Then". The song undulates with progressive dexterity and is a perfect example of the unbound writing ability this incredible band showcase.
All tracks were written, arranged, recorded and produced by ENVY OF NONE.
In celebration of the EP release, ENVY OF NONE has revealed a beautiful and striking new video for "That Was Then" created by Olivier Boscovitch, who has previously worked with David Guetta. The artist was handpicked by Curran to create a video that was inspired by Wynne's lyrics representing both a metaphorical and literal chase. It recalls the idea of retro pop art genius Roy Lichtenstein seen through the lens of a psychedelic graphic novel in the beautiful clip's vibrant and stylistic imagery.
Curran comments: "The video was created by the super-talented Olivier Boscovitch. I discovered some of his work online and reached out to him and he loved the song 'That Was Then'. He was inspired by the dark and haunting lyrics that Maiah wrote for the song. He pitched the concept of a girl riding a chopper and travelling through a fictional trippy landscape, basically her life, while being chased by a bad assed villain in a muscle car. The driver of the car represents the person in our lives that we're getting away from. Olivier's amazing graphics are a testament to his unique creativity. We're very lucky to be working with him."
He continues: "I'm super proud of the new song. Ty Dennis played a killer drum track that breathed new life into the song and we're very grateful that Alex reached out to him. I think the track itself shows a real growth for ENVY OF NONE. It's like we've hit out stride creatively and a nice marker to punctuate that our first record was not a one-and-done thing. It really opened the floodgates for us writing wise and we-re well on our way to a second record."
"That Was Then, This Is Now" remains in canon with the band’s sound of their eponymous debut whilst also pushing the boundaries and is a fantastic prologue to the next chapter of ENVY OF NONE's story as the band have been in the studio creating new music and remixes.
"That Was Then, This Is Now" track listing:
01. Lethe River
02. You’ll Be Sorry
03. Dog’s Life (Remix)
04. Dumb (Der Dummkopf Remix)
05. That Was Then
Lifeson is no stranger to the concept of evolution. As a founding member of RUSH, he's been able to explore more musical ground than just about any other guitar player out there — taking rock to new progressive heights throughout the decades and always in the most wildly inventive of ways. His influence can be heard on countless bands around the world, from indie shoegaze and math rock to heavy metal and beyond. Over the last few years, Lifeson has been focusing on a new project that, no matter how well-acquainted you are with his discography, will undoubtedly shatter all seeds of expectation and blow the mind. That project is ENVY OF NONE.
"Envy Of None"'s 11 tracks — which ricochet between various shades of alternative, experimental and synth rock — throw surprises at every turn, twisting dark melodies against contemporary pop hooks. Lifeson himself is proudly aware of how little of it crosses over with the band that made him famous.
However, it was only when Wynne became involved that this truly started to feel like a band destined to go somewhere. Her haunting melodies and soul-baring intensity is — by the admission of her own bandmates — what truly brought this music to life. All things considered; she is a star in the making.
"Maiah became my muse," said Lifeson. "She was able to bring this whole new ethereal thing through her sense of melody on tracks like 'Liar' and 'Look Inside'. After hearing her vocals on 'Never Said I Love You', I felt so excited. I've never had that kind of inspiration working with another musician. When we say she's special, it's because she's really fucking special."
The album closer, "Western Sunset", was penned by Lifeson in tribute to his dear friend Neil Peart. It's a highly emotive piece of music to honor a man deeply missed by the rock community at large, and even more so by those who were lucky enough to know him.
"I visited Neil when he was ill," says Lifeson. "I was on his balcony watching the sunset and found inspiration. There's a finality about a sunset that kinda stayed with me throughout the whole process. It had meaning. It was the perfect mood to decompress after all these different textures… a nice way to close the book."
Swedish vocalist, Kent Hilli, has announced the upcoming release of his second solo album, Nothing Left To Lose, on August 4. The first single and video from the album, the title track, are out today. Watch the video below, and pre-order/save the new album here.
Produced by Jimmy Westerlund (One Desire) with co-production by Hilli and Ulrick Lönnqvist, Nothing Left To Lose is yet another melodic rock gem from Hilli, who has established himself as one of the premiere vocalists in the genre.
Hilli’s debut solo album, The Rumble, which was produced and written with Michael Palace, was the culmination of the musical path that the Swedish singer started journeying down since he debuted with Swedish melodic rock upstarts Perfect Plan. Kent’s career in music started later in life than your average musician, at the beginning of '00s after he decided to quit his career as a football player. While he started singing with a cover band in 2001, it was not until 2014--when he started to write his own songs and playing with Perfect Plan--that he started to take a career in music more seriously.
In 2017, when Perfect Plan completed their debut album, ALL RISE, the band got a deal with Frontiers Music Srl. Upon the release of their first single, ”In And Out Of Love,” Kent’s astounding vocal abilities were suddenly known to an international audience and no longer a secret. Since that debut single, he has released three studio albums with Perfect Plan, and one live album.
Additionally, he also participated on both Restless Spirits albums, a melodic rock project masterminded by Tony Hernando (Lords Of Black), where he was showcased alongside great artists and singers like Deen Castronovo (Revolution Saints, Journey), Johnny Gioeli (Hardline), Chez Kane, and Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline, Jorn), among others. And, of course, Kent also took on the seemingly impossible task of stepping into the lead vocal role for a reactivated Giant on their new album, Shifting Time (2022). The album was met with critical and fan acclaim, showcasing why Kent is one of the most revered talents in the current melodic rock scene.
Nothing Left To Lose is going to be a true delight for melodic rock fans, as has come to be expected from Hilli.
Tracklisting:
"Too Young"
"Nothing Left To Lose" (Ft. Jimmy Westerlund And Kai Hahto)
"Could This Be Love"
"A Fool To Believe"
"Every Time We Say Goodbye"
"Stronger"
"Does He Love Like Me"
"Start It All Over"
"Heard It All Before"
"Saving Us"
"Only Dreaming"
"Northing Left To Lose" Video:
Lineup:
Kent Hilli - Lead Vocals and Backing Vocals
Jimmy Westerlund - Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Backing Vocals, Additional keyboards, FX, Percussion
Ulrick Lönnqvist - Bass, Backing vocals. Acoustic guitar on ”Every Time We Say Goodbye” and ”Every Time We Say Goodbye (Acoustic Bonus track Japan)
Kai Hahto - Drums on ”Nothing Left To Lose”
Felix Borg - Drums
Pete Alpenborg - Rhythm Guitars and Keyboards
Jimmy Hedlund- Guitar solos on ”Start It All Over” and ”Only Dreaming”
Kristian Fyhr - Backing Vocals
Mike Palace - Guitars and Backing vocals on ”Saving Us” and ”Heard It All Before”
Alexander Jonsson - Keyboards on ”Only Dreaming” and ”Stronger”
Oleg Lavrentev - Saxophone on ”Does He Love Like Me”
Jussi Vuorijää - Keyboards and Organs on ”Nothing Left To Lose”
Rick Altzi - Additional Backing Vocals on ”Nothing Left To Lose"
The Dead Daisies are going to "Make Some Noise" with Blackstar Amplification at their shows in 2023. Welcoming back frontman John Corabi and, new to the fold, Michael Devin on bass. Together with band mates Doug Aldrich, David Lowy, and Brian Tichy, they’re going to rock your world! Check out this killer version of "Make Some Noise" filmed in New York.
Ten years ago, The Dead Daisies burst onto the music scene with a mission to gather some of the finest musicians in the world and simply put, play some good old fashioned, no bullshit rock n' roll! After a decade of recording and touring the planet, there have been some incredible one-offs and special highlights including sharing stages with some of the world’s biggest rock bands.
To mark this milestone, a collection of songs from six of the band’s previous studio albums have been chosen. The upcoming Best Of album release will include some of the collectives’ favorite tracks and others that have become a staple part of every Daisies touring setlist.
Two previously unreleased tracks from the last recording session are also included. It will be available on double CD & vinyl on August 18th. Pre-order your copy here.
(CD cover art)
Tracklisting:
Disc 1
"Miles In Front Of Me"
"Lock N’ Load"
"Face I Love"
"Mexico"
"Midnight Moses"
"With You And I"
"Something I Said"
"Fortunate Son"
"Long Way To Go"
"Song And A Prayer"
Disc 2
"Make Some Noise"
"Resurrected"
"Rise Up"
"Holy Ground (Shake The Memory)"
"Unspoken"
"Bustle And Flow"
"Hypnotize Yourself"
"Born To Fly"
"The Healer" (Unreleased track)
"Let It Set You Free" (Unreleased track)
(Vinyl cover art)
To celebrate a decade of rock, The Dead Daisies will kick off touring in late August with some dates in Canada and the US. Late October will see The Daisies head back to Japan, followed by dates in the EU throughout November and December. Confirmed shows are as listed;
August
22 - Mickey's Black Box - Lititz, PA
23 - The Landis Theater - Vineland, NJ
25 - The El Mocambo - Toronto, ON
26 - London Music Hall - London, ON
27 - The Hub - Kitchener, ON
29 - First Ontario Concert Hall - Hamilton, ON
30 - Théâtre Fairmount - Montréal, QC
31 - Brass Monkey - Ottawa, ON
September
2 - Hollywood Theatre - Vancouver, BC
4 - Alberta Rose Theatre - Portland, OR
5 - Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Berkeley, CA
6 - Goldfield Trading Post - Roseville, CA
8 - Ramona Mainstage - Ramona, CA
9 - Count's Vamp'd Rock Bar & Grill - Las Vegas, NV
10 - The Roxy Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
October
31 - Umeda CLub Quattro - Osaka, Japan
November
1 - Spotify O East - Tokyo, Japan
4 - Konzertfabrik Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
5 - La Machine du Moulin Rouge - Paris, France
7 - La Rayonne - Lyon, France
8 - Live Club - Trezzo Sull'Adda, Italy
9 - Airport Obertraubling - Regensburg, Germany
11 - Cultuurpodium Boerderij - Zoetermeer, Netherlands
12 - Poppodium 013 - Tilburg, Netherlands
14 - Pumpehuset - Copenhagen, Denmark
16 - Moriska Paviljongen - Malmö, Sweden
17 - Valand - Göteborg, Sweden
19 - Vulkan Arena - Oslo, Norway
December
2 - Masters Of Rock Cafe - Zlín, Czechia
3 - Barba Negra - Budapest, Hungary
5 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
6 - Majestic Music Club - Okres Bratislava I, Slovakia
7 - Cvetličarna D.O.O. - Ljubljana, Slovenia
9 - Hirsch - Nürnberg, Germany
10 - Columbia Theater - Berlin, Germany
12 - Batschkapp - Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
13 - Zeche - Bochum, Germany
15 - Rock Out Festival - Augsburg, Germany
16 - Knock Out Festival - Karlsruhe, Germany
"It's been an amazing decade with The Daisies! We've rocked out with some of the best in the business, toured the globe, released eight albums and are thrilled to be showcasing the body of work from over the last decade with our upcoming Best Of album release and tour. I'm excited to be welcoming John Corabi back to the band. Can't wait to get back on the road again in 2023 to perform for our fans!" - David Lowy
The StickHits YouTube channel, found here, has shared another remastered live Rush video. Check it out below.
StickHits: "It only took 4.8 years to upload, but I hope you enjoy the first of multiple follow-up videos to my 'The Trees / Xanadu / Hemispheres / Tom Sawyer Medley' video from the same concert (found here) with the same editing idea that I uploaded in 2018. I am really happy with how the audio turned out on this one - the primary audio is a soundboard recording, which had amazing potential but was in mono and quite dry with almost no ambience, so I used another audience recording to fill in the far left and right stereo image and also used a few different effects to enhance and rebalance the mono track.
I have always loved the Counterparts era live sound. Neil's drums are very punchy and full with a crisp dry snare sound, Geddy went back to his vintage basses in full force, and Alex emulated the super heavy grunge inspired guitar tones of the time, and I think for the most part it was a big step in the right direction away from their more pop tones of the late 80's to this album.
I definitely want to continue songs from this amazing show, and I may have to go back and upgrade the medley as well!"
Gibson TV has released a new episode of "My First Gibson", featuring Rush guitar hero, Alex Lifeson. Watch below.
A message states: "As a kid, Alex Lifeson would spend every Saturday playing guitar at Long & McQuade, his local music shop, until they kicked him out. Watch this episode of My First Gibson to hear the story of Alex’s first Gibson and the guitar players that inspired his choice."
Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his solo cover of Gary Moore's "The Loner", taken from the 1987 album, Dirty Wild Frontier. Check it out below.
Johansson: "Gary Moore has always been my #1 and 'The Loner' has always been a huge favorite of mine. The first song I ever recorded at the age of 14 was this song. Maybe one day I will release that! This is a cover of Gary Moore's version, not the Cozy Powell version."
Sabaton's final EP in the Echoes Of The Great War EP trilogy, entitled Stories From The Western Front, is now officially available on all platforms and features a never-heard-before cover of Motörhead's well-known track, “1916". Stream Stories From The Western Front here.
In celebration of this final EP, the band has also unleashed a brand-new music video for “1916” filmed in Birmingham, England, and at Britain’s famous Black Country Living Museum. The music video features an overload of historical characters from the Sabaton lore, a headbanging metal army from Birmingham, and even a cameo from the living members of Motörhead - Mikkey Dee and Phil Campbell. Watch the music video below.
The Western Front was one of World War I’s main theatres of conflict. It stretched across more than 400 miles through France and Belgium from the Swiss border to the North Sea. It was a deadly place, and to put things into perspective, at least four-million men died there, although the true figure can never be confirmed.
The Stories From The Western Front EP tells stories of those who fought and fell on the Western Front, a place where the trenches and the ceaseless shelling drove men to insanity. Often, those who returned from this treacherous place did so with shell shock and chronic nightmares, PTSD or injuries that changed their lives forever.
“We are excited to release the last EP in the Echoes of The Great War series as well as a new music video, which we had a blast filming in the UK. Our new EP tells the tales that came from the Western Front, a brutal and unforgiving theatre of war. The Battle of Verdun, which was the longest battle of the First World War, the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 in Flanders, the Battle of the Somme… these are all things we should not forget,” explains Pär Sundstrom. “And through this EP – in fact, through this whole EP collection – our sole mission has been to immortalize these stories and ensure that these are at the forefront of everyone's minds.
“Speaking of the Battle of the Somme,” Pär adds, “this conflict resulted in a huge loss of human life – around 300,000 fatalities. It was one of the bloodiest and deadliest conflicts of WW1 - and in human history! This is what “1916” was written about, and that’s why it was the missing puzzle piece of this EP.”
Meanwhile, Joakim Brodén shares more information about the band’s cover of Motörhead: “We believed that ‘1916’ was the perfect fit for this EP, not only because it’s related to the First World War, but because we just love everything about the song. Lemmy was inspired to write this track after watching a documentary about the Battle of the Somme. The lyrics are emotionally charged and perfectly describe the experiences of all the young soldiers, most of whom were essentially just kids. A lyric that really moves me and hits home is: ‘We were food for the gun, and that’s what you are when you’re soldiers.’ I can’t get that out of my head.”
“We think we did this song justice. It’s our tribute to one of the greatest bands in the world and a nod to those who fought in the First World War and made the ultimate sacrifice!” he notes.
With each EP in the Echoes Of The Great War trilogy, Sabaton is releasing an exclusive digipak in limited numbers. They often sell out immediately, so if you want one for your collection, be quick!
Tracklisting:
"1916"
"Great War"
"Hellfighters"
"The Price of A Mile"
"Fields of Verdun"
"Race To The Sea"
"Devil Dogs"
Finnish symphonic extreme metallers Shade Empire have released a captivating video for the title track of their sixth studio album, Sunholy. The track represents a heavier and more symphonic moment on the album, exemplified by breathtaking scenery and landscapes throughout the video.
New album Sunholy is set for release on September 15 via Candlelight Records. Preorder here.
The band comments: "We wanted to do things differently than before on the 'Sunholy' video as the music demanded epic landscapes. We ran into an extremely talented film maker Oliver König whose previous works and beautiful sceneries caught our attention. So we went to shoot the video in the Austrian Alps and ended up on one of the highest peaks in Austria (2500m). We couldn't be happier with the result!"
Formed in Kuopio, Finland in 1999, Shade Empire have developed their own genre, an unholy fusion of symphonic melody interwoven with black and death metal overtones, emotionally rich vocals and tight orchestral instrumentation.
New album, Sunholy, features nine towering tracks of atmospheric beauty, barbed with unspeakably brutal guitar patterns, multi-layered beautiful synth walls, devastating drum parts, complex bass assaults and unique vocals that are delivered straight from the jaws of hell. Fans of Dimmu Borgir, Marduk, Septicflesh and Dark Tranquility will find something here.
Comments the band: "Six years after the release of Poetry Of The Ill-Minded, we are pleased to present you with our new album 'Sunholy'. We are very excited to let our fans hear what we have been up to. The record is brutality and beauty in perfect harmony."
Mixed by Chris Edrich (Devin Townsend, Leprous, Alcest) and mastered by Pierrick Noël (Klone), with Fleshgod Apocalypse's Francesco Ferrini responsible for the orchestrations and Andy Reich at Collapse Of Art completing the artwork, Sunholy is a long-aged piece of art and labour of love. Embodying the most comprehensive Shade Empire effort to date, the lyrics are thematically inspired by the Jonestown tragedy, a mass murder-suicide of the Peoples Temple cult, but there's also a fuller contemplation and exploration of the current state of the world.
Tracklisting:
“In Amongst The Woods”
“The Apostle”
“This Coffin An Island”
“Sunholy”
“Torn Asunder”
“Maroon”
“All-Consuming Flame”
“Profane Radiance”
“Rite Of Passage”
"Sunholy" video:
"In Amongst The Woods":
After a long-endured absence, Shade Empire have returned as grandiose experts in their craft, with an astounding soundtrack to Hell's gates' opening and a band relishing being at the top of their game.
Shade Empire are:
Henry Hämäläinen – vocals
Juha Sirkkiä – guitars and keys
Eero Mantere – bass guitar
Erno Räsänen – drums
Aapeli Kivimäki – guitars
Twilight Road, the new project formed by current Nazareth vocalist Carl Sentance and Italian guitarist Dario Mollo today release a new album "Trapped" via Global Rock Records. A new video, "Dirty Rock 'N' Roll" can also be viewed below.
Dario adds: "I am very excited that today is the release of my new Twilight Road Album Trapped. I'm proud of every aspect of this album. We prepared fully, rehearsing the tracks live in the studio during pre-production and rearranged the song structures to perfectly fit Carl’s vocals. I’ve been lucky to find amazing local musicians, including Andy Senis on bass and Alessio Benedetto on drums. Together we’ve created a groove and a power that can only happen when you’re playing together in the same room.
“Working with Carl again has been incredible, he’s a fantastic singer songwriter. I also want to give a big thank you to Eddie George, Dario Patti and Gianluca Sabbi (and his fantastic 1958 Hammond organ!) for their performances on keyboards.”
The album can be purchased at Cherry Red Records, with an autographed card while stocks last.
Dario Mollo is an Italian guitarist/producer with a career which started in 1981, with the heavy metal band Crossbones, and subsequent full-length albums with musical giants Tony Martin (Black Sabbath), Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, MSG), Don Airey (Rainbow, Ozzy, Deep Purple), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple).
Carl Sentance was born June 28, 1961.
After participating in several local bands, he replaced John Deverill as a vocalist in the NWOBHM band Persian Risk. At this point he received an offer to join Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) as lead singer in his solo project. The collaboration lasted from 1986 to 1988. In 2015 Carl became the new singer for the legendary rock band Nazareth after founding member Dan McCafferty had to retire due to illness. More recently Carl has recorded Nazareth's latest studio album Surviving The Law.
The album Trapped is the result of huge amount of work in the studio with the purpose of offering the best no-compromise album.
It contains 11 original tracks plus a rearranged version of Deep Purple’s “Perfect Strangers”.
Tracklisting:
"Trapped"
"Dirty Rock 'N' Roll"
"Dark Angel"
"Perfect Strangers"
"Madonna"
"Empty Mirror"
"Mafia"
"Turn It Up"
"God Is Red"
"Warning"
"Shooter's Paradise"
"Behind The Mask"
Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman has released the official music video for the song "Shukumei". The track is the fourth music video from Friedman's "Tokyo Jukebox 3" album, which received a North American release in April 2021 via The Players Club/Mascot Label Group. The record, which was made available in Japan in October 2020, was the third in a series that began with "Tokyo Jukebox" in 2009, and then "Tokyo Jukebox 2" following in 2011. The trilogy presents Friedman's inspired performances to Japanese repertoire he's chosen to cover.
Friedman stated about the "Shukumei" song and video: "When I saw the girl group PERFUME dancing to the ultra-progressive odd time signatures in their song 'Polyrhythm' live at the Budokan, it was one of the weirdest and most exciting combinations I had even seen. With that feeling in mind, I decided to combine girls dancing to 'Shukumei', a song with some of the mast bizarre and progressive guitar work on 'Tokyo Jukebox 3'. It's definitely in my personality to take the risk of confusing fans of guitar and fans of dance music, to try to bring some fun and life into what otherwise might be portrayed as a guitar showcase."
When "Tokyo Jukebox 3" was first released, Friedman explained his reasoning for making another LP in the "Tokyo Jukebox" series. "I've been playing stuff from the first two 'Jukebox' albums live all over the world, and it's taken on a life of its own," he said. "Especially in places like North and South America, Australia, Italy, France and even India. My fan base is very dedicated, and what I have found is that lots of new fans have been introduced to Japanese music and culture through me, which is very gratifying. On the tours it seems like aside from the dedicated guitar fans, the Japan fanatics have been noticeably growing, so now felt like the right time to do 'Tokyo Jukebox 3'."
On "Jukebox 3", Friedman took J-Pop hits and offered his own charismatic interpretations of contemporary repertoire that includes LiSA's "Gurenge" and Official Hige Dandism's "Shukumei", alongside Da Pump's dance track "U.S.A.", Sekai No Owari's ballad "Sazanka", and the vocaloid hit "Senbonzakura". Japanese old-school standards, Zard's "Makenaide" and Every Little Things' "Time Goes By", are also given Marty's modern overhaul to round out the album's track list to cover the full scope of his take on the Japanese music scene.
Friedman put a lot of energy into selecting the right songs to cover for the album, He shared: "In Japan, you have to get permission to record and release cover versions, and that can be a very tricky and long process. So, the last thing I wanted to do was to ask permission to do a song, only to wind up not recording it for whatever reason. That would be very impolite. I spent several weeks choosing songs and demoing them to see whether I could create versions that I could get pumped up about, before I even approached any publishers. I came up with a short list of 20 songs, and from this chose about 15 that I knew I could really score with."
Friedman also included "The Perfect World", which he wrote, recorded and originally released in 2018. This is the only track on the album with vocals. He reflected: "Back then I did the song with Jean-Ken Johnny from MAN WITH A MISSION on vocals, and that was used as the main theme for the Netflix series 'B: The Beginning'. On the day of release, the song went straight to the top of the Japanese iTunes chart." This recording is a new, fresh interpretation with Alfakyun, one of Japan's premier female J-pop singers performing the vocals. As Friedman offered: "It's really a self-cover, so it fits in with the idea of this being a covers album."
Friedman also included "Japan Heritage Theme Song", another of his own compositions on which he worked with the Tokyo Philharmonic orchestra. He said: "I was asked by the Japanese government to compose an official song to be played at government sponsored events which celebrate Japanese heritage. This was a huge honor, and it was wonderful to be able to work with such a prestigious orchestra which, rather conveniently, my wife plays cello in. Doing this was a little different from what I am used to, because instead of playing a completed track to record company people, I had to face Japanese government officials. I recall looking at their stony faces after they heard it and sweating anxiously awaiting their reaction. Thankfully, they liked what I'd done. I felt this was a great, uplifting way to close the album."
Much of the recording process was done at Power House Studios in Tokyo, with Friedman, who was also the producer on the project, joined by bassist Kiyoshi and drummer Anup Sastry. He said: "Kiyoshi has been in my band for about six years now doing all my tours and recordings. She is a powerhouse, and I honestly have never seen anyone hit the bass as hard as she does, especially while keeping up with my kind of challenging music. Anup was a member of SKYHARBOR (an Indian/American progressive metal band) and has been on my last three albums. He is just plain phenomenal as well."
The recording process started in January 2020 and was due to end in March with a release in May. Then the pandemic struck, and everything was pushed back. Friedman had no firm deadline to finish the album within, and he took advantage of the time, reflecting on executing his vision without limitations. He offered: "I kept reworking the music, and improving everything. In the end, it took several months to get the album completed, but it was time well spent. I believe the music turned out so much better because I wasn't under any deadline pressure." The mixing was handled by Jens Bogren at his own Fascination Studios in Sweden. He's a resource Friedman has the utmost confidence in offering, "Jens has mixed my last three albums and he's one of the best in the business. He knows what I want, and I know he'll get it for me."
Friedman's remarkable attention to detail on this album goes beyond the music. The cover image presents the guitarist dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono, with make-up that honors authentic tradition. He said: "I have to admit that getting this done was a hellish process. It could easily have just looked like a dude in drag and therefore rather stupid. It does take a very serious attitude and approach to pull this off properly. If you look at the covers for the first two 'Jukebox' albums, I had on kabuki make-up. There was no photoshop used at all and that's precisely why they came out so well. This time I brought on the absolute top professionals in the unique field of wardrobe and make-up, and I believe we've hit the bullseye. I am actually wearing two kimonos in the photo, as well as padding to fill me out a little like a sumo wrestler. You'd never believe I am this skinny rock dude from the East Coast of America!"
In support of their recent reissue, Scandinavian Aftermath, the fourth studio album by modern melodic metal act dEMOTIONAL, today, the Swedes are presenting us a brand new video clip for their song and album closing track, "Everbound".
With four albums under their belt, followed by a worldwide record deal with AFM Records, the Hamburg-based powerhouse label is proud to present the band's self-released 2021-offering, Scandinavian Aftermath, to a global audience. With over 15 million streams on Spotify alone and a constant listener base of 100k, various live shows, tours and radio airplays, dEMOTIONAL have already proved manpower the DIY-way, yet to be one of the most exciting, up-and-coming bands of their genre. Now, they are ready more than ever to conquer the world.
Scandinavian Aftermath was re-released on May 26 through AFM Records, and can be ordered here.
"Back to where it all began - Gothenburg," says the band about their new "Everbound" video. "Follow us through the streets of our beloved musical capital and experience dEMOTIONAL like never before.“
The new AFM Records deluxe edition of their latest offering, Scandinavian Aftermath, marked a promising harbinger for a new album to be released in the hopefully not so distant future, so better watch out and stay dEMOTIONAL!
Rock ‘n’ roll couple Janet Gardner and Justin James team up to bring you their latest release, No Strings, as Gardner James. Featuring 12 unique songs, the new album has something for everyone, from the bluesy ballad “No Strings” to the rowdy closer “Drink.”
No Strings is the follow-up to the 2020 album, Synergy. In North America, fans can pick up the album from Pavement Entertainment, and audiences outside of North America can get the album from Frontiers Music. Listen to No Strings here.
To celebrate the release, Gardner James have premiered the music video for “I’m Living Free.” The song is the thumping, anthemic opener on No Strings and instantly captures the attention of the listener with the crackling sound of a vinyl record, followed by huge riffs.
Gardner James says, “We’re hoping the ‘I’m Living Free’ song and video inspires people to find the strength and courage to take control of their lives and ultimately, their happiness. Others can only bring you down if you allow them to.”
With the release of No Strings, Gardner James has announced several US tour dates:
June
24 – St. Charles, IL – Arcada Theater (with Queensrÿche)
August
25 – Island Lake, IL – Sideouts (with Sebastian Back & Quiet Riot) (acoustic show)
September
8 – Lombard, IL – Brauer House
9 ¬– Roseland, IN – Cheers Pub
23 – W. Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
October
7 – Norwalk, CT – Wall St. Theater (New England Rockfest)
November
4 – N. Tonawanda, NY (with Firehouse) (acoustic show)
Fans can order a special bundle, which features a CD, a hand signed photo from Gardner and James, and a limited edition t-shirt. Order here.
Known for being the lead vocalist of the legendary female rock band, Vixen, Janet Gardner’s powerful vocals propelled Vixen to the top of the Billboard charts with crossover hits “Edge Of A Broken Heart” and “Cryin'.” Justin James has worked as a guitarist/songwriter/producer with members of Staind, Collective Soul, and Tyketto. Together, Gardner and James have penned a collection of emotionally charged songs with gritty grooves, infectious hooks, and inspired lyrics that merge hard rock influences from the last four decades.
No Strings tracklisting:
"I’m Living Free"
"Turn The Page"
"85"
"No Strings"
"Don’t Turn Me Away"
"Set Me Free"
"Hold On To You"
"Into The Night"
"I’m Not Sorry"
"You’ll See"
"She Floats Away"
"Drink"
“Drum City,” the new video from legendary drummer-songwriter-producer Carmine Appice and acclaimed LA session musician Fernando Perdomo from their powerful new album, Running Up That Hill, has been released by Cleopatra Records, the band’s label. Featuring infectious guitar riffs and a colorful animated visual backdrop, the video for “Drum City,” wowed the audience at the group’s New York City show where it was previewed at The Cutting Room.
The duo’s sophomore album again focuses on the art of instrumental rock gems, performed mostly just by Fernando Perdomo and Carmine Appice. The two musicians worked on opposite coasts of the US via a remote online recording process to complete the album. The two musicians played nearly all the instruments on the entire album with the exception of a few tracks which also featured an all star cast of guest musicians, among them: bassist Billy Sheehan, keyboardist Derek Sherinian, guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, bassist Tony Franklin and multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Haslip.
“Like our first album, Energy Overload, much of this album was conceived, written and recorded on opposite sides of the USA, while everyone was still dealing with the impact of the Covid 19 epidemic,” says Carmine Appice, about the record. “Fernando and I would just bounce ideas back and forth amongst each other, and before we knew it, we had this album filled with some of the best material either of us have ever been involved with. Many critics and radio professionals have told us this record is very different and very special, and we feel the same. Now, we want the world to discover it.”
Adds Fernando Perdomo: "I couldn't be more excited about the ‘Drum City’ music video. Collaborating with Carmine has been so much fun and this song is pure joy. The band did an East Coast and West Coast showcase, which were incredible. We cannot wait to play more!"
"Carmine Appice's drumming prowess is a symphony of rhythm, where beats become an intricate tapestry combined with the talent and precision of Fernando Perdomo,” says Cleopatra Records President Brian Perera. “Together, they make this a very special & unique project."
Order the CD here, order/stream the digital album here.
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