Two weeks ago, METALLICA kicked off its "M72" world tour 2023-2024 with two spectacular performances at Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands with support from ARCHITECTS and MAMMOTH WVH on night one and Floor Jansen and ICE NINE KILLS on night two. The career-spanning sets featured the live debut of "If Darkness Had A Son" and "You Must Burn!" along with songs off their newest album "72 Seasons", including "Screaming Suicide", "Sleepwalk My Life Away" and the title track "72 Seasons". In total, METALLICA performed 32 different songs taken from its 11 studio albums.
Professionally filmed video of the "You Must Burn!" performance from METALLICA's April 29 concert in Amsterdam can be seen below.
METALLICA is visiting a total of 22 different cities around the world and playing two nights in each city.
The trek 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.
Opening acts include FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ICE NINE KILLS, MAMMOTH WVH, PANTERA, ARCHITECTS, GRETA VAN FLEET and VOLBEAT.
METALLICA promises fans who purchase a two-day ticket that they won't see the same song twice for a total of over 30 songs spanning the band's 40-plus-year career.
Each weekend offers a variety of "Enhanced Experiences", ranging from access to a meet-and-greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the "Black Box" lounge to early entry into the venue and the Snake Pit. The very popular "Black Laminate" is back, now known as the "I Disappear Ticket", and is the ultimate pass for the fan who wants to run away with METALLICA for multiple weekends.
A single "I Disappear" ticket purchase gives you access to as many of METALLICA's 46 headlining tour dates across Europe and North America in 2023 and 2024 as you choose. You decide how many shows you'd like to attend around the world, and for how long, and METALLICA will make it as easy as possible.
According to Billboard, "72 Seasons" sold 146,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marks the band's 12th Top 10-charting album, of which eight have reached the top two.
"72 Seasons" had the biggest week for any rock or hard rock album since TOOL's "Fear Inoculum" arrived in September 2019 with 270,000 equivalent album units.
"72 Seasons" was released on April 14 via METALLICA's own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, it is METALLICA's first full-length collection of new material since "Hardwired…To Self-Destruct".
Speaking of the album-making process, Ulrich explained: "It's one of the only things that hasn't changed in 40 years. There'll be a whole slew of riffs and jams and sound checks, then it falls into my lap to go through them and identify, 'That one's great, that one's good, maybe there's a song over here.'"
Regarding the fact that guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo were given writing credits on more than half of "72 Seasons", Hetfield told the Associated Press: "All four guys were on the floor when we were writing, which is new for us. Usually it's just Lars and I sitting out there hashing it out. It felt really great to have the energy of all four. There's a lot more democracy on this album. Lars and I gave up the steering wheel a little more than usual."
Hammett agreed, saying: "It was much more collaborative. The attitude was just more open. There is less limitations on everyone's creativity and I think that shows."
In the seven years since the arrival of "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", METALLICA has reissued some of its classic albums, released a second live album with the San Francisco Symphony, commissioned a covers album featuring the likes of GHOST, VOLBEAT, WEEZER, Corey Taylor and THE HU, and landed on the Billboard songs chart with "Master Of Puppets" after a prominent placement in the hit Netflix show "Stranger Things".
The new Tigertailz single, "You Can’t Stop The Rock", is now available from all the usual digital outlets. It is the first new music written by the band since their Blast album in 2016.
Guitarist Jay Pepper comments: "We wanted to put out something fun and entertaining, paying homage to the '80s classic rock era, and this track captures that vibe perfectly."
This fits in with the band’s upcoming special guest appearance on Steel Panther’s Ireland dates later this month, and then a headline show at The Underworld, Camden – June 3rd.
According to xsrock.com, Tigertailz are currently re-recording a selection of their finest tracks from their back catalogue for a Best Of Volume I and II’ Album compilation, due for release end of 2023.
Check out "You Can't Stop The Rock" below.
In December 2022, Cardiff, UK-based rockers, Tigertailz, welcomed Power Quest/Dendera frontman, Ashley Edison, as their new vocalist.
It's said certain metals cannot be mixed, they cause corrosion. Surely this is true when trying to meld together a power metal vocalist and the UK's most prolific glam metal band?
Guitarist/founder Jay Pepper: "Some things should never happen, and yet when Ashley came to the studio and began singing 'Sick Sex', the mountains in Wales started to rumble, an earthquake was happening, and his voice was causing it! From that moment I knew people had to hear it. Ashley singing Tigertailz songs is like a jet engine running on Nitroglycerin!"
Ashley Edison: "I am SO excited to be joining the legends in Tigertailz! A band that not only inspired so many but still put on a hell of a show! When I was with Jay singing Sick Sex, everything just felt right and fell into place perfectly! The guys have been so incredible to work with and I can't wait to get going on some exciting future projects together!"
The band released Bezerk's "Sick Sex", reworked and accompanied by a powerful video depicting stereotyping of women and the dark world of S&M. The single is available from all the usual digital outlets.
The band have also announced their first live show for 2023, taking place at The Underworld in Camden, London on Saturday, June 3.
Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his solo cover of Gary Moore's "Nuclear Attack", taken from the 1983 album, Dirty Fingers. Check it out below.
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"
Germany rock legends Scorpions have unearthed more vintage video, this time of the rare performance of the Virgin Killer track “Pictured Life” from Kaléidospop on May 7, 1977.
Check out the previously uploaded performance of "All Night Long":
Catch Scorpions live in concert on the dates listed below.
May
14 - Westfalenhalle - Dortmund, Germany
16 - SAP Arena - Mannheim, Germany
19 - Zag Arena - Hannover, Germany
21 - Schleyer Halle - Stuttgart, Germany
23 - Mercedes Benz Arena - Berlin, Germany
28 - Hall Tony Garnier - Lyon, France
31 - Zenith - Toulouse, France
June
2 - Hallenstadion - Zürich, Switzerland
5 - Olympiahalle - Munich, Germany
7 - Winning Group Arena - Brno-Střed, Czech Republic
10 - Atlas Arena - Łódź, Poland
12 - Royal Arena - Copenhagen, Denmark
14 - Avicii Arena - Stockholm, Sweden
17 - Song Festival Grounds - Tallinn, Estonia
19 - Žalgirio Arena - Kaunas, Lithuania
22 - Ergo Arena - Gdansk, Poland
25 - Štark-Arena - Beograd, Serbia
28 - Romexpo - Bucharest, Romania
30 - Midalidare Rock In The Wine Valley - Mogilovo, Bulgaria
July
6 - Festival les Déferlantes Sud de France - Céret, France
11 - Icónica Sevilla Fest at Plaza de España de Sevilla - Sevilla, Spain
16 - Altice Forum - Braga, Portugal
Cello metallers Apocalyptica have shared their performance of "Rise" from Tuska Utopia 2020. Check out the pro-shot video below.
"The collaborations don't stop!," begins a message from Apocalyptica issued back in March. "We captured our performance of 'Rise Again' with Simone Simons of Epica in London. Check out the performance and then come out to one of our remaining tour dates and if you're lucky we'll perform it together for you!"
In support of the start of the second leg of their successful European tour, Epica and Apocalyptica teamed up for a unique collaboration on the atmospheric ballad, "Rivers", that they recorded live during the first leg of the Epic Apocalypse Tour, at Amsterdam’s AFAS Live in front of more than 5,000 fans.
“To play with these legendary musicians on our biggest indoor show in the Netherlands was a dream come true “, comments Coen Janssen and Mark Jansen adds: “To perform with Apocalyptica added an extra layer of pure magic to the song. Not only are these guys great musicians but also on a personal level, we match very well with these lovely people. Therefore, it was particularly special to perform ‘Rivers’ with them and we are very proud to present you the result of this collaboration in the form of our live performance.”
Stream the new single here, and watch the video below. The clip was shot by the team at Panda Production and edited by Jens de Vos.
Texas’ favorite death metal practitioners Creeping Death today unleash their new single, “The Common Breed,” with an accompanying video. The track comes by way of the band’s Boundless Domain LP, set for release on June 16 via MNRK Heavy.
A sophomore slab of spectacular weight, dimension, and might, Boundless Domain was produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (As I Lay Dying, The Acacia Strain, Underoath) and is a certified ripper, top to bottom. In the wake of the passing of local heroes 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 back into some of their metallic hardcore favorites. Boundless Domain boasts future death metal classics like the super heavy, fast, and groovy “Intestinal Wrap,” which features George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher of Cannibal Corpse. “Vitrified Earth” showcases Creeping Death's increasing skills at songcraft, most evident with the cadence and phrasing of Alavi’s vocals while never neglecting the sick riffs. Toward the album’s close, there’s even a bit of a spaced-out atmosphere, with guitar effects, harmonies, and heady time signatures.
Comments Pemberton on “The Common Breed,” “This music video perfectly encapsulates the energy of a Creeping Death show. Making it was a blast, we appreciate all our friends and family coming out and acting a fool for us.”
See all confirmed dates below. Tickets for all shows go on sale this Friday, April 28th at 10 AM, local time.
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
“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”
Frontiers Music Srl will release Art Nation's new album, Inception, on June 9. This will be the band's first new album in four years and sees vocalist Alexander Strandell, guitarist Christoffer Borg, bassist Richard Svärd, and drummer Alexander Lundgren delivering a powerful musical statement. Huge, anthemic melodic hard rock mixed with European metal influences throughout, make Inception an undeniably enjoyable sonic delight.
A music video for the new single, "1001", can be viewed below.
After having worked with lead vocalist Alexander Strandell on 2022's excellent debut album from Crowne, Kings In The North, Frontiers Music Srl approached Alexander about working together on a new Art Nation album and thankfully, Strandell was keen on the idea.
Importantly and crucially, guitarist Christoffer Borg, who started the band with Strandell in 2014, has returned to Art Nation. Strandell and Borg, along with bassist Richard Svärd and drummer Alexander Lundgren, have re-established that great musical spirit and chemistry that launched the band and Art Nation is back and better than ever!
"When Art Nation released our debut album Revolution'in 2015, everything went extremely fast. Suddenly we were on tour, doing shows on some of the biggest stages in Sweden and walking the red carpet of the Grammy Awards. At the same time, we were navigating the difficulties of being a bunch of kids, playing in a band where no one had any experience of doing all the things that we were expected to do. I was totally broken and overwhelmed by all the anxiety that had built up from the pressure of trying too hard. After the release of 'Liberation' in 2017, I could barely be on stage anymore without pain in my chest and I was so frustrated with being ill.
"During this period, I did things to my friends in the band that I deeply regret today. Even if I told myself that it was okay because of my health, it’s never okay to treat your friends badly. I need to live with that for the rest of my life and I’ll try to do better from now on. I lost my friends in 2017 and the band was never the same after that. We tried really hard to continue the journey, but it never felt like Art Nation without Christoffer, who started the band with me back in 2014. The musical spirit was gone along with the strong friendship," explains Strandell.
"After the release of Transition in 2019, the dawn of the pandemic in early 2020 forced me to cancel all future plans and everything went upside down. I tried to see it all as a sign to just focus on myself and try to repair all the damage I had done during the years. This break was necessary because I needed to heal myself and today I’m feeling stronger than ever, with much thanks to my family and friends. Christoffer and I are back together with Richard and Alex and we couldn’t be more happy," continues Strandell.
"We're here to stay this time and from the bottom of my heart, I’m so thankful for all the support during the band's existence. Let's make this next chapter of Art Nation the best ever!" concludes Strandell.
Tracklisting:
"Brutal & Beautiful"
"Last Of The Burned"
"1001"
"Fight Fire With Fire"
"Echo"
"Break Up"
"Light The Fire"
"The Legend Reborn"
"Somewhere I Know I Belong"
"Superman"
"Powerless"
"1001" video:
"Brutal & Beautiful" video:
Art Nation are:
Alexander Strandell - Vocals
Christoffer Borg - Guitar
Richard Svärd - Bass
Alexander Lundgren - Drums
NMB (Neal Morse Band) present An Evening Of Innocence & Danger: Live In Hamburg, a live recording of their 2022 tour in support of their most recent studio album. Recorded live in Germany, this 3-disc release captures the band in fine form, presenting Innocence & Danger and more over nearly two and a half hours of music, and will be released on July 14t.
Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Randy George, Eric Gillette & Bill Hubauer demonstrate a chemistry like no other on this musical document of that tour, supporting their fourth studio album, released in 2021. “NMB’s Innocence and Danger tour was an amazing experience all the way around and the Hamburg gig was a real stand out!”, says Neal, “The band was firing on all cylinders and the audience was so close to us and roaring from the very first note.”
Mike Portnoy continues, “It was our first post-Pandemic tour so everybody (including the audience) was just happy to be at shows again experiencing live music together. We particularly felt the love and emotions this evening in Hamburg which has always been an amazing audience for NMB.”
To celebrate the announcement, you can hear the band performing their arrangement of the Simon & Garfunkel classic, "Bridge Over Troubled Water", below.
Mixed & mastered by longtime collaborator Jerry Guidroz, the album will be available as a limited 3CD digipak, and digital album, and is now available to pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
CD1:
"Do It All Again"
"Bird On A Wire"
"Your Place In The Sun"
"Another Story To Tell"
"The Way It Had To Be"
"Bridge Over Troubled Water"
"Waterfall"
CD2:
"Not Afraid Pt. 2"
"Beyond The Years"
CD3:
"The Great Similitude Medley"
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" static video:
The Markthalle in Hamburg is a venue the band have played many times before, and as Bill Hubauer explains, it’s a place they hold very dear: “There is always something warm and magical about the audiences at Markthalle. This show was closer to the end of the tour and I was getting tired. I remember looking at the itinerary and seeing Markthalle coming up and feeling so happy about it. I knew it was going to give me the boost of energy to get through the rest of the tour. It's very much one of those "home away from home" tour stops!” Randy George adds, “It’s always a great show at the Markthalle! The tour was going well and the wonderful fans in Hamburg made it a wonderful evening.”
The band played the vast majority of their acclaimed latest album, including a mesmerizing rendition of their arrangement of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, a track that quickly became a favourite of fans during the tour. Portnoy comments, “I loved the format of this tours setlist, breaking the show into two halves similarly to the Innocence And Danger album. The 1st half the shorter more concise songs and poppier side of the band, and the 2nd half with the huge sprawling Prog epics.” The massive set concludes with the "The Great Similitude Medley" which features highlights from the band’s previous two records The Great Adventure and The Similitude Of A Dream.
The result is a sprawling evening of incredible musicianship, that demonstrates a band at the very top of their game.
The internationally acclaimed rock band WOLFMOTHER is set to embark on its most extensive European tour to date, featuring an incredible lineup of 37 festival and headliner shows across the continent. The band is also excited to announce the release of their latest single, "Stay A Little Longer", accompanied by an enthralling new music video.
Renowned for their electrifying performances and genre-defying sound, WOLFMOTHER has earned a dedicated following and critical acclaim worldwide. With an impressive discography that includes hits like "Woman", "Joker And The Thief" and "Victorious", the band continues to push the boundaries of rock music.
The upcoming European tour promises to be an extraordinary musical journey for fans, showcasing WOLFMOTHER's unparalleled energy and showmanship. From monumental festival stages to intimate headliner performances, audiences can expect a truly unforgettable experience.
In addition to the tour announcement, the band has unveiled their latest single, "Stay A Little Longer". The song captures the essence of WOLFMOTHER's iconic sound, featuring soaring vocals, blistering guitar riffs, and a captivating melody that will resonate with listeners. Accompanying the single is a brand-new music video.
Led by vocalist/guitarist Andrew Stockdale, WOLFMOTHER's debut was certified gold in the States, Germany, Canada and five times platinum in the band's Australian homeland. Lead single "Woman" hit top ten on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and won a Grammy for "Best Hard Rock Performance".
WOLFMOTHER's most recent album, "Rock Out", was released in November 2021 independently and without the support of a label, distributor or manager. Stockdale enlisted the help of WOLFMOTHER regular Hamish Rosser for drumming duties, and recorded all bass guitar, electric guitar and vocal parts himself, apart from the bass on "Humble" and "Only Way", which was handled by Alexx McConnell.
European tour dates:
Jun. 02 - CZ, Prague - Prague Rocks Festival
Jun. 03 - GER, Ulm - Ulmer Zelt
Jun. 08 - SE, Sölvesborg - Sweden Rock Festival
Jun. 09 - AT, Nickelsdorf - Nova Rock Festival
Jun. 10 - CH, Matten bei Interlaken - Greenfield Festival
Jun. 16 - ES, Santiago de Compostela - O Son Do Camino Festival
Jun. 17 - ES, Madrid - Sala La Paqui
Jun. 18 - ES, Mislata - Repvblicca
Jun. 23 - GER, Karlsruhe - Substage
Jun. 24 - HU, Budapest - 120th Harley Davidson Celebrations
Jun. 29 - GER, Hamburg - Große Freiheit 36
Jun. 30 - GER, Cologne - Carlswerk Victoria
Jul. 01 - GER, Saarbrücken - Garage
Jul. 02 - IT, Ferrara - Ferrara Comfort Festival
Jul. 06 - FR, Paris - Le Trianon
Jul. 07 - BE, Zottegem - Rock Zottegem
Jul. 08 - NL, Andijk - Dijkpop Festival
Jul. 09 - IT, Pistoia - Pistoia Blues Festival
Jul. 13 - GER, Berlin - Huxley's Neue Welt
Jul. 14 - GER, Frankfurt - Bartschkapp
Jul. 15 - GER, Dresden - Alter Schlachthof
Jul. 16 - GER, Hannover - Capitol
Jul. 19 - NL, Alkmaar - Victorie
Jul. 20 - NL, Hengelo - Metropool
Jul. 21 - GER, Tuttlingen - Honberg Sommer Festival
Jul. 22 - NL, Lichtenvoorde - Zwarte Cross
Jul. 26 - UK, London - O2 Academy Islington
Jul. 28 - ES, Gijon - Tsunami Festival
Jul. 29 - FL, Helsinki - Jytäkesä Go- Go Festival
Aug. 03 - NL, Steenwijkerwold - Dicky Woodstock Festival
Aug. 04 - NO, Notodden - Notodden Blues Festival
Aug. 05 - PTG, Ponte de Lima - Festival Ponte De Lima
Aug. 11 - DK, Horsens - Jailbreak Festival
Aug. 12 - GER, Eschwege - Open Flair Festival
Aug. 17 - FR, Saint-Nolff - Motocultor Festival
Aug. 18 - NL, Lierop - Nirwana Tuinfeest
Aug. 19 - FR, Charleville- Mézières - Cabaret Vert Festival
British rockers ASKING ALEXANDRIA have shared "Dark Void", the first preview of music from their as-yet-untitled full-length studio album, due this fall via Better Noise Music. Available now digitally, "Dark Void" presents contrasting themes of melancholy and aspiration of day-to-day life in the modern world, while seamlessly blending the band's anthemic stadium rock sound with a call back to their metalcore beginnings. Watch the music video for "Dark Void" below.
"With the world seemingly getting darker and darker, it's easy to see why so many of us struggle with anxiety, depression, loneliness," relays guitarist Ben Bruce. "This song is about fighting those demons that live in your head and trying your hardest to be your own savior. Finding that inner strength to pull yourself out of the darkness. This theme is explored throughout the entirety of our upcoming album.
"We all have our own struggles and hurdles. We are all on our own journeys that present unique challenges and difficulties, but we all have our own inner strength to fall back on. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. I feel that there can be comfort in knowing that we aren't alone. We all feel a little down from time to time. We all feel a little lost from time to time, but somehow, in some way, we are all in this together and hopefully our new album can help people through some of their toughest times."
ASKING ALEXANDRIA — Ben Bruce (lead guitars),Danny Worsnop (vocals),Cameron Liddell (rhythm guitars),Sam Bettley (bass) and James Cassells (drums) — have relentlessly toured across the globe in addition to being showcased at several of rock's top worldwide festivals, including Download (UK),Hellfest (France),Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium),Aftershock (USA) and many more. They will spend the summer touring across Europe before heading stateside in July for three festival appearances: Rock Fest (July 14, Wisconsin),Inkcarceration Festival (July 15, Ohio) and Louder Than Life (July 21, Kentucky).
Having joined Better Noise Music in 2021 with the release of their critically acclaimed album "See What's On The Inside", ASKING ALEXANDRIA subsequently achieved their first-ever No. 1 Active Rock radio single "Alone Again" and a follow-up Top 10 single with "Never Gonna Learn" (No. 6) in 2022 from their EP of the same name. The band has garnered over 1.4 billion combined streams to date across all platforms along with over 3.1 million monthly Spotify listeners. Their music videos have received over 700 million views.
ASKING ALEXANDRIA is currently offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience to shadow the band on tour for a day, including a guitar tech session with Bruce where the winner will also get to take home the signed guitar, as part of Better Noise Music's "Fan Love Sweepstakes" fundraiser supporting Sweet Relief Musicians Fund's "Music's Mental Health Fund". The grand prize winner and a guest will receive airfare and a two-night hotel stay to attend the concert, plus they'll receive a pair of VIP tickets to a future ASKING ALEXANDRIA show of their choice (subject to venue availability). See eligibility requirements and enter to win at fandiem.com/fanlove before June 30 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Members of Seattle-based Whythre are like every other world citizen, observers of our conditions, and some of those observations are expressed on their forthcoming album and its title track “Impregnate My Hate”, which the band is unveiling today as its third single, exclusively through BraveWords, before the full-length releases on May 26.
Vocalist/guitarist Adam Chambers explains the track further:
“Lyrically, this song is about modern times! Most folks are jumping down each other’s throats, willing vessels to the online projection of what modern entertainment and communication should be. My friends showed me an old sci-fi series called V that deals with subtle mind control and mass hypnosis… while I watched the series after writing the lyrics, I was like ‘yeah! This is it! This is what I’ve been trying to say.’"
Guitarist Shon Petrey adds.
"This is our most thrashy song…it’s not really the most melodic tune at all. When writing the song an old school vibe kinda just appeared here and we ran with it."
Watch the official animated video:
Whythre has two other albums out, and fans who have heard the previous efforts will be able to pick up subtle changes such as Chambers taking over on vocals and writing most of the instruments and vocals lines simultaneously with Shon Petrey. They find that it really gives a more cohesive feel to the songs. Rather than tacking on vocals at the end, there’s now a fleshed-out conversation between them and each instrument as the song is written. It’s way more natural, and the next step in the Whythre writing dynamic is to explore this a bit more with drummer Steve and bassist Eric.
The single, along with the album, is recommended for fans of Sinergy, Alice Cooper, and Children of Bodom.
Impregnate My Hate is being released on May 26, 2023 via High Point Records and is available for preorder here.
Tracklisting:
“Scorchbreath”
“Impregnate My Hate”
“Can’t Escape This”
“Scorpions Of Sinai”
“C Section S1lurpee”
“Death Frontier”
“Tantric Aspects Of The Cross”
“Immanence”
“Run It Red”
Swedish metal band Humanity's Last Breath has announced that their forthcoming album, Ashen, will be released on August 4 via Unique Leader Records. Pre-save Ashen here.
In celebration of the announcement, the band has unleashed their new track "Labyrinthian" and the accompanying music video, which was made by Riivata Visuals and co-directed by HLB guitarist Tuomas Kurikka.
For over a decade, Humanity's Last Breath has been delivering their foreboding message through their music as if warning of a looming apocalypse. With an endless urge to make music from a place that needs expression, they constantly push the boundaries of what's possible in modern metal. With the release of their fourth album, Ashen, an invitation is extended to experience their sound.
Let the world sing in despair.
European fans will have their chance to see Humanity's Last Breath on the road this summer. Confirmed dates are as listed:
August
13 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Prime Fest
14 - Hamburg, Germany - Indra
15 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Q-Factory
16 - Erfurt, Germany - VEB Kultur
18 - Carhaix, France - Motocultor Festival
19 - Lüdenscheid, Germany - Bautz Festival
20 - Frankfurt, Germany - Das Bett
21 - Aarau, Switzerland - Kiff
22 - Milan, Italy - Slaughter Club
23 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
24 - Prague, Czech Republic - Modra Vopice
25 - Dresden, Germany - Puschkin
26 - Szczecinek, Poland - Materia Fest
28 - Riga, Latvia - Melna Piektdiena
29 - Tallinn, Estonia - Sveta
30 - Helsinki, Finland - On The Rocks
31 - Tampere, Finland - Olympia
Ascending British hard rock sect, Wytch Hazel, will release its new album, IV: Sacrament, on June 2 via Bad Omen Records. Recorded with longtime producer Ed Turner (Purson) and tracked in a converted Baptist chapel in rural Wales, the record is a resounding achievement and glittering treasure chest that builds on the momentum of the band's celebrated 2020 album III: Pentecost.
Each Wytch Hazel album has embodied that old-fashioned notion of unstoppable progress culminating in this, their fourth outing; the point where youthful years of febrile creativity and progressive momentum culminate in a masterwork for the ages, setting the seal on an early signature sound while opening it up to future possibilities.
Pre-order on Bandcamp, and watch the video for the song, "Strong Heart", below.
Led by vocalist / multi-instrumentalist Colin Hendra, Wytch Hazel is a singular source of hard rock/heavy metal dominion, offering a never ending quantum of mediaeval melodic structures and to uplifting hymns, IV: Sacrament is overflowing with indelible ear-worms the likes of which must be heard to be believed. And believe, you shall.
"I've blown my own mind a bit," Colin states, "and even after all this painstaking work, I still feel like I've only scratched the surface of what Wytch Hazel could be doing musically. I wish I could have a month to work on one song, and go on a tangent a bit. I will in the future, it's going in the right direction. It's some of the most honest songwriting I've ever done, and the lyrics come from a darker place, I think. I'm getting older, that comes through in some lyrics: 'see my body breaking', 'I'm digging deeper', 'time's running out…' - I struggle to see the positive a lot of the time, so the songs end up being negative, the subject matter coming from constant striving."
It's these deeply personal lyrics, coming from a place of faith and conviction, which make Wytch Hazel stand out further from the modern herd; although we've been bombarded with the cartoon diabolism of the 'occult rock' revival for the best part of two decades, no other band has dared to offer the other side of the story. Yet lest any heathen headbanger start to fear any kind of evangelical conversion agenda, Hendra expands on his position: "Music is created for all, it's a common grace for everyone," he affirms, "which is why the music that shows the glory of God the most, in my opinion, is not music created by Christians. It's Black Sabbath, you know!"
Tracklisting:
“The Fire’s Control”
“Angel Of Light”
“Time And Doubt”
“Strong Heart”
“Deliver Us”
“A Thousand Years”
“Gold Light”
“Endless Battle”
“Future Is Gold”
“Digging Deeper”
Power metal act, Winterstorm, will release their fifth studio album, Everfrost, on July 14 via AFM Records. The band have released a video for the new single, "The Phoenix Died (Remember)". Watch below.
"'Remember' reminds us that we should remember our past in order to learn for the future," the band comments. "The text urges us to use our resources responsibly and to provide for future generations. In this context, one could also think of the sinking of Atlantis."
It’s the melodic grandeur, that clearly marks the foreground of Winterstorm, reflected in heavily catchy choruses and colossal, polyphonic vocals. Striking elements of different metal styles merge with each other and get a completely new impression, that Winterstorm’s forthcoming record may be their most versatile and powerful album to date; one that does not have to hide behind proven genre colleagues such as Blind Guardian or Rhapsody Of Fire.
Everfrost will be available as CD Digipak, limited clear blue vinyl and boxset. Pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
"Origin"
"To The End Of All Known"
"The Phoenix Died (Remember)"
"Circle Of Greed"
"Future Times"
"Everfrost"
"Final Journey"
"Fate Of The Atlanteans"
"Crusade"
"Overcome The Fear"
"Silence"
London metal trio, Urne, have today announced details of their deeply personal second studio album, A Feast On Sorrow. Due for release on August 11 via Candlelight Records, A Feast On Sorrow is a stark rumination on the grim inevitabilities of disease, dementia and deterioration in old age, felt intimately by Urne frontman, Joe Nally.
Joe Duplantier, frontman of modern metal goliaths, Gojira, unexpectedly reached out to the band directly - having been a fan of the band’s debut album, Serpent & Spirit - offering Urne the opportunity to record with him at his Silver Cord Studio in Brooklyn, New York.
Joe Nally, Urne frontman states: “We had many ups and downs throughout this process, but the end result is something the three of us are extremely proud of. Having the honour to travel to New York to work alongside Joe Duplantier and Johann Meyer on this record is something we didn’t think would be possible and, on top of that, to have Ted Jensen master this record, has been an experience we once dreamed of. This whole album is extremely personal for me. It’s made me grow as a person and has also helped me understand the grieving process better than before. This isn’t a joyful or uplifting record, it’s very raw and real, and when the opportunity to work with Joe came to be, we all knew he was the perfect person to capture the message of this record.”
Additionally, Urne have released the first track taken from A Feast On Sorrow, titled "Becoming The Ocean". The track is arguably the most immediate entry into the maelstrom, using Nally’s life watching the waves batter England’s sweeping south coast as a metaphor for the pressure a family feels drowning in the suffering of one of their own. Watch the video below.
Offering more detail on the song's meaning, Nally says; “'Becoming The Ocean’ has ties to a move within my life that was supposed to bring my family joy and a new life. Sadly, it hasn’t been as smooth as we all hoped. I walk by the ocean every day and something with such beauty and grace, also holds such power and an ability to crush and destroy. The video was shot in Pembrokeshire, Wales. This beach is known for a rock formation called Church Rock which works perfectly with the lyrical content of this song.”
Tracklisting:
"The Flood Came Rushing In"
"To Die Twice"
"A Stumble Of Words"
"The Burden"
"Becoming The Ocean"
"A Feast On Sorrow"
"Peace"
"The Long Goodbye/Where Do We Go When We Die?"
"Becoming The Ocean" video:
Urne will debut new music at Incineration festival, Camden, London, on May 13th, where they will open the stage at Electric Ballroom. They will also make a main stage appearance at this years’ Bloodstock festival, taking place at its usual stomping ground of Catton Hall, Derbyshire, August 10- 13.
Meanwhile, fans across Europe will be able to witness Urne at one of several shows in support of Gojira, in addition to some summer festivals.
Urne are:
Angus Neyra – lead guitar
Joe Nally – bass & vocals
James Cook – drums
Guitarist Lars Eric Mattsson has released his new single, a power ballad titled "Somewhere", available on all streaming platforms. Watch a video below.
Says Lars: "This song was originally supposed to be on my latest album, The Outsider, but the intended singer could not finish it due to health issues, so just a week ago I finished it. It is a sort of power ballad with some extras. I would appreciate if you could support me by adding it to your playlists."
Mattsson previously released covers of Jimi Hendrix' "Earth Blues", Uriah Heep's "Easy Livin'", and Deep Purple's “Emmaretta”. Watch the clips below:
Two weeks ago, METALLICA kicked off its "M72" world tour 2023-2024 with two spectacular performances at Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands with support from ARCHITECTS and MAMMOTH WVH on night one and Floor Jansen and ICE NINE KILLS on night two. The career-spanning sets featured the live debut of "If Darkness Had A Son" and "You Must Burn!" along with songs off their newest album "72 Seasons", including "Screaming Suicide", "Sleepwalk My Life Away" and the title track "72 Seasons". In total, METALLICA performed 32 different songs taken from its 11 studio albums.
Professionally filmed video of the "72 Seasons" performance from METALLICA's April 27 concert in Amsterdam can be seen below.
METALLICA is visiting a total of 22 different cities around the world and playing two nights in each city.
The trek 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.
Opening acts include FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ICE NINE KILLS, MAMMOTH WVH, PANTERA, ARCHITECTS, GRETA VAN FLEET and VOLBEAT.
METALLICA promises fans who purchase a two-day ticket that they won't see the same song twice for a total of over 30 songs spanning the band's 40-plus-year career.
Each weekend offers a variety of "Enhanced Experiences", ranging from access to a meet-and-greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the "Black Box" lounge to early entry into the venue and the Snake Pit. The very popular "Black Laminate" is back, now known as the "I Disappear Ticket", and is the ultimate pass for the fan who wants to run away with METALLICA for multiple weekends.
A single "I Disappear" ticket purchase gives you access to as many of METALLICA's 46 headlining tour dates across Europe and North America in 2023 and 2024 as you choose. You decide how many shows you'd like to attend around the world, and for how long, and METALLICA will make it as easy as possible.
According to Billboard, "72 Seasons" sold 146,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marks the band's 12th Top 10-charting album, of which eight have reached the top two.
"72 Seasons" had the biggest week for any rock or hard rock album since TOOL's "Fear Inoculum" arrived in September 2019 with 270,000 equivalent album units.
"72 Seasons" was released on April 14 via METALLICA's own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, it is METALLICA's first full-length collection of new material since "Hardwired…To Self-Destruct".
Speaking of the album-making process, Ulrich explained: "It's one of the only things that hasn't changed in 40 years. There'll be a whole slew of riffs and jams and sound checks, then it falls into my lap to go through them and identify, 'That one's great, that one's good, maybe there's a song over here.'"
Regarding the fact that guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo were given writing credits on more than half of "72 Seasons", Hetfield told the Associated Press: "All four guys were on the floor when we were writing, which is new for us. Usually it's just Lars and I sitting out there hashing it out. It felt really great to have the energy of all four. There's a lot more democracy on this album. Lars and I gave up the steering wheel a little more than usual."
Hammett agreed, saying: "It was much more collaborative. The attitude was just more open. There is less limitations on everyone's creativity and I think that shows."
In the seven years since the arrival of "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", METALLICA has reissued some of its classic albums, released a second live album with the San Francisco Symphony, commissioned a covers album featuring the likes of GHOST, VOLBEAT, WEEZER, Corey Taylor and THE HU, and landed on the Billboard songs chart with "Master Of Puppets" after a prominent placement in the hit Netflix show "Stranger Things".
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