GUNS N' ROSES's video for the classic ballad "November Rain", has surpassed two billion views on YouTube. The clip, which was first released 31 years ago, wasn't uploaded to the platform until December 2009.
Released on 1991's "Use Your Illusion I" album, the original version of "November Rain" clocked in at nine minutes and seventeen seconds. The accompanying music video follows the story of a troubled rock star (played by singer Axl Rose),his girlfriend (played by Axl's then-real-life flame Stephanie Seymour),and her mysterious suicide.
Back in 2018, the "November Rain" video became the oldest music video to reach one billion views on YouTube. "That was an epic production," Slash recalled to writer Clay Marshall. "That was all more Axl's vision than anything I had to do with it. My contribution was [that] I would write my own part, where the leaving the wedding and doing the church thing was concerned. The way that [director] Andy Morahan shot it, I thought, 'This is going to be the last thing I ever do,' because these helicopters were flying [right] at me. I thought, 'It'll look cool doing it, and that will be my last day.' Because it was such an elaborate production, being a very sort of stripped-down rock guy, I was like, 'Oh, God. All this stuff!' But it did come out pretty fuckin' awesome. Now, all this time later, it's more of a hats-off to Axl than anything that it's reached that threshold. I always knew that that was a cool song. I never count my eggs as far as in advance how epic or how big, because always whenever you feel that is when it goes the opposite direction. You just do it; you enjoy it in the moment; and wherever it goes, it goes. But I always knew that that was a really great song."
Slash revealed in his autobiography that an early 18-minute version of "November Rain" was recorded at a session with guitarist Manny Charlton (of rock band NAZARETH) in 1986, before the sessions for GN'R's debut album, "Appetite For Destruction", began.
In a 2014 interview with HuffPost Live, Slash admitted that he didn't know what the "November Rain" was all about. "You know what?! To tell you the truth, I have no idea," Slash responded when he was asked about the meaning of the clip. "Well, it was a concept. The song itself is pretty self-explanatory, but the video is so complex. And I remember when Axl was writing it, it just became… It was so epic, it was like a movie. And I, not being a huge videos and making videos especially, I just showed up for my scenes. I [would] write my own scene and [I would indicate what I wanted to] do in my section. I never paid attention to the rest of the whole production. So at the end of the day, I never really knew… I knew there was a wedding in there somewhere and I was not into the concept of the wedding."
THE RAVEN AGE, the U.K.-based melodic metal band featuring IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's son George Harris, will release its third album, "Blood Omen", on July 7 via Music For Nations/Sony Music. The official music video for the LP's first single, "Parasite", can be seen below.
A barrage of riffs from guitarists George Harris, Tommy Gentry and bassist Matt Cox ushers in the "Blood Omen", alongside the pummeling of Jai Patel on drums and a growl from Matt James (MJ) which transcends into wide-reaching soaring vocals. "Parasite" is bolstered by a blistering solo from guest guitarist Andy James of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH.
"I've known the lads in THE RAVEN AGE for years now," says Andy. "I really like the direction they are heading with this third record and enjoyed doing a guest solo for 'Parasite'. It's a heavy but memorable track that hits you right between the eyes."
Having established their name as one of the finest in modern British metal, thanks to two acclaimed albums, 2019's "Conspiracy" and "Darkness Will Rise" debut in 2017, THE RAVEN AGE have garnered over 75 million streams worldwide and have toured heavily across the globe.
For the Essex quintet's "all-important third album", as George Harris puts it, they have expanded on every level.
This motivation is written into the album's concept. Following the theme of its two predecessors, the raven motif looms large, this time centering on the overthrowing of old masters, with the band's Raven King character coming to prominence. Even in the artwork, things are bolder, a close-up of the Raven King, says George, "taking his rightful place on the throne."
The theme weaves itself throughout "Blood Omen", kicking off with "Parasite", as MJ explains, "There's the legend about the ravens in the Tower Of London, that if they were ever to leave, the monarchy falls. Without being too political, 'Parasite' is hinting at these dark notes of the hierarchy, the bottom feeders that tend to run everything and then screw everything up. Our Raven King, he's basically ascending to the throne to bring down the monarchy, bring down the establishment, weed out the parasites, as it were."
"It's a heavy track," MJ continues, "We knew we wanted to come back with a real punch between the eyes. It's the full introduction to our Raven King, and it touches on elements of everything to come. It really shows where we're going on this album."
"Blood Omen" pushes everything further than ever before. The choruses are made for arenas, the riffs are taut, direct, and free of fat. It all makes for a grand musical stage on which the record's concept plays out. "Forgive & Forget" rushes in on a scalding lead guitar riff, while the epic "Nostradamus" is a tale of the great prophet. The heavy, raging "Serpents Tongue", meanwhile, deals with "deceit, and never knowing if you're being told the truth," according to George.
To capture all this on record, the band enlisted the help of long-term producer Matt Hyde (SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) to lay down the album's framework, before setting to recording the rest of the album themselves. The final mastering was put into the treasured hands of Mika Jussila at Finnvox (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, HIM).
"Blood Omen" is a record of several firsts for THE RAVEN AGE. With the metal end of the operation firmly nailed down, this time around the band were finally able to realize their ambitions of using real strings. Working with noted British cellist arranger Audrey Riley (FOO FIGHTERS, MUSE, COLDPLAY) at the ICMP (Institute of Contemporary Music Performance) studios in London. "Watching a quartet play along to our songs was a whole new experience," says George. "They just made everything more dramatic."
The album also sees the recorded debut of new guitarist Tommy Gentry, the prodigiously talented axeman — whose previous work includes stints with Marco Mendoza and former JUDAS PRIEST six-stringer K.K. Downing.
"Tommy was in our sights from day one," says George. "He's, without doubt, the most talented musician I know. Not only is he an amazing guitarist, he's a grade eight pianist, he can score orchestral music, and all that brings something to the table."
"Blood Omen" is a strong, focused, and ambitious work from one of the most rapidly rising rock bands in Britain and live they solidify this status. They have performed over 400 shows internationally across 38 countries including major festival performances such as the main stage at Download festival, Rock In Rio, Wacken Open Air, Hellfest and many more, as well as touring with the likes of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, VOLBEAT, SHINEDOWN and ALTER BRIDGE.
This summer they will be touring arenas across Europe with IRON MAIDEN, including London's O2 Arena on July 8. They have also been announced to perform at a number of major European festivals this summer, including Germany's Rock Am Ring, Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting, Return Of The Gods Festival in Italy, Sweden Rock as well as Metal Days in Slovenia.
"Blood Omen" track listing:
01. Changing Of The Guard
02. Parasite
03. Serpents Tongue
04. Essence Of Time
05. Nostradamus
06. Forgive & Forget
07. The Journey
08. War In Heaven
09. Tears Of Stone
British metal sextet, Bury Tomorrow, have premiered the video for "Heretic", featuring While She Sleeps frontman Loz Taylor. Watch below. "Heretic" is another crushing taste of their forthcoming seventh album, the aptly titled The Seventh Sun, releasing March 31 via Music For Nations.
Dani Winter-Bates states, "'Heretic' is here, and we knew from day one of recording that this song was something we wanted the world to hear immediately. It's right up there with the most aggressive and visceral tracks on the album, with an inherently dark feel, both lyrically and musically, which allowed us to delve into some of the more brutal elements of The Seventh Sun. All in all, we're extremely proud to showcase this track and can't wait to see what people think."
The track marks the band's first vocal feature since Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta appeared on "301" from the band's 2016 album Earthbound. Winter-Bates recollects, "From the off, we knew this song merited a guest vocal spot, and Loz Taylor of While She Sleeps sprang to our minds straightaway. He is already an absolute legend in our eyes, and working with him on this track has only confirmed that status further. His voice incorporated perfectly and has undoubtedly taken the song to the next level - we couldn't be happier."
The accompanying video was once again created in collaboration with director Matt Sears, who directed the horror-inspired, two-part short film that are the "Abandon Us" and "Boltcutter" music videos. This time around, the video is set at an Illuminati-style meeting, worshipping The Seventh Sun. When one of the members is discovered to be a "heretic" and "wanting out," he desecrates the purity of the club, angering The Seventh Sun, who plunges the meeting into chaos.
"The Seventh Sun"
"Abandon Us"
"Begin Again"
"Forced Divide"
"Boltcutter"
"Wrath"
"Majesty"
"Heretic"
"Recovery?"
"Care"
"The Carcass King"
"Boltcutter" video:
"Abandon Us" video:
Bury Tomorrow will embark on a spring 2023 headline tour of North America. The tour marks the first time the band has toured North American since 2010 and it is a welcome return!
Dates:
May
2 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echoplex
3 - Tempe, AZ -The Marquee
5 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
6 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
7 - Houston, TX - House of Blues Bronze Peacock
9 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Hell)
10 - Charlotte, NC - The Underground
11 - Nashville, TN - The Basement East
12 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi-Fi Annex
13 - Chicago, IL - Park West
14 - Detroit, MI - El Club
16 - Toronto, ON - The Velvet Underground
17 - Montreal, QC - Fairmount Theatre
19 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
20 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
Swedish heavy metal power force, Kardinal Sin, heave released a new track from their forthcoming album, S.A.L.I.G.I.A, out in North American on April 7, and in Europe on March 3 via Massacre Records.
Get "They Crashed In The Storm" on digital platforms here, and watch a music video below.
"This song is about the separation of loved ones in a state of war as the man leaves to fight an enemy he doesn't know, for a cause he can't understand," says the band about "They Crashed In The Storm". "It's the fastest song on the album and also the opening track. The variation in the verses and the double-kick chorus kickstarts the album."
The band's upcoming offering, S.A.L.I.G.I.A, unleashes ten complex songs as well as dark lyrics about the world situation now and then, and how we push humanity towards the apocalypse through war and environmental destruction. Compared to the band's debut, S.A.L.I.G.I.A promises to feature more elaborate tracks and arrangements, and is a musical journey through history from the Middle Ages to present. The album was mixed by Fredrik Folkare at Chrome Studios, and was mastered by Lawrence Mackrory (Obey Mastering).
Slated to be released as CD Digipak, Ltd. Vinyl LP and Digital formats, the album pre-sale is available here.
S.A.L.I.G.I.A tracklisting:
"They Crashed In The Storm"
"The Beginning Of The End (Wasteland Symphony Pt: 1)"
"Siege Of Jerusalem"
"Lost Imperium (Wasteland Symphony Pt: 2)"
"Reveal The Sinners Soul"
"S.A.L.I.G.I.A"
"In The Line Of Fire"
"Devastation"
"The Velvet Lies"
"The Aftermath (Wasteland Symphony Pt: 3)"
"Siege Of Jerusalem" video:
Album lineup:
Daniel "Danne" Wikerman – Vocals
Sophie Conte - Guitars, Backing Vocals, Growls
Joakim "Jocke" Vähätalo – Guitars
Hannu Viita – Bass
Thomas "Geson" Gustafsson - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Mikael "Aspen" Asp - Drums, Backing Vocals
With less than two weeks until the release of their sixth studio album, On The Prowl, and to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Steel Panther are back with their latest music video from the album.
The NSFW video is for the track “Friends With Benefits” and is a song that lyrically explores a mutually beneficial relationship between two consenting adults. The music video - directed by longtime collaborator J.T. Arbogast – is Steel Panther’s take on the immensely popular show Shark Tank. The band appears in Panther Den as they try and pitch a series of creative ideas to four high-powered cougars. Products such as the Glorious Hole, The Coolcumber and Slikknutz all sound like meaningful creations until Michael Starr arrives selling himself and his companionship package. The band performs in front of the panel of female business leaders and by the time the song is over – there are more than just their wallets out.
Always the innovators and constantly finding new ways to expand their societal footprint, Steel Panther are releasing their first-ever application for mobile phones called Rock N’ Talk. The app works like any other popular dating app, but this one is based around subscribers that share a mutual love of the band. People can sign up and connect with other individuals in their cities and make plans to meet up at shows and develop friendships all thanks to their common interest in the band comprised of Michael Starr, Satchel, Stix Zadinia and Spyder.
The app will also look to expand to integrate other artists in the future. The app and sign-up will be free and is available for all smart phones now. Fans that want to sign up for Rock N’ Talk can go here to download the app.
Steel Panther's sixth studio album, On The Prowl, will be available worldwide on February 24. The album was produced by Steel Panther and is now available for pre-order in multiple configurations including CD, Cassette, and 2 different color variant vinyl records, here.
From the opening synth intro of “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pu**y Tonight)” to the thunderous outro of “Sleeping On The Rollaway,” Steel Panther is back with the infectious riffs, pounding drums, unforgettable vocals alongside the witty humor that has earned them a global audience. Songs like “On Your Instagram,” “Magical Vagina” and “One Pump Chump” are sure to fit in on the biggest live stages next to the band’s most-memorable songs. “1987” is an incredible retro look at that unforgettable year and the band even slows things down on the reflective “Ain’t Dead Yet.”
On The Prowl tracklisting:
"Never Too Late (To Get Some Pu**y Tonight)"
"Friends With Benefits"
"On Your Instagram"
"Put My Money Where Your Mouth Is"
"1987"
"Teleporter"
"Is My D**k Enough" (feat. Dweezil Zappa)
"Magical Vagina"
"All That And More"
"One Pump Chump"
"Pornstar"
"Ain’t Dead Yet"
"Sleeping On The Rollaway"
"1987" video:
"Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)" video:
Steel Panther recently announced a massive world tour. The On The Prowl World Tour 2023 is set to kick off in February and will run throughout North America through April. Crobot and Tragedy will be joining the band on the North American tour.
Additional Information on all ticket and VIP packages including meet and greets, exclusive merch items, early entry and more for the On The Prowl World Tour 2023 can be found here.
On The Prowl World Tour 2023 dates:
February
24 - Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
25 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
26 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee Theatre
28 - San Antonio, TX - The Aztec Theater
March
1 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues
3 - Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
4 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
6 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
8 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
10 - Orlando FL - The Plaza Live
11 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live
12 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre
14 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
16 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
17 - Philadelphia, PA - Keswick Theatre
18 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
19 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
21 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
22 - Columbus, OH - The Bluestone
24 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room
25 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
26 - Bloomington, IL - The Castle Theatre
28 - Milwaukee, WI - The Eagles Club Stage
29 - Minneapolis, MN - The Fillmore
31 - Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre
April
1 - Denver , CO - The Fillmore
2 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
4 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
6 - West Hollywood, CA - Whisky A Go Go
7 - West Hollywood, CA - Whisky A Go Go
8 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues
May
14 - Glasgow, UK - O2 Academy
15 - Newcastle, UK - O2 City Hall
17 - Manchester, UK - Academy
18 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy
20 - London, UK - O2 Forum Kentish Town
21 - Bristol, UK - O2 Academy
23 - Leeds, UK - O2 Academy
25 - Belfast, UK - Ulster Hall
26 - Cork, IE - Cyprus Avenue
28 - Dublin, IE - Vicar Street
Frontiers Music Srl announces the upcoming release of Smackbound's new album, Hostage, on April 21. The Finnish five-piece, vocalist Netta Laurenne, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, drummer Rolf Pilve, keyboardist Vili Itäpelto, and bassist Tuomas Yli-Jaskari, once again deliver a hooky, driving, metal-influenced slab of hard rock power on their second album.
The first single and music video from the album, "Change", is out today. Watch the clip below, and pre-order the new album here.
”We started writing the album in early 2021 and even recorded the drums for a couple of songs we had ready in the fall, but then stopped the process because a lot was going on in our lives. Given a deadline for getting the album done, most of it was written and recorded in September and October 2022 and I remember writing lyrics and singing lead vocals just days before mastering. And we mixed the album until the very last minute, with Vili [Itäpelto] and Tuomas [Yli-Jaskari] taking turns between working on the record and sleeping! It was a hell of a ride, but we were able to pull through and give birth to our beloved second child, Hostage," says vocalist Netta Laurenne.
Hailing from Finland, Smackbound's story started back in 2015 when vocalist Netta Laurenne founded the group. A classically trained singer who has also studied pop, jazz, and folk singing, Laurenne's powerful vocal style is also perfectly suited for hard rock and metal and she went about finding the perfect musicians to team with for the musical style she wanted to pursue with Smackbound.
Guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari (Wintersun), drummer Rolf Pilve (Stratovarius, The Dark Element), keyboardist Vili Itäpelto (Tracedawn), and bassist Tuomas Yli-Jaskari (Tracedawn) joined forces with Netta and the band commenced writing songs and set about playing gigs to continue to gel as a cohesive unit. Those gigs helped the band build up their rapport as musicians and live performers, turning them into a well-oiled machine by the time they hit the studio to record their debut album 20/20.
But before 20/20 was released, the band formally debuted with a string of successful singles and videos on Youtube including the hooky "Drive It Like You Stole It", the energetic “Wall Of Silence", and the powerful "Run”. All three singles were included on the band’s debut album, which was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios, produced by Tuomas Yli-Jaskari, and mixed and mastered by Jesse Vainio (Sunrise Avenue, Apocalyptica, Poets Of The Fall), except for "Those Who Burn", which was mixed by Nino Laurenne.
Between the release of 20/20 and the band's upcoming album Hostage, Laurenne partook in various guest appearances and also partnered up with fellow Finnish vocalist Noora Louhimo to release an absolutely amazing heavy/hard rock album under the name Laurenne/Louhimo in 2021. The Reckoning was released to rave reviews as it showcased two powerful, dynamic vocalists delivering stunning performances boosted by their undeniable chemistry working together.
Now, Laurenne and her bandmates return for the second chapter of the ongoing story of Smackbound with Hostage.
Hostage tracklisting:
"Reap"
"Change"
"Razor Sharp"
"Rodrigo"
"Break"
"Imperfect Day"
"Graveyard"
"Traveling Back"
"Hold The Fire"
"Hostage"
"The Edge"
"Change" video:
Lineup:
Netta Laurenne - Vocals
Teemu Mäntysaari - Guitars
Tuomas Yli-Jaskari - Bass
Vili Itäpelto - Keyboards
Rolf Pilve - Drums
Finnish melodic metal band Dark The Suns have released a new single and music video, "Phoenix"§. The track is taken from the upcoming fifth studio album which is released later this year via Inverse Records.
Mikko Ojala commets: "We have worked on our new album for a year. We have worked hard, never gave up and now we can enjoy and celebrate our hard work with the brand new single, 'Phoenix'."
Pick up the single here. Check out the video below.
In 2005 Dark the Suns was founded by Mikko Ojala. In 2006 the band grew when three new members (bass player Inka, Juha on the keyboards and drummer Markus) joined the band, which signed with Firebox Records that same year.
During 2007-2010 Firebox Records released the band’s three full-length albums (I
Darkness Comes Beauty, All Ends in Silence and Sleepwalking In A Nightmare). The band performed many live shows during these years.
There have been some changes in the line-up over the years, but Mikko and Inka have been continuously together, making music. The band was inactive for 2013-2020 but in 2020 Mikko and Inka decided to resume making music together. It was a really natural way to continue the band as a duo, because they have written almost all the band’s music and lyrics during all these years.
In 2020 and 2021 Inverse Records released four singles from the band’s 4th album, Suru Raivosi Sydämeni Pimeydessä. The album includes ten songs of melancholic and melodic Finnish metal music. The band has always described their music as "Beautiful piano melodies and dark vocals.”
Fifth studio album is set to be released later in 2023 via Inverse Records.
On March 13, 2007, American gothic metal band TYPE O NEGATIVE released its seventh and final studio album, "Dead Again". This year marks the 16th anniversary of the record that came out three years before the passing of bassist/vocalist Peter Steele.
Last fall, the "Dead Again" 3LP reissue was made available in select colors. On May 5, the band will release "Dead Again" as a 2LP in black vinyl, light green transparent vinyl, light green/black/white splatter vinyl, and mint green marble vinyl as well as a black cassette.
TYPE O NEGATIVE has just released the live music video for "Love You To Death" just in time for Valentine's Day. It contains footage of the band's appearance at the 2007 Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.
As an added bonus, the live tracks that were only available on the 3LP and CD reissues, including "Love You To Death", are now available on all streaming services.
"Dead Again" track listing:
01. Dead Again
02. Tripping A Blind Man
03. The Profit Of Doom
04. September Sun
05. Halloween In Heaven
06. These Three Things
07. She Burned Me Down
08. Some Stupid Tomorrow
09. An Ode To Locksmiths
10. Hail And Farewell To Britain
Bonus Tracks
11. Everything Dies (live)
12. My Girlfriend's Girlfriend (live)
13. Black Sabbath (intro) / Christian Woman (live)
14. Love You To Death (live)
15. Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All) (live)
16. Anesthesia (live at Wacken Open Air 2007)
17. Christian Woman (live at Wacken Open Air 2007)
18. Love You To Death (live at Wacken Open Air 2007)
19. Kill You Tonight (live at Wacken Open Air 2007)
In a recent interview with the "Loaded Radio" podcast, TYPE O NEGATIVE drummer Johnny Kelly was asked if there has ever been any talk of staging a concert in honor of Steele. He responded: "Coffee talk. There was never any serious consideration, like, should we do something? Is there even a point of doing it? Or also, is it just a blatant cash grab? So all these things go through your head.
"People celebrate [Peter] all the time," he continued. "They do it daily. I see it online all the time and the impact that he had.
"Maybe somewhere down the road there may be something that's… I don't know. But I know that for me, it would have to include Kenny [Hickey, guitar] and Josh [Silver, keyboards] as well. Anything that we do, it would have to be the three of us. And there's no way you're getting Josh to do anything like that. [Laughs]"
Asked who would handle Peter's vocal parts if they ever did end up doing a tribute concert, Johnny said: "I don't know. I'd want a girl to do it. I'd want a female vocalist — like Ann Wilson [HEART] or something like that. [Laughs] But even so, that's the first thing. When you think about doing some kind of tribute show, you're just gonna get all these people… Yes, Peter was very highly regarded by our peers and stuff like that, and you'll just get a bunch of dudes up there just trying to sound like Peter. And you can't do that. And it's, like, all right, so what's the most remote thing from Peter? You'd have to do something completely abstract. And I would say get a female vocalist. I think Peter would get a kick out of… He would get off on seeing a girl sing his songs, seeing a female sing them. And it would really stress the point of doing something as a tribute instead of trying to recreate something."
Steele passed away in April 2010 from heart failure at the age of 48. Born Petrus T. Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York, he stood 6' 7" (201 cm) tall, and had a low, bass-heavy voice, which was one of the most recognizable features in TYPE O NEGATIVE's music.
Before forming TYPE O NEGATIVE, Steele played for the metal group FALLOUT and the thrash band CARNIVORE.
"Going through a midlife crisis and having many things change very quickly made me realize my mortality," Steele told Decibel magazine in 2007. "And when you start to think about death, you start to think about what's after it. And then you start hoping there is a God. For me, it's a frightening thought to go nowhere. I also can't believe that people like Stalin and Hitler are gonna go to the same place as Mother Teresa."
In a 2020 interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, Kelly said about Steele: "Peter, for the most part, he was a clown. He was always joking around — sarcastic, very self-deprecating humor. Just the opposite of what the music portrayed. When we were working on music and stuff, the end result, he was very serious about what he wanted, how he wanted something to sound. Other times, he was a clown.
"I always said that he wanted to be a normal person, but because he was Peter, that was just not in the cards for him; it was completely impossible," he continued. "I bet he would love to just be able to hang out, go to the bar, have a few drinks. And we would try to do that, and the minute he would come out to the bar, everybody gravitated towards him. He couldn't go to the store by his house without something happening to him."
Asked if that was because of Peter's size, Johnny said: "I think so. He just had this very striking look. He didn't look normal. And he had fangs. [Laughs] He was six and a half feet tall, [had] long black hair and fangs. You're not gonna get the normal response when you're going grocery shopping."
Long-running blackened death metal unit, Hate, performed at the 2022 edition of Germany's Wacken Open Air festival. Professionally-filmed footage of the band performing the tracks "Sovereign Sanctity", "Erebos", and "Omega", can be viewed below:
No one combines death and black metal quite like Poland's Hate. With unflinching viciousness and a sense of atmosphere unique to the band, on Rugia, their twelfth full-length, they push the boundaries of their craft even further. The album is available on CD, LP, and digital formats. Order here.
Rugia tracklisting:
"Rugia"
"The Wolf Queen"
"Exiles Of Pantheon"
"Saturnus"
"Awakening The Gods Within"
"Resurgence"
"Velesian Guard"
"Sun Of Extinction"
"Sacred Dnieper"
The newest single from The Jeremy Edge Project’s double album release, Saints And Souls Vol 1 & 2, is hitting all streaming platforms this month, with a new music video dropping today.
Entitled “Coral Castle”, the song was recorded in PA and NJ and was mixed by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley (known for his work with Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes, Joe Bonamassa, Iron Maiden and more) and features Edge's bluesy "Robin Trower-esque" style in a more ethereal vibe - flanked by funky rhythm section grooves and haunting mellotron strings.
Edge elaborates: "This song was inspired by artists like Sade, Maxi Priest and Seal who utilize a hint of jazz and blues to make haunting yet grooving songs you can get entranced by. It's also Hendrix-ish and 70s rock guitar driven. I used a great Jimi Hendrix/Robin Trower sounding effect pedal sent to me by Chris of ‘Pedal Pawn,’ the ‘Gypsy Vibe’ that just replicates that classic sound so well.
“I love trying to create new things with a ‘melting pot’ approach to songs. This song is the most laid back on the record and although there are several stories going in my head about where the lyrics are coming from it mostly deals with hoping people leave abusive, harmful or simply toxic and unhealthy situations. Many times, they never do.”
“The title and chorus were inspired by the old "Coral Castle" in Florida built by one man who seemed to defy the laws of physics. It's a sad but intriguing story that borders on the supernatural and I just thought it a great concept to try to reference here. Kevin Shirley was so kind enough to mix a couple of tracks for our record in between large album projects and I just love the way it came out."
Saints And Souls Volumes 1 & 2 can be ordered here.
Volume 1 tracklisting:
“No Way Home”
“Better Way”
“Ghosts Of The Living”
“Liberation Song”
“Move On”
“Bad Times”
“White Sand”
“Slow Breeze”
Volume 2 tracklisting:
“Hellride”
“Cold Day In Texas”
“Coral Castle”
“South Of The Border”
“No Way Home (Reprise)”
“Devil’s Hand Blues”
“Marie”
“The World Is Gone”
Greek metal legends, Rotting Christ, performed the Rituals album track, "Elthe Kyrie", during their set at the Cosmic Void festival on September 25, 2022. Professionally-filmed footage can be viewed below:
In late 2022, Rotting Christ dropped a surprise EP, The Apocryphal Spells Vol. I, via Century Media Records. This first volume of songs is a collection of studio and live bonus tracks that were previously only available on select physical products; now, fans can stream these rarities for the first time online here.
Rotting Christ's Sakis Tolis (vocals, guitars) comments: "My dear friends, I can proudly announce a compilation of rare Rotting Christ tracks that have never been released on digital platforms before. We have now the opportunity to release them via the first part of a compilation: The Apocryphal Spells. Thanks for your attention, and I hope you will enjoy them, as we also did, recording them back in the days. Spirit Up!"
The Apocryphal Spells Vol. I tracklisting:
"Astral Embodiment"
"Moonlight"
"Phobia"
"Tormentor" (Kreator cover)
"Flag Of Hate/Pleasure to Kill" (Kreator cover)
Rotting Christ was founded by Sakis Tolis (vocals, guitars) and his brother Themis Tolis (drums) in 1987. Starting out as death/grind, the Greeks embarked on a darker musical journey by the time their debut full-length, Thy Mighty Contract (1993), was released.
On the following seven albums [spanning a ten-year period from Non Serviam (1994) to Sanctus Diavolos (2004)], Rotting Christ steadily defined their own distinct style by experimenting with elements from death, heavy, and gothic metal without betraying their black roots. At the same time, the band went from underground heroes to headliner status.
With their highly acclaimed ninth album, Theogonia (2007), the Greek stalwarts added an unmistakable native element to their sound, which has remained with them as a signature trademark ever since.
The Acacia Strain - vocalist Vincent Bennett; guitarists Devin Shidaker and Mike Mulholland; bassist Griffin Landa; and drummer Kevin Boutot - are pleased to announce their new album Step Into The Light, out May 12 via Rise Records. The album, which was produced by Randy Leboeuf (Every Time I Die, Lorna Shore, Bad Omens), can be pre-ordered here.
The band has also shared the visualizer for the new track "Fresh Bones" and it finds them in beast mode, as usual. Watch below.
"Excited to finally be able to talk about the next chapter of The Acacia Strain," says Bennett. "As soon as you think you know what you're getting, we try to surprise you. Hold your breath for a bit - we might just surprise you again."
Tracklisting:
"Flourishing"
"Calf's Blood"
"Chain" (Feat. Jacob Lilly)
"Fresh Bones"
"Teeth Of The Cursed Dog"
"Open Wound"
"Sinkhole" (Feat. Josef Alfonso)
"Is This Really Happening?"
"Untended Graves"
"None Of Us Asked To Be Here"
"Fresh Bones" visualizer:
"Untended Graves" visualizer:
The Acacia Strain, Fit For An Autopsy, and Full Of Hell will hit the road on a co-headliner with special guest Primitive Man for one of the most extreme packages in recent memory. The tour kicks off on March 8 in Brooklyn and runs through April 1 in Worcester, MA. Tickets on sale here.
Dates:
March
8 - Brooklyn, NY - The Monarch
9 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Art
10 - Columbus, OH - The King of Clubs
11 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's Hall
12 - Chicago, IL - Metro
14 - Denver, CO - The Gothic
15 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
17 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
18 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
19 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
20 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory
21 - Los Angeles, CA - 1720
22 - Mesa, AZ - Nile Theater
24 - Dallas, TX - Amplified Live
25 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live
26 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
28 - Tampa, FL - The Orpheum
29 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Heaven)
30 - Greensboro, NC - Arizona Pete's
31 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
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