2024 was a milestone year for Florida power metallers, Seven Kingdoms. Not only did they sign with a new label, Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), but they also headlined an extensive North American tour and released their new EP, The Square.
Today, the band release a video for their fan-favourite cover of Mr. Mister's "Kyrie". The cover stays true to the original 80s while adding Seven Kingdoms' unique twist. The video features the band enjoying their travels on tour and having fun at every band's favourite location, Buc-ees!
The band comment: "'Kyrie' is a cover song chosen by one of our faithful kickstarter backers. We started doing them a few years ago as an option on our kickstarters for fun and to show the musical flexibility of the band. I (Sabrina) have always enjoyed going out to sing karaoke or covering my favourite songs (I used to post myself singing them before copyright infringement issues took the fun out of it). This was a fun song to sing and I feel the lyric content is very on point for bands that go on tour. Kyrie translates to 'Lord have mercy' which when driving all around the world at all hours of the day and night, amongst responsible and non responsible people, we put our lives on the line every second we are on the road. I often refer to highways as 'The river of idiots' which can be anyone at any given moment."
The Square EP is out now on all streaming services. The EP is also available on both vinyl and CD formats. All physical copies are limited edition and signed by the band. Order The Square here.
Tracklisting:
"The Square"
"Through These Waves"
"Wilted Pieces"
"The Serpent And The Lotus"
"Kyrie"
Tarja has released the official video for "Victim Of Ritual", from her just released Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest, available via earMUSIC. Watch below:
On June 19, 2016, Tarja delivered a captivating performance at Hellfest, one of Europe's largest and most prestigious metal festivals held in Clisson, France. Her powerful blend of operatic vocals and heavy metal instrumentation enthralled the audience, making her performance one of the festival's highlights. The setlist featured a carefully curated mix of her solo work and iconic Nightwish songs.
Opening with “No Bitter End” from her 2016 album, The Shadow Self, Tarja set the tone for an evening of intensity and emotion. Her dynamic stage presence and dramatic musical arrangements created an unforgettable experience, solidifying her status as one of metal's greatest female singers.
Experience the raw energy and powerful emotion of Tarja Turunen's unforgettable performance at Hellfest 2016. Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest is available as a Ltd. 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Edition, CD Digipak in LP-replica design and on Digital. Order here.
Canadian rockers NICKELBACK have released the Andy Brown-directed music video for the song "Horizon". The track is taken from the band's first album in five years, "Get Rollin'", which was released in November 2022 via BMG and debuted at No. 2 across the Current Rock, Alternative, Hard Music and Digital Album charts. The record also landed on the ARIA album chart at No. 3 and in the Top 10 in the U.K., Canada, Germany, Australia and Austria. Additionally, "Get Rollin'" debuted at No. 1 in Switzerland, a career first for the band.
NICKELBACK released a new live album, "Live From Nashville", on November 15 via BMG. The LP was recorded at the band's August 2023 show at Nashville, Tennessee's s Bridgestone Arena as part of NICKELBACK's "Get Rollin'" tour and features special guest appearances from Ernest ("Flower Shops"),Josh Ross and Brantley Gilbert (for a cover of Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road"),Chris Daughtry ("Savin' Me"),Bailey Zimmerman ("Rockstar") and Hardy ("Sold Out").
"Hate To Love: Nickelback", a feature-length documentary film about one of Canada's most iconic and globally celebrated rock bands, premiered in September 2023 at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film tells the authentic story of the band from their humble beginnings in Hanna Alberta to their explosive global success in 2001 and the highs and lows that followed. Directed by Leigh Brooks and produced by Ben Jones, the film celebrates the loyalty of NICKELBACK fans and delves into the years of online vitriol while exposing the personal impact it had on each of the band members. The film also unveils the rock group's decision to return after a five-year break with a new record and a hugely successful sold-out tour, finding themselves riding a sudden wave of online love that has introduced their music to an army of new fans and audiences worldwide.
2023 Canadian Music Hall Of Fame recipients, and diamond-certified selling group NICKELBACK were named the "most successful rock band of the decade" by Billboard in 2009. Globally celebrated for their career defining and award-winning hits "How You Remind Me", "Photograph", "Far Away", "Rockstar" and more, the four-piece comprised of Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair is one of the most commercially viable and important acts of the past two decades. Their success includes worldwide sales of more than 50 million units, solidifying their status as one of the top-selling acts of all time and the second best-selling foreign act in the U.S., in the 2000s decade, behind only THE BEATLES. Their inescapable and irresistible smash "How You Remind Me" was named Billboard's "Top Rock Song Of The Decade" and was the No. 1 most played song on U.S. radio (any format) in the 2000s according to Nielsen Soundscan, with over 1.2 million spins.
Amongst all of these accolades, they've also been named Billboard's "Top Rock Group Of The Decade" and received nine Grammy Award nominations, three American Music Awards, a World Music Award, a People's Choice Award, twelve JUNO Awards, seven MuchMusic Video Awards, and have been inducted into Canada's Walk Of Fame (2007) and the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame (2023). With more than 23 chart-topping singles and fans spanning the globe, NICKELBACK boasts more than twelve consecutive sold-out world tours, playing to well over 10 million diehard and adoring fans.
Brazilian melodic rockers, Landfall, are pleased to share "No Tomorrow", their new single and video, taken from their upcoming new album, Wide Open Sky, set for release on January 17 via Frontiers Music Srl. Watch the new clip below, and pre-order the album here.
Guitarist Marcelo Gelbcke says: "'No Tomorrow' is another song that has a very strong fingerprint of what Landfall is all about. Melodies, choirs, rich harmonies and rhythmic changes. We wanted to navigate to a more AOR vibe on this one. It was also inspired by the passing of the great actor Carl Weathers, paying homage to his most remarkable character: Apollo Creed. There’s a line on Rocky III that Apollo says to an unmotivated Rocky: “There is no tomorrow!”. We thought it would be nice to write a song about this theme - Doing everything we can do today and not leaving anything for tomorrow. A song about motivation, goals and determination.”
"'No Tomorrow' is one of my favorite songs on the album. I believe it was a great choice for a single ‘cause at the same time it is powerful it is also a very catchy song”, adds vocalist Gui Oliver.
Landfall, the hard rockers from Curitiba, Brazil, features singer Gui Oliver (ex-Auras), guitarist Marcelo Gelbcke, bassist Luis Rocha, and drummer Felipe Souzza, are back with an almighty bang.
The band’s delightful melodic rock/AOR sound can best be described as falling somewhere between classic melodic rock, a là Journey, and slightly heavier influences, such as classic era Dokken, White Lion, and Extreme. With phenomenal musical and songwriting abilities and the golden voice of Oliver, Landfall is truly a welcome addition to the melodic rock genre.
The new album delivers a solid band and the new songs are stronger, able to capture the best of each band member, melodic rock has never sounded better.
Landfall was originally formed by drummer Felipe Souzza and guitarist Marcelo Gelbcke, childhood friends who have been playing together since they were about 15 years old. Some years later, bassist Thiago Forbeci joined up with them and added new musical input and influences, at which point the band decided to go in a new direction.
During this period, they released three independent albums under the name Wild Child, performing several concerts around Brazil, including opening for acts such as Glenn Hughes and Mike Vescera; until 2017 when the former Auras singer Gui Oliver, joined the ba
AC/DC have released an alternate HD video for "Nervous Shakedown", the third single released from the band's 1983 album, Flick Of The Switch. Watch below:
AC/DC return to the road in North America for the first time in nine years on the 2025 Power Up North American Tour.
Much to the delight of millions of fans across North America, the legendary Grammy Award-winning Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame-inducted band will perform in 13 stadiums coast-to-coast next spring. This run kicks off on April 10 in Minneapolis, MN at US Bank Stadium, canvases the continent, and concludes on May 28 in Cleveland, OH at Huntington Bank Field. Along the way, they will play some of the most iconic and historic stadiums in the world, including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA on April 18 and Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on May 24.
Tickets for all shows, featuring support from The Pretty Reckless, are on sale now, here.
The tour shares its name with their 2020 album, Power Up, which bowed at #1 in 21 countries. In 2024, AC/DC completed a European leg of the Power Up Tour, packing the biggest stadiums on the continent in the process. Power Up notably notched their third #1 debut on the Billboard 200 and exploded as one of the best-selling albums of 2020 worldwide. Plus, it garnered Grammy Award nominations in the categories of “Best Rock Album” and “Best Rock Performance” and “Best Music Video” for “Shot In The Dark.” Power Up is available here.
AC/DC played their very first show on the 31st December 1973 at Chequers Nightclub in Sydney, Australia. They are one of the most influential rock bands in history, with over 200 million albums sold worldwide. The band’s Back In Black LP is the “bestselling album by any band ever” and the “third bestselling album by any artist” with global sales of 50 million and counting. AC/DC was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2003. The band continue selling out stadiums on multiple continents, sell millions of albums annually and generate streams in the billions.
To continue their reign as the world’s greatest rock and roll band, AC/DC - Angus Young on lead guitar, vo
Chris Harms not only stands out as a musical chameleon with his band Lord Of The Lost, but also with his very first solo album, 1980. The album, which is strongly reminiscent of synth-pop, will be released on January 31 via Napalm Records and is the realization of a long-cherished dream that is finally coming to life.
1980 delivers a very unique sound yet-untapped in Harms' main band. Instead, it dives into the uniquely atmospheric synthesizer sounds of the 80s, interweaving them with electronic, wave and goth elements and completely diverting from guitar-driven rock style.
Harms’ distinctive voice and 1980s synth-pop-inspired sound craft an atmospheric journey through time, starting with the wave-infused, dancefloor-ready album opener and first single, “I Love You.” The official music video, released today, perfectly complements the track, delivering captivating visuals that radiate the retro charm of the 80s.
Chris Harms adds: “‘I Love You’ – that immediately sounds like a cheerful summer hit to me. However, this first impression couldn’t be more wrong. While the 80s synth sound effortlessly creates a sense of lightness, ‘I Love You’ is, at its core, one of the saddest songs I have ever written. Melancholy in neon colors.”
Watch the official music video for “I Love You“ below.
With Lord Of The Lost, Chris Harms just experienced the most successful four years in the band's history, including participation in the Eurovision Song Contest and tours with Iron Maiden, as well as one #1 and two #2 albums on the Official German Album Charts. But a break is out of the question. The idea of a solo album has been maturing in his mind for a long time and has now taken its final form.
Chris Harms describes 1980: “If I were forced to categorize this album and label it, it would probably say ‘a strange but successful mix of Depeche Mode, Modern Talking and Sandra with Chris Harms' voice, but with less perm and mullet’.”
Songs such as the hit “She Called Me Diaval” and “Lunamor” exude a pleasant lightness, while “Past Pain” and “May This Be Your Last Battlefield” strike a reflective note. Two selected duets round off the album: Harms welcomes guest singer Sven Friedrich (Solar Fake) on “Madonna Of The Night”, while Ronan Harris (VNV Nation) can be heard on "The Grey Machines”.
1980 deliberately avoids attempting to reinvent the wheel, but is to be understood as a musical journey through time. It is proof of Harms' artistic versatility, for which he is admired and appreciated far beyond genre boundaries. There is no deliberate calculation or riding the wave of any trends on the album, but simply a passion, desire and love for music, with which Chris Harms has marked a remarkable new pinnacle in his discography as a musician.
estial Death present an explosive heavy and authentic debut in their first offering, "Anti-Preacher". Accompanying a poignant commentary on pervasive corruption, is an onslaught of high intensity riffs, thrashing percussion and obliterating growls. "Anti-Preacher" is out now via Terminus Hate City Records.
Celestial Death frontman Jay Crash comments on "Anti-Preacher": "Our debut single, 'Anti-Preacher', is a statement of who we are as a band: we are in open rebellion against the corrupt individuals who sit at a pulpit preaching peace but actively supporting wars and genocides in the name of religion. We are a band that states exactly what we are about, and who we are against. These cowards hide behind religious manipulation, brainwashing their followers to commit violence against non-believers; to conq
rFall, have released a new video for their third single, "Freedom", from the latest album, Avenge The Fallen. The video is a heartfelt tribute to their global fanbase, who played an integral role in its creation.
When the single "Freedom" was unleashed in early July, HammerFall launched a unique competition via their social media platforms, inviting fans to submit videos to become a part of "HammerFall’s History."
Fans from all corners of the globe participated, showcasing their passion by rocking HammerFall merch, singing or playing their favorite instruments to the
Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai returned to the G3 touring concept in 2024 for a sold-out US tour. This was the original G3 lineup that saw the three virtuosos first share a stage back in 1996. Each guitarist plays a full set with their own band and then the three join together for an encore jam.
For those lucky enough to have been at any one of those 2024 shows, "Big Bad Moon" (from Joe Satriani’s Grammy-nominated, certified Gold Flying In A Blue Dream album) is a standout moment to relive and cherish again. For those who weren’t, G3 Reunion Live is the full G3 live experience waiting to be discovered.
"Reuniting with Eric and Steve, commemorating the very first G3 tour of ’96, was nothing short of genius. They were the first two guitarists I called when planning G3’s maiden voyage, so this reunion was a confirmation of our special connection." – Joe Satriani
Stream the "Big Bad Moon" single here, and watch the visualizer video below:
G3 Reunion Live captures the experience of that tour in full for all fans and marks the first G3 album release in over 20 years.
G3 Reunion Live is much more than “just” a live album. It’s a full album-length set from each artist plus a collaborative supergroup LP. The deluxe edition features a different coloured vinyl for each artist, a special splatter LP for the encore jam, and a 64-page photo book, divided into artist and jam chapters, with the full program also on 2 CDs. It is also available in a 2CD digipak with a 16-page photo booklet, 4 LP gatefold and digital download.
"Gravitas" (Vai)
"Avalancha" (Vai)
"Little Pretty Intro" (Vai)
"Little Pretty" (Vai)
"Tender Surrender" (Vai)
"Zeus In Chains" (Vai)
"Teeth of the Hydra" (Vai)
"For The Love Of God" (Vai)
"Land Of 1000 Dances" (Johnson)
"Righteous" (Johnson)
"Trail Of Tears" (Johnson)
"On-Ramp Improv" (Johnson)
"Freeway Jam" (Johnson)
"Desert Rose" (Johnson)
"Venus Reprise" (Johnson)
"Raspberry Jam Delta-V" (Satriani)
"Surfing With The Alien" (Satriani)
"Satch Boogie" (Satriani)
"Sahara" (Satriani)
"Nineteen Eighty" (Satriani)
"Big Bad Moon" (Satriani)
"Always With Me, Always With You" (Satriani)
"Sumer Song" (Satriani)
Introductions
"Crossroads" (Encore Jam)
"Spanish Castle Magic" (Encore Jam)
"Born To Be Wild" (Encore Jam)
"Crossroads" video:
About Joe Satriani:
For over three decades, the guitar virtuoso has travelled the world, playing to sold-out crowds as both a headliner and as founder of the all-star “G3” guitar extravaganza. Satriani’s studio and live recordings have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide to date and of his many solo albums, two have gone platinum and four others went gold, with 15 Grammy nominations between them. He launched his annual “G4 Experience” in 2014 bringing aspiring guitarists together for four days of workshops, mentor sessions and live performances, providing an exclusive learning platform led by him and his accomplished peers. In 2021, he introduced the "Crystal Planet" comic series, a five-part opus interweaving the realms of music and art. The tour documentary "Beyond the Supernova," directed by ZZ Satriani and currently available for streaming, offers an intimate behind-the-scenes glimpse that intricately chronicles his life, illuminating the profound dedication that fuels his guitar mastery. His side project, Chickenfoot, featuring former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, former bassist Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith saw their debut album certified gold and their second studio album debuted at #9. Satriani released his 19th studio album, The Elephants of Mars, in April 2022. In 2024 Satriani embarked on Sammy Hagar’s Best of All Worlds tour.
About Eric Johnson:
Among Johnson's many accolades are a Grammy award for "Cliffs of Dover " (from his Platinum certified album, Ah Via Musicom), ten more Grammy nominations, lifetime induction into
British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST played the final concert of their 2024 tour on Friday, December 13 at Ex Theater in Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be seen below.
The setlist for the performance was as follows:
01. Panic Attack
02. You've Got Another Thing Comin'
03. Rapid Fire
04. Breaking The Law
05. Riding On The Wind
06. Love Bites
07. Devil's Child
08. Saints In Hell
09. Crown Of Horns
10. Sinner
11. Turbo Lover
12. Invincible Shield
13. Victim Of Changes
14. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)
15. Painkiller
Encore:
16. The Hellion / Electric Eye
17. Hell Bent For Leather
18. Living After Midnight
In a recent interview with Heavy Consequence, Rob Halford spoke about JUDAS PRIEST's plans celebrate the 35th anniversary of its classic album "Painkiller" extensively live with the "Shield Of Pain" tour in 2025. This "rare" and "unique set" will include "beloved classics" and "will be defending the metal faith in a truly memorable experience throughout Europe" next summer, according to a social media post from PRIEST.
Halford said: "It's still in the works, but we're gonna go and show ['Painkiller'] off. Not in its entirety. I haven't figured out yet whether we're just gonna do a clump of 'Painkiller' songs — this is the 'Painkiller' section — or we're gonna go, a 'Painkiller' song, a couple of others, a 'Painkiller' song, a couple of others. It's all in theory in my mind at the moment, but, however, I think it's gonna be a real thrill and a treat. And, again, a once-in-a-lifetime thing for the band. You'll only see the show once. You'll only see the 'Shield Of Pain' show once. So, we hope our fans will be on the rail and banging their heads to it."
The singer also reflected on PRIEST's mindset while going into the recording process for "Painkiller". He said: "The importance was we had to really go into a huddle and say, 'We really need to show off what this band's true heart and soul and spirit is about.' And I'm using that in reference to some of the previous albums and some of the previous songs. Our attitude was, 'We're gonna make the hardest, heaviest, strongest, most energized metal album we've ever done,' and we did that — we achieved it. It's full-on. It only pulls back a little bit for 'A Touch Of Evil'. The rest of it is just non-stop, non-stop, non-stop. We did it in Miraval Studios in the south of France. It was very isolated, so, unlike Ibiza [where 'Screaming For Vengeance' and 'Defenders Of The Faith', among others, were recorded], where we were going into the clubs every night, it was very, very isolated, so we really got into the work in a very, very strong way with no interference. And so the exercise of achieving all of the components to make that album as strong as we wanted it to be was a success. And, again, a band will tell you we've done everything we can. Let's see what happens. The world embraced that album."
He continued: "It's a beloved, revered metal album. A lot of our friends in different bands will say, 'If you wanna hear what a metal album is all about, put on 'Painkiller'.' And that's pretty cool. But our fans, as well, recognize that of all of the 19 albums that this band has ever made, 'Painkiller''s still very heavily under the spotlight. And here we are, 35 years next year."
PRIEST's 12th album, "Painkiller" was recorded at Miraval Studios in Brignoles, France, and was mixed at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands. It was the first LP to feature drummer Scott Travis following the departure of Dave Holland.
In a 2023 interview with "The Jeremy White Show", founding JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Kenneth "K.K." Downing spoke about how the addition of then-new drummer Travis affected PRIEST's sound and songwriting on "Painkiller". He said: "I think with the addition of Scott, because we knew his capabilities from his former band, RACER X, which were a great band… After so many years, having Scott in the band with those double kicks again, it just opened doors for myself and Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist] to write rhythmically and musically. And we knew that Scott could play anything that we could — as fast as we could play on guitar, we knew he could match us on the kit, which helped a lot, really, because it meant we could expand writing after so many years, really, in respect of the faster side of metal, if you like."
One of the most iconic voices in rock and roll history, Steve Perry has released the official yule log video for "The Season 3", which came out on November 8 via Dark Horse Records. The album expands on the former JOURNEY singer's exquisitely curated 2021 holiday album "The Season", which revealed him as a flawless interpreter of the classic Christmas songbook. "The Season 3" includes six newly recorded songs, including "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Let It Snow", as well as a moving duet with his late father, Ray Perry.
Featured songs in the "The Season 3" official yule log video:
00:00 What A Wonderful World
04:04 The Christmas Song
07:33 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
10:37 This Christmas
14:01 Jingle Bell Rock
17:19 Call Me Irresponsible (feat. Ray Perry)
20:24 What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
24:21 Auld Lang Syne
26:26 Silver Bells
31:29 I'll Be Home For Christmas
34:14 Let It Snow
36:47 Maybe This Year
40:23 Winter Wonderland
43:44 Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
46:50 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
48:44 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
The official video for "Call Me Irresponsible", featuring Ray Perry, can be seen below. The video was designed and animated by Tolga Tarhan.
Built around a tape left to him after his estranged father's passing, the song, originally recorded by Ray as a reflection on his shortcomings, offers poignant closure as Perry confronts generational trauma and embraces forgiveness.
Talking about singing with his father on the duet of "Call Me Irresponsible", Steve Perry says: "My father, Ray Perry, was a singer and when I was a child he would sing to me at bedtime. I recently found a karaoke cassette of my dad singing that he sent me back in 1993 for Christmas. The one song that touched me the most was 'Call Me Irresponsible'. His voice was lovely, but the karaoke track was not.
"Using technology, we pulled his voice off the cassette and recorded beautiful music around him. Once that was done, an unfulfilled dream of singing with my father was now possible. You see, mom and dad divorced when I was 7, and dad and I never saw much of each other after that. Singing with my father after all these years was a very emotional experience for me. His voice was just as I remembered it as a child.
"At the end of his cassette, dad says, 'Merry Christmas, God Love Ya.' To hear him speak again brought tears to my eyes."
"The Season 3" marks Perry's first release on Dark Horse Records. He joins the highly curated home of legends on the label founded by George Harrison in 1974, alongside labelmates Joe Strummer, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, Billy Idol, Nina Simone, and more.
On signing to Dark Horse Records, Perry says: "I am so pleased to announce that I have just signed with George Harrison's label, Dark Horse Records. I've so much music in me that has yet to be heard. To be able to work with a team of people who support and respect my creative expressions, is a dream come true."
On "The Season 3", Perry says, "I've always loved the magic in holiday songs. When I was a child, I would hear them on the radio in my grandmother's kitchen while she was cooking. Today when I hear those songs, they take me back to so many wonderful memories."
He continues: "The magic of music is a very emotional gift. The idea of me recording a holiday record started many years ago and now has grown into my latest collection, 'The Season 3'. I have added six new tracks to this latest compilation, which now totals 16. I hope this record brings you precious memories too.
"All the best to you and yours this holiday season."
"The Season 3" is co-produced by Perry and engineer Thom Flowers with an immaculately arranged and richly nuanced sound. Mainly recorded at Perry's home studio, "The Season" series came to life in collaboration with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa) and Dallas Kruse (a multi-instrumentalist who also worked with Perry on his acclaimed 2018 album "Traces"). While most of "The Season 3" encompasses an understated sonic palette — piano, strings, upright bass — each track leaves an indelible impact thanks to the soulful sincerity of Perry's vocal work. For both artist and audience alike, "The Season 3" ultimately serves as a form of emotional time travel, a direct conduit for the kind of memories that sustain the spirit and restore a sense of joyous serenity.
One of the most iconic voices in rock and roll history, Perry has captivated generations with the sheer power of his range and extraordinary warmth of his tone. One of Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Singers Of All Time," he fronted JOURNEY during the band's massively successful era and was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Perry returned to music in 2018 with the release of his Fantasy album "Traces" which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard album charts and No. 6 overall — a personal best for his solo work.
KING DIAMOND has just released a new single, "Spider Lilly". The official music video for the track, which was directed by My Good Eye Visuals, can be seen below.
"Spider Lilly" is the first single and video taken from KING DIAMOND's forthcoming horror trilogy, part one of which is titled "Saint Lucifer's Hospital 1920". A first-time mixing collaboration with Arthur Rizk, who also mastered "Spider Lilly", has produced an incredibly powerful sound picture, as clear and dynamic as a full moon on a star-filled black night. The music and lyrics are written by King Diamond.
The recording lineup for "Spider Lilly" is still the same, with King Diamond handling lead and backing vocals plus playing the Hammond Organ, Andy La Rocque and Mike Wead on guitars, Pontus Egberg on the bass, and Matt Thompson on drums. There is also a special guest appearance by Danish female vocalist Myrkur with some amazing additional backing vocals.
Part of the new "Spider Lilly" video was filmed at the very haunted Pennhurst Asylum outside of Philadelphia on a travel day during the band's recent North American tour, two days before Halloween. It was only King himself and actress Jodi Cachia who could participate on that specific day, together with producer David Brodsky, Allie Woest and their killer crew.
"What a dark but great experience," King says, "Hopefully that was not the last video we will be able to film there."
There are already several tales waiting to be told about all that has happened before, during, and after the birth of the song "Spider Lilly"…
KING DIAMOND performed "Spider Lilly" live for the first time at the kick-off concert of the band's long-awaited North American headlining tour, which launched on October 15 at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. The "Saint Lucifer's Hospital 1920" trek ran through December 6 in Dallas, Texas. Support came from OVERKILL and NIGHT DEMON. Additional backing vocals for the KING DIAMOND set were provided by the special guest Myrkur.
Last month, the KING DIAMOND shows in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (November 20 at Edmonton Convention Center),Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (November 21 at TCU Place),Calgary, Alberta Canada (November 22 at Grey Eagle Event Centre),Portland, Oregon (November 24 at Keller Auditorium) and Seattle, Washington (November 25 at The Moore Theatre) were canceled due to "unforeseen circumstances".
KING DIAMOND's setlist for the fall 2024 tour included two new songs, "Electro Therapy" and the aforementioned "Spider Lilly".
KING DIAMOND 2024 touring lineup:
Andy La Rocque - guitar
Mike Wead - guitar
Pontus Egberg - bass
Matt Thompson - drums
Myrkur - additional backing vocals, keyboards
KING DIAMOND's first studio LP in 18 years is tentatively due in 2025 via Metal Blade. It will be made available as a horror concept story, with the second and third parts arriving at later dates.
In October 2023, KING DIAMOND released a music video for the 2019 single "Masquerade Of Madness". The clip was directed by David Brodsky and Allison Woest of My Good Eye Visuals.
At the time of the video's release, King commented: "'Masquerade Of Madness' was released digitally in 2019 before our North American tour. During rehearsals, we took one full day to film 'Masquerade Of Madness' with David Brodsky and Allison Woest. We spent all day and all night recording while performing the song with our full tour stage show choreography. After the tour, Covid happened.
"The video was all but forgotten as the world came to a standstill — we never saw a single frame from all the footage. Years later, as things began to pick up and writing began for both new MERCYFUL FATE and KING DIAMOND records, we wondered, what happened to that video from four years ago? So we decided to check in with David Brodsky and a couple of weeks later, we had the first cut of the video.
"I was speechless! I had nothing to criticize and after just a few notes from Andy La Rocque, the video for 'Masquerade Of Madness' was finished! There's so much mood and black and white is used in a perfect way with Jodi's performances. The visuals fit the music flawlessly and this is now among my favorite KING DIAMOND videos along with 'Sleepless Nights' and 'Welcome Home' — and not to forget of course, our double live DVD."
A month after KING DIAMOND released "Masquerade Of Madness" in November 2019, KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque told The Metal Voice that he came up with the music for the track first before passing it off to King, who "needed to arrange a few things and change just a small few things for making it work with his vocals. And then, of course, he wrote the lyrics for it," the guitarist revealed. "So we [went] a little back and forth until he felt like, 'Okay, this is cool, man. This is the right key to sing in,' and all that."
KING DIAMOND received a Grammy nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category for the track "Never Ending Hill" off the band's last album, 2007's "Give Me Your Soul … Please".
"Give Me Your Soul ... Please" sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 174 on The Billboard 200 chart.
KING DIAMOND released a DVD/Blu-ray, "Songs For The Dead Live", in January 2019 via Metal Blade Records. The set captures 1987's seminal "Abigail" album in its entirety, twice, and in very different locales: Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting in June 2016 and Philadelphia's Fillmore in November 2015. The performances feature KING DIAMOND's current band, comprising of guitarists La Rocque and Mike Wead, bassist Pontus Egberg and Matt Thompson.
; At Bloodstock Open Air 2024; Pro-Shot Video Streaming">
Venezuelan sludge-thrash icons, Cultura Tres, delivered a career-defining performance at the Bloodstock Open Air Festival 2024 on August 11, commanding the main stage with unmatched ferocity. Known for their raw, genre-defying sound that fuses sludge, thrash, and South American influences, the band enthralled the crowd with a crushing rendition of "Time Is Up". Towering riffs, relentless basslines, and guttural vocals filled the summer air, igniting waves of headbanging across Catton Park.
Adding to the electrifying energy was a special guest appearance by the legendary David Ellefson (former Megadeth bassist). His iconic bass grooves infused the performance with technical precision and depth, creating a seamless synergy w
Bloodstock Open Air 2024 organizers have released the new video below, along with the following message:
"On August 9th, 2024, the legendary Swedish progressive metal band Opeth graced the stage as the highly anticipated headliners of the Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival at Catton Park, UK. Known for their groundbreaking fusion of death metal, progressive rock, and atmospheric melodies, Opeth delivered an unforgettable night of music that thrilled metalheads from all over the world.
This video showcases their powerful live rendition of "Deliverance", a beloved masterpiece from their critically acclaimed album of the same name. The track highlights Opeth's extraordinary talent for fusing intense growls, intricate guitar harmonies, and spellbinding melodies, all executed with exceptional skill and passion. Frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt’s magnetic stage presence and the band's precision brought this iconic song to life, leaving the audience in sheer awe.
Under the starlit sky, the crowd at Bloodstock 2024 erupted into a frenzy, headbanging and chanting along to Opeth's spellbinding performance. The energy and connection between the band and their fans created an unforgettable moment that defined the festival. Whether you're a die-hard Opeth fan or discovering their genius for the first time, this performance is guaranteed to leave you breathless."
Opeth's 14th studio album, The Last Will And Testament, was officially released on November 22 via Reigning Phoenix Music / Moderbolaget and is now charting internationally.
The current positions can be found below:
The Last Will And Testament lands at #26 on BraveWords' BravePicks 2024 Top 30, currently counting down here.
Opeth's fourteenth album was written by Mikael Åkerfeldt, with lyrics conferred with Klara Rönnqvist Fors (The Heard, ex-Crucified Barbara). The Last Will And Testament was co-produced by Åkerfeldt and Stefan Boman (Ghost, The Hellacopters), engineered by Boman, Joe Jones (Killing Joke, Robert Plant), and Opeth, with Boman, Åkerfeldt, and the rest of Opeth mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. The strings on The Last Will And Testament were arranged by Åkerfeldt and returning prog friend Dave Stewart (Egg, Khan) and conducted by Stewart at Angel Studios in London. Not one to miss a beat, visual artist Travis Smith returns to the fold, crafting his 11th cover, a haunting "photograph" reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's infamous "Overlook Hotel" photograph. Miles Showell (ABBA, Queen) also revisits mastering and vinyl lacquer cutting at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Åkerfeldt rolls out the red carpet for storied flautist and Jethro Tull main man Ian Anderson. Not only do Anderson's signature notes fly on "§4" and "§7", he narrates on "§1", "§2", "§4", and "§7". Joining Anderson, Europe's Joey Tempest lends a backing vocal hand on "§2”, while Åkerfeldt's youngest daughter, Mirjam Åkerfeldt, is the disembodied voice in "§1".
The Last Will A Testament is gripping from start to finish, jaw-dropping inside and out, representing some of Opeth's finest material to date. Just as Opeth welcomed many into its distressed arms over the years, the Swedes again deliver on the promise that great music always tells a compelling story—this time with growls.
The Last Will And Testament is available worldwide via Moderbolaget / Reigning Phoenix Music. Order here.
Album cover by Travis Smith.
The Last Will And Testament tracklisting:
"§1"
"§2"
"§3"
"§4"
"§5"
"§6"
"§7"
"A Story Never Told"
Greek heavy rock titans Nightstalker announce the release of their seventh studio album, Return From The Point Of No Return, on March 14, 2025 through Heavy Psych Sounds, with the first single and video "Uncut" streaming now.
After more than two decades of taking the underground by storm, Nightstalker return with their most colossal and bold statement yet: Return From The Point Of No Return. More than just a continuation of their career, this seventh studio album is the moment they transcend everything they have accomplished in their 30-year history.
As soon as the rip-roaring, banger-heavy fire of the anthemic opening track "Dust" sets your stereo ablaze, you're in for an epic ride. On Return From The Point Of No Return, Nightstalker's signature sound of gritty, massive blues-laden riffs and hypnotic grooves crowned by the commanding vocals of frontman Argy Galiatsatos has gone deeper, darker, and more expansive. It’s a record that speaks to the soul as much as it pounds the body, leaving you wondering how you ever l
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