German metal legends Blind Guardian have checked in with the following update:
"There’s no December without the catchy tune par excellence! We have put together a new music video for 'Merry Xmas Everybody' featuring previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage! Prepare yourself for a dose of glam rock metal!
'Merry Xmas Everybody' (originally by Slade) was recorded at Twilight Hall Studios, Germany & Sandlane Recording Facilities, The Netherlands, November 6 to November 16, 2020."
Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited, which was recorded in 2022 and 2023, is a refreshing and powerful tribute to one of the most influential albums in German metal history. It paved the way for Blind Guardian’s international career that is still going strong today and this re-recording impresses with all the class and quality these pioneers have been known and respected for since forming as Lucifer’s Heritage three decades ago.
Watch a live video for the revisited version of their most popular track, "The Bard's Song - In The Forest":
Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited is out now and can be listened to in full at any streaming service or purchased in physical form. Get it here
Tracklisting:
"Time What is Time" (Revisited)
"Journey Through the Dark" (Revisited)
"Black Chamber" (Revisited)
"Theatre of Pain" (Revisited)
"The Quest for Tanelorn" (Revisited)
"Ashes to Ashes" (Revisited)
"The Bard’s Song – In the Forest" (Revisited)
"The Bard’s Song – The Hobbit" (Revisited)
"The Piper’s Calling" (Revisited)
"Somewhere Far Beyond" (Revisited)
"Ashes To Ashes" live at Hellfest 2022 video:
About Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited:
Right on time with their show at 2024’s edition of Wacken Open Air, Blind Guardian proudly announced the release of Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited on August 2, which includes a complete re-recording of this classic as well as a live celebration of 1992’s Somewhere Far Beyond, a landmark record for Germany’s heavy metal titans. After three albums on No Remorse Records, it was the band’s major label debut via Virgin Records and opened the doors to the Japanese market resulting in a wider availability and presence on the global metal scene. After finding the right balance of speed, heaviness, melodies, drama, and irresistible choruses on 1990’s Tales From The Twilight World, Somewhere Far Beyond honed this approach to perfection, evolving further on a conceptual level and increasing Blind Guardian’s sonic range. On Somewhere Far Beyond the band experimented with keyboards, orchestrations, and folk elements, the latter manifesting in the group’s best-known song and live staple, "The Bard's Song (In The Forest)", whereas other tracks like "Ashes to Ashes", the rapid "Journey Through The Dark" or "The Quest For Tanelorn" connected well with previous mostly fast-paced albums yet offered an additional push in dynamics.
Fast forward 30 years! Prior to releasing the much lauded opus The God Machine in September 2022, Blind Guardian had been performing Somewhere Far Beyond in its entirety at Rock Hard Festival and Hellfest in Summer 2022 in front of tens of thousands of fans singing along to each track. Both shows were filmed and recorded professionally and aired via WDR and ARTE. For the limited triple-disc-edition of Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited the Hellfest material was newly edited by the ba
Today, Tarja releases Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest via earMUSIC. In celebration, the official "No Bitter End" (Live At Hellfest) video is available for streaming 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 Digip
The brand new German symphonic / epic metal band, Skytribe, have released their debut single, “Kingdom Of The Sky”, via Reaper Entertainment. It is accompanied by a spectacular and lavishly produced music video which can be viewed below.
The video for “Kingdom Of The Sky” was shot at the impressive Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest (North Rhine-Westphalia). Produced by Ismael Meisingen and Jannis Krenke, it shows the band as an energetic unit in a unique setting.
The band comments: “The time has come: Skytribe is here! We are a female-fronted metal band that combines hard riffs with epic orchestral sounds. Our music is powerful, melodic and comes straight from the heart - carried by Dorothée Kahler's expressive voice.
Croatia’s finest folk metal powerhouse, Manntra, bring roaring hymns and swelling horns, announcing their 8th studio album Titans, set for release on February 21 via Napalm Records.
With seven albums already under their belts and a reputation forged on stages like the mighty Wacken Open Air and tours with legends like German folk mainstays In Extremo, Manntra has proven themselves as a tour de force in the metal world. Titans is another testament to their unstoppable momentum, blending ancient tradition with modern sounds to create something truly unforgettable.
Giving insight on their latest onslaught, today, Manntra release their first single, a tribute to YouTube phenomenon Miracle Of Sound, an explosive cover of “Skal”. This high-octane track is a resounding toast to unity, revelry, and the timeless power of music. With their signature fusion of raw metal riffs, traditional folk instrumentation, and industrial elements, Manntra delivers an electrifying rendition of this modern classic, turning it into a full-fledged anthem for warriors, dreamers, and partygoers alike. Rooted in the band’s unique soundscape, “Skal” is a riot of pounding drums, razor-sharp guitars, and soulful pipes, seamlessly blending raucous energy with melodic folk charm, showcasing Manntra’s ability to bridge worlds with their masterful songwriting. Whether you’re a metalhead, a folk enthusiast, or simply someone who loves a good party, this track will have you raising your glass and stomping your feet.
Manntra on the new single “Skal" (Miracle Of Sound Cover): “’Skal’ is the first single from our upcoming album Titans. We chose to cover this song by Miracle Of Sound because it captivated us from the first listen and already embodied the Manntra vibe. It felt like a song we could have written in a parallel reality. While we typically don’t do covers, this one perfectly aligns with the energy and themes of the album!”
Watch the video for “Skal" below.
Formed in 2012 around mastermind Marko Matijević Sekul, the band has proven to be extremely productive as Titans is already their eighth studio album. Over the years the quintet developed their trademark sound by combining raw metal riffs and hard-hitting industrial sounds with traditional folk instruments, unleashing a relentless storm of catchy metal hymns. Manntra’s high energy soundscape is skillfully built by supposed opposites: authentic folk instruments like pipes and mandolins interwoven with raspy male vocals and an uplifting industrial metal sound. With their newest masterpiece they clearly take no prisoners as the album sets off with the title track “Titans” delivering forceful rhythms and powerful drumming. This continues on tracks like “Higher” or “Riders In The Dawn” kicking off with strong intros. Like no other, Manntra manage effortlessly to transport the ancient tunes into modern times by combining its folk elements with synths like on “My Sandman” or the album closer “Nav” delivering massive melodies. But Manntra also stay true to their roots with "Teuta” telling the story of a legendary Illyrian queen who reigned in Croatia around 200 BC and “Unholy Water (Voda)” containing a catchy chorus and intense female folk vocals delivering a hymn like melody with lyrics partly in Croatian. The same can be witnessed on the extremely groovy and catchy “Heart Of The Storm”, while uplifting “Skal” is a song to get every folk party started. A clear highlight are the combined songs “Forgotten Pt.1” and “Forgotten Pt.2” which are true industrial metal masterpieces that seamlessly cross genres, heavily leaning towards electronic elements, while maintaining their very own soundscape.
Overall Titans convinces with an enormous hit-density and sets a clear mark, delivering proud hymns and in-your-face metal songs that are undeniable, proving that Manntra are on the very top of their game, ready to enter the next level of their promising journey!
Titans will be available in the following formats:
- 1 Vinyl Bundle (Tote Bag, Autograph Card, Drinking horn, Patch, Invitation Card "Online Meet & Greet" - Napalm Records mail order only - strictly limited to 300)
- 1 CD Bundle (Tote Bag, Autograph Card, Drinking horn, Patch, Invitation Card "Online Meet & Greet" - Napalm Records mail order only - strictly limited to 300)
- 1 LP Marbled Orange / Black - Napalm Records mail order only - strictly limited to 200
- 1 LP Black Vinyl
- 6p Digipak + Booklet
Polish extreme metal giants, Behemoth, performed their track, "Chant For Ezkaton 2000", during their set at the 2024 edition of Germany's Wacken Open Air festival. Watch professionally-filmed video below:
Join Behemoth, Satyricon and Rotting Christ in Europe next year for "The Unholy Trinity". Behemoth recently released a video trailer for trek, which can be found below.
Says Behemoth: "Legions of Europe! It’s that time again… We are beyond thrilled to announce that we’ll be bringing together the blasphemous forces of Behemoth, Satyricon and Rotting Christ for ‘The Unholy Trinity’ European tour." 🔥
"Face Of God", the fourth single from the new studio album by Babylon A.D., is being released to radio. The previous singles saw support from the likes of Alice Cooper on his nationally syndicated radio show "Alice's Attic" and Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM's "Hair Nation" with the lead single "Wrecking Machine" hitting #2 on the Mediabase Daily Classic Rock chart and #36 on the Mediabase 7 day Classic Rock chart, and the title track, "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day", reaching #3 on the Mediabase Daily Classic Rock chart and #33 on the Media-base 7 day Classic Rock chart.
Stream "Face Of God" here, and watch a music video for the song below.
Lead singer Derek Davis talks about the song, "'Face Of God' is the most inspirational song I have ever written. The band and I are Christians and as the lyricist for Babylon A.D., I have sometimes referenced my faith in my lyrical content but this song is more direct in nature. The song is about faith, hope and redemption. Sometimes a spiritual awakening is needed to help people better understand just who they are and what they are placed on this earth to do, and I hope that when people hear the song or watch the video they find peace in their hearts. I am fortunate in that aspect that I believe God gave me my talent and has lead me on my way to the truth! And I am thankful everyday for the blessings I have received. I have found that the face of God is in everyone if they look for him!"
To celebrate their brand new album, Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day, Babylon A.D. and BraveWords are giving away an autographed guitar. Entering is easy, just head here and enter your email address. Good luck!
Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day is available now via Perris Records. Order/purchase the album here.
Tracklisting:
"Wrecking Machine"
"Pain"
"Sometimes Love Is Hell"
"Rome Wasn't Built In A Day"
"Looking For A Heartbeat"
"I Will Never Break Again"
"White Hot Bullet"
"Crashed Into The Sun"
"Face Of GOD"
"Shut Up"
"Super Beast"
"Sometimes Love Is Hell" video:
"Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day" video:
"Wrecking Machine":
Album details:
Produced, Mixed, Engineered by Derek Davis @ The BADMOFO’s Recording Studio, Pleasanton,
SICK PUPPIES will release their next album, "Wave The Bull", on March 28, 2025 via ONErpm. The official music video for the LP's third single, "Creature", can be seen below.
Since bursting on to the music scene in the early 2000s, SICK PUPPIES — Bryan Scott (guitars/lead vocals),Emma Anzai (bass/vocals) and Mark Goodwin (drums/vocals) — have sold over one million albums, including a gold certification for "Tri-Polar", had five rock radio hits, including "You're Going Down", which reached No. 1, amassed over 310 million global streams, and have had their music featured on hits shows like "NCIS" and WWE.
"We are all familiar with what it means to 'take the bull by the horns,' but to 'wave the bull' is a different take on approaching life's most difficult times," the band states. "To wave the bull is to provoke, embrace, and surrender to the battles that will inevitably scar us — a battle cry for the emotional masochist. Antagonizing adversity, afraid of nothing. This is the central theme, and philosophy behind our fifth studio album, 'Wave The Bull', as we reflected on the thick skin grown from the trials, and tribulations of our band's history and hardships, both professionally and personally."
SICK PUPPIES continue: "This concept album is a collection of songs that thematically, lyrically, musically, and sonically double down on the narrative that it's not about what life throws at you, it's about the way in which you face it. So, wave the bull!"
"Wave The Bull" track listing:
01. There Goes The Neighborhood
02. Friends Like You
03. Creature
04. Going Places
05. Fix Me
06. Knock Your Lights Out
07. Find A Way
08. Feel Again
09. Hurricane
10. Dead & Buried
11. Fuck 'Em All
12. Halfway Home
In addition to being known for their extensive range of pivotal accomplishments, SICK PUPPIES are a formidable live act that has clocked in over 1,000 live shows in the U.S. alone over time, sharing the stage with the likes of MUSE, THE KILLERS, BREAKING BENJAMIN, INCUBUS and TOOL. Notable festival plays include Rock On The Range, Carolina Rebellion, Welcome To Rockville, Louder Than Life, Download (U.K.) and Aftershock.
ife Is Pretty Damn Intense"">
Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, has shared a clip from his 1987-88 New Year's Eve Whiplash Bash, filmed on December 31, 1987 at Detroit's Cobo Hall. In the video, Ted explains how his life is "pretty damn intense". Watch below:
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