Brooklyn, New York stoner/sludge trio, Somnuri, has united with MNRK Heavy for the release of their upcoming, third full-length, unveiling a stand-alone video single, “Coils”.
Among other hustles, hitting the pavement and providing a cannabis delivery service was one of the main catalysts in Somnuri’s infant stages and a DIY ethos was adopted early on. The grind it takes to survive in New York City seeps into their music and it’s hard not to hear elements of the city throughout: sludge, atmosphere, and at times brutal dissonance, layered with pounding and entrancing rhythms and low-end frequencies that make your guts rattle. Somnuri’s sound weaves in and out of hauntingly infectious melodies and bludgeoning riffs and grooves that shift time and tempo often.
Comments the band of their MNRK Heavy signing, “Somnuri is beyond stoked to be a part of the MNRK Heavy family. Joining the ranks of this roster is an absolute honor and we look forward to bringing our flavor of heavy to the mix.”
In celebration of their signing, the band is pleased to reveal their new single, “Coils”. The track seamlessly fuses rugged heaviness with epic and melodic instrumentals. Their groove-forward, bludgeoning riffs, and psychedelic atmosphere is in spirit with the likes of High On Fire, Mastodon, and Torche.
Notes the band, “The song ‘Coils’ is about getting stuck in loops. It’s about repeating the same mistakes and searching deep within to overcome them.”
Somnuri started when two multi-instrumentalists joined forces after sharing the stage and practice spaces in previous Brooklyn-based bands. Justin Sherrell (guitar/vocals) had guitar ideas he wanted to develop further and soon linked up with drummer Phil SanGiacomo. The ability for both founding members to explore ideas on guitar, bass, drums, and vocals continues to be the band’s lifeblood.
With a willingness to venture into new sonic spaces of heavy music, Somnuri’s upcoming full-length is in the works and due out in 2023 via MNRK Heavy. Further info will be unveiled in the coming months.
Live dates:
August
9 - Saint Vitus Bar - Brooklyn, NY (with Crowbar, Spirit Adrift, Stabbed)
26 - Tattoo The Earth Festival Pre-Party @ The Palladium - Worcester, MA (with Unearth, Sworn Enemy, Boundaries, Hazing Over)
Somnuri live lineup:
Justin Sherrell - guitar, vocals
Phil SanGiacomo - drums
Mike G - bass
Two-time Grammy nominated guitarist, Sin Quirin, continues to forge epic percussive singles with his new band, Siglos.
Siglos features the transcendent strings of Sin Quirin, former Ministry band member of 15 years, and the demanding vocals of Pedro Sanchez from the band Transtorno. Their latest single, "Morir Para Vivir", is a rhythmic, explosive song reminiscent of tribal chants that harken to the band’s Latin heritage.
This song ramps up the bloodstream and differs from their first single in the undeniable heaviness it induces in listeners. The song was written by Sin Quirin, with lyrics written by Pedro Sanchez, and was produced, mixed, and mastered by Alex Crescioni at Stygian Sound. The video was directed by Matt Zane, DP/ Colorist James Smith. Cover artwork by Nestor Avalos.
Sin Quirin wanted the second single to be different than the first and to showcase the range in the heaviness of the first song. The music video features the band enthralled in the song’s pulsating chords while a Shaman performs a ritualistic cleansing on lead vocalist Pedro Sanchez. “It was a pretty special, unique and enlightening experience for us all… having him perform this sacred ritual right there in front of us,” admits Quirin.
Lyricist and vocalist, Pedro Sanchez, revealed that the writing process took place during the loss of a family member and loved one, causing deep introspection and an ability to process things differently, lending a heavy hand to the song’s instant intensity and immediate attention. Pedro says, “The meaning to Morir Para Vivir is when you die, you leave a legacy of new generations and you keep living through them… as well as when you go through an experience and you die and come back, you kill your ego--coming back more alive than ever with great gratitude. We all have this knowledge; we just forget it.”
This sentiment is echoed by producer Alex Crescioni’s recording of the single. He says, “'Morir Para Vivir' knocks you in the face straight away with heavy industrial riffage, creating the circular mechanical hook of the track. My goal was to bring the mix to an explosive and grandiose level, enchanting the listener into an empire of evil and elegance.”
Sin Quirin's first single / video "Por Los Siglos" was released this past March, and can be enjoyed below.
Praise for Sin Quirin and Siglos:
“Sin is a singularly unique talent, underrated guitar hero, and a key dynamic member of every project he's done, and I can't wait to hear what he does next! I know it's going to be stellar!" - Gary Holt
"Sin has been a solid back bone to everything he's been involved in and it's great to see him stepping out now to do his own thing. He is a true rockstar in every sense of the word." - David Ellefson
The pioneers of Japanese heavy metal, Loudness, have released their new album, Sunburst, via earMUSIC. Available in 2CD digipak with an extensive booklet (including Japanese/English lyric translations) and digital, you can order the album here.
Even with a career that has been going strong for over 40 years, Loudness are not getting too tired to rock around the world and unleash their full power.
With the staccato, riff-driven "OEOEO", which is sung in their native language of Japanese, Loudness give praise and appreciation to their origin and roots, supported with pictures of some of Japan's most famous landmarks, such as Mount Fuji, Osaka Castle, or the Expo '70 Commemorative Park, which is where the 1970s world fair took place.
In particular, fans of guitar wizard Akira Takasaki will not be disappointed, as he shows his incomparable craft on the six-string with a performance that is second-to-none.
Back in 1981 rose the star of the Japanese hard ’n heavy scene, when Munetaka Higuchi (drums), Akira Takasaki (guitar), Minoru Niihara (vocals) and Masayoshi Yamashita (bass) were set to found a legend to this day, who is still second to none from their native Japan: Loudness was born!
During a career spanning over 40-years, Loudness built a rich musical foundation with many studio albums, EPs and live albums. With Sunburst, they’ve added another milestone to the great catalogue, their 29th studio album to be precise.
Sunburst is the band’s first official double studio album in their impressive career, making it particularly special as it can be considered a celebration of their rich musical history. The 16 songs represent the classic Loudness sound and style, highly acclaimed by fans and critics alike. Written mostly by original member and guitarist Akira Takasaki, the majority of songs are sung in Japanese, representing their appreciation of their origin and roots.
Tracklisting:
Disc 1:
"Rising Sun"
"OEOEO"
"Yamato Damashii"
"Kaso Genjitsu (Virtual Reality)"
"Crazy World"
"Stand Or Fall"
"The Sanzu River"
"Nihon No Kokoro (The Heart Of Japan)"
Disc 2:
"Kagayakeru 80's (Shining 80's)"
"Emerald No Umi (Emerald Ocean)"
"Tengoku No Tobira (Heaven's Door)"
"All Will Be Fine With You"
"Fire In The Sky"
"Hunger For More"
"The Nakigara"
"Wonderland"
Stuttgart, Germany based melodic death metallers Credic have released a brand new music video for "The Mountains Between Us". The track is taken from the band's latest album, Vermillion Oceans, and features not only Credic's usual intense soundscapes, but also the legendary performer Olivia Jackson (Resident Evil).
"The Mountains Between Us" is the grand finale in mastermind Thomas Kettner's video trilogy for Credic's album, Vermillion Oceans.
"It's a cinematic work of art starring the exceptional woman Olivia Jackson. A woman, a car, a mountain road and a banging song. Lean back and enjoy," comments the band.
With their sophomore album, Vermillion Oceans, released April 22nd via Swedish label Black Lion Records, Credic delivers a furious and wild, yet emotional metal Iliad. An epic brand of melodic death metal that is, despite upholding the very DNA of the genre, free and bold, charging with vigour and embellished by a monumental aura of longing not unlike the feeling you get when you gaze at the starlit sky in wonder and terror. Imagine a cross between Gothenburg metal and the score to Stranger Things, Vermillion Oceans sounds like a massive, zeitgeisty metal album taking a stroll through Hawkins, Indiana. The album is available now at this location.
Tracklisting:
"Tides Disharmonized"
"Vermillion Oceans"
"Darkened Fields"
"The Path"
"Interhuman Gravity"
"Autumn's Spring"
"Chosen Ordeal"
"The Mountains Between Us"
"Tethys"
"Long Street"
Maltese metal heads Align The Tide have unleashed "Unbreakable", the second track with video from their upcoming album, Hollow. The album will be released on August 26th, 2022 via Cleopatra Records.
"Unbreakable" is now available on all major streaming services and the video can be found below. "The track is more like an anthem of empowerment, touching on subjects such as inner strength, the tenacity to endure whatever life throws at him/her. To keep fighting no matter what," states Align The Tide.
"Hollow is a perfect transition into our new style as Align The Tide, still keeping the main elements but with a refined sound," states the band. "Expect heaviness, catchy choruses and in your face riffs that will make you dance. We decided to go with a topic such as ‘Mental Health’, in which most people go through on a daily basis. Each song has its own story that most people will relate to as some tracks are based on real life experiences as well as having concepts and stories."
Metal vets, Trauma, have released a video for "Walk Away", the first single from the band's upcoming new album. Watch below.
Says Trauma about the song: "There are a lot of different elements to this song, musically with dynamics and tempo changes, lots of harmony guitars and blistering drums. It's a long song that has so many interesting parts - it never gets boring or repetitive. Lyrically this song explores the never-ending conflict in the Middle East."
"Walk Away" is featured on Trauma's upcoming album, Awakening, which promises to be a lot heavier than its predecessors, and will be a feast for every metal fan!
Awakening will be released on September 9 via Massacre Records, and will available as CD Digipak, limited edition vinyl LP as well as in digital formats, you can already pre-order it here.
Tracklisting:
"Walk Away"
"Ted Talks"
"Death Of The Angel"
"Meat"
"The River Red"
"Burn"
"Falling Down"
"Voodoo"
"End Of Everything"
"Blind"
"Death Machine"
In other band news, Trauma make their in concert performance debut promoting the forthcoming album release at The Alcatraz Festival, taking place in Kortrijk, Belgium, with a scheduled performance for Sunday, August 14 from 4 - 4:50 PM on the Helldorado Stage.
SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser rejoined his bandmates on stage for the first time since the death of his wife last night (Wednesday, July 27) at the Festival de Inverno de Garanhuns in São José, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Professionally filmed video of the concert can be seen below.
Patricia Perissinoto Kisser passed away on July 3 after a battle with colon cancer. She had just turned 52 years old one day earlier.
Andreas and the couple's three children, Giulia, Yohan and Enzo, announced Patricia's death in a social media post. They wrote: "It is with deep sadness that we have to share that Patricia Perissinoto Kisser passed away this morning. She will remain in are memories forever.
"We want to thank all our friends and family for all the support and messages of love.
"We ask for privacy during this difficult time."
In a separate Portuguese-language post on his personal Instagram, Andreas called Patricia his "best friend and "inspiration" and praised her for facing her illness "head on, with strength and determination." He added: "My admiration for you is eternal. I'm sure we'll cross paths again in some dimension beyond this earth."
Andreas and Patricia had been together for 32 years after first getting together in 1990. They married in 1994.
Late last month, Andreas left SEPULTURA's European tour due to what was described at the time as a "family emergency." He was temporarily replaced on the road by Jean Patton of fellow São Paulo, Brazil-based heavy metal act PROJECT46.
Last September, Andreas revealed during an appearance on TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy's "GLHF" podcast that his wife had been diagnosed with cancer in February 2021. He said at the time: "She's going through chemo, like surgeries and stuff. She's doing great; she's doing well; the treatment is fantastic. But it's an atomic bomb one after another — pandemic, cancer and stuff. And regardless of that, we're strong. We're very united, we are growing as a band and as a family, and myself as a human being."
In July 2021, Kisser told A&P Reacts that he quit drinking alcohol right before the pandemic hit. At the time, he said that getting sober "was one of the best decisions I made in my life" and added that it improved his relationships with everyone around him, including his family.
"The stuff that I have with my wife and my kids, that I'm never home [when SEPULTURA is in the middle of an album cycle], I'm always here now," he said. "It was a difficult time, but we recreated ourselves kind of. We are a better family now — a much better family now. And that's very special. And I have to be thankful for that somehow, that I was able really to make the best out of something so terrible."
Kisser joined SEPULTURA in 1987 as the replacement for Jairo Guedz. Kisser's first studio outing with SEPULTURA was the same year's "Schizophrenia", an album that demonstrated a marked improvement from the band's 1986 "Morbid Visions" debut, not only in the lead-guitar department but in songwriting and production. Kisser's lead playing would go on to figure more prominently on ensuing SEPULTURA releases, particularly 1989's "Beneath The Remains" and 1991's "Arise", serving as the ideal complement to Max Cavalera's rhythm guitar work. Kisser has since assumed virtually all guitar duties since Cavalera's acrimonious 1996 split from SEPULTURA and now serves as the band's main songwriter. Today, Kisser and bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. are the only holdovers from SEPULTURA's classic lineup.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andreas Kisser (@andreaskisser)
Southern California psychedelic/progressive rock unit, Birth, released its full-length debut album, Born, on July 15 via UK rock label Bad Omen Records. Featuring members of San Diego's revered retro rockers Astra, along with current or former members of Joy, Radio Moscow, and Sacri Monti, Birth owns a cavernous cache of credibility rarely found in developing musical groups. Born is available for purchase here.
Birth has unveiled a video for the album's penultimate track, "Long Way Down". The clip, created by Vince Edwards (Behemoth, Motor Sister), sees the band performing the track amidst a kaleidoscopic, Beat-Club setting. Find the clip below.
"'Long Way Down" is one of the darker tracks on the album. It was written out of frustration at the state of the world," says Birth's Conor Riley. "It's really about watching the slow decline and trying to hype myself up for the end of it. For the video, we wanted a vintage vibe that captured the darker and chaotic theme of the song. We worked with Vince Edwards who really helped us develop that vision."
Birth features Conor Riley (vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar), Brian Ellis (lead guitar, keyboards), Trevor Mast (bass), and Thomas DiBenedetto (drums). Drums on "Born" performed by Paul Marrone.
MUDVAYNE singer Chad Gray fell off the stage while performing the song "Not Falling" during the band's concert in Tampa, Florida Tuesday night (July 26).
Fan-filmed video of the incident shows the 50-year-old Gray taking a tumble while singing the eighth song of MUDVAYNE's set at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre as part of the group's co-headlining U.S. tour with ROB ZOMBIE, dubbed "Freaks On Parade". To his credit, he continues singing the rest of the verse as a roadie rushes in to check on him and is apparently reassured that the vocalist suffered no injuries in the process.
Produced by Live Nation, the 21-city trek kicked off on July 20 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, making stops across the U.S. in Tampa, Holmdel, Tinley Park, and more before wrapping up in The Woodlands at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on August 21. Support on the trek is coming from STATIC-X and POWERMAN 5000.
MUDVAYNE formed in 1996 and has sold over six million records worldwide, earning gold certification for three albums ("L.D. 50", "The End Of All Things To Come", "Lost And Found"). The band is known for its sonic experimentation, innovative album art, face and body paint, masks and uniforms. MUDVAYNE is Gray, Greg Tribbett (guitar, backing vocals),Matthew McDonough (drums, synthesizer) and Ryan Martinie (bass).
Gray has spent the past 16 years fronting HELLYEAH, which released its sixth studio album, "Welcome Home", in September 2019 via Eleven Seven Music. The disc marked the group's final effort with drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, who passed away more than four years ago.
MUDVAYNE did not tour behind its fifth album, which was barely promoted and sold weakly upon release.
In times of tyranny, Danish deathcore outfit, Cabal, are taking aim at the oppressors. The band’s new single, "Violent Ends", is a statement of intent for all those who use abuse their power.
The band states: "Violence breeds violence, it’s as simple as that. Those who live by the sword will also die by it. This song is a middle finger to the people who violently abuse their positions of power. Their end is inevitable and it’s coming soon."
The new single comes with a stark new video that pairs a frenzied performance with intricate and evocative animation. Watch below, and stream the single here.
"Violent Ends" is the third single that the band has released from their upcoming album, Magno Interitus. The band’s Nuclear Blast debut will be released on October 21.
The album will be available as Digipak [limited edition], Black Single LP, Crystal Clear with Gold + Black Splatter Single LP [limited to 500 units, Mailorder + Wholesale exclusive], Crystal Clear with Red + Black Splatter Single LP [limited to 500 units, USA exclusive], Gold + Black Marble Single LP [limited to 300 units, bandshop exclusives] and on all streaming platforms.
Lorna Shore have released their new track and music video for “Cursed To Die”, the third track released from their upcoming album, Pain Remains, out on October 14. “Cursed To Die” is now available to stream and purchase on all digital platforms. Check out the video below.
“’Cursed To Die’ is about the creation of life, and brings upon the idea that maybe the figure we see as ‘god’ is no different than what we already are”, says Lorna Shore about the new song and video.
Pre-orders for Pain Remains are available starting today in various formats, with the CD Digipak and all initial runs of the Gatefold 2LP coming with a special matte/glossy varnish. Pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
"Welcome Back, O' Sleeping Dreamer"
"Into The Earth"
"Sun//Eater"
"Cursed To Die"
"Soulless Existence"
"Apotheosis"
"Wrath"
"Pain Remains I: Dancing Like Flames"
"Pain Remains II: After All I've Done, I'll Disappear"
"Pain Remains III: In A Sea Of Fire"
Progressive deathcore behemoths, Enterprise Earth, today unveil their brand new video for "You Couldn’t Save Me". The punishing track comes off the band’s The Chosen full-length, released early this year via MNRK Heavy. The accompanying video fully encapsulates the band’s unrelenting onstage dominance.
“If we could capture the live energy from one song off of The Chosen it would easily be You Couldn’t Save Me," comments guitarist Gabe Mangold. “This song is a blast to perform and always gets the crowd energy way up, especially at the end. Filmed on our winter 2022 US tour, Nick Chance captured some of the best 'YCSM' moments and compiled them into one live video. Enjoy!”
Enterprise Earth are out on their US headlining tour. The Chosen Tour runs through August 20 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Support is provided by Within Destruction, Sentinels, and labelmates Great American Ghost.
Tour dates:
July
26 - Chain Reaction - Anaheim, CA
27 - Nile Theater - Mesa, AZ
28 - Rockhouse - El Paso, TX
29 - Club Dada - Dallas, TX
30 - Come & Take It - Austin, TX
31 - The Secret Group - Houston, TX
August
2 - The Brass Mug - Tampa, FL
3 - Respectables - West Palm, FL
4 - The Haven - Orlando, FL
5 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
6 - Neighborhood Theater - Charlotte, NC
7 - The End - Nashville, TN
9 - Planet Trog - Allentown, PA
10 - Webster Underground - Hartford, CT
11 - Knitting Factory - Brooklyn, NY
12 - The Outpost - Kent, OH
13 - The Sanctuary - Detroit, MI
14 - WC Social Club - Chicago, IL
16 - Emerson Theater - Indianapolis, IN
17 - Skylark - Rock Island, IL
18 - The Marquee - Sioux City, IA
19 - HQ - Denver, CO
20 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT
Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD have shared the official music video for their latest single, the title track of their upcoming album, "Omens".
LAMB OF GOD frontman D. Randall Blythe stated about the track: "I think a lot of the messes human beings find ourselves in could be very easily prevented simply by paying attention to obvious repeating patterns, both in our personal lives and in a broader sociohistorical context. What some call 'omens' are really just manifestations of the fact that there is nothing new under the sun. It's foolish to ignore this, but we all do it."
The "Omens" album will be released on October 7 via Epic Records.
Densely muscular, soaked in unnerving spite, with a pessimistic eye toward inner struggles and global affairs alike, "Omens" is a furious entry in the LAMB OF GOD catalog, perhaps the band's angriest album yet.
"The world is crazy and keeps changing. 'Omens' is a reaction to the state of the world," explains Blythe. "It's a very pissed-off record." He pauses for emphasis. "It is extremely pissed off."
"Omens" is also LAMB OF GOD's most diverse affair. The band tracked with longtime collaborator Josh Wilbur (KORN, MEGADETH) live in the room together at Henson Recording Studios (formerly A&M Studios) in Los Angeles, California, a location that birthed classics from THE DOORS, PINK FLOYD, RAMONES and SOUNDGARDEN, among others.
"The inner workings of the band have never been better," explains guitarist Mark Morton. "You can hear it in 'Omens'. You can see it in our performances, and if you're around us for five minutes, you can feel it."
The "Omens" album pre-order is live now at Lamb-Of-God.com, boasting several exclusive items, including a signed colored vinyl variant, shirt, hoodie, and signed CDs with an alternate color cover. All physical CD and vinyl releases will include a free access code to watch the livestream viewing of "The Making Of Omens" documentary, which will premiere the week of album release.
"Omens" track listing:
01. Nevermore
02. Vanishing
03. To The Grave
04. Ditch
05. Omens
06. Gomorrah
07. Ill Designs
08. Grayscale
09. Denial Mechanism
10. September Song
LAMB OF GOD will support the new album with a massive Live Nation-produced U.S. headlining tour featuring special guests KILLSWITCH ENGAGE on all dates. Different legs will also see support from BARONESS, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, SPIRITBOX, ANIMALS AS LEADERS as well as SUICIDE SILENCE and FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY. The tour kicks off September 9 in Brooklyn and runs through October 20.
Morton said: "Two decades ago, LAMB OF GOD, along with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, were a part of a new wave of American heavy metal music. Our scene grew from a small, loosely connected network of underground shows in basements and warehouses, into a global phenomenon that helped define an entire generation of modern heavy metal. We are thrilled to announce the 'Omens' tour, which celebrates not only the perseverance and impact of that original movement, but also the creativity and originality of the bands that it influenced. Heavy metal is alive and well. The 'Omens' tour proudly showcases the depth and diversity of our scene. This is not a tour to miss."
"Omens" will be the follow-up to LAMB OF GOD's self-titled album, which was released in June 2020 via Epic Records in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Records in Europe. That LP marked LAMB OF GOD's first recordings with Art Cruz, who joined the band in July 2019 as the replacement for the group's founding drummer, Chris Adler.
"Lamb Of God" was recorded with Wilbur and included special guest appearances by Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT).
Two years ago, LAMB OF GOD bassist John Campbell told Media Mikes about the band's continuing working relationship with Josh: "I would have to look on the Internet to see how long we have been working with him. [Laughs] I want to say that he first started working with us on 'Sacrament'. That was in 2006 and we have been working with him ever since."
He added: "Josh Wilbur is an amazing person professionally and as a human. He is incredibly creative and very aware of things like this. He goes in to an album to try and create the best possible piece of art he can. Josh is great with suggestions and helping us along in the process. He understands the band and all of our personalities very well and that's a godsend."
Dutch vocalist/composer Charlotte Wessels continues her successful solo journey by releasing another new single, the bittersweet “Human To Ruin”, cut from her upcoming second full-length album, Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II, out October 7 via Napalm Records.
Within this lavish realm of rock, pop, metal and beyond, instruments and vocals were performed/programmed/produced by Wessels herself, also featuring delicate guitar work by Timo Somers (also ex-Delain). The second single, “Human To Ruin”, starts with a sweet melody that breaks into a propelling metal track, in which calmer parts alter with powerful break outs. Her inimitable and charismatic voice creates an intimate and mystical atmosphere and underlines Charlotte Wessels’ versatility. The song is underlined by an atmospheric visualizer to set the perfect mood for this auditive experience.
Charlotte Wessels on “Human To Ruin”: “With 'Human To Ruin' I wanted to make a song that has an old school symphonic feel to it, but at the same time doesn’t get too polished or “pretty” to reflect the theme of the track. The vocal processing on the choruses is inspired by 90’s grunge and the instrumental middle part gives off something psychedelic, all in all it’s quite eclectic. Thematically, the words in 'Human To Ruin' are the things you say to yourself when you feel undeserving of love, or when you feel like you want love just for selfish reasons. I felt compelled to indulge in this feeling without nuancing it, because when you exaggerate a feeling like that, or make it larger than life in a song, it allows you to shout out the frustration on the one hand but it also reminds you that it is probably not all THAT bad in reality.”
Watch the official lyric video for “Human To Ruin”:
On the exciting new offering, Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II, Wessels’ styles range from melancholic alt-pop to synth-infused rock and connect atmospheric elements with harder sounds, crossing genre boundaries with ease.
Charlotte Wessels states: “Since May 2020, I’ve been writing and recording a new song every month down in my basement “Six Feet Under Studio”, fueled by - and released to - my tight-knit Patreon community. This album wouldn’t be there without them. I’m excited to team up with Napalm Records again to release a new collection of these tracks with a wider audience.
With Tales From Six Feet Under, I released my favorite tracks of the first year of this endeavor onto the world in 2021, and Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II is its counterpart, with my favorite tracks from the second year. There are definitely differences between the two, with the second leaning more towards the heavier side, but they do belong together.
Together they represent a time of introspection and solitary songwriting in the basement. A time that has taught me a lot and has been very meaningful to me, but also a time that, as I started this project in the middle of Covid quarantine, has already - thankfully - started changing. Not because I won’t be writing and recording Six Feet Under anymore, but because as the world is opening up again, I too will come out of the basement and out of my shell again with live concerts, and collaborations are on the horizon.”
Starting with captivating synth-flavored track “Venus Rising”, Charlotte Wessels’ lures the listener into her multifaceted world of sound to be spellbound within the blink of an eye. Following “Human To Ruin” mesmerizes with a sweet melody that breaks into a propelling metal track, where calmer parts alter with powerful break outs. Wessels releases her power on other commanding tracks like “The Phantom Touch” and “Good Dog”, while on “The Final Roadtrip”, she presents the full range of her vocal prowess atop carefully balanced electronic beats and indie soundscapes. “Toxic” comes with an obscure, captivating whispering sound that turns into a strong sonic wall, as the album then fades out with the honest atmospheric gems “I Forget” featuring a cello performance by Elianne Anemaat, and “Utopia”.
This eclectic wealth of songs proves Wessels’ exceptional ability to express the most sincere feelings and emotions within her art and her distinct intuition for the combination of seemingly different genres. Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II is an enchanting portent of Charlotte Wessels’ further multifaceted endeavors.
Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II will be available as 1LP Vinyl Gold, 1LP Vinyl Recycled Black, 1LP Vinyl Recycled Color (Patreon exclusive) as well as on all digital platforms. Moreover, fans will get a combined 2CD Digisleeve that also includes Wessel's exciting first solo offering Tales From Six Feet Under Vol I, which will be released on CD for the first time now.
"Venus Rising"
"Human To Ruin"
"The Phantom Touch"
"Against All Odds"
"A Million Lives"
"The Final Roadtrip"
"Good Dog"
"Toxic"
"I Forget"
"Utopia"
"Against All Odds" video:
Charlotte Wessels will bring her work to the stage on October 23 at TivoliVredenburg - Ronda, in Utrecht, NL, for her first and only live show so far: Tales From Six Feet Under - Live in Concert. Get tickets here.
Internationally renowned rock guitarist Orianthi will release her new studio album, "Rock Candy", on October 14 via Frontiers Music Srl. The LP follows 2020's "O" which was Orianthi's first new studio album in seven years and her first new music as a solo artist in six years. Sonically, "Rock Candy" is a hard-rockin', blues-tinged, display of Orianthi's dazzling guitar playing and her soulful vocals.
The first single and music video from "Rock Candy", a song called "Light It Up", is available below.
Joining Orianthi on this release is the multi-talented Jacob Bunton, who produced the album. Additionally, he provides guitar, bass, keyboard, piano and violin playing through the course of the album. Bunton is known in the rock world for his work with Steven Adler, among others, but he is also an Emmy Award-winning composer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose credits include Mariah Carey, Steven Tyler, Smokey Robinson, Akon, POP EVIL and many more. Drummer Kyle Cunningham rounds out the recording lineup for "Rock Candy".
"Rock Candy" track listing:
01. Illuminate (Part I)
02. Light It Up
03. Fire Together
04. Where Did Your Heart Go
05. Red Light
06. Void
07. Burning
08. Living Is Like Dying Without You
09. Witches & The Devil
10. Getting To Me
11. Illuminate (Part II)
Orianthi's first major solo artist success, as a singer-songwriter and guitarist, was with the Geffen Records release of "According To You", which is now RIAA-certified platinum and has over 29 million streams on Spotify. Her music's ability to transcend time and remain relevant cannot be more clear than its recent resurgence on TikTok. There are over 110 million views on the "According To You" hashtag, making it a viral trend that is introducing Gen Z to Orianthi for the first time in a big way. Career-long fans are used to seeing their favorite world-class guitarist playing arenas with rock royalty and global superstars like Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Carrie Underwood, Alice Cooper and more. The juxtaposition of her newly arrived online popularity and her lifelong pursuit of artistic credibility is the nebulous of this shining star.
ANTHRAX kicked off its North American tour with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY last night (Tuesday, July 26) at Van Buren in Phoenix, Arizona. ANTHRAX's 12-song setlist included the surprising addition of the John Bush-era track "Only", which hadn't been performed live since 2011.
"Only" originally appeared on 1993's "Sound Of White Noise", one of four albums Bush recorded with ANTHRAX during his 13-year tenure with the band.
Current ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna, whose most recent return to the band was officially announced in May 2010, was originally the lead singer of ANTHRAX from 1984 to 1992, and was considered part of the group's classic lineup (alongside Dan Spitz, Scott Ian, Frank Bello and Charlie Benante),which reunited and toured during 2005 and 2006. His voice was featured on over 10 albums, which reportedly sold eight million copies worldwide.
In a 2016 interview with Kazagastão, Belladonna said about his exit from ANTHRAX in 1992 before officially rejoining the band in 2010: "It's sucky that I was gone for that long, you know what I mean? I never understand that. It does bother me [that I was fired], even today, 'cause… We didn't miss a beat and I think we would have done… I can't imagine what we could have done along the way. No offense to anything else, but I just didn't see any reason for it."
Asked if he had heard any material ANTHRAX recorded with Bush during the time Belladonna was away from the band, Joey said: "I don't listen to it. I have no interest in it. I don't know… Something about it. It doesn't really appeal to me, for some reason. I mean, I enjoy that they play the way they do and everything, I just never… I never was interested in it. It wasn't anything against [Bush] at all."
Although Joey did perform "Only" live with ANTHRAX on a couple of occasions in the past, the track had been absent from the band's set for more than a decade before being played last night in Phoenix. "We've got enough songs [that were originally recorded with me on vocals]," Joey explained in the Kazagastão interview. "We don't even do [all the songs] we should… We've got all these other songs we could play. But now we've got new stuff, so now we've gotta try to fit in four or five brand new songs."
He continued: "I always like to look at it like… I remember when [Sammy] Hagar came in [after joining VAN HALEN], he had to do the old stuff. But when [David Lee] Roth came back, he wasn't gonna touch anything, even though he probably would have a hard time doing it. So we've got enough material; I don't need to go back. I'd just as soon leave that alone. I mean, once in a while I get people complaining, and then after a while, it got really old too. I hate that whole thing, 'cause we're not even the same… We happened to be in the same band, but it's a completely different thing. And who's judging? What's the deal with that? To think that what he was doing, that he could have done what I did in the beginning, I don't believe that."
Joey went on to say that he dislikes being compared to any other other ANTHRAX singers. "That's what I hate about the whole thing," he said. "I hate that there was even anybody else in there that I have to… But now I just don't care about it — I really don't — 'cause I can't. To me, it's just a bunch of hype. It sucked in the beginning; it really did."
In a 2017 interview with Metal On Loud, Joey was asked how he feels about the music ANTHRAX recorded while he was out of the band. He said: "It seemed good. I don't know. If I was to compare it, I didn't hear anything that we were doing that wasn't as good [as what they ended up doing with Bush]. I didn't hear anything that blew me away. I thought the music end of it was good, John's decent, but just the overall thing… I think we had something cool there, and I didn't hear that [in the music they made with John]. But that wasn't meaning it wasn't good; it just wasn't my idea of better, being better about it. It was just different, you know? I enjoyed the style that they were trying to dig into. I think they kind of straightened it all out a little bit, but it wasn't as thrashy in some ways sometimes too. I don't know. It gets crazy after a while when you're trying to explain it all. It's, like, it was what it was, you know?"
In one of the video testimonials to coincide with ANTHRAX's 40th anniversary in 2021, current and former members of the band reflected on Belladonna's original departure and Bush's addition as his replacement.
Regarding the decision to part ways with Belladonna, Ian said: "By the time we finished the year-and-a-half touring cycle — 20, 21 months of touring cycle, and then '[Attack Of The] Killer B's' comes out. I think the last thing we did together as a band with Joey was [our appearance] on [the] 'Married With Children' [TV show]. And then it wasn't long after that when we made the change. But it wasn't a quick decision. We were very much a united front, the four of us. Because otherwise it wouldn't have happened.
"There's never an easy way to talk about this stuff," he continued. "Certainly when you're in the thick of it, when it's happening, it's horrible when you're having to make a decision like this. But it just really came down to, creatively, we all just felt like there was just no way for the band to move forward. We had just hit a wall. It was the heaviest decision in the history of the band, certainly. And even that I feel like doesn't give it the weight that it needs. And there was never anything personal with Joey — it was never personal with him. It just really came down to the creative ability for the band, honestly, to move forward. And I hate that it's something that happened.
"Obviously, things are meant to be," Scott added. "I am somewhat of a spiritual person. I've seen and done enough in my life to know that sometimes shit doesn't just happen randomly. The way everything worked out in the end, with Joey coming back in 2010, and the band, for the last 11 years, being creatively better than we've ever been and in a better place than we've ever been, I have to say that I really believe that it all worked out for some reason. That doesn't make it any easier on Joey certainly; there's nothing I can say that ever would."
Bello said about Belladonna's exit from the group: "It's so strange for me to even talk about this now, because Joey's back in the band now, and it's like he's never been gone.
"It was a hard thing when Joey was out," he admitted. "It was a change, but I think it was best for the band 'cause of where we were going. It was a hard decision. I think we were going in a different way musically, and you could hear it."
Added Benante: "The 1991 me was more arrogant than I am now. Because the problem is I love Joey so much, and at the time we were different people doing it, and we felt this was the only thing for us to take us into the next level or the next chapter of the band. Yeah, it was tough."
Ian previously opened up about the decision to fire Belladonna three decades ago during a 2016 appearance on the "WTF With Marc Maron" podcast. He stated at the time: "I just truly didn't have the patience anymore. I think my biggest problem was I was writing the words, and I couldn't deal with the fact anymore that someone else was singing my lyrics, but I couldn't sing; there was no way I could be the singer of ANTHRAX. I think it really, really did come down to that — that I couldn't stand it anymore. These are my words, these are my feelings, it's my emotions, and you're not me. And even learning the songs and hearing them back, that's not how I hear it in my head. 'No, no. Like this. Like this. Like this. Like this.'"
He continued: "My solution at the time was turning around to the rest of the band and saying, 'It's either [Joey] or me.' I pulled the same shit Neil Turbin [former ANTHRAX singer] pulled years before that. I said, 'I can't do this again. We need to make a change.' And it wasn't just me holding the gun. Everyone was on the same page. Everyone felt like what we had done as ANTHRAX in the '80s into the early '90s, we had already moved past that. The sound was changing.
"If you listen to 'Persistence Of Time' [1990], musically, that record has more to do with 'Sound Of White Noise', the first John Bush record, than it has to do with 'State Of Euphoria' [1988], the previous ANTHRAX album. Musically, we were already going somewhere else, but Joey, for us, I guess at the time, felt like, 'He's not representing us anymore.'"
Ian went on to say that he has since come to see Joey's unique vocal contributions in a different light than he did more than twenty years ago. "Of course, I spent a year of my life writing a book ['I'm The Man: The Story Of That Guy From Anthrax'] and looking back on that time and really kind of getting back into those shoes, and… we should have given the guy a shot," he said. "Why we didn't give him the shot, I really don't know why we weren't able to… Because I even remember, I remember Jonny Z, our manager, he was, 'Are you sure? Are you sure this is the decision you wanna make?' 'Yes, yes, yes.'"
The guitarist added that at least part of the reason ANTHRAX made a singer change was to take the sound in a heavier direction, something that they didn't think was possible with Belladonna at the helm.
"I wanted it to be harder," Ian said. "I couldn't do it, but I wanted someone who could almost… I wanted it to be harder. I didn't want Lemmy — I didn't want it to sound like that — I just wanted it to be harder. And John [Bush] brought it, for sure."
Bush told Metal Talk about the task of replacing Joey Belladonna in ANTHRAX back in 1992: "I respect Joey Belladonna; he did great for ANTHRAX in his heyday and in the years that he made records and they were popular. You know, I think I just went out and did it from my heart and just said, 'Hey, I'm gonna go out and kick ass and sing to the best of my ability.' And I think we made some great records. I just think they were different records than what ANTHRAX did in the '80s."
He continued: "The funny thing is, sometimes there was this, 'Oh, we're the same band. Oh, we're the same band,' and looking back, well, we kind of were a little different band. I think we were. But at that time, we kept trying to convince people, 'Oh, it's the same band. It's the same band.' But when you make a singer change, the sound will change a little bit, which, that was what the intention was at the time."
ANTHRAX's latest album, "For All Kings", which features Belladonna, came out in February 2016 via Nuclear Blast.
ANTHRAX's setlist for the July 22, 2022 concert at Van Buren in Phoenix, Arizona:
01. Among The Living
02. Caught In A Mosh
03. Madhouse
04. Metal Thrashing Mad
05. Breathing Lightning
06. Keep It In The Family
07. Antisocial (TRUST cover)
08. I Am The Law
09. In The End
10. Only
11. Bring The Noise (PUBLIC ENEMY cover)
12. Indians
ANTHRAX's tour with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will wrap up in Philadelphia at the Fillmore on Sunday, August 28. Both bands are playing headline sets. HATEBREED, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the "Perseverance" album, is the special guest.
Experimental metal outfit, Imperial Triumphant, have released a visualizer video for their new track, “Metrovertigo”. Check out the video, which is off the band’s newest full-length album, Spirit Of Ecstasy, below.
"Plutocratic myths exist in the shadows of the divine. Placed upon the middle sector as shackles of the unknown. A giant wave pool claims the livelihoods of many, while still many willfully hand it to the Plutocratic gods as unrealized gains. Bow down and eat dirt. Welcome to a new era. Welcome home," states Imperial Triumphant about “Metrovertigo”.
Spirit of Ecstasy follows the band’s previous LPs 2020’s Alphaville, 2018’s Vile Luxury and most recently their 2021 live record, An Evening With Imperial Triumphant, which was was recorded at the infamous Slipper Room in New York City. Just like its predecessors, the album features a handful of special guests including Kenny G on soprano saxophone, Max Gorelick on lead guitar, Snake on vocals, Alex Skolnick on lead guitar, Trey Spruance on lead guitar, Andromeda Anarchia with choirs, Sarai Woods with choirs, Yoshiko Ohara on vocals, J. Walter Hawkes on the trombone, Ben Hankle on the trumpet, Percy Jones on bass, Seven Suns on strings, Colin Marston on Simmons drums and Youtube, and Jonas Rolef on vocals.
"Chump Change"
"Metrovertigo"
"Tower Of Glory, City Of Shame"
"Merkurius Gilded"
"Death On A Highway"
"In The Pleasure Of Their Company"
"Bezumnaya"
"Maximalist Scream"
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