RUSH has just released the official music video for "YYZ" from the upcoming "Moving Pictures - 40th Anniversary" set. Check it out below.
On April 15, UMe/Mercury and Anthem Records label groups continue the extensive RUSH 40th-anniversary album series with new, expanded editions of the band's groundbreaking 1981 release "Moving Pictures", embodying its well-deserved classic album status. "Moving Pictures - 40th Anniversary" will be available to fans in six distinct configurations, including the (1) Super Deluxe Edition, (2) three-CD Deluxe Edition, (3) five-LP Deluxe Edition, (4) one-LP Edition, (5), Digital Deluxe Edition, and (6) Dolby Atmos Digital Edition and can be pre-ordered here.
"Moving Pictures", RUSH's eighth studio album, was originally released on February 12, 1981, and its adventurous-yet-accessible music catapulted the forward-thinking Canadian band to even newer heights as it began navigating the demands of a new decade. The album's seven songs expertly blended RUSH's intrinsic prowess for channeling its progressive roots into radio-friendly arrangements, a template the band had mastered to a T all throughout its previous album, 1980's deservedly lauded "Permanent Waves". "Moving Pictures" was also the second of many RUSH recording sessions at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec, which was ultimately nicknamed the trio's own personal Abbey Road recording studio.
The album's lead-off track, "Tom Sawyer", became one of RUSH's most cherished FM favorites in addition to taking its rightful place as a perpetual concert staple for decades to come. Next, the band shifts into the multi-generational dreamscape of "Red Barchetta", which chronicles the thrills and chills of a high-stakes backroads car race. The instrumental barnburner "YYZ", lovingly named after the airport identification code for Toronto's Pearson International Airport, runs the gamut of the band's forever impressive progressive chops in under four minutes flat. Side A closes out with the observational luminescence of "Limelight", a timeless, if not prescient look at how introverted artists grapple with public demands while trying to maintain a personal level of earned privacy.
Side B commences with the expansive palette of "The Camera Eye", a multi-layered, ten-minute-long travelogue that takes a bird's eye view of the inherent hustle and bustle of New York City counterbalanced with the intense energy and deep-rooted history of London. "Witch Hunt" (subtitled as being "Part III of Fear") offers a grim view of prejudice and mob mentality, while the album wraps up with the angular, cutting-edge "Vital Signs", a propulsive track that clearly foreshadows a number of the more adventurous musical directions RUSH would undertake as the ever-shifting 1980s continued to unfold.
The Super Deluxe Edition includes three CDs, one Blu-ray Audio disc, and five high-quality 180-gram black vinyl LPs. The set encompasses the Abbey Road Mastering Studios 2015 remastered edition of the album for the first time on CD, along with two discs of previously unreleased and newly restored bonus live content newly mixed from the original analog live multi-tracks by RUSH's original producer, Terry Brown, featuring the band's complete, unreleased Toronto concert from Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, on March 25, 1981 (designated here as "Live In YYZ 1981"). The fourth bonus disc is a Blu-ray Audio disc with the core album newly mixed from the original multi-tracks in Dolby Atmos (a RUSH catalog first!), Dolby TrueHD 5.1, and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound as done by noted producer/engineer Richard Chycki, alongside the previously available PCM Stereo mix. Also included on the Blu-ray are four bonus videos: a brand-new video for "YYZ" plus three remastered vintage promo videos for "Tom Sawyer", "Limelight" and "Vital Signs". Additionally, all of the vinyl in the Super Deluxe Edition has been cut via half-speed Direct to Metal Mastering (DMM) (another RUSH catalog first!) on five 180-gram audiophile LPs.
The Super Deluxe Edition of "Moving Pictures - 40th Anniversary" will also include several exclusive items, including a 44-page hardcover book with unreleased photos and new artwork by original album designer Hugh Syme, along with new illustrations for each song; extensive liner notes by Kim Thayil (guitarist, SOUNDGARDEN), Les Claypool (bassist/vocalist, PRIMUS), Taylor Hawkins (drummer, FOO FIGHTERS), Bill Kelliher (guitarist, MASTODON), and Neil Sanderson (drummer, THREE DAYS GRACE); a Red Barchetta model car mounted on a black perch with an MP40 nameplate; two Neil Peart signature MP40 branded drumsticks; two metal-embossed guitar picks, one each with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson's respective signatures engraved on them; a replica of the "Moving Pictures" 1981 official tour program; an MP40 logo enamel pin; a 3D lenticular "Moving Pictures in motion" lithograph; an 18×24-inch Toronto 1981 concert poster; a replica concert ticket from the 1981 Maple Leaf Gardens show; a 12×36-inch Rush Through The Years 1973-1981 poster; a YYZ luggage tag; and a All Access World Tour '81 insert. All contents are housed in a premium lift-top box, which features movingly reimagined cover artwork by Hugh Syme.
The second configuration of "Moving Pictures - 40th Anniversary" will be released in a three-CD Deluxe Edition digipak that includes the newly remastered original album on CD 1 and the entire, unreleased 1981 Toronto concert on CDs 2 and 3. Extras include a 24-page booklet with unreleased photos and reimagined artwork by Syme, along with the aforementioned liner notes by Thayil, Claypool, Hawkins, Kelliher and Sanderson.
The third "Moving Pictures" configuration will be offered as a five-LP Deluxe Edition, all of it housed in a slipcase including a single-pocket jacket for the remastered original "Moving Pictures" on LP 1, and two gatefold jackets for LPs 2-5 that comprise all 19 tracks from the complete, unreleased "Live In YYZ" 1981 concert. As noted above, all vinyl has been cut for the first time ever via half-speed Direct to Metal Mastering (DMM) on 180-gram black audiophile vinyl. Extras include a 24-page booklet with unreleased photos, Syme's reimagined artwork and new illustrations, and the complete liner notes.
The fourth configuration is a one-LP eCommerce exclusive edition, featuring the first-ever half-speed DMM vinyl pressing. It comes newly wrapped in a limited-edition premium tip-on style gatefold jacket with printed sleeve, and each pressing comes with one of six randomly inserted Neil Peart hand-drawn lyrics sheets.
The fifth configuration, the Deluxe Digital Edition, features the original album and all 19 bonus live performances from Toronto, and is the digital equivalent to the three-CD Deluxe Edition.
Finally, the sixth configuration, the Dolby Atmos Digital Edition, is the digital equivalent of Richard Chycki's masterful Atmos mix of all seven tracks from the original album.
RUSH — bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist/vocalist Alex Lifeson, and drummer/lyricist Neil Peart — maintains a large and uniquely passionate worldwide fanbase that acknowledges and respects the band's singular, bold, and perpetually exploratory songcraft that combines sterling musicianship, complex compositions, and distinctive lyrical flair. RUSH has sold more than 25 million albums in the U.S. alone, with worldwide sales estimated at 45 million (and counting), and has been awarded 24 gold, 14 platinum, and three multi-platinum album distinctions. RUSH has received seven Grammy nominations, and the band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame in 1994 and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013.
SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor makes an appearance in "Bite My Face", the new music video from HO99O9 (pronounced "horror"). The track is taken from HO99O9's new album "Skin", which is being released today (Friday, March 11). The follow-up to 2017's "United States Of Horror" was produced entirely by BLINK-182 drummer Travis Barker and is being made available via Barker's DTA Records.
When the duo of Yeti Bones and theOGM kicked in the doors of the music industry in 2014 with an iconically off-the-rails set at the Afropunk festival, they set a noisy new standard for industrial-grade, punk-influenced hip-hop, colliding the DMX and BONE THUGS they grew up listening to in Jersey headfirst with bands like BAD BRAINS and the NINJASONIK that they absorbed after discovering the NYC DIY scene. With a steady stream of mixtapes, EPs, singles, and their debut LP "United States Of Horror", they've continued to raise the bar for sonic chaos, drawing critical raves, building a cultishly devoted following, and earning the respect of iconic audio anarchists like Mike Patton (who invited them to open for MR. BUNGLE and DEAD CROSS) and THE PRODIGY (who featured them on the 2018 single "Fight Fire With Fire").
In 2019, a mutual friend introduced them to Travis Barker, and a get-to-know-you studio session quickly resulted in the pummelling track "Nuge Snight". Soon after, the pandemic hit and the world turned upside down, but the trio kept working off and on over the course of 2020 and 2021, with Barker on drums and production duties. As the situation outside the studio got more tumultuous, Yeti Bones and theOGM got rawer, finding new ways to channel the rage that's always animated their music — rage that the rest of the world was feeling more and more every day — and peeling back what little pretense they had to reveal their most unapologetically honest selves. Eventually, they realized that they had an album on their hands. Taking inspiration from an Ice Cube B-side, they named it "Skin".
"Skin" is the sound of HO99O9 finding new levels to their talents, then crashing through them to go even higher. It's somehow even noisier and more aggressive than their earlier work — mosh pit music for the end of the world that keeps the needle buried deep in the red — but there's also a fresh focus to the chaos. If listening to early HO99O9 was like getting jumped by a mutant street gang, "Skin" is like facing off against a couple of martial arts masters who know precisely where to land each blow to cause maximum impact. Lead single "Battery Not Included" pivots effortlessly from breakbeat industrial mayhem to hardcore breakdown to a completely unexpected soothing interlude — before going right back to beatdown mode. The slow-grind "Speak Of The Devil" spotlights the newfound emphasis on melody that the pair bring to the table. The album also brings together Yeti Bones and theOGM with some of their biggest influences and most illustrious supporters: "Slo Bread" sends Houston rap into a nightmarish new dimension with help from H-Town trailblazer Bun B; "Skinhead" brings together street punk and poet Saul Williams; and the merciless "Bite My Face" gets a brutal vocal assist from Taylor.
HO99O9's spring U.S. tour will kick off April 15 in Los Angeles and runs through May 14 in Houston. Following the headlining run, HO99O9 will link up with SLIPKNOT and CYPRESS HILL for the second leg of the "Knotfest Roadshow" tour beginning on May 18.
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne appear in the new video from British singer Yungblud. The clip for the track "The Funeral" begins with a scene featuring Ozzy standing behind a raised coffin in which Yungblud is lying, and we see the Prince Of Darkness looking around and saying: "Hang on, is this a fucking funeral? Where the fuck is everybody?"
"The Funeral" marks the 24-year-old's first new music since last year's "Fleabag" single.
Yungblud, otherwise known as Dominic Harrison, began teasing the new song last Saturday (March 5), when he shared an image of a handwritten message "To whom this may concern. For those I let down I'm sorry, for those who let me down, fuck you but I forgive you. You are cordially and graciously invited to my funeral."
As an artist and songwriter, Yungblud lives to stir up the raw energy of rebellion. With his frenetic take on alt-pop equally inspired by punk, hip-hop, and U.K. garage, Yungblud makes brilliant use of his breakneck flow and tongue-in-cheek attitude, delivering pointed lyrics without ever getting heavy-handed.
Born in Yorkshire, Harrison first picked up a guitar at age two and began writing his own songs when he was ten. At 16 he moved to London, then spent the next few years struggling to define his musical vision. But after reconnecting with the firebrand artists that first compelled him to make music — THE CLASH, ARCTIC MONKEYS, N.W.A. — he felt unstoppably inspired. That inspiration lead to the eventual release of his 2017 debut, "King Charles".
Since then, Yungblud has created his own blend of alternative rock: poetry, guitar-hooks and break-beats with a fierce determination to make a dent in pop-culture. Startlingly bold yet emotionally grounded, he drops a grenade on listeners and imprints himself in their minds.
"Game Of Thrones" co-creator D.B. Weiss has teamed up with RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello for a scripted movie titled "Metal Lords", to be released on April 8 via Netflix.
With Weiss as writer-producer and the Morello serving as executive music producer, "Metal Lords" follows two kids who want to start a heavy metal band in a high school where exactly two kids care about heavy metal. Hunter (Adrian Greensmith) is a diehard metal fan who knows his history and can shred. His dream in life is to win at the upcoming "Battle Of The Bands". He enlists his best friend Kevin (Jaeden Martell) to man the drums. But with schoolmates more interested in Bieber than BLACK SABBATH, finding a bassist is a struggle. Until Kevin overhears Emily (Isis Hainsworth) slaying on her cello. The motley crew must contend with school, parents, hormones and teen angst while trying to get along long enough for SKULLF*CKER to win the "Battle Of The Bands".
Morello told Billboard about his involvement with the film: "I grew up in a small, cloistered, conservative suburb where my musical tastes ran against the grain of almost everybody else in school and certainly all of the teachers, so this is something I can very much relate to. It's a story of kids trying to get their first band together and having a dream, but perhaps not having the technical ability or the artistic vision to make that dream real. Or do they? For me, it harmonizes in a lot of ways with the real story of so many kids who are locked in these suburban hells and the key to get out is an electric guitar or drums or rock and roll music. The music shows a way to transcend this stifled daily existence, to try to be something better, be something more authentic and true than what's handed to you by your surroundings."
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Weiss revealed that he and co-producer Greg Shapiro have been wanting to make "Metal Lords" for over a decade. Speaking about the element of fantasy that's inherent to metal, he said: "When you're 15 years old, you feel confused and not all that powerful. You feel you can't make your life the way you want it. Fantasy is about the power. It's re-conceiving yourself as a larger-than-life heroic figure. It's probably what drew a lot of kids to the music."
Wyld Ryde have released their Gasoline Alley EP. Purchase/stream the EP here.
Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, Wyld Ryde brings hard rock and heavy metal into the new era with great hooks, arrangements and a heavy, razor sharp modern edge that is sure to please fans all over the world. Growing up, the band faced adversity from a very, very early age. Their neighborhoods are extremely crime ridden from violence to drugs. Just making it out was a blessing as lots of their friends and family died from gun violence and drugs.
Tracklisting:
"Gasoline Alley"
"Hold On Me"
"Alone"
"Six Gun Shooter"
"Come & Go"
"Don’t Say No"
"Gasoline Alley" video:
"Hold On Me" lyric video:
Tour dates:
March
26 - AJ’s Place - Glasgow, KY
April
30 - The Open Chord - Knoxville, TN
May
13 - Manchester Music Hall - Lexington, KY
14 - The Dils Center - Parkersburg, WV
June
2 - Bike Nyght (The kickoff of) Hillview City Fair - Hillview, KY
25 - Rockin With The Vets - Clarksville, IN
July
2 - Melody Inn - Indianapolis, IN
18 - Highland Taproom - Louisville, KY
August
13 - EL Loco Fest 16 - Elyria, OH
September
10 - Cancer Fest - Hillview, KY
Wyld Ryde is:
Chief - Lead Vocals/Lead Guitar
Tommy Blitz - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Mick Watkins - Bass/Vocals
Kidd Vicious - Drums
Enigmatic dark metal outfit, Deathwhite, will release their third studio album, Grey Everlasting, on June 10 via Season Of Mist. The band is now sharing the devastating first single, "Earthtomb", along with a music video. The heart-wrenching clip, which was created by Guilherme Henriques, can be found below.
Says the band: “It is our abundant pleasure to share the video for ‘Earthtomb’, the first single from Grey Everlasting. The immaculate Guilherme Henriques shot the clip in Aceredo, Spain and Porto, Portugal. Unfortunately, the song and video are a rather timely and direct reflection of the times we live when unchecked power, deception, gas-lighting and flat-out lies are used as tools to wreak havoc upon humanity and sow discord.
‘Earthtomb’ was written as our observation - and inherent wish - that these individuals succumb to their misdeeds. What is happening in Ukraine at the moment has, for the members of Deathwhite, made this song more prescient than ever. Our hearts go out to those impacted by this utter tragedy.”
Written just as the global lockdown began in March 2020, Grey Everlasting is an album of diversity and depth. While the band’s clean vocal delivery set to the backdrop of unyielding dark metal remains ever-present, some new wrinkles are added to Deathwhite’s sound. Extreme metal elements - a reference to the band’s musical background - as well as heavy keyboard orchestration have been brought to the fore. The album also treads more atmospheric paths while staying true to Deathwhite’s melodic underpinnings.
"Nihil"
"Earthtomb"
"No Thought Or Memory"
"Quietly, Suddenly"
"Grey Everlasting"
"White Sleep"
"Immemorial"
"Formless"
"So We Forget"
"Blood And Ruin"
"Asunder"
Toronto-based heavy metal unit, Skull Fist, will release their new album, Paid In Full, on April 22 via Atomic Fire Records. A second video trailer for the album has been released. Watch two trailer below:
You can pre-order first pressings of the new album through the band here on blue vinyl (limited to 200), black vinyl (limited to 800) and CD (limited to 1000). You can also order vinyl/box set/CD from the Atomic Fire website here.
The album was recorded at Vespa Studios, and mixed by Chris Snow and Eric Rats. Harry Hess mastered the album. Album art by Sharon .Ehman.
Says the band in regards to "Long Live The Fist": "It's weird as balls releasing one track for a new album, you'll hear this and assume what the rest of the album sounds like, haha, this one does that sort of formula we've done on previous records, some speed metal, some heavy metal, some hard rock and some caveman riffs. I think you guys will find the record to be just slightly heavier than previous ones. But we're obviously biased, haha. Stoked on seeing how you nutters feel about it all!"
Since their leggy beginnings in 2006, dungeon keeper Zach Schottler and his ruthlessly shredding gang of reckless accomplices have released three archetypal heavy metal almanacs, eaten more dust than is good for their health, endured hardships (henceforth called shitty business partners) and propped up countless beers in countless bars in countless cities. Now, after 15 years on behalf of steel, Zach Schottler is really turning up the heat with the uniquely titled Paid In Full, a heavy metal wonder of the defiant middle-finger variety. With head held high, pockets empty and just enough gas in the tank to make it to the next show, Skull Fist have just officially won 2022. Paid In Full is heavy metal in all its glory and splendour: skillfully - unleashed - wide-legged. Written at home and recorded at Vespa Studios near Toronto, Paid In Full encompasses his sonic efforts of the past two years: tales of steel and legends from the underworld.
Tracklisting:
"Paid In Full"
"Long Live The Fist"
"Crush Kill Destroy"
"Blackout"
"Madman"
"For The Last Time"
"Heavier than Metal"
"Warrior Of The North"
Ghost took the stage at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on March 3rd to wrap up their 2022 US tour along with special guests Volbeat and Twin Temple. Live Rock Music by Scott Perry has shared 4K /HD sound footage of Ghost's entire show. Check it out below.
The setlist on the night was as follows:
"Kaisarion"
"Rats"
"From The Pinnacle To The Pit"
"Mary on a Cross"
"Devil Church"
"Circe"
"Hunter's Moon"
"Faith"
"Helvetesfönster"
"Year Zero"
"Ritual"
"Mummy Dust"
"Enter Sandman"
"Dance Macabre"
"Square Hammer"
Ghost will release their new album, Impera, on March 11 via Loma Vista / Concord. An update from the band states: "We wish to inform you Ghost will be hosting a very special Imperia Live From The Ministry album release ritual on Thursday, March 10 at 2 PM, EST on their Youtube channel."
"Imperium"
"Kaisarion"
"Spillways"
"Call Me Little Sunshine"
"Hunter's Moon"
"Watcher In The Sky"
"Dominion"
"Twenties"
"Darkness At The Heart Of My Love"
"Griftwood"
"Bite Of Passage"
"Respite On The Spital Fields"
On March 3rd, Tool brought their current tour to the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Midway through their set, the band performed "Undertow" from their debut album for the first time in 20 years. Check out audio and video from the performance below.
Tool did not perform the song at the following show on March 6th in Columbus, Ohio.
Tool's tour schedule is now as follows:
March
10 - Chicago, IL - United Center
12 - Omaha, NE - CHI Health Center Arena
13 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
15 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center
17 - Moline, IL - TaxSlayer Center
18 - St. Louis, MO - Enterprise Center
20 - Cleveland, OH - Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
April
23 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Royal Arena
25 - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum
26 - Stockholm, Sweden - Avicii Arena
28 - Hamburg, Germany - Barclaycard Arena
29 - Frankfurt, Germany - Festhalle
May
2 - Manchester, UK - AO Arena Manchester
4 - Birmingham, UK - Resorts World Arena
6 - Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena
9 - London, UK - The O2 Arena
12 - Paris, France - AccorHotels Arena
13 - Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis
15 - Berlin, Germany - Mercedes-Benz Arena
17 - Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena
19 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
21 - Krakow, Poland - Tauron Arena
23 - Prague, Czech Republic - O2 Arena
24 - Budapest, Hungary - SportAréna
Rock supergroup MOTOR SISTER — featuring Jim Wilson (MOTHER SUPERIOR), Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), Pearl Aday (Scott's wife and daughter of late actor/musician Meat Loaf), Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT, FATES WARNING) and John Tempesta (THE CULT) — will release its new album, "Get Off", on May 6 via Metal Blade Records. The official music video for the LP's first single, "Can't Get High Enough", can be seen below.
Wilson says: "We wanted to make a high-energy, kick-ass rock and roll record from top to bottom. All killer, no filler."
Adds Vera: "Our first record 'Ride' was a collection of songs we re-recorded from the band MOTHER SUPERIOR which was great, but I'm stoked that we had this chance to actually get into a room together and write this batch of all new material. We keep in mind where this band originated from but we get to take it to totally different levels."
About the new single, Ian says: "'Can't Get High Enough' is a straight-up ripper from start to finish."
"Get Off" will be available digitally as well as physically on digipak CD, 180-gram black vinyl, crimson red with blue smoke vinyl (U.S. exclusive) and pale blue gray marbled vinyl (EU exclusive — limited to 200 copies).
"Get Off" track listing:
01. Can't Get High Enough
02. Coming For You
03. Right There, Just Like That
04. Sooner Or Later
05. Excuse Me, Your Life Is Exposed
06. Lion's Den
07. 1,000,000 Miles
08. Pain
09. Bulletproof
10. Bruise It Or Lose It
11. Time's Up
12. Rolling Boy Blues
MOTOR SISTER was originally formed as a MOTHER SUPERIOR covers band made up of diehard fans — and aided by sharing the same frontman — playing the songs for the love of doing so. Catching the attention of Metal Blade, the label offered to put out a record and the result was "Ride" (2015), a collection of live-in-the-studio takes cherry-picked from MOTHER SUPERIOR's back catalog.
Now, they step beyond those parameters, returning with their second album, which is almost entirely brand new material. "The record of covers was already done, so there was no need to do it again," says Aday. "We're a bunch of songwriters with so much passion for the same kind of music, it just makes sense that we would make new music together, and it was easy as usual to follow Jim's lead on this one. He was overflowing with songs and ideas so we all happily jumped right in." Adds Wilson, "We definitely wanted to continue with the spirit of my old band and it's not difficult really because everything MOTHER SUPERIOR did was done with heart and soul and I think soul is an important word. Not necessarily 'soul music' but the feeling that comes with it."
The result is aptly described by Vera as "no-bullshit hard rock and roll", the record containing eleven originals and rounded out with a cover of MOTHER SUPERIOR's "Rolling Boy Blues", which has been a live staple. Kicking off with the compulsive, high-octane "Can't Get High Enough", they immediately put the pedal to the metal, likewise on the pure rock 'n' soul of "Bulletproof" and the swaggering "Excuse Me, Your Life Is Exposed". They slow things down a little on the singalong glory of "Sooner Or Later" and the more plaintive "Pain".
As with "Ride", the band entrusted Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER) with production, and this time headed into Dave Grohl's Studio 606.
"It's a great sounding room and we got to track on the Sound City Neve, which is perfect for our sound," says Ian. "And some really cool people — who took great care of us — own it." Also in common with its predecessor, "Get Off" was recorded live in the studio, with all five members in the same room, vocals and leads redone after the basic tracks were laid down, but tracking was interrupted mid-process by COVID-19. This put things on hold, resuming a year later as the band added the finishing touches to the record, but this interruption definitely did not harm the feelings of exuberance and spontaneity that bleed from the speakers. Now, the band is looking forward and excited to play these originals live alongside the covers they are known for.
Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night witnesses Philadelphia’s Devil Master at its core - their roots in ritual magick have never been more prominent. Recorded live to analog tape by Pete DeBoer (Blood Incantation, Spectral Voice), Ecstasies expands on the warped riffing and dark atmospheres that have already propelled Devil Master as one of the underground’s most unique and unfettered bands.
The blackened punk maelstrom of “Acid Black Mass” sets the tone for Ecstasies. Sonically speaking, it is peak Devil Master. “It’s the perfect evolution of our sound,” lead guitarist Darkest Prince enthuses. “It’s Japanese metal-punk d-beat meets black metal. There’s plenty of GISM and Mobs in there, but also Celtic Frost and Gorgoroth.”
“Acid Black Mass” is available today across all digital platforms via Relapse. A video directed by Erica Frevel and edited by Hayden Hall, can be found below.
The path from Devil Master’s lauded 2019 debut, Satan Spits On Children Of Light, to Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night was long and winding. Beyond the many challenges presented by the pandemic, the band experienced a mutual parting of ways with half of their previous lineup. In the aftermath, vocalist Disembody Through Unparalleled Pleasure also assumed the role of bassist, strengthening the core songwriting trio alongside Darkest Prince and rhythm guitarist Infernal Moonlight Apparition. Fresh blood was required and found in drummer/keyboardist Festering Terror in Deepest Catacomb (a.k.a. Chris Ulsh of Power Trip and Iron Age).
As Darkest Prince points out, Ecstasies is a step above and beyond its predecessor. “This album is more mature and self-confident,” he says. “It’s moving past childish Satanism towards a more mature dark spirituality. This one is not relying on stereotypical tropes. It’s a real magickal experience.”
In many ways, Ecstasies is meant to mirror Satan Spits On Children Of Light. “This and the last album are mirrored opposites, right down to the titles,” Darkest Prince points out. “There’s even an instrumental in the middle of the album, like last time. I believe in balance, so there’s a spiritual aspect to it. And it just feels good.”
From the band’s monumental “Acid Black Mass” to the spiraling death rock of “Abyss In Vision” and the layers of refined atmosphere on the closer “Never Ending Night”, Darkest Prince shines across a collection of fiery, tumultuous riffs - Lyrically, vocalist Disembody Through Unparalleled Pleasure laces Ecstasies with life-affirming blasphemy and existential dread.
Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night proves to be a crucial addition to the pantheon of evil satanic metal. In the end, magick reigns!
Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night is out April 29 via Relapse Records. Pre-order here.
Album artwork by Burney.
Tracklisting:
"Ecstasies..."
"Enamoured In The Throes Of Death"
"Golgotha’s Cruel Song"
"The Vigour Of Evil"
"Acid Black Mass"
"Abyss In Vision"
"Shrines In Cinder"
"Funerary Hyre Of Dreams & Madness"
"Precious Blood Of Christ Rebuked"
"Never Ending Night"
Wisconsin-based heavy metal outfit, Lords Of The Trident, have released the fourth single from their upcoming studio album, The Offering. The new track, "These Tower Walls", is out today and is accompanied by a music video.
Talking about "These Tower Walls", vocalist Fang VonWrathenstein comments: ""The video shoot for 'These Tower Walls' had to be rescheduled THREE times due to COVID, and at the time we shot it we were knee-deep in the Omicron wave...so we didn't know if anyone was going to show up. We were absolutely humbled by the fact that a large number of our diehard fans showed up to be part of the video. A good chunk of them traveled quite a long distance as well! I've heard some bands lamenting the fact that some of the music videos they've made during COVID will be full of people wearing face masks, and would be reminders of the hardship they went through during this time. Seeing the facemasks in this video instead reminds me of the amazing lengths that our fans will go to in order to support the band. We're truly grateful!"
The full album (The Offering) is available right now for members of the Lords Of The Trident Patreon who pledge $5 or more. This pledge not only gets you an immediate copy of the new album, but also their three previous albums (Shadows From The Past, Pull The Plug, and Power Outage) as well as 20+ internet-exclusive singles, 25+ full-concert bootlegs, and a mountain of exclusive content for Patreon backers only. The full album will not be released publicly until April, so being a backer is the only way to hear it before it releases. 100% of the money pledged goes directly to the band and helps them play more shows, make more content, and survive the evils of the music industry.
The Offering is the fifth full-length album by Lords Of The Trident (and their 10th release overall). This medieval concept album weaves a tragic story of a young boy sold into servitude, his arduous training to become a "Guardian", and the city that betrays him. Mixed and mastered by Grammy-nominated Jacob Hansen (engineer for Avantasia, Unleash the Archers, Volbeat, Amaranthe, and more), this is one of the best-sounding epics you'll hear. Filled with blazing solos, soaring vocals, complex drumming, and multi-layer musical composition, The Offering will take you on a heroic and tragic musical journey that will stay in your mind long after the album has finished.
The Offering tracklisting:
"Legend"
"Acolyte"
"Charlatan"
"Feed The Wolves"
"Carry the Weight"
"Offering To The Void"
"Champion"
"The Invitation"
"Dance Of Control"
"These Tower Walls"
"Power Of Evil"
"The Blade"
"Heart Of Ashes"
Zeal & Ardor have released an official video for song, "Death To The Holy", taken from their newly released, self-titled, third album.
Frontman Manuel Gagneux comments, "‘The video to 'Death To The Holy' marks a visual departure from our established aesthetic. A short and buzzing rumination on the question "What would happen if we get proof of God's nonexistence?" Directed by Jen Ries, it perfectly matches the song's urgency and relentlessness.’’
The new 14-track record is a masterclass in distilled rage. Recorded by Marc Obrist and Manuel Gagneux at Hutch Sounds, it was mixed & mastered by Will Putney at Graphic Nature Audio. All songs were written and performed (except drums) by the multi-lingual Gagneux.
"Zeal & Ardor"
"Run"
"Death To The Holy"
"Emersion"
"Golden Liar"
"Erase"
"Bow"
"Feed The Machine"
"I Caught You"
"Church Burns"
"Götterdämmerung"
"Hold Your Head Low"
"J-M-B"
"A-H-I-L"
ENVY OF NONE, the new band from Alex Lifeson (RUSH), Andy Curran (CONEY HATCH), Alfio Annibalini and singer Maiah Wynne, will release its self-titled debut album on April 8 via Kscope. The official Jaden D.-directed music video for the LP's second single, "Look Inside", can be seen below.
Curran, having a "soft spot" for "Look Inside", recalls the song's creation: "I was in my studio late one night, headphones on… a few glasses of red wine deep and thought, wouldn't it be fun to pull out my bass, blow up the tone, double it and play to a really messed up super slow drum groove. It's got a real stoner vibe to it. That's what happens when you mix wine and bass… Mission accomplished!"
With the rough bed track and song name sent to Wynne, her initial thoughts were one of introspection. "Sometimes you have to shine a light on all the ugliest pieces of yourself in order to truly change, and you have to keep slaying that dragon over and over again," she says. "It is a continuous, slow and painful process. The guitars and bass really drive the grittiness and heaviness I felt when I wrote those lyrics. It feels like an all-encompassing sludge, and that is what I absolutely love about this song."
Lifeson is no stranger to the concept of evolution. As a founding member of RUSH, he's been able to explore more musical ground than just about any other guitar player out there — taking rock to new progressive heights throughout the decades and always in the most wildly inventive of ways. His influence can be heard on countless bands around the world, from indie shoegaze and math rock to heavy metal and beyond. Over the last few years, Lifeson has been focusing on a new project that, no matter how well-acquainted you are with his discography, will undoubtedly shatter all seeds of expectation and blow the mind. That project is ENVY OF NONE.
"Envy Of None"'s 11 tracks — which ricochet between various shades of alternative, experimental and synth rock — throw surprises at every turn, twisting dark melodies against contemporary pop hooks. Lifeson himself is proudly aware of how little of it crosses over with the band that made him famous.
However, it was only when Wynne became involved that this truly started to feel like a band destined to go somewhere. Her haunting melodies and soul-baring intensity is — by the admission of her own bandmates — what truly brought this music to life. All things considered; she is a star in the making.
"I sent over an early version of the song 'Shadow'," explains Curran. "When I played what she'd done back to the others they were like, 'Who is this crazy talented person?!'"
The album's first single, "Liar", was released in January. Its industrial beats, driving fuzz bass and atmospheric guitars concoct a seductive swirl indeed — thrilling in ways closer to the darker art rock of DEPECHE MODE, NINE INCH NAILS and A PERFECT CIRCLE than anything these musicians have been known for prior.
"Maiah became my muse," says Lifeson. "She was able to bring this whole new ethereal thing through her sense of melody on tracks like 'Liar' and 'Look Inside'. After hearing her vocals on 'Never Said I Love You', I felt so excited. I've never had that kind of inspiration working with another musician. When we say she's special, it's because she's really fucking special."
"One of my favorite things about these songs is the intimacy of them," reveals Wynne. "It makes them feel different and more honest. There are some heavier songs too, like 'Enemy', and then tracks like 'Kabul Blues', that sound completely different to anything else."
The album closer, "Western Sunset", which was penned by Lifeson in tribute to his dear friend Neil Peart. It's a highly emotive piece of music to honor a man deeply missed by the rock community at large, and even more so by those who were lucky enough to know him.
"I visited Neil when he was ill," says Lifeson. "I was on his balcony watching the sunset and found inspiration. There's a finality about a sunset that kinda stayed with me throughout the whole process. It had meaning. It was the perfect mood to decompress after all these different textures… a nice way to close the book."
SoCal artists (HED) P.E. have released their new video for "Across the Universe" featuring Ipcus Pinecone from VILLEBILLIES and ELEPHANT ROOM. The song is the latest single from (HED) P.E.'s new album "Califas Worldwide", which dropped last month on Suburban Noize Records.
"This track was produced by one of Tech N9ne's producers and Demi was in a band the VILLEBILLIES that we toured with back in the day. Always enjoyed their music and was stoked to collaborate with them," said (HED) P.E. frontman Jared Gomes. "I got a psychedelic feeling from this song and the other rappers on the track are fire. Shevy Chase, one of the rappers, also created the video and killed it."
On "Califas Worldwide", (HED) P.E. collaborated with different bands and producers from around the world and melding it with their trademark G-Punk sound. Califas is a Hispanic nickname for Southern California, a moniker that perfectly describes (HED) P.E.'s Huntington Beach G-Punk sound as it melds together with artists from around the world to create the unholy union of "Califas Worldwide". The album features guest appearances by Angelo Moore of FISHBONE, H.R. of BAD BRAINS, Norwood Fisher of FISHBONE, Peter Distefano of PORNO FOR PYROS, and more.
In order to bring those Cali vibes to life visually, (HED) P.E. enlisted Jim "Taz" Evans to create the cover art. Known as the "Rock Poster God," Taz has illustrated and designed some of the most iconic rock posters for everyone from Neil Young, RAMONES, SMASHING PUMPKINS, THE PIXIES, and more. For "Califas Worldwide", Evans came up with an iconic lowrider and street art that have been synonymous with the southern California landscape.
(HED) P.E. are the pioneers of the G-Punk sound, which fuses together punk-rock, metal, hip-hop and reggae. The band has toured the world for 20 years sharing the stage with the likes of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, KORN, Tech N9ne, TOOL as well as the original BLACK SABBATH on the iconic Ozzfest tour. (HED) P.E. experienced a creative resurgence after signing with Suburban Noize Records in the early 2000s and was instrumental in developing the booming underground scene.
(HED) P.E. will join DROWNING POOL, ILL NIÑO and EVOLUTION EMPIRE on the "Brothers In Arms" tour kicking off on March 13 in San Antonio, Texas.
Äàíèÿ
Junkyard Drive![=]](/img/news-bord-shr.gif){kind=small}
Êàíàäà
ÑØÀ
Ôðàíöèÿ
Ìåæäóíàðîäíûé
Âåëèêîáðèòàíèÿ
Øâåöèÿ
Ãåðìàíèÿ
