Kurt Deimer has announced the release of the video for his new single “Burn Together,” directed by Scottish filmmaker Paul Boyd (Sting, Deadmau5, The Cult). The video spotlights Deimer’s cinematic vision and charismatic presence and features former Queensrÿche frontman Geoff Tate on guest vocals. The track and video are the first offering from Deimer’s upcoming debut EP Work Hard Rock Hard, following the release of his cover of the Pink Floyd classic “Have A Cigar.”
“One of my most enduring musical memories is Geoff Tate performing ‘Silent Lucidity’ with Queensrÿche in front of an orchestra on the MTV Video Awards thirty years ago, so to have Geoff Tate performing on my first release and in a video with me is beyond surreal,” said Kurt Deimer. “His music has had a profound influence on me, and now I get to celebrate that influence on tour and in the video. Paul Boyd did an amazing job filtering my vision through his lens and creativity. It’s such an honor to be surrounded by so many talented people.”
“Kurt Deimer knows exactly what he wants and gives 100% on screen. His song “Burn Together” and the video collaboration we made with Geoff Tate is a breath of fresh air in the sea of sameness. Kurt wants to break the mold and he’s got a story to tell…and his live show kicks ass too,” said Paul Boyd.
“Burn Together” debuted as #3 most added on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator chart, following only Papa Roach and Bad Wolves, and premiered on the Foundations Secondary Market Rock Chart as the fourth most added..
The song is the public’s first taste of what to expect from Kurt Deimer’s upcoming debut EP, Work Hard, Rock Hard. Due for release later this year, the all-original EP is ripe with Deimer’s enchanting lyrical musings, the brazen musicianship of his musical director and key collaborator Phil X [Bon Jovi], and the epic production of Chris Lord-Alge (Rolling Stones, Green Day, Joe Cocker).
Joined by a band that includes guitarists Phil X - who is splitting time between Deimer and Bon Jovi - and Michale Vassos, bassist Cristian Sturba and drummer Dango, Kurt Deimer embarked on his first tour this fall in support of Geoff Tate. Deimer will continue to hold down direct support duties this November as the legendary frontman performs the Queensrÿche albums Empire and Rage For Order in their entirety across North America.
Finnish folk influenced melodic death metal band Crowen is set to release their debut EP, Prophecy, on December 10th via Inverse Records. They have released their first single and video, "Exosus". Check it out below.
Frontman Esa Uusimaa comments: "'Exosus' is one of the first songs I have composed for Crowen. I have been working on new songs during this year. Due to these new songs, this new single almost didn't make it to the EP release.
The song has a massive beginning, blast beat sweeps the listener away. Strings bring wistfulness to the song, making the sound melodic and brutal at the time. The songwriter, Nina Kärki, was inspired by a story of a hated person. The catching melody flows throughout the song and growl vocals tie the song together."
After releasing their vibrant fifth studio album, Viridian, in 2020, Temperance delight their devotees with the persuasive new offering Diamanti, to be released on November 19 via Napalm Records. With Diamanti, the exceptionally skilled Italian outfit once again showcases their extraordinary ability to merge brilliant vocal melodies, hefty power metal guitar riffing, and symphonic soundscapes in perfect harmony - all dressed in modern surroundings. This is an offering that fans of bands like Amaranthe will fall in love with immediately.
The new single, “Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal”, breaks in with full force, telling an epic tale and creating a far-reaching sense of common bond. This absolute anthem showcases the powerful strength and energy of all three vocalists Alessia Scolletti, Michele Guaitoli and Marco Pastorino, providing a taste of the upcoming album.
Michele Guaitoli (vocals, piano) on the new single: “If there is one thing that makes Temperance unique on the scene, is that we just don’t care about any commercial rule. We write our music for how we like it. We don’t ask ourselves “will this work?” We don’t question our songwriting putting it in relation of the market. This attitude is the same that we have when it comes to accepting limits: we don’t accept the idea of having limits. We are here to break the rules. Why just one singer? Let’s have three. Why just a style? Let’s play many. If we want something, we fight for it even if we need to break the rules of a certain scheme. What about heavy metal? Does it have rules? Does it have a scheme? If yes, we’re here to break it.”
A drum playthrough video for “Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal” can be viewed below:
Check out the official music video for “Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal”:
Diamanti was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Epica, Amaranthe), with the cover artwork once again created by Yann Souetre (Ayreon).
Marco Pastorino (vocals, guitar) on the new album: "With Diamanti, we managed to combine our best qualities and selected the best Temperance songs so far. It's not our heaviest album, it's not our fastest work, but surely it's our favourite one so far! We weren't necessarily supposed to record a new album only one year after Viridian, but luckily we made it! In this album you will find our trademarks: the vocal harmonies, the catchy melodies, but also epic stuff, strong arrangements, and long tracks - I am very proud of Diamanti and I am convinced we have written a bombastic album!"
Diamanti will be available in the following formats:
- 1CD Digipak
- 2LP Gatefold Black
- 2LP Gatefold Curaçao Sea
- 2LP Gatefold Diamond Clear
- Digital Album
Tracklisting:
"Pure Life Unfolds"
"Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal"
"Diamanti"
"Black Is My Heart"
"Litany Of The Northern Lights"
"You Only Live Once"
"I The Loneliness"
"Codebreaker"
"The Night Before The End"
"Fairy Tales For The Stars"
"Let's Get Started"
"Follow Me"
"Pure Life Unfolds" video:
Temperance are:
Alessia Scolletti - vocals
Michele Guaitoli - vocals, piano
Marco Pastorino - vocals, guitar
Luca Negro - bass guitar
Alfonso Mocerino – drums
Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon) is back with a new Star One album, titled Revel In Time. The album comes more than 10 years since the previous release and is due out on February 18 via InsideOutMusic.
The album will be available for pre-order on December 17, and it will come as Ltd. 2CD Digipak, Ltd. Deluxe 3CD+Blu-Ray Artbook (incl. a poster of the cover artwork), and as 180g Gatefold 2LP (incl. the album on CD & an LP-Booklet).
CD2 features alternate versions of the same songs as CD1, but with different vocalists. Also available will be a 5.1 mix, a high-res audio version, and an exclusive, hour-long Behind The Scenes video, on the Blu-ray included in the Artbook.
For this Star One release, Arjen has decided to use a different singer for each song, and those singers as well as the instrumentalists are slowly being revealed on Arjen’s Facebook page.
Arjen: "Marcela Bovio sings the track 'Fate Of Man' on CD2, and sings all the backing vocals together with Irene Jansen on the new Star One album, Revel In Time. Check out this video to hear a part of the song and don’t miss her charming video message! Such a wonderful and talented lady."
Arjen explains the decision to return with a new Star One album: “Ayreon is like the mothership for all my music. It contains all the different musical styles that I like to listen to and that I love to create. But I’m always looking for challenges and trying to create something new and original as well. Working within a set of constraints forces you to do that, so sometimes I like to limit myself and focus on just one style. For example, with Star One I focus on the metal-side of Ayreon. That means you won’t hear the exuberantly liberal use of acoustic instruments that are so often featured on Ayreon albums, like violin, woodwinds, cello, horns, dulcimer, mandolin, etc.”
The artwork was designed by Ayreon artist Jef Bertels, Arjen explains: “As always, Jef’s painting is wondrously labyrinthine; I can sit in front of it for hours and discover new details all the time. Now you might be thinking “Hey, isn’t Jef Bertels the designated artist for Ayreon, but not for Star One?” Of course I thought about that myself. But when I realized how much I liked this album I felt that it deserved a painting of its own and a special place alongside Jef’s other front-cover masterpieces. And anyway, I’ve been breaking rules ever since the very beginning of Ayreon. So… there you have it!”
A short video of KORN singer Jonathan Davis unboxing his figure from the popular vinyl collectible company Funko — best known for its big-headed Pop! figures — can be seen below.
In the clip, Davis says in part: "When they came to me, we came up with the packaging, the box and the look for this little guy, 'cause we wanted to start it off where it all began. This is around 1997, [the second KORN album] 'Life Is Peachy', and I [wore] the purple sequined jumpsuit. We had a problem — we couldn't get it shiny 'cause there was no kind of paint, so they kind of made little dots to represent the sequins. But I really, really dig this. This is cool."
Other artists who have gotten the Pop! Rocks treatment in the past include KISS, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, DEF LEPPARD, Rob Zombie, SLIPKNOT, SLAYER, GHOST and MOTÖRHEAD.
A Funko vinyl Pop! figure, or popularly known as a "Pop!", is packaged carefully inside a box with a transparent front. The figurine is made out of vinyl and may come as a bobblehead.
Headquartered in Everett, Washington, Funko is a leading pop culture consumer products company. Funko designs, sources and distributes licensed pop culture products across multiple categories, including vinyl figures, toys, plush, apparel, board games, housewares and accessories for consumers who seek tangible ways to connect with their favorite pop culture brands and characters.
Earlier this year, Funko said it took a majority stake in TokenWave, which develops an app and website for "showcasing and tracking" Non-Fungible Token holdings. In addition, Funko is trying to expand its e-commerce and international businesses. It said it also plans to grow its other main business Loungefly, which sells handbags, clothing and other accessories.
Frontiers Music Srl will release of the sophomore album from Groundbreaker, Soul To Soul, on November 12. Today, the melodic rock project centered around the vocal talents of Steve Overland (FM) have released a video for the song, "There's No Tomorrow". Watch below, and pre-order/save Soul To Soul here.
Groundbreaker's new album, Soul To Soul, is once again centered around the fantastic vocal talents of Steve Overland (FM) with stunning production by Alessandro Del Vecchio. While the self-titled debut was a collaboration with Robert Sall (Work of Art, W.E.T), on the songwriting side, joining Steve and Alessandro this time are Stefano Lionetti (Lionville), Pete Alpenborg (Arctic Rain), Jan Akesson (Infinite & Divine), and Kristian Fyhr (Seventh Crystal). The resulting album is simply everything that a melodic rock fan could hope and dream for. Expect nothing less than soaring hooklines, magnificent melodies, and amazing instrumental performances. Mixing the best of the European melodic rock traditions, Soul To Soul is easily one of the melodic rock highlights of the year.
The lineup on the new album includes Sven Larsson (ex-Street Talk) on guitars, Nalley Pahlsson (ex- Vindictiv, Therion) on bass, Herman Furin (Work of Art) on drums, and Alessandro Del Vecchio on keyboards. Steve Overland plays lead guitar on the track “Wild World” too.
Groundbreaker started with a conversation between Frontiers President Serafino Perugino and Overland. Perugino was eager to start a top notch collaboration with well-respected musicians from the European melodic rock scene and highlight Overland's absolutely stunning vocal talents. Robert Sall of Work of Art was brought into the picture to craft the songs and to be paired with Alessandro Del Vecchio’s production. Overland immediately loved the material that was submitted to him and consequently, they started to work on finishing the songs. The band's debut album was greeted warmly by the melodic rock community and now, those same fans can prepare themselves for another delightful entry into the melodic rock realm.
Tracklisting:
"Standing On The Edge Of A Broken Dream"
"Soul To Soul"
"Captain Of Our Love"
"Evermore"
"Wild World"
"Carrie"
"Fighting For Love"
"It Don't Get Better Than This"
"There's No Tomorrow"
"When Lightning Strikes"
"Til The End Of Time"
"Leap Of Faith"
"There's No Tomorrow" video:
"Soul To Soul":
"Standing On The Edge Of A Broken Dream" video:
Lineup:
Steve Overland - vocals, lead guitar on Wild World
Sven Larsson - guitars
Nalle Pahlsson - bass
Herman Furin - drums
Alessandro Del Vecchio - keyboards
Polish progressive rock masters, Riverside, have released their new single, "Story Of My Dream". Listen here, and watch an official music video below.
Says the band: "'Story Of My Dream' is a composition prepared especially for our 20th anniversary. We wanted it to contain all the characteristic elements of our style, and to combine Riverside from the first decade, when we sounded a bit "heavier", and Riverside from the second decade, the more melancholic-song-oriented one. The lyrics contain direct quotes and references to many of our previous song titles. To reflect that, the cover of the single, prepared by Travis Smith, also contains fragments of our past covers and graphic designs.
'Story Of My Dream' is the first song we recorded in the new lineup, with Maciej Meller (as an official member). It's also, in a way, a taste of the way we're going to sound on our new, eighth album (scheduled for 2022). Although the single itself is not going to be on it, it will be the opening track of THIS YEAR'S RELEASE - "RIVERSIDE 20", containing remastered versions of some of our past compositions."
Equilibrium is taking us on a journey back to the old school: After recently unveiling a make-over of their debut album hit "Met", the German epic metallers have decided to lead us further down the path, today presenting us with a track that’s been hidden in a bedside drawer for almost 15 years.
Buried in dust and old memories, band founder and guitarist René Berthiaume resurrected these fragments of an unfinished track from their early band years and completed the song, before recording it for the very first time with the current band lineup. As a perfect anniversary gift to their fans, the track is titled "XX" in order to celebrate the band's 20-year existence.
René Berthiaume comments: "This October turns out to be our Old School October. After our remake of 'Met', we are happy to release a theoretically brand-new track. Just theoretically, because parts of this song are based on pretty old fragments that were created during the era after our first albums. We had a lot of fun picking up those parts and finalizing that song into the version that it is now."
Watch the music video to "XX" below. Stream or download the song here.
Equilibrium's long sold-out sophomore album,, Sagas will finally be re-released on vinyl on November 12. Only a few copies are left to order, here.
Acclaimed rock vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto, recently released his new solo project, The Duets Collection, Vol. 1. For this album, Soto wanted to do a career retrospective and re-record some of his favourite songs from his storied career, but with the twist that he invited friends to join him on duets of said songs.
Watch a video for "Holding On" featuring BJ (Soto, Spektra) below, and order/save The Duets Collection, Vol. 1 on CD/Color Vinyl/Digital here.
Tracklisting:
"Livin’ The Life" (Rock Star) with Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse/W.E.T.)
"Don’t Let It End" (Yngwie Malmsteen) - with Dino Jelusick
"Mysterious" (Talisman) - with Eric Martin (Mr. Big)
"Believe In Me" (Jss) - with Nathan James (Inglorious)
"Coming Home" (Soul Sirkus) - with Deen Castronovo (Revolution Saints, Journey)
"I’ll Be Waiting" (Talisman) - with Alirio Netto (Shaman, Queen Extravaganza)
"Callin’ All Girls" (Eyes) - with Russell Allen (Symphony X, Allen/Lande)
"Colour My XTC" (Talisman) - with Renan Zonta (Electric Mob)
"Warrior" (Axel Rudi Pell) - with Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell)
"Holding On" (JSS) - with BJ (Soto, Spektra)
"Again 2 B Found" (Humanimal) - with Mats Leven (Candlemass, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
"Holding On" video:
"I’ll Be Waiting" video:
"Don't Let It End" video:
"Coming Home" video:
"Mysterious":
Lineup:
Jeff Scott Soto - Vocals, Bass and Keys
Edu Cominato - Drums
Tony Dickinson - Bass
Jorge Salan - Guitars
Howie Simon - Guitars and Bass
Leo Mancini - Guitars
Toulouse-based symphonic melodic death metal force, Aephanemer, is currently gearing up for the release of their third and thunderous full-length studio album, A Dream Of Wilderness. The record will be out November 19 via Napalm Records.
Starting out as an unbelievably successful DIY ride that suddenly turned towards international acclaim, the indisputable Aephanemer is one of the most exciting melodic death metal sensations of the modern age. Fast-paced metal fronted by the guttural growls and fierce screams of extraordinary vocalist Marion Bascoul meet flickering twin leads, elements of Scandinavian death metal, Slavic traditional music and epic synths. If Prokopton was a noteworthy, impressive sophomore album from one of Europe’s best up and coming melodic death metal bands yet, A Dream Of Wilderness sees the French four-piece doubling down on its songwriting skills: Faster, tighter and heavier, Aephanemer’s upcoming album unleashes an anthemic adventure of brutally fast riffage and epic melodies.
After the French four-piece just recently shared a first appetizer and single, the rousing track "Panta Rhei", today they've unleashed another killer song alongside a video. “Antigone” represents a dark and gloomier yet no less powerful side of the band - adding to the diverse blend that is A Dream Of Wilderness. Watch the band perform in the breathtaking setting of "Les Lapidiales", an abandoned quarry in France transformed into a magical place by talented sculptors.
Guitarist Martin Hamiche comments: "We're happy to share with you our new song and video: 'Antigone'! It is extracted from our new album, A Dream Of Wilderness, to be released on November 19, 2021 through Napalm Records. With this album, we reinforced the classical influence and symphonic component of our sound and we feel this song embodies that very well. We hope you will enjoy it!"
Aephanemer doesn’t seem to fear boundaries. Their new album delivers a wide metal range that represents a dark and gloomier yet no less powerful side of the band, while otherworldly dimensions of blast beats, furious riffage and heavy, razor-sharp death metal anthems will have you headbanging as fast as you can. Especially in this day and age of staying "true" and limited within a sound and scene, A Dream Of Wilderness is a welcome diversion and a brave record artfully blending brutally fast symphonic death and raw melodic metal into a multi-faceted epic!
The record was mixed by Dan Swanö at Unisound AB, and mastered by Mika Jussila at the Finnvox Studios.
A Dream Of Wilderness will be available in North America in the following formats:
- CD Digipak
- Digital Album
- 1LP Gatefold Black
- 1LP Gatefold Black Die Hard Edition with album cover slipmat and patch (Napalm mailorder only, limited to 300)
"Land Of Hope"
"Antigone"
"Of Volition"
"Le Radeau de La Méduse"
"Roots And Leaves"
"Vague à l'âme"
"Strider"
"Panta Rhei"
"A Dream Of Wilderness"
"Old French Song" (Bonus Track)
"Le Radeau de La Méduse" (French Version - Bonus Track)
"Panta Rhei” video:
Aephanemer is:
Martin Hamiche - Guitars
Marion Bascoul - Vocals, Guitars
Lucie Woaye Hune - Bass
Mickaël Bonnevialle - Drums
Death/black metal veterans, Thulcandra, have released their new single, “Scarred Grandeur”, a versatile tour de force that kicks off the final lap towards the release of A Dying Wish.
“Scarred Grandeur” worships the glory of putrefying death as it promises clashing guitar play, epic mid-tempo moments, rapid outbursts and discreet acoustics in honour of traditional death metal defined by Unanimated, Dissection or Dismember. With this track, Thulcandra head directly into the eye of the storm, clearing the path for their upcoming, bone-chilling full-length, A Dying Wish.
Steffen Kummerer on “Scarred Grandeur”: “'Scarred Grandeur' shows a rather pure and unpolished side of the band. You hear a real band performing relentless from front to end without any compromises. Filthy guitars, scruffy bass and nasty drums – listen to our new single and catch Thulcandra at a show near you!”
A Dying Wish will be released on Friday, October 29, via Napalm Records - once again carrying the burning torch of the glorious death metal era.
Since their foundation by Obscura mastermind Steffen Kummerer in 2003, Thulcandra has become an indispensable protagonist in the European extreme metal-sphere that reaches way back to the magnificent origins of their genre. Thulcandra are musically and visually shaped by bands like Entombed, Sacramentum and Unanimated, but mainly influenced by genre carving act Dissection.
A Dying Wish was produced at Unisound Studio by Dan Swanö, keeping the black flame of Jon Nödtveidt alive and worthy. A Dying Wish transports the listener right into an icy soundscape of a never ending, severe winter. With 10 blood-freezing tracks delivering clashing guitar riffs, epic slow moments driven by atmospheric acoustic guitars and rapid outbursts of dark and raspy screams, Thulcandra creates another record that continues the great legacy of true death metal.
A Dying Wish guarantees instant frostbites just as the first glance at the thrilling icy-blue cover artwork promises. After the listener is buried under the opener’s avalanche, Thulcandra spans a dark arc between acoustic interludes and harsh blackened death metal parts. The quiet interlude “In Bleak Misery” marches into “A Shining Abyss”, that guides its listeners like a torch through the night. Dramatic riffing and the screeching growls of Steffen Kummerer create dark and dense walls of sound as up-tempo tracks like “The Slivering Silver” and “Devouring Darkness” offer strong leads, driving riffs and engaging drums that let the storm rage on without mercy. The final, title track “A Dying Wish” provides a great finale that covers everyone and everything under a massive layer of cold, leaving the world behind in nothing but ice and snow.
Thulcandra on the album: “We return with an album full of eerie cold melodies, ice-cold vibes and an over the top production by Swedish legend Dan Swanö at Unisound Studios! Within the first album in 5 years we celebrate the essence of pure black & death metal, adorned with more twin guitars, blast beats and filthy arrangements than ever. We celebrate the release of A Dying Wish with excessive shows and embark on a European tour to perform for all our loyal fans and supporters in the upcoming months.”
A Dying Wish will be available in the following formats:
- 1 CD Jewelcase (RePress)
- 1 CD Digipak + Bonustrack
- 1 LP Gatefold Black
- 1 LP Gatefold Blue + 7 inch + Slipmat
- 1 CD Digipak + Bonustracks + Plecs
- 1 LP Gatefold Gold
- Digital Full Length Album
- Digital Full Length Deluxe Album
"Funeral Pyre"
"Scarred Grandeur"
"Orchard of Grievance"
"In Vain"
"Nocturnal Heresy"
"The Slivering Silver"
"In Bleak Misery"
"A Shining Abyss"
"Devouring Darkness"
"A Dying Wish"
A nearly three-hour virtual album-release party for DREAM THEATER's 15th studio LP, "A View From The Top Of The World", is available below. The video includes a live question-and-answer session with the band, the premiere of the "Digging For A Spark" making-of documentary, a conversation with engineer James "Jimmy T" Meslin and mixer Andy Sneap, as well as fan and band trivia.
"A View From The Top Of The World" is a seven-song LP which marks DREAM THEATER's second studio album with InsideOut Music/Sony Music. The artwork was created by longtime cover collaborator Hugh Syme (RUSH, IRON MAIDEN, STONE SOUR).
DREAM THEATER — comprised of James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, John Myung and Mike Mangini — was in the middle of a sold-out world tour in support of their last release "Distance Over Time" and the 20th anniversary of "Scenes From A Memory" when a global pandemic brought the world to a stop. The musicians found themselves at home, with LaBrie in Canada and the rest of the group in the States. As fate would have it, they'd just finished construction on DTHQ (Dream Theater Headquarters) — a combination live recording studio, rehearsal space, control room, equipment storage, and creative hive. With LaBrie in Canada, he initially wrote with the band via Zoom on a monitor in DTHQ. In March 2021, he flew down to New York, quarantined, and recorded his vocals face to face with Petrucci.
Petrucci recently stated about the "A View From The Top Of The World" title: "Honestly, titling records is a funny thing because sometimes it comes really quickly — sometimes it even comes before — and sometimes it's really hard trying to come up with, 'What is the title that's gonna reflect what this album is all about?' This one, it was difficult. There was nothing that was really coming to mind. The things that were were… I don't know. It's hard to be original. Things you used or it just didn't quite do it.
"I remember the discussions we were having [were] that the music was really powerful; it was dark, but it was also positive; there's a lot of energy; there's a lot of spirit," he continued. "So, what would kind of encapsulate that? Eventually, one of the songs on the album is the epic 'A View From The Top Of The World', the title track. I had a list of dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens [of titles]… And then one day I just kind of saw that, and I was, like, 'You know what? That's pretty damn DREAM THEATER-y as a title.'
"Like anything that we do, I just pose it to everybody and say, 'What do you guys think of it?'" John added. "I think the time when you know that it is the title, or it is the decision, whatever it may be, it's when everybody kind of comes back, like, 'Yes. That's so cool.' I remember everyone was, like, 'That's such a positive title. That's cool. Love it. Thumbs up.' Blah blah blah. And you know. Then you're, like, 'Okay, cool.'"
Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has returned to the stage for a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band's double-platinum, acclaimed album "Slave To The Grind". The trek kicked off on September 25 in Waterloo, New York and will wrap in San Diego, California on December 17.
Fan-filmed video footage of Bach's October 23 performance at the Theatre Of The Living Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania can be seen below.
Earlier this month, Sebastian was asked in a new interview with Rockin' Metal Revival if he ever regrets writing such high vocal parts that he now has to reproduce live on stage three decades later. He responded: "All I can tell you is that I've been singing so much in the last four or months. I can't tell you exactly what I was doing yet, but I will be able to. My voice is the same it's always been.
"I've gotta say just a couple of things answering your question — a couple of things come to mind," he continued. "For a guy like me or a guy like Bono [U2] or a guy like — I don't know, Geddy Lee [RUSH] or somebody like that, making a record is not the same as doing a show; it's not the same thing; it's a different thing. Making a record is you standing in an air-conditioned room with water next to you and coffee and you've got the lights perfect. And you're standing as still as you can, and you get to sing it as many times as you want until it's perfect. [Laughs] Nothing can be more different than a show — unless you're using [backing] tapes. But I'm proud to tell your audience that we will not be using any tapes anytime soon, so it's a real rock show. But doing a show is more like communicating the spirit of the song and the music to the audience, and everybody gets into it. And I'm not just gonna stand there and try to be perfect. I'm gonna run all over the place and I'm gonna put on a show.
"As singers get older, I don't like changing the key of the song because, to me, that makes it sound like a different tune, and I'm not interested in that," Sebastian explained. "If I'm gonna change a little vocal part in the same key, to me that's a cooler way of doing it instead of making it into the key of KORN. That works great for KORN.
"I have to sing every day properly and do it for many weeks in order to get my voice to the top of its abilities, and that's what I've been doing. I just played and I had no problems doing all those tunes. I've got no problems — knock on wood."
Bach fronted SKID ROW until 1996, when he was fired. Instead of throwing in the towel, the remaining members took a hiatus and went on to play briefly in a band called OZONE MONDAY.
In 1999, SKID ROW reformed and, after a bit of shuffling over the years, featured a lineup consisting of bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarists Dave "Snake" Sabo and Scotti Hill, alongside drummer Rob Hammersmith and singer Johnny Solinger.
SKID ROW fired Solinger over the phone in April 2015, a few hours before announcing ex-TNT vocalist Tony Harnell as his replacement. Eight months later, Harnell exited the band and was replaced by South African-born, British-based singer ZP Theart, who previously fronted DRAGONFORCE, TANK and I AM I.
Swedish avant-garde metallers Diablo Swing Orchestra will release their fifth album, Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole, on November 2 via Candlelight / Spinefarm. They have checked in with the following message:
"Our new single 'Speed Dating An Arsonist' is live on Youtube. We'd like to thank our dear friend Etienne Visora for working day and night with this awesome, wonderful video. We couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Now it's time for us all to dance!"
The spirited, progressive eight-piece Swedish ensemble are known for pairing elements of jazz, swing, classical, and progressive rock with just about everything in between. Since their foundation in 2003 the band have released four studio albums which push musical boundaries to the extreme with humour, creativity, and a healthy dose of positive aggression. Their debut, The Butcher's Ballroom, was a breath of fresh air when it came out in 2006 to worldwide critical acclaim. Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole is the band's fifth effort and is by far their most ambitious undertaking, which pays tribute to all four previous releases and adds some new colors to their already broad pallet of sounds.
DSO have once again teamed up with producer Roberto Laghi (In Flames, Hardcore Superstars), who has become almost the ninth member of the orchestra. Together, they've dug deeply into each of the genres explored in the 13 album tracks and worked hard to find the appealing genre characteristics to forge their own sound. This approach has resulted in an impressive list of guest musicians and some very interesting clashes between sounds which, at least on paper, shouldn't work. Listeners with an open mind will be rewarded by numerous goodies littered throughout the album, ranging from the tribal assault that is "War Painted Valentine" to the Zeppelin-gospel-infused "Snake Oil Baptism."
Tracklist:
"Sightseeing In The Apocalypse"
"War Painted Valentine"
"Celebremos Lo Inevitable"
"Speed Dating An Arsonist"
"Jig Of The Century"
"The Sound Of An Unconditional Surrender"
"Malign Monologues"
"Out Came The Hummingbirds"
"Snake Oil Baptism"
"Les Invulnéables"
"Saluting The Reckoning"
"The Prima Donna Gauntlet"
"Overture To A Ceasefire"
Learn how to play Tesla’s new song “Cold Blue Steel”. Here’s a fun video of guitarists Frank Hannon and Dave Rude going over the parts.
“'Cold Blue Steel' is influenced by current events of the world, just like our debut single 'Modern Day Cowboy' (1986) and touches on the subject fairly and open-minded by asking 'what’s to blame?' when it comes to violence in the world,” states founding member Frank Hannon. “More importantly, the recording and production of the song and video are kept raw and real, just the way Tesla fans want to see and hear us. We are survivors and have been rocking for 35+ years!”
Stream and/or download “Cold Blue Steel” at this location.
Catch Tesla on tour across The United States next month. Confirmed shows are as listed:
November
5 - Knoxville , TN - Thompson Bowling Center
6 - Charleston , WV - Charleston Coliseum
9 - Charlotte , NC - The Fillmore
11 - Columbus , OH - Express Live
13 - Greensboro , NC - Greensboro Coliseum
14 - Atlanta , GA - Coca Cola Roxy
16 - Huntsville , AL - Mars Music Hall
17 - Mobile , AL - Soul Kitchen
19 - Bossier City , LA - CenturyLink Center
20 - Tupelo , MS - BancorpSouth Arena
Rockshots Records has announced their signing of Amoth for the release of their third album The Hour Of The Wolf on January 28, 2022.
Amoth is a melodic progressive heavy metal band with progressive elements from Helsinki, Finland. Their upcoming album The Hour Of The Wolf is a huge leap forward compared to their previous recordings Revenge (2016), Crossing Over (2011), and Wounded Faith (EP) (2008).
"This is by far our best album yet! Superior performances from all of the musicians. Much better production and songwriting. It’s not a fast-food album. Some of the songs are quite complex so it takes probably more than one listen to really get into!” comments Amoth guitarist and main songwriter Tomi Ihanamäki.
Amoth’s roots are strongly founded on ‘80s heavy metal, but branch out in different directions with elements from progressive rock, thrash, and even jazz brought to the table.
The new album features Pekka Montin of Ensiferum once again as the lead vocalist and for the first time, there are also keyboards on an Amoth recording. Fans can expect insane vocals and virtuoso-like playing from all members of the band. The nine songs are very diverse, taking sudden twists and turns into unexplored territory. Amoth even offers up two Steve Vai / Joe Satriani-style instrumentals on this new full-length with tracks "Wind Serenade Part I" and "Wind Serenade Part II".
The band is currently streaming the first single "The Man Who Watches The World Burn", a track loosely based on the Joker character from the Batman movies. It is also the only down-tuned song on the whole album and has a bass solo.
"The world is burning before your very eyes, how do you react? It’s a new world and it’s in chaos and you must adjust to that idea."
“Alice”
“The Man Who Watches The World Burn”
“Wounded Faith”
“Wind Serenade Part I”
“Wind Serenade Part II”
“We Own The Night”
“It Ain’t Over Yet”
“Traces In The Snow”
“The Hour Of The Wolf”
US modern deathcore heavyweights, Signs Of The Swarm, have released a video for "Hymns Ov Invocation", the opening track of their new album, Absolvere, out now via Unique Leader. Watch the clip below, and order / save Absolvere here.
Tracklisting:
"Hymns Ov Invocation"
"Boundless Manifestations"
"Dreaming Desecration"
"Totem"
"Nameless"
"Absolvere"
"Revelations Ov A Silent King"
"Hollow Prison" (Feat. Alex Erian of Despised Icon)
"Blood Seal"
"Death Whistle"
Symphonic metal outfit, Ad Infinitum, return with their bewitching second offering, Chapter II - Legacy, out this Friday, October 29, via Napalm Records. The band have released a video for the new single, "Animals".
"Animals" leaves a lasting impression right from the very first second with its remarkable, powerful opening. The song nourishes itself on an orchestral foundation of epic strings and poignant piano, steadily accompanied by thundering drums and passionate guitar riffs. In harmony with frontwoman Melissa Bonny's multi-faceted voice, which ranges from lovely, goosebump-inducing highs to vibrant growls, "Animals" becomes a brilliant symphony of energetic and melodic soundscapes with an added metalcore-like touch without losing Ad Infinitum’s signature roots.
Ad Infinitum on the new single: “The release of Chapter II - Legacy is just around the corner but before we unveil this second album, we have one more song to present. 'Animals' is a powerful cinematic track that will transport you from Heaven to Hell and back. Would you exchange your humanity for immortality?”
Ad Infinitum are no stranger to the scene. With their spellbinding debut album, Chapter I - Monarchy (2020), brought to life in the middle of a global pandemic, the foursome reached millions of plays on streaming platforms. Furthermore, frontwoman Melissa Bonny is consistently drawn to exciting musical collaborations, as she recently unveiled the brand new band The Dark Side Of The Moon and their bittersweet reinterpretation of Florence & The Machine's Game Of Thrones soundtrack song, "Jenny Of Oldstones". In addition, Bonny's exciting feature with Feuerschwanz on the song “Ding” (Seed-cover) has already gained over 2.6 million views on YouTube since its release. Now, she sets her focus back to her main musical force as Ad Infinitum - with Adrian Thessenvitz (guitars), Korbinian Benedict (bass) and Niklas Müller (drums) - will unveil its new opus, Chapter II - Legacy.
Chapter II - Legacy surprises with a melting pot of different influences and a contrast between super heavy riffs, sometimes even djent/metalcore-like touches and catchy hook lines and melodies, giving the band's sophomore album a modern and equally timeless touch. The lyrics have, just like on their debut album, been inspired by a historical figure: the paradoxical life and afterlife of Vlad The Impaler, also known as Dracula, inspired the themes and questions of this album.
Ad Infinitum add: “Chapter II - Legacy holds a very special place in our heart. It represents months and months of hard work of four bandmates, for a result that we are proud to call “self-produced”. For this record, we decided to work without the influence of an external producer during the songwriting process and to team up with Elias Holmlid for the beautiful and epic orchestrations and of course with Jacob Hansen who recorded [vocals], mixed, mastered and participated to the post production. A younger and heavier sound that defines Ad Infinitum like never before.”
Chapter II - Legacy once again showcases the indispensable creativity of Ad Infinitum - featuring twelve complex, marvelous tracks highlighting their sonic development and undeniable symphonic strength. Such talent can be witnessed with opener “Reinvented”, lurking with lovely piano tunes and erupting in intense riffage in the blink of an eye. Right away, the music reflects the extremely multifaceted voice of Melissa Bonny - ranging from crystal clear vocals to impressively powerful screams and menacing growls. Hailing from hell, hard-hitting “Afterlife” features the vocal power of Nils Molin (Amaranthe, Dynazty), merging in perfect harmony with Melissa’s incredibly haunting delivery. Songs like “Your Enemy” and cinematic grand finale “Lullaby” leave no scope for weakness and unveil the heaviest side of Ad Infinitum to date. This grasping hymn is far from lulling you to sleep, as the eclectically versatile sonic world of Ad Infinitum immediately induces you to listen to Chapter II - Legacy again, right from the beginning.
Chapter II - Legacy will be available in the following formats:
- 1 CD Digipak
- 1 LP Gatefold BLACK
- 1 CD Digipak + Patch (limited to 200 copies worldwide)
- Digital Album
"Reinvented"
"Unstoppable"
"Inferno"
"Your Enemy"
"Afterlife" (feat. Nils Molin)
"Breathe"
"Animals"
"Into The Night"
"Son Of Wallachia"
"My Justice, Your Pain"
"Haunted"
"Lullaby"
WarCall is not done with 2021 just yet... they still have more fight in them and fury of metal to unleash upon the masses with part 2 from their Dead End EP series.
Standing up for all the fights we are fighting on a daily basis. WarCall represents the struggle in life and the challenges we have to rise to. We get called to war every day and it is up to us to step up and face our fears. The DIY Canadian quartet heeds this mantra, consistently pushing boundaries with their fast and dramatic metal music.
Unleashed via their own label Plan B Music, the beginning of the "Dead End" series, Pt.1 was unveiled in April, which was in-your-face, old-school-inspired metal, whereas Pt. 2, slated for November 26 is more progressive and atmospheric.
The band comments:
“Overall, the two EPs together are a collection of 9 songs, 9 stories about struggle. We have let the events of 2020 influence the process and the mood of the two EPs, while still aiming for a timeless production that will age well in time. The title and artwork represent the doom and gloom of life in the year 2020 and how the human race reacts in the face of death and uncertainty. With the impossibility to meet to even take a band picture, WarCall presents themselves as fictional post-apocalyptic warriors, a subtle comment and nod to the current events that marked the year 2020. And while more atmospheric in their nature, the 5 songs from Dead End pt. 2 are delivered in a raw package. At first, we wanted to work on the songs a little more in order to achieve a different atmosphere than Dead End pt. 1. We experimented with sounds and textures to add in the places we thought needed it, but each time, we preferred the original version. In the end, we chose to go ahead with the songs as they are in their purest form."
In preview to Dead End Pt. 2, WarCall is sharing its lead single "Intoxicated" with a DIY music video. The band explains further:
"The first single from Dead End pt. 2, ‘Intoxicated’ is a good representation of the thrash metal side of the band with its fast-paced riffing for a no-nonsense mosher. The challenge we gave ourselves for this song was to be able to come up with something interesting, not too repetitive with only four riffs. Interesting approach. For the video clip, it is a not-too-serious, DIY film about the gig scene every underground band is going through these days."
BraveWords is premiering the new video for “Intoxicated” – grab a beer and watch below!
Totally authentic, with a wide range of influences ranging from old-school death and thrash metal, WarCall is recommended for fans of Testament, Exodus, Anthrax and Dissection.
Dead End Pt. 2 will only be released digitally on November 26, 2021 via Plan B Music.
ÑØÀ
Geoff Tate
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