An elusive name born amidst Switzerland's highest mountains, Xaon never quite fitted in any of the numerous galleries metal has to offer, drifting through the extremes whilst juxtaposing finesse and vehemence from an unworldly orchestra, endlessly exploring the vast echoic gloominess of the human mind.
In only a few short years, the combo led by Vincent Zermatten (guitars) and Rob Carson (vocals/orchestrations) has managed to tour the world through the release of their critically acclaimed debut album The Drift, notably across Europe with gothic metal monsters Sirenia and folk metal legends Tyr, in Japan with Obscura and Archspire, in the US with The Veer Union, and sharing the stage in festivals across Europe with bands such as Megadeth, Testament, Exodus, Gojira, Paradise Lost, Eluveitie and many more.
In 2019, Xaon is back with their 2nd album somberly entitled Solipsis available through Mighty Music, bringing the band's grandiose aggressiveness to a whole new level, pummeling their way through a cataclysmic atmosphere while reaching a new majestic apotheosis. This album is set to debut in the spring, which will see the band performing across Europe with Septicflesh and Krisiun while continuing to prove themselves as an upcoming force around the Metal world.
Solipsis will be out on CD, LTD LP & digital on April 12th through Mighty Music and BraveWords is premiering the video for the track “Solipsism”.
Rob Carson, Xaon comments about the song: "‘Solipsism’ is the view or theory that the self is all that can be known to exist. How do you react when confronted with absolute solitude? What happens in your mind when you are really all alone? What does it mean to be alone? This hypothesis is the leitmotiv addressed throughout the album, an apocalyptic thought slowly delving towards serenity, towards catharsis. Directed one again by Brice Hincker from CHS Prod and starring Mickael Dervey from Kha Designs."
"Magic Mirror", the new video from Brazilian/Italian metallers ANGRA, can be seen below.
Inspired by the acidity of guitarist Rafael Bittencourt's questioning lyrics, director Pedro Jorge worked on the screenplay for "Magic Mirror" and portrayed its topic with subtlety and poetry. The clip includes the presence of Jaqueline Oliveira and Jéssica Batista, two professional fighters and real warriors in their own lives.
The reflection from the magic mirror reveals that what bothers us in other people is in fact what we need to learn and understand about ourselves. Foes and people that we don't have empathy for give us the opportunity to discover a shocking pathway of personal growth.
"For this video clip, I wanted to show that what we see in the others is actually something inside us," reflects Bittencourt.
"Filming the video clip for 'Magic Mirror' was really important to the band because it's one of my favorite songs from the new record and also because I thought that it had to have a video clip that represented it," explains bass player Felipe Andreoli. "We recorded it in a very nice and creative location and I especially like the fighter scenes in the end that show that they're only one person."
"Magic Mirror" is taken from ANGRA's ninth studio album, "Ømni", which was released in February 2018 via earMUSIC.
"Ømni" was recorded in Sweden with Jens Bogren, who also produced the previous disc, "Secret Garden". Many musicians were involved in creating the album, ranging from the percussion sound of Bahia to European orchestral arrangement — all of which give the album its outstanding variety.
"Ømni" is a concept album, a set of science fiction short stories that take place at various places in time, simultaneously. The backbone of the plot is based on the idea that in 2046 an artificial intelligence system will change human perception and cognition. It is a system which will allow conscious communication between present and future human beings. Characters such as time travellers, cavemen, warriors, among others, help tell this story.
The album connects the concepts of previous LPs ("Holy Land", "Rebirth", "Temple Of Shadows") to one main system, "Ømni", which in Latin means "everything."
ANGRA's trademark formula, a Brazilian style mixed with classical music and heavy metal, is enhanced by different influences such as progressive rock, thrash metal, Latin music, and djent, which transforms the albums into a swirl of modern and familiar. The conjoined moods and dynamics put a special spin on the lyrics and therefore increase deep sense of immersion in the story.
The cover artwork was hand-drawn by Daniel Martin Diaz, a unique American artist who dedicates his life to mixing scientific and philosophical concepts such as anatomy, computer science, mathematics, cosmology, sacred geometry, symbolism and esotericism. The designer Gustavo Sazes was responsible for integrating such an organic art piece to the visual concept of the album as a whole.
In addition to Bittencourt and Andreoli (bass), ANGRA features Fabio Lione (vocals), Marcelo Barbosa (guitar) and Bruno Valverde (drums).
Roskilde, Denmark-based hard rockers Junkyard Drive released their new album, Black Coffee, via Mighty Music on September 1st. The album was recorded in Medley Studios in Copenhagen with Soren Andersen (Glenn Hughes, Mike Tramp, Jesper Binzer) as producer. New video, "Sucker For Your Love", is streaming below.
Black Coffee contains 11 hard rocking tracks. Just the way it should be, with a band that has developed a lot since their formation. And you can actually hear that it in the sound.
"Sweet Little Dreamer" video:
In September and October, Junkyard Drive will head on a Danish tour and in November 2018 a tour in the southern part of Europe has been booked supporting the legendary heavy metal act Diamond Head.
Junkyard Drive lineup:
Kris - Lead Vocal
Birk - Lead Guitar/Backup Vocals
Benjamin - Rhythm Guitar/Backup Vocals
Claus - Drums/Cowbell
Tim Meldal - Bass
Hard rock four-piece Like A Storm have released their new music video for "Complicated (Stitches & Scars)" today via Century Media/RED MUSIC. The music video was shot by Ron Thunderwood and edited by Sam Shapiro. "Complicated (Stitches & Scars)" is off of the band's 2018 full-length release, Catacombs, and is climbing the US Rock Radio charts currently at #31 on the chart.
The New Zealand rockers are currently on the road headlining the 2019 Sirius XM Octane Accelerator Headline Tour. Royal Tusk and Afterlife are joining the band on the US tour, which is hitting major cities like New York, Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore, and more. For more information on the remaining tour dates and to purchase tickets, visit the band's website.
Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Like A Storm is the most successful New Zealand rock band in US radio history. First gaining notoriety for incorporating the Didgeridoo into their breakout track, "Love The Way You Hate Me,", the band's last 6 singles"Love the Way You Hate Me," "Wish You Hell," "Become The Enemy," "Break Free," "Pure Evil," and "The Devil Inside" have all charted at US Active Rock Top 40.
Like A Storm has toured the globe with some of the biggest names in rock - including Godsmack, Alter Bridge, Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, Shinedown, Three Days Grace, on top of headlining North America extensively. They have also been invited to perform at the world's biggest hard rock festivals including: Download (UK), Nova Rock (Europe) and Rock on the Range (U.S.). Their reputation for touring the world relentlessly led Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge/Slash to once label them, "The hardest-working band in the business." Like A Storm recently wrapped a massive U.S. run supporting Godsmack & Shinedown, where their high-energy live show garnered thousands of new fans.
Like A Storm is Chris Brooks (vocals), Matt Brooks (lead guitar), Kent Brooks (bass guitar), and Zach Wood (drums).
Sirius XM Octane Headline dates:
February
1 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
2 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
4 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
8 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry
9 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery
10 - Asbury Park, NJ - Wonder Bar
12 - New York, NY - The Gramercy Theatre
15 - Pittsburgh, PA - Smiling Moose
16 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
17 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
18 - Detroit, MI - The Shelter
20 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Stache
21 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
22 - St. Paul, MN - Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE will release their new album, "Ategnatos", on April 5 via Nuclear Blast. The official music video for the title track can be seen below. The clip was produced in January by the Polish company Grupa13. The cover artwork for the disc was created by Travis Smith.
The band states: "'Ategnatos' probably became our most organic album by all accounts. It is the result of a thoroughly intuitive process, where we gave creativity full scope. And during this process quite some back-to-the-roots developments emerged in diverse aspects. Many a riff off 'Ategnatos' reminds on the guitar work on 'Slania'. Following our gut feeling, we brought the mixing duties back to Jens Bogren's Fascination Street studios, where our Nuclear Blast debut was produced. And regarding the album artwork, it soon became very clear to us that we'd love to work with the fabulous Travis Smith again, who already created the front covers of our albums 'Spirit' (14 years ago!) and 'Everything Remains As It Never Was'. And we're honestly excited with the result! The front cover shows a spectacular scenery in central Switzerland, a so-called 'vulva cave', as it was sought to mark sacred rites of fertility and celebrations of life in ancient times! The artwork mystically and beautifully expresses the 'Ategnatos''s very core and essence! Once again, it was a pleasure to work with Travis!"
Recordings for "Ategnatos" took at New Sound Studio with their engineer of choice Tommy Vetterli.
A work based on archaic archetypes and the ancient concept of renewal, "Ategnatos" unfolds an elemental force to be reckoned with. "These archetypes are still within us," leader Christian "Chrigel" Glanzmann says. "People didn't change that much during the last 3000 years — and men were always just men." No wonder the album follows a decidedly darker, monumental tone that suits them very well.
Of course, ELUVEITIE has long had its very own trademark sound, a sonic adventure often copied but never overcome. With "Ategnatos", the dedicated nine-piece not only worked with a real string quartet and granted Fabienne Erni's sublime mastery of the harp the room it deserved; they also undertook a holistic upgrade resulting in some of the catchiest, most aggressive and most epic tunes the Swiss metal nobility has ever offered.
ELUVEITIE will embark on a European tour with LACUNA COIL and INFECTED RAIN in November.
ELUVEITIE in May 2016 announced the departure of drummer Merlin Sutter, vocalist Anna Murphy and guitarist Ivo Henzi.
The band's new lineup made its live debut at the Eluveitie & Friends festival in January 2017 at Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland.
JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES — comprised of former MARILYN MANSON and current ROB ZOMBIE guitarist John 5, bassist Ian Ross and drummer Logan Miles Nix — has launched another music video from its forthcoming full-length album, "Invasion". The trippy clip for the two-part track titled "Crank It - Living With Ghosts" begins as a fluorescent, glow-in-the-dark extravaganza, transitioning with the music to something altogether more sinister.
The video for "Crank It - Living With Ghosts" was directed by Israel Perez and features costumes and masks made by Forgotten Saints LA and Scott Blake's Yordreem Creations. The video was produced by Nicole Hatley, with art direction by Cody Varona.
John 5 says about the video: "This video begins with total acid-trip rave party for 'Crank It', and the second portion of the song, 'Living With Ghosts', is the comedown. This video depicts all of the things you secretly want when you go to a party — craziness, indulgence. It's full of everything you could want — guitars, tits and monsters!"
The launch of "Crank It - Living With Ghosts" closely follows the release of the first single cut from "Invasion", titled "Zoinks!" The full video features an innovative blend of classic 2D hand-drawn animation, 3D computer-generated imagery and a live-action performance.
Just like 2017's "Season Of The Witch", "Invasion" — produced and mixed by Barry Pointer and scheduled for release during the summer of 2019 — will be entirely released via a series of music videos. With "Zoinks!" and "Crank It - Living With Ghosts" now out in the wild, John 5 plans to reveal his next music video for "I Am John 5" (an official sequel to "Zoinks!") on March 1. Details on further music videos are coming soon.
JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES will kick off their North American "Invasion" tour on February 26 in Mesa, Arizona. Select dates of the tour — specifically the shows in Mesa; Hollywood, California; Anaheim, California; and Sacramento, California — will feature very special, high-caliber mystery guests to be announced very soon. The tour will feature support from blues-rock guitarist Jared James Nichols.
While She Sleeps have shared their new single "The Guilty Party". The song is a genre-morphing acclamation — fueled by riffs, electronics, visceral vocals, the purest of melodies, and the ultimate gang vocals in collaboration with an actual choir.
Choral elements and rich harmonies feature all over the Sheffield band's forthcoming album So What?, out March 1st via their own Sleeps Brothers label via Spinefarm. The band even enlisted a live choir for a very special performance on its upcoming European tour.
"We've always loved the feeling you get when a large group of people sing together, whether that's at a show, for us just in the studio, or whatever, however it may be. Kinda the same feeling you get at a football game when everyone sings together," says guitarist and vocalist Mat Welsh.
Guitarist Sean Long furthers, "The energy completely shifts when everyone is together in unison doing that kinda thing. So we thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if we could introduce the choir which we use on the record… live?' And we are going to do that. At The Roundhouse." Long is referring to the band's headline show The Roundhouse in London.
Pre-order the album in various formats at this location, and watch a video for the first single, "Anti-Social", below. More album details coming soon.
Swedish melodic hard rock/metal group, Black Rose, have released an official video for the track "Sands Of Time", taken from their full-length release, A Light In The Dark.
Says the band: “'Sands Of Time' is the opening track of our latest record A Light In The Dark. It’s a song about the passing of time. You can build buildings and cities, become powerful and revered, but no one is immortal. In the end, what is left in our minds is the memories of it all. The knowledge and wisdom that we pass on from one generation to the next, is the closest we will come to immortality.”
Black Rose are:
Jakob “Jacke” Sandberg - Vocals
Thomas Berg - Guitar
Peter Haga - Drums/Keyboards
Anders Haga - Bass
Wolfheart took a short break from their extensive touring in 2018, just to put the recorded live video material together to a nine-minute-long live video for their epic album opener, “Everlasting Fall”. Taken from their last release, Constellation Of The Black Light, the video leads you right into the grim coldness of Finland, performed in hot concert halls.
Wolves don't rest and so Wolfheart are already prepared to cover the world in ice and snow again. The Constellation Of The Black Light Above The World Tour kicks off in Japan, leads them over Russia to North America, before they return to Europe.
"Bitch In The Box", the new video from Canadian metal legends ANVIL, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's latest album, "Pounding The Pavement", which was released in January 2018 via SPV/Steamhammer as a digipak version (including one bonus track and poster), two-LP gatefold colored version, digital download and stream. The disc was produced at the Soundlodge studios in Rhauderfehn in the northwest of Germany, where ANVIL found not only the necessary peace and seclusion to concentrate on their recordings, but also met in studio owner Jörg Uken the ideal producer for their ambitioned work.
Why has "Pounding The Pavement" turned into such an awesome offering? Guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow explains: "The songwriting process started immediately after the work on our previous album, 'Anvil Is Anvil', had been completed. So our thoughts instantly turned to the future again. After 'Anvil Is Anvil' had been cut, everybody knew what we had just delivered and what ANVIL's future should sound like."
Despite the diverse range of their ideas, Kudlow, drummer Robb Reiner and their bassist Chris Robertson have succeeded in filling the typical trademarks of this unusual band with life once again — which is an important aspect for every ANVIL release. After all, tradition and reliability play an essential role in this group. Kudlow says: "Of course we always allow inspirations from earlier recordings to seep in, but always with an emphasis on evolving the characteristic ANVIL sound.
"Lots of fans keep asking us to play the way we did in the so-called good old days. That's why I try from time to time to pick up on that exciting feel of our older material. Mind you, it's always exclusively about the basic atmosphere of that time, never about copying an older song."
The programmatic album title "Pounding The Pavement" is a synonym for the consistently serious challenge of ensuring ANVIL's financial survival. Kudlow says: "I feel nothing could describe the way we've been working for the past forty years better than 'Pounding The Pavement'. ANVIL have tried for four decades to earn enough money to survive and continue to make music."
Hailing from the cold, unforgiving wastelands of Hollywood, California, Ashen Horde is a two-piece band that strives to embrace a multitude of extreme metal sub-genres, without being bound to any one of them. Drawing influence from metal’s crème de le extreme, from Enslaved and Devin Townsend to Ihsahn and Opeth, Ashen Horde (aka Trevor Portz and Stevie Boiser (Vale of Phath, Inferi)), may have a sound rooted in death and black metal, but can’t truly be called either.
Originally launched as a one-man project in 2013 by writer and multi-instrumentalist Trevor Portz, Ashen Horde has released two albums, as well as several EPs, over the past three years. Beginning with the ambitious Sanguinum Vindicta trilogy, Portz has worked tirelessly to develop a sound that is both challenging and unique.
The band has just completed its third album, Fallen Cathedrals and has signed with Extreme Metal Music/Rockshots Records for its release on CD and vinyl in Europe and North America on March 22nd.
The duo has unleashed the concept album's first single and video "Profound Darkness".
The band explains the track:
"We slow things down a bit for this one, it is a song that is much grimmer and dark. The power has gone out across the entire poor part of the city, and the inhabitants—wary and distrusting of their wealthy neighbors—have decided that it must surely be the fault of the rich. Thus, they determine that the peace between the two sides is over and that they must get revenge."
A concept album in the vein of J.G. Ballard’s dystopian novel High Rise, Fallen Cathedrals explores class warfare and a society’s descent into primitive, warring tribes. Musically, the album expands further on the complexities of the band’s earlier releases, but with even more emphasis on progressive and melodic elements, even incorporating clean vocals for the first time. It will appeal to fans of the more progressive side of extreme metal, from Ihsahn and Borknagar to Opeth and Enslaved.
Portz states: "The forthcoming album, Fallen Cathedrals, is the perfect illustration of what Ashen Horde is all about. Musically, it draws influence from across the metal spectrum. There is hyper speed, blast-beat-fueled black metal that runs alongside pummeling death metal riffs; clean-sung melodic passages juxtaposed against face-melting screams, and headbanging beats intermixed with progressive odd-time signatures."
Tracklisting:
"Parity Lost"
"Profound Darkness"
"Retaliation-Regret"
"The Vanishing"
"Atavism"
"Cages"
"Final Ascent"
"Face Of The Enmity"
"Primal" (bonus track on CD only)
"Profound Darkness" video:
- Music and lyrics by Trevor Portz, with additional lyrics by Stevie Boiser
- Recorded and mixed by Trevor Portz at La Maida Vale Studios, Hollywood, CA
- Mastered by Dan at Mammoth Sound Mastering
The masked mutants of Creepsylvania, Ghoul, are pleased to undrape their hilarious, animated visual accompaniment to "Shred The Dead". The track comes by way of the band's Dungeon Bastards full-length, released in 2016 via Tankcrimes.
Director Zak Kirwin comments, "When I talked to whoever runs Ghoul's social media, I was itching to animate a Ghoul song. The music and aesthetic are right up my alley. When they came back with the idea of doing 'Shred The Dead', things really kicked off. Skateboarding, zombies, riffs, and grievous injury... what more could you want? After that, I was chained to a desk in a Creepsylvanian 'animation' studio, drawing till my fingernails cracked and bled, subsisting on nothing but corpse juice and old hot fries. I lost two fingers and partial vision in my right eye. Do I regret it? Of course not! Do I wake up screaming every night? Yes, but I always did that; it's just louder now."
Ghoul's Dungeon Bastards is out now on CD and digital formats. Tankcrimes recently repressed the LP edition (now available limited-edition splatter or blue vinyl) which includes a gatefold jacket that opens into the Dungeon Bastards board game. Players take turns advancing through a Creepsylvanian map; the first one to get to end of the map and jump the Wall Of Death wins. CD orders are available here, with vinyl at this location.
"Astorolus - The Great Octopus", the new video from Swedish doom metal legends CANDLEMASS, can be seen below. The track, which features a guest guitar solo by none other than BLACK SABBATH's Tony Iommi, is taken from the band's 12th album, "The Door To Doom", due on February 22 via Napalm Records. The disc unsurprisingly follows the plotline mastermind, songwriter and bass player Leif Edling established in the past years: epic world-class doom metal that relies on slow mammoth riffing.
Edling states: "Here's the video for 'Astorolus'. Monsters and Gods come in different shapes. The eternal wheel of birth and death portrayed in a cool video and great song. Talking about gods, the master himself Tony Iommi is playing the solo here (part 1+2 out of 3). Immense feeling, wonderful tome, so much presence! Just incredible! Hats off to him for helping us out. A dream coming true! Looking forward to play it live on the tour with GHOST. We're rehearsing it right now. New stuff and the old classics. Can't wait to go out on this tour. Johan is back singing, 'The Door To Doom' is getting brilliant reviews, the band is in great form... Will be a blast!"
Comments Iommi: "CANDLEMASS are a major force in Scandinavian heavy rock and have always acknowledged the influence we had on their music. They asked if I'd contribute to a track which sounded pretty good so I thought, 'Why not?'"
Adds Edling: "We feel very honored that Tony Iommi said yes to play the solo on 'Astorolus'. The song was sent to the management and amazingly enough, the master agreed to let his mighty SG sing on the track! For me personally, this is a dream come true. Tony Iommi has always been my hero and guiding light when it comes to heavy music, so to hear that he likes the song and also would like to play on it gave me chills down the spine! I'm still in shock! But kudos to him to be so cool to even listen to it. Hats off! Tony Iommi is and will always be God!"
"The Door To Doom" marks the recording comeback of newly returned singer Johan Längqvist, who recently replaced CANDLEMASS's frontman of the past six years, Mats Levén.
"The Door To Doom" track listing:
01. Splendor Demon Majesty
02. Under The Ocean
03. Astorolus - The Great Octopus (feat. Tony Iommi)
04. Bridge Of The Blind
05. Death's Wheel
06. Black Trinity
07. House Of Doom
08. The Omega Circle
Längqvist sang on CANDLEMASS's debut album, 1986's "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus", before exiting the group and being replaced by Messiah Marcolin.
CANDLEMASS's most recent full-length album, "Psalms For The Dead", came out in 2012 via Napalm Records. It was the last CANDLEMASS album recorded with singer Robert Lowe, who left the band just days before its release.
Tom Morello has released the Sean Evans-directed music video for his rendition of "Every Step That I Take". The song, which features guest appearances by Portugal. The Man and Whethan, is taken from the guitarist's latest LP, "The Atlas Underground", which was released last year. The disc finds the RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist also collaborating with artists like Marcus Mumford, Vic Mensa, Big Boi and GZA as well as EDM acts like BASSNECTAR, KNIFE PARTY and Steve Aoki.
Morello previously revealed that "Every Step That I Take" was dedicated to his late AUDIOSLAVE bandmate Chris Cornell, and that he had partnered with the SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) organization.
"With the passing of Chris [almost two years] ago, and the momentum towards removing the stigma from mental health issues and suicidal thoughts, it was very important to have a song from that point of view," Morello told the Chicago Tribune.
The guitarist continued: "I've had mental illness issues in my family and among my friends in the past, and there's a current trend toward this demystification to encourage people, among your friends, loved ones and professionals, there is help and there are ways... 'Every Step That I Take' is about how the dreams, and depression, and love and the lack of it on the emotional steps of the gallows are processed."
Regarding the musical direction of "The Atlas Underground", Morello told Rolling Stone: "I wanted to make a record that was unapologetically a guitar album, but that had the sonic imprints of 2018." He added of the album's EDM influence: "What I heard in their music was very simpatico with the analog rock and roll music that I love best… It was the tension and release, it was the huge drops, it was the communal frenzy that they created, for me in the mosh pit, for them on the dancefloor."
Kane Roberts's video for the song "Beginning Of The End" can be seen below. The track, which features guest appearances by Alice Cooper and ARCH ENEMY singer Alissa White-Gluz, is taken from Kane's new solo album, "The New Normal", which was released on January 25 via Frontiers Music Srl.
Kane has involved some really amazing friends in the making of "The New Normal", including Cooper, White-Gluz, Nita Strauss, BABYMETAL drummer Aoyama Hideki, Kip Winger, Paul Taylor and Ken Mary. Three years in the making, "The New Normal" melds the old and new in metal for a truly outstanding album.
Kane comments on how the collaborations came to be: "I noticed artists that were busting down doors and at the same time kickstarting new ways of thinking about life and creativity. I knew I wanted to try to work with some of them. Nita Strauss is a killer guitarist. She really tore it up on the song 'King Of The World'. Her work on it woke me the fuck up and forced me to explore new guitar techniques to compliment her insane skills!
"Alice Cooper... no one individual has scorched the earth like my former boss. I started getting into recording 'Beginning Of The End' and realized I needed Alice to sing a duet with me. Not just a line, not just an intro, but sing throughout the song. I took the shot that he might be available at some point to get involved and when I called, he said, 'I'm in Hollywood. I'll be right over.' Full on stroke of luck.
"My approach to much of the album was cinematic in the hope that sounds and lyrics would create imagery and emotion beyond what I had done before. Keeping with that idea, I had Alissa White-Gluz (ARCH ENEMY) fall from the sky like some pissed-off dark angel in the middle of the song with Alice and I and burn the place down. Her attitude and singing prowess is stunning and I was so jazzed when she agreed to participate.
"I was obsessed with getting drum monster Aoyama Hideki from BABYMETAL. After he heard the song, he immediately came on board and played with controlled fury like only he can.... AMAZING!
"I also was also able to work with Brent Smith (SHINEDOWN) and Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM) on songwriting and they were, of course, a blessing to the entire process.
"Upon hearing a few of the early recordings, Michael Alago (the A&R guy that discovered METALLICA and WHITE ZOMBIE, to name just a few) offered to executive produce the project for me and got a lot of things done for that otherwise would have been impossible for me to accomplish.
"Last, but certainly not least, no one plays bass like Kip Winger or sings quite the way he can. Didn’t think twice about asking him to join up and he delivered, like always.
"My music has evolved over the years, even though I was out of the spotlight. Stepping into this new project, there are new styles and sounds evident, but I haven't made some false effort to distance myself from the past. People will notice a blend of influences from classic rock and metal to the hot bands that are emerging more recently. ZEPPELIN to VOLBEAT to ARCH ENEMY… they're all bringing crushing energy to rock/metal while creating truly awesome music.
"I was lucky to have found Frontiers because they allowed me three years to make this album and sort through my truest feelings and vocal/guitar skills to create something meaningful to me. There is a real concern for preserving the creative process at Frontiers, and to my way of thinking, there's no better place for me right now."
"The New Normal" track listing:
01. King Of The World (feat. Nita Strauss)
02. Wonderful
03. Beginning Of The End (feat. Alice Cooper, Alissa White-Gluz, Aoyama Hideki, Kip Winger)
04. Who We Are (feat. Katt Franich)
05. Forever Out Of Place (feat. Kip Winger)
06. Leave This World Behind
07. The Lion's Share (feat. Kip Winger)
08. Leave Me In The Dark
09. Above And Beyond (feat. Kip Winger)
10. Wrong
Kane previously recorded a total of four solo albums (also including the PHOENIX DOWN project released on Frontiers in the late '90s).
Kane's name and abilities first came to prominence on Alice Cooper's "Constrictor" album, which was soon followed by his self-titled debut solo album in 1987. More albums and tours with Alice followed, making Kane a well-known face in the business especially for his guitar skills, but also for his body-builder image and his now iconic machine-gun guitar.
As a solo recording artist, he landed a few Top 40 hits, and his varied musical background includes recording, writing and touring with artists such as Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper Desmond Child, KISS, Diane Warren, ALICE IN CHAINS, BERLIN, GUNS N' ROSES, Garland Jeffries and more. He's also written or recorded music for films like "Light Sleeper", Penelope Spheeris's "Decline Of Western Civilization", "Friday the 13th IV Jason Lives", John Carpenter's "Prince Of Darkness", and more. In 1991, his second solo album, "Saints And Sinners", for Geffen Records included the Top 40 Billboard hit "Does Anybody Really Fall In Love Anymore?", originally written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.
"Wrath Of Asgard", the new video from THE THREE TREMORS, the new project featuring acclaimed heavy metal singers Tim "The Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin (JAG PANZER) and Sean "The Hell Destroyer" Peck (CAGE, DEATH DEALER, DENNER/SHERMANN), can be seen below. The clip was directed by Rich Varville from RSVP Films in San Diego, California.
THE THREE TREMORS' self-titled debut LP was relesaed on January 18. The band nourishes in heavy metal anthems, and features the illustrious chops of guitarist Dave Garcia, whose tenacity fuels the fire, allowing the music to naturally flow in complimentary tone. Second guitarist Casey Trask picks up the pace and pushes the boundaries alongside bassist Alex Pickard, who highlights a melodic sensibility giving character to the overall tonality. On drums, the thrash machine Sean Elg adds in his perfectly placed fills and signature double bass patterns.
"Sean's band, CAGE, opened for JUDAS PRIEST on the 'Jugulator' tour in San Diego — that is where I first met him," recalls Ripper. "He hit me up about resurrecting the idea and actually doing a record, and then a band, to put this out in the live setting also, and I thought it sounded really cool. The record came out really strong and I think the fans deserved to have a thing like this actually exist. We performed two of the songs live already when I was out in San Diego shooting the video for the first single, and it was a blast."
"It was about five years ago, I was camping and thinking about the whole THREE TREMORS urban legend from long ago and what a shame it was that it never happened," says Sean. "Then I started thinking about if there was a resurrected 2018 version of it, who would I get, and Tim and Harry were at the top of my list. I immediately reached out to Tim, who agreed to embark on this adventure and Harry quickly joined next. It took a long time to put it together, create the right songs, and get it properly arranged, but the results are beyond my wildest expectations. I think the fans are really going to freak out on what we have done with this record, and live it's going to be almighty I assure you!"
"Sean and I ended up at a party together in Germany, where we were both playing the same festival, and he told me about the THREE TREMORS album he was putting together and asked if I would be into it," adds Harry. "He described the concept and how he wanted to bring this old idea to actual life and I said I was in. Once I started hearing the songs that were being sent over for me to record, I knew this thing was going to be really powerful. Then when I got sent the final mixes with all three of us on it, my jaw hit the floor on how well it all came together. For heavy metal fans, this is the ultimate."
THE THREE TREMORS' self-titled debut highlights artwork ingeniously created by renowned artist Marc Sasso (DIO, HALFORD, ADRENALINE MOB, DEATH DEALER), to showcase an apocalyptic battle between demonic hyper-wolves and the Three Tremors, who marched into an underworld overshadowed by evil forces only armed with bullets powered by heavy metal sorcery to reclaim the dystopian lands.
THE THREE TREMORS will kick off their first-ever U.S. tour on February 14 at El Corazon in Seattle. The trek will wrap up on March 11 at The Crafthouse Stage & Grill in Pittsburgh.
Brazilian symphonic metal band, Lyria, have released a video for the single "Let Me Be Me", featured on the band's recently released second album, Immersion.
The message is very clear: each person is unique and it is foolish to try to change for the others. In "Let Me Be Me", the band shows that it takes courage to be who you are and to live your inner truth. Recorded at the top of a building, the video was directed by Lyria in partnership with CS Music Videos, producer already known in the independent scene.
"Music speaks about freedom, how to get out of the other's eyes and see yourself as your own, with your defects and qualities, that make you a unique being. Some people project themselves into the other, pointing out defects", says Aline Happ, the lead singer and songwriter of the band.
The "Let Me Be Me" video was edited and produced by CS Music's Vinicius Hozara, who also directed and directed the film with Lyria. The capturing of images by means of drones was of Glauber Barros and CS Music Videos. CS Music Videos is an independent production company that has worked with Lyria on other occasions, such as the "Jester" video. The company has also worked with bands like Hatefulmurder, Cara de Porco, Ágona, among others.
"Brokenhearted Daydream", the new video from JETBOY, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's new album, "Born To Fly", which is being released today (Friday, January 25) via Frontiers Music Srl.
Founded in 1983 by guitarists Billy Rowe and Fernie Rod, JETBOY continues to crank out its brand of rock 'n' roll in the 21st century with the same passion that has existed from the beginning.
"Born To Fly" — put together by the band's core of guitarists Billy Rowe, Fernie Rod and vocalist Mickey Finn, alongside former FASTER PUSSYCAT bassist Eric Stacy and drummer Al Serrato — is the first full-fledged set of new material from JETBOY since 1990.
"The band wasn't working on any new material when Frontiers approached us," says Rowe. "Mickey and I had written one or two songs a few years back, but that's about it. For myself, I've been very into writing music and got very into recording, so I had a good amount of complete musical songs that I always felt could end up as new JETBOY material, and some of it did. But the majority of the songs on this album were written within a couple of months after we got the offer from Frontiers."
Rowe continues: "Writing and recording this album came so naturally, there was no struggle at all. We feel it happened at the right time and was meant to be.
"The spirit of the band has been at an all-time high ever since we started this new album. We shared ideas via e-mail and then demoed every song before enteringthe studio. Once we started tracking this album, we all felt something special was going on."
Best described as a blend of edgy rock and roll with a traditional blues-based influence, "Born To Fly" is the perfect vehicle to exploit the commanding style of JETBOY's classic rock 'n' roll sound.
"The musical inspiration for the "Born To Fly" album came from a lifelong list of influences from bands we all grew up on from the 1970s," states Rowe.
"JETBOY has always approached its writing with a simple, stripped-down, no-nonsense rock 'n' roll structure, starting with a great riff and a catchy hook.
"This album flowed so organically, everything felt like it was meant to be. We've also all really grown as musicians, which really helped capture what we feel is some of our best work to date."
Vocalist Mickey Finn says the "lyrics flowed amazingly fast, with most songs being written in one sitting. My feelings were to stay true to JETBOY's roots and style, but to also incorporate where we are at today, pleasing old and new fans alike.
"My wife was the inspiration for 'Every Time I Go' and my firstborn son inspired 'The Way You Move Me'. Our life struggles as a band and lifelong friends inspired tracks like 'Beating The Odds' and 'Born To Fly'. 'Inspiration From Desperation' covers our political climate in America these days, 'Brokenhearted Daydream' reminds us that love is sometimes fickle and hearts get broken, but don't let it destroy your heart — we have to learn to move on and allow love to come into our lives again.
"So, all in all, lots of inspiring messages on the record, as well as some good old rock 'n' roll fun and 'Party Time!' lyrics make it a well-rounded listen!
"Good Morning Midnight", the new video from Swedish rockers BACKYARD BABIES, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's upcoming album "Sliver & Gold", which will be released on March 1 via Century Media Records. The disc will contain 10 sizzling new songs following the exact same recipe that has made BACKYARD BABIES one of the most consistent rock bands of our time: a perfect balance between sleazy, punky, all-out party rock 'n' roll on the one hand, and decidedly mature, thoroughly melancholic tunes on the other.
While catchy sing-a-long smashers like the first single "Shovin' Rocks", album opener "Good Morning Midnight", the anthemic "Bad Seeds" or "44 Undead" will have you fist-pumping and foot stompin' along with your left foot in a cowboy boot and your right paw in a Chuck Taylor sneaker, the beautiful ballad-like album closer "Laugh Now, Cry Later" will cause you to shed a tear or two into your Jack and Coke.
"Sliver & Gold" track listing:
01. Good Morning Midnight
02. Simple Being Sold
03. Shovin' Rocks
04. Ragged Flag
05. Yes To All No
06. Bad Seeds
07. 44 Undead
08. Sliver And Gold
09. A Day Late In My Dollar Shorts
10. Laugh Now Cry Later
According to BACKYARD BABIES guitarist Dregen (real name: Andreas Tyrone Svensson), the "Sliver and Gold" title is a play on words.
"It is going to be a bit like if you cut yourself with a piece of sliver," he told Metal Casino. "It's a bit like our career. It's been golden moments, but it's also been kind of rough times. It's going to be hopefully the greatest BACKYARD BABIES album [yet]."
Regarding first single "Shovin' Rocks", Dregen said: "Since we're celebrating thirty years together as a band, the single is a bit like... it's kind of like a statement about how it is to play in a band in a three-minute song, which is kind of hard," Dregen said. "I think that the whole next album is going to be like the gold watch then you're at a [job] for a long time. It's going to be our own kind of, like, celebration — not just to our own band, but to the music form of rock 'n' roll."
Dregen said that the group approached the album's recording sessions in an unfamiliar manner. "We've done it for the first time after thirty years in a different way," he said. "Before, we've been writing the whole album, and then when we're ready with the songs, [we] choose the songs, enter the studio and start recording it. Now, we're writing songs, but when we have three or four songs that we think are great, we're entering the studio, we record these three or four songs, and we mix the songs and master the songs and they are, like, totally ready. Then we go back into writing, and we write new songs. We record, like, four EPs, and then we put it together as an album."
He added that he prefers the abbreviated studio sessions to more traditional album-length recording process. "Sometimes when you go into the studio and you have, like, 14 songs, it gets a little bit industrial," he said. "It's almost like going to work — it's like, 'Okay, drums for this song, next...' You lose kind of the heart of the song, because it gets very mechanic [sic]. Recording three or four songs, I always like. I love recording EPs or singles, because you have full control over what you do."
BACKYARD BABIES officially reunited in 2014, five years after they announced that they were going on an "indefinite hiatus." A new album, "Four By Four", arrived in 2015.
"Dead End Ride", the new video from former WHITE LION singer Mike Tramp, can be seen below. The song is taken from his upcoming studio album, "Stray From The Flock", which will be released on March 1 via Target Records. Staying true both to the timeless roots of rock 'n' roll and his own roots, it is a record that won't disappoint fans of previous releases from the Danish singer/songwriter.
With more than a hundred shows planned in 2019 to support the new album — starting off in the U.S. in February and March with 22 shows — this will be another great year for Tramp.
Stadium concerts. Number one chart entries with solo releases. History of rock'n'roll written all over him. Tramp has had it all. Right now, however, after spending the last two decades studiously carving out a solid solo career for himself, Tramp is happy being Mike Tramp.
"Many years ago, I realized that going back to basics, demanding nothing and being surprised if there was a tray of sandwiches in the dressing room was the way forward," he says.
"Stray From The Flock" is the latest in a stellar collection of records written and released by Tramp since 1997. From the excellence of his solo debut "Capricorn" to "Maybe Tomorrow", the Danish singer has been on a distinctive, solo journey that has seen him reinventing himself and reach a consistency in look, feel and a sound that centers on some of the finest, acoustic-based-yet-hauntingly melodic songs you'll ever hear.
Recorded at Ark Studio in Denmark and mixed in Sweden by Peter Masson, "Stray From The Flock" essentially takes the template of the 2013 release "Cobblestone Street" one step further. It’s also an album that pretty much wrote itself. "I picked up the guitar and the songs just started flying out of me," Tramp says. "I thought, 'Fuck! There's an album that wants to come out of here."
Mike will, of course, be touring in support of "Stray From The Flock", but, as with his previous solo excursions, there won't be any explosions, moving drum risers or confetti bombs on stage. There will just be a guy standing in the middle being the real deal.
"Stray From The Flock" will be released on on CD, double gatefold LP on black 140-gram vinyl, limited double gatefold LP on orange color LP, 180-gram (500 copies only), digital and cassette.
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