1349 Shares Celtic Frost Cover Collaboration with Members of Nuclear + Hellman

1349 guitarist Archaon and bassist Seideman have teamed up with members of Chilean thrash outfit NUCLEAR and HELLMAN to perform a cover of CELTIC FROST's "Usurper!" The clip is now premiereing via Metal Injection.

1349 bassist Seideman comments, “This version of the Celtic Frost classic doubles as a tribute to the legends themselves as well as a tribute to friendship and brotherhood. Metal music brings people from all over the world together and this combination of Nuclear and 1349 is no exception.”

Punto of Nuclear adds: "We're very pleased to pay tribute to one of the most influential acts in extreme metal history. This idea started as a simple chat in backstage when both bands were touring together in Europe. After that everything went black in pandemic and we put the things rolling to record the song and film this video. It was a real honour for us work alongside such talented musicians and cool guys.”

1349 is supporting 2019's 'The Infernal Pathway,' which can be streamed, downloaded, and ordered HERE.

Norwegian black metal titans 1349 have returned with their long awaited seventh full-length: 'The Infernal Pathway'. The album promises a journey through chaos and madness, darkness and peril, terror and annihilation.
 
1349 is AURAL HELLFIRE.  That has been, and continues to be, the primary concept since the band first rose from the ashes of Alvheim in 1997.  Conceived around the founding members - vocalist and former drummer Ravn, guitarist Tjalve, and Seidemann on bass - 1349 completed their line-up with the addition of guitarist Archaon in 1999 and SATYRICON drum-legend Frost in 2001.
 
When their debut 'Liberation' was unleashed in 2003, the Norwegians took the world by storm with their intense blend of old school black metal soundscapes and ultra-fast aggression. Further assaults followed in rapid succession. 'Beyond the Apocalypse' (2004) and 'Hellfire' (2005) cemented the band's reputation as one of the strongest acts in the scene.
 
Upon the departure of founding member Tjalve, who decided to focus on his band PANTHEON I, 1349 have since continued as a four-piece – occasionally adding guest guitarists. Extensive touring aided the growth of their now massive following when the four piece opened for reunited metal legends CELTIC FROST in North America in 2006.
 
Impressively demonstrating that holding true to the principles of the genre do not mean nostalgia and stagnation, 1349 widened their sonic palette with  'Revelations of the Black Flame' (2009), which was co-mixed by CELTIC FROST mastermind Tom Gabriel "Warrior" Fischer. This inspired a newfound ambient darkness from the band, which was further explored on 'Demonoir' (2010).
 
'Massive Cauldron of Chaos' (2013) was the next milestone in the Norwegians merciless advance, scoring excellent reviews and a nomination for a Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannprisen). The release sparked more festival shows as well as extensive touring, bringing 1349 to Australia and New Zealand. In 2018, the Munch Museum and Innovation Norway chose 1349 as one of four bands to create a song based on the paintings of Edvard Munch. As a result, the single 'Dødskamp' was released earlier this year.  
 
After performing a fiery show at Norway’s Inferno festival this year, 1349 started recording in Amper Tone studios and Studio Nyhagen with engineer Jarrett Pritchard. Thus, 'The Infernal Pathway’ was born, a sonic parallel to summoning and unleashing the beast of the abyss in all its fearsome, ferocious and powerful splendor.
 
Gearing up for a full U.S. tour in the fall, and a European tour with ABBATH and VLTIMAS in 2020, more events will unfold, making this a banner year for 1349.

Line-up
Seidemann: bass
Ravn: vocals
Archaon: guitars
Frost: drums

Photo credit: Dmitry Valberg

Cover artwork:Jordan Barlow

Recording studio:Amper Tone and Studio Studio Nyhagen

Engineered, mixed and mastered: by Jarrett Pritchard

Produced: by Jarrett Pritchard and 1349

Guest musicians: Destroyer – backing vocals on “Abyssos Antithesis” and “Striding the Chasm”

Style: Black Metal
For more on1349, visit their officialFACEBOOK,INSTAGRAM,WEBSITE, andTWITTER.

DESTRUCTION Releases New Live-Single and Video for Bone-Crushing “Reject Emotions”

New Live BluRay, Live Attack, out August 13, 2021

Pre-Order NOW!

DESTRUCTION brings their unstoppable thrash metal power to your home on Live Attack!

Legendary German thrash metal powerhouse DESTRUCTION is smashing an all devastating, neck-breaking Live Attack onto the masses! The new BluRay/CD live event, including some pre- and after-show bonus content, will be released on August 13, 2021.

Today, those scene-leading frontrunners evoke the second outburst out of this energetic offering and release the live-single and music video for bone-crushing “Reject Emotions”. The song was cut from the set list for quite a long time and demanded by many fans since then. For their incomparable streaming event, Live Attack, the German thrash metal institution DESTRUCTION, with legendary founding members Schmier on vocals/bass and Mike on guitars, brought this anthem back to the stage.

SCHMIER states:

“The die-hards voted for ‘Reject Emotions’ to be on the setlist at this special show on our social media pages. We did not perform this fan favorite in its full length since the 80s, cause it was written for two guitars. Most fans know, it is actually the first song we ever wrote as a four-piece.

This is why we chose this as a single now for our BluRay release. It is a very rare live track, finally played again with the power of two axes, the way it was meant to be! A cult song that always had a special place in our metal-hearts! The flashback shots from the 80s in honor of the old line up build a bridge to our history and will hopefully bring back some joy and good memories for many supporters!”

Watch the insanely thrashing live video for “Reject Emotions”

Founded back in 1982 and since their first demo, followed by debut EP, Sentence Of Death(1984) and first full-length, Infernal Overkill (1985), the German foursome DESTRUCTION has turned heads and broken necks with their incredibly honest and uncompromising thrash metal power. Now, 39 years into their unstoppable rampage of a career, DESTRUCTION bring the power of hard-hitting drums, speedy riffs and punishing vocals to the comfort of your home on the new BluRay & 2 Audio CD’s, Live Attack!

DESTRUCTION on their first release with Napalm Records:

“This show at our fave club, the Z7 in Switzerland, was a really special one in the middle of this dreadful pandemic! When we recorded it as a live stream on the 1st of January, it gave us hope back and connected us with the fans worldwide! Many supporters demanded to release it in physical form, so we had to make it happen. The setlist reflects four decades of DESTRUCTION with an almost two hour best-of setlist, which includes some really rare live tracks! It was for sure a night to remember… we hope you all enjoy it as much as we did!"

Pre-Order your copy NOW!

When the music world was forced to shut down venues and cancel tours for an indefinite period of time, DESTRUCTION came through to deliver their outstanding power via live stream to their loyal fans at home – now available for you to enjoy on high-definition BluRay! Witness DESTRUCTION ripping through their live set of 22 songs, including beloved classics like “Mad Butcher”, “Thrash Till Death”, “Born To Perish” and many more! Filmed and recorded at the legendary Z7 venue in Pratteln (Switzerland), DESTRUCTION spare no expense or effort to bring you a live show experience that will make you bang your head like you’re in the front row at the show, getting your ear drums penetrated by rumbling double-bass grooves! The BluRay is filled with exclusive pre- and aftershow insights and behind the scenes footage from DESTRUCTION’s live show – a must-have for fans of true thrash metal!

Live Attack BluRay bonus content:

Pre-Show

After Show

Live Attack will be available in the following formats:

- 8 Page Digipack BluRay & 2 Audio CD´s bundled with a DESTRUCTION t-shirt

- 8 Page Digipack BluRay & 2 Audio CD´s

- 3LP Gatefold Marbled GOLD/BLACK - 200 copies with Etching

- 3LP Gatefold Marbled BLUE/BLACK - 300 copies with Etching

- 3LP Gatefold BLACK with Etching

- Full digital album

- 3LP Gatefold Marbled GOLD/BLACK - 200 copies with Etching

DESTRUCTION are:

Schmier - Bass, Vocals

Mike - Guitars

Randy Black - Drums

Damir Eskić - Guitars

Stream 'The Hardest Battle' by XTC's COLIN MOULDING

Music legend and XTC co-frontman Colin Moulding is back with new music, this time as a solo artist, presenting his new single 'The Hardest Battle', released as a CD single in 4-panel digisleeve via Burning Shed.

Containing two songs - 'The Hardest Battle', 'Say It (original version)', and an exploratory demo of the title track, The Hardest Battle represents XTC founding member Colin Moulding's first-ever fully solo release.

In celebration of this release, Colin Moulding also presents the video for the title track, directed and filmed by Henry Meredith at St Mary’s Uffington (interior) and Salisbury Cathedral (exterior). Featuring Tomas Silberberg as George IV, the costume was provided courtesy of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

This mini-EP offers a tantalizing glimpse into the creative process of one of the UK's finest songwriters, showcasing Colin’s English pop vision with XTC's trademark qualities of melody, rhythm, variety, and idiosyncratic subject matter, mixed in with nostalgia and a degree of pensiveness.

Following two releases with original XTC drummer Terry Chambers under the TC&Imoniker - the 'Great Aspirations' EP and the album 'Naked Flames: Live at Swindon Arts Centre', 'The Hardest Battle' is the first new material from Moulding in many years.

“To be nobody but yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you like everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle any human being can fight”... I saw these lines in a book I picked up in a secondhand bookshop and thought…maybe there’s a song there …I think it’s by the poet EE Cummins," says Colin Moulding.

"And there it was. All I had to do was come up with some music to marry to this notion. I do think most people aren’t themselves really, or become themselves eventually. And that struggle isn’t easy. I recorded this pretty much in isolation as most people have been this past year or so. One crazy year for all of us. Perhaps ‘The Hardest Battle’ we humans have faced externally, as well as the one we fight internally everyday,"

Founded in 1972, XTC only had their first UK charting single in 1979. Moulding wrote the first three charting singles ('Life Begins at the Hop', 'Making Plans for Nigel' and 'Generals and Majors'). Moulding continued with frontman Andy Partridge through the group's dissolution in 2006. In 1984, they also, along with XTC bandmate Dave Gregory and Ian Gregory, formed The Dukes of Stratosphear, anticipating and celebrated by retro-minded movements such as the Paisley Underground.

"About 'Say It', I just felt this track deserved a better fate than it got really. I wrote it for the XTC album that never was . But it ended up on a promo disk amongst XTC’s ‘Last Days of Rome’ This version feels much more akin to my original song mindset compared to the expedient I agreed to at the time," says Colin Moulding.

Regarding 'The Hardest Battle (First Exploratory Demo)', Moulding adds, "I think demos are much more of a demonstration to ones self than for other people. You have to find out what works and what doesn’t. Therefore, you shoot from the hip and just fire it out, and see what sticks. Larkin always said that he didn’t know what his poems were about initially until he got some way into them ;- that’s what this is;- I’m just ‘Larkin' around until it presents itself. Then the crossword puzzle can begin."

Released on July 2, 'The Hardest Battle' can be ordered on CD single exclusively via Burning Shed at https://burningshed.com/store/ colin-moulding_store/colin- moulding_the-hardest-battle_cd


CREDITS
Produced by Colin Moulding and Stuart Rowe
Mixed by Stuart Rowe
All instrumentation by Colin Moulding except on ‘Say It’, where Jon Buckett plays piano
All songs written by Colin Moulding
Mastered by Jason Mitchell at Loud Mastering
Manufactured by Noisebox Digital
Media Artwork by Andrew Swainson from a concept by Colin Moulding
Recorded within the Sound of Christ Church Bells
Released by Burning Shed. Cat No: CMCD001

Keep up with Colin Moulding
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Irish pop-rock artist Gavin Murphy counts our blessings on uplifting 'Alive' single

“Sparkles with droll and wonderfully melodic minor pop nuggets” ~ RTÉ Entertainment

"Animated and invigorating... harkens back to a more innocent age and deserving of comparisons to the likes of Aztec Camera, Feargal Sharkey, China Crisis and The Railway Children" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

“A calming soul massage perfect for sitting in the sun and daydreaming“ ~ Musician.ie

“45 RPM - Album of the Week” ~ RTÉ Radio 1

“45 RPM - the result is bittersweet, nostalgic and fun” ~ Hot Press

Ireland-based artist Gavin Murphy presents his new single ‘Alive’, a 'chin-up' anthem for our times when depression has become so rampant in this age of lockdown. The new track comes hot on the trails of the single 'The Sound of Heartbreak'.

Murphy involved a strong team with respect to both tracks, including producer / mixer Ger McDonnell (The Cure, U2, Van Morrison, Martha Wainwright, Shane McGowan, Sinead O'Connor). While 'Alive' was mastered by Stephen Ceresia at Stonyfield Masteriing, 'The Sound of Heartbreak' was mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road, London. Robbie Malone (David Gray) plays bass, while Paul Byrne is on drums and Saoirse Kavanagh on backing vocals.

"My new single 'Alive' is about embracing the positives in life. To witness the sunrise at dawn is a beautiful heartwarming experience. Appreciating the simple pleasures in life and reflecting upon good memories, can help us through difficult times,” says Gavin Murphy.

“On the other hand, 'The Sound of Heartbreak' is a rite of passage that nobody escapes. You suffer from it, you inflict it - don’t kid yourself otherwise. It will keep happening until you learn from it and finally make peace with the scars”.

Hailing from Dublin’s north side, Gavin Murphy now resides in Sligo on Ireland’s north-west coast. Beginning with his debut self-recorded and self-produced album ‘45 RPM (Replay Past Memories)’, Murphy has been honing his sound and harvesting melodic guitar-based Indie pop-rock goodness, characterized by bittersweet lyrics and catchy melodies. Inspired by feelings rooted in nostalgia and moving melodies, Murphy cites Crowded House as a strong influence.

“It's a wonderful feeling to self release my own music and to hear the songs being played on the radio and receiving such positive feedback," says Gavin Murphy.

"As a self employed musician it’s been a real struggle throughout the restrictions being unable to play live music, with musicians’ careers having come to a stand still. To help me get through these uncertain times, I’ve tried to focus on the most important things in life.”

'Alive' and 'The Sound of Heartbreak' are out now, available across streaming platforms and online stores, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Gavin Murphy - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Robbie Malone (David Gray) - Bass
Paul Byrne - Drums
Saoirse Kavanagh - Backing Vocals
Produced by Gavin Murphy and Ger McDonnell
Mixed by Ger McDonnell
'The Sound of Heartbreak' mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road, London
'Alive' mastered by Stephenm Ceresia at Stonyfield Mastering, USA
Photography by John Wilde


Keep up with Gavin Murphy Songs
Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music |

FEUERSCHWANZ Releases New Live Video for “Schildmaid” (feat. Saltatio Mortis)

New Live BluRay/DVD/CD, Die letzte Schlacht, out August 6, 2021 | Feat. Various Guests and Massive Bonus Content

Pre-Order NOW!

Germany’s hottest and most entertaining medieval folk rockers, FEUERSCHWANZ, have prevailed against pandemic paralysis and are set to release two recent virtual live highlights under the banner Die letzte Schlacht (engl. The Final Battle), via BluRay/DVD/CD on August 6 via Napalm Records.

For their massive punch of live power, FEUERSCHWANZ additionally present an exciting set of high-class guests, like medieval unit Saltatio Mortis, who joins the band for an electrifying performance on “Schildmaid” (engl. shield-maiden). The song is originally taken from the recent, chart-breaking top album, Das elfte Gebot (The eleventh commandment, 2020, GER #3) and offers a forceful performance of those two German frontrunners!

FEUERSCHWANZ add:

“We’ve always been on stage with the greatest women - something we are more than proud of! With good reason Johanna, Myu and Musch-Musch have earned a place right in front of our team and our hearts. With “Schildmaid” we wanted to set a monument to this and dedicate it to all the shield-maidens out there. Be strong & proud, bold & free, do your thing and stay who you are: a shield-maiden of Odin!

For the performance of our online show we got our dear friends and bagpipe heroes Luzi and Elsi from Saltatio Mortis!

Here's to you, shield-maidens!"

Watch the new live video for “Schildmaid” (feat. Saltatio Mortis)below

Despite the yawn-worthy barrenness of festival fields and stages, the Franconian formation has inimitably managed to capture the magic of a live concert, twice – gifting fans an entertaining adventure full of hits and a huge dose of humor on Die letzte Schlacht.

Featuring high quality footage, electrifying pyro, lighting effects, and above all, the unique, charismatic, tongue-in-cheek talents of the band, Die letzte Schlacht is an absolute must-have. May your drinking horns never be empty and the mead flow forever!

FEUERSCHWANZ on Die letzte Schlacht:

"We are very happy and proud to see all the live power of FEUERSCHWANZ, as well as our creative work of the pandemic period, collected as this piece of art for eternity. "

Pre-Order your copy NOW!

The virtual concert, Die letzte Schlacht, was originally released in January this year, and presents an adventurous ride through the discography of FEUERSCHWANZ with the band itself as grandiose protagonists and storytellers. Topped by some great guest appearances, including Angus McFife (Gloryhammer), members of Saltatio Mortis and Patty Gurdy, this night to remember can now be experienced over and over again from the comfort of your own home. Secondly, Hauptmann Feuerschwanz and his entourage revisit their virtually released open air (11:O:A) from their last album, the chartbreaking Das Elfte Gebot (The eleventh commandment, 2020, GER #3), and deliver more than two hours of hits.

Die letzte Schlacht is an absolute must-have. May your drinking horns never be empty and the mead flow forever!

The Die letzte Schlacht album will be available digitally in North America!

FEUERSCHWANZ are:

Hauptmann Feuerschwanz - vocals, guitar

Johanna von der Vögelweide - violin, hurdy-gurdy

Sir Lanzeflott - drums

Jarne Hodinsson - bass

Prinz Hodenherz - flutes, bagpipe, guitars, vocals

Hans der Aufrechte - guitar

IMAGEN RECORDS Signs American Hard Rock Band ARTIFAS

Artifas Buy/Stream link:

https://linktr.ee/artifas

IMAGEN RECORDS have signed hard rock band ARTIFAS to their roster of talent. New music to be released this summer!

"We couldn't be more stoked about joining forces with the crew at Imagen. We are glad to have them at our backs for this release and can't wait to see what new heights this partnership can push us to" says the band.

"So happy to announce the signing of Artifas! I’ve known these guys for a long time. Having the chance to work with them has always been something I’ve wanted. This new record is by far the best music they’ve come up with to date. So many hooks. Not to mention one of the best live bands I’ve seen in the last 10 years. Welcome to the family guys!!" adds Morgan Rose, Head of A&R Imagen Records/ Drummer for Sevendust.

American Hard Rock band Artifas was formed in 2011 in Jackson, TN by lead guitarist Cody Criswell and lead vocalist Scottie Somerville. In the months following, the two founders of the group would immediately recruit an assortment of hometown musicians and begin looking to record their debut EP. After having a long and ugly encounter that resulted in the theft of all the bands funds and receiving no album in return, the original incarnation of the group would spend 2012-2013 doing several independent tours and writing music. After debuting with their EP Enemy Inside in 2013 and doing numerous regional/national tours in support of it, the band replaced former members with guitarist Mikey Miller, bassist Anthony Mattox, and drummer Jared Wainscott.

With almost two years of touring with the new lineup under their belts, Artifas inked themselves a record deal and hit the studio to make their first full length album. The 2015 release of the title track, “Inhuman,” would bring the band some commercial success, reaching # 32 on Billboard’s Active Rock chart and sending the band on the road in support of their new album. The band landed tours with established artists like Theory of a Deadman, Shamans Harvest, Pop Evil, Saint Asonia, Aranda, and others. The follow up single from that record, “Blood 4 Blood”, would later get picked up by the World Series of Fighting and subsequently land a feature in the UFC movie “Fight Valley”. The band parted ways with their record label in 2016, and remained on tour throughout the US for most of the following year, also traveling internationally for the first time with the likes of Papa Roach, Hoobastank, P.O.D., Trapt, and Sick Puppies to play for our American Troops.

Multiple tour cycles later, Artifas found themselves back in the studio making new music. The band worked with multiple writers and producers throughout the entirety of 2018, but would ultimately only find themselves frustrated with the recordings that resulted. After a soul search within the group, Artifas elected to embrace their own vision and write/produce their next album independently, free from the creative overreach of outside influence.

After two years of writing, recording, and mixing, Artifas has completed the new album, and plans to unleash it upon the world. With catchy guitar riffs, dizzying drums, and soaring melodies, Reflections will send you on an emotional journey, exploring the band’s semi-prog, radio rock sound while diving deeper into the human complex with lyrics centered around self awareness and the bands own struggles with mental health. The goal for the creation of this album was to make a record that met the band’s expectations and you can rest assured they held nothing back. Mixed and Mastered by Forrester Savell (Twelve Foot Ninja, Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus), Reflections promises to wow you with musical prowess, all the while delivering Artifas’ important message on unity, inspiration, and the sempiternal battle between dark and light.

Staying true to the promise they made their fans, Artifas has been on hiatus since their last show in October 2019, working, learning, and preparing for the release of their new album and the beginning of a new chapter in the ArtiStory.

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

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Bands in Town

Artifas Music:

Spotify

Apple Music

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YouTube Music

Imagen Records:

Official Website

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EDGE OF PARADISE ANNOUNCE NEW STUDIO ALBUM "THE UNKNOWN" TO RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 17th

PRODUCED BY HOWARD BENSON, NEIL SANDERSON, & MIKE PLOTNIKOFF

NEW SINGLE & MUSIC VIDEO, 'MY METHOD YOUR MADNESS' OUT NOW

Los Angeles based Edge Of Paradise have announced the upcoming release of their new studio album, "The Unknown" on September 17, 2021. Today, the band has also released a new single and video from the album, 'My Method Your Madness'. Watch the video below.

Pre-order/save 'The Unknown' on CD/Color Vinyl/Digital HERE: https://orcd.co/eoptheunknown

Watch the previously released music video for the single 'Digital Paradise' HERE: https://youtu.be/vPRLypNTxg8

"'My Method Your Madness', is a super charged, heavy, and exhilarating track! Lyrically, it is exploring whether our choices have a rippling effect that travel far beyond our reality. Do we exist throughout endless dimensions all at the same time? Maybe nothing matters at all! But whatever the case, we're on an epic adventure, trying to keep control of this journey, through reality as we know it," says Margarita Monet of the new single.

“The Unknown” is Edge Of Paradise's fourth studio album, coming on the heels of their well-received third album, and Frontiers Music Srl debut, “Universe”. The band teamed up with renowned producer Howard Benson (Halestorm, My Chemical Romance, Seether, etc.) who, together with Mike Plotnikoff (Halestorm, Three Days Grace), and Neil Sanderson (Three Days Grace) helped the band craft their biggest sounding album yet. Add in mixing and mastering by Jacob Hansen (Amaranthe, Volbeat, Pretty Maids) and you have a fool proof recipe for a sonically stunning album. “The Unknown” builds upon where “Universe” left off, developing Edge Of Paradise's overall symphonic and metallic sound while bringing it to the next level. Gigantic hooks paired with monolithic guitar riffs in a spacious sea of symphonic sounds will immediately grab listeners and whisk them away on the band's sonic, and lyrical, journey.

"After hearing the first few tracks Mike Plotnikoff had produced for the album, Neil [Sanderson] and I were drawn to them because of their hooky, progressive metal chops and Margarita's soaring intense vocals! We decided to see if they were interested in a partnership with our new company, J&J Records, so we partnered with the band and Frontiers. We completed the record along with Mike and produced a modern metal classic," says producer Howard Benson.

Edge of Paradise's founding members, singer Margarita Monet and guitarist Dave Bates, have found their perfect partners in crime with the addition of drummer Jamie Moreno and bassist Ricky Bonazza. The band, tighter than ever, is ready to blow everyone away once they are back on the road with this stunning new music in tow. Current plans are for the band to tour extensively through 2022 in support of "The Unknown" as well, with touring announcements coming up soon.

After the band’s debut album “Mask”, released independently in 2012, the band released their sophomore album “Immortal Waltz” in 2015, produced by the legendary Michael Wagener (Dokken, Accept, Skid Row). In March 2017, Edge Of Paradise released a five song EP, “Alive”, which was produced by Chuck Johnson (Korn, Slipknot) and mixed by Jay Ruston, Mike Plotnikoff, and Michael Wagener. The band then signed with Frontiers Music Srl for the release of their third album, "Universe" (November 2019) which saw them achieve well over one million streams on Spotify for the album's lead single, the title track. The band also enjoyed a successful European tour with Sonata Arctica at the end of 2019. While home preparing for multiple tours to support the album in 2020, the global pandemic hit and the band's touring plans were sidelined. When it became evident that touring likely wouldn't be in the cards, the band set themselves to writing music for what would ultimately become their fourth album, "The Unknown".

REVEREND JACK Release Debut Album A MILE FROM HOME + New Single "Crimson Seed" via Resurgence America July 9, 2021

A MILE FROM HOME Pre-Save link

REVEREND JACK will release their debut album A MILE FROM HOME along with a new single "Crimson Seed" via Resurgence America on July 9, 2021.

Reverend Jack is based out of Madisonville, Kentucky, and led by singer Eric Harmon and guitarist Dustin Back. After several years of performing and writing songs, the band was discovered by Resurgence America while performing at the Bourbon Music Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Not Playing Games” (2019) is the first release from the Kentucky rockers and features notable guest musicians Joel Hoekstra & Reb Beach from Whitesnake as well as Bruce Watson from Foreigner. The latter is featured on the hard rocking cover of “Midnight Rider” by The Allman Brothers.

Reverend Jack spent 2019 touring with the likes of Foreigner, John 5, Jared James Nichols, Crobot, Damon Johnson and more. The bands strong songwriting and powerful vocals have led to them being joined on stage by members of Cheap Trick, Foreigner, Jared James Nichols, Slaughter, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Twisted Sister.

2020 started off strong for Reverend Jack. A cross country tour took the band from New York to California, including great performances at the Whisky a Go-Go in West Hollywood and Count’s Vamp’d in Las Vegas. A couple of more shows with John 5 led into a string of dates with classic rockers Foreigner. Unfortunately, the band was sent home during that run due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

2021 brings a new full length album, A Mile From Home. The 12 song album was recorded in New York towards the end of 2020. Several guest musicians added their talents to the new release. This list includes Alex Skolnick of Testament, Chris Caffery & Chloe Lowery of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Michael Bluestein & Bruce Watson of Foreigner and Captain Howdy from Dee Snider’s “Strangeland.”

Reverend Jack 2021 Shows

July 7 - Ocean Beach, Fire Island, NY (Sandbar)

July 9 - Bellmore, NY (KJ Farrell’s) CD Release Party w/ VIP Guests

July 10 - Ocean Beach, Fire Island, NY (Sandbar)

July 11 - Ocean Beach, Fire Island, NY (Sandbar)

September 11 - Boonville, IN (Stoner’s)

October 2 - Paducah, KY (River City Eagles)

Reverend Jack is

Eric Harmon - Vocals / Guitar 
Dustin Back - Lead Guitar / Vocals 
Duane Lozada - Bass 
Mike Sciulara - Drums / Percussion

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

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VOICE OF BACEPROT - Hijabs & Heavy Music!

“Beyond blowing away local audiences with their banging music, the three girls are also challenging entrenched stereotypes about gender and religious norms in the world’s most-populous Muslim-majority nation.” – NY Times

 Firda Marsya Kurnia (vocals, guitar), Widi Rahmawati (bass), and Euis Siti Aisyah (drums)  - the members of Voice of Baceprot - have suffered quite a bit of intolerance - even within their own community in West Java, Indonesia.  Wave after wave of backlash and stigmatization came at them from all directions and nearly exhausted them out of the music scene in 2016.

 “The more we tried to avoid the criticism, distance ourselves from it, it became even more vile. It provoked us to fight back even more bluntly. It kept going to the point where we became so tired,” Marsya recalls. They made efforts to find support from those they thought would better understand their situation. However, there was always a catch: they would ask the band to be more of what they found acceptable / ask them to align with ‘their side.’

 “It isn't just the band's loud music that's attracting attention: Voice of Baceprot has also entered the spotlight for breaking the mold of a typical metal band.” - NPR

When they told their manager and former teacher, Abah Erza Satia, about their dilemma, he responded with pearls of wisdom. “According to Abah, if we still believe in God while feeling that certain people are not allowing us to play music while others lend us their bogus support by forcing us to side with them, then why not write a song that confides directly in God? We could cut loose any allegiances with our fellow human beings,” explains Marsya.  Together with Abah, the trio then began to write lyrics that were very confessional yet brimming with their dislike towards allegiances. They would eventually become the building blocks to “God, Allow Me (Please) to Play Music”.  

 The framework of the song was built gradually. It started from jamming sessions at Abah’s studio back in their hometown. Further refinements were made across a series of workshops in Jakarta after each band member had been prepared musically by several senior local musicians who served as their mentors, including Stevi Item (Andra & The Backbone, Deadsquad), Alan Musyfia, and Andyan Gorust (Hellcrust), as well as Gusti Hendy (GIGI). The band also received a lot of input on the song’s arrangement by their producer Stephan Santoso, who also helmed the production of their debut single “School Revolution” back in 2018.  The video for “School Revolution” is coming up on 900k plays on YouTube at present.

 The end result after the gruelling process was a full-blown single, heavy yet melodic and catchy at the same time, showcasing each member’s musical development and hard work.  Musically, “God, Allow Me (Please) to Play Music” is the embodiment of the results from explorations that Marsya, Siti, and Widi embarked on in uncharted musical territories.

 “We want people who listen to this song to become more tolerant towards others. God does not belong to just one person or one group of people. God belongs to anyone who believes in Him. So, everyone has a right to be creative, create, and take responsibility for their creations given by the God that he or she believes in,” Marsya concludes.

 The new single follows the band’s “Other Side of Metalism” campaign this month (July 2021) that will feature the weekly release of covers of some of the band’s favorite songs - System of a Down’s “IEAIAIO,”  Rage Against The Machine’s “Testify,” Slipknot’s “Before I Forget” and One Minute Silence’s “I Wear My Skin” (out today .

 The group is honored to have been invited to play Wacken Open Air 2022.  They will play alongside headliners Slipknot, Judas Priest, Rammstein’s Till Lindemann and more, at the event, scheduled to run from August 4 - August 8, 2022.

 “God, Allow Me (Please) to Play Music” will be available on all digital streaming platforms starting from August 17, 2021. 

 Official website www.voiceofbaceprot.com

Instagram www.instagram.com/voiceofbacepro t 

Twitter www.twitter.com/baceprotvoices  

Facebook www.facebook.com/voiceofbaceprot  

YouTube www.youtube.com/voiceofbaceprot

General inquiries voiceofbaceprot@12wired.com

EKTOMORF Releases New Video for Thrash Banger “Fear Me”

New Album, Reborn, out Now via Napalm Records | Order HERE

Reborn under the sign of thrash metal!

Since their debut, Hangok (1994), the four-piece around singer/guitarist Zoltán “Zoli” Farkas has regularly delivered new power to their devotees. With their return to form on Reborn,EKTOMORF impressively showcase their undeniable thrash metal power. Today, they’ve released a new video for their single “Fear Me” off Reborn!

Guitarist & Singer Zoltán “Zoli” Farkas about “Fear Me”:

“One more video from the Reborn album, dedicated to the EKTOMORF family all across the globe! I hope this will make your day! “ Fear Me “ Is tight and heavy riffing, with some amazing harmonies in the mid part. I send this song to those in my life who deserve it on a maximum level! Your’re welcome to do the same.”

Watch the Music Video for “Fear Me”

Only three years after the release of their chart-breaking full-length, Fury (2018), Rebornignites a blazing fire with its heavy sound and harsh lyrics that will burn any genre limitations to the ground. Their 15th studio album breathes the spirit of the “Big Four” – Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth – while at the same time, beginning a completely independent new chapter of EKTOMORF.

Order Reborn HERE:

EKTOMORF is:

Zoltán Farkas - Vocals, Guitars

Szebasztián Simon - Guitars

Csaba Zahorán - Bass

Kàlmàn Olàh – Drums

AMMO re-enters the proverbial red room on new 'Rose + Crown' single.

AMMO recalls so many different artists (Kate Bush, Jane Siberry, Cocteau Twins, Slowdive), while not sounding particularly like any of them very much. This is melancholic loaded reverie, capable of entrancing you into Lynchian territory" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Glorious... AMMO now offers an amazing piece loaded with her shoegaze and the dream-pop crafts all over it. A very emotional approach" ~ White Light / White Heat

"Some artists have that magic that makes you want to return to their music again and again. AMMO is definitely among them with an addictive blend of Chromatics-style whispers and Phantogram melodicism, fueling both to the max" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Dark dreamery in sonic form with tantalizing and euphoric escapism. Ethereal and lush, the rhythm, full-hall sound and haunting creates a stunning atmosphere" ~ The Record Stache

"Melancholic escapist dreamery... ‘Total Recall’ is a must-hear. Listen, watch, soak in the goodness and chill / dream out" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

On the trail of releasing her debut 2-track single 'Rose + Crown' via California-based Mourning Sun Records, dreamy and darkly melodic artist AMMO presents the spellbinding but eerie video for the title track, premiered via Post-Punk.com. Directed by AMMO herself, co-filmed by Christopher Slater, this hypnotic clip plays out like a Lynchian lullaby, enveloped in gentle red-hued psychedelic gauze, with masked apparitions, along with AMMO's own captivating visage.

'Rose + Crown' was born of the isolation and swift emerging darkness wrought upon the world by the current pandemic, echoing themes of catharsis and freedom from self-imposed shackles, whether physical or psychological. Written by AMMO, it was co-produced and recorded with Alex Posell, former Black Flamingo bandmate, who also contributes drums and percussion, and mixed and mastered by Robert Duncan IV.

The B-side 'Total Recall' was originally released as part of 'Do You Feel That Way Too? A Tribute to The Sound', the first charitable compilation on the Dune Altarlabel, aimed at increasing awareness to the mental health conditions plaguing millions today. Inspired by Adrian Borland (frontman of criminally underrated, yet tremendously influential 1980s UK band The Sound), who suffered from schizoaffective disorder and severe depression.

Currently based between Los Angeles and New York City, AMMO’s distillate aesthetic can be described as otherworldly ethereal shoegaze, driven by the pulse of primordial percussive rhythms that provide a backdrop for haunting vocals and lush, atmospheric guitar lines. Siouxsie and the Banshees, Rudimentary Peni, Dead Can Dance, Cranes, Cocteau Twins and Enya act as the influential foundation, supporting the lens through which AMMO channels her art.

AMMO has enveloped herself in a number of music, photography and film projects. Her band Brass Box released their full-length LP 'The Cathedral' in 2019.  Past music projects include Black Flamingo, Darklands and Tête. Her music has been said to “shackle the living or free the dead…” by creating mystical magnetic soundscapes – “the kind of music that should soundtrack a sand-dune-to-shoreline road movie by David Lynch”.

A rock and roll photographer, musician and songwriter, AMMO spent her youth ditching school to delve through record store bins and scour the LA music and art scene in hopes of running into like-minds. 

Pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo is a constant in her life. She has shot and produced a feature film, co-foundedPLAG Presents, a platform for women musicians and the LGBTQ community voices to be heard.

Her storied history in shooting fashion editorials and directing short films and music videos have given her the tools to achieve a deeper connection with her listeners. These artistic mediums empower her exploration of illusive and melancholic topics which offer listeners an emotional and visceral experience by creating a dialogue between the imagined and physical.

'Rose + Crown' is out now, available across online stores and streaming platforms, includingSpotify,Bandcampand otherwise available athttps://orcd.co/rose-crown.

CREDITS
'Total Recall' written by Adrian Borland
'Rose + Crown' written and performed by AMMO
Drums and percussion by Alex Posell
Produced by AMMO and Alex Posell
'Rose + Crown' mixing and mastering by Robert Duncan IV
'Total Recall' mixing and mastering by Dylan Neal
Video directed by AMMO
Camera by Christopher Slater & AMMO
Released by Mourning Sun Records

Keep up with AMMO
Website|Bandcamp|Merch|Facebook|Twitter|Soundcloud|Instagram|Spotify|YouTube|

ELEINE finally releases their debut album on VINYL!

After the huge success of ELEINE’s 3rd full-length album, “Dancing In Hell”, they now release their self-titled debut album “ELEINE” on vinyl for the first time as a big thank you to their fantastic fans worldwide for staying true and dedicated! Complete your ELEINE vinyl collection and pre-order today. The vinyl is set for release on October 15.

Pre-Order 'ELEINE' on Vinyl Now!

THE HAWKINS Release New Single "Turncoat Killer"

Stream the single:

https://orcd.co/turncoatkiller

The Hawkins release "Turncoat Killer" via The Sign Records. The second single leading up to the Swedish garage rock outfit's new mini-album "Aftermath".

Following the release of 2020's "Silence is a Bomb” and its affiliated live album ”Live in the Woods”, The Hawkins decided to make something different. The result is ”Aftermath”, a conceptual mini-album, lyrically dealing with the destructive aftermath of past relationships. With a mix of dark humor and entertaining songwriting, The Hawkins combines dead seriousness and fun into an ambivalent take on garage-punk-n-roll. 

"Turncoat Killer" is the second single leading up to The Hawkins' new mini-album. The single is out on all streaming platforms on July 2 via The Sign Records.

Connect with The Hawkins

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Instagram

Bandcamp

Biography:

A rock band inside a kitchen during a house fire. An ironic soundtrack to the apocalypse. Lyrically Hyde, sonically Jekkyl. With a splendid mix of swing, energy, and punk’n’roll, Sweden’s The Hawkins delivers rock music at its finest. Combining high-flying, infectious melodies with exploding energy and dynamic songwriting into one vibrant soundscape. Blending the best of many worlds, The Hawkins could be described as an encyclopedia of rock. 

In 2021 The Hawkins is releasing “Aftermath”. A 6-track mini-album that deals with the aftermath of tattered relationships, anger in between panic attacks, hearing yourself hoping for someone else to save you and finally giving up. With a dark yet humoristic energy, The Hawkins goes from plastic jazz to cleithrophobic film music, via bubblegum pop and Rolling Stones -hardcore. Hurtful and fun.

The four members signed a record deal with The Sign Records in 2019 and released their second full length album “Silence is a Bomb” in the middle of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. Not being able to play shows, they decided to record a select number of songs from the album as a live show in the middle of the woods, a brewery and a barn. The three recording sessions resulted in the 2021 live album “Live in the Woods”. 

In 2017 the band’s first full length album “Ain’t Rock n Roll” came out via Gain Sony Music followed by extensive touring through Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and France. The band even got to teach the love of music at a school in Sachseln, Switzerland. In return, the Swiss kids taught them about extremely strong chewing tobacco.

The Hawkins debut EP “Part II: The Puppet Show” was released in 2014. The same year, The Hawkins played all over their home country including great festivals such as Sweden Rock Festival, Peace & Love and Metallsvenskan. The year also included a Russian tour, driving 1830 miles through a -30°C winter.

Born and raised within a two-square-meter-big Swedish town back in March 2013, Albin, Johannes, Martin, and Mikael have together shared their musical journeys since they plucked their first chords. Initially the four lovers were floating through life. Every rehearsal was colourful; Loud drums, resonant guitar cabs, cheap jokes echoing through the rehearsal building halls and cheap beer flowing like an amber flood. True love had struck the four friends. 

But every relationship has its dark moments. In the summer of 2018 the band went touring in Poland and Slovakia. After 1 show the bus broke down in Wrocław, Poland. With practically everything they owned inside it. And the icing on the cake in the face was that Johannes forgot the papers stating his ownership of the bus. Good job, dude. In 2015 while driving to a show, Johannes honestly considered crashing the bus at 110 km/h because he was so fed up with the other three guys. They had only been on the road for 15 minutes. As If that wasn’t enough, while packing for the 2019 UK Tour, The Hawkins had to cancel the whole tour due to booking issues. One day before departure.

But still, here they are in 2021 with the new mini-album “Aftermath”. But despite the dark moments and despite the dark themes surrounding the new mii-album, The Hawkins is not giving up. The relationship grows stronger through the constant aftermath of all the ups and downs. You just gotta balance the value of the ever-flowing variables.

RAGE Announce New Studio Album 'Resurrection Day' - Out September 17 on Steamhammer/SPV

The band’s fans were overjoyed when in the Summer of 2020, RAGE frontman Peavy Wagner presented the group’s new line-up featuring two guitarists, announcing a return to the constellation that had recorded classics such as Black In Mind and End Of All Days. After last year’s departure of Marcos Rodriguez, Stefan Weber (ex-Axxis) was enlisted, followed just a few weeks later by Jean Bormann (Angel Inc, Rage & Ruins). The fourth band member is drummer Vassilios “Lucky” Maniatopoulos, who has been with Rage since 2015.

The current line-up could be seen and heard for the first time on the ´The Price Of War 2.0` video clip, a new edition of the same-named song from Black In Mind, which has been available on all major online channels since June 2020. Immediately afterward, the quartet commenced work on its brand-new album Resurrection Day.

“I`m surprised how quickly the new line-up has gelled into a homogeneous team and how positively the talents of each band member have come into effect,” says Wagner, looking back on a highly creative production phase and commenting on Rage’s latest offering, “I feel that our music is still typical Rage on the one hand while sounding so much fresher on the other.”

Rage have recorded twelve new songs covering a stylistic range that could hardly be more characteristic of the band, from raw thrash metal tracks like "Virginity" (also the first single and video), "The Age Of Reason" and "Extinction Overkill" through mid-tempo pieces such as "Arrogance And Ignorance" and "Monetary Gods" to the straightforward ballad "Black Room" which balances things out.

“Rage fans get exactly what they want on Resurrection Day, plus a surprise or two,” promises Peavy, mentioning in particular "Travelling Through Time"; a number that explores the extremes between bludgeoning 'shoot-em-up grooves' and epic moments.

“The song is inspired by Renaissance composer Giorgio Mainerio,” he explains. “There`s a piece by Mainerio called ´Schiarazula Marazula`, with a wonderful theme that I often play at home on acoustic guitar. Jean and I have adapted it to suit the Rage format and given the song a different rhythmic perspective, which has added intensity. We’ve never done a number like ´Travelling Through Time` before.”

'Resurrection Day' will be released on September 17th, 2021 through SPV/Steamhammer in the following configurations:

=> DigiPak incl. poster

=> 2LP Gatefold, 140 g, orange vinyl, printed inner sleeves

=> Download / Streaming

Pre-Order Link: https://smarturl.it/RageResurrectionDay

=> Limited box set (666 units) and 2LP Gatefold exclusive colored editions only at the Napalm shop

Pre-Order Link: https://napalmrecords.com/english/rage

=> Exclusive CD/LP Bundle with a shirt only at the Steamhammer shop

Pre-Order Link: https://shop.steamhammer.de/artists/rage/store

IRON LIZARDS Sign w/ The Sign Records - Debut Album ‘Hungry For Action’ Due In September

IRON LIZARDS have joined forces with The Sign Records for the release of their debut album 'Hungry for Action'. Hailing from France, the band offers raw and dirty garage rock performed with uncompromising attitude and energy.

'Hungry for Action' will be released in September 2021. The first single leading up to the album is called "It's About Time!", and it's out now on all streaming platforms.

Read more about Iron Lizards below.

IRON LIZARDS Biography:

No fucks given. No trends. Iron Lizards blast their guitars and make music alive once again. Raw riffs, and with no unnecessary shit in their songs. Straight on, no fuzz, and loud screaming guitars. Iron Lizards make you feel the wild and dangerous side of rock’n’roll. They make you remember the hazy days of the alternative '90s. Combining the roughest part of music history, Iron Lizards are a true statement in this time and age. Be ready to testify, Iron Lizards will make your ear pukes of the loud and unfiltered joy of unsophisticated music.

Iron Lizards are a power-trio from Paris, France. The band was formed in 2015 by Elio with their goals already set; honoring the old gods of Detroit (MC5, The Stooges) whilst paying their homage to the 90’s action rock scene (The Hellacopters, Zeke, New Bomb Turks). This was then mixed with influences taken from everything from 60’s garage punk to 80’s punk hardcore (Zero Boys, Minor Threat, Gang Green) and psychobilly (The Cramps). Their first EP was released in 2016 by German JanML Records, following this with playing as the opening act for bands such as Get Dead, Zeke, Mammoth Mammoth, Sonic Wolves, The Hip Priests, and Christmas. In 2021 the band signed with Swedish The Sign Records to release their debut album: Hungry for Action.

Iron Lizards is:

Elio - Guitar and Vocals

Kevin - Drums

Valentin - Bass guitar

HEAVY METAL TELEVISION Announces Massive Relaunch of Worlds Longest Running Metal Video & Content Show!

HEAVY METAL TELEVISION, the world’s longest running streaming video channel for hard rock and heavy metal music videos and content, will officially relaunch on Monday, July 5th at 12am Eastern Time.

“It really is time, isn’t it,” asks Heavy Metal Television CEO and Head of Programming Chris Akin. “We are right in the middle of the digital age; the video age, and the best music ever created finds itself without a dedicated outlet to present it. Great rock and metal is being made every day. Videos look better than they ever did before. And yet, you have most of the metal community believing the babblings of old fashioned people that 'Rock Is Dead.' It’s not dead at all. It just doesn’t have an appropriate outlet to present it anymore. The relaunch of Heavy Metal Television changes that.”

While Heavy Metal Television originally launched in 2012, it never took off as anticipated due to a large number of factors that are being adapted for the relaunch in 2021.

“I looked at it as a whole, and saw a lot of things that I thought we could immediately upgrade to make it work for the times,” Akin admits. “I always loved the idea, but just thought that, in 2021, it needed to be redesigned for the modern video consumer.”

With that, a new platform was developed. A new, state of the art website was developed to provide information about the programming on the channel. The programming was integrated into the channel’s Facebook page for ease of viewing. The streaming channel has also been integrated into the parent company’s iOS and Android apps for easy portable viewing on the go! Viewing has also been made available on Chromecast and Amazon Fire devices, with Roku and Apple TV channels scheduled to launch by Fall of 2021. As Akin describes it, Heavy Metal Television has been refocused to the needs of the modern metalhead.

“In 2012 when Heavy Metal Television originally launched, people consumed video content on a computer as if it was another TV,” Akin remembers. "It was 'stabilized in a chair while eating potato chips' television. It’s different now. People are used to watching videos, podcasts, and shows while on the go. They watch while walking, on car rides, while riding the bus… pretty much everywhere. We’re making that portability possible now.”

But what will this new programming consist of? According to Akin, it will have everything a metalhead would want to see.

“We are covering the full gamut of metal,” Akin says. “From hard rock and hair metal through death metal, and everything in between. We’ll also have interview shows covering all the artists of yesterday and today, and some killer specialty shows that will paint a new picture of heavy metal for the viewer today. If you are a fan of aggressive music, there’s definitely going to be a ton of great music featured on Heavy Metal Television. I’m so excited to share this with fans.”

One thing that Heavy Metal Television is definitely going to bring back is shows featuring today’s artists playing the music. As Akin believes, fans just want to know what their favorite musicians are listening to.

“VJ takeovers are going to be a big part of Heavy Metal Television,” Akin admits. “As a kid, I remember becoming a Crowbar fan just from seeing Philfrom Pantera talking about them and wearing their shirt in a video. I want THAT kind of energy to return between fans and bands. That excitement between artist and fan was the heart of music television’s fantastic first run. A retweet from your favorite drummer just doesn’t have that same impact as we used to experience. Having my favorite bands sharing their favorite music with me, as a fan, always made my musical library grow. This new generation of bands deserve the same opportunity with their fans.”

Heavy Metal Television launches Monday, July 5th, and can be viewed at www.heavymetaltelevision.net or www.heavymetaltv.com, a full screen no frills viewer at www.heavymetaltelevision.com or on The CMS Network iOS and Android apps (search “The CMS Network”). Instructions to watch on Chromecast or Amazon Fire devices are available on the website.

Heavy Metal TV Schedule:

All Times Local To The Viewer

Mondays 8pm - The Classic Metal Show (Neeley and Chris Akin) (80s Metal and Commentary)

Tuesdays 8pm - Shockwaves Skullsessions (Bob Nalbandian and Matt Hartnett) (70s/80s Metal History)

Wednesdays 8pm - Poppitt’s Corner (Tanner Poppitt) (Extreme and Death Metal)

Thursdays 8pm - Aftershocks TV (Matt Hartnett and Chris Akin) (Classic Rock and Heavy Metal Interviews)

* Fridays 8pm - Talking Into Infinity (Jon Drake and Brian Hendrickson) (Dream Theater Conversation Show)

* Fridays 8pm - Art That Rocks (Monty Colvin) (Painting meets Heavy Metal History)

* Alternates Every Other Friday.

Xalpen releases Dark Nights of Winter

Xalpen releases Dark Nights of Winter

The Chilean black metallers Xalpen release the first track from their newly remastered album "Sawken Xo´on". The new track "Dark Nights of Winter" (2021 Remaster) is now streaming on all digital music platforms.

Xalpen comments:

"Talks about the time of the old shamans from the frozen southern dark lands, how isolated and unknown it was their existence before the genocide, far from the grace of a Christian god and the filthy “modern world” invasion, desolated and exterminated by the greed of men. A time of long forgotten magick inside the dark night of time..."

The remastered album "Sawken Xo´on" is set for release on the 30th of July 2021 on both vinyl, CD, and digital via Black Lodge Records.

Listen Now/ Pre-Order the Album

Steve Hackett launches ‘Wingbeats’; first single from ‘Surrender of Silence’

Legendary guitarist Steve Hackett, releases his new studio rock album Surrender of Silence on 10th September 2021, via Inside Out Music. The album features 11 new songs as Steve has been working hard through Lockdown and, for the first time, has completed two studio albums for release within the same year!

Today he launches the video for ‘Wingbeats’, the first single from the new album. Watch the Paul Gosling directed video here.

Surrender of Silence is released on 10th September 2021 as a Limited Edition CD+Blu-ray Mediabook in hardcover slipcase, Standard CD Jewel case, Gatefold 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet and Digital Album via Inside Out Music. Pre-order now here: https://stevehackett.lnk.to/SurrenderOfSilence

Hot on the heels of his classical-acoustic travelogue Under A Mediterranean Sky, which was released in January and hit Number 2 in the UK Classical Album Chart, Surrender of Silence is a further exploration of Hackett’s love of world music, discovering different sounds, moods and textures to deliver a rock album of extraordinary variety, power and beauty.

As with Under A Mediterranean Sky, Surrender of Silence was also recorded during Lockdown and, again, Hackett has called upon some of his musical friends from across the world to contribute. Hackett’s regular touring band of Roger King (keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax, clarinet), Jonas Reingold (bass), Nad Sylvan (vocals) and Craig Blundell (drums) are supplemented by Phil Ehart and Nick D’Virgilio (drums), the vocal talents of Amanda Lehmann, Durga and Lorelei McBroom, Christine Townsend (violin, viola), Malik Mansurov (tar) and Sodirkhon Ubaidulloev (dutar).

This new album is full-on electric…

“Lockdown cobwebs are blown away in one fell-swoop here!” says Steve Hackett. “With the monster rhythm section of Jonas, Craig, Nick and Phil along with Rob’s soaring sax and bass clarinet, Nad, Amanda and myself on vocals, Roger’s darkly powerful organ and my guitar, we plunge full-pelt into that wild release of energy.”

Our journey takes us from the classical orchestrations of Russia (Natalia) to the plains of Africa (Wingbeats) to mysterious Eastern shores (Shanghai To Samarkand), all via the ocean’s depths (Relaxation Music for Sharks (featuring feeding frenzy)). The Devil’s Cathedral pools the talents of Hackett’s entire touring band and features King’s atmospheric Gothic organ and a powerhouse rhythm display from Blundell and Reingold.

Hackett’s vocals have never been bettered and his duet with Amanda Lehmann adds emotion to Scorched Earth a lament for the environmental horrors facing our planet. Throughout Hackett’s guitars add a rich tapestry of colour with soaring solos and intricate weaving melodies.

“It’s a ‘no holds barred’ album,” adds Hackett, “riding that wave, unleashing those demons, dreams and nightmares, all crashing together over the shore.

“I enjoyed the power of this album allowing my guitar to scream in joy and rage… and once again flying across those oceans to distant lands. It’s terrific to connect creatively with musicians from far flung places, particularly when we’ve all been unable to meet. We all have a voice in our cacophony of sound and we cry out together in the Surrender of Silence!”
Steve Hackett shares writing credits with both Jo Hackett and Roger King on several tracks. All tracks were recorded by Roger King and produced by Steve Hackett with Roger King at Siren.

About Steve Hackett

Steve Hackett joined Genesis at the beginning of 1971 and gained an international reputation as the guitarist in the band’s classic line-up alongside Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins. Hackett’s intricate guitar work was a key element of Genesis’ albums from Nursery Cryme (1971) to Wind And Wuthering (1977) including the classic Selling England By The Pound.

After leaving Genesis at the end of 1977, Hackett’s solo career, which now spans more than 30 albums, has demonstrated his extraordinary versatility with both electric and acoustic guitar. Hackett is renowned as both an immensely talented and innovative rock musician and a virtuoso classical guitarist and composer and this was recognised in 2010 when he was inducted into the Rock Hall Of Fame. He has also worked alongside Steve Howe of YES in the supergroup GTR.

Hackett’s compositions take influences from many genres, including jazz, classical and blues. For his later studio works The Night Siren (2017) and At The Edge Of Light (2019) Hackett has explored the influences of world music. Recent tours have seen Hackett celebrate his time with Genesis including a spectacular 2018 tour in which he realised a long-held ambition to perform the works of Genesis live with his band and an orchestra.

The lockdown enforced by the 2020 global pandemic has proven to be a particularly creative period for Hackett. He began by releasing Selling England by the Pound & Spectral Mornings: Live at Hammersmith, a live recording of 2019’s hugely successful tour celebrating that Genesis classic together with the 40th anniversary of one of his most-loved solo albums. Lockdown also gave Hackett the opportunity to write and record two new studio albums, the UK Classical Chart hit Under A Mediterranean Sky and the forthcoming Surrender of Silence.
STEVE HACKETT Online:
www.hackettsongs.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Hackett/123101228589
www.twitter.com/HackettOfficial
http://hackettsongs.com/tour.html

INSIDEOUTMUSIC Online:
www.insideoutmusic.com
www.youtube.com/InsideOutMusicTV
www.facebook.com/InsideOutMusic
www.twitter.com/insideouteu

THE FIVE HUNDRED Share New Single "Walls Of Jericho" feat. Andreas Bjulver of CABAL

British metalcore five-piece THE FIVE HUNDRED have released their new single "Walls Of Jericho", along with a music video. It's the fourth single taken from the band's new studio album 'A World On Fire', which see a July 30th, 2021 via Long Branch Records. "Walls of Jericho" also features CABAL's Andreas Bjulver on guest vocals, who comments on the track:

My band CABAL is on the same label as the boys in The Five Hundred, so they've been on my radar for a while now and I really like what they do, so when they asked me to jump on a track with them, it was an absolute no-brainer for me."

Stream 'Walls Of Jericho' here: https://smarturl.it/aworldonfire

Watch the video here

The Five Hundred about their new single "Walls Of Jericho":

"It’s fair to say that not a single one of us in the band is religious, but the biblical battle of Jericho bears some significance…in that, it reminds us that our enemy cannot be defeated with physical weapons, but rather by a crowd of loud voices."

PRE-ORDER ‘A World On Fire’ HERE

Aggressive yet euphoric, empowering yet simultaneously enslaving, The Five Hundredare renowned for overcoming adversities and laying siege to every stage they play. Their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Bleed Red’ told the story of a band struggling with Tourette’s, OCD, and drug addiction. It's now the band’s time to share with the world how they’ve battled through their vices and come out on top. After successful tours up and down the country, Eastern Europe/Russia, and an appearance at the iconic Download festival in 2019, the quintet is back and angrier than ever with their follow-up album.

The Five Hundred have also announced a selection of shows in support of their new album.

The Five Hundred Live

July 25 - Nottingham - The Sal*

Aug 20 - Gibraltar - Fairground

Sep 4 - Essex - Marine Metal Festival

Sep 16 - Gloucester - Dick Whittington's

Sep 17 - Stoke - The Underground

Sep 18 - Chesterfield - County Music Bar

Sep 19 - Birmingham - Dead Wax

Oct 16 - Derby - Alt Fest

Nov 18 - Peterborough - Met Lounge

Nov 19 - Birmingham - Asylum

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Sons of Southern Ulster and Pete Briquette (Boomtown Rats) team up new EP. Preview their 'Polaris' single

“Their magic lies in a total grasp of the literary genius of the Emerald Isle and the cleverest and best of the nation’s post-punk acts…9/10” ~ Vive Le Rock

“Justin Kelly tells wonderful stories that are located at the intersection between cultural inertia and edges of progress. Irishisms and place names abound, yet the scope, the vision, is universal…4/5” ~ Irish Times

"Polaris is a stellar track... introspective and poetic journey—over the horizon and through the sea of stars" ~ Post-Punk.com

“Sons of Southern Ulster’s 2016 debut laid the template for the Fontaines Dogrel….its follow up is darker, with gritty guitars and lyrics evoking a world of alcoholics and abusers” ~ Sunday Times

Sons of Southern Ulster are delighted to reveal the fruit of their collaboration with Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats). The 'Turf Accountant Schemes' EP is previewed by 'Polaris', a stellar and invigorating track, mixing cinematic rock and spacious electronica with spoken word but presenting a sparseness that is chilling.

Thematically, the song touches on regret, lost opportunity, death and, of course, alcohol – a recurring theme with the band. You can see the fog of your breath in the freezing air, as underlined in the accompanying video, produced by Nicky Fennell.

Formed around the songwriting partnership of Justin Kelly and David Meagher, Sons of Southern Ulster released their debut album 'Foundry Folk Songs' in 2016. Many of their songs reflect the experience of growing up in a small southern border town (Bailieborough, County Cavan, Ireland) long before the internet and the country's “Celtic Tiger” rapid growth period. They explore themes of regret and disappointment, interspersed with moments of light and insight.

Pete Briquette is an Irish bassist, record producer and composer. A member of The Boomtown Rats, he has also played in Bob Geldof's band. Things have come first circle, so to speak, with Pete originally from Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan and the Sons from such a nearby community.

"The first music I ever bought was the 'Like Clockwork' single by the Boomtown Rats when I was twelve or thirteen. I was obsessed with The Rats so when Pete Briquette reached out to ask if he could remix a few tracks from our 'Sinners and Lost Souls' album, we were absolutely shocked. Apparently, a mutual friend has passed the album on to him and he was suitably intrigued. Pete also grew up in County Cavan, so he’d get a lot of the references and the tone. Lyrically the songs are very “Cavan” in that they are on the surface often quite harsh but contain a lot of dark humor," says Justin Kelly.

"I remember when the Boomtown Rats broke through. At that time it was highly unusual for an Irish band to make it in Britain. But for a Cavan man to be there!!! That was just bizarre. Cavan men were made to be farmers – not No.1 pop stars."

The 'Turf Accountant Schemes' EP features four tracks from the band's second album 'Sinners and Lost Souls' (2020), each of them re-imagined and re-mixed by Briquette. The other three acerbic classics are 'Fear My Scorn', 'Live in the Past' and 'Stubby Yellow Fingers'.

David Meagher delivers the perfect canvas against which these stories can be told with echoes of Gang of Four and a lifetime misspent listening to punk rock. But this is no one trick pony, this EP also bearing hints of Sparklehorse sprinkled throughout.

Mixed / engineered by David Minehan (The Replacements, Buffalo Tom, Dropkick Murphys), produced by Daragh Dukes, and mastered by Richard Dowling at WavMastering (David Bowie, Brian Eno, Sinead O’Connor, Primal Scream, Suede, Interpol, Foo Fighters), this EP features striking artwork by acclaimed Danish artist Claus Castenskiold.

"In Sons of Southern Ulster, we took a very conscious decision to sing songs about Cavan as it was always a bit underserved, not just in music but in infrastructure and resources. In many ways, the Irish government ignored us and left us to our own devices – for better or worse. I think Pete picked up on that," says David Meagher.

'Polaris (Pete Briquette Remix)' is out July 2. On August 27, the 'Turf Accountant Schemes' EP will be released across online platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify, as well as on vinyl. It can already be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written by Justin Kelly and David Meagher
Remix by Pete Briquette
Produced by Daragh Dukes of Dukes Productions, Limerick
Engineered / mixed by David Minehan at Wooly Mammoth, Daragh Dukes, The Slimmer Twins at Bog Road Studio
Mastered by Richard Dowling at WavMastering, Limerick
Justin Kelly – vocals
David Meagher – guitars
Paddy Glackin – bass
Noel Larkin - drums
Cover artwork by Claus Castenskiold
Video production by Nicky Fennell
All photos taken by P. Merchant

Keep up with Sons of Southern Ulster
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