A phenomenal, digital birthday card to legendary JOURNEY founder NEAL SCHON featuring heartfelt greetings from his stunning wife, MICHAELE SCHON, as well as PAUL ROGERS, JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, LL COOL J, NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN, DOLLY PARTON, RANDY JACKSON, SHEILA E, SLASH, STEVE VAI, TOMMY EMMANUEL, JOE SATRIANI, HUEY LEWIS, ZAK WILDE, and more!
Eric Church to Play Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium with Morgan Wallen & ERNEST on June 11
ERIC CHURCH ANNOUNCES ONE-OF-A-KIND SHOW WITH MORGAN WALLEN AT MINNEAPOLIS’ U.S. BANK STADIUM THIS SUMMER
ERNEST Joins as Special Guest on June 11
Tickets On Sale March 11 at 10 a.m. CT via EricChurch.com
Minneapolis Joins Previously Announced Milwaukee Stadium Show Set for May 28
After first breaking the news to his Church Choir faithful last night, CMA Entertainer of the Year/superstar Eric Church now officially announces his second headlining stadium show this summer, with “One Hell of a Night in Minneapolis” set for Saturday, June 11 at U.S. Bank Stadium. The supersized show will see the 10-time GRAMMY nominee joined by fellow songwriting craftsmen Morgan Wallen and ERNEST.
Today’s announcement adds to an already remarkable year for the man celebrated by Stereogum as “one of the biggest touring musicians on earth,” as rock-infused anthem “Heart On Fire” climbs the Top 10 at country radio and The Gather Again Tour holds the top spot on Pollstar’s Live75 chart for back-to-back weeks, with Variety proclaiming: “For a guy whose concerts time out at three hours a night, the pandemic’s break was but a way to rest up and blast off, ferociously.”
The update follows Church’s recent news that he will also headline a Milwaukee stadium show over Memorial Day weekend, with Brothers Osborne and Parker McCollum joining him at American Family Field on Saturday, May 28.
“Church is never predictable — aside from the fact that he consistently stages one of the most explosive (and longest) sets in country music,” the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel remarked upon that show’s announcement. “For the second stadium-headlining show of his life, expect Church to give his fans his all.”
Tickets to the U.S. Bank Stadium show go on sale to the general public Friday, March 11 at 10 a.m. CT via EricChurch.com. Members of the Church Choir will have early access to tickets beginning Friday, March 4. Tickets to the American Family Field show and remaining dates of The Gather Again Tour are on sale now.
Church Choir members will also have the exclusive opportunity to gather together for a pre-show tailgate at U.S. Bank Stadium by adding the “Church Choir Pre-Show Tailgate” during the Church Choir pre-sale to access to the pre-show tailgate with food trucks, two drink tickets, a special gift, tailgate games, giveaways and more. Also at the stadium and open to the general public will be a pop-up store with These Boots by Lucchese (Church’s exclusive signature boot line).
For more information, visit www.ericchurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter @ericchurch and Instagram@ericchurchmusic. Fans can also download the Eric Church Official App for exclusive offers only available on tour – including seat upgrades, contests and special merchandise – all while connecting with fellow fans from around the world.
Eric Church Tour Dates
March 4 Orlando, Fla. | Amway Center
March 5 Tampa, Fla. | Amalie Arena
March 11 Chicago, Ill. | United Center
March 12 St. Louis, Mo. | Enterprise Center
March 18 Green Bay, Wis. | Resch Center
March 19 Green Bay, Wis. | Resch Center
March 25 Birmingham, Ala. | Legacy Arena at the BJCC
March 26 Little Rock, Ark. | Simmons Bank Arena
April 1 Fort Worth, Texas | Dickies Arena
April 2 San Antonio, Texas | AT&T Center
April 9 New Orleans, La. | Smoothie King Center
April 15 Portland, Ore. | Moda Center
April 16 Spokane, Wash. | Spokane Arena
April 29 Boise, Idaho | ExtraMile Arena
April 30 Salt Lake City, Utah | Vivint Arena
May 6 San Diego, Calif. | Pechanga Arena
May 7 Los Angeles, Calif. | Crypto.com Arena
May 11 Sacramento, Calif. | Golden 1 Center
May 13 Las Vegas, Nev. | T-Mobile Arena
May 14 Glendale, Ariz. | Gila River Arena
May 20 New York, N.Y. | Madison Square Garden
May 28 Milwaukee, Wis. | American Family Field
June 11 Minneapolis, Minn. | U.S. Bank Stadium
June 17 Wildwood, N.J. | Barefoot Country Music Fest
June 23 Mack, Colo. | Country Jam 2022
July 1 Ottawa, Ontario | Canadian Tire Centre
July 2 Toronto, Ontario | Scotiabank Arena
July 9 Pendleton, Ore. | Pendleton Whisky Music Festival
July 23 Brooklyn, Mich. | Faster Horses
July 30 Camrose, Alberta | Big Valley Jamboree
August 27 Stateline, Nev. | Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s
August 28 Stateline, Nev. | Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s
About Eric Church
Eric Church spent the past year releasing new music at a relentless pace; sharing the results of a marathon session during which he spent nearly a month writing and recording a song per day while sequestered in rural North Carolina – including his latest Gold-certified No. 1 “Hell of a View” and current Top 10-and-climbing single “Heart On Fire.” The resulting critically acclaimed and chart-topping three-part project, Heart & Soul, is available everywhere now.
Just as unique as Church’s approach to recording and releasing music is his tenacity on the road. During 2019’s Double Down Tour, Church played back-to-back nights of two unique shows in each market sans opening act, giving every city’s fans six-plus hours of his iconic music. The tour also featured a massive stop at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, where he broke the venue’s concert attendance record with more than 56,000 fans in attendance and became the first artist to sell out the venue with a solo lineup. Church also took to the field at Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium in 2021 to perform the National Anthem with R&B star Jazmine Sullivan ahead of Super Bowl LV and has now returned to the road for his 55-city The Gather Again Tour, visiting full-capacity arenas for an in-the-round show in addition to a recent headlining spot alongside George Strait and Metallica during the ATLive festival at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He will also headline a one-of-a-kind stadium show at Milwaukee’s American Family Field in May.
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including the 2020 award for Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee, Church has amassed a passionate fanbase around the globe known as the Church Choir as well as a critically acclaimed catalog of music. His previous project, the Gold-certified Desperate Man, earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album (his third nod in the category). Prior releases include the Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”), the Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”) and the 3x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 30 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified singles.
About Morgan Wallen
The New Yorker dubbed Morgan Wallen “the most wanted man in country” in part due to the CMA Award Winner’s 8 billion on-demand streams, multi-Platinum certifications and four consecutive chart-toppers, and in part due to his flyover appeal: “Bruce Springsteen meets Larry the Cable Guy.” The critically-acclaimed follow-up to his Double Platinum breakout If I Know Me, Dangerous: The Double Album (Big Loud/Republic Records), topped 2021’s all-genre Billboard 200 year-end albums chart with 3.2 million units sold and sparked an in-demand 54-date The Dangerous Tour underway now, with the “Up Down” (2017), “Whiskey Glasses” (2018), “Chasin’ You” (2019), “More Than My Hometown” (2020), “7 Summers” (2020, named one of Time Magazine’s Best Songs of the Year) and “Sand In My Boots” (recently No. 1 at Country radio) singer playing two nights at Madison Square Garden and three nights at Bridgestone Arena. Working outside the traditional Nashville mainframe with producer Joey Moi, Hits Magazine notes, “Wallen continually colors outside the lines,” adding, in turn “he’s connected to his fans in ways unprecedented for a country star.” With over 705,000 tickets sold ahead of the tour’s launch, $3 from every ticket sold benefits the songwriter from East Tennessee’s More Than My Hometown Foundation. For more information, visit MorganWallen.com.
About ERNEST
Nashville’s most unpredictable hit maker ERNEST is “The Charmer” (MusicRow), a triple threat talent and one of Music City’s on the rise artist/writers that’s changing the status quo. As a chart-topping songwriter, he fuses influences ranging from Eminem to George Jones, creating a twist-heavy verse style that’s become his signature, proving its mettle and earning him five No. 1 hits to date. The eccentric free spirit launched his debut single to country radio “Flower Shops” feat. Morgan Wallen in January to 88 first week stations, the No. 1 most added single of the week, and is Top 30 after just five weeks. His debut full-length album of the same name - FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM) – will release on March 11, showing off the more classically country side of his craft. ERNEST appeared alongside ’90s country legend David Lee Murphy and labelmate Ben Burgess on HIXTAPE: Vol. 2 track “Red Dirt Clouds” last fall, and his podcast Just Being ERNEST is in its third season, hosting guests like Keith Urban, Diplo, Jason Aldean, Bobby Bones and Craig Wiseman, with many more to come.
Turbo Polka Legends RUSSKAJA On Tour w/ Flogging Molly - Beginning Next Week!
Turbo Polka legends RUSSKAJA are eager to make their way stateside this spring! The band will join Celtic punk icons Flogging Molly on their upcoming tour in the US, which starts next week! The 14-date tour kicks off on March 8th in Knoxville, TN, and comes to a close in Ventura, CA on March 26th.
Following the tour, Russkaja will also be a part of Flogging Molly's Salty Dog Cruise, which sets sail on March 28 - April 1, traveling from Miami to Nassau & Grand Bahama and back.
With over 20 million streams on Spotify alone, along with relentless international touring – RUSSKAJA’s Turbo Ska Punk is unstoppable!
3/08 • Knoxville, TN • The Mill & The Mine
3/09 • Huntsville, AL• Mars Music Hall
3/11 • Kansas City, MO • The Truman
3/12 • Tulsa, OK • Cain's Ballroom
3/13 • Austin, TX • Stubb's Waller Creek
3/15 • Tempe, AZ • The Marquee
3/17 • Los Angeles, CA • Hollywood Palladium
3/18 • Funner, CA • Harrah's Resort Socal
3/19 • Indio, CA • Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
3/20 • Reno, NV • Grand Sierra Resort
3/22 • Santa Cruz, CA • The Catalyst
3/23 • Monterey, CA • Golden State Theatre
3/25 • Oakland, CA • Fox Theater
3/26 • Ventura, CA • Ventura Music Hall
RUSSKAJA are:
Georgij Makazaria – Vocals
Engel Mayr – Guitar, Vocals
HG Gutternigg – Potete, Tuba
Mario Stübler – Drums
Nico Loro Ravenni – Sax
Dimitrij Miller – Bass
Lea-Sophier Fischer – Violin
RUSSKAJA online:
Guitar Virtuoso Hedras Releases New Single + Music Video "Angels"
Genre-fusing guitar virtuoso Hedras has today released a new single and music video "Angels" (out via Blood Blast Distribution). The song is the title track from his newly announced forthcoming album 'Angels', out on Friday, May 13. With intricate fretwork laid over urban beats, Hedras showcases his unique style on his Cort Mutility guitar as seen in today's music video (available later this year). Speaking on the release, mastermind Hedras Ramos shares:
"I'm a big fan of urban Latin music, Trap, and EDM. I always imagined combining those styles with prog Metal, so I had to dive deeply into electronic production and learn how to cohesively put all those elements in synergy with my own guitar ideas and create songs that have a meaning and a vibe. "Angels" is the result of that and part of a full album in that vein."
Watch the music video for "Angels" below, and pre-save the album here. Be sure to stay tuned for more Hedras news coming soon.
Established in Dallas, TX, multi-instrumentalist Hedras Ramos began his musical career at age 6 by learning to play the drums. It wasn't until 2005 however (at age 13) when Hedras became interested in learning guitar. He typically practiced 7 or more hours every day, even playing up to 12 hours a day during vacations from school. Being entirely self-taught, Hedras pushed himself hard to master the guitar and in 2011 he had composed and produced his first instrumental album 'Atoms and Space'. with guests such as Andy James and Jennifer Batten. Following this was his instrumental album 'The Impressionist' which became available for purchase in September 2017, which had special guests such as Plini (guitarist), Martin Miller (guitarist), and Anup Sastry (drummer). In 2020 Hedras released his latest instrumental album titled 'Pagans', a djent and progressive metal work that was supported by Abasi Guitars in a collaboration where Tosin Abasi from Animals as Leaders, who personally gifted Hedras an 8-string Larada guitar and featured renowned musicians of the prog world recorded such as Japanese virtuoso bass player Ayumu and prog drummer Anup Sastry.
Find Hedras Online
GATECREEPER ANNOUNCE SPRING 2022 HEADLINE TOUR
GATECREEPER have announced they're hitting road this spring for a North American headline tour with support from Narrow Head, 200 Stab Wounds and Fearing.The excursion will kick off in Austin, TX on April 21st and will end with a hometown show in Phoenix, AZ on May 14th. Tickets go on-sale Friday, March 4th at 12:00PM Local Time at Gatecreeper.com.
GATECREEPER TOUR DATES:
Apr 21 - Austin, TX - Mohawk
Apr 22 - Fort Worth, TX - Tulips
Apr 23 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
Apr 25 - Orlando, FL - Social
Apr 26 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
Apr 27 - Columbia, SC - New Brookland
Apr 28 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
Apr 29 - Brooklyn, NV - Brooklyn Made
Apr 30 - Philadelphia, PA - First United Church
May 1 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
May 2 - Montreal, QC - Foutounes
May 3 - Toronto, ON - Velvet
May 4 - Detroit, MI - Sanctuary
May 5 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
May 7 - Denver, CO - Marquis
Mar 8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
May 10 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's
May 11 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne
May 12 - Oakland, CA - Starline
May 13 - Los Angeles, CA - 1720
May 14 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent*
*No Narrow
GATECREEPER's upcoming tour supports their recent, critically acclaimed EP, "An Unexpected Reality," which is available now from Closed Casket Activities at http://Smarturl.it/anunexpectedreality.
GATECREEPER Lineup:
Chase “Hellahammer” Mason - Vocals
Eric “The Dark Cowboy” Wagner - Guitar
Israel Garza - Guitar
Alex Brown - Bass
Matt Arrebollo - Drums
ABBATH Lands Cover of Outburn Magazine
It is with great pride that we announce that Norwegian metal legend ABBATH has landed the cover of Outburn Magazine's 96th issue! The issue will feature an exclusive, in-depth interview as well as a limited edition bundle that features autographed prints and other ABBATH memorabilia.
The cover image was taken by Jeremy Saffer while the signed, limited edition prints were taken by Ester Segarra.
The issue will be on shelves across North America next week. Limited edition bundles can be ordered exclusively via Outburn HERE.
ABBATH is promoting his upcoming new full-length, 'Dread Reaver,' which is due on March 25 via Season of Mist! ICYMI: The band dropped a brand new single yesterday, "The Book of Breath," which can be heard at THIS LOCATION. The single is now available on all streaming platforms as well.
ABBATH has recently announced a co-headlining European tour this September along with WATAIN, in which the bands will be supported by TRIBULATION and BÖLZER. The full run of dates can be found below!
Pre-orders for 'Dread Reaver' are available in the Season of Mist shop HERE. Pre-save the album on streaming services HERE.
The ravens gaze ominously from above. The seas roar in anticipation. The mountains creak yet again. Abbath’s remarkable new album, Dread Reaver, is upon us all. Two years in the making, Abbath’s third full-length is the culmination of everything before it. A fusion of debut Abbath (2016) and follow-up Outstrider (2019), the aptly titled Dread Reaver extends its fantastical fangs outward and drives its cloven hooves onward. Indeed, there’s nothing like an Abbath record. This is the darkest metal for epic journeys and ancient battles. Comprised of eight riveting tracks and a red-hot cover of Metallica’s “Trapped Under Ice,” Dread Reaver shows Abbath triumphing over all trials and tribulations, riding hard into merciless glory as the one and only “Lemmy of black metal.”
Abbath was formed by Olve Eikemo (aka Abbath) in Bergen, Norway, in 2015. After splitting with vaunted extreme metallers Immortal, the beguiling frontman and storied songwriter only had one path: Abbath. Years before, he had proven that venturing out of the Immortal constellation was not only plausible but doable with the I project, a short-lived, one-album (Between Two Worlds) band featuring notable musicians from Immortal, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth. Indeed, once Eikemo was free of Immortal’s shackles, he was able to assemble a cadre of like-minded conspirators for his solo debut album, Abbath. So crucial was Abbath that the Norwegian Embassy in the UK ran a music/culture piece, while in Norway, the album was nominated for a Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy). Metal Hammer Germany even gonged Abbath with its Best Debut award. Follow-up album, Outstrider, was equally lauded. Billboard’s coverage sent shockwaves through the rock/metal scenes, while Kerrang! labeled it “dominating and creative,” awarding it 4Ks. Decibelalso heaped praise on Outstrider, giving it the Best New Noise trophy. New album Dread Reaver will yet again lionize Abbath as leader of the frost-bitten pack.
Powered by Abbath’s creative musical imagination, Dread Reaver runs riotously out of the gate. The album’s edifice affords tracks like “Acid Haze,” “Scarred Core,” “The Deep Unbound,” and the album’s closing title track ample room to champion the extremes of black metal, heavy metal, and hard rock. While there are nods to NWOBHM greats, thrash metal’s luminaries, and black metal icons, Dread Reaver is unmistakably Abbath. There is no other fingerprint. Paired with thought-provoking lyrics based on the historical figure of Othryades, Abbath’s new album not only shouts exultant but reads like an ancient pyrrhic tale steeped in violence, sorrow, and grit. The idea of a Dread Reaver—a fearless duelist—can also be read as a metaphor for life’s actions and subsequent struggles. Be warned: Dread Reaver is Abbath at his most menacing and accomplished.
Dread Reaver was produced by Endre Kirkesola, Abbath, and Dag Erik Nygaard at Dub Studio in Kristiansand and Bergen Lydstudio, respectively. Kirkesola and Nygaard also engineered. Mixing was performed by Abbath and Kirkesola, while the mastering was done by maestro Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Rob Halford) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in Los Angeles. The goal was to field a storming production that sat firmly at the crossroads of Abbath’s heroes Kiss, Motörhead, Manowar, and Bathory. From the anthemic thrust of opener “Acid Haze” and the epic pound of “Dream Cull” to the rampaging “The Book of Breath” and the wicked cover of Metallica’s “Trapped Under Ice,” Dread Reaversounds as massive as Norwegian mountain and as fiery as the depths of Hell. Truly, the recording lineup of Abbath (guitar, bass, vocals), Ukri Suvilehto (drums), Ole André Farstad (guitars), and Mia Wallace (bass) found their sonic muse.
Abbath and Season of Mist will release Dread Reaver on February 25th, 2022. The album features a Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik (Immortal) cover and will be supported by singles “Dream Cull”, “Dread Reaver” and “The Book of Breath.” Of course, it’ll all be powered by Abbath’s wry, larger-than-life persona. If “Ace of Spades” catapulted Motörhead to fame and notoriety, then Dread Reaver will find Abbath atop extreme metal’s gigantic heap, the spoils of icy blood, scorching sweat, and steely tears at his feet. As “Myrmidon” states, “Die with a smile, stare glassy-eyed up / At boiling skies! / Valkyries descend to gore-caked fen / Fallen warriors arise!” Lightning strikes thrice with Abbath’s incredible Dread Reaver!
Recording line-up:
Abbath - Guitar, bass & vocals
Ukri Suvilehto - Drums
Ole André Farstad - Lead & acoustic guitars
Mia Wallace - Bass on Acid Haze, Scarred Core, The Deep Unbound & Dread Reaver
Simon Dancaster - Lyrics
Recording studio: Recorded in Dub Studio / Additional recordings: Bergen Lydstudio
Producer / sound engineer: Endre Kirkesola / Dag Erik Nygaard
Mixing studio and engineer: Abbath and Endre Kirkesola
Mastering studio / engineer: Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering - California - U.S.A
Biography: Chris Dick
Cover art: Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik / Photos by Francisco Munoz
Links:
www.facebook.com/abbathband
www.abbath.net
www.instagram.com/abbath_official
Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AbbathDreadReaver
Available formats: Digital, CD digipak, CD digibox, vinyl black and coloured
SYLVAINE Streams New Album 'Nova' Ahead of Release
Norwegian multi-instrumentalist SYLVAINE will be releasing her fourth studio album, 'Nova,' this Friday, March 4! The singer/songwriter is now streaming 'Nova' in its entirety ahead of its release! Listen to the album HERE.
In addition, SYLVAINE will be embarking on her first ever North American tour this spring in support of AMORPHIS! SYLVAINE will join the tour on April 18 in Millvale, PA and will cross the country before circling back to the East Coast where the trek will conclude in Baltimore, MD on May 12. The full run of dates can be found below! Tickets are on sale now at THIS LOCATION.
The song and album are available for pre-saving on all other digital platformsHERE while the record is available for pre-ordersHERE.
SYLVAINE North American Tour (w/ AMORPHIS + HOAXED):
04/18: Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
04/19: Joliet, IL @ The Forge
04/20: Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre
04/22: Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater
04/23: Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell
04/25: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
04/26: Vancouver, BC @ The Imperial
04/27: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
04/29: San Francisco, CA @ The UC Theatre
04/30: Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
05/01: Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater
05/03: Austin, TX @ Come and Take it Live
05/04: Dallas, TX @ Amplified Theater
05/06: Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage (The Loft)
05/07: Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
05/08: Orlando, FL @ The Abbey
05/10: Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre
05/11: Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry
05/12: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
To speak to Sylvaine, the one-woman multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, and composer born Kathrine Shepard, is to speak to some spirit that exists beyond the veil of convention and stereotypes. This is not a woman playing to the vogue dark melodic folklorist trope that has become so prevalent in the metal scene but rather, this is a woman who is a serious and classically trained composer and arranger whose songs, that originate on unplugged electric guitars in lavender and black bedrooms, end up exploding against the unlimited conventions of what modern music can accomplish.
For some time, Kathrine Shepard has been seen as the petite pixie of the Norwegian black gaze scene but her small eleven features and lightheartedness belie the woman warrior behind Nova, her complex and personal fourth release. Following her 2018 Atoms Aligned Coming Undone release, Sylvaine (a play on the name of one of her beloved French poets, Paul Verlaine) gives us Nova, an album that is both a musical and personal reawakening of a singer/composer finding her way in this world.
The Lord of the Rings type choir arrangement heralds in the opening of her latest release as we the entranced listeners follow her to the realm of Lothlorien. The creation of this ambitious release began in 2019, before the world changed before all of our eyes. Experiencing a personal loss in a time the world was suffering a collective loss, Sylvaine composed on her guitar and wrote in her notebooks, eventually leading her into the small rooms of Drudenhaus in early 2021. Sequestered away in the countryside of France, the Norwegian native and her musical cohorts would all contract Covid. Asthmatic since birth, our heroine isolated herself in a small room to score out the different soprano and alto melodies of an actual choir to make her vision for the opening track “Nova,” come to life. Sung in an imagined language, the syllables of NO-VA continued to emerge, suggesting to the singer something linguistically symbolic and important.
“I’ve been wanting to write a choir piece since my 'Wistful' days,” she says, “Just a purely vocal piece. I love harmonies and the most personal instrument you have is yourself, your voice. I wanted to really show who I am this time around.”
Naked on the cover, which may raise some eyebrows, Sylvaine insists to her fans that this is a symbol of her own vulnerability and personal rebirth that transpired over these years of creating Nova. “Nova" in terms of language is connected to words such as nuova (Italian) or nueva (Spanish), meaning ‘new’ and speaks to a rebirth, to loss, the temporality of life, grieving as nothing lasting forever, but looking forward as new doors are forever opening.
Album tracks “Mono No Aware” and “Fortapt” are compositions in the 10-minute range, showing the progressive skills of the multi-instrumentalist’s musical mastery and magic. Taking the loud and quiet back-and-forth of the ‘90s a step farther, she manages to haunt every note with primal sincerity. “Fortapt” is a particularly unique track, paying homage to Sylvaine’s Norwegian roots. And while critics may want to pin a song like “Nowhere, Still Somewhere” in the shoegaze or dreampop category, her mysterious resonance adds something to the composition that makes Sylvaine’s work defy categorization.
Much like Joan of Arc, Sylvaine is not a one-woman army without her legionaries. Instead of enlisting members of the folk metal glitterati, she has been a bit more selective about her surprise guests on her album, choosing Scottish violinist Lambert Segura of SAOR and cellist Nostarion aka Patrik Urban, whom she met while performing a very special acoustic show in Belgium in 2019. For Sylvaine, it felt emotionally appropriate to weave classically trained instrumentalists into her work, demonstrated on the last track on the album, "Everything Must Come to an End."
Unlike so many of the pixie dream girls haunting the American metal landscape right now, Sylvaine sings but also screams from the very depths. There is absolutely no one in the metal game right now who can match her vocal range, which traverses from the elvish sounds of Enya and Lisa Gerard to the black metal Ericthro screeches of her kvlt counterparts of the land of ice and snow.
In the U.S., we have a tendency to clarify bedroom pop as music that is composed in the feminine space of one’s bedroom confines. Although orchestral and incredibly composed, Sylvaine does not shy away from admitting her songs always start bare bones—almost all of her compositions begin with an unplugged electric guitar. “A melody and a chord progression should be able to stand on its own without any effects whatsoever. The song will go on to manifest itself in different ways but that main guitar part has to be solid enough to emotionally work just by itself, “ she says.
But to this lover of Verlaine and the French Romantic poets (as well as a diehard Type O Negative fan), the written word is still paramount to her heart. After all, she explains, “Music is an attempt to avoid the words we can’t always express in life.”
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/sylvainemusic/
https://www.instagram.com/sylvainemusic/
https://sylvainemusic.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/c/sylvainemusic/
https://soundcloud.com/sylvainemusic
https://twitter.com/sylvainemusic
https://www.sylvainemusic.com/
Recording Lineup:
Sylvaine – vocals/guitars/bass/synths/arrangements
Dorian Mansiaux – session drums
Current Lineup:
Sylvaine
Live line-up:
Sylvaine - Main vocals/guitar
Dorian Mansiaux - Drums
Florian Ehrenberg - Guitar/backing vocals
Maxime Mouquet - Bass/background vocals
Guest Musicians:
- Lambert Segura (SAOR) - violins on “Everything Must Come To An End”
- Patrick Urban - cellos on “Everything Must Come To An End”
Recording Studio: Drudenhaus Studio, Issé, France
Producer, mixer, sound engineer: Benoît Roux
Mastering Studio + engineer: Karl Daniel Lidén at Karl Daniel Lidén Productions
Cover Art: Photo by Andy Julia, post-production/digital illustration by Daria Endrese
Biography: Veronika Lee
Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/SylvaineNova
Album formats:
CD Digipak
Digital
Vinyl in various colours
Left To Suffer Release New Single + Music Video "Overwhelming Power"
Hailing from Atlanta, GA, nu-deathcore powerhouse Left to Suffer has released their latest offering, "Overwhelming Power". Speaking on today's drop, the band shares:
"'Overwhelming Power' is the product of all of our past heavy inspirations packed into one explosive track. This alongside the next batch of songs is the proudest of anything we have ever put out."
Watch the music video for "Overwhelming Power" below, and be sure to stay tuned for more Left to Suffernews coming soon.
See Left to Suffer hit the stage this spring on the Menace II Society Tour in support of Traitors alongside Wristmeetrazor and Scumfuck.
Menace II Society Tour Dates
March 24 - Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
March 25 - Ocala, FL @ O'Malley's
March 26 - Jacksonville, FL @ Underbelly
March 27 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Purgatory)
March 28 - Nashville, TN @ The End
March 29 - Greensboro, NC @ Blind Tiger
March 30 - Chesapeake, VA @ Riffhouse
April 1 - Asbury Park, NJ @ House of Independents
April 2 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground
April 3 - Brooklyn, NY @ Kingsland
April 5 - Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
April 6 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground
April 8 - Lakewood, OH @ The Foundry
April 9 - Indianapolis, IN @ Hoosier Dome
April 10 - Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
April 12 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
April 13 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
April 15 - Sacramento, CA @ Goldfields
April 16 - San Fernando, CA @ The Midnight Hour
April 17 - Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theatre (Half House)
April 19 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger (Scaled)
April 20 - Houston, TX @ Secret Group
April 22 - Orlando, FL @ Henao Center
Every coffin contains a never-ending story.
The third chapter of Left to Suffer’s story comes to a close with their newest curse upon the world, “Overwhelming Power”. Along with the accompanying visual from Squareup Studios, the newest piece of the puzzle exudes more might than the five-piece has ever flexed. While pondering oblivion, the group has found a groove that has strengthened every stride they’ve made until now. Another piece of armor on LTS’s suit of darkness, “Overwhelming Power” keeps everyone in a frazzled state of self-loathing.
Over the last year, the Atlanta sensation continued to complexify their intersection of metalcore, hardcore, and nü-metal, and have emerged with a new grinding mentality having already toured the country for the first time doing it again twice in 2022. As a new pillar of the scene, Left to Suffer are ready to amass an army not even seen in Satan’s nightmares.
Don’t open the coffin, what escapes might overtake.
Swedish Melodic Rockers NESTOR Sign Worldwide Contract with Napalm Records
Napalm Records is proud to welcome Swedish melodic rockers NESTOR to the family! The band has signed a worldwide record deal with the leading Austrian rock and metal record label.
Originally founded in 1989, but only releasing their first album Kids In A Ghost Town in 2021, it is NESTOR’s mission to restore the glory of rock! Their acclaimed first album sent their fans on a journey back in time to the 80’s.
[Photo Credit: Henrik Eriksson]
NESTOR on signing to Napalm Records:
”We’ve been looking for the right partner for quite some time and we are thrilled about the signing with Napalm as they totally get the ambition and vision of Nestor. We are super exited to continue this fantastic journey with Napalm Records on board.”
Napalm Records CEO Thomas Caser adds:
"Welcome NESTOR - a band that is unbelievable fun and with whom we have a lot of plans for the next years!"
NESTOR is:
Jonny Wemmenstedt - guitar
Mattias Carlsson - drums
Tobias Gustavsson - vocals
Marcus Åblad - bass
Martin Frejinger - keyboards
NESTOR online:
SKILLS ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM "DIFFERENT WORLDS"
SKILLS ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM
"DIFFERENT WORLDS" DUE MAY 13TH VIA FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL
FEATURES MEMBERS OF MR. BIG, NIGHT RANGER, GIANT, & ELECTRIC MOB
NEW SINGLE & VIDEO, 'STOP THE WORLD' OUT NOW
Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to present the upcoming release of “Different Worlds”, the debut album from Skills, on May 13, 2022. Skills features the eye-popping line-up of vocalist Renan Zonta (Electric Mob), guitarist Brad Gillis (Night Ranger, Ozzy Osbourne), bassist Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, The Winery Dogs, Sons Of Apollo), and drummer David Huff (GIANT). Today, fans can get their first taste of music from the band with the release of the single and video 'Stop The World'. Watch the video below.
Pre-order/save "Different Worlds" on CD/Color Vinyl/Digital HERE: https://orcd.co/skills
SKILLS: "an ability to do an activity or job well, especially because you have practiced it"
In the perfect extension of the meaning of the word, SKILLS is an amazing new band put together from the vision of Frontiers President and A&R director Serafino Perugino. Cocky name for a band? Sure, but when said band features the eye-popping line-up of vocalist Renan Zonta, guitarist Brad Gillis, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer David Huff, then a little bravado is probably in order. Skills brings together the worlds of old and new in hard rock for a stunning debut album.
As is everyone who has heard him sing, Perugino was blown away by the abilities of Brazilian singer Renan Zonta upon first hearing him. Knowing how much Renan loves classic '80s hard rock, Perugino thought it would be cool to pair him with some monster players from that era. After sharing clips and music of Renan with some of the most outstanding musicians from the era, all of whom agreed that Renan’s talent is undeniable, a new musical beast was born with Brad Gillis, Billy Sheehan, and David Huff joining the fold.
In Skills, you have a singer whose vocal range is stunning and can mix the extension and the power of the likes of Glenn Hughes and Sammy Hagar with the expression of Steven Tyler and some David Coverdale thrown in. Along with one of the world's most renowned, prolific bass players, a hugely respected, talented, and stunning guitar player, and an absolutely killer drummer, Skills is a force to be reckoned with. “Different Worlds” is an album which will appeal to the discerning ears of fans of classic ‘80s hard rock/melodic rock.
So go ahead and crank up the volume and enjoy the 'skills' on display from these talented musicians from different eras of killer rock ‘n roll on "Different Worlds"!
LINE-UP:
Renan Zonta - Vocals
Brad Gillis - Guitars
Billy Sheehan - Bass
David Huff - Drums
Alessandro Del Vecchio - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
DEKO ENTERTAINMENT AND BLACKBIRD ENTERTAINMENT HAVE TEAMED UP TO BRING YOU THE SELF-TITLED ‘UNION’ ALBUM AND ‘THE BLUE ROOM’ ON LIMITED EDITION VINYL
DEKO ENTERTAINMENT AND BLACKBIRD ENTERTAINMENT HAVE TEAMED UP TO BRING YOU THE SELF-TITLED ‘UNION’ ALBUM AND ‘THE BLUE ROOM’ ON LIMITED EDITION VINYL. THEY WILL GO ON SALE MARCH 1ST AT NOON EASTERN TIME.
Originally released in 1998, Union’s self titled debut featured the pairing of guitarist Bruce Kulick who had spent the last 12 years as the lead guitarist in Kiss during their non-make up era, and was featured on several multi-platinum albums, including the bands powerhouse REVENGE, and singer/guitarist John Corabi who had fronted the Scream, and more recently Motley Crue, on their now cult following self titled 1994 release. They teamed up with drummer Brent Fitz (Slash Feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, Alice Cooper, Vince Neil, Theory Of A Deadman) and bassist Jamie Hunting (Roger Daltrey, David Lee Roth, Vince Neil). This was followed up by their second studio effort ‘The Blue Room’ in 2000.
‘Union’ has not been released on vinyl since its original release and will now be a 180 Gram vinyl double album in two beautiful versions, featuring bonus tracks, and a gatefold sleeve.
The Premier Edition – Crystal Clear Heavy Smoked Vinyl (limited to 250 copies pressed), featuring a SIGNED Album Flat with signatures from all four members.
The Silver Edition – comes on opaque silver 180 gram vinyl and a beautiful gatefold sleeve (limited to 500 copies pressed).
‘The Blue Room’ will be available for the first time as a 180 Gram vinyl double album that comes with 5 bonus tracks, the radio edits for “Do Your Own Thing” and “Who Do You Think You Are?”, along with acoustic versions of “October Morning Wind” and “Hypnotized”, and live version of The Blue Room album cut “Dead”.
The Premier Edition – Comes with a SIGNED 10”x10” band photo, and is on a black & blue 180 gram vinyl hand pour (limited to 250 copies pressed), featuring all new artwork, 5 bonus tracks, and a beautiful gatefold sleeve.
The Royal Edition – comes on transparent blue 180 gram vinyl, features all new artwork, 5 bonus tracks, and a beautiful gatefold sleeve (limited to 500 copies pressed).
John Corabi had this to say about this amazing release, “I’m really excited about the Deko re-release of the self titled Union record, and our second effort “The Blue Room!!!” They did a great job with the artwork and packaging, and the records sound great!!! I’m just so happy for all the Union fans around the world to finally have these long hidden gems at their disposal, instead of having to search high and low on the internet!!!! Enjoy the music, and thank you for all the love and support!!!!!” Peace, Crabby. Bruce Kulick continues, “The vinyl reissues of UNION, gives our fans a fresh listen to our music. Hearing the layers of detail and devotion we gave each song, will be mind blowing for them. The chemistry of this band rises to a new level that will not only impress our fans, it will make the curious converts to the music. It’s a proud moment for John, Brent, Jamie and I to share with the world.”
Deko Entertainment president Bruce Pucciarello comments on this first partnership with Blackbird Entertainment on their new re-issue initiative, “We are super stoked that Blackbird partnered with Deko to make this available again. Union is a case study in pound the pavement rock and roll. If you want soulfulness and a groove in your fist pump, it’s all here folks.”
Union store: https://bit.ly/36xRRyI
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialUNION
www.dekoentertainment.com
ABBATH Unleashes New Song, "The Book of Breath"
Norwegian metal legend ABBATH will drop its third full-length album, 'Dread Reaver,' on March 25 via Season of Mist! The band is now unleashing a brand new single, "The Book of Breath," which can be heard at THIS LOCATION.
ABBATH has recently announced a co-headlining European tour this September along with WATAIN, in which the bands will be supported by TRIBULATION and BÖLZER. The full run of dates can be found below!
Pre-orders for 'Dread Reaver' are available in the Season of Mist shop HERE. Pre-save the album on streaming services HERE.
The ravens gaze ominously from above. The seas roar in anticipation. The mountains creak yet again. Abbath’s remarkable new album, Dread Reaver, is upon us all. Two years in the making, Abbath’s third full-length is the culmination of everything before it. A fusion of debut Abbath (2016) and follow-up Outstrider (2019), the aptly titled Dread Reaver extends its fantastical fangs outward and drives its cloven hooves onward. Indeed, there’s nothing like an Abbath record. This is the darkest metal for epic journeys and ancient battles. Comprised of eight riveting tracks and a red-hot cover of Metallica’s “Trapped Under Ice,” Dread Reaver shows Abbath triumphing over all trials and tribulations, riding hard into merciless glory as the one and only “Lemmy of black metal.”
Abbath was formed by Olve Eikemo (aka Abbath) in Bergen, Norway, in 2015. After splitting with vaunted extreme metallers Immortal, the beguiling frontman and storied songwriter only had one path: Abbath. Years before, he had proven that venturing out of the Immortal constellation was not only plausible but doable with the I project, a short-lived, one-album (Between Two Worlds) band featuring notable musicians from Immortal, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth. Indeed, once Eikemo was free of Immortal’s shackles, he was able to assemble a cadre of like-minded conspirators for his solo debut album, Abbath. So crucial was Abbath that the Norwegian Embassy in the UK ran a music/culture piece, while in Norway, the album was nominated for a Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy). Metal Hammer Germany even gonged Abbath with its Best Debut award. Follow-up album, Outstrider, was equally lauded. Billboard’s coverage sent shockwaves through the rock/metal scenes, while Kerrang! labeled it “dominating and creative,” awarding it 4Ks. Decibelalso heaped praise on Outstrider, giving it the Best New Noise trophy. New album Dread Reaver will yet again lionize Abbath as leader of the frost-bitten pack.
Powered by Abbath’s creative musical imagination, Dread Reaver runs riotously out of the gate. The album’s edifice affords tracks like “Acid Haze,” “Scarred Core,” “The Deep Unbound,” and the album’s closing title track ample room to champion the extremes of black metal, heavy metal, and hard rock. While there are nods to NWOBHM greats, thrash metal’s luminaries, and black metal icons, Dread Reaver is unmistakably Abbath. There is no other fingerprint. Paired with thought-provoking lyrics based on the historical figure of Othryades, Abbath’s new album not only shouts exultant but reads like an ancient pyrrhic tale steeped in violence, sorrow, and grit. The idea of a Dread Reaver—a fearless duelist—can also be read as a metaphor for life’s actions and subsequent struggles. Be warned: Dread Reaver is Abbath at his most menacing and accomplished.
Dread Reaver was produced by Endre Kirkesola, Abbath, and Dag Erik Nygaard at Dub Studio in Kristiansand and Bergen Lydstudio, respectively. Kirkesola and Nygaard also engineered. Mixing was performed by Abbath and Kirkesola, while the mastering was done by maestro Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Rob Halford) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in Los Angeles. The goal was to field a storming production that sat firmly at the crossroads of Abbath’s heroes Kiss, Motörhead, Manowar, and Bathory. From the anthemic thrust of opener “Acid Haze” and the epic pound of “Dream Cull” to the rampaging “The Book of Breath” and the wicked cover of Metallica’s “Trapped Under Ice,” Dread Reaversounds as massive as Norwegian mountain and as fiery as the depths of Hell. Truly, the recording lineup of Abbath (guitar, bass, vocals), Ukri Suvilehto (drums), Ole André Farstad (guitars), and Mia Wallace (bass) found their sonic muse.
Abbath and Season of Mist will release Dread Reaver on February 25th, 2022. The album features a Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik (Immortal) cover and will be supported by singles “Dream Cull”, “Dread Reaver” and “The Book of Breath.” Of course, it’ll all be powered by Abbath’s wry, larger-than-life persona. If “Ace of Spades” catapulted Motörhead to fame and notoriety, then Dread Reaver will find Abbath atop extreme metal’s gigantic heap, the spoils of icy blood, scorching sweat, and steely tears at his feet. As “Myrmidon” states, “Die with a smile, stare glassy-eyed up / At boiling skies! / Valkyries descend to gore-caked fen / Fallen warriors arise!” Lightning strikes thrice with Abbath’s incredible Dread Reaver!
Recording line-up:
Abbath - Guitar, bass & vocals
Ukri Suvilehto - Drums
Ole André Farstad - Lead & acoustic guitars
Mia Wallace - Bass on Acid Haze, Scarred Core, The Deep Unbound & Dread Reaver
Simon Dancaster - Lyrics
Recording studio: Recorded in Dub Studio / Additional recordings: Bergen Lydstudio
Producer / sound engineer: Endre Kirkesola / Dag Erik Nygaard
Mixing studio and engineer: Abbath and Endre Kirkesola
Mastering studio / engineer: Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering - California - U.S.A
Biography: Chris Dick
Cover art: Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik / Photos by Francisco Munoz
Links:
www.facebook.com/abbathband
www.abbath.net
www.instagram.com/abbath_official
Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AbbathDreadReaver
Available formats: Digital, CD digipak, CD digibox, vinyl black and coloured
Soldiers of Solace (S.O.S.) Unleash New Single “Worlds On Fire” + Official Music Video
New England's leading rock bands Soldiers of Solace released an important message and a cry for change with their new song called “Worlds On Fire” today via Mindsnap Music / Von Artists, Ltd., distributed by The Orchard. Finally a relevant heavy rock band with a metal edge and an empowering message!
Newly developed indie label Mindsnap Music has recently put out the likes of Bomber Alley (members of Dee Snider), former Combat recording artists Dead By Wednesday, Howland Hyatt (Feat. Stet of Metal Church), and Joetown, with releases to follow in 2022 like Joey Concepcion’s solo album, & more!
“In an unprecedented moment in history, 'Worlds on Fire' is a collaborative creation, born from the collective angst and civil unrest, that has become our 'reality’. Soldiers of Solace is excited to partner with Mindsnap Music and VonArtists, for the official worldwide release and distribution of 'Worlds on Fire'" says Jason Longo, vocalist of S.O.S.
In Jan of 2018, SOLDIERS OF SOLACE, hailing from Connecticut, released their debut album titled, We Are Immortal through German record label, Rock N’ Growl Records. The album received a very positive response in both the United States as well as countries worldwide.
SOS have shared the stage with national acts such as Nonpoint, Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, Doyle of the Misfits, Crowbar, Corrosion of Conformity, Light the Torch, Dead By Wednesday, Orgy, Steel Panther, and Scott Stapp of Creed. With poignant lyrical content, driving riffs, thundering beats, and powerful live performances, SOLDIERS OF SOLACE is making their mark on the international music scene around the globe.
SOLDIERS OF SOLACE has played legendary venues such as The Whisky A Go-Go in West Hollywood, CA, Toads Place and The Webster (Mainstage) in CT.
SOS has also had their music featured in films such as Burial Ground Massacre and Burial Ground Massacre 2.
Download / Stream “Worlds On Fire” here:
Drudkh Shares Music Video for New Song, "The Nocturnal One"🇺🇦
Ukrainian black metal stalwarts DRUDKH have released the official music video for the new song, "The Nocturnal One." The song and video were originally not slated for release until later this year, along with a new record from the band. However, due to the increasingly dangerous situation in their homeland, being situated in the epicenter of the invasion, the band has requested that the video be released immediately as sign of Ukrainian resistance. The new track is streaming at THIS LOCATION.
DRUDKH has always shown unwavering pride for their country through their music. This poignant statement is a testament to their fighting spirit and love for their homeland. The new record and its details will be revealed in time. Due to vinyl plant delays, the album release is delayed until late 2022.
Season of Mist has been in contact with Drudkh. The band stated the following:
"Even though we weren't supposed to share any statement or music until later this year, we are grateful to get this new track out here today. It represents HOPE, may it strengthen those who need it."
Our hearts go out to DRUDKH and all our Ukrainian artists.
Video credit:
Directed by Jean Valnoir Simoulin (Metastazis)
DRUDKH are without a doubt influential and unique in the black metal scene. True to the values of this extreme genre, the enigmatic Ukrainians refuse to follow the rulebook and provide no answers, no statements, no shows. The sound of DRUDKH is equally based on a solid foundation consisting of the by now traditional Nordic variant of this style as on the band's highly distinct individual "Slavonic" interpretation of it.
Released in June 2016 the split with Norwegian black metal forces HADES ALMIGHTY (SUA069), ‘One Who Talks With The Fog / Pyre Era, Black!’ contains some of the finest songs of the band, namely “Golden Horse and “Fiery Serpent”. Founder Roman Sayenko takes lyrical inspiration from the poetry of Ukrainian writer Volodymyr Svidzins'kyi (1885-1941), who was murdered by the Soviets after years of censorship and repression.
Following a cooperation with acclaimed Swedish underground one-man project GRIFT, DRUDKH release ‘Betrayed By The Sun / Hägringar’ in September 2016. The lyrics for "His Twenty-Fourth Spring" were penned by Bohdan-Ihor Antonych (1909–1937), who died at the early age of 28 years from an infection of the appendix. The family of Mike Johansen (1895–1937) was of German and Lithuanian decent and arrived in DRUDKH's hometown Karkhiv at the end of the 19th century. His words were used in the song "Autumn in Sepia". Johansen also suffered a premature death; as he was brutally murdered by the Soviets in a Kiev prison under a fabricated accusation of conspiracy.
The two tracks "His Twenty-Fourth Spring" and "Autumn in Sepia" come in classic DRUDKH style, which mainly consists out of an atmospheric amalgamation of bleak rawness with epic melodies, but always has a richness of small details derived from any suitable musical genre.
The final split EP ‘Somewhere Sadness Wanders / Schnee (IV)’ with Swiss atmospheric black metal project PAYSAGE D'HIVER appeared in August 2017. "All Shades Of Silence" derives from the writings of Yevhen Pluzhnyk (1898-1936), who died in a Stalinist gulag. His contemporary Maik Yohansen (1895-1937), who penned the words in "The Night Walks Towards Her Throne" shared a similar fate by being murdered with the guns of a Soviet firing squad.
www.facebook.com/Drudkh.Official
Style: Black Metal
NIGHT CROWNED Announce New EP and Share Video Teaser! "Rebirth Of The Old" to be released March 18th on Noble Demon!
After the release of their latest critically acclaimed album Hädanfärd (July 2021, Noble Demon), Sweden's Night Crowned have announced their brand new EP today, entitled Rebirth Of The Old, which will be released on March 18 via Noble Demon.
Night Crowned comments:
"While you wait on the next Night Crowned album we give you ”Rebirth Of The Old”, a four track EP that contains three tracks of our latest album 'Hädanfärd', but with english vocals together with a cover of Old Man’s Child. The intention was to make 'Hädanfärd' a double album, one Swedish and one English version. Only one track was recorded in English before we decided to make the album only in Swedish. So we finished these last two songs now, again with awesome guest vocals by Christian Älvestam. We think the cover of Old Mans Child turned out great, but as we ended up with an all Swedish album it didn’t fit well on the album. So here it is, enjoy it while we keep our focus on writing and recording our upcoming album!"
With their intoxicating blend of uncompromising blackened death metal, symphonic arrangements and dark, hypnotic soundscapes, Night Crowned have quickly made a name for themselves and this EP should be another powerful appetizer for a new album coming in the near future!
Rebirth Of The Old will be released digitally via Noble Demon on March 18 and is available for pre-save at THIS LOCATION. A first video teaser can be seen here:
ABYSMAL DAWN Announces Two-Hour Guest DJ Special via Gimme Metal
Los Angeles death metal titans ABYSMAL DAWN will be returning to Gimme Metal to host another two-hour guest DJ special on Wednesday, March 2 @ 3:00 P.M. EST // 21:00 CET! The band has curated a very special playlist and will be present in the live chat to hang with fans! As always, it is completely free to sign up and listen! Either download the Gimme Radio app or tune in via desktop at THIS LOCATION.
The band is supporting the release of their brand new EP, 'Nightmare Frontier,' which is out now!
'Nightmare Frontier' is available to order at the Season of Mist E-Shop, Abysmal Dawn Bandcamp, and Abysmal Dawn Store. The single and EP can be streamed via your favorite streaming services HERE.
'Nightmare Frontier' follows up 2020's critically-acclaimed album, 'Phylogenesis.' The album was named one of the best albums of 2020 by Metal Injection, Metal Insider (#7), Teeth of the Divine, Cursed Zine, and more! In addition, drummer James Coppolino is listed as one of Sick Drummer Magazine's favorite drummers of 2020 and the band's song "Soul Sick Nation" was among Loudwire's "66 Best Metal Songs of 2020."
'Nightmare Frontier' was mixed and mastered by Charles Elliott at Tastemaker Audio. Drums were engineered by John Haddad at Trench Studios, while tracking for all instruments was handled by Elliott.
American death metal masters Abysmal Dawn are back! After a six-year gap, the Los Angeles-based outfit and Season of Mist hereby present Phylogenesis. Not that Abysmal Dawn have laid low since the release of 2014’s lauded Obsolescence full-length. Far from it. They toured North America four times and hit Europe and South America for the first time. Meanwhile, founding member Charles Elliott opened his studio, Tastemaker Audio, to accelerate Abysmal Dawn's own recording needs, as well to act as a bridge to other bands in need of a knowledgeable and relatable audio technician. But the road to Phylogenesis wasn’t an easy one. Besides work-horsing it throughout the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Brazil, Chile, and beyond in support of Obsolescence, Elliott and crew managed through some of the lowest points in Abysmal Dawn’s career. Internal strife, administrative burdens, musical differences, and motivation all had their various ways with the Californians. Yet, from the darkest depths, they prevailed, heralding a new chapter in the group’s storied history. Indeed, Phylogenesis is Abysmal Dawn’s rebirth!
“There was a brief period after doing two months of touring back-to-back in the U.S. and Europe in 2015 that I almost felt like calling it quits,” Abysmal Dawn’s Charles Elliott says. "It was our first time in Europe and I just had a hard time enjoying it. The band had grown, and I was a bit tired of having to handle most of the managerial aspects of what we do. The joy had been ripped from things and people weren't getting along, and some people acted like they didn't want to be there. But we went our separate ways with some of the members and all of a sudden, the band was fun again. They went on to other things and we're probably all happier in the end. Sometimes, I feel it's a miracle this album or band even still exists. I've avoided swearing on our records in the past, but the album's opening line is actually, 'Fuck you all!' Maybe it's primitive by our past lyrical standards but it's genuine and it's the most heartfelt, ‘Fuck you, we’re still here’ I could put on a record. I’m glad we stuck it out because I think this is our proudest moment so far.”
To say Phylogenesis is an extension or continuation of Obsolescence isn’t exactly as straightforward as it should be. On one hand, all the Abysmal Dawn trademarks—technicality, brutality, and melody—remain ingrained in the songwriting fabric. On the other, the band’s fifth full-length is more cohesive, rhythmically sophisticated, and far more adventurous. Elliott calls it “a major evolution.” Certainly, the six years of constant refinement, edge smoothing, and transition adjustments have paid off. What started as jam sessions between Elliott, bassist Eliseo Garcia, and drummer James Coppolino in 2016 eventually turned into one-offs. That there was no time limit to put Phylogenesis together ended up both a blessing and a curse. Total creative freedom at very little expense is a dream scenario, something a band of Abysmal Dawn’s stature took advantage of for their magnum opus. But without a ticking clock and dollars burning, the pressure to focus was far less severe, resulting in delays and feature creep.
“It was basically James, Eliseo and me meeting up at my place, jamming on ideas, seeing what worked and tweaking them from there,” says Elliott. “With the exception of ‘Hedonistic,’ James wrote all his drum parts. Obsolescence was demoed with me programming all the drums since our drummer at the time had moved up north. It was what it was, but it was pretty frustrating at the time. Having someone to bounce ideas off of in real-time, helped in maintaining the joy and momentum of making this album. Once it was time to record bass and leads, Eliseo and Vito [Petroni; guitars] would trickle in when they had ideas. We had no real deadline and seemingly infinite time to do things. Admittedly, I think it was hard for me to focus on the lyrics, not only because of things in my personal life but because I was focused on getting the guys in to complete their parts so I could focus.”
Finish Phylogenesis they did, in fact. Under significant duress, Abysmal Dawn had overcome their roadblocks. The results of the group’s undulating professional and personal schedules aren’t to be trifled with, however. Opening track “Mundane Existence” is a firestorm of labyrinthine yet savage riffs, enraged vocals, and machine-gun drumming. It’s death metal personified, enlightened, and perfected. Elsewhere, tracks such as “The Path of the Totalitarian,” “A Speck in the Fabric of Eternity,” and “Soul-Sick Nation” (feat. Fredrik Folkare of Unleashed, Firespawn, et al.) pose real threats to the status quo. In all three, Elliott’s passion for and dominance of death metal’s tenets are tangible. But there’s more to Abysmal Dawn on Phylogenesis than customary ritual. From the ruthless groove of “Hedonistic” and the staccato stabs of “Coerced Evolution” to the late album gem “The Lament Configuration” and the blistering cover of Death classic “Flattening of Emotion,” the songs are designed to slay in ways we’re just beginning to understand.
“We’re a pretty brutal death metal band, but what I feel like sets us apart is that no matter what we do there’s always some underlying sense of melody and hooks,” Elliott says. “There are lots of bands that are ridiculously brutal. There are lots of bands that are over-the-top technically or are blatantly melodic. We combine all that but we try to write something that sticks with you over time; that you'll keep coming back to, and that works well in the live environment. We love all types of music, whether it's fusion or industrial music, and it shines through here and there. But in the end, though, we're a pure death metal band at heart trying to retain that old-school feel with an updated take for a new generation.”
Conceptually, Phylogenesis deals with the breakdown of social constructs humans have built over time. The album title is defined by the evolution of (or diversification) a species. So, Phylogenesis is an ironic take on Elliott’s observations, particularly how social media has accelerated and exacerbated the de-evolution of humanity’s interactive abilities. The cover art, again by Swedish artist Pär Olofsson, isn’t directly correlated to the lyrical narrative, but it does continue where Obsolescence left off. The Olofsson cover art has envisioned what it’s like on the inside of the Obsolescence tower, and that it’s humans that are being fed back to humans. The cover art continuity is akin to Richard Fleischer’s famed Soylent Green film but ripped through Elliott’s demented death metal lens.
“I think the lyrics deal a lot with things we encounter in our modern society and the effect it has on the individual,” says Elliott. “The dehumanization effect and divisiveness caused by bickering on social media (‘The Path of the Totalitarian’), the decay of legitimate journalism (‘True to the Blind’), struggling to find purpose in the pursuit of happiness (‘Hedonistic’), wishing something was greater than yourself (‘Mundane Existence’), the mental illness epidemic (‘Soul-Sick Nation’), embracing pain over numbness to feel alive (‘The Lament Configuration’), having our consciousnesses uploaded to a grid in order to make life sustainable on Earth (‘Coerced Evolution’), and the common theme throughout the band of wishing life on Earth would just start over (‘A Speck in the Fabric of Eternity’). I had started off wanting it to be a concept record but later scrapped that idea because I didn't like how it was going. In the end though, it just naturally all tied together in some way. Even the Death cover seemed to fit lyrically in hindsight. ‘Coerced Evolution’ is really the only song that in the sci-fi vein this time around. As for Pär, yes, he did the cover art once again. We love working with him and we’ve been creating great covers with him since 2006.”
Abysmal Dawn recorded Phylogenesis over a multi-year timeframe. In fact, Coppolino’s drums were tracked as far back as 2017 with long-time collaborator John Haddad at Trench Studios. The rhythm guitars and vocals, as produced by Mike Bear and Elliott, were also done at Tastemaker Audio the same year. So, some of Phylogenesis goes back, but the parts are no less lethal. Slowly but surely, the group’s newest and greatest materialized, with Elliott finishing the lead guitars, bass, additional vocals, re-amping, and mixing sessions in 2019, again at Tastemaker Audio. Abysmal Dawn then packaged up their fifth for mastering ace Tony Lindgren (Rotting Christ) to handle at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden. Contemporary yet absolutely remorseless, Abysmal Dawn’s Phylogenesis is death metal for a new age.
“We took our time and went to few studios this time around, so it’s a bit of a laundry list,” Elliott says. “John Haddad engineered the drums at Trench Studios. John has been involved with all our records in some form since From Ashes. Mike Bear helped track and produce the vast majority of my vocals and rhythm guitars out of my studio. Mike produced both Leveling the Plane of Existence (2010) and Obsolescence. I tracked and produced all the leads, bass parts, and other odds and ends and mixed the album as well. Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios mastered the record in the end.”
As for Abysmal Dawn’s next steps, the quartet await the release of Phylogenesis. With past support coming from the Village Voice, Decibel, PopMatters, and Pandora, as well as the group's rabidly-devoted fanbase, the future of death metal is in good hands.
Lineup:
Charles Elliott: guitars, vocals
Eliseo Garcia: bass, additional vocals
James Coppolino: drums
Vito Petroni: guitars
Guest Musicians: Orchestral arrangement on “Behind Space” by Craig Peters (Destroying the Devoid, Deeds of Flesh)
Recording Studio:
Tastemaker Audio, Los Angeles, CA (USA) – everything excl. drums
Trench Studios, California (USA) – drums
Production, mixing, mastering, + sound engineer:
Charles Elliott @ Tastemaker Audio
Additional drum engineering by John Haddad @ Trench Studios
Cover Art:
Pär Olofsson
Biography:
Chris Dick
Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AbysmalNightmare
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/abysmalnightmare
For more on ABYSMAL DAWN, visit their official FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and BANDCAMP.
Tedeschi Trucks Band Wraps Four-Night Sold Out Residency at Ryman Auditorium
Photo Credit: Catherine Powell
GRAMMY Award-winning Tedeschi Trucks Band helped celebrate Ryman Auditorium’s 130th anniversary with a four-night sold-out residency from Feb. 22-23 and Feb. 25-26. With the residency, the roots-rock band has now headlined 23 shows at the Mother Church.
With a catalog of seven albums, 12 members strong and over a decade of steady touring in the U.S. and abroad, Tedeschi Trucks Band carries a distinguished reputation earned from both audiences and critics as one of the premier live bands in the world.
The Ryman will continue celebrating its 130th anniversary throughout the year with more concerts and residencies in 2022 than ever before, in addition to a special Ryman Community Day in May, an increase in pre-show and daytime events on PNC Plaza and new tour enhancements to be announced. For more information on the Ryman’s 130th, visit ryman.com/ryman-130-celebration.
About Ryman Auditorium
A National Historic Landmark, Ryman Auditorium was built by Captain Thomas G. Ryman in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. A 13-time winner of the prestigious Pollstar Theatre of the Year award, the historic venue is well-known as the Mother Church of Country Music and is the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry (1943-1974). The Ryman has been featured in numerous film and television projects including Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Johnny Cash Show, American Idol, Nashville and more. While offering a diverse lineup and thriving concert schedule (with over 200 shows per year), the venue is also open for daytime tours year-round. A coveted underplay for many, her iconic stage has seen the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Lizzo, Mumford and Sons, Garth Brooks, Foo Fighters, Wu Tang Clan, Coldplay, Michelle Obama and Little Big Town in recent years. Ryman Auditorium is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP), a Nashville-based REIT that also owns and operates the Grand Ole Opry, 650 AM WSM and Ole Red. For more information, visit ryman.com.
ARKAIK Release Lyric Video to Title Track for 'Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts'
Progressive death metal heavy-hitters ARKAIK have dropped a ferocious lyric video for their new single "Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts". The new song is the third single and title track for the band's upcoming album, which will see a March 11th, 2022 release via The Artisan Era.
The first single off 'Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts', titled "Wayward Opulence", dropped earlier this year; with the music video
PRE-ORDER 'Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts' HERE
About ARKAIK:
Arkaik is a progressive death metal band hailing from Northern California. Formed in 2004 by Jared Christianson and Chance Strickland, Arkaik was born within the blossoming Bay Area Tech-Death scene that would soon influence many of today’s popular bands. Through elaborate story-telling and their unique musical style, Arkaik imparts bits of esoteric wisdom through an ongoing lyrical narrative that continues to bring each listener on an epic hero’s journey.
Arkaik has been joined by many all-star members who have each left their mark in the band and contributed greatly - some of which still do behind the scenes. In 2017 Nathan Bigelow (Singularity AZ, Ex-Alterbeast) joined as the band’s full-time drummer. Alex Haddad (Dessiderium, Nullingroots) joined the band in 2018 during The Devastation On The Nation Tour, taking on guitar duties. Jared, Alex, and Nathan now comprise the core unit of Arkaik that will mark a new and exciting chapter for the band - creating a more focused and recognizable sound than ever before.
Having toured the bulk of The United States and Canada with popular acts such as Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, Psycroptic, Fallujah, Exhumed, and many more, Arkaik has made a name for themselves both on and off stage.
In 2019, after several years with Unique Leader, Arkaik joined forces with The Artisan Era to produce a single entitled “Supernal Flame”. Under this new record label, the band will unleash their fifth full-length album, 'Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts' on March 11th, 2022.
ARKAIK Lineup:
Jared Christianson
Alex Haddad (Dessiderium)
Nathan Bigelow (Singularity, Ex-Alterbeast)
ARKAIK Online:
'Shine' - the new single by Kid Moxie - OUT NOW
Who is who
Elena Charbila has an established track record as a composer, producer and recording artist under her moniker “Kid Moxie.”
Kid Moxie’s cinematic pop music has been featured in multiple TV commercials including a national Victoria’s Secret ad campaign, several TV shows and numerous indie films.
produced by electro artist Faderhead during a quick two-day session the two had last summer in Hamburg. The video is a
glossy nod to Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love” with a queer twist.
“When Faderhead and I started writing the song I was definitely channeling some Depeche Mode vibes, and I even made a joke that Dave Gahan should be singing this. The line ‘I’m taking a ride with my best friend’ kept circling around my head, and then I decided that this song is indeed about a
drive these two girls are taking, only a bit more sinister ’cause it ends up with them having sex in the back seat of the car.”
–Kid Moxie