KRAMPUS have released a “track by track” of their entire new album, Survival of the Fittest. KRAMPUS take their lyrical themes very serious as they reflect struggles of current world issues. Check out the explanation behind each track by singer Filippo and violinist Marika.
Their first full-length effort, Survival Of The Fittest, has been produced by KRAMPUS’ charismatic frontman Filippo Gianotti himself at Udine’s legendary Blackmirror Studios and is set for release in late August 2010. Shortly after the release, KRAMPUSwill embark on their first extensive European tour, joining Wintersun and Korpiklaani on 2012’s edition of the hugely successful Heidenfest tour.
KRAMPUS’ Declaration:
Krampus, the winter demon, has survived the repression of the modern gods. Born from shame for the mankind decay, under the cold breeze in the shades of the Alps, we join him in his dealing out of the fallible human’s just deserts. Like roots breaking concrete, we shake minds dulled by the weakness of present society. We fight fearlessly for our beliefs, aiming to give back at least some of what has been taken from mother nature. We kindle the embers hidden inside each and every one of you, choked by the lies of nations: Embers of Honour, Pride, Traditions, and Freedom.
Gojira‘s crushing new album L’Enfant Sauvage comes out tomorrow, June 26 (though you can pre-order it now), and we sat frontman Joe Duplantier down recently and had him go through it, track by track. He explains the lyrical messages of each song, the approach they took to the music, and more.
Here’s the third and final part, in which he discusses tracks 9-11 – “Pain is a Master,” “Born in Winter,” and “The Fall.” In case you missed them, check out Part 1 and Part 2, or check them out below:
Gojira‘s awesome new album L’Enfant Sauvage comes out on Tuesday, June 26 (though you can pre-order it now), and we sat frontman Joe Duplantier down recently and had him go through it, track by track. He explains the lyrical messages of each song, the approach they took to the music, and more.
Here’s Part 2, in which he discusses tracks 5-8 – “The Wild Healer,” “Planned Obsolescence,” “Mouth of Kala,” and “The Gift of Guilt.” Part 3 will be coming very soon.
Gojira‘s awesome new album L’Enfant Sauvage comes out on Tuesday, June 26 (though you can pre-order it now), and we sat frontman Joe Duplantier down recently and had him go through it, track by track. He explains the lyrical messages of each song, the approach they took to the music, and more.
Here’s Part 1, in which he discusses the first four songs – “Explosia,” “L’Enfant Sauvage,” “The Axe,” and “Liquid Fire.” Parts 2 and 3 will be coming very soon.
Vocalist Joey Tempest of Swedish hard rockers EUROPE recently gave a track-by-track guide to the band’s new album, “Bag Of Bones”, to interviewer Geoff Barton of Classic Rock magazine. Check it out below.
EUROPE‘s ninth studio album, “Bag Of Bones”, entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 2.
“Bag Of Bones” was released in Europe on April 27 via earMusic/Edel. The CD, which features a guest appearance by blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), was produced by Kevin Shirley, who has previously worked with IRON MAIDEN, JOE BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK STONE CHERRY and JOURNEY, among others.
The “Not Supposed To Sing The Blues” video was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others.
The “Not Supposed To Sing The Blues” digital single was made available on March 9. Source: Blabbermouth.net
The first of two video clips in which guitarist Gus G. of Greek melodic metallers FIREWIND talks about the individual tracks that will appear on the band’s new album, “Few Against Many”, can be seen below. Due in Europe on May 21 via Century Media Records and in North America on May 22 through DisManic, Inc. via eOne Distribution, the CD was mixed by Jason Suecof and Eyal Levi at Audiohammer Studios (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, DEATH ANGEL) in Sanford, Florida.
Produced by Gus, “Few Against Many” was recorded with his longtime bandmates, vocalist Apollo Papathanasio, keyboardist/guitarist Bob Katsionis and bassist Petros Christo, at Valve Studio in Greece as well as the Sweetspot Studios in Sweden and sees the band expanding on its signature melodic sound with some of its most aggressive songs to date. The CD also marks the recording debut of new FIREWIND drummer Johan Nunez (NIGHTRAGE). The young Belgian is regarded by Gus as a “phenomenal talent,” and anyone that witnessed him on the band’s most recent world tour will no doubt agree.
“Few Against Many” track listing:
01. Wall Of Sound
02. Losing My Mind
03. Few Against Many
04. The Undying Fire
05. Another Dimension
06. Glorious
07. Edge Of A Dream (feat. APOCALYPTICA)
08. Destiny
09. Long Gone Tomorrow
10. No Heroes, No Sinners
The song “Edge Of A Dream” features a special appearance of Finnish cello superstars APOCALYPTICA.
While the album’s standard version will be available in the CD format as well as LP and also as digital download, “Few Against Many” will also be released as limited-edition digipak CD with two special bonus tracks: “Battleborn” and an acoustic version of “No Heroes, No Sinners”.
The “Wall Of Sound” video can be seen below. The clip was filmed by Colin Marshall during the band’s recent shows in Greece.
Commented Gus: “We wanted to do a different video this time, instead of the usual indoor studio shootings. So we figured we’d show the band in its comfort zone — on stage. The clip was shot on our most recent shows in Greece this past January and you can witness the mayhem that goes down when we play in our home country! Enjoy!”
Swedish melodic death metallers ENGEL have revealed more information about their third album “Blood Of Saints”, which will come out on May 18 via Season Of Mist.
Track by track info about Engel’ upcoming album “Blood of Saints”. by Niclas Engelin
For the upcoming album, “Blood of Saints” we’ve taken the Engel sound/music some more steps further. We have always been a hybrid of Metal and Industry with a big crush on huge catchy choruses, and this is the next era in the history of Engel.
1. Question Your Place
The first video/single, and the opening track of the album, with probably the most down tuned guitars in Engel history, and with a groove that is a new approach for Engel. This mix makes it a super heavy song. The song is co-written by Pontus Hjelm (Dead By April), who in fact have been involved in the writing process on 3 of the 11 tracks on the album. I felt that after have written somewhat 120 songs for Engel, it would be fun and inspiring to write with a fellow musician and friend.
2. Frontline
Is one of my favorite songs on the album! A straight up heavy metal tune with keys that keeps the pace in the verses and is filled with cool guitar solos and melodies. Everything leads up to the super heavy chorus that calls out to the masses for joining up in an epic singalong! Magnus is doing an awesome job on the entire album, but especially on this song by expanding his register to the maximum.
SURRENDER NOW!!!
3. Feel Afraid
Engel goes A&R…ehhhh..NOT!! A&R might not be the case, but this song might be the big hit, with a chorus so big and catchy that even Simon Cowell will lose his front teeth! A nice groove runs through the entire song and contains a middle part that might draw your thoughts to Iron Maiden? As always there’s loops and keys that battles the riff in the verses, and this song is a must on the upcoming tours.
4. Numb
A very pushy song that calls for circle pits around the globe. Jimmy had already made the drum beat and I built the song around the beat and Jimmy’s thoughts about it, which resulted in maybe the hardest and most intense song on “Blood of Saints”, with a drive and energy that’s going to be a pure pleasure to perform live. Just talking about the fourth song on the album it already feels that we have some awesome live songs/classics in the mix.
5. Cashking
One of the faster songs on “Blood of Saints” with a catchy approach in both bridge and chorus, which might make people go around humming the song without even thinking about it. This song is all about shredding and melodies for the masses, which we’ve put focus on with this album without having to make the song longer just to add a cool solo. Everything has its place and have to be natural, so if anyone doubted Engel’s shredding skills; Think again!
6. One Good Thing
Once again we used the big axes to create a very epic and big song which makes the listener take to the chorus right away. While writing this song at Pontus Hjelm’s studio, a security guard suspected us of break in and entering. After explaining what was going on the guy said: “Guys, this song is absolutely awesome, and you need to finish it right away!” PS. Listen to the M. Schenker solo!
7. The Blood of Saints
The entire album is an homage to our fans who we call Saints. It’s impossible to miss its message in the mighty chorus! This will also be a massive edition to Engel’s live catalogue. I mean, how wrong can it be with a 16/4 beat? In my book; NEVER!!! The notes and groove will for sure make you think of In Splendour, but it will never lose its own touch.
8. Down To Nothing
Guitars, guitars and GUITARS! That’s the word of the hour from the heavy start to the mighty end. This is a perfect balance between keys and guitars, with Magnus’s vocals slammed right in the middle. There’s a lot of melody and guitar hooks, but without losing the heavy sound that defines Engel.
9. Drama Queen
Maybe the most complicated song that Engel ever recorded on an album ever. Not because it’s sounding weird and complicated, but because of the fact that some parts of the song is weird to play. And as with basically the entire album this is a future whiplash injury because of all the headbanging that’s going to be delivered during the live shows. On this song Pontus Hjelm and I brought our minds together to create this down tuned monster. I can’t even remember if we tuned down to Z or Y here.
10. In Darkness (feat. Hellmans Drengar)
A song written for the HELL project Engel did with Hellmans Drengar during the fall of 2011. We all loved doing the project and can strongly recommend it to everybody. To mix Metal with a choir? Will that work? It worked out absolutely perfect without losing the concept of the song, even with awesome solos and shreds. A bigger chorus will be hard to find this year, since we don’t know about anyone else being backed up by a 50 guys strong all male choir!!
11. Journey’s End
I love the idea of finishing with a huge epic song, as we did on “Threnody”. This time around it’s Journey’s End, and it is an epic story that is very dynamic and large in its performance, and that leaves your mind open on how the next album might sound. It’s like you have been watching the first season of Game Of Thrones and you just have to know how the next one will start! Magnus shows that he can deliver first class vocals and masters various different styles of singing on the song.
ENGEL filmed a video for the new song “Question Your Place” on February 10 at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg.
A trailer for the CD can be seen below.
ENGEL features guitarists Niclas Engelin (IN FLAMES, PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN) and Marcus Sunesson (THE CROWN), vocalist Mangan Klavborn, drummer Jimmy Olausson (ex-MARIONETTE) and bassist Steve Drennan (LOCUS).
ENGEL is confirmed for 3 more festivals this summer! First off we have ROCKHARZ OPEN AIR in Germany on July 12-14, followed by SKOGSRÖJET FESTIVAL in Sweden on August 10-11 and last but not least for this update, NEUBORN OPEN AIR in Germany on August 24-25.
Click HERE to go to the Gigs section for more info and to get your tickets!
ENGEL Store is up and Running! Follow the link to go get your ENGEL stuff!
Multi-national thrashers NIGHTRAGE will release their fifth album, “Insidious”, on September 27 (one day earlier internationally) via Lifeforce Records. The CD features guest appearances by Gus G. (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIREWIND), Tomas S. Englund (EVERGREY), Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS), John K (BIOMECHANICAL) and the band’s former frontman Tomas Lindberg (also known for his work with AT THE GATES, THE CROWN and LOCK UP). Lindberg appeared on the band’s first two albums — 2003′s “Sweet Vengeance” and 2005′s “Descent Into Chaos” — before being replaced by Jimmie Strimell, who sang on 2007′s “A New Disease Is Born”.
“Insidious” track listing:
01. So Far Away (intro)
02. Delirium Of The Fallen (w/ Apollo Papathanasio)
03. Insidious (w/ Tomas Lindberg)
04. Wrapped In Deceitful Dreams (w/ Gus G. and Tom S. Englund)
05. Hate Turns Black
06. Sham Piety (w/ Tomas Lindberg)
07. Cloaked In Wolf Skin
08. This World Is Coming To An End (w/ Tomas Lindberg, Apollo Papathanasio)
09. Utmost Ends Of Pain
10. Poignant Memories
11. Hush Of Night
12. Poisoned Pawn
13. Solar Eclipse (Prelude) (w/ John K)
14. Solar Corona (w/ Gus G. and Tom S. Englund)
15. Emblem Of Light (outro) (w/ John K)
Japanese bonus track and digital-only bonus:
16. Photograph (DEF LEPPARD cover; w/ Apollo Papathanasio)
The first part of a “Insidious” track-by-track description by singer Antony Hämäläinen can be found below.
“So Far Away”:
Antony Hämäläinen: “This would be part one of three instrumental tracks for the album. Short and to the point. Reminds me of a triumphant funeral dirge. Marios‘ trademark guitar melodies are all over the place on this one.”
“Delirium Of The Fallen”:
Antony Hämäläinen: “This is a bit different for the band as an opening song. We have always in the past had the typical ‘blast-beat’-type song open the album. We tried to go in a different direction here. This song kind of has it all. Crazy solos from Marios and Olof, an emotional vocal section by Apollo from FIREWIND, and a very catchy chorus.”
“Insidious”:
Antony Hämäläinen: “This is for me the best song I’ve ever done. Not only is it heavy as hell, but Tomas Lindberg recorded and sang vocal melodies and lyrics I wrote. A true honor and a great friend to the band. The song as a whole never stops destroying everything in its path.”
“Wrapped In Deceiftful Dreams”:
Antony Hämäläinen: “Another catchy chorus type song. Gus G. shreds along with Marios on this one. Tom from EVERYGREY laid down a clean section for this one. The original way was just a spoken word from me. Marios then had an amazing idea in the studio for Tom to take the lyrics and basically freestyle. It took the man five minutes to lay down these amazing vocals! The one thing I wanted as a singer to change on this record were the clean vocals. I had done my thing on ‘Wearing A Martyr’s Crown’, and this time I felt the need of a new flavor.”
“Hate Turns Black”:
Antony Hämäläinen: “This is one of the first songs we wrote for this record. To me this song takes you on a great ride. Very old-school Gothenburg feel in the pre-chorus and a traditional metal feel on the rest. This is NIGHTRAGE to the bone.”
The “Insidious” cover art was created by Gustavo Sazes (MORBID ANGEL, ARCH ENEMY, FIREWIND, SONIC SYNDICATE, GOD FORBID) of Abstrata Art and cane be seen below.
Commented the band: “We recorded the music at Zero Gravity studios on Athens, Greece with our great friend Terry Nikas at the helm. He did a fantastic job and provided us with an amazing environment and atmosphere to make the best record possible.
“Antony [Hämäläinen] had the pleasure as well to work on the vocals in a very different setting with Ryan Butler at his Arcane Digital Recording studio in Arizona. Ryan has been assisting us with demo sessions since the last album and it felt very natural for us to try the final product with him. We then went to Studio Fredman located in Gothenburg, Sweden for the mix and master. Our longtime producer Fredrik Nordström and Henrik Udd worked long and hard to make the best out of what we gave them.
“We have recorded sixteen songs overall, and, as we promised before, our guest players actually need no introduction.”
Current NIGHTRAGE vocalist Antony Hämäläinen made his recording debut with the band on 2009′s “Wearing A Martyr’s Crown”.
NIGHTRAGE is:
Antony Hämäläinen – Vocals Marios Iliopoulos – Guitar Olof Mörck – Guitar Anders Hammer – Bass Johan Nunez – Drums
PAIN, the Swedish industrial metal outfit led by musician and producer Peter Tägtgren, will release its seventh album, “You Only Live Twice”, on June 3 in Europe and June 21 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records.
The two-disc version of the effort will feature the following track listing:
Regular CD
01. Let Me Out
02. Feed The Demons
03. The Great Pretender
04. You Only Live Twice
05. Dirty Woman
06. We Want More
07. Leave Me Alone
08. Monster
09. Season Of The Reaper
Bonus CD
01. Crawling Thru Bitterness (unreleased bonus track)
02. The Great Pretender (Millboy & Peka P Remix)
03. Dirty Woman (MC Raaka Pee Remix)
04. You Only Live Twice (Rectifier Remix)
05. Leave Me Alone (Rectifier Remix)
06. Eleanor Rigby (Live at Sundown Festival, 2008)
07. Follow Me (Live in Brussels, 2009)
08. I Don’t Care (Live at Raimsmes Festival, 2009)
09. Bitch (Live at Raismes Festival, 2009)
The second of two video clips featuring Tägtgren walking fans track by track through the new album can be viewed below.
Regarding the album’s cover artwork, Tägtgren previously said, “I really wanted something ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ meets ‘Alice In Wonderland’ kind of feeling but with our mascot, the Painhead in it. And Heile created that after what I wanted. And he did it in his own way. It really has this kinda Tim Burton feel to it. It will be really crazy with a big backdrop. We also gonna do some inflatable stuff with our Painhead. Its gonna be our Eddie, like IRON MAIDEN has it.”
On the topic of the CD’s title, Tägtgren stated, “[The title] has nothing to do with James Bond. I am sure I will hear this for the rest of my life! The title song is mainly about people struggling.
“Don’t you wish you had another chance? Don’t you wanna live twice? Like you’re always jealous of other people. How good their life is or they won on lotto or anything. It’s about jealousy in general towards other people that surrounds you. About not being satisfied with what you have. Trying to create this fantasy world that you can live twice kind of…”
PAIN, the Swedish industrial metal outfit led by musician and producer Peter Tägtgren, will release its seventh album, “You Only Live Twice”, on June 3 via Nuclear Blast Records.
The two-disc version of the effort will feature the following track listing:
Regular CD
01. Let Me Out
02. Feed The Demons
03. The Great Pretender
04. You Only Live Twice
05. Dirty Woman
06. We Want More
07. Leave Me Alone
08. Monster
09. Season Of The Reaper
Bonus CD
01. Crawling Thru Bitterness (unreleased bonus track)
02. The Great Pretender (Millboy & Peka P Remix)
03. Dirty Woman (MC Raaka Pee Remix)
04. You Only Live Twice (Rectifier Remix)
05. Leave Me Alone (Rectifier Remix)
06. Eleanor Rigby (Live at Sundown Festival, 2008)
07. Follow Me (Live in Brussels, 2009)
08. I Don’t Care (Live at Raimsmes Festival, 2009)
09. Bitch (Live at Raismes Festival, 2009)
A video clip of Tägtgren walking fans track by track through the new album can be viewed below.
Regarding the album’s cover artwork, Tägtgren previously said, “I really wanted something ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ meets ‘Alice In Wonderland’ kind of feeling but with our mascot, the Painhead in it. And Heile created that after what I wanted. And he did it in his own way. It really has this kinda Tim Burton feel to it. It will be really crazy with a big backdrop. We also gonna do some inflatable stuff with our Painhead. Its gonna be our Eddie, like IRON MAIDEN has it.”
On the topic of the CD’s title, Tägtgren stated, “[The title] has nothing to do with James Bond. I am sure I will hear this for the rest of my life! The title song is mainly about people struggling.
“Don’t you wish you had another chance? Don’t you wanna live twice? Like you’re always jealous of other people. How good their life is or they won on lotto or anything. It’s about jealousy in general towards other people that surrounds you. About not being satisfied with what you have. Trying to create this fantasy world that you can live twice kind of…”
