Japanese RYUJIN Sign Worldwide Contract with Napalm Records

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 31, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo credit: Litch]

Formerly known as Gyze, Japanese “samurai metal” band RYUJIN have been reborn – signing a worldwide contract with premier rock and metal empire Napalm Records to usher them into their new era!

RYUJIN rises to carry heavy metal from Japan to the masses around the world. With high speed riffs and breakneck guitar descents paired with traditional music from their home country, RYUJIN creates a sound unknown in the west.

After four highly acclaimed albums and worldwide appearances at large festivals, RYUJIN have developed their own identity, expressed with accents of traditional Japanese instruments and lead guitarist Ryoji Shinomoto’s incredible shredding technique and ripping vocals.

Napalm Records is thrilled to have RYUJIN join its growing roster – stay tuned for morenews, coming soon!

RYUJIN mastermind Ryoji Shinomoto says:
“We have a very GRATEFUL announcement on behalf of RYUJIN (ex-Gyze):
Like a Phoenix from the ashes… GYZE has become RYUJIN!
Matthew Kiichi Heafy from Trivium is our manager, producer, mentor. 
We are proud to have just signed a worldwide deal with the amazing Napalm Records. 
We are ready to make this band a worldwide-known act; and to bring happiness and excitement to everyone around the globe.
 
The name RYUJIN comes from the Japanese Dragon God King with the same name. In Japanese lore, Ryujin freely moves heaven and earth, moves the clouds, blows the wind, and makes it rain. The Dragon God King also controls the flow of weather, ocean currents, and geothermal heat.
 
We can’t wait for you to hear the music we’ve been working on.”

Trivium frontman and RYUJIN manager Matthew Kiichi Heafy adds:
“It is my incredible honor to announce that I am officially working with the newly reincarnated form of Gyze, RYUJIN, for management, production, and mentoring. Ryujin is the Japanese king of the dragons – and the namesake of this for the band is nothing but appropriate. 
 
Ryoji is one of the most talented human beings I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. Whether it’s his monstrous screaming, powerful singing, other-worldly guitar playing, or his masterful songwriting – he is a musical force of nature. 
  
This album is going to be mind blowing.” 

Sebastian Muench, A&R, Napalm Records says:
“We have been following the exciting career of RYUJIN (former Gyze) for many years and believe that their style of Japanese Melodic Death Metal is simply amazing. We are happy to work with RYUJIN, along with Matthew Kiichi Heafy, on the new album release and to break the band in the global market.” 

Experience RYUJIN HERE:

RYUJIN are:
Ryoji Shinomoto – Guitar, Vocals, Shamisen, Erhu, Dragon Flute & Orchestration
Shuji Shinomoto – Drums, Vocals
Aruta Watanabe – Bass, Vocals
Yukihiro Shinkai – Guitar

Special musician, producer:
Matthew Kiichi Heafy – vocals, conductor, etc

Support musician:
Yohei Nakagawa – Hichiriki, Cho

XANDRIA Release New Single + Official Music Video ‘Two Worlds’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 31, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo credit: Tim Tronckoe]

The wait will soon be over – Germany’s symphonic metal icons XANDRIA are back with their eagerly-awaited album, The Wonders Still Awaiting, out this Friday, February 3, 2023 via Napalm Records. After a break of six years, their first single, “Reborn”, instantly gained over a million YouTube views, while further releases such as album title track “The Wonders Still Awaiting“ or the beautiful single “Ghosts“ also impacted strongly with fans.

Right from the start, album opener “Two Worlds” takes you on a journey through epic, fantastical soundscapes, as well as imposing arrangements. Lyrically, the band expresses their personal feelings towards the future of humanity, wondering if humanity is on its way towards a dystopian world (especially with the constant environmental destruction) or if it is moving towards a fantastical utopian world? Ambre Vourvahis embraces her magnificent vocal diversity and uses its power to merge the contrasting worlds together in the new breathtaking music video.

XANDRIA about the new single “Two Worlds”:
“We have – perhaps still – the choice between two worlds. A dystopian one if we continue on this way into reversing the progress of civilization and destroying the environment which we are living in. Or a utopian one where we can see the wonders that might be awaiting for mankind’s future. But the bridge between those worlds gets frailer with every second.

Musically, this epic and bombastic 7 minute song takes you on a journey through the polarity of the two worlds, showing you the surprises, treasures, and diversity the new album The Wonders Still Awaiting will have in store. This song is almost a little movie on its own with the combination of metal mixed with huge film score orchestration, a 40-piece choir of the Bulgarian National Radio Children´s Choir.”

XANDRIA, Germany‘s symphonic metal icons present the successor of their Top 20 charting album, Theater of Dimensions, after six long years. Starting a new, exciting chapter in their long-lasting band history, the eagerly-awaited eighth studio album, The Wonders Still Awaiting, will arise this Friday. Mastermind Marco Heubaum returns with a new lineup and leads the band once again into wonderful spheres, without renouncing their characteristic trademarks.

Get your copy of The Wonders Still Awaiting HERE

The impressive vocal wealth of Ambre Vourvahis – ranging from rock grit, operatic highs and even death metal growls – opens the unit’s sound to a wider palette of colors. Songs like the opening epic “Two Worlds”, “The Wonders Still Awaiting” and “Ghosts” manifest the thematic mood of the album while constructing incredible soundscapes of pure symphonic metal. XANDRIA addresses issues of social inequality and the quest for a just world. “Paradise” showcases some of the album’s strongest hooks, captivating with great metallic pop melodies. The veil of various influences is lifted once more in “Illusion Is Their Name”, dashing all deception with heavy power metal vibes. Tracks like “Your Stories I’ll Remember” and “Scars” show the intimate side of XANDRIA on one hand, while combining rhythmic heaviness on the other. The latter is reminiscent of a James Bond theme, dressed in a heavy musical soundscape. The epic nine minute album closer “Astéria”, featuring Greek lyrics written by Ambre Vourvahis, lands as the album’s exclamation point, proving with a grand finish that the five-piece has fearlessly started a revolution in the symphonic metal genre – commencing an impressive new era of XANDRIA with The Wonders Still Awaiting.

The Wonders Still Awaiting tracklist:

  1. Two Worlds
  2. Reborn
  3. You Will Never Be Our God
  4. The Wonders Still Awaiting
  5. Ghosts
  6. Your Stories I’ll Remember
  7. My Curse Is My Redemption
  8. Illusion Is Their Name
  9. Paradise
  10. Mirror Of Time
  11. Scars
  12. The Maiden And The Child
  13. Astèria

XANDRIA live 2023:
The Wonders Still Awaiting Tour 2023
presented by: EMP, Metal.de, Musix, Rock It!, Sonic Seducer
02.02.23 DE – Essen / Turock
03.02.23 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser
04.02.23 DE – München / Backstage

XANDRIA are:
Ambre Vourvahis – Vocals
Marco Heubaum – Guitar
Robert Klawonn – Guitar
Tim Schwarz – Bass
Dimitrios Gatsios – Drums

NAUT Reveal Music Video for New Song ‘Damocles’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 31, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo taken by Paul Critchley

Emerging U.K. post punk outfit NAUT will be releasing a brand new full length, ‘Hunt,’ on February 24, 2022 via Season of Mist, making it the band’s debut to the label! The band is now sharing the second single, “Damocles,” along with a music video! The clip can be found at THIS LOCATION.

NAUT comments, “With this third single from ‘Hunt,’ we wanted to demonstrate the other sounds that influence our music, outside of the hard rock and post-punk. ‘Damocles’ is a sprawling, slithering slow-build of a track, taking as much influence from the new romantics as it does gothic rock. It wasn’t a conscious decision to make the song take this shape, instead we trusted our instincts and followed them to what we consider new ground for the band. Ground that we will no doubt return to in future.

The video’s use of projected images blasted across a landscape marred by the pursuit of all that glitters, who’s lights shine in the night like car headlights, quite literally make us a part of the city we call home. Filmed in the freezing cold January night, the creation process of this video perfectly reflects the song’s message of a cold and uncaring world, one in which we must create our own fire and tread carefully, lest we fall from our path. One misstep and the blade swings free.“

Pre-orders for ‘Hunt’ are now live HERE and the album can be pre-saved on streaming services HERE.

The cover artwork was created by NAUT members Gavin Laubscher & Jack Welch.

Tracklist of “Hunt”
1. Dissent (04:17) [WATCH]
2. All the Days (04:07)
3. Gold & Death (04:12)
4. Damocles (05:25) [WATCH]
5. 8 in 3 (06:57)
6. Unity of Opposites (04:24) [WATCH]
7. Nightfall (04:28)
8. Watchers (05:16)

THE HIP PRIESTS Release Single + Music Video ‘Chasing Death’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 31, 2023
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THE HIP PRIESTS have released a new single and video ‘Chasing Death’ ahead of new album ‘Roden House Blues’ due May 5th via The Sign Records.

Since their inception in 2006, The Hip Priests have released a mighty thirty 7” singles, four albums, two compilations and three EPs by various independent labels from all over Europe & the USA. Fiercely independent and tirelessly driven, the ‘Priests have preached their high energy sermon of misanthropy, hate and contempt across numerous tours of the UK, Europe and USA and made countless rapturously received festival appearances.

Gaining a richly deserved reputation as a white-hot live band, the last few years have seen the band’s popularity increasing further with them regularly playing alongside kindred spirits such as The Hellacopters, Gluecifer, The Good the Bad and the Zugly, New Bomb Turks, Dwarves and Zeke at both festivals and in clubs. Rave reviews pour in for every release, ranging from ‘a band on top of their game & steps ahead of any of their UK contemporaries’ to ‘if you’re in any doubt about how good these bad boys are then you need locking up’. After 16 years some bands would be taking it easy but in spite of a global pandemic, there was no let-up in their determination and activity. Their fifth, and by far their best full-length album – ‘Roden House Blues’ – was written, rehearsed, and recorded during this period and will be released May 5th, 2023, via The Sign Records.

Today, The Hip Priests blast out a second offering ahead of the album’s release with new single ‘Chasing Death’, a song that is, say the band “about self-destruction and self-sabotage. A story stuffed with vice and excess. A tale about one person’s journey, after buying a one-way ticket on the train wreck to end all train wrecks. The age-old colourful topics of sex, drugs and rock n roll. Is it autobiographical? Is it celebration or commiseration? Hero or Rock N Roll failure? Chasing death or embracing life? Crank it loud and make your own mind up.”

Stream the single

The Hip Priests. Zero fucks n’ less success since 2006. The most prolific band you haven’t heard of. High energy sweaty sermons of misanthropy, disillusion (self) loathing and despair. Get ready to have your ears torn clean off.

The Hip Priests are:
Nathan Von Cruz – lead vocals
Austin Rocket – guitar/vocals
Lee Love – bass/vocals
Gentle Ben – guitar/vocals
D.P. Bomber – drums

Catch The Hip Priests live at the following dates:


February
Monday 27th Dragonfly Rock Cafe, Almeria
Tuesday 28th Sala Plant Baja, Granada
March
Wednesday 1st Fun House, Madrid
Thursday 2nd Salason, Cangas De Morazzo
Saturday 4th Hell Dorado, Vitoria
Sunday 5th El Sotana Rock Pub, Teruel
(With The Dangerfields)
Wednesday 22nd Bennigans, Derry
Thursday 23rd Áras Na Ngael, Galway
Friday 24th Fred Zeppelin’s, Cork
Saturday 25th Venue Tbc, Limerick
Sunday 26th Wild Duck, Dublin
Germany
(With Lucifer Star Machine)
April
Thursday 27th Sonic Ballroom, Cologne
Friday 28th Freakshow, Essen
Saturday 29th Zollkantine, Bremen
Sunday 30th Indra Musikclub, Hamburg
UK (With Bitch Queens)
May
Thursday 25th The Pipeline, Brighton
Friday 26th Hope And Anchor, London
Saturday 27th Nice And Sleazy, Morecambe

Finland‘s PRESTIGE Premiere Music Video for Brand New Song ‘Candles’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 31, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo: Peero Lakanen]

January 13, 2023 seen Finnish thrash metal titans PRESTIGE re-release their iconic 1989-debut album, “Attack Against Gnomes”, via Massacre Records. This must-have reissue is now available as a CD Digipak and limited Vinyl LP edition at THIS LOCATION!

In support, the band will not only appear live as special guest of MANOWAR (find all upcoming PRESTIGE dates below), but has shared a brand new song, entitled “Candles”!

Says vocalist and bassist Aku Kytölä: “Fear not, “Candles” is not your average romantic or cheesy song. But it’s still based on real life. There are so many suppressed feelings, lost hope, apocalyptic signs and total devastation going on all around the globe nowadays rather than the prospect of a bright and shiny future. But instead of stating that fact again, I just had to write a bit of a poetic and definitely gothic story about lost love, about feeling empty inside and how it feels, when you just can’t hold the keys in hand but only hope for the best.”

PRESTIGE were barely out of their teenager years, yet fully aware of the problems in the society and the world around them when they started making music in 1987. Often the band took a humoristic approach to song lyrics, but if you dig deeper, there is always a message hidden in there. A song like “This World”, for example, is as relevant today as it was 35 years ago. 

Their music was fast and aggressive, and PRESTIGE was the third thrash band to release a full-length album in Finland. The years 1988 and 1989 witnessed a real breakthrough of thrash metal in Finland, and PRESTIGE was right in the middle of it, ending up playing all over the country and hitting the charts.

The band’s iconic debut album, “Attack Against Gnomes”, was produced and recorded by renowned producer TT Oksala and was mixed at the legendary Finnvox Studios in Helsinki. The album recordings took seven days. 

“Finally, after 34 years of it’s initial release our debut album will be released in physical form  to the wider international audience. Back in 1988 Finland was a different metal country as you know it now. Exporting metal was random and hard if not impossible. We toured a lot back then, and lived fast,” the band recently commented. “On this album you will hear youngsters, hardly 18 years old, playing their music in passion and attitude.That has not changed a bit till today, the same passion is still there. We hope you’ll enjoy this little journey back in time!“

As bonus, the CD Digipak edition of the “Attack Against Gnomes” reissue includes the 1988 demo “GODS” which actually led the band to a record deal in first place. It was recorded with an eight-track recorder in just a few hours at Emma Studio, yet the band obviously knew what they were doing. On the demo you can hear the band raw and unpolished, yet full of devotion to their music and lifestyle.

Purchase your album copy HERE

Tracklist:

  1. It’s Over
  2. Force Of My Hate
  3. Dead By Drugs
  4. Attack Against Gnomes
  5. Rotten Angel
  6. Gods
  7. Punishment
  8. Brain Outburst
  9. Rabb-it
  10. Angels Cry
  11. This World
  12. Gods (Demo 1988) – CD Bonus Track
  13. Force Of My Hate (Demo 1988) – CD Bonus Track
  14. Brain Outburst (Demo 1988) – CD Bonus Track
  15. Punishment (Demo 1988) – CD Bonus Track
  16. Angels Cry (Demo 1988) – CD Bonus Track

PRESTIGE Live:
01.02.2023 FI Espoo – Metro Areena (w/ MANOWAR)
04.02.2023 FI Vantaa – Rock Bear
02.03.2023 FR Paris – Le Klub
03.03.2023 NL Den Haag – Musicon
04.03.2023 BE Diest – Rock/Metal Café HELL
23.07.2023 FI Ylöjärvi – VahantarocK
19.08.2023 FI Tampere – Tullikamari Klubi (Speed Metal Party)

GHOSTS OF ATLANTIS Release Cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 31, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

British metallers GHOSTS OF ATLANTIS have unveiled their cover of the Pink Floyd classic “Comfortably Numb”!

Speaking about the track, the band stated:
“This band, and song have been massively influential to us in the band, we have painstakingly taken the time to honor the original artists vision, but bring it in to the modern era, and give it that Atlantean twist, which you all know and love.

We also brought in our good friend Anna Kiarra, to guest on this track, who has added a wonderful hint of Eastern dynamism to proceedings. This video (created by the super talented Drake Mafestta) has a deep message, just as the song did all those years ago, and we hope it resonates with you. Now, enjoy this great track as you have never heard it before”.

Hailing from Suffolk, and featuring members of Devilment, DiAmorte, and Failed Humanity, Ghosts Of Atlantis have racked up an impressive list of achievements. After the successful release of the debut album “3.6.2.4”, the band received exceptional reviews from the likes of Metal Hammer, Knotfest, Devolution Magazine, Prog Magazine and Powerplay Magazine.

They later took the stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in 2021 on the legendary Sophie Lancaster stage. Since then, the band have supported Avatar and Skarlett Riot on their UK tours and appeared on festival bills alongside the likes of Raging Speedhorn, Evile and Scar Symmetry.

​Away from the live arena, their music has been picked up for a number of films, including the horror film “Witch”, directed by Craig Hinde and Marc Zammit, starring Fabrizio Santino, Anto Sharp, and Russel Shaw. The band also appear in the film “One Ranger”, featuring their track ‘When Tridents Fail’, directed by Jesse Johnson. Starring John Malkovich, Thomas Jane and Dominique Tipper, out this year on Lionsgate.