Guitarist Roberto De Micheli of Italian symphonic metal masters RHAPSODY OF FIRE takes you behind the scenes before the band’s 2012 North and South American tours. In the two-minute clip below, you will be taken into De Micheli‘s private rehearsal studio where he talks about the upcoming tour and plays a RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitar solo.
RHAPSODY OF FIRE will embark on the North American leg of its “From Chaos To Eternity” world tour in late May.
The first official photo of the new lineup of RHAPSODY OF FIRE can be seen below.
RHAPSODY OF FIRE 2012 is:
Fabio Lione – Vocals Alex Staropoli – Keyboards Roberto De Micheli – Guitar Tom Hess – Guitar Oliver Holzwarth – Bass Alex Holzwarth – Drums
The new RHAPSODY OF FIRE lineup made its live debut on April 6 at the PPM Fest at the Lotto Mons Expo in Mons, Belgium. Quality fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below. Source: Blabbermouth.net
The Age Of Metal recently conducted an interview with Erik Danielsson of Swedish black metallers WATAIN. You can now listen to the chat HERE.
WATAIN was forced to cancel the first five shows (including one headlining performance) of its current North American tour due to delays in the visa process.
WATAIN‘s first show as part of the Decibel Magazine Tour 2012 — alongside BEHEMOTH, THE DEVIL’S BLOOD and IN SOLITUDE — took place on April 16 at Granada Theater in Lawrence, Kansas.
WATAIN will release a new DVD, “Opus Diaboli”, in North America on June 5. The production commemorates the band’s 13 years of chaos by providing a visual and audio documentation of their ceremonial anniversary concert performance in Stockholm and the long years of physical, intellectual and spiritual work leading up to it. “Opus Diaboli” is an epic 90-minute journey into the forbidden realms of wild-hearted Satanic metal and the manifestation of a unique band that has truly chosen a path few have ever dared to tread upon.
Comments the band in a collective statement: “This movie was first meant to be the recording of our 13-year anniversary concert, but as everything with WATAIN, it took on a life of its own and become one of our most ambitious projects to date. It is a very personal and emotional piece of work and is certainly not for the faint of heart. But for those who wish to explore the glimmering abyss of WATAIN further, this will be a rewarding release for sure. The box version of ‘Opus Diaboli’ [available exclusively through the band’s own Wolfwear.net] contains an exclusive photobook. It was an overwhelming experience going through the massive archives in search of photos that best sum up the storm of passionate turmoil that has marked the WATAIN journey, especially since we wanted to stay away from live photos and focus more on moments off stage. The results were however very satisfying and offer a rare and spicy mixture of photos of which most have never been published previously. We are also proud to announce that this will be the first release on our own label His Master’s Noise, a name originating from BATHORY who had it in mind for their own label back in the early 1980s. Just like with our merch store Wolfwear.net, from which the limited box set will be available, this time we have chosen to stand by our own and do things our way.” Source: Blabbermouth.net
Artist: Betrayer F.T.M. Album: No Life Till Fury Label: Violent Records Year: 2010
1. Machine
2. One Day Of Fury
3. To Kill or Die
4. La Orden Del Caos
5. Midnight Poison
6. No Life Till Fury
7. Infernal Metal
8. Caught By Hatred
9. The Burning Road
As far as semi-growls and over complicated lyrics go, this band has outshone them in every possible direction. With the music going from key metal stages of Maiden, Metallica, Judas Priest etc… You are left with no real uniqueness or quality that makes them any different from any other thrash band over the last 20 years.
With a mix between punk based riffs on the track ‘Midnight Poison’ to the heavy muted churning on ‘Machine’ and ‘Infernal Metal’ you really are left indifferent to the direction of this. With the use of far too many lyrics being crammed tightly into one chorus, things get a little edgy; this may have worked for Rap but not Thrash by any means. At times the music seems to get lost or even lag behind the vocals as if the metronome or drummer as he’s better known in today’s society cannot keep up with the vocals.
Although there are some heavy elements now and then and the thrash is good in certain songs, there really is nothing new or defining about this entire album.
CHROME DIVISION, the Norwegian five-piece featuring DIMMU BORGIR frontman Shagrath (a.k.a. Stian Thoresen) on guitar, has parted ways with bassist Björn “Burn” Luna and guitarist Ricky Black. Luna, who was a member of CHROME DIVISION since its inception in 2004, “will work with us from behind the curtains of doom, and contribute on the lyrical side of things in the future,” according to the band.
The group adds, “For a while we have been working heavily on the new album with our new permanent members. Our new bass player Ogee has been filling out as session live guitarist/bassist for a long time and is now onboard for the ride. The perfect successor and a natural choice to welcome into the ranks.
“On lead guitar we present to you the extremely talented Damage Karlsen of former BREED fame. Shoes hard to fill, but he damn near broke the mold!
“Both guys are an inspiring addition to the song writing process and the new material smells like burnt rubber!”
CHROME DIVISION current lineup:
Shagrath – Guitar Ogee – Bass Shady Blue (a.k.a. Athera) – Vocals Damage Karlsen – Guitar Tony White – Drums
The first photos of the new CHROME DIVISION lineup can be seen below.
CHROME DIVISION‘s “Ghost Riders In The Sky” video was filmed with director Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE, KAMELOT), who previously worked with the group on the “Bulldogs Unleashed” and “Serial Killer” videos (the latter off 2006’s “Doomsday Rock ‘N’ Roll” album).
A cover version of the JOHNNY CASH classic, “Ghost Riders In The Sky” comes off CHROME DIVISION‘s third album, “3rd Round Knockout”, which was released in Europe on May 6, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Marius Strand Studio in Oslo.
CHROME DIVISION in August 2009 parted ways with longtime vocalist Eddie Guz “due to lack of dedication and commitment to the band.” His replacement is none other than Athera of SUSPERIA, who filled in for Guz at the Winterfire Festival at Hessenhallen in Giessen, Germany on February 21, 2009 after Eddie Guz was unable to make the gig.
Photos by: Kjell Ivar Lund. Source: Blabbermouth.net
Swedish metallers ENGEL have issued the following:
Hey Everybody! BIG NEWS today! Yours truly, ENGEL is confirmed to support the mighty MACHINE HEAD! The shows is scheduled on June 14 at Gröna Lund in Stockholm. Be there for this massive metal package! Tickets can only be bought at the venue on the day of the show!
See you in Stockholm!
// ENGEL
MANOWAR and After Dark Films announced today that a track from the band’s new album will be the theme song for the After Dark Action franchise film “El Gringo”, an action western starring Scott Adkins (“The Expendables 2”, “The Bourne Ultimatum”), Christian Slater and Yvette Yates (“Without Men”).
After Dark Action will showcase “El Gringo” and four other original, adrenaline-pumping films theatrically as a commercial film festival in markets nationwide and on VOD (Video On Demand) on May 11. Directed by Eduardo Rodriguez (“Stash House”) and written by Jonathan W. Stokes, “El Gringo” is about The Man who crosses into Mexico with a satchel of $2,000,000 cash, a bloody past and a plan to live out his remaining days on a beach. Instead, he gets stuck waiting for a bus in El Fronteras, a sleepy desert town that’s so uninviting that — forget about the ocean — he can hardly find a glass of water. Then, word of his money spreads to the underworld. Under sudden attack from corrupt cops, gangsters, and desperados, The Man must push back his retirement plans, lock and load and save sleepy El Fronteras through a dizzying display of spectacular gunfights.
“El Gringo” marks the first time MANOWAR has written a song specifically for a movie. The song depicts the struggle of a hero torn between his moral code and financial gain, and the challenge of being true to oneself and the real values in life — a recurring theme in MANOWAR‘s music.
“Everyone loves action movies! Our music, along with ass-kicking visuals and a great story, are a perfect match, not to mention a chance to actually see the music come alive on screen,” said MANOWAR bassist and composer Joey DeMaio. “‘El Gringo’ has been a great experience, the team at After Dark Films has been a pleasure to work with, and we are ready for more!” he continued.
“We are thrilled to have MANOWAR as a creative collaborator on ‘El Gringo’,” said Courtney Solomon, a producer on the film, as well as the company owner and CEO of After Dark Films. “The band really invested their talent and energy into the project and we can’t wait to share their work with action audiences everywhere.”
The new MANOWAR album featuring the song “El Gringo” and many other tracks in the vein of the band’s hit record “Warriors Of The World” and the classic MANOWAR hymns will celebrate its world premiere and digital pre-release in June.
MANOWAR will headline several European festivals this summer, celebrating their new album and the 10th anniversary of one of their most popular records, “Warriors Of The World”.
Source: Blabbermouth.net
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Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Artist: Betrayer F.T.M.
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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 