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SYMPHONY X: Announce European Tour In May/June

Posted by aliblackdiamond on January 11, 2019
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

New Jersey’s progressive metal masters SYMPHONY X are delighted to announce a European tour, which will take place throughout May and the beginning of June this year. The run will see the five piece hit eleven countries in one month – with the tour kicking off on May 7th in Lyon, France, culminating in Gelsenkirchen, Germany at the Rock Hard Festival.

“We are really excited about the upcoming tour! Can’t wait to get back on the road and look forward to seeing everyone again very soon!”, says the band.

Symphony X 2019 tour dates:

07 May                 France                   Lyon                      Ninkasi Kao
08 May                 Switzerland            Pratteln                  Z7
10 May                 Italy                       Treviso                   New Age
11 May                 Italy                       Bologna                 Estragon
12 May                 Italy                       Rome                     Orion
14 May                 Italy                       Milan                      Alcatraz
15 May                 Germany                Munich                  Backstage Halle
16 May                 Germany                Ludwigsburg           Rockfabrik
17 May                 Germany                Berlin                      Lido
18 May                 Germany                Hannover               Faust
19 May                 Denmark                Copenhagen           Amager Bio
21 May                 Norway                  Oslo                       Rockefeller
22 May                 Sweden                  Stockholm              Klubben
24 May                 Finland                    Helsinki                   Nosturi
26 May                 Sweden                  Gothenburg             Pustervik
28 May                 Germany                Hamburg                 Knust
29 May                 Germany                Dresden                  Beatpol
31 May                 Germany                Aschaffenburg         Colos-Saal
01 June                 Belgium                  Vosselaar                Biebob
02 June                 Holland                   Nijmegen                Fortarock Festival
04 June                 UK                          Coventry                Empire
05 June                 UK                          Holmfirth                Picturedrome
06 June                 UK                          London                   Electric Ballroom
07 June                 France                    Paris                       La Machine du Moulin Rouge
08 June                 Germany                Gelsenkirchen          Rock Hard Festival
Tickets are on sale now!

Symphony X released their latest critically acclaimed studio album ‘Underworld’ in 2015, via Nuclear Blast. They triumphed in creating a panoramic ‘album rock’ experience in an era cursed with diminishing attention spans. Heavily inspired by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, ‘Underworld’  drew on the themes from the Divine Comedy, most notably the part on Inferno. As homage to Dante’s use of the number 3 and its multiples, the band utilised the motif in both lyrical and melodic context. The first song on the album is a three syllable, three note melodic phrase and in the verses there are three references to three songs on the bands third album, ‘The Divine Wings Of Tragedy’.

You can purchase “Underworld” here: http://nblast.de/SXUnderworld

A distinct murmur went around the world in 1994 when a certain six-string guitarist from New Jersey named Michael Romeo of the prog band Gemini recorded ‘The Dark Chapter’demo and sent it out to record labels. It seemed the new guitar messiah of the coming 21st Century had made himself known to the world and he’d soon launch a new band that would stir up the prog genre. With an innovative mixture of heavy metal, progressive rock and neo-classical sounds, Romeo and his men in SYMPHONY X recorded a debut album (released in Japan in ’94; released worldwide in 1995) that began their journey to create a blueprint for the young generation of prog metal bands to follow. “The Damnation Game”(1995) celebrated the debut of the band‘s second asset: the charismatic, deeply emotional and relentlessly aggressive vocals of Russell Allen.

“The Divine Wings Of Tragedy” (1997) placed the emphasis on the band’s progressive approach and is considered one of SYMPHONY X’s biggest masterpieces. “Twilight In Olympus” (1998) livened up the band’s classical aspects with the instrumental ‘Sonata’(which is based on the piano Sonata No. 8 ‘Pathétique’ by Ludwig van Beethoven). Via“V: The New Mythology Suite” (2000), the quintet delivered their first concept album at the turn of the millennium that dealt with the myth of Atlantis. “Live On The Edge Of Forever” (2001) was visual proof that the band could easily transpose their complex material onto the stage. Oriented towards the eponymous poem by English poet John Milton, the thrashing harshness of “The Odyssey” (2002) is said to be the band’s most aggressive album to date. “Paradise Lost” (2007) is the darkest and most gothic-like work in the band’s discography. With “Iconoclast” (2011) SYMPHONY X raised the bar even further, a commanding declaration of an inventive blend of classic rock, straightforward heavy metal and ambitious prog.

Latest videos:
‘Kiss Of Fire’: https://youtu.be/6uY6MNuMdUU
‘Nevermore’: https://youtu.be/_z3AHbjeb1U
‘Without You’:  https://youtu.be/xZe-Pmgq9DY

Links:
www.symphonyx.com
www.facebook.com/symphonyx
www.nuclearblast.de/symphonyx

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FULL HOUSE BREW CREW: Release ‘Cannot Be Judged’ Music Video

Posted by aliblackdiamond on January 9, 2019
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Greek groove metallers FULL HOUSE BREW CREW featuring a ROTTING CHRIST member in their ranks, have released a new music video for ‘Cannot Be Judged‘, the track is taken from their monstrous second album “Me Against You“. The video can be viewed here:

The video was directed by Leonidas Michelopoulos.

After many years of absence, because of Vagelis’ duties as the bass player of the legendary Rotting Christ, FULL HOUSE BREW CREW are coming back with a strong statement of an album.

Tracklist:

1. Cannot Be Judged
2. Me Against You
3. No One’s Safe
4. Hollow God
5. Bury Me
6. When I Crossed That Door!
7. Hard To Tell
8. Not Again
9. Bring The Chaos
10. Another Life
11. The Undisputed

The album can be ordered here:
https://bit.ly/fhbc-may-mm
https://bit.ly/fhbc-may-roar

“Me Against You” influences came from bands like Slipknot, Five Finger Death Punch, Pantera, Metallica (Black Album era) and Black Label Society. This made the album more diverse on vocal perspective and more mature compositions! FULL HOUSE BREW CREW keep on making headbang-worthy records, with melodies that stick to your brain!

FULL HOUSE BREW CREW is:

Vagelis Karzis – Vocals, Guitars (Rotting Christ)
Spiros Dafalias – Bass
George Tzatzakis – Guitars
Alex Keito – Drums

FULL HOUSE BREW CREW was founded during 2009 by Vagelis “Van” Karzis, member of Rotting Christ for the last 6 years. Vagelis is the lead singer, lead guitar player and the main songwriter of the band. In 2009 he wrote 10 Heavy Groove songs influenced from bands like Pantera, Black Label Society, Five Finger Death Punch, Godsmack, Metallica and on 2011 having Spiros (bass) and Sakis (drums) on his side they recorded and self-released their first full-length album called “Bet It All”! Being active all these years by touring and opening for some big bands and festivals in Greece! Spiritual Beggars, Corrosion Of Conformity, 1000Mods and Planet Of Zeus just to name a few!

Having their own style for the Groove rhythms, they combine with aggressiveness and catchy melodies! And just like a thunderbolt charging straight from the top of Mount Olympus, these heavy-riffing monsters are ready to become the next name of “World’s Rock Gods” as been written at Spirit Of Metal!

FULL HOUSE BREW CREW states: “Our first focus is to create GOOD music, then promote it to people, create loyal fan base and tour as much as possible”

www.facebook.com/fullhousebrewcrew
www.fullhousebrewcrew.com

ELECTROCUTION: Release New Video

Posted by aliblackdiamond on January 8, 2019
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Legendary Italian death metal band ELECTROCUTION have released a video for their track ‘Psychonolatry (The Icons of God and the Mirror of the Souls)’. The song is taken from their upcoming album “Psychonolatry” which will be released on February 8th via GoregoRecords.

Watch the video here:

Pre-order the album here: https://tinyurl.com/psychonolatry

Official Facebook Page

NEGACY: Upcoming “Escape To Evil” European Tour Details

Posted by aliblackdiamond on January 4, 2019
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UK metallers NEGACY are preparing to head out on their first European tour next month. Along with THE HERETIC ORDER, the band kick off the tour with the first show in France on 15th February. All dates for the “Escape To Evil” tour, in support of NEGACY‘s latest album “Escape From Paradise”, can be seen on the poster below:

NEGACY guitarist Andy Mornar expressed his thoughts about the forthcoming tour: “Well it’s our first time in Europe so we feel excited, it’s something different this time.”

The band formed in 2005, being known as RED WARLOCK until 2012.  Due to progressing in different musical directions, the band felt it was time for a change of name more fitting to the band’s dark nature, creating NEGACY: a fusion of ‘negate’ and ‘legacy’. NEGACY have toured in the USA, China and Mexico and signed with Massacre Records in 2018, releasing their latest album “Escape From Paradise” in September.

Ahead of the European tour, NEGACY have one headline UK show at The Unicorn, Camden on 12th January, also featuring SOVEREIGN, IGNOCIDE, ZEIT and SUPERLYNX.

NEGACY is:

Leonel Silva: Vocals
Andy Mornar: Guitars
John Sindiryan: Guitars
Adrián Serrano: Bass
Claudio Sechi: Drums

More information:

Official NEGACY Website

Official NEGACY Facebook 

MY PROPANE: Reveal New Album Cover Artwork

Posted by aliblackdiamond on January 2, 2019
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Heavy alternative metal band MY PROPANE returns with the brand new studio album “Antidote”, which is set for release on January 25th 2019 by Darkside Records. And boy, you want to blast this one out loud. The band has just revealed the album cover art, designed by BADER KLIDI ART:

Loud, eccentric and hailing from the Netherlands, in the past years My Propane has built a reputation for a personal take on modern metal, aggressive live shows and a distinctive penchant for irony. The band has played shows around Europe with bands such as Epica, Evergrey, Moonspell, VUUR and Scar Symmetry.

With “Antidote”, the successor of the raving debut “Modern Violent Gentleman” (2013), they begin a new chapter and they hold nothing back.  “Antitode” is produced by Joost van den Broek (Epica, Ayreon, Powerwolf, Navarone) and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe, Delain, Mercenary). “Because anything worth doing at all, is worth doing right“, says vocalist Valerio Recenti.

The energetic rock of “Antidote” is in the vein of modern technical heavy metal acts like The Dillinger Escape Plan, Gojira and SikTh combined with elements of alternative hard rock bands like Deftones, Alice In Chains and Tool.

“Antidote provides an auditive shot of adrenaline that indeed is the right antidote for everything in the world that is nasty, shit or fucked up. ‘All music and lyrics have been the product of a no second-guessing attitude. Everything has been done on first instinct and thus the result has the kind of raw and relentless quality that we were looking for“, adds Recenti.

This is music that pumps you up so much that it either saves you a trip to the gym or makes you punch the boxing bag even harder – a real venomous vibe!

The heavy but clear sound of “Antitode” was produced by My Propane and Joost van den Broek. “Joost is like a brother to our band and a pleasure and privilege to work with”, says Recenti. “As always, he managed to understand our vision and was able to translate that to our own sound: heavy as a brick.”

During the recording stage Joost and My Propane also had help from the talented Jos Driessen, engineer at the state-of-the-art Sandlane Recording Facilities in Rijen, where My Propane recorded the album.
Play this one loud. Recenti: “This album is as honest as it gets. Look out for new live dates, coming in 2019, and let’s rip some roof off.”

My PROPANE is:

Valerio Recenti – vocals
Jord Otto – guitars
DJ van Zon – bass
Remon Masseling – drums
Frank Schiphorst – live guitars*

Official Facebook Page

Official Website 

Interview With Niklas Stålvind, WOLF: “The plan is to release the new album in August”

Posted by aliblackdiamond on December 22, 2018
Posted in: Interviews, News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Interview By Alison Booth

Metal Shock Finland Senior Manager Alison Booth recently spoke to Niklas Stålvind, front man of Swedish metallers WOLF, as part of the sixth anniversary celebrations of her Blackdiamond’s Metal Mayhem radio show. The chat was just a few days ahead of the band returning to the studio to start recording their next and eighth album, the follow up to 2014’s “Devil Seed”. The whole show can be heard here.

They discussed what WOLF has been doing the last few years, the recently announced UK tour set for March next year, Nik‘s role with THE DOOMSDAY KINGDOM and of course all the latest WOLF news, with exclusive details about the new album! Some excerpts from the chat can be read below, with the full interview on the audio player.

Discussing the next album, Niklas stated:

“It’s a bit rawer and rougher than the Devil Seed. The Devil Seed was a bit polished. I don’t wanna call it polished, it has a lot of depth to it, but it was also a kind of expensive sounding production.

This time we want to get back to the roots of the old school Wolf with the energy and rawness you know, but still keeping that depth. So this time, I tried to write deeper stuff, you know, simple, powerful songs and not overwork the demo and I’m really excited.

Also, I can tell you that one of the reasons this album has taken so long is because for me, song writing is my therapist, my shrink. And I had some really weird experience and dark period in my life that I never talked to someone about it, just put the lid on. And now, like twenty years later, I knew to get forward in life I really had to deal with these issues, that’s what these songs are about. I felt that I couldn’t really rush this process of writing the songs.

And also, there’s a lot of things going on in the world that the album deals with.

This album is not about just writing ten, twelve songs and record and get it out. It’s a bit deeper than that I think, at least for me, so that’s why it’s taken a while.”

On the new album, Niklas revealed:

“It’s not official yet but I can tell it to you – the plan is to release it in August. It depends on how well it goes in the studio, but I think it should be very easy to record it when we have things well planned out.

And everything is written already so we don’t have to sweat in the studio and come up with lyrics and melodies you know. The foundations of the songs are already there – I think it will actually be released after the summer as we plan.”

Official WOLF Facebook Page