Canadian death thrashers RAIDER have unleashed their video for the track ‘No Sign Of The Dawn’. It is taken from the band’s debut album “Guardian Of The Fire” which was released in March. Check out the video below:
Background:
RAIDER formed in 2017 in Waterloo, Canada. In 2018, they released their demo “Urge To Kill” and the band had a whirlwind summer playing on several fests including Hamilton Deathfest, Guelph Deathfest and Kitchener Metalfest. Even with a short time since conception, Raider has made their name known in the Ontario region, decimating stages across the province. They have played with the likes of Exmortus, Venom Inc, Cannabis Corpse, and Aggression.
It wasn’t until 2020 that a full lineup was finally realized for Raider. Up until then, the second guitarist had been a fill-in for live shows, but with the addition of Ira Lehtovaara the lineup was complete and the LP “Guardian Of The Fire” was unleashed on March 20, 2020.
Austrian melodic death metallers VERMOCRACY have just released their debut self-titled album. Described by the band, the album “paints a dystopian picture of the fall and decline of modern society.”
Recorded at the Consequent Audio Studio and mixed by Norbert Leitner, the album has been released digitally on Google Play Music, Apple iTunes and Spotify. The cover artwork was designed by Armin Stocker. A physical release of the album will be available later this autumn.
Background:
Formed in 2017 by Andreas Huber and Roman Kolesnik, the band completed their lineup with Michael Frick (ex-Horns of Hattin, ex-Theotoxin) on vocals, Morgane Rake (ex-Black Coven) on guitars and Hannes Sandrini (Obsidian Chamber, Candles and Wraths, ex-Horns of Hattin) on bass.
In 2018 VERMOCRACY started to perform live in and around Vienna – supporting, amongst others, bands like Infest, Helgrind and Nervecell and also performed at the STP Metal Weekend 2019.
Lineup: Michael Frick – Vocals Andreas Huber – Guitars Morgane Rake – Guitars Hannes Sandrini – Bass Roman Kolesnik – Drums
Since their incarnation in 1988, the Lovecraftian inspired pioneer of blackened death metal, NECRONOMICON, has certainly established itself as one of the hardest working bands in the industry. Founded by composer, guitarist and frontman Rob The Witch in Quebec Province, Canada and following an early demo and EP, the band released its first full length album “Pharaoh Of Gods” in 1999.
A steady release of five further albums and a high level of commitment to touring and performing on stage has been a constant in the life of NECRONOMICON, all the while establishing an ever growing fan base around the globe. Changes in line up and other issues haven’t been a deterrent for the charismatic Witch King, resulting in the sixth brutally dark album “Unus” being unleashed in October 2019, via Season Of Mist Records.
Alison recently caught up with Rob The Witch for her Blackdiamond’s Metal Mayhem radio show on UK station TotalRock. The whole show can be heard on Mixcloud at this location, but the audio interview (split into two parts for radio) can be listened to below. Many topics were discussed with the eloquent frontman, from the worldwide pandemic to Dean guitars and more in between! Check out a few excerpts from the chat, followed by the audio:
Discussing touring, Rob stated:
“Touring is what I like the most, it’s being on the road – I don’t get enough of that. I did like around twelve hundred shows in my career, I lost count, I know it’s over a thousand. It’s just doing my music you know – recording albums, going on tour and just rocking the stage you know. That’s just what I want to do. When I started Necronomicon, I was seventeen, now I’m almost fifty, I never stop. As long as I play my music, I’m happy, I’m satisfied with that.”
Regarding the Coronavirus pandemic and getting back to touring in 2021, Rob expressed:
“Really, really not easy, that’s one thing. I think that pretty much any artist that does this mostly for a living will feel the impact pretty well. When you’re going on full tours like months at a time and spend many, many, many, many hours you know practice by yourself, but I mean like many hours per week – days per week literally practising with your band, you have situations like that coming out of nowhere in a way, it’s pretty challenging actually. For example, our drummer is stuck in California, can’t come to practice and it’s been months, so it’s really not easy.
Of course we’re trying to see what we can do now. Nothing is certain at this point how it’s going, it’s totally out of control, especially in the U.S. I mean in Canada we’re doing really good, they responded really quick, I don’t know how it is in Europe. I really don’t know how we’re going to do that, because when we finished the U.S. tour we were already planning to go in Europe and something happened and we had to pull out. And that tour started without us and the tour went to hell because Covid started. So, at first I wasn’t really happy because we had to pull out of the tour, then I realised after it was almost a blessing. These bands that were on tour in Europe were in a really shitty situation because of that. They’re having some major financial problems due to what happened there. If we’d been on that tour it would’ve really fucked us, really in a bad way. So, the fact that we’d been forced to pull out of that tour and not going, saved our ass in a way. That’s the irony of that.”
On videos and being creative, Rob had lots to say:
“I don’t wanna bash any of my friends or other bands – there’s a lot of bands I respect musically and stuff like that. But if you have to shoot your band in an abandoned warehouse, stay home come on, I mean be more creative. It’s supposed to be art. I don’t get the people going on stage with their flip flops and Cannibal Corpse shirts, even their glasses. Even fucking Judas Priest, they go on stage with outfits and stage clothes. Even Metallica, ok they don’t have armour and stuff like that – but if you see James Hetfield or Kirk Hammett in the street, they’re not dressed like they’re dressed on stage, it’s totally different. Music is art, so why don’t you do it properly you know?
When you go to see a show, you need to see something, you need to have a visual of it. I’m going to take a band that’s really shitty music to me right now – that’s Ghost, I really don’t like what they’re doing. The first album was really good, I really liked it, the rest – ugh! But they would never have succeeded if they didn’t have the image. The same for Slipknot and the same for Dimmu Borgir or any bands that had success with that, it’s a part of the game. You sell a product and the image of a band is fifty percent of the job, if not more.”
If you’re lucky, you can see the uncensored video of ‘The Thousand Masks’ – unfortunately some countries have blocked it:
September 11, 2020 will see the release of the new DVD, ‘Flying V’. Issued as part of the popular ‘Inside Metal’ series, ‘Flying V’ was directed by Peter Hansen and produced by Hansen and Michael Denner, and features in-depth interviews with countless renowned metal guitarists who have helped make this make/model one of the most instantly identifiable instruments in all of rock.
‘Flying V’ chronicles the origin of the most unique guitar on earth and its incredible influence on the history of rock and roll and heavy metal. Hear from the rock stars themselves as they describe how, when, and why the Flying V forever changed their careers and altered their entire approach to guitar playing.
Journey inside the minds of the biggest icons of our era as they tell their riveting tales of discovery and passion for their beloved Flying V’s. Exclusive interviews with members of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate, Scorpions, Accept, MichaelSchenker Group and more. This musical journey is one you will want to take over and over again as secrets of the Flying V guitar are revealed like never before!
The cast includes Dave Mustaine, James Hetfield, Kerry King, Michael Schenker, Michael Denner, Hank Sherman, Wolf Hoffmann, KK Downing, Mathias Jabs, Richie Faulkner, Andy Sneep, Brian Tatler, Andy La Roque, Andy Powell, and Michael Amott.
And the rave reviews that this 67 minute documentary has already accumulated is impressive, including renowned rock photographer Mark “Weiss Guy” Weiss saying “Whenever I saw the Flying V on stage I knew it was going to be a killer show – I love photographing the V. How could you not – It screams ROCK N’ ROLL! It has a presence all to its own. If I were to rate the Flying V, in the words of the TAP, I would give it an eleven one louder!”
Additionally, Bob Nalbandian (director of the ‘Inside Metal’ series) declared it as an “Awesome doc on the Flying V! Very informative and intimate interviews with some of the greatest guitarists in rock and metal. An absolute must for the guitar enthusiast!”
Bloodstock Open Air Festival in the UK is excited to announce its replacement Saturday night entertainment for 2021’s event! The mighty MERCYFUL FATE will now headline the Ronnie James Dio main stage, with DIMMU BORGIR arriving as special guests.
The King Diamond-fronted, seminal black metal icons, MERCYFUL FATE reformed in 2019 after a lengthy hiatus. They were due to play their first shows in over 20 years this summer (with the exception of a special one-off set at Metallica’s 30th Anniversary San Francisco show in 2011), but with everything on hold in 2020, we’re excited we can now welcome them to the 2021 BLOODSTOCK bill, in a UK exclusive performance. As King Diamond himself declares, “It is with sinister pleasure MERCYFUL FATE will finally bring the Devil himself to Bloodstock Summer ‘21. We cannot wait and neither can he. It’s gonna be dark as Hell.” While you’re eagerly waiting for next August to roll around and making sure you have enough face paint, check out an array of archive videos, and if you’re quick, you might still be able to bag a cool classic design t-shirt or limited colour vinyl over at their merch store.
DIMMU BORGIR step into the coveted Saturday special guest slot. Having been forced to cancel their slot in 2019 due to illness, we’re thrilled the Norwegian symphonic black metallers can make up for it in 2021. The band confirm, “UK! After our triumphant London show this January, we will be back at your shores next year. See you at BLOODSTOCK in August 2021!” DIMMU BORGIR currently are working on their eleventh studio album which may well see the light of day before the festival! In the interim, feast your eyes and ears on the atmospheric video for ‘Interdimensional Summit’ taken from their 2018 album, “Eonian”, released through Nuclear Blast.
Standard weekend tickets for the extended, now 5-day event in 2021 were due to increase by £10 on 10th August 2020 to £155 (+ booking fees). However, the government has confirmed that festivals are included in the reduced 5% VAT rate for the hospitality & leisure industries, so BLOODSTOCK will be freezing their standard weekend price at £145 until 13th January 2021, at which time the 2021 price increase comes into effect. In addition, to recognise the difficult financial situation that some fans may find themselves in due to the pandemic, BLOODSTOCK has launched an extended 6-month instalment plan, allowing customers to spread payments across smaller instalments. Fans can sign up to the scheme at the online ticket store any time before 31st August 2020, and payments will be debited as follows; £31.17 (includes £7 bkg fee) immediately upon sign up, then monthly payments of £24.17 will debit your account on 5th Sept, 5th Oct, 5th Nov and 5th Dec, with the final payment of £27.65 (includes £3.50 postage) on 5th Jan 2021.
BLOODSTOCK’s 2021 other main stage headliners include DEVIN TOWNSEND (Friday) and JUDAS PRIEST (Sunday). Headliners for Thursday are yet to be announced. The festival also features sets from PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, SKINDRED, PARADISE LOST, LIFE OF AGONY, BURY TOMORROW, BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DIAMOND HEAD, JINJER, VIO-LENCE, SACRED REICH, GLORYHAMMER, DARK TRANQUILLITY, BUTCHER BABIES, CATTLE DECAPITATION, BLOODYWOOD, MEMORIAM, RAMAGE INC, GREEN LUNG, CONJURER, ORANGE GOBLIN, THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA, UNLEASH THE ARCHERS, SAXON, SYLOSIS, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, WINTERFYLLETH, NEKROGOBLIKON, THE CRAWLING, RAISED BY OWLS, ANAKIM, ACID REIGN, SVALBARD, SOEN, DOG TIRED, BAILER, BLASPHEMER, BLACK TONGUE, LIBERTY LIES, PIST, & SHARKS IN YOUR MOUTH so far. Many more bands performing across the weekend are still to be announced.
Besides standard weekend tickets, child tickets and parking tickets for 2021’s event are also available now at the ticket store. A limited number of day tickets will go on sale on September 1st – sign up for a free reminder here. VIP and campervan tickets for 2021 are already sold out.
BLOODSTOCK 2021 takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire from 11th-15th August 2021. For more info, click to www.bloodstock.uk.com.
UK thrashers ONSLAUGHT have unleashed another new track from forthcoming album “Generation Antichrist”. Check out the new single and video ‘Bow Down To The Clowns’:
“Generation Antichrist” will be released via AFM RECORDS on August 7th.
The album, mixed by Grammy Award winning producer Daniel Bergstrand (Behemoth / In Flames / Meshuggah) at ‘Dugout Studios – Uppsala, Sweden is the follow up to the critically acclaimed “VI”. “Generation Antichrist” will be the first album to feature new ONSLAUGHT vocalist Dave Garnett, who has recently replaced long term frontman Sy Keeler.
“Generation Antichrist” Track Listing:
1. Rise to Power
2. Strike Fast Strike Hard
3. Bow Down To The Clowns
4. Generation Antichrist
5. All Seeing Eye
6. Addicted To The Smell Of Death
7. Empires Fall
8. Religiousuicide
9. A Perfect Day To Die
Alison recently caught up with Rob The Witch for her 
On videos and being creative, Rob had lots to say:
