Cleopatra Records celebrates Record Store Day, April 12, with one of the most anticipated releases in Todd Rundgren’s catalog, a 2 LP live album recorded on the maestro’s 2008 Arena tour.
Titled from his most recent studio album, the tour caught Rundgren accompanied by his usual A-list band of musical wizards, and a track listing that swung between a host of favorites from solo albums past.
These include a rare airing for the 1972 single “Couldn’t I Just Tell You,” “Love In Action” (from 1978’s Back To The Bars), “Just One Victory” from the seminal A Wizard, A True Star (1973), the monster hit “I Saw The Light” and more.
Alongside these, the album also includes a mammoth recounting of Arena itself. Eleven of the album’s 13 tracks are included, in a solid swathe that picks up at the end of side one, and lasts deep into side four.
Pressed on black/white split vinyl and packaged with informative liner notes by Rundgren biographer Paul Myers, The Arena Tour Live is limited to just 1,000 copies worldwide.
Last year, veteran Midwest metallists CONQUEST returned with their latest album, ‘Paradox.’ And now, the lads are prepared to unleash their latest single/video, “Love Amplified.” And like their previous standout offerings, “Walking Dead” and “The Writings on the Wall,” “Love Amplified” merges metal with melody, and measures up mightily to the current competition. Local fans will be able to hear the song performed live soon, as several performances have been confirmed.
“A strong, in your face hard rock song about the love of playing guitar, drums, bass, whatever it is that you love to play as a musical instrument,” explains the group’s singer/guitarist, Derrick Brumley. “A very cool track to play live – the audience seems to love it, and we truly enjoy playing it!”
Drummer Lee Skyles also holds the track in high regard: “‘Love Amplified’ was definitely one of those songs we wrote that was outside of our norm. When Mike Crook played this cool guitar intro to the song, excitement set in and we knew we were on to something different. It’s one of those upbeat, feel good songs that get you on your feet, and will make you move however you move! For me, I love the lead solos, as they are tasty, raw, and full of pizzazz! I think folks will really like the tune on loud! Turn it up to 11!”
Comprised of Brumley, Crook, Skyles, and bassist Rob Boyer, Conquest’s latest LP, ‘Paradox’ (which can be streamed or ordered via https://lnk.to/conquestparadox), was produced and engineered by Derrick (and mixed by Adam Long), and is getting rave reviews via metal media, including the Rock You Show site saying “I have to give this one 9.5 out of 10 “Flaming Fist”. You nearly get 2 albums worth of great quality music, including a stellar cover of Rainbow’s “Man on the Silver Mountain”. I thank them personally for keeping the metal torch lit in these times of darkness”.
UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS:
February 8th Red Fish Blue Fish St Charles Missouri March 8th Pops Concert Club Sauget Illinois May 10th The Diamond Music Hall St Peters Missouri June 27th The Mill Granite City Illinois ( support for the Iron Maidens)
Among the whispers of timeless glens, Saor breathe new life into the spirits of the past. Inspired by a hilly walk through an older world, Andy Marshall and his band of Caledonian warriors have crafted a majestic symphony that wields the intensity of black metal with Celtic folk melodic in the enthralling form of their new album.
“Amidst the Ruins stretches Saor in new and interesting ways”, Angry Metal Guy writes in a 4/5 review. “Anyone with a mere passing interest in folksy black metal will undoubtedly glean much from Amidst the Ruins“.
Amidst the Ruins was released yesterday, Friday, February 7 on Season of Mist, and you can hear all five monumental songs today by listening to the full album stream on our YouTube channel.
Amidst the Ruins pays a towering tribute to the ancestral spirits and untamed landscapes of Caledonia. With each song, Saor recalls tales of yore, opening a door into Scotland’s storied past.
“The Glen of Sorrow” paints the tragic saga of the Massacre of Glencoe. With a spellbinding appearance from internationally acclaimed cellist Jo Quail, “The Sylvan Embrace” reaches into the heart of Scotland’s forests. “Echoes of the Ancient Land” inspires awe. And while “Rebirth” ends the album amidst a 14-minute transformative journey, it’s the title track that lies at the album’s mystical core. “Amidst the Runs” reflects on the bridge between the relics of Scotland’s noble past and the ephemeral distractions of modern life, calling out to the enduring legacy of the land and for us to reconnect with the sacred threads of tradition.
Tracklist: 1. Amidst the Ruins (12:41) [WATCH] 2. Echoes of the Ancient Land (11:41) 3. Glen of Sorrow (12:05) 4. The Sylvan Embrace (8:19) [WATCH] 5. Rebirth (14:10) [WATCH] Full runtime: 58:57
To commemorate the arrival of their new album, Saor are setting out on tour. Hear them perform Amidst the Ruins for the first time during the band’s upcoming 20-date trek across the United Kingdom and Europe.
Saor Amidst the Ruins 2025 UK & EU Tour Feb 8 – Glasgow, UK – Classic Grand (ALBUM LAUNCH w/ Domhain & Ofnus) Feb 13 – Bristol, UK – The Exchange Feb 14 – Birmingham, UK – The Flapper Feb 15 – York, UK – Fulford Arms Mar 15 – Great Yarmouth, UK – HRH Spring Break 2 Mar 28 – Arnhem, NL – Willemeen Mar 29 – The Hague, NL – Paard Mar 30 – Kassel, DE – Goldgrube Apr 17 – Weinheim, DE – Café Central Apr 18 – Graz, AT – Explosiv Apr 19 – Munich, DE – Dark Easter Metal Meeting Apr 20 – Aarburg, CH – Musigburg Apr 21 – Prague, CZ – Futurum Music Bar Apr 22 – Poznan, PL – Klub 2progi Apr 23 – Leipzig, DE – Hellraiser Apr 24 – Lichtenfels, DE – Ragnarök Festival Apr 25 – Bochum, DE – Matrix Apr 26 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain Apr 27 – Lyon, FR – Le Marché Gare May 16 – Roggentin, DE, Dat Unland Fier
Out of the mists, where lore whispers in the winds, SAOR, the heralds of Caledonia’s primeval beauty and ancient tales, rise once again to enrapture souls far and wide. Their newest offering, Amidst the Ruins, is an epic voyage set to rekindle the fires of heritage and resurrect the valor that courses through Scotland’s vast landscapes.
Since their emergence in 2013, SAOR has beckoned listeners to transcend the mortal plain, intertwining the ferocity of atmospheric black metal with the gentle, haunting melodies of Celtic fold. Andy Marshall, the sage bard and architect of SAOR‘s sound, continues his pilgrimage through the verdant glens and stark highlands, revealing sights both ethereal and eternal through his music.
Building upon the chronicles of old, the forthcoming album Amidst the Ruins stands proud, a timeless sentinel amidst the sands of time. For in this work, Marshall, the visionary, has deftly woven strands of modern-life dissonance into the rich tapestry of Scottish lore, enshrining the enigmatic contrast between the remnants of a glorious yore and the often-elusive grasp of the present day. This auditory saga resounds with the resonance of ruined structures and forgotten paths, its melodies steeped in the reverence for sacred ground and a lament for the disconnect wrought by modernity.
Delve deep and you shall find Echoes of the Ancient Land, a heartfelt tribute to Scotland’s timeless landscapes and their profound ancestral connections. Through The Sylvan Embrace, SAOR imparts a harmonious sanctuary, a sylvan retreat where solace is found, and spirits are soothed. With Rebirth, the cycle is complete, weaving an intricate spell of transformation and new dawns.
The band’s odyssey upon the stage is nothing less than transcendental, as audiences bear witness to the heart of their aural fables brought vividly to life. These live performances stand as sacred rituals, bridging the veil between epochs, inviting all to partake in the shared legacy of the Scottish Highlands.
In Amidst the Ruins, the warriors of SAOR cast a clarion call to awaken from the lethargy of modern existence, to reclaim the essence of a heritage laid asunder. From the vibrant resonance of ancient battles to the hushed despair of Glencoe’s betrayed souls, every note spills forth like blood of the fallen seeping into the heathered earth.
As we stand on the cusp of this new era, Amidst the Ruins, the latest chronicle unfolds. SAOR‘s watchful eye turns to the horizon, the whispering woods, the twilight skies, and the sleeping stones bearing seers’ dreams, evoking the indomitable spirit of the realm. In their hands, the past is resurrected; its tales to be retold for those who would heed the call—SAOR, remain the ceaseless bards of Caledonia unbroken.
Line-up: Andy Marshall – All Composition, Writing & Instrumentation
Guest Musicians: Ella Zlotos – Female Vocals, Tin Whistles, Low Whistles, Uilleann Pipes Carlos Vivas – Drums Jo Quail – Cello & FX on “The Sylvan Embrace” Àngela Moya Serrat – Violin on “Amidst the Ruins”, “Echoes of the Ancient Land” & “Rebirth” Miguel Izquierdo – Viola on “Amidst the Ruins”, “Echoes of the Ancient Land” & “Rebirth” Samuel C. Ledesma – Cello on “Amidst the Ruins”, “Echoes of the Ancient Land” & “Rebirth
Recording: Andy Marshall – Vocals, Guitars, Bass recorded at Fortriu Studios, Scotland Nikolaus Jira – Female Vocals, Tin Whistles, Low Whistles and Uilleann Pipes recorded at NikolausRecordings Studio, Germany Jose Garrido and Daniel Sabugal – Drums recorded at NewLife Studios, Spain Mattias Eklund – Violin, Viola and Cello recorded at Farkosten Studios, Spain Chris Fielding – Mixing and Guitar reamping at Penylan Studio, Wales Tony Lindgren – Mastering at Fascination Street Studios, Sweden
Former Bauhaus and Love & Rockets mainstay David J continues his remarkable run of recent singles (“Christmases When You Were Mine,” “Night of the Vampire” and his acclaimed duet with Melanie on her own “Beautiful People”) with a shimmering, fragile take on the immortal “My Funny Valentine.”
Taken from Cleopatra Records’ upcoming Gothic Valentines album, “My Funny Valentine” was first heard in the Rodgers/Hart musical Babes In Arms back in 1937. Since that time, this love song for a less than lovely-looking paramour… “your looks are laughable, unphotographable, yet you’re my favorite work of art”… has been covered by upwards of 600 artists in the years since teenager Mitzi Green first voiced it, from Frank Sinatra and Julie London to Elvis Costello and Nico.
It was also inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2015, in recognition of the song’s “cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation’s audio legacy.”
“I’ve always loved this classic song,” says David J, “and thought that a ‘cold wave’ synth version in collaboration with my talented friend, Jon Bernstein, would suit the tone of the album.”
The Gothic Valentines album itself, as the title suggests, is, a seasonally sensitive gathering of exclusive new recordings and much-loved classics by Switchblade Symphony, Iggy Pop, David J, Ministry, Cinderella, Leæther Strip, Soft Cell, and Joy Division – plus, in case you missed it, David J and Melanie’s “Beautiful People,” casting David J as the Lee Hazelwood to Melanie’s Nancy Sinatra.
Elsewhere across the two CDs, goth legends Rosetta Stone, Sex Beat, the Skeletal Family, Christian Death and Gene Loves Jezebel join upcoming favorites Lebanon Hangover, Sonsombre and The KVB in redrafting February 14 in the blackest of hearts and the finest of fishnets.
Calva Louise burst into 2025 with the release of their relentlessly captivating new single, “WTF. ” The song delves further into their own cinematic universe. Watch the incredible video for “WTF.” It’s out now on Mascot Records.
Fresh from a breakout performance at Shiprocked Festival last week alongside the likes of Parkway Drive, Nothing More, The Ghost Inside, Kid Kapichi and more, they’re setting the start of the year alight with the new single produced by Pendulum’s Gareth McGrillen along with Mazare and Calva Louise’ Jess Allanic.
They will also join Bloodywood on their European tour starting in Copenhagen, Denmark on 21 February, which will call through Norway, Sweden, Poland, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and finishing in London, UK on 27 March.
The band have picked up support from BBC Radio 1, including spins on the Rock Show, Introducing Rock Show, Future Alternative, and Future Artists, playlisting at Kerrang! Radio and Primordial, as well as support at Metal Hammer, Rock Sound, Kerrang and Revolver magazine who in November, delved into their “multinational roots and multiple-worlds-spanning vision.”
The video is set in January 1994, and “WTF” introduces the protagonist, Louise, who is experiencing bizarre happenings inside her home. Set in the universe laid out in their previous singles, Louise encounters a feeling of dread signalling danger: someone is inside her home and stalking her.
She catches glimpses of what has been stalking her: an uncanny version of herself, her “double.” We follow her as terror and courage take hold as she experiences a glitch through reality: the real world is not what she had been told. Aligning herself with those circumstances, she voluntarily accepts contact with her double, exclaiming, “WTF!”
Talking about the song, Jess Allanic says, “WTF is about that feeling of powerlessness that occurs when we are in situations beyond our control. Even being stoic or positive is not enough to withstand and face the challenges thrown at us, but at the same time, we don’t want to completely give up. The song deals with that limbo of falling apart while not wanting to succumb to nihilism. It’s an angry cry at whatever forces are listening, asking: “WTF am I meant to do?”
2024 was a big year for the band, which saw them tour the US with Vukovi along with festival slots at Welcome to Rockville, So What? and Sonic Temple. They pulled off phenomenal performances at Download Festival (UK), 2000Trees (UK) and Vainstream Rockfest (Germany) – not to mention a breathtaking UK headline tour.
Once again, Allanic directs, edits and does the VFX for the video. “WTF” is linked to the previous single,La Corriente, where the two are entwined into the story ofUnder The Skin. Talking about the songs, Allanic says,” ‘La Corriente’ is indirectly part of the sequel of ‘Under The Skin’, as the beginning of the prequel takes place in 1994: the day a young Jonnie had to agree to become an apprentice to a commander coming from the Fractalworld. ‘La Corriente’ takes place at the show where his fate is sealed, setting the tone of the story that unfolds on ‘WTF'”
The British-based band is truly International, with its members hailing from across the globe. It has been ripping through the UK underground for the past few years, driven by the creative vision of Venezuelan-born Jess Allanic (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboard), French-born Alizon Taho (Bass/Backing Vocals—France), and New Zealander Ben Parker (Drums/Backing Vocals).
European Tour With Bloodywood.
21-Feb – Copenhagen, Denmark – Amager Bio – TICKETS 23-Feb – Oslo, Norway – John Dee – TICKETS 24-Feb – Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser – TICKETS 25-Feb – Malmo, Sweden – Plan B – TICKETS 27-Feb – Warsaw, Poland – Proxima – TICKETS 28-Feb – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys – TICKETS 02-Mar – Hamburg, Germany – Docks – TICKETS 03-Mar – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg – TICKETS 05-Mar – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix – TICKETS 06-Mar – Cologne, Germany – Live Music Hall – TICKETS 07-Mar – Frankfurt, Germany – Batschkapp – TICKETS 08-Mar – Stuttgart, Germany – Longhorn – TICKETS 09-Mar – Leipzig, Germany – Täubchenthal – TICKETS 11-Mar – Prague, Czech Republic – Roxy – TICKETS 12-Mar – Munich, Germany – Backstage Werk – TICKETS 14-Mar – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer – TICKETS 15-Mar – Milan, Italy – Teatro Principe – TICKETS 16-Mar – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex 457 – TICKETS 17-Mar – Lyon, France – La Rayonne – TICKETS 19-Mar – Paris, France – Bataclan – TICKETS 20-Mar – Lille, France – L’Aeronef – TICKETS 22-Mar – Birmingham, UK – Institute – TICKETS 23-Mar – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 Galvanizers – TICKETS 25-Mar – Manchester, UK O2 Ritz – TICKETS 26-Mar – Bristol, UK – O2 Academy – TICKETS 27-Mar – London, UK – O2 Kentish Town Forum – TICKETS
DIRKSCHNEIDER are gearing up for the release of their eagerly anticipated album “Balls To The Wall Reloaded,” scheduled for release on February 28, 2025 through RPM. Alongside this, they are excited to showcase ‘Winter Dreams,’ the second single from their anniversary re-recording of the cult ACCEPT record. This track reveals a softer side of the album while preserving a meaningful lyrical depth, making it an emotional anthem of freedom. The single stands out not only for its significance but also for featuring the legendary ‘Metal Queen,’ Doro Pesch, alongside Udo Dirkschneider. This collaboration highlights the album’s unique approach, underlining the long-running inspiration for the whole scene and renowned metal figureheads and companions alike.
Udo comments: “It was a very special experience for me to re-record ‘Winter Dreams’ with Doro Pesch. Doro and I have spent so many years together in the scene and there is a deep, almost familial connection between us. Her voice gives this song an incredible magic and emotionality that takes it to a whole new level. It was like a reunion with an old friend for me and together we made ‘Winter Dreams’ even more intense and personal. It just feels right to share this moment together!”
““Balls To The Wall” has always been one of my absolute favourite albums. I was really happy to sing the wonderful ‘Winter Dreams’ as a duet with Udo Dirkschneider and to shoot a great video for it. We have a long friendship and it is always special to work with him,”Doro adds.
Taking fans to the vaults of Castle Reifenstein (Freienfeld, Italy), located in a beautifully wintry mountain landscape, the ‘Winter Dreams’ music video, starring both vocalists Udo Dirkschneider and Doro Pesch, can be watched here:
“Balls To The Wall Reloaded” can still be pre-ordered in various physical formats and digitally or pre-saved on your favourite digital service provider (DSP) worldwide: https://dirkschneider.rpm.link/bttwrPR
This ambitious reinterpretation not only revitalises the original tracks but also emphasises their timeless impact on the metal genre. More than a revival, this project serves as a celebration of the album’s enduring legacy, enriched by the enthusiasm and contributions of some of metal’s most influential voices.
“Re-recording “Balls To The Wall” was a big challenge for me. The album is a milestone of my career, of course, that’s why it was even more important to me to make the original songs shine in a new light without losing their initial essence. All guests have put their individual stamps on these classic tracks, and collaborating with such outstanding vocalists has moved them into a fresh and exciting dimension. The result is a powerful homage to all fans but also an invitation to the next generation to experience the songs not minorly passionate than I was when I recorded them back in the day. It’s a never-ending personal journey for me – “Balls To The Wall” will always be a part of me,” states Udo.
This reimagined “Balls To The Wall” is a fitting tribute to heavy metal history, proving that its power and influence remain as potent today as they were four decades ago.
Additionally drawing near is DIRKSCHNEIDER’s release accompanying European “Balls To The Wall” 40th anniversary tour: 4 out of 32 shows are already sold-out, and another bunch of venues is running out of tickets fastly, so everyone aiming to attend this historic series of shows should secure their tickets now before they’re gone. Support at most of the dates (except Croatian, Greek, Turkish & Bulgarian stops) will come from Finnish metallers CROWNSHIFT as well as DIRKSCHNEIDER’s up-and-coming label mates ALL FOR METAL.
“Balls To The Wall” – 40th Anniversary Tour w/ CROWNSHIFT, ALL FOR METAL Presented by Contra Promotion & Metal Hammer
25.02.2025 HR Zagreb – Boogaloo * 26.02.2025 AT Vienna – SiMM City 27.02.2025 DE Munich – Backstage LOW TICKETS 28.02.2025 DE Leipzig – Haus Auensee LOW TICKETS 01.03.2025 CZ Prague – SaSaZu 02.03.2025 HU Budapest – Barba Negra 04.03.2025 RO Bucharest – Quantic Club 06.03.2025 PL Kraków – Klub Studio 07.03.2025 PL Warsaw – Progresja 08.03.2025 LT Vilnius – Kablys 09.03.2025 EE Tallinn – Helitehas 10.03.2025 FI Helsinki – Kulttuuritalo 11.03.2025 FI Tampere – Tavara-asema 13.03.2025 NO Oslo – Rockefeller 14.03.2025 SE Gothenburg – Trädgår’n 16.03.2025 DE Berlin – Huxleys Neue Welt 17.03.2025 DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp 18.03.2025 BE Antwerp – Trix 19.03.2025 FR Paris – Le Trabendo 21.03.2025 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem SOLD OUT 22.03.2025 ES Madrid – Mon LOW TICKETS 23.03.2025 ES Barcelona – Razzmatazz 2 LOW TICKETS 25.03.2025 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7 26.03.2025 DE Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn SOLD OUT 27.03.2025 DE Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle 28.03.2025 DE Hamburg – Große Freiheit 36 SOLD OUT 29.03.2025 DE Geiselwind – MusicHall SOLD OUT 30.03.2025 DE Geiselwind – MusicHall 08.04.2025 GR Athens – Fuzz Live Music Club * 09.04.2025 GR Thessaloniki – Principal Club Theater * 11.04.2025 TR Istanbul – IF Performance Hall Beşiktaş * 12.04.2025 BG Sofia – Hristo Botev Hall *DIRKSCHNEIDER only 30.07. – 02.08.2025 DE Wacken – Wacken Open Air *SOLD OUT*
– 17.08.2025 CH Cudrefin (VD) – Rock The Lakes
“Hell, Fire And Steel” Tour w/ SAXON
04.11.2025 UK Belfast – Ulster Hall 05.11.2025 IE Dublin – 3Olympia Theatre 07.11.2025 UK Manchester – O2 Apollo 08.11.2025 UK Sheffield – The Octagon Centre 09.11.2025 UK Glasgow – O2 Academy 11.11.2025 UK Newcastle – O2 City Hall 13.11.2025 UK Bristol – Beacon 14.11.2025 UK Wolverhampton – Civic Hall 15.11.2025 UK London – Eventim Apollo Hammersmith 16.11.2025 UK Cardiff – The Great Hall
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
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 