In June 1971, Worthy Farm in Glastonbury, England, staged what remains one of the most legendary free festivals in rock history, Glastonbury Fayre.
Over the course of five days, an estimated audience of 12,000 witnessed epochal performances by Hawkwind, the Edgar Broughton Band, Fairport Convention, Terry Reid, Arthur Brown, Traffic, David Bowie and more.
And then there was the trippy psych rocking Pink Fairies and folk minstrel Melanie, two acts from the furthest ends of the musical spectrum, but bound together regardless by their shared roots in the counterculture revolution of the 1960s.
Out now, “(Some Say) I Got Devil” by Melanie and the Pink Fairies unites a vintage Melanie melody and vocal performance with a scorching Paul Rudolph guitar – the Fairies’ own tribute to the late singer, of course, but also a reminder of the all-pervading sense of community that bound together performers, audience and organizers alike throughout that magical week.
“It was so chaotic,” Melanie recalled of the festival, “but in the best possible way. There was a schedule but really, bands were left to play for as long as they wanted, so nobody had a clue when they’d be onstage.
“I was sitting at the front when I got the shout to go on. A bunch of bikers had invited me to have a drink with them and suddenly ‘Melanie! You’re on!’ If you watch the movie [Peter Neal and Nic Roeg’s Glastonbury Fayre], you can see me clambering onto the stage from the audience. It wasn’t they most dignified entrance I’ve ever made.”
“(Some Say) I Got Devil” is the latest in a string of acclaimed Melanie collaborations released by Cleopatra over the past year. Others include her anthem “Beautiful People” with David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets), “Aloha Lucifer” with goth-folk duo Charming Disaster, “Rag Doll” with garage rockers The Courettes, “I Will Walk You Home” with The Adverts, “The Nickel Song” with Linda Gail Lewis, Clem Burke and Danny Harvey, and a positively incendiary take on Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze,” recorded with 70s hard rock heroes Cactus.
And look out for more in the new year, including further trips back to Glastonbury 1971.
Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai returned to the G3 touring concept in 2024 for a sold-out US tour. This was the original G3 line-up that saw the three virtuosos first share a stage back in 1996. Each guitarist plays a full set with their own band and then the three join together for an encore jam.
For those lucky enough to have been at any one of those 2024 shows, ‘Desert Rose’ (from Eric Johnson’s platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning album “Ah Via Musicom”) is a standout moment to relive and cherish again. For those who weren’t, G3 Reunion Live is the full G3 live experience waiting to be discovered.
“Playing with Joe and Steve was an affirmation that while we all want to push the envelope of musical boundaries; we also want to share our heart experience and a soulful communication of the music we have been allowed to partake of in our own lives.” – Eric Johnson
“G3 Reunion Live” is much more than “just” a live album. It’s a full album-length set from each artist plus a collaborative supergroup LP. The deluxe edition features a different colored vinyl for each artist, a special splatter LP for the encore jam, and a 64-page photo book, divided into artist and jam chapters, with the full program also on 2 CDs. It is also available in a 2CD digipak with a 16-page photo booklet, 4 LP gatefold and digital download.
G3 Reunion Live Album Release: January 31st, 2025
Formats: Digital, 2CD Digipack, 4LP (Black) Gatefold, Deluxe Slipcase with 4LPs (Coloured), 64-page coffee table book and 2CDs.
Tracklisting (all formats):
Gravitas (Vai)
Avalancha (Vai)
Little Pretty Intro (Vai)
Little Pretty (Vai)
Tender Surrender (Vai)
Zeus in Chains (Vai)
Teeth of the Hydra (Vai)
For the Love of God (Vai)
Land of 1000 Dances (Johnson)
Righteous (Johnson)
Trail of Tears (Johnson)
On-Ramp Improv (Johnson)
Freeway Jam (Johnson)
Desert Rose (Johnson)
Venus Reprise (Johnson)
Raspberry Jam Delta-V (Satriani)
Surfing with the Alien (Satriani)
Satch Boogie (Satriani)
Sahara (Satriani)
Nineteen Eighty (Satriani)
Big Bad Moon (Satriani)
Always with Me, Always with You (Satriani)
Sumer Song (Satriani)
Introductions
Crossroads (Encore Jam)
Spanish Castle Magic (Encore Jam)
Born to Be Wild (Encore Jam)
Photo credit: Jen Rosenstein
About Joe Satriani For over three decades, the guitar virtuoso has travelled the world, playing to sold-out crowds as both a headliner and as founder of the all-star “G3” guitar extravaganza. Satriani’s studio and live recordings have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide to date and of his many solo albums, two have gone platinum and four others went gold, with 15 Grammy nominations between them. He launched his annual “G4 Experience” in 2014 bringing aspiring guitarists together for four days of workshops, mentor sessions and live performances, providing an exclusive learning platform led by him and his accomplished peers. In 2021, he introduced the “Crystal Planet” comic series, a five-part opus interweaving the realms of music and art. The tour documentary “Beyond the Supernova,” directed by ZZ Satriani and currently available for streaming, offers an intimate behind-the-scenes glimpse that intricately chronicles his life, illuminating the profound dedication that fuels his guitar mastery. His side project, Chickenfoot, featuring former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, former bassist Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith saw their debut album certified gold and their second studio album debuted at #9. Satriani released his 19th studio album, The Elephants of Mars, in April 2022. In 2024 Satriani embarked on Sammy Hagar’s Best of All Worlds tour.
About Eric Johnson Among Johnson’s many accolades are a Grammy award for “Cliffs of Dover ” (from his Platinum certified album, Ah Via Musicom), ten more Grammy nominations, lifetime induction into the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats and his listing among the “100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician. In his hometown of Austin TX, a city full of guitarists, the readers of the Austin Chronicle have voted ERIC JOHNSON the city’s “Best Electric Guitarist” and “Best Acoustic Guitarist” in their yearly poll year after year. They also named him “Electric Guitarist of the Decade” and one of the top five “Musicians of the Decade”. Eric released two new albums in 2022, The Book of Making and Yesterday Meets Today via his new partnership with Blue Élan Records. Eric is currently on the 2024 Experience Hendrix tour through late October.
About Steve Vai Steve Vai is a virtuoso guitarist, composer, and producer, considered by many as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. In over 40 years in the industry, Vai has sold over 15 million records, received three Grammy Awards, and recorded with music legends like Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake and many more. Vai has also toured extensively and recorded live projects with G3 (collaborating with different touring line-ups including Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Steve Lukather) and Generation Axe, a supergroup Vai formed with Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt and Tosin Abasi. Vai is the author of Vaideology: Basic Music Theory for Guitar Players (Hal Leonard), his inaugural music theory book designed to help both beginners and veteran guitar players. He toured North America in support of his most recent studio album Inviolate before embarking on the BEAT tour playing the music of 80s King Crimson. For a complete discography and more visit www.vai.com.
New York City’s death thrash titans, Final Siege, are stoked to announce their signing with Wormholedeath Records for the release of their earth-shattering album, “Nuclear Doom State,” dropping December 27th, 2024.
Final Siege comments: “We are incredibly excited to have signed with WormHoleDeath Records. It is an incredible honor to be part of such a well-renowned label that has helped so many bands and artists reach their full potential in their music careers. We are looking forward to what we can accomplish together and cannot wait to unleash our vision on the world.”
Nuclear Doom State: A Turbulent Reflection of Our World
The concept behind Nuclear Doom State was to shed light on what we are experiencing in societies all over the world. The corrupt governments, the top 1% of the wealthiest individuals in the world, religious institutions, and social media platforms all play a hand in our collective suffering. The title track of the album serves as a sort of premonition of what’s to come if we continue down the path we’re currently on. While W.A.R. is more of a rallying cry for the middle and poorer classes to unite as one to change the current state of our lives. Stylistically this album was heavily influenced by bands like Death, Exodus, Power Trip, Slayer, and Gojira. It took a little less than a year to complete the album even with a lineup change in 2022. When our newest members Rob Maldonado and Ameer “TheBeheader ”Aljallad joined the band in April of 2023 we immediately went to work on all the songs that had been written over the years that would make up this album. Together we managed to come up with some great ideas for the songs to have them reach their full potential. Rob himself even contributed to the album with his song titled Primordial Combat which was influenced lyrically by the anime series Baki Hanma.
Tracklist:
The Day After…
W.A.R.
Nuclear Doom State
Psychological Maceration
An Insatiable Lust For Violence
Primordial Combat
Taxed To Death
Get ready to bang your head with the official music video for “Taxed To Death,” a taste of what awaits on “Nuclear Doom State”:
From NYC Bars to Crushing Stages: The Final Siege Saga
On a cold February day in 2018, Gil Vives, Randy Reiser, and Amir Jairazbhoy began discussing their musical journey over some beers in a New York City bar. The trio soon started writing what would ultimately become their debut album, March To Your Grave. They completed their lineup with the addition of George Garcia in October 2018. Two months later, they played their first show together to a sold-out crowd at Gussy’s Bar & Grill in Queens, NY, under the name Final Siege. The band released their debut album, March To Your Grave, independently on August 6, 2021.
In November 2022, co-founding members Amir Jairazbhoy and Randy Reiser took a step back as the band moved into its next phase of development. By April 15, 2023, Final Siege had solidified their new lineup with Ameer “The Beheader” Aljallad on drums and Rob Maldonado on guitar. The band’s musical influences include Death, Thrash, and Groove metal, and their lyrics explore themes of rebellion, war, and the mental toll of living in a conflict-ridden world. Final Siege has performed alongside national acts such as Suffocation, Atheist, Wrath, Enforcer, DRI, and Warbringer.
Through unholy sacrifice and hellish Norwegian winters, for 20 years years, Tsjuder were blessed by Anti-Christian. But when the band’s heretical drummer bowed out ahead of their first album in eight years, founding members Nag and Draugluin needed another maniacal player to take their drum throne.
As willed by the Lords of Metal, iron beast Jon Rice ensured that Helvegr held hard and fast to the band’s eternally uncompromising spirit. Now, as they prepare to burn through Inferno and other European festivals, Tsjuder have officially announced their new permanent drummer.
“We are proud to announce Emil Wiksten as our permanent drummer”, says Nag and Draugluin. “We have been in contact with Emil for quite a few years and have been rehearsing and playing together live for some time now.
Watch Emil pump out “Gods of Black Blood”:
“A huge thanks goes to Jon Rice for playing on Helvegr and Scandinavian Black Metal Attack, as well as a bunch of our gigs”, they continue. “We would also like to give the same huge thanks to Eivin Bryre for performing on all our European gigs over the last four years”.
This isn’t the first time that Emil Wiksten has joined an esteemed band like Tsjuder. Not only has the Swedish native drummed for Blood Red Throne, Aeon and the legendary Abbath. He also helped arrange several songs on Helvegr, including the album’s fist-pumping lead single “Gods of Black Blood”.
Order the limited-edition box set of Helvegr and get two genuine leather Tsjuder coasters, a two-clutch metal band pin and a bonus CD that pays tribute to Bathory.
Tsjuder’s Tribute to Bathory Scandinavian Black Metal Attack (featuring Frederick Melander)
1. The Return of Darkness and Evil (4:53) 2. Satan My Master (2:02) 3. Born for Burning (5:11) 4. Reaper (2:33) 5. Raise the Dead (3:53)
Artwork: Jonas Svensson and Laura Nardelli
Track-list: 1. Iron Beast (3:37) [WATCH] 2. Prestehammeren (4:01) [WATCH] 3. Surtr (6:59) 4. Gamle-Erik (3:46) 5. Chaos Fiend (4:02) 6. Gods of Black Blood (5:19) [WATCH] 7. Helvegr (7:36) [WATCH] 8. Faenskap og Død (3:08) 9. Hvit Død (2:52)
Since their inception in 1993, Oslo’s TSJUDER have been responsible for some of the most hate-filled ferocity perpetrated under the banner of TRUE NORWEGIAN BLACK METAL.
The band’s unholy fire was initially lit when founding members NAG (vocals/bass), BERSERK (guitar) and DRAUGLUIN (guitar) grew weary of playing death metal and sought out engorged levels of extremity to sate their increasingly profane ambitions. The time was ripe to inaugurate a ceaseless campaign committed to an uncompromising strain of brutally raw black metal, influenced by the primal thrash blasts of Sodom, Kreator, Destruction, Sarcófago and early Sepultura; black metal first wave trailblazers such as Bathory and Hellhammer; and, most vitally, Mayhem’s seminal Deathcrush, and Darkthrone’s game-changer, A Blaze in the Northern Sky.
Assuming the TSJUDER name, a moniker plundered from a mythical, murderous Northern tribe, various embryonic line-ups gathered around the all-conquering core of Nag and Draugluin, laying the fearsome foundations for what was to follow with two demos – Ved Ferdens Ende and Possessed – recorded between 1995-96. But it was with 1997’s EP, Throne of the Goat, that the black metal underground really began to sit up and take notice, the release establishing TSJUDER’s reputation as a blasphemous bulldozer hellbent on crushing the insipid and nostalgic in relentless blizzards of sub-zero riffage, punitive blast beats and blood-curdling screams.
Recordings for an inaugural full-length in 1999 were lost to a computer virus, but from the scavenged remnants of these sessions would emerge the Atum Nocturnem demo, an obnoxious foretaste of the group’s debut album, Kill For Satan, an international breakthrough slathered in slime-encrusted sacrilege. That damnable release saw the aptly-named ANTI-CHRISTIAN open his TSJUDER account, the drummer blasting a succession of gateways though the underworld, pulverising a punitive march to the band’s malevolent maelstroms.
Demonic Possession (2002) and Desert Northern Hell (2004) sustained the band’s focus on death, devils and destruction, while ratcheting up the production levels on a barbaric brace of flesh-strippers conjuring a landscape of frost-bitten wastes and foul abyssal realms. With the music press busy dishing out plaudits, the band’s burgeoning confederacy of fanatics were becoming desperate for some TSJUDER live action. Heeding the clarion, the band embarked on a full European tour with fellow countrymen Carpathian Forest. They also recorded a pair of gloriously powerful live performances in 2005, in Norway, which would subsequently be documented on the group’s NorwegianApocalypse DVD.
TSJUDER would take a deserved hiatus in 2006, with members finding other musical outlets for their creativity; Nag launching heretical black metal outfit KRYPT; Draugluin and Anti-Christian doing time with the thrashier TYRANN.
But it wouldn’t be long before the irresistible call of TSJUDER would exert itself once more. The band reconvened, reenergised and eager to make up for lost time, returning to live performances in 2010 before finally unleashing the mighty Legion Helvete (2011), a typically uncompromising comeback interspersed with pronounced Motörhead influences on punkish hyper-blasters such as ‘Slakt’. It would be another four years before TSJUDER issued the merciless Antiliv (2015), a snarling lycanthropic howl of a record, heavy-loaded with vindictive black’n’roll swagger and lashings of buzzsaw guitar.
TSJUDER quickly set about creating the follow-up to Antiliv, but musical differences and protracted disputes led to a parting of the ways, with Anti-Christian bowing out after an impressive 20-year tenure with the group. Undaunted, Nag and Draughluin enlisted doyen tub-thumper JON RICE to provide the requisite drum artillery and continued to work on new recordings – fine-tuning guitar tones and sharpening mixes.
Then COVID-19 struck, the pandemic further stymieing the album’s release as the world tumbled from its fragile axis. But humanity is now benignly settling into its most chronic phase of perpetual abnormality and TSJUDER are steeled again to hoist their inverted cross above the barricades of conciliation. Their latest opus, Helvegr, is a devastatingly savage offering, one which fully adheres to the band’s eternal credo of “NO FUCKING COMPROMISE”.
Line-up: Nag – Bass & Vocals Draugluin – Guitars & Vocals Emil Wiksten – Drums
Guest musicians: Guitar solo on ‘Gamle Erik’ by Pål Emanuelsen Guest vocals on ‘Gods of Black Blood’ by Seidemann (1349)
Mixing + Mastering: North Waves Studios by Pål Emanuelsen Artwork: Jonas Svensson and Laura Nardelli
Extreme doom/drone act VOIDWARDS have unveiled an excerpt of a track from their forthcoming first full-length album “Bagulnik”. Stream itHERE.
“Bagulnik” will be released on December 27th 2024 via Aesthetic Death.
VOIDWARDS are a minimalist, droning, extreme doom act that have existed, under various guises, since 2005. Amidst frequent line-up changes during this time, the core member{s} have remained true and committed to their vision of creating heavy, oppressive, claustrophobic doom.
This is the first full length album in their 20-year existence. Preferring earlier to channel their music through live performances and improvised recordings.
Historical research into a provincial Russian archive, done by the band’s vocalist, became the inspirational source for “Bagulnik”. This formed not only the lyrical concept, but a thematic flow for the whole album, including the lysergic dirge found in the music itself.
Most lyrics are extracted from the diaries of a rural teacher, named Ivan Perfiliev, who claimed that the swamp on the outskirts of the town possessed supernatural properties. Believing he could hear the voice of the swamp inside his head, constantly calling to him. Somewhere in the depths of this swamp, he believed, lived an unknown ancient beast that howled at the moon and caused great suffering. In his diary, he also wrote how other people in the locality were suffering from the same condition. It hasn’t been possible to verify the accuracy of these accounts, occurring over a century ago, but through the album Voidwards take us on a sonic journey of the events from the swamp, giving both hypothesis and conclusion to what caused people in this area to have such visions and mental illness. Ivan was hospitalized with acute psychosis (schizophrenia) but later escaped the institution and ended his life through blunt trauma to his head.
The background noises throughout the album are processed field recordings. These were created at the location of the swamp (as well as in abandoned churches) in this part of northern Russia.
The focus on the cello throughout this album was used to specifically create some of the lysergic haunting sounds.
“Bagulnik” is an exploration in atmosphere and slow, oppressive tones.
It is not an album for the masses, not even for most interested in sub-genres of doom. But for anyone open-minded and willing to explore and immerse themselves in obscure, raw, claustrophobic, minimal, sounds then give it a try…… take this introspective journey of otherworldly music, blending drone and funeral doom.
Italian progressive metal masters ATHENA XIX reveal another single from their upcoming album “Everflow Part 1: Frames Of Humanity,” which will be released later this week (December 6, 2024) via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). ‘The Calm Before the Storm’ deals with the conflict between individuality and society. ATHENA XIX portray this struggle with much compassion and perseverance. But don’t be mistaken, this track still manages to catch you off guard with epic arrangements and vocalist Fabio Lione‘s enchanting voice. Listen here: https://athenaxix.rpm.link/calmPR
“I am really proud of ‘The Calm Before The Storm.’ This track is very dear to my heart,” explains frontman Fabio Lione.
Pre-order “Everflow Part 1: Frames Of Humanity” in your preferred physical format [digipak-CD or synchro green 2LP vinyl], pre-save it on your favourite digital service provider (DSP), or pre-order the album digitally to receive ‘The Calm Before The Storm’‘I Wish [feat. Roy Khan],’ ‘Frames Of Humanity’ and ‘The Conscience Of Everything’ instantly, here: https://athenaxix.rpm.link/everflowpt1PR
“Everflow Part 1: Frames Of Humanity” was produced, recorded and mixed by Gabriele Guidi, Fabio Lione and Simone Pellegrini. The stunning cover artwork was created by book and music cover artist Dusan Markovic.
Artwork by Dusan Markovic
About ATHENA XIX
Originating in 1991, ATHENA released their most successful album to date, “A New Religion?,” in 1998 – still recognised and appropriately rewarded as the best prog metal album of an Italian band ever. The original band members finally re-united in 2019 — after several line-up changes and a hiatus — writing the new album “Everflow Part 1: Frames Of Humanity” which will be released on December 6, 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). ATHENA XIX shake the stagnant contemporary power/prog metal scene to its foundations, pushing far beyond the boundaries of the genre.
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 ) 