CREMATORY, the pioneers of German gothic metal, have signed a new record deal with ROAR. With over three decades of influence and innovation in the international metal scene, CREMATORY are pleased to release their upcoming and previous albums with a strong and experienced partner. Fans can look forward to an exciting and extensive future with their heroes.
The band is currently working on finalizing their new studio album “Destination”, which is scheduled for release on May 2, 2025. Fans can expect a return to the classic gothic metal style with lots of catchy hits. The album release will follow with an extensive tour of Germany. “The new studio album ‘Destination’ is an ingenious mix of the 90s gothic metal times like ‘Illusions’, combined with hard melodic death metal hymns like ‘Act Seven’ and modern electronic songs with German lyrics in the style of ‘Revolution’. More is not possible“, says drummer Markus Jüllich happily and adds: ”With ‘Destination’ the new standard of the modern melodic gothic metal era is determined! The previous album “Inglorious Darkness” was the start of Felix singing all the songs on his own again and now we’ve managed a perfect precision landing with “Destination”!”
Jochen Richert, Managing Director of ROAR, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration: “Welcoming the German gothic metal legends Crematory to ROAR feels good. In addition to the new studio album, we have the pleasure of releasing 14 catalog titles. The challenge here is that the tracks are not available digitally. We have worked out an extensive release schedule that will take place over the next two years. This is an exciting task that we are very happy to take on.”
In addition to the new album, ROAR will release all CREMATORY‘s previous albums digitally and in limited vinyl editions for the collectors. These re-issues will be digitally remastered and offer a new sound experience that will excite both old and new fans. On CD, there will be a special box set announced shortly.
To shorten the waiting time for the new album, a detailed studio video documentary on “Destination” will be available online in January. In February, CREMATORY will release a new single and video clip and follow with a new single each month leading up to the album release on May 2, 2025.
The band states: “Crematory are very happy to be working with many old acquaintances and good friends who now also work at ROAR, because we have known and respected each other for decades and know exactly what we have and get from each other!”
CREMATORY have a lot of exciting news to announce! Even after over 30 years, the band remains a force to be reckoned with in the music landscape! 2025 will definitely be the year for CREMATORY!
DESTINATION TOUR 2025
01.05. GER – Kaiserslautern – Kammgarn 02.05. GER – Leipzig – Hellraiser 03.05. GER – Stuttgart – Wizemann 04.05. GER – Mannheim – 7er Club 09.05. GER – Regensburg – Eventhall 11.05. GER – Munich – Backstage Werk 16.05. GER – Erfurt – From Hell 17.05. GER – Zwickau – Club Seilerstr 29.05. GER – Oberhausen – Kult Tempel 30.05. GER – Potsdam – Lindenpark 31.05. GER – Coesfeld – Fabrik
Produced at Studio 606 in Los Angeles, “Hanging on a String” is the title track and third single from Steve Hill’s highly anticipated, upcoming album Hanging On A String. Both the single and album are released worldwide today via No Label Records.
The single is available to stream from https://lnk.to/stevehill. The album is available on all streaming platforms HERE. The CD and vinyl are available HERE.
Like the album bearing the same name, the title track “Hanging on a String” is about resilience in the face of adversity, cheating death, and moving on no matter what. Accompanied by an eye-catching music video, it is a great introduction to what Powerplay Magazine calls “This year’s must have Blues album.’’
“I’ve been a touring musician for thirty years,” reflects Hill. “I have experienced too many accidents and bumps in the road to remember all of them, but I remember a few. Car crashes, waking up in a house on fire, a plane crash, broken ribs, a broken hand and a broken heart. So far, it’s been quite the trip and I’m looking forward to the rest of it because it’s all worth it. For two hours when I’m on stage I can make the crowd forget about their worries and that makes me happy. That’s my job and I love it to death.”
Recorded and produced by 10 X Grammy Winner Darrell Thorp (Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Paul McCartney) and mastered by 6 X Grammy Winner Michael Romanowski, Steve Hill’s latest album is as close to the heart as you can get. Decades of dedication to the lifestyle of a working musician have shaped him and his craft, and Steve’s new batch of songs are based on his own successes and failures and the life lessons he’s learned from them.
Steve has always loved concept albums. Even though the songs on Hanging on A String weren’t written with a concept in mind, when you put them all together, it feels like a concept album, set in a dystopian world where music is the only salvation.
The funny thing is that it’s not set in the distant future, it’s right here and now, and the hero is not a made-up character, it’s just Steve doing what he’s been doing for decades. Its themes are both very personal and universal. It’s about a one-man blues-rock band trying to make a living and dealing with accidents and bumps in the road and forging ahead no matter what, it’s about the life of a musician as it gets harder to tour in these post-pandemic times, having to deal with new challenges like being replaced by artificial intelligence.
The album starts with the line “Woke up in a house on fire” and the conception of the album started with that line. Steve had just finished a tour in Western Canada and was sleeping in a friend’s basement when he woke up surrounded by smoke.
Like the song says, “I got my buddy out of there. Good thing I generally have a hard time sleeping…”
He then went to the airport and before taking off, posted a photo of him on his socials, with these words: Woke up in a house on fire. His buddy Brian Laudenslager who owns the Lauten Audio microphone company wrote back, “Man, that’s a good line for a song!” to which Steve agreed! Brian had been telling Steve to record in Los Angeles for years.
“He had hired me in the past to do demos of his microphones at events like the NAMM show and other industry events,” says Steve. “His good friend, 10X Grammy winner Darrell Thorp, was the sound engineer whenever I did those shows.”
A few days and conversations later, Brian had booked Darrell and the Foo Fighter’s Studio 606 (yes, the one with the classic Neve console that used to be at Sound City) to record his next album. He then had 90 days to write an album’s worth of material and learn how to play it live (he recorded every instrument at the same time in the studio).
He spent five days a week in his home studio for three months crafting the songs and was ready to nail it all down. He flew to LA where his friend and songwriting partner Johnny Pilgrim picked him up at the airport and 20 minutes later, they were hit by another car that ran a red light. This was his second car accident in less than a year, as he had previously totalled his van, fallen asleep at the wheel coming home from a gig nine months earlier, and miraculously survived a massive wreck that all witnesses said should have killed him…
He did his best to record with some broken ribs, but his injuries got the best of him and the producers decided to postpone the recording. He healed and perfected the songs for another three months and finally came back to 606 in January 2024, and this time nothing could stop him… He had six days to record the album, and he did it in 5! Never were more than 3 takes needed and most of what you hear are first or second takes.
Says Steve, “I’ve never been prouder of anything I’ve done in all my life. This is the music I’ve been wanting to do and never thought I could ever perform that as a one-man band. Raw, in your face and straight to the point. This record is about perseverance, resilience in the face of adversity and my never-ending love for guitar music.”
“I truly believe this to be my best work so far and I hope you enjoy it, too.”
We’ve heard a lot about Steve Hill over the past 30 years, and we’re about to hear a lot more. From backing up some of the biggest acts in his native Quebec as a teenager, to becoming a bandleader in his 20s, to solo artist, to writer, performer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, to one-man band extraordinaire, Steve has followed his own path for most of his life.
That path has brought him Juno Awards and Maple Blues Awards along with accolades from the biggest guitar magazines on the planet. The man has had an incredibly busy life and more than his share of ups and downs, but you haven’t heard the best of it yet…
His latest album is as close to the heart as you can get. Decades of dedication to the lifestyle of a working musician have shaped him and his craft, and Steve’s new batch of songs are based on his own successes and failures and the life lessons he’s learned from them.
His latest album, Hanging on a String, a true “concept album by accident”, shows this one-man orchestra at its best, on an extraordinary recording that is undoubtedly the finest of his career.
TRACK LISTING
Hanging On A String (4:21) Devil’s Handyman (3:32) Show Ya (4:39) World Gone Insane (6:48) Maggie (4:46) You Know Who (4:10) Turned To Dust (3:13) When The Music’s Over (8:00)
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Darrell Thorp and Brian Loudenslager Performed by Steve Hill Engineer: Oliver Roman Assistant engineers: Charlie Lo Presti, Marisa Mow, Jerred Polacci Mixing engineer: Darrell Thorp Recorded at Studio 606, Los Angeles, CaliforniaMastered at Coast Mastering, Berkeley, California Mastering engineer: Michael Romanowsky
All songs by Steve Hill & Jean Pellerin Except When The Music’s Over by Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Robbie Krieger & Ray Manzarek
Steamachine was formed in 2020 by Krystian “Juras” Jurkiewicz (guitar, vocals) and Konrad “Gałązek” Gałązka (guitar). The current lineup also includes Dominik “Biały” Gałązka on bass and Olek Prusinowski on drums and backing vocals. Since their debut, the band has gained a reputation for their relentless energy and genre-defying sound, attracting fans from various corners of metal.
Following the success of their previous releases, including “The Book Of War” and “City Of Death“, Steamachine continues to captivate audiences with its innovative approach to metal. The band is known for blending subgenres and experimenting with sounds, and the new EP further solidifies their position as an innovative force on the metal scene.
October 2024
Steamachine, a dynamic force in the metal scene, announces the release of its upcoming EP titled “Post-apocalyptic Silence“, continuing its journey toward transcending musical boundaries. This new release, which features three powerful tracks, immerses listeners in a world of desolation, survival, and inner transformation. “Post-apocalyptic Silence” represents another chapter in the band’s evolution, blending elements of groove metal, metalcore, and post-apocalyptic storytelling. With a distinctive combination of intense riffs, powerful vocals, and melancholic melodies, Steamachine transports listeners to a dystopian landscape where perseverance and personal discovery come to the forefront.
The EP opens with the titular track, “Post-apocalyptic Silence“, where a lone wanderer traverses the desolate wastelands of a ruined world, guided by an unending, melancholic melody. The song addresses themes of strength and the search for hope in a desolate world.
“Desert War” depicts the brutal struggle for survival in an unrelenting desert, capturing the intensity of clashes over the remnants of peace. The powerful lyrics and heavy instrumentation of this track reflect the pain and desperation of a war-torn world.
In “Survival Instinct“, Steamachine delves into the internal battle of the protagonist, who fights to retain their humanity in the face of monstrous transformations. The raw emotions conveyed in this song illustrate the psychological effects of survival, blurring the lines between human and beast.
Tracklist:
1. Post-apocalyptic Silence 2. Desert War 3. Survival Instinct
Comment from the band: “Post-apocalyptic Silence is not just music for us; it’s a manifestation of our emotions and experiences. We wanted to create something that moves and inspires while prompting reflection on what survival means in difficult times. We hope our listeners find a part of themselves in this EP and can feel what we felt during its creation.” – said Krystian “Juras” Jurkiewicz, vocalist and guitarist.
The premiere of the new EP is scheduled for November 14, 2024 and will be released on all major streaming platforms.
Watch video to the song “Post-apocalyptic Silence” below.
BENEATH MOONLIGHT have emerged from the clandestine circle of Ordo Vampyr Orientis (BAT MAGIC, BAD MANOR, BEASTIAL MAJESTY) to join DMP‘s roster. This newly forged alliance, steeped in dark mysticism and wilful obscurantism, will propagate skewed Black Metal akin to no other. Reflecting on their latest chapter, the collective explains:
“We wanted to work with Debemur Morti Productions because what Void has created over the past decades is a fostering of and haven for legitimate, dark Art. No ‘flash in the pan’ hype, only carefully crafted music and visual art which feeds the listener with passion and a dark flame deep within.“
Rooted in vampiric, pianistic ’90s Black Metal, BENEATH MOONLIGHT weave magic, religion, revenge and redemption through a tale of how author Henricus Institor is cursed with lycanthropy and turns to black magic to cure his affliction.
BENEATH MOONLIGHT describe the core of their Art:
“The Ordo Vampyr Orientis circle strives to create dark, mystical Art, and our newest effort BENEATH MOONLIGHT feeds from pompous extravagance, mocking Christendom and revelling in musical technicality to exalt the artist rather than celebrate any sort of deity. In BENEATH MOONLIGHT, we wanted to find a world where magick is real and where Christendom inevitably and invariably falls to its might. There is no god!“
With their upcoming self-titled debut-EP, BENEATH MOONLIGHT draws listeners into part one of the Henricus Institor saga. These forthcoming incantations promise not only to enthral but to push the shadowed boundaries of Black Metal via their unorthodox approach.
BENEATH MOONLIGHT are:
The Inquisitor – vocals The Sanguinarian – piano, songwriting The Ghastly Vrykolak – guitar The Haunted Strigoi – guitar, bass The Impaler – drums
More info about the forthcoming EP will be conveyed in due time. Meanwhile, follow the band on Ampwall and Bandcamp.
BENEATH MOONLIGHT is romantic, pianistic Black Metal from the minds behind the Ordo Vampyr Orientis (BAT MAGIC, BAD MANOR). BENEATH MOONLIGHT weave a complex tale of magic, religion, revenge, and redemption through darkness as “Malleus Maleficarum” author Henricus Institor is cursed with lycanthropy and turns to black magic to cure his affliction. Henricus‘ story will continue on BENEATH MOONLIGHT‘s subsequent full-length albums.
The debut-EP will see the light via DMP at the end of 2024.
Southern California heavy metal veterans LEATHERWOLF are celebrating Halloween with the release of a horror themed video for the song ‘Lights Out Agan’ off their most recent full-length album, ‘Kill The Hunted’. The clip features vocalist Keith Adamiak, the Triple Axe Attack of Rob Math, Luke Man and David Coffman, bassist Brice Snyder, and drummer Dean Roberts and can be viewed on the band’s YouTube channel below.
The band once again collaborated with award winning Spanish filmmaker, Èric Boadella, whose credits include L.A. Guns, Black Swan, and Revolution Saints, among others. Filmed at The Barracks in Downtown Los Angeles, ‘Lights Out Agan’ finds the band in the clutches of a train driving wolfman on the way to their next concert but his train runs out of blood! “We’ve done several videos with Eric and this one is definitely different”, says Roberts. “All the others have pretty much been straight forward performance videos – this one has a bit of a storyline, it’s sort of a mini-horror movie with an element of camp. Eric came up with the concept and we pretty much gave him and his crew free reign. I think it turned out really cool and the whole vibe of the clip is perfect for Halloween so here we go!”
LEATHERWOLF are currently working on an EP for 2025 which is set to feature a mix of new songs and re-recordings of several tracks from the band’s catalog. The first of these re-recordings, a remake of ‘Thunder’ off 1989’s ‘Street Ready’, re-titled ‘Thunder (MMXXII)’, was released as a bonus track on the Japanese CD and the vinyl edition of ‘Kill The Hunted’ and features a lead guitar guest appearance by Joel Hoekstra (WHITESNAKE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, REVOLUTION SAINTS).
Hamburg, Germany-based Post-Metal outfit DROWNSHIP has unveiled the second single, “Those Who Drank From the Waters of Lethe”, off their highly anticipated debut full-length album, “Tidal Passages”, due out November 8th via These Hands Melt.
The band’s latest offering is a sonic journey into the depths of addiction and despair, accompanied by a visually striking video directed by Chariot of Black Moth. Watch the video here:
DROWNSHIP comments on the track: “‘Those Who Drank From the Waters of Lethe’ is about the purest form of catharsis: addiction. Some of us dwell in a state of constant suffering, satisfaction without relief. This song is a Requiem to those, who lost themselves in their pain. Embark with us on a journey into oblivion.“
Tracklist:
Where the Flood Springs
Those Who Drank From the Waters of Lethe
Pacified
The Great Devouring
Cradled by Fire
A Tomb Between the Stars
Abysmal Flower
Iconoclast (feat. Marta J. Braun of TODTGELICHTER)
Hailing from Northern Germany, DROWNSHIP emerged in 2018, quickly making a name for themselves with their powerful and emotive sound. The band’s lineup includes members from renowned acts like Ophis, Todtgelichter, and Caleya. Their 2021 EP, “A Dirge To a Carrion Heart”, released via Moment Of Collapse Records and Bloodblast Distribution, was met with critical acclaim.
DROWNSHIP‘s debut album “Tidal Passages” is a compelling mix of heavy and progressive elements, completed by powerful vocals and haunting instrumentals. Recorded with producer David Deutsch (1408 Productions) and mastered by Nikita Kamprad (Der Weg Einer Freiheit), the album promises to be a dark and immersive listening experience. The stunning artwork, crafted by Irrwisch Artdesign, perfectly complements the band’s atmospheric sound.
“Tidal Passages” will be coming out November 8 on Vinyl/CD/Digital via These Hands Melt and is available for pre-order viaBANDCAMPor the label’s WEBSHOP
DROWNSHIP are: Jonas Borchers – Vocals Floris Lange van Ravenswaay – Guitars Torsten Radtke – Guitars Edgar Berlies – Bass/Vocals Wolfram Zarnack – Drums
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 ) 