Volcano Records & Promotion is thrilled to announce the release of RICCARDO D’ATTIS‘ new single, titled “Red Moon”, available from October 9, 2024, on all digital platforms.
This is the third track released in just a few months with Volcano Records, and it is part of a unified concept where Riccardo’s creativity and technique serve an overarching orchestral and cinematic vision. “Red Moon” is a progressive rock and metal track, inspired by a summer evening when Riccardo, during a music research session, witnessed a majestic red moon over the sea, which inspired the song’s main melody. The single, which lasts 5 minutes and 15 seconds, perfectly embodies the blend of guitar technique and emotional composition that defines Riccardo’s style. The tracks from this concept have been gaining traction on Spotify for several weeks, amassing over 15,000 streams. This trilogy marks the beginning of a new chapter in the career of the Ligurian guitarist, who is set to take his music overseas in early 2025. However, more details on this project will be revealed later.
Riccardo D’Attis, born in Bordighera in 1993, began his musical journey at the age of 17. After a period of self-teaching, he studied at the National Conservatory of Nice, where he deepened his musical knowledge. He currently works as an electric guitar teacher and collaborates with various bands, spanning genres such as pop, jazz, funk, and symphonic metal.
Reading, Pennsylvania-based progressive death metallers RIVERS OF NIHIL will reissue their debut EP, Hierarchy, on November 8th via Metal Blade Records.
Initially released independently in 2010, the updated edition of Hierarchy has been remixed and remastered by original producer Carson Slovak at Atrium Audio.
Hierarchy Track Listing: 01. Chambers of Civility 02. Human Adaptation 03. Ultimate Sentience 04. Post-Mortem Prostitution
RIVERS OF NIHIL have never fit neatly into a box, but with 2018’s Where Owls Know My Name, they transcended all labels applied to them. Returning in 2021 with The Work, they forged further into new territory, once again upending any expectations fans had placed on them. And now, with a new series of singles recorded in 2023 and released as singles since then – eventually appearing together on a new album – the band has once again shattered the ceiling of how far they are willing to go in search of new sonic terrain.
The band spent 2021 and 2022 burning the candle at both ends with a frenzied tour schedule including headlining runs of the US and Europe, a jaunt on the European festival circuit, and two runs in support of The Black Dahlia Murder and The Contortionist in North America. But once the latter tour wrapped up, they were short a band member.
For personal reasons, founding vocalist Jake Dieffenbach and the band went their separate ways. The split took place just three days after the recording of a live video and audio session for Audiotree’s From Nothing series, which was released on April 20th, 2023. And while the band initially wasn’t sure how to approach the release with the departure of a founding member and lead singer – or whether to release it at all – they decided to move forward with it to honor Dieffenbach’s contributions to the group over the years and mark the beginning of a new chapter.
In March 2023, RIVERS OF NIHIL wrapped up a recording session that saw the now four-piece band birth a considerable amount of new music featuring their previous bassist/backup vocalist Adam Biggs as the new lead vocalist/bassist. This recording session also marked the first appearance of new guitarist Andy Thomas (ex-Black Crown Initiate), whose vocals also play prominently in the music, as a member of RIVERS OF NIHIL. These new singles are the first to showcase the band’s new lineup in full-on collaboration, and demonstrate that while this is a new, brave sound with tons of potential, it also carries the band’s classic energy.
The band recently wrapped up the recording and mastering of their fifth full-length album slated for release in 2025. The record will feature two previously released songs – “The Sub-Orbital Blues” (2023) and “Criminals” (2024) – plus eight new tracks. Stay tuned for a new single to be unveiled in 2025.
RIVERS OF NIHIL – Hierarchy Lineup: Jake Deiffenbach – vocals Jon Kunz – guitar Brody Uttley – guitar Adam Biggs – bass/vocals Ron Nelson – drums
Unless you were interested in playing the wicked step-groupies in the Cinderella videos, there wasn’t a lot of room for a pair of young women in the heavy-metal scene of the ’80s. Certainly not as musicians in their own right. That’s the daunting landscape that confronts Sapphire and Destiny, the heroines of author Dawn LeFevre’s keenly observed and lovingly rendered period novel, The Metal Sisters.
Inspired by LeFevre’s passion for headbanging music, the book is set in 1985, when burning riffs were everywhere and the allure of dominating the Sunset Strip was overwhelming. Into that maelstrom wade a college-bound honor student and a tequila-soaked bad girl who are united by their love of playing guitar. Can their band climb the mountain of metal to a height that justifies putting their life plans on indefinite hold? Or will poverty, unreliable bandmates, and a palpable lack of label interest make it all go up in smoke?
The book is an affectionate salute to a fondly remembered era, and it’s already being praised for its authenticity and insight. “The vivid portrayal of the 1980s rock scene had a wealth of atmospheric language and immersive touches, and this was beautifully complemented by the well-paced plot filled with universal themes of ambition, friendship, and chasing dreams,” summed up reviewer K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite. “Overall, The Metal Sisters is a heartfelt tribute to the power of music and the bonds it forges, and I would certainly recommend it to fans of empowering, entertaining fiction everywhere.”
Growing up in New Jersey (the state that also birthed the seminal record label Megaforce and influential metal DJ Eddie Trunk), LeFevre was the typical horse-crazy girl, except that her barn radio blasted metal, not country music. When she wasn’t horsing around, LeFevre was locked in her room playing guitar along to her ever-expanding album collection. During her undergrad at Cook College of Rutgers University, she realized that her skill set was better suited to scribbling than shredding. A lateral move into reviewing metal albums and writing features for print publications proved a natural fit, and she even managed to get some short stories about lady shredders into publications like The Pacific Coast Journal. Surely a full-length novel on the subject was the next logical step?
Instead, after graduating college with a BS in Animal Science, LeFevre spent the next 13 years training and racing thoroughbred horses in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. She fully intended to finish The Metal Sisters one day, but the 24/7 needs of her equine charges superseded her writing dreams. Only after the South Jersey racetracks had shuttered their doors forever did she once again pick up her pen. She was still driven to write about the things she loved, and the fruit was her first novel, Backstretch Girls, which won the Best Horse Racing Fiction award at the 2021 Equus Film & Arts Festival. Her second novel, Racetrack Rogues, was a finalist for the 2021 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. She also published an equestrian-oriented novella and contributed to a horse-racing website. In a further show of her thematic versatility, she even became a wine blogger.
Yet the liberating sound of classic metal had never fully left her internal soundtrack. (So enduring was her devotion that she had full-on married her guitar teacher.) And in the decades since she had mothballed The Metal Sisters, female guitarists had somehow become all the rage. From A-circuit axe goddesses like Nita Strauss to the legion of lipstick-and-leather virtuosos regularly displaying their chops on YouTube and Tik Tok, the clicking of blood-red fingernails on a fretboard was suddenly everywhere. Yet when it came to heavy metal fiction books, the shelves were practically bare. The time for LeFevre to revisit the tale of Sapphire and Destiny was clearly nigh.
“I began to feel that creative hunger to finish the story that had remained close to my heart even after all these years,” she says. “And so, I did. I wrote The Metal Sisters not only for this generation of social-media shredders, but also for those few, brave women guitarists who kicked down the walls back in the ’80s so they could step through.”
These days, LeFevre is kicking down plenty of walls of her own. Even before its release, her new novel had risen to #3 on the Amazon music-books chart and #1 in the metal ranking. Striking while the iron is red hot, she’ll be appearing at the Collingswood Book Festival, being held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, in Collingswood, New Jersey. She’ll be signing copies of all her books, although the focus will obviously be on her latest, long-gestating labor of love. We aren’t promising she’ll sign your guitar too, but it’s a good bet the idea would make her smile.
Zombie metal sensation DOMINUM is set to unleash the undead on their second album, entitled The Dead Don’t Die, out December 27, 2024 via Napalm Records!
On the new offering, mastermind Felix Heldt aka Dr Dead and his Zombies introduce heavier metal influences, contributing to an even more bombastic and darker sound than on the debut. The second album is grown up and tops the strong predecessor in production and songwriting and is once again mixed and mastered by the brilliant Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Arch Enemy, Evergrey & more).
Today, DOMINUM unleash the title track “The Dead Don’t Die” together with an official music video, featuring Ben Metzner, known as mastermind of German #1 band and labelmates Feuerschwanz, as well as dArtagnan. In the song, a clever take on a classic children’s lullaby leads into brilliantly dark storytelling, that’s heavy instrumentation and a multifaceted vocal performance take to the next level. The stunning music video features both singers and perfectly transports the message of the song with strong visuals.
Dr Dead on the new single “The Dead Don’t Die”: “My fellow living people, the time has come for the next chapter. To strengthen and expand my zombie empire, I’ve uncovered something I must share. In the dark caves of a castle, whose name must remain secret, I found a new companion from medieval times—Ben Metzner of Feuerschwanz. I convinced him to join our cause, and together, we will grow our army and extend our power even further. Your living world has no idea what’s about to hit it.” Yours,Dr. Dead
Ben Metzner adds: “As a warrior from the medieval universe of FEUERSCHWANZ I feel honored and blessed to be raised from the grave and become a part of the growing zombie army of DOMINUM!”
DOMINUM on the upcoming album The Dead Don’t Die: “Hey, living people. Exactly one year ago, our journey began, and now it’s time for a new chapter. In the darkest nights, I buried my fallen zombies and brought them back to life under the full moon. But the real story is still to come. Stay calm, stay close (forever—pun intended), and I’ll tell you everything soon. Just remember one thing: the dead don’t really die.” Yours, Dr. Dead
DOMINUM entered the scene in 2023 with a blast and hit the top 20 of the Official German Album Charts immediately with their debut album, Hey Living People.
Massive album opening track “We Are Forlorn” invites the listener on a dark and dramatic journey that continues full-speed on “One Of Us”. Irresistibly catchy “Don’t Get Bitten By The Wrong Ones” features DOMINUM’s trademark eerie yet tongue-in-cheek lyrics, continuing straight from where the band left off with their first album. The monumental title track “The Dead Don’t Die” is another highlight on The Dead Don’t Die – a clever take on a classic children’s lullaby leads into brilliantly dark storytelling, that’s heavy instrumentation and a multifaceted vocal performance take to the next level. Feuerschwanz and dArtagnan mastermind Ben Metzner is featured on this song. In addition to the album’s 10 original tracks, DOMINUM continues delivering the exciting cover of Scorpions’ classic hit “Rock You Like A Hurricane”. Some formats come with the bonus CD Live at Graspop Metal Meeting 2024 which includes their acclaimed performance at Graspop 2024.
The Dead Don’t Die Tracklisting: 1. We Are Forlorn 2. One Of Us 3. The Dead Don’t Die 4. Killed By Life 5. Die For The Devil 6. Don’t Get Bitten By The Wrong Ones 7. Happy Deadly Ending 8. Can’t Kill a Dead Man 9. This Is Not a Game 10. The Guardians Of The Night 11. Rock You Like A Hurricane (Scorpions Cover)
Since the release of the first album in December 2023, DOMINUM has played nearly sold-out tours supporting big names such as Bruce Dickinson, Avantasia, Feuerschwanz and Peyton Parrish in Europe, as well as convincing international audiences at summer festivals such as Graspop and Rock Harz.
DOMINUM will kick off their first full headlining tour right in time for the release of The Dead Don’t Die, bringing their new horror stories to life on stage for the first time, after supporting Feuerschwanz on the second leg of their Fegefeuer tour again.
DOMINUM Live: The Dead Don’t Die Tour: w/ Majestica, Hammer King 26.12.24 DE – Nuremberg / Hirsch 27.12.24 DE – Munich / Backstage 28.12.24 DE – Berlin / Frannz Club 08.01.25 DE – Frankfurt / Das Bett 09.01.25 DE – Hamburg / Gruenspan – VENUE UPGRADE! 10.01.25 NL – Cologne / Kantine 11.01.25 NL – Leipzig / Hellraiser
Fegefeuer Tour w/ Feuerschwanz, Orden Ogan 27.11.24 NL – Eindhoven / Effenaar 28.11.24 NL – Haarlem / Patronaat 29.11.24 FR – Paris / Le Trabendo 30.11.24 DE – Kaiserslautern / Kammgarn 01.12.24 CH – Pratteln / Z7 Konzertfabrik 03.12.24 IT – Trezzo sull’Adda / Live Club 04.12.24 AT – Graz / Orpheum 05.12.24 AT – Linz / Posthof 06.12.24 AT – Vienna / Gasometer
No Sleep Til Auchtertool Tour w/ Gloryhammer, Fellowship 31.01.25 UK – Dundee / Church 01.02.25 UK – Newcastle Upon Tyn / Riverside 02.02.25 UK – Southampton / The 1865 03.02.25 UK – Norwich / Epic Studios 04.02.25 UK – Glasgow / The Garage 06.02.25 IE – Dublin / The Academy 07.02.25 UK – Wolverhampton / KK’s Steel Mill 08.02.25 UK – Manchester / O2 Ritz 09.02.25 UK – Bristol / SWX
Festivals: 07.12.24 CZ – Zlin / Winter Masters Of Rock 30.07.-02.08.25 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air more to be announced
DOMINUM are: Dr. Dead – Vocals Patient Zero – Bass Victor Hilltop – Drums Tommy Kemp – Guitars
CATEGORY 7, featuring John Bush (Armored Saint, Anthrax), Phil Demmel (Kerry King, Machine Head), Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob), Jack Gibson (Exodus), and Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, Overkill), today announces their 2025 first ever tour in support of their self-titled Metal Blade debut.
The fourteen-show trek commences on March 6th in Baltimore, Maryland and runs through March 23rd in Atlanta, Georgia. Direct support on all shows will be provided by Exhorder (except Milwaukee). Additional support will be provided by Hand Of The Tribe on all dates, as well as Dead By Wednesday on the first four dates, and Engineered Society Project on the remainder of the tour, starting in Warrendale.
Comments vocalist John Bush, “Looking forward to CATEGORY 7 blowing off the roofs of some venues on the East Coast and Midwest in March of 2025. This will be the first time the band will be playing live so come and check out some killer musicianship. Playing songs from the debut record should be fun. See ya there!“
Adds guitarist Phil Demmel, “Batten down your hatches because the C7 tempest is about to touch ground in the US this March! We all are so thrilled to launch this band and bring our show through the states! See you in the eye of the storm!“
Presales on Blabbermouth.net and Knotfest.com will begin tomorrow, October 9th with the general on sale beginning Friday October 11th. VIP upgrades will be available for all shows at: category7official.com. The VIP purchase does not include the show ticket.
CATEGORY 7 w/ Exhorder, Dead By Wednesday, Hand Of The Tribe: 3/06/2025 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 3/07/2025 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ 3/08/2025 Middle East – Downstairs – Cambridge 3/09/2025 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA w/ Exhorder, Engineered Society Project, Hand Of The Tribe: 3/11/2025 Jergel’s – Warrendale, PA 3/12/2025 The Asylum At Temple Live – Cleveland, OH 3/14/2025 The Machine Shop – Flint, MI 3/15/2025 The Forge – Joliet, IL 3/16/2025 The Rave II – Milwaukee, WI ** 3/18/2025 Fine Line – Minneapolis, MN 3/19/2025 Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE 3/21/2025 Pop’s – St. Louis, MO 3/22/2025 Exit/In – Nashville, TN 3/23/2025 The Masquerade (Hell) – Atlanta, GA ** w/ H1Z1, Misfire, Engineered Society Project, Hand Of The Tribe (no Exhorder)
Category 7 was released on July 26th to worldwide critical acclaim and debuted at #8 on the Billboard Rock Chart. The band has released four videos to date for the tracks “In Stitches,” “Exhausted,” “Mousetrap,” and “Apple of Discord.” The band has received major support from the Sirius XM channel Liquid Metal.
Category 7 was produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Mike Orlando at Sonic Stomp Studios with art and layout by Carlos Fides at Artside Studio (Angra, Evergrey, Kamelot). Stream and purchase the record at: metalblade.com/category7
Robb Weir, TYGERS OF PAN TANG founder and keeper of the flame, was at a cross roads. He had tried to keep the Tygers alive with differing lineups but now he was in the position of seeing his hopes dissolve completely as the band were unable to find just the right vocalist. He was determined to give it one more chance and the band cast around for a new front man. He knew that this was possibly his last chance. Enter Jack Meille, resident of Florence and possessor of a set of pipes that could not only do justice to the Tygers back catalogue, but crucially, create the hard rock melodies essential to the band’s sound for the future.
Robb remembers Jack’s audition well. “I knew, from the moment I put my hand up to stop Jack’s audition 40 seconds in and offered him the job… I just knew he was going to be the ‘Voice’ of the Tygers”. He joined the existing line-up of Robb Weir, Craig Ellis, Dean Robertson and Brian West and soon they were in the studio together recording what would become “Animal Instinct”.
Jack has strong memories of his first session recording with the band. “I was so nervous on the first day of recording in the studio. I had written quite a few melodies and lyrics but it was the first time that I had recorded away from Florence, in a studio I had never been in. Everything was so new, exciting and demanding at the same time! I remember I had the best sleep of my life as I was so exhausted after every session”.
There was always something about that original release though that bothered the band: the sleeve. It was felt that it didn’t do the band justice. Step in Andy Pilkington, responsible for the last two Tygers albums’ covers. He was asked to create a cover that would sit happily alongside the quality seen in other Tygers album sleeves. They also felt that the sound required a new mix and called upon the services of trusted friend and producer Marco Angioni to add the necessary sheen to an already fine sounding album. A bonus track, “Don’t Say Rock’n’Roll Is Gonna Die” has also been added to the re-issue.
But we will leave the final word to Geoff Barton (the man who coined the term NWOBHM) who, when he reviewed “Animal Instinct” for Classic Rock magazine, reckoned it was not only an album deserving of 8 out of 10, but he confessed it to be “preferable to the then current offerings from Whitesnake and Def Leppard”.
“Animal Instinct” will be reissued on CD, LP (transparent light blue vinyl, limited to 500 copies) and digital formats on November 22nd, 2024 via Mighty Music. Pre-orders are available via this link.
“Animal Instinct” tracklist:
1. Rock Candy 2. Cry Sweet Freedom 3. Live For The Day 4. Let It Burn 5. If You See Kay 6. Hot Blooded 7. Devils Find A Fool 8. Winners and Losers 9. Cruisin’ 10. Bury The Hatchet 11. Dark Rider 12. Don’t Say R’n’R Is Gonna Die (bonus track)
Recording lineup: Robb Weir – guitars Craig Ellis – drums Jack Meille – vocals Brian West – bass Dean Robertson – guitars
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 ) 