“When normally it takes tens or even hundreds of different pictures to get that top one that would be used, we decided to go against the grain to get that perfect atmosphere. We took a single photo using 19th century wet plate photography technique. This way there was no need to decide upon which picture to use. It was a one shot. That’s it.”
A month ago, prog metallers Adamantra ended the 10-year silence with their An Unfinished Tale single, which now is succeeded by a new one called Treacherous Valour. This song is also found on the yet to be named third album. The track feature Mikael Salo and Erik Kraemer on backing vocals.
Bass player Jukka Hoffrén shares few words of the backgrounds of both the single and the video:
”This song is inspired by movies Born on the Fourth of July and Rambo: First Blood. It is a story of a soldier who has been heavily wounded in battle. As he is lying in a military hospital in bandages, there is an enemy soldier lying in a bed next to him. Together they end up thinking, that even though only a moment ago they were trying to kill each other, now they both are striving only to survive. They do not wish any ill to each other.
This song also considers the feelings of former soldiers on how societies and countries, especially the U.S.A., have treated the veterans of wars in Vietnam and other countries. Even though they have served their countries and paid a high price for it, back home they have ended up as abandoned pariahs. The song is also dealing with those mental injuries that the terrors of war can cause to a human mind: traumas, states of fear and difficulties to process these matters.”
Summer may just be about to begin, but Finnish melodic death metal maestros WOLFHEART already look above and beyond as the release of their new album “Draconian Darkness” casts its shadows before. Recorded at Deep Noise Studios and produced, mixed and mastered by the band’s long-time collaborator Saku Moilanen, the record will be unleashed when the sombre season is about to return, on September 6, 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). Its first sonic ambassador, ‘Grave,’ will become available on June 7 and embodies the sheer rawness of dark winter nights combined with the majestic beauty of the nature. The track can be pre-saved now, here: https://wolfheart.rpm.link/gravePR
Pre-order “Draconian Darkness” in the physical format of your choice (CD-digipak, coloured vinyl), pre-save it on your favourite DSP or pre-order it digitally now, here: https://wolfheart.rpm.link/draconiandarknessPR
Artwork by Nikos Stavridakis / VisionBlack
“Draconian Darkness” – Track Listing:
01. Ancient Cold 02. Evenfall 03. Burning Sky 04. Death Leads The Way 05. Scion Of The Flame 06. Grave 07. Throne Of Bones 08. Trail By Fire 09. The Gale
WOLFHEART live:
02.06.2024 FR Montagny – Lions Metal Festival 09.08.2024 FI Helsinki – Hellsinki Metal Festival 30./31.08.2024 DE Tennenbronn – Metalacker *NEW* 07.09.2024 FI Pori – MonoMassive
“Endtime Signals” European Tour 2024 w/ DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, HIRAES Presented by Metal Hammer, musix, metal.de, powermetal.de, eventim & Decibel Touring 31.10.2024 DE Berlin – Astra 01.11.2024 CZ Prague – MeetFactory 02.11.2024 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser 03.11.2024 DE Cologne – Live Music Hall 05.11.2024 UK London – O2 Academy Islington 06.11.2024 NL Eindhoven – Effenaar 07.11.2024 DE Munich – Backstage 08.11.2024 CH Solothurn – Kulturfabrik Kofmehl *NEW* 09.11.2024 BE Kortrijk – Hell’s Balls Belgium 10.11.2024 FR Paris – La Machine du Moulin Rouge 11.11.2024 FR Toulouse – Le Bikini 13.11.2024 ES Barcelona – Salamandra 14.11.2024 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem 15.11.2024 ES Madrid – Shôko 16.11.2024 ES Santander – Escenario 18.11.2024 FR Villeurbanne – La Rayonne 19.11.2024 DE Lindau – Club Vaudeville 20.11.2024 HU Budapest – Barba Negra 21.11.2024 AT Vienna – Arena 22.11.2024 DE Karlsruhe – Substage 23.11.2024 DE Weissenhäusser Strand/Ostsee – Metal Hammer Paradise *NEW* 24.11.2024 DK Copenhagen – Pumpehuset 26.11.2024 NO Oslo – Vulkan Arena 28.11.2024 SE Stockholm – Fryshuset Klubben 29.11.2024 SE Örebro – Club 700 30.11.2024 SE Gothenburg – Filmstudion
About WOLFHEART
Originated by hardworking multi-instrumentalist Tuomas Saukkonen (BEFORE THE DAWN, BLACK SUN AEON etc.), WOLFHEART stand for a unique combination of sinister atmosphere and intense Northern European metal. Their music is based on sheer strength and poetic depth what generated much appreciation for their work within the worldwide metal community. While WOLFHEART‘s art is mainly inspired by their Finnish surrounding, their albums tell eclectic stories connecting nature and human feelings, and with each and every album, they’ve managed to extend their artistic horizon and to give even more utterance to their music.
Heilung invoked the spirits of the old world for the first time at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre back in 2021. Today, they’re announcing Lifa Iotungard, a live album that captures that unforgettable night under the starry Colorado sky on CD and vinyl.
Recorded live at Red Rocks in October 2021, Lifa Iotungard captures Heilung’s sacred ritual. As torches blazed and drums echoed between the sandstones, a sacred space was created, linking the hearts of the present with the spirits of the past.
“Remember that we all are brothers”, Heilung recite during their opening ceremony. “All people, beasts, trees, and stones and wind. We all descend from the one great being”.
“Traust” unfolds in a powerful surge of throat singing, primordial rhythms and mystic chants. This song – which first appeared on their second studio album Futha – transports listeners back to a time where the veil between worlds was thinnest. Christopher Juul, Maria Franz, Kai Uwe Faust, and their battalion of warriors, equipped with the lore of ages, cast a spell that reverberates through the bones of the Earth itself.
HEILUNG don’t play shows. They perform a ritual. Every performance begins with Kai Uwe Faust leading Christopher Juul, Maria Franz and the rest of the Nordic collective in an ancient prayer. Soon after, the audience is swept into rapture, swayed by incense and throat singing, primordial rhythms, subtle electronic textures, a mesmerizing light show, an army of warriors and bursts of fire.
Since they began in 2015, Heilung have been paving melodic paths to the past with their unique and mystifying sound. Evading all conventional genre tags and the confines of any specific labels, the group aptly self-describes their sound as “amplified history,” emphasizing their ability to connect modern society with the rudiments of humanity’s beginnings through music.
“Our ancestral Nordic civilizations did not just pop up, exist and disappear in isolation”, says Faust, a throat singer and one of Heilung’s three composers. “With singing these primordial songs we want to give tribute to these cultures, reconnect to the beginnings and remember that we all, from East to West, from past to present, are connected through the exchange of ideas and inspiring each other”.
While Heilung features authentic and archaic instrumentation that ranges from rattles and ritual bells to human bones and throat singing, their captivating brand of music is far from primitive. Producer and founding member Christopher Juul implements subtle electronic elements that elevates the musical atmosphere and provides a more in-depth and layered soundscape.
Indeed, Heilung’s success has been unprecedented, achieving milestones in its few short years of existence that many do not see in a lifetime. The collective already had rapidly been growing a buzz upon the self-release of their first full-length Ofnir in 2015, but their dizzying upward trajectory really took off from the moment they set foot on the stage at Castlefest in 2017 for the now-legendary debut of their live ritual. Luckily for those who were not fortunate enough to bare witness to this magical event, the full ceremony was captured on film, having since been viewed by tens of millions of fans across the globe.
As Heilung trekked across Europe and brought their mystifying experience to new audiences, talk of this new band and their stunning ceremony made way to Season of Mist label owner Michael Berberian, who quickly offered the band a record contract after seeing their undeniable musical impact for himself.
By 2019, Heilung launched their second full-length record, Futha, which contrasted the masculine and battle-heavy themes of their debut with a feminine counterpart that celebrated fertility and female energy. Upon the first week of the record’s release, it graced the Billboard charts with coveted numbers, debuting at #3 on the Heatseekers Charts and #4 on the Billboard World Music Chart, placing on a total of seven Billboard charts while meeting critical-acclaim from the press on a global scale.
Their music has even appeared in places that extend far beyond typical concert venues. From hit television series like Game of Thrones and Vikings to video game giants like Conqueror’s Blade VII: Wolves of Ragnarök and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II to the blockbuster Robert Eggers film The Northman, Heilung’s music has risen far above the underground and has transcended into a greater world. Even a global pandemic couldn’t slow down Heilung’s success; it only strengthened them and gave them the gift of time to complete work on their third album. In English, Drif translates as “Gathering”. The music embodies this philosophy by tying together the beginning of civilization with today’s modern society.
Heilung now perform their rituals all over the world. They sold out their first North American tour in 72 hours. Upon returning to the United States in 2021, they were greeted by another sold-out crowd, this time at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. This performance will be released on vinyl, CD and Blu-ray in 2024, along with another performance at the Apollo Theatre in Hammersmith, London.
During the lead-up to the new LIFAs, Heilung will embark on headlining tours of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Along the way, they will cast their spell over more of the world’s biggest stages, including Roskilde Festival, Download Festival and Glastonbury. But no matter where they are, Heilung always begin their performance with a humbling reminder of where we all come from.
“Remember, we are all brothers. All people, beasts, tree and stone and wind, we all descend from the one great being that was always there, before people lived and named it, before the first seed sprouted.”
Line-up: Kai Uwe Faust Christopher Juul Maria Franz
Fury Weekend and Platforms team up once again in the enchanting new single “Galaxy of Love.”
“Galaxy of Love” combines genres such as synthwave, indie pop, and indie dance, showcasing Fury Weekend’s skill as a producer and a tantalizing glimpse into Fury Weekend‘s upcoming album. Synthesizers, drums, bass, and guitar blend together with an unforgettable vocal performance from Platforms’ creating a track that is both haunting and irresistibly upbeat.
With ethereal synth melodies that shimmer like distant stars in the night sky, “Galaxy of Love” invites listeners to explore the intricacies of human emotion and desire. The track elegantly captures themes of yearning and connection within its pulsing rhythms and atmospheric synthesizers, all while maintaining a joyful and uplifting mood. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of synthwave or a newcomer to the genre, “Galaxy of Love” offers a fresh and profound auditory experience that takes listeners on a cosmic voyage not just through the stars but through the depths of the heart.
The Fury Weekend project was created when Belarus-based Ars Nikonov chose to combine his love of classic rock, electronic music, and ‘80s culture into a forward-thinking music venture. The result is a dystopian synthwave sound that blends bright synth melodies and gritty guitar work into a singular music vision of the future.
The uniqueness of Fury Weekend should come as no surprise given the artist’s background, which involves ambitious projects ranging from industrial to post-rock. Diversant: 13, Cold in May, Martian Love, Seanine, and Tribal A.D. are some of the many names that fill Ars’ creative resume, and each of those has given the creator the experience and tools needed to make an impact with his retro-futuristic synthwave project.
Platforms is a Pop/Rock duo consisting of Chicagoan singer and songwriter Jordan Cox and Swedish producer and guitarist Michael Palace.
World-renowned American death metal icons NILE return in 2024 with their highly-anticipated 10th onslaught, The Underworld Awaits Us All, out August 23 via Napalm Records. Boasting airtight technicality and unrelenting brutality, the new album pushes each member of NILE – founding mastermind/guitarist Karl Sanders, longtime drum master George Kollias, vocalist/guitarists Brian Kingsland and Zach Jeter, and bassist Dan Vadim Von – to their furthest extremes both in artistry and performance.
Once again produced and recorded at Sanders’ own Serpent Headed Studios in Greenville, South Carolina, the band returned to Vile Nilotic Rites engineer Mark Lewis (Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus, Whitechapel) for mixing and mastering.
In celebration of today’s announcement, NILE have dropped the album’s first new single, “Chapter for Not Being Hung Upside Down on a Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Feces by the Four Apes”, alongside a new official music video. Topped by killer screams and gutturals, the track is a winding hacksaw of brutal tech-death injections citing the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
NILE’s Karl Sanders comments on the new track and video: “’Chapter for not being Hung Upside Down’ is one of our favorite tracks on the new record. It’s a lot of fun to play, challenging and unpredictable, but with an infectiously brutal, unrestrained vibe that I am very certain will be a blast in the mosh pit during live shows.
We are super happy to be working with Tom Flynn for the video for this song – he is a visionary with insanely creative ideas and a really cool guy to work with. Very excited for people to see what he has been cooking up with this video.”
Watch below the new official music video for “Chapter for Not Being Hung Upside Down on a Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Feces by the Four Apes”.
Facing the planet’s inevitable end with their diehard fans at their side, NILE waste absolutely no time with histrionics on The Underworld Awaits Us All, distilling their trademark Egyptology driven tempest down to its most streamlined essence. Charging into battle as its namesake depicts, “Stelae of Vultures” makes an immediate impact with dissonant guitar chords and supernatural drumming, teasing the auditory evisceration to come. Topped by impressive screams and gutturals, the track leads into “Chapter for Not Being Hung Upside Down on a Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Feces by the Four Apes”, citing the Egyptian Book of the Dead’s 181st chapter. The album’s most succinct track, “To Strike with Secret Fang”, blends low-end punishment with blackened death metal inspiration, before album standouts such as “Naqada II Enter the Golden Age” and “Overlords of the Black Earth” breathe new life with thrash and fusion experimentation, as well as real human choirs – adding a raw element to the NILE fold.Each track soars as a technical tour-de-force – featuring career-defining extreme drumming from Kollias, as well as razor-sharp soloing from all three active guitarists and palpable bass exploration. A perfect example of this equation is pinnacle burner “Under the Curse of the One God”, combining sinister atmospherics with breakneck pacing and whirlwind, vicious riff acrobatics.
Throughout the remainder of its 11 pummeling tracks and intricate interludes, NILE masters full-tilt speed and ferocious musicality. 30 years into their heavy reign, The Underworld Awaits Us All proves that NILE is marching onward and undoubtedly upward, bleeding metal for their fandom for as long as the sands of time will allow.
Karl Sanders says about the album: “We are very happy to be sharing with fans Nile’s 10th album. We worked overtime making this record as killer as we could – because we sincerely felt fans deserved our best efforts. The Underworld Awaits us All – and we will see you there.”
The Underworld Awaits Us All’s mind-bending art was once again envisioned and created by Michał ‘Xaay’ Loranc, with reference to the cycle of life and judgment at its end.
The Underworld Awaits Us All track listing: 1. Stelae of Vultures 2. Chapter for Not Being Hung Upside Down on a Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Feces by the Four Apes 3. To Strike with Secret Fang 4. Naqada II Enter the Golden Age 5. The Pentagrammathion of Nephren-Ka 6. Overlords of the Black Earth 7. Under the Curse of the One God 9. Doctrine of Last Things 10. True Gods of the Desert 11. The Underworld Awaits us All 12. Lament for the Destruction of Time
NILE recently announced a full European tour for September 2024, followed by a Japan tour in October 2024. The band was also just confirmed for Maryland Deathfest 2025, and will make two festival appearances this summer. See below for a full list and stay tuned for more tour announcements coming soon! NILE Festivals: June 21, 2024 – Dessel, BE @ Graspop Metal Meeting June 29, 2024 – Clisson, FR @ Hellfest May 22-25, 2025 – Baltimore, MD, USA @ Maryland Deathfest XX
NILE Underworld Europe Tour 2024: September 3, 2024 – Essen, GER @ Turock September 4, 2024 – Amstelveen, HOL @ P60 September 5, 2024 – Bristol, UK @ The Fleece September 6, 2024 – Glasgow, UK @ Slay September 7, 2024 – Dublin, IRE @ Opium September 8, 2024 – Belfast, N.IRE @ Limelight2 September 10, 2024 – Manchester, UK @ Rebellion September 11, 2024 – London, UK @ Underworld September 12, 2024 – Drachten, HOL @ Iduna September 13, 2024 – Uden, HOL @ De Pul September 14, 2024 – Brugge, BEL @ Het Entrepot September 15, 2024 – Mannheim, GER @ MS Connexion Complex September 17, 2024 – Barcelona, SP @ Salamandra September 18, 2024 – Valencia, SP @ Almassera September 19, 2024 – Sevilla, SP @ Custom September 20, 2024 – Lisbon, POR @ RCA September 21, 2024 – Porto, POR @ Hard Club September 22, 2024 – Madrid, SP @ Mon September 24, 2024 – Moncalieri (TI), ITA @ Audiodrome September 25, 2024 – Rome, ITA @ Largo September 26, 2024 – Modena, ITA @ Notte Tempio September 27, 2024 – Aarau, CH @ KiFF September 28, 2024 – San Dona’ Di Piave, ITA @ Revolver September 29, 2024 – Munich, GER @ Backstage
NILE Japan Tour 2024: October 8, 2024 – Tokyo @ Space Odd October 9, 2024 – Tokyo @ Space Odd October 10, 2024 – Osaka @ Varon
NILE in Bangkok: October 12, 2024 – Bangkok, TH @ Mr. Fox Live House
NILE Australia & New Zealand Tour 2024: October 15, 2024 – Perth, AU @ Milk Bar / Civic Hotel October 16, 2024 – Adelaide, AU @ The Gov October 17, 2024 – Brisbane, AU @ The Brightside October 18, 2024 – Melbourne, AU @ Max Watts October 19, 2024 – Hobart, AU @ Uni Bar October 20, 2024 – Sydney, AU @ Crowbar October 22, 2024 – Auckland, NZ @ Whammy
NILE is: Karl Sanders – Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards George Kollias – Drums Brian Kingsland – Guitar, Vocals Zach Jeter – Guitar, Vocals Dan Vadim Von – Bass
E.S.P. (Engineered Society Project) unveiled their highly anticipated album, Deception, on May 17th, courtesy of Mindsnap Music/Combat Records. Alongside the album release, the band also debuted a lyric video for the title track, “Deception”.
Every track on the album was meticulously crafted and expertly mixed at Total Access Recording in Redondo Beach, California. Additionally, the two tracks “Undertaker” and “Kamikaze of Love” were recorded at Magic Studios in Houston, Texas. Get ready to immerse yourself in a sonic journey unlike any other.
One of the highlights of Deception is the track “Fade Away,” which features the legendary Glen Hughes from Deep Purple. This collaboration adds a unique and dynamic element to the album, making it a must-listen for fans of both E.S.P. and Glen Hughes.
Deception Track Listing: 1.- Deception 2.- Who Am I 3.- Fade Away 4.- Undertaker 5.- Breathe 6.- Kamikaze Of Love 7.- Profits of The Fire
E.S.P. signed a worldwide deal with the quickly moving indie label Mindsnap Music/Combat Records. Mindsnap Music is owned and operated by Christian F. Lawrence (better known as “Opus”) and is distributed exclusively by Von Artists, Ltd. / The Orchard. Mindsnap Music has put out the likes of Joey Concepcion (solo), Dead By Wednesday, Bomber Alley (members of Dee Snider’s solo band), Howland Hyatt (Metal Church drummer Stet Howland), Joetown, S.O.S. & more!
E.S.P. takes the old school approach, but spins it with a modern twist without sacrificing integrity or respect for the style. E.S.P. consists of seasoned professionals that have extensive touring and industry experience. The band has lead singer Kris Keyes, formerly with GARGANTUA SOUL, appeared at Woodstock 99. Kris’s former band was managed by the RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE team. Jo Jo Brown, the lead guitarist, brings a unique style of Neo Classical Metal coupled with an unmistakable touch of soul that connects with his audience. Timothy Moss, the bass guitarist, is well known in industry circles. Sean Salinas drives the beat on drums and was with the Cirque Soleil KA and Zumanity resident shows in Las Vegas. Together with their original music, this act brings an electric night of music that captures the attention of their audience and provides great entertainment value.
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
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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 