Richmond, Virginia metal-punk trio BAT welcomes the release of their second full-length album Under The Crooked Claw via Nuclear Blast Records. The brainchild of MUNICIPAL WASTE guitarists Ryan Waste & Nick Poulos, BAT ascended from the underground a decade ago on a dark, leather-winged trajectory. The band delivers their own blood-spattered horrorleaning heavily on the dirtier side of speed metal.
To celebrate the release, BAT offers fans the single, ‘Revenge Of The Wolf‘. The band once again returned to horror director Norman Cabrera to create the perfect visuals. The video included cinematography completed by Rob Lucas, editing handled by Mike Mendez, and Maya Kay was responsible for the production.
Ryan Waste states, “The wait is finally over as our creation takes flight, sinking its claws into the airwaves. It was a true test of our will, caging this beast for what felt like an eternity. I’d especially like to thank my bandmates, Nick and Chris for their hard work and patience through the entire process. We wrote these songs during grim times and their ferocity is certainly emulated by that. Unleashing these tales of terror gives me a sense of fulfillment that is completely unmatched.”
Chris Marshall states, “I still bear the scars from The Claw.”
Nick Poulos comments, “From note to note, speed on speed, to say I’m proud of Under The Crooked Claw is an absolute understatement. We poured our hearts, minds, and souls into this record and I’m so proud of what we accomplished. My favorite BAT offering to date!”
The power trio, completed by drummer Chris Marshall, decamped to Philadelphia in June 2021 where Arthur Rizk recorded the basic tracks for Under The Crooked Claw. Yavé Rust tracked lead guitars and vocals later when the band was back in Richmond, ultimately to be mixed by Rizk and mastered by Joel Grind. The artwork for the album was inked by Brandon Holt and colored by Margaret Rolicki.
Jam-packed with tight, concise songs loaded with punchy choruses and lightning-laced leads, each of the 13 tracks offers a new horror short story mixing the perfect blend of heavy metal, punk, and rock ‘n’ roll or as Waste coins it “primitive heavy speed”.
This Summer, BAT will be heading across the US on a series of 5 headlining dates followed by the first half of the ‘Lifeless Birth Tour 2024‘ with headliners NECROT. BAT will perform throughout May before joining the NECROT tour on June 5th in Berkeley until departing the package on June 27th in Boston. The second half of the tour will continue until July 13 and will include PHOBOPHILIC as well as STREET TOMBS, who will be on the complete tour.
Confirmed dates for BAT are as follows: Headlining dates 05/30 St. Louis, MO – The Sinkhole 05/31 Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge 06/02 Denver, CO – The Crypt 06/03 Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High Saloon
‘Lifeless Birth Tour 2024‘ supporting NECROT as well as STREET TOMBS 06/05 Berkeley, CA – The Cornerstone 06/06 Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room 06/07 Los Angeles, CA – First St. Billiards 06/08 San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick 06/09 Phoenix, AZ – Nile Underground 06/10 Albuquerque, NM – The Launchpad 06/12 Austin, TX – Parish 06/13 Dallas, TX – Three Links 06/14 Houston, TX – The Secret Group 06/15 San Antonio, TX – Vibes Underground 06/16 New Orleans, LA – Santos 06/18 Tampa, FL – Orpheum 06/19 Orlando, FL – Will’s Pub 06/20 Atlanta, GA – Boggs Social 06/21 Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern 06/22 Raleigh, NC – Chapel of Bones 06/23 Pittsburgh, PA – Cattivo 06/24 Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery 06/25 Bensalem, PA – Broken Goblet 06/26 Brooklyn, NY – The Meadows 06/27 Boston, MA – Sonia
ICY STEEL‘s “The Wait, The Choice And The Bravery” is out now! A really perfect record!!! Are you looking for a record where there is Heavy, Epic, Metal etc.? Here then is “The Wait, The Choice And The Bravery.”
Folks, really it is a record that should not be missed in your collection! The record is available in digital format (and soon in physical Cd Audio format) on all the best music stores worldwide and on Wanikiya Record’s showcase on Crashsound Distribution.
Icy Steel is an Italian heavy/epic metal band founded in 2005 in Tergu (SS) by Stefano Galeano, a guitarist and singer who loves classic heavy metal, Celtic and acoustic music; with the aim of creating a musical fusion that could blend the rocky and heavy elements of heavy metal with the ancient, acoustic, ancestral style of pagan and Celtic music. After an initial period of experimentation and composing his ideas on his own, drummer Alessandro Oggiano, guitarist Alberto Eretta, and bassist Roberto Ladinetti joined the project, forming the band’s first lineup, which started working as a team on Galeano’s ideas, thus composing the band’s first songs. During this period, the name “Icy Steel” was chosen, intended to convey the epic coldness, rockiness, and hardness of the music that the group would go on to propose. With this lineup, they recorded a self-produced demo containing the songs “Me, River,” “Corrupted King,” and “Spatial Dynasty,” which attracted the interest of the German label Pure Steel Records. This label offered Icy Steel a record deal and the opportunity to release a full-length album with additional songs. This also marked the beginning of the band’s live activity, with their first concerts in local venues and music festivals in Sardinia. Through Pure Steel Records, Icy Steel released their self-titled debut album in 2007, which included a brief instrumental intro, the three tracks from the demo, and six new songs. The album received positive reviews from webzines and industry magazines. Subsequently, drummer Oggiano left the band. Despite this, the band, encouraged by their label, participated in the “Swordbrothers Festival VI” in Andernach, Germany, on December 22, with session drummer Alessio Billi on drums, sharing the stage with the Italian band Doomsword and the Swedish band Memory Garden, among others. After the German festival, guitarist Eretta also left the band. In 2008, Carlo Spiga joined on drums, and Simone Spissu on guitar. This lineup performed in August at the “Eventi Metallici 2008” festival in Sorso (SS), opening for Pino Scotto, former frontman of Vanadium and Fire Trails. Afterward, Carlo Spiga left the band, and Claudio Sechi took over on drums. In the spring of 2010, they released their second full-length album “As The Gods Command,” comprising eleven new tracks, again with Pure Steel Records. “As The Gods Command” also received positive reviews, particularly for the songs “Mjöllnir,” “Fallen Heroes,” and “The Holy Sun.” Following the release of “As The Gods Command,” Claudio Sechi and Simone Spissu left Icy Steel, leaving the guitarist position open for Pietro Bianco and later the drummer position for Flavio Fancellu. With this lineup, the band played on September 10, 2010, in Sestu (CA) with Skanners, on June 17, 2011, in Tissi (SS) with Labyrinth, and on October 9, 2011, in Sassari with the British band Raven. After their contract with Pure Steel Records expired, Icy Steel signed with the Italian label My Graveyard Productions, where they first recorded and released a cover of “The Teeth Of The Hydra” for the January 2012 compilation “All Fear The Axeman – An Italian Tribute To Omen” (a tribute to the American epic-speed metal band), and later “Krònothor,” their third album, recorded during the spring and released on September 22, 2012. The album featured a more lavish, refined, and reflective style compared to their previous works. Guest musicians on the album included guitarist Dick Laurent from Cadaveria, Gianmario Solinas on the Hammond organ, and Ilaria Celeste on the flute. In the summer of 2012, bassist Roberto Ladinetti left the band and was temporarily replaced as a session musician by Renato Pinna, who was then with Souls Of Diotima. Icy Steel performed at the “MetalItalia.Com Festival 2013” on May 11 in Trezzo sull’Adda (MI), sharing the stage with Uriah Heep, Destruction, Sadist, Vicious Rumors, Artillery, Demon, Schizo, and Gamabomb. During their set, Icy Steel hosted former Manowar drummer Kenny “Rhino” Earl Edwards, who played the Manowar song “Metal Warriors” with the band. Later, Carlo Serra became the permanent bassist for the band. In September 2013, the band composed and recorded five new unplugged songs. On July 20, 2014, Icy Steel played at “TrueMetal.it Festival II” in Milan, sharing the stage with the American band Manilla Road. During the spring and summer of 2015, the band composed eight new unreleased tracks in the epic/heavy metal style; this collection of songs was released in September 2016 as “Through The Ashes,” a self-produced double album, where the first part, “Before,” contained heavy metal tracks, while the second part, “After,” had the forementioned unplugged songs. The band filmed their first music video for “The Weight of Signs,” one of the acoustic tracks from “After,” taken from “Through The Ashes.” Beforehand, on July 17, 2015, they participated in the “Rock And Bol Metal Fest” in Bolotana (NU), performing as support for the British band DragonForce, and on September 27, they played with the Spanish band Mägo de Oz at the “Giave Open Air Fest” in Giave (SS). Icy Steel filmed their live performances, releasing a recording on YouTube on January 13, 2016, titled “Live From The Ashes.” On January 6, 2017, they performed at The House of Rock Music Club in Sassari alongside Vision Divine. Shortly thereafter, guitarist Pietro Bianco left Icy Steel, and his position was taken by Daniele Diana, with whom the band performed on June 23 at “Santu Juanne 2017” in Thiesi, together with the Swedish band Dark Tranquillity. Later that year, Diana left the band, and Marco Scanu joined as guitarist. With this formation, Icy Steel began composing new songs for their fifth album, “Guest On Earth,” released on October 26, 2018, by Manifest Records, featuring guest/session musicians from the international metal scene, including Steve DiGiorgio, Ralf Scheepers, Ross “The Boss” Friedman, David Shankle, Kenny “Rhino” Earl Edwards, Mike LePond, and Olaf Thorsen. On February 16, 2019, Icy Steel performed at Dagda Live Club in Retorbido (PV) with White Skull, and on April 21, 2019, they shared the stage at Cueva Rock Live in Quartucciu (CA) with the Swedish band Entombed. In March 2020, Marco Scanu left the band, but throughout the year and into much of 2021, the band’s activities slowed due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, Andy Mornar took over the vacant guitar position and began collaborating with the band for concerts. On August 25, 2021, the single “Inner” was released, a track with a modern/groove metal style. The band then began composing new songs for their sixth studio album, “The Wait, The Choice, And The Bravery,” which was recorded between August 2023 and February 2024. In March 2024, the song “An Epic Love,” taken from the album “Krònothor” (2012), was named one of the seven most representative tracks in the Italian epic metal scene by the editorial team of the website TrueMetal.it. In April 2024, they signed with the Italian label Wanikiya Record/Promotion, and the release of the album “The Wait, The Choice, And The Bravery” was announced for May 20, 2024
The rock sister-trio from Monterrey, Mexico, The Warning, ignite a knockout new single entitled “Burnout” available now via LAVA/Republic Records. Listen HERE, watch lyric video HERE. Coinciding with the release of “Burnout,”, the band announces their ‘Keep Me Fed’ US headline tour this September & October, making stops in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, and more, before joining Evanescence and Halestorm on tour in Canada. Check out the full confirmed itinerary below, pre-sale tickets go on sale Monday, May 20th. Fans can purchase tickets here: https://thewarningband.com
The band continue to fire on all cylinders with “Burnout.” Right out of the gate, a stomping drum groove and unpredictable bassline set the pace for the track. In between a punchy distorted riff, the energy practically overflows on the anthemic arena-ready refrain, “You’re just a burnout.” About “Burnout,” the group commented, “It’s a song about being tired of being dragged down by someone who just stopped trying in life.”
Recently, they uncovered the music video for the Spanish-language single “Qué Más Quieres,” which was premiered by MTV, and reeled in 640K YouTube views and counting already. Not to mention, it picked up plugs from Rock N Folk and Rock Cellar who praised the visual as “capturing the trio’s particularly engaging style of guitar-forward energy, complete with a flair all its own.” Moreover, HITS put it best, “the future of rock is female – and formidable in any language.” Watch HERE, listen HERE.
The “Qué Más Quieres” music video bulldozed the way for their anxiously awaited new full-length album, Keep Me Fed [LAVA/Republic Records], out June 28, 2024. Physical products will be available at RepublicRecords.com, featuring CDs, vinyl, t-shirts, and fan packs [CD/t-shirt or vinyl/t-shirt].
In talking about the story behind the decision to name the album Keep Me Fed, “throughout the whole process, the work was consuming us,” says Pau. “By impacting everything we did, the album kept us fed both creatively and personally. We’re inviting other people to participate and consume it too.”
Plus, Keep Me Fed features “MORE”, which the band performed at the 2023 MTV VMAs [Watch HERE], and the fan favorite “S!CK” continues to climb the Top 15 at Active Rock. Revolver applauded, “Like the Mexican sister-trio’s previous output, it’s undeniably infectious,” and Classic Rock hailed it as a “shot-in-the-arm of propulsive, fire-spitting hard rock.” Rolling Stone pegged it as one of “All The Songs You Need To Know This Week.” Thus far in 2024, The Warning performed at ShipRocked in the Caribbean, Mexico’s prestigious Pa’l Norte & Vive Latino Festivals, and sold-out their April EU/UK headline tour. Upcoming, the band announced their first ever tour dates in Japan that includes a show with Band-Maid, announced a fall Canadian arena tour supporting Evanescence & Halestorm, and will return overseas to EU/UK for summer festivals. Looking ahead to 2025, the band sold-out the 10k capacity Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City in less than 48hrs.
The Warning are as hungry as ever on Keep Me Fed, and they’re about to sink their teeth into 2024.
TRACKLISTING: 1. Six Feet Deep 2. S!CK 3. Apologize 4. Qué Más Quieres 5. MORE 6. Escapism 7. Satisfied 8. Burnout 9. Sharks 10. Hell You Call A Dream 11. Consume 12. Automatic Sun
The Warning Tour Dates 7/5 Arras, FR Main Square Festival 7/7 Barcelona, ES Barcelona Rock Festival 7/13 Madrid, Spain Mad Cool Festival 7/18 Bonona, IT Bonsai Garden Festival 7/20 Maidstone, UK Maidstone Festival 7/27 Abertillery, UK Steelhouse Festival 7/31 Wacken, GR Wacken Open Air Festival 8/1 Kostrzyn Nad Odra, PL Pol ‘and’ Rock Festival 8/3 Granichen, CH Open Air Granichen 8/5 Amsterdam, NL Melkweg Festival 8/30 Pryor, OK Rocklahoma Festival 9/13 Boston, MA Big Night Live 9/14 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live! 9/16 New York, NY Warsaw 9/18 Cleveland, OH The Agora 9/21 Camden, NJ MMRBQ Radio Show 9/23 Pittsburgh, PA Thunderbird Café and Music Hall 9/24 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre 9/26 Louisville, KY Louder Than Life Festival 9/27 Atlanta, GA Masquerade – Hell 9/28 Nashville, TN The Basement East 10/9 Los Angeles, CA The Bellwether 10/11 Sacramento, CA Aftershock Festival 10/15 Vancouver, CAN Rogers Arena (support Evanescence) 10/13 Kent, WA KISW Halloween Hullabaloo 10/16 Kelowna, CAN Prospera Place (support Evanescence) 10/18 Calgary, CAN Saddledome (support Evanescence) 10/20 Edmonton, CAN Rogers Place (support Evanescence) 10/22 Winnipeg, CAN Canada Life Centre (support Evanescence) 10/25 Montreal, CAN Bell Centre (support Evanescence) 10/26 Quebec, CAN Centre Videotron (support Evanescence) 10/28 Ottawa, CAN Canadian Tire Center (support Evanescence) 10/29 London, CAN Budweiser Gardens (support Evanescence) 10/30 Toronto, ON The Opera House
MALUM has risen from the ashes as a brand new entity in the Norwegian underground scene. The prime directive is raw, melodic and atmospheric black metal. Embracing the pain, anger and agony that is this existence.
After an extensive writing process MALUM formed as a 2 piece studio project in 2020, followed by the release of their debut EP “Ad Mortem” in 2022 and debut album “In Nauseam” in 2023.
Debut album “In Nauseam” was produced by Doedsprofet. Whole was mixed by Anders Gjelsvik and mastered by Hugo Alvarstein (Nordjevel, Thunderbolt). Cover artwork was done by duo: Den Unge Herr Holm and Solfall. Album was released digitally on October 6th, 2023.
Hellstain Productions presents the physical release of their debut album “In Nauseam” with official merchandise! Pre-order is available at official label webstore. Now with a complete lineup MALUM will finally greet their fans live at their debut gig 6.6.2024 at John Dee in Oslo, Norway together with Thale and Krapyl (fb event)!
Tracklist:
1. Into the Vast Horizon 2. Futility of Denial 3. In Agony II 4. Emptiness 5. To Live Is to Suffer 6. In Nauseam
This week sees the release of “Houses Of The Unholy”, a new record by German massive metallers GRAND MASSIVE, which contains only 5 songs, but with a playing time of just under 30 minutes is somewhere between an EP and an album. The band itself sees the output more as a “special release”, which is mainly reflected in the recording line-up along with various guest musicians (e.g. Bay Area legend Doug Piercy).
With “Call Of Demons” there is now another sample as an atmospheric lyric video on the MDD YouTube channel! Check it out!
Necrofier are keeping the black flame burning well into the fall. Houston’s heaviest melodic black metal band are joining their Southern Satanic brethren in Goatwhore this September. They’ll saddle up alongside Portland death metal Antichrists Vitriol for a tour that’s bound to burn hot and fast from Eastern Canada through the Midwest all the way down the East Coast.
Along the way, all three bands will stop to wreak havoc at Full Terror Assault and Metal Injection Festival.
North American Venomous Evocation Tour September 5 – Cave In Rock, IL @ Full Terror Assault [TICKETS] September 6 – Iowa City, IA @ Gabe’s [TICKETS] September 7 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club [TICKETS] September 8 – Cudahy, WI @ X Ray Arcade [TICKETS] September 10 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups [TICKETS] September 12 – Toledo, OH @ Frankie’s Inner City [TICKETS] September 13 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit Hall [TICKETS] September 14 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme [TICKETS] September 15 – Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary [TICKETS] September 17 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace [TICKETS] September 18 – Ottawa, ON @ Brass Monkey [TICKETS] September 19 – Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar [TICKETS] September 20 – Boston, MA @ Middle East Club [TICKETS] September 22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Metal Injection Festival [TICKETS] September 24 – Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery [TICKETS] September 25 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 [TICKETS] September 27 – Orlando, FL @ Conduit [TICKETS] September 28 – Miami, FL @ Gramps [TICKETS] September 29 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits [TICKETS] September 30 – Pensacola @ Handlebar [TICKETS]
This summer, Necrofier are joining the legendary Obituary for two swampy shows in Dallas and Baton Rouge.
“It’s an honor to play a couple shows with these legends”, says Bakka. “Surely, everyone will be chopped in half!”
Necrofier 2024 US Dates Supporting Obituary May 31 – Dallas, TX @ Trees [TICKETS] June 1 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea’s Live [TICKETS]
Axe shredders can now conjure the wickedly distorted riffs and eerie, melodic dissonance that Necrofier harnessed on their most recent album, Burning Shadows in the Southern Night. Idiot Box Effects has blessed the band with their very own custom guitar pedal.
“The new Echo Drive is a collaboration between me and the KILLER black metal band Necrofier”, says Atarimatt, who’s been making effects and noiseboxes full time under the name IdiotBox since 2011. “Plug this sucker in and bring on TOTAL SOUTHERN DARKNESS!!!”
The Necrofier Echo drive is a tube screamer-style overdrive pedal. It runs into two separate echo circuits. The left switch is for echoes, while the right switch does overdrive. Each knob is named after a different raw ingredient in the band’s evil alchemy: Reflection (echo 1), Chaos (echo 2), Alchemy (echo signal mix), Flame (overdrive volume), Strike (overdrive intensity) and Darkness (tone).
A limited run of first-edition, autographed Necrofier Echo Drive pedals are available on Bandcamp while supplies last. The pedal can also be purchased through the IdiotBox Effects webstore.
Burning Shadows in the Southern Night: 01. The Fall from Heaven (03:24) 02. Total Southern Darkness (05:43) 03. To the Wolves (03:54) [WATCH] 04. Forbidden Light of the Black Moon (05:20) [WATCH] 05. Destroying Angels (05:09) [WATCH] 06. Whispers That Burn in the Dark (04:40) 07. The All Seeing shadows (04:44) 08. On Wings of Death We Burn the Sky (03:50) 09. Call to the Beyond (04:29) 10. Burnt by the Sacred Flame (06:00) [WATCH] Total Running Time- 00:47:12
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
Ads
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