Internationally renowned bassist ALBERTO RIGONI (soloist, BAD AS, Vivaldi Metal Project, TwinSpirits, etc.) is proud to announce the release of his signature bass VPR5 made by renowned Italian luthier Gaetano Costanzo!
The bass is entirely handmade in Italy, without the use of CNC or other machinery, and has rather special features. The VPR is a 5-string bass (but also available as a 4-string) with 30 frets, Seymour Duncan pickups, Music Man Alnico style, passive electronics (volume, tone and a switch to select series/parallel/single-coil mode), alder body, and American maple neck and fingerboard. Gotoh tuners that ensure perfect intonation. The bass is totally painted white (nitro finish) but other colors can be requested. The VPR has a weight of about 2.9 kg and suitable for any genre.
Pete Lehtinen is the lead singer and guitarist of Finnish dark metal band Mustan Kuun Lapset. Now he has released his solo work as a digital single Snowflower. Mustan Kuun Lapset existed from 1993 to 2023. This single is based on one of MKL’s most famous songs, Lumikukka. This is not a “re-recording”, but a completely new approach to a song that old (and maybe new) fans will recognize familiar melodies, but will also find something completely new.
In addition to Lehtinen, the production team for the song includes familiar names from the MKL days. Snowflower was recorded and edited by Sami Heinonen (known from Inferia, Necropsy & Sacrilegious Impalement). He already appeared in 2021 on MKL’s seventh album Kruunu (Inverse Records) as a french horn player, and now, in addition to the credits mentioned above, also plays the same role on this track.
Snowflower was mixed and mastered by studio engineer Pasi Löfgrén (known from the band Where´s My Bible). Pasi was MKL’s bassist and second vocalist in the band’s last years, and also recorded, mixed and mastered MKL’s last recording, the Suruaika EP. And one thing that should be noticed is the long-standing collaboration between Mustan Kuun Lapset and Jaakko Tarvainen & Inverse Records. Inverse has released all of MKL’s albums and EPs since 2016, and now the collaboration continues with this single!
Heavy metal legend Thor has just returned from his Triumphant North American tour to promote the new album “Ride of the Iron Horse” on Cleopatra Records. Every city was one big party celebrating the 50th anniversary of Thor with packed houses and the fans expressing their love of each song by singing along loud and proud!
One of the most exciting shows was at the legendary Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood, California where Thor aka Jon Mikl Thor was able to have his full stage setup with giant dogs and large Viking horns at each side of the stage.
Says Thor about the new video “5-0 Let’s Go,” “The song is my ultimate 50th anniversary celebration anthem for surviving through five decades of Rock n Roll mayhem.”
The new video will be released on May 10th and shows highlights of various Thor concerts from his comeback in the 1990’s to the recent “Ride of the Iron Horse” tour. The new video will also introduce Thor’s appearances at the BC Sports Hall of Fame Induction Week to be held at BC Place Stadium. The song was recorded in Vancouver and Calgary. Produced by Kevin Stuart Swain who also played guitar and bass. Lisa Freakrock played drums.
Jon Mikl Thor who owned the trademark rights to the 1915 Stanley Cup Champions Vancouver Millionaires, and sold them to the Vancouver Canucks and NHL, now controls the rights to the Vancouver Amazons 1922 Women’s World Hockey Champions. On May 15th, he will be appearing at the VIP Induction into the Hall of Fame of the Vancouver Amazons 1922 Women’s World Hockey Champions. On that same date Jon will be launching his new line of Vancouver Amazons apparel. On May 16 Thor will be dining at the Banquet of Champions to be held at the Vancouver Fairmont Hotel. He and his wife designer Katherine Elo will be sitting at the same table as descendants of the 1922 Vancouver Amazons team.
Currently Jon has three more video productions in the works for the current album and soon to be announced upcoming appearances.
“Ride Of The Iron Horse” was released on March 22 on both CD and vinyl. In a nod to the vibrant visuals that have always accompanied Thor’s music, the album features original art design by internationally renowned comic book artist Timo Wuerz. With his dynamic illustrations, Wuerz captures the essence of Thor’s larger-than-life persona, bringing a visual dimension to the sonic onslaught.
ABBATH, the eponymous project of one of black metal’s most iconic figures, will be hitting the road in North America starting tomorrow, May 9, in Quebec City, QC! Supported by BLACK ANVIL, IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT, and FINAL GASP, the trek will make its way through the East Coast with stops at Maryland Death Fest in Baltimore, MD and Dark Lord Day in Munster, IN. The full itinerary can be found below!
ABBATH ‘Dread Reaver” North American Tour (w/ BLACK ANVIL, IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT + FINAL GASP):
05/09: Quebec City, QC @ Capitol Theatre 05/10: Montreal, QC @ La Tulipe 05/11: Kitchener, ON @ The Hub 05/12: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre 05/14: Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theatre 05/16: Saint Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall 05/17: Bloomington, IL @ Castle Theatre 05/18: Munster, IN @ Dark Lord Day * 05/19: Cleveland, OH @ TempleLive at Cleveland Masonic 05/20: Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe at Old National Centre 05/22: Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Iron Works 05/23: Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair 05/24: New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place 05/25: New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre 05/26: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest *
*only Abbath
Live Lineup: Abbath – Guitar & Vocals Ole Andre Farstad – Guitar Andreas Salbu – Bass Ukri Suvilehto – Drums
VOICE return with an album that will make every metal fan’s heart beat faster! After their successful comeback in 2017 with the album “The Storm”, they now return to their roots and present a multi-faceted new album, in which each song seamlessly flows into the next, while the arc of suspense is continuously maintained. This work undoubtedly belongs in the collection of every metalhead who appreciates catchy hook-lines, a well thought-out musical concept and an impressive production!
“Holy Or Damned” will be unleashed on July 12, 2024 via Massacre Records, available as CD Digipak, Ltd. Vinyl LP and Digital formats, the pre-sale has just started at: https://lnk.to/holyordamned
“You know it yourself, there are places or moments where you feel uncomfortable, and you don’t know why. You constantly have the urge to turn around or hear noises that make you feel insecure.”Thommy Neuhierl (guitars/keyboards) comments about the band’s new single.
“But there are also people who live in such a world all the time, limiting themselves more and more, and forgetting about real life because of all the fear. They are trapped in an illusory world of fears and lose contact with the people around them and a clear view of the everyday course of things in this world.”
The lyrics on the upcoming VOICE album deal with the highs and lows of human existence. They are about being loved and hated, and show how our view of the world can change in a matter of seconds.
With “Holy Or Damned”, the band captures the essence of over 30 years of musical creativity. Particularly noteworthy are the guest musicians that VOICE has invited on this album: Guitarist Ragnar Zolberg (Sign, ex-Pain Of Salvation), Hans-Jürgen “Jäcki” Reznicek (Silly) and Fredy Adler. “Holy Or Damned” was mixed by Mirko Hoffmann and was mastered by Jaakko Viitalähde at Virtalähde Mastering; the album artwork was created by Thommy Neuhierl.
At a time when music is often only consumed in a rush and on the fly, VOICE encourages listeners to consciously take their time, because “Holy Or Damned” is more than just an album – it is a journey that should be experienced with all senses!
“Holy Or Damned” CD Tracklist:
Nevermore
The Silence of Prescience
In This World
Dream On
Schizo Dialogues
Tears in the Dust
Chatroom Whispering
Privateer (Bonus Track)
Let’s Go Ahead (Bonus Track)
Only Grey Remain (Bonus Track)
Petrified Dreams
VOICE is: Oliver Glas – Vocals Thommy Neuhierl – Guitars, Keyboards Rainer Wild – Guitars Sören Glas – Bass Sven “Leo” Leonhardt – Drums
Fast-rising Australian metallers RELIQA have released a video for their new single, ‘Dying Light,’ the third cut to be taken from their upcoming debut album, Secrets Of The Future, which sees a 31st May release via Nuclear Blast Records for all territories outside of Australia, where it will be released via Greyscale Records.
Vocalist Monique Pym comments: “Dying Light is your last taste of the album before we go full send on May 31st. This one is all about the attitude – it’s got a level of sass and femininity that we haven’t explored before, with a dirty, riffy groove to keep it grounded. I think this song really completes the picture alongside Terminal and Killstar for how many diverse kinds of sounds we’ve managed to pack into the record.”
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
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 