CLEARxCUT is out there to spread the message of total liberation. (Former) Members of HEAVEN SHALL BURN, IMPLORE, and KING APATHY/THRÄNENKIND started this collective, because they are dedicated to the vegan straight edge (XVX) and want to confront listeners with inconvenient thruths and todays harsh reality. The German band addresses their songs and convictions to all people who are prepared to stand up for a better, fairer future – but especially to all anarchists, anti-fascists, feminists, primitivists and indigenous peoples of the world. Or to put it brief: to all defenders of our earth. The stylistic choice of means falls on metallic hardcore, which is rooted in a strong DIY ethic.
Having released their first two albums “For The Wild At Heart Kept In Cages” (2019) and “Songs of Desire Armed” (2022) for Catalyst X Records (Gather, Nueva Ethica, Abnegation, Birthright, Maroon, Point Of No Return, Forward To Eden), “Age Of Grief” now marks CLEARxCUTs debut for LIFEFORCE RECORDS. Started in the mid-1990ies as label with mainly vegan and straight edge bands, the German Label has an impressive history with XVX bands such as ARKANGEL, DAY OF SUFFERING, RANCOR, UNCONQUERED, UNBORN, FAULT, or DEADLOCK and THRÄNENKIND/ KING APATHY. Being a collective that is outspoken in its message and keeps the vegan straight edge banner high, CLEARxCUT continue this tradition.
Also besides having switched their label, “Age Of Grief” marks a fresh start for CLEARxCUT. After a big shift in their ranks, before the global pandemic hit, the band moved from two (female) vocalists to one (male) frontman, Gabriel Dubko (former IMPLORE vocalist). This is accompanyed by a change of sound. On their third full lenght album, the German band is diving into the realms of metallic hardcore, leaving behind their early hardcore punk influences. Noone should be surprised by this move, as CLEARxCUT was conceived as a collective where members, names, or styles wouldn’t matter, but one and only the final goal of spreading a positive message in defense of animal rights and sober living. “Age Of Grief”, in this respect, is extremely consistent.
ALBUM TRACK LIST:
The Seventh Seal 4:22 Burial Shroud 3:22 Against Leviathan 3:37 Unwritten 4:50 Collecting Scars 2:46 Privilege 2:16 Putrefaction 4:08 Ghosts of the Past 2:40 The Eternal Demise 2:08
Burning Sleeves was put together at the first time on February 2012. After two rehearsal sessions the band was ready for liveshow at the announcement event of RAY’s (Finnish coin machine association) game “Rautaa”, which music was composed by J. Lehtonen. The band’s real activity started around 2015 by playing music based T. Roine‘s ideas. Playing rehearsals were rarely held in the studio/practice space built in J. Lehtonen’s home in Vantaa, and occasionally at T. Väreluoto‘s leisure apartment in Artjärvi among other activities. In 2017, we came to the conclusion that we should make a record. So this is the 1st release of the lineup.
The songs on the album represent many different genres. There’s swinging straight blues with a mix of old cotton field vibes and a contemporary sound. There’s also a punchier rock groove and melodic soft-rock with acoustic guitars.
The album’s songs are tied to the narratives of three different events. Each story begins with an acoustic song that fits the mood, followed by songs about an event and its outcome. There are three stories on the album and at the end of the album we ask if we learned anything from the past.
In Finland we have a saying: the sleeves start to burn when things don’t progress…
Sonorais Santos’ sixth studio album. The album title encapsulates the overall vibe that permeates throughout the eight songs. Although each of the album tracks vary in style, they all share a common thread – the desert. Sonora is the first that that Santos fully identities in more ways than one. The album is diverse and encompasses guitar styles that ranges from Western to psychedelia.
Sonora was recorded at Black Betty Studios in Madrid, and produced by Santos and Jose Nortes. All songs. composed by Susan Santos, were recorded as a trio featuring David Salvador (bass) and Juli El Lento (drums). Santos sang lead vocals and played electric, baritone, and acoustic guitars, banjo, and theremin.
Sonorais the album of the desert, and the desert people. The songs tell stories ranging from survival, thirst, outlaws, escape, and freedom against a backdrop of scorpions, lizards, and roadrunners. Before listening, it is highly recommended to embark on your road journey with a full tank, and don’t pick up any hitchhikers.
Based in Madrid, Susan Santos is a passionate, self-taught left-hand guitarist. She writes her own songs that reflect her signature blend of rhythm and textures. She is a creative force in the guitar world, and a truly unique artist in her own right.
The gifted Spanish guitarist and singer songwriter has spent years performing in famous establishments and venues, and numerous festivals throughout Europe, Mexico, and America.
She has shared the stage with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and won “Best Musician Performance” at the 2018 European Blues Awards, and “Best Female Album” at the 2019 LA Critics’ Awards.
ALBUM TRACK LISTING
1. Hot Rod Lady (3:59) 2. Snakebite (4:57) 3. So Long (4:26) 4. Have Mercy (4:31) 5. What I Want (4:58) 6. Voodoo Wheels (3:23) 7. Call Me Tonight (3:32) 8. Let It Ride (5:50)
Production Credits All songs composed by Susan Santos Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Black Betty Studios, Madrid Produced by Susan Santos and Jose Nortes Susan Santos: vocals, electric, baritone and acoustic guitars, banjo, theremin David Salvador: bass guitar Julie El Lento: drums
SONARA – TRACK BY TRACK 1. Hot Rod Lady The song begins with a powerful riff with baritone guitar. It’s a rock blues mix with a modern sound. The song tells the story of a woman who drives through the desert and breaks all the speed limits. She quenches her thirst with cans of beer that she drinks in one gulp. She squeezes the empty cans and throws them to the side of the road. Always under the hypnotic roar of the engine and the modified amps, the only way to keep her sanity is by leaving a vast trail of dust, lovers, broken hearts, and empty bottles in her wake. 2. Snakebite I wanted to achieve the darkest and swampiest point on the album. A poisoned love story narrated as if it were a duel to the death at gunpoint in the Wild West. She feels enslaved, as if bitten by a snake. It is clear to her that she does not intend to waste her last bullet by sitting around while the poison makes its way through her veins.
3. So Long It is a very funny song with touches of American rock. The song conveys an air of hope, melancholy, and a desire to return home. The song’s protagonist makes a stop at the last motel before getting lost. The neon lights on the sign are flashing and the swimming pool is empty. Inside the room, she contemplates the ashes of her past, the broken dishes, and disappointments, and the defeats.
4. Have Mercy I wanted to write a song in the style of all those country singers from the 50s of which I am a big fan of. The song is about a woman in a bar talking to a handsome stranger. Tomorrow, voluntarily or involuntarily, nobody will remember anything. As long as the bar remains open, the fantasy will endure. “Put another song on the jukebox and may God have mercy on your soul. Here’s to never seeing each other again to the bleak sight of an empty glass.” 5. What I Want This rock song was a lot of fun to record and features double guitars in the guitar solo. It is a statement of what we all want in life. To be proud of what we really want, and not to be worried about criticism. You only get one life, so enjoy the ride. The lyrics say it all – “I do what I want and when I want, and I never look back. No one will ever tell me how to live my life.”
6. Voodoo Wheels This is the rockabilly song on the album. Her only lover is her Cadillac. She feels like a Goddess under the neon lights. She’s possessed by the voodoo of rims. She feels free and wild. Anything is possible. She may end up as a movie star, or she will be seen on TV bathed in champagne and diamonds. She drives to 4-46 junction in Cholame, California, where she reminisces about James Dean. 7. Call Me Tonight This song is probably the fun highpoint of the album. I would describe it as soul pop. It’s about the longing and hope for love; for a phone call that will make this night a night to remember. 8. Let It Ride The song has two parts. It’s two songs in one. The first part has a Hendrix vibe. The second part is darker and more psychedelic, with lots of improvisational guitar solos, including the theremin. The protagonist of the story is a sexy casino hustler who wears her best dresses and cheating heels. She feels alive gambling and cheating at Blackjack. She is pursued by the law, but feels more alive than ever, playing the part of a devilish female outlaw.
SUSAN SANTOS – 2024 “SONORA” TOUR TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM: BANDSINTOWN.COM
SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2024 GRAND BLUES FESTIVAL Lahti, Finland
FRIDAY 14 JUNE 2024 BBK LEGENDS Bilbao, Spain
SUNDAY 6 OCTOBER 2024 CORNWALL ROCKS FESTIVAL Cornwall, UK
SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER 2024 CORNWALL CARLISLE BLUES & ROCK FESTIVAL Carlisle, UK
The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams, the latest full-length from UK death metal trio INGESTED, is out today on Metal Blade Records!
Since their fifth album, 2020’s Where Only God May Tread, INGESTED has been on a creative tear that has produced almost a full record every year, each displaying the kind of musical growth that only comes from constantly practicing, playing, and writing. The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams is not only as innovative and brutal as their last disc — the bleak, firestorm Ashes Lie Still — it showcases a band willing to expand its creativity without sacrificing the ferocity that made it one of the most impressively destructive, technical death metal bands on the scene. The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams is proof that once INGESTED sniffs out a trail of musical blood, they ravenously follow it until they’ve uncovered a festering feast.
Watch below INGESTED’s “Endless Machine” video.
Whether pummeling listeners with double-bass rolls, blast-beats, and grinding rhythm; breaking it all down with jagged, staggered riffs, and piercing harmonics; or flooding the mix with rapid-fire bursts of minor key melodies, INGESTED has injected all of their experience, skill, and artistry into ten trenchant new tracks.
In celebration of the release, today the band unleashes a video for “Endless Machine.”
Comments vocalist Jason Evans, “‘Endless Machine’ is about the day to day grind you get stuck in, when you haven’t found the courage to get up and take charge of your own situation. Take a deep breath, embrace the risk, and don’t get stuck in an endless machine with no way out. So, sink your teeth into the live mayhem of this new video and expect the same carnage on our upcoming tour with Fallujah, Vulvodynia and Melancolia.”
Watch INGESTED‘s previously released videos for “Paragon Of Purity” HERE and “Pantheon” HERE.
The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams was produced by the band with the guidance of recording engineer Nico Beninato. The record includes a guest appearance by Chimaira‘s Mark Hunter who provides vocals for the track “In Nothingness” and Sylosis singer Josh Middleton who contributes to “Expect To Fail,” as well as the striking cover art of David Seidman.
INGESTED will embark upon a European headlining tour later this month with support provided by Fallujah, Vulvodynia, and Mélancolia. See all confirmed dates below.
INGESTED w/ Fallujah, Vulvodynia, Mélancolia: 4/17/2024 The Fleece – Bristol, GB 4/18/2024 Asylum – Birmingham, GB 4/19/2024 The Underworld – London, GB 4/20/2024 Rebellion – Manchester, GB 4/21/2024 Slay – Glasgow, GB 4/22/2024 Rescue Rooms – Nottingham, GB 4/23/2024 Papillon – Southampton, GB 4/24/2024 Glazart – Paris, FR 4/25/2024 Le Ferrailleur – Nantes, FR 4/26/2024 Groove – Bilbao, ES 4/27/2024 Moby Dick – Madrid, ES 4/28/2024 Razz 3 – Barcelona, ES 4/29/2024 Le Rex – Toulouse, FR 5/01/2024 KiFF – Aarau, CH 5/02/2024 Feierwerk – Munich, DE 5/03/2024 Rock Café – Prague, CZ 5/04/2024 Analog Music Hall – Budapest, HU 5/05/2024 Viper Room – Vienna, AT 5/06/2024 2Progi – Poznan, PL 5/07/2024 Moritzbastei – Leipzig, DE 5/08/2024 Hole44 – Berlin, DE 5/09/2024 Pumpehuset – Copenhagen, DK 5/10/2024 Kollektivet Livet- Stockholm, SE 5/11/2024 Musikens Hus – Gothenburg, SE 5/12/2024 John Dee – Oslo, NO 5/14/2024 Logo – Hamburg, DE 5/15/2024 Schlachthof – Wiesbaden, DE 5/16/2024 Kulttempel – Oberhausen, DE 5/17/2024 JH Comma – Bruges, BE 5/18/2024 Doornroosje – Nijmegen, NL 5/19/2024 Patronaat – Haarlem, NL
INGESTED: Jason Evans – vocals Sean Hynes – guitars, backing vocals Lyn Jeffs – drums
Featuring the Original Lineup in a Special Semi-Acoustic Performance and Limited to Only 250 Copies of Each Variation.
Dokken, formed in Los Angeles in 1978, had several hit singles which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, such as “Alone Again”, “In My Dreams”, and “Burning Like a Flame”, and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. The classic Dokken line-up consisted of founder Don Dokken on vocals, George Lynch on lead guitar, Mick Brown on drums and Jeff Pilson on bass. One Live Night is the 1996 semi-acoustic live album of the then reunited Dokken who recorded the album before a live audience at The Strand, an intimate concert venue in Redondo Beach, California, on December 13, 1994, and prior to their 1995 tour. The album went virtually unheard at the time of its release, being overshadowed by the then fledgling grunge and alternative rock movement.
Listen to “Alone Again” here:
Now it is available through Deko Entertainment for the first time on 180g vinyl as a double album with a beautiful gatefold. Completely remastered, repackaged, and limited to only 250 copies of each variation. This intimate performance includes versions of “Tooth and Nail”, “Into the Fire” and “Alone Again”, as well as covers of the Beatles’ “Nowhere Man” and Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “From the Beginning”. This is a must have for any Dokken fan!
Pirate Queen is an all-female Pirate Metal band from Bermuda Triangle and their debut album Ghosts will be released on May 3, 2024 via Despotz records. Their third single “Santa Lucia” was released yesterday, April 5th via Despotz Records.
Discovering Pirate Queen is like finding Eldorado. The album Ghosts has such addictive melodies, and it is so catchy that after a few listenings, it might transform you into a pirate. The songs are done with the mastery of mixing precious power metal with pirate, fantasy, symphonic, and fantasy elements. The beautiful guitar melodies and enchanting vocals of Her Majesty Maria Aurea offer explosions of notes and harmonies with a massive production that make this album a pirate metal masterpiece.
About their new single they had this to say;
Captain Destiny Grieflord states: This must be one of my favourite songs on the album. A symphonic, melodic, epic, adventurous, pirate power metal. The blessing of the ship is an old pirate tradition that is still being practiced on Lyxion island. The Queen’s blessing ensures a safe journey and abundant bounty. Santa Lucia is our main ship on which we sailed to many adventures. It is our home and represents discovery, loyalty and fate. We are on never-ending spiritual journey, sailing with and against the current. The ship carries us through different phases of life.
The album Ghosts is a treasure chest of addictive melodies. It is so catchy that after a few listenings, it might transform you into a pirate. The songs are done with the mastery of mixing precious power metal with pirate, fantasy, symphonic, and fantasy elements. The beautiful guitar melodies and enchanting vocals of Her Majesty Maria Aurea offer explosions of notes and harmonies with a massive production that make this album a pirate metal masterpiece. The album is magical, with a real story behind it. When you close your eyes, it will take you on a breathtaking journey where you will meet pirates, sirens, and ghosts. Pirate Queen is the first all-female metal band that combines music and LARP at their live shows. They use Epic Armouryweapons exclusively, wear Museum Replicas boots, produce their own Pirate QueenSikkim Gin and like to spend vacations at Insomnia Hotel.
Pirate Queen is more than a regular heavy metal band. When listening to the album, it will submerge you into a story that sparks imagination. You will enter a new universe and experience the music on a different level. From ice-cold Arctic guitar parts to mysterious vocal harmonies and a haunted sea atmosphere, to warm Tropical adventure metal orchestration, you will find yourself floating in the beautiful world of Pirate Queen. Each member has her own character with unique characteristics, abilities, and even weapons. Five new talented musicians whose real identities seem to be a bit of a mystery.
Beautiful ladies, demons, ghosts… Formed in 1523…They are returning after 500 years. Descendants of famous pirates have settled all over the world. Their kingdoms control the world’s seas to this day. In their society, women hold the highest positions. Some born in this world, others sent from outer worlds, all loyally serve their queen. The old nautical chronicles mention a time when a group of five girls will come together. Who are related and united by the gift of piracy. In the ungodly year 2023, the New Pirate Queen took over the command and continues the tradition of her ancestors. To charm and loot. Their Pirate Kingdom’s capital, Lyxion, is a mystical floating island that floats around the Bermuda Triangle.
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 