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.
The Metal Voice recently spoke to Judas Priest’s Guitarist Richie Faulkner about the bands upcoming Studio album ‘Invincible Shield’ that will be released March 8, 2024 via Epic Records.
When asked about the new album “I think it’s its own animal, as all the albums are. It’s the character of the band that’s been there for over half a century now. There is Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill, Scott Travis. Scott’s been there for 30 years. So there’s that beautiful Legacy that they laid down along with K.K. Downing and Les Binks and Dave Holland and all those guys in the past. We always try to do something a little bit different. Whether it’s musical or lyrical content or we always try to make it better, quote unquote. Better songs, better production, better solos, better Melodies. We always try and strive to do something that’s better than the last one and it has its own unique quality. I think it’s a less commercial record than Firepower because it kind of it Strays away from that three minute single as much as it could. “
When asked what he did different guitar wise on this album than on Firepower “What I did differently this time was that we had a bit more time to develop riffs and solos and musical parts because of the lockdowns of the pandemic. So there were a few solos on this record which actually worked out. I don’t usually do that. I usually play some off the cuff solos in the studio and then a little bit stick here and there and you build it around them. But a few of them on this record I actually worked out. I’m always trying to find my own voice. I’m always trying to find my own thing to say. Coming in after K.K. Downing who had such a unique voice and Glenn as well what am I going to say that’s always been my journey? So I mapped out some of the guitar solos on this record which I don’t usually do.”
When asked to talk about about some of the songs off the new album
‘The Serpent and the King’
“It’s a fast screeching Priest track with Rob’s banshee vocal style. That one had been around for a while with no vocals but we knew there was something in the song we knew there was an energy and when Rob put the vocals on I think it was one of the last ones that he came up with and just sent it over the top man. You know that Halford High register banshee whale is something that really in the dynamic flow of the record that’s something that really makes the record and that song jump out. I really love that song it would be fantastic to play Live.”
“Invincible Shield”
“It’s one of those songs which has riff after riff after riff. Part of the solo goes off in a different direction. The solo is almost like a musical piece in itself it changes almost like Randy Rhoads (style) I was going for that. I wanted a Randy Rhoads type feel. It’s a challenging song to play right until the very end. It’s a great fun fast anthemic track and it sums up the title of the album really. iIt’s all about i metal that we all know and love and it’s our music and our community.”
“Gates of Hell”
“It’s got a tip of the hat to the 80s maybe uh but a good strong track.”
“God as my witness”
“That’s another fast one. This comes in after ‘Crown of horns’ which is a mid paste Anthem and there’s a fade out on’ Crown of horns’ then this one jumps in uh this is Relentless this one that’s a great track.”
“Escape from reality”
“That was one of Glenn songs that he brought in to the sessions. It was a very kind of Sabathy midsection and Rob went with that dynamic as well but that was one of Glenn’s ideas and we thought was strong. It has a different texture on the album both in Sonics and in sentiment of the vocal so we thought that was a good Dynamic to have in there.”
“Sons of thunder”
“I think definitely reminds me of ‘Hell bent for leather’ in heart. That’s another one on Glenn’s. Glenn came to the session and he had this song ‘Sons of thunder’ we added a couple of bits and solo sections and stuff like that. And again that’s Tipton. Hell bent for leather was Tipton too. So it’s a testament to how he writes songs, short, sharp and to the point.”
“Giants in the sky”
“Rob has that kind of way of having something meaningful but yet ambiguous as well. It’s the Metal Gods that have passed, that music, their music will live on forever. The last words on Rob’s final scream is you will never die and that kind of take as a reference to the music and these Metal Gods that we all hold in such high esteem that will live on forever.”
Bonus Track: “The Lodger”
“It tells a story. It’s Bob Halligan Jr that wrote that song, who’s got a history with Priest you know, (‘Take these chains’ , Heads are gonna roll). Bob produced that song for us and gave it to us and it kept coming back you know. We’d work on other songs and then that one kept coming back and it’s got a really unique, uh it’s almost like a Broadway Type sentiment, Jack the Ripper type stuff.”
When asked about Rob Halford’s vocals on the song
“He connects the listener with them you know the sentiment of the song comes across. Rob’s got such a diverse range as we all know he’ll do the high stuff he’ll do the low stuff and the stuff in the middle which really he’s so Dynamic, he’s not just like a one trick pony. He doesn’t do one thing. Rob does so many things ,which makes him the metal god, the Undisputed metal god and uh it’s fantastic to work with him.”
The Metal Voice recently interviewed Epic Power Metal band Warlord co-founder Drummer Mark Zonder and singer Giles Lavery.
In the chat the two discussed the return of the band with a new album ‘Free Spirit Soar’ and their first single ‘Conqueror’. As well respond to the nay sayers and how the new album was built off of the late co-founder Bill Tsamis’ demos from 2016-2017.
Epic Metal pioneers WARLORD are on a mission in tribute to fallen bandmate William J Tsamis and return once more with a new album in 2024.With »Free Spirit Soar«, a brand-new studio album by Warlord with all songs having been recorded between March and September 2023, singer Giles Lavery and drummer Mark Zonder honor their bandmate Bill Tsamis who passed away in 2021.
They are joined by Jimmy Waldo on keyboards/synthesizer, Philip Bynoe on bass and Eric Juris on guitars. “We wanted to finish these pieces of music that were started ‘for Bill’,” explains Lavery, “and the material we felt was certainly strong enough to inspire us to do so.” Regarding the guitar parts he specifies: “Bill is there where we could pull his tracks off the demo recordings, in much the same way the Beatles were recently able to rescue John Lennon’s voice from an old demo tape. however be assured this album is not “a demo”, nor does it sound like one, our new guitarist Eric does most of the heavy lifting as far the recording, but all of the music was written by Bill and we stayed very very faithful to what he wrote.”
Free Spirit Soar” Tracklist: 01 Behold A Pale Horse 02 The Rider 03 Conquerors 04 Worms Of The Earth 05 The Watchman (CD-exclusive track) 06 Free Spirit Soar 07 The Bell Tolls 08 Alarm 09 Twin (CD-exclusive track) 10 Revelation XIX
Line Up: Mark Zonder – Drums Philip Bynoe – Bass Eric Juris – Guitars Jimmy Waldo – Keyboards Giles Lavery – Vocals
In celebration of the first anniversary of the band’s latest studio album Foregone, Swedish melodic death metal icons IN FLAMES have released a digital bonus version of Foregone today on all streaming platforms. The anniversary edition of this highly lauded part of the group’s discography comes accompanied by alternative artwork as well as including a new bonus track, ‘Become One’.
The band states: “Foregone was a very special record to make and time for our band. We normally don’t have any extra material leftover but this time we had “Become One” and want to share it with you all. Hope you enjoy!! See you out on the road this year!”
IN FLAMES released their fourteenth studio album Foregone on February 10th last year via Nuclear Blast. The record combines the greatest aggressive, metallic, and melodic strengths of their landmark records with the seasoned song writing of their contemporary era.
IN FLAMES will be on tour with ARCH ENEMY and their label mates SOILWORK this autumn. Catch the band live:
OFFICIAL TOUR DATES: 03.10. UK Glasgow – O2 Academy 04.10. UK Manchester – Manchester Academy 05.10. UK Birmingham – O2 Academy 06.10. UK London – Eventim Apollo Hammersmith 08.10. FR Paris – Olympia 09.10. LU Esch-sur-Alzette – Rockhal 11.10. DE Hamburg – Sporthalle 12.10. DE Düsseldorf – Mitsubishi Electric Hall 13.10. NL Den Bosch – Mainstage 15.10. CH Zurich – The Hall 16.10. IT Milan – Alcatraz 18.10 DE Stuttgart – Schleyer-Halle 19.10. DE Frankfurt – Jahrhunderthalle 20.10. DE Munich – Zenith 22.10. AT Vienna – Gasometer 23.10. HU Budapest – Barba Negra 25.10. CZ Prague – Sportovni Hala Fortuna 26.10. DE Dresden – Messe 27.10. DE Berlin – Columbiahalle 29.10. NO Oslo – Spektrum 31.10. SE Malmö – Malmö Arena 01.11. SE Gothenburg – Scandinavium 02.11. SE Stockhom – Hovet 03.11. SE Sundsvall – Nordichallen 05.11. FI Helsinki – Ice Hall
NOLA thrash and groove trailblazers EXHORDER will release their much anticipated 4th full-length record, Defectum Omnium, on March 8th with Nuclear Blast Records. Today, the band has revealed the record’s 2nd single, ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’; a ripping and gripping pit thrasher with massive riffs and blistering solos. You know, what EXHORDER are known for!
Commenting on the new song, vocalist/guitarist Kyle Thomas says: “Our second single ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’ embraces many of the punk rock ingredients that we grew up on. Exhorder got its start on the punk rock scene of New Orleans, so it only made sense to dig back into this part of our roots. With aggressive angst and sarcastic themes, this song is absolutely a middle finger to the hypocrisies of the establishment.”
EXHORDER’s latest and greatest features 12 crushing tracks and ominous cover artwork by Travis Smith (Katatonia, Opeth), the album follows the band’s critically revered 2019 release Mourn The Southern Skies. The new single follows the band’s recent release of their metal anthem “Year of the Goat.”
British death-doom legends, My Dying Bride, are proud to announce their 15th studio album, A Mortal Binding, set to be released on 19th April via Nuclear Blast Records. Today’s news is accompanied by the release of tempestuous, heart-wrenching new single ‘Thornwyck Hymn’. The track comes with a stunning video directed by Daniel Gray, depicting a maritime story of unfolding desire and tragedy.
My Dying Bride’s Aaron Stainthorpe commented, “Set upon the rugged coast of Yorkshire, Thornwyck village has spent an eternity being haunted by the chill waters that wash it’s shore – and the hidden folk who dwell in the salty depths. Woe betide anyone who fares into the briny sea, or even steels to close to it’s edge for they may never set foot back on mother earth”
A Mortal Binding, the much-anticipated follow-up to The Ghost of Orion (2020) finds the Yorkshire-based quintet delighting in anxiety, loss, and toil to resplendent effect. From the raw distress of ‘Her Dominion‘ and twisted horror of ‘Thornwyck Hymn’ to the funerary violins of the 11-minute monolith ‘The Apocalyptist’ and the classic-feeling ‘The 2nd of Three Bells’, A Mortal Binding is pinnacle My Dying Bride. If Songs of Darkness, Words of Light (2004) elevated the band to new heights and A Map of All Our Failures (2012) expanded upon the group’s mid-tens grandeur, then A Mortal Binding stages My Dying Bride’s next exultant phase of elegiac misery.
A Mortal Binding tracklisting: 01. Her Dominion 02. Thornwyck Hymn 03. The 2nd of Three Bells 04. Unthroned Creed 05. The Apocalyptist 06. A Starving Heart 07. Crushed Embers
My Dying Bride hired The Ghost of Orion studio wizard Mark Mynett to produce, mix, and master A Mortal Binding. The group holed up at Mynett’s Mynetaur Productions (Paradise Lost, Rotting Christ) in Manchester, UK, where they tracked the album consecutively from July to September 2023.
For over three decades, My Dying Bride from West Yorkshire have been the voice of the hopeless and broken, combining haunting sounds with crushing misery and melancholy. With their signature sound they’ve shaped the doom metal scene like barely any other act and integrated both soft violin melodies and violent death metal growls into their music, whilst always staying strictly loyal to themselves. And since the early Nineties, the band’s masterminds and founding members Andrew Craighan and Aaron Stainthorpe forged beautiful grief into studio albums with songs of epic length. As My Dying Bride edge past their 33rd year, they’re aging gracefully, remaining as vital and heart-wrenching as ever. The flower withers once more on My Dying Bride’s upcoming new record A Mortal Binding, due out on 19th April 2024.
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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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