Have you ever looked into the mirror and asked: “Am I wasting my life on simple pleasures and pointless diversions?”. If you have, then you know what the new EXELERATE song/video is about.
Having the same kind of power/thrash metal with progressive hints approach as their debut album – but to a whole new level – “Headfirst Into The Void” kicks off the Danes’ promotion round for their upcoming tour and concerts.
“It explores the hedonism and wastefulness that lives in us all”, the band says about the song. “The hunt for momentary happiness and the neglect of moral and spiritual responsibilities, is something we all must come to terms with at some point in our life. So, will you wake up and embrace a meaningful existence or will you just go headfirst into the void?”
“Headfirst Into The Void” is out on February 9th on all streaming platforms, and also, on an official video.
Embark on a sonic journey with Symphony Of Sweden‘s latest album, “Haunted“, as the band pushes the boundaries of hard rock music with their electrifying sound and captivating themes. Fresh off the press, the album promises to captivate audiences worldwide with its bold evolution in style and unwavering passion. In an exclusive interview, band members Lee and Evan share insights into the creative process and the compelling narrative behind their newest masterpiece. Dive into the heart of rock with Symphony Of Sweden and experience the haunting melodies that define their signature sound.
-Your brand new album, “Haunted” has just been released. How would you describe the evolution of your sound and themes in this upcoming album compared to your previous works?
Lee: –Giving it more and more. No easy answer, just working, trying to figure out what to do as the song develops.
Evan: –It is a natural evolution from “Saints Of Yesterday”, our second album. Our debut album, “Inner Demons” had obviously some tracks where you could clearly hear that we were trying out some different paths in our sound identity. But with “Saints Of Yesterday” I think we felt safer in our sound ID and more homogeneous over all tracks, so we just kept going and tried to improve from that. Same but better basically.
-The pre-released tracks from “Haunted” – “Lay Them Down,” “Just Let It Bleed,” “Get Out Of My Mind,” “Down And Counting, ”Bad Thoughts,” ”That Night,” and “EXIT” – have already captured attention. How do these songs set the tone for the overall album?
Evan: –Yes, for sure, the tone is of course already there in our previously released tracks as well. But the album includes an additional 5 tracks and a majestic ballad to round out the album – and of course the album title track, “Haunted” to kick it off in the best way possible! In between there will be some surprises as well!
Lee: -Hit upon hit! (laughs) We are really damn proud of this album, every single song is really catchy and powerful, and you want to hear them again and again.
-As we previously discussed “Haunted” follows “Saints Of Yesterday.” How has your creative process evolved between these two albums in the past two years, and what new elements or experiments can listeners anticipate?
Lee: -For me, it’s always the story. I wanna tell in the lyrics and try to find an amazing melody to put it on. So my work is the same as it has been.
Evan: -The biggest change from “Saints Of Yesterday” is that we started to work with a new guitarist, Henrik Bodin-Sköld who turned out to be a great guy in every aspect, socially, technically, and creatively! Other than that, we have worked in a similar way as before, just trying to improve slightly on every little detail in the process. Lyrics, vocals, mixing, composing, you name it!
-Lee, you’ve previously mentioned the pressure of surpassing the success of tracks like “Giants” and “She’s In My Head.” How did this influence the songwriting and production process for “Haunted,” and do you feel you’ve achieved that next level?
Lee: –I mean those songs are big and I’m really proud of them. I always give my best when writing a song and it depends on which way the song takes me when I write it. I think “Haunted” is maybe a bit more “modern” sounding, but I don’t know. Let’s leave it for the listeners!
-How did your latest release, “EXIT” contribute to the overall narrative of “Haunted”?
Evan: –With “EXIT” we felt we may have found the next level production-wise. So, we re-mixed some of the album tracks very late in the album process, and we hopefully raised the bar for the album overall, starting when producing “EXIT”.
Lee: -More passion. More doubt and frustration in life is probably the best explanation I can give.
-With the release of “Haunted”, how do you envision the album fitting into the current landscape of hard rock and metal music?
Lee: -Oh, hard question. I don’t look at other bands when I’m writing, I wanna tell my story and not try to sound like anyone else. But I do think it’s time for more of the world to hear the sound of SOS.
Evan: -I think we have found our own niche in the rather crowded landscape of rock and metal. Lee’s voice is kind of special with his raspy, powerful, and also capable of singing very high notes. That is unique in itself, and when we combine it with a touch of soundtrack/orchestral vibes here and there I believe over time people will recognize and be able to tell that ”this must be Symphony Of Sweden” after listening to one of our songs for just 5-10 seconds.
-The diversity in styles is apparent in your pre-released tracks. Can you elaborate on the creative decisions behind blending different elements, and how does it contribute to the overall atmosphere of “Haunted”?
Evan: -For an album, I really like to think of it as a whole and not just the 12 recently produced tracks released together. After making the first 5-6 songs, we then start to look at what we need to make the album an exciting journey with different interesting and varying episodes along the way. Now, with our third album, we have realized we tend to start every album with an uptempo track and finish with a majestic ballad. With that said, you can imagine that we really hate those shuffle-play features in streaming services! When making an album, we plan the songs to play in a certain order to get the best experience when listening to it, then shuffle-play comes in and ruins that. (laughs)
-Lee, you’ve mentioned that “Madness” from the previous album was a departure from your usual dynamics. Are there similar surprises or experiments in “Haunted”?
Lee: -Hm, yeah, 2 songs on the album really set it apart from my “usual” story I want to tell. There’s more frustration in the world and society of today, fake people, leaders, etc. The biggest FU one of them is “Even if Solo” – I love that one, it is always on my gym list to hype me up. And then “Show Me Love”, that one has more of a hopeful vibe to it, even though the world is what it is. We still want love.
-The album is released on February 7th. In the midst of this excitement, can you share any memorable moments or challenges you faced during the creation of “Haunted”?
Evan: –We had a slow start as Lee lost his voice for a pretty long period of time. Like a year basically. But the funny thing after he recovered he now sings better, stronger, and higher than ever!
Lee: –Good times in the studio with Evan. More of my own thoughts and stories I got to tell. Really awesome!
-Looking ahead, what’s next for Symphony Of Sweden after the release of “Haunted”? Any teasers or insights into your future musical endeavors?
Lee: -I just want to do this full-time. My purpose and life is this. And I hate that I still can’t do it full-time. So we are gonna work and work.
Evan: –We are definitely looking for options to come out and play live. So if any of you, Festival Promoters are reading this, hey! We can come and play and blow your socks off! Other than that, we really look forward to seeing and hearing what our fans think about “Haunted”!
Welcome to the musical world of Symphony Of Sweden!
Coming from the North of Sweden with winter and ice bears all over the place, the music is the other way around. Grand and epic with huge arrangements, the missing link between pop and metal – this is Symphony of Sweden! Add the powerful voice of Linus “Lee” Wester and the creative talent of Pontus “Evan” Hagberg you will have a concept that brings you on a journey from here to eternity.
Symphony Of Sweden is: Pontus „Evan” Hagberg Linus „Lee” Wester
Contributing musicians for “Haunted”:
🎸 Henrik Bodin-Sköld – Guitar Virtuoso & Arrangement Maestro 🤘
Embark on a sonic journey sculpted by the ingenious guitar work and arrangements of Henrik Bodin-Sköld. His fretwork prowess defines the soul-stirring sound of Symphony Of Sweden‘s “Haunted” album, making each track an odyssey into hard rock mastery.
🥁 Niklas “Bullen” Bengtsson – Rhythmic Dynamo 🔥
Fueling the band’s heartbeat on drums, Niklas “Bullen” Bengtsson brings relentless energy and precision. His percussive artistry lays the foundation for the intense sonic landscapes that make “Haunted” an unmissable chapter in the Symphony Of Sweden saga.Evan and Lee lived in the same small town up north in Sweden. Lee had his own little service point, betting shop, tobacco store nearby which also happened to be Evan’s local service point where he went to get his parcels. After saying hello to each other for a couple of years, there was one day Evan had a parcel to get – which obviously was music-related. They fell into conversation with each other, a few days later Evan invited Lee to his studio. Evan: „he had found one of my instrumental tracks on Youtube and sang it with a new melody on top and lyrics for me in the studio, right there when he just arrived! I was blown away, and a week later we had our first ever track produced and completed. As soon he sang his first two words in the studio I wanted to work with him!”
The band released their first album, Inner Demons in January 2021, and their second album, Saints Of Yesterday came out on the 3rd of February, 2022.
Tomorrow, February 9 marks the release of INFECTED RAIN‘salready acclaimed sixth modern progressive metal opus, TIME, via Napalm Records! In celebration of this week’s release, the band has revealed their next single from the album – the empowering and intense “LIGHTHOUSE”. The track arrives with an eerie music video, providing a thought-provoking visual atop the track’s massive grooving guitars, ethereal verses and intense auditory shifts.
“LIGHTHOUSE” lands just as media acclaim is rolling in! Blabbermouth calls the album “exceptional”, while New Noise Magazine has dubbed it “the band’s heaviest material yet”. Metal Hammer Germany says TIME is the band’s “strongest album to date”, and UK’s Devolution Magazine says “‘TIME‘ could well be an album of the year!”
INFECTED RAIN says about “LIGHTHOUSE”:
“From the shores of our minds to the reality of our lives, ‘LIGHTHOUSE’ represents a power that we hold inside of us. This track reminds us that the universe dances to the rhythm of our thoughts. All our thoughts are waves in the endless galaxy of creation. It’s a call to stay strong, to remain devoted to your dreams, and to realize the potential of what you can create. In the grand clockwork of TIME, every second is a chance to surf through your reality, shaping it with the power of your mind. Join us on this journey through TIME, where each song is a tick towards a reality crafted by you, for you.”
Following their most successful album to date, 2022’s Ecdysis – which garnered prime media acclaim, hundreds of thousands of streams and views, and debuted in the Top 20 on the US Current Hard Music charts – INFECTED RAIN climbs even higher with TIME. On the album, INFECTED RAIN exercise their trademarks, tastefully accenting the introspective musical journey with effectively-placed progressive, electronic and even nu-metal features amid ethereal passages. The album was once again produced, mixed and mastered by Valentin Voluta, and combines the deft talents of returning members Vidick (guitars, cover artist), Eugene Voluta (drums) and famed frontwoman Lena Scissorhands (vocals), plus introduces new member Alice Lane (bass) to the fold.
INFECTED RAIN says about TIME:
“TIME is not just an album, it’s a journey, a testament to our evolution as INFECTED RAIN.Time isn’t just a measure; it’s an ever-flowing river, a constant reminder of our fleeting moments and enduring legacies.This subject resonates deeply throughout the record, offering to you a chance to reflect on the past, embrace the present, and dream of the future.With TIME, we invite you to experience the phenomena of time with us, in all its haunting beauty and raw power.”
First track “BECAUSE I LET YOU” bursts in with undeniable energy, boasting aggressive lyrics and Lena Scissorhands’ swift, menacing delivery, before previously released first single “DYING LIGHT” marches with subterranean heaviness and rhythmic grooves beneath eerie vocals and keys, and even snaps into an EDM passage, showcasing the dynamic delivery of the band in 2024. Melodic ode to self-empowerment “LIGHTHOUSE” then crashes in to juxtapose soft verses and intense auditory shifts. Album standout and djent driven “VIVARIUM” warns of society’s fickle freedoms as Lena Scissorhands delivers some of the album’s most hair-raising screams amid a haunting, ominous atmosphere, while fast-paced burners like “THE ANSWER IS YOU” and “ENMITY” flash between various EDM, synthwave and even drum and bass brushed transits amid bludgeoning rhythms. Intense “GAME OF BLAME” explores themes of hypocrisy and emotional pain delved out by those we love while boasting one of the album’s most searing breakdowns, while tracks like “PANDEMONIUM” and “UNPREDICTABLE” detail the uncontrollable energy of the future and past, respectively – boasting lofty, angelic verses with hard-hitting guitars and punching drums. Italian/English-language journey “PAURA” closes out the album with a path to self-discovery – beckoning the listener to understand that we limit ourselves with our own fears, and must harness the pain to overcome. TIMEends in a state of calm with ambient finisher “A SECOND OR A THOUSAND YEARS” – drawing the curtains closed on yet another fantastic, experimental expedition by rising stars INFECTED RAIN.
INFECTED RAIN will begin their upcoming European/UK tour supporting Amaranthe and label mates DragonForce on February 21 in Hamburg, DE. See below for all currently confirmed tour dates!
02/21 Hamburg, DE @ Große Freiheit 36 02/22 Berlin, DE @ Huxleys Neue Welt 02/23 Leipzig, DE @ Haus Auensee 02/24 Oberhausen, DE @ Turbinenhalle 02/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 Poppodium 02/27 Copenhagen, DK @ Amager Bio 02/28 Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene 02/29 Gothenburg, SE @ Trädgår’n 03/02 Helsinki, FI @ Black Box 03/03 Riga, LV @ Melna Piektdiena 03/04 Warsaw, PL @ Progresja 03/06 Brno, CZ @ Sono Centrum 03/07 Vienna, AT @ Gasometer 03/08 Budapest, HU @ Barba Negra Red Stage 03/09 Munich, DE @ TonHalle 03/10 Milan, IT @ Live Club 03/12 Madrid, ES @ Sala La Riviera 03/13 Barcelona, ES @ Sala Apolo I 03/15 Wiesbaden, DE @ Schlachthof 03/16 Zurich, CH @ Komplex 457 03/17 Brussels, BE @ AB Box 03/19 Stuttgart, DE @ LKA Longhorn 03/20 Paris, FR @ Bataclan 03/22 Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy 03/23 Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy 03/24 London, UK @ The Roundhouse
INFECTED RAIN are: Lena Scissorhands – Vocals Vidick – Guitar Alice Lane – Bass Eugeniu Voluta – Drums
NITE are carrying the torch for Bay Area metal to Houston, Texas for Hell’s Heroes this March. The blackened San Franciscan four-piece are known for galloping riffs and an undeniably heavy rhythmic chug, but along the way, they’re making several pit stops at some familiar haunts.
Pump your fist to the melodic thrashing of “The Trident”, along with other choice cuts from Voices of the Kronian Moon and their recently reissued debut Darkness Silence Mirror Flame. Fans on this tour will also get a first taste of NITE’s forthcoming third album, as the band will be road testing some brand new material.
Don’t miss select shows with ice metal masters Persekutor and the trad metal warriors of Intranced. The lineup is especially stacked on March 29 in Palmdale, California, where NITE will also be joined by Fresno heavies Haunt and New York’s Tanith, which features members of Satan.
2024 March to Hell Tour March 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ 1st Street Pool Hall w/ Persekutor, Intranced, Acero Letal. [TICKETS] March 17 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Dive w/ Persekutor, Intranced. [TICKETS] March 18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon [TICKETS] March 19 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive [TICKETS] March 20 – Tulsa, OK @ The Whittier Bar [TICKETS] March 21-23 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall (Hell’s Heroes VI w/ Queensryche, Solitude Aeturnus, Cirith Ungol) [TICKETS] March 24 – Austin, TX @ The Lost Well [TICKETS] March 25 – El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill [TICKETS] March 26 – Albuquerque, NM @ Long Hair Records [TICKETS] March 27 – Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Tap Room (FREE SHOW) March 28 – Costa Mesa, CA @ The Wayfarer w/ Persekutor, Intranced [TICKETS] March 29 – Palmdale, CA @ Transplants Brewing Co. w/ Haunt, Tanith, Persekutor, Intranced [TICKETS]
Every member of NITE has played in other bands that span from coast to coast, but they came together around San Francisco in 2018. It didn’t take long before they were making their presence known, either. Darkness Silence Mirror Flame appeals to old metalheads and nu-comers alike.
Just rewatch the video for the album’s lead single. “The Way” carves a fresh blood line between ’80s thrash and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Badass riffs come roaring out the gate, shooting off starblinding melodic leads, and the steel-toed drum beat has more muscle than a Harley Road King. But NITE didn’t come to worship the past. Van Labrakis’ blackened vocals snuff out any warm and fuzzy feelings, like a blot on the sun.
Tracklist: 01. Genesis (5:02) 02. The Way (6:21) [WATCH] 03. Lucifer (5:14) 04. Ezelia (5:50) 05. Night Terrors (6:34) 06. Chains (4:56) 07. Bright (5:19) 08. Acolytes (6:54) Total run-time: 44:50
The San Francisco Bay Area has a history steeped in forward-thinking, technically dazzling metal, and NITE carries that torch with pride. Founded in 2018, their blackened heavy metal brand barrels towards the peril of an unknown future, while keeping one eye on the days when blistering leads once ruled the land. Guitarists Van Labrakis (Satan’s Wrath, Mencea) and Scott Hoffman (Dawnbringer, High Spirits) let loose galloping riffs and harmonies that evoke the classic sounds of the N.W.O.B.H.M., with Labrakis’ grizzled voice driving their dark, melodic metal into the modern era.
With Avinash Mittur (Wild Hunt) replacing founding bassist Bryan Coons in early 2021, he and drummer Patrick Crawford (Serpents of Dawn, Older Sun) make up a rhythm section that’s fierce yet breathlessly precise: a freewheel pounding reminiscent of the early days of heavy metal, with a Rickenbacker-powered roar fueling the low end. NITE’s debut full-length Darkness Silence Mirror Flame, released in March 2020 by Creator-Destructor Records, earned widespread praise. It showcased their fist-raising classic heavy metal that nearly every fan of the genre once fell in love with, but with a twisted and shadowy edge that the titans of old could never imagine. NITE is the flame of the past illuminating the darkness of tomorrow.
Lineup Van Labrakis – Guitar, Vocals Scott Hoffman – Guitar Bryan Coons – Bass Pat Crawford – Drums
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Van Labrakis at 210 Studios San Francisco and The Hoagie Container.
Tracklist: 01: Acheron (04:44) [LISTEN] 02: Kronian Moon (03:59) [WATCH] 03: Last Scorpion (04:40) 04: Liber ex Doctrina (04:44) 05: Heliopolis (04:32) 06: Edge of the Night (05:04) [LISTEN] 07: Thorns (04:56) 08: The Trident (04:23) Total running time: 37:02
Lineup: Van Labrakis: Guitar / Vocals Scott Hoffman: Guitar Avinash Mittur: Bass Patrick Crawford: Drums
Recording Studio: 210 Studios San Francisco and The Hoagie Container
Artwork by Jan Trygg, designed by Olli Merikallio – Photo by Jan Trygg
Finnish Turku-based power duo Yokophono released a new single ‘Red’ via Inverse Records. In addition to the single, the band also released a new music video. Just like the song itself, the video leaves just enough room for the audience to make their own interpretations and assumptions. The music video is directed and filmed by Jan Trygg.
The band members comment:
“We are releasing two new songs this spring and the first one of the batch is the dance-inducing single Red. The combination of disco beats and heavy fuzz guitars transports the listener either to a desperate search for keys on the empty streets in the wee hours, or to the sweaty underground discotheques where there are no last calls.”
Yokophono is a Finnish power duo formed in 2020. Their music consists of energetic dance-punk / indie rock -songs that will most definitely get the audience´s feet tapping and heads bopping. Their sound has been compared to the likes of Royal Blood, Arctic Monkeys and even Queens Of The Stone Age. Consisting of just drums and guitar they also rely on their catchy melodies with English vocals.
Yokophono tries to capture the essence of playing live in their studio production: Since the band performs everything as a duo, both in studio and on stage, they want the audible experience to be as close to the real thing as possible. Both their EP:s (217, 2020 / Let´s have some continental breakfast, 2022) have gained airtime and some high praise on radio shows by YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company).
Yokophono will be releasing their next two singles, “Red” and “Trying”, through Inverse Records in early 2024.
Line-up: Olli Merikallio – Vocals, guitar, bass Joni Heino – Drums
“The hottest young metal band in the world” (Metal Hammer UK), ALIEN WEAPONRY, have just announced a European/UK headline tour! Following massive world tours and shows with Guns n’ Roses, Gojira, Slayer, Black Label Society and many more, the New Zealanders return to European and UK clubs as headliners, and to massive festivals like Hellfest, Graspop, Nova Rock and Tons of Rock.
The tour will begin on June 1, 2024 in Eindhoven and visit several major cities before coming to an end at legendary Hellfest on June 29. Tickets for this exciting run go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 9 at 11:00 AM CET / 10:00 AM UK, with presales since yesterday, February 7. Get your tickets soon!
ALIEN WEAPONRY EU/UK Summer Tour 2024 01.06.24 NL – Eindhoven / Dynamo 02.06.24 NL – Leiden / Nobel 04.06.24 DE – Cologne / Club Volta 05.06.24 DE – Hanover / Musikzentrum 06.06.24 DE – Frankfurt / Das Bett 08.06.24 DE – Munich / Backstage Halle 09.06.24 IT – Santeria Toscana 31 13.06.24 AT – Nickelsdorf / Nova Rock 15.06.24 UK – Donnington / Download Festival 16.06.24 UK – London / O2 Academy Islington 20.06.24 BE – Dessel / Graspop 21.-23.06.24 DE – Ferropolis / Full Force Festival 23.06.24 DE – Hamburg / Bahnhof Pauli 26.06.24 NO – Oslo / Tons of Rock 29.06.24 FR – Clisson / Hellfest
In the past few years, no emerging metal band has shaken up the international metal scene like ALIEN WEAPONRY. Since releasing their acclaimed Napalm Records debut Tū (2018), the New Zealanders’ kinetic presence and unique sound – combining elements of thrash and groove metal with lyrics in the native indigenous language, te reo Māori — has attracted throngs of fans and media supporters across the globe. Since the release of their second album, Tangaroa, the band has secured their status as one of the best international up and coming bands in the scene.
ALIEN WEAPONRY are: Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong – Drums, Backing vocals Lewis Raharuhi de Jong – Guitars, Lead vocals Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds – Backing vocals & guitar
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 ) 