UPON STONE mark their entrance into the metal realm with the release of their debut album, “Dead Mother Moon”.
Crafted under the skilled hands of producer and mixer Taylor Young at The Pit (known for his work with Twitching Tongues and Nails), the nine-track album delivers a relentless onslaught of Melodic Death Metal.
The thematic core of “Dead Mother Moon” explores concepts of isolation, loss, the quest for meaning, and a return to strength. These themes are intricately woven into a tapestry of emotions and ideas, enriched with elements of mysticism and the occult.
From the fierce opening title track to the savage “Onyx Through the Heart” and the growling melodies of “Dusk Sang Fairest,” the album not only pays homage to the early 90s Scandinavian underground sound but revitalizes it for a new era. The band accompanies the release with a visually compelling video for “Dusk Sang Fairest,” adding a layer of enigma to the already powerful track.
The band’s journey culminates in a free record release show on February 9th at Knucklehead in Los Angeles, featuring support from Skinfather, Section H8, Darkness Everywhere, and Greenwitch.
The roots of Upon Stone trace back to the teenage years of its members—vocalist and bassist Xavier Wahlberg, drummer Wyatt Bentley, and guitarist Ronny Marks—when they began playing together in various Valley-based outfits. Joined by guitarist Gage Goss, the band fully took form in 2021 with the EP “Where Wild Sorrows Grow,” released on Creator Destructor.
The subsequent years saw Upon Stone relentlessly gigging, carving their niche between Los Angeles’ hardcore and metal scenes, sharing stages with acts like Bewitcher, Creeping Death, and Vomit Forth. It was during this period that the band began crafting the material that would evolve into “Dead Mother Moon.”
Throughout the album’s eight original compositions (and one Misfits cover), Upon Stone’s passion for early Melodic Death Metal is palpable. From the album cover artwork by renowned German artist Andreas Marschall (known for his work with Dimmu Borgir and In Flames), “Dead Mother Moon” not only celebrates the sound that influenced global metal scenes but also infuses it with a sense of immediacy and vitality.
Drummer Wyatt Bentley expresses the band’s aspirations, stating, “Without sounding arrogant, it feels like a rebirth of a sound that changed how we all looked at music. We hope that it’s a gateway for people to go back and discover albums like ‘The Jester Race’ and ‘Storm of the Light’s Bane.’ I want it to matter to a new generation in the same way those records did for us.”
LOST IN GREY, the theatrical metal pioneers and one of the most promising and inspiring acts coming from the Finnish metal scene release the cover and the tracklist of their new album “Odyssey into the Grey”. The beautiful and dark cover was created by Miika Haavisto and Mikko Virtanen.
Miika Haavisto himself describes the cover as follows: “My intention has been to create a visual journey also in the album cover art works. On the first album we are introduced with the nameless cloaked creature portraited in one way or another also on the other albums. On the 2nd album it takes the form of the mountains of the waste land, and on the 3rd, it’ is positioned in the sea, under the surface.The starting point for creating the cover art for this 4th album was the thought of the entourage travelling with a horse carriage guided by this creature through the gloomy landscapes of the Grey Realms. In the background we can spot the mountains also visible in “The Waste Land” album cover art.”
The 8 songs on the album are as well thought out and detailed as the cover, taking the listener on a journey – a musical experience!
Tracklist: 01 – The Entourage 02 – The Bottomless Pit 03 – Time 04 – Two Wolves 05 – A New Dawn 06 – Vem Kan Segla Förutan Vind 07 – Hailuoto 08 – Odyssey into the Grey
The Finnish theatrical metal band LOST IN GREY was founded in 2013 by composer, vocalist and keyboardist Harri Koskela, and lyricist and vocalist Anne Lill Rajala. What originally was planned to be simply a short-term project, soon grew into a full band. Inspired by a large variety of musical genres, literature, philosophy, and the world itself, Lost in Grey creates multifaceted music and brings elements of drama to their songs as well as live performances.
Followed by the previous album releases, THE GREY REALMS (2017), THE WASTE LAND (2019), and UNDER THE SURFACE (2021), which all claimed great responses from audiences and media, Lost in Grey’s upcoming 4th album takes another giant leap towards even greater musical adventures. The vocalists Emily Leone, Anne Lill Rajala and Harri Koskela play the main characters within the overarching story of all the albums, bringing a very own touch to it through their diverse voice talents.
In recent years these theatrical metal pioneers have proven to be one of the most promising and inspiring acts coming from the Finnish metal scene, electrifying their audiences through their versatile musical storytelling and tremendous sound. Now Lost in Grey invites you to dive with them on new adventures where the music and stories dance hand in hand, and everything is possible…
Line-up: Harri Koskela – Keyboards, vocals and composer Anne Lill Rajala – Vocals and lyrics Emily Leone – Vocals and violin Aapo Lindberg – Bass Miika Haavisto – Guitar Jarno Suodenjoki – Guitar Teppo Ristola – Drums
The French extreme metal stalwarts of HYRGAL have just released their brand new offering ‘Implorer la Grâce’, which is now streaming on all digital platforms HERE.
A fitting lyric video is now streaming on their YouTube channel HERE.
HYRGAL‘s latest EP ‘Sessions Funéraires : Anno MMXXIII’ was released on April 7, 2023.
Track-list
Deuil Éclair (3:52)
Phalanges Assassines (4:01)
Épique spleen (4:19)
Gorge Blanche / Surin Noir (4:22)
炎が秒を貪り⻝⾷食う場所 (Honō ga byō o musabori kuu basho) (3:35)
Dark Endless (Marduk Cover) (4:03) Total: 24:02
Recorded and produced: Studio de La Crypte (FR) Mix & master: Hyrgal, Studio de La Crypte (FR)
Formed in 2007, HYRGAL is an Extreme Metal band from France. Their name comes from nordic mythology and is the contraction of two runes, Tyr (god of victory, fire and fair war) and Hagalaz (hail). After some demos and local concerts, Hyrgal released their first album ‘Serpentine’ in 2017 on Naturmacht Productions and shortly after started to work with Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions for all next releases: ‘Fin de Règne’ (2020), ‘Hyrgal’ (2022) and ‘Sessions Funéraires: Anno MMXXIII’ (2023).
HYRGAL is reputed for their complex music, deep lyrics and extreme vision of life. Blending Death metal, Black metal and Dark Ambient elements, Hyrgal continue their crusade against the intransigent world, like a portal to inner liberation.
Hamburg heavy hitters Half Me are back and more heated than ever with new single ‘Quitter Talk’, following on from the exhilarating ‘Concrete Ceiling’, which dropped late last year.
Losing a battle, fighting a war. On this new single, Half Me deal with inner turmoil manifesting in addiction – loud and without compromise.
Formed in Hamburg in 2018, Half Me – guitarists Chris and Julius, vocalist Chris, drummer Max and bassist Tobias –are one of the latest additions to the Arising Empire roster. Musically, Half Me blend a modern rendition of metal and hardcore with highlights of 90s nu-metal. Pounding riffs and breakdowns are accompanied by brutal, yet sometimes elegant, vocals that all balance together to formulate the band’s own distinctive sound.
In just a few years, Half Me have made an impact in the music scene by self-producing their music and videos, displaying their intensive and energetic demeanour. Debuting with four singles initially, it was their their single ‘Exitwound’ (featuring Jack Bergin of Void of Vision) that gave the group a breakthrough and landed the band in the spotlight of Knotfest’s Countdown to Oblivion.
Riding the high of their recent success, Half Me’s highly anticipated debut album SOMA was met with huge critical acclaim. 2024 promises to be a big year or this firey quintet.
Catch the band live with Resolve on the following dates:
May 03: DE Cologne Gebäude 9 May 04: UK London The Underworld May 05: UK Birmingham The Devil’s Dog May 06: UK Glasgow Classic Grand Lounge May 07: UK Leeds The Key Club May 08: UK Manchester Rebellion May 09: UK Bristol The Exchange May 10: UK Southampton The Joiners May 11: NED Drachten Iduna May 12: DE Hamburg Banhof Pauli May 14: DE Berlin Hole44 May 15: DE Dresden Blauer Salon May 16: AT Vienna Viper Room May 17: CZ Prague Rock Cafe May 18: DE Munich Feierwerk May 19: IT Milan Legend Club May 20: CH Monthey Pont Rouge May 21: DE Nuremberg Hirsch May 22: DE Frankfurt Das Bett May 23: DE Vechta Gulfhaus May 24 DE Stuttgart Im Wizemann May 25: NED Utrecht De Heiling May 26: DE Trier Mergener Hof
Indie rock band The Intemperate Sons released their new single “Once Again” off the yet to be released, Dark Day’s Night LP (set for early 2024). This track was produced by Amir Derakh and The Intemperate Sons. It was recorded at The Kitchen Recording Studios in Dallas, TX. “Once Again” takes the outsider look of someone hellbent on making the worst of a bad situation and all of the negative energy radiating from their aura.
The Intemperate Sons release all their music through the Frame|Work record label at the direction of Amir Derakh, Ryan Shuck, and Denny Sanders at The Label Group. A brand-new music video for the single will be released on 1/26/2024 to YouTube. All Intemperate Sons’ tracks are mixed by Amir Derakh in Long Beach, CA. All mastering is done by Mike Marsh Mastering in the U.K.
The Intemperate Sons emerged onto the rock scene in the summer of 2019 in Dallas, TX, to bring their distinct sound to the genre. A deep love for music brought family members Keith Watson (drums), Jake Watson (guitars) and Max Watson (vocals, guitars, keys) together along with close friend Mark Marks, who provides the groove on bass to unite everything together. The band’s sound has been described as a 90’s alternative style that is obsessed with the 70’s.
Keith is well acquainted with entertaining massive crowds of concert goers and has played with many successful bands in Dallas, such as Gun Hill, Natural Born Thrillers and Agents of Solace, on top of opening for Lynch Mob, Joe Lynn Turner and Sponge. He is the primary lyricist for the band and has written the music for some of their most successful songs, including “Dust to Dust,” “The Color Within,” and “Unrealized.”
Multi-talented and gifted with the ability to play various instruments, Max is also the lead vocalist of the group. Along with being musically dexterous, he has also collaborated with Keith to write lyrics on the released songs “Going Crazy” and “Way Back When.” In the studio, Max usually surmounts expectations and goes above and beyond to prepare prior to a session with his own vocal harmonies.
Jake is the song architect of the Sons and extremely instrumental in the crafting of the music. His inventive ways of bringing lyrics to life in clever ways are unprecedented and fascinating to see in the studio setting. He is a prolific writer of music as well and is credited with helping create the songs “What’s Done is Done,” “Remission,” “Way Back When” and “Wading in the Gray.” Both Max and he play lead guitar on many of the songs as well. The other members of the band fondly refer to him as the “art director” since he enjoys taking charge in those areas for the group.
Prolific and unifying, Mark is an accomplished bass player and well known in Dallas. He was in the regionally successful band, Haggard, and had opened for Sebastian Bach of Skid Row. His input in song writing has been invaluable to the process of creating captivating melodies.
Despite the pandemic putting a pause on many major events, The Intemperate Sons lived up to their name and let nothing hold them back from making music. Constantly hard at work in the studio, they have collaborated with Amir Derakh (Julien-K, Dead by Sunrise, Orgy, Rough Cutt) and Ryan Shuck (Julien-K, Adema, Dead by Sunrise, Orgy). Both have lent their musical talents to various songs and ultimately have brought the Sons on to their label, Frame|Work. This led the band to also recently join the management roster at The Label Group. Ryan worked with Amir to produce the band’s upcoming track, “Game of Keep Away,” and has had a huge impact on the group. He’s been especially influential on Max’s vocal melodies and delivery. Amir also plays guitar on this latest ballad and has been mixing all of the band’s music as well as performing on multiple songs.
Another notable collaboration has been with Tony Franklin (The Firm, Roy Harper, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Whitesnake), primarily on the first album, The Color Within. He has been a valuable friend of the band and has played bass on some of their best tracks from that album, including “Running Man,” “Dust to Dust” and “The Color Within.”
The Intemperate Sons’ take on alternative rock is a dark and powerful concoction of hard rock mixed with folk and grunge concepts. The band has earned a serious reputation for writing and performing tracks that scratch deep into the backbone of the human experience. There is no shortage of darkness in their writing style, which has a retro vibe with many guitar-driven tracks stacked on top of a groovy rhythm section. The heavier style fits perfectly with the two and three-part vocal harmonies that are a huge part of their overall sound. It has been said that musicians that are related form unique sounds and communicate at a frequency only they can understand. This frequency has become engrained in their songwriting, arrangements, guitar melodies and vocal harmonies. The band has been compared to Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots and even R.E.M.
The Intemperate Sons’ next Show: Fri Mar 1 @ Hanover’s Draught Haus in Pflugerville, TX
The Intemperate Sons are: Max Watson (vocals, backing vocals, guitars, keys, bass) Jake Watson (guitars, bass and backing vocals) Keith Watson (drums, backing vocals) Mark Marks (bass)
Dark electronic quartet TVINNA from Germany are now releasing their second single “Two Staves”. The track is taken from their new upcoming album ‘Two – Wings of Ember’ which will be released via By Norse on 23rd of February 2024.
The song carries a hidden message through its lyrics, music, and video, addressing the collective consequences of human actions, which the music video so effectively expresses.
Vocalist Laura explains: „Two Staves“ are our symbol for a wheel cross, an old nordic symbol for the sun: an all-embracing, fateful meaning, as it turns and turns without ceasing. It’s a reminder that all actions have consequences and the song itself is our way to express our feelings about the climate crisis in a reflected, lyrical way. In „Two Staves“ we have to face our reflection, reminding us that they’re no gods to answer our selfish prayers, only our own deed – wether we will walk the valley, we’re currently striding – or not.
Listen to the track on your preferred platform HERE.
Artwork by: Concept & Model: Laura Fella Concept & Photography: Sam Evans Composition & Graphic Design: Fieke van den Hurk
Tracklist: 1. Nénuphar (02:16) 2. Dawn Of Mine (04:05) 3. Louga (feat. Fabienne Erni) (03:33) 4. Irwahhên (04:06) 5. Arma (04:46) 6. Wings Of Ember (05:00) 7. Somnia (06:46) 8. Two Staves (05:01) 9. Fortress (03:58) 10. The Fall (06:06) 11. Der Weg (03:17)
Total length: 48:54
TVINNA live: 23.05.2024 – Hamburg, Hebebühne, DE 24.05.2024 – Leipzig, Naumanns, DE 25.05.2024 – München, Backstage Club, DE
Line-up: Laura Fella: Vocals, Synthesizer, Shaman Drum, Electronics, Beats (Faun) Rafael Fella: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electronics (Eluveitie) Alain Ackermann: Drums (Eluveitie) Sascha van der Meer: Backing Vocals (Solarcycles)
Massive guitar riffs blaze out of melancholic, mystical dark folk mists, rhythmic throbbing ignites soulful hymns -expressive, progressive and deeply emotional at their core. Analogue sound elements meander playfully through tightly woven melodic arcs and spherical rock waves, unleashed and captivating at the same time. Everything comes together, melts and culminates in a rewarding ritual, the second TVINNA album “Two -Wings Of Ember”.
“Where there is light, there is also darkness. This duality pulsates in each of our songs, it is a big part of our very own perception and aesthetics. By letting the darkness shine, we hope to see the light shine brighter.” (Laura Fella)
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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 ) 