Australian heavy rockers, WICKED SMILE have released their new four song EP titled ‘Night Time Riders’ today, November 17th which coincides with the band’s UK headline show at The Motorsport Lounge in Llandudno, Wales.
Wicked Smile are all about bringing back fist pumping heavy rock to the forefront. After releasing one of the Albums Of The Year in 2021 with their debut Wait For The Night, the boys are now ready to unleash the next chapter of wicked music.
Influenced by the likes of Dio, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Icon and Skid Row, the boys have written four uptempo guitar driven anthems with soaring lead vocals by mega voice Danny Cecati.
The ep was produced by Chris Themelco at Monolith Studios and the cover art was handled by the talented Tristan Tait.
Wicked Smile will launch their Night Time Riders ep with a run of live dates in the United Kingdom with festival appearances at WinterStorm and Planet Rockstock and a number of club dates (see below for details).
U.K. Live Dates :
Friday 17th November – The Motorsport Lounge, Llandudno, U.K. Saturday 18th November – Tapestry, Bradford, U.K. Sunday 19th November – Eleven, Stoke, U.K. Wednesday 22nd November – Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff, U.K. Thursday 23rd November – Underground, Swindon, U.K. Saturday 25th November – WinterStorm Festival, Troon, U.K. Monday 27th November – Bannerman’s, Edinburgh, U.K. Tuesday 28th November Trillians – Newcastle. U.K. Wednesday 29th November – Yardbirds, Grimsby. U.K. Saturday 2nd December – Planet Rockstock Festival, Porthcawl, U.K. Sunday 3rd December – Cart & Horses, London, U.K.
Wicked Smile U.K. Tour line-up : Danny Cecati – lead vocals Dave Graham – guitars Stevie Janevski – guitars Tom Nugara – bass Alex Rogowski – drums
Legendary rock guitarist Steve Hackett will release his new studio album ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ on February 16th 2024, via InsideOut Music. A rite-of-passage concept album with a young character called Travla at the centre of it, ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’s’ 13 tracks have an autobiographical angle for the musician who says about his 30th solo release: “I love this album. It says the things I’ve been wanting to say for a very long time.”
‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ is Steve’s first new music in over two years. It follows the beautiful acoustic LP ‘Under A Mediterranean Sky’ from January 2021 – which rose to No 2 in the UK Classical chart – and, in September of that year, his metallic masterpiece Surrender Of Silence, which hit the UK Top 40. His 2023 live album, ‘Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live in Brighton’, reached No 2 in the Rock & Metal Chart. Steve’s new LP promises ballads, blues, blistering progressive rock… and healthy measures of theatre and fantasia.
Recorded between tours in 2022 and 2023 at Siren studio in the UK – with guest parts beamed in from Sweden, Austria, the US, Azerbaijan and Denmark, the line-up for ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ includes some familiar faces alongside Steve on electric and acoustic guitars, 12-string, mandolin, harmonica, percussion, bass and vocals. Roger King (keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax), Jonas Reingold (bass), Nad Sylvan (vocals), Craig Blundell (drums) and Amanda Lehmann on vocals. Nick D’Virgilio and Hugo Degenhardt return as guests on the drumstool, engineer extraordinaire Benedict Fenner appears on keyboards and Malik Mansurov is back with the tar. Finally, Steve’s brother John Hackett is present once more on flute.
The new album will be available to pre-order from the December 1st, 2023 on several different formats, including a Limited CD+Blu-ray mediabook (including 5.1 Surround Sound & 24bit high resolution stereo mixes), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180g Vinyl LP & as Digital Album. All feature the stunning cover painting by Denise Marsh.
The full tracklisting is as follows: 1. People Of The Smoke 2. These Passing Clouds 3. Taking You Down 4. Found And Lost 5. Enter The Ring 6. Get Me Out! 7. Ghost Moon and Living Love 8. Circo Inferno 9. Breakout 10. All At Sea 11. Into The Nightwhale 12. Wherever You Are 13. White Dove
Summing up ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’, Steve says: “It’s a lovely journey that starts dirty, scratchy and smoky and becomes heavenly and divine. How can you resist it?”
Steve is currently on tour in North America, continuing his ‘Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights’ run. Next year he will tour the world extensively, including a brand new UK tour under the name ‘Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo’ (that will see him return to the legendary Royal Albert Hall), as well as a return to the US for additional ‘Foxtrot At Fifty’ shows from March 1st through April 13th. For the full list of dates, head to: http://hackettsongs.com/tour.html
Alternative cosmic rock band CRASH AND THE VOID is set to rock the airwaves with the release of two cover songs from the iconic Scott Pilgrim vs The World soundtrack. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, as the tracks are set to coincide with the launch of the highly anticipated Netflix animated series on November 17th.
Lead vocalist and guitarist, Marius Schutte, expressed the band’s excitement about paying homage to the beloved Scott Pilgrim universe. “We got our name from one of the fictional bands in the Scott Pilgrim VS. The World universe – specifically Crash and the Boys. If you didn’t get the reference before, now you do. We absolutely love that world, the characters, and the music. Beck has always been an inspiration, and bands like Metric fit that world so well. All we can do is honor them by making good and fun music. It was so fun doing these covers!”
Formed in 2019, Crash And The Void has been on a mission to create a new kind of rock music. The band’s lineup consists of Marius Schutte (vocals, songwriter), Lumar Schutte (drums), Waldo Van Der Linde (lead guitar), and Dillon Van Heerden (bass, sound engineer). Their unique sound is a fusion of their diverse musical influences, ranging from Hans Zimmer to Black Sabbath and everything in-between.
The two cover songs, Black Sheep and Garbage Truck promise to capture the essence of the Scott Pilgrim universe while showcasing Crash And The Voids distinctive sound.
OnDisplay, the dynamic electro metalcore duo, has unveiled their latest musical endeavor, “Soothe,” complemented by an engaging lyric video. This composition serves as a poignant exploration of personal battles with mental health and substance abuse, guiding listeners through the intricate journey of overcoming obstacles and embracing self-discovery.
Comprising vocalist and guitarist Ryan Kopman and drummer Greg Groothedde, OnDisplay has earned acclaim for their distinct fusion of melodic rock and metalcore, enriched with elements of screamo. Their unique sonic signature continues to captivate audiences with each successive release.
Building upon the success of their debut track, “Stuck,” in October 2023, OnDisplay maintains their commitment to authenticity and the exploration of substantive themes in their music. This dedication positions them as influential figures in the electronic rock and post-hardcore landscape.
Fans can immerse themselves in the emotional depth of “Soothe” through its lyric video, promising a visually compelling experience that harmonizes with the track’s intense emotions.
The creative genesis of “Soothe” began at one of the bands rehearsal sessions with Ryan exploring a dynamic opening guitar riff, which triggered a compelling beat by Greg. As the band refined a captivating hook riff, experimentation with synths and vocals ensued, culminating in the creation of the main vocal hook during studio sessions. Reflecting on the recording process, the band shares, “We prefer to demo everything, utilising our private studio to capture fresh ideas as they come. We dedicated a lot of time to perfecting the structure of ‘Soothe,’ and once we were satisfied, we entrusted it to our friend Robin Adams, who added the final touches.”
Excitingly, OnDisplay is set to release their inaugural music video for “Soothe” in early December 2023. To ensure you don’t miss this significant event, subscribe to the OnDisplay YouTube channel.
From A Very Metal Christmas II that includes Great White’s Jack Russell, Vixen’s Janet Gardner and Angel’s Frank DiMino along with guitar gods George Lynch, Marty Friedman, Glen Drover and more!
Since the release of the first single from a pair of Christmas themed metal records, a killer version of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and David Ellefson, word has begun to spread far and wide, glad tidings of a bountiful harvest of heavy metal interpretations of Holiday favorites coming to CD and vinyl. Now comes the release of another majestic single, from the second of the two compilations, A Very Metal Christmas II, a divinely-inspired collaboration between two legendary metal figures.
Traditional Christmas songs can be fun and catchy, often sentimental and maudlin, but rarely are they epic. Enter “O Holy Night.” This 19th century composition tests the vocal range of even the most seasoned of seasonal singers. That’s why when choosing the singer for this particular track, there was one clear choice, the widely revered “Voice Of Rock” himself, Glenn Hughes. Hughes belts out an absolutely breathtaking version of this sacred favorite, and he is ably supported by the king of Los Angeles six-string slingers, Tracii Guns, who matches Hughes’s vocal pyrotechnics with some virtuoso playing of his own!
A Very Metal Christmas and A Very Metal Christmas II feature brand new recordings from an incredible array of supremely talented metal artists including Rainbow’s Graham Bonnet, Megadeth’s Chris Poland, King’s X’s Ty Tabor, Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy, Bulletboys’ Marq Torien, UFO’s Vinnie Moore, King Kobra’s Paul Shortino, George Lynch, Marty Friedman, Great White’s Jack Russell, Vixen’s Janet Gardner, Angel’s Frank DiMino and many more! Grab your copy today and grab another to give as a gift to the metal fan in your life!
The holidays are closing in, and BOKASSA are releasing the perfect soundtrack to conquer this busiest and most passive aggressive of seasons.
“Let’s Storm the Capitol” is melodic heavy hitter and a riff-mastering trojan horse filled with raw and energetic stoner punk.
LSTC comment on how people tend to fully commit to other people’s thoughts and beliefs without really considering any other ways or options. Why think for yourself when you can follow others blindly?
Jørn in Bokassa comment: “Let’s Storm the Capitol is kind of a satirical look, at how rarely people form their own opinions even though they might think they do. Thus, making them useful idiots for opportunists who prey on uninformed people, and use them to accomplish their own agendas.
The song’s title is also a nod to Neil Young’s “Let’s Impeach the President” from the mid-2000s, so you can’t accuse us of being particularly hip and trendy this time either. According to drummer Olav’s mother, this is also the best song we’ve ever made, which is quite the endorsement! For me the song is a musical melting pot, like most of our songs, consisting of a kind of Propagandhi-esque metal riff into an Alkaline Trio-like chorus before it turns into a cowbell groove ala KISS or Pantera. Vocally, we took some notes from the book of Rob Halford after supporting Judas Priest last year, and in the song, we reach some of our highest pitched notes ever, which might prove to be a challenge as we are not metal gods.”
BOKASSA’s new album is set for release on February 16th, 2024, via Indie Recordings. Recorded by Tue Madsen (Meshuggah, The Haunted, Halford) at Antfarm Studios in Denmark, fans got their first taste of new music earlier this year via heavy-hitting belter, Garden Of Heathen. A melodically-driven, stoner punk track that’s unmistakably BOKASSA, its hefty drums, smooth riffs, and catchy lyrics are only enhanced further by guest vocals from none other than New York hardcore legend, Lou Koller (Sick Of It All).
BOKASSA sum up, “All Out Of Dreams is an album where the feeling of resignation is present on several of the album’s tracks. Whether it deals with one’s own failures, maybe you feel the system failed you, perhaps because of failed government policies, or that you’ve just given up on it all. The common denominator is that everyone you encounter, or hear from in the lyrics have lost hope, which is something the album’s title – All Out Of Dreams – alludes to.
The name of the album could also be seen as direct reference to our own career, and the dream of owning our own private island in the Pacific. Unfortunately the masses have yet to develop good taste in music, so that dream is rather non-existent at this time.”
Nov 18, Het Bolwerk (supp. Therapy?) Sneek, NL Nov 19, La Sucrerie (supp. Therapy?) Wavre, BE Nov 30, Concorde 2 (supp. Therapy?) Brighton, UK Dec 01, Wedgewood Rooms (supp. Therapy?) Portsmouth, UK Dec 02, Academy2 (supp. Therapy?) Sheffield, UK Dec 03, Roadmenders (supp. Therapy?) Northampton, UK Dec 07, The Fleece (supp. Therapy?) Bristol, UK Dec 08, Academy 2 (supp. Therapy?) Manchester, UK Dec 09, Pop Recs (supp. Therapy?) Sunderland, UK Dec 10, King Tut’s (supp. Therapy?) Glasgow, UK Dec 14, Electric Ballroom (supp. Therapy?) London, UK Dec 15, Nightrain (supp. Therapy?) Bradford, UK Dec 16, Institute (supp. Therapy?) Birmingham, UK Dec 17, The Globe (supp. Therapy?) Cardiff, UK
ABOUT BOKASSA BOKASSA have made a name for themselves with their brand of hard-hitting, melodic, catchy punk and stoner rock, right from their attention-getting, first full length, Divide & Conquer (2017). During the Worldwired tour with METALLICA (for which they were handpicked by Lars Ulrich), the band released the critically acclaimed Crimson Riders (2019). In 2020, they followed up by releasing a digital EP, Live At The BBC, from their BBC Radio 1 live session at London’s legendary Maida Vale studio, and were nominated for a Norwegian Grammy as “Breakthrough Of The Year”. In 2021, BOKASSA won the Norwegian “Bendiksprisen” award and released their explosive third album Molotov Rocktail. The record shot immediately to #18 on the Norwegian chart, their highest spot to date. The album was met with critical acclaim from Kerrang, Rock Hard, Adresseavisen, and Metal Hammer among others, with the latter boldly declaring, “With such eminent replayability, Molotov Rocktail threatens to burst the bubble separating ‘classic – sounding’ records and straight – up classics, easily delivering the most fun stoner record since Monster Magnet’s Powertrip in the process.”
With extensive further touring under their belt with the likes of Mastodon, Baroness, and Judas Priest, not to mention performing at some of the world’s biggest festivals (Wacken, Hellfest, Download, Rockfest, Øya, Stavern, Tons of Rock and more), BOKASSA have continued to capture the hearts and minds of thousands across the world. With a new album on the horizon and a new tour with Therapy? the first of many dates to come, BOKASSA are taking no prisoners and show no signs of slowing down.
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 ) 