German heavy metal act SKULL & CROSSBONES, the new band featuring former members of Stormwitch, have shared a new track taken off their upcoming debut Sungazer! The band’s first full-length studio album will be released as CD Digipak, Ltd. Vinyl LP and Digital formats on September 8, 2023 through Massacre Records, the pre-sale is available at THIS LOCATION!
As the band reveals, the song “is about the occult, pagan nature religions. The attentive view of the beauty of nature should be sharpened, but from a dark point of view. One should leave a legacy of which one should be proud. Inspired by “The Witches’ Almanac.”
It’s a classic, driving metal song with a short, calm and hypnotic interlude that culminates in a power metal solo.”
With SKULL & CROSSBONES, the four ex-Stormwitch members Volker Schmietow, Tobi Kipp, Jürgen “Wanschi” Wannenwetsch and Marc Oppold, completed by vocalist Tobi Hübner, pick up where they left off: Dedicating themselves to traditional heavy metal.
Sungazer was mixed and mastered by Marc Ayerle at KlangManufaktur, with a cover artwork created by Michael Vetter.
Sungazer track listing:
Midnight Fyre
Sungazer
Manhunter
The Invisible Man
Tyrant’s Rule
Nature’s Legacy
Inner Self
Live Your Dreams
The Drowned
The Traveller
SKULL & CROSSBONES Live: 09.09.2023 DE Bisingen – Umsonst & Draußen Zollernalb 16.09.2023 DE Gerstetten – Schlicker 09.12.2023 DE Horb am Neckar – Marmorwerk
Budapest-based melodic death metallers GRYMHEART have released a video for ‘To Die by the Succubus’, first single taken from the debut album ‘Hellish Hunt’ to be released on September 22nd via Scarlet Records.
Grymheart combines the energy of power metal, the harmonies of folk metal, the epicness of symphonic metal and the screaming vocals of death metal.
The most important elements of their sound are the catchy melodies: every track contains memorable parts which get stuck in your head; the songs are mostly fast and uplifting with lots of double kick drums, but there are some slow parts with a darker mood too.
The overall concept and image of Grymheart come from iconic monsters & demons hunter characters like The Witcher, Solomon Kane, Van Helsing etc.; each song tells about mystical creatures such as ghosts, Succubus, the living dead, Ignis Fatuus, or harpies. The hunt is open!
Grymheart is leaded by Gábor Kovács (Gabriel Blacksmith), founder of Hungarian power metal legends Wisdom
engineered, produced and mastered by Gábor Kovács; recorded and mixed at Blacksmith Studio
cover & artwork by Gyula Havancsák (Accept, Burning Witches, Stratovarius)
Crossover pioneers DOG EAT DOG are set to release their new studio album “Free Radicals” on October 20th on Metalville Records.
After a long period of only touring, DOG EAT DOG are finally back with their new full-length album “Free Radicals“ …and it was worth the wait!
The 14 explosive and inspiring songs combine a variety of contemporary styles without denying their roots.
The album surprises with a variety of tones, moods, dynamics, and tempos, accompanied by their never fading energy and positive attitude.
(Album art by Barcelona based artist Marcos Cabrera)
Singles “Lit Up”, “Never Give In” and “Man’s Best Friend” provide listeners with the big guitars, groovy beats and catchy choruses they are known for, while “Bar Down” carves out new territory for a band eager to explore the boundaries of thier abilities and experiences.
DOG EAT DOG’s bi-continental lineup and their unique approach to sound and performance has always made them a must-see live act.
With “Free Radicals,” the band reminds listeners why many consider them one of the pioneers of the crossover genre.
“Free Radicals” Track Listing
Lit Up
Kin
Never Give In
Time Won’t Wait
1 Thing
Mean Str
Energy Rock
@Joe’s
Blvk Clvd
Bar Down
Man’s Best Friend
E1on1
Looking Back
Zamboni
DOG EAT DOG can also be seen live this summer, e.g. at the Wacken Open Air
04.08.2023 DE Wacken – Open Air 05.08.2023 BE Duffel – Brakrock 08.08.2023 PL Warsaw – Progresia 09.08.2023 PL Krakau – Klub Studio 12.08.2023 FR Cercoux – Festival 666 14.08.2023 FR Metz – Aerogare 19.08.2023 FR Carhaix – Motocultour
Line Up John Connor – vocals Roger Haemmerli – guitars Dave Neabore – bass Brandon Finley – drums
Former Iron Maiden Drummer Doug Sampson (Airforce) does a walk though and talks about the legacy of East London’s Cart and Horses club where Iron Maiden played in the very early years. Also in the video Cart and Horses manager Kasto Perjoini does a quick history of the club as well.
Reporting for The Metal Voice in London/ photographer Fernando Bonenfant
Sampson told The Metal Voice,” I first become aware of it (Cart and Horses) when a band called Slowbone first played here and it was a place to come on a Friday night and it was absolutely packed, people were flocking onto the streets. So that was my first awareness of the Cart. When I was about 17 I joined a band called Smiler that was with Steve Harris and we’ve done our first gig here, that was on a Sunday night and it we went down quite well. So when Slowdown couldn’t couldn’t make the Friday night spot we was asked to fill for them. After about 30- 40 gigs Smiler had disbanded and Steve decided he wanted to go off and form another band (Iron Maiden). Steve asked me if I wanted to join his new band at the time, I didn’t really want to, I wanted to have a break from the music. So I used to come down virtually every week to see him, so I knew the set pretty damn well. I remember them getting such a good crowd, they had to get noticed sooner or later because so many people were coming down it was just amazing. I used to watch him and I always used to think uh yeah I wouldn’t mind playing with this band. The Cart was basically everything for the East end, this Pub is like there’s so many great bands that have started here and some have gone on to bigger things but there’s been some fantastic bands over the years. I mean you could come in here three or four nights a week and see top-notch Talent. “
The Iron Maiden band were originally formed on Christmas Day 1975 by bassist Steve Harris. The band held their first gig at the Cart and Horses Pub and subsequently took up semi-residency in 1976.
British prog-act, SKY EMPIRE, are back and ready to release their brand new single “The Emissary”. The song is taken from their forth-coming second album “The Shifting Tectonic Plates of Power – Part One”, which is set for a worldwide release in September through ViciSolum Productions, who signed the band last year.
This time, Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Talisman, Journey) has stepped into the position as vocalist, and he is doing a fantastic job, with his unique voice which fits progressive rock/metal so amazingly.
The album will surely appeal to fans of both 70´s, 80´s and 90´s eras of progressive heavy rock/metal, but also to the fans of the new age spotless equilibriums of prog-artists, like Tesseract, Haken or Vola.
The single is available on most digital platforms, or you can listen to it directly at THIS location.
LINE-UP: Jeff Scott Soto – Vocals Daz Lecutier – Vocals, Guitars Remi Jalabert – Drums, Percussion Tom Hobson – Keyboards Dan Jones – Bass
Germany’s hottest Folk Metal band has hit #1 on the Official German Album Charts again! FEUERSCHWANZ unleashed their highly anticipated new full-length, Fegefeuer, last Friday, and have now stormed the album charts with their second #1 placement in a row. FEUERSCHWANZ’s previous studio album, Memento Mori (2021), also entered at #1, and with this new achievement, it is safe to say that FEUERSCHWANZ truly belongs among one of the biggest current bands in the German metal scene.
With the switch to Napalm Records in 2020, FEUERSCHWANZ started their gradual change from the comedic medieval folk outfit of the past into the serious metal band they are today, with #3-charting album, Das elfte Gebot. The 2021 live album, Die letzte Schlacht, landed at #4, and with Memento Mori, the band climbed to the top of the Official German Album Charts for the first time, followed by the cover album Todsünden on #5. All of the last five releases entered the Top 5 of the Official German Album Charts. With their second #1 album, Fegefeuer, FEUERSCHWANZ have reached new career highs – and there’s no end in sight to their ongoing ascent!
FEUERSCHWANZ on the chart entry: “FEGEFEUER HITS #1 IN THE GERMAN ALBUM CHARTSOur second #1 in only two years – if someone had told us this would happen in the early days, when we sang unplugged on beer benches, cracking jokes about mead… We would have laughed madly into the drinking horn and sung on until we fell off the table (which wasn’t so bad – there were fewer spectators in front of the “stage” than musicians on it anyway). To celebrate such a victory today – even though we haven’t even digested the last #1 entry – is just great! We owe it all to YOU – whether you have accompanied us through the purgatory of the early days or if you have recently joined us. Another epic album battle has been fought – and we have won! Dear mainstream radio landscape out there: There is a crazy, colorful and fantastic music world here where people sing and sweat together, where music is made by hand, where strange instruments are used and where you can be a battle dwarf or a Valkyrie or both at the same time! This is not a funny little fringe group – no, we are LOUD and we are MANY! To our biggest fans, the HORDE – we thank you!”
Napalm Records Founder, Owner and Managing Director Markus Riedler: “What a success! FEUERSCHWANZ have secured the #1 spot on the Official German Album Charts again with the new album, Fegefeuer. With the goal of constantly evolving to consistently deliver the quality that makes listeners have fun and be in a good mood, the band not only has great demands on themselves, but also on us as a label. Accordingly, we would like to thank all those involved who have made this success possible. Above all, however, this thanks goes to you, the fans, for supporting this great band so devotedly on its development and future path!”
Fegefeuer kicks off with outstanding opening track “SGFRD Dragonslayer”. Successor “Bastard von Asgard” features beautiful vocals by Eluveitie’s Fabienne Erni. The catchy viking party anthem “Berzerkermode” calls for the listener to join the celebration and “party like a viking”, while the first three tracks, as well as heavy “Highlander”, are best proof of the band’s evolution from comedy rock to metal. Other tracks like the intense title track “Fegefeuer”, Lord of the Rings battlechant “Uruk-Hai” and “Die Horde” will be long-time fan favorites.
Fegefeuer stays lyrically true to trademark topics, exploring long forgotten legends and heroic battles, and shows off the band’s extraordinary musical skills. The album will be available in various formats, with some containing the live bonus album Live in Wacken 2022, which includes a recording of their co-headline show from the holy fields. With their new #1 release, FEUERSCHWANZ clearly confirm their outstanding position at the top of the German metal scene!
Fegefeuer Tracklist: 1. SGFRD Dragonslayer 2. Bastard von Asgard 3. Berzerkermode 4. Knochenkarussell 5. Fegefeuer 6. Die Horde 7. Uruk-Hai 8. Highlander 9. Morrigan 10. Eis & Feuer 11. Valkyren
Various limited versions come with the bonus CD, Live in Wacken 2022, recorded during the band’s co-headline set at Wacken Open Air 2022. Other versions include the instrumental version of all 11 album tracks:
Live in Wacken 2022 Tracklist: 1. Intro (Das Elfte Gebot) (Live in Wacken 2022) 2. Memento Mori (Live in Wacken 2022) 3. Untot im Drachenboot (Live in Wacken 2022) 4. Metfest (Live in Wacken 2022) 5. Ultima Nocte (Live in Wacken 2022) 6. Schubsetanz (Live in Wacken 2022) 7. Methämmer (Live in Wacken 2022) 8. Dragostea Din Tei (Live in Wacken 2022) 9. Rohirrim (Live in Wacken 2022) 10. Das Elfte Gebot (Live in Wacken 2022) 11. Warriors Of The World United (Live in Wacken 2022 / feat. Melissa Bonny) 12. Die Hörner Hoch (Live in Wacken 2022) 13. Extro (Live in Wacken 2022)
Experience FEUERSCHWANZ live: Festivals 2023 10.08.23 ES – Villena / Leyendas Del Rock 19.08.23 DE – Weil Am Rhein / MPS 26.08.23 DE – Wuppertal / Feuertal Festival 02.09.23 DE – Luhmühlen / MPS
Fegefeuer Tour 2024 w/ Orden Ogan, Angus McSix 11.04.24 DE – Hamburg / Große Freiheit 36 12.04.24 DE – Berlin / Huxleys 13.04.24 DE – Dresden / Alter Schlachthof 18.04.24 DE – Saarbrücken / Garage 19.04.24 DE – Erfurt / Club Central 26.04.24 DE – Hanover / Capitol 27.04.24 DE – Osnabrück / Hyde Park 01.05.24 DE – Nuremberg / Löwensaal 02.05.24 DE – Stuttgart / LKA Longhorn 03.05.24 DE – Wiesbaden / Schlachthof 04.05.24 DE – Cologne / Palladium 06.12.24 AT – Vienna / Arena
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
Our second #1 in only two years – if someone had told us this would happen in the early days, when we sang unplugged on beer benches, cracking jokes about mead… We would have laughed madly into the drinking horn and sung on until we fell off the table (which wasn’t so bad – there were fewer spectators in front of the “stage” than musicians on it anyway).
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 