After recently performing as direct support to Metallica for two spectacular shows in Paris and Hamburg, Symphonic metallers EPICA return with a another new live single from their European headline tour. The bombastic ‘Unleashed’ was recorded at Amsterdam’s AFAS Live in January 2023. Ahead of the band’s performance at Download Festival this weekend, they have released the live video for ‘Unleashed (Live at the AFAS Live)’.
“Unleashed has been a band and fan favourite live song ever since its release on Design Your Universe”, comments Coen Janssen.“There was no question about playing it on our biggest indoor show to date, and with the amazing images on the big LED wall, the song got lifted to an even higher experience.”
Watch the video for ‘Unleashed (Live at the AFAS Live)’ and stream on all platforms now here.
EPICA have a busy festival summer ahead of themselves before going back into the studio early next year to record the follow-up to 2021’s Omega.
SUMMER FESTIVAL 2023 09.06.23 | Download Festival | Donnington, UK 15.06.23 | Graspop Metal Meeting | Dessel, BE 25.06.23 | Topfest | Abraham, SK 02.07.23 | Midalidare – Rock In The Valley | Mogilovo, BG 07.07.23 | Exit Festival | Novi Sad, RS 13.07.23 | Dong Open Air | Neukirchen-Vluyn, DE 15.07.23 | The Return of The Gods Festival | Milan, IT 28.07.23 | Kuopiorock | Kuopio, FI 29.07.23 | Q-Stock | Oulu, FI 06.08.23 | Rockstadt Extreme Fest | Rasnov, RO 16.08.23 | Summer Breeze | Dinkelsbühl, DE 18.08.23 | Motocultor Festival | Carhaix, FR 20.08.2023 | Rock The Lakes | Vallamand, CH
Fall dates 26.10.23 | Floyd | Athens, GR 28.10.23 | Kucukciftlik Park | Istanbul, TR 05.11.23 | Rock Circus Den Bosch, NL 18.11.23 | Metal Hammer Paradise | Weißenhäuser Strand, DE
Photo Credit: Jan Bunning (Headbangers Open Air, Germany, 2022)
Metal Hall of Fame inductee, Blaze Bayley, releases a brand new live album, featuring versions of songs from his last studio album ‘War Within Me’ and also songs he wrote and/or performed during his time in Iron Maiden (1994-1999).
The 5 songs from ‘War Within Me’ were recorded on tour in the UK, and the remainder were recorded in France.
The album title, ‘Damaged Strange Different and Live’, is taken from the lyrics of the song ‘Warrior’. Official release date is 7th July and the album is available to order on vinyl LP, CD and digital platforms.
Having started his career as a professional singer with Wolfsbane in 1984, Blaze went on to front Iron Maiden, touring worldwide and releasing two studio albums – ‘The X Factor’ and ‘Virtual XI’, both of which achieved top twenty status in many countries. During his time with Iron Maiden, Blaze co-wrote the single ‘Man on the Edge’ (from ‘The X Factor’ album), a top ten hit in the UK, as well as charting successfully across Europe.
Following his exit from Iron Maiden he has pursued a solo career, beginning with his now legendary solo debut album ‘Silicon Messiah’ in 2000, followed by a further ten studio albums, including particular interest in his sci-fi based ‘Infinite Entanglement’ trilogy (released in consecutive years 2016-2018) and the critically-acclaimed ‘War Within Me’ released in 2021.
Starting in 2013 and exclusively since 2016, Blaze records and plays live with Manchester (UK) melodic metal band Absolva, featuring lead guitarist Christopher Appleton and his brother LukeAppleton who is formerly of American metalheads Iced Earth. This consistent line-up is completed by drummer Martin Mcnee and bassist Karl Schramm.
As with all Blaze’s more recent works, he co-produces with Christopher Appleton and mastering is handled by Ade Emsley (Iron Maiden, Tank, Voodoo Six). With this team Blaze has been able to develop his passion for loud heavy metal guitars. Artwork is provided by Akirant Illustration (Iron Maiden, Star Wars).
On 25th March 2023, just 2 days before the intended start of a European tour, Blaze suffered a serious heart attack. Following the necessary quadruple bypass surgery it’s expected his recovery period will be several months, so the tour diary is currently being reconstructed. Details of a return to the live arena will be confirmed at a later date, as will a new studio album which is in the works for 2024.
Track listing… 1. War Within Me 2. Pull Yourself Up 3. Warrior 4. The Power of Nikola Tesla 5. 18 Flights 6. Lord of the Flies 7. Judgement of Heaven 8. Fortunes of War 9. Como Estais Amigos
DeWolff have produced the world’s fastest Studio-to-store record yesterday afternoon. The Dutch band started recording at 1 pm in the Artone Studio at Record Industry, and exactly 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 38 seconds later, the first 12-inch vinyl single Rosita Rápida was sold at Sounds in Haarlem, the Netherlands.
DeWolff played a 20-minute live version of the song Rosita with a 6-piece band, in front of an audience, resulting in two sides of a 12-inch direct-to-disc. After that, the Record Industry team quickly got to work making the molds with which the vinyl was pressed. In the meantime, the cover was also printed and folded. After pressing, the band cycled from Record Industry to Sounds in the center of Haarlem in 10 minutes, where the first copy was sold to the lucky fans, and the clock was stopped.
DeWolff: “It was really cool to be able to do this in front of the audience. Recording live is great, but to also see the entire production process up close and to be able to bring your music to the store in the form of a fresh record is something else.”
Anouk Rijnders (CCO Record Industry): “It feels very special to be able to do this in-house with DeWolff and our team on the 25th anniversary of Record Industry. In the process from recording to store, we go through about eight steps, where everything has to fit together seamlessly. The fact that everything succeeds even within three hours is an incredible team effort.”
The old studio-to-store world record stood at three hours, fifty-five minutes, and twenty-one seconds and was held by Jack White, known from The White Stripes. The Third Man Records owner responded during the attempt saying “wishing you the best of luck on this attempt. Please post pictures of the metal work being made and the records being pressed, everyone at Third Man would love to see and are all wishing you luck as well. I hope you break the record (not literally).”
Rosita Rápida can now be ordered everywhere.
25 Years of Record Industry Record Industry is one of the largest vinyl pressing companies in the world and will celebrate its 25th anniversary on June 1, 2023. The factory produces more than 11 million records per year.
The enchanting solo artist, TIMEA GÖGHOVA, is thrilled to announce the release of the lyric video for her track, “There’s a Boy,” taken from her highly anticipated album, “Wild Storm.” The album, set to launch on June 17th, 2023, will be available on all major streaming platforms via Epictronic.
There’s a Boy” is a heart-wrenching masterpiece that unravels a gripping tale of a young boy’s profound loss and his relentless battle within his own family. The song delves into the universal themes of recurring patterns and the indomitable presence of pain and darkness in our lives, reminding us that life can sometimes feel like an unending cycle. The emotional journey in “There’s a Boy” is further enriched through Timea Göghova’s poignant drawings, which capture the essence of the boy’s struggle.
“There’s a Boy” along with “Wild Storm” & “I Thought” hold a special place in Timea’s journey, as they are among the oldest songs that sparked the idea of producing ballads. Originally written at a young age, these compositions have ripened over time, resonating with a depth and maturity that transcend their origins. The piano arrangement by Carolina Melisa Gonzales adds another layer of beauty and emotional impact, intertwining seamlessly with the evocative lyrics and melodies.
To bring the lyrics to life in a captivating way, the video was skillfully crafted by Volume Agency, led by Riccardo Ceppari and Martina Pizzi.
Timea Göghova is a versatile artist who covers several genres of music. She is known for singing clean, screaming, and singing classic songs. She is also the frontwoman of Still Awake (Melodic Metal) and Passion Control (Jazzfunk). As a solo artist, she composes ballads and R&B songs.
Timea Göghova has been passionate about music from a young age. With a background in choirs and a love for the German language, she moved to Germany in 2021. Her talent has gained recognition through appearances on TV shows like Sztárban Sztár Leszek and The Voice of Germany, as well as winning the South German Finals of Emergenza Bandcontest. Her latest album, “Wild Storm,” is a captivating blend of ballads and rock songs that highlight her vocal prowess. Timea has also collaborated with notable guests including Alex Beyrodt, Dominik Krämer, Alex Scholpp, and Dara Zusko, adding a special touch to her music.
Fans can follow Timea Göghova on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for all the latest news and updates on her upcoming album and other exciting projects:
Named after the nickname for Captain John Rackham, the English pirate captain who operated in the Bahamas and in Cuba during the early 18th century, CALICO JACK was founded in 2011 by the brothers Toto(rhythm guitar) and Caps (drums) with the aim of merging legendary 80s heavy metal with modern Scandinavian folk metal, wrapping everything in a maritime atmosphere, inspired by folk songs and sea shanties of the Anglo-Saxon tradition. They make sure they present a flashback to those times with stage scenery and costumes.
“If you play pirate metal, you can’t help but fill the stage with bandanas, chests, skulls, cutlasses, and pistols. We are arranging to bring real parrots and cannonballs on stage, but we are meeting some resistance from animal welfare and pacifist associations… Aesthetics aside, our live shows are notorious for creating absolute chaos above and below the stage, so it is not advisable to attend one of our concerts if you are looking for meditative and intellectual listening. We also hold the record of never having played sober since the beginning of our career, and we offer unlimited drinks to any fan who asks!” adds the band.
In 2013, they released the debut EP “Panic In The Harbour”, and first self-titled full-length in 2019. Now signing with Rockshots Records, the band will be rum running their sophomore album “Isla de la Muerte” out on June 30th, 2023.
Cover art by Sergey Vasnev
For this new record, the band kept the style of their debut album but improved every aspect of their music. “Isla de la Muerte” is much more aggressive, the songs are heavier, more dynamic, and more powerful than past ones. The fiddle tunes on the release are more epic and refined, and there’s no shortage of some of Calico Jack‘s trademarks such as the Caribbean sounds in ‘Antigua’. The band also added important elements such as a track of pure classic heavy metal Running Wild-style (‘Bad Fortune’) and a journey through the eastern sounds of the Indian Ocean in the final suite ‘Sandokan’.
Today, Calico Jack shares their second single from the treasure chest. Entitled “Queen Anne’s Revenge”, the song tells the story of the most feared vessel of all time, the infamous Queen Anne’s Revenge of Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. Through fast-paced, dark-toned folk metal, it tells how this legendary vessel is viewed with dread and is considered almost a supernatural menace, after all, its captain was considered by his opponents to be a real devil on earth.
The band adds:
“‘Queen Anne’s Revenge’ is one of the first songs we wrote for ‘Isla de la Muerte’, completed already a few years ago, and we played it live several times getting great feedback. It is perhaps the track most similar to the style of our first album, with a dark and evil atmosphere that pays homage to the style of Finntroll more than in the other tracks. On the cursed melody of the refrain, Giò, our captain, narrates the terror that Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s legendary ship, arouses in all those who only hear of her. In the lyric video accompanying the single, some of the most famous maritime artwork from the 1700s and 1800s is shown, with dark and belligerent scenes depicted.”
Recommended for fans of Finntroll, Korpiklaani, Equilibrium, Moonsorrow, and Running Wild, “Isla de la Muerte” is available for album pre-order at https://bit.ly/IslaDeLaMuerteCD
Track Listing: 1 – Broadside Attack (07:24) 2 – Isla de la Muerte (10:32) 3 – Bad Fortune (05:02) 4 – Antigua (06:25) 5 – Three Cheers to the Shanty Man (04:30) 6 – Marauder (04:37) 7 – Queen Anne’s Revenge (06:08) 8 – Haul Away Joe (03:31) 9 – Sandokan (15:47) Total length: 1:03:58
Album Credits: Recorded at Elnor Studio by Mattia Stancioiu Mixed and mastered by Calico Jack All songs written by Calico Jack Photos by Chiara Mascetti Cover art by Sergey Vasnev
Get ready for a new sensation in the alternative metal scene as ILLEGAL MIND unleash their latest single, “Industrial Birth 2.0” . This aggressive and energetic track promises to captivate listeners with its raw energy and thought-provoking lyrics.
As one of the catchiest and hardest-hitting songs from the band, “Industrial Birth 2.0” invites you to put it on repeat. However, the song’s appeal goes beyond its music, as its lyrics delve into the concept of humanity living within a simulated reality, inspired by the iconic film “The Matrix” The track challenges the listener to question their own existence and ponder if there is more to reality than meets the eye. Can we break free from the simulation?
Illegal Mind has taken a DIY approach with their upcoming EP “From The Ashes” producing it themselves in a post-apocalyptic bunker to capture the rawness and authenticity of their sound. This approach certainly does not detract from the quality of the song and the EP itself.
So, if you’re a fan of hard-hitting music with a deep message, make sure to listen “Industrial Birth 2.0”. You won’t want to miss out on this intense and thought-provoking track from Illegal Mind.
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 ) 