Have you ever imagined seeing the great musicians of your favourite bands playing together on the same stage? The rock concert of the year is about to take place.
On June 30th GODZ OF ROCK, a powerful band of well-known rock musicians, will headline IntenCity Festival at the Oblemenco Stadium in Craiova, Romania.
This amazing line-up features Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Gilby Clarke (Guns n’ Roses), Teddy ‘Zig Zag’ Andreadis (Guns n’ Roses, Alice Cooper), Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Nightranger), Jeff Scott Soto (Y. Malmsteen, Journey), Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot, Montrose, Alice Cooper), Neil Turbin (Anthrax), Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (Judas Priest) and Herma Sick (Venus 5, Sick n Beautiful), alongside with Craiova Romanian Opera Orchestra, conducted by Alexander Frey, a pupil of the great Leonard Bernstein and who has already collaborated with Kee Marcello in the past for his ‘The Final Countdown Rhapsody’.
GODZ OF ROCK is a special project conceived by the Italian rocker Chris Catena and created especially for the IntenCity Festival, which debuts for the first time on stage for a memorable symphonic rock show, together with the Orchestra of the Romanian Opera of Craiova.
Although only founded in 2020, the melodic black metallers VERDERBNIS have already played some established stages in their young career. Not surprising when you know that you are dealing with experienced and scene-tested musicians.
At the end of 2022, the band from Kassel, together with producer Torsten Sauerbrey (Atomwinter, Kambrium, Dark At Dawn, Burden of Grief), finished their debut album, which convinces with strong melodies, unforgettable riffs, melodic, sensitive guitar work and at the same time raw musical brutality and uncompromisingness.
The material has left a lasting impression on Black Sunset/MDD, so that the band and the label were able to agree on a cooperation relatively quickly and will release the first longplayer together in autumn. More info soon!
Groundbreaking transgressive dark rock/metallers ASGAARD have released their second single, “What if…” (acoustic version), as a part of their upcoming EP titled “W sercu nieświata.” This acoustic rendition is a reimagined version of one of the standout tracks from their previous album, “What If…”.
“What if…” (acoustic version), delves into the realms of courage, longing, and regret, evoking a vivid emotional journey that leaves an indelible mark on the listener’s heart and soul. With lyrics that speak to the inherent human desire to pursue dreams and overcome fear, ASGAARD’s newest offering captures the essence of resilience and the transformative power of embracing one’s fate.
The single is available for streaming and purchase on all major music platforms HERE
To accompany the release, ASGAARD has unveiled a visually stunning music video, directed by the talented team at Brrvids.
Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke to long time guitarist and now band leader of April Wine Brian Greenway. Greenway spoke about the band’s legacy, and touring with a new line-up.
Watch the interview below.
When asked about Founder Myles Goodwyn’s Role in April Wine today “Myles has given his blessing (to continue April Wine), he wanted to get off the road for years, he’s got some health problems, he’s got diabetes He wanted to retire going back 2014, he finally found somebody that could take over and that was Marc Parent. Marc coincidentally was going to audition back in 2014 but he decided he couldn’t because he had young children and could not leave home to go on the road with us. Now fast forward many years later, he can do it. So we auditioned him and he sounded a lot like Myles singing and guitar wise he’s got the chops. Myles kind of stepped back at this point and handed the reins to me but he is still taking care of all the business and approving the shows. So he is still very much involved just not how we are doing it onstage he left that to us.”
When asked about the acceptance of the new line-up by the fans “So we rehearsed for 8 months and I was left to sort of be the band leader and when we got on stage this sort of chemistry happened. We were having a good time and it showed to the audience. We were tight, we were having fun and people were smiling. We got lucky when a fellow in St-Charles outside Chicago put out a live clip of the (new) band on Youtube and people started responding to it. And people that were saying no no no (to the new lineup) in the beginning, now nobody could defend what it became, now there is proof in the pudding. It’s a give and take with the audience. If you are having fun with them, they give back and the shows have been that way. I’m so happy the audience and the fans are accepting this new line-up the way it is, its longevity for the songs. Cause once the band is gone the songs are gone and that will be a shame because people still love to hear them live. I’m happy to be doing it, just a lot of fun doing it and if this is how my career ends, take me away I’m happy. “
When asked about April Wine’s setlist on the new tour. “We are playing 21 songs, we even brought back songs like ‘Hot on the wheels of love’ from the First Glance Album. We are jumping quickly from song to song, there is an energy that goes through the show. “
When asked about if the band will be releasing any new April Wine material and will Myles Goodwyn be singing on it “We were working on a track in March 2023 just after Myles’ (Goodwyn) last show in Truro (Nova Scotia). We stayed a few days, went to Halifax and went into the studio and put down drums, bass and guitar, for a new song and I don’t know what’s happened to it. I guess because we have been busy. Marc (Parent) I think would be singing on it. “
Myles Goodwyn, singer, guitarist, writer and leader of April Wine announced in Dec 2022 that he would be retiring from touring with the band. However, still managing and writing material for April Wine. Goodwyn’s last performance was March 2, 2023 in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Guitarist Brian Greenway joined April Wine in 1977 and has recorded on all albums after April Wine’s ‘First Glance’ that was released in 1978
Canada’s April Wine was formed in 1969 and was based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, then moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada to get signed to Aquarius records. April Wine was led by singer-guitarist-songwriter Myles Goodwyn since its inception. The band’s classic and most successful era included Myles Goodwyn – lead & background vocals, guitar, Steve Lang – bass, Brian Greenway – lead & background vocals, guitar, Jerry Mercer – drums and Gary Moffet – guitar, which included Gold and Platinum albums, ‘First Glance’, ‘Hard Faster’ and ‘The Nature of the Beast’.
On 30th June, on all the best music stores worldwide, will be released the brand new single of the mega band that has written pages of Italian Hard and Heavy history, WITCHUNTERS!!! And now these legends are back in a big way with the new single “..Time Is Running”.
WITCHUNTERS are one of the longest-running Italian metal bands. Founded in the summer of 1982 from the ashes of RANDOMS (exNightriders), they initially original compositions sung in Italian.
In 1984, with the collaboration of vocalist George Fyron (Amin Peck), they changed their repertoire. repertoire by performing live mainly covers of 70s hard rock bands. After a drastic line-up change in 1985, the band began to composing material in English. On Christmas Day of the same year they presented their new songs in a concert at SPLASH in Forlì. In 1986 their first demo was released, “Tales of Witchunters”, which contained 6 songs. In December of the same year the band recorded ‘Possessed’ at Sawmils Studios, in Cornwall, produced by Pete Hinton (Saxon, Demon, Coroner…etc.). The song will be released in England on the Promo-Compilation “Italian Rock Invasion Vol.1” on the the Dischi Noi label of San Remo.
In July 1987 a demo was recorded with a Fostex 4-track containing 6 songs, at the request of Dischi Noi, which remained unreleased. In 1988 “Doomsday”, their second demo, with 4 songs, was released. In December of the same year they opened the concert of the Swiss Coroner in Mestre in their only Italian concert. In 1989 they participated in the vinyl compilation “Surgery of the Power” for LM Records, with the song ‘Deadly News’. At the same time the band took part in the “One night in hell” festival in Fidenza with H-Kristal and Hydra. Their first CD, “…and it’s storming outside” was released in November 1994, on the Underground Symphony. It contains eight tracks of their own composition and one cover. It is the first CD in Europe to be released in a double format: one classic and the other, for collectors, with a gatefold cover. collectors’ format, with a gatefold cover like the old 33reys, with a holder that contains the CD. The CD is preceded in 1993 by an advance tape, which contains 2 songs in versions different from those on the album, and the cassette compilation ‘Italian Devils vol.1’, which contains their ‘The Secret’. In August 1994 they took part in a metal festival in Udine together with Last Warning, Madsword and Skanner.
In 1997 the second CD was recorded, “Different Universe”, which unfortunately was never been released. The advance tape of this work was demo of the month in the monthly magazine ‘Psycho’ in the December ’98 issue. With the introduction of keyboards into the band’s sound in 1998, a CD promo with 5 songs was recorded and released in October 1999. Also in 1999, a compilation was released on the Sassari-based label “Path of Experiences”, containing the band’s song ‘The Sleepwalker’.
In the summer of 2000 the song ‘My Shadow’ was also included in the compilation “Insuperabile”, produced by the municipality of Spilamberto (MO) for the association Friction. At the beginning of 2001, for various reasons involving all band members, the Witchunters took a period of rest that lasted until 2009. It is in this year that the band’s activity resumes and new ideas and new compositions. The genre shifts towards melodic metal with hints that sometimes go beyond the strictly metal sphere. Work in the rehearsal room is favoured the rehearsal room, although the band does perform live a few times, during the European music festival and in particular by opening the May 2022 concert of Enemy Of The Enemy (France), Threads (Germany) and Lone Survivors (France). With 8 new songs, recorded between 2021 and 2023, the band is once again ready to their music, also thanks to the innovations brought by the new members members who have joined the band.
The current line-up: Cristiano Agnani: Bass (2009-present) Miguel Esteban Ramirez: Lead guitar, backing vocals (1985-1989, 2000- 2001, 2009-present) Marcello Monti: Vocals (2022-present) Davide Pincelli: Guitar, backing vocals (2020-present) Cesare Vaccari: Drums (1982-2001, 2009-present)
Hard rock band ARTIFAS announced that they will be hitting the road with Silvertung this Summer on ‘The Summer Meltdown Tour’! The tour kicks off on July 7th in Huntsville, AL at Shagnasty’s.
An event page with all currently available information for each show can be found on the band’s Facebook page. Find your city, RSVP to the appropriate event page(s), share the flyer with your friends, and let’s get ready to have your faces melted off!!!
Artifas on tour with Silvertung, The Summer Meltdown Tour shows:
7/7 @ Shagnasty’s, Huntsville, AL *Artifas ONLY 7/8 @The Gym, Sevierville, TN 7/9 @The Red Bird, Leitchfield, KY 7/11 @Vivo, Overland Park, KS 7/12 @Maloney’s, Council Bluffs, IA 7/14 @Rockfest, Cadott, WI 7/16@Rockstar Saloon, West Allis, WI 7/17 @Crucible, Madison, WI 7/18 @Otis’ Tailgators, Cedar Rapids, IA 7/20 @ Piere’s (Stan’s Room), Ft. Wayne, IN 7/21 @ The King of Clubs, Columbus, OH
American Hard Rock band Artifas was formed in 2011 in Jackson, TN by lead guitarist Cody Criswell and lead vocalist Scottie Somerville. In the months following, the two founders of the group would immediately recruit an assortment of hometown musicians and begin looking to record their debut EP. After having a long and ugly encounter that resulted in the theft of all the bands funds and receiving no album in return, the original incarnation of the group would spend 2012-2013 doing several independent tours and writing music. After debuting with their EP Enemy Inside in 2013 and doing numerous regional/national tours in support of it, the band replaced former members with guitarist Mikey Miller, bassist Anthony Mattox, and drummer Stephen Hatmaker.
With almost two years of touring with the new lineup under their belts, Artifas inked themselves a record deal and hit the studio to make their first full length album. The 2015 release of the title track, “Inhuman,” would bring the band some commercial success, reaching # 32 on Billboard’s Active Rock chart and sending the band on the road in support of their new album. The band landed tours with established artists like Theory of a Deadman, Shamans Harvest, Pop Evil, Saint Asonia, Aranda, and others. The follow up single from that record, “Blood 4 Blood”, would later get picked up by the World Series of Fighting and subsequently land a feature in the UFC movie “Fight Valley”. The band parted ways with their record label in 2016, and remained on tour throughout the US for most of the following year, also traveling internationally for the first time with the likes of Papa Roach, Hoobastank, P.O.D., Trapt, and Sick Puppies to play for our American Troops.
Multiple tour cycles later, Artifas found themselves back in the studio making new music. The band worked with multiple writers and producers throughout the entirety of 2018, but would ultimately only find themselves frustrated with the recordings that resulted. After a soul search within the group, Artifas elected to embrace their own vision and write/produce their next album independently, free from the creative overreach of outside influence.
After two years of writing, recording, and mixing, Artifas completed the new album, and unleashed it upon the world. With catchy guitar riffs, dizzying drums, and soaring melodies, Reflections will send you on an emotional journey, exploring the band’s semi-prog, radio rock sound while diving deeper into the human complex with lyrics centered around self awareness and the bands own struggles with mental health. The goal for the creation of this album was to make a record that met the band’s expectations and you can rest assured they held nothing back. Mixed and Mastered by Forrester Savell (Twelve Foot Ninja, Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus), Reflections promises to wow you with musical prowess, all the while delivering Artifas’ important message on unity, inspiration, and the sempiternal battle between dark and light.
More Music by Artifas:
ARTIFAS – Safe (Official Music Video):
ARTIFAS – Cut Me Out (Official Music Video):
ARTIFAS – Leave Me For Dead (Official Music Video):
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 ) 