The new single from Finlands’ CRANEIUM is called “Sands of Gold” and it oozes of heavy blues rock, desert sand and gasoline. But it’s more than a heavy rock tune with a lot of drive, it’s also a song filled with hope.
The stand alone single was written during the sessions for the bands’ latest album “Unknown Heights” (2021). The band recorded the song at V.R. Studio in Turku together with Joona Hassinen from Studio Underjord.
Guitarist Martin, who also handles the lead vocal duties on the track, explains: “The line ‘we all must do our part / got a new world here in our hearts’ is inspired by a quote by anarcho-syndicalist Buenaventura Durruti. The song is about believing in your thing and staying true to your ideas, even if it at times may seem dark. Something we all could use a little more of right now.“
After twelve years of band history by now, it’s time to take the power metal hope WINTERSTORM to a new level. The band‘s fifth studio album, entitled “Everfrost”, will be their first offering since 2016 and their debut on AFM Records.
“Winter” stands for nordic viking and folk metal, “Storm” for fast-paced power metal, combined with epic and orchestral metal facettes, WINTERSTORM shines in a new splendor as the brand new album single, “To The End Of All Known“, proves. The band comments:
“While our new Single “To The End Of All Known” is about uncertain future times driven by technical progress, we as a band are looking forward positively to play our next shows for our fans and hope they enjoy the newest Song and our upcoming album: “
It’s the melodic grandeur, that clearly marks the foreground of WINTERSTORM, reflected in heavily catchy choruses and colossal, polyphonic vocals. Striking elements of different metal styles merge with each other and get a completely new impression, that WINTERSTORM’s forthcoming record may be their most versatile and powerful album to date; one that does not have to hide behind proved genre colleagues such as Blind Guardian or Rhapsody Of Fire.
“Everfrost” will be available as CD Digipak, limited clear blue Vinyl and Boxset on July 14, 2023 through AFM Records, the pre-sale is now online at THIS LOCATION!
Modern Melodic Death Metallers ANCIENT SETTLERS have released their video for the new single ‘Mihi Nomen Est Ira’, taken from the band’s upcoming EP “Transition”, coming out in May via Crusader Records/Golden Robot Records, in digital format, and also a limited physical special edition in Cd & Vinyl and will be supported by their 3rd European Tour.
‘Mihi Nomen Est Ira’ is energetic and intense song with modern guitar solos. Clean and guttural voices are supported by Gregorian chants with a special guest Pintxo Wayewta (Empire of Disease).
But, what about Transition? In this opportunity the band arrives in 2023 with their most powerful set of songs since their debut, combining and energetic and intense Technical Melodic Death Metal, with a plenty of modern guitar solos, synths, clean and guttural voices working together, also supported by Gregorian chants in songs like just released “Mihi Nomen Est Ira”.
A long list of awesome collaborations supporting previous work of Ancient Settlers (Fredrik Nordstrom, Daniel Cardoso, Gus Sazes, etc) talks about the ambition of the band, and they follow the line in this new step of the settlers saga. Mixed and master by Pedro J Monge at Chomaticity Studios (Rise To Fall, Vhaldemar, Etc), acompained by an awesome art-cover designed by the greek ilustrator Jon Toussas (Metal Hammer, Suicidal Angels, Septic-Flesh), the release adds fresh stuff to their discography.
Moreover they have interesting voice collaborations in 3 of the fourth songs of the Ep: like Dalay Tarda (Rise To Fall), Pintxo Wayewta (Empire of Disease) and Andres Pestana (The Black Tree).
Transition Tracklisting:
A New World Order. (Feat. Dalay Tarda)
Mihi Nomen Est Ira. (Feat. Pintxo Wayewta).
The Circle. (Feat. Andres Pestana).
Modern Travelers.
Just recently ANCIENT SETTLERS presented their new line-up with the inclusion of the female metal singer Argen Death (Vile-Hex) on voice and Agustin Martinez on the guitar, ANCIENT SETTLERS completed their current line-up with Rex Chiesa (Guitar), Herman Riera (Drums) and Miguel Herrera (Bass).
ANCIENT SETTLERS line-up 2023: Rex Chiesa: Guitar. Herman Riera: Drums. Argen Death: Voice. Agustin Martinez: Guitar. Miguel Herrera: Bass.
German alternative rock youngsters, BIRD’S VIEW, have announced new details about their upcoming full-length debut album. Red Light Habits will be out on May 19, 2023 via Drakkar Entertainment / Soulfood Music, and available as CD Digipak, a limited Vinyl LP edition and digital formats.
Following previously-released, first songs “Spit” and “Phoning”, today, the four-piece is inviting you to a massive rock ‘n’ roll party in their music video of new single “Lay Down”!
The band comments: “‘Lay Down’ for us personally is a party anthem…
The first ever show we played was in the living room of our guitarist’s parents. It was nuts! 130 maniacs in one house which was probably not the best idea. It was so intense we were laying down in the backyard after this whole thing at 7am in the morning and we knew we’re fucked.
You get a bare glimp of it in the video. And yes, it happened like that! Everything!”
Join the party & watch the new BIRD’S VIEW video to “Lay Down” here:
They are in their early twenties, and ready to take the world of rock ‘n’ roll by storm! Fronted by founding member Niko Huber – son of Nik Huber, owner of world re-known boutique company Nik Huber Guitars – with their refreshing combination of a riff-driven, loud and catchy sound, that channels the flavor of groups like Foo Fighters, Turnstile or Queens Of The Stone Age, BIRD’S VIEW did not already win some prestigious prizes (German Rock & Pop Award 2019, JBL Back to Stage) to date, but have worked with some of the biggest names in the German music scene.
Their first studio album Red Light Habits is slated for a release on May 19, 2023, the pre-sale has just exclusively started via Drakkar Entertainment at THIS LOCATION!
Vinyl track listing:
Lay Down
Phoning
Red Light Habits
Kamo
Ambivalent
Somehow
Too Old
Spit
City of Sunshine
Home to Home
No Champagne
Dressed Wrong
Make It Two
[CD track running order differs]
BIRDS VIEW is: Niko Huber – Guitars, Lead Vocals Alex Köper – Guitars Jan Iser – Drums Max Westenburger – Bass, Backing Vocals
One of Chile’s best-known metal guitarists in Finland, ERICK AVILA – Cold Scandinavian Metal meets hot Latin American rhythms in his new single ‘Siento la Nostalgia’, written in Spanish, but the theme is indeed very Finnish!
Arrangements by Erick Avila, Tuomas Riihimäki, Aki Kontiokangas, Elias Koljonen
Recorded by Jori Saloranta, Tuomas Riihimäki and Erick Avila
Mixed by Javier Bassino
Mastered by Mika Jussila, Finnvox
Distributor: Playground Music Scandinavia
Erick Avila moved to Finland three years ago for the love of the local music scene and he is now building his new career there. Erick Avila is one of the best-known metal guitarists in Chile. He is also a composer, producer and for a long time he has been the leader of a Chilean metal band Six Magics.
Avila found a band bearing his own name with three Finnish musicians. The group is doing now something no one has ever done before – combining metal and the hot rhythms of Latin America such as the Chilean cueca, Brazilian bossanova and Cuban salsa. This single is written in Spanish but has a very Finnish tone to it; how life fades away when the time has passed. Sad feeling makes a journey to the eternity through electronic vibes with clear Vangelis influences.
Avila’s former band Six Magics has toured also in Europe in addition to Latin America. They have headlined concerts for thousands of people and supported bands like Nightwish and Tarja Turunen. Avila has a vast fan base in Chile for over 20 years of career and he has been an inspiration source for many guitarists in the area.
Now the new band has gained great reception by Chilean and Finnish audience due to the cross cultural videos they published in social media showing how the project and music were born so far away from Chile and how the band leader, Avila himself blended into the Finnish culture.
Erick Avila-band: Erick Avila – guitar, vocals Tuomas Riihimäki – keyboards Aki Kontiokangas – bass Elias Koljonen – drums
THE HU—Mongolian rock sensation and UNESCO “Artist For Peace” ambassadors— have shared a new version of their 2022 groundbreaking single “This Is Mongol.” With featured guest vocalist/guitarist William DuVall of Alice In Chains now appearing on the updated track, “This Is Mongol (Warrior Souls)” further highlights the song’s original message of promoting Mongolian culture and empowering environmental awareness by adding English-translated lyrics, sung by DuVall – who also produced and mixed the single -, and an unforgettable chanting chorus: “Hey, We are warrior souls, rolling like a river of fire / We are warrior souls, running down the dragon to slay / This is our way (This is our way).” These themes are seen throughout the “This Is Mongol (Warrior Souls)” music video which also premiered today. The video was co-directed by Michael Lombardi, co-producer and lead actor of The Retaliators–the 2022 horror-thriller in which members of THE HU appeared and whose soundtrack included music from the band’s discography—and includes an exclusive sneak peek of the film which is out now on Blu-Ray via Better Noise Films.
“We are so excited to be performing our single, ‘This is Mongol (Warrior Souls),’ with William DuVall,” exclaims THE HU’s tovshuur player and backing vocalist Temka.“He’s not only an amazing vocalist but also has unique rhythm and technique to his performance, and his style matches our energy and our throat singing. The song is about the warrior souls that are within us, and its purpose is to inspire you and awaken your soul. We hope everyone enjoys this piece of art.”
“It was such an exciting and fulfilling challenge to write and produce something that remained true to The Hu’s sensibilities while also resonating with my own,” shares William DuVall. “‘Warrior Souls’ is a testament to the fact that, no matter where we come from, in the end, we all want the same things-to prosper in our own time despite the odds arrayed against us, making previous generations proud and leaving a worthy legacy for the future. I’m honored by this collaboration and very proud of the result.”
Lombardi shared details on working with THE HU and the video’s inspiration, stating:
“I had the immense pleasure of working with The Hu in the feature film ‘The Retaliators.’ Their contributions ranged from acting, songs appearing in the film and also on ‘The Retaliators’ soundtrack. On their track, ‘This is Mongol,’ their lyrics encompass a proud declaration of possessing a warrior spirit. The Hu believe we all have the warrior spirit within us. Through inspiring with their hearts and courage, they awaken that warrior spirit in all of us. I have witnessed that the messages in their music are a total reflection of how they live and how they tackle their artistic process. The Hu approach their craft with professionalism, courage–and with infectious energy.”
Meanwhile, having sold-out tours across the globe and appearances at some of the top-rated music festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza and Download Festival—just to name a few—THE HU will be performing their first-ever virtual concert in the metaverse on March 3 in partnership with ARD Financial Group (ARD). Tickets will go on-sale February 13 at this link: www.hu.rocks. Throughout the show, fans will experience a virtual world created by METAFORSE that highlights the THE HU’s home country of Mongolia and its traditions and cultural importance of which the band have shared throughout their music by utilizing traditional instrumentation, throat singing and singing entirely in the Mongolian language with their self-appointed brand of “hunnu rock.”
To date, The HU have accumulated over 329 million combined streams and 290 million video views. The group have captured a diverse fanbase by landing their music on movie soundtracks (The Retaliators), creating original music for EA Games’ Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, being handpicked by Metallica to cover their hit single “Through The Never” on the 2021 Metallica Blacklist album alongside covers from high-profile artists including Miley Cyrus, Chris Stapleton, Phoebe Bridgers and more and being the first-ever rock/metal band to receive the prestigious UNESCO “Artist of Peace” Designation.
Catch THE HU at one of their below festival dates and stay tuned for upcoming shows and new music over the coming weeks.
THE HU TOUR DATES
6/7 Novarock – Austria 2023 6/15 Hellfest – France 2023 6/16 Pinkpop – Netherlands 2023 6/29 Rock Werchter – Belgium 2023 7/5 Musilack – France 2023 7/6 Mad Cool Festival – Spain 2023 7/13 Masters of Rock – Czech Republic 2023 7/19 EC9 – Romania 2023
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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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
Click image to watch the video
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