Gianni Pontillo (also singer of the German hard rock legend VICTORY) proves his enormous versatility on the first album of his new formation PONTILLO AND THE VINTAGE CREW. “FOR THE LOVE OF BLUES” is his personal declaration of love to a music style that allows him to interpret his songs both punchy but also sometimes very soulful.
The album will be released on April 14. 2023 by German music label EL PUERTO RECORDS.
Singer Gianni Pontillo has left his mark on formations such as Pure Inc., The Order or Souls Revival with his voice and has refined all-star productions such as “Rock Circus” and “This Is Rock” by Das Zelt. Since 2019, the power tube is also on the road as frontman of the German hard rock legend Victory. With PONTILLO & THE VINTAGE CREW, he is now launching a new project with various guest musicians that perfectly showcases his flair for cultivated blues rock and singer/songwriter numbers.
In addition to many Swiss colleagues, the album also features a top international star: Keyboard legend Derek Sherinian, who has made music history as a live or studio musician with bands like Dream Theater, Black Country Communion, Sons of Apollo, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol and Joe Bonamassa.
Tracklist: 01 For The Love of Blues 02 City of Gold 03 Long Time Gone 04 Between The Lines 05 Io Senza Te06 Falling In Love 07 Sing The Blues 08 The Keeper 09 CC Song 10 Sound of Hope
On April 28, Swedish supergroup IRONMASTER will release their new album “Weapons Of Spiritual Carnage” via Black Lion Records, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut “Thy Ancient Fire” (February 2022). Featuring current and ex-members of Dark Funeral, Scar Symmetry, Raubtier, Carnal Forge, and Facebreaker, this strong follow up album is a natural continuation of the path taken on the band’s debut album. This time there is even more death, more black and more thrash, the performance level from all the band members has risen a notch compared to the previous album. More powerful and faster than ever at times but the flow of the album has been the focal point of the whole writing and reording process. Everything has been done with the album format in mind so that the experience when you listen thru the album from front to back will be a good and memorable one.
Edvin Skårud has written all the lyrics (except for one song) on this album, his dark and masterful lyrics deal with death, cruelty and the dark side of life, and the blackness of one’s soul.
With the lyric video for “Bringer Of Deception” the band has released its first single today! Watch the video and listen to the track here:
Ironmaster on “Bringer Of Deception”:
“This song is basically a continuation of the song before this one, building on a mix of Black and Death Metal with an 90’s Fear Factory-style chorus. The bridge part was also graced with a solo from the utterly talented guitarist Bill Hudson (I Am Morbid, Doro, Northtale + many more).“
Tracklist reads as follows:
Solemn Pestilence
Ocean Of Searing Hatred
Weapons Of Spiritual Carnage
Infinite Virulent
Monolithic Suppressor Engaged
Cast Into The Hollow
Implications Of Sacral Time
Lies Of Apathy
Bringer Of Deception
Dismantling Eternit
“Weapons Of Spiritual Carnage” was recorded, mixed and mastered at Blacklounge Studios between May2021 and October 2022 by Jonas Kjellgren. The album is now available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION
IRONMASTER are: Roberth Karlsson – Vocals Jonas Kjellgren – Guitars Janne Jaloma – Drums
FORMOSA have released “Living On A Blade”, the first single from their upcoming studio album “Bittersweet” which will be released on 21.04. via Metalville Records.
“Living On A Blade”, Formosa’s latest single, is a blast from second zero! The song has everything you need, a fat guitar riff, badass drumming, a rolling bass and of course the unmistakable voice of singer Nik Bird. The song is loaded with energy and is therefore the perfect first single for the upcoming album!
„Bittersweet“ the new album by Formosa is like a new beginning for the band. After the Corona break, the guys go full throttle and deliver ten impressively strong numbers. With the songs and the sound of the record, the band reinvents itself without losing itself.
Formosa’s music has evolved, some of the songs have become harder and faster, but overall each one is still melodic and catchy. The production as well as the songwriting are on the highest level, making “Bittersweet” the band’s strongest longplayer so far.
“BITTERSWEET” TRACK LISTING Burning Desire Horns Up Melinda Fight the Fire Bittersweet Living on a Blade Welcome to my Hell Crawling through the Night Wild & Free Iron Boar
LINE-UP Nik Bird – Bass/Vocals Nik Beer- Guitars Paris Jay – Drums
TOURDATES with Kissin‘ Dynamite & Dynazty
03.03. Leipzig, DE – Hellraiser 04.03. Wörgl, AT – Komma 05.03. Milan, IT – Legend Club 07.03. Budapest, HU – Barba Negra Music Club 08.03. Kraków, PL – Kamienna12 10.03. Wien, AT – Szene 11.03. Pratteln, CH – Z7 12.03. Strasbourg, FR – Laiterie 14.03. Paris, FR – Trabendo 15.03. Wasquehal, FR – The Black Lab 17.03. Hengelo, NL – Metropool 18.03. Osnabrück, DE – Hyde Park 19.03. Vosselaar, BE – Biebobclu
BITTERSWEET-TOUR
14.04. Waldbronn – Soundcheck One 15.04. München – Orange Club 21.04. Köln – MTC 22.04. Hanau – Brückenko 30.04. Berlin – Wild at Heart 05.05. Hamburg – Logo 06.05. Kassel – Goldgrube 24.06. Essen – Formosa Bierfest
Finnish thrash metal pioneers NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE have released their new official video ‘Venomous Encounters‘ taken from the band’s latest “The New Hell” album, released on April 22nd 2022 via Iron Shield Records.
Jukka Kyrö, guitarist and founder of the band had this to say about ‘Venomous Encounters’: “Here’s a bit of different kind of song from our latest “The New Hell” album. I call it a ”murder ballad”. It’s not thrash metal but it was gloomy and doomy enough to find its place on the album. One of my personal favorites. The video was made by our Mr. Hevander, a man of talents and morbid visions. We are currently writing the follow up album for “The New Hell” and I have plans to include a part 2 on the next album. The video leaves us with questions and I need to answer the questions. Please check the video out, share and support the underground.“
Watch ‘Venomous Encounters’ below.
On September 16th, Finnish thrash metal pioneers NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE performed at Tukikohta in Oulu, Finland, playing also ‘We Are In Hell’ from “The New Hell” album, for the first time live. The full show footage is now available on YouTube. The video was shot by Tuure Heikkinen. In case you missed it, watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohcER7EGmEM
Set-list: 00:00 We Are in Hell 03:35 Bringer of Pain 08:05 Lucy 13:33 Anger 18:21 Determination 22:25 God Plutonium 28:22 Naulapää 32:26 Deathwish 36:38 Pain of Pleasure 39:45 Poison Crown 45:40 Life Is Pain
Just previously NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE announced that their new album is already in the works! More details will be revealed soon, Stay tuned for the next chapter in thrash metal!
Check out below NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE’s videos from “The New Hell”, released on April 22nd 2022 via Iron Shield Records.
NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE’s first self titled album is available for the first time digitally on all major streaming platforms! Now you can listen to the album that started it all back in 1989. The vinyl version is extremely difficult to find and on CD this gem haven’t been available for at least ten years! Now with the co-operation with the Finnish Universal Music this important piece of Finnish metal history is available again!
National Napalm Syndicate was formed in 1986. After few line-up changes and couple of demos later they found themselves signing a major label deal with EMI / Capitol Records.
The band was one of the very first speed/thrash metal acts to emerge from Finland. Their debut album “National Napalm Syndicate” was released in 1989.
Over the years National Napalm Syndicate have released a number of full albums and EPs, but now 2022 all the missing pieces of the puzzle were found and the band is a meaner than ever, a true killing machine ready to unleash the thrash metal storm upon the metal world.
The National Napalm Syndicate sound is a interesting combination of traditional heavy metal, NWOBHM, hardcore punk and old school thrash metal. As a bonus they have a very unique way of writing memorable choruses and addicting riffs. A truly original sound which only a country like Finland and a cold Finnish weather could have given a birth.
NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE are: Vesa Mänty – vocals (2020-) Jukka Kyrö – guitar (1986-91, 2002-) Ville Hanhisuanto – drums (2016-) Harri Lampinen – guitar (2012-) Niko Karppinen – bass (2013-)
Dallas, Texas -based Guitarist Darren DPaul Wise is proud to announce the release of his guitar solo “Spirit Animals”. Darren Wise is a guitarist for the band “Empiires” and he is also known for his work on the Drew Pearson Live show ABC, NASCAR, MLB, film and commercial music.
“Spirit Animals” guitar track is about linking melody with intensity. The riff centers on creating a groove with lots of energy to tell the melodic story with the solos. The intent was to blend some traditional and modern rock to create something new that feels familiar.
Produced by Alex Gerst Recorded at Empire Sound Studios, Dallas Tx
Richmond, VA grind outfit .GIFFROMGOD have emerged from the hive with their first set of new material since their 2019 full-length, approximation_of_a_human. Titled Digital Red, .GIFFROMGOD’s latest EP is a ponderance on the group’s fragmented nightmares, anxious days and nausea toward waking life.
Digital Red will be released on March 3 via Prosthetic Records and is available on a clear with red ink cassette variant – ltd. to 100 copies worldwide, at this location.
Speaking on the EP announcement, the band comments: “Digital Red is anxious music written during a particularly anxious period of time.”
.GIFFROMGOD’s ever evolving sonic palette and disparate influences sees the band incorporating further electronic elements in the form of acid and noise, offering a glance into what’s in store for the band’s next chapter. Tracks such as the cow’s meow and dream futures bristle with nervous energy and discordant freneticism, complimenting Digital Red’s overarching themes of dread, whilst also giving way to counterpoint passages of reprieve and serenity.
.GIFFROMGOD continue to pair tongue-in-cheek humour with a knowingly wry smile alongside collective responsibility and care towards the communities they exist in – with the group working alongside Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project, a grass roots organisation and abortion fund based in Richmond dedicated to reproductive justice in Virginia.
Across Digital Red’s 18 minute runtime .GIFFROMGOD utilise every second available to exorcise their somnolent fears and expunge real world anxieties, all the while with hopeful eyes cast toward better futures.
Digital Red tracklist: 1. knife goes in, guts come out 2. a kiss for every hornet 3. the cow’s meow 4. youth medium: child psychic 5. meat man meets man 6. dream futures
Chief Shock Video
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 