NOW OR NEVER was founded in 2012 by guitarist Ricky Marx (ex-Pretty Maids) and drummer Ranzo, to be joined soon after by vocalist Jo Amore (Nightmare), and bass player Kenn Jackson (also a veteran ex-Pretty Maids member). The band released their debut album worldwide in 2013 on the Mausoleum Records label, performing epic anthems, featuring bone- crushing filthy riffs and memorable melodies delivered by a singer whose voice has been justifiably described as bloodcurdling. Now Or Never epitomises the evolution of Hard Rock into modern Metal Music.
Just recently Tarja Virmakari had a chance to interview Ricky Marx, in spite of huge technical problems, at the end the interview was sewn together from 12 different audio-files, Tarja and Ricky had a great chat talking about the past, present and the future. If you want to know what exactly, you just have to join the conversation below.
Dutch Symphonic Rockers WITHIN TEMPTATION, formed in 1996, have recently released their 6th studio album “Hydra”, including 11 tracks and featuring several guests: metalcore singer Howard Jones (ex-Killswitch Engage), rapper Xzibit, classical-crossover/symphonic metal vocalist Tarja Turunen (ex-Nightwish) and alternative rock singer Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum). The first single, “Paradise (What About Us?)”, was released on September 27, 2013, and featured Tarja Turunen as guest vocalist. The second single, “Dangerous”, was released on December 20, in which Howard Jones provided the male vocals.
Just recently Tarja Virmakari had a chance to interview WITHIN TEMPTATION‘s fine Metal Lady vocalist, Sharon Den Adel(for Truemetal.it). The main topic was of course the latest effort “Hydra” and its guest appearances, but Sharon also spoke about the difficulties to break through, in the Netherlands for the first few years of their existence. Sharon also revealed the ultimate dream that WITHIN TEMPTATION still have for the future. To find out this and many more, join the conversation below.
To read the interview in Italian on Truemetal.it, go HERE.
Swedish death metallers ARCH ENEMY was formed in Halmstad (Sweden) in 1996. Angela Gossow was successful as the band’s lead vocalist from 2000 to 2014, changing extreme metal completely to a new level. However then she decided to “retire” to become the Manager of the band, and contacted THE AGONIST singer Alissa White-Gluz, proposing her to take her place as lead vocalist in ARCH ENEMY. These are the facts in two words. So right away Alissa was involved, together with Michael Amott (on guitars from 1996–present), in the songwriting process for ARCH ENEMY‘s 10th studio album “War Eternal”, which will be released on Century Media Records on June 10th. This album confirms that with Alissa, the band has a new weapon, to open a whole new chapter for Arch Enemy. “War Eternal” includes 13 tracks which offer a nostalgic nod to the past and a stunning example of what’s possible in the future.
Just a couple of days ago Tarja Virmakari had a chance to interview Alissa, catching up with her on ARCH ENEMY‘s tour. Alissa spoke widely about joining the band and how ARCH ENEMY fans have welcomed her. Of course the main topic was their upcoming album “War Eternal”, both Alissa and Tarja agreed on the fact that the album’s main key-word is ENERGY and it is full of details. To hear more, please join the conversation below.
As you perhaps know, we at Metal Shock Finland presented a week’s Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore in April 2014. Many big names including artists, musicians, one writer and one photographer joined us and shared their opinion and thoughts on Ritchie Blackmore. The legendary ACCEPT ‘s Wolf Hoffmann was also one of them, who agreed to have a chat with Mohsen Fayyazi. But unfortunately, due to some technical issues we were not able to publish this interview up to now.
Wolf Hoffmann is one of those guitarists who influenced many bands and musicians, ranging from younger talented musicians to the big names such as AMON AMARTH. Check out what Mr Hoffmann shared with us about Ritchie Blackmore:
“Well, I’ve always been a huge fan of Ritchie Blackmore, but especially growing up in my formative teenage years. Me and a lot of other people in Germany growing up were heavily influenced and totally into Deep Purple and especially Ritchie Blackmore. When he had his own band Rainbow, we all worshipped the guy and I think he had a few years of making some incredible albums. And he definitely influenced my style of playing, no doubt.”
Wolf Hoffmann said, when asked what he has learned from Ritchie as a musician:
“Well, what I always liked about him, he was kinda different from all the other guys, not so much a shredder. Actually, I have to say in the mid seventies, nobody was that much into shredding, that came later with Yngwie Malmsteen and all the speed players. He was always very melodic and he was a great songwriter and he always managed to write solos that fit the song. Maybe that’s one of the things I try to use as an inspiration. A solo is more than just a little piece of noodling, it’s really another piece of the song, that gives the song another dimension.”
“Would Rock and Metal music be different today without Ritchie?” Check out Wolf‘s answer:
“Yeah, I mean who can imagine a world without Smoke On The Water? What a monster riff that shaped a whole generation! Like I said earlier, everybody on my friends, particularly in Germany, was into Blackmore then and a lot of ’em still are today. You know, I live in the United States and he’s not that well known here and I don’t think he ever was. But definitely in Germany, people still worship him.”
You can listen to some part of this interview on the Audio Player below:
Italian legendary extreme thrash metallers NECRODEATH, formed in 1984, have just released their 11th studio album “The 7 Deadly Sins” on Scarlet Records, delivering 7 fast and brutal songs centering around the 7 deadly sins. For the first time ever, the band used their Italian mother tongue to write most of the lyrics, as well as English and Latin, giving a different edge to the music itself.
Photo by Christian Tallone
Just recently, on May 17, Tarja Virmakari met NECRODEATH drummer PESO and bassist GL, at Metalitalia.com -Festival in Milan. During the chat backstage, and after forcing the guys to talk in English, in spite of their heavy resistance, PESO and GL fared very well in their task, speaking widely about their latest effort and about future things that will happen in the NECRODEATH camp. To find out all the details and more, join the conversation below.
‘The 7 Deadly Sins’ tracklist as follows:
1. Sloth
2. Lust
3. Envy
4. Pride
5. Wrath
6. Gluttony
7. Greed
8. Thanatoid (Bonus track)
9. Graveyard Of The Innocents (Bonus Track)
Finnish blackened Nuclear metal pioneers (formed in 1990) IMPALED NAZARENE incorporate elements of grindcore and punk rock. “Vigorous and Liberating Death” is their twelfth full-length studio album, and it was released, as all of their albums thus far, on Osmose Productions at the end of April, 2014. The first demos for the album were done late in 2012, but the actual recording was delayed due to issues with their then-upcoming live DVD and its promotional tour. The album’s title and lyrical themes handle death from various viewpoints: the death of Finland’s and the European Union’s economies and the death of freedom of speech among others.
Just recently, on May 17, Tarja Virmakari met Mika “Sluti666” Luttinen, the band’s founder/vocalist and the only original member, at Metalitalia.com -Festival in Milan, and during the colourful chat backstage, Mika spoke about “Vigorous And Liberating Death” and revealed many interesting details, also the album cover art has quite an intriguing story behind it. To find out this and a lot more, join the conversation below.
Photos by Christian Tallone
Also check out the “Vigorous and Liberating Death” album samples below:
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
