metal news
Swiss metalcore band Vicious Rain have released a remixed version of their hit single ‘The Devil & Lovers’ featuring Amariah Cook from Future Static. The track is available for streaming on major platforms.
Stream / Purchase here: https://arisingempire.com/thedevilandlovers
This collaboration infuses the original track with a fresh dynamic, blending Vicious Rain‘s signature metalcore sound with Cook‘s distinctive vocals.
French metalcore band Revnoir have unleashed their latest single ‘Revenge’, delivering a powerful blend of aggression and melody. The track showcases the band’s signature intensity, with crushing riffs, soaring vocals, and anthemic choruses that highlight their continued evolution in the metalcore scene.
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/revnoir
Accompanied by an official music video by Pavel Trebukhin, ‘Revenge’ visually amplifies the song’s raw energy and dark atmosphere, reinforcing Revnoir’s reputation for compelling storytelling and hard-hitting sound. With this release, the band continues to solidify its place among Europe’s rising heavy acts, leaving fans eager for what’s next.
Cleopatra Records celebrates Record Store Day, April 12, with one of the most anticipated releases in Todd Rundgren’s catalog, a 2 LP live album recorded on the maestro’s 2008 Arena tour.
Titled from his most recent studio album, the tour caught Rundgren accompanied by his usual A-list band of musical wizards, and a track listing that swung between a host of favorites from solo albums past.
These include a rare airing for the 1972 single “Couldn’t I Just Tell You,” “Love In Action” (from 1978’s Back To The Bars), “Just One Victory” from the seminal A Wizard, A True Star (1973), the monster hit “I Saw The Light” and more.
Alongside these, the album also includes a mammoth recounting of Arena itself. Eleven of the album’s 13 tracks are included, in a solid swathe that picks up at the end of side one, and lasts deep into side four.
Pressed on black/white split vinyl and packaged with informative liner notes by Rundgren biographer Paul Myers, The Arena Tour Live is limited to just 1,000 copies worldwide.
Track List:
LP1 SIDE A
LP1 SIDE B
LP2 SIDE A
LP2 SIDE B
Last year, veteran Midwest metallists CONQUEST returned with their latest album, ‘Paradox.’ And now, the lads are prepared to unleash their latest single/video, “Love Amplified.” And like their previous standout offerings, “Walking Dead” and “The Writings on the Wall,” “Love Amplified” merges metal with melody, and measures up mightily to the current competition. Local fans will be able to hear the song performed live soon, as several performances have been confirmed.
“A strong, in your face hard rock song about the love of playing guitar, drums, bass, whatever it is that you love to play as a musical instrument,” explains the group’s singer/guitarist, Derrick Brumley. “A very cool track to play live – the audience seems to love it, and we truly enjoy playing it!”
Drummer Lee Skyles also holds the track in high regard: “‘Love Amplified’ was definitely one of those songs we wrote that was outside of our norm. When Mike Crook played this cool guitar intro to the song, excitement set in and we knew we were on to something different. It’s one of those upbeat, feel good songs that get you on your feet, and will make you move however you move! For me, I love the lead solos, as they are tasty, raw, and full of pizzazz! I think folks will really like the tune on loud! Turn it up to 11!”
Comprised of Brumley, Crook, Skyles, and bassist Rob Boyer, Conquest’s latest LP, ‘Paradox’ (which can be streamed or ordered via https://lnk.to/conquestparadox), was produced and engineered by Derrick (and mixed by Adam Long), and is getting rave reviews via metal media, including the Rock You Show site saying “I have to give this one 9.5 out of 10 “Flaming Fist”. You nearly get 2 albums worth of great quality music, including a stellar cover of Rainbow’s “Man on the Silver Mountain”. I thank them personally for keeping the metal torch lit in these times of darkness”.
UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS:
February 8th Red Fish Blue Fish St Charles Missouri
March 8th Pops Concert Club Sauget Illinois
May 10th The Diamond Music Hall St Peters Missouri
June 27th The Mill Granite City Illinois ( support for the Iron Maidens)
‘Paradox’ Tracklisting:
For further information on Conquest please visit:
Website: conquestmetal.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conquestrocks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conquestmetal/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Conquestmetal
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/7bTGxUCcsmp3KBIScrFRiB
Among the whispers of timeless glens, Saor breathe new life into the spirits of the past. Inspired by a hilly walk through an older world, Andy Marshall and his band of Caledonian warriors have crafted a majestic symphony that wields the intensity of black metal with Celtic folk melodic in the enthralling form of their new album.
“Amidst the Ruins stretches Saor in new and interesting ways”, Angry Metal Guy writes in a 4/5 review. “Anyone with a mere passing interest in folksy black metal will undoubtedly glean much from Amidst the Ruins“.
Amidst the Ruins was released yesterday, Friday, February 7 on Season of Mist, and you can hear all five monumental songs today by listening to the full album stream on our YouTube channel.
Order the album at https://orcd.co/saoramidsttheruins
Amidst the Ruins pays a towering tribute to the ancestral spirits and untamed landscapes of Caledonia. With each song, Saor recalls tales of yore, opening a door into Scotland’s storied past.
“The Glen of Sorrow” paints the tragic saga of the Massacre of Glencoe. With a spellbinding appearance from internationally acclaimed cellist Jo Quail, “The Sylvan Embrace” reaches into the heart of Scotland’s forests. “Echoes of the Ancient Land” inspires awe. And while “Rebirth” ends the album amidst a 14-minute transformative journey, it’s the title track that lies at the album’s mystical core. “Amidst the Runs” reflects on the bridge between the relics of Scotland’s noble past and the ephemeral distractions of modern life, calling out to the enduring legacy of the land and for us to reconnect with the sacred threads of tradition.
Tracklist:
1. Amidst the Ruins (12:41) [WATCH]
2. Echoes of the Ancient Land (11:41)
3. Glen of Sorrow (12:05)
4. The Sylvan Embrace (8:19) [WATCH]
5. Rebirth (14:10) [WATCH]
Full runtime: 58:57
To commemorate the arrival of their new album, Saor are setting out on tour. Hear them perform Amidst the Ruins for the first time during the band’s upcoming 20-date trek across the United Kingdom and Europe.
Get tickets: https://www.saormusic.com/tour-dates
Saor Amidst the Ruins 2025 UK & EU Tour
Feb 8 – Glasgow, UK – Classic Grand (ALBUM LAUNCH w/ Domhain & Ofnus)
Feb 13 – Bristol, UK – The Exchange
Feb 14 – Birmingham, UK – The Flapper
Feb 15 – York, UK – Fulford Arms
Mar 15 – Great Yarmouth, UK – HRH Spring Break 2
Mar 28 – Arnhem, NL – Willemeen
Mar 29 – The Hague, NL – Paard
Mar 30 – Kassel, DE – Goldgrube
Apr 17 – Weinheim, DE – Café Central
Apr 18 – Graz, AT – Explosiv
Apr 19 – Munich, DE – Dark Easter Metal Meeting
Apr 20 – Aarburg, CH – Musigburg
Apr 21 – Prague, CZ – Futurum Music Bar
Apr 22 – Poznan, PL – Klub 2progi
Apr 23 – Leipzig, DE – Hellraiser
Apr 24 – Lichtenfels, DE – Ragnarök Festival
Apr 25 – Bochum, DE – Matrix
Apr 26 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain
Apr 27 – Lyon, FR – Le Marché Gare
May 16 – Roggentin, DE, Dat Unland Fier
Out of the mists, where lore whispers in the winds, SAOR, the heralds of Caledonia’s primeval beauty and ancient tales, rise once again to enrapture souls far and wide. Their newest offering, Amidst the Ruins, is an epic voyage set to rekindle the fires of heritage and resurrect the valor that courses through Scotland’s vast landscapes.
Since their emergence in 2013, SAOR has beckoned listeners to transcend the mortal plain, intertwining the ferocity of atmospheric black metal with the gentle, haunting melodies of Celtic fold. Andy Marshall, the sage bard and architect of SAOR‘s sound, continues his pilgrimage through the verdant glens and stark highlands, revealing sights both ethereal and eternal through his music.
Building upon the chronicles of old, the forthcoming album Amidst the Ruins stands proud, a timeless sentinel amidst the sands of time. For in this work, Marshall, the visionary, has deftly woven strands of modern-life dissonance into the rich tapestry of Scottish lore, enshrining the enigmatic contrast between the remnants of a glorious yore and the often-elusive grasp of the present day. This auditory saga resounds with the resonance of ruined structures and forgotten paths, its melodies steeped in the reverence for sacred ground and a lament for the disconnect wrought by modernity.
Delve deep and you shall find Echoes of the Ancient Land, a heartfelt tribute to Scotland’s timeless landscapes and their profound ancestral connections. Through The Sylvan Embrace, SAOR imparts a harmonious sanctuary, a sylvan retreat where solace is found, and spirits are soothed. With Rebirth, the cycle is complete, weaving an intricate spell of transformation and new dawns.
The band’s odyssey upon the stage is nothing less than transcendental, as audiences bear witness to the heart of their aural fables brought vividly to life. These live performances stand as sacred rituals, bridging the veil between epochs, inviting all to partake in the shared legacy of the Scottish Highlands.
In Amidst the Ruins, the warriors of SAOR cast a clarion call to awaken from the lethargy of modern existence, to reclaim the essence of a heritage laid asunder. From the vibrant resonance of ancient battles to the hushed despair of Glencoe’s betrayed souls, every note spills forth like blood of the fallen seeping into the heathered earth.
As we stand on the cusp of this new era, Amidst the Ruins, the latest chronicle unfolds. SAOR‘s watchful eye turns to the horizon, the whispering woods, the twilight skies, and the sleeping stones bearing seers’ dreams, evoking the indomitable spirit of the realm. In their hands, the past is resurrected; its tales to be retold for those who would heed the call—SAOR, remain the ceaseless bards of Caledonia unbroken.
Line-up:
Andy Marshall – All Composition, Writing & Instrumentation
Guest Musicians:
Ella Zlotos – Female Vocals, Tin Whistles, Low Whistles, Uilleann Pipes
Carlos Vivas – Drums
Jo Quail – Cello & FX on “The Sylvan Embrace”
Àngela Moya Serrat – Violin on “Amidst the Ruins”, “Echoes of the Ancient Land” & “Rebirth” Miguel Izquierdo – Viola on “Amidst the Ruins”, “Echoes of the Ancient Land” & “Rebirth”
Samuel C. Ledesma – Cello on “Amidst the Ruins”, “Echoes of the Ancient Land” & “Rebirth
Recording:
Andy Marshall – Vocals, Guitars, Bass recorded at Fortriu Studios, Scotland
Nikolaus Jira – Female Vocals, Tin Whistles, Low Whistles and Uilleann Pipes recorded at NikolausRecordings Studio, Germany
Jose Garrido and Daniel Sabugal – Drums recorded at NewLife Studios, Spain
Mattias Eklund – Violin, Viola and Cello recorded at Farkosten Studios, Spain
Chris Fielding – Mixing and Guitar reamping at Penylan Studio, Wales
Tony Lindgren – Mastering at Fascination Street Studios, Sweden
Biography:
Saor
Edits by Sébastien Gamez
Cover Art:
Julian Bauer (@julianb_art)
Website: https://julianbauer.com/
Layout by Adrien Bousson
Follow Saor:
Official Website: https://www.saormusic.com
Official Store: https://store.saormusic.com
Bandcamp: https://saor.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saorofficial
YouTube: https://youtube.com/saormusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saormusic
Bandsintown: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/4099241-saor
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rHMzJ1RKUMtid1K2QEYbr
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/saor/879243889
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/6768301
TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/5653569
Former Bauhaus and Love & Rockets mainstay David J continues his remarkable run of recent singles (“Christmases When You Were Mine,” “Night of the Vampire” and his acclaimed duet with Melanie on her own “Beautiful People”) with a shimmering, fragile take on the immortal “My Funny Valentine.”
Taken from Cleopatra Records’ upcoming Gothic Valentines album, “My Funny Valentine” was first heard in the Rodgers/Hart musical Babes In Arms back in 1937. Since that time, this love song for a less than lovely-looking paramour… “your looks are laughable, unphotographable, yet you’re my favorite work of art”… has been covered by upwards of 600 artists in the years since teenager Mitzi Green first voiced it, from Frank Sinatra and Julie London to Elvis Costello and Nico.
It was also inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2015, in recognition of the song’s “cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation’s audio legacy.”
“I’ve always loved this classic song,” says David J, “and thought that a ‘cold wave’ synth version in collaboration with my talented friend, Jon Bernstein, would suit the tone of the album.”
He was correct. It does.
Listen to the SINGLE: https://orcd.co/ej5qaoa
The Gothic Valentines album itself, as the title suggests, is, a seasonally sensitive gathering of exclusive new recordings and much-loved classics by Switchblade Symphony, Iggy Pop, David J, Ministry, Cinderella, Leæther Strip, Soft Cell, and Joy Division – plus, in case you missed it, David J and Melanie’s “Beautiful People,” casting David J as the Lee Hazelwood to Melanie’s Nancy Sinatra.
Elsewhere across the two CDs, goth legends Rosetta Stone, Sex Beat, the Skeletal Family, Christian Death and Gene Loves Jezebel join upcoming favorites Lebanon Hangover, Sonsombre and The KVB in redrafting February 14 in the blackest of hearts and the finest of fishnets.
And don’t forget the eye liner!
Gothic Valentines CD/VINYL pre-order: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=gothic+valentines
Gothic Valentines digital pre-order: https://orcd.co/gothicvalentines
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )