Attention rock/metal music fans! Follow the yellow brick road to The Emerald Cities Tour, featuring NONPOINT with special guests Blacktop Mojo and Sumo Cyco. This all immersive “Twisted Wizard of Oz” themed tour will transport you from the second you walk in the venue with visuals and amazing live performances that are sure to have you pitting in the mynical streets of Munchkinland!
The tour will be traveling through their top cities, including Virginia Beach, Houston, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, and Tampa (Ybor City). This is your chance to take a musical journey and witness the critically acclaimed live shows of Nonpoint, Blacktop Mojo, and Sumo Cyco firsthand. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rock out in the Land of Oz.. Get your tickets now before they’re all gone!
Additionally you’ll have the chance to gain access to watch them soundcheck, get autographs, early access to the venue and merchandise, snap some pics with the band in front of the stage, then make your way to THEIR TOUR BUS to listen to unreleased demos from 1997, demos they’re currently working on and be a part of the music making process as one of their VIPs, because after listening you get to vote on which songs Nonpoint should work on next to release to the public. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience!
March 2nd – Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27 March 3rd – Fredericksburg, VA @ Hard Times Four Mile Park March 4th – Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligans March 5th – Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819 March 7th – Johnson City, TN @ Capones March 8th – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero March 10th – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor March 11th – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room March 12th – Jacksonville, FL @ Underbelly March 14th – Chattanooga, TN @ Barrelhouse Ballroom March 15th – Nashville, TN @ Basement East March 17th – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell) March 18th – Biloxi, MS @ Point Cadet Plaza March 19th – Little Rock, AR @ Rev Room March 21st – Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck March 22nd – Tulsa, OK @ Vanguard March 24th – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live March 25th – Dallas, TX @ Trees March 26th – San Antonio, TX @ Rock Box
Nonpoint is: Elias Soriano (Lead Vocals) Robb Rivera (Drums) Rasheed Thomas (Guitar /Backing Vocals) Adam Woloszyn (Bass) Jason Zeilstra (Lead Guitar)
“The Birth,” featured on HYAENA‘s album “The Ground, The Light, The Sound,” was re-recorded this year for its 30th anniversary, giving it new life! The track was recorded at La Fucina Studio by the legendary Giacomo Jac Salani. On keyboards we have Andrea Zingoni, on bass Massimiliano Leggieri, Gabriele Bellini on guitar and Michel Agostini on drums.
Another re-recorded single “DANCE UNDER THE MOON” is ONLINE! A song originally released on “The Ground, The Light, The Sound” in 1992, it has been re-recorded by Gabriele Bellini, Massimiliano Leggieri and Andrea Zingoni! The track was recorded at La Fucina Studio by Giacomo Jac Salani. Drums played by Michel Agostini.
Dark Essence Records will kick off 2023 with the release of “Avstand”, the fourth full-length album from Norwegian Heavy Rockers SLEGEST, and, whilst fans are waiting for the 20th January so that they can get their hands on it, the label has today released a new single from the album, together with an accompanying video.
“Forløysning og Rus” is the track that has been chosen, and its title and content have a particular significance for the band, as they explain:
“Forløysning og Rus” means “redemption and intoxication”, two important components in SLEGEST. The song bursts with energy and nasty riffs, and can easily be played at maximum volume.
The single “Forløysning og Rus” can be streamed or downloaded from a number of services at this location.
Whilst the video, which was filmed by Håvard Nesbø and is shot at an abandoned farm and an old house of worship in the band’s hometown of Leikanger, can be seen on YouTube, below.
Formed in 2010 by guitarist and vocalist Ese, SLEGEST started life as a solo project and it wasn’t until 2013 that it evolved into a recording and live band. Aside from Ese, today’s lineup comprises Sør on guitars, Hövard on bass, and the newly announced drummer Chris. In fact, it is the arrival of Chris, whose previous experience playing live with the band has stood him in good stead, has proved to be significant for SLEGEST in that “Avstand” is the first album on which Ese does not play drums himself.
Known for their no-nonsense, head banging heavy rock, “Avstand” marks a change to SLEGEST’s hard-hitting heavy metal sound. It is still very much SLEGEST, with its trademark Black Metal and Classic 70’s and 80’s heavy rock overtones, but this time the band has chosen to freshen things up by upping the tempo a bit.
Inspired by Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy, “Avstand” was mixed by Herbrand Larsen at the Conclave & Earshot Studio, and mastered by Iver Sandøy at the Duper/Solslottet Studio, both in Bergen. With artwork by Tom Korsvold, “Avstand” Tracklisting is as follows:
1. Innsikt 2. Evigheit på Evigheit 3. Forløysning og Rus 4. Vinterkristus 5. Gåte 6. Er det deg Livet? 7. Til det Største som Finst 8. Oh Baby (Status Quo cover)
SLEGEST are set to join KAMPFAR on a series of dates in Norway during January and February. Routing is as follows:
JANUARY Fri 20: Rockeeller / John Dee / Centrum Scene, Oslo Sat 21: Verkstedhallen & Lobbyen, Trondheim FEBRUARY Fri 03: Ovenpaa, Kopervik Sat 04: Hulen, Bergen
Blackened death doom outfit STRIGOI, the brainchild of Greg Mackintosh (PARADISE LOST, VALLENFYRE) and Chris Casket (VALLENFYRE), have teamed up with Decibel Magazine for the exclusive release of their brand new song, “The Construct of Misery,” via the Decibel flexi series!
The only way to ensure your copy is by signing up for a deluxe Decibel subscription by Monday, January 9 at noon ET. Doom may be eternal, but this offer is not. Sign up today HERE.
The band is supporting their brand new sophomore album, ‘Viscera,’ which was released in September 2022 via Season of Mist. The record can be streamed, downloaded, and ordered HERE.
The cover artwork for ‘Viscera,’ was created by Brian Sheehan of Legerdemain Art.
Track-list 1. United in Viscera (6:44) 2. King of All Terror (2:38) [LISTEN] 3. An Ocean of Blood (4:13) [WATCH] 4. Napalm Frost (2:26) 5. Hollow (6:20) [WATCH] 6. A Begotten Son (3:51) 7. Bathed in a Black Sun (4:19) 8. Byzantine Tragedy (5:28) 9. Redeemer (2:38) 10. Iron Lung (7:55) Total: 46:32
Unsettling: it’s a word which can be used to describe a good swathe of the music which has come from the mind of Greg Mackintosh over the years, but in the context of Strigoi, it feels particularly apt.
Formed immediately after previous side project Vallenfyre had run its course, Strigoi found Greg and Vallenfyre bassist Chris Casket reconfiguring the aesthetics of that band. Their 2019 debut, Abandon All Faith, was a notable transition, taking the crust punk, death metal and grind influences which had defined Vallenfyre and deriving from those an extreme music amalgam which was altogether more…well, unsettling.
But if Abandon All Faith was a record where the memory of Vallenfyre exerted an inevitable, but important, influence, then second album Viscera is where Strigoi define and express themselves on their own terms.
“It’s the second album and we’re pushing those limits,” says Chris Casket. “The longer songs are longer; the shorter songs are shorter. It’s fully realising the concept. When we did the first album, there were certain expectations as we were coming from Vallenfyre. I felt that it was a really good transition from one to the other. But I feel that with this record, it’s more of a fully fleshed out concept. It’s pushing the light and shade further out.”
“The first album was us giving it its own identity separate from Vallenfyre, even though it’s kind of an obvious continuation, in a way,” adds Greg. “But with Viscera, it’s a combination of pushing the envelope a little bit, making it a bit less raw. Because, we had done that to the Nth degree with Vallenfyre. I’d also say there’s a bit of sound design in there, too, to make it very creepy and, yes, unsettling, sound wise.”
With Covid thwarting Strigoi’s plans to do shows to promote Abandon All Faith, Greg and Chris used the down-time to work on what would eventually become Viscera.
“We have a strange way of working,” says Chris. “I will send words, prose, whatever it may be to Greg. He likes that process, because he reads what I’ve written and it inspires the music he comes up with. I’ve never worked that way before. But that and the added time we had, the space away from things, is what I think has made Viscera what it is.”
Greg adds, “If it’s a song where Chris’ lyrics sound angry, I’ll do a song that’s more, I guess, grounded in the essence of early grindcore. Something that expresses that mood. But if it’s something more sombre or unnerving, then I’ll start with a bit of sound design and work towards riffs. I’ve always thought of music in terms of visuals, and that might come from the lyrics. The last song on the album, ‘Iron Lung’, for example: I actually said to Chris that I had an idea for a song where it feels that you can’t breathe, that it feels like you’ve got a weight on your chest. And the result is probably the toughest going song on the record to get through. But I think it does get that across.”
Viscera, then, clearly defines the Strigoi sound and vision – as Chris says, it’s a “mix tape of misery” and points at ways in which the band may develop in the years ahead.
“I get bored easily,” Greg laughs. “I’ve got a very short attention span. I love doom metal, I love funeral doom, crust punk, grindcore…all these things. But usually after two songs of each I’m thinking, ‘Right, what’s next?’ And that’s my problem, but it does determine what this band and this music is like.”
“There’s not much light on this record at all. If there’s any, it’s there just to emphasise how dark the shade is, really. And what I loved about early death metal, which is when I got into it, is that everything had its own feel back then. That was at the back of my mind the whole time when making Viscera – that I wanted to give it its own feel. But the listeners are going to have to decide whether that was successful or not.”
“Gran Espejo De Humo” is one of five new songs off the upcoming EP “Rituales Segrados” by Extreme metal band SIGLOS features the transcendent strings of Two-time Grammy-nominated guitarist Sin Quirin, former iconic Ministry band member of 15 years, and the demanding vocals of Pedro Sanchez from the band Transtorno.
“Gran Espejo De Humo” is a classic barnburner riff with that double kick onslaught. Straight-up heavy, speed and thrash elements mixed in with dark atmospheric keyboards in the background for that texture. it is an ultra-heavy song that makes your head bang instantly, ” describes Sin Quirin.
Lead vocalist Pedro Sanchez shares, “Gran Espejo De Humo” is a very personal song. It’s when you find the courage to look deep into the Smoking Mirror of your reflection and face your faults. But it is also a chance to find the courage to align with our mind, heart, spirit, and ego to be able to transform our outcomes.
“Rituales Segrados” was written by Sin Quirin, with lyrics written by Pedro Sanchez, and was produced, mixed, and mastered by Alex Crescioni at Stygian Sound. Alex adds, “It’s impressive to see the growth and transformation of Sin’s songwriting and guitar playing with SIGLOS. This aesthetic and genre seems to be a perfect fit for Sin and Pedro to fully express themselves at this stage of their journey as musicians. I truly feel they have forged a new genre of metal and am thrilled for their escalation and expansion in 2023!”
Teaser clip of “Gran Espejo De Humo” from the new EP “Rituales Sagrados” watch here:
SIGLOS continues to work on new music. Expect to hear even more from them soon.
SIGLOS debut EP “Rituales Sagrados” release date January 27th, 2023. Teaser clip of second single, “Gran Espejo De Humo” All Music by Sin Quirin Vocals and Lyrics by Pedro Sanchez Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Alex Crescioni at Stygian Sound Artwork by Nestor Avalos Logo By Gogo Melone
About SIGLOS:
Los Angeles, CA-based Extreme Metal band SIGLOS is a heavy metal band combining aspects of Black Metal, Doom Metal, and Industrial Metal. It features two-time Grammy Nominated guitarist Sin Quirin (formerly of Ministry, Lords of Acid, American Head Charge, Revolting Cocks, and Society 1), and Pedro Sanchez (Transtorno). The pair blend their Mexican and Spanish roots into the lyrics, rhythms, and music, creating a dark atmospheric raw intensity.
Brazilian TUATHA DE DANANN ended the year 2022 with the release of their new single and music video, “The Nameless”. the song shows a band that knew how to reconnect with its past, even though it continues to constantly evolve its sound, experiencing one of the creative peaks of the band close to completing 30 years on the road. The music video for “The Nameless” was produced by Raoni Joseph, with footage by Daniel Toli and Simão Domingos.
The external recordings were made at the roundabout in the Minas Gerais town of Ribeirão Vermelho, located in Campo das Vertentes. click here to watch the music video the song anticipates the next Tuatha de Danann album, the band’s eighth full length album, which should be released in the first half of 2023, and which according to vocalist and multiinstrumentalist Bruno Maia, contains elements not so common in the most recent production of the band, but that doesn’t distance them from the genre they pioneered, folk metal.
“it is a more dark, dramatic and emotional song, which evokes some influences that we have used since the beginning of the band”, highlighted Bruno Maia.
The release of “The Nameless” was accompanied by a merchandising kit based on its beautiful cover art, created by Rodrigo Barbieri, now available for sale on the band’s website. “The Nameless” lyrics discuss about social and historical issues, and one of its inspirations is the german philosopher Walter Benjamin and his ‘Theses on the Concept of History’.
Bruno comments “in the lyrics we try to bring the excluded, dominated and defeated to the center and focus of the work. For Benjamin it is only possible to have real justice if there is historical and memory justice. this song, both the voice melodies, settings and letter finds its greatest inspiration in some of these theses.
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 )