We’re finally getting close to the end of the series of DOCKER’S GUILD videos from the new album “The Mystic Technocracy – Season 2: The Age of Entropy”. Pornocracy (Saeculum Obscurum) is episode 2.17 of the saga and is part of the “Into the Dahr Cages” and narrates the fall and corruption of Lucy Higgs. The song features Joel Hoekstra on guitars and Amanda Somerville on vocals.
MUSICIANS: Elisa Montin (drums), Roby Salvai Ensemble (bass), Joel Hoekstra (guitars), Douglas R. Docker (keyboards, vocals), Amanda Somerville (vocals)
DRAMATIS PERSONAE: Douglas R. Docker (Narrator 1), Amanda Somerville (Narrator 2), Monic Re (Cassilda), Anna Petracca (Camilla), Valentina Procopio (Lucy Higgs)
Lithuanian Ritualistic Dark-Folk Project VĖLIŲ NAMAI has released a video for the second single for the title-track ‘Alkai’, of their the upcoming album, due for release on January 20th.
“Alkai”, the title track, was named after the sacred sacrificial sites in archaic Baltic spirituality. Most often, they were located in open places – on a hill, in a grove, by a stream, or in a meadow – and centred around a sacred tree. Worshippers would come to sacrifice oxen, sheep, goats, or other animals. In Lithuania and Latvia, there are still to this day over 240 geographical locations named after alkas.
Vėlių Namai take inspiration from these sacred places in hopes of giving listeners the strength to persevere in their own lives – to shift focus from mundane distractions to transformation, sacrality, and hope.
Band leader Julius Mitė commented:
“Alkai” is a song about passing to the other side and entering the afterlife. But most of all, it is a personal journey towards the acceptance of death. The video was shot in Lithuania – at many old, important, and personal locations. Some of the scenes are shot in an abandoned house that is now derelict but once belonged to my great-grandparents.
“Alkai” is the fourth album of Lithuanian ritualistic dark-folk project Vėlių Namai. It serves as an open invitation to experience the mystical world of the Baltics – to feel the sacredness of its ancient past.
Draped in a sonic tapestry woven from a great variety of musical traditions, the listener is sent off on a hypnotic flight of the imagination. Ceremonial chanting and droning folk parts give way to a kind of otherworldly, trance-inducing techno performed with mostly organic instruments. As with the radically different music styles, digital and analogue sounds are fused together seamlessly. Pulsating minimalism merges with vocals and shamanic percussion to create a hypnotic soundscape coated by mesmerizing melodies played on guitars, lutes, and ethnic string instruments such as the Turkish baglama, Lithuanian kanklės and Latvian giga. This ambitious concoction boils down to an exquisite brew infused in equal parts with Dead Can Dance, Wardruna, Sigur Ros, and various electronic music.
“Alkai” will be released by Nordvis on CD-digipak and digital, January 20, 2023. The album features guest appearances by Espen Winther of Eldrim, Swedish-Serbian composer Petar Mrdjen, and prominent Lithuanian singer Liucija Nanartavičiūtė. Cover artwork by Joan Llopis Doménech.
Tracklist:
1 – Aftensinn (‘Evening Mood’) 2 – Væringjar – (‘The Varangians’) 3 – Bardo 4 – Vilkobelė – (‘The Hawthorn’) 5 – Miklagarðr – (‘The Great City’) 6 – Alkai 7 – Saulės Kalvis – (‘The Sun’s Blacksmith’) 8 – Paskandos – (‘The World Beyond the Water/Hell/Drowning’) 9 – Invocation of the Nine-Horned God 10 – The Plateau 11 – Nótt (‘The Night’)
Vėlių Namai can be translated as ‘Home of souls’. The main intention behind the project – studio recordings, live shows, and the underlying philosophies – is the deliberation of matters pertaining to life, death, and the spirit world. This exploration is conducted through the lens of ancient Baltic understandings and concepts about the afterlife.
The band was founded in 2006 by Julius Mitė, a Lithuanian musician who was based in Prague at that time. Over the years, what started as a solo endeavour evolved into a full line-up with the inclusion of guitarist Jokūbas Krasauskas and percussionist Gintaras Aleksandravičius. Prior to “Alkai”, Vėlių Namai released three albums: “Pasiklydę” (2009), “Laumių Šokis” (2016), and “Kúrir” (2018). Over the years, the band has performed in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Slovakia and Belarus. Vėlių Namai in concert is characterised by a strong emphasis on the visual and ritualistic aspects that aims to induce a trance-like state in the listener. Their performances always include incense, video projections, hundreds of candles, animal bones, make-up, ceremonial garb, and various old Baltic, Ivorian and Middle Eastern imagery.
Vėlių Namai invites you to experience the darker side of nature, and of existence itself. Tread the trail of spirits – shrouded in mists and mysticism – and touch the other side. Visit your true home in the realm beyond.
SOUR BLOOD is a new project on the map of Poland, playing alternative rock, behind which there are two musicians connected with rock scene in Poznań (PL).
Sour Blood is a ritual of emotions taking one’s soul to the rivers of no return. When alive, a Man becomes a vessel for one’s desires, ambitions, and fears, and joins to the Dance Macabre deluded, that it’s He who leads. Sour Blood is the search of the feeling when you let it go.
“Here Not Waken” is a song about awakening and the long and winding road to it. It’s hard, but it still lets us make our choices. We all tend to have ideas about our lives and how to read its chapters – some of them ought to be closed, other started. In this story we are the toughest critics and we often don’t agree with our own judgment. Either way, the verdict itself and when we are ready for it is up to us and the relationship we have with our own psyche.
“Duplicity” is a new Progressive Metal, Instrumental song written by 15 year-old drummer Thomas Thunder. This heavy hitting, power driven track has everything a prog metal fan wants: double bass drumming, odd time, virtuosic guitar and keyboards. Featured musicians on this track include Derek Sherinian on keyboards, Ron Bumblefoot Thal on guitar, and Tony Franklin on bass. This is Thunder’s first single after his debut album The Pharaoh’s Temple released last year in September 2021.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Thomas on his debut album. I was extremely impressed with his creativity, and use of advanced harmony for a kid his age. I think the future is bright for young Thomas Thunder!” -Derek Sherinian
“Ive had the pleasure of playing on the soon to be released album of Thomas Thunder. Thomas is a young up and coming musician and he’s a phenomenal drummer. He’s a very intricate songwriter that writes this amazing, crazy stuff that has been so tough to play. I’m on his album along with my Sons of Apollo bandmate Derek Sherinian, and bass player Tony Franklin. So, please check out this album. I hope you enjoy it!” -Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal
“I was thrilled to play on Thomas’s album, with such an esteemed group of musicians. Thomas is definitely advanced for his years as both a writer and a player. I look forward to seeing how he will evolve as he creates more and more.” -Tony Franklin
Thomas Thunder is young up and coming musician from Massachusetts, and is here to prove that a teenager can be a musical force to be reckoned with. With his intricate Progressive Rock songs that include odd time signatures and unique instrumentation, he has captured the attention of fans as well as seasoned, professional musicians.
Thomas began his journey as a musician when he started drum lessons at age five. He started playing in performance bands by age seven, and began songwriting at age ten when he released his first single and was awarded a prize in the Eventide Theater Songwriting competition. In fact, Thomas grabbed the attention of the ‘King of Keyboards’ Derek Sherinian (Sons of Apollo; Dream Theater; Alice Cooper) with his songs. By the time Thomas reached the age 14, he released his debut album The Pharaoh’s Temple, and his team of musicians included Derek, Ron Bumblefoot Thal and Tony Franklin continue to play on Thomas’ songs.
Thomas also began his academic journey this past year, and is taking Berklee College of Music courses as dual-enrollment during high school. He’s working towards his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theory/Performance, and at the end of the Winter/Spring Semester 2023, Thomas will achieve a Berklee Professional Drum Certificate at 15 years-old. Thomas is also a member of the high IQ society Mensa.
Metal band THE DAY WE LEFT EARTH with frontman Martin Bjerke on vocals returns with new music. Their new single ‘Melancholia‘ marks the release of their first EP and also includes previously released songs ‘Eden‘, ‘THNDR‘ and ‘Smoke + Mirrors‘.
“Melancholia is a song that goes deep into depression and that feeling of numbness. It talks about serious mental health issues and nihilistic philosophy. It’s a tragic song – you could say it’s our greek tragedy.
Unfortunately, we think there are too many people in today’s society who can relate to this song on some level. That’s why it’s so important to address the issue. We think there’s comfort in music, and we think there’s strength in unity.”
For THE DAY WE LEFT EARTH’s world and universe, ‘Melancholia‘ is the last chapter of their prologue. It’s the last piece of the puzzle, the flight of the raven. And with that, it marks the beginning of their story.
Line-up Martin Bjerke, singer (7 Days In Alaska). Mikael Sehlin, growl (Engel and Degradead). Mia Moilanen, guitar (Art Nation). Tobias Solbakk, drums (Ihsahn). Marius Kikut, synth och orchestral parts
Symphonic black/extreme metallers CAEDEOUS have completed work on their third album. For the release of the follow-up to “Obscurus Perpetua”, which was released at the beginning of 2022, the Portuguese band has now signed with Black Sunset/MDD.
The new album, which will be released in spring, also features mezzo-soprano Rosmerta for the first time, who was presented as the latest permanent member to the line-up in August.
In addition, multi-instrumentalist and founder Paulo J. Mendes has also gathered a solid line-up around him on the other instruments in order to bring the original solo project, which was founded in 2014, to the live stages as well. More information about the album will be available soon – stay tuned!
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 )