Metal Blade Records continues its 40th Anniversary Celebration in 2022 with a slew of new events and a kickass exhibit. The fiercely independent label that launched Metallica, Slayer, Armored Saint, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, and dozens more iconic heavy metal bands, invites fans to live shows in Brooklyn, New York, and Las Vegas, Nevada, home to the Metal Blade Museum, a specially curated exhibit stocked with timeless memorabilia and artifacts spanning the label’s history, from 1982 through the present day. Metal Blade Records founder Brian Slagel will personally host the first tour of the Metal Blade Museum for 20 ticket holders at noon on Wednesday, July 20.
Metal Blade Museum Tour Las Vegas, Nevada Wednesday, July 20th, 2022 Metal Blade Museum Hours 12pm to 5pm (All Ticket holders who arrive at 12noon will get a Guided Tour by Brian Slagel)
Technical death metal merchants RIVERS OF NIHIL headline the first Metal Blade Records 40th show on August 6 at Brooklyn’s famed St. Vitus venue, with a DJ set from REVOCATION‘s Dave Davidson.
Only a limited number of tickets will be available to the public!
SACRED REICH, an integral part of the thrash movement still churning out classics on Metal Blade, tops the bill on September 17 at The Space in Las Vegas. A Metal Blade Records 40th show at the Las Vegas House Of Blues on October 5 will feature a major headlining act to be announced later this summer.
At these events celebrating the label’s history, Metal Blade will raffle 40th Anniversary swag bags. Fans can purchase celebratory shirts and other merchandise, including the “decade” themed tees launched alongside the Metal Blade 40th Playlists, collected here: metalblade.com/40thanniversary
HEXED – The Swedish Symphonic Progressive Metal band is back with their second album “Pagans Rising”, set to be released on September 30th via ViciSolum Productions! Along with the powerful lead vocals of Tina Gunnarsson, this theme album definitely has great songwriting mixed with strong choruses and male growl. It´s a perfect blend of spellbinding guitar melodies, chugging riffs dark symphonic orchestrations and progressive elements. It has been written with inspiration and history of Sweden’s witch-hunting hysteria in the late 17th century. Behind the unique sound of this masterpiece is the talented mixing/mastering engineer Ronnie Björnström. (Sorcerer, Aeon etc.) This release is a much heavier and darker version of HEXED.
Second single “Resurrection” will be released on August 12!
HEXED is a Swedish symphonic and progressive metal band fronted by the amazing lead vocalist Tina Gunnarsson. It contains thick driving rhythms, melodic orchestrations with dark layers, powerful female vocals and male growl. The band was formed late 2015 by vocalist Tina and guitarist Stellan Gunnarsson, they already had a history in the metal scene and were experienced songwriters.
Since both of them had the source of inspiration from bands such as Queensrÿche, Crimson Glory and Kamelot, their aim was to create music and to focus on strong vocals combined with melodic guitars and progressive elements. Drummer Teddy Möller and Bass player Daniel Håkansson were early chosen to take place and Hexed released the debut single “Dreams” in 2016. In 2017 the first EP ”Exhaling Life” came out, which ended up signing a worldwide deal with ViciSolum Productions.
The debut album “Netherworld” was released in 2018 and received great response from both press, media and fans. It has resulted in tours and gigs at several clubs and festivals all around Europe and the band have shared stages with many bands such as Leprous, Omnium Gatherum and Harakiri for the Sky among others. Hexed have gained a strong reputation for being a fantastic live act and for always delivering a great live performance. After a couple of changes in the lineup Hexed recruited a second guitarist David Nyman and the drummer Patrick Wahlberg. During the years, the music has grown into a unique sound for Hexed. “The world will soon be divided in two parts, those who already are Hexed and those who are about to be”.
LINE-UP: Tina Gunnarsson – Vocals Stellan Gunnarsson – Guitars, Vocals Daniel Håkansson – Bass David Nyman – Guitars Patrick Wahlberg – Drums
North Carolina’s FUNERAL CHIC are today premiering their new single Last Line Blues via Revolver. Last Line Blues is the third track to be taken from their forthcoming third album, Roman Candle, and offers another side to the FUNERAL CHIC recent sonic metamorphosis. Last Line Blues is a slow burning blues tinged, dirge replete with saxophone.
Speaking on the single, FUNERAL CHIC comments: “This track is kind of the heartbeat of the record for us. It’s definitely a departure from our usual sound – even among the new songs – but it felt like the best way to express that sort of anger and melancholy and disquiet you feel while watching society eat itself. Also, saxophone.”
Holding no desire to make the same album twice, FUNERAL CHIC have eschewed the punk-led powerviolence that informed their previous work and have embraced the great tradition of American rock and roll on Roman Candle – without compromising their distinctive component parts. The swagger of proto-punk forefathers The Stooges and The New York Dolls imbues the darkest, grittiest corners of their reinvigorated sound, and can also be found on their cover of Roky Erickson’s Two Headed Dog. The caustic energy of early thrash and black metal scenes is also present, flickering with unmistakable incandescence throughout.
Having previously led with their outspoken politics, this time the lyrics are refracted through a more personal – but no less fervoured – lens. With members of the band taking a path of sobriety in recent years, the knot of rage that was previously doused with alcohol has been channeled into the lyrics on Roman Candle instead. Ten tales of sweat and pungent aggression dripping into a powder keg of a global identity crisis weave throughout the album’s length.Recorded at Legit Biz, in Greensboro, NC with engineer, Kris Hilbert, FUNERAL CHIC guitarist, Robert Stroud, oversaw production, before the album was mixed by Matt Russell and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege. Throughout the process of creating Roman Candle, FUNERAL CHIC has – without ceremony – sloughed away old skin to reveal something new beneath. The volatile and unpredictable experience of living in modern day America is distilled via the mercurial sound of aggressive punk, sleazy Americana, and raw heavy metal. Roman Candle marks the beginning of the next blistering chapter for FUNERAL CHIC.
Roman Candle tracklist: 1. Made in America 2. Spit & Crawl 3. Roman Candle 4. Satisfaction 5. Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere 6. Lose 7. Built to Love 8. Born to Kill 9. Last Line Blues 10. Two Headed Dog
Riff master Rafael Trujillo of modern progressive metal outfit OBSIDIOUS is now debuting a brand new new guitar playthrough video for the band’s latest single, “Bound by Fire!” The video can be seen at THIS LOCATION.
The track was originally released as a music video, which can be viewed via the official Season of Mist YouTube channel HERE.
OBSIDIOUS guitaristRafael comments on the video:
“I’m happy to finally show you the guitar playthrough of our single “Bound by Fire”. I used my Kiesel Osiris 7-string and the Neural DSP Archetype Petrucci guitar plugin. This is the perfect combination for the guitar sound I have always been looking for.”
The track is taken from the band’s upcoming debut album, ‘Iconic,’ which will be released on October 28, 2022 via Season of Mist. Pre-orders for the new album will start soon.
In April 2020 guitarist Rafael Trujillo, bassist Linus Klausenitzer and drummer Sebastian Lanser decided to move on from their former band OBSCURA to continue their musical path with the completely new band OBSIDIOUS. Free from former boundaries, OBSIDIOUS merge extreme metal with other genres of music into a unique style that people will somehow find familiar, but haven‘t heard yet. Together with their singer Javi Perera they set out to create a musical evolution: With a fresh name, reaching for new fan groups utilizing modern marketing ideas. OBSIDIOUS’ band members have many facets and influences to build upon, using virtuosity & technique to write great songs.
Rafael Trujillo, Linus Klausenitzer and Sebastian Lanser built a strong bond after years of worldwide touring and recording together with OBSCURA. With their last record “Diluvium”, that was primarily composed by the trio, the band celebrated their biggest success to date. Formerly unseen chart positions alongside massive praise by prominent media outlets & magazines document the success of this team. OBSIDIOUS aims to expand the existing fan base that they’ve gained: All (ex-)formations of the Obsidious members were defined through their musical characters.
The four band members that are based in Europe are known for their high musicianship and virtuosity. Their advanced technical level is an essential and unique part of their compositions. Guitarist Rafael Trujillo has a multicultural background and studied music in different countries all around the globe. Linus Klausenitzer is one of the busiest session bassists in the scene and renowned for his 7-string fretless bass sound. Strong drum independence skills and stylistic diversity make Sebastian Lanser one of the most influential drummers of the new generation. The web community shares the Ex-Obscura members’ excitement about singer Javi Perera being celebrated for his diverse and charismatic vocal skills.
OBSIDIOUS‘ music consists of modern riffs, strong decisive energetic melodies, virtuosity and epic unison lines. They love music that’s heavy, catchy, fast, and wild. The brand new album is already recorded and will be released via Season of Mist late 2022.
On July 2nd, the anniversary date of the end of the Battle of the Janiculum, Italian legendary heavy metallers SCALA MERCALLI released the video clip of “The Last Defence” taken from the album “Independence”.
This video is dedicated to an important episode of the Italian Risorgimento, took place on the famous promontory of the city of Rome where, between June 3 and July 2, 1849, the troops of the very young Roman Republic of the triumvirate led by Mazzini faced each other, against a much larger French army than Napoleon III, who was struggling to restore power to the Pontifical State, taken from the Pope by the Romans with a popular uprising only 5 months earlier.
After several unsuccessful attempts thanks to the strenuous resistance of the people supported by Garibaldi and the city army, unfortunately Rome fell into the hands of the French and papal troops.
But a handful of heroes led by the very young commander of the Bersaglieri Luciano Manara at Villa Spada they did not give up and fought to the utmost sacrifice. The mortally wounded 24-year-old Manara wrote these last words “We have to die to close Forty-eight seriously; for our example to be effective, we must die”.
The band declares: “We are very proud to have been able to give visibility to a page of our history that we believe is truly important. We organized together with various historical associations in October 2021 the first re-enactment in Italy that recalls this episode, from which the images of the video are then taken. We hope that this story will also attract the attention of a director and a film production to make it a well-deserved film !! Characters such as important symbols of freedom and justice, especially today deserve much more attention “.
Extreme melodic death metal upstarts DEFACING GOD command notice with their hauntingly dark and refreshingly honest debut album, The Resurrection of Lilith, set for release on September 2, 2022 via Napalm Records. The record marks a multifaceted, grim and bludgeoning escape that spans the arc between raw death metal and symphonic grandiosity with ease, showcasing DEFACING GOD’s ambition to bewitch metal fans around the world with their sonic universe.
With their conceptual themes, the Denmark based outfit focuses on the seeping darkness that moves in us all – rooted in occultism and witchcraft, but primarily the mythologically mysterious female demon Lilith and her tales of fervent defiance and perseverance.
Opening this infernal chapter, DEFACING GOD have unveiled their first single, “Rise Of The Trinity”, along with a fiery official music video. The track ascends into a doom-tinged introduction, soon transforming into a blackened opus carried by the fierce growls of stand-out vocalist Sandie ‘The Lilith’ Gjørtz. Engulfing symphonics and a captivating guitar solo keep pressing ahead, resulting in an epic anthem celebrating feminist power and sisterhood!
DEFACING GOD on the song: “The message of ‘Rise Of The Trinity’ is to catch up on the three previous tracks, ‘the invocations’ and bind them together – This track reunites the sisters of blood and flesh (Abyzou, Jezebel and Lilith) the three of us shall set our essence free and together we shall make a closure and take back our pride. The trinity is the kind of catalysator who speaks for all our cremated sisters – fellow witches who never got a voice through times and history. Strong and wise women have been slaughtered, molested, executed and abused, just because the herd were scared of their wisdom and free spirit. This trinity is the voice of rebellion and revenge in the name of the fallen and a strong message that we stand stronger if we stand together.”
Through their storytelling, music and aesthetic, the band pulls their listeners into a dark universe of obscure myths, folklore and ancient stories, all the while weaving in often subtle lyrical inspirations from modern societal oppressions and personal demons. Sonically, DEFACING GOD balance massive extreme melodies with a twist of grandiose orchestration by Lars Vinther, echoing the styles of artists such as Cradle of Filth, Carach Angren and Dimmu Borgir. But rather than blend it with a conventional dose of black metal, the band proudly merges these auras with infernal death metal. Additionally, The Resurrection Of Lilith was produced by Jacob Hansen – known for his work with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Volbeat, Evergrey, Epica and countless others.
DEFACING GOD state: “The stories draw parallels to the ancient, but also the present world where many people (Lilith ́s point of view: women) still have to fight for their freedom and justice. A world where there are still people being oppressed and held down either because of their gender, ethnicity or their personal conviction. We are enslaved by society in so many ways that it ́s even hard to imagine and to comprehend. Furthermore, ‘Lilith’ speaks up for strong bonds, exactly like the one we’re having in the metal community. The mission for Lilith, is to send out a message saying that we are stronger if we truly stand together and with being free and with the right mindset, we can change the world.
In the name of art there should no boundaries and everyone should have the freedom to be their own independent self, to explore and to express as they desire without being judged or oppressed.”
Pre-order DEFACING GOD’s debut The Resurrection Of LilithNOW
The album arises with a cinematic, chanting introduction, leading the listener into the demonic world of DEFACING GOD. Building up tension to release into an uncompromising melodic, orchestral death metal assault on “The Invocation Part I “Lilith””, the track emerges as the first of three songs introducing female forces of legend as a trinity to be reckoned with – the first being Lilith, Adam’s first wife, who refused to obey and now reigns as a symbol of feminine rage and independency, but also for the darkness found within oneself. Bookending the undeniably strong “The Resurrection” are parts two and three – “The Invocation Part II “Jezebel”” and “The Invocation Part III “Abyzou”” – which lead into “Rise Of The Trinity”. The remainder of The Resurrection of Lilith proves to be an auditory onslaught of epic proportions, seeing DEFACING GOD unleash their supreme power and full songwriting dynamics with varying yet unrelentingly hard-hitting tracks like “The End of Times”, “Echoes From Fulda”, “Death Followed Like a Plague” and “Enslaved”. Penultimate track “In the Land of Rain and Sorrow” blasts with a blackened, dense wall of sound before the album closes with encapsulating, symphonic “Into the Mist of Memories” – featuring a neo-classically inspired guitar solo.
The Resurrection of Lilith Track Listing: 1. Black Moon 2. The Invocation Part I “Lilith” 3. The Resurrection 4. The Invocation Part II “Jezebel” 5. The Invocation Part III “Abyzou” 6. Rise of the Trinity 7. The End of Times 8. Echoes From Fulda 9. Death Followed Like a Plague 10. Enslaved 11. In the Land of Rain and Sorrow 12. Into the Mist of Memories
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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
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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
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