The combination of big riffs, driving rhythms, thick yet lithe bass lines and rich vocal melodies has made for some of the greatest music of all time, and in the hands of KINGS OF MERCIA this recipe is intoxicating. The new project features guitarist Jim Matheos (Fates Warning, OSI, Tuesday the Sky) along with the vocal talents of Steve Overland (FM). The duo are joined on their debut album by the dynamic rhythm section of drummer extraordinaire Simon Phillips (ex-Toto, Derek Sherinian), and bassist Joey Vera (Fates Warning, Armored Saint).
Music will be launched later this summer with an album scheduled for release this fall. Until then, fans can get an impression of what is to come by visiting: metalblade.com/kingsofmercia
Lafayette, Louisiana-based metallic hardcore outfit CAPRA today unleashes a new video for “Red Guillotine.” The track comes by way of the band’s critically lauded In Transmission full-length, released via Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records last year.
Comments vocalist Crow Lotus of the powerful track, “I wrote this song about how helpless it feels to be prey in a predatory world. Women should be celebrated for standing their ground, not ostracized and humiliated.“
CAPRA kicked off their month-long US tour supporting Whores yesterday, June 1st in Nashville, Tennessee! The journey runs through July 3rd in Columbia, South Carolina with additional support provided by Bummer. See all confirmed dates below.
CAPRA w/ Whores, Bummer: 6/01/2022 The End – Nashville, TN 6/02/2022 Hi Tone – Memphis, TN 6/03/2022 Three Links – Dallas, TX 6/04/2022 Parish – Austin, TX 6/05/2022 The Courtyard – Big Spring, TX 6/07/2022 Pub Rock – Scottsdale, AZ 6/08/2022 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA + 6/09/2022 Resident – Los Angeles, CA + 6/10/2022 Eli’s Mile High Club Oakland, CA 6/11/2022 Star Theater – Portland, OR 6/12/2022 Chop Suey – Seattle, WA 6/15/2022 Hi-Dive – Denver, CO 6/16/2022 Bourbon – Lincoln, NE 6/17/2022 Turf Club – St. Paul, MN * 6/18/2022 Cobra Lounge – Chicago, IL 6/19/2022 North End Pub – Lafayette, IN 6/21/2022 Small’s – Detroit, MI 6/22/2022 West Side Bowl – Youngstown, OH 6/23/2022 Photo City – Rochester, NY 6/24/2022 Middle East Upstairs – Boston, MA 6/25/2022 Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY 6/26/2022 Dingbatz – Clifton, NJ 6/28/2022 Dobbs – Philadelphia, PA 6/29/2022 Lovedraft’s Brewery – Harrisburg, PA 6/30/2022 Golden Pony – Harrisonburg, VA 7/01/2022 Pour House – Raleigh, NC 7/02/2022 Reggie’s – Wilmington, NC 7/03/2022 New Brookland Tavern – Columbia, SC +Deaf Club main support *no Bummer
Ballarat, Australia’s NICOLAS CAGE FIGHTER are coming out swinging with a brand new LP on Blacklight Media / Metal Blade Records, The Bones That Grew From Pain. The title stems from the fact the record is “about varying degrees of pain, suffering and tribulation. Bones are an organic symbol of structure and supposed to install an image of strength and stability. So basically, the record tells narratives of when those two opposites are entwined,” the band adds. The Bones That Grew From Pain is slated for release on July 22, 2022 worldwide and can be pre-ordered now at: blacklightmediarecords.com/nicolascagefighter
The debut single “Shrine of Wire” is streaming now everywhere, including a brand new video, which can be streamed on YouTube here:
The Bones That Grew from Pain track listing: 01. Grey Eye 02. Shrine of Wire 03. Coughing Nails 04. Static Abyss 05. The Bones That Grew from Pain 06. Weeping Sores 07. Compound and Fracture 08. Foundation 09. Heretic’s Vow 10. A Great Ruinous Deed
Nicolas Cage Fighter will be touring throughout Australia this August with Relapse, Blood On My Hands, and Shōkan. Full schedule below.
NICOLAS CAGE FIGHTER Tour w/ Relapse, Blood On My Hands, Shōkan 05/08 Sydney, AU @ Factory Floor 06/08 Newcastle, AU @ Newcastle Hotel 11/08 Melbourne, AU @ Stay Gold 12/08 Ballarat, AU @ Volta 13/08 Adeliade, AU @ Crown and Anchor
Formed in Ballarat, Victoria in 2011, the band have worked slowly and steadily to build their profile, dropping singles and EPs and sharing stages with the likes of Attila, Thy Art Is Murder,Thick As Blood and Deez Nuts, building a devoted fan base. With their guitarist Justin Ellis and bassist Tom Bardwell hailing from a hardcore background and drummer Matt Davenport having cut his teeth in death metal the blending of styles comes naturally to the band, with the dynamic, wide ranging vocal techniques of frontman Nicholas Moriarty holding the whole thing together. Though they wanted to remain true to the Nicolas Cage Fighter sound they also were not afraid to expand on this and take it in new directions. “The record feels darker than anything we’ve ever done before. We’ve also included more melodic, ambient and experimental parts than we’ve ever implemented on any previous release, and we feel that the record is a natural progression and evolution from the ‘Cast You Out’ EP. It’s heavier, faster, the breakdowns will crush your head in, but there’s also some stuff we haven’t tried before and is at the cutting edge of modern heavy music.“
Infamous pirate metal gang ALESTORM set sail on a new voyage with their seventh studio album, Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum, unveiling the next chanting anthem and third single, “The Battle of Cape Fear River”. The new single tells the story of legendary Captain Blackbeard and transports the sound of the band back in the times of classics like Captain Morgan’s Revenge and underlines that the new album is the most epic and serious sounding release ever heard of the band.
The official video accompanying the new single finally sees ALESTORM back in their trademark pirate visage, searching for treasure and aiming for adventure!
ALESTORM spent two years during lockdown going insane and frantically dredging up the craziest pirate metal anthems from their treasure chest of ideas, and have created the most epic and serious (yes, serious) sounding ALESTORM album you’ve ever heard. From the symphonic choir-powered “Magellan’s Expedition” to the rousing anthem “Under Blackened Banners” featuring intense technical riffing and exquisite solo duels, Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum is a real throwback to the early days of Captain Morgan’s Revenge. But fans of the modern ALESTORM sound need not worry either – there’s plenty of party mood in the aptly-named future hit song “P.A.R.T.Y.”, and the high speed, insane folk metal banger “Cannonball” has the most ridiculous and offensive lyrics you’ve ever heard in a pirate metal song (making “Fucked With an Anchor” sound tame).
Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum track listing: 1. Magellan’s Expedition 2. The Battle of Cape Fear River 3. Cannonball 4. P.A.R.T.Y. 5. Under Blackened Banners 6. Magyarország 7. Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum 8. Bite the Hook Hand that Feeds 9. Return to Tortuga 10. Come to Brazil 11. Wooden Leg (Part III)
7’’ Single track listing: Side A: Christmas With Alestorm Side B: Nyár Van
As an extra special treat for die-hard collector fans, some special editions come with a full acoustic rendition of the entire album, and there’s even a legendary version of the album FOR DOGS once again. In the Wooden Box only, there is a special 7” Single vinyl, including “Christmas with Alestorm” and “Nyár Van”.
ALESTORM live:
Summer Festivals 2022 09.06.22 SE – Sölvesborg / Sweden Rock Festival 10.06.22 CH – Interlaken / Greenfield 11.06.22 NL – Leeuwarden / Into The Grave 12.06.22 UK – Donington / Download Festival 17.06.22 DK – Copenhagen / Copenhell 18.06.22 FR – Clisson / Hellfest 19.06.22 BE – Dessel / Graspop 01.07.22 ES – Barcelona / Barcelona Rock Fest 03.07.22 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra 05.07.22 IL – Tel Aviv / Reading Club 07.07.22 FI – Tampere / Sauna Open Air 08.07.22 FI – Oulu / Rock in the City 10.07.22 CZ – Vizovicze / Masters of Rock 15.07.22 BG – Mogilovo / Midalidare Rock 17.07.22 PL – Namyslow / Czochraj Bobra 25.07.22 FR – Selestat / Rock Your Brain 05.08.22 ES – Villena / Leyendas Del Rock 06.08.22 FR – Saint Maurice / Sylak Open Air 19.08.22 DE – Dinkelsbuhl / Summer Breeze 20.08.22 DE – Hamburg / Elb Riot 26.08.22 DE – Haddeby / Baltic Open Air 10.09.22 DE – Selb / Festival Medieval
Latin America Tour 2022 04.10.22 GT – Guatemala City 05.10.22 SV – San Salvador 06.10.22 MX – Monterrey 07.01.22 MX – Guadalajara 08.10.22 MX – Mexico City 09.10.22 MX – Leon 12.10.22 HN – San Jose 14.10.22 CO – Bogota 15.10.22 CL – Santiago 17.10.22 AG – Buenos Auires 18.10.22 UY – Montevideo 20.10.22 BR – Porto Alegre 21.10.22 BR – Curitiba 22.10.22 BR – Sao Paulo
Australian Tour 2022 19.11.22 AU – Adelaide / Froth & Fury Festival 20.11.22 AU – Perth / Magnet House 22.11.22 AU – Brisbane / The Triffid 24.11.22 AU – Sydney / Metro Theatre 25.11.22 AU – Melbourne / Northcote Theatre
American hard rockers THE HUNGRY & DANGEROUS will release their first studio album, titled “The Hungry & Dangerous”, on July 22th 2022 via Rockshots Records/Diotima Records.
The Hungry & Dangerous is a statement, a statement of being perseverant and staying true to who you really are. The band’s sound is original, unapologetic, authentic balls to the wall rock n roll. Every band member could give you a million influences, but the band acclaims bands like Van Halen, Crashdiet, Alice Cooper, Def Leppard, and The Struts as main influences.
Commenting on the album the band explains: “From start to finish, our debut album grips you in and doesn’t hold anything back. From our critically acclaimed debut singles, 2021’s, The Hungry & Dangerous and Insomniacs, the band puts the foundation down to reinvigorate a dying genre of rock that the world needs again. From global press, radio syndication and magazine features, the band is willingly asking to carry the torch of the rebirth of stadium rock, and with this debut album, we are making a serious point as to why they should.”
Polish rock/metal/punk combo BLACK RIVER – feat. BEHEMOTH bass player ORION and DIMMU BORGIR drummer DARAY – have announced their new album “Generation aXe”, coming out on June 24th via Crusader Records/Golden Robot Records, on CD and digital. Vinyl release will follow in early 2023. Furthermore, the band has unveiled a new single and official music video for ‘Civil Army’!
“Generation aXe focuses on the band’s anger at what they see happening in the world. They decided to express it in their music and “vomit all this venom”. The result is a collection of songs written without calculation but in full anger – closing out with a furious version of The Doors’ classic, ‘Break on Through’.”
Watch the official music video for ‘Civil Army’ below.
“Generation aXe” tracklisting: Oxygen Joker Whiplash Under My Flag Generation aXe Crossover Love Civil Army Burn It Motherless Inner Hell Break on Through (bonus track)
BLACK RIVER line-up: Maciej Taff – vocals Piotr „Kay” Wtulich – guitar Artur „Art” Kempa – guitar Tomasz „Orion” Wróblewski – bass (Behemoth) Dariusz „Daray” Brzozowski – drums (Dimmu Borgir)
Dariusz “Daray” Brzozowski is one of the most recognized drummers within the metal scene. Well known for his extreme drumming, blastbeats, precision and supersonic speeds, he earned his reputation through the years and was repeatedly valued for his achievements. Extensively touring the world with his bands. He played over a 1000 shows.
Born in 1980, he got his first kit at the age of 14. His story began with the band Vesania, and was continued in Vader, Masachist, Hunter, Black River. He’s also a session musician for multiple bands. Today, drumming for Vesania and Dimmu Borgir and being an active clinician and educator, he remains in the lead of worlds‘ uncompromising drummers.
Please Note, DARAY is available for studio sessions, drum clinics, as well as session drummer for tours etc. For further information, please contact tarja@splitscreenproduction.com.
Watch Daray Brzozowski (Meinl cymbal artist) performing “Dimmu Borgir“ off of Dimmu Borgir’s album “Abrahadabra“ at the 2016 Meinl Drum Festival: https://youtu.be/ioA5YrUDx6I
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
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! 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
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )