There are few truly unique musical artists, but the music made by Italy’s MASTER BOOT RECORD arguably exists in a category of its own. In continued support of the forthcoming eighth full-length album, PERSONAL COMPUTER, the new single “80386” has been released and the video can be seen now on YouTube below.
Victor Love discusses this new track: “In the new single “80386,” the melody of NWOBHM and the energy of bay area thrash metal are glued together by a demoscene and crack scene soul with added up neo classical influences.“
Helmed solely by technologist/songwriter Victor Love, MASTER BOOT RECORD is, if anything, creatively prolific. The follow-up to Floppy Disk Overdrive (2020), PERSONAL COMPUTER is Love’s latest offering since emerging as an 8-bit ghost from the bulletin board system (BBS) scene in 2016. Now, he’s returned to right-click on devotees with yet another easter egg and symbolism-rich mélange of intensely ornate yet driving digital orchestrations. Just don’t call PERSONAL COMPUTER synthwave, or whatever new-fangled term is being used to describe MASTER BOOT RECORDS masterful video game-like scoring. To put it simply: this is metal done with a synth.
“The main elements include chiptune, demoscene & video game music, thrash/death metal and some black metal as well as classical and symphonic patterns and progressive structures. But everything is programmed and done with synthesizers.” The result, influenced as much by classical baroque music, bay area thrash metal, and Commodore 64 games, is a frenzied mashup of what logic suggests should be disparate sounds, but in the hands of MBR make sense, taking the listener in unexpected and always thrilling directions, smashing through genre walls.
German metal duo and recent Metal Blade Records signees, MANTAR, will unleash their scathing new full-length, Pain Is Forever And This Is The End, on July 15th today unveiling the record’s cover art, track listing, and first single!
View MANTAR‘s “Hang ‘Em Low (So The Rats Can Get ‘Em)” video here:
Founded in 2012 by guitarist/vocalist Hanno Klänhardt and drummer/vocalist Erinc Sakarya, MANTAR stands among the leading forces in extreme metal within the last ten years. Loved by fans and press alike, the band took the world by storm with their truly unique sound, leading them to the Top 10 in the official German album charts with their 2018’s The Modern Art Of Setting Ablaze and sold out shows throughout Europe.
While they’ve pushed the limits on every output, Pain Is Forever And This Is The End serves as MANTAR‘s most realized release yet. “I just knew I wanted to write stronger ‘songs’ in relation to ‘songwriting’ and rely less on being an ‘extreme’ metal act that only convinces through a certain sound or general ‘heaviness,’” notes Hanno. “I invested more time on trying to write better songs, interesting structures, and catchy tunes.” The results speak volumes. This is the most diverse and interesting MANTAR album to date, taking things to the proverbial next level.
Much of the influence on Hanno’s songwriting came from the artists the band covered on 2020’s collection Grungetown Hooligans II, which featured their renditions of songs from the likes of L7, Mudhoney, Sonic Youth, and The Jesus Lizard, formative bands from their respective youths. Songs feature more melody as well as a variety of guitar tones. “I tried to tweak the guitar sound more according to each individual song and its mood. We tried to steer away from ‘metal sound’ standards and more in a direction where you can hear different nuances in sound. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but we never were a part of any scene, therefore we don’t ‘owe’ a certain sound to anyone.” Hanno even sings on occasion “instead of only screaming like a maniac.“
With Hanno prolifically writing riffs at his home in Gainesville, Florida – and throwing away whole albums worth of material – and Erinc working in Germany, the record came together over several months, and proved to be a painstaking process. “Nothing came together easily for this album. Everything sucked and I hated most of the process. I wrote it and we recorded it during a very bad time, and even though Covid had not much of an impact on us of course the general fucked up mood in the world and the industry had an impact on the record. Everything was very tedious, up to a point where I literally questioned everything and we were damn close to quitting the band,” he states plainly. “I thought I just lost ‘it.’ There was no fun anymore and with every song I came up with there was a period at some point where I thought it sucked. Then I had moments where I thought it’s the best we have ever done. It was bipolar in a way. It was rough and it took a serious toll on me and Erinc that I’m still recovering from. Then again I come from the school of ‘no pain no gain,’ which obviously is bullshit and self-destructive but unfortunately that is who I am.“
After recording their instruments on different continents, Hanno and Erinc entered the studio together in Germany to record vocals and backing vocals, respectively, and decided to take a different, more daring route in terms of production: “With the previous albums I was so focused on making the band sound exactly as we would sound live. That is cool and still important but this time I wanted to make an album that is overall entertaining and not just a forty-five-minute ‘live set.’ We’ve proved countless times that we have no problems at all convincing in a live setting, so I had to gather some courage to ‘produce’ a little more, mostly in order to entertain myself as the songwriter and producer.“
In advance of the release of Pain Is Forever And This Is The End, today MANTAR unleashes first single, “Hang ‘Em Low (So The Rats Can Get ‘Em).” Elaborates Hanno on the track, “‘Hang ‘Em Low…’ is one of the catchiest and strongest tunes we ever did. We thought it deserves a cool video that portrays the key Mantar ingredients: stress, hectic and bad vibes plus a whole lot of beautiful sad Florida nature shots… We are an old school band. We can’t help it. Good old fashioned music videos still rule.“
Pain Is Forever And This Is The End will be available on CD, LP, and digital formats. Find preorders at: metalblade.com/mantar
Pain Is Forever And This Is The End Track Listing: 1. Egoisto 2. Hang ‘Em Low (So the Rats Can Get ‘Em) 3. Grim Reaping 4. Orbital Pus 5. Piss Ritual 6. Of Frost and Decay 7. Walking Corpse 8. New Age Pagan 9. Horder 10. Odysseus
RIVERS OF NIHIL unleashed The Work on the world back in September of 2021. In continued celebration of the album, the band are prepared to finally release a mini-doc that offers a look into the creative process and recording of The Work. The short film was directed by Mike Trueheart, who also helmed the band’s music video for “Clean” and instrumental playthroughs for “More?,” and “The Void from Which No Sound Escapes.” Follow the band’s creative process around Reading, PA with producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland on YouTube here:
Rivers of Nihil are set to return to the road for a Spring headlining tour with support from Fallujah, Alluvial, and Warforged! The US leg of the Terrestria World Tour begins May 6th in Brooklyn, New York and runs through June 5th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The journey includes a special show supporting Hypocrisy in Austin, Texas as well as appearances by The Zenith Passage and Burial In The Sky. Tickets are on sale now here: bandsintown.com
Rivers of Nihil w/ Fallujah, Alluvial, Warforged: 05/06 Market Hotel – Brooklyn, NY 05/07 Jewel – Manchester, NH 05/08 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA 05/10 Metro Gallery – Baltimore, MD 05/11 Blind Tiger – Greensboro, NC 05/12 The Masquerade (Hell) – Atlanta, GA 05/13 The End – Nashville, TN 05/14 The Haven – Orlando, FL 05/15 The Orpheum – Tampa, FL 05/17 Southport Hall – New Orleans, LA 05/18 Scout Bar – Houston, TX 05/19 Amplified – Dallas, TX 05/20 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX w/ Hypocrisy 05/21 Rockhouse Bar – El Paso, TX 05/22 Nile Theater – Phoenix, AZ 05/23 Las Vegas, NV – Backstage Bar & Billiards 05/24 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA w/ The Zenith Passage 05/25 1720 – Los Angeles, CA w/ The Zenith Passage 05/26 Full Circle Brewery – Fresno, CA w/ The Zenith Passage 05/27 Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA w/ The Zenith Passage 05/28 Star Theater – Portland, OR 05/29 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 05/31 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT 06/01 Bluebird – Denver, CO w/ Burial In The Sky 06/02 BLVD – Kansas City. MO w/ Burial In The Sky 06/03 Reggies – Chicago, IL w/ Burial In The Sky 06/04 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI w/ Burial In The Sky 06/05 Crafthouse – Pittsburgh, PA w/ Burial In The Sky End Tour 06/10 Capital Ale House – Richmond, VA 06/11 Ships of the Sea Museum – Savannah, GA – Aura Fest 06/12 Radio Room – Greenville, SC
Rivers of Nihil will be touring in support of their newest full-length, The Work, released last Fall on Metal Blade Records. Rivers of Nihil has never fit neatly into a box, but with 2018′s Where Owls Know My Name, they transcended all labels applied to them. Returning in 2021 with The Work, they’ve forged further into new territory, delivering an album that’s as cerebral as it is visceral, and that covers a staggering sonic range, definitively placing them in a category of their own. Inarguably a dense, heavy collection, The Work is far too dynamic to be considered a solely metal record and there is a genuine warmth that shows through, particularly tracks like “Wait” and the gorgeous “Maybe One Day.” Additionally, the band has incorporated far more clean vocals alongside the screaming that tears through many of the record’s heavier tracks. Courtesy of their friend Zach Strouse, saxophone once again adds extra layers of atmosphere to the collection, utilizing baritone, soprano, and alto saxes to great effect.
Swedish historical power metal force CIVIL WAR – founded by former members of Sabaton – returns with 10 new wartime anthems on their new album, Invaders, out via Napalm Records on June 17, 2022. Detailing harrowing stories of sorrow and tales of turbulent triumph from around the globe, as well as human nature itself, the album marks the band’s first with masterful frontman Kelly Sundown Carpenter and formidable shredder Thobbe Englund (ex-Sabaton).
Invaders grips with riveting accounts, ranging from Viking invasions and the greed of powerful nations to legendary Native American battles and magical Arthurian fantasy – all amid a profusion of enthrallingly dynamic vocals, epic soundscapes and impressive, technical instrumentals.
In celebration of this announcement, CIVIL WAR have delivered the first single and title track off of Invaders. The song “Invaders” is a powerful anthem with intense riffs and an epic chorus, telling of the legendary Native American victory at the Battle of the Wabash. With the track, CIVIL WAR gives a first taste of what new and returning listeners can expect from the new album. Stay tuned!
Daniel Mÿhr (keyboards) on the title track: “As a first sign of life in what seems to be ages, we bring out the heavy artillery in the form of the title track from our upcoming album, Invaders. Inspired by the Battle of the Wabash, we tell the story of how the Native Americans fought foreign invaders when they came to claim their sacred lands.”
The album starts off with the captivating “Oblivion”, inviting the listener into an apocalyptic world with its exotic, menacing sound, strong vocals and heavy guitar riffs. Packed with epic symphonic power, Invaders continues with the war anthem “Dead Man’s Glory”, telling a story of Irish resistance – fighting to preserve their way of life against a Viking invasion. The album rages on with the retelling of legendary Native American victory at the Battle of the Wabash on the fast-paced “Invaders” and then settles into the pulsating, atmospheric “Heart of Darkness” before arriving at “Andersonville” – recounting the horrors of Confederate prisoner-of-war camp Andersonville Prison through the letters of a Union soldier to his wife. This song soars as a massive power ballad with heart-rending symphonics, choirs and emotive vocals. “Battle of Life” delivers the grand finale of Invaders as a pummeling, fiery power metal pinnacle, summoning listeners of all walks of life to persevere and call on inner strength in times of trouble. In keeping with the album’s theme, the Western-inspired heavy metal battle cry “Custer’s Last Stand” sees its 10th anniversary re-recording and re-release as a bonus track, entrancing the listener with Carpenter’s passionate vocal delivery, searing guitar harmonics, keyboard fanfares and tribal drums. With Invaders, CIVIL WAR prove they’ve once again etched a position all their own in the annals of modern power and heavy metal while proving their deft storytelling skill and knack for engaging lyricism. Invaders is a must-listen!
Daniel Mÿhr (keyboards) on Invaders: “It took its time, but we’re happy and proud to present our new album Invaders to the world. CIVIL WAR is back in a nice, new uniform, and with Kelly Sundown Carpenter and Thobbe Englund joining the ranks we have finally put together our fourth full-length album. By taking one step in every direction we have taken our sound to even darker places, but also to more positive ones. But one thing remains the same – our roots in Heavy Metal!”
1. Oblivion 2. Dead Man’s Glory 3. Invaders 4. Heart of Darkness 5. Andersonville 6. Carry On 7. Soldiers and Kings 8. Warrior Soul 9. Slaughterhouse 5 10. Battle Of Life 11. Custer’s Last Stand
NWOBHM legends TYSONDOG have teamed up with Metal Shock Finland, to premiere for Finland, their brand new digital single and lyric video ‘It Lives’, taken from their upcoming studio album “Midnight” coming out via From The Vaults on April 29th, 2022. ‘It Lives’ is a track based on a solid heavy metal riff, with a chord progression that gets denser and denser until the guitar solo and the liberating subsequent chorus. It has the Tysondog trademark sound all over it and it’s sure to be one of the favourite tracks of “Midnight”.
Join ‘It Lives’ premiering here:
Roughly four years after “Cry Havoc”, the first album in almost three decades from TYSONDOG, the cult NWOBHM band has a new set of songs on their sleeves. “Midnight” is the title of the record, which carries all the elements that made Tysondog such an interesting offer for all those who wanted to dig deeper than the obvious NWOBHM bands back in the day – and find gold.
As the late legend Malcolm Dome (Classic Rock) put it, “This is a band who represent the true spirit and ethos of NWOBHM – and many years on from this particular movement, people the world over are still desperate to find out the minutiae of the genre. And it’s great to be able to listen once more to their album, providing that an absence of ability wasn’t to blame for their failure to make it to a higher level. So here’s to Tysondog, a band who came, who saw, who never conquered, but had a good time getting close. If you’ve never heard them before, enjoy the music. It’s worth checking out”.
Back in 1984 the likes of Malcolm Dome, Geoff Barton & Dante Bonutto were tipping Tysondog for major success, emerging at that time from the force that had become known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. One way or another, the fates conspired to deprive Tysondog of the international fame that so many thought they were destined for and in time the band disappeared from the limelight.
Back in the day, Tysondog “coulda been a contender”, as the famous Marlon Brando line in the movie ‘On the Waterfront’ says. The five-piece from Tyne & Wear collectively had one eye on Judas Priest and the other nine on producing classy Eighties British metal, and their no-nonsense approach was showcased on two cracking albums, two singles and an EP before they took a one-way trip to the vets. They re-appeared in 2012 with a new four-tracker “Hammerhead”, and with Jeff (Mantas) Dunn sitting behind the glass they ventured back into the studio in 2014 and re-emerged with “Cry Havoc”, their first full album in almost 30 years.
Tysondog’s rich history was not forgotten & having re-started their engines, they have gradually worked their way back with a new perspective on life and, happy to see that people were, taking major notice, the band recorded “Midnight”, also signing to Danish label From The Vaults.
“Midnight” will be released on LP (transparent red/black vinyl, limited to 300 copies), CD and digital formats on April 29th, 2022 via From The Vaults.
Line-up: John Clutch Carruthers – vocals Kev Wynn – bass Paul Burdis – guitar Phil Brewis – drums Stevie Morrison – guitar
Swedish doom rock act, AVATARIUM, has signed a worldwide record deal with AFM Records!
The chart-breaking band was formed in 2012 by Candlemass mastermind Leif Edling, and released 2 EPs, four critically acclaimed full-length records and their epic live DVD, An Evening With Avatarium – Live in Stockholm January 2020, to date. The current, high class line-up; featuring extraordinary vocalist Jennie-Ann Smith, Marcus Jidell (Evergrey, Soen), Mats Rydström, Andreas Habo Johansson and Daniel Karlsson; is currently gearing up for the release of a brand new album in the not so distant future with the Hamburg-based powerhouse label AFM Records.
Says guitarist Marcus Jidell: “Avatarium are pleased to announce, that we have started a collaboration with AFM Records, a record company where tradition and forward thinking coexist.
Ever since the beginning we have been digging in the master’s chambers for inspiration but also working hard to cultivate our unique expression in contemporary heavy and doomy music. Our key words have always been “Dark, Heavy and Poetic”. To be able to let these words lead us, we need an open mind and free hands to explore music, emotions, transcendent experiences, Gods, Satans, light and shadow. After several meetings we felt that AFM Records is the company that will help us to reach higher levels and we feel very welcome and in good hands. This is a perfect start for the next chapter in the book of Avatarium!”
AFM Records A&R Timo Hoffmann states: “We’ve followed Avatarium’s career since the beginning and were amazed by their quality, individual sound and artistic vision. These ingredients, combined with the stunning voice of Jennie-Ann Smith, create an irresistible mixture of doom metal and retro rock. Right away there was a great vibe and we‘re happy that Avatarium choose AFM Records as their new label home.“
Following the band’s latest, much acclaimed 2019-album, The Fire I Long For, as well as the collective’s first live DVD in 2020, AVATARIUM’s signing with AFM Records leaves hope for a new record release to come in 2022, watch out for more news to follow soon!
Chief Shock Video
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
Ads
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 )