Legendary heavy metal vocalist DEE SNIDER recently announced his steadfast support of the people of Ukraine using Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as their battle cry anthem, and within just days, became heavily involved at the forefront of World United Live. The platform operates with the goal of raising awareness that may otherwise be shielded from the Russian people, to digitally, simultaneously protest in support of Ukraine, and to eventually coordinate the world’s largest aid concert to help them rebuild.
Today, in support of World United Live’s initiatives and the people of Ukraine, DEE SNIDER released a brand new, re-worked music video for his Leave A Scar track “Stand”, specially renamed “Stand (with Ukraine)”. The video, featuring various pieces of current sourced footage, can be viewed here via www.worldunited.live now.
DEE SNIDER tells the story in his own words: “About a month ago, someone on social media told me people in Ukraine were using Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as a battle cry and asked if I was cool with it. Of course I was. My response elicited someone asking me why I was okay with Ukrainians using my song and not some other groups. I won’t repeat my exact response (it was a bit political), but that tweet went internationally viral. Every news agency in the world suddenly wanted to talk to me.
At that very moment, some great people (who were all friends of mine) were hatching the idea for World United Live and asked me if I would spearhead the organization. How could I say no? Since then, we have been beating the drum for the free world to come together, not only in support of Ukraine and condemnation of Putin, but in sending a message to the Russian people that they are misinformed and not being told the truth. Now, with the help of the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and many others, we are doing just that!
About a week ago, it hit me that the song “Stand” from my last Napalm Records album, Leave a Scar, fit the crisis in Ukraine perfectly… but I had already released a video for “Stand” recently. Yet I just couldn’t get around how well the lyrics resonated with Putin’s attack on these innocent people. Ukraine was the furthest thing from my mind when I wrote the words for that song, yet it was like I had done just that. So, I had a couple of incredibly talented people (Scott Pitek and Steve Sage Goldberg) cut together a new video using some live concert footage and news clips. The result is devastating. Please watch and share “Stand (With Ukraine)” and join us at www.worldunited.live. Help save the world. Together we can.”
The message of World United Live can be supported by sharing, liking and following their pages on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
“Stand”/”Stand (with Ukraine)” Appears on DEE SNIDER’s latest album, Leave A Scar
DEE SNIDER Band Line-up: Dee Snider – Vocals Charlie Bellmore – Guitar & Background Vocals Nick Bellmore – Drums Russell Pzütto – Bass & Background Vocals Nick Petrino – Guitar & Background Vocals
After breaking the charts worldwide with Escape of the Phoenix (2021), Gothenburg’s finest export of darkness, EVERGREY, enters a bewildering new chapter with their new album, A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), out May 20, 2022 via Napalm Records.
With the previously released, pounding album opener “Save Us”, EVERGREY lifted the curtain on an overwhelming journey through progressive heaviness and searing emotionality. Today, glistening second single “Midwinter Calls” draws the listener further into this multifaceted world of sound with its grooving instrumentation, flowing between boisterous dynamics and a next level vocal performance by mastermind Tom S. Englund – one of the most distinctive vocalists in metal. The powerful track gleams with its melodic tunes and guitar riffs and marks just one out of many highlights of the new epos. The song features atmospheric audio recordings from the band’s latest tour through Sweden, giving the song a special effect and fans another opportunity to leave their everlasting mark on EVERGREY history.
“Midwinter Calls” is visually brought to live via a sophisticated, cinematic music video, filmed by Patric Ullaeus and conceptually connected to the storyline portrayed in the “Save Us” video, allowing the viewer to jump even deeper into the universe of A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament).
Evergrey on “Midwinter Calls”: “‘Midwinter Calls’ is the second song but also the second chapter of a three-video story that reveals itself in a reverse order, why make it easy huh?
This song is full of energy and it’s once again featuring our fans and the live audience of Gothenburg, Stockholm and Karlstad – Co-creating at its best! We can’t wait to hear the whole world singing along to this when we play it live!
Hopefully you will find the video both thought provoking and uplifting at the same time. What is important, who are we and why? The resistance is getting real!”
Celebrating over 25 years of metal mastery, EVERGREY, led by founder, singer and guitarist Tom S. Englund, are known for wandering the realms of progressive and heavy melodic metal and painting sonic renderings with their twelve studio records released as of today. A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), the follow-up to the unit’s highly successful 2021 full-length, Escape of the Phoenix (which landed at numerous chart positions worldwide), reveals a 10 track mélange of which every note, every riff and every word seeps pure poetry – creating a ceaseless intensity that mesmerizes from the very first second.
The new album was recorded at Top Floor Studios Gothenburg, engineered by Jakob Herrman and produced by Tom S. Englund and Jonas Ekdahl, with mixing and mastering by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios (Volbeat, Destruction, Epica and many more), whereas the hauntingly beautiful album artwork was conjured by Giannis Nakos at Remedy Art Design. Nakos is known for creating artworks for acts like Oceans Of Slumber, Amaranthe, The Agonist and The Crown as well as merchandise for Morbid Angel, Suffocation or Cryptopsy – just to name a few.
[Artwork by Giannis Nakos, Remedy Art Design]
EVERGREY on the new album: “Here it is! A new album! Yet again! This is what we love about music, it never ends! Our mission is to write music so here you are! 10 new songs! 10 new EVERGREY songs that we hope you will have by your side as your life continues to shift and grow. 10 songs that we wish will be part of the soundtrack when you’re creating new memories and new possibilities in your life. 10 songs that we feel privileged to have you listen to. 10 songs that have risen through the ashes of two years where our creativity has had more time than ever to flourish.
10 songs we really hope you will enjoy as much as we did writing them. As usual we have given it our best and we can’t wait to hear what you have to say! A new year, a new album, a new record label = new possibilities. All this can only be positive, right? Enjoy! Tom, Jonas, Rikard, Johan & Henrik”
Get your copy of A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)NOW
A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) impresses with flawless, meticulous production that deftly depicts both heartfelt honesty and scorching metallic intensity, while its instrumental force of furious, technically driven riffs, skyrocketing solos and dramatic synths merges with the expert, brooding vocal performance of Englund. He skillfully balances harsh and heavy tones with an inarguably soulful approach, all topped by melancholic, thought-provoking lyricism that digs deeper with every spin, leaving a long-lasting impact. Songs like “Save Us” and “The Great Unwashed” draw the listener in with grooving instrumentation, while emotive “Wildfires” turns the volume down as a goosebump-worthy ballad that hurts and heals all at once. “Call Out The Dark” begins atmospherically with accented keys, suddenly evolving into an intense opus of symphonic and power metal attributes in the blink of an eye, whereas the record’s longest track, “The Orphean Testament”, impresses by revealing its heaviest facet. A sensitive introduction lures the listener into “Heartless”, and offers one of the album’s most engaging verses, followed by a hauntingly beautiful chorus and variety in pace to create a magnificent listening experience.
A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) tracklisting: 1. Save Us 2. Midwinter Calls 3. Ominous 4. Call Out the Dark 5. The Orphean Testament 6. Reawakening 7. The Great Unwashed 8. Heartless 9. Blindfolded 10.Wildfires
A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) is a striking testament to the fact that while the Swedish five-piece doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone at this phase, they still impressively showcase that, after over 25 years of existence, their creativity sees no bounds – dropping yet another sensation within their impressive catalog!
EVERGREY live: Fans can look forward to seeing EVERGREY live, as in 2022, the powerhouse will go on an extensive tour through Europe!
EVERGREY – European Tour 2022 + special guest: Fractal Universe + Virtual Symmetry 16.09.22 NL – Eindhoven / Dynamo 17.09.22 GB – London / 229 venue 18.09.22 GB – Nottingham / Rescue Rooms 19.09.22 GB – Bristol / Thekla 20.09.22 GB – Manchester / Academy 3 21.09.22 IE – Dublin / Voodoo Lounge 22.09.22 GB – Glasgow / Cathouse 23.09.22 GB – Newcastle / St Dom’s Social Club 24.09.22 GB – Birmingham / The Asylum 2 25.09.22 NL – Leiden / Gebr. De Nobel 27.09.22 DE – Bremen / Tivoli 28.09.22 DE – Stuttgart / Im Wizemann Club 29.09.22 DE – Berlin / Columbia Theater 30.09.22 DE – Hamburg / Bahnhof Pauli 01.10.22 DE – Oberhausen / Resonanzwerk 02.10.22 DE – Lindau / Club Vaudeville 03.10.22 FR – Colmar / Le Grillen 04.10.22 DE – München / Backstage Halle 05.10.22 DE – Hannover / Faust 06.10.22 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal 07.10.22 BE – Vosselaar / Biebob 08.10.22 DE – Mannheim / 7er Club 09.10.22 SI – Ljubljana / Orto Bar 11.10.22 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra 12.10.22 AT – Graz / Dom im Berg 13.10.22 PL – Wroclaw / Akademia 14.10.22 AT – Wien / Viper Room 15.10.22 DE – Nürnberg / Hirsch 16.10.22 DE – Trier / Mergener Hof 17.10.22 CH – Luzern / Schüür 18.10.22 FR – Lyon / CCO Villeurbanne 19.10.22 ES – Barcelona / Boveda 20.10.22 ES – Madrid / Shoko 21.10.22 ES – Pamplona / Totem 22.10.22 FR – Toulouse / L’Usine 23.10.22 FR – Paris / Petit Bain
It’s time to know the third digital single from HEIDRA’s upcoming studio album. The band teamed up with Metal Shock Finland, to premiere for Finnish territory, their lyric video “To Hell or Kingdom Come” for the title track from the album and describes the beginning of the end of the journey for our heroes as they ride toward the final showdown. This song is by far the most majestic and dramatic of the three singles released, rising from guttural, brutal verses to epic crescendos, magnificent solos and a chorus that will have everyone singing along from the first listen.
Join the “To Hell Or Kingdom Come” premiering here:
HEIDRA is a Copenhagen-based metal band playing a mix of melodic, black and power metal with folk-themed undertones, powerful choruses, and brutal growls. The band was formed in 2006 and has been steadily growing in strength, in songwriting and as a live performing band over the years. Heidra released their debut EP “Sworn to Vengeance” in 2012 which was followed by the band’s first full-length album “Awaiting Dawn” in 2014.
These two critically acclaimed releases pushed Heidra forward and landed the band a series of concerts, including two smaller international tours with bands such as Ektomorf, Infest and Noctem, a Danish tour and support concerts in Denmark for folk metal giants Korpiklaani.
In 2016 the band were given a support slot on a full European tour in support of Ensiferum and Fleshgod Apocalypse. This propelled the band, literally and figuratively onto the international stage and opened the door to many new fans and new friendships. At the conclusion of the tour work began in earnest to a follow-up album, expanding upon and continuing the epic narrative begun on “Awaiting Dawn”. “The Blackening Tide” was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered in 2017, being released in the following year. Following the release, Heidra once again set out to conquer Europe, supporting Omnium Gatherum on their European tour in the fall of 2019.
2020 became the year of the Covid-19 pandemic, and, as most actual band activity had been stopped in its tracks, Heidra began working on their third studio album, “To Hell or Kingdom Come” – an album that would complete their trilogy of story-driven concept albums, “The Dawn Trilogy”.
“To Hell Or Kingdom Come” will be released in digital, CD and LP (two colours, each limited to 300 units) by Mighty Music on April 8th, 2022.
Line-up: Morten Bryld – vocals, keys, acoustic guitars Martin W. Jensen – guitars Carlos G.R. – guitars James Atkin – bass, vocals
After the release of “The Reaper” – their first single from the upcoming album – Danish heavy rockers STATEMENT are back with a new song. The band has teamed up with Metal Shock Finland, to premiere for Finnish territory, their video for the new track “Indestructible”, taken from the band’s album that will be released later this year via Mighty Music and, once again, shows the immense firepower of the Danish quintet.
“This is a real story about life on the road under miserable conditions on tour”, the band comments. “The feeling of playing tiny stages and still delivering kick ass shows. Afterwards you’re being paid four beers and a package of stale peanuts, but despite it all, having the time of your life, making all the hard work worth the while, when you’re on that stage in front of the audience”.
Watch the “Indestructible” premiering here
STATEMENT hail from the dusty and dirty suburbs of Copenhagen, combining the raw power of several genres with their field-warrior melodic heavy rock and their assertive metal approach to form their own unique sound – a sound that straddles hard rock, heavy metal and softer elements from the world of pop.
Formed in 2011, the band has focused since day one on writing ear-catching heavy rock that touches the very core of your soul. Statement released their debut album “Monsters” in 2014, followed by the second album “Heaven Will Burn” in 2016, and third album “Force of Life” in 2019, and is now coming with their fourth album in 2022. Once again, the recordings were done with Søren Andersen behind the mixer in Medley Studios. This fiery combination between the band’s and Søren’s falconry for details and indomitable perfectionism has taken Statement’s universe to new heights, with even louder and more dynamic sound, especially coming from a special personal imprint and more convoluted band, where everyone has been involved in the songwriting. The inspiration comes from Scorpions, Metallica and Accept but also welcomes newer names such as Five Finger Death Punch, Volbeat, and Disturbed.
Statement’s upcoming album will be released in 2022 via Mighty Music.
Line-up: Jannick Brochdorf – vocals Niels Alex Larsen – lead guitars, backing vocals Lars Ulrik Le Fevre – guitars, backing vocals Martin Poulsen – bass Daniel Nielsen – drums
Last month, MALEVOLENCE announced their highly anticipated new album‘Malicious Intent‘ (out 20th May) with blazing first single ‘On Broken Glass‘, marking their place amongst metal’s heavyweights. With an impressive set of tour dates on the horizon alongside the record of their career, 2022 isinevitably MALEVOLENCE‘s year.
Today, the Sheffield 5-piece have delivered a decisive smackdown in the form of their crushing second single, ‘Life Sentence‘. Accompanied by Daniel Priess’ brainchild video concept, ‘Life Sentence’ is another punishing masterpiece from these Steel-City savages.
MALEVOLENCE front-man Alex Taylor stated: “Anyone that has followed us for a while knows that Malevolence is capable of delivering a fairly wide spectrum of different sounds. Sometimes we want to write ballads, sometimes we want to write big choruses and sometimes we want to write songs that make you want to smash everything in your house to pieces. One of the hardest, darkest and most aggressive tracks from Malicious Intent, Life Sentence is dedicated to anyone that thought we had gone soft!”
‘Malicious Intent‘ was recorded at Tree House Studios, UK. The record was produced by Jim Pinder and co-mixed by Jim Pinder and Carl Bown. The ‘Malicious Intent‘ artwork was created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor.
‘Malicious Intent‘– tracklist: 01. Malicious Intent 02. Life Sentence 03. On Broken Glass 04. Still Waters Run Deep 05. Higher Place 06. Karma 07. Above All Else (feat. Matt Honeycutt) 08. Do Or Die 09. Salvation (feat. Matthew K. Heafy) 10. Armageddon
Artwork by Eliran Kantor
MALEVOLENCE have a heavy touring year ahead. Their currently confirmed 2022/23 tour dates read as follows:
In early 2020 came the highly anticipated EP release, The Other Side, introducing a brand-new side of MALEVOLENCE. Although only 3 tracks, each song showcased a depth and diversity that is uncommon in modern metal. Heart-wrenching ballads are blended perfectly with technical shredding and crushing breakdowns, effortlessly showcasing the band’s talent as genuine songwriters. Despite the hard-fought success, MALEVOLENCE remains an autonomous crew. Operating from their Sheffield-based HQ, a previously derelict warehouse the band transformed themselves, MALEVOLENCE handles as much of their in-house operations as they possibly can. Including the formation and operation of MALEVOLENCE’s own label, MLVLTD Music. It was through this label that the band self-released The Other Side and although it was a first for the band, the release was a resounding success – racking up close to half a million streams on Spotify and Apple Music in its first few weeks of release.
MALEVOLENCE fans will know that their records come few and far between. Emerging onto the scene in 2013 with their debut album Reign of Suffering, which is currently climbing above 2.15 million streams on Spotify. Released as teenagers, the level of song crafting skill stands the test of time and remains a defining moment in the band’s career. The next four years had MALEVOLENCE grinding their way through the European continent, gaining recognition as one of the hottest prospects in this new wave of international heavy metal. 2017’s Self Supremacy saw the Sheffield quintet selling out club shows all over Europe, the USA, and even south-east Asia/Japan. This in turn has earned them a cult-like following of die-hard fans, who wear the MALEVOLENCE logo on their clothing like a medal of honour.
Now waiting with brand-new album ‘Malicious Intent‘ and plans to tour amongst some of the biggest names in heavy music, MALEVOLENCE are poised to become the next legacy name in all of heavy music.
Polish death metal legends VADER– currently on “Final Declaration Northern 2022 Tour” with Marduk – have announced Michał Andrzejczyk as their new drummer!
“VADERMANIAX !!! As many of You already noticed, there is a NEW DRUMMER in Vader since the beginning of 2022. Michał Andrzejczyk joined Vader on tour in Poland in February (“Awakening of Tyrants Tour 2022”) and You could watch His debut in Wrocław at the club “A2”. Michał (vel. Michael) started to work with James Stewart with Vader songs already in 2021 then we rehearsed few times together with whole band in our brand new “practice room” later on. James decided to leave Vader during our tour in US in 2020, however He was playing and working with us as long as necessary until the new drummer was ready to replace. Peter did not want to make it official until You could experience in own eyes and ears His high level and Spirit of this very young but already very powerful drummer. And this is just the beginning….. \m/
James Stewart took a decision and we respect it. He spent over ten years (!!!) with Vader recording many great albums and playing hundreds of crazy shows world wide. That was the most stable line up in band’s history. James will definitely explain all in His own words soon. We wish Him best luck in His bands and projects and THX for all those crazy years spent together as real band \m/”
VADER are currently on “Final Declaration Northern 2022 Tour” with MARDUK, see the remaining shows below.
UNITED TITANS TOUR 2022 MARDUK / VADER & guests: IMPALEMENT THE RISEN DREAD 24.03 (GER) Kassel / Goldgrube 25.03 GER) Glauchau / Alte Spinnerei 26.03 (GER) Berlin / ORWO Haus
In April, VADER will hit the road on rescheduled “De Profundis XXV Album Reedition Tour 2022 Part 2”, organized by Massive Music. Support comes from REJECT THE SICKNESS, MARA and NEMESIS. See the tour dates below.
DE PROFUNDIS XXV ALBUM REEDITION TOUR 2022 Part 2 ++++++++++++++++ VADER REJECT THE SICKNESS MARA NEMESIS 24.04.2022 SK – Bratislava / Randall 26.04.2022 A – Wien / Viper Room 27.04.2022 SLO – Ljubljana / Orto Bar 28.04.2022 SER – Novi Sad / SKCNS Fabrika 29.04.2022 CRO – Zagreb / Mocvara 30.04.2022 ITA – San Dona di Piave / Revolver 01.05.2022 ITA – Milano / Tbc 03.05.2022 CH – Martigny / Sunset 04.05.2022 CH – Zurich / Alte Kaserne 05.05.2022 GER – Munich / Backstage 06.05.2022 CZ – Praha / Black Pes 07.05.2022 CZ – Uherske Hradiste / MIR 08.05.2022 SK – Kosice / Collosseum
Furthermore VADER have announced “Final Declaration Northern 2022 Tour” for September 2022 with HATE, organized in cooperation with Creative Music and Massive Music. The tour will visit Baltic Lands area and Scandinavia all around Baltic See. More info about dates and cities soon.
VADER released their 16th studio album “Solitude In Madness” on May 1st 2020 via Nuclear Blast. Get your copy of ‘Solitude in Madness’ here and enjoy the madness: https://nblast.de/VaderSolitudeMadness
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 )