Long Time Saxon Drummer Nigel Glockler recently spoke to The Metal Voice about the bands 23rd studio Album ‘Carpe Diem’ which will be released Feb 4, 2022 via Silver Lining. Glockler also gave some band updates and his opinion on the metal guys Top 10 Saxon songs.
Excerpts from the interview
When the new album compared to the last album “The Pandemic obviously screwed up the timeline, I actually recorded the drums at the end of 2019. We have changed a few things since. The original release date for the album was February of last year but the Pandemic hit and the record company didn’t want to release it cause you couldn’t go on tour. I think the Pandemic just gave us more time to hone things down. “
When asked about how the band continues to release new music while other bands just rely on playing their greatest hits ” With us (Saxon) we just enjoy writing, that is what we are in It for and doing new albums and coming up with new music. This is the way we do it, seems to be working ok so far. (laughs).
When asked about what is next for Saxon “We did those two gigs last weekend, Hammersmith and Manchester and the next thing for us is festival season. So we got about two three months off so we already started thinking about getting ideas ready for the next album, rather than waste time, let’s get ahead of the game so when that time comes around we are in good shape.”
Swedish folk metal pillars MÅNEGARM have made a name for themselves in the international scene by releasing nine full-length records since their debut, Nordstjärnans tidsålder, back in 1998. Now, the Scandinavian crew takes another stroll through ancient sagas and myths of long forgotten times on the successor of 2019’s chart-topping Fornaldarsagor with their upcoming 10th studio album, Ynglingaättens Öde (EN: the fate of the Ynglinga kin), out April 15, 2022 via Napalm Records.
In their multifaceted world of sound, MÅNEGARM incorporate Pagan inspired lyricism based on the old Norse poem Ynglingatal, which describes the fate of an old Norse dynasty – the house of Ynglinga. Ynglingaättens Öde offers balanced variety and atmosphere, breathing new life into ancient myths.
To sink deep into this unique occasion and to keep the Viking flame burning bright, the three-piece have just released their staggering brand new track, entitled “Ulvhjärtat” (EN: the Wolfheart), alongside a gripping official music video. An acoustic introduction acts as a prelude for a stomping yet catchy hymn with harsh riffs, engaging drums and anthemic melodies, as MÅNEGARM underline their standing as spearheads in the world of Viking metal once more.
MÅNEGARM on “Ulvhjärtat“: “‘Ulvhjärtat’ is about Ingjald Illråde, who was the last king of the Ynglinga dynasty that ruled over Uppsala and Svetjud. As a young boy, Ingjald was weak and frail but during a great feast, the midvinterblot, Ingjald was advised by his foster-father, the blind man Svipdag, to eat a wolf´s heart to gain strength. Ingjald followed the old man’s advice but the outcome was not only that Ingjald became hardened and stronger… he also took on the mind and temper of the wolf.
Ingjald grew up to be an ambitious king determind to make his kingdom grow, but his mind grew darker and darker. His treacherous mind made him invite nearby kings just to burn them alive and expand his kingdom, his ferocious and ruthless rule contained betrayals and oath breaking and he finally came to be called ‘Ingjald the illruler’…”
On Ynglingaättens Öde vocalist Erik Grawsiö tells the stories of kings, warriors and battles with clear vocals and contrasts them with grim growls and fierce battle cries! With the uncompromising ten-minute opus “Freyrs blod”,MÅNEGARM lure the listener deep into ancient times. The track spans a wide arc between black metal elements that flow into more melodic parts and even acoustic interludes with guitar and violin tunes, just to turn once again into thunderous soundscapes. With this majestic opener, MÅNEGARMshowcase why they are regarded as Swedish genre pioneers with good reason, as they inimitably manage to combine vicious black metal foundations with classic folk and Viking elements. On the way there are acoustic introductions echoing, as on “Stridsgalten”, acting as preludes for intense metal songs with harsh riffs and engaging drums, underlined by anthemic melodies. “Stridsgalten” marks another highlight of the album, as it features outstanding contributions from prominent guests Jonne Järvelä (Korpiklaani), Robse Dahn (Equilibrium)and Pär Hulkoff (Raubtier/Hulkoff). All renowned in the folk and Pagan metal scenes, together they proudly present a stomping track telling the story of a bloody battle to honor Odin. “Vitta vettr” features black metal trademarks like blast beats and freezing riffs, creating a darker atmosphere. On the other hand, there’s the ballad-like “En snara av guld”, transporting melancholia by Lea Grawsiö Lindström’s gentle vocal harmonies (daughter of vocalist Erik Grawsiö). This very sublime moment lines up with mighty tracks like hammering “Auns söner” and heroic “Adils Fall”.The album closes with the acoustic “Hågkomst av ett liv”, conjuring an atmosphere of sitting at a warm, sparkling fire while listening to tales of olden days, formed by the mesmerizing vocal duet of vocalists Ellinor Videfors and Grawsiö. With Ynglingaättens Öde, MÅNEGARM underline their standing as spearheads of the world of Viking metal once more and keep Pagan traditions alive, even after 25 years of existence.
MÅNEGARM on the album: “Thousands of working hours turned into this beast – our new album, Ynglingaättens Öde. We truly believe this album is our strongest and most complete album to date and despite the dark days of the pandemic, we have created a concept album that is 100% MÅNEGARM and packed with strong melodies, riffs and powerful choruses. This time, we explore an old Swedish Norse dynasty of rulers where we detail their deeds, their rule and above all – their deaths.
So come join us on this journey and meet the fate of the Yngliga kin!”
Ynglingaättens Öde tracklisting: 1. Freyrs blod 2. Ulvhjärtat 3. Adils fall 4. En snara av guld 5. Stridsgalten 6. Auns söner 7. Vitta vettr 8. Hågkomst av ett liv
On the new video single, “Turn the Wounds,” hardcore guitar player and frontman Billy Graziadei (Biohazard, Powerflo) gets deeply personal with lyrics and imagery. Graziadei directed, produced and edited the video incorporating CGI footage designed by Philipp Hartmann. Leaders And Liars is set for March 25, 2022 release worldwide via AFM Records.
“’Turn The Wounds‘ is about battles, ranging from personal, internal struggles to societal warfare,” says Graziadei. “It’s about the constant fighting between left and right, rich and poor, vaxxed and unvaxxed, science and religion, faith and atheism. There’s so much social manipulation in a constantly evolving information highway that is making a massive impact on our society.” This sentiment is underpinned by lyrics including the opening salvo: ” I gotta turn these wounds into wisdom // don’t let your actions be guided by fear.”
BillyBio style hardcore is firmly entrenched in the classic sound of New York bands like Agnostic Front, and Cro-Mags, but the new album, Leaders And Liars, forges a new path. Punk, hardcore and classic metal (Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden), influences come together on these 15 songs giving listeners untrodden avenues to explore. AFM Records exclusive pre-sale link HERE. Link to pre-save the album on digital platforms HERE.
Graziadei wrote, performed, recorded and produced all fifteen tracks on Leaders and Liars in 2020 and 2021 at Firewater Studios in Los Angeles. In addition to recording and producing Biohazard there, he’s also had Powerflo, Madball, Agnostic Front, Devil Driver in the studio which he runs full time when not on tour. The record was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen. Additional musicians performing on the album include Fred Aching Rios (Powerflo) on drums; Ra Dias (Suicidal Tendencies, currently touring with KORN) on bass; Daniele Manca on bass; Dan Palmer (Death by Stereo, Zebrahead) on guitar; Robbie Davidson (The Exploited) on guitar. Vocals on “Remission” and “Just In The Sun” by Jennifer Bair with Jay Roth. Toby Morse (H2O, Hazen Street) appears on “One Life To Live.”
Leaders And Liars Tracklist:
Black Out
Fallen Empires
Leaders and Liars
Lost Horizon
Turn the Wounds
Sheepdog
Deception
Generation Kill
Looking Up
One Life To Live ( feat. Toby Morse [H2O, Hazen Street] )
Our Scene
Just The Sun ( feat. Jennifer Bair [Jay Roth] )
Enough
Remission ( feat. Jennifer Bair [Jay Roth] )
Cyanide
Album artwork by Lecru Eyebrows and design by Filipe Horsch.
Norwegian metal legend ABBATH will drop its third full-length album, ‘Dread Reaver,’ on March 25 via Season of Mist! The band is now premiering the title track, which can be heard HERE.
Pre-orders for ‘Dread Reaver’ are available in the Season of Mist shop HERE. Pre-save the album on streaming services HERE.
The album artwork for ‘Dread Reaver’ was created by Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik.
Tracklist: 1. Acid Haze (04:51) 2. Scarred Core (03:29) 3. Dream Cull (04:15) WATCH HERE 4. Myrmidon (04:33) 5. The Deep Unbound (04:05) 6. Septentrion (04:30) 7. Trapped Under Ice (03:59) 8. The Book of Breath (04:35) 9. Dread Reaver (04:43) LISTEN HERE 10. Make my day (04:16)
Extreme progressive metal maestros PERSEFONE have returned with the next single from their upcoming album, metanoia, entering the last round before its long-awaited release this Friday. The third single, “Architecture of the I”, features grim growling, sharp screams and technically precise riffing – creating dark sound walls that alternate with calmer atmospheric parts underlined with electronic elements – once again showcasing the band’s variety in just one epic song! Underlining this opus of sound is a mesmerizing visualizer video that enters another universe – just a sneak peak of what’s to come with their new album metanoia.
PERSEFONE on “Architecture of the I”: “‘Architecture of the I’ represents one of the most progressive songs on metanoia. On this track, we really let the song come alive as we were writing, and because of that, the listener will find in there a huge dynamic range from one of the most fast and heavy riffs in the whole album, to some of the most introspective passages. This song has been a challenge for us to write and perform, and we are sure that it will also present a challenge for the listener to keep track with its particular pace and structure. Now it’s up to you to find the purpose of all those notes within the album. The stunning video was created by our guitar player Filipe and his partner K (DeadFlag Studios and Gráfica de Ferro).”
PERSEFONE is known for their brand of rich soundscapes and technically precise work, setting new standards in modern extreme progressive metal. Founded in 2001, PERSEFONE has released five studio albums, each showcasing the band’s myriad of musical principles: high technicality, distinct melodies, plenty of head-turning riffs and musical acrobatics. The band has toured worldwide with notable acts like Obituary and Leprous, has hit stages at important festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Metal Days, Brutal Assault, ProgPower and 70,000 Tons of Metal, and is now set to release their new album, metanoia!
Featuring collaborations with standout artists like Steffen Kummerer (Obscura, Thulcandra), Einar Solberg (Leprous), Angel Vivaldi and Merethe Soltvedt (Two Steps From Hell), metanoia exploits the full potential of contrasts in every song, with each track representing a story evolving from beginning to end and constantly growing in strength – redefining typical musical boundaries. Mixed by David Castillo (Leprous, Soen, Opeth) and mastered by Tony Lindgren (Enslaved, Ihsahn, Sepultura), the new full-length stretches over 10 songs, each appearing to glide seamlessly from one to the next. metanoia sets off with the opulent opener “Katabasis”, drawing dramatic, cinematic soundscapes mixed with electronic influences. The soft, clear vocals of Miguel Espinosa alternate with sharp growls and pierce through constantly changing riffs. PERSEFONE balances soft passages with intense walls of sound on tracks like “Aware of Being Watched” – in which clean vocals and jazzy sections alternate with intense riffing carried by dense drumming – while solid, rich sound takes on orchestral dimensions on songs such as “Leap of Faith”. Vivid and dynamic instrumentation, tempo and rhythm make up the intense ride “Merkabah”, showcasing the band’s hardest yet most vulnerable sides as screams and blast beats are followed by soft instrumentation – spanning the song’s intensity to its maximum. A special surprise is the 11-minute masterpiece “Consciousness Pt III”, which continues a series of songs from the band’s fourth album Spiritual Migration (2013). The album closes with another opulent set of songs, “Anabasis Part I”, “Anabasis Part II” and “Anabasis Part III”. “Anabasis Part I” starts off with calm, dreamy piano sounds, drifting over to the intense “Anabasis Part II” and leading seamlessly into “Anabasis Part III”, gently closing the album with a cinematic outro.
PERSEFONE about the new album: “metanoia is the next step in our personal pursuit for existential growth through music. This album is a call for a deep change, a call for an inner journey through fear and pain, a call for a leap into a meaningful and rooted place. Making this album has forced us to face many musical and personal hurdles and fears, and the result of that confrontation lives within all the notes and words captured on this new chapter in our journey. May you will find meaning in all this musical chaos.”
metanoia tracklist: 1. Metanoia ft. Einar Solberg 2. Katabasis 3. Architecture of the I 4. Leap of Faith 5. Aware of Being Watched 6. Merkabah 7. Consciousness Part III 8. Anabasis Part I 9. Anabasis Part II ft. Steffen Kummerer, Angel Vivaldi und Merethe Soltvedt 10. Anabasis Part III
Black Lion Records is pleased to welcome heavy metal act RF Force to the label’s eclectic artist roster! Hailing from Sao Paolo, Brazil, RF Force brings back the old-school vibes that we just come to love and associate with bands such as Judas Priest, Saxon, Dio… So dust off your leather jacket, grab your beers, and saddle up!
RF Force says about their signing: “We’re very excited to be part of Black Lion’s cast as their first traditional Heavy Metal band. We are excited that now our music will reach more and more people around the globe.“
Black Lion Records comments: “We are super pleased to announce the signing of RF Force. When Marcos showed the music video for the track ‘Fallen Angel’ I was completely blown away and instantly said we need to sign these guys.”
The band’s debut album will be released this summer in Europe and the U.S. via Black Lion Records and in Brazil via Classic Metal Records. To shorten your wait, the band has released a first and electrifying preview of what to expect from the upcoming album! So sit back and enjoy the brand new music video for the track ‘Fallen Angel’, streaming here:
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