When the gates of the world slammed shut in 2020, German metal spearheads CALIBAN focused their energies in the studio. The results were nothing short of prolific: at first, “Zeitgeister”, a collection of classic CALIBAN songs re-done in their native German, but more importantly, a brand-new album, “Dystopia”.
Andreas Dörner (vocals) about “Ascent Of The Blessed”: “This song is inspired by my imagination of a near-death-experience and the question about my life. It’s about the question if one is a good or an evil person.”
Finnish progressive rock/metal band VARJO-ORKESTERI released a first ever single Vihtahousun illallinen. The track is taken from their upcoming debut album Prima Volta which is released on April 1st 2022 by Inverse Records.
The Band comments: “The first single from the upcoming Prima volta debut album. Vihtahousun illallinen introduces the listener directly to what the Varjo-Orkesteri is all about: A pinch of the past and a touch of what’s to come. The supper of Beelzebub (vihtahousun illallinen) is you!”
Pre-save Prima Volta -album to your playlist from here
Track list:
Vihtahousun illallinen
Hiljaisuuteen sisältyy kaikki
Mielenkarkotin
Luoto
Sydänmusta
Kivinen
Lootus
Kuvajainen
Jumalallinen kuolema
Kalmanviiva
Varjo-orkesteri is a Finnish-language group flavoured by rock, metal and proge. The band is the “ready-to-go” missile of the hot Karhula scene, which is always ready to kick the nation with freshest and thickest beats. The band sort of formed by accident when the Fog Light boys (Jarmo Pikka, Pasi Hakuli, Saku Hakuli) were planning to put together a new album based on almost complete instrumental demos. Coincidentally, possible vocal contributions (Markku Pihlaja) was discussed. At first as usual, lyrics were to be written in English. But led by something unconscious, the text began to emerge in finnish. This intuition was definitely worth following.
The album’s demos were therefore largely ready when singing melodies and text began to be written in the demos. At the same time, when the songs were demoed, tracks were already recorded for the album. Recording sessions were built according to the spirit of the times “remotely” so that each party recorded their share in their own studios. By late autumn 2021, the recordings were ready. Mixing and mastering were agreed with their final form at the beginning of December. The end result surprised the whole band, the album (Prima Volta) became a really fresh-sounding revelation, not least for the native languge in the text.
The members of the varjo-orkesteri are quite familiar at least to the music people of the home area (South Kymenlaakso). The members have a background from bands such as Omnium Gatherum, Total Devastation, Manitou, Kaihoro, Return To Void, Demonic Death Judge etc.
Extreme Management Group (EMG), home to bands like Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation, Rings of Saturn and more, has announced their partnership with Italian Death Metal act SPIRITUAL DECEPTION.
Spiritual Deception is an atmospheric/slam death metal band with hints of technical and brutal death metal. Active since 2016, the band is based in Milan, Italy.
The band has a deep connection with philosophy and owes its name to a theory from the Danish philosopher Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, which struck the composers’ minds: different human beings in the act of analyzing a particular circumstance, approach (inevitably) the situation with different points of view. Extending that fact to the ethic field, hence that nothing can be defined as objective good or bad, true or false, as the judgment is deeply rooted in everyone’s own perspective. As a result, there is no objective truth, your soul is constantly deceived.
Since its birth, the band produced 3 EPs: Spiritual Deception (2018), Etemenanki (2019) and Oxymoron (2021), sharpening its sound towards a modern death metal, with brutal guitar riffing and blasting drums, combined with melodic elements, which go from guitar harmonies to liturgical choirs and strings ensembles. The result of the combination of these elements is a sound which satisfies all kinds of listeners, from the brutal to the more sophisticated ones. This formula is enriched by the lyrics which are all about philosophy, astronomy, history and literature. The band wants to spark interest about all these themes together with the passion for music into the listener and, in order to achieve its goal, wants to deliver a complete product, well-finished from all the point of views: from the music and lyrics, to the artworks and media contents.
With the latest release, Oxymoron (October 2021), the band gained further visibility and aroused the attention of fans and the underground scene, creating huge expectations for the upcoming full-length record, scheduled for the end of 2022, as Metal Injection states: ‘There’s a lot to enjoy within Spiritual Deception – Oxymoron, and I’m excited to hear what they come up with for their debut album.’
The band got a spot on December 2021 Rock Hard magazine issue as the ‘best auto-production of the month’ as well as an interview on the January 2022 issue of the same magazine.
Now with a lineup of talented musicians, Spiritual Deception plans on frequently releasing new quality music and promoting it with relentless touring in order to reach fans in every corner of the world.
The band had the following to say about the partnering, “We are extremely excited to partner with Extreme Management Group, as we’re sure that the experience of EMG will help us a lot to grow in our music career”.EMG said, “Spiritual Deception has done a ton of work getting themselves to this point. We intend to make that hard work count.” Anticipate big things to come from Spiritual Deception and Extreme Management Group.
Finland’s multi-Platinum cello-rockers APOCALYPTICA have issued the following:
A few months ago we started a TikTok account just as a way to share some of our favorite Apocalyptica memories…. And you guys loved it! The account quickly exploded in its following and has become a major platform for us. We’re super grateful!
We’re going to keep sharing classic footage, highlights from videos and more, so if you want to dig back into some of our favorite memories – then head over to the TikTok today!
Finnish swamp rockers MUDDY MOONSHINE release their second splice ’Crystal Riders’ from the forthcoming album ’Are We There Yet?’. Already renamed album finally sees its daylight on March 18th 2022 via Finnish label Secret Entertainment.
The band comments: “Crystal Riders is one of the first tracks done after new vocalist joined the group. Song is straight on Muddystyle ignoring any thin red lines between genres. Track was recorded at Magnusberg Studios with Marko ’Puke’ Kataja.”
US sleaze rock rebels KICKIN VALENTINA will bring their Revenge Of Rock tour to Europe already in May. This is the long-overdue European trek for the band, after the release of their last album “The Revenge Of Rock” via Mighty Music in January 2021, followed by gigs dry amidst pandemics restrictive measures.
“After all of the craziness in the world for the past two years, we are really looking forward to getting back on tour in Europe again. Since our last album “The Revenge of Rock” came out in January of 2021, we’ve had to cancel four different tours over there. We can’t wait to finally play these new songs live for fans that haven’t had a chance to see us in a couple of years” bassist Chris Taylor states.
06.05 – Charles Dickens Bar, Helsinborg, SE (Tickets) 07.05 – Nordic Noise Festival, Amager Bio, Copenhagen, DK (w/ Blind Guardian, Soilwork, Electric Boys, and many more) (Tickets) 10.05 – Saegewerk, Neukirchen, DE (w/ El Pistolero) 11.05 – Gruner Baum, Dessau, DE (w/ El Pistolero) 12.05 – Resonazwerk, Oberhausen, DE (w/ El Pistolero) 13.05 – Lemmy’s Bar, Bad Friedrichshall, DE (w/ El Pistolero) 14.05 – Hall Of Fame, Wetzikon, CH 16.05 – Bannermans, Edinburgh, SC (w/ The La Maybe & She Burns Red) (Tickets) 17.05 – Waterloo, Blackpool, EN (w/ The La Maybe & She Burns Red) (Tickets) 18.05 – The Patriot, Newport, WL (w/ The La Maybe & She Burns Red) (Tickets) 19.05 – Nambucca, London, EN (w/ The La Maybe & She Burns Red) (Tickets) 21.05 – Call Of The Wild Festival, Lincolnshire Showground, EN (w/ Phil Campbell And The Bastards, Treatment, Reckless Love, Warrior Soul, New roses and many more) (Tickets) 24.05 – Musicon, The Hague, HL (w/ El Pistolero) 25.05 – Cadillac, Oldenburg, DE (w/ El Pistolero) 26.05 – De Cacaofabriek, Helmond, HL (w/ El Pistolero) 27.05 – Wildfest, De Spiraal, Geraardsbergen, BE (w/ Heat, Crazy Lixx, Shiraz Lane, Cruel Intentions and many more) (Tickets) 28.05 – 7’er Club, Mannheim, DE (w/ El Pistolero) 29.05 – Johnny’s Lion Cave, Truebbach, CH (w/ El Pistolero)
KICKIN VALENTINA plays loud unapologetic rock n roll. In January 2021 KICKIN VALENTINA released their 3rd full length album “The Revenge of Rock” worldwide on Mighty Music/Target Group. The album was once again produced by Andy Reilly (UFO, Bruce Dickinson, Cradle of Filth) at Muse Productions in Atlanta, and Mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Sabaton, Halford) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in CA. “We are really proud and excited to introduce this full length album. It’s the most diverse KV album so far.” states guitarist Heber Pampillon.
KICKIN VALENTINA formed in 2013, and the band quickly gained attention in the U.S. and abroad. They were immediately picked up by Atlanta based indie label Highway 9 Records and released their debut self-titled EP in October 2013. In August 2015 KICKIN VALENTINA signed with Danish hard rock/metal label Mighty Music/Target Group, and have released 3 successful full length albums “Super Atomic,” “Imaginary Creatures,” “The Revenge of Rock,” and an EP “Chaos in Copenhagen” to rave reviews around the world. Their latest album “The Revenge of Rock” debuted at #6 on the top 40 vinyl chart in Denmark. The album “Imaginary Creatures” debuted on 5 different Billboard charts (Heatseeker Albums #16, Heatseekers South Atlantic #5, Independent Albums #30, Hard Rock Album Sales #11, and Rock Album Sales #42), and the single “Crazy” reached #15 on the Danish iTunes rock charts. “Chaos in Copenhagen” debuted at # 27 on Denmark’s top 100 album sales chart.
KICKIN VALENTINA has been busy touring America and Europe opening for artists as diverse as Buckcherry, Queensryche, Nitrogods, Pop Evil, Fozzy, Skid Row, Red Dragon Cartel, Sebastian Bach, Doro, Eve to Adam, Faster Pussycat, Nonpoint, Kix, and LA Guns to name a few. In addition to their own headlining shows, they are also actively playing a variety of music festivals including Bang Your Head (Germany), Call of the Wild (England), Rock Fest (WI), Nordic Noise (Denmark), Wildfest (Belgium), Rhon Rock Open Air (Germany), Hard Rock Hell Sleaze (England), Monsters of Rock Cruise, Lario Music Festival (Italy), Rocklanta (GA), Farm Rock (IL, TN & GA), Rock Fest 80s (FL), Soundwave (MD), Rock n Skull (IL), Wolf Fest (CO), Skull Fest (NE), Summer Rock Party (IL), Daytona Bike Week (FL), and Outskirts 53 Music & Bike Fest (GA).
KICKIN VALENTINA has received press in major publications throughout Europe and Japan such as Burrn, Young Guitar, Classic Rock, Sweden Rock, Legacy, Fireworks, Metalized, Aardshok, Metal Hammer, Deaf Forever, Rock Hard, Rock It, Powerplay, and countless online magazines around the world. They were nominated for – and won – the prestigious 2014 GA Music Award for “Rock Band of the Year,” and in 2015 they won the GA Music Award for “Video of the Year” for their single “Wrong Way.” Their song “Get Ready” has been used by the Jacksonville Axemen Rugby Team for promotional commercials and played during home games, and is also on the soundtrack for the movie “Hair I Go Again.”
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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
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
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