BULLET BOYS’ story is one of dogged persistence and devoted audiences. Close to 40 years after Marq Torien led bandmates Mick Sweda and Lonnie Vencent out of metal heroes King Cobra, and despite a tangled history of revolving band members, break-ups and reformations, Bullet Boys remain one of the key components in the modern hard rock scene.
Still recording, still touring, still firing on all cylinders, Bullet Boys’ success is built on more than music, however. As Torien put it, when asked what makes somebody a Bullet Boy, the band’s longevity is based upon “Strength, courage, empathy, love, unbridled talent, and a great sense of humor.”
The five albums included in this collection exude those qualities with room to spare.
The Albums 1995-2009 opens with the fan favorite Acid Monkey – described by Torien as having been “recorded very quickly, [getting “back to the punk and hard rock we grew up on in Southern California beach cities.”
Sophie follows, a blistering rocker that includes both a volatile cover of The Kinks’ “All Day and All of the Night” and a guest appearance on the album’s first single,. “Neighborhood,” from Sebastian Bach; the live Behind The Orange Curtain recaptures one vivacious night at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana. Torien admits, it was “Not the easiest task, but we captured lightning in a bottle. All live!”
10 Cent Billionaire has been described (by AllMusic) as “arguably BulletBoys heaviest yet,” and Torien’s most personal as well. “I wrote 10 cent Billionaire and recorded it when I was going through a devastating divorce. It was a labor of love that took a long time to record.” Finally, wrapping up the package, there’s a Greatest Hits CD to remind listeners just how huge, and how influential, Bullet Boys were, and remain.
And that’s not all. A new album is underway, Bullet Boys’ first since 2015’s Elefanté;, and the band – with Torien joined by Ira Black (guitar), Brad Lang (bass) and Dead Groove drummer Fred Aching – will be undertaking a full US tour this summer.
The excitement goes up another notch, meanwhile, with first-time-ever vinyl releases for 10 Cent Billionaire (silver vinyl), Acid Monkey (red vinyl) and the live album (red marble vinyl). In addition, Cleopatra have also released the band’s breathtaking all-covers collection Rocked and Ripped; plus, for anybody interested in digging into Torien’s pre-BulletBoys career, a 2 LP tribute to his time with King Kobra.
The box set, however, is what really gets the adrenalin pumping, with Torien enthusing, “I’m feelin grateful that these albums will be heard by our fans in a new light!! Definitely a labor of love to our Fans, Friends and Family all over the planet! Ty to Brian, Matt and Fred from Cleo for all your diligence and Luv put into this RAD box release! Crrrrank it Y’all We Love You!!!”
Since 1991, Nightfall have stood alongside Rotting Christ and Septicflesh as the pioneering trinity of Greek metal. The blackened death metal band sound as vengeful as ever. But the Athenians’ upcoming eleventh album is their darkest and most epic creation yet. Backed by monumental production, a powerful message and the biggest choruses in the band’s 30-year history, with Children of Eve, Efthimis Karadimas and his fellow rebels are set to unite blackened souls everywhere.
“I love how this album came out”, Efthimis says. “We’re excited to play these songs live. The sound is massive. The choruses are huge. And there’s a message that comes through. It’s an album about how we come through pain, how we live with pain and how we die in pain”.
Watch the vengeful video for the album’s anthemic lead single “I Hate”:
Like their brothers-in-arms, Nightfall sculpt towering gothic melodies from their blackened slab of death metal. After all, they’re the first Greek band to perform at Wacken Open Air. Children of Eve is blessed with the mightiest set of hooks in their deep discography. Their new album was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, who’s worked with Volbeat, Amaranthe, The Black Dahlia Murder and many other big names from metal’s pantheon. “I Hate” seethes with thunderous bass, riffs that crack like lightning and blast beats from ex-Septicflesh drummer Fotis Benardo that flow with all the fire and fury of the River Styx.
“I am a manic servant of deity of doom“, Efthimis roars as a Greek choir echoes his righteous anger like the call of a siren.
Their new single will have the festival masses headbanging and raising horns, but it wouldn’t bear the mark of Nightfall if it didn’t possess a deeper message. While the band’s disdain for the restrictions of the Eastern Orthodox Church has only grown, their latest act of rebellion was fueled by the ongoing rise of religious wars. “Anger was the root”, Efthimis reveals about what inspired Children of Eve. In the video for “I Hate”, a fallen warrior is resurrected, only to hunt down his guardian angel.
“Faith is a personal matter”, Efthimis continues, “but it can become a dirty business”.
It’s a message that the frontman hopes will unite metal messiahs across the globe. While Nightfall was on hiatus during the 2010s, Efthimis was diagnosed with depression. He now wears a black mask to cover half of his face to symbolize what’s it’s like to live under the invisible veil of mental illness. “We can talk about this. We can sing about it”, he says when asked about the band’s new initiative Metal Music Against Depression (MMaD), which is supported by the European Alliance Against Depression in Germany. “We can build a community that’s based on understanding”.
With Children of Eve, Nightfall return from the shadows to unite blackened souls everywhere with their darkest and most epic creation yet.
Tracklist 1. I Hate (6:05) [WATCH] 2. The Cannibal (3:36) 3. Lurking (4:08) 4. Inside My Head (4:51 5. Seeking Revenge (3:47) 6. For The Expelled Ones (5:07) 7. The Traders Of Anathema (3:15) 8. With Outlandish Desire To Disobey (3:25) 9. The Makhaira Of The Deceiver (4:21) 10. Christian Svengali (4:43) Full runtime: 43:22
The video for “I Hate” was directed and produced by Adam Barker (Video Ink).
Additional video credits 1st assistant director – Charlotte Bowe Storyline – Efthimis Karadimas Camera story – Oliver Price Camera band – PV Group Make up and SFX – Michelle Yates Editing – Oliver Price Casting – Adam Barker Gaffer – Benjamin Goff Knight: John Stableforth Angel – Jack Roper Witch – Michelle Yates
For more than three decades, Nightfall have stood alongside Rotting Christ and Septicflesh as the pioneering trinity of Greek metal. The legendary Athenian death metal band sound as vengeful as ever. But backed by monumental production and a powerful message, their eleventh studio album stands as their darkest and most epic creation yet. Children of Eve is here to unite blackened souls everywhere.
“I love how this album came out”, Nightfall’s founder Efthimis Karadimas says. “We’re excited to play these songs live. The sound is massive. The choruses are huge. And there’s a message that comes through. It’s an album about how we come through pain, how we live with pain, and how we die in pain”.
A Living Legacy of Greek Metal
Since their formation in 1991, Nightfall have remained a beacon for Greek metal. “Well, here is one of the rare, original bands”, wrote Angry Metal Guy. Like the scorching sun over their homeland, the Athenians rose from the underground alongside Rotting Christ and Septicflesh, though they were the first to sign an international record deal.
Over the years, the crew around Efthimis has changed frequently. But while Nightfall did enjoy a short but successful stint with Metal Blade Records in the early 2010s, their strong bond with Holy Records during the ’90s established a deep connection between the Greek and French metal scenes. That legacy continues with the band’s current label Season of Mist.
“Nightfall deserve great credit for persistence and determination”, Blabbermouth wrote upon the eve of At Night We Prey. “For fans of face-ripping gloom, [their] sizeable catalogue remains eminently worthy of exploration”.
Monumental Production
Like their contemporaries, Nightfall weave gothic melodies into blackened death metal. Children of Eve features the most infectious collection of hooks that the band has ever created, though their disdain for the dominance of the Eastern Orthodox Church has only deepened over the years. The ongoing rise across the globe of so-called “holy wars” fueled their latest rebellion.
“Anger was the root”, Efthimis explains about the inspiration behind Children of Eve. The band’s veteran leader commands the stage with cloak and dagger, but the album’s lead single pulls no punches. “I am the son of night, notorious bastard”, he roars as an eerie choir echoes like the call of a siren. As if summoned from Olympus, former Septicflesh drummer Fotis Benardo unleashes his attack like a swarm of venomous arrows.
“Faith is a personal matter”, Efthimis continues, “but it can become a dirty business”.
To amplify their message, Nightfall enhanced the entire production of Children of Eve. Efthimis and Fotis took charge of the production with assistance from InnerWish guitarist Thimios Krikos. Meanwhile, Jacob Hansen – who worked with Volbeat, Amaranthe and The Black Dahlia Murder – handled the mixing and mastering. For the artwork, the band turned to Eliran Kantor, who’s renowned paintings have graced the covers of albums by Testament, Kreator and Helloween.
A Powerful Message
Look at the tracklist and it’s evident that “I Hate” takes aim at the consistent influence of organized religion. “The Traders of Anathema” raises its axe in honor of Judas Iscariot, featuring two blistering guitar solos from Kostas Kyriakopoulos. However, Children of Eve wouldn’t bear the mark of Nightfall without a deeper message.
“Death’s Spiritual Healing deeply influenced me”, Efthimis says. “At the time, its social message was so advanced for the genre”. While “The Cannibal” bursts with divine tremolo picking, its lyrics explore how religious structures and fanaticism can devour you. “I hold the power / to explain your screams“, Efthimis howls with chilling intensity.
During Nightfall’s most recent hiatus, Efthimis was diagnosed with depression. Now, he wears a black mask to cover half of his face, symbolizing what it’s like to live under the invisible veil of mental illness. “When you have demons in your mind, you’re not always an ideal companion”, he admits. “That stigma can lead to isolation”.
Now, Nightfall are encouraging fellow metalheads to speak up. The band have launched a new initiative called Metal Music Against Depression (MMaD), which is supported by European Alliance Against Depression in Germany. “We can talk about this. We can sing about it. We can build a community that’s based on understanding”, Efthimis says.
With Children of Eve, Nightfall return from the shadows to unite blackened souls everywhere with their darkest and most epic creation yet.
Recording Credits: Recorded at Devasoundz Studios, Athens, Greece Produced by Efthimis Karadimas with Fotis Benardo & Thimios Krikos Engineered by Fotis Benardo & Thimios Krikos Mixed & Mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, Ribe, Denmark
Production Credits: Produced by Efthimis Karadimas & Engineered by Fotis Benardo Mixed & Mastered in Hansen Studios, Denmark by Jacob Hansen
Norwegian music collective WARDRUNA are now announcing the second part of the world tour that commenced in 2024. Over forty dates in Europe and the United States have been confirmed, including iconic venues and places such as the Amphitheatre of Pompeii in Italy and The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Wardruna will tour in support of their new, highly acclaimed album Birna.
Following successful tours in Europe, the United Kingdom and Norway, Wardruna will perform at a selected amount of summer festivals. These include Fire in the Mountains in the US, Summer Breeze Open Air in Germany and Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Romania, among others. The band will return to North America in September 2025, with Chelsea Wolfe as special guest on a number of shows. The winter of 2025 sees the band round up this extensive touring cycle in Europe, including their first ever performances in Spain and Portugal.
Tickets will go on sale on Friday, February 21 at 10 am CET (Europe) and 10 AM ET (United States).
In the summer and fall audiences in Europe and North America will witness the awakening of the bear live on stage. Playing at manmade historical locations like the world heritage site Odeon of Herodes Atticus, at Acropolis in Athens, as well as surrounded by natural wonders such as the Red Rocks in Colorado, US, Wardruna in dialogue with the audience, continues to create moments of true connection between inner and outer landscapes.
Part II of the world tour is no exception to that. In Wroclaw, Poland, the group is set to perform at the historic, UNESCO world heritage site The Centennial Hall. Wardruna have also recently announced a special concert at the Amphitheatre of Pompeii, a site of cultural significance in history and popular culture. Main composer Einar Selvik states: “We are genuinely honored to be invited to perform at the amphitheater in Pompei and it is hard to find the right words to express how special this feels. Not on only because of the historical and cultural significance of this rarely used venue but also the place it has in more recent cultural history with Pink Floyd’s legendary performance at this very site. Needless to say, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity!”
Wardruna released their new album Birna in January 2025 via By Norse Music and Sony Music. The album unravels the long and entangled history of the relationship between man and Bear and contemplating the present state of how we humans relate to the wild in general.
Birna was written and recorded between 2021 and 2024.
Music by Einar Selvik and Lindy-Fay Hella.
Lyrics by Einar Selvik.
Birna is performed by Einar Selvik, Lindy-Fay Hella, Eilif Gundersen, HC Dalgaard, Sondre Veland, John Stenersen, Arne Sandvoll.
The album features guest appearances by: Koret Artemis (Choir), Jonna Jinton (vocals and field recordings), Hans Fredrik Jacobsen (willow-bark flute), Kenneth Lien (Jaw-harp), Iver Sandøy (backing vocals).
Mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios.
Cover photo by Tuukka Koski. Cover artwork by Øivind A. Myksvoll
Photography by Morten Munthe
Biography by Oda Malmin
Proofreading by Lauren Barley
Wardruna live in 2024/2025
UK & Ireland 2025: With special guest: Jo Quail 17 Mar · Liverpool – Philharmonic – Low on Tickets 18 Mar · Birmingham – Symphony Hall 19 Mar · London – Royal Albert Hall – Low on Tickets 21 Mar · Bristol – Beacon – Low on Tickets 22 Mar · York – Barbican – SOLD OUT 23 Mar · Dublin – Olympia Theatre – Low on Tickets 25 Mar · Glasgow – SEC Armadillo
Norway 2025: 26 Apr · Oslo – Operaen – SOLD OUT 27 Apr · Oslo – Operaen – SOLD OUT 29 Apr · Trondheim – Olavshallen – SOLD OUT 02 May · Kristiansand – Kilden – Low on Tickets 03 May · Stavanger – Konserthuset – Low on Tickets 04 May · Bergen – Grieghallen – SOLD OUT
Summer 2025
7 Jun · Reykjavik, IS · Harpa 25-27 Jul · Red Eagle Campground, MT (USA) · Fire in the Mountains Festival 3 Aug · Rasnov, RO · Rockstadt Extreme Fest 5 Aug · Pompeii, IT · Anfiteatro degli Scavi 7 Aug · Serravalle di Chienti, IT · Montelago Celtic Festival 9 Aug · Istanbul, TR · Harbiye Open Air Theater 11 Aug · Antwerp, BE · OLT Riverenhof 13 Aug · Bristol, UK · ArcTanGent Festival 15 Aug · Dinkelsbühl, DE · SummerBreeze Open Air 16 Aug · Chemnitz, DE · Filmnächte Chemnitz Theaterplatz
North America
4 Sep · Ft. Worth, TX · Will Rogers Auditorium 5 Sep · San Antonio, TX · Tobin Center for the Performing Arts 7 Sep · Phoenix, AZ · Ikeda Theatre – Mesa Arts Center 8 Sep · Los Angeles, CA · The Greek Theatre *(no Chelsea Wolfe) 9 Sep · Oakland, CA · Paramount Theatre 11 Sep · Portland, OR · The Keller Auditorium 14 Sep · Seattle, WA · The Moore Theater 16 Sep · Salt Lake City, UT · Capitol Theatre 17 Sep · Colorado Springs, CO · Pikes Peak Center 19 Sep · Minneapolis, MN · Orpheum Theatre 20 Sep · Chicago, IL · The Auditorium Theater 22 Sep · Toronto, ON (CAN) · Massey Hall 23 Sep · Rochester, NY · Kodak Center 24 Sep · Boston, MA · Wang Theater 26 Sep · New York, NY · Beacon Theatre 27 Sep · Philadelphia, PA · Kimmel Center 28 Sep · Washington, DC · Warner Theater
Europe
14 Nov · Hannover, DE · Kuppelsaal 16 Nov · Copenhagen, DK · Det Kongelige Teater – Gamle Scene 17 Nov · Copenhagen, DK · Det Kongelige Teater – Gamle Scene 19 Nov · Stockholm, SE · Cirkus 21 Nov · Helsinki, FI · Finlandia-Talo 22 Nov · Lahti, FI · Sibeliustalo 23 Nov · Tampere, FI · Tampere-Talo 25 Nov · Tallinn, EE · Alexela Kontserdimaja 27 Nov · Wroclaw, PL · Centennial Hall 28 Nov · Munich, DE · Showpalast 29 Nov · Stuttgart, DE · Liederhalle – Beethoven-Saal 2 Dec · Porto, PT · Casa de Música 4 Dec · Madrid, ES · The Music Station 6 Dec · Toulouse, FR · Salle Horizon 7 Dec · Torino, IT · Auditorium del Lingotto 8 Dec · Strasbourg, FR · Le Palais de la Musique et des Congrès
WYTHERSAKE has released a lyric video for “Devour The Throne Of Grace”, second single taken from the new album “At War With Their Divinity” to be released on March 21 by Scarlet Records.
A relentless anthem that shifts between hypnotic, heavy passages and blistering fast sections, reflecting the tension between submission and rebellion, “Devour The Throne Of Grace” is a fierce declaration of the destruction of oppressive dogma, calling for the dismantling of false sanctity in favor of enshrining the will of Satan. It embodies the clash between blind faith and the unyielding power of self-determination.
video by Motus Insaniam
“At War With Their Divinity” album:
sophomore record for the American blackened-death metal ministers, embodying their uncompromising artistic vision with every detail crafted to their exact specifications;
profound thought-provoking lyrical content: “At War With Their Divinity” tackles deep themes of rebellion, spiritual awakening, and rejecting oppressive forces, challenging listeners to question dogma and societal control;
produced, mixed and mastered by Wythersake at Northlake Studios;
cover artwork by Belial NecroArts (Horned Almighty, Merrymack);
1 Purity Through Non Existence 2 Bloodlet The Lepers Created 3 Dancing Plagues Of Modern Man 4 At War With Their Divinity 5 Devour The Throne Of Grace 6 Gotterdammerung 7 The Autumnal Passing 8 Shrines Of Offal Rise 9 Chimerical God State Worship 10 Agents Of Holy Death 11 Behind Shadows Of Virtue 12 Perverse Christ Aeon
Total running time – 52:50
artwork by Belial NecroArts
Merging the elegant sophistication of 90’s Scandinavian death-black metal with the unrelenting intensity of American extremity, and blending intricate melodies with raw ferocious energy, Wythersake crafts the exact sound the underground scene has been craving.
The Washington, D.C. band returns with their highly anticipated new record, delivering 12 punishing tracks of rebellious darkness: this fierce and empowering work encourages listeners to embrace their own path and become the Luciferian light in a world shrouded in ignorance.
With “At War With Their Divinity” Wythersake push the creative boundaries even further and affirm their place as a force of destruction elevating the spirit through chaos and defiance.
Wythersake: Gabriel Luis – vocals, guitar James Siegrist – guitar Cody Bowen – bass Daniel Salamanca – drums
L to R: Sammy Lee, Larry Moore, Stevie Shred, Bubba McMichael – by Diana Travis Photography
Virginia-based rockers Red Reign are honored to announce a string of east coast dates that they will open for LA Guns throughout late April and early May.
The band will be performing standout tracks from their most recent album, ‘Don’t Look Back.’
“We are excited to be back on the road supporting one of our favorite bands, LA Guns,” said the band in a statement.
“We are looking forward to being back on stage performing live – material from our latest release and fan favorites, and continuing to meet new friends along the way.”
Taking 80’s influences but steering them in a more contemporary direction, Red Reign (which is comprised of members singer/guitarist Carlton “Bubba” McMichael, guitarist Stevie Shred, bassist Larry Moore, and drummer Sammy Lee) bridge the sounds of yesterday and today, and can compete with the current active rock radio climate – as heard throughout their aforementioned 2023 full-length debut, ‘Don’t Look Back,’ which was supported by opening shows last year for classic rockers Nazareth.
Overseen by Grammy Award-nominated multi-platinum producer David Ivory(Halestorm, Silvertide), the ten-track LP features such standout tracks as “Don’t Look Back” (which features a guest appearance by guitarist George Lynch), “Here I Am,” and “No Peace, No Love.” The band strongly feels that “All types of music lovers can find what they like in each one of our songs.” To check out the group’s music video for “Don’t Look Back,” click here:
And the feedback from the rock press concerning the album has been stellar, including Metal Express Radio saying “‘Don’t Look Back’ has a modern sounding production, giving the songs a fresh feel to them. The title track, in particular, is a solid rocker with a powerful message, which is to let go of the past and focus on the now. It’s heavy, melodic, and upbeat.” Additionally, Sonic Perspectives said, “If the album packs this much energy, witnessing it live might just transport you to another plane of existence.”
And the buzz concerning Red Reign will only be spread further with these upcoming shows supporting LA Guns!
Women-led, talented Brazilian Rock band Malvada are excited to unveil their new single and official music video, “Dead Like You”, out today via Frontiers Music Srl.
Malvada commented on the new single, by saying: “Dead Like You is heavy, modern and surprising. We hope you immerse yourself in the world of this song”.
Malvada was initially formed in March 2020, during the beginning of the pandemic. With a rock n’ roll style full of personality, the band quickly attracted attention as one of the most promising acts in the Brazilian rock scene.
In January 2021, Malvada released their first single entitled “Mais Um Gole”, which gained greater prominence in the scene. Shortly afterwards, in May of the same year, it was time to release the second single “Cada Escolha uma Renúncia”, which preceded the launch of the band’s debut album, “A Noite Vai Ferver”.
In the years 2022 and 2023, Malvada solidified its presence on the national rock panorama, performing more than a hundred shows in several cities in Brazil. The band had the privilege of participating in huge festivals, such as Rock in Rio, Best of Blues and Rock, Angra Fest and Chama Rock, sharing the stage with renowned national and international rock names, like Pitty, Ira!, Angra, Viper, Edu Falaschi, Matanza, Golpe de Estado, Extreme and Tom Morello.
In November 2023, Malvada, composed of Indira Castillo, Bruna Tsuruda, Rafaela Reoli and Juliana Salgado surprised with a big announcement: the band has become the newest signee of the prestigious Italian label Frontiers Records, which has renowned bands in its catalog such as Mr. Big, Asia, Whitesnake, Jeff Scott Soto, among others, promising to take them to a new level, with opportunities to expand their reach and conquer the global market.
The band is eager to share this new chapter of their musical journey with their fans and hopes that the new album reaches bigger horizons and opens doors to international success. The band’s vibrant passion and support from Frontiers Records promise a bright future for Malvada on the music scene.
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 