Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

NACHTBLUT Release New Single + Official Music Video ‘Das Leben der Anderen’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 19, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: NACHTBLUT. Leave a comment

Today, German dark metal masters NACHTBLUT have released their gloomy third single “Das Leben der Anderen” [Eng: The Lives of Others], cut from their upcoming seventh studio album Todschick [Eng: Dead chic], out this Friday via Napalm Records.

In the age of social media, this sentiment is more relevant than ever. The melancholic track “Das Leben der Anderen” captures a deep sense of loneliness and isolation, reflecting the all-too-common feeling of being left behind while everyone else seems to be thriving. Underlined by Askeroth’s guttural screams and explosive synths, this offering elevates their sound to new heights as the band prepares to showcase this and more Todschick tracks on tour, starting this Friday!

NACHTBLUT on their new single “Das Leben der Anderen”:
“When was the last time you scrolled through social networks for hours? From one perfectly staged vacation photo to the next, from faces distorted by filters that warp our beauty standards. And have you ever asked yourself: Why is everyone so flawless and seemingly living an exciting life – except for me? If so, this song is for you.”

Following their successful album Vanitas (2020), which reached number 19 in the official German album charts, the quartet is expanding its sound with a multi-faceted mix of stylistic elements and synthesizer sounds that pay homage to the 80s, among other influences. Produced by Chris Harms (Lord of the Lost), the album will also be released in an exclusive wooden box set with a bonus CD containing seven additional tracks and exciting collaborations with scene greats.

Meanwhile, the dark, new-wave-synth track “Manchmal kommen sie wieder” explores the eternal cycles of creation, destruction and war. Tracks like “Kinder des Zorns” invite headbanging with especially hard riffs and tempo. With “Schneller als der Tod,” the band ventures into entirely new musical territory, seamlessly merging epic wild west elements with the powerful sounds of dark metal. Energetic melodies blend perfectly with Askeroth’s characteristic vocals, creating a unique atmosphere that brings the album to a striking conclusion, offering an unexpected musical twist.

With Todschick, NACHTBLUT not only masterfully enriches dark metal with captivating, genre-spanning sounds that set new accents, but also addresses contemporary societal issues, striking a chord with the times. This new masterpiece is an invitation to view the dark beauty of life and its challenges in a new light, and to join the band on their 2025 headline tour to experience it live!

NACHTBLUT on the new album:
“Todschick is an album where death sets the rhythm, a musical blood kiss, in which the line between fiction and reality fades with every note.”

Pre-Order Your Copy of Todschick NOW

Todschick tracklisting:
01 Von Hass Getrieben
02 Todschick
03 Nachtgeweiht
04 Das Leben Der Anderen
05 Manchmal Kommen Sie Wieder
06 Mein Ist Die Hölle
07 Götterstille
08 Kinder Des Zorns
09 Stirb Langsam
10 Schneller Als Der Tod

Nachtblut “Todschick” Tour 2025:
w/ Sagenbringer
21.02.25 DE – Hanover / Musikzentrum – Sold Out
22.02.25 DE – Osnabrück / Rosenhof
27.02.25 AT – Wien / Szene
28.02.25 DE – Munich / Backstage – Sold Out
01.03.25 DE – Stuttgart / ClubCann – Sold Out
02.03.25 DE – Stuttgart / ClubCann *Additional Show
06.03.25 DE – Nuremberg / Hirsch
07.03.25 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser – Sold Out
08.03.25 DE – Berlin / Hole44 – Sold Out
13.03.25 DE – Oberhausen / Kulttempel
14.03.25 DE – Frankfurt / Das Bett – Sold Out
15.03.25 CH – Luzern / Konzerthaus Schüür

NACHTBLUT are:
Askeroth – Vocals
Ablaz – Bass
Skoll – Drums
Greif – Guitar

NACHTBLUT online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

KAMELOT Drummer Alex Landenburg Launches ROKK – Music Streaming for Rock & Metal Fans with Fair Compensation for Artists

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 19, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Alex Landenburg, app, Peter Moog, ROKK. Leave a comment

Photo: Founders Alex Landenburg and Peter Moog

Today, a new chapter begins for rock and metal music with the launch of ROKK—the ultimate streaming platform for all things Hard and Heavy, with superior sound quality and finally fair compensation for artists at its core.

Co-founded by Alex Landenburg—drummer for Kamelot and Cyhra—and Peter Moog, guitarist for Mentalist, ROKK is the first service to offer direct artist support for your favourite band or musician right in the app. Fair music streaming, by artists for artists, and real music fans!

A Special Launch Offer:

A free trial month to experience the platform.
Exclusive introductory pricing: €8.99/month for the first three months after your trial month. After which standard pricing of €10.99/month applies.
No strings attached—cancel anytime.
The offer and the reduced price is only available if you register AND subscribe through our website. Offer valid until March 31st.

Open Letter, ROKK Co-Founder Alex Landenburg:

“Hi everyone, Alex here.

After nearly four years of hard work, Peter Moog, myself, and our dedicated team behind the scenes—is beyond proud to finally officially launch ROKK!

How it started

As a professional drummer and lifelong metal fan, I have now spent over two decades touring, recording, and experiencing firsthand the struggles musicians face—especially when it comes to streaming revenue in this modern landscape. My co-founder, Peter, shares the same passion for music, and together, we decided to do something about this.

What ROKK is about

ROKK is not just another streaming service—it’s about a community committed to giving rock and metal the recognition it deserves, where artists can receive fair compensation for each and every stream.

One of the main reasons we built ROKK is to address a long-standing issue in the industry: the fact that most musicians have made very little to no money from their music being streamed.

With our Direct Artist Support, you can help change that. An artist over the course of a year could see earnings equivalent to selling multiple records, and that’s already covered in your regular subscription fee.

What to expect

To be transparent, just because we’re incredibly proud of ROKK does not mean it is perfect right out of the gate.

We built this with a fraction of the capital other platforms started with, as well as a small but incredible team. We’re already hosting over 60 million songs, and we add more every single day. In fact, we import well over 10,000 tracks each week. Still, there will be some gaps, and you might run into the occasional technical glitch. If you do, please let us know directly. We’re on it!

Just a heads-up: if you click on a track and it takes longer to load, you’re likely to be the first listener triggering its playback (transcoding). While the initial wait might feel lengthy, it happens only once—after that, the track AND entire album load instantly. Plus, we pre-transcode as much music as we can to ensure this delay remains a rare occurrence.

Also, please note that initially some artwork might be missing, or that some information might be inaccurate. Like I said, we’re just getting started, and we hope our community will step in to help us improve these details over time.

This is the chance to use your knowledge to help shape the definitive rock and metal database.

What do I mean by that? Our in-app music encyclopedia, or as we like to call it, Rokkpedia.

In Closing

With a free trial month and a reduced introductory subscription offer, we hope to make up for any initial shortcomings. Our goal is to eventually create something as great as the community it represents, and we look forward to improving every element, to build the platform we all dream of having.

Every play, every share, every bit of feedback helps us make ROKK better, all while paying more to the artists you are listening to.

Thank you for your support, and your patience (I’m looking at you Indiegogo community), and for being part of the music revolution.

Time to ROKK!”

Alex Landenburg – Co-Founder, ROKK

ROKK is available now on iOS, Android, and on the web at rokk.app throughout Europe and the UK, with plans to expand to other territories soon.

ROKK: Where Music Matters
Learn more about ROKK at https://www.youtube.com/@ROKKSTREAMING

Follow ROKK on Facebook and Instagram here:
https://www.facebook.com/rokkstreamingapp
https://www.instagram.com/rokkstreaming/

NIGHTWISH Manager Fined for Assaulting Woman at Music Industry Event

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 18, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Ewo Pohjola, Nightwish. Leave a comment

Source: Finnish National Channel Yle

Ewo Pohjola, manager of Finnish metal band Nightwish, was accused of lifting and choking a woman at the event in Tampere in 2023.

Ewo Pohjola has been Finnish band Nightwish’s manager since the early 2000s and is regarded as a pioneer in Finnish artist management and music exports.

Pirkanmaa District Court has convicted Ewo Pohjola, manager of the Finnish metal band Nightwish, one a charge of assaulting a woman at the Music x Media event in Tampere in 2023.

Pohjola was fined 1,000 euros and also ordered to pay additional compensation.

According to the prosecution, Pohjola suddenly held the woman in a chokehold and lifted her, stopping only when a third person intervened. Pohjola and the victim were not previously known to each other.

Pohjola denied the charges, arguing he had not choked or lifted the woman but had merely embraced her.

The court however ruled that Pohjola committed a physical assault against the woman and that the act came as a surprise to her. While the court found that Pohjola did not intend to choke the woman, it concluded that he should have realised his actions could cause her pain.

The ruling also noted that the act could have impacted the woman’s work as a musician.

Yle is reporting on the case due to Pohjola’s significant role in the music industry. He has been Nightwish’s manager since the early 2000s and is regarded as a pioneer in Finnish artist management and music exports.

Humiliating incident

The plaintiff testified that she briefly spoke with a man accompanying Pohjola but did not talk to the music industry veteran, who she said seemed “restless” and “intoxicated”.

She recalled Pohjola calling her a “pretty girl” and “beautiful woman” before suddenly pressing his forearm against her neck and lifting her momentarily. The chokehold lasted several seconds, causing pain, and ended only when the other man intervened.

“Pohjola then laughed and said a couple of times that it was exciting,” the victim said, describing the incident as “shocking, distressing, and humiliating” for a young artist like her.

Pohjola: “I am not a violent guy”

Pohjola denied choking the woman, claiming he assumed she knew the other man and described the atmosphere as cheerful. He admitted to drinking and said he gave her a “bear hug.”

“It’s obviously not okay to go hugging strangers, but things like this happen all the time,” he said.

Pohjola insisted his actions were meant as a friendly gesture and denied committing any physical violence.

“I’m not a violent guy. This is just a series of misunderstandings.”

In February 2024, Yle reported on the allegations against Pohjola. Two women told Yle that Pohjola had assaulted them at the same music event in 2023. Pohjola was also reported to have pulled another woman’s hair at the bar counter during the same event, before being removed shortly afterwards.

RUSS BALLARD Shares New Video ‘God Gave Rock N’ Roll To You’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 18, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: RUSS BALLARD. Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Sven Kramer

Renowned rock singer Russ Ballard shares today a revisited version of his famous hit “God Gave Rock N’ Roll To You”, along with a new music video, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.

Listen to “God Gave Rock N’ Roll To You” HERE

Russ Ballard describes the track by saying: “It reflected the optimism I felt at the time, with lines like “love your friend, love your neighbour, love your life and love your labour, it’s never too late to change your mind”. It was a hit for Argent and a hit for Kiss 18 years later when it was included in the film ‘Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey’.”

Russ Ballard is simply one of the most renowned and gifted songwriters in pop and rock music.
His music career started when he was only 14 years old and he wrote a tune, which was recorded by the Shadows, appearing on their album “The Sound Of The Shadows” in 1964.

During the 70’s and 80’s, his songs ruled the airwaves and the list of hits is pretty much endless. From “Since You Been Gone” (Rainbow), “God Gave Rock’n’Roll To You” (Argent and Kiss), “So You Win Again” (Hot Chocolate), “New York Groove” (Hello and Ace Frehley), “You Can Do Magic” (America), “Winning” (Santana) or “I Don’t Believe In Miracles” (Colin Blunstone) – just to name a few – everyone who needed a great song knew that with Russ Ballard they could not go wrong.

Numerous records/artists were also produced by him, like Roger Daltrey, America, Elkie Brooks, Skindred or Sada Vidoo. In 1974, he started a solo career (after his stint with the band Argent in early 70’s), which had its highest momentum with the “S/t” album in 1984 (which included the hit single “Voices”) and the follow up “The Fire Still Burns”.

Since then, Russ released 10 studio albums and is still writing and producing hits. Three songs of his 1984 and 1985 album were featured in the TV-show “Miami Vice” and were extensively played on dancefloors around Europe.

Follow RUSS BALLARD:
Website
Facebook
Instagram

KILMARA to Support DYNAZTY + NANOWAR OF STEEL on Upcoming European Tour

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 18, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Kilmara. Leave a comment

Barcelona-based melodic power metal act KILMARA has announced to support DYNAZTY and NANOWAR OF STEEL, visiting 8 countries to present their new masterpiece “Journey to The Sun”!

After the spectacular international reception of their new album (released last month via ROAR HERE! ) and having performed at some prestigious festivals such as Rock The Ring (CH), Rock Knights (FR), Rock Fest (SP) or More than Fest (SK) to date, KILMARA makes the leap to Europe alongside the Swedish sensation DYNAZTY and the Italian party band NANOWAR OF STEEL, with some sold-out shows already posted.

The band comments: “We couldn’t be happier that this dream can come true! We felt that it was the time and that Journey to The Sun was the definitive album to get our place as a band in Europe. We are super excited to get on the bus, tour all those countries, meet our fans and get the party started! Rage & Fire!”

Kicking off this weekend in Vienna, Austria, make sure to catch this exciting tour line-up live at the following dates below! Tickets are on sale at: https://dynazty.com

21-Feb-25 AT Wien – Simm City
22-Feb-25 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser
23-Feb-25 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
24-Feb-25 DE Hamburg – Kaiserkeller
26-Feb-25 FR Paris – La Machine du Moulin Rouge
27-Feb-25 CH Pratteln – Z7 Konzertfabrik
28-Feb-25 FR Lyon – La Rayonne
01-Mar-25 DE Lindau – Vaudeville
02-Mar-25 DE Nürnberg – Hirsch
04-Mar-25 DK Aarhus – VoxHall
05-Mar-25 NL Tilburg – 013
06-Mar-25 DE Frankfurt – Zoom
07-Mar-25 PL Wroclaw – Transformator
08-Mar-25 HU Budapest – Barba Negra

Kilmara is:
Daniel Ponce – Vocals
John Portillo – Guitars
Carles Salse – Guitars & Synths
Dídac Plà – Bass
Eric Killer – Drums

For More Info Visit::
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kilmaraofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kilmara_official
X: https://twitter.com/KILMARA_DFTW
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kilmaraofficial

NERVOUS Signs with Wormholedeath for Release of Debut Album “Acquiescence”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 18, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: NERVOUS. Leave a comment

Polish avant-garde black/death metal project NERVOUS has signed a deal with Wormholedeath for the release of their debut album, “Acquiescence.” The album, a deeply personal and introspective journey, is set to be unleashed upon the world on March 28, 2025.

Nervous, the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Aaron Ciesielski, emerged from a period of profound personal growth and self-discovery. Born amidst an existential crisis, “Acquiescence” is a concept album that chronicles this transformative journey, capturing the essence of rebellion, fear, and ultimately, the profound acceptance of self.

Everything about Acquiescence has been shaped by Ciesielski’s hands, from the songwriting and production to mixing, mastering, and artwork. This album is a true reflection of his vision—an uncompromising mix of black and death metal influences, intertwined with elements of classical music and progressive rock. The result is a dense, intense sound that pulls you in and holds you captive.

Acquiescence explores a journey of rebellion against one’s nature, confronting deep fears, and ultimately embracing harmony within oneself. The album is a reflection of Ciesielski’s personal experiences of growing up, entering adulthood, and accepting who he truly is.

“This album is a culmination of over five years of personal reflection and musical exploration,” says Ciesielski. “It’s an intense expression of my journey to understand myself, and I’ve poured everything into it. The music may be rooted in black and death metal, but I’ve drawn heavy inspiration from classical music, progressive rock, and cinematic soundtracks. This album is my truth, and I’m excited to share it with the world.”

Tracklist: