Seven months have elapsed since THE HILLBILLY MOON EXPLOSION released their tenth album (and their first for Cleopatra Records), Back In Time, to some of the most excitable reviews of their career.
But now they’re back with a fabulous new video for the album’s countrified closing track, “Reno” – a song already acclaimed by RPM Online for “end[ing] the album on a classy note. The tune [is] seemingly already familiar, yet it sounds fresh and new. Class never dates, and The Hillbilly Moon Explosion never let you down. Long may they continue.”
So tastefully directed by Chris Magee, the video plants the band in a deserted desert bar, palm trees swaying, vivid red furnishings, and the sights and sounds of the surrounding landscape all taking a well-deserved bow. It looks and feels just like the song sounds, and you can watch it for yourself right here:
For anyone who has not yet caught the band, “Reno” is a spellbinding introduction to an album that LiveWireMusic.org described as “a return to their rockabilly and rock roots… showcas[ing] their incredible and infectious energy as a band.”
Or, as singer and writer Emanuela Hutter puts it, “‘Reno’ is about the beauty of a memory of a loved one. No one can ever take that away from you.“
Bandmate Oliver Baroni continues, “Somehow our Swiss-Italian punk rock torch singer came up with a Bakersfield style country song. But I guess that’s what The Hillbilly Moon Explosion is about: expect the unexpected.”
OCT 8 – Chicago, IL – Cobra Lounge OCT 9 – Grand Rapids, MI – Tip Top Deluxe OCT 10 – Youngstown, OH – West Side Bowl OCT 11 – Philadelphia, PA – Broken Goblet OCT 12 – New Haven, CT – Cafe Nine OCT 13 – Brooklyn NYC, The Meadows
Finnish progressive rock band King of Sweden release their highly anticipated new single, ‘The Bay,‘ out now on Golden Robot Records. The single serves as the second offering from the band’s forthcoming sophomore album.
‘The Bay’ blends intricate time signatures, swapping between 7/8, 4/4, and 3/4, creating a dreamy, mellow, and subtly maritime atmosphere. True to the band’s signature sound, the track incorporates smooth textures from vibraphone and melodica, masterfully played by drummer Janne Savela, along with a stirring flute performance from guest musician Jan Tiusanen.
Lyrically, ‘The Bay’ explores themes of dealing with the past – its places and people – while reflecting on the emotional journey of letting go of what no longer feels alive and moving forward. It’s a reflective, yet uplifting track that draws listeners in with its soothing melodies and complex, evolving rhythms.
With their progressive approach to composition, King of Sweden continues to captivate audiences with their unique fusion of instrumental craftsmanship and evocative storytelling. Order ‘The Bay’ now and embark on a musical journey on September 27!
Southend’s Indie rock quartet Strangers are back with their latest single, ‘Parasite,’ out on September 27th via Golden Robot Records. Following the success of their previous work, Strangers are taking a bold turn with this release, diving into the darker sides of relationships with raw emotion and gritty riffs.
‘Parasite’ tells a story that breaks away from typical love songs. Instead of celebrating romance, it explores the painful reality of growing apart and the resentment that can arise. The song’s protagonist feels trapped in a toxic relationship, emotionally and physically drained by a lover who has become more of a parasitic leech. The band’s ability to channel these intense emotions through their music is front and center, making ‘Parasite’ a powerful anthem for anyone who has felt stuck in a draining situation.
Fans of Strangers will immediately recognize their signature sound: huge, distorted guitars that crash into the listener from the very first note. The band wastes no time getting straight to the core of the song, delivering their characteristic high-energy rock. In a new twist, ‘Parasite’ also features harmonized guitar solos, adding depth and complexity to the track while retaining the band’s relentless edge.
Speaking about the new single, the band shared: “Parasite is about the darker side of relationships that no one likes to talk about. We wanted to capture that feeling of being stuck in a situation that’s draining the life out of you, and we did that through the intensity of the music.”
‘Parasite’ is now available for pre-save across all major platforms. Don’t miss out on the chance to be one of the first to experience this thrilling new chapter from Strangers!
Soul Extract, the visionary cinematic rock artist, invites listeners into a vast sonic landscape with the release of the Chasms EP, a journey through intricate emotions, human survival, and the untapped depths of the universe, out now from FiXT.
With singles “Anomaly” and “Supernova” produced by renowned songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Paul Trust, and Brian Skeel’s collaboration on “Innerspace” the Chasms EP fuses orchestral rock, electronic elements, and raw lyrical intensity to explore themes of isolation, survival, and interconnectedness to the very desolate beauty of outer space.
Opening with “Supernova” the EP delivers a cosmic anthem, telling the story of a human called by a supernova-born entity to leave a dying planet and create new worlds. “Anomaly” emerges as a thought-provoking mix of heavy guitars, synths, and orchestral elements, telling the story of a lone survivor adrift in space. The single emerges as a mesmerizing blend of cerebral depth and raw beauty within the tumultuous currents of modern rock. “Innerspace” follows with a dramatic shift in perspective, diving into the microscopic world with fellow FiXT labelmate Brian Skeel. This cinematic track captures the awe-inspiring complexity of the quantum world, blending orchestral strings with chugging guitars, and Soul Extract’s dynamic vocals. “Entangled” narrated by the soul itself, delves into quantum mysticism, the song contemplates the idea of quantum entanglement as a metaphor for human connection. Science fiction and cinematic rock collide creating a rich, immersive experience that resonates across space and time.
Cerebral. Beautiful. Violent. Soul Extract taps into a wealth of human emotions and experiences to generate a listening space that is as intense and unpredictable as life itself. The highly personal inspiration for Soul Extract’s creations gives every song an invigorating level of creative clarity, and the artist’s willingness to smash through genre barriers puts him at the forefront of modern music. Although Soul Extract’s stylistic approach fits within the broad scope of electronic rock, labels can’t begin to describe the exploratory, borderline progressive nature of the songs themselves. Josh Mullis, the architect behind Soul Extract’s elaborate compositions, brings a deconstructive mindset to his craft, tearing apart genres and fusing their most compelling elements back together to build calculated and highly detailed tracks.
This analytical approach to Soul Extract began to take shape in 2013, and after years spent synthesizing the sounds of metal, electronic, and orchestral music, the artist unleashed his fiery debut album, Circadian Algorithm. Loaded wall-to-wall with emotive vocals and explosive instrumental sections, the album has laid the foundation for a developing career with an upward trajectory. Mullis’ passion for music began at a young age, and he has traditionally pulled from deeply personal events for his creative stimulus. Finding escape from family struggles by picking up a guitar as a teenager, Mullis discovered those early creative efforts were able to carry him through unpredictable times. As an adult, a motivating force for his music rests within humanitarian endeavors, as Mullis donates proceeds from Soul Extract to various charities.
For Mullis, music is an indescribable force capable of sparking intense emotion, and this force is the essence of an artist in its purest form. As the project name suggests, Soul Extract is Josh Mullis’ unaltered expression of himself, and his passionate approach to songwriting shines through on every track he produces.
To walk in the halls of the gods has always been an unfulfillable dream of people in many parts of the world during their earthly existence. From the Norse Asgard to the cloud palace above Mount Olympus – which housed the gods in ancient Greece and stimulated people’s imagination from high arts right down to ordinary life and back –, architecture, poetry and music were characterized by the desire to look up and ultimately ascend.
In their new video single AMO, DEA VELATA now make this string in us resonate musically and lyrically with great determination. The compositional force and the heaviness in the ensemble’s lyricism are allowed to give way this time. Instead, the trio gently opens the door to a wide and towering acoustic space in which Gabby Abularach’s guitar (CRO-MAGS, VOODOCULT, CARLOS SANTANA), tuned like an ancient Greek lyre, intimately unites with the gently alluring voice of British soprano Angela Hicks. AMO is a very pure piece of simple elegance, addressing the longing for the blissful state of suspension that outside of the divine only love can evoke in us. And this light-footed duet is about nothing less than the unconditional affection and devotion within us when we find ourselves on cloud nine, head over heels in love. A theme as old as mankind and yet as unspoiled as a just-ripening apple.
The ageless, sublime beauty and sheer magnitude of the feeling of loving someone unconditionally is visualized in the song’s accompanying music video through a breathtaking backdrop and the touching performances of Angie and Gabby. “Set in a beautiful 19th century palace in the famous Spanish city of Jerez, AMO tells the story of a lover’s unrestrainable love for his beloved, and of her exquisite and delicate beauty”, says the composer and guitarist himself, adding about the creation of the piece and the bespoke lyrics by author and visual artist Stefano Losi: “Amidst all the heavy and intense energy of the other songs, I asked Stefano to write a simple, beautiful love song – and he truly did! The guitar parts were written in the mountains of Arcadia in the Peloponnese before DEA VELATA as we know it today was even formed.”
The band’s eponymous first album DEA VELATA will be released on October 16th, 2024. With ten tracks, the brilliant ensemble intends to bring the sounds, consciousness and spirit of the ancient world back to life today. DEA VELATA’s sound is truly offering something unique, something new, something that heals the soul, exalts the spirit and which connects people to the beauty and magic of the classical world of antiquity. Italian poet Stefano Losi writes the lyrics, in the form of contemporary poetry in Imperial Latin, which are then being carefully carried on symphonic metal wings. “The lyrics and poetry provide a personal perspective on the existential unquietness inherent in the human condition, and all its concrete manifestations, from the deepest desperation to the purest love. They draw an imaginary connection with the lyrics of the Poetae Novi of the Ist Century, reemerging in my own poetry filtered by a clear contemporary sensitivity, redesigning the eternity of life, the timeless value of emotion”, says the talented lyricist.
DEA VELATA Album Tracklist 1. PHEBEVS FVROR 2. OBITVS 3. AMO 4. DAEMON 5. IMBER ARIDVS 6. HIATVS 7. KORE 8. VVLTVS 9. IMBER 10. EVANESCENS VESTALIS
The full album DEA VELATA will be released October 16th, 2024. On ten tracks, it will feature contemporary poetry in Imperial Latin – all woven in a fabric of ancient Greek and Roman music with neo-classical coloring and threads of symphonic metal.
Met by high critical acclaim, the musical ensemble performed an exclusive 5 song acoustic set at Circulo de Bellas Artes in Spain on June 25th, where they premiered the OBITVS video. During a live performance by DEA VELATA you can expect a wide range of sound, from intimate classical, acoustic duets with Gabby and Angela, to full symphonic metal. The talented artists delve into genuine ancient music and bring it into life in a modern world – a combination, which sets them apart from other bands, and makes their live events an upscale experience, no less impressive or cathartic than a classical theater performance in ancient Rome. A live recording of the impressive performance has just been published, in a compilation with interviews, serving as a short documentary about the event, offering interesting insights and taking you along on their musical journey.
Enjoy DEA VELATA’s acoustic live performance at Ciculo de Bellas Artes HERE:
After the release of three singles, with the album release coming up next, DEA VELATA will present their videos and exhibit Stefano Losi’s art at the United Nations in NYC on November 7th, 2024. On December 5th, DEA VELATA will play live in London Tower, UK, followed by another show on December 6th in Lancastershire, UK. Stay tuned for more to come!!
About DEA VELATA
The longing for the ancient narrative power and the fascination it is capable of arousing in us is resurfacing among critics and fans alike. And in the form of DEA VELATA, it has now reached music – at several different levels. First of all, with the very own instrumental hero’s journey of New York guitarist Gabby Abularach, who, as a trained classical and jazz guitarist with metal genes, refined the studio recordings and world tours of NYHC legends CRO-MAGS and later continued the same as a founding member of VOODOOCULT. In addition to these energetic wrecking balls, Gabby also brought his six-string magic to legendary recordings by the likes of CARLOS SANTANA, EVERLAST, KORN and JOHN SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION. His secret love, however, lies in the art of antiquity: Gabby, who over the years has increasingly specialized in filigree-sporty flamenco playing, often imagined what the musical underscoring of recited stories might have felt like in ancient times.
The explorative guitarist was in the middle of an ongoing phase of researching ancient Greek and Roman music when, in the summer of 2017, he met Stefano Losi, an Italian poet and visual artist also based in New York, who had just published a poetic work in Imperial Latin. Together, they began composing and pouring the many eureka moments of their musical and now also poetic journeys into material for an album unlike any other. The British soprano Angela Hicks, who is also drawn to ancient music, joined the duo as the angelic voice of the work DEA VELATA, and not just in a figurative sense. Despite her young age, Angela can look back on an eventful career: She made her operatic debut at the Teatro alla Scala di Milano under the direction of Thomas Guthrie and has subsequently appeared at London’s Wigmore Hall, the Palace of Versailles, the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Berliner Philharmonie and the Berlin State Opera, among others. She also made a guest appearance on the big screen alongside Emma Stone, Rachael Weisz and Oscar winner Olivia Coleman in the 2018 movie “The Favourite”.
The luscious guitar, which sometimes finely chisels an uplifting flamenco into the steps of a stage of epic breadth, sometimes strives towards the warm elegance of a harp and sometimes unfolds into the full weight of symphonic metal, is combined with an always respectfully discreet metal drumming (performed by Mike Podber) and a voice that resembles God’s rays on a Tuscan painting. And together they create a soundtrack that, behind closed eyes, lets Odysseus’ ship sail from a gentle lull into a mystical storm.
Six years after the success of ‘Heavy Trip’, the Finnish metal comedy returns with ‘Heavier Trip – Road to Wacken’ and promises even more chaos and weird situations. The film celebrates its world premiere today at the Hamburg Film Festival and follows on seamlessly from the events of the first part.
The first part was about the wild early days of the band Impaled Rektum, centred around Turo, Lotvonen and Pasi, and their dream of playing at the Northern Damnation Festival in Norway. With a lot of passion and a lot of chaos, they crossed the border illegally, left the police and critics behind and conquered the stage before being caught by the police and sent to prison.
Now, in the second part, things get even crazier: this time, Turo, Lotvonen and Pasi face new challenges, because in addition to their prison sentence, they also have family and financial problems. But suddenly an unexpected light appears on the horizon – an invitation to the legendary Wacken Open Air.
The film will also be shown regularly in selected cinemas starting on 17 October – a must-see for all those who love metal and black humour.
Here you can watch the trailer for the film – a little foretaste of Impaled Rektum’s next adventure and their trip to Wacken.
Once again, directors Juuso Laatio and Jukka Vidgren are behind the success story, having poured their love of metal culture into an entertaining and gripping film series. Their passion for the metal scene and its stories is also reflected in the new film, offering viewers the perfect blend of music, humour and drama.
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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
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 