DAMAGED & CO. Unleash Official Lyric Video for ‘Clenching Fists’

Posted by metalshockfinland on August 14, 2024
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Malta’s rising melodic metal force DAMAGED & CO. unleashes the fiery lyric video for “Clenching Fists,” a track from their critically acclaimed debut album, “Life’s Grand Delusion,” out via Wormholedeath.

“Clenching Fists” is a visceral portrayal of a soul pushed to the brink, ready to explode in a primal fury. Gone are civility and hope for compromise. All that remains are clenched fists, raw aggression, and deep breaths fueling the inferno within. This is a raw, unfiltered journey into the heart of rage and defiance, where every lyric pulses with the intensity of an impending clash.

Lyric Video by Volume Agency (www.volumeagency.net)

“Life’s Grand Delusion” marks the explosive debut of Damaged & Co., a potent blend of metalcore, dark symphonic metal, and alternative influences. Crafted over four years, each of the album’s eleven tracks delivers a unique message, delving into existential themes of life, death, and the battles we fight within. A melancholic yet mature atmosphere pervades the album, accentuated by the masterful mixing and mastering of Matt Hyde (UK), ensuring both clarity and raw emotional power. Released via Wormholedeath, “Life’s Grand Delusion” comes packed with an additional three bonus tracks, ensuring a truly immersive experience.

DAMAGED & CO’s journey began in Malta in 2017 as a duo, blossoming into a full-fledged band in 2018. Their ambition transcended borders, leading them to conquer stages in Italy by 2019. Singles like “Here to Stay,” “Kill o’Clock,” and “Broken Fields” propelled them forward, culminating in a well-deserved signing with HADES MANAGEMENT in 2020. After a pandemic-induced hiatus, they stormed back onto the scene in 2021, delivering a string of powerful performances that continued to garner acclaim throughout 2022 and 2023. Their Matt Hyde-produced debut, “Life’s Grand Delusion,” solidified their position as a force to be reckoned with.

DAMAGED & CO has graced the same stage as metal royalty like LORDI and rocked festivals like DARK MALTA and FARSONS BEER FESTIVAL. Their insatiable drive led them to play in major events in Malta and countries such as Italy and Israel. They have set their targets to perform in other countries and break into the festival circuit.

Follow DAMAGED & CO on their social media channels and explore their musical universe:
linktr.ee/DamagedandCo
www.facebook.com/Damagedandco
www.instagram.com/damagedandco
www.threads.net/@damagedandco
www.tiktok.com/@damagedandco
www.youtube.com/@DamagedandCo
SpotifyDamagedCo

KINGS OF MERCIA Share First Single + Video ‘Don’t Ask’ from Upcoming Second Album “Battle Scars”

Posted by metalshockfinland on August 13, 2024
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Today, KINGS OF MERCIA share “Don’t Ask” – the first single from their sophomore album, due October 25th via Metal Blade Records. A new music video, available below, accompanies the track.

Now and again, art offers up the perfect storm. When creative worlds collide with a furious cacophony of power, licks, and lyrics, magic happens. Such is the case with KINGS OF MERCIA, whose second album, ‘Battle Scars,’ is the continuation of a story as unlikely as it is glorious. The band is helmed by guitarist Jim Matheos (Fates Warning) and singer Steve Overland (FM) who are joined by drummer Simon Phillips (The Who, Toto) and bassist Joey Vera (Armored Saint, Fates Warning).

“Don’t Ask” is described by singer Steve Overland as an “angsty love song” with lyrics including: “You could believe in anything you wanted to believe; We were all free to be whatever we wanted to be.”

“We found our feet with this album. This is the Kings of Mercia evolving. People think you can pigeonhole rock music fans, but they just like good songs and good music,” Overland says.

KINGS OF MERCIA‘s 2022 approachable, world-class self-titled debut was termed “truly a hybrid: it’s heavy, but not metal. It’s got tones of melodic AOR hard rock but with an edge.” Now, 2024 brings the band’s sophomore album written and recorded throughout 2023, ‘Battle Scars‘ sees the core writing team of Matheos and Overland expanding on their obvious chemistry.

“I think it was a bit easier this time around because we’ve established a good working rhythm,” states Matheos, “I’ll send Steve at least a few songs every couple of months, and I try to keep them varied. This allows him to work on whichever ones he feels strongly about.”

“What Jim sends me is the first draft of that song,” says Overland. “So once he’s heard all the melodies and the harmonies I sing, he can chop it about and make it how he thinks it should be. He always sends me three or four different versions. He’ll say, ‘What do you think? Which do you like?’ Then we work it out between us and come up with the one we’re both happy with.”

“Steve and I started working together in 2021,” says Matheos. “I was aware of FM-they came up around the same time as Fates Warning – but I’d lost touch with them and wasn’t familiar with their more recent work. When Steve was recommended to me, I checked out some of the newer releases and felt Steve was exactly what I was looking for.”

“It’s a different genre of music that I’m normally involved in,” says Overland, whose voice has been likened to other British greats Paul Rodgers and Glenn Hughes. “Obviously, I’d heard of Fates Warning – they’re a very big cult band in their field. Jim and I touched base, and I told him to send me one backing track. If it sounds great, then it’s a win-win. If it doesn’t, we’ll just call it a day, knock it on the head, not take it any further. That song became ‘Humankind’ from the first album. I wrote the melodies and the title and put it all together. Jim got it and he was blown away. So we made a couple more. I loved doing it. It was just such a different challenge for me.”

Those songs would become the self-titled debut album, which was released in 2022. Written during lockdown, bouncing tracks across the Atlantic, KINGS OF MERCIA found its mojo. Fans of Fates Warning, FM, and Armored Saint all rejoiced at the common ground on KINGS OF MERCIA, the sweet spot in the middle of the Venn diagram.

It’s a true collaboration that has led to KOM‘s ‘Battle Scars.’ However, despite the unfolding sound and clear chemistry between the four Kings, Overland has never met his bandmates in person. ‘Battle Scars,’ like its predecessor, is a slab of transatlantic magic.

Pre-Order ‘Battle Scars‘ HERE.

‘Battle Scars‘ Track List:
01. Guns and Ammunition
02. Eye for an Eye
03. Between Two Worlds
04. Legend
05. Battle Scars
06. Don’t Ask
07. Aftermath
08. Hell ‘n’ Back
09. Cold
10. Angels & Demons

KINGS OF MERCIA are:
Jim Matheos – Guitars
Steve Overland – Vocals
Simon Phillips – Drums
Joey Vera – Bass

KINGS OF MERCIA ONLINE
https://www.metalblade.com/kingsofmercia
https://www.facebook.com/KingsofMercia

JET’s Nic Cester with ROCKIN’1000 in Portugal Celebrating 20th Anniversary of “Get Born” Album

Posted by metalshockfinland on August 13, 2024
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Photo Credit: She is Aphrodite – @sheisaphrodite

Get Born is the debut studio album by the Australian rock band Jet. It was released on September 14, 2003, and has sold millions of copies worldwide, making its mark on international music history. Propelled by the single “Are You Gonna Be My Girl,” the album quickly climbed the global charts, surpassing 6 million sales and earning Platinum status in the UK.

Exactly 21 years later, on September 14, 2024, the Estádio Municipal in Leiria, Portugal, will host the Rockin’1000 concert with the special participation of Nic Cester from JET, featuring a significant tribute to celebrate the anniversary of this landmark album.

Nic Cester, whose real name is Nicholas John Cester (Melbourne, July 6, 1979), is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist, and the frontman of the rock band Jet alongside his brother Chris. He will perform the iconic track “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” with the 1000 musicians of Rockin’1000 in front of 20,000 spectators!

“We’ve already collaborated with Nic to compose our single ‘How We Roll,’ and we immediately clicked beyond the music. Having him perform with us is a huge gift; I’m sure the rendition of ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ with a thousand musicians will be explosive” said Fabio Zaffagnini, Founder of Rockin’1000.

Photo courtesy of https://rockin1000portugal.pt

With over 80% of the tickets already sold, the stadium is set to be packed with fans, creating an electrifying atmosphere. Following the confirmation of Pedro Abrunhosa, a famous Portuguese singer and songwriter, as a special guest, the project now announces an international star: Nic Cester, lead singer of the iconic Australian band JET.

The setlist is now complete, featuring 20 iconic titles that will shake the stadium, including Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana, Enter Sandman by Metallica, Killing In The Name by Rage Against the Machine, and Highway To Hell by AC/DC. There will also be many songs that will have the crowd singing at the top of their lungs, like Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, Numb by Linkin’ Park, Song 2 by Blur, and Yellow by Coldplay. In addition to a tribute to Portuguese rock with Fazer o Que Ainda Não Foi Feito by Pedro Abrunhosa and the homage to Get Born with Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet, Learn To Fly by the Foo Fighters, the song that started it all, will not be missing.

(see the full list at the end of the press release)

This show represents a historic moment for rock ‘n’ roll fans in Portugal: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a unique concert with an energy different from a traditional concert, with 1000 musicians simultaneously playing the most iconic covers in rock history. Tickets for Rockin’1000 Portugal are selling out fast. Prices start at 45 € and can be purchased at https://rockin1000portugal.pt/, Blueticket, FNAC, Worten, and many other online retailers.

SONG LIST (not in order of playing)

Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
Metallica – Enter Sandman
Rage Against the Machine – Killing In The Name
AC/DC – Highway To Hell
Foo Fighters – Learn To Fly
The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
Linkin’ Park – Numb
Blur – Song 2
Muse – Knights Of Cydonia
Greenday – Medley
Coldplay – Yellow
Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall (part 2)
Jet – Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Oasis – Don’t Look Back in Anger
The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
Black Sabbath – Medley
The Beatles – Hey Jude
The Chemical Brothers – Hey Boy Hey Girl
Pedro Abrunhosa – Fazer o Que Ainda Não Foi Feito
Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now

INFORMATION – Rockin’1000 in Portugal 

  • Location: EstádioMunicipal in Leiria, Portugal
  • Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
  • Time: Gates open at 7 pm
  • Rehearsals for musicians: Thursday, September 12, and Friday, September 13
  • Ticket Price: starting from 45€ 
  • Tickets Available at: https://rockin1000portugal.pt/
  • Musician Applications: www.rockin1000.com

ROCKIN’1000 in Portugal is an event promoted by ROCKIN’1000 in collaboration with MOT –  Memories of Tomorrow. Media Partners: RFM and SIC. 

HUSQWARNAH Release New Single ‘To Protect And Severe’ from Sophomore Album

Posted by metalshockfinland on August 13, 2024
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With anticipation building for the September release of their sophomore album, “Purification Through Sacrifice”, today Italian death metallers HUSQWARNAH have unveiled the second single from the record. The song “To Protect and Severe” is now premiering at Mystification Zine. Stream it HERE.

“Purification Through Sacrifice” is set for release September 16th 2024 via Time To Kill Records.

Tracklist:

​01. Intro
02. To Protect And Severe
03. Wheel Of Torture
04. Lawn Mower Massacre
05. Graboids
06. Mass Grave
07. Reincarnation Of Sin Pt.II
08. Soldier 039
09. Tower Of Suicide
10. The Jackal’s Grin
​11. Outro

Pre orders:

The band was formed in 2019 from an idea of ​​musicians who at the time were part of acts such as Black Rage, In-sight, Atlas Pain and Sojourner. After a debut show supporting Asphyx and some line-up changes, the band entered the studio to record their debut album “Front: Toward Enemy” in 2020. After its release in 2021, HUSQWARNAH kept themselves busy on the live front, sharing stages with acts such as Mortuary Drape, Baest, Discharge, High On Fire and Voivod. The latter show was recorded and then independently released under the title “Live At Bloom” in 2023.

HUSQWARNAH‘s death metal is as genuine and convincing as it can possibly get, paying homage to certain traditional formulas dating back to the early nineties, with songs that are particularly compact in structure and dynamics, ideal for being performed live and thus reminiscent of bands such as Asphyx, Bolt Thrower and Benediction.

Line-up:
Maurizio Caverzan – Vocals
Lorenzo Corno – Bass/Backing Vocals
JP Lisi – Guitar
Emanuele Biondi – Guitar
Riccardo Rjillo – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/HusqwarnaH
https://instagram.com/husqwarnah
https://x.com/husqwarnah
https://husqwarnah.bandcamp.com/

HALCYON DAYS Release First Single ‘N.I.T.C’ from Upcoming Album

Posted by metalshockfinland on August 13, 2024
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photo: Anine Desire

Fall 2024 is upon us and the Norwegian melodic hardcore act HALCYON DAYS is set to release the first new single from their upcoming album.

The first track to be released is the short, yet effective N.I.T.C (Nail in the Coffin).
Here the band seamlessly weave together heavy vocals and drums with melodic guitar lines that opens up to a hard, yet emotional soundscape.

Listen to the single here: https://ffm.to/nitchalcyon

Halcyon Days comment:
“Nail in the Coffin is a song about letting go of the toxic and fake people in your life that are bringing you down, not really being your friends, bringing negativity or only wanting something from you, and that in the end is no good for you or your mental health.

Instead focus on taking care of the people that really cares about you, bring good to your life and you are happy to have in your life and cherish those relationships instead.”

N.I.T.C is produced by Martin Selen (Fixation, Gåte, Djerv), and is an angry, energetic, hard hitting track – venturing even further into the band’s heavy and somber soundscape.

Halcyon Days have paved the way in the Norwegian melodic metalcore scene the last decade – making room for acts like Atena, Fixation and Storm.

This new single is set to drop August 13th, right in time for the band to reenter one of Germany’s biggest metal festivals, Summer Breeze Open Air festival in Dinkelsbhül.

FFO: BMTH, Architects, Counterparts, Falling in Reverse, Asking Alexandria, Stick To Your Guns

About Halcyon Days:
Oslo-based Halcyon Days is a hard-hitting melodic metalcore act. These Norwegian metalcore frontiers have paved way in the NO melodic metalcore scene the last decade – making room for acts like Arena, Fixation and Storm.

Since the band’s inception in 2012, they have released two EPs and three albums, and through a steady focus on touring and playing shows they have established themselves in the recent uprising Norwegian metalcore scene.

Their debut album .ELEVATE received wide attention nationally and was, among other things, both recommended and played on the national Norwegian brodacster NRK P3.

Two years after their debut album, they self-released their self-titled EP in 2016 which was met with a fantastic response internationally, something that gave the band attention also outside of Norway.

The band signed with Indie Recordings in 2018 and released their second full-length album Rain Soaked Pavements & Fresh Cut Grass on June 15, 2018.

Metal Trenches (US) referred to the album as “one of the better metalcore releases of the year”, while PureGrainAudio (CAN) described it as “a superb example of melodic metal/hardcore”.

The release received more than 1 million streams on Spotify and gave the band their first major shows outside of Norway with performances at festivals such as Summer Breeze Open Air, Reeperbahn Festival and High Five Summerfest.

On their last album Keep Myself from Sinking (Nov. 2021) Halcyon Days worked with legends such as Daniel Bergstrand (In Flames, Meshuggah, Soilwork, Behemoth..) Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah) and Henrik Udd (Powerwolf, Septicflesh, Susperia, At the Gates).

Halcyon Days are:
Steffen Johansen – Bass
Robbe Madsen – Vocals
André Sørensen – Guitar
Eirik Løvås Bjerke – Drums

Follow Halcyon Days on: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | BAND YOUTUBE

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT Legend Buck Dharma Releases New Single/Video ‘End of Every Song’

Posted by metalshockfinland on August 13, 2024
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Buck Dharma, the writer, vocalist and lead guitarist of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT’s “Don’t Fear The Reaper,” Burnin’ For You” and “Godzilla,” has released his first solo multimedia creation in decades. 

“End of Every Song” is a fascinating, disturbing and deeply moving audio and video journey. Follow as Buck chronicles the highs and lows of his life, and our lives, with his band, his family, friends and loved ones. 

Available immediately wherever music is streamed or sold. Complete audio and video credits, and the story of everybody in the video: endofeverysong.com