GAEREA Surface to Forefront of Extreme Metal with New Album “Coma”, Out October 25th

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 16, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by © Chantik Photography

Gaerea arrived shrouded in mystery. The masked sensations emerged from pandemic limbo with a vision for black metal that was guided not by myths or pagan beliefs but a purging of emotion. Existential dread still pulses through the Portuguese band’s blood, but their upcoming fourth album signals a shift in psychology.

With Coma, Gaerea are no longer strictly a black metal band. Instead, they’re breaking to the forefront of extreme metal. Though their new album was produced by trusted confidant Miguel Tereso, it broadens the band’s signature sound by taking it in two seemingly opposed directions. There are more moments of intense beauty, but they only heighten the ensuing blows. 

The world may be as hopeless as the album’s lead single declares. But with Coma, Gaerea have returned to prove that they are only the band who can guide us into the darkness. 

Watch below the video for “Hope Shatters”. 

Coma comes out October 25, 2024 on Season of Mist. 
Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/gaereacoma

When Gaerea secretly gave everyone a sneak peek at their new album back in April, they set the world ablaze. Now, with the first official single off Coma, they’re ushering in the immediate aftermath. “Hope Shatters” opens with a lone guitar that wails like a siren before a whirl of blast beats sucks the world back into the band’s vortex.

“Welcome to the urban abyss“, their unnamed vocalist pronounces. “Where dreams turn to rust”. 

Gaerea aren’t afraid to embrace harsh realities. There’s clean singing on Coma, but the swarming darkness of “Hope Shatters” is only punctured by cries of agony. Even when the song collapses under its blistering heaviness, the melody hangs perilously in the air, like a swaying chandelier, before it’s smashed to pieces by hammering bass and concussive drum fills.

Still, perhaps Gaerea have uncovered a shred of hope from beneath the blackened wreckage. As “Hope Shatters” meets its end, the band push ahead through the ashes with a triumphant, headbanging riff. “Enter the maze through the never-ending haze”.  

With “Hope Shatters”, Gaerea deliver an anthem for our dying era. 

The video for “Hope Shatters” was produced by Grupa 13 and directed by Dariusz Szermanowicz.

Artwork by Nathan Lorenzana

Tracklist1. The Poet’s Ballet (7:39)
2. Hope Shatters (4:05) [WATCH]
3. Suspended (5:02)
4. World Ablaze (3:29) [WATCH]
5. Coma (5:19)
6. Wilted Flower (5:50)
7. Reborn (3:51)
8. Shapeshifter (6:24)
9. Unknown (4:24)
10. Kingdom of Thorns (4:45)
Total running time: 50:54

To usher in this new era, Gaerea are touring behind Coma later this year. The masked sensations will return to North America in November with Zeal & Ardor and ZETRA.

The band will also be performing “World Ablaze”, “Hope Shatters” and other songs from their new album at several European summer festivals, along with two special dates with Behemoth and Testament.  

Gaerea North American Tour 2024 with Zeal & Ardorand ZETRA

Arist Pre-sale: July 17 @ 10 am Local Time
Local Pre-sale: July 18 @ 10 am Local Time
General Ticket Sale: July 19 @ 10 am Local Time

November 23 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer [TICKETS]
November 24 – New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge [TICKETS]
November 25 – Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall [TICKETS]
November 27 – Montreal, QC @ Le Studio TD [TICKETS]
November 28 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House [TICKETS]
November 29 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic [TICKETS]
November 30 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre [TICKETS]
December 2 –   Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue [TICKETS]
December 3 –   Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall [TICKETS]
December 4 –   Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre [TICKETS]
December 6 –   Engelwood, CO @ Gothic Theatre [TICKETS]
December 7 –   Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge [TICKETS]
December 9 –   Seattle, WA @ The Showbox [TICKETS]
December 10 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre [TICKETS]
December 11 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom [TICKETS]
December 13 – Berkeley, CA @ UC Theatre [TICKETS]
December 14 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory [TICKETS]
December 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom [TICKETS]
December 17 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk [TICKETS]
December 18 – Dallas, TX @ Studio at The Factory [TICKETS]

Gaerea with Behemoth & Testament
July 21 – Warsaw, PL @ Progresja Summer Stage
July 23 – Kosice, SK @ Kulturapark

Additional Gaerea European Summer Dates
July 20 – Fridek – Mistek, CZ @ Dark Session Fest
July 25 – Ljubljana, SI @ Tolminator
August 1 – Rasnov, ROU @ Rockstadt Extreme Fest
August 8 – Kotka, FI  @ Dark River Festival
August 30 – Volos, GR @ Golden R Festival

Behind black shrouds of obscurity and desolation, the performers of GAEREA deliver their odes in cascading maelstroms of aggression and beauty. Emerging from the age of pandemic to whatever awaits humanity next, the dark horde remains on the frontlines of the next generation of extreme metal. With an EP and three albums to their name, Gaerea has rapidly distinguished themselves from the thousands of bands toiling away in the underground. Brewing their cauldron of sound from a recipe of pounding black-metal blast mixed with a touch of harrowed, reflective longing, many devotees of the darkened arts have flocked to their banner. With the emergence of third full-length album Mirage, those numbers certainly grew. 

Gaerea met a challenge when releasing their second album during the pandemic, the aptly titled Limbo, to excellent world reception. In the meantime, they found the total suspension of interactive life as it was previously known to be the perfect breeding ground for further creation and making.  

Sizzling with ambition from day one, Gaerea may present one unique face to their audience, masked and enshrouded, but the truth is they have not remained changeless.  

As their previous album name Mirage suggests, the inability to trust what our senses are telling us could be construed as one of the album’s central themes. Rather than constrict their art to mythological references or anti-religious tropes, Gaerea instead plumb the depths of the human experiences of isolation and suffering.  

Just two years since Mirage was released, Gaerea is here, erupting with intensity, casting forth black ashes over the world yet again.  
 
Their latest release, Coma, has finally surfaced, marking a pivotal shift. From this point forward, everything changes. It’s time for Gaerea to bridge the gap between underground metal and the elevated realm they’ve attained. With Coma, Gaerea emerges from the underground scene, ascending towards a permanently lasting position at the head of the table. 

An emotional gateway to a dark black metal scene, a guide to salvation, pain, despair and letting go. Moving up, into the blackness that is above. Gaerea is the answer, the only answer.  

Within ‘Coma’s’ ten tracks lies an individual narrative, each with its own tale to unveil. Collectively, they blend nuances of aggression, tranquility, solitude, and fervor. 

Boasting a superior production that threads the needle between caustic and clarity, Gaerea yet again admit their loyalty to producer Miguel Tereso of Demigod Recordings for the production of Coma. Together they created the birth of ‘Coma’, the new era for metal mankind. Distinguishing themselves ever more so, the Vortex handpicked their artist Nathan Lorenzana with a clear assignment to create their mesmerizing cover artwork. Months of hand drawing the image with a ballpen lead to this masterpiece which dipped his name into ‘Coma’.  

The beauty of Gaerea lies in the directness and simplicity found within their florid tapestry of extremity and aggression. Whether it is in the less-polished aural dynamite of Mirage, or in the lustrous textures of Coma, Gaerea is building a mighty edifice of metal. With talons dipped in the inky blood of black metal and scraped across the flesh of human suffering, Gaerea is leading a charge into the future of darkness, and all those who find beauty and power in the dark side of existence would do well to take heed.

Recording Studio
Demigod Studios at Redbox Studios

Production Credits
Produced by Gaerea
Recorded by Miguel Tereso at Redbox Studios
Mixed and Mastered by Miguel Tereso at Demigod Studios

Biography
Gaerea

Official Website: https://www.gaerea.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaerea
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gaerea_
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@gaereaofficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/CSyqFQZ6
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQOfL4E3Z_SpHLL52tOIpQ
Twitter: https://x.com/gaerea_official

KNIFE to Release New EP “Live Leather Hounds” on August 23rd

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 16, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo credit: Samira Chiara Tax]

Thrilling German metal outfit KNIFE have once again entered into an alliance with the devouring depths of black and speed metal and unleash another angry beast, their new EP, Live Leather Hounds, out August 23, 2024 via Napalm Records. Recorded during their “Evil Obsession Tour” with the mighty Sodom in 2023, this offering celebrates KNIFE’s raging and boisterous live performances and unveils a powerful studio cover and feature with black thrash icons Desaster. 

KNIFE return in full force with their official live video for “White Witch/Black Death”. This electrifying live experience captures the raw energy of the brutally infectious single and is a must-watch for any metal enthusiast. Don’t miss the chance to experience KNIFE’s unyielding live spirit during their festival run or on their “Deutschland Into Dust Tour”. Get your tickets here!

KNIFE on the single and live music video:
“‘White Witch/Black Death’ features all the trademarks of the KNIFE sound. Ferocious speed, howling guitars, thunderous bass, violent drums and screaming vocals – the essence of true KNIFE metal. This song is a highlight of our live shows, driving the crowd into pure metal mania. When the witch is calling, the pit is raging!”

Formed in 2019, the band overcame the challenges of the pandemic and cemented their presence in the scene once more with their recent studio album, Heaven Into Dust (2023), which German Rock Hard described as “one of the strongest (black)speed albums of the year”. In the same year, KNIFE also demonstrated their raging live performance at major festival shows like Wacken Open Air and Rock Hard festival, and just impressed with their furious set at Rockharz Festival in 2024.

Recorded at the Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen and the Obertraubling Eventhalle Airport in Regensburg, Live Leather Hounds showcases an energetic and organic mix of KNIFE’s discography. The EP opens with the demonic “White Witch / Black Death”, followed by the swift transitions of dark, throbbing punk chords and dual tracks that sustain the tension on “Inside The Electric Church”, while “Black Leather Hounds” offers rough vocals infused with furious elements of heavy and black metal. Next track, the latest raging album title track, “Heaven Into Dust”, delivers the sharpest speed metal and is topped by the dashing punk attitude of “I Am The Priest”. The EP wraps up with the studio track and cover “Metalized Blood”. Accompanied by the vocalists of Desaster and Sacred Steel, the track guarantees the authentic sound of raw extreme metal.

Live Leather Hounds captures KNIFE‘s raw energy and relentless intensity, promising an electrifying experience for fans of extreme metal. Get ready to be blown away!

KNIFE on the release of their EP Live Leather Hounds:
“With the release of the Live Leather Hounds EP, we want to say thank you to all our fans for the support for the past five years. After the pandemic, we played many shows and met so many great people, so we thought that capturing these moments was a fine way to raise the KNIFE to the true Black Leather Hounds. The EP gives you the true raw KNIFE experience, no bullshit.
 
So, join the pack! The Leather Hounds are still on the prowl! See you on the road.
Ferli, Gypsy, Laz, Vince Nihil“

Pre-Order Live Leather Hounds NOW

Live Leather Hounds tracklisting:
1. White Witch / Black Death
2. Inside The Electric Church
3. Black Leather Hounds
4. Heaven Into Dust
5. I Am The Priest
6. Metalized Blood feat. Guido “Sataniac” Wissmann, Gerrit P. Mutz

KNIFE live 2024:
Festivals:
10.08.24 DE – Büdesheim / Krawallo Rock Open Air
24.08.24 DE – Wörrstadt / Neuborn Open Air Festival
31.08.24 DE – Rheinfelden / Nordrock Schwaben Festival
06-07.09.24 CH – Hüttikon / Meh Suff!
27-28.09.24 DE – Villingen / Black Forest Fest
05.10.24 DE – Gießen / Muk
 
Deutschland Into Dust Tour 2024
w/ Phantom Corporation
15.10.24 DE – Freiburg im Breisgau / Crash
16.10.24 DE – Cologne / Club Volta
17.10.24 DE – Stuttgart / Der Schwarze Keiler
18.10.24 DE – Essen / Don’t Panic
19.10.24 DE – Hamburg / Bambi Galore
20.10.24 DE – Osnabrück / Bastard Club

KNIFE are:
Ferli Coltello – Drums
Laz Cultro – Guitars
Vince Nihil – Vocals
Gypsy Danger – Bass
 
KNIFE online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

PRIMORDIAL Unveil Video for ‘Nothing New Under the Sun’

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 16, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Fergal Flannery

Dublin, Ireland-based Pagan metal legends PRIMORDIAL today unveil their video for “Nothing New Under The Sun.” The track comes by way of the band’s acclaimed How It Ends full-length, released last Fall via Metal Blade Records.

Comments vocalist A. A. Nemtheanga, “We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, The Bhagavad-Gita; Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and, to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form and says, ‘Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.’ I suppose we all thought that, one way or another.”

Watch below PRIMORDIAL‘s “Nothing New Under The Sun” video, by Killian Monson.

The “Nothing New Under The Sun” video comes in advance of PRIMORDIAL‘s upcoming European festival run. The journey begins Friday, July 19th, at Rock Unter Eichen and includes stops at some of Europe’s most prestigious festivals including Wacken Open Air, Brutal Assault, and many more. See all confirmed dates below.

PRIMORDIAL Live:
7/19/2024 Rock Unter Eichen – Bertingen, DE
7/20/2024 Nachtleben – Frankfurt, DE
7/21/2024 Luppolo In Rock – Cremona, IT
7/26/2024 Tolminator – Tolmin, SL
7/27/2024 Kanekas Metal Fest – Cangas Do Morrazo, ES
8/03/2024 Wacken Open Air – Wacken, DE
8/04/2024 Vargos Metal Fest – Vagos, PL
8/10/2024 Brutal Assault – Jaromer, CZ
8/23/2024 Neuborn Open Air – Worstadt, DE
8/24/2024 Manegram Open Air – Norrtalje, SE
9/07/2024 Summer Dying Loud – Lodzki, PL
9/13/2024 Willemeen – Arnhem, NL
9/14/2024 Baroeg Open Air – Rotterdam, NL
9/20/2024 Radio Lublin – Lublin, PL
9/21/2024 Metal Im Woid – Schrobenhausen, DE
10/05/2024 Metal Storm Over Luzern – Luzern, CH
11/07/2024 Kulturpalast – Herford, DE
11/08/2024 Factory – Magdeburg, DE
11/09/2024 Hell’s Balls Belgium – Kortrijk, BE

How It Ends serves as the follow-up to 2018’s Exile Amongst The Ruins and finds PRIMORDIAL delivering more of their seminal blend of Celtic and black metal, with added urgency staring down the apocalypse. “The title is a question – ‘is this how it ends? How it all goes down: culture, language, history, society, humanity…’ – who knows?,” considers Nemtheanga. “Regardless of who you are or were, you get one chance at all of this, and it’s asking, ‘is this the end of your town, state, nation? Myths, traditions, relationships…?,’ and I suppose it asks the question, ‘who reacts, who rebels – how does it end now for them?‘”

Watch the band’s previously released video for “Victory Has 1000 Fathers, Defeat Is An Orphan” HERE, “Pilgrimage To The World’s End” HERE, “How It Ends” HERE, and “Death Holy Death” HERE.

Preview and purchase How It Ends at: metalblade.com/primordial

PRIMORDIAL:
A.A. Nemtheanga – vocals
Ciarán MacUilliam – guitar
Pól MacAmlaigh – bass
Simon O’Laoghaire – drums

https://www.primordialofficial.com
https://www.facebook.com/primordialofficial
https://www.instagram.com/primordial_official

PSYCHOTIC WALTZ: Two More Albums + Demos Compilation from Back Catalogue Re-Issue Campaign Out Now

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 16, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo 2020 by Axel Jusseit

After having successfully released their 5th and comeback studio album “The God-Shaped Void” in 2020 via InsideOutMusic, US Progressive Metal pioneers and innovators PSYCHOTIC WALTZ are now finally making their entire high-quality catalogue available again on LP/CD formats worldwide via the label too.

Across two chapters of re-issues with street dates in May & July 2024, the band’s classic first four albums – “A Social Grace” (1990), “Into The Everflow” (1992), “Mosquito” (1994, now with new artwork by Travis Smith) and “Bleeding” (1996) – are available newly re-mastered by Patrick W. Engel / Temple Of Disharmony as 2CD Digipaks with tons of rare or previously unreleased bonus material as well as expanded layouts.

The main albums are additionally re-issued as Ltd. Gatefold coloured LP editions on 180g vinyl.

An additional demo rarities compilation (of some of the bonus material) entitled “To Chase The Stars (Demos 1987 – 1989)” is also available as Ltd. Gatefold 2LP edition, making this re-issue campaign an exciting and indispensable project for both longtime connoisseurs of the band as well as more recent, new-generation members of the ever-growing progressive music community.

PSYCHOTIC WALTZ checked in with the following comment about this re-issue campaign:
“We are not only excited, but also greatly humbled and honored that InsideOutMusic have allowed us to bring forth what we feel are the definitive versions of our first four albums. They sound better than ever, thanks to the meticulous mastering done by Patrick W. Engel, and the 2CD editions each feature a treasure trove of extras, most of which you probably never heard before now – or if you did, those tape-traded versions didn’t sound nearly this good. And if you’re more of a vinyl person, having all our early demos compiled on a double-LP set is something we never would have expected when the five of us first started playing together as teenagers nearly 40 years ago under the name of Aslan. May you all have as much fun going through these reissues as we did putting them together.” – Dan, Brian, Ward, Norm and Devon

The band’s sophomore album “Into The Everflow” (1992), their third album “Mosquito” (1994) as well as the “To Chase The Stars (Demos 1987 – 1989) compilation are out now and can be ordered alongside the previous reissues of “A Social Grace” and “Bleeding” (1996) from the following location:
https://psychoticwaltz.lnk.to/ReIssues-2024

Here is an overview of all the formats for the PSYCHOTIC WALTZ re-issues:

“A Social Grace” (Re-issue 2024)
– Ltd. 2CD Digipak (Bonus CD: 15 demo and rehearsal tracks / 76 min)
– Ltd. Gatefold lemon colored 2LP
– Ltd. Gatefold lilac 2LP (500x copies) – Available from www.insideoutshop.de & various other retailers!

“Into The Everflow” (Re-issue 2024)
– Ltd. 2CD Digipak (Bonus CD: 14 demo tracks / 77 min)
– Ltd. Gatefold deep blood red LP
– Ltd. Gatefold apricot colored LP (500x copies) – Available from www.insideoutshop.de & various other retailers!

“Mosquito” (Re-issue 2024)
– Ltd. 2CD Digipak (Bonus CD: 21 demo and rehearsal tracks / 74 min)
– Ltd. Gatefold dark green LP
– Ltd. Gatefold blue LP (500x copies) – Available from www.insideoutshop.de & various other retailers!

“Bleeding” (Re-issue 2024)
– Ltd. 2CD Digipak (Bonus CD: 16 demo and live tracks / 69 min)
– Ltd. Gatefold red LP
– Ltd. Gatefold mint colored LP (500x copies) – Available from www.insideoutshop.de & various other retailers!

“To Chase The Stars (Demos 1987 – 1989)”
Compilation of 17 demo and rehearsal tracks (90 min)
– Ltd. Gatefold black 2LP
– Ltd. Gatefold white 2LP (500x copies) – Available from www.insideoutshop.de & various other retailers!

For exact tracklisting and playing time info of the various re-issues, please visit the following location:
https://www.insideoutmusic.com/new/psychotic-waltz

The latest and still current PSYCHOTIC WALTZ album “The God-Shaped Void” showcased the band’s first new music in 23 years and managed to achieve official sales chart entries in the following countries upon release in 2020: Germany: # 9, Switzerland: # 8, Austria: # 26.

Written and recorded with their full original line-up, the basic tracks for “The God-Shaped Void” were recorded with engineer Ulrich Wild in the band’s hometown of San Diego, then the rest of the recordings at Studio D in Austria and finally the material was mixed/mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Devin Townsend, Fates Warning) at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden. The album’s Artwork was created by longtime visual partner Travis Smith (Katatonia, Riverside, Nevermore).

You can still check out the singles/videos released for it here:

“While The Spiders Spin”: https://youtu.be/mXhoWwHMp5o
“All The Bad Men”: https://youtu.be/O6Heqhw0Z1o
“Devils And Angels”: https://youtu.be/2u1V8G43ytE

And “The God-Shaped Void” can still be purchased here: 
https://psychoticwaltz.lnk.to/TheGodShapedVoid

PSYCHOTIC WALTZ line-up:
(From left to right on 2020 photo by Axel Jusseit)
Norman Leggio – drums
Ward Evans – bass
Devon Graves – vocals
Brian McAlpin – guitars
Dan Rock – guitars & keys

PSYCHOTIC WALTZ online:
https://www.facebook.com/PsychoticWaltzOnline
https://www.instagram.com/psychoticwaltzofficial

SARCATOR Sign Worldwide Deal with Century Media Records, European Tour with HELLRIPPER Starts This Week

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 16, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Fredrik Karlsson

Century Media Records is thrilled to welcome SARCATOR, four young men from Trollhättan, Sweden who have dedicated their lives and souls to blood, fire and death.
 
At the young age of 14-20 SARCATOR released their first demo tape, Visions of Purgatory, via the American label Redefining Darkness Records in 2019. Just two years later the quadrumvirate got nominated for best rock/metal album for the Swedish music award P3 Guld with their 2020’s self-titled debut release for the same label. After releasing their 2nd album, Alkahest, via Black Lion Records in 2022, SARCATOR finally got a proper chance to play live, captivating crowds with their intense, blackened live shows. With their current line-up fully committed to the band despite their young age (all members are between 19 and 25) it was time for them to record their 3rd album which will be out via Century Media Records in early 2025 and bring SARCATOR to the forefront of an emergent, highly determined new generation of Scandinavian extreme metal bands.

The band comments on the cooperation that was inked in black blood: “We are extremely pleased to announce that we have now signed with Century Media Records, who will be releasing our upcoming third full-length album. This is a huge next step for us as a band and we’re ready to enter this new chapter with deathrashing fury and full force! Hope to have you all, supporters of the band, coming along for the ride as well! More info on the new album coming soon…but first come and see us on the European dates with Hellripper and Cloak!”
 
Mike Gitter (VP of A&R Century Media Records) on the unholy alliance: “SARCATOR is pure blackened thrash-on-fire. Severely pissed and utterly fast and furious, the still barely out of their teens Swedish foursome take the thrashing blueprint, pour a ton of gasoline on it, light a match and they’re nothing short of explosive. Their third and upcoming LP is as modern and punk in its ferocity as it is classic, conjuring the sounds of Possessed and Kreator while amping up its very intensity. We’re excited to be working with SARCATOR and have no question that the future of thrash is upon us. And it’s Swedish.”

Make sure to join circle-pits on their European tour with HELLRIPPER and CLOAK starting this week:
 
SARCATOR – Live 2024
FR 19.07. Poznan (Poland) – Pod Minogą *
SA 20.07. Warsaw (Poland) – Hydrozagadka *
SU 21.07. Ostrava (Czech Republic) – Barrák Music Club *
MO 22.07. Bratislava (Slovakia) – Pink Whale *
TU 23.07. Salzburg (Austria) – Rockhouse *
WE 24.07. Mörlenbach-Weiher (Germany) – Live Music Hall *
TH 25.07. Namur (Belgium) – The Belvédère *
FR 26.07. Tilburg (The Netherlands) – Next Stage *
SA 27.07. Bochum (Germany) – Trompete **
SU 28.07. Stuttgart (Germany) – Schwarzer Keiler ***
FR 23.08. Malmö (Sweden) – Malmö Massacre Festival
SA 31.08. Västerås (Sweden) – Bulgasal Metal Fest
* with Hellripper & Cloak / ** with Hellripper & Scalpture / *** with Cloak

More news and details about the upcoming SARCATOR album and further live-activity to follow soon…

SARCATOR – Line-Up 2024:
(From left to right on photo by Fredrik Karlsson)
Felix Lindkvist – Bass
Mateo Tervonen – Vocals, Guitar
Leo Buchalle – Guitar
Jesper Rosén – Drums

SARCATOR Online:
https://www.facebook.com/sarcatorband
https://www.instagram.com/sarcator
https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/78tS2rMs81fH13rbaw4sT0

RITUAL Reveal Video Trailer for Upcoming “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1” Album

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 16, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Much curiosity was aroused when Karisma Records recently announced the details of the upcoming album from Swedish Prog Rockers RITUAL.  Primarily because this was to be the band’s first release in 17 years, but also because the title “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1”, implied that therein there is a tale to be told!
 
And indeed there is, because, as fans of the band will know, RITUAL are quite adept at storytelling, as their previous five albums have shown, and this time they have chosen to tell the tale of Mr Bogd, an affluent,  well-established member of society who comes to the realisation that his life holds no satisfaction for him.  But what else can he do?  Well, he can leave his job and his comfortable urban life, and seek out an alternative. 
 
So, together with his coachman Parkhurst, and, riven with doubts, but convinced of the rightness of what he is doing, off he sets on a journey through an increasingly wild and dangerous environment.
 
And now, thanks to the vivid imagination of artist Javier “Canelito” Herbozo, we are being afforded not just a musical glimpse into “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1”, but also a visual one, in the form of a Video Trailer that can be seen below.

At its heart, “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1” is a story about maintaining ones innocence, and finding sanity and self- esteem, and deciding what we are prepared to give up in order to do so. It is a blissful blend of road movie, classic fairytale, buddy movie and adventure epic, set in an imaginary land in an era reminiscent of late 19th century Europe. And its musical soundtrack covers a large amount of stylistic ground. Ground that ranges from intense and powerful rock, to musically elaborate and intricate tracks, along with some odd and even quirky moments, and of course some acoustic, folky songs.

“The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1” will be released in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Transparent Violet Vinyl LP formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/pre-orders
Bandcamp: https://ritualsweden.bandcamp.com/album/the-story-of-mr-bogd-part-1

Tracklisting on “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1”, which features artwork by Javier “Canelita” Herbozo,  is as follows:

01. A Hasty Departure
02. The Inn of the Haunted Owl
03. Dreams in a Brougham
04. Chichikov Bogd
05. Mr. Tilly and his Gang
06. Through a Rural Landscape
07. The Feline Companion
08. Read all about it!
09. Forgotten Qualities
10. The Three Heads of the Well

When they formed in 1993, RITUAL immediately established a distinct progressive style that is very much their own.  Influenced by the progressive rock and hardrock of the ‘70s, as well as contemporary bands, RITUAL’s sound has always been song-based, melodic and intense, with a great stylistic variation, and plenty of folk music influences seeping in. The latter feature is not least due to the band’s frequent use of acoustic instruments like bouzouki, mandola, whistles and the Swedish nyckelharpa (a keyed fiddle).

With a  lineup composed of Patrik Lundström on lead vocals and guitar, Fredrik Lindqvist on bass, mandola, dulcimer, recorder and vocals, Jon Gamble on keyboards and  vocals, and Johan Nordgren on drums, nyckelharpa and vocals, RITUAL have established themselves as a confident and powerful live band through numerous tours around Europe and appearances at international festivals such as Rites Of Spring Fest in the USA and Baja Prog in Mexico.

RITUAL’s next live appearance will be on the 20th July at the Night of the Prog Festival, at the Loreley Amphitheater, in Bornich, Germany.

RITUAL recently debuted the track “Chichikov Bogd” from the album “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1”, and it can be downloaded or streamed from a number of services at https://orcd.co/chichikovbogd

More information about RITUAL can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ritual.se or on the band’s website at https://ritual.se