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El Salvador’s SOULS OF STEEL Sign with Wormholedeath for Re-Release of Self-Titled Debut Album

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 12, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: SOULS OF STEEL. Leave a comment

El Salvador’s heavy metal outfit, SOULS OF STEEL, has joined forces with Wormholedeath Records for the re-release of their critically acclaimed debut album, “Songs of Steel.” The re-issue is slated to hit the airwaves worldwide on August 16th, 2024.

The band expressed their fervent enthusiasm in a statement: “We are thrilled and honored to celebrate the closing of the contract with Wormholedeath. For us, this milestone marks a new chapter in our musical journey, filled with exciting opportunities and inspiring challenges. Coming from a place where the metal scene is practically the least supported in the country, this step represents a significant change for us. We hope to give our best and maintain professionalism in everything we’re tasked with we want to thank the label and their people for believing in our music and for providing us with this incredible platform to share our passion with the world, Carlo and his team have been very kind and supportive to us. We are eager to collaborate and take our music to new heights. Let Metal begin!”

“SONGS OF STEEL”: A DEEP DIVE INTO LIFE’S LABYRINTH

“Songs of Steel” delves profoundly into the band’s personal experiences, weaving a tapestry of diverse themes with each track boasting its own distinct flair. The album steers clear of monotony, offering a refreshing departure from the homogeneity that often plagues the genre. Souls of Steel tackles a myriad of potent subjects, from the erosion of their nation’s political system to the empowering role of women in rock and roll, all the while exploring the complexities of broken friendships and shattered hearts. Each song meticulously aligns with the album’s title, wielding lyrics that resonate deeply with the listener.

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FORGED IN DISTANCE

The songwriting and lyrical prowess of Daniel and Benjamin breathe life into “Songs of Steel.” Despite the physical separation between the two bandmates residing in different cities, the pandemic’s wake provided an unexpected opportunity for their creative visions to coalesce. This extended period of gestation fostered a rich tapestry of musical influences, drawing inspiration from legendary metal acts like Megadeth, Black Sabbath, Mötley Crüe, Van Halen, Symphony X, Mr. Big, and a multitude more.

The album’s sonic landscape was meticulously sculpted at El Salvador’s Stageline Studio with Erlin de la O at the helm. To achieve the album’s final form, the recordings embarked on a journey across the Atlantic, landing at the UK’s Cube Recording Studio where renowned sound engineer Ross Rothero-Bourge meticulously mixed and mastered each track.

Tracklist

  1. Intro
  2. Eternal One
  3. Burning Love
  4. No Man´s Land
  5. Human Perversity
  6. Neverending Machine
  7. Trickster
  8. The Debt
  9. Last Gig
  10. Legends Reborn
  11. Rising Steel

Founded in 2021 by Benjamin Lopez and Daniel Jiménez, Souls of Steel draws upon the foundational strength of metal while venturing into uncharted sonic territories. Inspired by the likes of Megadeth, Symphony X, and Metallica, the band has meticulously carved their own niche, solidifying a lineup featuring Benjamin Lopez (bass, vocals), Daniel Jiménez (lead guitar), Oscar Trujillo (drums), and Sebastián Lorenzana (lead vocals). Their debut album, “Songs of Steel,” released in December 2023, served as a potent declaration of their musical aspirations, showcasing their raw energy and unyielding spirit. With introspective lyrics that explore the spectrum of human experience, from the throes of societal woes to the triumphs of personal growth, Souls of Steel, now signed to Wormholedeath, eagerly awaits the opportunity to unleash their music upon the global audience.

Souls of Steel Band Members:
Benjamín López (bass and second vocals)
Daniel Jiménez (lead guitar)
Óscar Trujillo (drums)
Sebastián Lorenzana (lead vocals)

Stay Connected with Souls of Steel:
www.instagram.com/soulsofsteelofficial
www.youtube.com/@soulsofsteelofficial
www.facebook.com/soulsofsteelofficial
soulsofsteel.com

SETH Stream Full Album “La France des Maudits” Ahead of Release

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 12, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Seth. Leave a comment
Photo by © Andy Julia

From the crucible of France’s shadowed past, where the streets once echoed with the shrieks of the condemned, emerges an album that summons the spirit of insurrection and rebellion. SETH, the heralds of French black metal, return with their seventh full-length opus, La France des Maudits. This is no mere collection of songs; it is a revolutionary symphony that calls upon the echoes of fallen angels and the flame-lit guillotine.

SETH invokes the blood-stained history and mystic fall of a long-standing kingdom to create a soundtrack of defiance. Their latest creation, La France des Maudits, is an intricate tapestry of shadows, drenched in the wine of condemned men and the blood of saints. This black metal gospel speaks to the damned and the outcast, those who refuse to kneel before divine decay and instead, rise like wraiths in the night.

With tracks like Et Que Vive le Diable ! and  Dans le Cœur un Poignard, SETH carves out the anthems of resistance for a new age. These songs capture the raw, unyielding fury of a world on the brink of an apocalypse – a realm where the downtrodden rise in defiance against celestial oppression.

Be prepared, for their audacious crusade is not for the faint-hearted. The full album is premiered on the Black Metal Promotion YouTube channel, a shrine for those who crave the dark, the daring, and the defiant:

La France des Maudits is out July 14, on Bastille Day, through Season of Mist.
Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/sethlafrancesdesmaudits

Tracklist
1. Paris des Maléfices (5:09)
2. Et Que Vive le Diable ! (5:35) [WATCH]
3. La Destruction des Reliques (5:51)
4. Dans le Cœur un Poignard (5:30) [WATCH]
5. Marianne (2:59)
6. Ivre du Sang des Saints (5:37)
7. Insurrection (7:33) [WATCH]
8. Le Vin du Condamné (8:06)
9. Initials B.B. (Serge Gainsbourg Cover) (Bonus Track) (3:49)
Total runtime: 46:22

Cover Art by Andy Julia

In the solemn shadows of a lyrically resurrected Paris, where the whispers of revolution still haunt the cobblestones and the phantom caress of the guillotine’s blade lingers in the air, stands a band – not merely of musicians, but of modern Marats, Robespierres in leather and lace, anointed with the spirit of insurrection. SETH, the harbingers of a dark yet fervidly awaited dawn, are poised once more to unleash a tempest upon the sanctified silence of the contemporary music scene with their newest auditory uprising, La France des Maudits.

The history of black metal formation SETH and Season of Mist spans back to the early days of the French metal scene. The band’s debut Les Blessures de L’Ame (1998) was one of the first releases on the label. This album is now regarded as a cornerstone in French black metal, pioneering the usage of their native tongue on a black metal record.

The release of Les Blessures de L’Ame quickly gained international attention and SETH built a solid fanbase. The French blasphemers signed a two-release deal with Osmose Productions and participated on the MAYHEM cult tribute album Originators of the Northern Darkness alongside IMMORTAL and BEHEMOTH. The second full-length The Excellence came out in 2000 and featured a contribution from none other than Fenriz (DARKTHRONE), who wrote the lyrics for the song Let Me Be The Salt In Your Wound.

Shortly after, the group recorded their third album Divine-X (2002) at the Excess Studios in Rotterdam (EPICA, AFTER FOREVER, SINISTER). This record demonstrated the ability of the band to mix gloomy and violent atmospheres and received extensive coverage from the international metal press at the time.

Returning to the Netherlands to record the fourth album Era-Decay (2004), two new members joined the ranks of SETH: vocalist Black Messiah and guitarist Cyriex. Afterwards, the band was invited to play at the prestigious Inferno festival in Norway in 2005.

A long hiatus followed, until the band returned in 2011 to play an exclusive show in Germany with the German cult act BETHLEHEM. The band re-joined the ranks of Season of Mist, eventually releasing The Howling Spirit (2013) and embarking on a European tour with PESTILENCE. Several appearances at major festivals followed, including Hellfest and Graspop Metal Meeting, concluded by a Canadian headliner tour with new vocalist Saint Vincent (BLACKLODGE).

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Les Blessures de L’Ame in 2018, SETH exclusively performed the entire album at festivals in Switzerland, Canada (Messe de Morts) and Belgium (Thronefest). The French label Les Acteurs de l’Ombre productions released a live recording of these shows, called 20 ans de Blasphème. The band’s new line-up features members of LOUDBLAST, ARKHON INFAUSTUS and MELTED SPACE.

In the twilight year of 2021, within Paris’ shadow-ridden crypt, Studio Sainte Marthe, an album was birthed from SETH‘s tumultuous revelation, christened, La Morsure du Christ. Earning plaudits of wonder, it was no mere collection of hymns, but a solitary harbinger of deconstruction, a cataclysm of unseen proportions. Inspiration seeped from Notre-Dame de Paris—her skeletal frame ablaze in a 2019’s firestorm—an emblem of decaying faith for a godforsaken era. As heavy as the iron heart of a guillotine, La Morsure du Christ echoed through the chambers of 2021, reigning supreme in a multitude of international & French metal charts, as well as its inclusion on premier streaming platform playlists. Bold symphonies interwoven with razor-sharp lyricism and a sophisticated conceptual resonance that dared to envision black metal through a revolutionary lens.

Rooted deeply in the soil that once drank deeply of royal and commoner blood alike during the tumultuous fervour of the French Revolution, SETH presents their latest opus – a black metal gospel according to the damned and the outcast. An intricate tapestry of shadows and defiance emerges from the darkness of history’s recesses, swirling with the mists of apocalyptic visions and the ashes of fallen angels. La France des Maudits is a declaration of war, a call to arms for the souls still smouldering beneath the veneer of a world too long gripped in the cold hands of a moribund orthodoxy.

With the fractured bones of dead gods beneath their boots, SETH voyages through the forbidden and the occult, tracing the lines of ancient prophecies and the decadent whispers of La Grande Catin Écarlate, the scarlet woman of the apocalypse. Their songs, from Paris des Maléfices to Insurrection, resonate with the echoes of a Paris besieged not by armies, but by souls clamouring for liberation – a city where each stone tells a tale of defiance, where every shadow harbours the spirit of revolt.

Lyrically, La France des Maudits is dripping with the wine of condemned men and the blood of saints, narrating the epic saga of rebellion from the ashes of a fallen Notre-Dame. This is not the Paris of light, but of enlightening darkness, where the façades of grandeur crumble to reveal the raw flesh of true humanity, writhing in its eternal struggle against divine oppression. Here, in the very heart of darkness, SETH finds its muse among the cacophony of broken chains and shattered dogmas.Prepare to march beneath the banner unfurled by SETH, in the grand tradition of those unyielding souls who once stormed the Bastille and dared to dream of a world remade. La France des Maudits beckons – not to the gallows, but to glory.

Line-up
Saint Vincent – Vocals (Blacklodge)
Heimoth – Guitar (Sinsaenum)
Drakhian – Guitar (ex-Loudblast, Griffar)
Pierre Le Pape – Keys (Melted Space)
EsX – Bass (Arkhon Infaustus, ex-Merrimack)
Alsvid – Drums (ex-Enthroned, ex-Ad Patres)

Recording Studio
Sainte Marthe Studio

Production Credits
Mixed, produced & mastered by Francis Caste

Biography
Sébastien Gamez

Official Website: https://www.innomineseth.fr/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/innomineseth
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sethblackmetal
Bandcamp: http://innomineseth.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0mZohnzbCiVv54VIEA6Wb7
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/56150
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/seth/1643927366
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/InNomineSethOfficial
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/innomineseth

Polish KILLSORROW Drop Lyric Video for Single ‘Play With Me’

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 12, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: KILLSORROW. Leave a comment

KILLSORROW was created in 2008 in Krakow by guitarist Michał Sokół. The band’s roster changed multiple times before finally stabilizing in 2015. Each member of the band is an experienced musician who has played hundreds of concerts and supported world-class bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Electric Light Orchestra, Focus, Paradise Lost, Hate, Hunter, Kat, Acid Drinkers, TSA.

Polish post-apocalyptic metal band KILLSORROW recorded music for highly anticipated third full-length album, entitled “Wasteland Chronicles” at Heinrich House Studio (Azarath, Behemoth, Masachist) and Studio Centrum. All was mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström at Fredman Studio (In Flames, Arch Enemy, Sabaton, Dimmu Borgir, Septicflesh) in Goteborg. Cover artwork was done by duo Zbigniew Józefczyk and Michał “Xaay” Loranc (Evangelist, Kamelot, Konkhra).

On the new album the band presents a new musical face, they play mixture melody and aggressive of Trivium and In Flames with catchy Iron Maiden riffs and progression of Evergrey and Kamelot.

November 3, 2023 band released full album on physical format as CD which could be ordered at their official website http://killsorrow.com/ and Via Nocturna webstore.

A few days ago, the band published lyric video for the single “Play With Me“. The slow, waltzing and hit song from the album “Wasteland Chronicles” is the next single this year promoting the new release. The song can be found on streaming platforms.

– This is a slightly unusual piece for our playing, it has more song-like character, a simpler arrangement, and it works great at concerts. We wanted to have a breath with more space for Piotrek’s vocals. – says Michał, leader of the band.

Watch the Lyric video for “Play With Me” ⤵

Earlier, the Cracovian band released music videos to the songs:

  • Prototype ▶ https://youtu.be/-J4H6idKfq4
  • Eyes ▶ https://youtu.be/HdyMeDIqkCE
  • Straight to Hell ▶ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txmtv0ntAwA
  • Parasite Symphony ▶ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUf2rMyns7c
  • Home Sweet Home ▶ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mq2Hw4aB3s

Band will play some live shows, info here https://www.facebook.com/Killsorrow/events

More information: Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube

THE MOURNING Release New Video Single ‘Smooth Seas’, New Album Out Now

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 12, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: THE MOURNING. Leave a comment

Keep your ears and eyes peeled – US based prog metal pioneers THE MOURNING just released their brand new album Hush – which got postponed by two weeks –, alongside the new video single Smooth Seas. The mesmerizing track is also a beautiful farewell to former singer Eliana Blanchard, as the band is now also introducing the stunning and multi-talented Zai Alyenora as their new co-lead-vocalist.

THE MOURNING’s first full-length album Hush is a prog journey influenced by the greats of progressive metal, an album of self-discovery, observations about the nature of existence, societal ills, and overcoming adversity.

Smooth Seas serves as a satisfying finish to a vigorous collection of rock and metal tracks, dealing with themes of hardships, adversity, resilience, and personal growth. The final song on THE MOURNING’S newest album is about the challenges we face that shape us into who we are. It especially addresses the process of realizing that if life was always smooth sailing that it’s really not conducive for personal growth, because smooth seas do not make a good sailor.

The progressive rock song, which is featuring a guest guitar solo by Trey Xavier, provides a tranquil and reflective introduction, using gentle, soothing, and emotive melodies to set a contemplative tone. The instrumentation gradually intensifies, incorporating powerful and uplifting elements as well as intricate instrumental passages. Ultimately, drummer Jason Berlin (son of famous bassist Jeff Berlin) shifts from a typical rock beat to death metal-style blast beats, which musically emphasizes the theme of the song – encouraging listeners to face their personal storms with courage and resilience, knowing that the experience will ultimately lead to personal growth and a deeper sense of self. Smooth Seas is a dynamic, thought provoking listening experience, you should definitely check out.

Sounds intriguing, right? That’s what we thought! So don’t waste any more time, listen to the album and the single now and take a peek at the new video straight away:

With the fresh album under their belt, a new chapter has just begun for THE MOURNING, whose sound will become even more powerful now with their most recent addition – Zai Alyenora, the new co-lead-vocalist alongside Johnny Ray.
The multitalented and multilingual vocalist (who speaks five languages and sings in eight) is not only a highly accomplished professional singer, but also a songwriter, booking agent, an Executive Director of Chaarmz Magazine Talent Agency, a former American Idol contestant, an MTV special guest, a model, an actress, and a fire spinning professional. Her unique vocal range and expressive performance style blends in perfectly with THE MOURNING’s heavy and soulful musical style and provides fresh energy as well as depth to their sound. Zai’s significant vocal presence and commanding voice will now take center stage, adding a new dimension and intensity to the band’s music.

THE MOURNING’s new album Hush is now available here: https://samply.app/player/UejZq3ehfkIPrVddxmQH
Hush by The Mourning – digital at https://links.themourningmusic.com/hush-album
Hush CD (Jewel Case) by The Mourning – physical at https://themourningmusic.com/product/hush-cd/

Tracklist Hush:

  1. Chaos Machine
  2. The Mountain
  3. He Cries
  4. I Feel The Rain
  5. Hush
  6. The Wind
  7. My Own Way
  8. Cries Of The Mind
  9. My Own Hell
  10. Smooth Seas

THE MOURNING online:
https://themourningmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/themourningmusic
https://www.instagram.com/themourningmusic/
https://www.youtube.com/@themourningmusic
https://www.tiktok.com/@themourningmusic

STEVE LOUW Releases ‘Killers’ + ‘Streets of Rain’ Singles from New Album

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 12, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: STEVE LOUW. Leave a comment

Photo by Jacqui van Standen

Legendary South African blues rock, country, and Americana singer-songwriter and guitarist, Steve Louw releases “Killers”/“Streets of Rain” double single on Friday 12 July 2024.

The songs are available to stream from https://orcd.co/SteveLouwKillersStreetsofrain.

Both songs are taken from Louw’s highly anticipated third solo album Between Time released by BFD Records on Friday September 6th.

Released as a 2-CD digipack, double vinyl, and digital, the highly anticipated double album is available to pre-order and pre-save from https://orcd.co/SteveLouwBetweenTime.

“Killers” reflects the madness of waging war on each other. The song was written after hearing an audio clip of intercepted radio chatter in the first few weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the intense guitar-driven track’s energy evokes feelings of helplessness and rage.

“I wanted the song to feel spiritual, powerful, and cutting and exist on different time planes,” says Louw. “When we recorded Killers, it felt like we were stepping across into an earlier flickering time.” Doug Lancio’s overdriven Harmony Rocket guitar locks with Steve’s acoustic and Rob McNelley’s soulful slide guitar to create a powerful sonic statement of rage and grief.

“The sound of this track is what I love about making records,” says producer Kevin Shirley. “World class musicians together, creating art. Capturing those moments and being part of that experience never grows old.”

“Killers” is available on all streaming platforms HERE. Watch the official music video HERE.

The evocative Hammond organ playing of B3 wizard Lachy Doley and the chorused electric guitar and acoustic teases out the melancholy of “Streets of Rain.” “It’s a song about loss,” says Louw. “Although our pain is personal, you are not alone. When it’s coming down on you, it feels like you’ll never get out of there, but you will.”

“Lachy is one of the greatest Hammond players in the world, right up there with Steve Winwood and Booker T,” says Kevin Shirley. “When I was finishing off Streets of Rain, I knew his playing would be perfect. His beautiful solo captures the essence of the song.”

“Streets of Rain” is available on all streaming platforms HERE. Watch the music video HERE.

Between Time, arrives decades into a long career, stretching back to the 1990s, when Louw partnered with South African record producer Kevin Shirley while fronting Big Sky, his vehicle to acclaim in his native South Africa. Louw broke back into the music scene rousingly with his 2021 solo album Headlight Dreams, which Shirley helped push into existence, telling Louw after a decade of silence that it was time for him to make another record. He assembled a crack band, including keyboardist Kevin McKendree (John Hiatt), drummer Greg Morrow (Billy Gibbons), bass player Alison Prestwood (Buddy Miller), guitarists Rob McNelley (Hank Williams Jr), and Doug Lancio (Bob Dylan).

Headlight Dreams received solid reviews and earned him his third South African Music Award nomination. Thunder and Rain followed hot on its heels, a rich and natural album of muscular folk and insistent rock, a blend that Louw has refined throughout his career.

With Between Time, he explores those moments that fall outside the strict constructs of time with songs that have past, present, and future, while using imagery that’s both timeless and present. Cut live in the studio with his same band; the music has a transcendent quality, a chemistry that blends craft and inspiration into something mystical.

The stars align on three songs recorded back-to-back on the same day. The heartfelt “Killers”, where ‘Killers with numbers not names, came killing across the plains’, flows into, ‘In the Badlands, sand turned to dust, outsiders stand, steel turned to rust’, on the driving “Giants Walk The Land” (co-written with Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie), and to a new beginning on “Time to Get On,” ‘As we face to the sun, it’s time to get on’.

Hearing the band discover the inherent passion and tenderness within the songs is part of the pleasure of Between Time. Their chemistry is evident on the low-down shuffle of “Do Me Good” and the country honk of “Alibi.” They swing hard on “Get Real Gone” and ratchet up the tension on “Flowers on The Graves of Doves,” a ringing, roiling number that conjures the mystery of early R.E.M.

You feel the band as much as you hear them, as on “Highway to the Sun,” the eight-minute exit to the 20-song collection. Louw is as much a member of the band as he is its leader. His steady, propulsive guitar playing providing as much of a connective tissue as his unguarded voice.

Collaborative energy is a crucial element of Between Time, extending to guest appearances by Joe Bonamassa, who accentuates the Blues on “Cruel Hand of Fate” with an explosive country-style solo. Added to that is Jim Moginie, whose eclectic guitar sound and creative force evoke the natural world’s power on “Giants Walk The Land,” and Hammond maestroLachyDoley, who teases out the reassuring comfort lurking within “Streets of Rain.”

Between Time is a record filled with compassion and heart, a defining album for an artist who has consistently delivered great-sounding music over several decades.

Track Listing

CD1
Alibi (4:07)
We Had It All (3:37)
Beggar Tonight (4:40)
Giant’s Walk The Land (4:45)
Killers (4:40)
StreetJanes Dream#3 (5:24)
Do Me Good (4:06)
Flowers From The Graves Of Doves (4:07)
Don’t Leave A Heart Alone (3:22)
Time To Get On (5:38)

CD2
Get Real Gone (3:33)
The Way Your Heart Beats (2:05)
Take Me For A Ride (3:56)
Streets Of Rain (4:07)
Cruel Hand Of Fate (5:19)
Free To Fly (2:10)
You ‘n Me Tonight (3:08)
Cold Cold Rails (3:45)
Ever Be Undone (4:44)
Highway To The Sun (7:59)

Album Credits
Produced by Kevin Shirley.
Recorded and mixed at Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, TN
Tracks 4,14 and 18 mixed at The Cave, Sydney.
Engineered by Austin Atwood
Mixed by Kevin Shirley
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering, Portland, ME.

Musicians
Steve Louw: Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Doug Lancio: Electric Guitar and Mandolin
Kevin McKendree: Keyboards
Alison Prestwood: Bass
Greg Morrow: Drums and Percussion

Additional Musicians
Jim Moginie: Electric guitar, keyboards (Track 4)
Joe Bonamassa: Lead Electric Guitar (Track 15)
Randy Flowers: Electric Guitar (Tracks 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 19, 20)
Rob McNelley: Electric Guitar (Tracks 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15, 16)
Lachy Doley: Hammond Organ (Track 14)

Backing Vocalists
Kim Fleming: Backing Vocals (Tracks 2, 13, 16)
Devonne Fowlkes: Backing Vocals (Tracks 2, 13, 16)
Jade MacRae: Backing Vocals (Track 17)
Danielle DeAndrea: Backing Vocals (Track 17)

Steve Louw – Biography
Steve Louw (born 16 September 1955) is a South African musician and singer-songwriter who specialises in album rock, blues rock, country rock and Americana music. He was born in The Hague and has been active as a musician since 1981. He was inducted in the South African Rock Hall of Fame in 2003.

Louw, who was born Stephen Geoffrey Louw, learnt to play the guitar after being inspired by the music of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and Neil Young, and formed his first band, Atlantic Rose, while in high school in Cape Town in the late 1960s. While a student at Stellenbosch University in the 1970s he became involved in the local music scene, playing his own songs in various line-ups.

His career as a professional musician began in the early 1980s when he formed the band All Night Radio with fellow former Stellenbosch University students Nico Burger (guitar) and Rob Nagel (bass). The group recorded two albums – The Heart’s the Best Part (1984) with US producer John Rollo, and The Killing Floor (1986), on which Louw began a partnership with producer Kevin Shirley that continues to this day.

Louw then formed the band Big Sky and in 1990 released their debut album, Waiting for the Dawn, again produced by Shirley. The album arrived just as South Africa began moving away from apartheid rule and the group’s music helped soundtrack a decade of positive revolution. The title track is today considered a South African rock classic. Big Sky released another five albums over the next 15 years: Horizon (1995), Going Down with Mr Green (1997), Best of the Decade (1999), Beyond the Blue (2002) and Trancas Canyon (2008); as well as the concert DVD Heart and Soul, filmed at Cape Town’s Little Theatre in 2008.

Louw and Big Sky achieved considerable success in South Africa with sell-out tours and several major radio hits including “Kathleen”, “Mr Green”, “One Cut With A Knife”, “Strange Room” and “Diamonds and Dirt”. In 1996 the band won the FNB South African Music Award for “Best Pop Music Performance” and “Best Rock Album” for the album Horizon.

In 1998 Big Sky opened for US singer-songwriter Rodriguez on his triumphant debut tour of South Africa, with the musicians in the band also backing the US artist. The tour is chronicled in the 2012 Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man.

Louw gained an international profile after he collaborated with Brian May (Queen) and Dave Stewart (the Eurythmics) on the track “Amandla”, recorded for the 46664 Aids awareness project inspired by the work of Nelson Mandela.

In 2021 Louw returned with the album Headlight Dreams, produced by Shirley, and recorded in Nashville with crack studio musicians and featuring a guest appearance by US guitar legend Joe Bonamassa. The album has received critical acclaim and the first single, “Wind in Your Hair”, has become a popular Spotify hit.

Louw released his sophomore solo release Thunder and Rain on November 11, 2022, through BFD. The album was produced by Kevin Shirley and features Joe Bonamassa and Doug Lancio.

On September 6th, Louw will release his third solo album Between Time, produced by Kevin Shirley. 

More information: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

WITHOUT WARNING Unveil New Electrifying Single + Video ‘Pulse’

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 12, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: WITHOUT WARNING. Leave a comment
Photo by Michaela Tuomenoksa

WITHOUT WARNING, a promising modern metal act from Finland has unleashed their new single “Pulse” with an additional music video. The new single is infused with inspiration from the German underground rave scene, immersing the listener with a sonic landscape filled with industrial sounds and heavy rave elements.

LISTEN to Pulse single: https://push.fm/fl/ww-pulse

  • Composer: Juuso Javanainen
  • Text: Michaela Tuomenoksa
  • Arrangement: Aleksi Rintala, Michaela Tuomenoksa, Lauri Tuomenoksa
  • Production: Aleksi Rintala
  • Mixing: Aleksi Rintala
  • Mastering: Aleksi Rintala
  • Single cover by Michaela Tuomenoksa

“Pulse” vibrates with intensity and infectious rhythms that are a core element in the German rave scenes. The song blends the ferocity of modern metal with the hypnotic allure of underground rave culture. Without Warning invites listeners to immerse themselves in a world where man and machine collide.

“The song instantly made me think of an underground rave. An experience where you fully emerge yourself in the rhythm and it becomes synchronized with your pulse, which inspired the song name. With each song we really drive into the surrounding, the emotion and story. “Pulse” showcases Without Warning as a whole, who we are and what our identity is about. It is no coincidence that we wanted to include inspiration from Germany particularly. Germans have a really talented and amazing metal scene, and they have always supported Finnish metal. We’re excited to build a stronger bond with them.” Says vocalist Michaela “Micha” Tuomenoksa. 

Giving into the pulse of the machine 

At its core, “Pulse” explores the enigmatic relationship between humanity and technology. Reflecting the interesting and futuristic lore Without Warning has created. “Pulse” is blurring the boundaries between organic and artificial life. With the song, Without Warning aims to capture the essence of the rave experience with a cacophony of sound and intense emotion. 

“I had a vision about a techno infused song with an intense beat, electronic soundscape and of course a signature touch representing our style. A lot of things happen through the song and it took a while to find the balance. But with efficient teamwork among the band we produced the song as visioned and hope to see “Pulse” make a strong impact on listeners.” Says guitarist and producer Juuso Javanainen.

“Pulse” is now available on all major streaming platforms and the brand new music video has been published on the bands YouTube-channel. For more information and updates, visit Without Warning’s official website and follow them on social media.

WITHOUT WARNING
Exploring the rough and dark sonic possibilities, Without Warning combines inspiration from various metal and electronic sub-genres. Creating a fusion that both shakes you with heavy modern features and soft melodic finishes. Without Warning continues to grow as they take their place in the modern metal scene, creating an exclusive brand beyond music. Dive into the world of electronic illusion, sink into the depths of darkness. Become one with Without Warning.

Line-up:
Vocals: Michaela Tuomenoksa
Guitar: Juuso Javanainen
Bass: Aleksi Rintala
Drums: Lauri Tuomenoksa

http://www.instagram.com/withoutwarningband
https://www.facebook.com/withoutw4rning
https://withoutw4rning.bandcamp.com
https://www.withoutwarningofficial.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrLxoH4XhY7Ocu5SN2MVn0Q

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