WINTERSUN Announce New Album “Time II”, Out August 30th

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 2, 2024
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Photo Credit: Onni Wiljami Kinnunen

12 Years following WINTERSUN‘s TIME I, Finnish heavy metal quartet led by Jari Mäenpää announce their new album TIME II.  TIME II will be released on August 30th via Nuclear Blast Records.

Jari Mäenpää comments: “TIME II is an epic journey from light to darkness and back to light, exploring the universe and energy, contrasting dark stormy landscapes to calm and beautiful cherry blossom tree gardens with misty, snowy mountains that will leave you breathless. It has songs with furious speed of drums, guitars, and bass and beautiful melodic slower songs with a magical exotic influence. It has massive orchestrations and choirs spiced with ancient world instruments and glimmering synths. It has Jari’s soaring, clean singing contrasted with his aggressive style. It is a highly detailed and complex album where you will find new things with every listen.”

Pre-Order TIME II here: https://wintersun.bfan.link/time-ii.ema

About WINTERSUN:

Finally our patience will be rewarded when Finnish WINTERSUN’s Time II album is revealed to the world on August, 30th by Nuclear Blast. ‘It has been quite a journey’ admits mastermind Jari Mäenpää who has been working on his expansive Time project since early 2004.

Time II includes six epic tracks with individual stories. Yet the subjects are all linked and this red line gives it a conceptual feeling. Entering WINTERSUN’s universe, we are brought into the right mood with the eastern-influenced, atmospheric intro ‘Fields Of Snow’. The first real WINTERSUN track is the metallic brilliance of ‘The Way Of The Fire’, with fire representing the energy of stars as a source of life, which is also connected to time. In ‘One With The Shadows’ we experience the magic of an opulence of vocal harmonies, while orchestral arrangements loom up as ornamental move. Jari has a remarkable vision on the lyrics, ‘Now I think it is about regret. You are living in the shadows as long as you don’t turn regret into something positive to continue your life. In ‘Ominous Clouds’, clouds are gathering as the interlude journeys towards the next exploring adventure ‘Storm’.

This is the heaviest and darkest track on the album,’ explains Jari. ‘It even has influences from classical music, more precisely from Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’, furious guitars and heavy drums prevail, while the tone remains chaotic.’ The last track, ‘Silver Leaves’, with an array of harmonious sounds, partly performed with traditional Chinese instruments like the ‘erhu’ (similar to the violin or fiddle). Ending on a positive note the song tells the story of finding a calm place and state of mind after the storm, being satisfied with your life and enjoying nature around you, as reflected by the cherry tree garden on the cover. The artwork was created by Cameron Gray, while the booklet was designed by Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák (lyrics, credits & thanks pages) and Onni Wiljami Kinnunen (band photos pages).

WINTERSUN is:

Jari Mäenpää | vocals, guitars, computer, programming
Teemu Mäntysaari | guitars
Jukka Koskinen | bass
Kai Hahto | drums

More information at https://www.facebook.com/wintersun

Sheffield’s New Torchbearers STEAL THE CITY Announce Debut Album “Road To Nowhere”

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 2, 2024
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Photo Credit: Barton Chase Media

Sheffield has been producing world beating rock/metal music powerhouses for decades. Iconic legacy artists Def Leppard put Steel City on the world’s map, paving the way for modern metal heavyweights Bring Me The Horizon and While She Sleeps to emerge and collectively dominate the modern alternative music scene. 

Now stepping up to stake their claim is Steal The City, a young Sheffield group whose melodic yet aggressive songs and ferocious live performances have been turning heads and taking names over the past few years. With such a rich musical heritage, Steal The City’s relentless drive and potent creativity is now realised on their upcoming debut studio album, ‘Road To Nowhere.’ 

As heard on Kerrang! Radio, lead single and album opener, ‘Drag Me To Hell’, reflects on the dark toxic nature of social media and immediately drags listeners in with its unrestrained lyrics and fierce energy.

Recorded and produced by guitarist James Kirkham at STC HQ, with mastering duties courtesy of Ste Kerry (Sleep Token/While She Sleeps/Malevolence), Steal The City’s debut album is stuffed with anthems of protest, but ultimately soaring with unity and fortitude that blend uplifting melodies delivering a potent message of resilience. Highlights tracks? Many feature on ‘Road To Nowhere’. From ‘Drag Me To Hell’ and ‘Stand Together’, to ‘Knight The Unholy’ and ‘You Don’t Define Me’ to name but a few; Steal The City delivers a taste of the dark and epic, capturing the essence of classic rock/metal but with a contemporary edge that’s too irresistible to ignore.

The new album lyrical thematics delve into the myriad challenges faced by modern day music artists and individuals alike, navigating the murky terrain of achieving tangible success in their craft in a time of screens dominating day to day life. Steal The City embraces the liberating realisation that the human journey holds greater significance than the destination and so, ‘Road To Nowhere’ thus becomes a triumphant ode to this perspective, celebrating the true essence of success in the creative journey.

Bold, assertive, dynamic; just a few words to describe this young band, Be ready, as they’re already on the lips of many fans and it’s only a matter of time before one of Sheffield’s boldest breaks through and steals this city.

‘Road To Nowhere’ by Steal The City is released 20th September 2024.

Album Tracklist:

1. Drag Me To Hell
2. In Ruins
3. Stand Together
4. If You Could See Me Now
5. You Don’t Define Me
6. Knight The Unholy
7. Timebomb
8. Tomorrow’s Another Day 
9. Up In Smoke
10. Adrenaline 
11. Road To Nowhere

Live Dates:
5th July – WHITEHAVEN – Twisted Tongue (w/ The Filth Hounds)
27 Sept – SHEFFIELD – Yellow Arch Studios (Album Launch Show)

Steal The City is:

Joe Chuggy – Lead Vocals and Guitar
James Kirkham – Lead Guitar and Vocals
Tom ‘Smit’ Smith – Bass and Vocals
Ellis Bullement – Drums

Connect with Steal The City:

. Official Website: www.stealthecity.com
. Facebook: www.facebook.com/stealthecityuk
. Instagram: www.instagram.com/stealthecityuk
. TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@stealthecity

GARDEN OF STONE Release First Single ‘Day of Discord’ from Forthcoming Debut Album

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 2, 2024
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Photo by Kalle Kervinen

Finnish melancholic metal band Garden of Stone is set to release their debut album ‘The Grave Mistake’ on November 29th 2024 via Inverse Records. The first single Day of Discord is released today and music video is available below.

Day of Discord” is showcasing the band’s newfound ferocity and aggressiveness in their songwriting. The brutal riffs and grueling screams are contrasted by a clean, melancholy section that ties the song to Garden of Stone’s roots. “Day of Discord” encapsulates the band’s growth as musicians, proving they are not afraid to push beyond the boundaries of their previously established genre. 

The band comments: 
“Lyrically the song portrays a dystopian world ravaged by war, where destruction and chaos are inevitable and omnipresent. It personifies conflict as a calculated force that consumes humanity, depicted through vivid and gruesome imagery. The lyrics highlight the futility of resistance and the dehumanizing effects of war, leaving nothing of value behind.” 

LISTEN to Day of Discord on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/gos-dod 

  • Composed by Jere Mäntysalo, Jesse Salo, Ville Penkari, Kalle Hänninen, Tapio Haverinen
  • Lyrics by Jesse Salo
  • Artwork by Noora Khouya

The Grave Mistake Track list:

  1. Visions of the End
  2. Day of Discord
  3. The Prophet
  4. Waiting for the Light
  5. Observer
  6. Paradigm Shift
  7. Unveiled
  8. New Dawn
  9. Daydream
  10. Resolution
  11. Ode to Rage
  12. Insanity

Artwork by Noora Khouya

Garden of Stone is a melodic metal band that weaves together melancholic rock and heavy metal. From the band you can expect brooding atmospheres, beautiful melodies, and face melting riffs.

The band was formed in 2023 when guitarists Jere Mäntysalo and Ville Penkari recruited Jesse Salo to sing and scream for their project. Soon after, drummer Tapio Haverinen joined to keep the rhythm department in check. The group was completed when bassist Kalle Hänninen joined to govern the lowest frequencies.

Garden of Stone published their debut EP, Tides of Decay, in February of 2024. The band is showing no signs of slowing down, as they are gearing up to release an LP later in 2024 after a series of singles.

Line-up:
Jere Mäntysalo – Guitar
Jesse Salo – Vocals
Kalle Hänninen – Bass
Ville Penkari – Guitar
Tapio Haverinen – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/gardenofstonetre
https://www.instagram.com/garden_of_stone_official
https://gardenofstoneband.bandcamp.com

ROT COVEN to Release “Nightmares Devour the Waking World” Debut Album on August 15th

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 2, 2024
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ROT COVEN have announced the release of their debut album “Nightmares Devour The Waking World“, due out August 15th 2024 via Aesthetic Death.

The track “Antimatter Halo” is now streaming at THIS LOCATION.

ROT COVEN is a 2-piece, noise-drenched industrial death metal/sludge band.

MZ sings and plays bass and drums while DD focuses more on guitar, then both members slather everything in layers of noise boxes, scrap metal, ritual drums and processed field recordings. This duo has been creating music together in various bands for around twenty years.

Born of a lifelong love of cosmic horror, heavy riffs, and creeped-out industrial noise, the band that would become ROT COVEN first saw the light of day during the COVID-19 lockdowns of spring 2020.

The initial idea was to fuse ominous dark ambient synth textures with pounding “doom” style drums, but bass, guitars, vocals, and scrap metal percussion were quickly added to the mix resulting in a room-shaking cacophony equal parts Autopsy, Chu Ishikawa and the slow crawling No-Wave dirges of early SWANS.

ROT COVEN‘s first physical release “Nightmares Devour the Waking World” pairs two full-length albums: Phase I (initally self-released through the duo’s bandcamp) and the unreleased follow-up Phase II. Phase I builds colossal sludge riffs out of lurking death industrial dronescapes with the final track erupting into a supernova of scorching psychedelic leads and almost “doomgaze” melodicism, while Phase II descends deeper into the abyss, adding elements of unrelentingly ugly death metal to their apocalyptic scum-dirge.

Both albums explore a planet ravaged by cataclysms – storms of poison ash, churning acidic seas, and deserts that spread like a sentient organism. Colony collapse disorder on a galactic scale. A world where nature is so thoroughly gutted that reality itself starts to corrode, letting something seep in from “outside.” A hostile consciousness so massive and utterly alien that the last remaining humans begin to worship it as a god:

Hideous rituals of blood and fire.
Cathedrals sculpted from scrap metal and the shattered bones of the dead.
The soul slowly, inexorably, replaced by void.

ROT COVEN draws influence from Godflesh, Coffins, Abruptum, Wallowing, Body Void, Ramleh, Pain Teens, White Mice, Throbbing Gristle, Missing Foundation, Melvins, Flipper, early Butthole Surfers, Mighty Sphincter, No Trend, Einstürzende Neubauten, Lustmord and Megaptera.

Tracklist:

Phase I:
01. Blood Pours Out of the Sun
02. Feast of the Rotted Mother
03. Antimatter Halo
04. Queen of the Void
05. Those Who Worship Fallen Stars

Phase II:
01. Inverted Chasm
02. Psychological Contamination Zone
03. Accretion Disk Necropolis

https://www.facebook.com/RotCoven
https://rusteater.bandcamp.com/

MORTIIS Adds New Dates to Upcoming North American Headlining Tour

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 2, 2024
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Photo credit: Peter Beste

Dungeon synth master MORTIIS has now added two new performances to his upcoming North American “The Dungeons are Calling” headlining tour, now stopping in Salt Lake City, UT on September 15 and Phoenix, AZ on September 22. The updated itinerary can be found below!

The tour will be in celebration of MORTIIS’ seminal 1993 album, ‘Født Til Å Herske,’ which played a significant role in popularizing the dungeon synth genre and was re-recorded in 2023. The new itinerary can be found below while tickets can be found HERE.

MORTIIS has previously announced BRIGHTER DEATH NOW as direct support, who will be performing parts of his “Necrose Evangelicum” album from 1995 for this tour for the first time! The band will join from the tour kickoff through the Los Angeles stop on September 21. Local openers will also be added, which are handpicked by Mortiis himself!

MORTIIS’ live soundscape will be accompanied with visuals created by renowned artist and illustrator David Thierree, known for his work with Mortiis, Behemoth, and others.

Previously announced support for the tour includes Sombre Arcane (September 4-17), Malfet (September 14 – 28), and appearances by Fogweaver in Denver, CO and Albuquerque, NM.

MORTIIS w/ BRIGHTER DEATH NOW
(“The Dungeons are Calling” North American Tour Dates):

09/04: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery~ 09/05: Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz~
09/06: Boston, MA @ Sonia~ 09/07: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie~
09/08: New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge~ 09/09: Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground~
09/10: Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary~ 09/11: Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s~
09/12: St. Paul, MN @ White Rock Lounge~ 09/13: Lincoln, NE @ 1867 Bar~
09/14: Denver, CO @ The Oriental*^#~
09/15: Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon *^#~ [JUST ADDED]
09/17: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon*^~
09/18: Eugene, OR @ John Henry’s^~
09/19: San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge^~
09/20: San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick^~
09/21: Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom^ ~
09/22: Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live ^~ [JUST ADDED]
09/23: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad^#
09/24: Haltom City, TX @ Haltom Theater^
09/25: Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live^
09/26: Houston, TX @ Secret Group^
09/27: New Orleans, LA @ The Goat^
09/28: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Altar)^

~w/ Brighter Death Now *w/ Sombre Arcane ^w/ Malfet #w/ Fogweaver

More info: Facebook – Instagram – X – Bandcamp – Spotify – Apple Music – Official Shop

CRYPTIC HATRED Stream “Internal Torment” LP Ahead of Release

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 2, 2024
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Ahead of its release this Friday on the twisted Time To Kill Records roster, Decibel Magazine today presents an exclusive stream of “Internal Torment”, the merciless sophomore LP from Finnish death metal crew CRYPTIC HATRED.

Stream “‘Internal Torment” at THIS LOCATION.

Inarguably the band’s most diverse work to date,“Internal Torment” ventures far beyond the conventions of old school death metal, without surrendering an ounce of viciousness. Strong nuances of doom and creepy melodies can be heard throughout the record’s ten tracks concluding fittingly with a suffocating wall of sound that leaves its listeners bruised, battered, and shaken.

The album highlights the band’s surgical and intuitive take on death metal mechanics – yet also channels eerie atmospheres and dimensions through moments of tension and tranquility, coexisting in a fragile balance. Between riffs born of primal rage, to melodies seemingly from other worlds, “Internal Torment” is an album that delivers on all levels of darkness in uncanny and transcendental ways. Brace yourself for a journey through the unknown, rendered in haunting, mesmerisingly cryptic death metal!

Tracklist:

01. Death Is Upon You
02. Breeding of Evil
03. Chasm of Void
04. Homicidal Intentions
05. Mesmerized by the Malignant Gaze
06. Tomb of Desecration
07. Mauled To Flesh
08. Beyond Hatred
09. The Passage
10. Internal Torment

Pre orders:

CRYPTIC HATRED emerged from the depths of the Finnish underground death metal scene in 2020, with their debut demo titled “Free From The Grave”. Founded in 2019 by a group of four school friends driven by their passion for extreme music, the band quickly gained recognition for their intense and visceral old school sound.

Initially drawing inspiration from the old-school Florida death metal scene, CRYPTIC HATRED embarked on a journey of sonic exploration, pushing the boundaries of their genre and forging their own unique path. With a relentless dedication to their craft, the band honed their skills and evolved their sound, blending elements of death metal with haunting melodies and cryptic atmospheres. As CRYPTIC HATRED continued to refine their sound, they gained a reputation for their mesmerizing live performances, where the raw energy of their music collided with an aura of mystique and darkness.

In 2022, CRYPTIC HATRED released their debut album, “Nocturnal Sickness” which received critical acclaim for its unrelenting intensity and haunting melodies. The album showcased the band’s ability to seamlessly weave together brutality and their cryptic harmonies, leaving a lasting impression on listeners.

Now, as they prepare to unleash their sophomore album, “Internal Torment”, upon the world in the summer of 2024, CRYPTIC HATRED stands poised to solidify their place as pioneers of their cryptic metal take on death metal. With each track crafted to evoke a sense of inner thoughts and existential dread, “Internal Torment” promises to be a journey all the way from Florida Death Metal bomb blast beats, to melancholic Finnish death metal atmospheres.

Driven by a relentless passion for their art and an unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of extreme music, CRYPTIC HATRED continues to defy expectations and redefine what it means to create truly mesmerizing and cryptic metal. With their sophomore release on the horizon, the band’s enigmatic allure shows no signs of fading, ensuring that their legacy will endure long into the future.

Line-up:
Eemil Lajoma – Guitar & Vocals
Tatu Saves – Drums
Miska Hagelberg – Bass
Joonas Honkanen – Guitar

https://www.instagram.com/cryptichatred_/
https://www.facebook.com/cryptichatred/
https://cryptichatred.bandcamp.com/