Eleonora Damiano & Alex Mele • 2024 – 📸 Requiem’s Embrace
Italian symphonic power metallers REQUIEM’S EMBRACE release their surprise EP “Nightmares And Fairytales” tomorrow, July 5th, via Sleaszy Rider Records.
Magic presents just two choices: fear it or embrace its secrets … Guitarist Alex Mele (Kaledon) and vocalist Eleonora Damiano (ex Epinikion) have joint forces to create the Symphonic Power Metal act, REQUIEM‘S EMBRACE.
This talented line-up also includes bassist Silvia Pistolesi (Hellucination), guitarist Francesco Ciancio (Kaledon), keyboardist Fabio Bernardi (River Of Change), and drummer Manuele Di Ascenzo (Imperial Age).
Having recently inked a deal with Sleaszy Rider Records, the new band is set to unleash their debut EP on July 5, 2024.
OCTOPLOID, the band founded by bass player Olli-Pekka “Oppu” Laine (AMORPHIS, BARREN EARTH, MANNHAI), have arrived to guide fans around the world into their very own musical universe titled “Beyond The Aeons.” Being released through Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), the group have shared an additional video in support of their debut album.
Check out the record’s closing track, ‘A Dusk Of Vesk [feat. Jón Aldará]’ below.
“A crushing mid tempo death metal riff, an arena chorus, a twisted foundation and a 70s AOR outro migrate here, proving that making a coherent song out of those diverse ingredients is not only possible, but ‘A Dusk Of Vex’ is a living proof of that,” explains band leader Laine.
Order “Beyond The Aeons” in your preferred physical format (CD-digipak or eco-friendly/recycled “dusk of vex” marbled vinyl), stream it on your favourite digital service provider (DSP), or purchase it digitally now, here: https://octoploid.rpm.link/beyondtheaeonsPR.
The album release will also be supported by OCTOPLOID‘s very first live performance which is set to take place at On the Rocks in Helsinki, Finland next month, on August 2. Don’t miss the chance to witness their stage debut and get your tickets from Tiketti!
“Beyond The Aeons” – Track Listing:
The Dawns In Nothingness [feat. Mikko Kotamäki] *
Coast Of The Drowned Sailors [feat. Tomi Koivusaari & Janitor Muurinen] *
Human Amoral [feat. Tomi Joutsen] *
Shattered Wings [feat. Petri Eskelinen] #/%
Beyond The Aeons #/%
The Hallowed Flame [feat. Mikko Kotamäki] *
Concealed Serenity [feat. Mikko Kotamäki] %
A Dusk Of Vex [feat. Jón Aldará | physical: long version; digital: edit] ^/% Bonus Track (physical only):
Monotony [feat. Petri Eskelinen] %
*Kim Rantala (keyboards) #Samu Leminen (additional lead guitars) ^Ile Laaksomaa (additional lead guitar) %Kasper Mårtenson (keyboards)
Don’t forget to subscribe to Reigning Phoenix Music on YouTube to stay updated and listen to ‘A Dusk Of Vex [feat. Jón Aldará; Edit]’ along with other new tracks in the “RPM New Releases” playlist on Spotify. Subscribe here: https://rpm.link/spotifynewreleasesPR.
About OCTOPLOID
OCTOPLOID, the solo project of Olli-Pekka Laine (bassist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist, known for his work with AMORPHIS, BARREN EARTH, and MANNHAI), was established in 2022. This venture has culminated in “Beyond The Aeons,” the act’s debut album set for release on July 5, 2024, through Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). OCTOPLOID‘s music merges elements of 90s death/black metal, 70s prog rock, and 90s psychedelic rock, carving a distinct niche in the music landscape. The sound of OCTOPLOID has aptly been described as “classic death prog.”
The band’s line-up is built around Laine and features four talented musicians. Mikko Pietinen, a versatile drummer with experience ranging from stoner rock with MANNHAI to Finnish mainstream pop rock (including bands like KASMIR), and Peter Salonen, a lead/rhythm guitarist known for his work with THE KINKY THING — a band that performs covers of Finnish psych rock legends KINGSTON WALL — is relatively new to the scene. The group is completed by keyboardist Kim Rantala (GIANT ROBOT, formerly of AMORPHIS) and vocalist Mikko Kotamäki (SWALLOW THE SUN etc.; live).
OCTOPLOID is: Mikko Kotamäki | vocals (live) Peter Salonen | guitars Kim Rantala | keyboards Olli-Pekka Laine | bass, keyboards, backing vocals Mikko Pietinen | drums, percussion
Swedish rockers ECLIPSE are thrilled to announce the release of their highly anticipated new studio album “Megalomanium II” on September 20th, 2024, via Frontiers Music Srl. The new single and accompanying video, “The Spark”, are also out today.
The band shared their excitement for the new single, with lead singer Erik Mårtensson commenting: “Our new single The Spark hits the ground running with a riff that’s got more stickiness than a Hubba Bubba bubble popped over a 90’s goatee. Don’t let the gum reference fool you, this song contains one of our heaviest verses so far, but it ends up in an Eclipse signature style chorus that will come in handy at the festivals we’re playing this summer.”
“We’ve been toying around with this idea for probably the last three records now and I’m really happy we gave it time to develop it” added guitarist Magnus Henriksson. “Musically, it’s like a weird mix of heavy Eclipse and almost EDM like melodies. I have no idea how we ended up here, all I know is that taking this one to the stage should be awesome!”
Eclipse, the heavy rock powerhouse out of Stockholm, are renowned for their signature sound of massive hooks and stellar musicianship, quickly becoming one of Sweden’s largest heavy rock bands with well over 100 million streams on streaming services.
Following on from the release of “Megalomanium” last September and, most recently, of the exclusive 7’’ vinyl “Apocalypse Blues” and the single “Falling To My Knees”, the band’s trajectory to craft memorable anthems is bound to stay intact.
Erik commented on the upcoming release: “If you thought the title of our previous record was proof of us suffering from delusions of grandeur, then you’re absolutely right. The only way we could top it was to make another one. Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you, Megalomanium II.”
“This band is on a continuous journey trying to find new avenues to explore. Having said that, Megalomanium II is probably closer to what people mostly associate Eclipse with. It’s filled to the brim with large choruses, beautiful melodies and some amazing guitar playing. I’m totally unbiased, by the way” Magnus continued.
Eclipse have been making increasingly larger waves on the European and American rock scene over the last years. With tours ranging from South America to Australia and Japan, these guys are a force to be reckoned with which festival goers of Wacken, Alcatraz, Summer Breeze to name but a few will be very aware of by now.
At its core Eclipse is a heavy rock band with an appeal that transcends genres. In addition to their numerous headline tours, Eclipse has also opened for a wide range of bands over the years including Aerosmith, My Chemical Romance and Def Leppard to name a few. With their unique sound, Eclipse are one of Sweden’s most influential heavy rock bands.
After a sold out headline tour across Europe at the end of 2023, the band continues to fill their busy live schedule in 2024. Following a successful run in Japan and South America, Eclipse are currently touring across Europe and will be headed to central Europe and the US after the summer, with additional dates to be added as the year moves on. For a full list of tour dates visit HERE.
“Megalomanium II” Tracklist:
Apocalypse Blues
The Spark
Falling To My Knees
All I Want
Still My Hero
Dive Into You
Until The War Is Over
Divide & Conquer
Pieces
To Say Goodbye
One In A Million
Line Up: Erik Mårtensson – Vocals Magnus Henriksson – Guitars Philip Crusner – Drums Victor Crusner – Bass
HAMMERFALL will release their 13th studio album Avenge The Fallen on August 9th via Nuclaer Blast.
When it comes to the main focus of the album, frontman JoacimCans mentions ‘freedom’ and the urge to let anyone be who they want to be. It’s represented in the albums cover, where the bands faithful warrior Hector choses to walk his own path, despite what others tell him to do. Much like HAMMERFALL have and always will do.
As the third single from their highly anticipated album Avenge The Fallen, ‘Freedom’ promises to deliver the high-octane energy and epic storytelling fans crave.
This true HAMMERFALL anthem boasts dark, thunderous backing vocals and an epic guitar solo that will send shivers down your spine.
Catch HAMMERFALL on tour this summer and autumn: 04.07. DE Ballenstedt – Rock Hartz 12.07. BG Midalidare Estate, Chirpan – Midalidare Rock 10.08. FI Helsinki – Hellsinki Metal Fest
with POWERWOLF: 04.10. DE Hamburg – Barclays Arena 05.10. NL Amsterdam – AFAS Live 06.10. BE Antwerp – Lotto Arena 09.10. FR Nantes – Zenith 10.10. LUX Esch Sur Alzette – Rockhal 11.10. DE Stuttgart – Schleyerhalle 12.10. DE Frankfurt – Festhalle 14.10. IT Milan – Alcatraz 16.10. CH Zurich – The Hall 17.10. FR Paris – Zenith 18.10. DE Oberhausen – Rudolf Weber Arena 19.10. DE Berlin – UFO im Velodrom 21.10. PL Krakow – Tauron Arena 22.10. HU Budapest – MVM Dome 23.10. AU Vienna – Gasometer 25.10. DE Munich – Olympiahalle 26.10. CZ Prague – Sportovni Hala Fortuna
SERPENTHEIR has released a new video ‘ΠΑΝΘΕΟΣ’, taken from the “Hypernature’s Vines” album. Watch the video below.
Now based back in Gdansk, Serpentheir has since become a collaborative effort rather than a one-man project.
In May 2024, the album ‘Hypernature’s Vines’ was released in full.
You may like it if you listen to: Thy Catafalque, Shade Empire, Samael, Tiamat, Dimmu Borgir, Windir or any kind of genre bending metal rooted in melodic, sympho death/black with strong prog and experimental tendencies.
With considerable radio play across the UK and EU, Irish rockers MINE ROAD have today released their long awaited new studio album ‘Tomorrow’s Sky‘ with an additional single and video, the fabulous, Tom Petty-esque ‘American Dream‘.
Dublin rock act Mine Road meld their heavy grooving guitar punch with high octane vocal assault as usual but the unit is a far more cohesive songwriting animal in 2024. Full length debut “Tomorrow’s Sky” sees the band reunited and re-energised after several years living abroad. Settling back in Dublin allowed the group to focus on writing and recording together with spectacular results.
“Tomorrows Sky” is the long awaited follow up to their Satellite ep and it does not disappoint. The band toured nationally to test material before entering the studio and settling on 11 tracks that have signature muscle but also weave real emotion into the Mine Road soundscape which makes “Sky” quite the journey. If you want colossal choruses flanked by crushing riffs and huge drums then step into the house of Mine Road where they welcome you in by ripping the door off the hinges, baring their rock’n’roll soul, before burning the place to the ground.
Stories of Love, loss, triumph and heartbreak are told with unwavering honesty, while the Mine Road soundtrack, which is far more Schwarzenegger than film noir, rages gleefully on.
Tomorrow’s Sky tracklisting: Snowplough Tightrope Into the Storm American Dream Blood On The Floor Hold On You Recall Tomorrow’s Sky Reeling Start To Believe I’ll be Home
Mine Road are: Stu Cash – Guitar / Backing Vox Ken Carthy – Lead Vocals Dave Flood – Guitars Steve Cash – Drums / Backing Vox *Bass performed by former member – Donnacha Neary
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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