“Hell On Wheels”, the third album by 80s cult band WALLOP, will be released on July 11. As is well known, the band was only reactivated after drummer Stefan Arnold left Grave Digger and returned in 2020 with secoond album “Alps On Fire”. On the new longplayer now being released, there is once again a concentrated load of unadulterated, authentic, original 80s old school heavy metal. The complete tracklist of the 10-song album can be found below.
You can also get a first taste on the MDD Records YouTube channel. “American 4-4-0” is the title of the now released preview song. By the way, the band will be supporting the metal veterans RAVEN, whose song “Crash, Boom, Wallop” played a major role while founding the band’s name, on their tour on August 6th in Mannheim at the 7er Club.
tracklist 1. Battle Cry 2. World On Fire 3. Hellfire 4. American440 5. Stand Up 6. Hell On Wheels 7. Strike Down 8. Darkness Comes Rising 9. Blinded Eyes 10.One Track Mind
Italian Symphonic Death Metal maestros FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE are finally back with their brand new, 6th album titled Opera, a gut-wrenching musical journey inspired by the tragic mountain climbing accident occurred to their frontman and mastermind Francesco Paoli, in 2021.
Due out August 23rd via Nuclear Blast Records, the whole album is structured like a 10-act theatrical piece, as the title itself, Opera, draws a clear thread with the everlasting tradition of Italian classical music theater combining it with the epic brutality of death and symphonic metal, which has become their trademark sound. Mixed and mastered by Grammy-nominated producer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Epica, Arch Enemy), Opera definitely marks another step forward for the band, incorporating new suggestions into that unique blend that FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE are renowned for: sheer violence, majestic orchestrations and soaring melodies. Such an ambitious musical endeavor called for an equally impressive artwork, a team effort between two arising Italian talents (artist extraordinaire Felicita Fiorini and visionary photographer Francesco Esposito), following the path traced by baroque painters like Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentileschi. The cover art portrays Veronica as Music, a superior entity that defeats the social and artistic decay of modern age.
With this new record, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE are setting the bar even higher than before, pioneering what looks like a completely new sub-genre that might be called “Opera Metal”: an unprecedented mix of extreme music and theatrical elements.
“The best stories always come from pain, it’s a bitter truth yet undeniable.” FrancescoP.states. “We managed to turn one of the worst things in life into a work of art, that embodies our personal and artistic growth and takes the listeners on a rollercoaster of emotions, where they can experience what I’ve been through hand in hand with me. It’s a waking nightmare but that’s how life is sometimes, just scary.”
Francesco P. continues: “In my visionary representation of this journey, that begins with my near death experience and culminates in a much desired physical and psychological rebirth, I wanted to frame every single step of my calvary, as if they were acts of an “Opera Lirica”, with dialogues or even confessions to imaginary characters, who have been constant presences throughout my whole (mis)adventure.
This album tosses you in a vortex of discomfort and uncontrollable feelings, where you can experience pain, fear, desperation, anger, frustration, but also resolve, courage, hope and a profound desire for redemption. I strongly believe that this album is a solid manifest of resilience, and I hope that my story will inspire people who got “lost” for whatever reason.
We can’t wait for you to hear the full album and play it live at the four corners of the world. We’re planning to take everyone to “Opera” with a massive new show, so get ready!”
“What do we see right before we die? Well, with ‘Bloodclock’ I bear my witness and reveal the personal visions I had while hanging on a rope, unconscious, a few hundred meters above the ground. It’s insane how reality can be much more terrifying and soul crushing than imagination.
Soon after my discharge from the hospital, me and Francesco Ferrini started writing immediately, even if I was still bedridden and unable to play. The idea was to capture the mood of those dramatic days and make sure to keep intact the sense of desperation and fear that was still running through my veins after the accident. Later on, we worked with the others to develop those ideas and create the music that such a strong story deserves, music that takes your breath away and tosses you into a vortex of mixed feelings and discomfort. I believe we nailed it 110%.
And the video is a spectacular representation of that disaster. I pushed Martina (McLean, video director) to the limit because I knew she could find a poetic, metaphorical yet extremely impactful way to match the fury of the song with awe-inspiring images. She did an amazing job and we’re proud to state that this is the best music video we’ve ever had in our career.”
“But this song is not only about death, it’s also about life. ‘I’m not dead yet’ was some sort of mantra that became my battle-cry. The moment I woke up, I started my war to stay alive, that with time turned into a true and never-ending calvary as I’m still carrying the cross for what happened that day. But this is another story and its time is yet to come…”
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE’s new single, follows the previously released song ‘Pendulum,’ a video for which can be seen here: https://youtu.be/Lkv9v-W5PAY
Opera Tracklisting:
Ode to Art (De’ Sepolcri)
I Can Never Die
Pendulum
Bloodclock
At War With My Soul
Morphine Waltz
Matricide 8.21
Per Aspera Ad Astra
Till Death Do Us Part
Opera
About FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE:
Formed in 2007, Italian Symphonic Death Metal maestros Fleshgod Apocalypse are finally back with their sixth and brand new album titled “Opera”, a gut-wrenching musical journey inspired by the tragic mountain climbing accident occurred to their frontman and mastermind Francesco Paoli, in 2021:
“The best stories always come from pain, it’s a bitter truth yet undeniable” says Francesco.
“That’s why human struggles have always been an unending source of inspiration for artists throughout history. But one thing is creating art that gives voice to someone else’s tribulations, another is accepting to bare your soul to the world and reveal your weaknesses and frailties, while attempting to turn them into new resources for your own creativity. It’s a dangerous game, since we never know what our twisted mind has in store for us, but it’s a game you must play if you really want to bring your art to the highest level and leave a trace that has a deeper meaning, not just mere entertainment for distracted people.
After my fall while mountain climbing, I woke up in a hospital, underwent several surgeries, constantly getting terrible news and spending many months not knowing if I would ever be able to play an instrument again. I felt condemned. Fear, painkillers, wheelchairs have been daily food for my frustration. Retracing what happened that day, as well as the days, months, years after, has been such an exhausting and frightening journey, in which I had to face my demons once again and deal with memories I hoped I had left behind.
Was all this worth it? Let the others tell. All I can say is that, although it was clear that this was the right thing to do, we could not even remotely imagine how strongly this process would have affected our songwriting, igniting our creativity and reinvigorating our attitude after years of deep coma due to the pandemic. We managed to turn one of the worst things in life into a work of art, that embodies our personal and artistic growth and takes the listeners on a rollercoaster of emotions, where they can experience what I’ve been through hand in hand with me. It’s a waking nightmare but that’s how life is sometimes, just scary.”
The whole album is structured like a 10-act theatrical piece, as the title itself, “Opera”, draws a clear thread with the everlasting tradition of Italian classical music theater and its icons, from Giuseppe Verdi to Giacomo Puccini, combining it with the epic brutality of death and symphonic metal, which has become their trademark sound.
On the trail of such powerful heritage, embodied by Veronica Bordacchini’s outstanding vocal performance, each chapter enlightens a different angle of Francesco’s story, both musically and lyrically.
Francesco adds:
“In my visionary representation of this journey, that begins with my near death experience and culminates in a much desired physical and psychological rebirth, I wanted to frame every single step of my calvary, as if they were acts of an “Opera Lirica”, with dialogues or even confessions to imaginary characters, who have been constant presences throughout my whole (mis)adventure.
Death, Life, Hope are among these entities, masterfully interpreted by Veronica, that from time to time assist or prevent me from digging deeper in my memory and personality, examining objectively my emotional states and behaviors and finding a sense to all this.
This album tosses you in a vortex of discomfort and uncontrollable feelings, where you can experience pain, fear, desperation, anger, frustration, but also resolve, courage, hope and a profound desire for redemption.
In fact, besides being grateful for the privilege of sharing my personal experience through Fleshgod Apocalypse art, I strongly believe that this album is a solid manifest of resilience, and I hope that my story will inspire people who got “lost” for whatever reason. Since the accident I’ve been posting on socials about my rehab and received hundreds of messages of appreciation for that. People need motivation, need examples that can make them restart believing in themselves. And for me, this is part of the game, this is the best way I can give them something back after all these years of loving support.
Life is a wonderful thing, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart we must find a meaning for existing and, unexpectedly, sometimes second chances can be way more exciting than the first ones.”
Mixed and mastered by Grammy-nominated producer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Epica, Arch Enemy), “Opera” definitely marks another step forward for the band, incorporating new suggestions into that unique blend that Fleshgod Apocalypse are renowned for: sheer violence, majestic orchestrations and soaring melodies.
While showcasing new maturity in songwriting, the album retains a strong stylistic bond with the band’s previous efforts, from the furious blast beats of “Mafia” and “Agony” to the epic, grandiose atmospheres of “Labyrinth” or “King”, along with the unquestionable technical prowess that made “Oracles” and “Veleno” instant classics among fans of the genre.
Such an ambitious musical endeavor called for an equally impressive artwork, a team effort between two arising Italian talents (artist extraordinaire Felicita Fiorini and visionary photographer Francesco Esposito), following the path traced by baroque painters like Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentileschi.
Born in 2007, Fleshgod Apocalypse quickly established themselves among the leaders of symphonic death metal.
As of today, some of their most acclaimed releases such as “Agony” (2011) or “King” (2016) are still considered milestones by fans and critics alike. With this new record, they’re setting the bar even higher, pioneering what looks like a completely new sub-genre that might be called “Opera Metal”: an unprecedented mix of extreme music and theatrical elements.
For sure, this won’t sound surprising for anyone who has witnessed one of their intense live performances.
The band is now preparing a huge worldwide touring campaign in support of this new masterpiece.
Fleshgod Apocalypse are now ready to take everyone to “Opera”.
Finnish melodic hard rock / AOR band Wake The Nations released a new single Bulletproof. The track is taken from the upcoming third studio album Heartageddon which will be released on September 13th 2024 via Inverse Records. A music video is also done and it can be seen below.
The bandcomments: “We hope you all can still fall in love and feel it when being loved! Bulletproof is about a person who cannot… All is just physical, one-night stands, leaving the scene before the Sun rises again, and leaving the broken hearts behind. Too fast to love, my heart says I am bulletproof. If you cannot fall in love, your heart cannot be broken either. True or false? We let you decide, while Risto´s guitar gently weeps. This melody had been in Risto´s desk drawer a long time, so we felt it was time to let it out!!”
South African hardcore/metal band Lower Hollow is thrilled to announce the release of their first single, Somewhere To Belong, from their highly anticipated sophomore album, Threnody: Songs of Fortitude, set to drop on July 19, 2024, via Mongrel Records.
There are few who thrive under the weight of seemingly impossible circumstances, showcasing courage and determination to find restoration, while at the same time reinventing the very fabric and substance of oneself. Lower Hollow is one of those few. Shortly after the release of their debut album Bloom & Expire in 2023, the band faced significant changes with the departure of three founding members. Refusing to let these challenges end their growing career prematurely, the remaining members chose to rethink, rebuild, and stay true to their original vision. The result is a sound that is fast, aggressive, atmospheric, honest, and heartfelt.
Threnody: Songs of Fortitude is the underdog’s anthem and a reflection of the least of us in all of us. It’s anger, rage, hurt, pain, death, loss, and being lost. These songs encapsulate raw moments in life that words alone cannot explain. Yet, within these tracks, there is also discovery, vulnerability, rebirth, and a renewed sense of self and purpose.
When asked about the inspiration for the track drummer and driving force behind the band Ashley De Beer shares, “There’s a lot of mess in the world, a lot of hurt, and a lot of people just overwhelmed by it all. It’s increasingly difficult to keep life on track and in balance, and it’s so easy to feel left behind. For us, especially as a band reinventing who we are, that was an aspect that came across in this song, but also, we felt it is relatable on various levels,”
He adds, “The track discusses moments of feeling out of place, shoved aside, lost, and alone. Sometimes in these moments of isolation, you’re able to grasp onto hope, or even people in your life you sometimes overlooked as being in your corner. There is hope even in the midst of loneliness and loss.”
Lower Hollow is set to embark on a nationwide tour following the album release, bringing their dynamic and powerful live performance to fans across South Africa.
Friday 19th July | Rumours Lounge – Johannesburg Friday 2nd August | Bailey’s – Bedfordview Saturday 3rd August | Railways Cafe – Pretoria Friday 9th August | Robson’s Brewery – Durban Saturday 10th August | The Vern – Howick Saturday 17th August | Old Schute – Bloemfontein Friday 23rd August | The Armchair Theatre – Cape Town Saturday 24th August | Ellington’s – Belville
Black Country Communion, the iconic rock supergroup featuring Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian, proudly announces the release of their fifth studio album, V. Available now on CD and Double LP (180 gram) Cosmic Blue Vinyl at BCC’s official store and all major streaming platforms, the album marks a pivotal moment in the band’s history, showcasing their most ambitious and profound work to date. Watch the music video for the latest single “Letting Go.”
“The writing and recording of Black Country Communion’s ‘V’ was monumental,” shares bassist Glenn Hughes, the voice of rock and a pivotal force behind the album. “We all believe that this could be our finest work. I am looking forward to this album release and hoping to see you all on the great highway in 2024.”
WATCH the music video for the latest single “Letting Go”
V has already begun to make waves in the music community, receiving a perfect score from Rock N Load, which describes it as “a killer album from start to finish, a true testament of what happens when musicians of this caliberget together in a room and thrash it out.” Critics praise the album for its dynamic and powerful sound, affirming Black Country Communion as “a tornado of a band that sonically devastates everything in their way.”
Order New Studio Album ‘V’ from the UK & Europe HERE Order New Studio Album ‘V’ from North America HERE
V features a collection of tracks that resonate with the band’s signature blend of hard rock and soul-stirring blues, from the powerful lyrics and profound musical composition of Red Sun, to the electrifying single “Enlighten” and the funk-heavy “Stay Free.” Penned by Hughes and Bonamassa, each song takes listeners on a journey, weaving a narrative of power, introspection, and revival.
Since their debut in 2010, Black Country Communion has consistently delivered critically acclaimed albums, masterfully blending British blues-rock with American soul to captivate audiences around the globe. Produced by their long-time collaborator Kevin Shirley, their latest release, ‘V,’ reaffirms their status as rock royalty. This album captures the band’s dynamic sound and evolving artistic expression, celebrating their journey, talent, and enduring vision.
Album cover artwork by Hugh Syme
CD Track Listing: 1. Enlighten 2. Stay Free 3. Red Sun 4. Restless 5. Letting Go 6. Skyway 7. You’re Not Alone 8. Love And Faith 9. Too Far Gone 10. The Open Road
Vinyl Track Listing: Side A Enlighten Stay Free Red Sun
Side B Restless Letting Go Skyway You’re Not Alone
Side C Love And Faith Too Far Gone The Open Road Side D (BONUS Live tracks from Wolverhampton) Sway (Live) Save Me (Live) Wanderlust (Live)
About Black Country Communion BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION is a powerhouse supergroup fusing the incredible talents of Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze), Joe Bonamassa (Blues Rock Legend), Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Sammy Hagar and the Circle, Foreigner) and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Sons of Apollo). Their brand of earth-shattering rock is heavily influenced by both British and American classic hard-rock and blues-rock music. The reputation they have cultivated after 15 years since their inception, not only as amazing songwriters, but as a powerful live act, is only exceeded by their dedication to their craft and willingness to challenge each other to make the best music imaginable.
Swiss Shamanic Ritual Folk artist CHALBÄRÄ – deeply personal and spiritual project of the Swiss musician Pirmin ‘Piri’ Betschart from the picturesque Muotathal – has released his new single ‘Äschä stübt mee’.
“Äschä stübt mee” (Ashes stir up more dust) is a poignant song in Swiss German that deals with the profound effects of a departed soul whose remains have turned to ashes.
The lyrics deal with the paradoxical notion that the memory of a deceased loved one can trigger more emotion and turmoil than their continued existence.
The song captures the emotional complexity of loss, particularly in the context of the songwriter’s father who took his own life.
Pirmin ‘Piri’ Betschart processes the profound loss of his father through suicide and the shocking discovery. The songwriter weaves emotions that reflect the turbulent and complex feelings surrounding death and its aftermath.
The RITUAL FOLK song becomes a cathartic exploration of the impact of loss and emphasizes the enduring power of memory even in the face of tragic circumstances.
CHALBÄRÄ combines Nordic shamanic Folk sounds with the raw, unique dialect of Muotathal, a traditional Swiss mountain village. After a transformative 10-day dark retreat, Piri began the CHALBÄRÄ project. [ learn more here ]
LINE-UP: Pirmin ‘Piri’ Betschart • Vocals, all instruments
Chief Shock Video
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
Ads
Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 