Greek heavy/power metal outfit SIRIUS is ready to deliver a sonic hammer blow with their debut album, “A Quest for Life,” due for release via Wormholedeath Records.
“A Quest for Life” is a sonic odyssey that showcases everything Sirius represents. Catchy choruses, soaring vocals courtesy of Dimitris Napas, and the unstoppable riffing of the twin-guitar attack by Napas and Stathopoulos are just the tip of the iceberg. The rhythm section, anchored by the thunderous low-end of Simiakos and Samios, provides the backbone for this metal masterpiece.
The album boasts not one, but two legendary guest appearances. Tim “Ripper” Owens (KK’s Priest, ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth) and Derek Sherinian (Black Country Communion, Whom Gods Destroy, ex-Dream Theater) lend their immense talent to tracks like “Unbound the Scream” and “Land of Swords,” adding an extra layer of power and prestige to the release.
“A Quest for Life” is more than just a collection of killer riffs and powerful vocals. The album delves into the human experience, exploring themes of self-discovery, the choices we make, and the consequences we face. Whether it’s the personal struggles depicted in “Among the Heavens” or the historical redemption tale of “Desdichado” (inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s “Ivanhoe”), each song resonates with a depth and emotional honesty that will stay with you long after the music fades.
01 – Unbound The Scream 02 – Beyond The Sands Of Time 03 – Desdichado 04 – Edge Of The World 05 – Fragment 06 – Lostlight 07 – Land Of Swords 08 – Among The Heavens
Sirius was formed in 2007, by the guitarist/singer Dimitris Napas, in Athens, Greece. After years of searching for the best possible lineup, the band recorded its first songs, and the debut EP “Wings of Fire” was released on the 2nd of December 2017. The same day, a sold-out show was held at the Remedy live club and the band performed the album in its entirety among new songs, which will be included in their upcoming release. In August 2019, they released an acoustic version of the song “The Last Angel” and a video clip, showing the band performing in the studio. A few days later they were an opening act for Luke Appleton of Iced Earth, one of their most notable gigs. Through all this time, they had many successful live performances at festivals such as Under The Quarry, and many more yet to come. At the moment, Sirius is about to release their new masterpiece via WormholeDeath Records under the title “A Quest for Life”. The album includes two legendary guests, Tim ”Ripper” Owens (KK’s Priest, ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth) and Derek Sherinian (Black Country Communion, Whom Gods Destroy, ex-Dream Theater), and the artwork is created by Jon Toussas and Graphic no Jutsu. The album was recorded at Made in Hell studio, with David Prudent handling the recordings, mixing, and mastering.
Sirius is : Dimitris Napas – Vocals / Lead and Acoustic Guitars Dimitris Stathopoulos – Rhythm Guitars Dimitris Simiakos – Bass Nick “Yngve” Samios – Drums
With “A Quest for Life,” Sirius invites listeners to join them on an epic quest through the realms of metal, igniting the flames of passion and leading the way toward a brighter future.“Kindle the fire and lead the way!!!”
Like any good sorcerer, BLACK LAVA cast a wicked array of spells. On their new album, this blackened band of Aussies swirl together howling old-school death metal, eerie melodic dissonance, technical wizardry and sludgy grooves into haunting fantasies. Today, they’re releasing the third single off The Savage Winds to Wisdom, which is bound to stand as another crushing pillar in the band’s growing legend.
Heading into The Savage Winds to Wisdom, Black Lava were hellbent on tapping deeper into the medieval witchcraft that they conjured on their debut album. “Our first time in the studio, we were dealing with all these frustrations that had boiled up during the pandemic”, says Dan Presland, who’s nimble pounding on the drum kit has helped shape Vipassi, A Million Dead Birds Laughing and Ne Obliviscaris. “That anger led to more of a bang-bang, punk rock approach. This time around, we took more time on the songwriting with the hope of conjuring a deeper and darker sense of atmosphere”.
Black Lava got their wish. “Dark Legacy” leaves even the most ghoulish of metal heads shivering in its wake. Presland slithers between hissing cymbals as Hadal Maw guitarist Ben Boyle rips through the long black night with a sustained roar of reverb, like an angry giant that’s been disturbed from its cave. “I have walked / I have seen”, Rob Watkins waxes and wanes, so drunk on witches’ brew that he’s begging for death’s cold embrace.
“There was greater care taken with the compositions on The Savage Winds to Wisdom, while still staying true to what we set out to do with Black Lava”, Boyle says. “Create catchy, anthemic tunes that are heavy-but-energetic and give a sense of power to the listener”.
While it’s not short on dread-inducing ambience, “Dark Legacy” cuts all the way to the bone. After some stormy feedback, the song opens with a riff that comes cracking down like a bolt of lightning. When Watkins summons his death growl for a dance with the grim reaper, it cuts straight through the iciest of heart.
“We sharpened our tools on this album”, Black Lava says. “The Savage Winds to Wisdom is a step up in all aspects. We went a little more dark and brutal and that’s exactly where we want to take our music”.
Tracklist 1. Colour of Death (6:44) 2. Dark Legacy (4:08) [LISTEN] 3. Wrapped in Filth (4:03) 4. Unsheathing Nightmares (4:45) [WATCH] 5. Summoning Shadows (6:03) 6. Ironclad Sarcophagus (4:08) [WATCH] 7. Pagan Dust (4:46) 8. Sanguis Lupus (5:21) 9. The Savage Winds to Wisdom (7:07) Total runtime: 47:12
Not even the most stifling period in recent history could contain Black Lava. Despite being kept under strict lockdown during the pandemic, these Aussies were just stewing together, waiting to erupt. Now, only two years removed from their smoldering debut, the band are roaring back with even more mythical firepower on The Savage Winds to Wisdom.
“Our second album is a step up from the first in all aspects”, drummer Dan Presland says. “We took more time on the songwriting. The Savage Winds to Wisdom shows exactly where we want to take our music”.
Though possessed by an ancient and mysterious alchemy, Black Lava formed with the ease of a natural spring. Over the past decade, all four members have crossed paths around the various corners of Melbourne’s metal underground. On top of their progressive all-instrumental vision quests in Vipassi, Presland also drums alongside Hadal Maw guitarist Ben Boyle in the grinding, tech-death, underground curiosity A Million Dead Birds Laughing. But when the two got together to blow off steam amidst quarantine at Presland’s newly minted home studio, they were pleasantly surprised by the darkness that swept over these jam sessions.
“Both of us were dealing with a lot of pent-up frustrations”, Presland remembers. A few weeks before, his flight home from America (where he was supposed to track the drums for Ne Obliviscaris’ fourth album Exul) touched down hours before Australia closed its borders. “But that anger, coupled with our need to keep creating, led us in a different direction”.
Progressive metal was still a clear undercurrent, but the songs that came spewing out were unusually heavy. Death and black metal held more sway, though sludgy rock n’ roll also found its way into the mix. Such a peculiar range of influences required a vocalist with a very particular set of pipes. Fortunately, Rob Watkins jumped at the opportunity to reunite with Presland, who was the drummer in their thrash band Metalstorm. With Watkins’ Blackhelm bassist Tim Anderson added to the fold, Black Lava burst onto the scene in 2022 with their smoldering debut.
“Soul Furnace more than lives up to those lofty expectations”, Distorted Sound hailed, “proving to not only be a late contender for album of the year, but also one of the more impressive debut albums of recent years”.
Black Lava wasted no time in keeping the juices flowing. The band was already hard at work on their second album while the first one was hot on the shelves. The Savage Winds to Wisdom stirs from the same cauldron of influences. Lead single “Ironclad Sarcophagus” echoes from the crypt with eerie countermelodies and a rhythm section that’s more bewitching than a spell book.
“I pictured this ancient wizard sending out evil vibes into the world in hopes of tricking someone into opening his coffin”, Watkins says. “When writing lyrics, I try and stay true to the spirit of metal. But really, I’m just channeling how the music makes me feel”.
If Soul Furnace was like stumbling upon the entrance to an ancient cave, then The Savage Winds to Wisdom is a fiery, full-blown descent into the belly of the beast. “Dark Legacy” rings through the long black night with one sustained roar of a guitar roar, like an angry, one-eyed ogre. But while the songs came quickly, with Presland and Boyle carving out monstrous riffs and scaly grooves for Watkins to splatter his medieval fantasies, Black Lava took their time with this album. It’s not until nearly three minutes into the opening number, after “Colour of Death” has boiled to a full headbang, that the first of its many horns-up roars is unleashed.
“There was greater care taken with compositions on The Savage Winds to Wisdom”, Boyle says. “There’s more depth and layering to the riffs and melodies. Calling on a more broad list of inspirations and tones, the album has a real sense of balance, a certain quality that will lend itself to repeat listens and attention to detail, while still staying true to what Black Lava set out to do; create heavy, yet energetic and catchy anthemic tunes that tell a story and emanate a sense of atmosphere and power for the listener.”
True to its name, The Savage Winds to Wisdom swirls within a deeper and darker sense of atmosphere. Whereas before their bang-bang approach to songwriting resembled something closer to a punk rock band, this time around, Black Lava concentrated more on atmosphere. “Unsheathing Nightmares” reveals its root source of terror in careful layers, mutating from raw black metal and razor-sharp tech-death into a rainy, ambient hellscape. “That’s one of the songs that really excited me”, says Watkins, who calls upon a coven of witches by digging into the slimier depths of his baritone.
The title track is big enough to stand alone as its own self-contained world. Winding over the course of seven eventful minutes, it’s the longest and perhaps most ambitious song in Black Lava’s musical geology. Blast beats pound like hail beneath waves of distortion that crash with the force of a monsoon. “The silents of fate” Watkins reckons, like a sea captain stranded among the wreckage. “The thousand winds swirl the soul”. Swept up by a screeching solo from special guest Ben Baret (Ne Obliviscaris), the song whirls into an unstoppable force, a torrential finale that brings this album to a truly epic conclusion.
“We sharpened our tools with this album”, the band says. “We went a little more brutal and that sets the tone for where we’ll head in the future.
On The Savage Winds to Wisdom, Black Lava conduct a perfect storm.
Recording Lineup Dan Presland – Drums Ben Boyle – Guitar Ben Boyle – Bass Rob Watkins – Vocals
Guest Musician Benjamin Baret (Ne Obliviscaris, Vipassi) plays the guitar solo on “The Savage Winds to Wisdom”.
Live Lineup Dan Preslans – Drums Ben Boyle – Guitar Nick Rackham – Bass Rob Watkins – Vocals
Recording Studio Bushido Studios in Melbourne, Australia
Producer & Sound Engineer Troy Mccosker
Mastering, Mixing & Engineering Studio Fredman and Fredrick Nordstrom
With their highly acclaimed debut album “STRESS” (Noisolution), released in 2021, 24/7 DIVA HEAVEN made one thing clear: they are here to stay. Or, to quote Classic Rock magazine: “Ready for trouble. Relevant. Fantastic. Period.” Shortly after the release of their debut, the Berlin trio was the talk of the town and filled the pages of the German music press. With their musical hybrid of punk, grunge, and noise, 24/7 DIVA HEAVEN create a world where you can scream, scratch, and bite – and end up hugging it out. Fuzzy riffs meet catchy hooklines, political messages meet self-irony. 24/7 DIVA HEAVEN speak their minds and strike a chord, delivering a soundtrack that fits these uncertain times perfectly, refusing to settle for platitudes and leaving room for the in-between.
The band’s massive sound and powerful live performances have earned them a rapidly growing fanbase and countless shows, including appearances at WDR Rockpalast, Pop-Kultur Festival, supporting DREAM WIFE and BEATSTEAKS, as well as a co-headlining tour with TEAM SCHEISSE. „The best live act I’ve seen since NIRVANA”, to quote a fan.Katharina Ott-Alavi (vocals, guitar), Karoline Paschedag (bass), and Marie Westphal (drums) are not only a unit offstage but also a burst of energy in the spotlight, ready to be unleashed.
The band is active not only in the rehearsal room and on stage but also shows political commitment, notably as founders of the Berlin collective GRRRL-NOISY, which organizes jam sessions and festivals, providing a networking space for FLINTA musicians and music fans.
On October 11, 2024, their long-awaited second album “GIFT” will be released on Noisolution. This album seamlessly continues the tradition of their debut “STRESS” and will be presented live for the first time during a fall 2024 album release tour through selected cities. 24/7 DIVA HEAVEN‘s second full-length album comes with more nuanced songwriting, without losing any of its anger. The album is fierce, political, and never short on big melodies. “GIFT” builds on what “STRESS” started, resulting in an eclectic album that sits somewhere between IDLES, PIXIES, PABST, and MELVINS, boldly deconstructing the sound of old idols and reassembling it in a contemporary form.
„GIFT“ TOUR 2024 Presented by VISIONS & ByteFM
09.10. Leipzig, Conne Island 11.10. Berlin, Neue Zukunft 24.10. Köln, Sonic Ballroom 25.10. München, Strom 26.10. Darmstadt, Oetinger Villa 31.10. Hamburg, Knust 01.11. Nijmegen (NL), De Onderbroek 02.11. Dortmund, Subrosa
Finland’s most legendary metal festival Nummirock will take place for the 38th time in Kauhajoki, Finland from 19-22 June 2024.
This year’s performers from abroad: Body Count (US), Kerry King (US), Thy Art Is Murder (AU), Suffocation (US), Eluveitie (CH), Blackbraid (US), The Halo Effect (SWE), Shadow of Intent (US), Rise of the Northstar (FRA), Mister Misery (SWE), Thrown (SWE), Party Cannon (UK)
The selected bands from the metal country of Finland, where there are more than 53 metal bands per 100,000 inhabitants, are as follows Insomnium, Ensiferum, Rytmihäiriö, Tarot, Huora, Warmen, Crownshift, Horna, Martti Servo ja Napander, Shade Empire, Deathchain, Kaunis Kuolematon, Fear of Domination, Inferia, Kallomäki, Marianas Rest, Nicole, Suotana, Kyy, Verikalpa, Swansong, Prestige, Satanic North, Horizon Ignited, As I May, Anima Hereticae, FM2000, Vaasa Palaa, St. Aurora, De La Rocka, Stereo Terror DJ’s, Poponjet, WikiRock, Enemies Everywhere, Grillijono K.O., Vehje & Nummirock Ensemble.
Promoter Mr. Tero Viertola comments: “We are very honoured to have Kerry King back on the Nummirock main stage after a 26-year hiatus. In 1998 Kerry visited our main stage with Slayer. In addition to a diverse line-up, we have the most spectacular and experiential festival camping area in the country, which takes on a life of its own throughout the festival week. Welcome to Nummirock.”
Swedish thrash and melodic death metal band VILT strives to take the classic Scandinavian sound to new heights. Through aggressive riffs, fast drums, and intense vocal performances they have already established a unique signature style where each new release highlights their passion.
In 2022, VILT released the two-track single ‘Adversary,’ which received a tremendous reception, earning the band a slot at In Flames festival Dalhalla Brinner.
VILT is now getting ready to release their debut EP ‘…To Mourn The Death Of A Stranger‘. The EP embodies VILT’s vision of being a riff-driven band with infectious melodies that makes the listener come back for more. Exploring themes of self-acceptance, grief and the power of embracing uniqueness, each track delves into these subjects with depth and resonance. Incorporating a blend of both older and new songs, the EP serves as the opening chapter of VILT’s musical journey.
In the lore of heavy metal, only a handful of artists can claim to have changed history, and even fewer can say they’ve done so twice. Enter Apocalyptica, and one of metal’s greatest, most unlikely success stories. By any account, it’s the stuff of legend, and it’s about to come full circle as Apocalyptica announces their “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Tour” across the United States, featuring support from guitar virtuoso Nita Strauss. Full routing and ticketing information is available below.
The band looks forward to playing these fresh interpretations of Metallica songs for their US fans in 2025. The “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Tour” will kick off on February 6, 2025, in Washington, DC, and will visit major cities across North America
Tour Dates:
Thu Feb 06 – Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre
Fri Feb 07 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
Sat Feb 08 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
Tue Feb 11 – New York, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
Wed Feb 12 – Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
Thu Feb 13 – Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Fri Feb 14 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center
Sat Feb 15 – Chicago, IL @ Athenaeum Center
Sun Feb 16 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
Tue Feb 18 – Minneapolis, MN @ Uptown Theater
Wed Feb 19 – Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre
Thu Feb 20 – Saskatoon, SK @ Coors Event Centre
Fri Feb 21 – Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall
Sat Feb 22 – Calgary, AB @ Grey Eagle Event Centre
Mon Feb 24 – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Tue Feb 25 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Wed Feb 26 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Thu Feb 27 – San Francisco, CA @ Palace of Fine Arts
Fri Feb 28 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Orpheum Theatre
Sat Mar 01 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
Mon Mar 03 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
Wed Mar 05 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live – Moody Theater
Thu Mar 06 – Dallas, TX @ The Majestic Theatre
Sat Mar 08 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale beginning on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 11 AM local time. The general onsale begins on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 10 AM local time. Citi is the official card of the “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Tour.” For complete presale details, visit www.citientertainment.com.
Formed in 1993 at the world-renowned Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, Apocalyptica began as a loving, lo-fi nod to Metallica from four classically trained musicians. Their debut album, Plays Metallica By Four Cellos, released in 1996, was a game-changer. As founding band leader Eicca Toppinen explains, “We just loved Metallica and we wanted to play it with the instruments we were able to play, which just happened to be cellos. We played a metal club in Helsinki, and then we were asked to do an album. Five months after it was released, we were opening for Metallica. It’s still unbelievable to me.”
Fast forward to today, and Apocalyptica has released eight rapturously received records, sold six million albums, and toured relentlessly. Now, they continue their unique homage to Metallica with Plays Metallica, Vol. 2, featuring powerful collaborations with Metallica members and using original tracks from the legendary Cliff Burton. The album came out June 7, 2024 to rave reviews…
“Apocalyptica have gone beyond mere novelty value to become their own unique entity, breathing fresh life and a new perspective into these songs. “ – LOUDER
“Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol.2 is a fitting homage to the band, and the fact that Metallica has so much involvement in it gives it that extra stamp of approval.” – Heavy Music HQ
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