Finnish folk/black metal band WOLFHORDE is set to release their third studio album ‘Bloodmoon Symphonies’ on August 30th 2024 via Inverse Records. The first single ‘Tormented (Beyond Apprehension)’ is out now and also music video is done which can be seen below.
The band comments: “Tormented is a song about loss of focus and seeing darkness in the light of day. It’s about realizing you’ve passed the point of no return and are spiraling out of control.”
The video production took place in Central Finland – in the city of Jyväskylä and in the mossy forests of Keuruu during the winter of 2024.”
M-Theory Audio is proud to present the second album, and first for M-Theory Audio, from VERNI. If that name sounds familiar it is the solo project of legendary bassist DD Verni, better known as the bassist and a founding member of thrash metal legends OVERKILL. DD has held the bottom-end of OVERKILL for four decades and been key in writing the band’s material and overseeing much of their business over the years. VERNI gives DD the chance to step more into the spotlight and express himself without limitations. Much like his first solo album, 2018’s ‘Barricade,’ DD wrote all the songs while singing, and playing guitar and bass. While this album bears some resemblance to ‘Barricade’, DD lets his punk roots shine through on this album, which leads to 11 blistering tracks chock full of electrified songs and infectious sing-alongs.
“This one has been a long time comin’, so psyched to finally do a punk-ish record. The best thing about these solo ventures is to be able to try out different stuff. When Covid came I found I had a lot of time in the studio, which is not normally the case, so I used it to really ramp up on writing stuff and getting to some things on my bucket list done…this was one of ‘em,” explains DD. “The mantra for the record was write it like a punk band and play it like a metal band. So, when I was writing there was no palm mutes or metal twinged anything, all wide-open Ramones chords and then big melodies, then I came back later and started to add in the metal flavor, and more how I typically play guitar. I asked Jason Bittner (OVERKILL, SHADOWS FALLL) to do the drums ‘cause I knew he would kill it, and told him the same thing — play it like you would do it… only parameter I had was no double-kick, which I think kind of made it interesting for him too, because that’s out of his norm too.”
The first single, “Lunkhead,” premieres today on all streaming/download platforms or watch the lyric video below. “Lunkhead” gives you a good idea of the direction of the album, plus it includes a special musical guest.
“I did most of the solos, but I knew I didn’t want to do ‘em all. I thought about the last solo record I did where I had kinda a lot of shredders, and that didn’t make sense on a lot of these songs. So, I started to think outside the box, who do I know who can slip from punk to metal easily? I’m driving scanning thru stuff that is kinda punk/metal mix, like Volbeat, Motorhead, some of those Metallica Misfits cover tunes etc and SOD comes on… and I’m like, oh yeah forgot about them and I love that SOD record! Who doesn’t? I remember the credits saying Charlie Benante – drums and one solo and so I thought… I wonder if Charlie would do it? I reached out and he was into it, so I send him a few tunes. He gravitated to ‘Lunkhead’ and just went for it. It’s great, I think! I wish he had the time to do more of ‘em. So, for the lead song of the album, it’s a bass player and 2 drummers doing all the tracks hahaha! Awesome!”
In addition to Benante, Verni have enlisted a few more famous friends throughout the forthcoming record, including the diverse bunch of Virus (DOPE), Michael Romeo (SYMPHONY X) and Charlie Calv (ANGEL, THE BRONX CASKET CO.) on a few more select tracks. The album, entitled ‘Dreadful Company,’ is truly a glimpse into another side of DD who even produced and engineered, with mixing and mastering by Zeuss (Hatebreed, Municipal Waste, Soulfly) and cover artwork/design by Travis Smith (Opeth, Devin Townsend, Nevermore). ‘Dreadful Company’ will be released July 26th on Digital, CD and limited-edition vinyl (either black/white marble or traditional black) with insert and digital download card. As a bonus, if you preorder via our webstore or through Bandcamp you’ll get an individually signed DD Verni photo, while supplies last.
“It was great doing a deal with M-Theory Audio, too. They are just good people and have a good (and believe it or not) a fair system for artists to be able to release product. It’s nice to work with people that actually get it! Back in the day a label supported their artists with whatever venture they were pursuing. It’s just not that way anymore, labels approach everything as a math problem instead of an art project, which is a shame because so many of the so-called “side-projects” like SOD for instance, were just amazing stuff. Megaforce got behind it because Anthrax was their artist, as they should, and the result is we all got these great records.”
More information on VERNI and the upcoming album release will be revealed in the weeks to come at www.facebook.com/ddverni and by M-Theory Audio.
Dungeon synth master MORTIIS will be touring North America later this year! The extensive headlining trek will kick off on September 4 in Baltimore, MD until the final stop on September 28 in Atlanta, GA. 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. Tickets can be found HERE.
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.
MORTIIS comments:
“The dungeons are calling!
“I’ll be touring the US in September, for the first time since the world fell apart, about four years ago.
“This time, we’re traveling even further into the past, and I’ll be playing my first album, 1993’s ‘Født Til Å Herske.’ With the exception of two exclusive shows in Portland last year, this is the first time I’m performing this album live in the U.S.
“I’ve re-created and enhanced the music and sounds on this album, so expect some wall-shaking sonics on this tour.
“Touring partners will be Sombre Arcane on the first half of the tour, and Malfet on the second. I’ve worked with both in the past, and I know they’ll deliver a great show, and we’re also working on other guests for the tour, so stay tuned for more news.” Support for the tour includes Sombre Arcane (September 4-17), Malfet (September 14 – 28), and appearances by Fogweaver in Denver, CO, Mesa, AZ and and Albuquerque, NM.
MORTIIS (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^# 09/17: 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 @ Lodge Room^ 09/24: Haltom City, TX @ Haltom Theater^ 09/25: Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live^ 09/26: Houston, TX @ Black Magic^ 09/27: New Orleans, LA @ The Goat^ 09/28: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Altar)^
Descend into the dungeon of old-school brutality. Dutch death metal masters Severe Torture have made gluttons for punishment beg for the new release of their sixth album.
Torn from the Jaws of Death is released today, Friday, June 7. You can listen to all 10 flesh-ripping tracks on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.
Recorded at the ominous Torture Compound Studios and refined to lethal perfection by Mendel bij de Leij of MbdL Productions, Torn From the Jaws of Death is an unrelenting onslaught that shows off Severe Torture at their most savage. The album is a feverish, bloodstained manifesto that digs its crusty scalpels into the deepest recesses of human depravity. From the guttural declaration of lead single “The Death of Everything” to the chaotic fervor of the title trackthe album feeds the bloodstream of the most brutal connoisseurs.
Tracklist 1. The Death Of Everything (4:07) [WATCH] 2. Marked By Blood And Darkness (4:14) 3. Hogtied In Rope (3:23) 4. Torn From The Jaws Of Death (4:27) [WATCH] 5. Christ Immersion (3:30) 6. Putrid Remains (4:29) 7. The Pinnacle Of Suffering (3:09) [LISTEN] 8. Through Pain And Emptiness (3:30) 9. Those Who Wished Me Dead (2:26) 10. Tear All The Flesh Off The Earth (5:21) Total runtime: 38:36
Cover Art by Pär Olofsson
For over 25 years, SEVERE TORTURE has embodied the ethos of Brutal. Death. Metal. A genre-defining titan, they’ve held a commanding presence in the metal universe since 1997, blending intense performances with a relentless commitment to their visceral, raw sound.
Born from the bowels of the Dutch underground, the band emerged onto the world stage with their debut album Feasting On Blood, hailed as an epic watershed in the nascent wave of brutal death metal in 2001. Their hard-hitting, merciless sound has since rippled across North and South America, Europe, and Mexico; their trail marked by five ground-breaking releases over the past quarter-century.
Remaining relevant in the ever-evolving realm of metal is no small feat, a task Severe Torture met by continuously levelling up. In pursuit of rejuvenation and to capture the aggression and energy befitting of a new era, they amicably parted ways with original drummer Seth in 2018, bringing Damiën Kerpentier into the fold. The move signified a new chapter for the seasoned ensemble, marking a seismic shift that breathed fresh air into their creative process, leading to some of their darkest, most profound work yet.
This invigorated spirit came to life in 2022 with the release of the EP Fisting The Sockets – the band’s first release in an astounding 12 years. The record served as a triumphant herald for their resurgence, re-signing with Season of Mist and rekindling the flame of their brutal origins amidst a pandemic-stricken world.
Now, in 2024, Severe Torture is set to escalate to new heights of sonic savagery with their sixth full-length album, Torn from the Jaws of Death. Recorded at the infamous Torture Compound Studios, the album stands as a testament to the raw energy, blood, sweat, and relentless brutality that the band represents.
From the aggressive whirlwind of riffs in The Death of Everything, to the haunting black metal nuances of the title track Torn from the Jaws of Death, the album is a death metal cogitation on murder, torture, and the madness of organized religions. Crafted with an unwavering commitment to the genre, Torn from the Jaws of Death is a grim reflection of the world, drenched in the band’s signature brutal death metal sound.
As the anticipation mounts for the release of Torn from the Jaws of Death, you can be sure Severe Torture remains alive and thriving in the heart of brutal death metal, pushing boundaries, and refusing to bow to conventions. A quarter-century in, these stalwarts of the scene are just getting started. Stay tuned to witness their relentless progression as they continue their incessant march through the annals of metal history.
Lineup Dennis Scheurs – Vocals Patrick Boleij – Bass Damiën Kerpentier – Drums Marvin Vriesde – Guitars Right & Leads Thijs van Laarhoven – Guitars Left
Recording Studio Torture Compound Studios
Production Credits Damiën Kerpentier – Engineer Mendel bij de Leij – Mixing & Mastering Engineer
Following 2021’s critically adored At One With None, Sweden’s PORTRAIT returns with their sixth album The Host, their first ever concept album, set for release on June 21st through Metal Blade Records. In advance of its official unveiling, today the band reveals the latest single, “From The Urn.”
Founding guitarist Christian Lindell describes the new offering as “an occult tale of sword and sorcery, accompanied by some of the most passionate heavy metal ever recorded. The story takes place in seventeenth century Sweden and revolves around an unnamed protagonist who, because of his experiences with the injustice and hypocrisy of this world, decides to seek truth and strength through its ‘Adversary.’“
On the musical side, PORTRAIT‘s co-founding drummer Anders Persson adds that the album, “is a versatile entity, showing all sides of what has become our own style of heavy metal, identity, and sense of melody, yet with some new areas explored in several directions. There are songs that are our fastest and most ‘extreme’ so far along with songs of an almost semi ballad feeling. It blends perfectly together musically and fits the dramaturgy of the story.”
Elaborates Lindell on the band’s latest single, “‘From The Urn’ is a song in which the main character of the story realizes that he has stronger connections with the realm of the dead than with any person still alive. A lot of stuff going on in this one musically, showcasing a bit of our progressive side, but still filled with hooks that shall leave incurable wounds.”
Watch the band’s previously released video for “The Blood Covenant” at THIS LOCATION.
The story of The Host takes place in the Swedish Empire during the Era Of Great Power, an era of constant war. The church played a central role in Swedish society in those days and the task of choosing the men that would be sent out to war was given to the priests. All men above the age of fifteen were summoned to the church hill once a year, where the priest then decided who would be the “lucky” ones (the rule of guidance being that every tenth man was to be picked).
It was preached that the reason for war was all sins committed by common man, and to be part of the army during those times was to be considered something sacred. Biblical passages were often quoted as references in order to legitimize the conquering of enemy territory, and in order to establish a “fear of god” within the army, religious services were held in the military camps twice a day and anyone not attending would be punished.
But there are also court documents from this era showing that some soldiers stood accused of having made pacts with the Devil with the intent of receiving strength and protection in war, as well as luck and prosperity, in exchange for one’s own blood and other offerings. A central part of this process was the sacrament of the Eucharist. Once consecrated by the priest, the bread of communion becomes the Host or body of Jesus Christ, elevated to something beyond its mere forms and imbued with magical powers.
There were different methods to employ the Host for sorcerous ends. One of the most common ways was to simply conduct one’s magical rites after having partaken of the sacrament in church, as it was believed that one’s own magical abilities were at their strongest by then. Another approach was to steal it from church and give it as an offering to the Devil or other spirits summoned for the work at hand.
The Host serves as PORTRAIT‘s first album to feature guitarist Karl Gustafsson as part of the band’s lineup and was recorded in JFK Studio in Sweden. Mixing and production tasks were handled by singer Per Lengstedt at his own Perilous Productions Studio while mastering was handled by Bart Gabriel.
PORTRAIT Live: 6/29/2024 Pitcher – Düsseldorf, DE 6/30/2024 Bambi Galore – Hamburg, DE 7/07/2024 Time To Rock Festival – Knislinge, SE 7/31/2024 Wacken Open Air – Wacken, DE 9/27/2024 L’ Homme Sauvage Festival – Auzas, FR Tickets: linktr.ee/heavymetalportrait
PORTRAIT: Per Lengstedt – vocals Christian Lindell – guitars Karl Gustafsson – guitars Fredrik Petersson – bass Anders Persson – drums
OTHER WORLD is a crushing and contemporary Black Metal band based in California, where ex-members of BLACK SALVATION, PILLORIAN and BOREWORM explore the beauty in chaos and darkness.
After arriving on DMP in authoritative style with epic 2023 single “Of Death and Alteration“, the band expand and consolidate their vision via new album “Tenebrous“: an intensely emotive and hard-hitting representation of being locked away from the light with only anxiety, loss and grief for company.
Tracklist:
01. From Innocence 02. Arid Dawn 03. Agony Exhaled By Mist 04. Ash, Teeth & Bone 05. To Decay
The album was mixed and mastered by Paul Francis at Get Right Recording in Johsua Tree, California. The cover artwork was designed by Kiefer Moore, with the album’s layout handled by S.P.
Both the title and the cover art aim to capture the album’s atmosphere, as composer Christopher explains:
“The term “Tenebrous” represents the album’s lyrical theme and concept. Stephen (vocals) and I both found the title to be perfectly fitting. The concept of this album is about experiencing a situation devoid of light and being in a place of hopelessness while enduring nature’s cruel embrace. Kiefer Moore who crafted the artwork had a lot of freedom for this artwork, but as he is a really talented guy and understands my vision, it was easy to work with him.“
Listen to ‘From Innocence‘, the album’s opening track, via DMP‘s YouTube channel:
‘From Innocence‘ delivers raw and unrelenting Black Metal aggression via sharp riffs, pounding drums and intense vocals. Subtle melodies and moments of tranquillity are seamlessly woven into the relentless sound, creating a truly hypnotic and immersive aura.
Composer Christopher shares insights into the creation of ‘From Innocence‘:
“‘From Innocence‘ was the first song written for the album, and during that time I was very inspired by the Art of Yann Tiersen, movie scores, and a bit of DEFTONES concerning the riffs as well. To me the song stands on its own and is actually different from the rest of the album in such a way that it’s pretty melodic, but very aggressive. The fist riff I wrote for the song is actually the riff at about 2:25. The chords were so emotional and fun to play, the rest of the song just came together by itself.“
“Tenebrous” will be released on CD, vinyl and digital on August 30th. Pre-orders are possible via the label’s EU, US and Bandcamp shops.
OTHER WORLD is an atmospheric/experimental Black Metal band formed in California in 2012 as a solo project of multi-instrumentalist Christopher A. (SUFFERING IN SOLITUDE, BLACK SALVATION). As his tenure with those projects came to an end, Christopher shifted his focus to OTHER WORLD, spawning five releases over seven years. In 2022, OTHER WORLD was joined by Stephen Parker (PARAPHILIA, MAESTUS, ex-PILLORIAN) on vocals and Jacob Holland on bass, which led to a collaboration on the new track, ‘Of Death and Alteration‘.
After arriving on DMP in authoritative style with epic 2023 single, the band expand and consolidate their vision via new album “Tenebrous” to be released on August 30th.
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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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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
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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 