QUADVIUM – Feat. Steve Di Giorgio + Jeroen Paul Thesseling – Sign with Agonia Records

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 6, 2024
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Photo credit: Judit Petrás

The instrumental progressive metal-fusion quartet QUADVIUM, half in California – half in the Netherlands, founded in late 2019 by American bass player Steve Di Giorgio (Testament, Death) and Dutch bass player Jeroen Paul Thesseling (Obscura, Pestilence) has inked a record deal with Agonia Records in Poland.

Steve Di Giorgio and Jeroen Paul Thesseling are both innovators in bringing a different style of fretless bass playing to metal. Launching a band with two predominantly multi-string fretless bass players is no common occurrence, and the bass-duo felt they needed to take very special and deliberate time to get the right alignment with who is participating and what will be the end result – meaning the right sound and composition to represent this rare vision.

Over time, together with Dutch master drummer Yuma van Eekelen (Our Oceans, Pestilence) and American guitar virtuoso/composer Jennings Smith (Myth Of I, Kaathe) – whose contribution and expertise play a huge part of QUADVIUM – the music began to take shape. The line-up is just the right blend to mix the delicate balance of such a heavy aural offering and a full vocabulary of high level constructed pieces. QUADVIUM is currently finalizing its long-awaited debut album, set to be released in Autumn 2024 via Agonia Records, and set to include artwork by Travis Smith (Amorphis, King Diamond, Cynic).

The group comments: “We are looking very much forward to this long-term collaboration with Agonia Records. As instrumental progressive metal-fusion group we appreciate the opportunity and support from label manager Filip Jesion, which enables us to reach out with this unique musical concept.”

Line-up:
Jennings Smith – guitar, guitar synth
Steve Di Giorgio – bass
Jeroen Paul Thesseling – bass
Yuma van Eekelen – drums

Follow QUADVIUM:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Quadvium/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/quadviumofficial

Jeroen Paul Thesseling:
Website: https://www.jeroenpaulthesseling.com
Press inquiries: contact@jeroenpaulthesseling.com

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Please Note, STEVE DI GIORGIO is available for studio sessions as well as session bassist for tours. For further information, please contact tarja@splitscreenproduction.com.

The fretless guru, STEVE DI GIORGIO doesn’t need any longer introductions, as he is widely renowned as a pioneer on the fretless bass in heavy metal music, being the bassist of TESTAMENT, DEATH and SADUS, among others. Within his genre, STEVE DI GIORGIO is respected for his playing skills, versatility and incredible technique. He has more than 40 studio album recordings and over 30 years of touring the world.

Watch Steve Di Giorgio LowDown: Bass Playthrough | Terra Odium – Crawling: https://youtu.be/SJbamBHNjt8

More information at:
STEVE DI GIORGIO: http://www.stevedigiorgio.com | http://www.testamentlegions.com
MANAGEMENT: https://www.facebook.com/SplitScreenManagement | http://www.splitscreenproduction.com

ESCALATION Present First Song ‘Beyond the Veil of Fear’ from Debut Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 6, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

ESCALATION is a quite fresh band on the Polish metal scene. It was formed in 2020 in Silesian city – Dąbrowa Górnicza. A year later, they released debut EP titled “Before We Fall” which was well-received by music critics as well as listeners. After a few years of working, the band is going to release debut album and presents its more mature side. The music on this record is honest, uncompromising, and exciting. Modern sound combined with raw arrangements gives a truly explosive mix!

“Ruins of the Falling World” was recorded at HUGEstudio (Grief Circle, Formis, Czort). Guest guitar in “Embrace of Darkness” was played by Argentinian, Lisandro Villalba. The whole was mixed and mastered by Piotr Zubko who cooperated in the past with Warfist. Cover artwork was done by Katarzyna Jakubska from Dark Descent Design. Band logo by Karolina Ambicka while band photo by Natalia Kłaptocz.

The debut album will be released on June 21, 2024, digitally and as jewelcase CD by Polish label Via Nocturna. Pre-order is available at the official label webstore.

Listen below to the song “Beyond the Veil of Fear“.

Tracklist:

01. Intro
02. Beyond the Veil of Fear
03. No Turning Back
04. Symphony of Despair
05. United Forces
06. Human Tomb
07. Embrace of Darkness
08. Rise Before We Fall
09. Worthless Promises

Line-up:

Przemysław “Deceiver” Serafin – vocals
Paweł Hernik – guitars
Kamil Tobolski – guitars
Artur Kłaptocz – drums
Tomasz Harazin – bass

More information: Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Original AUTOGRAPH Vocalist STEVE PLUNKETT Unveils Long-Awaited Second Solo Album “Straight Up”, Shares First Single ‘Rock Machine’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 6, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

The year was 1984, the year of the cassette boombox and the Sony Walkman, and the year when a little band from Los Angeles invited the world to “Turn Up The Radio.” That band was Autograph, fronted by the fiery-haired powerhouse vocalist STEVE PLUNKETT, and their single became an immediate smash hit from the debut album Sign In Please and was featured in numerous films and TV shows of that era.

But as big as Autograph was, it could not contain the creative energy of Plunkett. He soon found a new career as an in-demand songwriter for bands such as The Go-Go’s, Edgar Winter and Vixen as well as doing production work for Cyndi Lauper and Graham Nash. He released his first solo album in 1991, an album that showed Plunkett’s growing confidence in both his own songwriting and studio techniques. Now, more than 3 decades later, Plunkett is ready to release his second solo album, a smokin’ hot collection called Straight Up.

This 10-track all-killer, no-filler album cranks up the volume knob to 11 and shows that Plunkett hasn’t lost an ounce of the passion and power that made him a hard rock hero! Just check out the album’s first single, “Rock Machine,” which kicks off with a driving guitar lick and chanted lyric that lunges straight at the listener’s jugular. It’s a powerblast of pure, unfiltered rock mania as only Plunkett knows how to deliver.

Stream/download the single: https://orcd.co/steveplunkett_rockmachine

Reflecting on the album, Plunkett declares, “With Straight Up, I wanted to get back to rock basics. No parameters or targets – just the kind of real rock that got me excited back in the day. Fast, fun and loud!”

Straight Up will be available on both CD and digital July 26. Order your copy today!

TRACK LIST:

  1. Rock Machine
  2. Here We Go
  3. First Step
  4. Six String Hero
  5. Rock Star
  6. We’re Gonna Jam
  7. Knock Out Punch
  8. On The Stage
  9. Gotta Jump
  10. Start It Up

KINGCROW Release New Album “Hopium” on August 23rd, Reveal Hard-Grooving Single ‘Kintsugi’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 6, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Riccardo Nifosì

Embark on a journey of resilience and reinvention with KINGCROW as they soar to new progressive heights on their upcoming eighth album Hopium. Catch the high-flying Italian prog-metal band as they display their eagle eye for poignant lyrics and grooving melodies on the album’s powerful lead single, “Kintsugi”. 

Hopium is out August 23 on Season of Mist. Pre-order & pre-save: https://orcd.co/kingcrowhopium

Hopium continues Kingcrow’s steadfast commitment to exploring the depths of emotion, a trait that has solidified their standing in the hearts of music enthusiasts across the globe. With “Kintsugi”, listeners are invited into a world where imperfections are not merely accepted but celebrated with golden seams of strength.

Drawing inspiration from the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery, “Kintsugi” beautifully parallels life’s ability to recover from adversity, a theme that’s intricately woven throughout Hopium. The single is an anthem for anyone who has ever faced defeat, only to rise again with a renewed sense of purpose and beauty.

The music video for “Kintsugi” was masterfully crafted by Riccardo Nifosì and Devilnax.

Cover Art by Devilnax

Tracklist1. Kintsugi (3:53) [WATCH]
2. Glitch (3:56)
3. Parallel Lines (6:46)
4. New Moon Harvest (3:30)
5. Losing Game (5:28)
6. White Rabbit’s Hole (6:55)
7. Night Drive (5:48)
8. Vicious Circle (4:21)
9. Hopium (8:24)
10. Come Through (Bonus Track) (4:21)
Total runtime: 53:27

The first incarnation of the band  was originally founded in Rome, Italy, by brothers Diego Cafolla (guitars) and Manuel Thundra Cafolla (drums) under the name of “Earth Shaker”.

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “Raven” and driven by a will of change, the band’s name was soon altered into KINGCROW and a couple of self-produced demos/albums where recorded under the KINGCROW moniker: Something Unknown(2001), Insider (2004) and Timetropia (2006).

In the early months of 2010 the band finished recording their new album “Phlegethon” that was released in June of the same year under the “Scarlet Records” label.

It was considered on an international level as a relevant masterpiece and was classed as one of the elite progressive metal albums of the year. It has been near the top of the “album of the year” charts in some international prog-rock websites. Phlegethon promotion lasted for about two years and a half.

During the same year, the band recorded the new album “In Crescendo” that was released in February 2013 by the American label “Sensory Records.

The band toured  along with Pain Of Salvation in North America  in April and May, 2013. In 2015 the band released the album “Eidos” and toured Europe as Headliners. Meanwhile KINGCROW signed a management deal with GlassVille Music, house of very well known progressive acts like Pain Of Salvation and Riverside among others.

The band recorded the new album titled “The Persistence”.

The album was released on September 7th via Sensory Records and received great reviews and ended on a lot of “best of 2018” lists on magazines and webzines.

The upcoming album “Hopium” marks another step forward in pushing boundaries remarking the restless progressive  attitude of the band in incorporating countless influences into a personal sound.

Describing the band today is quite a difficult task, but one could state that the influence of different kinds of music, from progressive rock , ambient music, alternative rock and metal are all present in the music of KINGCROW.

With each release KINGCROW has taken a step further away from their original roots and is regarded today as one of the most exciting bands that Italy has to offer.

Line-up
Diego Marchesi – Vocals
Diego Cafolla – Guitars, Keys, Backing Vocals
Ivan Nastasi – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Riccardo Nifosì – Bass, Backing Vocals
Thundra – Drums, Percussions

Recording Studio
Sound Under Pressure (Rome, Italy)

Production Credits
Produced by Diego Cafolla & Thundra Cafolla
Sound Engineer – Diego Cafolla

Mixed by Giampiero Ulacco at Holofram Studios (Francavilla al Mare, Italy)

Mastered by Marco Vannucci at Spitfire Mastering Studio (Italy)

Guest Musicians
Vikram Shankar – Piano solo on “Hopium”

Official Website: https://www.kingcrow.it/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Kingcrowband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingcrow_official/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KingcrowBand
Bandcamp: https://kingcrow1.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3nnSgQo8TIgiO5M5pv3mlV
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kingcrow/594989536
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/1002506
TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/6519112

CRYPTIC HATRED Release “Mesmerized by the Malignant Gaze” Single

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 6, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

On July 5th 2024, Finnish death metal outfit CRYPTIC HATRED will release their highly anticipated second full-length, “Internal Torment”, via Time To Kill Records.

Today, the band is proud to share “Mesmerized by the Malignant Gaze”, a brutal new single and harbinger of things to come. Stream it HERE.

The band commented: “’Mesmerized by the Malignant Gaze’ is the perfect Cryptic Hatred song, as it combines multiple different genres and inspirations creating this fierce, groovy but atmospheric song. This song is definitely one of the highlights of the album for us!”.

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/

COMANIAC Drop ‘Long Life Doll’ Animated Lyric Video + CD Release

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 6, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

COMANIAC is proud to unveil the mesmerizing animated lyric video for their intense “Long Life Doll” track. Taken from their album “None For All”, set to release in a CD special edition featuring two electrifying bonus tracks via Wormholedeath, this animated sensation is set to captivate the audience everywhere.

“Long Life Doll” delves into the depths of human emotion, exploring themes of betrayal, self-reflection, and the tumultuous nature of relationships. What initially masquerades as love is revealed to be nothing more than a selfish mental state, exposing the raw pain of deception. Through blistering riffs and searing vocals, Comaniac delivers a profound commentary on the complexities of human interaction.

“None For All” addresses and criticizes the imbalance of empathy and indifference in society.
Between structure and chaos, hope and resignation, nine songs make you think individually, socially, and politically.

“None For All” is available for purchase on all major digital platforms: https://music.imusician.pro/a/IC8H6Gxf

The CD release is scheduled for June 28, 2024.
Pre-order link: tinyurl.com/NoneForAll

Meet the Band:
Jonas Schmid: Vocals, Guitar
Valentin Mössinger: Guitar
Stefan Häberli: Drums
Tom Zürcher: Bass

Stay connected with Comaniac for the latest updates and exclusive content:

comaniac.ch
www.facebook.com/ComaniacOfficial
www.instagram.com/comaniacthrash
comaniac.bandcamp.com
www.tiktok.com/@comaniacthrash
www.youtube.com/@ComaniacOfficial
www.soundcloud.com/comaniacofficial
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