Norwegian Rock outfit LEPROUS reveal the details and pre-order for their upcoming and highly anticipated 8th studio album entitled “Melodies Of Atonement”, to be released on August 30th, 2024.
Kicking off the album campaign and their triumphant return, LEPROUS have also released a stunning and captivating new single/video entitled “Atonement”. Filmed in Poland and directed by Dariusz Szermanowicz, “Atonement” presents a fresh and dynamic side of the band sonically and visually, creating something thrillingly new yet reassuringly familiar for old and new fans of LEPROUS alike.
LEPROUS frontman Einar Solberg checked in with the following comment about “Atonement”: “’Atonement’ is a different kind of single than what we’ve done before. It’s heavy, it’s catchy and straight to the point. It’s a song we believe will unify old and new fans at the same time as it has a fresh and new sound…This is the sound of LEPROUS in 2024.”
“Melodies Of Atonement” was recorded with David Castillo at Ghost Ward Studios in Sweden, mixed by Adam Noble (Placebo, Biffy Clyro, Nothing But Thieves, etc.) and mastered by Robin Schmidt (The 1975, Placebo, The Gaslight Anthem, etc.). The artwork is based on photography by John Dolan with design by Ritxi Ostáriz.
“Melodies Of Atonement” -tracklist (51:42) 1. Silently Walking Alone (04:05) 2. Atonement (04:49) 3. My Specter (03:55) 4. I Hear The Sirens (04:31) 5. Like A Sunken Ship (04:04) 6. Limbo (05:56) 7. Faceless (06:25) 8. Starlight (06:09) 9. Self-Satisfied Lullaby (06:21) 10. Unfree My Soul (05:21)
LEPROUS will be appearing on several festival events across Europe this Summer and then play their first North American headline tour for “Melodies Of Atonement” in September/October 2024 with special guests Monuments and supports Fight The Fight as follows:
LEPROUS LIVE 2024 31.05. – ISTRES (FR) – Rock a L’Usine 07.06. – GDANSK (PL) – Mystic Festival 14.06. – ZAMORA (ES) – Z! Live Rock Fest 15.06. – TOMAR (PT) – Comendatio Music Fest 03.07. – ATHENS (GR) – Rockwave Nights 05.07. – JOENSUU (FI) – Illovaarirock 11.07. – BRONNOYSUND (NO) – Rootsfestivalen 13.07. – LIGNANO SABBIADORO (IT) – Arena Alpe Adria 28.07. – MANCHESTER (UK) – Radar Festival 03.08. – BRASOV (RO) – Rockstadt Extreme Fest
w/ MONUMENTS, FIGHT THE FIGHT 04.09. – NASHVILLE (TN) – Eastside Bowl 05.09. – ATLANTA (GA) – Progpower USA 06.09. – CHARLOTTE (NC) – The Underground 07.09. – BALTIMORE (MD) – Rams Head Live! 08.09. – MCKEES ROCKS (PA) – Roxian Theatre 10.09. – BUFFALO (NY) – Town Ballroom 11.09. – TORONTO (ON) – The Opera House 12.09. – MONTREAL (QC) – Beanfield Theatre 13.09. – NEW YORK (NY) – Webster Hall 14.09. – CAMBRIDGE (MA) – The Sinclair 15.09. – PHILADELPHIA (PA) – Union Transfer 17.09. – PONTIAC (MI) – The Crofoot Ballroom 18.09. – CLEVELAND (OH) – House of Blues 19.09. – CHICAGO (IL) – Metro 20.09. – MADISON (WI) – Majestic Theatre 21.09. – MINNEAPOLIS (MN) – The Lyric at Skyway Theatre 23.09. – ENGLEWOOD (CO) – Gothic Theatre 24.09. – SALT LAKE CITY (UT) – Soundwell 26.09. – SAN FRANCISCO (CA) – August Hall 27.09. – ANAHEIM (CA) – House of Blues 28.09. – MESA (AZ) – The Nile Theatre Underground 30.09. – DALLAS (TX) – Granada Theater 01.10. – AUSTIN (TX) – Mohawk 02.10. – HOUSTON (TX) – White Oak Music Hall 04.10. – ORLANDO (FL) – The Plaza Live 05.10. – FORT LAUDERDALE (FL) – Revolution
LEPROUS line-up: (From left to right on photo above by Grzegorz Golebiowski) Tor Oddmund Suhrke – guitars Baard Kolstad – drums Einar Solberg – vocals/keys Robin Ognedal – guitars Simen Børven – bass
American thrash metal masters EXODUS released yesterday, May 31st, their live album British Disaster: The Battle of ’89 (Live At The Astoria)!
35 years of being locked away in the band’s vault, the album now sees the light of day. The energy and heaviness that EXODUS radiate on these live recordings give every metal fan a reason to add it to their personal collection. A MUST for every metalhead!
To commemorate this massive release, the band have released a great visualizer video for their new live single ‘Piranha (Live At The Astoria)’.
Gary Holt comments on the live album: “I, as well as all the band, former members and current, are super excited for the release of the new(old!) live record, British Disaster: The Battle of ’89 (Live At The Astoria)! When we first discovered these long hidden master reels, we were intrigued. When we listened, we were crushed! Can’t wait for everyone else to hear this record! A band on fire.”
Recorded on the 8th of March in 1989 at The Astoria in London, fans witnessed a night that went down in history and became legendary among EXODUS and thrash metal fans worldwide. The band had just released their third studio album Fabulous Disaster and started a five month run to promote the album which brought the Americans also to Europe for a month of live shows. During this European run EXODUS decided to record the show in London, but never released it. This recording remained unheard of in the EXODUS vaults. Until now!
Be prepared for a much more aggressive and rawer sound than on the studio albums. British Disaster: The Battle of ’89 (Live At The Astoria) is the ultimate live album presenting the sheer energy of what made EXODUS famous and notorious for during the 80s and what made them a legendary thrash metal band. A best of setlist compiled from the band’s first three classic albums. The live album, mixed and mastered by Zeuss and the artwork done by Mark DeVito, will be available as CD, 2LP vinyl and digital.
HIGH DESERT QUEEN celebrate today’s release of their sophomore full-length “Palm Reader” with a new video single of the title track. The Texas desert rockers are also streaming their hot new album in full now on all relevant outlets.
“We couldn’t be happier with how this album came together.“, vocalist Ryan Garney writes. “Going to YellowDog, and deciding to record the whole thing live without a click track while creating new songs after getting off the road allowed this to be an album that’s helping mold what High Desert Queen is becoming. The title track came together in the studio when Phil started playing the drum beat as a joke. We were all laughing until Rusty ripped into the intro guitar riff, and within an hour we had the music completely written. What you hear on ‘Palm Reader’ is what we created in real time, and it’s not like anything we’ve written before. We knew right away it needed to make it on the album, and it really showcases the spontaneous creativity behind the entire record.“
Tracklist
Ancient Aliens
Death Perception
Head Honcho
Palm Reader
Time Waster
Tuesday Night Blues
Solar Rain
HIGH DESERT QUEEN‘s sophomore full-length “Palm Reader” is bursting with raw energy and radiates the feeling of 666 diesel horses thundering loudly. The album is crammed with cool vibes, ripping leads, and a ton of desert fuzz with a focus on great songs rather than trying to stay confined within the corral of a particular style.
This untamed attitude took its high creative energy straight from touring. When the band from Texas returned home after six weeks traveling the roads of Europe with the legendary FATSO JETSON and watching them improvising jams every night, they’d been taking notes. Although a bit worn from the road, HIGH DESERT QUEENcould hardly wait to start recording. Not overly focused on how parts were played, allowing themselves imperfections, and ditching the click, the music started to flow like never before. In the first studio session after the tour, three new songs emerged.
Working within a live framework and mindset, the Austin, Texas band hit the jackpot and “Palm Reader” bears witness to that claim. In more than one way, HIGH DESERT QUEEN have always been a bit different and far more than ‘another desert rock band’. Formed in Houston, Texas by singer Ryan Garney and guitarist Rusty Miller in 2019, the duo soon recruited drummer Phil Hook (MONTE LUNA) and relocated to Austin in 2020.
With the addition of Rusty’s daughter Morgan on bass, the band hit the ground running. The lone star shone brightly when the four got together as desert rock had already endured a long rather dry spell of stagnation and was parched for an injection of fresh sounds.
HIGH DESERT QUEEN had what it takes to kick the scene into gear again. Their vast musical influences, which range from grunge to funk and old school metal to doom, provide an ideal foundation for new ideas and a rejuvenating approach to the genre. Their thunderous, fuzz-drenched anthems are delivered with a healthy dose of groove and catchy melodies, and get a massive boost from an emotional intelligence in their music that’s hard to find. The newly-minted sound is linked to the rich heritage of their musical environment, inspiring the style tag ‘Texas desert rock’.
Hard work and their obviously burgeoning talent resulted in an fast rise for HIGH DESERT QUEEN, beginning with their first record deal arriving thanks in part to their being hand-picked from the self-release underground by ZAKK SABBATH’s Rob Blasko. Their debut full-length “Secrets of the Black Moon” arrived in 2021 and was immediately heaped with praise in the US and Europe, which kicked the doors open to touring and invitations to prestigious festivals both domestic and abroad. In March 2022, the Texans embarked on their first tour in support of SASQUATCH on the US West Coast. Only two months later, HIGH DESERT QUEEN hit the roads of Europe as a headliner in June 2022, with a return to the other side of the Atlantic with FATSO JETSON in 2023. Underlining the fast rise of this live monster, the newcomers were booked for Desertfest London (UK) and Berlin (DE) and the Truckfighters’ Fuzz Festival (SE) among many others.
Answering the exponentially multiplying requests for new material from their steadily growing following, HIGH DESERT QUEEN flanked their live activities with the “Turned to Stone Ch. 8” split release with BLUE HERON, and contributed a track to “Best of Soundgarden Redux”, the latest installment of the bestselling Magnetic Eye Records Redux series.
With “Palm Reader”, HIGH DESERT QUEEN have made a quantum leap in their evolution as the Texans found the perfect balance between the well-loved legacy of the desert rock genre and carving out their very own path. Fueled by the power and spirit of live music, this album rocks as hard and honestly as can be done.
HIGH DESERT QUEEN live: 01 JUN 2024 San Antonio, TX (US) The Amp Room 02 JUN 2024 New Braunfels, TX (US) Guadalupe Brewery 13 JUL 2024 Erfurt (DE) Stoned from the Underground Festival 26 JUL 2024 Neuensee (DE) Rock im Wald Festival 21 SEP 2024 Austin, TX (US) Far Out Lounge, RippleFest Texas
Line-up: Ryan Garney – vocals Phil Hook – drums Morgan Miller – bass Rusty Miller – guitar
Guest musician Emma Näslund (GAUPA) – vocals on ‘Death Perception’
Recorded by Casey Johns at Yellow Dog Studios, Wimberley, TX (US) Mixed & Mastering by Karl Daniel Lidén at Studio Tri-Lamb, Solna (SE) Cover art & album design by PabloRR (72826)
MILE is a melodic metal band from Sweden that has a modern sound mixing heavy metal and hard rock, combining heavy riffs and attractive melodies. In 2015 they released their debut album ‘Lost’ which streamed over 1 000 000 times during its first year. The sequel ‘The World In Focus’ was released in 2018 and contained the hit single ‘Crying in Your Sleep’ which ended up on several major playlists. Throughout the years MILE has played festivals where giants like Twisted Sister, Alice Cooper, Sabaton, and Hammerfall have been present.
Yesterday, May 31st, the band is releasing their third album ‘A Shattered Mind‘ which is their most elaborate project to date. The songs were conceived during a period when the band secluded themselves in a cabin, dedicating their focus entirely to the creation of music. Although most of the songs where written in 2020, the band chose to take their time with the recording process to ensure that every track reached its full potential.
”Over the years, we’ve all become better musicians, resulting in improved recordings and more advanced songs. Now, we just hope that the world is as ready as we are when the album is released, and it will be exciting to see what reactions await.” – MILE
Swedish powerhouse Heavy Metal group DREAM EVIL finally are back! Seven years after their latest album SIX, the Gothenburg-based authors of “The Book Of Heavy Metal” have announced their newest, seventh studio album effort, programatically entitled Metal Gods, to be released via longtime label Century Media Records worldwide on July 26th, 2024.
Check out the album’s first single and opening track “Metal Gods” now, also in a powerful video-clip directed by Patric Ullaeus / https://www.revolver.se/ below.
DREAM EVIL have checked in with the following comment about their new album Metal Gods: “DREAM EVIL are finally back! It has been seven years since we released our latest album SIX, so we are stoked to return with a vengeance now! The wait should not be in vain for anybody, as we are extremely happy with the outcome of all tracks on Metal Gods. It’s a loud and clear statement for DREAM EVIL and a respectful nod to our influences as well as to the traditional melodic Heavy Metal movement in general. We hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!?”
And then DREAM EVIL added the following about the “Metal Gods” title-track and its video: “It’s all about our Heavy Metal heroes in the past and present, a tribute to the Metal Gods who created and perfected the genre Heavy Metal. It’s always a blast to work with Patric Ullaeus and to watch the magic he creates…Play LOUD and enjoy!”
Once again featuring recording/mixing duties by DREAM EVIL guitarist Fredrik Nordström at his legendary Studio Fredman (IN FLAMES, AT THE GATES, HAMMERFALL, ARCH ENEMY, BRING ME THE HORIZON, etc.), Metal Gods features cover artwork by Seth Siro Anton (PARADISE LOST, EXODUS, ROTTING CHRIST, etc.) and includes 10 new songs of pure steel, introducing their newest line-up addition in drummer Sören Fardvik and also featuring guest lead guitar appearances by Jonathan Thorpenberg (THE UNGUIDED), Tommy Johansson (ex SABATON) and Chris Amott (ex ARCH ENEMY / DARK TRANQUILLITY).
Metal Gods will be made available as Standard Jewelcase CD, 180gr. LP (Either as black vinyl or as transparent sun yellow vinyl, limited to 300x copies) or as Digital Album with the following tracklisting:
1. Metal Gods (03:30) 2. Chosen Force (05:07) 3. The Tyrant Dies At Dawn (03:54) 4. Lightning Strikes (04:22) 5. Fight In The Night (03:47) 6. Masters Of Arms (03:34) 7. Born In Hell (03:51) 8. Insane (04:28) 9. Night Stalker (04:37) 10. Y.A.N.A. (04:09)
And here is a list of upcoming DREAM EVIL live appearances:
DREAM EVIL – Live 2024: 05.06. Sölvesborg (Sweden) – Sweden Rock Festival 14.06. Göteborg (Sweden) – Gothenburg Metal Temple 30.08. Eskilstuna (Sweden) – A Heavy Metal Summer Rock Shock 04.09. Atlanta (USA) – ProgPower USA XXIII 18.10. Gävle (Sweden) – Centralteatern 19.10. Sundsvall (Sweden) – Centralen 20.10. Stockholm (Sweden) – Biblioteket Live 25.10. Göteborg (Sweden) – Galej 26.10. Malmö (Sweden) – Plan B More shows will be announced soon…
Stay tuned for more new on DREAM EVIL as well as Metal Gods…and remember: HEAVY METAL always strikes back!!!
DREAM EVIL line-up: (From left to right in the photo above by Patric Ullaeus) Sören Fardvik – Lead Drums Fredrik Nordström – Lead Rhythm Guitars Niklas Isfeldt – Lead Vocals Peter Stålfors – Lead Bass Markus Fristedt – Lead Lead Guitar
In the ever-evolving saga of extreme metal, few bands have stirred as much respect as VLTIMAS. Comprising legends David Vincent (Morbid Angel), Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen (Mayhem, Aura Noir) and Ype TVS (Dodecahedron), this supergroup has carved a niche for themselves that breaks all boundaries of extreme metal. Their latest album, EPIC, showcases their dark, overpowering artistry, filled with tracks that push limits. Released March 15 on Season of Mist, VLTIMAS are now set on lighting up stages across Europe.
“Epic Prophecy for Europe” 2024 Tour Dates: 26 September: Bucharest, ROM @ Metal Gates Warm-Up Party 27 September: Sofia, BUL @ Mixtapes 28 September: Vienna, AUT @ Szene Wein 30 September: Graz, AUT @ Explosiv 1 October: Ostrava, CZE @ Barrak 3 October: Budapest, HUN @ A38 4 October: Venice, ITA @ Revolver 5 October: Rome, ITA @ Traffic 6 October: Milan, ITA @ Slaughter 8 October: Leipzig, GER @ Hellraiser 9 October: Luzern, SUI @ Schuur 10 October: Mannheim, GER @ MS Connexion 12 October: Manchester, UK @ Academy 3 13 October: Bristol, UK @ Thekla 14 October: Dublin, EI @ The Academy 15 October: Belfast, EI @ Limelight 2 18 October: Sheffield, UK @ Corporation 20 October: London, UK @ Underworld 24 October: Herford, GER @ Kulturwerk
In their latest offering, EPIC, VLTIMAS craft a masterpiece that is both a ferocious onslaught and an intricate work of art. With songs like Miserere and Scorcher, EPIC lives up to its name, delivering a maelstrom of relentless riffs, thunderous drumming, and Vincent’s iconic growls that showcase the band’s ability to meld their legendary talents into something uniquely powerful. The album’s production, handled by Jaime Gomez Arellano at Arda Recorders, captures the raw energy and sophistication of their sound, making EPIC an immersive experience.
Tracklist 1. Volens Discordant (1:02) 2. EPIC (4:35) 3. Miserere (3:51) [WATCH] 4. Exercitus Irae (4:01) 5. Mephisto Manifesto (05:05) 6. Scorcher (03:21) [WATCH] 7. Invictus (5:30) [LISTEN] 8. Nature’s Fangs (3:52) 9. Spoils of War (5:54) Total runtime: 37:16
Extreme metal powerhouse VLTIMAS (pronounced ‘uhl-tuh-mas’) assault metaldom once more with their highly-anticipated sophomore album, EPIC, through Season of Mist. Featuring Norwegian guitarist Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen (ex-Mayhem, Aura Noir), American vocalist David Vincent (ex-Morbid Angel), and Canadian drummer Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy), the multinational quintet, rounded out by Dutch bassist Ype TVS (ex-Dodecahedron) and Portuguese guitarist João Duarte (Corpus Christii), continue to venture down their path. Moored by strength and integrity, VLTIMAS fortified their signature with wicked invention, as applauded by Decibel Magazine, BangerTV, Louder, and many others, on their debut, Something Wicked Marches In (2019). Singles “Miserere,” “Scorcher,” and “Invictus” showcase a band of musicians at the top of their game, united in their pursuit of oneness. “We wrote every bit of EPIC together at my ranch in Dime Box, Texas,” offers Vincent. “The writing sessions were as organic as they could be. There were times when, at the end of the night, Rune would take his guitar and play something ridiculous. Flo would play something even more ridiculous on top of it. I’d say to the guys, ‘I need to capture this.’ So, the magic [of VLTIMAS] is being in the same room together, discussing, playing, and recording music and everything else we’re doing together. We have unbelievable camaraderie.”
While the members of VLTIMAS are not atavists, their preferred creative methods are time-tested and battle-hardened. Technology has its place, but the group thrive when they’re together, not separated by the world. Eriksen, renowned as a riff innovator, is more effective when he’s got a highly capable sideman like Vincent or Mounier, whose drumming in Cryptopsy and his celebrated instructional Extreme Metal Drumming 101 DVD has proven to be a no-limits player, by his side. Whether it’s the moody, angular attack of “Miserere,” the wicked groove of “Mephisto Manifesto,” or the dark fury of “Nature’s Fangs,” the chemistry and enterprise of VLTIMAS is undeniable.
“The main goal [of VLTIMAS] is to be real,” Eriksen reveals. “To channel the very moment, to let true inspiration out. I don’t believe I ever set myself a goal on what an album should or needs to sound like before I or we write it because that means I have to compromise during the process. For EPIC, we focused on more direct songs, trimming the fat, as opposed to Something Wicked Marches In, which had a progressive and ‘playful’ flair.”
VLTIMAS was a profane concept—a constellation of riffs against a modest frame—when formed by Eriksen in 2015. After departing Mayhem in 2008 and putting his gothic doom outfit Ava Inferi to rest in 2013, the Norwegian’s fingers still itched with infernal fury. VLTIMAS was his vent, and when Mounier and Vincent joined, he finally had the cadre of professionals to make it a reality. Together, they devised complementary schemes and themes rooted in rightness. In a world gone mad, VLTIMAS had a vision. On Something Wicked Marches In, they commanded attention with metaphors about the apocalypse, the ancient goddess Lilith, and truth. Lyrically, EPIC spears into the very nucleus of strength through Vincent’s brio of double entendre and clever wordsmithing. The songs are designed to be heard, read, and interpreted—there are no shortcuts.
“Everything we’re doing and messaging is about strength and honor,” says Vincent. “These are the fundamentals that I incorporate into my life, which I believe in. I want to share with others, hoping they’ll incorporate strength and honor into their lives. I wouldn’t say I like spelling lyrics out. I use a lot of double meanings on purpose because I want to inspire the listener to think. I’m not a short attention span guy, and I don’t appreciate it. EPIC is holistic and meant to be experienced that way.”
EPIC was recorded by producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Grave Miasma) with engineer Jonathan Mazzeo (First Fragment, Sickening) at Arda Recorders in Porto, Portugal. VLTIMAS tracked the album throughout May 2023. Arellano also handled the mix and master. Like everything the band does, the main goal was to be honest. The maxim of no sample replacement or re-amping—EPIC was captured on outboard gear—was adhered to and enjoyed by the team. The result is a sonic expression that sounds like nothing else. From the crushing title track to the epic musicality of closer “Spoils of War,” EPIC is an absolute beast.
“Stress, long walks, too much alcohol, yet very focused once in the recording mode,” Eriksen says of the sessions. “We booked a month, but somehow, that flew by instantly. We worked up until the very end. I even added a few solos at my local Soundscape Studio in Almada, Portugal. Art unfolds, and once you think you are done, there’s always another idea popping up.”
VLTIMAS brought Italian artist Daniele Valeriani (Mayhem, Unanimated) to visualize EPIC. The aesthetic, as illuminated by music and message, was iconic boldness. The three-eagle head crest with three different crowns, accompanied by transfigured symbols of the Passion and the “impossible triangle,” projects effortlessly. In EPIC, the group will dominate. There’s no escape from “Miserere,” “Mephisto Manifesto,” “Scorcher,” and “Invictus.” Together, they thrust, by resolve and inventiveness, VLTIMAS into the uppermost echelons of extreme metal.
“[EPIC is] old meets contemporary, a symbiosis of all the great things we love about extreme metal,” offers Eriksen. “All combined into one album.”
“I want to be as emotional and honest [with VLTIMAS],” Vincent adds. “I want to tell stories; I want to have the themes that appeal to me; I want to have some messaging that someone can take away, in this case, strength. EPIC is strength.”
Lineup David Vincent – Vocals Rune Blasphemer Eriksen – Guitars Flo Mounier – Drums Ype TVS – Bass João Duarte – Guitars
Recording studio ARDA Recorders
Producer Jamie Gomez Arellano
Sound engineer Jonathan Mazzeo
Mixing and mastering engineer Jaime Gomez Arellano
Mixing and mastering studio Arda Recorders, Orgone Studio
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
Click image to watch the video
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