Fresh off of their recent European tour with SKÁLMÖLD and SEVEN SPIRES, Vancouver-based blackened symphonic metal outfit ATAVISTIA will release their new EP Inane Ducam (translates to ‘I Will Lead Into Nothingness’) on July 19, 2024. Featuring new guitarist Elia Baghbaniyan and bassist/vocalist Spencer Budworth, Inane Ducam seeks to explore different genres and styles while still maintaining the core ATAVISTIA sound.
Band founder Mattias Sippola comments “‘Inane Ducam’ was an experimental writing process – lower tuning, the debut of Spencer’s fierce low growls, and tempos reaching close to 300BPM. During the Winter months of 2023, Vancouver experienced extremely dark, cold, and gloomy days which is an antidote to creating music like this.”
Listen to the album’s first single “Timeless Despair” here.
Past praise for ATAVISTIA:
“‘Cosmic Warfare’ is a rollicking ride through metal’s propensity for duality as the quartet show off their skill at fist-banging harshness on one end and melodic layered density on the other.”- Decibel Magazine
“ATAVISTIAhave always managed to sound massive, but little more. Now, we have the massive aesthetic wedded to actual songs, nestled within an album composed with structure and discipline. The result is impressive. Scarily, there is still room to improve. Whereas before I wrote these guys off as cheap WINTERSUN knock-offs, they have now brought themselves whisper-close to their heroes. If Jari doesn’t get his act together, his band could be overtaken soon. Perhaps they have been already.”– Angry Metal Guy
“Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day” the new studio album from BABYLON A.D. is out today on Perris Records. The album can be purchased or streamed at https://smarturl.it/Rome. Along with the album release, Babylon A.D. have released a brand new video for the title track “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day”, watch it below.
We are so excited about this release, “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day” has really put the band back on the map. All the fan support, radio play and reviews we are getting from the album are so amazing. It really feels good to know We Are Back! We can’t wait to share this album on the road and the shows we have lined up this year are gonna be a blast for the band and the fans alike. – Derek Davis, Babylon A.D.
The single “Wrecking Machine” has been featured on numerous new and classic rock radio outlets across the United States, where it recently reached the Top 40 on the Mediabase Classic Rock radio charts. The single has also been featured on the nationally syndicated “Alice’s Attic” hosted by the legendary Alice Cooper and has received notable airplay including major market spins from the likes of WDRV & WPJX in Chicago, KSAN in San Francisco, KSLX in Phoenix, WCXS in Detroit and KLPX in Tucson.
The first listen of the new Babylon AD brings you back to a simpler time of pure fun rock n roll, while keeping your feet planted in the present! It’s a blast in your ears and I can’t wait to hear it and see it LIVE!! – Larry Mac Program Director, 96.1 KLPX Tucson
Too early to spoil it, but I will say 2 things about the record. IMO, it blows “Revelation Highway” out of the water and if you like the first 2 albums you will LOVE “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day”. – Brian Basher, BraveWords Radio
This is truly an amazing release! A great album from start to finish… this is truly one of the highlights of 2024 so far. – Pete Eklund, Metal Impact Radio
BABYLON A.D. definitely rekindled the romance of their earlier sound with “Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day”. – Metal Temple
Vintage Artwork Concept Design – Derek Davis
This is a record that sounds just like the band back in the day, full of fire, wonderfully heavy and firing on all cylinders: with guitar and vocals that haven’t lost a thing over the decades. Some bands come back with a bang, it seems that Babylon has just gone nuclear. – The Rock Pit
Derek Davis and his Babylonians deliver the cornerstone of their catalog. Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day is a gem-riddled roof of songs that sits firmly atop the Babylon A.D. empire that has been under construction for more than three decades. – Scott Itter, Dr. Music Podcast and All Music Magazine
Babylon A.D. can’t wait to start playing the songs live and have some very exciting shows coming up, The ‘Whisky Go A Go’ in June and ‘Monsters On The Mountain’ in August in Gatlinburg Tennessee.
Upcoming Babylon A.D. Tour Dates: June 7th – Whisky go Go – Hollywood CA Aug 3rd – Fulton 55 – Fresno CA Aug 9th – Liquid Joes – Salt Lake City UT Aug 10th – Wild Goose Saloon – Parker CO Aug 17th – The Boardwalk – Orangevale CA Aug 25th – Monster On Mountain – Gatlinburg TN Sept 20th – Feather Falls Casino – Oroville CA Sept 21st – Horsefest – Newark CA
Looking For A Heartbeat 4:21 D. Davis – R. Freschi
I Will Never Break Again 7:00 D. Davis – J. Matthews
White Hot Bullet 3:45 D. Davis
Crashed Into The Sun 4:52 D. Davis – R. Freschi – D. Soto – C. Pepe
Face Of GOD 6:30 D. Davis
Shut Up 4:31 D. Davis – D. Soto – C. Pepe
Super Beast 3:43 R. Freschi – J. Matthews – D. Soto
Album details: Produced, Mixed, Engineered by Derek Davis @ The BADMOFO’s Recording Studio, Pleasanton, CA. Drums recorded by Gabriel Shepard @ 25th Studios Oakland CA. Mastered By David Donnelly, DNA Mastering Los Angeles CA. Photos – Angela Probst – Studio A Vintage Artwork Concept Design – Derek Davis
Band Members Derek Davis – Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar Ron Freschi – Lead Guitar, Background vocals John Mattews – Lead Guitar Craig Pepe – Bass, Background vocals Dylan Soto – Drums / Background vocals Background vocals I Will Never Break Again Lane Borchard
Technical death metal quintet, COGNITIVE, is pleased to unleash their new video for “Insidious.” The rampaging new track comes by way of the band’s Abhorrence full-length, released May 17th on Metal Blade Records.
Abhorrence finds the New Jersey powerhouse quintet at their brutal best. Once accurately championed by Kerrang Magazine for composing songs that land with “cartilage-crushing force,” Abhorrence carries on band tradition with its a maniacal fusion of relentless riffs and thoughtful, devastating lyrics making for a raging, draining, and ultimately fulfilling experience.
An exercise in aural turbulence, each track on Abhorrence takes its listener on a magnificently traumatic journey. “Our lyrics for this record are all over the place,” notes guitarist Rob Wharton. “There’s some stuff about video games and addiction and mental health. To me, that’s the kind of subject matter that hits home because everyone’s got stuff going on in their lives. It’s relatable.”
Comments Wharton on “Insidious,” “A finger-fancy opening soon leads to slam-heavy grooves and well-articulated vocals, with lyrics about addiction, and a chorus/breakdown that always comes back for more.”
Watch the band’s previously released videos for “Abhorrence” HERE and “A Pact Unholy” HERE.
COGNITIVE started work on Abhorrence while touring in support of Malevolent Thoughts Of A Hastened Extinction, sending tracks back and forth while trekking from one intense gig to the next. Drummer AJ Viana has his own studio (he’s previously worked with bands as prestigious as Hath) and recorded, tracked, and mixed the album, before Ryan Williams (The Black Dahlia Murder, John Frum) at Metal Blade Records mastered it.
COGNITIVE recently announced a ten-date headlining tour in July with support from Dysentery and Atræ Bilis. In September, the band will play this year’s edition of the Metal Injection Fest in Brooklyn, New York before joining Benighted on their Canadian Infestation tour. See all confirmed dates below.
COGNITIVE w/ Dysentery, Atræ Bilis: 7/18/2024 Dingbatz – Clifton, NJ 7/19/2024 Ralph’s Diner – Worcester, MA 7/20/2024 Empire – Albany, NY 7/21/2024 The Shred Shed – Pittsburgh, PA 7/22/2024 E Street Pub – Richmond, IN 7/23/2024 JJs Bohemia – Chattanooga TN 7/25/2024 The Milestone – Charlotte, NC 7/26/2024 Riffhouse Pub – Virginia Beach, VA 7/27/2024 Shamrock Inn – Baltimore, MD 7/28/2024 The Kennel at West York Inn – York, PA End Tour 9/21/2024 Metal Injection Fest – Brooklyn, NY
w/ Benighted: 9/22/2024 QG – Rouyn Noranda, QC 9/23/2024 Piranha Bar – Montreal, QC 9/24/2024 Rainbow Bistro – Ottawa, ON 9/26/2024 Rum Runners – London, ON 9/27/2024 Warehouse – St Catharines, ON 9/28/2024 The Back Stage – Windsor, ON 9/29/2024 Sneaky Dee’s – Toronto, ON 9/30/2024 l’Anti – Quebec City, QC
COGNITIVE: Rob Wharton – guitars Harry Lannon – guitars Shane Jost – vocals Tyler Capone-Vitale – bass AJ Viana – drums
“Looking back, I should have croaked hundreds of times, but I didn’t. I never imagined I’d reach 40.” (Ozzy Osbourne)
As new addition to its list of programs, THE PIT VOD platform presents ‘God Bless Ozzy Osbourne’, a documentary telling the story of Ozzy’s career from the founding of Black Sabbath through to solo stardom and his wider fame beyond.
“These were the wild days of his prodigious drug and alcohol intake, of biting the head from a dove at a record company meeting and biting into a bat on stage but also of the tragic death of Randy Rhoads and the reality TV show The Osbournes.”
The film follows Ozzy’s torturous and emotionally fraught journey from excess to sobriety, which Ozzy regards as his greatest accomplishment. Featuring never before seen footage, new interviews with Ozzy himself, his brothers and sisters, his children, his bandmates in Black Sabbath and those who both inspired him and were inspired by him, this is the first film to take viewers inside the mind and psyche of this legendary figure.
*** For reminder, THE PIT is and available right now through the following link and your best ISP.
SETH are the harbinger of a sound that’s steeped in the clandestine narratives of Parisian lore and rebellion. Today, the French black metal band are releasing “Dans le Cœur un Poignard”, from their upcoming album La France des Maudits. Their latest single is a dark ode to those who bear the mark of betrayal and suffering within their hearts.
The haunting melody of “Dans le Cœur un Poignard” weaves through a labyrinth of Parisian despair, illuminating the darkest corners of a wounded heart. Lyrically, the track is a poignant narrative of anguish and defiance, serving as a siren call to those who navigate the treacherous waters of existence with a dagger sheathed within their soul. Seth, with their meticulous craftsmanship, etch a tale of sorrow and resilience, emboldened by the ethereal whispers of a love lost to the voracious appetite of betrayal.
“Dans mon cœur ce poignard. Toujours souffrir, Jusqu’à la mort!”, Saint Vincent echoes. It’s a stark reminder of the perpetual battle against the specters of our past, encapsulating the essence of human struggle, a relentless journey punctuated by moments of exquisite pain and sublime liberation.
Alongside the haunting melodies of “Dans le Cœur un Poignard”, Seth has commissioned a visually arresting music video, bringing the song’s themes of betrayal, anguish, and defiance to life with heart-piercing imagery. Helmed by the visionary Pierre Reynard, the video is a striking piece of art that beautifully accompanies the song’s melancholy.
Cover Art by Andy Julia
Tracklist 1. Paris des Maléfices (5:09) 2. Et Que Vive le Diable ! (5:35) [WATCH] 3. La Destruction des Reliques (5:51) 4. Dans le Cœur un Poignard (5:30) [WATCH] 5. Marianne (2:59) 6. Ivre du Sang des Saints (5:37) 7. Insurrection (7:33) 8. Le Vin du Condamné (8:06) 9. Initials B.B. (Serge Gainsbourg Cover) (Bonus Track) (3:49) Total runtime: 46:22
In the solemn shadows of a lyrically resurrected Paris, where the whispers of revolution still haunt the cobblestones and the phantom caress of the guillotine’s blade lingers in the air, stands a band – not merely of musicians, but of modern Marats, Robespierres in leather and lace, anointed with the spirit of insurrection. SETH, the harbingers of a dark yet fervidly awaited dawn, are poised once more to unleash a tempest upon the sanctified silence of the contemporary music scene with their newest auditory uprising, La France des Maudits.
The history of black metal formation Seth and Season of Mist spans back to the early days of the French metal scene. The band’s debut Les Blessures de L’Ame (1998) was one of the first releases on the label. This album is now regarded as a cornerstone in French black metal, pioneering the usage of their native tongue on a black metal record.
The release of Les Blessures de L’Ame quickly gained international attention and Seth built a solid fanbase. The French blasphemers signed a two-release deal with Osmose Productions and participated on the MAYHEM cult tribute album Originators of the Northern Darkness alongside IMMORTAL and BEHEMOTH. The second full-length The Excellence came out in 2000 and featured a contribution from none other than Fenriz (DARKTHRONE), who wrote the lyrics for the song Let Me Be The Salt In Your Wound.
Shortly after, the group recorded their third album Divine-X (2002) at the Excess Studios in Rotterdam (EPICA, AFTER FOREVER, SINISTER). This record demonstrated the ability of the band to mix gloomy and violent atmospheres and received extensive coverage from the international metal press at the time.
Returning to the Netherlands to record the fourth album Era-Decay (2004), two new members joined the ranks of Seth: vocalist Black Messiah and guitarist Cyriex. Afterwards, the band was invited to play at the prestigious Inferno festival in Norway in 2005.
A long hiatus followed, until the band returned in 2011 to play an exclusive show in Germany with the German cult act BETHLEHEM. The band re-joined the ranks of Season of Mist, eventually releasing The Howling Spirit (2013) and embarking on a European tour with PESTILENCE. Several appearances at major festivals followed, including Hellfest and Graspop Metal Meeting, concluded by a Canadian headliner tour with new vocalist Saint Vincent (BLACKLODGE).
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Les Blessures de L’Ame in 2018, Seth exclusively performed the entire album at festivals in Switzerland, Canada (Messe de Morts) and Belgium (Thronefest). The French label Les Acteurs de l’Ombre productions released a live recording of these shows, called 20 ans de Blasphème. The band’s new line-up features members of LOUDBLAST, ARKHON INFAUSTUS and MELTED SPACE.
In the twilight year of 2021, within Paris’ shadow-ridden crypt, Studio Sainte Marthe, an album was birthed from Seth’s tumultuous revelation, christened, La Morsure du Christ. Earning plaudits of wonder, it was no mere collection of hymns, but a solitary harbinger of deconstruction, a cataclysm of unseen proportions. Inspiration seeped from Notre-Dame de Paris—her skeletal frame ablaze in a 2019’s firestorm—an emblem of decaying faith for a godforsaken era. As heavy as the iron heart of a guillotine, La Morsure du Christ echoed through the chambers of 2021, reigning supreme in a multitude of international & French metal charts, as well as its inclusion on premier streaming platform playlists. Bold symphonies interwoven with razor-sharp lyricism and a sophisticated conceptual resonance that dared to envision black metal through a revolutionary lens.
Rooted deeply in the soil that once drank deeply of royal and commoner blood alike during the tumultuous fervour of the French Revolution, Seth presents their latest opus – a black metal gospel according to the damned and the outcast. An intricate tapestry of shadows and defiance emerges from the darkness of history’s recesses, swirling with the mists of apocalyptic visions and the ashes of fallen angels. La France des Maudits is a declaration of war, a call to arms for the souls still smouldering beneath the veneer of a world too long gripped in the cold hands of a moribund orthodoxy.
With the fractured bones of dead gods beneath their boots, Seth voyages through the forbidden and the occult, tracing the lines of ancient prophecies and the decadent whispers of La Grande Catin Écarlate, the scarlet woman of the apocalypse. Their songs, from Paris des Maléfices to Insurrection, resonate with the echoes of a Paris besieged not by armies, but by souls clamouring for liberation – a city where each stone tells a tale of defiance, where every shadow harbours the spirit of revolt.
Lyrically, La France des Maudits is dripping with the wine of condemned men and the blood of saints, narrating the epic saga of rebellion from the ashes of a fallen Notre-Dame. This is not the Paris of light, but of enlightening darkness, where the façades of grandeur crumble to reveal the raw flesh of true humanity, writhing in its eternal struggle against divine oppression. Here, in the very heart of darkness, Seth finds its muse among the cacophony of broken chains and shattered dogmas.Prepare to march beneath the banner unfurled by Seth, in the grand tradition of those unyielding souls who once stormed the Bastille and dared to dream of a world remade. La France des Maudits beckons – not to the gallows, but to glory.
Line-up Saint Vincent – Vocals (Blacklodge) Heimoth – Guitar (Sinsaenum) Drakhian – Guitar (ex-Loudblast, Griffar) Pierre Le Pape – Keys (Melted Space) EsX – Bass (Arkhon Infaustus, ex-Merrimack) Alsvid – Drums (ex-Enthroned, ex-Ad Patres)
Recording Studio Sainte Marthe Studio
Production Credits Mixed, produced & mastered by Francis Caste
Greek progressive metal act FADING ECHOES has signed a deal with Wormholedeath for the CD release of their album “Shadow of Another”. More info is coming soon!
The band stated: Fading Echoes is proud to announce our partnership with Wormholedeath Records for the physical release of our highly anticipated debut album, “Shadow of Another.”
This collaboration signifies a new chapter in our musical journey, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to join forces with Wormholedeath Records, a label known for its unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists and fostering creativity.
“Shadow of Another” is more than just an album to us; it’s a reflection of our collective passion and dedication to crafting music that resonates deeply with our audience. With Wormholedeath Records by our side, we are confident that our music will reach new heights and connect with listeners on a profound level. Stay tuned for updates on the release dates of “Shadow of Another.” We are immensely grateful for the support of our fans and cannot wait to share this musical journey with you all.
Fading Echoes is a progressive metal band from Volos, Greece, formed in 2019. The band members include Dimitris Stratikis (vocals and bass guitar), Vasilis Sarou (piano and keyboards), and Petros Printezis (guitars), with session musicians Jim Politis (guitars) and Nick Vell (drums). Their music is a fusion of intricate melodies, complex rhythms, and atmospheric textures, inspired by progressive metal greats like Savatage, Evergrey, Anathema, Katatonia, Opeth, and Soen.
Their debut album, “Shadow of Another,” is a melancholic and gloomy journey. Five of the eight songs form the haunting pentalogy “The Stages of Grief,” with each step being “Denial”, “Anger”, “Bargaining”, “Depression”, and “Acceptance”. This five-part composition delves deep into the complexities of loss, exploring the spectrum of emotions one may encounter while navigating the tumultuous terrain of grief. Each movement of this pentalogy is a sonic exploration of a different stage of grief, from the initial shock and denial to the eventual acceptance and resolution. Through haunting melodies, poignant harmonies, and evocative instrumentation, Fading Echoes captures the essence of each stage with remarkable depth and sensitivity.
The album features Zak Stevens (Savatage / TSO) on the song “Acceptance” and was mixed and mastered by George Constantine Kratsas.
1. The Stages of Grief, Pt.1 – Denial 2. The Stages of Grief, Pt.2 – Anger 3. The Stages of Grief, Pt.3 – Bargaining 4. The Stages of Grief, Pt.4 – Depression 5. The Stages of Grief, Pt.5 – Acceptance (ft Zak Stevens) 6. The First Step Forward 7. Rumination 8. The Final Act
Watch the official lyric video of “Acceptance” featuring the legendary Zak Stevens here:
The album promises to deliver a unique and immersive musical experience, inviting listeners to delve into the depths of emotion through the artistry of Fading Echoes.
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 