REFLECTION OF FLESH have released a drum playthrough video for ‘We Are Legion’. The track is taken from the band’s album “We Are Legion”, out via Wormholedeath.
Reflection of Flesh is a three-piece, brutal, metal band with a wide range of musical influences. This has produced a unique sound driven by a devastating rhythm section, overlaid with infectious guitar grooves, and dark, heavy vocals.
With a lineup featuring Philip Proite on Bass/Vocals, Garrett Smith on Guitars, and Chris Oelke on Drums, Reflection of Flesh is a force to be reckoned with.
South African groove metal powerhouse THORNS OF IVORY release their highly anticipated follow-up single, “Dogs of War,” today. Known for their high-octane live performances and skull-crushing anthems, Thorns of Ivory is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the global metal scene.
Hailing from Durban, South Africa, the band consists of founder and guitarist Mitchel Tees, guitarist Marcel Smuts, vocalist Matthew Howes, and founding member and drummer Nasiphi Zwane. Since their inception in 2015, Thorns of Ivory has navigated lineup changes with ease, emerging stronger each time. Their early sound leaned towards hardcore and metalcore, but a shift in members in 2019 led them to embrace their groove metal roots, resulting in a sound that’s both heavy and infectious.
The band’s debut single, “Curtain Call,” released in July 2022, topped the charts on “The Doors Rock Radio” for four weeks straight. Thorns of Ivory has shared the stage with South African heavyweights like Vulvodynia and Facing The Gallows and reached the Wacken Metal Battle finals in 2023.
The band’s frontman, Matthew Howes, is a true survivor, having battled and conquered cancer in 2023. Their December 2023 comeback show at the Burn Reunion in Durban was a powerful display of resilience.
Thorns of Ivory are gearing up for their first performance of 2024 at the prestigious Pit At The Polo event, where they will be joined by Chase Drewett of Scathanna Wept and The Kill, who will fill in on bass.
Their new single, “Dogs of War,” draws inspiration from the political landscape of 2020-2023 and has become even more relevant with recent global conflicts. The band aims to convey the stark realities of war and its devastating impact on the lives of those involved.
“This song focuses on the abject horror experienced by those who are not given a choice and only have orders,” comments the band. “War is not glorious. The cost of life, the mental state of those on the ground, and the permanent damage it leaves is not something to be sought after.”
The track’s writing process was a journey, taking a couple of months to complete as the band navigated the direction of the song. The final lyrics were inspired by a war novel by Frederick Forsyth, with Howes crafting vivid imagery from there.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered in-house by the band themselves, “Dogs of War” showcases their ability to combine textured heavy groove with pace. As Howes is a qualified sound engineer, Thorns of Ivory’s recording process is meticulously crafted.
To bridge the gap between last year’s debut “Anthems Of The Lost” and a new longplayer planned for 2025, Berlin thrashers Deimos’ Dawn and frontman Marc Grewe were in the studio earlier this year to record a few new songs.
As a first taste of these recordings, the track “God Of Pain” is now released as a digital single on all download and streaming platforms, as well as a video on YouTube! The band is currently working on possibly releasing the recorded songs on vinyl in the course of the year, but it is still a little early for concrete information on this. In any case, you will have the opportunity to see the quartet live this year, for example in Wacken or at Metal Frenzy. You can find the confirmed dates below.
Livedates 14.06. Metal Frenzy Open Air, Gardelegen 31.07. Wacken Open Air, Wasteland Wednesday 26.10. Hannover, Subkultur, Final Cry Anniversary Fest
Lucidity‘s third album, “Escherian”, is a concept album in which the story’s character desperately tries to escape a parallel reality. The character repeatedly experiences the same moments, unsure of where or when he is. Despite making progress, he finds himself in the same place over and over again.
The album’s narrative reflects modern times: the journey of people through life, often reluctant to see what’s happening around us. Our journey may resemble Penrose stairs – we move forward without questioning our direction, even though we tread the same path day after day.
Musically, “Escherian” continues the tradition of Lucidity. The band has maintained openness to a range of influences, spanning from the 70s to the present, encompassing genres from pop to extreme metal, this time drawing a bit more from progressive soundscapes.
2004 founded Lucidity is progressive melancholic metal band from Jyväskylä, Finland. They have before this released two full length albums The Oblivion Circle (2015) and Oceanum (2019).
APOCALYPTICA are thrilled to announce the release of the third single from Apocalyptica Plays Metallica, Vol. 2 – the hotly-anticipated sequel to their legendary debut record.Onefalls hot on the heels of first singles The Four Horsemen and The Unforgiven II, and features none other than Metallica frontman James Hetfield himself.
Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 will continue the journey that began in 1996 when cellists from Helsinki’s world-renowned Sibelius Academy played symphonic tribute to the biggest of the big four – heavy metal titans Metallica. For their tenth record the classically-minded dynamos are returning to their roots to bring a legendary story full circle. It also features a host of surprises, including an unprecedented collaboration.
Third single One, taken from Metallica’s 1988 landmark …And Justice For All is a breathtaking reinterpretation of one of the biggest of The Big Four’s greatest musical moments – a true crowning creative achievement in their staggering 40 year career. In a stunning development, the single sees Metallica frontman James Hetfield himself joining proceedings for a soul-stirring, spoken-word rendition of those inimitable, now immortal lyrics. More than a unique collaboration, this is history in the making.
“I think it’s incredible that James wanted to do it,” says Eicca Toppinen. “We were always thinking, ‘it’d be great to someday do something with Metallica!’ I think the excitement for him came from the different approach we were taking – sometimes the craziest ideas are what excites people and that was our challenge.”
“We used everything at our disposal to make it as bombastic as possible. It had to be epic! The result was truly cinematic, with James Hetfield narrating the story with those poetic lyrics. It was powerful and touching,” adds Perttu Kivilaakso. “As a fan I have to say it was unbelievable to finally hear it. I was in my home crying. My hands were shaking. It was an incredible journey.”
Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 was produced by longtime collaborator and studio supremo Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, Tool) and will be released via new label Throwdown Entertainment on June 7th.
Tracklisting:
Ride the Lightning
St. Anger
The Unforgiven II
Blackened
The Call of Ktulu (in memory of Cliff Burton)
The Four Horsemen (ft. Rob Trujillo)
Holier Than Thou
To Live Is To Die
One (ft. James Hetfield)
One (Instrumental)
Apocalyptica are: Eicca Toppinen Perttu Kivilaakso Paavo Lötjönen
The highly anticipated new album, “The Formless Fires,” by the Swedish black metal band Kvaen is set to release on June 21. This much-awaited album will be released under the renowned Metal Blade Records label. As a testament to their growing popularity,
We are thrilled to announce that we have been granted the honor of featuring a limited number of vinyl editions of the album. However, due to the high demand, we will be adding more vinyls to meet the needs of fans and collectors alike.
Kvaen’s “The Formless Fires” promises to deliver a captivating blend of melodic black metal, showcasing the band’s unique sound and powerful songwriting. Stay tuned for an unforgettable musical journey when the album finally hits the shelves.
Track list 1. The Formless Fires 2. Traverse The Nether 3. Tornets Sång 4. The Ancient Gods 5. Basilisk 6. De Dödas Sång 7. The Perpetual Darkness 8. The Wings Of Death
Chief Shock Video
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 ) 