VOICE Return with Brand New Album “Holy Or Damned”, First Video Single ‘The Silence Of Prescience’ Premiering 

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 9, 2024
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[photo: Roger Voigt]

VOICE return with an album that will make every metal fan’s heart beat faster! After their successful comeback in 2017 with the album “The Storm”, they now return to their roots and present a multi-faceted new album, in which each song seamlessly flows into the next, while the arc of suspense is continuously maintained. This work undoubtedly belongs in the collection of every metalhead who appreciates catchy hook-lines, a well thought-out musical concept and an impressive production!

“Holy Or Damned” will be unleashed on July 12, 2024 via Massacre Records, available as CD Digipak, Ltd. Vinyl LP and Digital formats, the pre-sale has just started at: https://lnk.to/holyordamned

A first single, “The Silence Of Prescience”, is out now on all digital streaming providers via https://voice.bfan.link/thesilenceofprescience. Watch the music video premiering here:

“You know it yourself, there are places or moments where you feel uncomfortable, and you don’t know why. You constantly have the urge to turn around or hear noises that make you feel insecure.” Thommy Neuhierl (guitars/keyboards) comments about the band’s new single.

“But there are also people who live in such a world all the time, limiting themselves more and more, and forgetting about real life because of all the fear. They are trapped in an illusory world of fears and lose contact with the people around them and a clear view of the everyday course of things in this world.”

The lyrics on the upcoming VOICE album deal with the highs and lows of human existence. They are about being loved and hated, and show how our view of the world can change in a matter of seconds.

With “Holy Or Damned”, the band captures the essence of over 30 years of musical creativity. Particularly noteworthy are the guest musicians that VOICE has invited on this album: Guitarist Ragnar Zolberg (Sign, ex-Pain Of Salvation), Hans-Jürgen “Jäcki” Reznicek (Silly) and Fredy Adler. “Holy Or Damned” was mixed by Mirko Hoffmann and was mastered by Jaakko Viitalähde at Virtalähde Mastering; the album artwork was created by Thommy Neuhierl.

At a time when music is often only consumed in a rush and on the fly, VOICE encourages listeners to consciously take their time, because “Holy Or Damned” is more than just an album – it is a journey that should be experienced with all senses!

“Holy Or Damned” CD Tracklist:

  1. Nevermore
  2. The Silence of Prescience
  3. In This World
  4. Dream On
  5. Schizo Dialogues
  6. Tears in the Dust
  7. Chatroom Whispering
  8. Privateer (Bonus Track)
  9. Let’s Go Ahead (Bonus Track)
  10. Only Grey Remain (Bonus Track)
  11. Petrified Dreams

VOICE is:
Oliver Glas – Vocals
Thommy Neuhierl – Guitars, Keyboards
Rainer Wild – Guitars
Sören Glas – Bass
Sven “Leo” Leonhardt – Drums

For More Info Visit:
https://voice-metal.com
https://www.facebook.com/VOICEmetalband
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT-OgPLM-g81YrWIQvIgrkw

RELIQA Release Video for New Single ‘Dying Light’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 9, 2024
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Shot by Kane Hibberd – Styled by Bridget Parker

Fast-rising Australian metallers RELIQA have released a video for their new single, ‘Dying Light,’ the third cut to be taken from their upcoming debut album, Secrets Of The Future, which sees a 31st May release via Nuclear Blast Records for all territories outside of Australia, where it will be released via Greyscale Records.

Vocalist Monique Pym comments:
“Dying Light is your last taste of the album before we go full send on May 31st. This one is all about the attitude – it’s got a level of sass and femininity that we haven’t explored before, with a dirty, riffy groove to keep it grounded. I think this song really completes the picture alongside Terminal and Killstar for how many diverse kinds of sounds we’ve managed to pack into the record.”

Pre-order and pre-save Secrets Of The Future now at: https://nblast.de/Reliqa-SOTF

THRESHOLD Release 2024 Remixes of “Wounded Land” + “Psychedelicatessen”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 9, 2024
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Formed in leafy Surrey in the late ‘80’s, THRESHOLD truly blossomed in the following decade, and swiftly established themselves as the U.K.’s chief progressive metal standard bearers. From 1993’s Wounded Land debut onwards, the enduring creative core of guitarist Karl Groom and keyboard maestro Richard West constructed a unique strain of heavy progressive music, combining incisive melodies, thought- provoking lyrics and intricate but thunderous arrangements. THRESHOLD have marched inexorably forward across three decades of creative fervour, arguably hitting a new peak of potency on the conceptual and musical feast of 2017’s Legends Of The Shires.

With vocalist Glynn Morgan back in the fold, the Brits’ enduring line-up of Groom, West, drummer Johanne James and bassist Steve Anderson somehow pushed themselves to new heights receiving widespread critical acclaim. The band’s latest (and 12th) studio album, Dividing Lines, was darker, heavier and even more adventurous than it’s predecessor, boasting  some of the most wildly inventive and melodically potent material they have ever recorded.

Now the band embark on a comprehensive re-issue campaign of their earlier releases, newly remixed and remastered in 2024 including fresh new vinyl formats and CD’s with bonus material.

Kicking off with the aforementioned debut Wounded Land (featuring Damian Wilson on vocals) and ‘1994’s Psychedelicatessen (where Glynn Morgan was recruited to front the band). The band will also embark on the career-spanning ‘Threshold Through Time’ tour across Europe this October.

“THRESHOLD THROUGH TIME” TOUR DATES
09.10. BE Ittre – Zik Zak
10.10. CH Pratteln – Z7
11.10. DE Aschaffenburg – Colos Saal
12.10. NL Zoetermeer – Boerderij
13.10. BE Bilzen, – South of Heaven
15.10. DE Munich – Feierwerk
16.10. DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
17.10. DE Neunkirchen – Neue Gebläsehalle
18.10. DE Essen – Turock
19.10. NL Helmond – Cacaofabriek  

SIMONE SIMONS Announces Debut Solo Album “Vermillion”, Reveals First Single + Video ‘Aeterna’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 9, 2024
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SIMONE SIMONS has been a pioneering force within the world of metal for over two decades as part of EPICA. Now, alongside her musical partner and longtime collaborator, ARJEN LUCASSEN (AYREON), she embarks on the journey of her debut solo record, Vermillion.

ARJEN is no stranger to SIMONE‘s soaring operatic voice, one that can stir even a gargoyle’s stone heart to tears. Together they have crafted a sonic universe that befits the influential figure she is. Vermillion emerges as a gargantuan goose-bump generator, a universally touching, stellar tour de force. Vermillion will be released on the 23rd August via Nuclear Blast Records.

Alongside the announcement of her debut solo record, SIMONE has released a video for the album’s first single, ‘Aeterna’. You can watch the video for ‘Aeterna’, below.

SIMONE and ARJEN state:
“Aeterna is the big, epic opener of the album and it comes with this amazing video too, directed by Patric Ullaeus. It definitely sounds the closest to  Epica and Ayreon, blending powerful Latin lyrics with a touch of an oriental feel. We’ve tried to strike a balance between the mighty, bombastic sounds and the more atmospheric parts.Since it’s the first track people will hear from this album, it’s super important to us and we’re really excited for people to hear it!
Aeterna takes the point of view of a star about to go supernova to explore how everything in the universe is interconnected, like a cosmic web made from stardust. It deals our deep emotions, consciousness and other mysteries of life that science still can’t fully explain. Essentially it’s a reflection on our place in the vast universe and the connections that bind us together, as we’re all, to quote Carl Sagan, “made of starstuff.”

Pre-order and pre-save Vermillion now at: https://simonesimons.bfan.link/vermillion

About SIMONE SIMONS:
For more than 20 years, ever since she was a teenager, SIMONE SIMONS has been carving her own path as a woman within the world of metal. As a lead singer, icon, and role model for a whole generation of female metalheads, the Epica lead singer remains one of the most prominent key figures in all things metal. After eight albums and countless global tours with her band, SIMONE SIMONS finally found the time to release her first solo album – a moment 15 years in the making! Her breathtaking debut Vermillion is a stunning feat chronicling her storied past as well as her rise to fame, and showcasing her many different influences ranging from prog rock to film scores to metal to electronic elements.
Of the timing for her eagerly awaited foray into the realms of a solo career, the Dutch singer says with a disarming grin: Epica has my priority and I always have the liberty to do other musical projects besides my career in Epica. Yet, I never had the time to dive into a project to this extent.
Some endeavors require patience and time, and rightly so. Simone chose not to rush her solo project, opting instead to thoughtfully consider how she wanted to present herself. Enter stage right Arjen Lucassen (AYREON). Her musical partner and longtime collaborator is no stranger to her soaring operatic voice. Together they have crafted a sonic universe that befits the influential figure she is. And while many would use their solo effort as a radical, even provocative departure from everything they stood for, SIMONE remains true to her love for epic melodies, huge choruses and monumental, intelligent music.

LOCK HORNS Release New Album “Red Room” on May 31st

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 9, 2024
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Northern Irish metallers, Lock Horns have been busy working on the follow-up to 2018’s ‘Molon Labe’ opus, and are finally ready to reveal details of their fierce new studio LP, ‘Red Room, which is due for release on May 31st, via The Distortion Project and Code 7 Distribution. 
 
As the expression goes; “Good things take time, but great things take longer”…
This is very much the case with Belfast Progressive Metal four-piece, Lock Horns, who have emerged from the depths of an intensive creative period with an album that stretches the bands creative horizon to new levels of intensity and unbridled passion.

Recorded in late 2022, ‘Red Room‘ went through a process of evolution, from as far back as late 2019/early 2020, before the global pandemic forced the world into somewhat of a dystopian nightmare. By the time the world opened up again, Lock Horns found themselves in possession of material that was now three years old, and not a reflection of who they had become in a post Covid world.
 
The introduction of an 8-string guitar had drastically changed the bands creative potential, and a decision was made to wipe their creative slate clean, and embrace the rich vein to which they had stumbled upon.
It was at this point, when ‘Red Room‘ was born.
 
Speaking of the new album, guitarist Junior Afrifa says; “Boundaries were pushed on this album, sonically and physically from a playing perspective. I truly believe this a seven-track album that is most definitely, ‘all killer and no filler’, as well as being  full of unique songs that take an unexpected turn at every corner.”
He continues; “From seven-minute chaotic riffs, to three minutes of polyrhythmic nightmares, this album is the brainchild of all four of us, and we’re all immensely proud of what we’ve created. Trust me when I say,   it’ll be well worth the wait.”

Speaking of the album cover artwork he says: “The album’s overall theme is ‘Control’ and the struggle it brings. The control over someone else, yourself or the entire population and or the complete opposite which is no control thus anarchy.”
 
With a scheduled release date of May 31st (via The Distortion Project label and Code 7 Distribution), ‘Red Room’ features seven earth-shattering cuts of premium Progressive Metal, loaded with exceptional musicianship and punishing brutality.

‘Red Room’ track-listing:
The Origin of Evil Impulses
Rust
Skin and Bones
Lab Rat
Impression of a Dream
The Golden Mean
Expressions of Madness

https://www.facebook.com/LockHornsOfficial
https://twitter.com/lock_horns
SPOTIFY
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKRIxzI-dfQ0yd0WltXPEaw

UFOMAMMUT Drop New Video Single ‘Mausoleum’ from Upcoming Album, Out May 17th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 9, 2024
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[photo credit: Ufomammut]

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Italian psychedelic doom/sludge metal trio UFOMAMMUT. May 17, 2024 will see the band release their much-awaited, tenth studio offering Hidden via Neurot Recordings/Supernatural Cat Records.In support of Hidden, UFOMAMMUT are currently gearing up for an extensive tour across Europe and the UK through all of May and into June, with much more being plotted. See the current 25 Years Anniversary Tour listings at the band’s website HERE and stand by for updates.

Following previously-released tracks, “Leeched” and “Kismet”, UFOMAMMUT are now presenting a visualizer clip for their latest single “Mausoleum”! About the track, the band says, “Mausoleum, the longest track on the album, captures a slow and mysterious pace that mirrors the text’s comparison of human beings to mausoleums. Just as a mausoleum stands as an important monument and timeless wonder, so too is the human body described as a vessel for our ashes.”

Just exclusively premiered with The Sleeping Shaman, the clip for “Mausoleum” is now streaming at:

Hidden marks a shift in UFOMAMMUT‘s musical composition, aiming for a more intense and heavy sound, as they have displayed over the prior two releases. The title, Hidden, reflects the concept of the presence of everything in our existence and the ability to bring to light what lies within us. With Hidden, the band delves into a sonic journey that traverses vast expanses of space and time. From the crushing heaviness to the hauntingly melodies, from the textured compositions to the otherworldly atmospheres, Hidden testifies to the never-ending evolution of UFOMAMMUT and their mastery of creating immersive sonic experiences: a fitting celebration of their 25 years of sonic exploration and experimentation.

Like any good psychedelic trip, the music of UFOMAMMUT has always been inextricably intertwined with visual art, and as always, the artwork, videos, and all visuals/graphics for Hidden were created by Malleus Rock Art Lab, the rock/music graphic design collective of which Poia and Urlo are part of with Lu. Hidden was recorded at Flat Scenario Studio in Piemonte, Italy, with Lorenzo Stecconi handling the mixing and mastering, and Luca Grossi overseeing vocal tracking.

Hidden will be released on CD, LP, and digital on May 17th, in North America through Neurosis’ Neurot Recordings, the vinyl pressed on a Silver Nugget variant in a gatefold jacket. In Europe, the band’s Supernatural Cat Records will release it, a standard version on 180-gram Marbled Purple And Black variant, and a limited version of 500 copies on 180-gram Crystal Clear variant crafted by hand using photosensitive colors that are activated by sunlight, bringing the concept of the album to life, with multiple bundles and options.

Find US preorders/presaves at Neurot Recordings HERE and EU preorders at Supernatural Cat HERE

Hidden Track Listing:

  1. Crookhead
  2. Kismet
  3. Spidher
  4. Mausoleum
  5. Leeched
  6. Soulost

Rising from the ashes of their prior band Judy Corda, UFOMAMMUT formed in the late 1990s by Poia and Urlo (bass, vocals, effects, synths), together with Vita (drums). With Levre taking over on drums in 2021, the band has undergone a rebirth, culminating in the release of the 2022-released Fenice LP, and on Halloween 2023, the Crookhead EP.

Over the course of two-and-a-half decades, UFOMAMMUT has developed a unique sound that combines heavy, dynamic riff worship with a deep understanding of psychedelic tradition in music, which has resulted in a cosmic, futuristic, and technicolor sound that fully immerses listeners. They’ve produced a wide spectrum of albums, EPs, live albums, a box set, compilation tracks, and covers – including a track on the Superunknown Redux Soundgarden tribute album.

For More Info Visit:
https://www.ufomammut.com
https://www.facebook.com/ufomammutband
https://twitter.com/ufomammutmafia
https://ufomammut.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/ufomammut