Experience the celestial harmonies of two iconic voices as Marko Hietala and Tarja Turunen unite in a mesmerizing duet like never before!
Embark on a journey through space and time with ´Left On Mars´, a captivating single and accompanying video that transcends boundaries of genre and imagination. Inspired by a tale of love and longing, this ethereal ballad combines Marko’s emotive lyrics and powerful riffs with Tarja’s hauntingly beautiful vocals, creating a symphony that resonates deep within the soul.
Marko Hietala about the song: “A love song to my wife which ends up uniting two old friends. Even if the song itself sucked, I would be pleased about the result!”
Marko´s guitarist and album producer Tuomas Wäinölä remembers about hearing the song for the first time at Marko’s place in Kuopio: ”It was a strong one immediately. I think Marko had the idea of it being a duet too, straight from the beginning. After that it was just a matter of grinding and demoing it well. The fun part was taking the song to Switzerland on an USB drive, like proper agents! We had this secret meeting when we had a Pratteln Outdoor gig with Tarja, both playing our own sets. And yeah, it was great to see them together on stage and finally singing the same tune again!”
From the initial spark of inspiration to the final note, every moment of ´Left On Mars´ exudes passion and creativity. Marko’s evocative storytelling sets the stage for Tarja’s enchanting performance, forming a cosmic connection that transports listeners to a world beyond imagination.
You’ve been asking for it, and now the time has come! ABBATH DOOM OCCULTA and his band will revisit the past and pay tribute to his legacy by performing a carefully selected set of old fan favorites and iconic metal anthems he co-wrote and recorded in the period 1992 – 2009 during the upcoming “Return to the Raven Realms” tour that will be coming to the EU and UK this summer!
Abbath comments, “I can’t wait to get back on stage this summer to perform some old favorites that I haven’t played for a long, long time. Mark my words – It’s going to be loud and epic!”
ABBATH DOOM OCCULTA is widely regarded as a prominent and iconic figure within black and extreme metal. For nearly three decades he helmed one of the most influential metal bands ever to emerge from Norway – IMMORTAL. With his characteristic voice, signature guitar riffs and undisputed talent as a stage performer, the charismatic singer helped spearhead the Norwegian trio from local clubs to the biggest festival stages in the world.
From the early beginnings with albums such as ‘Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism’ and ‘Battles in the North,’ to chart toppers ‘At the Heart of Winter’ and ‘Sons of Northern Darkness,’ Abbath has through his work with the group left a major imprint on the worldwide phenomenon that is Norwegian Extreme Metal.
‘Return to the Raven Realms Tour’ will be framed by the most spectacular stage show that Abbath ever has undertaken in his nearly 40-year long career.
The full itinerary can be found below!
ABBATH DOOM OCCULTA “Return to the Raven Realms” Summer EU/UK Tour 2024:
20.06 Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli Ronda 22.06 Dessel, BE @ Graspop 23.06 London, UK @ Electric Ballroom 24.06 Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 Galvanisers 25.06 Dublin, IRL @ Academy 28.06 Oslo, NO @ Tons of Rock 07.07 Barcelona, SP @ Barcelona Rockfest 31.07 Pratteln, CH @ Z7 01.08 Vienna, AT @ Arena Wien 02.08 Rasnov, RO @ Rockstadt Extreme Fest 03.08 Belgrade, RS @ Dorcol Platz 05.08 Lignano, IT @ Arena Alpe 06.08 Budapest, HU @ Barba Negra 07.08 Jaromer, CZ @ Brutal Assault 08.08 Schlotheim, DE @ Party San Open Air 10.08 Helsinki, FI @ HELLsinki
Live Lineup: Abbath – Guitar & Vocals Ole Andre Farstad – Guitar Andreas Salbu – Bass Ukri Suvilehto – Drums
The members of VLTIMAS are all legends in their own right. David Vincent blessed the sick for Morbid Angel. Rune Eriksen made grand declarations of war as Mayhem’s blasphemous axe man. No one is more vile than Flo Mounier, who’s been drumming for Cryptopsy since their earliest exhumations of the underground. But on their second album together, VLTIMAS are mightier than ever.
EPIC comes out this Friday, March 15. But you can listen to the whole album today on Season of Mist’s YouTube channel in partnership with Decibel magazine.
VLTIMAS have so much history under their bullet belts that some gatekeepers may have wondered if there were any new realms for them to conquer. After all, their first album was voted album of the year by BangerTV.
And yet – their new album boldy declares that these devils aren’t content with merely living among the lords of chaos.Though written amongst the many comforts of Vincent’s Texas ranch (long walks, plenty of booze) EPIC is dark, extreme and unrelenting. Everyone gets to flex their muscles. Rune rips off fiery riffs from all angles on blistering lead single “Miserere”. Though it starts off as a slow burn, Flo blazes through “Scorcher” with blast beats that are so wickedly precise they belong in a museum. David’s growl could still summon underground hordes to the alter of madness, but “Invictus” rolls out a new style of death metal vocals.
“I’ll not be blinded and I’ll never be for sale”, he sings with a grizzled battle cry.
But EPIC amounts to a heck of a lot more than just the sum of VLTIMAS’ devilish talents. It’s a testament to everything these underground heroes have stood for the past 30 years: crushing speed, surgical precession, strength in one’s own convictions.
Cover art by Daniele Valeriani – Additional artwork and layout by Adrien Bousson
Early Praise for EPIC
“VLTIMAS could hardly fail, given the pedigree of everyone involved, but this suggests that Vincent, Eriksen and Mounier are not leaving anything to chance. EPIC live up to its name and then some” – Blabbermouth (8/10)
“An album that is so varied that it could be heard a dozen times yet not be completely comprehended…it is sure to stand as one of the most original studio outings of the year” – Sonic Perspectives(8.9/10)
“A smooth and dynamic ride…you almost feel like you’re listening to the soundtrack to a dark, theatrical play. It has that epic-ness to it, pun intended” – A&P Reacts
“Evil D has blessed us again with the fruits of one of his more recent ventures….a very solid sophomore effort for VLTIMAS” – Metal Injection (8/10)
“EPIC lives up to its title, treading the line between imperious grandeur and ridiculous pomposity” – Metal Hammer(4/5)
“A mix of black and death metal among other influences, EPIC represents a major victory for VLTIMAS’ expanding team” – Metal Insider
“Any time you have a chorus with ‘Die, Die, Die’ – come on – that is classic” – Teeth of Divine
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
To properly coronate the arrival of EPIC, VLTIMAS are touring Europe this March.
VLTIMAS EPIC European Tour2024 March 23: Enschede, NL @ Metropool [TICKETS] March 24: Drachten, NL @ Iduna [TICKETS] March 27: Copenhagen, DK @ Hotel Cecil [TICKETS] March 28: Fredericia, DK @ Tøjhuset [TICKETS] March 29: Oslo, NO @ Inferno Fest [TICKETS] March 31: Athens, GR @ Kyttaro Live [TICKETS]
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, RUÏM), 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
Distorta, a powerful heavy metal band hailing from Ballarat, Australia, are excited to announce they have signed a deal with WormholeDeath Records to release and promote their debut EP – A Devil in the Dust. The EP was produced, recorded, and mixed entirely by the band themselves, taking a hands-on approach to generate a sound and feel that aims to replicate the power and energy of their live performances.
The five songs on the EP incorporate a wide range of metal styles and influences that have impacted the five band members over the years. Several recent positive EP reviews have described Distorta’s sound as having elements of Groove, Death, Power, and Thrash Metal blended into the songs, with one reviewer stating:
“The overall sound is quite mixed in the best possible way. A few pressers and reviews go on about heavy metal, but this is solid groove-based death thrash with definitely some metalcore vibes. But the better elements of all these styles are utilized to make the confident and competent style shine.” – (Devil Horns Zine, 2023)
With the reviewers comparing the sound with the likes of Megadeth, Metallica, Testament, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Parkway Drive, and Lamb of God among others, there is something for everyone on this EP.
A Devil in the Dust EP focuses on a few core themes that, unfortunately, are very relevant to the world today – War, Mental Health, and Addiction. The opening track Tomorrow People is an apocalyptic look into the future and the need for people to fight for freedom. The title track of the EP, Devil in the Dust, focuses on the mental struggles of a returned war veteran and the battle to survive at home and in society. Chasing Shadows is written from the point of view of an addictive drug speaking to and mocking an addict. Bones is about a couple in a car accident caused by someone else and the husbands wish to get vengeance before he dies. The final track, Suffocate, focuses on a recovered drug addict trying to resist the temptation to do it again and the mental struggle in his own head.
Tracklist
Tomorrow People
Devil In the Dust
Chasing Shadows
Bones
Suffocate
Distorta was originally formed by James Bogers (Guitar/Vocals) and Chris Hanrahan (Drums) in 2015 with Dave Prodanovic (Bass) joining the band soon after. With several other guitarists and singers rotating through the band, the current lineup was solidified in 2022 with the addition of Dom Davey (Guitar/Vocals) and Dimitry Keremetskiy (Lead Vocals).
Distorta are eager to commence working closely with the team at WormholeDeath to promote the EP and are fired up to see where it takes them.
Immerse yourself in the unique sound of Distorta with their music video for “Devil in the Dust”
Soul Extract continues his orchestral rock journey with Void Chapter member and labelmate Brian Skeel in this new single cinematic rock single “Innerspace.”
Building up momentum from the start “Innerspace” is an ethereal journey into the microcosms. In his own words Soul Extract explains, “From my passion of the microscopic unseen world came a track that will hopefully pique the interest of those who have dismissed the subatomic and quantum world as mundane science. Working with Brian Skeel on this song is what brought this idea to life and I am super thankful to share this with him.”
Fueled by guitars, synthesizers, and a dynamic vocal performance from Soul Extract “Innerspace” explores the depths of the smallest worlds we’ve yet to touch. Orchestral strings blending with chugging guitars, and impassioned vocals, powerful rhythms, ethereal melodies, and the electrifying combination of bass, drums, electric guitar, and synthesizers that Soul Extract has come to be known for “Innerspace” is truly a prime example of cinematic rock at its best. Take the journey inside. You won’t regret it.
Cerebral. Beautiful. Violent. Soul Extract taps into a wealth of human emotions and experiences to generate a listening space that is as intense and unpredictable as life itself. The highly personal inspiration for Soul Extract’s creations gives every song an invigorating level of creative clarity, and the artist’s willingness to smash through genre barriers puts him at the forefront of modern music.
Although Soul Extract’s stylistic approach fits within the broad scope of electronic rock, labels can’t begin to describe the exploratory, borderline progressive nature of the songs themselves. Josh Mullis, the architect behind Soul Extract’s elaborate compositions, brings a deconstructive mindset to his craft, tearing apart genres and fusing their most compelling elements back together to build calculated and highly detailed tracks. This analytical approach to Soul Extract began to take shape in 2013, and after years spent synthesizing the sounds of metal, electronic, and orchestral music, the artist unleashed his fiery debut album, Circadian Algorithm. Loaded wall-to-wall with emotive vocals and explosive instrumental sections, the album has laid the foundation for a developing career with an upward trajectory.
Mullis’ passion for music began at a young age, and he has traditionally pulled from deeply personal events for his creative stimulus. Finding escape from family struggles by picking up a guitar as a teenager, Mullis discovered those early creative efforts were able to carry him through unpredictable times. As an adult, a motivating force for his music rests within humanitarian endeavors, as Mullis donates proceeds from Soul Extract to New Day Foster Home (http://www.newdayfosterhome.com), a charity that supported the health of his adopted daughter at an early age.
For Mullis, music is an indescribable force capable of sparking intense emotion, and this force is the essence of an artist in its purest form. As the project name suggests, Soul Extract is Josh Mullis’ unaltered expression of himself, and his passionate approach to songwriting shines through on every track he produces.
Rockshots Records is thrilled to unveil the new single from the extraordinary druid metal band UNSHINE!
Immerse yourself in an ecological post-apocalyptic vision, as UNSHINE combines one of their most melodic tunes with some of the most introspective and hippie-inspired lyrics ever penned.
Listen now to experience the harmonious blend of Nordic melodies and ethereal vocals that transport you to another realm.
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 ) 