April 19th will see Finland’s melodic gothic-doomsters HANGING GARDEN explore intimate dark rock & atmospheric synth-pop on “Citylight Sessions” live EP on Agonia Records. The mini album is set to feature five remade tracks, originally found on “The Garden”.
On “Citylight Sessions”, the Finnish ensemble unveils a journey into the urban and the ethereal. The distinctive release showcases a series of alternative renditions of five tracks from their critically acclaimed album, 2023’s “The Garden”; bringing a fresh, atmospheric perspective to their signature sound.
In an unprecedented move, HANGING GARDEN transforms its sonic landscape by stripping away the familiar cloak of gothic doom metal. Instead, the band embraces a lush symphony of synths, ethereal guitar soundscapes, and drum machines, creating an intimate and hauntingly beautiful experience.
“Citylight Sessions” was recorded during an intimate live performance at the contemporary gallery space of the design company Paja & Bureau. The juxtaposition of HANGING GARDEN‘s haunting melodies against the backdrop of Paja & Bureau‘s innovative design space creates an experience that is delightfully distinct from conventional music venues. The entire performance was filmed and is expected to be unveiled in video format with the EP’s premiere.
The mixing, mastering and cover artwork were done by Toni Hatakka.
Tracklisting: 1. The Journey (Live Remake) 2. The Four Winds (Live Remake) 3. The Garden (Live Remake) 4. The Fireside (Live Remake) 5. The Construct (Live Remake)
Line-up: Toni Hatakka – vocals Riikka Hatakka – vocals Jussi Hämäläinen – guitars, vocals Mikko Kolari – guitars Kimmo Tukiainen – guitars Nino Hynninen – keyboards Jussi Kirves – bass Antti Ruokola – drums
Fear of Water is a one-man-band created by Dave Perry out of Austin, Texas. Born clinically deaf, the consumption & creation of music has been a critical aspect of his recovery and a central focus of Dave’s life.
The newest release by Fear of Water “One Day” is a heart-wrenching collaboration between Perry and vocal power house Heidi Shepherd of Butcher Babies. The mournful riffs and powerful cadence of “One Day” explores the profound bond formed between mother & son escaping an abusive household and then faces the inevitable loss that comes with time. The gripping vocal chemistry of Perry & Shepherd is sure to touch fans of alternative, rock and anyone who can connect with this story.
PreSave “Fear of Water- One Day (feat. Heidi Shepherd)HERE
Fear of Water released a single with Elias Soriano of Nonpoint that has been very well received by radio (#10 Mainstream Active Rock SMR Top 50 as of 2/13/24), streaming and social media alike. The latest release, “Systemic,” is a musically complex and driving collaboration between Perry and artistic savant Aaron Nordstrom of Gemini Syndrome. Perry has future collaborations with Clint Lowery of Sevendust completed with several other exciting creative partnerships in the works.
WATCH/LISTEN to Fear of Water – Systemic featuring Aaron Nordstrom of Gemini Syndrome:
GOMAD! & MONSTER are an electronic rock band from Madrid (Spain). Their sound aims for the perfect synthesis of rock, metal, and electronic music, and they just premiered a new music video and single entitled “Ravearchy“. This is the first single & music video taken from their upcoming EP album Sickness which is scheduled to be released on April 26, 2024 via Eclipse Records. The album was produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Alejandro Tena (Persefone, Hamlet, Pirate Queen) at Alex Tena Studio, and the music video was directed by Sacra Visuals and filmed at the infamous Festardor Festival2023 in Valencia, Spain.
“With this music video, we wanted to convey that we are a band made for live performances” says drummer Ivy. “Our stage presence and thunderous sound create strong and unique sensations. After touring all of Europe and many other parts of the world, we landed in Valencia (Spain) to dazzle at the last edition of the Festardor Festival in 2023.” Guitarist Doc Inari adds, “Making this video was an experience that solidified this new alignment, achieving a deeper artistic connection between the members of the band and our fans all over the world. Having created this visual experience reflects the character of each member, consolidating the union of our different personalities that end up complementing each other to give a new approach to this great project, which we are all very proud of.”
Art Cover Credit: Edu Velasco
Sickness, the bold new EP by Gomad! & Monster, is an explosion of electronic rock, solidifying the distinct sounds of acidic drum n’ bass, groovy hard rock, techno, and a galvanized hard metal edge sharp as a blade. Thematically, the record marks the third of four in the Apocalypse series, each EP representing one of the four horsemen, yet the music is also a burst of vibrant colors, an emotional kaleidoscope far more explosive than just gloom and doom. In other words, get ready to party in the pit, to dance and fight, to face desolation with defiant liberation. This record boasts an aesthetic, complicated layering technique that hits us with multiple dimensions masterfully woven into a gorgeous, spectacular chaos. The vocals are robotic and hypnotic, the guitars edgy and exotic. The drums are all blood, guts, and backbone, while the synths create mystery and intrigue. Altogether, the music fashions a techno-mechanistic sense of wild, unbridled, and wonderful passion, reflecting, refracting, and finally glamorizing the seed of hope we are all taught to bury. Listen to the record, and listen to it loud. Life is short. Play it. Life is a game. Slay it. Sickness was produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Alejandro Tena (Persefone, Hamlet, Pirate Queen) at Alex Tena Studio. The album cover art was designed by Edu Velasco. Sickness will be released on April 26, 2024 by Eclipse Records.
Goth/metal band Ludovico Technique will be touring the UK in August of 2024 to coincide with their performance at Bloodstock Open Air Festival on Saturday August 10th.
“We can’t wait to unleash our darkness onto our fans in the UK.”
Dates Include:
1/8/24 Glasgow 2/8/24 Manchester 3/8/24 Sheffield 4/8/24 London 5/8/24 Cardiff 10/8/24 Bloodstock Festival
Ludovico Technique will be touring in support of their latest album “Haunted People” described as “..Exuding Monstrous Gothic Energy” – Alternative Press, “Dripping with Quintessential Gothic Darkness” – Metal Injection, and “Descending into the shadowy depths, cutting deep with its fierce intensity, while expanding upon its genre roots in the Gothic subculture.” Post-Punk.com
Bringing their dark mystique to gothic industrial metal, Ben V-, along with his band Ludovico Technique, add a new depth and complexity to the genre, embodying Gothic culture in its purest form.
From New York City, the band originally drew inspiration from goth industrial acts such as Skinny Puppy and The Sisters of Mercy, yet now, Ludovico Technique have added glimpses of Type O Negative, Rammstein, and Rob Zombie to their unique take on gothic music.
NASTERGAL unveil their latest creation, “Brothers in War,” with a captivating lyric video. This song, from their upcoming album “The Untold War,” about to drop via Wormholedeath, takes listeners on a journey into the heart of human emotions amidst the chaos of war.
Brothers in War” delves fearlessly into the intricate layers of warfare and the human psyche. It pays homage to the valor amidst battle while acknowledging the corrosive force of animosity. With poignant lyricism, Nastergal encourages the unapologetic acceptance of one’s emotions, emphasizing camaraderie even amidst opposing forces, and championing the preservation of knowledge amid perpetual strife.
Following their acclaimed “Solitude” EP, “The Untold War” delves deeper into the theme of self-discovery amidst turmoil. Inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s work, “Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” the album explores the turbulent journey of Zarathustra’s mind in a world filled with lies and ignorance, adapted by Riaan Coertze.
Nastergal is an international black metal band formed by Jacques Valentyn (guitars) and Riaan Coertze (drums), that expanded their lineup with Marco Toba (bass) and Evgen Zoidze (vocals). Their music, inspired by various extreme metal acts, offers a distinctive approach to the Black Metal genre. Their latest album, “The Untold War,” follows their EP “Solitude,” delving into Zarathustra’s internal battles, exploring self-realization and the conflicts of a world filled with deception and ignorance. Inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s “Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” the album challenges the concept that human values stem from divine or natural sources, focusing on the hidden internal struggles we keep concealed.
VOÏVOD and PRONG will be kicking off their much-anticipated co-headline tour across North America next week! This tour marks a reunion of sorts for the two bands, who have long admired each other’s work and have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to hit the road together once again. The upcoming tour promises to be an exhilarating experience, as both VOÏVOD and PRONG are known for their dynamic and powerful live performances. Fans can expect a blend of new hits and classic favorites, delivered with the raw energy and passion that both bands are renowned for.
The decision to embark on this tour was an easy one for both bands, united by their fresh and acclaimed new records. VOÏVOD, the Canadian heavy metal connoisseurs, recently released their latest special 40th anniversary album, Morgöth Tales, via Century Media Records worldwide.
After VOÏVOD’s studio album 2022 release Synchro Anarchy won the 2023 Juno Award for Best Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year in Canada, VOÏVOD have recently been nominated in the same category again for this year’s Juno Awards with Morgöth Tales. Congratulations!
Stressing the band’s untamed and contagious live-energy, you can now also check out a newly released VOÏVOD live-video of their track “Rebel Robot” (which also appeared on the band’s 40th anniversary release Morgöth Tales) from the band’s appearance at last year’s Wacken Open Air festival in Germany:
VOÏVOD’s Michel ‘Away’ Langevin checked in with the following comment about the new clip: “Here’s another amazing souvenir from Wacken 2023. ‘Rebel Robot’ from the Jason Newsted years. It was great to have Jasonic on bass for the ‘Morgöth Tales’ LP version. We also had the pleasure of having him jumping on stage with us in Florida last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_UeLwVWxLwEnjoy this Wacken Festival live version!”
Feb. 28 – Columbus, OH – King of Clubs Feb. 29 – Milwaukie, WI – The Rave Mar. 01 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater Mar. 02 – Kansas City, MO – recordBar Mar. 03 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theater Mar. 04 – South Salt Lake, UT – The Commonwealth Room Mar. 06 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom Mar. 07 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon Mar. 08 – Eugene, OR – John Henry’s Mar. 09 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre Mar. 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre Mar. 12 – San Diego, CA – Brick by Brick Mar. 13 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren Mar. 14 – El Paso, TX – Rockhouse Mar. 15 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater Mar. 16 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom Mar. 17 – St. Louis, MO – The Golden Record Mar. 19 – Detroit, MI – Harpo’s Mar. 20 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall Mar. 21 – Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s Entertainment Center Mar. 22 – Knoxville, TN – The Concourse Mar. 23 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre Mar. 24 – Stroudsburg, PA – Sherman Theater
Further upcoming live dates are as follows:
VOÏVOD – Live 2024: Fri 2/23/24 – Joliette, QC – Centre Culturel Desjardins Sat 2/24/24 – Saint-Hyacinthe, QC – Centre Des Arts Juliette-Lassonde Thu 5/16/24 – Saint-Eustache, QC – Scene Exterieur Fri 5/17/24 – Sherbrooke. QC – Théàtre Granada
And more international dates to be announced soon…
Morgöth Tales succeeded VOÏVOD’s 15th (!) much acclaimed studio album Synchro Anarchy, which entered sales charts upon release in early 2022 as follows: Germany # 7 (!), Switzerland # 64, Austria # 67, The Netherlands # 88, Belgium # 129, UK (Rock & Metal) # 7, Canada (Hard Music) # 2, USA Current Hard Music # 8, USA Top New Artist # 11, USA Heatseekers # 56 and USA Current Album # 67.
Check out VOÏVOD’s previous videos for the Morgöth Tales release:
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 ) 