VIRGIN STEELE’s David DeFeis Talks Anniversary Album Remixes & Upcoming New Studio Albums

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 26, 2024
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Jimmy Kay from The Metal Voice recently spoke to Virgin Steele‘s main man David DeFeis about the bands upcoming remixed anniversary albums (Debut and Guardians of the flame).

Hot on the heels of last summer’s brand new Bombastic Epic release “THE PASSION OF DIONYSUS” coming this summer in addition to the re-release of the very first VIRGIN STEELE album, the second VIRGN STEELE album, “GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME”, will also be re-released in tandem with the first album, on August 23, 2024, via Steamhammer/SPV in a very special edition, as a digi-CD and as a Gatefold Double Vinyl LP, and also in digital format.

When asked about the upcoming remixed anniversary albums (Debut and Guardians of the Flame)
“It was done the old school way of taking the actual physical tapes and putting them in the convection oven and baking them. It worked pretty well they actually held up pretty darn well, more so the second album than the first album. They’re definitely clearer. My goal was to preserve the fire, the feeling of the Ambiance of those records but make it sonically more understandable to the ear. There are some little keyboard flourishes things in the there not like very high in the mix. “

“I edited along the way because I would have done that had we made the record today knowing what I know, so it’s like well this could benefit from that. But in a way that’s subtle not so over the top. You can still hear Jack (Starr) of course everywhere and that’s what’s important to be heard is all there. I tried to balance it a bit more whereas the original mix was very edgy, very trebly. Kind of like you wouldn’t want to listen to the record more than once in one sitting kind of a thing your ear gets like fatigued after a while. I tried to make it so l you could put the record on all day and and you can enjoy it.”
 

When asked about any upcoming new music and or studio albums?
“Yes, there’s lots of songs. I’m always writing and we’ve actually got probably about 20 somewhat songs in various stages of completion on tape. There are more songs that are just living on cassette because that’s where they start with me. I write on the cassette first and the stuff that’s just in my brain. So yeah all these things will be explored fully before I choose what would be on the next record. The next record probably and all honestly is a double situation like Act one, Act two probably. If we don’t want to release it all together it would be something like the The Marriage of Heaven and Hell was or The house of Atreus was that kind of a thing. Like part one will be released first and then later on. (part 2). I think the way I understand from my conversations with the label it’s they’re more about one disk at a time right now. You never know it might change. There is a conceptual idea but all the lyrics aren’t completely written yet. But at the moment it’s more conceptual in the way that ‘Age of consent’ was or ‘Noble savage’ was, well there’s an overarching theme. “

BILL WARD Confirms He Would Like to Play One Last Show with BLACK SABBATH

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 26, 2024
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Image: Black Sabbath – Official Press Photo [Universal Music]

Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward recently took to X/Twitter to announce his willingness to play one last concert with Black Sabbath. Find his exact statement here:

On September 4, 2005, Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, and Ward played their last full-length Black Sabbath concert at an Ozzfest at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida. Their last live performance together was later that year at the UK Music Hall Of Fame induction ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London, where the metal pioneers played only one song, “Paranoid”.

Twelve years later, in 2017, Black Sabbath ended their decades-long career with an 81-date world tour called “The End Tour”. Bill Ward’s place was taken by drummer Tommy Clufetos after a bitter fallout between Ward and Osbourne. The tour concluded with a final show in the band’s hometown of Birmingham, England.

Since then, the members of Black Sabbath can’t give interviews without being asked about a possible last show with the original lineup.

Now, drummer Bill Ward has joined the discussion, announcing his willingness for such an event on X/Twitter:

The other members have also expressed their willingness for a final concert together multiple times in the past. Whether Ward’s statement will finally lead to such an event remains to be seen.

GHOST Release New Music Videos for ‘Mary On A Cross’ + ‘The Future Is A Foreign Land’

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 26, 2024
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Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/thebandghost

The Swedish metal band Ghost has recently released two new animated music videos for “Mary On A Cross” and “The Future Is A Foreign Land,” which stylistically resemble Scooby-Doo.

You can watch both videos below. It’s best to start with “Mary On A Cross” and then continue with “The Future Is A Foreign Land.” This order gives a glimpse into the story that follows the album Impera. In this album, the empire has fallen, the situation escalates, and chaos ensues.

Particularly interesting is that the video for “The Future Is A Foreign Land” might provide a first look at the band’s new appearance (aka Ghouls). However, there are no new updates on Papa Emeritus IV.

In an interview with Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor, Tobias Forge alias “Papa Emeritus”, founder and songwriter of the band, recently spoke about the meaning of the lyrics of “Mary On A Cross”:

“There are several layers in the lyrics that might be important for people to understand. The chorus is, of course, written with a wink. ‘Go down’ doesn’t necessarily mean in the 69 sense of the word… it can also mean that you go down in history, that you rise.”

Both music videos were also featured in Ghost’s new movie “Rite Here Rite Now”, which was shown in theaters worldwide from June 20 to 23.

GRAND MAGUS to Release New Album “Sunraven” on October 18th, First Single ‘Skybound’ Revealed

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 26, 2024
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Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/grandmagusofficial

Acclaimed heavy metal battering ram GRAND MAGUS from Stockholm, Sweden are pleased to announce that their brand new album Sunraven will be released on October 18th through Nuclear Blast Records. Sunraven marks the 10th full-length in the band’s impressive discography and conceptually deals with the legendary poem Beowulf, an ancient tale of epic proportions about heroes and monsters, honor and bravery, victory and defeat. In short, themes that have always played an important role in the lyrical concept of GRAND MAGUS.

Sunraven Tracklist
1.     Skybound
2.     The Wheel of Pain
3.     Sunraven
4.     Winter Storms
5.     The Black Lake
6.     Hour of the Wolf
7.     Grendel
8.     To Heorot
9.     The End Belongs to You

Alongside the album announcement, GRAND MAGUS have released a video for the first single from Sunraven, the mighty opening track ‘Skybound‘, one of the most anthemic songs the band has ever written.

JB (vocals & guitar) commented:
““Skybound’ is obviously a song about death and going to Valhalla. That’s where Beowulf ended up in the end, because after he defeated Grendel and Grendel’s mother, he was king for 50 years! Then his lands were plagued by a dragon, and by this time Beowulf is fucking ancient, but he’s still mean as a snake. He goes against the dragon and he manages to kill the dragon, but he’s mortally wounded in the process. He’s sky-bound, you know? These are all my own ideas about this. I used the myth as starting point for my own ideas and imagination.”

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE THE NEW ALBUM SUNRAVEN: https://grandmagus.bfan.link/sunraven

LISTEN TO THE SINGLE ‘SKYBOUND’: https://grandmagus.bfan.link/skybound

ABOUT GRAND MAGUS

Not every band can be 100 percent authentic and true. Not every band has the necessary cojones to summon the spirit of heavy metal. But GRAND MAGUS are not every band. A trio of windswept warriors, driven by belief in the power of this ageless music that so many of us consider a real world lifeline, they return in 2024 with glad tidings of heroism and valour.

Over the course of 25 years, the Swedish trio have established themselves as stoic standard bearers for heavy metal in its purest, most triumphant form. From their early years as honorary combatants in the doom scene, GRAND MAGUS have grown in confidence and stature with every passing year. Initially signed to legendary UK imprint Rise Above Records, they released acclaimed albums like 2003’s Monument and 2005’s fiery breakthrough opus Wolf’s Return, and garnered effusive plaudits for live shows that always resounded with the thump of metal’s beating heart.

Later signed to first Roadrunner and then Nuclear Blast Records, GRAND MAGUS have marched on through the decades with their now trademark sign a continual benchmark for red-blooded heaviness. Bulging with fresh anthems, albums like Triumph & Power (2014) and Sword Songs (2016) took the band to new heights, as their status as a thunderous, rabble-rousing live band continued to grow. In 2019, ninth studio album Wolf God put the seal on a second decade of active service, and GRAND MAGUS set off on tour as 2020 dawned; only to be confronted with a worldwide Covid shutdown that might have even spelled the end for Stockholm’s finest.

When work finally began on the tenth GRAND MAGUS album, JB made tentative steps towards something bigger and better than past achievements. With a final deadline waiting at the end of 2023, he began to piece together some ideas in January, slowly forming the backbone of what would become the new GRAND MAGUS album, Sunraven. After reconvening with bassist Fox and drummer Ludwig Witt in Halmstad, Sweden, the new songs swiftly came to life.

Not just the tenth GRAND MAGUS full-length, but their first bona fide concept album, Sunraven is a full-bore return to the heavy metal might of Wolf God and Sword Songs, but with an underlying story that adds greater depth to the Swedes’ earthy bombast. Made manifest via a gritty but grandiose production courtesy of the band and co-producer Staffan Karlsson, Sunraven was inspired by the revered Old English epic poem of Beowulf. In true heavy metal style, these nine new songs dive deep into heroic fantasy, but with the same real world resonances that are scorched into the genre’s calloused skin.

OCEANS Announce New Album “Happy”, Deliver Brand New Single ‘Parasite’

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 26, 2024
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Exciting news from German nu-death band OCEANS!
After the band’s triptych of EPs in 2022, that later formed the album Hell Is Where The Heart Is, the band now announces their third official studio album. HAPPY, which will be released on September 27th, sees the band delving into the all too familiar topic of mental health struggles as they explore the lows of the human existence, with the albums title serving as desired state of mind.

OCEANS have also delivered a brand new single called ‘Parasite’, which comes with an accompanying music video that you can witness here:

Timo Rotten comments:
“Music has always been our way of confronting our darkest emotions and finding a sense of release. I hope that this song resonates with those who have faced anxiety and depression and reminds them that they are not alone. Your fear might hold you hostage. But you can also choose to fight back!”

Stream the new single here: https://oceans.bfan.link/parasite

Pre-order/pre-save the new album HAPPY here: https://oceans.bfan.link/happy

Get your copy of  OCEANS‘ last album Hell Is Where The Heart Is here:
https://oceans.bfan.link/hell-is-where-the-heart-is

Just in time for their upcoming album release , OCEANS are going on tour. As support for labelmates SEPTICFLESH, the nu-metallers will be playing several shows all through Europe. From October 3rd to November 2nd, catch OCEANS along with SEPTICFLESH, EQUILIBRIUM and SCAR OF THE SUN as they blaze through 28 electrifying concerts across 13 countries. Mark your calendars, grab your tickets, and prepare to experience the MODERN PRIMITIVE TOUR 2024 like never before!

See all tour dates below:
03.10. DE Hamburg – Gruenspan 
04.10. BE Kortrijk – DVG Club 
05.10. NL Drachten – Iduna 
06.10. NL Hengelo – Metropool 
08.10. FR Nilvange – Le Guelard Plus 
09.10. DE Bochum – Matrix 
10.10. FR Paris – Le Trabendo 
11.10. FR La Roche-sur-Yon – Quai Metal 
12.10. FR Vannes – L’Echonova 
13.10. FR Toulouse – Le Metronum 
15.10. PT Porto – Hard Club 
16.10. PT Lisbon – Lisboa ao Vivo 
17.10. ES Madrid – Nazca 
18.10. ES Barcelona – Salamandra 
19.10. FR Lyon – La Rayonne 
20.10. CH Aarau – Kiff 
22.10. IT Milano – Legend Club 
23.10. HR Zagreb – Boogaloo 
24.10. HU Budapest – Analog Music Hall 
25.10. AT Vienna – Simm City 
26.10. PL Wroclaw – Transformator 
27.10. DE Nuremberg – Hirsch 
28.10. DE Hanover – MusikZentrum 
29.10. DE Heidelberg – Halle02 
30.10. DE Munich – Backstage 
31.10. CZ Zlin – Masters Of Rock Café 
01.11. DE Leipzig – Hellraiser 
02.11. DE Berlin – Orwo Haus

Grab your tickets now: https://bnds.us/0ibwu7

METALLICA’s Kirk Hammett Talks about His Departure from Exodus

Posted by metalshockfinland on July 26, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Image: Kirk Hammett, Metallica Live In Madrid 2024 [Credit: Bratt Murray]

In an interview with Metal Hammer UK, Kirk Hammett recently spoke about his departure from Exodus to join Metallica and admitted that he felt a bit guilty about it.

Although he has made a name for himself as the lead guitarist of the world’s biggest metal band, Metallica, Kirk Hammett’s musical career was already well underway before he joined the band in 1983. In 1979, at the tender age of just 16, he founded the Bay Area thrash band Exodus along with singer Paul Baloff, guitarist Tim Agnello, bassist Geoff Andrews, and drummer Tom Hunting.

The Switch to Metallica

But four years later, in 1983, Hammett had to make a serious decision. Before the recording of Metallica‘s debut album “Kill ‘Em All,” founding guitarist Dave Mustaine was kicked out of the band due to various behavioral issues and drug abuse. Mustaine then went on to form Megadeth, perhaps Metallica’s greatest thrash metal rivals.

When the lead guitarist position became available, Metallica called Kirk Hammett and invited him to audition for the band. Kirk flew to New York a few days later, and the rest is history.

The guitarist speaks in the Metal Hammer UK interview about the “guilt” he felt when he left his first band to join Metallica, but ultimately admitted it was the right decision.

“I have known Tom Hunting since I was 16 years old, I’ve known Gary Holt since I was 17. We’re all close to this day, but there was a lot of guilt there for a while. A little bit of remorse. But I really felt that Metallica was my calling. I feel more comfortable playing in Metallica than I ever did in Exodus, so go figure.”

Hammett’s Influence on “Kill ‘Em All”

As he further explained, some of the ideas he wrote during his time with Exodus were used on “Kill ‘Em All.”

“The [riffs] came from songs that I had written, music that I had written,” he says. “I consider them my parts. I didn’t feel guilty about that, but I did feel guilty about leaving the band I started in high school.”

These remarks are particularly interesting since Hammett was never credited as a songwriter for “Kill ‘Em All.” The album was officially written by frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, with Mustaine credited for “The Four Horsemen,” “Jump In The Fire,” “Phantom Lord,” and “Metal Militia.” And then, of course, there was “(Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth,” which was all the majesty of Cliff Burton.