GATES TO HELL Sign to Nuclear Blast + Release Music Video for Pummeling New Single ‘Resurrected’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 10, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Since its inception, Louisville’s GATES TO HELL has fused the finest elements from both metal and hardcore, highlighting fast metal riffs with heavy hardcore and deathcore breakdowns written in a manner unexplored within the Kentucky music scene. The last year saw the band playing nearly 150 shows in 11 different countries supporting the likes of DYING FETUS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, THE ACACIA STRAIN, DESPISED ICON, SANGUISUGABOGG, BODYSNATCHER, KRUELTY, and DYING WISH on various tours across the US, Canada and Europe.

Continuing this momentum with no sign of slowing down, the band is ushering in 2024 with a new home at Nuclear Blast Records, a pummeling new single, and heading on the road with labelmates MACHINE HEAD and FEAR FACTORY.

GATES TO HELL‘s guitarist Seth Lewis states, “I was a kid who loved metal from a very young age and I was constantly buying CDs of my favorite bands. Over time, I saw how many of those bands’ CDs had the Nuclear Blast logo on the back. It’s a very unreal feeling to be working with them now with Gates to Hell. Very excited for what the future holds.”

Nuclear Blast American Label Manager & A&R Tommy Jones comments, “After a tip-off from my buddy Scott Lee, I first entered the Gates to Hell at the Milwaukee Metal Fest on May 28th, 2023. Straight from the rip seeing the band live, I was way into their style of Brutal Death Metal laced with hardcore energy. I could envision them being part of the new breed at Nuclear Blast. Fast forward after some hang sessions on the Jersey shore, and up at the New England Metal Fest, we officially sealed the deal in October on Friday the 13th. Fitting AF! I am stoked ‘as hell’ to welcome the Gates to the worldwide Nuclear Blast family! Let’s gooo!!”

The band’s newest offering comes in the single, fittingly entitled ‘Resurrected‘. The song is a perfect example of their hybrid sound mixing modern death metal with the hardcore spirit. The song was engineered and mixed by Andy Nelson at Bricktop Studios while mastering was completed by Brad Boatwright at Audioseige Mastering.

 “Our new track ‘Resurrected’ just dropped through Nuclear Blast” comments Seth Lewis.“It’s my favorite Gates to Hell song released to date. After touring and practicing as much as we have the last couple of years, we’ve all really meshed together so much better as musicians. Trying to stick to our roots of the death metal/hardcore sound our music has always had, but being more collaborative and creative with some elements.” 

Stream ‘Resurrected’ on all platforms now at: https://gth.bfan.link/resurrected

Directed by Errick Easterday

GATES TO HELL is hitting the road with Bay Area icons and label mates, MACHINE HEAD for their ‘Slaughter The Martøur Nørth America 2024′ with FEAR FACTORY and ORBIT CULTURE. The trek will begin in San Francisco on January 19th and will head across the Pacific Northwest followed by eight shows in Canada. Other stops include Chicago, Orlando, and Houston before concluding in Los Angeles on February 24th at The Bellwether.

Confirmed dates for GATES TO HELL opening the ‘Slaughter The Martøur Nørth America 2024’ with headliners MACHINE HEAD and direct support FEAR FACTORY as well as ORBIT CULTURE are:

01.19.2024 US   San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
01.21.2024 US   Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
01.22.2024 US   Seattle, WA – Showbox
01.23.2024 CA   Vancouver, BC – Commodore
01.25.2024 CA   Edmonton, AB – Midway Music Hall
01.26.2024 CA   Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Casino
01.27.2024 CA   Saskatoon, SK – Coors Event Centre
01.28.2024 CA   Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cumming Theatre
01.30.2024 US   Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre
01.31.2024 US   Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
02.01.2024 US   Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theatre
02.02.2024 US   Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park
02.03.2024 US   Detroit, MI – St. Andrews
02.05.2024 CA   Toronto, ON – The Opera House
02.06.2024 CA   Montreal, QC – M’Telus
02.07.2024 CA   Quebec City, QC – Theatre Capitole
02.08.2024 US   Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
02.09.2024 US   Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center
02.10.2024 US   New York, NY – Palladium Times Square
02.12.2024 US   Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
02.14.2024 US   Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Heaven)
02.15.2024 US   Orlando, FL – House Of Blues
02.17.2024 US   Austin, TX – Emo’s
02.18.2024 US   San Antonio, TX – Aztec
02.19.2024 US   Houston, TX – House Of Blues
02.21.2024 US   Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
02.22.2024 US   Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
02.23.2024 US   Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater
02.24.2024 US   Los Angeles, CA – The Bellwether

GATES TO HELL is:
Ryan Storey | Vocals
Eli Hanson | Guitar
Seth Lewis | Guitar
Dustin Cantrell | Bass
Trey Garris | Drums

More Information:
www.instagram.com/gatestohell502
www.facebook.com/gatestohell502
www.twitter.com/gates2hell502
www.tiktok.com/@gatestohell502
www.youtube.com/@gatestohell502

Japanese RYUJIN Debut Samurai Ballad ‘Saigo No Hoshi’ with Music Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 10, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo credit: Litch]

This Friday, January 12, Samurai Metal band RYUJIN will finally reveal their anticipated new self-titled album! Formed in 2011 as Gyze, the band delivers heavy metal and blazing guitar wizardry from Japan, blending both Japanese and English lyricism and featuring production and several guest features by Matthew Kiichi Heafy (Trivium). 

Today, the band provides fans with a final early taste of the album with their very first ballad, entitled “Saigo No Hoshi”. The massive track features backing vocals by Matthew Kiichi Heafy and cello expressions by Mukai Wataru of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, and excels with an emotive chorus, a rock-opera-worthy guitar solo and traditional instrumentation.

RYUJIN frontman and mastermind Ryoji Shinomoto says about the track:
“This is our first ballad, so it’s very special for us. This song is about a samurai who was about to die after the war, thinking about his family and praying for peace. A lot of very sad wars are currently happening on the planet too, families are being separated, and so on. I put that feeling into it. Also, I am inviting everybody to enjoy Mr. Mukai’s outstanding cello performance. The album also includes a version sung by Matthew in English, so I am curious which version people are gonna like more!”

After releasing four highly acclaimed albums and appearing at major festivals worldwide, RYUJIN have developed their own identity, expressed with accents of tasteful traditional Japanese instrumentation (i.e. Shamisen, Dragon Flute, Erhu, Taiko), and lead guitar god Ryoji Shinomoto’s incredible shredding technique and ripping vocals!

RYUJIN‘s high speed riffs and breakneck guitar descents pair with traditional Japanese elements on their upcoming self-titled album, delivering a sound influenced by everything from ancient orchestral Gagaku to even modern anime themes. RYUJIN features production by Matthew Kiichi Heafy and mixing/mastering by Mark Lewis, with guest appearances by Heafy (vocals and conducting on various tracks) and Mukai Wataru of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra (cello). RYUJIN’s tracks feature titles based on the words of the Ainu people of Hokkaido (RYUJIN’s home region), as well as famous Japanese paintings and idioms.

Pre-Order RYUJIN HERE

Opening instrumental track “Hajimari” sets an ominous stage for blistering burner “Gekokujo” – a tastefully thrash-ified death metal riff-fest colliding with expressive folk-inspired passages and head-spinning technique. Ryoji’s blazing leads are met instantly with the peerless skills of drummer Shuji Shinomoto and bassist Aruta Watanabe. First single “Raijin & Fujin” is an epic power metal storm featuring guest vocal contributions from Matthew Kiichi Heafy, shifting into a swirling tornado of rattling double bass and catapulting solos, while “The Rainbow Song” also features soaring clean vocals by Heafy blended between modern melodic heavy metal and power metal innovation. Tracks like “Dragon, Fly Free” and “Kunnecup” invite the listener to sing-along with RYUJIN as they paint musical canvases of adventure and positivity. “Scream of the Dragon” returns to extreme influences amid uplifting choruses and a story blending English and Japanese lyrics, before “Gekirin” ventures into darker death metal influences – cascading into nautically-inspired melodies (as “Ryujin” is a dragon god of the sea in Japanese mythology, these oceanic musical themes weave seamlessly throughout the album).

The album nears the end with three heart-gripping, primarily Japanese-language opuses – the rock-opera-like ballad “Saigo No Hoshi”, the powerfully victorious and traditionally-inspired “Ryujin” and a cover of Linked Horizon’s “Guren No Yumiya” – widely known as an opening theme of popular anime series Attack On Titan. The album finishes with a bonus English-language version of “Saigo No Hoshi”, with vocals once again performed by Matthew Kiichi Heafy.

RYUJIN illustrates an exotic sonic experience that will transport music lovers to a world of fantastic adventure and technical extravagance!

RYUJIN track listing:
1. Hajimari
2. Gekokujo
3. Dragon, Fly Free
4. Raijin & Fujin
5. The Rainbow Song
6. Kunnecup
7. Scream of the Dragon
8. Gekirin
9. Saigo No Hoshi
10. Ryujin
11. Guren No Yumiya
12. Saigo No Hoshi (feat. Matthew K. Heafy) (Single Edit)

RYUJIN is:
Ryoji Shinomoto – Guitar, Vocals, Shamisen, Erhu, Dragon Flute & Orchestration
Shuji Shinomoto – Drums, Vocals
Aruta Watanabe – Bass, Vocals

RYUJIN online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

NUOCERE to Release Brand New Album “Vale Sempre La Pena” on February 17th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 10, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Coming out on February 17th “Vale Sempre La Pena” (It’s Always Worth It), a brand new album by the band NUOCERE! A record really full of grit and healthy rocker spirit! “Vale Sempre La Pena” will be available by Wanikiya Record/Promotion, on all the best music stores, on Wanikiya Record’s Japanese storefront and on Crash Sound Crashsound Distribution. Get ready to enter the wonderful world of NUOCERE!

Nuocere was born in 2015 or thereabouts from an unhealthy idea of singer-guitarist JJ, who after many years of hard core had grown tired of the fast pace and wanted to cuddle a little with melody. At first the lineup was different and so was the name-we were called Dealers. Want the moving of the guitarist/singer to the city of Prato, want other things that we are not here to list, JJ is left alone to aprrode in the most appropriate bassist one could look for, Boso! With Boso begins the search for a drummer, who at first is found but then opts for a young Florentine lad with thirty years of musical experience in more hard rock circles, Marco a.k.a. Maccio, a name affixed to him by JJ’s son.

JJ and Boso have much the same background. (Read inner chaos). A beautiful adventure begins with Marco, made of a great friendship that binds us and, fortunately or unfortunately, made of a lot of stage experience and musical construction. The Nuocere thus start , in 2018, revisiting old pieces and building new ones until we arrive at the birth of our first work. Is it a stoner record? Who knows…

It is ALWAYS worth the effort, it has to be seen as a delivery. Yes because they more or less tried their best to get through it. But the desire to harm others fortunately did not! About a year ago we entrusted our work to Delio of Saffa666Studio and out came what for us is the encapsulation of our entire musical “career.” Rotten, disturbing sounds (otherwise what the fuck are we called Nuocere for), accompanied by melodic singing (not always) and in Italian. Lyrics are extremely personal and not as they say STRAIGHT TO THE GOAL, but inclined to leave room for the music and more for the fantasia. Let’s call it a journey, that is!

11 tracks of anger, “not love,” joy. Everything!

More information at https://www.facebook.com/Nuocere

EXIT EDEN Unveil New Single And Original Composition ‘Femme Fatale’ with Official Music Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 10, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo credit: Stephan Heilemann]

Symphonic metal unit EXIT EDEN, consisting of Clémentine Delauney (Visions of Atlantis), Anna Brunner (League of Distortion) and Marina La Torraca (Phantom Elite), have revealed their last single, entitled “Femme Fatale”, before their second album, Femmes Fatales, finally drops this Friday, January 12 via Napalm Records. Femmes Fatales arrives with twelve songs in total – half covers, half own compositions. The trio’s original composition and third single, “Femme Fatale”, was written by Anna Brunner and Hannes Braun (Kissin’ Dynamite) and is accompanied by a high quality official music video.
 
EXIT EDEN’s new masterpiece follows their debut, Rhapsodies in Black (#15 DE album charts), and millions of video views (12M on their cover of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” alone). Their latest singles “Run!” (feat. Marko Hietala/ex-Nightwish) and “Separate Ways” (Journey cover) have already surpassed a million views since their respective releases in October and December 2023.

“Femme Fatale”, as well as the album in its entirety, marks an illustration of strength and female empowerment topped with symphonic heaviness. Watch the track’s official music video below and make sure to pre-order your copy of Femmes Fatales!            

EXIT EDEN state:             
“When our paths initially crossed years ago, we were strangers and became friends, allies, sisters in crime…
With the song ‘Femme Fatale’, we turned the tables, played with our own cards and established new rules. We set ourselves free from prejudice and limitations, embracing our true nature and femininity, regaining our power to stand as modern witches — resilient, liberated, we ARE Femmes Fatales.”

When Clémentine Delauney, Anna Brunner, Marina La Torraca and Amanda Somerville came together to form EXIT EDEN, topped by the release of their first album, Rhapsodies in Black, in summer 2017, it became immediately clear that this combination would be both powerful and magical! These four outstanding and independent female vocalists proved that symphonic heaviness can go hand in hand with pop music – dressing well-known classics in a yet unheard soundscape, and evoking more than just a covers album!   
 
Now performing as a trio, EXIT EDEN‘s new full-length follows the path of its predecessor, as it contains six cover versions of famous cross-generational super-hits, but this time also shines by offering six original compositions. With one exception (“Dying in my Dreams”, co-written by Marina La Torraca), the remaining five original songs were brought to life by Anna Brunner and Hannes Braun (Kissin’ Dynamite), who is also responsible for recording, production and mixing, whereas the album was mastered by Jacob Hansen (Delain, Amaranthe, Volbeat, Destruction and many more).

Pre-order your copy of Femmes Fatales NOW

Self-confidently leading straight into the tempting world of EXIT EDEN, opening “Femme Fatale”, “Buried in the Past” and “Hold Back Your Fear” conjure a mystical atmosphere with strings and orchestral elements, topped by complementary vocals uniting the sonic diversity of the all-femme trio. “Dying In My Dreams” and album closing “Elysium” set the tone as captivating mid-tempo tracks with intense choruses that speak straight to the heart. Moving further along the path where Rhapsodies in Black left off, EXIT EDEN picked the next selection of international super-hits – transforming them into their very own creation, yet still paying reverence to the originals on Femmes Fatales. “It’s a Sin” (Pet Shop Boys), “Separate Ways” (Journey), “Desanchantée” (Mylène Farmer), “Poison” (Alice Cooper), “Alone” (Heart) and “Kayleigh” (Marilion), re-arranged as undoubtably striking rock/symphonic metal compositions, form the common thread between the debut and Femmes Fatales.         

With stellar vocals, an exceptional concept and high-quality production, EXIT EDEN have crafted another standout album that absolutely succeeds in expanding the identity of the supergroup even more, and gives fans the chance to experience three of the most beautiful and talented women in metal united as one on Femmes Fatales.

Femmes Fatales tracklisting:     
1    Femme Fatale           
2    It’s a Sin       
3    Run! (feat. Marko Hietala)   
4    Separate Ways         
5    Buried in the Past    
6    Désenchantée           
7    Dying in my Dreams
8    Poison          
9    Alone            
10  Hold Back Your Fear
11  Kayleigh       
12  Elysium        

EXIT EDEN are:
Clémentine Delauney
Anna Brunner
Marina La Torraca

EXIT EDEN online:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
X
Napalm Records

GOTHMINISTER to Take Over Eurovision Song Contest Pre-Qualifications for Norway, with Brand New Single ‘We Come Alive’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 10, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo: Sebastian Ludvigsen]

Norwegian GOTHMINISTER is an indescribable phenomenon. One factor of this fascinosum is the unique blend of modern gothic industrial metal, danceable EDM parts and a pinch of retro charm. Other factors surely are the impressive theatrical live stage shows or the sophisticated music videos which received more than 30 international film awards to date. 

Following a recent, extensive European tour and in support of its forthcoming album, Pandemonium II: The Battle Of The Underworlds, now, GOTHMINISTER has released a spectacular music video for its new single “We Come Alive”. Furthermore, the iconic master of the dark will take part in the Melodi Grand Prix 2024 for Norway, that serves as the country’s preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest, taking place this upcoming weekend! Follow GOTHMINISTER for many more news and suprises coming soon on https://www.gothminister.com

“The new single «We Come Alive» has recieved so much love from old and new fans already.” GOTHMINISTER mastermind, Bjørn Alexander Brem, comments.

“It is time to put rock and metal on the map for Norway in Eurovision! The rock and metal scene has the worlds most loyal fanbase, and we always support each other. The song is about being different and standing together against all unfairness and cruelty in this world. 

It was a great experience on the NRK broadcasted press conferance on Friday January 5th, when the whole TV-studio was filled with smoke from my smoke machine and red laser gloves marked the «horns up» into the cameras! 

On Friday January 12th the final version of the song for the competition will be released (MGP version). Gothminister will compete in the first heat in Norway Saturday January 13th to be Norway’s candidate for Eurovision 2024!“

“We Come Alive” is now available on all digital services at https://gothminister.bfan.link/we-come-alive, watch the new video clip now streaming here:

In the world of hard and heavy sounds and impressive theatrical live stage shows, GOTHMINISTER have earned themselves a reputation of being “one of the most iconic gothic/industrial metal acts”. Not only has their power-laden sound with its remarkable atmospheric density inspired their audiences since 1999, its eloquent fantasy stories have also transported them to uncharted territories.

GOTHMINISTER’s forthcoming studio offering, Pandemonium II: The Battle Of The Underworlds, is set to be unleashed on May 3, 2024 as limited clear vinyl and CD-Digipak via AFM Records. Taking up where its 2022 predecessor ‘Pandemonium’ left off: The much-acclaimed album conquered the charts, made it to number one on the German Alternative Charts, and was voted as the ‘Album Of The Year 2022’ at the Dark Music Awards. GOTHMINISTER´s music videos for ‘Pandemonium’ and ‘Demons’ alone won stunning 19 film awards worldwide.

All of the new GOTHMINISTER album tracks were composed and written by Brem, who also produced the new release. The mix is courtesy of Henning Verlage (Unheilig, Eisbrecher) and Norwegian sound engineer Morten Lund, who has worked with Morten Harket (A-ha), among others, was in charge of the album mastering. “The new material is faster and catchier than that of the predecessor album, but at the same time it sounds even more complex and modern, with more sophisticated vocal melodies and challenging breaks,” Brem reveals, “at the same time the driving beats for the dancefloor and the concept of ultra-low-sounding, tough guitar riffs are still present and link both recordings.”

Don’t miss this horror show beyond your imagination, and pre-order your album copy now at:
https://gothminister.bfan.link/pandemonium-ii-the-battle-of-the-underworlds

GOTHMINISTER Live:
05.-06-07.2024 Mulheim an der Ruhr, Castle Rock Festival (DE)
28-29.06.2024 Rock Am Härtsfeldsee, Dischingen (DE)
21.04.2024 Parsippany, NJ, Dark Force Fest (USA)

For More Info Visit:
https://www.gothminister.com
https://www.facebook.com/officialgothminister
https://www.instagram.com/officialgothminister
https://www.afm-records.de

SUJIN Release Lyric Video for Second Single ‘Winter Breeze’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 10, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Sébastien Vau

French modern melodic death metallers SUJIN – formally known as Whisper Night – have released a lyric-video for ‘Winter Breeze’, second single taken from the debut album ‘Save Our Souls’ to be released on February 16th, via Scarlet Records.

Aggressive, catchy and always very intense, Sujin’s debut album aims to break down the boundaries and take the classic melo-death sound to the next level, embracing deathcore, progressive, thrash and even mainstream metal in the process. 

Organically merging extreme sounds, rough vocals, punishing rhythms and epic melodies and solo, ‘Save Our Souls’ is about a planet on the verge of collapse – the Earth. 

The artwork represents a pre-apocalyptic landscape where the last bastion of mankind took refuge on a gigantic tree; the sparkling triangle is the last power source of this broken world. It’s a strong symbol of rebellion and a message of revolt and hope from Sujin, whose members are personally committed to the preservation and defense of Nature.  

  • produced by HK Krauss (Loudblast, Betraying The Martyrs, Dagoba, Sinsaenum) at Vamacara Studio
  • artwork by Jon Ojibway (Persefone)
  • intro ‘… – – -…’ performed by Atoem
  • guest appearance on ‘Dead World Beyond’ by Justin Bonitz (Tallah/Hungry Lights)
  • for fans of In Flames, Children Of Bodom, Lamb Of God, Trivium, Gojira, Jinjer

SUJIN: 
Julien Mellier – vocals
Stève Richard – guitar
Matt Lemonier – guitar
Quentin Bruyère – bass
Liam Barbier – drums