VLTIMAS Announce 2024 European Tour Dates

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 22, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

VLTIMAS recently unveiled their upcoming album ‘EPIC’ with the release of the first single Miserere. To be released on the 15th of March, 2024 – VLTIMAS are ready to ascend to truly epic heights.

Now, VLTIMAS are ready to take to the stages across Europe, flexing their metal might to fans on seven unique dates in March of 2024.

VLTIMAS ‘EPIC’ European Tour 2024
23 March: Enschede, NL @ Metropool [TICKETS]
24 March: Drachten, NL @ Iduna [TICKETS]
26 March: Hamburg, DE @ Logo [TICKETS]
27 March: Copenhagen, DK @ Hotel Cecil [TICKETS]
28 March: Fredericia, DK @ Tøjhuset [TICKETS]
29 March: Oslo, NO @ Inferno Fest [TICKETS]
31 March: Athens, GR @ Kyttaro Live

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)
7. Invictus (5:30)
8. Nature’s Fangs (3:52)
9. Spoils of War (5:54)
Total runtime: 37:16

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, Aura Noir), 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
Cover art – Daniele Valeriani
Additional artwork and layout – Adrien Bousson
Biography – Chris Dick

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vltimas/1445457453
Bandcamp: https://vltimas.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vltimas/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vltimas/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kz64zyv2xtkdhboztpdwa
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vltimas?lang=en

WARBRINGER to Reissue Limited Cassette Versions of First Four Albums

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 21, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

M-Theory Audio in cooperation with thrash metal force WARBRINGER and Century Media Records is releasing cassette copies of the iconic band’s first four albums to retail stores Feb. 9, 2024. Limited to 100 copies these four albums that cemented WARBRINGER’s legacy will each feature bonus tracks and colored shells. Additionally, they can be pre-ordered now direct from the webstore www.m-theoryaudio.com/store.
 
“Road Warriors! We’re excited to extend our collaboration with M-Theory Audio to bring you the individual release of our first 4 albums during our time with Century Media Records on cassette! Thank you all who supported the ‘Total War’ box-set that also included our two demos and two newest Napalm Records albums; those are collector’s items that will be out-of-print once the last few boxes are sold,” states WARBRINGER drummer Carlos Cruz. “Prepare yourselves as we’ll finally be entering the studio for album 7 Spring 2024!”

These four albums, released between 2008-2013 highlight their years recording for Century Media and one can hear and appreciate the journey begun by teenagers inspired by their influences to an international recording and touring juggernaut trailblazing new paths and inspiring a next generation. Hear the raw ferocity and reckless innocence of classic debut ‘War Without End,’ produced by the esteemed Bill Metoyer (Slayer, D.R.I., Dark Angel), including 3 bonus tracks recorded in the same sessions of older demo re-recordings. Meanwhile, 2009’s ‘Waking Into Nightmares’ showcased a band who’d spent the past year on the road and sandwiched the writing and recording of this stellar beast, that introduced some death metal elements, between tours and witness the tightness and precision come to the fore, especially backed by drummer Nic Ritter (RIP). This one includes the infamous demo song “Road Warrior” re-recorded along with album producer Gary Holt (Exodus/Slayer) ripping a guest guitar solo plus a cover of Swedish Death Metal stalwarts Unleashed. Two years later, came ‘Worlds Torn Asunder’ that featured Carlos Cruz entering the ranks and further progressing their sound with producer Steve Evetts (Symphony X, Sepultura) behind the board, and the reissue tacks on their covers of Motorhead and Bathory. And finally, the experimental ‘IV: Empires Collapse,’ mixed by Brett Eliason (Pearl Jam, Avenged Sevenfold), which is the only album to include Mantic Ritual members Jeff Potts (guitar) and Ben Mottsman (bass) and to include writing contributions from all members that highlighted a more diverse effort, including punk and black metal elements, which while at first was misunderstood has become a standout for many fans. This one includes their rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Communication Breakdown.” There are no plans to individually reissue the demos or Napalm albums on cassette, but the full WARBRINGER catalog on tape is available while a few box sets remain – only available from the webstore.

The noteworthy release proves the true mastery of their craft, and spurred a forward shift of an entire genre – transporting thrash into a brand-new era. Building upon their internationally-acclaimed blistering attack, with ‘Weapons of Tomorrow,’ WARBRINGER showcases a refreshed technical approach and a heightened focus on unique lyrical and vocal style. The record takes the promise of the band’s previous release, ‘Woe to the Vanquished,’ and carries it onward, presenting WARBRINGER at their absolute best. A new album will be released by Napalm Records in 2024.

Formed in late 2004, WARBRINGER has gone on to be one of the most consistent and well-regarded thrash metal bands of the new generation. After releasing two demos, the band broke out with their 2008 debut, ‘War Without End’ – a record illustrating a frantic energy and aggression which had been absent from metal for some time. The band continued to redefine their sound on each of their next four career-defining albums – 2009’s ‘Waking Into Nightmares,’ 2011’s ‘Worlds Torn Asunder,’ 2013’s ‘Warbringer IV: Empires Collapse’ and 2017’s ‘Woe To The Vanquished,’ their first via Napalm Records (Billboard – #8 New Artist Albums, #17 Hard Music Albums, #26 Current Rock and #29 Independent Current Albums). WARBRINGER has bolstered their performance roster by relentlessly touring internationally throughout five continents with iconic artists such as Megadeth, Exodus, Arch Enemy, Testament, Napalm Death, Iced Earth, Nile, Suffocation, Kreator, Soilwork, Overkill, Sepultura, Hatebreed, Nevermore, Dark Tranquillity, Cavelera, Sacred Reich and many more, and found themselves working with industry greats on each new album – creating with producers such as Bill Metoyer (Slayer, D.R.I., Dark Angel), thrash legend Gary Holt (guitarist, Slayer/Exodus), Steve Evetts (Symphony X, DevilDriver, The Dillinger Escape Plan), and Mike Plotnikoff (In Flames, All That Remains, Fear Factory) and cover artwork from legends Dan Seagrave (Morbid Angel, Malevolent Creation, Suffocation) and Andreas Marschall (Blind Guardian, Obituary, Hammerfall). The ever-evolving quintet continues to renovate their potent concept with each passing year, without ever losing focus on the future. Metal Injection said it best, “…the almighty WARBRINGER have proven that they reign eternal… no matter what the circumstances.”

WARBRINGER is:
John Kevill – Vocals
Adam Carroll – Guitar
Carlos Cruz – Drums
Chase Becker – Guitar
Chase Bryant – Bass

More Info:
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
www.m-theoryaudio.com

VENUES Release New Single & Video ‘Radiate Me’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 21, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

German post-hardcore experience Venues have just released their brand new single ‘Radiate Me’, following their critically acclaimed album Solace (2021) and previous singles ‘Reflections‘, ‘Cravings‘, ‘Haunted House‘ & ‘Oblivion‘.

‘Radiate Me’ is an introspective track exploring the journey of overcoming personal challenges and striving for self-improvement. The song’s powerful lyrics depict a battle with inner demons, using vivid imagery like a ‘pest plant’ to symbolize life’s negative influences. ‘Radiate Me’ stands as an anthem for those struggling with their inner selves, emphasizing the beauty of a life beyond personal turmoil.

Vocalist Robin comments on the track: “The last year was quite tough for me, as my mother was diagnosed with two types of cancer. She immediately took up the fight and underwent chemotherapy, which was extremely hard on her. I drove her to various hospitals time and again, took care of the household, and cared for her as a person. But primarily, I saw her suffer and what the poison of this treatment did to her. The chemotherapy almost killed her. ‘Radiate Me’ is all of that in one song. As it stands now, she is doing well and we all hope that it stays that way. Fuck cancer!“

For their most recent album Venues went into the studio with producer Christoph Wieczorek (Annisokay) to record Solace, who coated their massive sound with a metallic alloy of remarkable precision.

“We wanted to be more metal,” Robin comments.“There were some pop sensibilities of Aspire we wanted to replace with rather the opposite.”

Melody and punch-drunk heaviness, metal and alternative rock, zeitgeist and authenticity, barbed choruses and unleashed creativity: with their soaring sophomore release, Venues fulfill every single promise they gave on Aspire.

“2020 showed all of us how much the band is helping us keep our sanity,” vocalist Robin muses. “Almost the whole band went through minor or medium crises since the release of our debut. Relationships went sour, things were ended and begun. In times like these, our second album was the light at the end of the tunnel. Something we all could look forward to. Our music held our heads above water.”

It’s a big leap, going from Aspire to Solace, and it’s a logical one, too. Ten songs, ten exorcisms of negative energy, ten lifesavers.

Catch Venues live:
10.02.24 Raptor Festival, Königsbrunn DE
20.04.24 Brickmosch Festival, Twistringen DE
04.05.24 Horror Con, Freiburg DE
29.06.24 Moos & Meadow Festival, Feuchtwangen DE
13.07.24 Free For All Festival, Weener DE
19.07.24 Nexo Nerd Expo, Leipzig DE

Venues are:
Lela | clean vocals
Robin | shouts
Valentin | guitar
Dennis | drums

More info:
http://www.facebook.com/venuesofficial
http://www.instagram.com/venuesofficial
https://www.tiktok.com/@venuesofficial
https://twitter.com/venuesofficial
https://venues.bigcartel.com/

RETERNITY Release Single & Video for Chris de Burgh’s ‘A Spaceman Came Travelling’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 21, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

The bustling Swabian metallers from RETERNITY recorded a brand new song in the studio with producer Andy Horn in the summer of 2023 to creatively bridge the gap to a fourth album.

With “A Spaceman Came Travelling”, the band took on a classic from the 1970s by Irish poet Chris de Burgh and gave the song a metallic corset. The track is now available as a digital single on all common download and streaming platforms. The band is also releasing a video clip for the song on the MDD YouTube channel, which is intended to convey one thing above all: Hope and joy. Check it out!

Order latest album
▶ MDD Shop: http://mdd-records.de/reternity
▶ AMAZON: https://amzn.to/3mwMLr9

More information at
http://fb.com/reternityband
http://instagram.com/reternity_band

Hungary’s ARCHAIC Sign Worldwide Deal with EMG

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 21, 2023
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Extreme Management Group (EMG), home to bands like Suffocation, Atheist, Rings of Saturn, and more, has announced their partnership with Thrash Metal band ARCHAIC.

Archaic are a thrash metal band from Hungary, influenced by bands such as Testament, Slayer, Kreator and The Haunted. The band has a clear aim to carry on the flag of the classic thrash genre with a modern 21st century sound, diverse tempos, catchy melodies impregnated with a relentless energy on stage in order to give the best live experience for any metal fan attending our gigs.

Archaic have three full-length studio albums and hundreds of gigs in their long history. After the release of their first album ’Time Has Come to Envy the Dead (2005 Vic Records) and an intensive 5-year period of gigs and tours, including a support tour with Testament, the band was forced to stop for many years because of various personal reasons and line-up changes, until they reunited again with a new line-up and came back with a brand new release called ’How much blood would you shed to stay alive?’ in December 2017.

With help of the label Nail Records, the album was an attachment of the Hungarian Hammerworld magazine thus reaching a wide audience in the country and became immediately popular and received positive reviews and feedback in all the major metal magazines.

The album cover made by artist Peter Sallai (Annihilator, Sabaton, Hammerfall) and studio production done by Attila Vörös (ex- Nevermore, Satyricon) were voted Hungary’s best in 2017 by the Hungarian metal press.

The band went on to release new videos, playing as many gigs as possible, both in Hungary and in Europe. One of the most important stage in their life took place in 2019 when they managed to play in Wacken as part of the international Wacken Metal Battle competition representing Hungary and they made it to the 2nd place in the finals, making them the first band from their country reaching such a prominent position.

Later on in 2020 they continued the recordings of their upcoming album but unfortunate line-up changes, the covid pandemic and other factors set new obstacles in the way. The most significant change happened at the position of the lead vocalist, as after Tamás left the band, the guitarist, Peter stepped into his place, and it took a while to rearrange and re-record the vocal tracks for the new songs.

The new album named “The Endgame Protocol” was finally finished by the end of 2021. The album was released on 4 March 2022.The album received excellent international reviews, resulting in a growing interest in the band.

In Hungary, ‘The Endgame Protocol’ was the album of the month in HammerWorld magazine and also opened at no. 2 in the domestic sales charts. Along with the outstanding reception of the album, the band has also received international acclaim.

Now the band has signed with Extreme Management Group, and had the following to say about the partnering, “We are proud and happy to announce that the band has become part of the Extreme Management Group roster. We are looking forward to working together and it is a huge step in our history as this the first time when a professional and experienced management team will handle our international aspirations and help us grow and spread the music of Archaic worldwide. Keep supporting thrash metal!” EMG said, “We anticipate big things to come from our partnership with ARCHAIC.”

ARCHAIC is:
Péter Erdélyi – vocal, guitar
Lászlo Püski – guitar
Csaba Zoltán Szabó – drums
Gábor Illés – bass

ARCHAIC Online:
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/archaicmetal
Website: https://archaicmetal.com

MOURNING DAWN Share New Track ‘The Color of Waves’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 21, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

French black-doom metal torchbearers MOURNING DAWN have announced the upcoming release of their sixth studio album, “The Foam of Despair”, on January 12th 2024.

Today, the band unveil a new track from the album. Watch the video of “The Color of Waves” at THIS LOCATION.

The first video from the album, “Blue Pain”, is also available HERE.

Aesthetic Death will release “The Foam of Despair” on digi CD and gatefold LP – (vinyl co-released with Tragedy Productions).

Tracklist:

1. Tomber du temps
2. Blue Pain
3. Borrowed Skin
4. Apex
5. Suzerain
6. The Color of Waves
7. Midnight Sun (CD edition bonus track)

The journey of our personal evolutions should be intrinsically integrated within, and carve out, our creativity.

MOURNING DAWN have always reflected the rich cycles of their lives within their albums – both the bad times and the very bad times. With “The Foam Of Despair”MOURNING DAWN undergo their own metamorphosis, emerging to reach a heightened level of perception, doomed spirituality and self-reflection.

This new album has all the benchmark qualities of MOURNING DAWN – the blackened doom pacing, the anguished vocals and the captivating songwriting – but with any great album there needs to be a creative alchemy, the Je ne sais quoi that brings everything together. “The Foam Of Despair” certainly has that, with this new material elevated beyond that heard before from this now established line-up.

Strong words considering the quality of albums created in the past two decades – just listening to “For The Fallen”, “Les Sacrifies”, “Dead End Euphoria” it’s clear to see the impact MOURNING DAWN have had upon this scene.

This album takes their blackened depressive doomed music to new levels – with the freedom to explore new territories and industrial overtones – and solidifies their position as one of the most important bands of the genre.

Most of all, “The Foam Of Despair” feels like a whole – there’s a new confidence and comfort in their own creativity – reflecting on their journey, really being at one with both their despair and their evolution.

http://mourningdawn.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MourningDawn
https://www.instagram.com/mourningdawnofficial/