Blade, the trailblazing rock band behind the critically acclaimed album “Joker And Clowns”, is thrilled to debut their latest music video for the track “My Demons”. Penned and composed by the band’s vocalist, Pepe Tamminen, the song delves into his journey from adversity to triumph, illuminating the path from battling depression to emerging into a new, vibrant phase.
“This song is a reflection of personal battles and the resilience that propels us forward”, shares Pepe Tamminen, the creative force behind “My Demons”. “It’s about acknowledging the past, embracing change, and channeling that energy towards a brighter tomorrow. In Finland we call it SISU”
Infused with a blend of raw energy and unyielding determination, “My Demons” encapsulates the essence of Blade’s ethos, showcasing their resilience in the face of challenges. The song is a testament to the human capacity to rise above hardships, finding strength even amidst the darkest moments.
The newly released music video by David Bagaric (Morbid Film Studios) complements the song’s depth, visually portraying the band’s passion and intensity. Blade is gearing up for an active tour schedule in support of their celebrated album, and this release marks an exhilarating new chapter for the band and their dedicated fan base.
Blade’s forthcoming tour promises an electrifying live experience, featuring tracks from their lauded album. Stay tuned for updates and announcements regarding their tour dates and future releases.
Blade is a hard rock band formed in 2020 and hails from Finland. With a dynamic blend of powerful vocals, blistering guitar solos, thunderous basslines, and driving drums, Blade has made a name for themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the rock music scene. Their debut album “Joker and Clowns,” is a testament to their passion and dedication to the art of rock ‘n’ roll.
Blade’s line up: Pepe Tamminen (Vocals), Pekka Viljanen (Guitar), Jaakko Paljakka (Guitar), Janne Viljakainen (Bass and Keyboards), Henrik Hyöppönen (Drums)
Finnish modern metal band Volucrine released a new single Riptide. The track is taken from the upcoming fourth studio album ETNA which is set to be released on February 16th 2024 via Inverse Records.
Vocalist Jupe Velin comments: “Riptide is the story of a life lost in a storm of mental distress and pressure. There is still hope for a recovery, but the journey to the surface is getting longer by the day as the bottom inches closer and closer. Or is the bottom only an illusion as well? A mere landmark on the way to the endless depths below? We have been saying that we’ve returned to a heavier expression with the upcoming album and Riptide really lives up to all expectations in that regard. If our soon-to-bereleased album ETNA is a kind of survival story of a fragile psyche, RIPTIDE serves as a prologue bursting with explosive power. We’ve injected the song with a generous helping of punk attitude and hardcore energy to spice up our familiar alternative metal formula. So the course is clear! The crew of Volucrine welcomes you to board this dilapidated vessel sailing through the surges of a broken mind!”
Volucrine are a modern metal band that grew up by the cold Kymijoki river, in the shadows of Kouvola’s concrete structures. Founded in 2009, Volucrine’s mission has been, ever since the beginning, to tell stories of relatable emotions and challenges; to reflect and articulate humane themes beyond the borders of pain. The band’s style of genre-defying melodic alternative metal with vigorous guitar riffs, catchy choruses, and varied, rich vocal arrangements has only grown and refined over the years. Volucrine’s characteristic sound is created by mixing elements of progressive metal, melodic death metal and metalcore with the conventions of pop and rock music. This mixture creates a heartfelt but heavy style of music, where genuine emotion and primal frenzy go hand in hand.
At the beginning of 2024, the band will release their fourth full-length album, ETNA, and are eager to get back on stage after spending a long time working in the studio. Volucrine thrive on energetic live shows and are a true force of nature on stage, bringing a positive energy and uncompromising power to each performance. Operating at the turning point of their 15-year journey, the reformed band is finally in its purest form and is ready for everything the future has to offer.
Line-up: Jupe Velin – vocals Joni Kyynäräinen – bass Antti Heikkilä – guitar Jani Aalto – drums & percussion
BILLY MORRISON is set to release his third solo album ‘THE MORRISON PROJECT’ on April 19, 2024 via TLG/VIRGIN MUSIC GROUP. The album’s first single “Drowning” is out February 23, along with the official music video.
The 12 song album will feature guest performances by Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, DMC, Al Jourgensen, Steve Vai, Steve Stevens, Linda Perry, Tommy Clufetos, JOHN5, and more.
The British guitarist, singer, and songwriter is primarily known as Billy Idol’s rhythm guitar player for the past 15 years alongside lead guitarist Steve Stevens, and for his previous role as bassist in The Cult.
THE MORRISON PROJECT was produced by Billy Morrison, mixed by Barry Pointer, and mastered by Dave Donnelly. The songs on the album were recorded in Los Angeles at various studios and were written by Billy Morrison in collaboration with his guests.
“I wanted to find a very specific kind of partnership for this record deal. One that honored the artist and the music and didn’t restrict the creative vision behind the record that I had made. With Dennis Sanders and The Label Group, I found that partnership and more. They have embraced the multi-genre styles on the record, allowed me complete creative control, and have the ability to make sure this record is out there in all formats and on all platforms. I’m grateful to be a part of their stable,” says Billy Morrison.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to the start the year than to make it official and announce the signing of Billy Morrison to The Label Group,”says Dennis Sanders of The Label Group. He continues, “While the guest artists on Billy’s record are very impressive, it’s the songwriting that sold me. We feel blessed here at TLG to have the opportunity to bring this music to the world.”
Virgin Music Group shares in the excitement, looking forward to working together on the release of this brilliant record and singles.
THE MORRISON PROJECT – BILLY MORRISON
DROWNING (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
CRACK COCAINE (Featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Steve Stevens) (Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Stevens) Produced by Billy Morrison and Steve Stevens – Mixed by Barry Pointer
IT’S COME TO THIS (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius) Produced by Billy Morrison and Erik Eldenius – Mixed by Barry Pointer
THE AYES HAVE IT (Featuring Al Jourgensen and John 5) (Billy Morrison) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
DYSTOPIA (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
INCITE THE WATCH (Featuring Corey Taylor and Steve Vai) (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White, Corey Taylor) Produced by Billy Morrison and Erik Eldenius – Mixed by Barry Pointer
PUPPETS ON A STRING (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
JUST LIKE A MOVIE (Featuring D.M.C. and Persia Numan) (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White, Darryl McDaniels, Persia Numan) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
THE SOUND OF FREEDOM (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
MR. DREAM (Featuring Billy Idol and Steve Stevens) (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White, Steve Stevens, Billy Idol) Produced by Billy Morrison and Steve Stevens – Mixed by Barry Pointer
WE ARE THE DEAD (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
CHASING SHADOWS (Featuring Linda Perry) (Billy Morrison) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
Los Angeles-based dark melodic metal outfit WITHERFALL proudly presents their new single “Where Do I Begin?”. The track is taken from their upcoming fourth full-length album“Sounds Of The Forgotten”, due out on May 31st 2024 via DeathWave Records.
Commenting on the track, the band explains: “Our upcoming album ‘Sounds Of The Forgotten’ is our defining statement, a testament to what we in Witherfall hold sacred in the Rock and Metal Zeitgeist. We delve into many forms on ‘Sounds Of The Forgotten’ and one of the truly lost art-forms becoming ever more rare is the ‘Power Ballad’. Forgoing cheesy and sometimes hallow tropes about unrequited love we chose to write about our love of music. This ballad is an ode for anyone that finds themselves on their journey (whatever it may be) and fearing that their dream may be slipping away from them. Where do i begin? is a call to find your passion again and revisit those initial reasons for all of your sacrifices.”
With “Where Do I Begin?” Witherfall might just have answered the question what would happen if Nevermore and Scorpions had ever teamed up for a song… Listen to “Where Do I Begin?” on Spotify or Apple Music.
Previously Witherfall have already released the singles “Insidious” and “Ceremony Of Fire”, a track featuring elements that are cornerstones of the Witherfall sonic landscape from dark haunting hooks, to eclectic musical twist and turns. Watch the music videos for both songs here: https://youtu.be/Y8UiY5n6LFc?feature=shared
“Where Do I Begin?”, “Ceremony Of Fire” and “Insidious” will all be included on Witherfall’s upcoming fourth studio album “Sounds Of The Forgotten”, which will arrive on May 31st, 2024 via the band’s own label DeathWave Records.
“We found ourselves writing really depressing, melancholy songs about how just disappointed we were with all the work we put into Curse of Autumn and then going through the pandemic,” says frontman/songwriter Joseph Michael about the record. “Before that, we thought nothing was going to stop us. Then, something did. We felt a bit defeated. So, that’s how Sounds Of The Forgotten started. But we got out of that quickly. The songs we ended up writing were empowering. We have songs with negative emotions, but the overarching theme is moving forward and perseverance. That’s the epitome of Sounds Of The Forgotten.”
Many factors influenced and inspired Witherfall’s approach to “Sounds Of The Forgotten”. The album color theme conveys another side to Witherfall’s fourth-album distress. Often associated with ambition, power, and regality, the Blake Armstrong (In Flames, Megadeth, Kataklysm, Harry Potter, Wednesday) cover art provides a view into and a visual counter to the music on “Sounds Of The Forgotten”.
Tracklist 1. They Will Let You Down 2. Where Do I Begin 3. A Lonely Path 4. Insidious 5. Ceremony Of Fire 6. Sounds Of The Forgotten 7. Aftermath 8. When It All Falls Away 9. Opulent 10. What Have You Done
Pre-order the album on Vinyl/CD and/or pre-save it digitally here:
Witherfall was formed in Los Angeles in 2013. Joseph Michael (also of Sanctuary fame) and Jake Dreyer (ex-Iced Earth/Demons & Wizards) built their new band around drummer Adam Sagan (RIP) and accomplished bassist Anthony Crawford (Allan Holdsworth, CHON). Since then, the group have released three highly regarded albums: Nocturnes and Requiems (2017), A Prelude to Sorrow (2018), and Curse of Autumn (2021) and an ep Vintage (2019). Not one to cut corners, Witherfall enlisted famed drummer Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson) on Curse of Autumn, ensuring the foundations of singles “As I Lie Awake,” “The Other Side of Fear,” and “The River” were second to none. On the upcoming album, Minnemann returns to the fold with an album-only appearance, while drummer Chris Tsaganeas (Wax Owls) and multi-instrumentalist Gerry Hirschfeld (Willie Nelson) Witherfall’s newest permanent members.
Every Witherfall album is a defining moment. From the moment Nocturnes and Requiems thundered across metaldom to the group’s wine endeavors (Tempest Red Blend) with Charlie & Echo Winery, their video collaboration with Cig Neutron (Devil’s Workshop) on “The Other Side of Fear,” a beer partnership with Adroit Theory Brewing Company (Shadows Black IPA), and custom Funko Pop set, Michael and Dreyer have made Witherfall their mission. The journey to this point hasn’t been without toil and upheaval. Determination, however, is the key.
Witherfall are guitarist/songwriter Jake Dreyer, vocalist/songwriter Joseph Michael, bassist Anthony Crawford, drummer Marco Minnemann (recording only), drummer/percussionist Chris Tsaganeas, and keyboardist Gerry Hirschfeld.
Merrimack are unraveling another piece of Of Grace and Gravity. Today, the renowned French black metal band are releasing their new album’s cosmic, eerie second single.
“Dead and Distant Clamors” dives into an existential abyss. The lyrics not only confront the powers that shape this world, but also our eternal struggle against great beyond.
“Who proclaims, who decides, who announces the end of orations?” vocalist Vestal protests. “Captive of forms that vitrify again this side of reality”.
This battle against the inevitable is waged against a Merrimack’s signature backdrop of relentless, dissonant, atmospheric black metal. “Dead and Distant Clamors” unfolds like a dark cosmic ballet, stirring emotions that range from despair to defiance.
Of Grace and Gravity comes out March 8, 2024 on Season of Mist.
Here’s what Merrimackhave to say about the release of Dead and Distant Clamors:
“This song pays tribute to old-school black metal, embracing its desperate atmosphere and incorporating haunting, slow sections reminiscent of a depressive waltz”, says Merrimack. “Guitars engage in a conversation around a hypnotic crescendo, while the vocals articulate the inevitable possibilities of decay. Expect nothing less than a pure homage to the essence of darkness”.
Track-list 1. Sulphurean Synods (6:42) [WATCH] 2. Sublunar Despondency (7:07) 3. Dead and Distant Clamors (5:35) [LISTEN] 4. Wounds that Heal (6:44) 5. Starving Crowns (8:05) 6. Under the Aimless Spheres (7:01) 7. Embalmer’s Wine (6:59) Total: 48:13
MERRIMACK are back with their new album ‘Of Grace and Gravity’. Their third release for Season of Mist arrives after the re-print of their long sold-out debut ‘Ashes of Purification’, which followed the sizeable impact that their last album, ‘Omegaphilia’, had on the Black Metal Scene.
Merrimack can be categorised as extreme traditionalists that are driven by a burning desire to hone their skills and striving to bring their art to perfection. The band was founded by guitarist Perversifier a.k.a. Amfortas in 1994 with a clear vision to keep the black metal flame burning as an act of aesthetic terrorism – as adamantly based in the underground as opposed to any attempts to co-opt, commercialise or turn the style into a self-parody. Introduced by a number of demo recordings (‘Prologue’ – 1995, ‘Act 1’ – 1995, ‘Horns Defeat Thorns’ – 2001) and split releases (with Hirilorn in 1998 and Sargeist in 2002), the French gained respect in the scene by remaining true to their words.
Although Merrimack decided to reach out to a larger audience with the release of their first full-length ‘Ashes of Purification’, the Parisians did not sever their roots with the underground at any time. With the following albums, ‘Of Entropy and Life Denial’ (2006) and ‘Grey Rigorism’ (2009), Merrimack closed ranks with the most influential, active, and authentic acts of the French black metal scene. Their classic combination of harsh sound with epic structures appealed to critics and fans alike and put the band on their celebrated first US tour with MARDUK and NACHTMYSTIUM in 2009.
After recording ‘The Acausal Mass’ (2012) in the legendary Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, DESTRÖYER 666) again, Merrimack embarked on a European tour with Norwegian icons MAYHEM and accepted invitations to prestigious festivals such as Hellfest in their native France, Germany’s Party-San Open Air and Summer Breeze as well as Montreal’s Messe des Morts in Canada. With their previous album, ‘Omegaphilia’, Merrimack were breathing fresh life into an exhausted genre. While ignoring epithets such as progressive, post-, and avant-garde, the French focused on razor-sharp songwriting, captivating melodies, and close to perfect arrangements.
The ensemble now presents their latest album ‘Of Grace and Gravity’, an aural journey where grotesque assemblies of roosters and goats languish at the foot of heavens. Wallowing guitars and hypnotized passages of blasting drums collide with gravity-bound atoms in oblivious occlusion. Merrimack, in their enigmatic mastery, expose the futility of belief in occult ministries and slashes at the mask of the sky. The listener, questioned in their faith of the shadows and occult idols. Dare believe in the sulfurous whispers echoing through this blackened masterpiece.
Line-up Perversifier – Guitars A.K. – Guitars Blastum – Drums Vestal – Vocals Daethorn – Bass Recording Studio Studio Sainte Marthe, Paris, France
Sound, Mixing & Mastering Engineer Francis Caste
Artwork Artist Belial Necroarts – Front cover Opposition Artworks – Inner illustrations Adrien Bousson – Layout
F.K.Ü. release a new single entitled ‘Harvester of Horror’ on January 12th, taken from the new album ‘The Horror and The Metal’, coming out February 9th via Despotz Records.
“We had been wanting to do a song inspired by the 1978 cult classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers for a long time, having had the song title ready for quite a while. While writing music there was this really catchy riff we were jamming and it suddenly became clear this was that song. It’s a bit slower than our usual songs but definitely one of our heaviest and catchiest so far. If you don’t bang to this one your neck must already be broken.”.
The closing line to the title track of the new album pretty much sums up the essence of F.K.Ü. Heavily inspired by 80’s horror movies and crossover thrash metal (mostly S.O.D. to be honest) the seed for what was to become F.K.Ü. was planted as early as 1987, but it would take another 10 years before the guys got their act together and actually created some music for the world to hear. Back then in the late 90’s, playing this type of music was probably the most uncool thing you could do, but they’ve always stuck to their knives and done their own thing and never followed trends in the current music scene. Now, after 5 albums and countless live shows, F.K.Ü. returns with their most defining and hard-hitting album to date: The Horror And The Metal.
The album is a simple mission statement and serves to cement the two fundamental pillars of F.K.Ü. Horror is the overall theme of the band and its movies from the 80’s serve as their main lyrical and visual inspiration, and Metal is what runs through these guys’ veins. With one foot in Bay Area thrash metal and one in east coast crossover metal, they have created their own concoction of thrashing horror metal anthems sure to ignite any mosh pit.
Once again produced by the band’s singer (who we in this case will refer to by his birth name) Lawrence Mackrory (BLOODBATH, KATATONIA, VOMITORY), the band locked themselves into Rorysound Studios in early 2023 to begin recording the new album. When they after a couple of months finally emerged through the front door (not unlike how Jack Torrance broke through the bathroom door with an axe) they had created a horror metal masterpiece that will eliminate any uncertainty of what their intentions are. Although they never left, it’s time for everyone to know that F.K.Ü. is back!
Quote from the band about the album: “We’ve never before felt this confident about an album. We wanted to be direct and to the point and we really trimmed the fat off these songs and made them the best they can be. Every second on the album needed to be engaging and we really feel we have achieved that. When it all came together we felt that, instead of creating an intricate concept album, we should just be as to the point as possible. That’s why we simply decided to call the album “The Horror And The Metal”, to just make it as defining as possible, a mission statement of what this band is about.”
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 