ALCHEMIA to Bring Dark + Horror Metal to Summer Breeze Open Air Brazil 2024

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 12, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Brazilian horror metal band ALCHEMIA has been confirmed to play at the Summer Breeze Open Air Brasil festival in 2024. The festival will take place April 26-28 at Memorial da América Latina, São Paulo, Brazil.

Alchemia was formed in São Paulo in 2018 by vocalist Victor Piiroja. The band’s debut album, “Inception,” was released in 2021 by Italian label WormholeDeath Records and helped Alchemia become one of the most promising horror metal bands in the world. “Inception” was also released in Japan in 2022 via WormholeDeath Records Japan.

The band’s music is dark and cinematic, with lyrics that explore themes such as reflection, consciousness, mental imprisonment, phobias, and psychological disorders. “We have a lot of influences in ‘Inception,’ from heavy metal, black metal, death metal, industrial, gothic, film soundtracks, and classical orchestration,” Piiroja said. “At the same time, it has its own identity.”

The mixing and mastering of “Inception” were handled by renowned Danish audio engineer Tue Madsen, who has worked with Rob Halford, Babymetal, and Moonspell. The orchestrations were developed by London-based maestro Jon Phipps, who has orchestrated albums by bands such as Moonspell, Amorphis, and Devilment. The cover art was created by Brazilian artist Carlos Fides, who has created artwork for bands such as Kamelot, Evergrey, and Edu Falaschi.

In 2023, Alchemia took a break from working on their new album to play at the Los Muertos and Horror Expo Brazil festivals. The band will now be bringing their dark and powerful live show to the Summer Breeze Open Air Brasil festival. The setlist will feature songs from both “Inception” and the band’s upcoming album, “Become Human,” which is scheduled for release in 2024.

“We are thrilled to be playing at Summer Breeze Open Air Brazil,” Piiroja said. “It is one of the biggest and most important metal festivals in the world, and we are honored to be a part of it. We are excited to share our music with fans from all over Brazil and the world.”

About Alchemia

Alchemia is a Brazilian horror metal band formed in São Paulo in 2018. The band’s debut album, “Inception,” was released in 2021 by Italian label WormholeDeath Records and helped Alchemia become one of the most promising horror metal bands in the world. The band’s music is dark and cinematic, with lyrics that explore themes such as reflection, consciousness, mental imprisonment, phobias, and psychological disorders.

Sales – “Inception” (CD):

Europe – https://tinyurl.com/26ut664v
Japan – https://tinyurl.com/3cndz56c
Brazil (Shinigami Records): https://tinyurl.com/4jraa9js

Related Sites: alchemiaband.com

Alchemia social networks: Instagram: alchemiabandofficial – Facebook: alchemiaobandofficial – Twitter: alchemiabandoff

EXIT EDEN Unveil Cover of Journey’s ‘Separate Ways’ + Official Music Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 12, 2023
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), reveal their second new single, a dramatic cover of one of Journey’s biggest hits, “Separate Ways“! Topped by the release of EXIT EDEN’s debut, Rhapsodies in Black (#15 DE album charts), millions of video views (12M on their cover of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”) and an energetic performance at Wacken, three of the most talented women in metal will release their second album, Femmes Fatales, on January 12, 2024 via Napalm Records.

EXIT EDEN’s new masterpiece is an illustration of strength and female empowerment, and it contains its own original compositions as well as covers of international hits. The trio gives the iconic “Separate Ways” a fresh new soundscape, dressing the huge 80’s AOR hit in a veil of symphonic heaviness. Watch the accompanying music video below and make sure to pre-order your copy of Femmes Fatales!

EXIT EDEN state:             
“Our version of this Journey classic is a tribute to rock ‘n roll and timeless tunes. We are thrilled to retell this musical tale with our own voices and share it with you today.”

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

tAKiDA Release Video for ‘Third Strike’ from New Album, Out February 9th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 12, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[Photo Credit: Jonathan Perlmann]

Swedish rockers tAKiDA have revealed a brand-new official music video for their recent single, “Third strike”, cut from the band’s upcoming Napalm Records debut The agony flame, set for release on February 9, 2024! The astonishing looking video captures Sweden’s snowy, freezing landscapes, underlined by frightening AI-created, impressionism-influenced faces, skeletons and creatures.

tAKiDA’s recent singles have exceeded the already extremely well-accomplished band’s previous   international radio chart success, with “The loneliest hour” hitting #1 on German Rock Airplay Charts,  and “Third strike” currently ranking at #4 on Antyradio’s Turbo Top Charts – Poland’s biggest and most important rock radio channel. This new video arrives on the heels of tAKiDA’s recent announcement of their 2024 “Smoke & Mirrors Tour”, including an extended run through several major cities in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Supported by the English band Those Damn Crows, the tour kicks off in Offenbach, Germany on April 2. Tickets are on sale now, so get your tickets while they last!

Watch the official music video for “Third strike” below, and make sure to pre-order your copy of The agony flame!

tAKiDA on “Third strike”:           
“’Third strike’ is about self-sabotage. The main character, however hard they try to be the person they want to be, to do good, to be successful, they will always lose the battle with the voices in their head.”

tAKiDA has six platinum singles (one of them 4x platinum), three platinum albums and five #1 albums under their belts, and their new material is surely expanding upon their previous successes. In 2023, tAKiDA embarked on their biggest tour so far, including arena shows in their home country and huge festival appearances – even conquering the main stage at Wacken Open Air. The agony flame is the successor to tAKiDA’s stunning 2021 album, Falling from fame, which garnered tAKiDA a solid international fanbase that will certainly continue growing with the new full-length.

tAKiDA on The agony flame:
“The agony flame is our “now or never”-album and you’re free to interpret that however you want. Hope you’ll like it.”

Pre-Order Your Copy of The agony flame HERE

tAKiDA Live 2024

Smoke & Mirrors Tour 2024
w/ Those Damn Crows
02.04.2024 DE – Offenbach / Stadthalle
04.04.2024 DE – Hanover / Capitol
05.04.2024 DE – Leipzig / Felsenkeller
06.04.2024 DE – Filderstadt / FILHarmonie
07.04.2024 CH – Pratteln / Konzertfabrik Z7
09.04.2024 DE – Munich / TonHalle
10.04.2024 AT – Vienna / Szene Wien
12.04.2024 DE – Hamburg / Edel-Optics.de Arena
13.04.2024 DE – Cologne / Palladium
14.04.2024 DE – Berlin / Columbiahalle
16.04.2024 DE – Saarbrücken / Garage
17.04.2023 DE – Nürnberg / Löwensaal

The agony flame embodies the distinctive, unmistakable tAKiDA sound, rich with infectious, huge choruses. On the new album, listeners get to witness some of singer Robert Pettersson’s strongest vocal performances to date. Over the course of tAKiDA’s fruitful career, the band has regularly topped radio airplay charts, and their star doesn’t show any signs of dimming! The first track released from The agony flame, “The loneliest hour”, became the band’s biggest radio success to date by going straight to #1 on the German Rock Radio Airplay Charts after its release as a standalone single in summer 2023. In trademark tAKiDA manner, songs like “Your blood awaits you”, “Third strike” and “On the line” are loaded with emotion and unlimited hit potential.

More than two decades after the band’s formation, tAKiDA’s new offering makes it crystal clear that the unit’s pop-infused rock is still relevant today.

The agony flame Tracklisting:
1. Third strike
2. The other side
3. Sacred spell
4. In time
5. Your blood awaits you
6. Nothing but a misplace
7. The loneliest hour
8. Sickening
9. Isolated (smoke & mirrors)
10.On the line
11.Second fiddle

tAKiDA are:
Robert Pettersson – Vocals
Tomas Wallin – Choirs, Guitars
Mattias Larsson – Guitars
Chris Rehn – Bass, Keyboards, Guitars, Programming and Arrangements
Kristoffer Söderström – Drums
 
tAKiDA online:
Instagram
Facebook
Spotify
X
Napalm Records

By Closing One Chapter, FOSCOR Open Another with ‘Solitud’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 11, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

It’s been four long years since we’ve heard from Foscor. The Catalonians released their last album in the fall of 2019. Despite rave reviews, including a 5-star review from Metal Hammer, touring was cut short before the band could even step foot on the open road after COVID-19 shuttered the world into lockdown.

But Foscor have never stopped growing. While their name still means “darkness”, the band have shifted out from the shroud of second wave black metal that ushered in their first two albums. Today, they’re returning with “Solitud”, an unreleased song that drifts deeper into clean vocals and heavy melancholic riffs.   

“Solitud” was originally recorded during the sessions for Els Sepulcres Blancs, but the song encapsulates the prevailing loneliness of the pandemic. The chorus crushes you softly with its distorted melody and bottomless bass drones. 

“The song itself offers a vital closure”, says Foscor. Still, “Solitud” ends on a hopeful note. Gliding above an acrobatic guitar solo, the vocals – sung in the band’s native tongue – are clean and light as a feather.

“This song is a proper way to close that album cycle before definitely facing and closing the trilogy initiated in 2017 with Les Irreals Visions. It reminds us the spark to enlighten the future…the one that we have never walked alone. A brand new chant from the past, looking toward a final chapter, surrounded by tragic darkness.  

Order Foscor albums and merch: https://shopusa.season-of-mist.com/band/foscor

The Catalans return with the second chapter of the trilogy initiated with “Les Irreals Visions” in 2017, yet strongly connected to the fin de siècle cultural movement of Modernisme – a parallel development to Art Nouveau and Jugendstil among others. Visual things must acquire a new secret appearance, and with ‘Els Sepulcres Blancs’ FOSCOR treats poetically how facing a change of a sick world and society through the land of dreams.

The title translates as “The White Tombs”, a metaphor for that world of dreams and expectations where humans chained to reality may die and born free to imagine a better one.

Foscor hail from Catalonia, and take inspiration from the morbid, decadent, and sick reflections on a rapidly changing society, as the artistic landscape at the end of the nineteenth century shaped.

The name Foscor translates as “darkness” in their native Catalan tongue, which the band from Barcelona uses for their lyrics as a distinctive element and strong connection with their cultural reality.

The Catalans’ first two albums, ‘Entrance to the Shadows’ Village’ (2004), ‘The Smile of the Sad Ones’ (2007) wrapped a shroud of classic second wave black metal around a melancholic yet vital core. ‘Groans to the Guilty’ (2009) witnessed Foscor setting out towards more progressive and avant-garde course, but it was next full-length ‘Those Horrors Wither’ (2014) which marked a clear departure from the black metal. Darkness found an equally strong expression through the use of very personal clean vocals, tempo reduction and atmosphere.

In 2017, Foscor took another step in their constantly changing and shifting evolution. The brand new release ‘Les Irreals Visions’ (2017) was easily drawing its eager audience in, only to lure the unwary listener into a dark labyrinth of unexpected complexity filled with beauty and sorrow. In 2018, Foscor explored these lines between reality, poetry and the beyond even further with a special digital release transforming their own music into a so intimate experience; ‘Les Irreals Versions’ (2018).

Now, 2019 promises to be as tragic as their music claims with the so sensitive release of ‘Els Sepulcres Blancs’, its characteristic melancholic sonic aura and catchy riffing intensity. Their most personal and delicate sound achievement to date.

Line-up
Fiar: lyrics, vocals
Falke: guitars, effects
Albert M.: guitars, bass, piano
Jordi F.: drums
Esteban P.: keys

Follow
https://foscor.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/foscor.official
https://www.instagram.com/foscor_official/
https://twitter.com/foscor_official
https://www.youtube.com/FOSCORbcn

THUNDER to Release Two Previously Unheard Live Albums “Live At Islington Academy” + “Live At Leeds”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 11, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo ©Marty Moffatt

THUNDER, celebrated as one of Britain’s most popular and enduring hard rock sensations, are set to release two exclusive live albums on 26th January 2024 through earMUSIC. 

The first of the pair, ‘Live At Islington Academy’, captures Thunder during the touring cycle of their eighth studio album, ‘Robert Johnson’s Tombstone’. The quintet had already completed a lengthy circuit of the UK in promotion of the record when they were contacted by Planet Rock Radio to perform at the station’s inaugural Christmas Bash on 19th December 2006. A mere 800 fans were fortunate enough to witness Thunder’s storming surprise performance that night, which was dominated by golden classics like ‘Backstreet Symphony’ and ‘I Love You More Than Rock’N’Roll’.

The second live album, ‘Live At Leeds’ was a more official affair, recorded nine years later on 3rd March 2015, at Live Direct Arena in Leeds. The show was part of Thunder’s arena tour in support of ‘Wonder Days’ – a very meaningful tour that marked the first steps of public rehabilitation for Ben Matthews, the rhythm guitarist and keyboardist, who was recovering from throat cancer. Unsurprisingly, these shows were emotionally charged for both the band and the audience.  

Both concerts, ‘Live At Islington Academy’ and ‘Live At Leeds’, stand as evidence of Thunder’s prowess as live entertainers. And now at last you can re-live the experience.  

The official pre-order phase commences today and on 26th January 2024 both concerts will be available on CD, Vinyl as well as digital download and streaming. 

Pre-Listing of products can vary by country to country. Please keep checking back the shop of your choice. Products will be available for pre-order shortly. 

Pre-Order ‘Live At Leeds’ here: https://Thunder.lnk.to/LiveAtLeeds
Pre-Order ‘Live At Islington Academy’ here: https://Thunder.lnk.to/LiveAtIslington

WHILE SHE SLEEPS Share New Single ‘Down’ Feat. Alex Taylor

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 11, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

A new chapter in the WHILE SHE SLEEPS story is firmly underway. After introducing a subversive new twist on their sound with the single ‘SELF HELL’ (also the title track to their new album which follows on March 29th and supported with Radio 1 plays from Daniel P Carter, Jack Saunders and Nels Hylton, plus a playlist at Kerrang! Radio), the band powered into their biggest ever headline show at the 10,000 capacity Alexandra Palace to deliver a high intensity show in which their performance was equalled by their ambitious visuals.

Now WHILE SHE SLEEPS bring the curtain down on 2023 and line up an even bigger 2024 as they share the new single ‘DOWN’, which features Alex Taylor of fellow Sheffield band Malevolence. The track is accompanied by an exceptional video, which the band made DIY-style as a labour of love project.

While ‘DOWN’ is informed by the band’s desire to bring a whirlwind of fresh sonic influences to the fore, it nonetheless maintains the fierce aggression that typified the band’s roots. The track opens with an ominous blare of an MS-20 synth, before grinding heavyweight riffs, industrial-tinged beats and a soaring melodic hook heighten its intensity. Completed by a ferocious verse from Alex Taylor, ‘DOWN’ is indicative of where WHILE SHE SLEEPS are going in 2024: a maximalist, anything-goes attitude powered by swagger and self-belief.

Guitarist Sean Long says,

“‘DOWN’ has been a central pillar in the new album throughout the writing process of ‘SELF HELL’. Loz was completely on fire and it gave a reminiscent early Sleeps style to the track. The working title for this song was ‘Film-Riffs’ simply because it sounded like it could be in an action movie. And it will. That’s exactly what it is. A high-intensity new sound that you can’t not bang your head to. It was one of the first demos that we knew would be an integral part of the album, it houses all elements of the last 10+ years, yet we have also taken steps to excite ourselves in new areas and introduced new sounds to our advantage. The unmistakable MS20 has made its footprint on the new sound of SLEEPS and gives the song an instant identity as soon as it starts.

“The song is about our deepest desire to feel free from the grips of our own compulsions; trauma, past, society, and everything in between. While we all face this journey in life there are always obstacles that hinder our progress on the path. More often than not these manifests in the form of people who simply get in the way of your freedom and bring you down.”

The accompanying video was directed and edited by the band, which was structured by editing together 1175 still photos – approximately five photographs of each second of the video. Factor in a characteristically explosive performance from the band, a larger-than-life guest appearance from Alex Taylor, 15 litres of paint, 7 cans of spray paint, 2 fire extinguishers and a box of fireworks, and you have an idea of the barely controlled chaos that ensues. The video will be available soon in flick-book form, a soft back version that you can sync with the audio to create a unique physical viewing experience.

Mat Welsh adds,

“The video is created from the core of our ethos, we wanted to make something that embodied the attitude of SLEEPS, in our most natural environment. In a time where AI is taking over and technology is everywhere you turn, the idea behind the video was to take things in the opposite direction by physically delivering the lyrics and emotion of the song. Using only ourselves, a small space, some paint and the creativity and expression we harness, it took us seven days to shoot and we definitely underestimated the level of detail it required. The shortest road doesn’t equal the best journey and we believe that good things come through focus and hard work. This video is a testament to that.”

‘Self Hell’ is available to pre-order HERE. Formats include black/white swirl and neo-orange vinyl, both of which are packaged with a signed photo, as well as a CD. The album was produced by their long-term collaborator Carl Bown and the band’s guitarist, Sean Long. While She Sleeps – completed by Lawrence ‘Loz’ Taylor (vocals), Mat Welsh (guitar), Aaran Mckenzie (bass) and Adam Savage (drums) – recorded the album during sessions at Metropolis Studios in London, Treehouse Studio in Chesterfield, and their own Six Audio in Sheffield.

While She Sleeps are currently completing a tour which has taken them from Australia to New Zealand and now continues with dates in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei and Bangkok. They will then end 2023 with a special homecoming show at Sheffield Octagon.

Live plans are already taking shape for 2024 including a North American tour with Architects in May and a set at Download Festival in June.

DECEMBER 2023, remaining shows
13th – Bangkok, Mr Fox Live House
22nd – Sheffield, Octagon

FEBRUARY 2024
3rd – Lodz, Atlas Arena (guests to Architects)
4th – Prague, Forum Karlin (guests to Architects)