The band is currently preparing their second studio album but before that they’ll release a 3-track EP titled Covers III on December 15th 2023. The chosen cover tracks are Toxic (Britney Spears), Sweet Death (King Dude) and Lethean (Katatonia).
Rioghan comments: “Toxic was such an entertaining song to work with, as we got to figure out a completely different approach to this iconic pop song (which has, not gonna lie, spinned a few times in my record player too back then). Me and Teemu wanted to bring a little rougher tones to this one, and in our opinion the song bended beautifully to a whole new prog metal vibe.”
Another excellent news is that Rioghan is now ready hit the stages and the first gig shall take place at On The Rocks, Helsinki on November 15th.
Track list: 1 – Toxic
originally performed by Britney Spears
this arrangement by Teemu Liekkala and Jenni Perämäki
written by Cathy Dennis, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback
2 – Sweet Death
originally performed by King Dude, Shannon F.
this arrangement by Teemu Liekkala and Jenni Perämäki
written by Thomas Jefferson Cowgill
3 – Lethean
originally performed by Katatonia
this arrangement by Teemu Liekkala and Jenni Perämäki
written by Jonas Renkse, Per Eriksson
On this record Vocals Jenni Perämäki, in Sweet Death also Tony Kaikkonen Guitars Teemu Liekkala and Tero Luukkonen Keys Teemu Liekkala Bass Antti Varjanne Drums Valtteri Revonkorpi
Mixing by Teemu Liekkala Mastering by Teemu Liekkala Photo by Sonja Hietala Photography Make-up & hair Jenni Perämäki EP cover layout by Sakari Tuokkola
Long-running Belgian death-doom metallers MY LAMENT have premiered the new video for “My Mausoleum”. The single is taken from their first full-length in over a decade, “The Season Came Undone”, out now via Ardua Music.
1. Everything Goes to Waste 2. My Mausoleum 3. Fallacy 4. Like Fallen Rain 5. Oh, Fall 6. Dying of the Light 7. Like Something Almost Being Said (Instrumental) 8. November 9. Life Will Be the Death of Me (2023 Remaster)
After two successful releases, “Broken Leaf” (2009, Solitude Productions) and “Sorrow” (2015), the band have honed their underground roots into a more accessible sound with an emphasis on concise songwriting and memorable melodies.
The upcoming new album “The Season Came Undone” (nine tracks, 51 minutes) reflects the band’s ambition to reach a wider audience without giving up their doom/death heritage. With unique vocal harmonies, soaring leads, a pounding rhythm section and thoughtful lyrics, MY LAMENT has matured into a forward-thinking foursome that doesn’t sound quite like any other band.
Line-up:
Steph – bass Vincent – drums Paul – guitars Robrecht – vocals & guitars
Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to former Triumph guitarist and singer Rik Emmett about his new autobiography ‘Lay it on the line’ plus the bands documentary and the bands legacy, plus a whole lot more.
Excerpts
When asked about his new autobiography “I hesitate to say it’s an autobiography because there’s so much stuff going on in this book. I did a lot of research reading other guys’ Memoirs and autobiographies and things. The truth of it is that my life has been a lot more than just being a rock star guy in a rock band. I’m going to tell the story of my life. It’s going to end up being the story of family and teaching and music that goes much further than just being you know kind of in a rock band. So because my musical experience has been much wider, I made a lot more records after I left Triumph than I made when I was in it, so it’s wide ranging.”
When asked if back in the Triumph years it irked him to share lead vocal duties “First of all let’s make sure that everybody understands this Triumph was always Gil’s (Moore) band he was always kind of the band leader. He was the guy that formulated the concept of the band and the way that the band looked in terms of production and on stage. It was very much a reflection of what Gil Wanted the band to be. Then he and Mike (Levine) found me. The Three Musketeers here we go. I think that the rub that you’re talking about was that the ‘Just A Game’ album in particular, the third Triumph album. Let’s put it in this context the second album was called ‘Rock and roll machine’ and it was very much a Gil Moore kind of record. Rock and roll machine was a song that he (Gil) wrote and said that was how he saw the band. Uh and I think he always kind of held to that sense of what the band was but then the ‘Just A Game’ album had the success with ‘Lay it on the line’ and ‘Hold on’ which are kind of Evergreen songs. And I think the record company then went hey the Evergreen nature of this thing that we’ve signed. Maybe it’s the blonde guy there out front that’s what we want to push. We want to focus on that. So when you talk about rub I think that’s where the rubbing began, that record companies were now talking to Gil and Mike and saying hey you know we want more of Rick and they were going well that’s not what the band is all about we are the Musketeers. Mike had been the producer of the early records and Mike was the guy that sort of be in the studio and in the control room and sort of saying okay I a Gil song, a Rik song, a Gill song, a Rik song and that’s how we keep the rock and roll machine stays balanced. You start out a band, with that whole Musketeers thing and it’s easy to do that because you don’t have a pot to piss in so you know everybody’s willing to make compromises and the collaboration works. Then time goes on and people get married and they start to have kids and they got their own lives and hey we’re having success we’re buying houses guys are making Investments they’re having their own lives. Then they go well hang on I want the band to be this reflection of my life and then the other guy goes no I want it to be this reflection of my life and those things.”
When asked about the time he was asked to join the band The Damn Yankees ” I got a couple of phone calls I think from the manager of Ted (Nugent) and he called me and then I got a call from Jack Blades .Jack and I know each other cause Night Ranger and Triumph had done some outdoor shows where we were on the same bill. The Damn Yankees thing I don’t think they’d even picked the name yet you know but I knew that Ted Nugent and Tommy Shaw were in the band with Jack (Blades). So when I got that call I went guys you got enough guitars in the Damn Yankees how would that work?”
When asked about the Triumph reunions and documentary “When I went back in for reunions and filmed the documentary and stuff I was not re-entering the partnership, I was not getting a piece of Triumph back the other guys own it. I was just coming in as if I was like a sideman, a friend participating purely out of friendship and stuff there were no deals being cut that I cared about. They were saying oh if there’s any merch we’ll give you I go yeah whatever I don’t care let’s just do this. I’ll do this for friendship and I’ll do this more for the sake of the legacy of the name of the brand which I don’t even own anymore. I don’t have a piece of that but I don’t care you know it was like uh I think everything that I do in a good spirit towards the whole Triumph thing it only benefits me in the life like the books that I write. Triumph is the word on the front cover of my book because it helps me in the marketing of my own stuff. “
Following their previously-shared, first singles, “Disciples Of The Stars” and “Blazing Skies”, Swedish melodic power metal act METALITE is gearing up for the release of their most gigantic album to date: Expedition One will be coming out on January 19, 2024 via AFM Records. The pre-sale of this early 2024 album highlight, one that belongs into every well-sorted power- and melodic metal record collection, is available at THIS LOCATION!
Today, METALITE are premiering a new single taken off their upcoming Expedition One. Says the band: “We are thrilled to release this new single, a powerful anthem dedicated to our younger generation. They are the driving force behind positive change, tirelessly fighting for their rights, meaningful causes, and a cleaner environment. These inspiring individuals continue to challenge societal norms, striving to make the world a better place. Our mid-tempo banger is a tribute to their unwavering dedication. It’s a rallying cry for those who believe in our future and refuse to back down from their convictions. Join us in celebrating the relentless spirit of these change-makers and their commitment to a brighter tomorrow!”
Expedition One tells a fictitious story about life on our planet in the year 2055. The band’s upcoming magnum opus inspires with a wide range of diverse compositions and an intelligent sci-fi story that couldn’t be more topical. In addition, their fourth album offering manifests the musicians’ amazing artistic development. METALITE‘s visionary sci-fi trip is told over sixteen multi-faceted songs that combine the quintet’s many strengths: powerful and at the same time delicate guitar riffs and solos, anthemic melodies courtesy of vocalist Erica Ohlsson, driving rhythms and cleverly positioned keyboard parts. Expedition One was produced by guitarist Edwin Premberg, and was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen.
Today, the 26x Billboard chart-topper Joe Bonamassa has released Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, his new studio album, out today via his own J&R Adventures. In celebration of this landmark release, which marks 20 years since his first independent album, Bonamassa has unveiled the project’s latest single “Is It Safe To Go Home,” a standout from the album, crafted by producer Josh Smith. “I wrote ‘Is It Safe To Go Home’ specifically for this project and for Joe,” Smith recalls. “I can’t believe what he did with it. The vocal and solo are some of his best work (in fact, he hits the highest vocal note he ever has on record), and it’s just an absolutely epic performance and arrangement.”
Order Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 and Collector’s Edition Blue Vinyl HERE
Order Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 from the UK and Europe HERE
Order Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 & Limited-Edition Box Set from the USA HERE
Watch the official music video for “Is It Safe To Go Home” HERE.
Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 revisits and pays homage to Bonamassa’s musical roots, offering listeners fresh takes on classic blues tracks that have shaped his journey. The album boasts two new originals and eight covers, honouring legendary names in blues, from Bobby “Blue” Bland to Albert King. Both Vol. 2 and Blues Deluxe Remastered are available on 180 Gram vinyl, with the former as a gorgeous translucent blue colour for collectors.
Reflecting on his growth as a musician, Bonamassa says, “Part of my approach to these new recordings was that I wanted to see if I had matured musically over the years, and if I had gotten better as a player. I’m happy to say that I am a much better singer than I was 20 years ago – though I still don’t really consider myself to be a legit ‘singer,’ I can now carry a tune a little better than I could back then.”
Among the album’s treasures is “Hope You Realize It (Goodbye Again),” another original collaboration between Bonamassa and Tom Hambridge. “This is a song that I wrote with Tom Hambridge, and we did a real Tower Of Power treatment on it,” Bonamassa recalls. “Twenty-Four Hour Blues,” a fiery reinterpretation of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s iconic track from the Dreamer album, boasts one of Bonamassa’s most potent vocal and guitar performances to date, while “Well, I Done Got Over It” pays tribute to Guitar Slim’s 1953 release, and “Lazy Poker Blues” rejuvenates the classic song originally performed by Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac.
Featuring Reese Wynans (keys), Calvin Turner (bass), Lamar Carter (drums), Kirk Fletcher (guitar), and Josh Smith (guitar), additional highlights from Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 include “I Want To Shout About It,” originally performed by Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters and “It’s Hard But It’s Fair” by Bobby Parker. “I knew I wanted to push him really hard vocally,” Smith adds. “I’d heard him sing things just messing around or when we’d be producing for other artists that I’d never heard him do on record. So the songs were both chosen and written with that in mind. If you listen to the vocals on “Twenty-Four Hour Blues” and “Is It Safe To Go Home,” you’ll hear Joe really going for it.”
Following an extensive summer run that included his debut appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, which was recorded for his next live concert film, the hardest working bluesman in show business will begin his U.S. Fall Tour on October 23rd at The Cannon Center in Memphis, TN, before crisscrossing the country and capping the year at the guitar-shaped Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL on December 2nd.
Bonamassa’s spring 2024 tour will include performances in historic venues like the Count Basie Center For The Arts in Red Bank, NJ on February 23rd and the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola, FL on March 7th, before culminating with the sold out Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea IX, set for March 18-24, departing from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico. The festival line-up includes Grace Potter, The Marshall Tucker Band, John Oates, Jimmy Vivino, King King, and a special performance by Black Country Communion, Bonamassa’s supergroup with Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH), Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) and Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL). KTBA at Sea is one of the largest fundraisers for Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, aiding in its mission to promote music education by providing grants and resources to schools and musicians in need.
Cited by Guitar World as “arguably the world’s biggest blues guitarist,” Bonamassa is known for taking risks and venturing into uncharted territory throughout his wide-ranging career. His last recent full-length Time Clocks marked his most raw, rocking studio album yet, with American Songwriter sharing, “Bonamassa pushes into fresh territory while staying within a blues-based framework,” and “there is more than enough proof in this sprawling set that Bonamassa doesn’t intend to rest on his laurels or take his star status in the blues-rock genre for granted.”
Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 by Joe Bonamassa 1. Twenty-Four Hour Blues (originally performed by Bobby “Blue” Bland) 2. It’s Hard But It’s Fair (originally performed by Bobby Parker) 3. Well, I Done Got Over It (originally performed by Guitar Slim) 4. I Want to Shout About It (originally performed by Ronnie Earle & The Broadcasters) 5. Win-O (originally performed by Pee Wee Crayton) 6. Hope You Realize It (Goodbye Again) *original song written by Joe Bonamassa & Tom Hambridge 7. Lazy Poker Blues (originally performed by Fleetwood Mac) 8. You Sure Drive a Hard Bargain (originally performed by Albert King) 9. The Truth Hurts Feat Kirk Fletcher and Josh Smith (originally performed by Kenny Neal) 10. Is It Safe To Go Home *original song written by Josh Smith
Blues Deluxe Remastered by Joe Bonamassa 1. You Upset Me Baby 2. Burning Hell 3. Blues Deluxe 4. Man Of Many Words 5. Woke Up Dreaming 6. I Don’t Live Any Where 7. Wild About You Baby 8. Long Distance Blues 9. Pack It Up 10. Left Overs 11. Walking Blues 12. Mumbling Word
Fall 2023 U.S. Tour October 23 – Memphis, TN – The Cannon Center October 25 – Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium October 27 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre October 28 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre At Sugar Land October 29 – Austin, TX – ACL Live November 1 – Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center November 3 – Little Rock, AR – Robinson Performance Hall November 4 – Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre November 5 – Oklahoma City, OK – Civic Center Music Hall November 8 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater November 10 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre November 11 – St. Louis, MO – The Fabulous Fox November 12 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Paramount Theatre November 14 – Rochester, MN – Mayo Civic Center November 15 – Rockford, IL – Coronado Performing Arts Center November 17 – Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre November 18 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre November 19 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre November 21 – Reading, PA – The Santander Performing Arts Center November 22 – Providence, RI – Providence Performance Arts Center November 24 – Springfield, MA – Symphony Hall November 25 – Baltimore, MD – The Lyric November 28 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre November 30 – Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall December 1 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena December 2 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
Spring 2024 U.S. Tour February 19 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace February 21 – Youngstown, OH – Covelli Centre February 23 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Center For The Arts February 24 – Oxon Hill, MD – The Theater at MGM National Harbor February 25 – Durham, NC – DPAC February 27 – Columbia, SC – Township Auditorium February 29 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Sandler Center March 1 – Roanoke, VA – Berglund Center March 2 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre March 4 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater March 5 – Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Civic Auditorium March 7 – Pensacola, FL – Saenger Theatre March 8 – Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage March 9 – Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage March 11 – Huntsville, AL – VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall March 12 – Greenville, SC – Peace Center March 14 – Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium March 15 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center March 16 – Clearwater, FL – The Sound March 18-24 – Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea IX – Miami, FL to Cozumel, Mexico
April 2024 UK Concerts April 4 – London, The Royal Albert Hall April 5 – London, The Royal Albert Hall
ABOUT JOE BONAMASSA Blues-rock superstar Joe Bonamassa is one of the most celebrated performing musicians of today. As a three-time GRAMMY-nominated artist and 13x Blues Music Award Nominee (4 wins), he achieved his 26th No. 1 album on the Billboard Blues Chart with Tales Of Time, a sprawling and expansive live concert film and album, shot at the breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado in August 2022. Only in his mid-40s, Bonamassa has become a living legend with an astounding multi-genre catalog. He has released more than 40 albums, including studio and live recordings, as well as collaborative albums with his adventurous side projects: Black Country Communion and Rock Candy Funk Party.
A prolific writer who is always on the hunt to expand his eclectic musical horizons, Bonamassa has a limitless work ethic whether it’s in a studio, on the road, or working with other artists to spur new music. In recent years, he has produced an immense number of albums including Joanne Shaw Taylor, Marc Broussard, Larry McCray, Jimmy Hall and others for his independent label KTBA Records, and has also recently launched Journeyman LLC, a full-service artist management, record label, concert promotion, and marketing company that builds awareness for independent artists worldwide. Recent producing highlights include ‘Crown’ by the blues legend Eric Gales, which was nominated for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards.
Bonamassa has been featured in several publications from Esquire, WSJ, and Parade to Rolling Stone and American Songwriter, as well as on the covers of Guitar World, Guitar Player, Vintage Guitar, Guitarist, and Classic Rock Magazine. His non-profit Keeping The Blues Alive provides funds and resources to schools and artists in need and has positively impacted more than 91k students to date while raising over 2 million in donations.
WARLORD welcome guitarist Eric Juris to the Warlord family:
Mark, Giles, Philip and Jimmy would like to welcome Eric Juris to Warlord, Some of you may know Eric already from his great work with Crystal Viper, and thus we are very excited to have this brilliant and talented musician with us as we move into the new chapter of the band, with shows planned for 2024 in honor of Warlord co-founder William J Tsamis.
Eric comments:
“It’s an honor to become a part of Warlord and be able to lend a hand in keeping Bill’s legacy and music alive. The whole band has been extremely welcoming and it’s been pure joy to work with them, we will see the Warlord fans live in 2024″
Mark Zonder comments:
“When we heard Eric play we knew instantly we had our guy, he was able to point out and deliver detailed facets of Bill’s playing, writing and performance, things that we ourselves always just knew as “Bill’s style”… Eric will help the band keep the legacy alive. Warlord live will remain a two guitar band and we will have more announcements in the near future”
Giles Lavery adds:
“My great friend David Reece recommended Eric, at first mention i was a little reserved, as every guitarist will tell you that he or she can do this or that better than the next player… But Eric didn’t do that …and after hearing 2 or 3 songs that Eric tracked for us i was completely blown away, It was like listening to Bill playing those songs, I even had to check that i wasn’t listening to the wrong file! Bill is, was and will always be totally irreplaceable, but Eric is a critical part in our ongoing mission to keep Bill and Warlord’s legacy alive and pay tribute to his work”
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 