AUTARKH venture into a bigger, brighter and more uplifting headspace on their new album. On the first two singles off Emergent, the Dutch contemporary metal band tapped in to supercharged industrial-sized riffs and even clean, radiant harmonies. But their new single “Duhkha” finds them struggling to hold onto that serene state of mind.
Watch the tormented lyric video for “Duhkha”, which was created by Spread Motion Design.
“‘Duhkha’ shows a darker side of the journey on ‘Emergent'”, says Autarkh. The song opens with eerie feedback and ominous sound effects that could’ve been ripped out of a slasher flick. Meanwhile, the band’s founder Michel Nienhuis screams with vein-popping intensity about being consumed then thrown into an inferno.
The darkness that hangs like a shroud over “Duhkha” comes from a personal place. “Clouded gaze, clouded aura / Left behind with my past self”, Nienhuis cries out, his final words before a tidal wave of battering electronic drums and gloomy dissonance pulls him under.
“The final part of this song reflects an unreleased DODECAHEDRON song that was written as an homage to my former band mate Michiel Eikenaar, who passed away in 2019”.
Dutch contemporary metal adventurers Autarkh are back with their sophomore full-length album Emergent. Michel Nienhuis, founder of Autarkh and Dodecahedrom, teamed up again with guitarist/producer David Luiten (Inferum), bassist Desmond Kuijk (Dear Mother) and electronics wizard Tijnn Verbruggen to create the follow-up to their highly acclaimed debut album ‘Form In Motion’, released by Season Of Mist on 12 March 2021. Monica Kendrick (Chicago Reader, US) on the relevance of the group’s debut:
“And I’ll call it now: given the time to flourish and sink into the ears of an audience, Autarkh will become highly influential on the next generation of extreme metal.”
‘Emergent’ is another testament to Autarkh’s imagination and creativity. It delivers increased versatility and contrast, and sees the band expand towards more uplifting and consonant territories. Form In Motion explored the boundaries of sonic extremes; on ‘Emergent’, Autarkh broadens its horizon and shows diversity and nuance while preserving its intense and razor-sharp edge.
With nine tracks, ‘Emergent’ is a sonic exploration of the inner universe where all things light and dark can be encountered. The listener is lured into an “Open Focus” (a meditative state of mind) in preparation for an inward journey along the physical energy centers. From the thumping synth basses of “Strife” and the menacing sludgy melancholy of “Duhkha”, we move into the bewildering blasts of “Trek”, where stellar harmonies will eventually burst through the oppressive atmosphere. The trip continues with the crushing downtempo groove that enforces “Refocus”, as well as the mind-bending a capella interlude “Aperture” and the frivolous “Eye Of Horus” and “Countless Kaleidoscopes”, to finally deliver all-encompassing enlightenment with Ka.
Composers Nienhuis’s and Luiten’s statements and states of mind capture the same capriciousness and unease of ‘Form In Motion’, this time leaving a more open, diverse and radiant imprint. With exciting vocal harmonies, bold contrasts and a vivid imagination, Autarkh sheds a bright light on the inner self and exposes it to the world with intensity and conviction. That makes Emergent an evocative release with a multilayered yet crystal-clear production that promises a bright future for Autarkh.
Line-up: Michel Nienhuis: vocals & guitars David Luiten: vocals & guitars Desmond Kuijk: bass Tijnn Verbruggen: synths & beats
Recording Studio: David Luiten Studio, Monodisc Studio, Moonbear Music & Engineering Mix/Master: David Luiten
Crushing French metallers, STENGAH return with the ‘DownwardMechanic’ EP, which will be released via Mascot Records on 1st December. To celebrate the announcement, they have revealed the video to the first track, ‘The Earth Awakes,’ which you can watch HERE.
It’s a year on from their debut album SOMA SEMA, which featured the award-winning video for ‘He and the Sea’- picking up the #1 prize from the Munich Music Video Awards and International Sound Future Awards. During that time, the band played ferocious sets at Hellfest (France), Bloodstock (UK), Mystic Festival (Poland), Metal Days (Slovenia) and was voted France’s Best New Band by Guitar Part magazine.
The ‘Downward Mechanic’ EP serves as an extension of SOMA SEMA, where the songs were written during the same sessions as their debut, meaning that they are utterly entwined with each other, breathing the same air, delving into the awe-inspiring scope of the mind as well as its fragilities, with bludgeoning brutality.
The EP opens with the adrenaline-injected lead track, ‘The Earth Awakes.’Its ethereal, dreamlike narrative marries continent-shaking nightmarish riffs and takes the listener to the first light on the earth. With the time rewinding fast with excessive blast beats and bright chords blinding them at first, the lyrics paint the majesty of witnessing the very first sunset in the world. “It is a fast and very massive song to sing in an epic way, how mother nature awakes and draws its strength over the ages, and how humble we must remain as we are simple dwellers on this planet,” says Eliott Williame.
‘The Earth Awakes’ video shows the blinded musicians alone with their inner sight. “To show what’s inside, we choose the opportunity to bring back the ragdoll monster from the previous videos for the album SOMA SEMA and let them reunite with old artefacts and characters from He and the Sea, At the Behest of Origins, and Above Inhumanity,” Williame adds.
‘Reign of an Apocryph’follows as a direct sequel. “This song was one of the very first that the band played together back in the early days,” Williame explains. “As the song is about endless creation and a permanent evolution of all: beliefs, knowledge and even absurdity, it has known a constant change of arrangements and performances. In 2023, this is how the song is shaped. And what’s exciting with Reign of an Apocryph is that it will probably continue to change and evolve differently, according to the song’s subject. We like to think that our music, even once recorded, is never really achieved.”
The record’s most personal song also sees the band take a moment of contemplation on the acoustic ‘Resurface (September’s gone),’whichtackles escaping depression – emerging your head from dark waters and finally taking a breath. The dark and claustrophobic ‘Sheltered Within’ features the most impressive feral lines the band have ever recorded to feel how the character would in the song, as he loses his mind to madness.
Ever in a state of perpetual motion, the closer ‘Inner Space’ offers a glimpse into the evolution of Stengah. Also, it rests as the ‘grand final’ of the introspective era initiated by SOMA SEMA. The last level of coalescence between body and mind, the very last dialogue, both getting free from any duality as they part ways, mastering the perfect balance between the real world and the dream realm.
Founded by drummer Eliott Williame, the band is completed by bassist Benoit Creteur, guitarists Maxime Delassus and Alex Orta and captivating frontman Nicolas Queste. “Even more than we did in SOMA SEMA, we want the listener to identify with the human being behind the vocals, the drums and the guitars,” explains Williame. “That was the main goal during the process: how do we express all those extreme feelings through the sound? Then came those five musical pieces for a long meditation, opening on the original sunset of ‘The Earth Awakes’, and taking you to the endless journey of ‘Inner Space’.”
‘Downward Mechanic’ is the opposite of a human becoming a machine. It is something mechanical turning into something organic.
Track List The Earth Awakes Reign Of An Apocryph Resurface (September’s Gone) Sheltered Within Inner Space
Spanish thrash metal masters ANGELUS APATRIDA are now revealing yet another pummeling new offering! The new single “Snob” features guest vocals from Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta and is a vicious aural attack that channels classic thrash metal elements with a modern twist! The track can be found along with a lyric video at THIS LOCATION.
“Snob” is taken from the band’s eighth studio album, ‘Aftermath,’ which is quickly approaching its release date on October 20, 2023 via Century Media Records!
ANGELUS APATRIDA vocalist/guitarist Guillermo Izquierdo comments on the single, “No doubt this is another highlight from ’Aftermath,’ pure and raw violence with this neck-breaking tune called “Snob.” Together with the one and only Jamey Jasta from hardcore legends Hatebreed, we’ve been able to deliver an aggressive song full of message, with a bunch of fast and insane riffs and drums, colored with tons of groove and plenty of old school vibes! The lyric video has been done by our longtime friend and artist Josep Caballero from RCV Visual Studio. Grab a beer and your old skateboard and enjoy this future classic!”
‘Aftermath’ follows Angelus Apatrida‘s 2021 eponymous full-length, which topped the official album charts in Spain at # 1! The release also debuted in Germany at # 49 and Switzerland at # 41.
‘Aftermath’ features a diverse cast of guest appearances by vocalist Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed), guitarist Pablo García (Warcry), singer Todd La Torre (Queensrÿche) and rapper Sho-Hai. The album was once again self-produced by the band, with recordings handled by Juanan López at Baboon Records in Albacete, Spain and mixing and mastering by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Overkill, Hatebreed, Municipal Waste, Shadows Fall) at Planet-Z in Wilbraham, MA, USA.)
“Aftermath” will be available in as Ltd. CD Jewelcase in O-Card packaging for its first pressing and Digital Album with two fresh live bonus tracks (11. Indoctrinate (Live in Bilbao 2023) and 12. Give ‘Em War (Live in Barcelona 2023)), or as 180g vinyl LP in the following variants: Ltd. transp. red LP (300x copies from cmdistro and various other retailers), Ltd. transp. orange LP (600x copies from amazon.es & Angelus Apatrida), Ltd. translucent tan colored LP (500x copies from all US outlets) and as Black LP.
Previously, Angelus Apatrida released a documentary that was directed by Mike Casey, entitled ’28 Months Later: A Post-Apocalyptic Metal Documentary.’ The film detailed the band’s journey from preparing for 2021’s self-titled opus leading towards the creation of ‘Aftermath.’ The clip can be seen HERE.
The band will also be appearing at several prestigious European festivals throughout the summer before heading on a European tour in support of ‘Aftermath’ together with Death Angel and Sacred Reich in October/November! The run will be followed by a string of dates in Spain between November and February. The full itinerary and ticket links can be found HERE.
The world has taken a battering over the last few years, but ANGELUS APATRIDA is leading the fightback.
Spain’s greatest ever exponents of forward-thinking thrash metal began their campaign at the turn of the century and have been a consistent force for heavy music ever since. From their ferocious 2006 debut album ‘Evil Unleashed’ and 2010’s widely acclaimed ‘Clockwork’ (the band’s first for Century Media), to more recent triumphs like 2018’s ‘Cabaret de la Guillotine,’ ANGELUS APATRIDA has become increasingly unstoppable. In 2023, they will release ‘Aftermath,’ a vicious and vital response to the chaos we see all around us.
With touring plans for 2020 cancelled, ANGELUS APATRIDA simply switched focus to the creative process. The result was ‘Angelus Apatrida,’ a self-titled record that sought to redefine its creators’ era-blending sound, with renewed intensity and uproarious lyrical sensibilities that dug deep into the realities of the modern world. Climbing to the top of the official album charts in Spain at # 1 as well as marking the band’s first ever chart entries in Germany at # 49 and Switzerland at # 41 upon release in 2021, the album showcased a band at the peak of their powers. Understandably, ANGELUS APATRIDA were absolutely itching to get back on the road, which they eventually did with a vengeance.
“We started doing some shows trying to keep things going until the summer of 2021, and then at the end of the year we were able to do some important venues and festivals,” recalls guitarist/vocalist Guillermo Izquierdo. “We spent 2022 and 2023 touring, mostly in Europe and North America. We’ve played Hellfest, Graspop, Dynamo, Resurrection Fest, Rock Fest and Leyendas del Rock, and we did our first headlining tour in the U.S. and Canada. In February 2023 we did the last four dates of the tour in Spain with four total sell outs!”
Clearly one of the hardest-working bands in metal, ANGELUS APATRIDA were not content with simply returning to the live arena. Even as they toured, work on their next album began. Pre-production for ‘Aftermath’ was finished in March 2023, and the band swiftly hit the studio in their hometown of Albacete, once again collaborating with trusted live and studio engineer Juanan López on the capturing of these new metal explosions. The finished tracks were then sent to the legendary Zeuss (Rob Zombie/Overkill/Hatebreed) at Planet-Z in Wilbraham, Massachusetts and polished to a devastating sheen. The results speak for themselves: ‘Aftermath’ is titanium-plated modern thrash of the highest order.
“Every time we sit down and write new music, we try to do the best we can and to put all the new things and experiences we had over the last few years into the mix,” says Guillermo. “The new songs are pure ANGELUS APATRIDA. They’ve got every single essence of the band. There are many songs containing more personal feelings than on previous records. We’re going deep into our souls and feelings sometimes. Since we are living strange, difficult and dark times, we liked the concept of an aftermath. After everything that has happened since 2020 and is still happening in the world, in our society, and in our lives, a lot of strong feelings have come through in the music and lyrics.”
‘Aftermath’ is undoubtedly the most heartfelt and powerful record in ANGELUS APATRIDA’s illustrious history, but it’s also one of the heaviest and most direct. From the neck-wrecking adrenaline rush of opener “Scavenger” to the dark might of the closing “Vultures And Butterflies,” the Spanish quartet’s eighth studio record displays the songwriting muscle and playing prowess of bands like Metallica, Testament and Pantera, while still delivering a huge, jolting dose of ANGELUS APATRIDA’s distinctive trademark attack.
“We can describe ‘Aftermath’ as what metal means to us,” Guillermo says. “It contains the best songs we’ve ever written. It is just very difficult to pick just one or two highlights on this album since every single track could be a single itself.”
Confirming their sturdy reputation in the global metal scene, ANGELUS APATRIDA invited some heavyweight figures to add their talents to ‘Aftermath.’ Hatebreed’s iconic frontman Jamey Jasta lends his caustic bark to “Snob,” while Queensrÿche vocalist Todd La Torre lends his spectacular tones to “Vultures And Butterflies.” Elsewhere, Pablo Garcia, guitarist with Spanish power metal legends Warcry, displays his virtuosity on the incendiary “Fire Eyes,” and Spanish rap star Sho-Hai brings the noise on the brooding “What Kills Us All. “
With no need to regain momentum, ANGELUS APATRIDA is more ready than most to let rip again in 2023. ‘Aftermath’ marks a pinnacle in this band’s determined and always fruitful career. It’s a defiant, uplifting and resolutely metal-as-fuck response to an era defined by chaos and fear. It’s the sound of ANGELUS APATRIDA, doing what they do, but bigger, better, louder and with more passion than ever.
“As soon as the album is released, we are starting a huge live campaign,” adds Guillermo. “We start with a big European tour that will cover most of the mainland and the U.K., and we are already working on getting back to Oceania and Asia, Latin America and making our return to the United States and Canada during the first half of 2024. Expect a great live festival season for summer 2024 and more tours! We’re coming!”
Line-up: Guillermo Izquierdo – Vocals, Lead/Rhythm Guitars David G. Álvarez – Lead, Rhythm Guitars José J. Izquierdo – Bass Guitar Víctor Valera – Drums
Special Guests: Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed) – vocals, “Snob “ Pablo García (Warcry) – guitars, “Fire Eyes” Todd La Torre (Queensrÿche) – vocals, “Vultures and Butterflies” Sho-Hai – vocals, “What Kills Us All”
Produced by Angelus Apatrida.
Recordings handled by Juanan López at Baboon Records in Albacete, Spain
Mixing and mastering by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Overkill, Hatebreed, Municipal Waste, Shadows Fall) at Planet-Z in Wilbraham, MA, USA.)
Tomorrow, October 6, 2023, Siberian dark folk duo NYTT LAND will release their ninth album epos, entitled Torem, via Napalm Records.
To celebrate their forthcoming album release, today, the duo has premiered a captivating new music video for their third single, “Rise of Midgard”! The band reveals that the song is the culmination of the album, which “marks the appearance of the image of birth to the shaman, the uprising from the body of the giant Ymir of the middle world (Midgard) as the highest creation of the Gods in their power” – providing the perfect musical soundtrack!
On Torem, the shamanic couple Natasha “Baba Yaga” and Anatoly Pakhalenko invites listeners into a mystic world of ancient percussive instrumentation and mesmerizing vocal spheres. The album, sung in old languages Khanty (Siberian Native Tribe) and Old Norse (Old Icelandic), will take you on a sonic experience and journey of the band’s new trilogy, dedicated to the three worlds in the cosmology of their land.
NYTT LAND‘s unique sound – highly recommended for fans of HEILUNG, WARDRUNA and RUNAHILD – has always been inspired by the sound of Siberian nature. Their musical roots are deeply connected with mythology, historic themes and ancient shamanic culture. In the Finno-Ugric languages of the indigenous peoples of Siberia, Torem means “Great Sky” – the Great Sky on which ancestors sit, and where the souls of people and animals are reborn in the form of birds. This is also the place where the shaman makes his first journey to learn the wisdom of the Great Spirit.
Torem was produced, recorded and mixed by NYTT LAND, with mastering by Anatoly Pakhalenko. With intelligent, captivating storytelling, haunting visuals and atmospheric, ambient yet massive melodies encapsulated by unique throat singing, meditative grooves and an otherworldly spirit of mythology and nature, NYTT LAND is about to deliver a surefire highlight of 2023!
Italian technical progressive metal masters ELDRITCH have released a video for ‘Elegy of Lust’, first single taken from the 13th studio album ‘Innervoid’ to be released on November 17th via Scarlet Records.
Eldritch are back with the talented new frontman Alex Jarusso, ready to broaden the sonic spectrum of the band and impress old & new fans.
‘Innervoid’ strikes hard with both relentless sonic aggression and a truly emotional charge: a perfect mix of devastating guitar riffs and rhythm section and melancholic melodic openings, with a certain dark mood.
The very interpersonal lyrics, in which the human soul is speaking freely, are perfectly in line with the complex and captivating music of the seasoned tech-prog metal merchants.
unique and distinctive powerful and melodic prog metal with dark melancholic shades
recorded and produced by Eugene Simone and Eldritch at ES Studio and Magnitudo Studio; mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio
artwork by Federico Mondelli (Frozen Crown, Nocturna, Volturian)
for fans of Queensrÿche, Nevermore, Symphony X, Fates Warning, Evergrey
Metal fans, brace yourselves for an electrifying history lesson like no other as PHILISTINE drops the much-anticipated music video for their self-titled track. This high-octane masterpiece takes you on a sonic journey through the annals of history, delving deep into the tumultuous world of the Philistines and their devastating path of destruction. The song is taken from their recently released full length album Seranim.
Philistine is more than just a song; it’s a thunderous chronicle of a bygone era. Set to the backdrop of blistering guitars, pounding drums, and raw, powerful vocals, this track unveils the untold story of the Philistines, an ancient civilization notorious for their relentless conquests and the havoc they wreaked upon their enemies. The Band pulls no punches in delivering this gripping history lesson with an unrelenting, old-school Heavy Metal spirit.
Philistine is a Heavy Metal powerhouse based in the UK, originally hailing from South Africa. With a rich history in the Metal scene dating back to the mid/late 80s, Dean Smith and Marq Vas bring decades of experience and a lifelong passion for Heavy Metal to their music. Dean has served time in several pioneering Metal acts back in the day, including Ragnärok, Odyssey, 2 Dogs Funking and Brothering. Marq fronted the controversial band MetalMorphosis, and they often played on the same stages. Seranim is their debut offering, a testament to their dedication to the genre and their commitment to delivering uncompromising, old-school Heavy Metal to fans around the world.
The two guys first jammed together in the early 80s, becoming close friends and threatening to one day deliver a full-on collaboration. A project was in the works in the early 2000s when both were living in the UK; however, Marq relocated back to South Africa. They churned out a slab of demos while both were living in Canada in the mid-2000s. Finally, the two have joined forces again, now back in the UK, to unleash their arsenal of Metal messaging upon the unsuspecting public!
The album is a roaring journey into the heart of classic Heavy Metal. With decades of experience in the Metal scene, the members of Philistine deliver a no-holds-barred, raw, and authentic Heavy Metal sound that pays homage to the genre’s roots while infusing it with their own unique energy and passion. Prepare to be blown away by the sheer power and intensity of “Seranim!”
When asked about the inspiration for the band Marq says, “When Dean and I agreed to put the project together, it was a dream we had, believe it or not, from around 40 years ago. I remember jamming at his mother’s house while we were still in high school. It was a one-off jam, but as the years went by, we both formed our own bands and often jammed on the same bill and became the best of friends offstage. Over the years, we often spoke about doing something together before we were no longer able to, and it finally happened. In essence, the inspiration to birthing Philistine is a lifelong brotherhood and our passion for the same style of music and through the music paying homage to those who play the styles of music we have a passion for.”
Dean adds, “Our love for Heavy Metal music is what inspired this album. We grew up in an era that produced the best heavy music that stands the test of time, every band unique with an identifiable vocalist, guitarist, and in most cases, a rhythm section too. The way I see it – we were trained by the best.”
Seranim is out now on all digital platforms.
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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
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