For more than 20 years, vocalist/guitarist Michael Poulsen has been spearheading Danish rock and roll machine Volbeat, releasing eight full lengths, selling millions of albums, and filling stadiums worldwide. Before fronting Volbeat, however, Poulsen formed death metal band Dominus, which recorded four fast, brutal albums in the mid ’90s. When Poulsen was putting together songs for Volbeat‘s 2021 album, Servant of the Mind, he wrote a bunch of death metal riffs and saved them on his phone. Then, when he was done with the Volbeat record, he reopened the rusty gates to Armageddon and started putting together songs for his new death metal band Asinhell, whose debut album Impii Hora (Latin for “Ungodly Hour”), is a tribute to Poulsen’s favorite old-school groups.
Impii Hora is out today via Metal Blade. Order it here. Today, the band shared “Wolfpack Laws” video. Watch it here.
Marc’s great friend Dr. Frank Albers used his vast psychological genius to help come up with the brutal lyrics to the latest single “Wolfpack Laws“. Here’s what Frank had to say about the track:
“It is a song about wolves taking over a land / the world and bring mankind down. They overrun the country and kill all men. The wolf pack rules with its own law, which is in essence the survival of the fittest. This song can be seen as a dark metaphor on things happening in the real world. However, it can also be plainly enjoyed as a gruesome story.”
About the band: Poulsen has rekindled the death metal fire that fueled his first band Dominus. He began jamming on riffs with longtime friend and neighbor, drummer Morten Toft Hansen (Raunchy). The two started playing in Morten’s tiny garage: no mics, no P.A. – just a drum kit and a combo amp turned all the way up like they used when they were teenagers. Soon, the pair were completing a new song every time they got together. When it came time to add vocals, Poulsen turned to his good friend, who also happened to be one of his all-time favorite death metal growlers: Marc Grewe (Insidious Disease, ex-Morgoth).
“I had known Michael quite a long time and he always mentioned that we should do a death metal project one day, but I never took him too seriously because he was so busy with Volbeat,” Grewe says. “Then he called for real and said, ‘Yeah, I want to do it now. Are you up for it?’ Immediately, I was like, ‘Yes, of course!’“
With Asinhell fully formed, the three convened with Volbeat producer Jacob Hansen to produce, mix, and play bass on their debut album. When it was time to add lead guitar to the album, Michael looked no further than friend and The Arcane Order axeman Flemming C. Lund.
ASINHELL ARE: Michael Poulsen: Guitar Marc Grewe: Vocals Morten Toft Hansen: Drums
Dublin, Ireland-based Pagan metal legends PRIMORDIAL have unleashed their moving new video for “How It Ends,” the title track of their tenth studio album, out today on Metal Blade Records!
Having lasted thirty-two years and now returning with their devastating new studio offering, the follow-up to 2018’s critically lauded Exile Amongst The Ruins finds PRIMORDIAL delivering more of their seminal blend of Celtic and black metal, with an extra added urgency, and staring down the apocalypse. “The title is a question – ‘is this how it ends? How it all goes down: culture, language, history, society, humanity…’ – who knows?,” considers vocalist A. A. Nemtheanga. “Regardless of who you are or were, you get one chance at all of this, and it’s asking, ‘is this the end of your town, state, nation? Myths, traditions, relationships…?,’ and I suppose it asks the question, ‘who reacts, who rebels – how does it end now for them?‘”
Working alongside founding members – bassist Pól MacAmlaigh and guitarist Ciáran MacUilliam – and longtime drummer Simon O’Laoghaire, the band started writing in earnest in the Fall of 2022, having lit a fire under themselves to work hastily and productively. The album was tracked at Hellfire Studios on the outskirts of Dublin, produced by the band and engineered by previous collaborator Chris Fielding.
“How It Ends is a very angry, defiant, visceral, and rebellious album,” notes Nemtheanga, “and as we worked, it all began to take more shape and form itself. It may be the note we go out on, but it will be a note of resistance, in musical terms. I think it’s also more metal, And more epic!” It only takes one listen for these claims to be proven true, whether it’s the surging, gruff, dark “Ploughs To Rust, Swords To Dust,” the moody, desperate “Pilgrimage To The World’s End,” or the sprawling “All Against All,” which is drenched in a sinister air and driven by pounding rhythms, wielding a towering climax, How It Ends is a truly thundering offering.
Drawing lyrical influence both from modern and historical ideas, Nemtheanga always gives the listener something to think about. The title track continues the themes that have always been a part of PRIMORDIAL, looking at “the life cycle of people, of nations, of languages, songs, myths and tradition. This song, as much of the album, asks the question, ‘do you have the stomach for the fight? The guts to stand against the crowd? To rebel, to dissent, to stand up to authoritarianism?’“
Watch the band’s previously released video for “Victory Has 1000 Fathers, Defeat Is An Orphan” HERE and “Pilgrimage To The World’s End” HERE.
Earlier this week, PRIMORDIAL kicked off their tour supporting Paradise Lost. Additional support is being provided by Omnium Gatherum and Harakiri For The Sky. Find tickets at THIS LOCATION. The band will celebrate the release of How It Ends with a special performance in Dublin at The Academy on April 27th, 2024. Also appearing will be Iceland’s Misþyrming and Belfast’s Darkest Era. Tickets are on sale now at THIS LOCATION. See all confirmed dates below.
PRIMORDIAL w/ Paradise Lost, Omnium Gatherum, Harakiri For The Sky, remaining dates:
9/30/2023 Kaminwerk – Memmingen, DE 10/01/2023 Schlachthof – Wiesbaden, DE 10/02/2023 Löwensaal – Nuremberg,DE 10/04/2023 Trix – Antwerp, BE 10/05/2023 Garage – Saarbrücken, DE 10/06/2023 MeetFactory – Prague, CZ 10/07/2023 Vienna Metal Meeting – Vienna, AT 10/08/2023 Barba Negra – Budapest, HU 10/10/2023 A2 – Wroclaw, PL 10/11/2023 Capitol – Hanover, DE 10/12/2023 Kronensaal – Hamburg, DE 10/13/2023 Hellraiser – Leipzig, DE 10/14/2023 Turbinenhalle 2 – Oberhausen, DE 10/15/2023 Roanda – Utrecht, NL
End Tour 4/27/2024 The Academy – Dublin, IE w/ Misþyrming, Belfast’s Darkest Era
Released today, the new single of the legendary WITCHUNTERS “Forever Young” on all the best music stores, on Crash Sound Distribution and on Wanikiya Record showcase in Japan!!! A sound that traces the best years of rock and hard rock that of WITCHUNTERS!!! Ready to get on the rock train?!!!
WITCHUNTERS are one of the longest-running Italian metal bands. Founded in the summer of 1982 from the ashes of RANDOMS (exNightriders), they initially original compositions sung in Italian.
In 1984, with the collaboration of vocalist George Fyron (Amin Peck), they changed their repertoire. repertoire by performing live mainly covers of 70s hard rock bands. After a drastic line-up change in 1985, the band began to composing material in English. On Christmas Day of the same year they presented their new songs in a concert at SPLASH in Forlì. In 1986 their first demo was released, “Tales of Witchunters”, which contained 6 songs. In December of the same year the band recorded ‘Possessed’ at Sawmils Studios, in Cornwall, produced by Pete Hinton (Saxon, Demon, Coroner…etc.). The song will be released in England on the Promo-Compilation “Italian Rock Invasion Vol.1” on the the Dischi Noi label of San Remo.
In July 1987 a demo was recorded with a Fostex 4-track containing 6 songs, at the request of Dischi Noi, which remained unreleased. In 1988 “Doomsday”, their second demo, with 4 songs, was released. In December of the same year they opened the concert of the Swiss Coroner in Mestre in their only Italian concert. In 1989 they participated in the vinyl compilation “Surgery of the Power” for LM Records, with the song ‘Deadly News’. At the same time the band took part in the “One night in hell” festival in Fidenza with H-Kristal and Hydra. Their first CD, “…and it’s storming outside” was released in November 1994, on the Underground Symphony. It contains eight tracks of their own composition and one cover. It is the first CD in Europe to be released in a double format: one classic and the other, for collectors, with a gatefold cover. collectors’ format, with a gatefold cover like the old 33reys, with a holder that contains the CD. The CD is preceded in 1993 by an advance tape, which contains 2 songs in versions different from those on the album, and the cassette compilation ‘Italian Devils vol.1’, which contains their ‘The Secret’. In August 1994 they took part in a metal festival in Udine together with Last Warning, Madsword and Skanner.
In 1997 the second CD was recorded, “Different Universe”, which unfortunately was never been released. The advance tape of this work was demo of the month in the monthly magazine ‘Psycho’ in the December ’98 issue. With the introduction of keyboards into the band’s sound in 1998, a CD promo with 5 songs was recorded and released in October 1999. Also in 1999, a compilation was released on the Sassari-based label “Path of Experiences”, containing the band’s song ‘The Sleepwalker’.
In the summer of 2000 the song ‘My Shadow’ was also included in the compilation “Insuperabile”, produced by the municipality of Spilamberto (MO) for the association Friction. At the beginning of 2001, for various reasons involving all band members, the Witchunters took a period of rest that lasted until 2009. It is in this year that the band’s activity resumes and new ideas and new compositions. The genre shifts towards melodic metal with hints that sometimes go beyond the strictly metal sphere. Work in the rehearsal room is favoured the rehearsal room, although the band does perform live a few times, during the European music festival and in particular by opening the May 2022 concert of Enemy Of The Enemy (France), Threads (Germany) and Lone Survivors (France). With 8 new songs, recorded between 2021 and 2023, the band is once again ready to their music, also thanks to the innovations brought by the new members members who have joined the band.
Today BLACKBRIAR release their brand new album A Dark Euphony. The album delivers a comprehensive storytelling as you would expect from BLACKBRIAR. Beside gothic beauty and metallic darkness there is much more to explore on this fantastic album.
Zora Cock comments: “Some say that there is beauty in darkness… Terrifying visitors, worlds far gone, Gothic romances, bone-chilling legends, sin-eaters, burning hearts frozen in time, songs with a misleading voice, and a truthful whisper. This and so much more for you to discover on ‘A Dark Euphony’. We’ve had the pleasure of working with producer and musical genius Joost van den Broek, and we gave it our all to write this record and feel that this is our most complete, personal, and mature album to date.”
A Dark Euphony – Tracklisting: 1. An Unwelcome Guest 2. Far Distant Land 3. Spirit of Forgetfulness 4. Bloody Footprints in the Snow 5. The Evergreen and The Weeping Tree 6. Cicada 7. My Soul´s Demise 8. We Make Mist 9. Thumbelina 10. Forever and a Day 11. Crimson Faces
BLACKBRIAR also announced their ‘The Euphonic Downfall Tour 2023’ together with AD INFINITUM. They will be supported by the band PHANTOM ELITE. ‘The Euphonic Downfall Tour 2023’ includes 10 dates around Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland.
Tourdates: The Euphonic Downfall Tour 2023 support: PHANTOM ELITE 30.09 DE – Oberhausen, Resonanzwerk (+) 02.10 DE – Hamburg, Logo 03.10 DE – Leipzig, Hellraiser 05.10 DE – Aschaffenburg, Colos-Saal 06.10 CH – Solothurn, Kofmehl (*) 07.10 CH – Schaffhausen, Kammgarn (*) (+) festival (*) plus opener – INFINITAS
“Some say that there is beauty in darkness – terrifying visitors, worlds far gone, gothic romances, bone-chilling legends, sin-eaters, burning hearts frozen in time, songs with a misleading voice, and a truthful whisper. This and so much more for you to discover on A Dark Euphony.” Such are the words of vocalist Zora Cock about the band’s upcoming sophomore album, set to release in fall 2023 on Nuclear Blast Records. A telling sign coming from a band who has reveled in gothic beauty and metallic darkness since their onset, spanning three EPs and a full-length album, along with long-time collaborator Joost van den Broek.
Formed in 2012 by Zora Cock, René Boxem, Bart Winters, and Frank Akkerman, they crafted their first single in 2014 with ‘Ready to Kill,’ but it was 2015’s second single ‘Until Eternity‘ that truly propelled them into the scene. A sweeping track with an equally compelling and beautiful video, it continues to draw many to the act with over 20 million views since its debut. Taking advantage of the growing buzz surrounding the band, they independently recorded and released their first EP, Fractured Fairytales, as well as acquiring a second guitarist in Robin Koezen. This EP layed down an impressive foundation for the band’s ethereal and breathtaking sound and brought about new opportunities for the act, including tour dates in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and more, where the band played alongside EPICA, HALESTORM, IN THIS MOMENT, DELAIN and MaYan.
To keep moving ahead with full control of their creative ideals, the band successfully crowdfunded their follow-up EP, We’d Rather Burn, and brought it to life in October 2018. This EP would be the first time the band worked alongside esteemed producer Joost van den Broek to arrange and produce the effort, and this fruitful collaboration allowed BLACKBRIAR’s whimsical and enigmatic sound to reach new sonic heights. Released the same day as their self-made video for ‘I’d Rather Burn,’ this EP showcased a stronger sense of dreamy atmosphere and brought listeners beautifully grim tales of witches, banshees, and sea sirens. In the time following, keyboardist Ruben Wijga (ex-Re-Vamp) took a larger role within the band and began playing shows, after being involved in the songwriting process since Fractured Fairytales.
A busy 2019 followed, the band released a haunting single in May entitled ‘Snow White and Rose Red.’ A duet with Ulli Perhonen, their take on the Grimm’s fairytale featured striking cinematic visuals to accompany the spellbinding track. Continuing to dig deeper into fairytale realms, BLACKBRIAR closed the year with their third EP, Our Mortal Remains. Ever-sharpening their intoxicating blend of storytelling and breathtaking musicianship, the EP brought about new live exposures for the act as well. Small, sold out tours with EPICA in 2019 and 2020, as well as a sold out opening for DELAIN’s Apocalypse & Chill release show in Utrecht followed, with more future plans then being put on hold due to COVID-19.
Championing their continued independence, which included everything from songwriting, maintaining their web presence, overseeing merch, as well as shooting and producing their own videos and photos, BLACKBRIAR reached out to their ever-growing and loyal fanbase for assistance to make their full-length album a reality in 2020. Fans fervently heeded the call, reaching the € 25,000 goal in under 24 hours and ending with a total of € 70,000 and achieving all five stretch goals. An impressive accomplishment for an independent act, which also showcases a strong internet presence with over 230,000 YouTube subscribers and 56.5 million channel views as well as 37.9 million Spotify streams and 275,000 monthly streamers on the platform.
Entering 2021, the band relinquished a bit of control in signing exclusively with Doomstar Bookings to help properly support their highly anticipated first full-length album, The Cause of Shipwreck, which released in April. Once again recorded with renowned producer Joost van den Broek (EPICA, AYREON, POWERWOLF) at Sandlane Recording Facilities, this release showcased the band’s continued evolution into masterfully dark gothic storytelling and theatrical aesthetics that entice you into a deadly yet spellbinding musical paradise. On the live front, launching into success with six sold out Dutch club shows, they later extended into more European territories such as Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, and the Czech Republic as the band moved into 2022.
Despite a very successful 2021, the band still hungered for more, unleashing their latest single, ‘Fairy of the Bog‘ in December. A song about ‘het meisje van Yde’ (Yde girl), it’s a mixture of folklore, myth, and ancient local history wrapped into a more mystical and magical package that showcases what BLACKBRIAR does best. Due to winning ‘Drents Talent Award Culture 2021’ from ‘Stichting Kunst & Cultuur,’ BLACKBRIAR performed ‘I’d Rather Burn’ live on television together with the Dutch ‘Noordpool Orchestra in early 2022. In April, the band parted ways with founding member and bassist Frank Akkerman. Not a band to slow down, they welcomed Siebe Sol Sijpkens from The Netherlands as their new bassist. A happy and energetic performer with a lifetime of global performances, he is a welcome addition to the act as they continue to strive forward.
With their vision looking firmly into the future, with a major label behind them, they set their sights on 2023 to conjure their most deadly siren song yet. The band previously released the song ‘Crimson Faces‘ to celebrate their partnership with Nuclear Blast Records, and now the world eagerly awaits the release of A Dark Euphony this fall. Set to contain 10 new original songs as well as a bonus track, they recently released their first single from it with ‘My Soul’s Demise.’ According to Zora, “We’ve had the pleasure of working with producer and musical genius Joost van den Broek, and we gave it our all to write this record and feel that this is our most complete, personal, and mature album to date.” With this in mind, the band launched a preorder campaign in April for the release, full of unique perks, which has been quite successful already. They have also been preparing on the road, with festival shows Wave Gotik Treffen, SummerBreeze, and Rock the Lakes in 2023, as well as being a special guest on CHARLOTTE WESSELS’s Club Tour.
With accolades behind them, such as being nominated three times for ‘Best Artist’ in EuroSonic/Noorderslag‘s Popgala Noord (2018, 2020, 2022), and continued fan support with current monthly streaming totals on YouTube and Spotify near 1.5 million streams, the world is primed and ready for a spectacular journey into darkness and beauty.
BLACKBRIAR is: Zora Cock – VOCALS René Boxem – DRUMS Bart Winters – GUITARS Robin Koezen – GUITARS Siebe Sol Sijpkens – BASS Ruben Wijga – KEYS
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to Wendy Dio for the upcoming Deluxe DVD, Blu-Ray release of ‘Dreamers never Die’ the Dio documentary.
She also spoke about upcoming Dio’s, box set, his legacy and about Ronnie thinking of doing an animation movie in the 80’s using David lee Roth as main character.
In the interview The Metal Voice asked Wendy Dio to confirm whether it was true or not that Ronnie James Dio in the 80’s was thinking about doing an animated musical using David Lee Roth’s voice as the main character she said, “yeah, (laughs), it was true. It was very true. We wanted a cartoon, (laughs) the story of Murray (bands mascot). Then the Metal Voice asked if it was middle-earth themed and how far did Ronnie get she said, “yep it was middle earth, it was a musical. I don’t think it got to paper (to be written down). Ronnie was very much doing one thing at a time. If he was home writing songs he was only doing that. So he did not multi-task very well. It was going to be (animated movie) the story of Murray. Murray is the name Ronnie gave to that monster (album of Holy Diver).
The acclaimed film, which world premiered at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, enjoyed a special event theatrical release in more than 600 cinemas worldwide last fall and is streaming on SHOWTIME, will be released worldwide by Mercury Studios on September 29, 2023 on DVD and Blu-Ray+4K and as a special Deluxe Edition featuring the DVD and Blu-Ray packaged with exclusive merchandise.
Bristol, UK-based band RXPTRS has just released a brand new single titled Hellbillies, which was recorded as a follow up to the 2022 album Living Without Death’s Permission. Listen and watch HERE.
Singer Simon Roach says of the song: “This song is simply about touring as a band. It speaks of everything we love about life on the road and why we’ll be doing this til we drop. It documents the highs and lows. The ecstasy that comes with playing and traveling, as well as the not so glamorous times in broken down vans at the side of the road and sleeping on floors.”
Hellbillies was recorded, mixed and mastered by Oz Craggs at Hidden Track Studios. The video for the single is by GLK Media with footage by GLK Media and Coal Poet Media.
RXPTRS is currently gearing up to do a short tour through the United Kingdom, which kicks off at the Misery Loves Company Festival in Bristol, England and concludes in Milton Keynes, England at The Craufurd Arms. The band will then head to Nottingham, England on November 23 to perform at The Rescue Rooms. See all live dates below.
RXPTRS live: Sept. 30 – Bristol, ENG – Misery Loves Company Festival Oct. 18 – Manchester, ENG – Factory Oct. 19 – Edinburgh, SCT – Bannermans Oct. 21 – Exeter, ENG – The Phoenix Oct. 22 – London, ENG – 02 Academy Islington Oct. 23 – Milton Keynes, ENG – The Craufurd Arms Nov. 23 – Nottingham, ENG – The Rescue Rooms
About the band: RXPTRS are a new wave of British rock. The energetic quintet combines ferocious grit with an ear for melody. Built upon the backdrop of the UK, the fiercely creative, long term friends set out with a sonic mission statement to not succumb to a single barrier, to push boundaries and go beyond the limit of genres, creating a raw sound that is unmistakably their own. Each raucous track is laced with lyrical depth as RXPTRS lay it all on the line. They state, “Music is a vessel, this is how we channel the experiences that have shaped us. This is how we bear our scars.” Quickly becoming renowned for their explosive live performances the group’s hardcore following continues to grow. Their workhorse mentality towards touring has seen them light up stages across the UK and Europe alongside the likes of Escape the Fate, King 810, As It Is, Light the Torch and more. RXPTRS‘ visceral energy continues to infect the population as they cut their teeth on the live scene, with no sign of slowing, they’re truly hellbent on showing everyone the way of the RXPTR.
RXPTRS is: Simon Roach – Vocals Ian Chadderton – Guitars Harley Watson – Guitars Sam Leworthy – Bass Mat Capper – Drums
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
Ads
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 ) 