Danish rockers BLACK OAK COUNTY unveil the next chapter from their upcoming album, with the release of the new single “Fire Inside”. The track follows the release of “Save Your Breath”, and is yet another explosive collaboration and co-write with Nicklas Sonne (Defecto, Danish Eurovision Song Contest preliminaries).
“Fire Inside is yet another rather emotional song, but into a rocking package”, the band says about the single. “It’s a song about your judgment being all cloudy and messed up, because you’re so overcome by emotion – which is something we tried to show with the major change between the verse and chorus. It’s almost two different songs smashed into one, just as you can be a completely different person once you’re flooded by emotions such as rage and fragility. Oh, and there’s a whammy part in there too, which we can’t wait to use live, hah!“
Enjoy the premiering here:
Black Oak County is currently gearing up for its coming album release later this year, with shows in Denmark and Germany.
Lineup: Niels Beier – guitar, vocals René Kristensen – bass, vocals Jack Svendsen – guitar Mike Svendsen – drums
HAMMERFALL proudly announce their 13th studio album Avenge The Fallen, which will be released on August 9thvia Nuclear Blast Records.
That’s right, less than a year after taking the final bow of the “United Forces” tour, the quintet of guitarist Oscar Dronjak, singer Joacim Cans, bass player Fredrik Larsson, guitarist Pontus Norgen, and drummer David Wallin are back with ten brand new solid pieces of classic heavy metal.
“This is our 13th album”, Joacim Cans says with pride. “How do you still stay relevant after 13 albums? It’s very much like the opening line to the song ´Avenge The Fallen´: “What is the worst, be the one who died, or be the one who survived.” Think about it, because it is a tough question”.
He continues, “Do we want to be a band who releases new music just for the sole reason of getting out on the road again or do we want to keep pushing and challenging ourselves? In times where people have less and less attention span, we still think in the form of full length albums. A few good songs don’t make a strong album. A strong album comes from an album full a great songs and that’s what we’re delivering with Avenge The Fallen.”
To give a taste of what awaits the fans, the band unleashes the first single and video ´Hail To The King´. A song that was born on the road….
“I began working on ´Hail To The King´ while on tour in the US with Helloween”, Oscar Dronjak recalls. “By the end of the tour, I was getting close to wrapping the song up, so straight after the Los Angeles gig I headed to the bus where I worked like a mad man to get the last pieces together. That turned out to be the show where one of my favourite wrestlers, Chris Jericho, came to visit. It was also the show where Fredrik met his idolFrank Bello from Anthrax and Joacim met Jay Ruston, producer for Armored Saints, Avatar, Anthrax, Corey Taylor and more and whom after this meeting agreed to produce the vocals for ´Avenge The Fallen´! I missed all that, but I at least got a great song out of it, haha!”
Catch HAMMERFALL live in 2024, remaining shows: 25.04. BA Brasilia – Toinha 27.04. BA Sao Paulo – Summer Breeze 30.04. USA Harrisburg – Midtown Arts Center 01.05. USA Montclair – The Wellmont Theater 02.05. USA Albany – Empire Underground 03.05. USA Columbus – The Bluestone 04.05. USA St. Louis – Delmar Hall 06.05. USA Fort Worth – Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall 07.05. USA San Antonio – Vibes Event Center 09.05. USA Albuquerque – El Rey Theater 10.05. USA Tuscon – Encore 11.05. USA Anaheim – City National Grove of Anaheim 12.05. USA Las Vegas – House of Blues 14.05. USA Denver – Summit 16.05. USA St. Paul – Myth Live 17.05. USA Milwaukee – Milwaukee Metal Fest 18.05. USA Cleveland – House of Blues 19.05. USA Flint – The Machine Shop 20.05. USA Mc Kees Rocks – Roxian Theatre 21.05. USA Richmond – The National 23.05. USA Cincinnati – Bogart´s 24.05. USA Atlanta – The Masquerade (Heaven) 25.05. USA St Peterburg – Jannus Live 05.-08.06. SE Norje – Sweden Rock Festival 06.06. NO Trondheim – Trondheim Rocks 14.06. ES Zamora – Z-fest 20.06. DK Copenhagen – Copenhell 27.06. SL Snina – Rock Pod Kamenon 03.-06.07. DE Ballenstedt – Rock Hartz 12.07. BG Midalidare Estate, Chirpan – Midalidare Rock 10.08. FI Helsinki – Hellsinki Metal Fest 04.10. DE Hamburg – Barclays Arena 05.10. NL Amsterdam – AFAS Live
Exciting news from Finnish metal masters BATTLE BEAST! The band is happy to release today their new live single ‘Master of Illusion (Live in Helsinki 2023)‘ including the live video. After releasing their latest studio albumCircus of Doom in 2022, BATTLE BEAST have proved what a force they are live and thus underpinned the success of the album even further. This version of ‘Master of Illusion‘ was recorded on January 27th, 2023 at their sold-out headline show in front of over 3000 people at the Helsinki Ice Hall, and clearly shows why the band is captivating more and more people.
Vocalist Noora Louhimo quotes excited: ”We are beyond excited to share with you this live single, celebrating Circus of Doom and our fans around the world. Our tour this year is the last chance to witness this spectacle live before we close this chapter and move on to the next. Hope to see you all on the road!”
After completing a very successful tour through Europe in the beginning of the year, BATTLE BEAST have just announced new dates in Europe for September-October 2024 together with supports SERENITY and BRYMIR. The band are now heading to South America for some shows, and in May the band sets off for their first headline tour ever thorugh USA and Canada together with label mates BLACKBRIAR.
See all the CIRCUS OF DOOM OVER EUROPE PART II dates below: 20.09.2024 DE Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle 21.09.2024 CH Pratteln – Z7 Konzertfabrik 22.09.2024 DE Obertraubling – Airport-Eventhall 23.09.2024 DE Berlin – Hole 44 24.09.2024 NL Harleem – Patronaat 25.09.2024 BE Antwerp – Zappa Club 27.09.2024 UK Southampton – The 1865 28.09.2024 UK London – Electric Brixton 29.09.2024 UK Birmingham – XOYO 30.09.2024 UK Glasgow – Garage 01.10.2024 UK Manchester – Academy 2 03.10.2024 UK Bristol – Marble Factory 04.10.2024 NL Uden – De Pul 05.10.2024 DE Saarbrücken – Garage 06.10.2024 DE – Hannover – Capitol
Legendary heavy metal outfit ARMORED SAINT have renewed their long running partnership with Metal Blade Records with a worldwide multi-album deal. Metal Blade released ARMORED SAINT‘s 1983 eponymous debut EP and the band has called Metal Blade home since 1988’s Saints Will Conquer live album.
The band comments:
John Bush: “Armored Saint cemented our family relationship with Metal Blade even more by signing a new contract for a record due in 2025. There is nowhere else I’d rather be! I love [Chairman/CEO] Brian [Slagel], [President] Tracy [Vera], and the staff. It’s home. What more can I say.“
Gonzo Sandoval: “I’m pleased to say that in the year of 2024 we have re-signed a record deal with Metal Blade Records. Once again, I’m looking forward to making killer ARMORED SAINT music with Metal Blade as our record label. I feel blessed and appreciate the opportunity to be able to release a new ARMORED SAINT record in 2025! Stay tuned ARMORED SAINT Hooligans throughout the world and beyond and spread the word. ARMORED SAINT for Life!“
Phil Sandoval: “ARMORED SAINT and Metal Blade have a long history and after all the incredible amount of trials and tribulations the band has been through, Metal Blade has been there for ARMORED SAINT. Brian Slagel in particular was paramount in getting me back in the band to record Symbol Of Salvation along with Jeff Duncan. And in 2024 we have a new deal. I just want to say, ‘Thank you, Metal Blade.’“
Jeff Duncan: “I’m so thrilled to sign a new deal with Metal Blade Records. Metal Blade has been ARMORED SAINT’s home for many years and I’m looking forward to another new and productive chapter with them!“
Joey Vera: “We’re honored to continue our long relationship with Metal Blade Records with this new signing. Their staunch support for ARMORED SAINT has been one of the pillars in the band’s history. We cannot do any of this without them and we look forward to bringing even more new music this year.“
Adds Metal Blade CEO Brian Slagel, “I am honored and humbled to continue our long standing relationship with ARMORED SAINT! One of the best metal bands of all time! So happy to keep them in the Metal Blade family!“
ARMORED SAINT are currently on tour supporting Queensrÿche. The trek, which commenced on March 27th in Anaheim, California, includes several ARMORED SAINT headlining shows scattered throughout and closes with a very special hometown headlining show on May 22nd at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Tickets are on sale now with VIP upgrades available at THIS LOCATION. See all remaining dates below.
ARMORED SAINT w/ Queensrÿche [Remaining dates]: 4/26/2024 Empire Live – Albany, NY 4/27/2024 Palladium – Worcester, MA 4/28/2024 Toad’s – New Haven, CT 4/30/2024 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ 5/01/2024 Keswick Theater – Glenside, PA 5/02/2024 Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY ** 5/03/2024 The Paramount – Huntington, NY 5/04/2024 Lovedrafts – Mechanicsburg, PA ** 5/05/2024 The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC 5/07/2024 Masquerade – Atlanta, GA 5/09/2024 Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL 5/10/2024 The Plaza Live – Orlando, FL 5/11/2024 Culture Room – Ft Lauderdale, FL 5/12/2024 The Ranch – Ft Myers, FL
5/15/2024 Scout Bar – Houston, TX ** 5/16/2024 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX ** w/ Dangerous Toys 5/17/2024 Granada Theater – Dallas, TX ** w/ Dangerous Toys 5/18/2024 The Shrine – Tulsa, OK ** 5/20/2024 Nile Theater – Phoenix, AZ ** 5/21/2024 Count’s Vamp’d – Las Vegas, NV ** 5/22/2024 El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA ** w/ Kyng ** ARMORED SAINT headlining show
ARMORED SAINT: John Bush – vocals Jeff Duncan – guitars Phil Sandoval – guitars Joey Vera – bass Gonzo Sandoval – drums
Metal Blade Records is pleased to welcome Atlanta, Georgia-based black metal outfit CLOAK to its legendary roster!
CLOAK embraces the rebellious and time-tested traditions of heavy metal. Whether it be conjuring the chaotic spirit of Swedish black metal purveyors Watain and Dissection, summoning the deep, dark, and sensual groove of Danzig, or evoking the raw speed and raucous energy of Motörhead, the influence of metal’s founding fathers is deep within CLOAK‘s DNA. CLOAK‘s charm, however, does not merely lie within its romanticism of the past, but rather is the way each of these genres has shaped the band’s own personal identity. Of the band’s most recent full-length, the critically lauded Black Flame Eternal, Decibel Magazine wrote, “CLOAK summons the black flames and feeds the fire with hard rock riffs and emits plumes of gothic atmosphere. It’s a big, professional, almost cinematic sound that should carry them to bigger venues and opportunities soon.”
Notes CLOAK of their union with Metal Blade Records, “After meeting the Metal Blade crew on our recent US tour, we knew it was the right move creatively as the respect would go both ways. We’re in the very early stages of working on new material in between touring, and who knows where the dark and winding path will lead us this time. All we know is that we have some real hard work ahead of us, as releasing new music on the same label that put out titans like Hell Awaits is not something we take lightly.”
Comments Metal Blade’s Ryan Williams; US A&R, “The decision to sign CLOAK was easy as I think they embody the quintessential essence of what it means to be a heavy metal band on Metal Blade. We are looking forward to many years of their bewitching conjurings!“
CLOAK will appear on this year’s edition of the Milwaukee Metal Fest next month and recently announced The Holy Dark Over Europe Summer tour. The band comments, “Europe! We’ve waited years to finally get over there and tour, and it’s finally happening. This will be a mixture of festivals and club shows along with Hellripper and High Command. Supporters of the Black Flame come forth as we praise the Holy Darkness.”
CLOAK Live: 5/15/2024 The Green Lantern – Lexington, KY 5/16/2024 Big Room Bar – Columbus, OH 5/18/2024 Milwaukee Metal Fest @ The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
7/19/2024 Pod Minogą – Poznań, PL 7/20/2024 Hydrozagadka – Warsaw, PL 7/21/2024 Barrák Music Club – Ostrava, CZ 7/22/2024 FUGA – Bratislava, SK 7/23/2024 Rockhouse – Salzburg, AT 7/24/2024 Live Music Hall – Mörlenbach-Weiher, DE 7/25/2024 The Belvédère – Namur, BE 7/26/2024 Next Stage – Tilburg, NL 7/27/2024 Burning Q Festival – Freissenbüttel, DE 7/28/2024 Schwarzer Keiler – Stuttgart, DE 8/02/2024 Schwarzer Keiler – Münster, DE 8/03/2024 Chemifabrik – Dresden, DE 8/04/2024 Goldgrube – Kassel, DE 8/09/2024 Party San Open Air – Schlotheim, DE 10/27/2024 Samhain Festival – Maastricht, NL 11/02/2024 Squirralypse Fest – Zurich, CH 11/09/2024 War Against War – Berlin, DE
Stay by for more CLOAK news to be unveiled in the weeks to come.
Fast-rising modern metal unit AD INFINITUM sets the stage for a brand-new chapter in the band’s history with their new single, “Outer Space”, out now on all streaming services worldwide. “Outer Space” arrives with a visually palpable music video that opens the gates to an exciting and unexpected universe begging to be discovered!
After undoubtedly raising the bar with the release of their cherished third record, Chapter III – Downfall, in March 2023, and ruling stages at Europe’s biggest festivals like Wacken Open Air, Summer Breeze and Masters of Rock, the four-piece is back with a new cycle and an outstanding, unexpected fresh sound. Lead by the chameleonic voice of vocalist Melissa Bonny while surrounded by prestigious guitar riffs and heavy patterns, “Outer Space” introduces the listener to matchless modern metal soundscapes, spliced with djent vibes and captivating melodies. The song smashes from the very first second and shows that AD INFINITUM will shine stronger than ever in 2024!
“Outer Space” also underlines that AD INFINITUM is hitting the road for an epic musical journey across the continent to support KAMELOT on their Awaken The World Tour 2024, kicking off in Baltimore, MD, US, today, followed by Europe and UK this fall.
AD INFINITUM on “Outer Space”: “Welcome to a new page of the AD INFINITUM story where a new era begins. A journey from the ominous darkness of the Abyss to the freeing and energizing dreamscapes of Elysium, passing through the hope and empowerment found at the Surface. Discover our new single ‘Outer Space’, a song that resounds like a sincere and intimate piece of a diary. A grey lullaby tinted with a few drops of hopeful colors.”
AD INFINITUM LIVE 2024 Supporting KAMELOT on their Awaken The World Tour 2024:
North America ** = Featuring Seven Spires, No HammerFall 25.04.24 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head ** – LOW TICKETS 26.04.24 – Huntington, NY – Paramount ** 27.04.24 – Boston, MA – Big Night Live ** 28.04.24 – Quebec City, QC – Theatre Capitole ** – LOW TICKETS 30.04.24 – Harrisburg, PA – HMAC 01.05.24 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theatre – LOW TICKETS 03.05.24 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone 04.05.24 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall 06.05.24 – Fort Worth, TX – Tannahill’s 07.05.24 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center 09.05.24 – Albuquerque, NM – El Rey Theater 10.05.24 – Tucson, AZ – Encore 11.05.24 – Anaheim, CA – City National Grove – LOW TICKETS 12.05.24 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues 14.05.24 – Denver, CO – The Summit 16.05.24 – St. Paul, MN – Myth 18.05.24 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues 20.05.24 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian 21.05.24 – Richmond, VA – The National 23.05.24 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogarts 24.05.24 – Atlanta, GA – Heaven – Masquerade – LOW TICKETS 25.05.24 – Tampa, FL – Jannus Landing
Europe & UK: 12.10.24 NL – Utrecht / Tivoli 13.10.24 DE – Munich / Backstage 15.10.24 DE – Berlin / Kesselhaus 17.10.24 SK – Bratislava / Majestic 18.10.24 CZ – Zlin / Rock Cafe 19.10.24 SI – Ljubljana / Kino Siska 20.10.24 IT – Milan / Live Club 22.10.24 ES – Bilbao / Santana 27 23.10.24 ES – Madrid / Riveira 25.10.24 FR – Lyon / La Rayonne 26.10.24 CH – Pratteln / Z7 27.10.24 DE – Oberhausen / Turbinenhalle 29.10.24 DE – Hamburg / Markthalle 30.10.24 DE – Antwerpen / Trix 01.11.24 UK – Wolverhampton / KK‘s 02.11.24 UK – London / Kentish 03.11.24 UK – Manchester / Ritz
Get your copy of the latest album, Chapter III – Downfall, HERE
AD INFINITUM are: Melissa Bonny – Vocals Adrian Thessenvitz – Guitars Korbinian Benedict – Bass Niklas Müller – Drums
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
