Italian progressive/gothic extreme metallers HORTUS ANIMAE have announced a special reissue of their classic album “Waltzing Mephisto”, originally released via Black Lotus Records in 2003.
This brand new “20th Anniversary” edition, due out on October 31st 2023 via Symbol of Domination / BlackHeavens Music, will be available in 2-CD format, containing several bonus tracks, including a cover version of “You’re Dead” from American singer-songwriter NormaTanega, now famous for being the theme of the TV series “What We Do in the Shadows”. The song premiered at NoClean Singing. Stream it HERE.
A new lyric video for the album track “Enter” is also available at THIS LOCATION.
Tracklist:
CD 1 – Waltzing Mephisto
Enter (Part 1)
Enter (Part 2)
A Lifetime Obscurity (Part 1)
A Lifetime Obscurity (Part 2)
Springtime Deaths
Souls of the Cold Wind
Welcome the Godless
Freezing Moon including Terzo Incontro and Tubular Bells (Mayhem / Il Balletto di Bronzo / Mike Oldfield covers)
A Feeble Light of Hope
You’re Dead (Part 1) (Norma Tanega cover) [bonus track]
You’re Dead (Part 2) (Norma Tanega cover) [bonus track]
CD 2 – Godless Years Live
A Dream of Wolves in the Snow (Cradle Of Filth cover)
Locusts
God and His Disgusting Children
Chamber of Endless Nightmares
At the End of Doomsday (Parts 2 & 3)
Aqualung (Jethro Tull cover)
Medley (I – In Adoration of the Weeping Skies / II – Cruciatus Tacitus / III – Souls of the Cold Wind)
There’s No Sanctuary
Across the Sea of Pain
The Bless of Eternal Bleeding
Raining Blood (Slayer cover)
Aqualung (Jethro Tull cover) [bonus track]
HORTUS ANIMAE is a progressive/gothic extreme metal band formed in 1997 in Rimini (Romagna, Italy). After the release of their self-produced debut “The Melting Idols”, they began an intense live streak with bands such as Lacuna Coil, Konkhra, Ancient, Mortuary Drape and Napalm Death. At this point, they recorded their second album and first official release “Waltzing Mephisto”. Following the recording, the band signed a deal with Greek label Black Lotus Records in October 2002 and subsequently with Sleaszy Rider Records (EMI distribution) for their third chapter, the concept album “The Blow of Furious Winds”, in May 2005. The band has since achieved cult status within the extreme metal underground, partly due to their secretive live appearances, but mainly due to their unique and eclectic blend of styles and cover songs.
Their music draws influences from 70s progressive rock, gothic, classical and ambient. All blended with their original form of death/black metal. HORTUS ANIMAE have always incorporated instruments such as piano, viola, violin, mandolin, synth, and very diverse vocal styles into their music. This was rare and uncommon during those years. In between the two albums, the band appeared with another ‘now cult’ cover song on the Black Lotus Records’ release, “The Lotus Eaters: Tribute to Dead Can Dance”. HORTUS ANIMAE recorded their metalized epic interpretation of “Windfall” and “Summoning of the Muse” featuring a joint effort with gothic singer Liv Kristine (Theatre of Tragedy, Leaves’ Eyes, Cradle of Filth) on lead vocals.
The group disbanded on 18 January 2006, yet, years after their split they released a 10th anniversary commemorative boxset (now sold out) called “Funeral Nation: 10 years of Hortus Animae” through Sleaszy Rider Records. Following increasing requests and popularity in the underground, HORTUS ANIMAE teamed up with Thrash Corner Records (USA) to release their definitive collection in 2012, aptly called “Funeral Nation MMXII”.
On 25 January 2013, the band officially stated that the time was ripe for their comeback, under the guiding light of the renowned producer and sound engineer Simone Mularoni (DGM, empYrios), which was also the band’s session bass player, they produced “Secular Music”, released in 2014 by the British rock label Flicknife Records (Hawkwind, etc.). Simultaneously, a double CD of rare and unreleased material called “Godless Years” was released. New members joined, Adamant on bass and MG Desmadre (Crawling Chaos) on guitars and two years later the band teamed up again with Liv Kristine for the “There’s No Sanctuary” maxi EP, which also contained cover songs from the Norwegian cult black metal scene. To promote this release HORTUS ANIMAE embarked on a tour with the German thrash metal titans Necronomicon, and travelled through East Europe. The final date of this tour gave origin to “Piove Sangue – Live in Banská Bystrica” that was released later in 2018 celebrating 20 years of activity of the band. The same year another commemorative live album was released, “Live at Velvet – April the 14th, 2001”, official bootleg soundboard recording taken during a gig with Lacuna Coil.
Due to the great distance with Grom (USA), the band began collaborating with drummer Jotunn (from the band Outer). The outcome of this collaboration gave birth to “Godless Years Live” (bonus CD for the 20th Anniversary edition of “Waltzing Mephisto”) and “You’re Dead Pt. 1 & 2” (bonus tracks for the same release). The band is currently involved in the songwriting process for their next album. “Waltzing Mephisto” 20th Anniversary edition of HORTUS ANIMAE’s cult debut album, now presented in a double CD, which features bonus tracks and a completely unreleased bonus live disc. The Italian wizards of avantgarde extreme metal waltz again. Album out on October 31, 2023. Happy Halloween!
BRIAN SETZER injects the roots of rock with a contemporary freshness that unites fans of rock, Americana, rockabilly, and punk. He is also the master of songs that celebrate uncomplicated, joyous good times. The iconic guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and three-time Grammy Award-winner has released his new solo album THE DEVIL ALWAYS COLLECTS digitally, on CD and vinyl on Surfdog Records. It features “Rock Boys Rock,” the album’s high-energy opener and fourth single that’s also out today. Penned by SETZER and frequent collaborator Mike Himelstein, the song is filled with BRIAN’s fluid and sizzling guitar lines set against a galloping rhythm, with his distinctive vocals. Watch the video HERE and listen to the song and order the album HERE.
“Rock Boys Rock” follows “The Devil Always Collects,” “Black Leather Jacket,” and the album’s first single/video “Girl On The Billboard” which Guitar World praised as “pure roadside bar sleaze in the best way—with strutting Chuck Berry-by-way-of-the-gutter riffs, and even a Route 66 namecheck. You’ll want to put the pedal to the metal with this coming through your speakers (7/28/23).”
SETZER’s guitar work is virtuosic on the new album’s 11 tracks, and his vocals deliver the clever storylines of catchy songs like “The Devil Always Collects,” “Girl On The Billboard,” and “Rock Boys Rock.” Add in non-stop freight train rhythms, and you have an album—produced by BRIAN SETZER and Julian Raymond and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge—that stands with SETZER’s best.
BRIAN will support the album, his first since 2021’s Gotta Have The Rumble, this fall on his U.S “ROCKABILLY RIOT” tour starting September 27.
Marking his first live shows in over four years, the “ROCKABILLY RIOT” tour will kick off September 27 at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ and includes stops in Nashville, TN (at the historic Ryman Auditorium), Foxwoods Casino, Cincinnati, Chicago (Waukegan) and others before wrapping in Minneapolis (his adopted hometown). For these dates, SETZER will be joined by, in his words, an “international rockabilly band, Chris D’Rozario from Melbourne, Australia and Juan Laurios from Mexico City, Mexico.” Although BRIAN has a 40-year career as a solo artist, leader of The Brian Setzer Orchestra and as a Stray Cat, he continues to play with a jaw-dropping level of vigor. Tickets are on sale at: www.briansetzer.com
His set lists will include “some of the favorite covers I’m doing now. I haven’t recorded it, but I really like playing my version of ‘Georgia On My Mind.’ And then with the band, I want to play a new song ‘Girl On The Billboard’ because it tells a fun story.”
In advance of their highly anticipated third studio album “Aces Are High,” the award-winning blues rock duo When Rivers Meet are pleased to announce the release of the album’s fourth single “Infected” released on their own independent record label, One Road Records.
“Infected” is available on all streaming platforms HERE.
“Infected” follows WRM’s previous three singles from the album, “Play My Game,” “Perfect Stranger,” and “Seen It All Before.”
“Infected was the first song we wrote for our new album Aces Are High, says lead singer, mandolin and violinist, Grace Bond. “We brought in fuzz guitar tones to the album and wanted Infected, the opening track to be an indicator as to where the album is going to take you.”
Adds guitarist Aaron Bond, “We strongly believe that it is commonplace to put boundaries and limitations on yourself before you’ve even allowed yourself to dream, It’s the plague of man. We wanted the choruses to be psychedelic and swamp the listener in harmony, to give the impression of the subconscious conditioning that’s happening all the time.”
Regarding the new album “Aces Are High,” the duo says, “As our music is progressing, we’re finding our sound even more. When we went in the studio this time, we’ve never been so sure on what we wanted to create—we had a really clear vision and have stuck to it.”
“Before we held back on being too rocky, but this time we allowed ourselves to create what we wanted to hear, without restricting ourselves. We also allowed ourselves to express the different colours to our music with tracks like “Golden” and “By Your Side,” so this album has more extremes. We still call upon our influences from all the years but remain true to ourselves to create music we love.”
Album Cover by Rob Blackham
“When Rivers Meet are one of the must-sees. Their rise has been meteoric. They present themselves with a new opus that is still very convincing, fresh, different, and muscular…” – Rock ‘N Force
“The sky really is the limit for When Rivers Meet.” – Devils Gate Music
“When Rivers Meet are brave, unrepentant, and fearless.” – Raw Ramp
“It’s a strong set and adds another foundation stone to what looks like an increasingly promising future.” – Blues in Britain
“It’s a no brainer why When Rivers Meet have been voted UK Blues Band of the Year three years running. They play a winning hand on Aces Are High yet again.” – Blues Matters
Since their formation in 2019, the husband-and-wife duo Grace Bond (vocals, mandolin, violin) and Aaron Bond (vocals, guitar) have been quick to prove themselves one of the most exciting names in British blues rock. Blending Americana, folk, blues, and rock in a distinctly unique manner, they have been showered with many awards and accolades.
Their forthcoming album “Aces Are High” follows two critically acclaimed records: “We Fly Free”(2020), which reached No.1 in the iTunes Blues Album Chart, and “Saving Grace” (2021), which charted at No.2 in the UK Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart, No.5 UK Official Album Downloads Chart, and No.6 UK Official Independent Albums Chart. These were based purely on chart reporting digital sales and didn’t include physical sales.
When Rivers Meet were the first band to win four awards at the UK Blues Awards 2021 and another three awards in 2022, including Blues Band of The Year on both occasions. In 2023, WRM won Blues Band Of The Year, making them the only band to win this category three years in a row, and the only band to be inducted into the UK Blues Awards Hall Of Fame for this category.
In 2021 When Rivers Meet were voted Best New Band at Planet Rock’s The Rocks Awards, and in 2022 won Planet Rock’s Blues Power Award and Album Of The Year Award with Saving Grace.
“Aces Are High” finds the duo returning with a more powerful sound than ever before. Aaron’s gnarled riffs hit harder alongside his deep vocal tones, while Grace’s vocals range wider with tantalising bite as they effortlessly climb scales like her striking slide mandolin which accompanies the likes of “Trail To Avalon.”
The immediacy of the new record is showcased from the off with the hard-hitting opener “Infected,” while no punches are pulled on the kick-out-time anthem “5 Minutes Until Midnight.” Nevertheless, its contrasting sides find delicate moments such as the reflective acoustic song “Golden” and the shimmering Americana of “By Your Side.”
ACES ARE HIGH – TRACK LISITING
1. Infected 2. Seen It All Before 3. Play My Game 4. Golden 5. Aces Are High 6. Trail To Avalon 7. Perfect Stranger 8. The Secret 9. By Your Side 10. 5 Minutes Until Midnight
When Rivers Meet developed a powerful live reputation with their first headline tour last year, which they played to capacity crowds across the country.
This year they supported Reef of their UK tour and have just finished their second UK headline tour in larger venues, along with special guest, Brian May guitar prodigy, Arielle, receiving rave reviews once again.
This summer, the band played numerous festivals, including Steelhouse Festival, and Joe Bonamassa’sKeeping the Blues Alive Mediterranean III Cruise featuring Kenny WayneShepherd, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Blackberry Smoke.
LIVE APPEARANCES
SEPTEMBER 27th – O2 Academy 2, Islington (Sold Out)
OCTOBER 6th – Cornwall Rocks Festival, Looe
NOVEMBER 12th – Whitby Blues, Rhythm & Rock, Whitby
Quarto Valley Records proudly announces new album “Heavenly Cream: An Acoustic Tribute To Cream.” The album takes us on a magical journey — traveling the brief course of the iconic band’s musical life — back to the raw, stripped-down magic of the creativity of Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, and Pete Brown. Passionately produced and mixed by Rob Cass, the new album will be released via Quarto Valley Records on November 3rd on Double 180 Gram Limited Edition Cream-Colored Vinyl, CD and Digital on all platforms and is now available for PRE-ORDER.
Formed in 1966, CREAM quickly became known for their explosive impromptu style – high-volume blues jamming, extended solos and flashy instrumental showmanship. Widely thought of as the first supergroup, CREAM paved the way for many other music genres.
The project honors CREAM’s legacy with a 15-track tribute album and features Pete Brown and Ginger Baker plus an impressive roster of renowned musicians who knew, or were inspired by the iconic supergroup including Joe Bonamassa, Deborah Bonham, Malcolm Bruce, Peter Bullick, Nathan James, Bernie Marsden, Maggie Bell, Rob Cass, Clem Clempson, Paul Rodgers and Bobby Rush. There were also invaluable musical contributions from Cheryl Alleyne, Winston Blissett, Moreno Buttinar, Abass Dodoo, John Donaldson, Pee Wee Ellis, Mo Foster, Neil Murray, Mo Nazam, Tony Remy, and Frank Tontoh.
While recording this tribute album, Pete Brown shared, “It took me a long time before I would attempt those songs. I grew up in Jack’s shadow, like Malcolm did as well, you know. I’m not trying to be Jack. No one will ever be Jack.” He added, “Eventually I felt, well, they’re my songs as well and eventually, I grew into those songs that Jack and I wrote.”
From top left clockwise – Ginger Baker, Malcolm Bruce, Bernie Marsden, Pete Brown
The first single off the album, released today, “Sunshine Of Your Love” features Ginger Baker on drums, Joe Bonamassa on vocals and guitar, Malcom Bruce on piano and Bernie Marsden on vocals and guitar, with Neil Murray on bass and Abass Dodoo on percussion. This iconic song, co-written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown was included on Cream’s best-selling second album Disraeli Gears in November 1967 and became one of Cream’s fan favourites. With elements of hard rock and psychedelia,
Cream bassist Bruce developed a distinctive riff for the tune which became his signature bass riff. An edited version of the song was released in the U.S. that December and became the band’s first and highest charting American single. It entered Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart in January 1968, reaching number 36. To this day, the song remains one of the band’s most endearing tunes. It was later included in Rolling Stone’s 500 “Greatest Songs of All Time,” ranking number 65. The endurance of “Sunshine of Your Love” makes it a fitting first taste of the new album and the magic of Cream and their music. Now available to stream on all platforms. The single is available on all streaming platforms HERE.
“Heavenly Cream: An Acoustic Tribute to Cream” was recorded at Sensible Music and the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. Years in the making, Quarto Valley Records’ executive Mike Carden initially approached Pete Brown, his long-time colleague and friend in 2017 about a different project and out of that meeting came the concept of doing a recording — a retrospective of CREAM music — which both Pete and Mike mutually agreed to. Pete had remained friends with Ginger Baker over the years and brought him on board. Following suit came Malcom Bruce (Jack’s son), and the gathering of the incredible talent on the album began to fall into place.
On recording this album, Malcom Bruce said, “I feel very much that in my own small way I’m carrying on a tradition that’s incredibly unique in the musical canon as it were.”
“Quarto Valley Records is honored to be releasing this all-star tribute to one of the greatest bands in rock history,” said Bruce Quarto. “To have recorded this musical masterpiece with the incredible roster of musicians makes this project unbelievably special. And having worked with legends Ginger Baker, Pete Brown and Bernie Marsden truly takes it to a historical level. When you listen to this album, you can feel the passion that went into the project and hear it pouring out of every note. Enjoy!”
ABOUT CREAM*
CREAM is a British rock trio that was the first “supergroup” (made up of musicians who had achieved fame independently before coming together as a band). Cream blended rock, blues, psychedelic rock, and a hint of jazz to create a unique sound. It was known for dexterous live improvisations that often turned into extended jam sessions. The members were guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce, and drummer Ginger Baker. Often called the fourth member was poet Pete Brown who co-wrote most of the band’s lyrics with Bruce.
The band was formed in 1966 while Clapton was still the lead guitarist of the prominent British blues band John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Before that he had been the lead guitarist of theYardbirds (Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page [later of Led Zeppelin] would follow him in that position). Clapton was approached by drummer Baker to form a group focused on expanding the blues-jazz sound. He accepted the invitation with the caveat that Bruce play bass guitar. Despite the long-standing hostility between Bruce and himself, Baker reluctantly agreed, and the three musicians formed Cream. The band’s beginning marked the end of Clapton’s Bluesbreakers’ stint. Before forming Cream, Baker and Bruce had already gained fame as members of British blues musician Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated and later as members of the popular Graham Bond Organization, a jazz and rhythm-and-blues outfit.
Clapton’s style as a guitarist had long been influenced by Chicago and Delta bluesmen such as B.B. King, Robert Johnson, Buddy Guy, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Elmore James. Bruce (who was also the group’s lead vocalist) and Baker veered more toward jazz, with influences that included Art Blakey, Max Roach, Phil Seamen, Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie. Bruce was especially enamored of bassist James Jamerson (who played in Motown’s house band, the Funk Brothers), and Baker was also inspired by world music, specifically African popular music.
Many of the tracks on the band’s first album, Fresh Cream (1966), still retained the bluesy sound that its members were accustomed to producing. It appeared on the top 100 album charts in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
Cream’s second album, Disraeli Gears(1967) incorporated Brown’s and Bruce’s mystical lyrics and guitar techniques that alternated between droning distortion and wailing effects-pedal-assisted riffs. Bruce sometimes played his bass as something of a lead instrument, and Baker’s drumming incorporated jazz tempos—approaches that had not been heard much in rock music at the time. The album broke into the top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Its second track, “Sunshine of Your Love,” highlighted the smooth transition from blues to a more psychedelic sound and was touted by critics as the only Cream single to reach gold status in the United States (over 500,000 units sold). Cream’s third and best-selling album, Wheels of Fire was released in 1968 offering a mixture of studio and live recordings densely packed into two records that became the first platinum-selling double album (over 1,000,000 units sold). It showcased “White Room,” the group’s most popular song, which layered haunting vocals on top of shimmering guitars. The album also included a live rendition of Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads” that featured an oft-imitated solo by Clapton that is considered by many to be one of the greatest guitar solos ever.
In late 1968 Cream decided to disband. The group’s lifespan was just under three years. At the tail end of the 1960s into the ’70s, the former members of Cream went on to establish other supergroups such as Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos, and Cream’s style greatly influenced progressive rock acts such as Rush and the live “jam band” performances of groups such as the Allman Brothers Band.
Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, and the group performed for the first time in 25 years at the induction ceremony. In 2006 the band received a GRAMMY® Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2005 the band got together for a reunion — first for four nights at Royal Albert Hall in the spring; later for three nights at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in the fall.
1. I Feel Free (Ft: Deborah Bonham, Bernie Marsden and Malcolm Bruce) (3:17) 2. White Room (Ft: Pete Brown, Malcolm Bruce and Clem Clempson) (5:46) 3. Theme For An Imaginary Western (Ft: Pete Brown, Malcolm Bruce, Clem Clempson) (3:38) 4. We’re Going Wrong (Ft: Malcolm Bruce and Clem Clempson) (3:32) 5. Sunshine Of Your Love (Ft: Ginger Baker, Joe Bonamassa, Malcolm Bruce, Bernie Marsden) (4:49) 6. Deserted Cities Of The Heart (Ft: Joe Bonamassa, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce) (3:51) 7. Sweet Wine (Ft: Ginger Baker, Nathan James, Pee Wee Ellis, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce) (3:08) 8. Tales Of Brave Ulysses (Ft: Ginger Baker, Nathan James, Pee Wee Ellis Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce) (3:18) 9. Crossroads (Ft: Ginger Baker, Bernie Marsden, Joe Bonamassa, Malcolm Bruce) (2:53) 10. Take It Back (Ft: Maggie Bell, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce) (3:22) 11. Spoonful (Ft: Bobby Rush, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce) (4:39) 12. Sitting On Top Of The World (Feat: Bobby Rush, Maggie Bell, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce) (4:55) 13. Badge (Ft: Deborah Bonham, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce) (3:36) 14. Politician (Ft: Pete Brown, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce) (5:16) 15. Born Under A Bad Sign (Ft: Paul Rodgers, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce) (3:51)
ALBUM CREDITS
Produced and mixed by Rob Cass Executive Producer Bruce S Quarto Executive Producer Pete Brown Associate Executive Producer Mark Waters Supervising Producer Michael Carden Project Coordinator Peter Conway Recorded at Sensible Music and Abbey Road Studios, London Studio Engineers: John Moon, Paul Pritchard, Jonny Firth, Joe Taylor, George Oulton, Pearse Macintyre Ginger Baker drum tech: Andy Chard
I FEEL FREE Deborah Bonham, vocals Bernie Marsden, guitar Malcolm Bruce, piano Neil Murray, bass Frank Tontoh, drums
WHITE ROOM Pete Brown, vocals Clem Clempson, Malcolm Bruce, guitars John Donaldson, piano Mo Foster, bass Cheryl Alleyne, drums Helen Hardy, Holly Morrison, backing vocals Calina de la Mar, John Smart, Laura Fairburst, Naomi Fairhurst, strings. String arrangement by John Donaldson THEME FOR AN IMAGINARY WESTERN Pete Brown, vocals Clem Clempson, Malcolm Bruce, guitars John Donaldson, piano Mo Foster, bass Cheryl Alleyne, drums Helen Hardy, Holly Morrison, backing vocals Calina de la Mar, John Smart, Laura Fairburst, Naomi Fairhurst, strings String arrangement by John Donaldson
WE’RE GOING WRONG Malcolm Bruce, vocals Clem Clempson, guitar Cheryl Alleyne, drums Strings as above, arranged by Malcolm Bruce
SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE Joe Bonamassa, vocals, guitar Bernie Marsden, vocals, guitar Malcolm Bruce, piano Neil Murray, bass Ginger Baker, drums Abass Dodoo, percussion
DESERTED CITIES OF THE HEART Joe Bonamassa, vocals, guitar Bernie Marsden, guitar Malcolm Bruce, bass Moreno Buttinar, drums Abass Dodoo, percussion
SWEET WINE Nathan James, vocals Bernie Marsden, guitar Mo Nazam, guitar Malcolm Bruce, bass Ginger Baker, drums Pee Wee Ellis, tenor saxophone Henry Lowther, trumpet Abass Dodoo, percussion Rob Cass, Andy Hodge, backing vocals
TALES OF BRAVE ULYSSES Nathan James, vocals Bernie Marsden, guitar Mo Nazam, guitar Malcolm Bruce, bass Ginger Baker, drums Pee Wee Ellis, tenor saxophone Henry Lowther, trumpet Abass Dodoo, percussion CROSSROADS Bernie Marsden, vocals, guitar Joe Bonamassa, guitar Malcolm Bruce, piano Neil Murray, bass Ginger Baker, drums Abass Dodoo, percussion
TAKE IT BACK Maggie Bell, vocals Bernie Marsden, Tony Remy, guitars Malcolm Bruce, piano Winston Blissett, bass Frank Tontoh, drums
SPOONFUL Bobby Rush, vocals, harp Bernie Marsden, Tony Remy, guitars Malcolm Bruce, piano Winston Blissett, bass Frank Tontoh, drums
SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD Bobby Rush, vocals, and harp Maggie Bell, vocals Bernie Marsden, Tony Remy, guitars Malcolm Bruce, piano Winston Blissett, bass Frank Tontoh, drums
BADGE Deborah Bonham, vocals Bernie Marsden, Tony Remy, Peter Bullick, guitars Malcolm Bruce, piano Neil Murray, bass Frank Tontoh, drums
POLITICIAN Pete Brown, vocals Bernie Marsden, Tony Remy, guitars Malcolm Bruce, piano Winsron Blissett, bass Frank Tontoh, drums
BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN Paul Rodgers, vocals Bernie Marsden, Mo Nazam, guitars Malcolm Bruce, bass Mareno Buttinar, guitar
FORTRESS UNDER SIEGE have released their new video for second single “Distant Voices”! The track is taken from the band’s upcoming album “Envy” that will be released on October 13, 2023 Digipack CD, Black / Yellow Splatter Vinyl limited to 500 copies worldwide and digital streaming/download format.
Digital single of “Distant Voices” is now available across all digital and streaming platforms! Pre-save the album, here: https://bfan.link/envy-3
Filmed, Edited and Directed by Bob Katsionis for Progressive Vision Group Diector of Photography / Camera Assistant: Alexander Haritakis Make-up: Georgia Lambridou Dancer: Manos Kopanakis Filmed at Rail Entertainment Studio
Fotis Sotiropoulos commented about the song: “Distant Voices” was born when I decided to see if I can do something with an old lead guitar theme that I used to keep for years. Even if I had my doubts at first, it turned out to be a really interesting song. The lyrics are inspired by the famous sci-fi movie’s “Blade runner’s” last scene with Rutger Hauer and Harrison Ford, when Rutger Hauer says his notorious short monologue just before he dies, accepting his tragic fate being a clone designed by humans with a limited life span. We made a video for this song where you can see a dancer as a tragic figure of a clone, dancing a desperate and passionate dance.
Fortress Under Siege: Tasos Lazaris – Vocals Fotis Sotiropoulos – Lead Guitars Themis Gourlis – Rhythm Guitars George Georgiou – Keyboars St.evens Kopanakis – Bass Dimitris Kapoukakis – Drums
Hardcore heavy hitters FREYA have shared the title track from their upcoming album, Fight As One, due out September 22nd via Upstate Records. As the band approaches its 20th anniversary of their first release, As the Last Light Drains (Victory Records, 2003), FREYA have returned to their roots with pulverizing force.
Freya comments: “From our perspective things are undeniably and unusually chaotic in recent times. “Fight as One” is an acknowledgment of that reality. Lyrically the song is about how hard times strengthen the true friendships. Freddy Madball put the jewel in the crown on this track for us with a block of hard-hitting lyrics and one of the most powerful voices in all of hardcore.”
FREYA are joined by three legendary hardcore front-men on their newest album; Freddy Cricien (MADBALL) delivers a crushing performance on the title track, Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) seethes on “Sense of Doom” and Scott Vogel (TERROR) drops the hammer on “Thousand Yard Stare”.
About FREYA: Hailing from Syracuse, NY, FREYA was formed in 2001 by three members of EARTH CRISIS’ bassist Ian Edwards, lead guitarist Eric Edwards and vocalist Karl Buechner. When EARTH CRISIS temporarily concluded, members split into three separate bands; FREYA, percussionist and guitarist Dennis Merrick and Scott Crouse, respectively, formed SLAVE ONE and all five EARTH CRISIS members continued on with their reactivated project band, PATH OF RESISTANCE.
Over the past 20 years, FREYA have blazed a path through both the worldwide hardcore and metal scenes. Prominently featured on MTV’s Room Raiders, Road Rules and the iconic Headbangers Ball as well as the Showtime series, Shameless, the FREYA vault runs deep with their soon to be seventh release, Fight As One, since their inception. FREYA’s discography has been featured in Kerrang!, Decibel, Amp and Metal Hammer for their unique sound, a well-crafted amalgamation of darkened New York style hardcore with a generous dose of thrash metal stirred into the mix.
“FREYA is the perfect vehicle for us to cross over sonicly into uncharted regions, to combine styles and retell the timeless stories of the heroes and villains from both the history and folklore of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It’s an endless well to draw from”. (Erick Edwards, Final Word Fanzine).
With countless concerts, festival dates and highly successful worldwide tours behind them, FREYA have earned their place in the pantheon. Over the years, FREYA has toured with WALLS OF JERICHO, ALL SHALL PERISH, BORN FROM PAIN and SWORN ENEMY as well as sharing the stage with ANDREW WK NAPALM DEATH, DRI, BEHEMOTH, CROWBAR and HATEBREED.
Fight As One Credits: Lyrics: Karl Buechner Composition: Karl Buechner, Erick Edwards, Thom Turner, Ian Edwards, Ethan D Henry Produced and Mixed By: Ethan D Henry Mastered by: Jocko (Moresound) Photo By: Jim Wertman
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 ) 