Hard rock metal powerhouse Beautiful Skeletons has inked a monumental deal with Wormholedeath for their highly anticipated EP “Temperance.”Set to unleash its sonic fury on May 10th, 2024, this EP promises an electrifying blend of darkness, melody, grit, and intensity.
Formed in 2018 in the Pacific Northwest, Beautiful Skeletons emerged from a casual jam session between Einar Einarsson and Tina Firefly. Despite COVID setbacks, they inked a management deal with Paul Crosby Management (PCM) in 2022 and stormed through the Oregon and Washington scenes.
With Tina on vocals, Einar on guitar, Jason on bass, and Huwy on drums, they’ve shared stages with notable acts like Saliva and Yngwie Malmsteen. Their EP “Vegvisir” and music videos gained traction, leading to a deal with WormHoleDeath Records in 2024. The project returned to the studio in anticipation of the signing and recorded another five-song EP – “Temperance” showcasing the next evolution of dynamics in their musical style, hedging into a more experimental progressive style of metal.
“Temperance” EP is generating significant local buzz and promises to blow the crotch right out of your pants. This will be a busy year for the band with opportunities to play various festivals and potentially abroad in Europe.
Tracklisting
Letter to a Narcissist
Only Zuul
Victim Loop
Butterfly Pinned Under Glass
Upside Down Song
Get a taste of the EP through the official teaser:
Beautiful Skeletons are: Tina Firefly: Vocals Einar Einarsson: Guitar Jason Johnson: Bass Huwy Williams: Drums
German trio Future Palace have released a video for their brand new single ‘Uncontrolled’, out now via Arising Empire. The track is the band’s first new music in almost a year.
Our entire existence demands control – it seems all the more shocking when the feeling of self-control suddenly seems to disappear. In their new single, Future Palace set exactly this almost unbearable state of a slipping self to music and rely on some of the most powerful sonic contrasts that they have ever unleashed in their entire discography.
“‘Uncontrolled’ was created in 2022 and was written almost at the same time as the song ‘Malphas’, which not only has a similarly heavy musical tone as the new single, but also lyrically speaks of a struggle with oneself.” The words with which singer Maria Lessing describes the experiences that gave rise to ‘Uncontrolled’ also sound correspondingly agitated. “The loss of control in the title primarily relates to one’s own mental health and one’s own decision-making ability”, she says. “You can no longer manage to get up in the morning and have to constantly regain your strength. You can no longer manage to meet deadlines or function at all. ‘Uncontrolled’ represents what it feels like when everything falls apart and seems hopeless.”
‘Uncontrolled’ is driven by remarkably riff-focused instrumentals that would do even Slipknot credit. In their most epoch-making moments, the band glides into arrangements with immensely great vocal gestures, only to plunge into perhaps the dirtiest screams that singer Maria Lessing has ever uttered in the very next moment. The band is continuing a development that already began on their second album Run and with their last single ‘Malphas’. Musically, Future Palace have now come shockingly close to the unpredictability and brutality of the dramatic themes that have always occupied them.
Last fall, the band played in several cities across Europe on their biggest headline tour to date, many of the shows were sold out. The music video for the new song, which was shot in Riga, Latvia, was again shot by Pavel Trebukhin, with whom the band has been working for a long time and who has already produced clips for big names such as Landmvrks, Imminence and Trivium.
Future Palace are: Maria | Vocals Manuel | Guitar Johannes | Drums
Single cover: Picture by Tuukka Koski | Design by Øivind Myksvoll
Amidst Wardruna´s song-writing hibernation, the group resurfaces to offer a taste of their next album with the single release and music video for the song Hertan. The song is available on all digital streaming platforms now.
Einar Selvik comments on the new song: ““Hertan” is the proto-Scandinavian word for “heart” and that is exactly what we explore in this song and film. The duality of the heart with the rhythm, flow and pulse we can see, hear, and feel in nature and in all forms of life – and the more abstract idea of the heart, The rudder on the ship of emotions, our decisions, and our true desires.”
Once again, Wardruna teamed up with Finnish director and photographer Tuukka Koski for the video production of Hertan. Koski has previously directed Wardruna´s videos for Raido, Voluspá, and Grá. This time, the production mainly took place during some freezing nights in northern Finland at the island of Hailouto.
Einar about the video shooting process: “It is always a true pleasure to create art with Tuukka and his colleagues at Breakfast Helsinki! His experience and eye for detail as well as the ability to always conjure up next-level material, is very inspiring to be part of. Three days, three locations, no sleep but a lot of heart. This is how it went down. Hope you will enjoy the result!”
ABOUT WARDRUNA
Hertan, the proto-Scandinvian word for heart, is steeped in Wardruna tradition. With this new song, Wardruna announce the beginning of a vibrant new cycle, pulsating with life. The song explores the rhythm of pulse, a flow visible in all forms of life and in nature, and the heart as the rider of decisions.
Making room for something new to come into being, the Norwegian group ends the Kvitravn touring cycle in a remarkable way. During the autumn equinox on September 21, 2023, Wardruna performed at the world heritage site Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Acropolis, Athens. The event sold out quickly, with fans from all over the world attending.
The concert at the Acropolis is the culmination of an intense period of touring, with successful shows in the United States, Norway, Iceland and the United Kingdom. In 2022, Wardruna headlined the festivals Wacken Open Air in Germany and Hellfest Open Air in France and saw the group perform at historic sites, such as Ancient Theater in Plovdiv and Castle Devin, Bratislava during the Nordic Night Tour. In 2023, the second leg of the Kvitravn touring cycle took place throughout the summer with Wardruna playing (festival) shows in Germany, France, The Netherlands and a concert at Borgholm Castle in Sweden.
At the heart of Wardruna lies the vision of sowing new seeds and strengthening old roots, a concept that main composer Einar Selvik, Lindy-Fay Hella and former member Gaahl bought to life in 2009. The first three albums formed the Runaljod trilogy and featured musical renditions based on the Nordic runes. Each of the three releases focused around eight of the twenty-four Proto-Norse runes, more commonly known as the Elder Futhark. The trilogy consists of Runaljod – gap var Ginnunga (2009), Runaljod – Yggdrasil (2013), Runaljod – Ragnarok (2016).
After years of acoustic concerts and lectures, performing Wardruna songs and creations made for the TV-show Vikings, Einar Selvik recorded Skald (2018). The album was recorded live with the intention of capturing the raw and uncompromising energy of the live performance. It set out to give a voice to the ancient craft that once lay at the foundation of the Norse oral traditions, presented as it takes shape in the hands of a humble contemporary skald today.
Wardruna’s fifth full-length Kvitravn (White-Raven) was released in January 2021. The album musically continues where the Runaljod trilogy left off, yet it marks a distinct evolution in the group’s sound. Throughout eleven songs, Kvitravn discusses Northern sorcery, spirit-animals, shadows, nature and animism, the wisdom and meanings of certain myths, various Norse spiritual concepts, and the relation between sage and songs. The record charted in 13 countries, including #1 in Canada and Austria, and #2 in Germany. A year later, the band presented a virtual live experience in the form of First Flight of the White Raven, also landing in the official German Album Charts.
The period between First Flight of the White Raven and Hertan, is not without creative output. A new rendition of Voluspá (live with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra) came out in June 2023. Einar Selvik also performed on national Norwegian television with electronic dance music DJ Matoma and joined Faroese singer-songwriter Eivør and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra for a symphonic concert series. One of the duets, Voluspá (live with Eivør) shall be released physically on Record Store Day in April 2024, in the United States, Canada and Germany. Now a new cycle begins with Hertan and Wardruna soon announce new live dates in support of this new release.
As a live band Wardruna operates in various constellations of personnel but the standard configuration the last years has been as follows:
Iron Jinn, a captivating Dutch dark, ethereal psychedelic rock band, release their new double album, “Live at Roadburn,” today on 180g vinyl via Lay Bare Recordings. The album captures the magic of their performance at the prestigious festival. The band, consisting of seasoned musicians Oeds Beydals (The Devil’s Blood, Death Alley), Wout Kemkens (Shaking Godspeed, De Niemanders), Bob Hogenelst (Birth of Joy),Gerben Bielderman (Pauw) and Jarno Van Es, delivers a mesmerizing experience, blending intricate guitar work, powerful drumming, and ethereal atmospheres.
Iron Jinn was conceived by guitarists and songwriters Oeds Beydals and Wout Kemkens, who shared a history in bands like Death Alley and Shaking Godspeed. Their collaboration led to the creation of the Last Night On Earth festival, setting the stage for their musical exploration. Iron Jinn’s live debut at Roadburn 2018 marked the beginning of a creative journey that led to the recording of their debut album in the spring of 2021, with the addition of drummer Bob Hogenelst and later, bassist Gerben Bielderman.
To enhance the live experience, Iron Jinn invited Jarno Van Es to join them on keys, marking the fifth live appearance of the band and the first with his unique contributions. The live show embraced a new creative process, infusing spontaneous improvisation and fresh energy into the studio versions of their songs. This resulted in a dynamic and vibrant performance that captures the essence of Iron Jinn at an early stage in their musical journey.
“The Iron Jinn 2023 Roadburn performance was the perfect opportunity for us to present our debut album in the flesh. Roadburn’s Walter Hoeijmakers made it possible for us to expand the band’s line-up for this release show so we could recreate the layered density the album has to offer. We were playing to an energetic and receptive audience at 013’s Green Room around midnight. To most of the people present, it was probably the first introduction to the material and the group, and still the band and the crowd moved as a unit. Although we hope to keep evolving, this show is a moment in time that we are thankful to have captured.” – Oeds Beydals
Making his name in ground-breaking heavy metal bands such as Black Label Society, Sixx:A.M., and Filter, Jeff Fabb decided to pioneer his own sound with his debut album released in November of 2023, and plans to release more original music this year. Following the success of his most recent release “See No Evil”, his heavier new single and music video for “Love and War” is out now.
Inspired by Fabb’s move to Los Angeles after high school, “Love and War” is about embracing the human experience, and how the path to success is often marked by many obstacles to overcome. With slamming drums and opening lyrics like “Everlasting, adulation, will you let me empty my feelings? Waiting in the black…” the song and accompanying music video embody the feeling of being a small fish in a big pond and being unsure of what’s to come.
The song continually balances the feelings of the pain and the pleasure that comes with chasing your dreams. On one hand, Fabb speaks to the painful and uncomfortable feeling of the unknown, with powerful lyrics like, “No matter the road, lonely and so cold. Never thought I’d be so lost at sea. My mind is the catch tangled in the net.” These sorrowful lyrics are accompanied by dark, heavy metal instrumentation and solo shots of Fabb to highlight these isolated feelings.
Later in the song, however, he shifts out of focusing on this pain by highlighting the beautiful nature of the unknown, and embracing your destiny, with uplifting, fast-paced guitar and lyrics like, “It’s written in the stars above, it’s inevitable.” The lyrics and instrumentation are accompanied by vast shots of the city of Los Angeles, and a teen coming to terms with his fate.
“On our path to success, we come across many situations where people acted against us and did not follow the rules, it seemed unfair. Instead of taking it personally, we must remember, all is fair in love and war.” – Jeff Fabb
With influences such as Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, and Led Zeppelin, Fabb incorporates elements of metal, adding his sonic flair with modern touches of psychedelic rock. Straying from the style of his previous release “See No Evil”, “Love and War” leans more into Jeff’s musical roots and metal abilities, while also maintaining a new-age psychedelic undertone. Centering around his move across the country to the Silver Lake area of L.A. in 1988, “Love and War” explores themes of hardship, feeling out of place, and navigating the obstacles that life throws in the way to come out on top in the end.
With a full-length album on the way, Fabb states that this record will be more dynamic than any of his previous work and will continuously center around themes of overcoming hardships through perseverance. “Love and War” is a sneak peek into Fabb’s journey and is a message to welcome a “don’t play the victim” mindset, speaking to his ability to overcome uncertainty to pave his own path and success in his musical career.
“Love and War” will be followed by “Into Thin Air” and a full-length album later this year.
About Jeff Fabb
Highly respected drummer and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Fabb found his path in heavy metal and hard rock scenes, with his “claim to fame” in drumming for iconic rock bands such as In This Moment, Filter, and Sixx: A.M., and Black Label Society.
Starting his drumming career at the ripe age of 11, Jeff Fabb has a long history of music that’s followed him throughout his whole life. Beginning his journey growing up in Long Island, Fabb played in various bands throughout high school and eventually formed the band Tripface.
After spending much of his early career on the East Coast, Fabb moved to L.A. in 1998, to dive head-first into the music scene of Silver Lake. From there, he contributed to many esteemed bands in the rock and metal circles, always known for shaping the sound of each group he is a part of with his masterful drumming techniques.
COVID was a big catalyst for wanting to pursue his solo project, and he worked tirelessly to release his heavily anticipated solo album “Stealing Souls” in 2023. His debut album is highly regarded for combining a booming voice with slamming guitar and drums to create an album full of textures such as hard rock, rock, metal, grunge, and alternative rock. With slower tracks like “As the Wind Blows”, Fabb tunes into his more classic influences, and tunes into his harder rock influences with “Reaper”.
With influences ranging from Alice In Chains, Mad Season, Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, and Tool, to Led Zeppelin, Fabb creates a unique sound reminiscent of many great names in rock, while adding his own unique flair to everything he creates.
His diverse musical capabilities have allowed him to succeed in the rock and metal communities, making him a highly respected, and multi-faceted artist.
Highly acclaimed Manchester band SHADE has just announced their latest single, ‘Break Out’, is out now via Golden Robot Records. SHADE is a band poised on the brink of greatness, and their latest track, ‘Break Out‘, serves as just the opening act in what promises to be a prolific year for the ensemble.
This single marks the inception of a new era for SHADE, both lyrically and sonically. Infused with energetic drums and captivating vocals, the track pulsates with a modern alt-rock essence and upbeat vibes, seamlessly blending the quintessential Manchester sound with a fresh, innovative twist.
‘Break Out‘ was produced by renowned hit-maker Gavin Monaghan (Editors, Sherlocks, The Blinders, The Twang, Robert Plant, Paolo Nutini) at the prolific Magic Garden Studios. Positioned at the forefront of Manchester’s thriving music scene, SHADE sets a high standard for emerging bands.
Their previous single, ‘Illusive Dreams’, caught the eye of worldwide superstar (and big SHADE fan), Louis Tomlinson, who, after hearing the track, personally invited the band to support and perform at his annual ‘Away From Home Festival’ in Italy last year. They performed alongside well-known artists Blossoms and The Cribs.
This next tune is set to be another exciting and striking release just like the last. Get ready to embark on a sonic journey like no other with‘Break Out’.
Next show: 26th April, Fiddlers Elbow, London
SHADE is: Luke Anthony Owens – Guitar, Lead vocals Adam Taylor Clare – Bass guitar, backing vocals Oliver Clare – Drums, backing vocals Ben Mcdonough – Lead guitar Mac Anthony McCartney – Keys, backing vocals
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
