Featuring the Original Lineup in a Special Semi-Acoustic Performance and Limited to Only 250 Copies of Each Variation.
Dokken, formed in Los Angeles in 1978, had several hit singles which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, such as “Alone Again”, “In My Dreams”, and “Burning Like a Flame”, and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. The classic Dokken line-up consisted of founder Don Dokken on vocals, George Lynch on lead guitar, Mick Brown on drums and Jeff Pilson on bass. One Live Night is the 1996 semi-acoustic live album of the then reunited Dokken who recorded the album before a live audience at The Strand, an intimate concert venue in Redondo Beach, California, on December 13, 1994, and prior to their 1995 tour. The album went virtually unheard at the time of its release, being overshadowed by the then fledgling grunge and alternative rock movement.
Listen to “Alone Again” here:
Now it is available through Deko Entertainment for the first time on 180g vinyl as a double album with a beautiful gatefold. Completely remastered, repackaged, and limited to only 250 copies of each variation. This intimate performance includes versions of “Tooth and Nail”, “Into the Fire” and “Alone Again”, as well as covers of the Beatles’ “Nowhere Man” and Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “From the Beginning”. This is a must have for any Dokken fan!
Pirate Queen is an all-female Pirate Metal band from Bermuda Triangle and their debut album Ghosts will be released on May 3, 2024 via Despotz records. Their third single “Santa Lucia” was released yesterday, April 5th via Despotz Records.
Discovering Pirate Queen is like finding Eldorado. The album Ghosts has such addictive melodies, and it is so catchy that after a few listenings, it might transform you into a pirate. The songs are done with the mastery of mixing precious power metal with pirate, fantasy, symphonic, and fantasy elements. The beautiful guitar melodies and enchanting vocals of Her Majesty Maria Aurea offer explosions of notes and harmonies with a massive production that make this album a pirate metal masterpiece.
About their new single they had this to say;
Captain Destiny Grieflord states: This must be one of my favourite songs on the album. A symphonic, melodic, epic, adventurous, pirate power metal. The blessing of the ship is an old pirate tradition that is still being practiced on Lyxion island. The Queen’s blessing ensures a safe journey and abundant bounty. Santa Lucia is our main ship on which we sailed to many adventures. It is our home and represents discovery, loyalty and fate. We are on never-ending spiritual journey, sailing with and against the current. The ship carries us through different phases of life.
The album Ghosts is a treasure chest of addictive melodies. It is so catchy that after a few listenings, it might transform you into a pirate. The songs are done with the mastery of mixing precious power metal with pirate, fantasy, symphonic, and fantasy elements. The beautiful guitar melodies and enchanting vocals of Her Majesty Maria Aurea offer explosions of notes and harmonies with a massive production that make this album a pirate metal masterpiece. The album is magical, with a real story behind it. When you close your eyes, it will take you on a breathtaking journey where you will meet pirates, sirens, and ghosts. Pirate Queen is the first all-female metal band that combines music and LARP at their live shows. They use Epic Armouryweapons exclusively, wear Museum Replicas boots, produce their own Pirate QueenSikkim Gin and like to spend vacations at Insomnia Hotel.
Pirate Queen is more than a regular heavy metal band. When listening to the album, it will submerge you into a story that sparks imagination. You will enter a new universe and experience the music on a different level. From ice-cold Arctic guitar parts to mysterious vocal harmonies and a haunted sea atmosphere, to warm Tropical adventure metal orchestration, you will find yourself floating in the beautiful world of Pirate Queen. Each member has her own character with unique characteristics, abilities, and even weapons. Five new talented musicians whose real identities seem to be a bit of a mystery.
Beautiful ladies, demons, ghosts… Formed in 1523…They are returning after 500 years. Descendants of famous pirates have settled all over the world. Their kingdoms control the world’s seas to this day. In their society, women hold the highest positions. Some born in this world, others sent from outer worlds, all loyally serve their queen. The old nautical chronicles mention a time when a group of five girls will come together. Who are related and united by the gift of piracy. In the ungodly year 2023, the New Pirate Queen took over the command and continues the tradition of her ancestors. To charm and loot. Their Pirate Kingdom’s capital, Lyxion, is a mystical floating island that floats around the Bermuda Triangle.
Finnish folk metal superstars KORPIKLAANI, the cultural ambassadors for Finland, are celebrating the release of their new studio album, Rankarumpu.
This marks the 12th full-length entry in their impressive discography. Alongside, a video for the album’s title track has been unveiled today and can be watched below! Meanwhile, KORPIKLAANI are getting ready to embark on an extensive North American tour which will kick off next week. Scroll to the bottom for all dates!
KORPIKLAANI‘s twelfth studio album is once again classic folk metal, fast, energetic and dynamic, showing once again they are leaders in this genre. One of the most wonderful features of Rankarumpu is related to the folk instruments. Although KORPIKLAANI has done one or maybe even a couple of unforgettable things in the realm of folk metal, this time new permanent member Olli Vänskä‘s (ex Turisas) violin and Sami Perttula‘s accordion may surprise even die-hard fans. Rankarumpu was again produced by Janne Saksa and recorded at his Sound Supreme Studio and Korpiklaani’s HQ, Miehola Studios.
Singer Jonne commented: “Rankarumpu is our fastest album, which was easy and fun to make. However, in contrast to the fun, the war theme rears its head here and there on the album because the world situation is so completely absurd and twisted at the moment. Violinist Olli Vänskä joined this album as a new member, while Tuomas Rounakari focused on his solo production. Olli was Tuomas’s deputy many times over the years when he was busy, so he was the only right choice as a member. He participated in the arrangements but also composed for this album. The song and video for Rankarumpu perfectly sums up what this band represents at its best, which is having fun together with our audience. This will even make the purists get dancing!”
RANKARUMPU NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2024 w/ Visions Of Atlantis & Illumishade
08.04. US Reading – Reverb 09.04. US New York City – Gramercy Theatre 10.04. US Boston – Brighton Music Hall 11.04. CA Montreal – La Tulipe 12.04. CA Ottawa – Brass Monkey 13.04. CA Toronto – Phoenix Concert Theatre 14.04. US Pontiac – The Crofoot 15.04. US Milwaukee – Turner Hall 17.04. US Minneapolis – Vivarium 18.04. CA Winnipeg – Park Theatre 19.04. CA Regina – The Exchange 20.04. CA Edmonton – Starlite Room 21.04. CA Calgary – Dickens 23.04. CA Vancouver – Rickshaw Theatre 24.04. US Seattle – El Corazon 25.04. US Portland – BossaNova Ballroom 26.04. US San Francisco – DNA Lounge 27.04. US Los Angeles – 1720 28.04. US San Diego – Brick By Brick 29.04. US Phoenix – The Nile 01.05. US Denver – Gothic Theatre 02.05. US Lincoln – The Bourbon Theater 03.05. US Joliet – The Forge 04.05. US Pittsburgh – Mr Smalls Theatre 05.05. US Baltimore – Baltimore Soundstage
08.05. FR Bruguières – Festival Echos et Merveilles 16.06. DE Merseburg – Merseburger Schlossfestspiele 21.06. CH Grenchen – Summerside Festival 27-30.06. FR Clisson – Hellfest 05.07. ES Barcelona – Barcelona Rock Fest 06.07. FI Tampere – Tuhdimmat Tahdit 12.07. FR Laundresse – La Guerre Du Son 09.-11.08. FR Cercoux – Festival 666 09.-11.08. UK Walton on Trent – Bloodstock Open Air 09.-11.08. BE Kortrijk – Alcatraz Festival 14.-17.08. DE Dinkelsbühl – Summer Breeze 15.-17.08. CZ Zámek Moravský Krumlov – Rock Castle 24.08. PT Pindelo dos Milagres – Milagre Metaleiro Open Air 28-31.08 HU Alsóörs – Tabor Festival 06.09. FR Mennecy – Mennecy Metal Fest
EUROPEAN WINTER TOUR 2024 w/ In Extremo & Rauhbein
15.11. DE Saarbrücken – Garage 16.11. CH Pratteln – Z7 22.11. DE Rostock – Moya 29.11. DE Berlin – Columbiahalle 30.11. DE Bremen – Pier 2 06.12. DE Nürnberg – KIA Metropol Arena 07.12. AT Wien – Gasometer 12.12. DE Bielefeld – Lokschuppen 13.12. DE Hannover – Swiss Life Hall 14.12. DE Dresden – Alter Schlachthof 20.12. DE Leipzig – Haus Auensee 21.12. DE Stuttgart – Porsche Arena 27.12. DE München – Zenith 28.12. DE Wiesbaden – Schlachthof 29.12. DE Erfurt – Messehalle 30.12. DE Köln – Palladium
After a brief hiatus, Finnish heavy metal band OCEANHOARSE has returned, more powerful than ever, unveiling a fresh music video and a renewed band lineup! With a surge of new energy, a redefined sound, and a fresh perspective, the Heavy Metal quartet is excited to reveal the musical concoction they’ve been brewing in secrecy over the past year. Today marks the debut of their new single “Killer & the Queen” and the official introduction of bassist Silver Ots.
Watch the video for “Killer & the Queen” here:
“There was a lot of inner turmoil within the band around the release of our previous album ‘Heads Will Roll’, which escalated with the exit of bassist Jyri Helko”, guitarist Ben Varon explains. “I was also running pretty low motivation-wise, and needed a few months to take a breather and find the excitement for the music again. But it was soon clear to me, Joonas (Kosonen, vocals) and Oce (Oskari Niemi, drums) that we wanted to continue the band and still make music together. And I knew just the right guy to call for bass duties.”
Enter Silver Ots, Ben’s old partner in crime from his previous band Amoral.
“Silver and me go way back, I believe we were 15 when we formed Amoral. I have always regarded him as one of the best riff composers in metal, so I knew the value that he would bring to the band with his songwriting in addition to his ridiculously tight bass playing. And the proof is in the pudding, all you need to do is to listen to ‘Killer & The Queen’, for which Silver composed the music for!”, Bencontinues.
“I met the guys at a crossroads”, says Silver Ots. “After the band going full speed for so long there was a wind of change in the air. We decided to take the time, reflect back and look ahead, find a mutual vibe and see what we can come up with together. What you hear now is one of the pieces of new music we’ve been cooking up this past year.”
“Killer & the Queen showcases the more groovy side of the ‘Hoarse”, says vocalist Joonas Kosonen. “Lyrically, the song is about those enemies very close to you. So close you can’t even see them coming. We’re super proud of this one, and we feel reborn after going through hellfire. A bit of dissonance sure makes art come alive!”, Joonas summarizes.
“Killer & The Queen” was mixed and mastered by Lauri Hämäläinen, who also co-produced and recorded the vocals. For the video, OCEANHOARSE returned to Guilty Visuals and Pete Inkinen, who they had worked with previously on the video for “Pryopen”. The cover artwork for the single was drawn by Samuli “Skrymer” Ponsimaa.
Following their latest, much discussed studio album Sound & Fury (released in February 2024 on AFM Records, order HERE), German metal frontrunners DUST BOLT have joined forces with fritz-kola for an exclusive unplugged session! DUST BOLT’s frontman, Lenny B., comments:
“Cheers to fritz kola, where the fizz of creativity meets the acoustic groove of ‘Disco nnection‘! Check out this sick and funny performance, where music dances to its own beat!“
Recorded at renowned venue Backstage in the band’s hometown Munich, Germany, a video clip of the exclusive fritz-session is now premiering here:
Since their formation in 2007, DUST BOLT have been resolute and ruthless in their pursuit of metal glory over the last 16 years. Childhood friends with a collective passion for metal in all its various forms, the quartet have established themselves as one of Europe’s leading thrash metal bands. Sound & Fury refines and noisily redefines the band’s sound for a new era. UK magazine The Razors Edge writes, “with their fifth album set for release, this could well be their breakthrough moment”, while Rock Hard Germany is convinced that “Sound & Fury is an album that is as bold as it is varied and unconventional”.“A strong, enthralling and varied album!” says Zephyrs Odem, and also Musikreviews.de confirms, it’s a “brave album and artistically valuable.”
“The entire album SOUND & FURY is an ode to creativity,”Lenny recently said.“We all are special. Each and everyone of us has got its own story to tell. We finally did that. We’re not trying to be like others. We don’t copy. We try to be our truest selfs we can possible be. Without limits. That’s Sound & Fury. And that’s what Dust Bolt stands for.”
Written during those isolated months of pandemic lockdown, Sound & Fury represents the peak of the band’s creativity, and a major leap forward in every department. The first DUST BOLT record to feature new bassist Tom Liebing, alongside Lenny Bruce, guitarist Florian Dehn and drummer Nico Remann, Sound & Fury grew from a long period of self-reflection that began when the world shut down.
“Sound and Fury was created during the probably darkest and most difficult time for the band.” Lenny revealed earlier. “First time in our lives, since we were kids, we were somehow separated from another and the dream we lived together seemed to stopped. It was during the pandemic days, when the band even decided to take a break from one another, when Flo came up with this beautiful piece of music – not knowing how he would channel and express our feelings, leading to LB putting some Dust Bolt unusual, but heartfelt vocals on it and having Nico introducing a disco beat to a metal song in the end. We didn’t know what was happening – we just did it. We did know, there’d be a million voices saying we can’t put this up on a Dust Bolt record. But more than that we knew „as long as we stick together, we can do anything the *** we want“ . Sound and Fury is a story about friendship, struggle & inner turmoil. SuF is a story about us. SuF is a different, open and honest Dust Bolt, sharing their emotion with you and your friends.”
Although still rooted in thrash and old school metal, the new record adds dazzling colour and diversity to the band’s trademark sound. With pummelling grooves, spine-tingling dynamics and a startling, part-melodic vocal performance from Lenny Bruce who also produced and recorded the album, with an analogue mix by Moritz Enders [Revolverheld, Silbermond], the new songs mark the beginning of a new era of DUST BOLT destruction!
18 Apr 2024 P.M.K – Innsbruck (Aut) 19 Apr 2024 Explosiv – Graz (Aut) 20 Apr 2024 Chelsea – Wien (Aut) 26 Apr 2024 Mosh´n´May Festival – Schapen (Ger) 27 Apr 2024 Weser Metal Meeting – Reinhardshagen (Ger) 21 Jun 2024 Full Force Festival – Ferropolis (Ger) 06 Jul 2024 Les Chariots Furieux Festival – Gaudry (Fra) 19 Jul 2024 Baden in Blut Festival – Weil am Rhein (Ger) 24 Jul 2024 Tolminator Festival – Tolmin (Slo) 26 Jul 2024 Headbangers Open Air – Brande-Hörnerkirchen (Ger) 27 Jul 2024 Afdreiht un Buten Festival – Vechta (Ger) 03 Aug 2024 Rock´n´Iasi Festival – Iasi (Rom) 07 Aug 2024 Roxy – Ulm (Ger) w/Testament, Havok 09 Aug 2024 Doibach Open Air – Doibach (Ger) 24 Aug 2024 Barbeuk Metal Fest – Champtoceaux (Fra) 31 Aug 2024 Koppel of Rock – Wachenroth (Ger) 21 Nov 2024 Karlsruhe – Stadtmitte (Ger) 23 Nov 2024 Metal Hammer Paradise Festival – Weißenhäuser Strand (Ger)
On European Tour with Black Bomb A & Space of Variations: 24.Nov 2024 – 14.Dez.2024
DUST BOLT is: Vocals / Guitar – Lenny Bruce Guitar – Flo Dee Bass – Exx Tom Drums – Nico Rayman
Dutch metal institution SLECHTVALK is working on their sixth longplayer, which will be released in fall. For this, the peregrine falcon has found a new label home and signed with MDD Records these days!
The band, which has been active under this name for a good 25 years, is a recognized force in epic melodic black metal with death, viking and folk influences far beyond the Dutch borders. The last album “Where Wandering Shadows and Mists Collide” was released 8 years ago, so we are looking forward to the fall with great expectations! As of now, we can assume that the album will celebrate its live premiere at the latest at Blast Of Eternity (08.+09.11.2024 at Maschinenfabrik Heilbronn)! More info soon!
Live 08./09. November | Blast Of Eternity, Heilbronn, Maschinenfabrik
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
