RHAPSODY OF FIRE Share Brand New Video Single ‘A Brave New Hope’ from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 29, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo: Massimo Battista]

May 31, 2024 will see symphonic melodic metal maestros, Rhapsody Of Fire, release their much-awaited, new studio offering ‘Challenge The Wind’ via AFM Records. A lyric video for their colossal new single, “A Brave New Hope“, is now premiering below! Pre-order your album copy at https://rhapsodyoffire.bfan.link/challenge-the-wind

Alex Staropoli states: “A Brave New Hope is probably the most catchy song of the album, featuring a lot of vocal harmonies and a very cool guitar solo. The lyrics of the chorus will bring you right deep in the storytelling.”

“A Brave New Hope” is now available on all digital streaming providers via https://rhapsodyoffire.bfan.link/challenge-the-wind-single, watch the new Rhapsody Of Fire clip premiering here:

For more than thirty years, Rhapsody Of Fire have been able to rely on one thing: there’s nothing half-hearted about this band. The Italian masters of their craft can look back at an impressive catalogue of 14 studio albums, three EPs and two live recordings to date, all marked by lots of heart and soul, passion and a virtually inexhaustible wealth of ideas. Since 1993, mastermind and founder Alex Staropoli has been hailed as the creator of the film score metal genre and his band as one of the most charismatic acts worldwide. In addition, Staropoli has enlisted a highly creative first-rate guitarist in Roby De Micheli, who joined the fold in 2011, contributing lots of gritty metal riffs and virtuoso solos to contrast the band’s symphonic orchestral style.

‘Challenge The Wind’ will mark Rhapsody Of Fire‘s most fast-paced rager to date, as the composer and keybordist Staropoli recently revealed: “Compared to all previous Rhapsody Of Fire releases, the current album consists exclusively of up-tempo numbers, not a single ballad in sight. None of our other records have featured as much pure, unadulterated metal as ‘Challenge The Wind’!” 

‘Challenge The Wind’ was produced by Alex Staropoli and mixed by Seeb Levermann (Orden Ogan), who is responsible for the homogeneous sound of the ten songs’ elaborate arrangements. As all of the band’s first single releases prove, one can be sure: Rhapsody Of Fire’s fast-paced adventure is set to continue with undiminished intensity! Pre-order ‘Challenge The Wind’ HERE!

‘Challenge The Wind’ tracklist:

  1. Challenge the Wind
  2. Whispers of Doom
  3. The Bloody Pariah
  4. Vanquished by Shadows
  5. Kreel’s Magic Staff
  6. Diamond Claws
  7. Black Wizard
  8. A Brave New Hope
  9. Holy Downfall
  10. Mastered by the Dark

In support of their forthcoming album, the band has announced a busy touring schedule for 2024, with many more shows to follow soon. Find all upcoming Rhapsody Of Fire dates listed below!

Rhapsody Of Fire Live:
05.05.2024 (MX) EL CONDE, Foro 360
07.05.2024 (CO) BOGOTA, Astor Plaza
09.05.2024 (BR) SAO PAULO, Caricoa Club
10.05.2024 (CL) SANTIAGO, Blondie
11.05.2024 (AR) COMUNA 1, El Teatrito
18.05.2024 (IT) TREZZO SULL’ ADDA MI, Live Club
29.06.2024 (FR) CLISSON, Hellfest
13.07.2024 (BG) MOGILOVO, Midalidare Rock in the Wine Valley 2024
19.07.2024 (FI) PERUNKA, John Smith Rock Festival
07.11.2024 (SE) MALMOE, Plan B
08.11.2024 (SE) GOTHENBURG, Surr Arena
09.11.2024 (SE) STOCKHOLM, Fryshuset Klubben
10.11.2024 (SE) GAVLE, Centralteatern

Rhapsody Of Fire is:
Giacomo Voli (vocals)
Alex Staropoli (keyboards)
Roby De Micheli (guitars)
Alessandro Sala (bass)
Paolo Marchesich (drums)

For More Info Visit:
https://www.rhapsodyoffire.com
https://www.facebook.com/rhapsodyoffire
https://www.instagram.com/rhapsodyoffireofficial
https://rhapsodyoffire.bfan.link/challenge-the-wind

CHARUN Release Debut EP “Impending Decline”, Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 29, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Five tracks that blend the melodic taste inspired by Immolation and Morbid Angel with the steamroller Deicide-like rhythm section and with some Emperor‘s black metal ideas. The lyrics smell like blood, death and fear. Everything is wisely merged thanks to the mastery acquired from the veterans’ experience, who keep honoring the old school death metal with the new moniker CHARUN.

On paper it’s a debut EP but this definition is misleading: “Impending decline” is a heap of brutality that knows how to get to the ears and to the dark soul of the most demanding death metallers, also thanks to the Virus Recording Studio in Monteriggioni (SI) where these songs have been recorded, mixed and mastered.

“Impending decline” is available now via New Density Records in both physical and digital copy. Please contact the band or the label on their social media or via email to buy it.

Watch the EP teaser here. Watch the title track lyric video below.

Listen to the full EP on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/album/2ihpm0VBPDUFq1CGui7VGy

Emerging in 2021 from the ashes of melo-death veterans Coram Lethe, CHARUN is an unrelenting fury of quintessential death metal brutality. Following the disbandment of their previous project, the trio of Francesco Miatto, Deimos and Simone Pirisi resolved to press forward, enlisting Mario Di Ceglie to continue their sonic incursion.

CHARUN is:
Mario Di Ceglie – rhythm guitar, vocals (Violent Sun)
Deimos – guitar (Dreadful Omen, Hellwrath, Coram Lethe, Handful of Hate, Surgery of Sorrow, Impherya)
Simone Pirisi – bass guitar (Aberrancy, Das Fieber, Coram Lethe)
Francesco Miatto – drums (Lachrima Christi, Coram Lethe)

Charun Social Links: Facebook – Youtube – charunpresence@gmail.com
New Density Records: Facebook – Website – info@newdensity.com

HOUR OF PENANCE Reveal Lyric Video for New Track ‘Birthright Abolished’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 29, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo credit: Massimiliano Rocchi

“Birthright Abolished” is the new single & lyric video from Italy’s brutal tech-death masters, HOUR OF PENANCE. The track foreshadows the band’s ninth studio album “Devotion”, scheduled for release next week on April 5th via Agonia Records. Watch the lyric video, below.

On the new single, HOUR OF PENANCE commented: “«Birthright Abolished» is a song about taking back what has been stolen by the exploitation, slavery and oppression of the ruling class that has ravaged and polluted entire areas of the world for profit. We chose this song as the second single from «Devotion» because of its relentless speed and technicality, reminiscent of the «The Vile Conception» era, filtered through the influences of subsequent albums.”

The line-up for the new album comprises long-standing members Giulio Moschini (guitars), Paolo Pieri (vocals & guitars) and Marco Mastrobuono (bass), alongside young blood, Giacomo Torti (drums). The recordings took place at Bloom Studio and Kick Studio in Italy, with mixing and mastering handled at Hertz Studio (Vader, Decapitated, Behemoth) in Poland. 

“Devotion is our anthem to the futility of war, with no light at the end of the tunnel,” the band comments. “The main theme of the album is the misguided devotion which we, the people, give to our leaders, who mercilessly send us to our deaths under the pretense of democracy; while being guided only by imperialist ambitions and greed. The faceless crowd of the artwork stands in worship of these deformed statues of false deities. Musically, the album builds on the 20-year-old, fast-paced trademark style of Hour of Penance, and enhances it with more technicality and catchiness, interspersed with epic landscapes.”

HOUR OF PENANCE has been consistent in crafting their sonic identity through a brand of complex, crushing and surgical death metal, which made them stand out as one of the most intense and talented representatives of the genre. Whilst tailored for hyper speeds and untamed brutality, the group doesn’t shy away from perceptive social metaphors in their dark imaginary and lyrics. Their energetic live show has led them to Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and Asia, touring with the likes of Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, Devildriver, Deicide, Nile or Behemoth.

Tracklisting:
1. Devotion for Tyranny
2. Parasitic Chain of Command
3. Birthright Abolished
4. Retaliate
5. Breathe the Dust of their Dead
6. The Morality of Warfare
7. Severance
8. The Ravenous Heralds
9. A Desert Called Peace
10. Spiralling into Decline

Pre-orders: https://hourofpenance.store/

Tour dates:
30/10/2024: Barcelona – Sala Upload, ES
31/10/2024: Zaragoza – Sala Utopia, ES
01/11/2024: Portugalete – Estudios Groove. ES
02/11/2024: Oviedo – Sala Gong Galaxy, ES
03/11/2024: Madrid – Sala Silikona, ES
—
17/05/2024: Birreria San Giorgio, Costabissara, IT
18/05/2024: Nice To Eat You Deathfest, CZ
01-02/06/2024: Grabbenacht Festival, DE

Line-up:
Giulio Moschini – guitars
Paolo Pieri – guitars and vocals
Marco Mastrobuono  – bass
Giacomo Torti – drums

HOUR OF PENANCE on-line:
Website: http://www.hourofpenance.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hourofpenance
X: https://twitter.com/HourofPenance
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hourofpenanceofficial
Spotify

COMANIAC Unleash Intensity with “Desolation Manifest” Music Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 29, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Swiss thrash metal powerhouse Comaniac is back with an adrenaline-fueled single that promises to ignite the ears of metal fans worldwide. “Desolation Manifest,” the latest offering from their acclaimed album “None For All,” is set to storm the airwaves with its raw energy and uncompromising intensity.

“Desolation Manifest” perfectly combines progressive thrash metal and a haunting chorus. The song takes you through the depths of a human psyche to reveal in an epic finale what remains when time determines your fate.

Formed in 2012, Swiss thrashers Comaniac gained acclaim with their self-released debut, “Return To The Wasteland,” crowned as “THE Thrash Highlight 2015.” The 2017 release, “Instruction For Destruction,” via SAOL, showcased growth, with tracks like “COAL” gaining international radio play and media attention.

Extensive touring ensued, supporting acts such as OVERKILL and METAL CHURCH. In 2018, they embarked on the “Kamikazee – The Spirit Of Japan” Tour, introducing a Japan Edition of their second offering through CAPTURED RECORDS. Following a 7-inch split with US outfit IRONFLAME and a 2019 European tour, 2020 brought their third album, “Holodox,” produced by Tommy Vetterli (CORONER), receiving critical acclaim.

In 2021, they toured Switzerland with BURNING WITCHES and played major metal festivals. The momentum continued in 2022, joining VEKTOR (USA) for the “Activate Europe 2022” Tour, performing 26 shows consecutively. Anticipation grew in 2023 with the announcement of their fourth studio album, “None For All,” and a deal with WORMHOLEDEATH. The album, set for a 2024 release, has already garnered attention from international magazines, praising it as their most mature work to date.

About the Album: “None For All” addresses and criticizes the imbalance of empathy and indifference in society. Between structure and chaos, hope and resignation, nine songs make you think individually, socially, and politically.

STREAM ALBUM HERE: music.imusician.pro/a/IC8H6Gxf/

Meet the Band:
Jonas Schmid: Vocals, Guitar
Valentin Mössinger: Guitar
Stefan Häberli: Drums
Tom Zürcher: Bass

Connect with COMANIAC:

comaniac.ch
www.facebook.com/ComaniacOfficial
www.instagram.com/comaniacthrash
comaniac.bandcamp.com
www.tiktok.com/@comaniacthrash
www.youtube.com/@ComaniacOfficial
www.soundcloud.com/comaniacofficial
SpotifyComaniac

ATER Reveal Brutal New Single + Video ‘Descending’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 29, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Chilean metal extremists ATER have revealed an utterly brutal new single today titled “Descending,” accompanied by an unsettling, nightmarish video created by Wizardhead (Meshuggah). The track appears on the band’s highly anticipated and sophomore album, ‘Somber,” that’s out April 19th from Torque Records. 

ATER’s most technical and heaviest song of their catalog, “Descending,” takes listeners on a dark journey, immersing them in a deep, haunting sound that blends dense ambience and raw sonic power. 

ATER’s founding vocalist/bassist Fernando Bühring comments about the song:

‘’Descending is one of the more straightforward songs in the album and, to me, the darkest song ofthebunch. ThelyricsforthissongareverypersonalandIwrotethemduringa very dark period of my life. It turned out to be one of my favorite songs in the new album. It was chosen as the second single in advance of ’Somber’ because it contrastswiththefirstsingle‘IgnisImmortalis’,whichisalonger,epicsong. ‘Descending’ is shorter and to the point. It will take you to the dark side of your own self right away.’’

Speaking about the video Bühring says:

‘I personally really enjoy when music videos are an artistic interpretation of the song they are portraying rather than the typical band-in-a-room approach. I always liked stop-motion, animations and more cinematic approaches to music videos.
Back in November of 2022 the video for ‘They Move Below’ by Meshuggah came out and I was blown away. At the time not very aware of how AI was making its way into polemics in the art and music industries. I honestly still do not care.

I approached Wizardhead with the idea of him doing a video for ‘Descending’ and he started to work shortly after. During this time I learned more about the creation process and realized that AI is just another tool. To get something out of the AI engines, the artist has to input data, images, footage and whatever else it may require to create their vision, then manipulate the engine to refine their work and sculpt it into the primary vision. The artist is still doing art. Just a different and new set of tools.”

Wizardhead adds:

“When I listened to ‘Descending,’ with my eyes closed, I witness a continuum of souls being pulled down into a place of remoteness and hopeless submission to some kind of unrelenting force manipulating and consuming them. Something beyond hell, more alien and incomprehensible. I explored representing a visitation of this place in many attempts, by assembling structures like tunnels and fractal spaces, then applying diffusion approaches to embed faces and body forms into the walls and shapes of the environment. I also wanted constant motion, swirling and undulating, to imply this is an active and conscious experience for the unfortunate denizens. This final version is one I feel deeply connected to and unsettled by, and I hope it becomes a place for others to visit and contemplate again and again as I do.“

The South American band’s follow-up to 2018’s ‘Eternal Gray Spiral,’ is a cataclysmic melding of black, death, progressive and thrashing groove for one of the year’s devastating heavy metal records.

Watch the video for the band’s initial single “Ignis Immortalis“: https://youtu.be/ZZc5ukOI4Qc

Pre-Save ‘Somber‘: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ater/descending-2

‘Somber’ Tracklisting:

  1. Striges
  2. Descending
  3. Somber
  4. Through The Portal
  5. Ignis Immortalis
  6. Shrine
  7. Sæculi Fine
  8. Solitude

Follow ATER:
https://www.facebook.com/atermetal/
https://www.instagram.com/ater_dark/
https://www.youtube.com/@atermetal
https://atermetal.bandcamp.com

DROWNING POOL Announce SNAFU Le Tour 2024 with SALIVA

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 29, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Tricia Starr Photography

Drowning Pool, the iconic heavy metal band known for their electrifying performances and chart-topping hits, is thrilled to announce the SNAFU Le Tour 2024, in collaboration with Saliva. This tour promises to be an adrenaline-fueled journey, featuring Drowning Pool’s dynamic return with lead singer Ryan McCombs and the release of brand new music.

The tour will be joined by Any Given Sin in April and Above Snakes in May. Alien Ant Farm, the multi-platinum alternative rock band, will make special appearances on May 14th and 15th, bringing their infectious energy and fan-favorite hits to these two dates of the tour.

Each band will be conducting their own on-site VIP prior to doors. These VIPs will be sold on a separate platform and WILL NOT include a ticket to the show. All VIPs will need to purchase a show ticket for entrance.

All Drowning Pool Tour Dates:

APRIL
4 Joliet, IL @The Forge
5 Belvidere, IL @Apollo Theatre
6 Bowler, WI @North Star
7 Bloomington, IL @Castle Theatre
9 Beaver Dam, WI @Stormy’s Music Venue
10 Fargo, ND @Sanctuary Event Center
11 Sioux Falls, SD @The Alliance
12 Dubuque, IA @Diamond Jo Casino
13 Wichita, KS @The Crown Uptown
14 Pineville, MO @The Pines Distillery
16 St. Louis, MO @Red Flag

MAY
10 Myrtle Beach, SD @Suck Bang Blow
12 Daytona, FL @Welcome to Rockville
14 Nashville, TN @Basement East
15 Indianapolis, IN @The Vogue
16 Columbus, OH @Sonic Temple
17 Shroudsberg, PA @Sherman Lite
21 Ft. Wayne, IN @Pierre’s
23 Col. Springs, CO @Sunshine Studios
24 Salt Lake City, UT @Grand Complex
25 Winnemucca, NV @Runamucca Bike Rally
26 Reno, NV @VA Street Brewhouse
28 Billings, MT @Pub Station
29 Great Falls, MT @The Newberry
30 Deadwood, SD @Deadwood Mt Grand
31 Denver, CO @Wild Goose Saloon

JUNE
1 Grand Island, NE @Filling Station
15 Dallas, TX @Studio at the Factory
21 Milwaukee, WI @Summerfest
22 Quincy, IL @Gem City Summer Con
29 Hot Springs, AR @Magic Springs

JULY
5 Algona, IA @ABATE Freedom Rally
13 Gettysburg, PA @Bike Week
19 Cumberland, MD @Rock the Mountains
20 Grand Rapids, MI @Upheaval
27 Menahga, MN @Mid Summer Music Fest

SEPTEMBER
26 Louisville, KY @Louder Than Life

OCTOBER
10 Sacramento, CA @Aftershock

Drowning Pool, a name etched in the annals of modern rock history, roars back into the spotlight with thunderous energy and uncompromising power. The band’s unmistakable sound, synonymous with raw energy and unapologetic attitude, returns to captivate audiences once again.

Known for their iconic anthem “Bodies,” Drowning Pool needs no introduction. This breakout single propelled them to international recognition, leaving an indelible mark on the nu metal landscape. The song’s relentless energy and defiant spirit resonated with a generation, becoming an anthem for moshers, metalheads, and fans of electrifying live performances.

Ryan McCombs played a pivotal role in the band’s evolution, joining their ranks in the aftermath of the tragic loss of beloved frontman Dave Williams. His powerful vocals and charismatic stage presence breathed new life into Drowning Pool, solidifying their status as metal titans. Songs like “37 Stitches,” “Feel Like I Do,” and “Turn So Cold” catapulted them to new heights, earning them a place among the genre’s heavyweights.

Yet, Drowning Pool’s story is not just about music; it’s a testament to enduring friendships and a shared passion for their craft. Ryan’s return to the band in 2023 marks a reunion of kindred spirits, a return to the roots of their musical journey. As he succinctly puts it, “Just being back in the same room together after so many years… was a quick reminder as to why I considered them to be my best friends in the business back in the day.”

Their path has not been without its challenges. “Bodies” faced misinterpretations and controversy, with its lyrics taken out of context. Nevertheless, their music has persisted, embraced by the very culture that birthed it. “Bodies” remains an enduring anthem, not just for Drowning Pool but for metal culture as a whole. Its legacy lives on, inspiring new generations of fans. Guitarist C.J. Pierce captures the essence of their dedication: “I’d play ‘Bodies’ five times a night if people really wanted it that bad!” The song’s timeless appeal transcends generations, resonating with both the seasoned and the fresh-faced.

Drowning Pool’s return is a testament to the enduring power of their music, a reminder that their unapologetic spirit continues to strike chords with audiences worldwide. The band experienced a triumphant resurgence in 2023 and with new music on the horizon, a 2024/25 calendar proving that the demand for the band isn’t about to slow down.., Drowning Pool has a white knuckle grip on their present and future with no plans to slow down.

For More Information Please Visit:

Drowning Pool – Official Website – Facebook – Instagram – X

Saliva – Official Website – Facebook – Instagram – X

Any Given Sin – Official Website – Facebook – Instagram – X

Above Snakes – Official Website – Facebook – Instagram – X