Today Italian female fronted metal band SOULS OF DIOTIMA returns with a surprise single released today to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their artistic career. The song is a cover of the well-known international artist, Phil Collins.
The band comments: “This single is a kind of bonus and will not be included on our next album, so it is a stand-alone release just to celebrate our 20th anniversary and surprise our fans when we are working on our fifth album.” “This is actually the first time we are releasing a cover song, in our twenty-year career it had never happened, so in that sense, too, we are very curious to see the reaction of our audience. But why did we choose this track? First of all, it is a tribute to that great songwriter, composer and musician Phil Collins, and then it is a tribute to the ‘last ones’. In our career, in fact, we have always paid much attention, not only with our music but with concrete actions, precisely to the ‘last ones’, to those who live on the margins of society, to those who cannot. In our opinion, in fact, those who make art but in general those who have a ‘voice’ that can be heard have a duty to call consciences to those people who are often ‘invisible’.”
The single is accompanied by a stunning official video directed by Daniele Diana.
The single “Another Day in Paradise” released via Diotima Records Music Management Ltd and distributed by Blood Blast Distribution, was produced at Crehate Studios in Gothenburg by Oscar Nilsson in collaboration with Simon Eliasson.
SOULS OF DIOTIMA were formed by Giorgio Pinna and his brother in Sassari, Italy in 2004 and have released four studio albums and a single under three different labels worldwide.
SOULS OF DIOTIMA is a band with a unique style, characterized by recognizable elements of traditional, progressive and symphonic metal, as well as unconventional elements, woven musically in a new and highly expressive way. The band’s music engages all the senses and conveys a feeling like watching an epic film, creating strong visual scenes and almost tangible mental images. The defining characteristic of SOULS OF DIOTIMA is their style, which recalls Mediterranean atmospheres and traditions. In fact, the band hails from Sardinia, an island in the center of the Mediterranean Sea. This makes its sound and style unique and recognizable.
The band has participated in tours and festivals abroad, headlining and sharing the stage with bands such as Obituary, Hatebreed, Vision Divine, Dgm, Folkstone, Saurom and others. Souls of Diotima have also worked with many of Europe’s top producers, including Jens Bögren and Oscar Nilsson, who is their current producer. In 2017, SOULS OF DIOTIMA founded a record label in London: Diotima Records Music Management LTD, and the following year the band with the new label created and participated as headliners in the first edition of the Diotima Metal Fest held in downtown Paris in order to raise funds for Parkinson’s research. Soon the band will announce new dates and a new tour, while waiting to re-enter the studio for the production of their fifth album.
SOULS OF DIOTIMA are: Claudia Barsi – vocals Giorgio Pinna – drums Antonio Doro – bass and screaming vocals Fabio”The Black Mask” Puddu – guitars
For a band that’s so closely associated with The Dark Ages, Brodequin sure carried the torch for underground metal during the early 2000s. Brothers Jamie and Mike Bailey carved their names into the rusty annals of death metal lore on just the brute strength of their debut. But after feasting amidst a festival of death, gluttons for punishment were left spinning in agony when the band disappeared without a bloody trace.
Now, at long last, aural masochists don’t have to wait and bleed for more merciless methods of execution. The Bailey brothers are back with a new drummer and the first new Brodequin album in 20 years.
Harbinger of Woe comes out today, March 22 and you can stream it on Season of Mist’s YouTube channel.
Harbinger of Woe is classic Brodequin. The opening song pauses for a beat or two just to relish the cries from its captive audience. Otherwise, the album never relents in bludgeoning you with brutal death metal. There is nothing gentle about “The Fall of the Leaf”, which whips by harsh enough to tear flesh from bone.
Like all of Brodequin’s harrowed discography, Harbinger of Woe finds inspiration in the most torturous inventions known to man. “Suffocation in Ash” leads us inside an ancient Persian torture chamber, where new drummer Brennan Shackelford mercilessly buries the sorriest of sinners under a fine hail of blast beats and pinging cymbals.
But Brodequin brandish fresh instruments of torture on Harbinger of Woe. The vocals are still as dank and guttural as a dungeon, but Jamie mixes in ghostly screams that fade like blood splatter. And while Mike’s palm-muted riffs still churn like severed limbs through a meat grinder, lead single “Of Pillars and Trees” branches out into tendrils of reverb that slowly tighten like a noose.
As torturous as it sounds, Harbinger of Woe isn’t inhumane. With a breakdown that drops with the decisive force of a guillotine, the title track cracks open the tormented psychology of a clinically trained executioner. “He is despised and rejected / feared by most members of society”, Jamie gurgles as if bound and gagged by his own microphone.
“This album is a journey into a lost period of history where brutality and beauty coexist”, he says. “Beauty, in the arts that were created, but also the beautiful brutality that was needed to engineer deadly devices like the brodequin”.
Look away if you must, but amongst true sickos, Harbinger of Woe is bound to be regarded as a truly vile work of art.
Tracklist 1. Diabolical Edict (3:29) 2. Fall Of The Leaf (2:33) 3. Theresiana (3:03) 4. Of Pillars and Trees (4:03) [WATCH] 5. Tenaillement (2:53) 6. Maleficium (3:09) 7. VII Nails (2:17) 8. Vredens Dag (3:20) 9. Suffocation in Ash (3:05) [LISTEN] 10. Harbinger of Woe (4:04) [LISTEN]
After signing with Season of Mist in 2022, Brodequin re-issued their entire discography on LP and CD.
The Middle Ages might’ve brought the world out of The Dark Ages. But for every compass or printing press, those enlightened thinkers were also responsible for inventing the most torturous devices in human history. None were more brutal than the brodequin. Not only did the French use this instrument to cripple their victims, but to squeeze their legs to the point where bone marrow would spill out of their wounds.
You could say the same about Brodequin. The band come with their own long and sordid history. Brothers Jamie and Mike Bailey have been playing brutal death metal since 1998. Putting his history degree to good use, Jamie’s lyrics are inspired by real historical events, staying true to death metal’s core thematic pillars of dismemberment, torture, abuse and murder. But their artwork broke from genre’s generic splatter illustrations by digging into intricate period woodcuts and beautifully grotesque oil paintings.
“There simply was no point in history that was more brutal than the medieval period,” says Jamie. “At the same time that such barbarity was deployed, there was also an explosion in fine art, architecture and music. It all comes to feed our identity as a band”.
Brodequin’s first album catapulted them far beyond their kingdom of Knoxville. “This band has stuck out in the underground with relentless, barbaric intensity”, says Dying Fetus’ vocalist and guitarist John Gallagher, who named Instruments of Torture one of the most brutal death metal albums ever. Festival of Death put another flesh-tearing arrow in their quiver (“Some of the fastest, most brutalizing death metal ever recorded” – Sputnik Music). But after sieging festival stages across Europe with Methods of Execution, the band had to be put on ice.
“We had a series of deaths in our family”, Jamie explains. “Mike and I knew we had to step away until we had the time and were at a place mentally to give Brodequin the attention it deserved.”
Now, after 20 years of peaceful silence, Brodequin have returned with fresh instruments of torture. The Brothers Bailey are back with a new drummer, a new label and their long-awaited fourth album.
“Brodequin had been away for so long that I was stunned by the level of interest from fans and record labels”, Jamie says. “Before playing Hellfest, the band was approached backstage by a metalhead rocking a Brodequin t-shirt who happened to work for Season of Mist. Soon enough, they were hitting it off with Michael Berberian. The rest, as they say, is history.
“We all hung out for hours”, recalls Jamie. “The extraordinary level of enthusiasm shown toward our music made Season of Mist the obvious choice”.
As has been the case with this band for their entire career, Harbinger of Woe lives up to its name. Lead single “Of Pillars and Trees” is classic Brodequin. Mike’s distorted guitar chords churn like limbs through a meat grinder. The way Brennan Shackelford pings, blasts and flays his snare through “Suffocation in Ash” with the all encompassing speed of a sandstorm. Jamie’s growls are so phlegmy, so rotted, that to drag them out from whatever dark bowel movement spawned them would make an executioner sick to their stomach. And yet — somewhere deep inside all that carnage hides a terrifying beauty. The title track leaves you deaf, dumb and blind, begging on your knees in the face of a punishing, almighty riff.
“This album is a journey into this lost period of history where brutality and beauty coexist. Beauty, in the arts that were created, but also the beautiful brutality that was needed to engineer deadly devices like the brodequin”.
With Harbinger of Woe, Brodequin reclaim their throne as the most brutal band in all of death metal.
Line up: Jamie Bailey: Bass/Vocals Mike Bailey: Guitar Brennan Shackelford: Drums
Recording Drums recorded at Brennan’s Drum Room in Dallas, Texas. Guitar, bass and vocals recorded at Navarre 24 in Harriman, Tennessee
Producer and sound engineer Mike Bailey
Mastering studio and engineer Brad Boatwright
Mixing studio and engineer Josh Welshman
Artwork Original artwork done by Jose de Brito. Additional elements by Jamie Bailey.
Platinum-selling rock juggernaut P.O.D. — Sonny Sandoval [vocals], Marcos Curiel [guitar], and Traa Daniels [bass] — will release their 11th album VERITAS, on May 3 via Mascot Records. Pre-order it here.
Today, the band has shared the video for “LIES WE TELL OURSELVES.” Watch it here.
Sandoval states, “Everybody lies to themselves! Just don’t believe it.”
“As hate is to love, death is to life, lies is to VERITAS (truth). This song resonates the struggle and hope which keeps us from truly believing that the ‘lies within ourselves’ become a reality. Our struggle. Our truth,” says Curiel.
Last fall, the band debuted the video for “DROP,” which features a vicious vocal cameo from Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe. It earned quick press accolades from Metal Injection, Consequence, Revolver, Idioteq, The Pit, Yahoo!, and Knotfest. They followed with the video for equally eruptive single “AFRAID TO DIE,” featuring Jinjer vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk. Last month the band also shared the video for “I WON’T BOW DOWN,” another banger that further introduced VERITAS. The tracks combined have garnered twelve million streams!
Over the upcoming summer they have several appearances booked at the European festivals including Nova Rock (AT), Dissonance Festival (IT), Summerside (CH), Graspop (BE), Topfest (SK) and Fajtfest (CZ).
Next month, the band will embark on a North American tour. Bad Wolves, Norma Jean, and Blind Channel will serve as support. The “I Got That Tour” itinerary includes several festival stops along the way. Get tickets here.
Track Listing “DROP” (Feat. Randy Blythe) “I GOT THAT” “AFRAID TO DIE” (Feat. Tatiana Shmayluk) “DEAD RIGHT” “BREAKING” “LAY ME DOWN” (Roo’s Song) “I WON’T BOW DOWN” “THIS IS MY LIFE” (Feat. Cove Reber) “LIES WE TELL OURSELVES” “WE ARE ONE (OUR STRUGGLE)” “FEELING STRANGE”
Finnish juggernaut of melodic death metallers, HAGALAS, have released their first single from the upcoming album “Mentes Reae.” The track is titled “Domesticated Violence”.
The “Mentes Reae” album was recorded during 2023 and will be released as a physical edition on May 31, 2024, through Inverse Records. As for streaming platforms, the album will be gradually available in its entirety starting from early autumn 2024. The album’s theme revolves around mental health and its complex facets, and it goes without saying that this theme is more relevant now than ever before. Alongside the band, Samuli Raappana (Tuuliajo) participated in the recordings and mixing, while Tony Lindgren (Fascination Street Studios) handled the mastering.
The choice of the first single release aligns perfectly with the album’s theme. As its name suggests, it addresses domestic violence and the resulting trauma, questioning how much an individual can endure before something irreversible happens?
The song is available on streaming platforms, and a lyric video has been created, which can be viewed on Inverse Records’ and the band’s channels.
After announcing that their new album will be released on May 24th, today the Italian metal band NEURASTY releases, through Volcano Records & Promotion, the track “Cruel Instinct.” It’s a powerful and jarring journey into the deepest spirit of humanity, where manipulation and control subjugate with violence – a perfect metaphor for the modernity that Neurasty offers us in the almost five minutes of the song.
“Cruel Instinct” is available on all streaming platforms and on YouTube, accompanied by a lyric video that enhances the vocal interplay of clean yet aggressive lines from vocalist Viviana Schirone, intertwining with the sharp screams of guitarist-vocalist Gabriele Vellucci. All of this is well supported by a rhythmic section that never misses a beat, showcasing the experience and skills of the well-known Silvio Assaiante (Daemonia & Claudio Simonetti) and David Folchitto (Fleshgod Apocalypse).
Watch the video for “Cruel Instinct” here:
NEURASTY is a female-fronted metal band that has already gained a certain notoriety and respect in the Italian underground scene through intense concerts and meticulously crafted shows. But now, the group is ready to take the leap by releasing their first full-length album titled “Identity Collapse”.
“Identity Collapse” aims to be, according to the band’s intentions, a sonic journey into the deepest psychological and somatic consequences of trauma on individuals, a highly topical theme that imbues the debut album of a promising band with significant meaning and value. In the coming weeks, there will be further previews. For now, here are the titles of the eight tracks contained in the album.
Last year CREST found it’s lead singer Jessie Salmi and since then the band has been busy writing new material and the first taste of the new music was introduced last November when the first single “Stigma” came out. Now to be released second single “Onyx” takes the listener to more darker waters and showcases a more heavier and darker tone of the band. Onyx is released in cooperation with Inverse Records and it’s available on most streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/crest-onyx
“Onyx tells the story of a real life parasite that has affected me through my life, my relationships and various other situations. When this ‘parasite’ finally got a name in -23, I then saw my life completely in a different light. I decided I won’t let this parasite control me, I am going to control it.” -Jessica Salmi (Vocalist)
“First version of the song kind of wrote itself in one session. The demo was already recorded and the vocal arrangements were next in line, when i got an idea to change the structure completely. Now in the final version the chorus and the breakdown are playing a bigger role and this emphasizes the lyrical aspect of the song more. Now it feels like a journey that grips you from the beginning to the end.” –Tero Loponen (guitarist).
Lyrics by Jessica Salmi Composed by Jessica Salmi & Tero Loponen Mixed and mastered by Aleksi Rintala / https://endeavorsoundworks.fi
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
