JOHN LODGE Releases “Days Of Future Passed – My Sojourn” on Vinyl + CD, Announce Rescheduled July Tour

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 11, 2024
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Photo credit: Brian Aris

John Lodge, legendary bass player, songwriter and vocalist of The Moody Blues, and inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is to release his latest studio album Days of Future Passed – My Sojourn on CD, with a special Limited Edition 180gram Platinum Vinyl to follow on April 12th. Special autographed bundles will also be available.

Over the last year John has been performing his version of this groundbreaking album, lovingly recreating it in full symphonic glory, and the reaction from audiences then led naturally to a studio recording. It was originally released in the UK, but following critical and fan acclaim, and John’s passion around the release, he is delighted to finally be releasing the album in the USA. The recording tells the story of ‘a day in the life’, and includes “Nights in White Satin”, “Tuesday Afternoon”, and “Peak Hour”, together with a very special recording of “Late Lament” by the late Graeme Edge and performances by Jon Davison of YES.

“This is an album that will reach into your heart with its gentleness and beauty and will refresh your soul as its hidden depths are re-discovered. I urge you to hear this masterpiece as a balm for modern times, it is most highly recommended” Progradar-October 5, 2023

The release will be followed by John’s USA tour in July – rescheduled from February/March due to a medical issue.

Lodge had this to say about the new release, “When I decided to call my album ‘Days of Future Passed – My Sojourn’, it was about this incredible album, but sitting here today, it feels very poignant that I’ve had my own ‘sojourn’ over the last couple of months… I’ve embraced this quiet time, been surrounded by the loving support of family and friends, and taken time to be thankful. However, I’m delighted to be able to bring this album to you in the USA, and be back on the road where I love!

So, thank you to all the fans, the venues, the promoters, and my agent, for being so patient and working so hard to reschedule these dates.

But most importantly, I’m so happy to announce that my album is being released in the USA. I loved seeing it released in the UK, but knew it needed to be available in the USA too!

This journey began following conversations with Graeme as I wanted to continue to bring our music to the fans. Modern technology gives us great tools to recreate what we did in 1967, hopefully bringing out nuances or new emphases that weren’t there before, but what is at the heart of it is an incredible album. I will always be grateful to Graeme, Justin, Mike and Ray, we created some wonderful music together, and for now, I’m grateful to Alan, Billy, Duffy and Jason, and of course Jon, for helping me continue on the path I love. Thank you to all for keeping the faith.”

Listen here to “Nights in White Satin” featuring Jon Davison on lead vocals:

John will be back on tour in July, with his rescheduled dates, where you will be taken back in time as you experience the album live, in its entirety, together with a set of Moody Blues classic hits.

John Lodge is bass guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the iconic Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2018 inductees, The Moody Blues. Songwriter of such mega Moody Blues hits from “Ride My SeeSaw,” to “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band),” “Isn’t Life Strange?” and many more. Lodge has been performing and recording with The Moody Blues for more than five decades, selling in excess of 70 million albums. He has been voted one of the “10 most influential bass players on the planet,” and has been the recipient of many awards, including ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers), an Ivor Novello Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Prog Magazine, to name just a few. With the Moody Blues now no longer touring, John is passionate about “Keeping the Moody Blues Music Alive”, and John and his 10,000 Light Years Band provide a unique opportunity to continue to experience the magic of the Moody Blues.

John Lodge ‘Performs Days of Future Passed’ July Tour
Tickets on sale now at: www.johnlodge.com/tour

July 9 Capitol Theatre, Clearwater, FL
July 12 Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA
July 13 State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ
July 15 Ocean City Music Pier, Ocean City, NJ
July 17 Patchogue Theatre, Patchogue, NY
July 18 The Warehouse, Fairfield, CT
July 20 Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
July 21 Memorial Hall, Plymouth, MA
July 23 Nashua Center for the Arts, Nashua, NH
July 24 The Colonial Theatre, Laconia, NH
July 26 The Wilbur, Boston, MA
July 27 Infinity Hall, Hartford, CT
July 29 Bardavon Opera House, Poughkeepsie, NY
Aug 2 Seminole Casino Hotel, Immokalee, FL (on sale March 12th)
Aug 3 Amaturo Theater, Fort Lauderdale, FL (on sale March 15th)

The full album contains all the tracks from the original Moody Blues release and there are a limited number of autographed bundles available while supplies last: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/john-lodge

Track Listing:
The Day Begins
Morning Glory
Dawn (Prelude)
Dawn Is A Feeling
The Morning (Prelude)
Another Morning
Lunch Break (Prelude)
Peak Hour
Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)
Evening (Time to Get Away)
The Sunset (Prelude)
The Sunset
Twilight (Prelude)
Twilight Time
Nights In White Satin
Late Lament
The Night (Finale)

For more information, visit
http://www.dekoentertainment.com/john-lodge
https://www.johnlodge.com/

MIST DESCENDS Release New Album “Horizons”, Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 10, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Photo by Sebastian Trzaska

Finnish melodic metal band Mist Descends has released their new album “Horizons”. The album is a voyage to different depths of our universe’s marvels, ambivalence of humanity and on a personal scale about the sorrow and growth from the deepest horizons. Previously released singles “Hexagon” and “Blind Hope” and the music video to “Soul of a Masochist” have been listened all around the world. Welcome to the depths! 

Listen to the album on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer etc): https://push.fm/fl/mistdescends-horizons 

Track list:

  1. Hexagon
  2. Soul of a Masochist
  3. Tears from the Sky
  4. Waves of Nice
  5. M.A.B.D.
  6. Blind Hope

Mist Descends is:
Julia – Vocals
Niko – Guitar & Vocals
Peltsi – Lead guitars
Eppu – Keyboard
Jerry – Bass
Jussi – Drums

https://www.instagram.com/mistdescends/
https://fi-fi.facebook.com/mistdescends/

MOTHER OF ALL Premiere Final Single ‘Pillars’ from Upcoming Album “Global Parasitic Leviathan”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 10, 2024
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Photo by Julia Nikiforova – JN LIGHTNING Photography

Copenhagen-based prog/melodeath metal act MOTHER OF ALL has unveiled “Pillars,” the final single as well as the closing track from their upcoming second record, Global Parasitic Leviathan, slated for physical (CD & vinyl) and digital release on 12 April 2024. 

Informs Martin Haumann, the architect behind Mother of All:
“There is unrest and societal breakdown in many parts of the world. ‘Pillars’ is about how nontransparent governing structures all over the globe are out of reach for their populations. The song ties the concept and subjects of the album together and asks the listener if they will accept this new system of control.

“At the top of the religious structure, the new Leviathan is worshiped and hailed as the prime virtue is self-interest. Its adherents’ original claim is that this prime virtue is our driver of progress. We, therefore, accept this somewhat negatively viewed trait, because of the claimed benefit our societies collectively accrue from it.

“In this Faustian bargain, those who already have power and resources are now free to expand their reach and take all that they can. In return, the parasitic leviathan wants allegiance and monuments built to it and for all to uphold the prime virtue. It restructures society and human relations. In the end, it will reveal the original claim (progress) to be a lie, while upholding the prime virtue of self-interest as self-justifying. All monitoring and checks on power will have been eroded, rendering it unaccountable and opaque.”

STREAM/DOWNLOAD “Pillars” on your preferred digital media AT THIS LOCATION. “Pillars” Single Cover Art by Henrik Rangstrup

LISTEN TO “Cosmic Darkness,” the first single, HERE and “Hypocrisy: Weaponized,” the second single, HERE. 

PRE-ORDER the album, Global Parasitic Leviathan, on Vinyl, CD, or digital on Bandcamp RIGHT HERE. 

Formed in 2013, Mother of All is the brainchild of Martin Haumann, a sought-after hard-working musician in the Danish and international music scene, having performed with artists like Myrkur, Afsky, Timechild, and Mercenary. With a background in The Royal Danish Conservatory and extensive training in different musical disciplines, Martin draws on varied and unusual influences to create a unique vision for Mother of All, but his prime inspiration comes from the deep cauldron of metal. Continuing to explore the art form with Mother of All, Martin creates songs that are diverse and eclectic in nature by incorporating melodic and progressive elements into death metal.

Exploring existential themes in our current age, Mother of All’s debut album, Age of the Solipsist, is a collaborative effort bringing Steve Di Giorgio (Testament, Death, Sadus) on bass and newcomer Frederik Jensen on guitars, with Hannes Grossmann (Alkaloid, Triptykon, ex-Obscura, Hate Eternal, Necrophagist) taking care of the mixing, mastering and production duties and Travis Smith (Opeth, Nevermore, A7X, King Diamond) crafting the cover art. The album, released in 2021 via Black Lion Records, garnered attention and recognition from metal media all over the world.

The sophomore full-length, Global Parasitic Leviathan, marks Mother of All’s first recording with a full lineup, having recently recruited members from acts such as Lamentari, Chaoswave, and Withering Surface. The new lineup has yielded an enthralling sound and direction for the band, ultimately resulting in an album grander in scope both sonically and lyrically.

Mother of All once again unapologetically confronts challenging and contemporary issues on the new album, which thematically revolves around the pervasive turn to corporate and financial tyranny in the Western world. The diverse aspects covered in each song all tie back to this central theme, examining how individuals and nations are controlled and the ideological underpinnings labeled as a “religion” on the album, justifying such domination. The symbolic use of “the Leviathan,” a biblical sea monster that philosophers usually associate with a King or a sovereign ruler legitimated by God, takes on a new meaning on Global Parasitic Leviathan. The Leviathan, replacing the religions of old, now embodies what the band terms “the religion of self-interest.”

Track Listing
1. Cosmic Darkness [Listen]
2. Corporate Warfare Leviathan
3. The Stars Already Faded
4. Hypocrisy: Weaponized [Listen]
5. Debt Crush
6. Merchants of Self-Loathing
7. Monuments
8. Pillars [Listen]

Album Credits:
Music and Lyrics by Martin Haumann.
Arranged by Mother Of All.
Mixed and Mastered by Marco Angioni with Martin Haumann
Cover Art and Layout by Henrik Rangstrup.
Vocals and Drums: Martin Haumann
Guitars and Lead Guitars: Henrik Rangstrup
Bass: Michael Møller
Additional Guitar: Frederik Jensen

Band Lineup (Current):
Martin Haumann – Vocals and Drums
Michael Møller – Bass
Henrik Rangstrup – Lead, Rhythm Guitar
Frederik Øgaard Jensen – Guitar
Daniel Nielsen – Live Drums

Upcoming Shows:
02 May: Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
12 July: Metal Magic Festival – Fredericia, Denmark

For More Info:
https://motherofallofficial.com
https://linktr.ee/motherofallofficial
https://www.facebook.com/motherofallofficial
https://www.instagram.com/motherofallofficial
https://motherofallofficial.bandcamp.com

PAIN Announce New Album “I Am”, Out May 17th, Reveal First Single + Video ‘Go With The Flow’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 10, 2024
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PAIN announce their highly anticipated new album I Am, which will be released on May 17th via Nuclear Blast Records. With the first single ‘Go With The Flow‘, Swedish industrial project PAIN set the tone for their upcoming 9th album, I Am. Accompanied by a high-quality video featuring actor Peter Stormare (Palme d’Or awarded Dancer in the Dark, Fargo, Prison Break, The Big Lebowski) and Peter Tägtgren, PAIN makes a triumphant return.        

Peter Tägtgren comments:
“Go with the flow is taking me back to 80’s synth pop. It was an idea I had for a while to write in more of that direction, so I was taking out analog synths and going crazy, and of course I needed to come back to a catchy Pain chorus, hardest part was to write lyrics to the song, and to figure out what style to use to sing.. lyrics is about me, always being negative and need to let things go when things don’t go as planned, and brush it off and move on.”

Stream ‘Go With The Flow‘ here: https://pain.bfan.link/go-with-the-flow

Pre-Order the new album I Am here: https://pain.ffm.to/iampain

I Am Tracklist:

I Just Dropped By (to say goodbye)
Don’t Wake The Dead
Go With The Flow
Not For Sale
Party In My Head
I Am
Push The Pusher
The New Norm
Revolution
My Angel
Fair Game

About PAIN:

It’s 2021 and a pandemic is strangling the world – and no one seems to be having fun. Seemingly tireless music freak Peter Tägtgren couldn’t care less as he hits the jackpot with – pardon the harsh language – a fucking catchy… well, party anthem. We are of course talking about the song ‘Party in My Head’ by Tägtgren’s synth-infused metal project PAIN.

“I don’t really know what it is about ‘Party in My Head’ that made – still makes – people go crazy for it… But what I do know for sure is that the song has already been enjoyed millions and millions of times. The numbers are pretty crazy! Of course, PAIN is no stranger to writing danceable and catchy, albeit metallic shit… It’s always been in the DNA of this project. But let’s face it: if the world really needs ‘party anthems’ from a cynical geezer like me, something’s seriously wrong”, Peter laughs.

Our beloved planet may be screwed, but there still doesn’t seem to be much wrong in PAIN‘s world as 2024 ticks fast on the calendar. There simply can’t be, because PAIN‘s eagerly awaited new studio album ‘I Am‘ is soon here – yes, after eight years of devoted waiting.

“The previous record “Coming Home” came out in 2016 – and of course there was a tour after that. In 2019, I released an album called “F & M” with Rammstein singer Till Lindemann, a project I left in 2020. In 2021, it was time for my death metal band Hypocrisy to get active with a new album “Worship” – and of course we toured again. If that wasn’t enough, let’s add that there was a studio album with Joe Lynn Turner in 2022… In other words: the last eight years have passed in the blink of an eye”, Peter sighs.

“After all this, it was the perfect time for PAIN to go full force again. I felt excited to say the least. Needless to say, the success of ‘Party in My Head’ gave the album process an explosive start!”

Let’s get one thing straight: the powerful-sounding I Am is truly a versatile – if not the most versatile – musical missile in PAIN‘s rich discography. The new songs go everywhere with heavy industrial riffs, haunting melancholic vibes and groove-filled rhythms – without forgetting surprises, of course.

“There’s no boundaries with PAIN. I just get an interesting idea for a song and along the way it can turn into anything. Sometimes I also like to deliberately surprise people by following an exciting musical path where unexpected things happen”, Peter describes.

“If I had one big goal this time, it was to add more intensity and edge to the songs. “Coming Home” turned out great, but looking back now, I was maybe a little too deep into my ‘David Bowie worship’ with the orchestral stuff and the acoustic guitars. This time around, I definitely wanted more tempo, aggressiveness and an industrial atmosphere. Going back towards the old times of PAIN? Maybe a bit…”

“I Am” is also more of a family affair than ever before. My son Sebastian – also a PAIN drummer – wrote the music of ‘Revolution’ and ‘Don’t Wake the Dead’. These absorbing songs add width to an already versatile album. All in all, completing “I Am” required a lot of composing, writing, thinking, experimenting, doing and re-doing. It was a long and sometimes challenging process, but never painful!”

Speaking of surprises… What song will give fans the biggest wow effect this time?

“It must be ‘Go With the Flow’. I dare to insist that when it starts rolling, even the deep connoisseurs of PAIN music are wondering what the heck is going on here. I would say it’s my ‘Depeche Mode in the 80s’ song'”, Peter laughs.

“Lyrically, ‘Go With the Flow’ represents a slightly brighter moment in the darkness. I always tend to think that everything is going to hell, but with this song I tell myself, ‘come on dude, let things be for once and go with the flow’.”

There may be these rare rays of light from the beacon, but darkness still prevails.

“The album’s title track starts with the line ‘there’s no hope in the valley of death’. And if I look at the lyrics, I could dig up a lot other examples of similar sinister moods. But hey, a sarcastic guy like me and such gloomy times we live in… Are you expecting some sunny faces here? Well, sunny or not, PAIN is going to be busy for the foreseeable future. There will be a lot of touring to support the record. Summer festivals, extensive tours here and there and more”, Peter says.

“And what about the future anyway? Ask me again in eight years and there have been a few studio albums from different bands, a lot of gigs and something else. Yes, I am what “I Am”…”

EXHORDER Release New Album “Defectum Omnium”, Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 10, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Erik Hernandez

NOLA thrash legends EXHORDER have released their long-anticipated new album, Defectum Omnium, today with Nuclear Blast Records. Sonically unrelenting, the band’s 4th record in a career spanning nearly 4 decades is classic EXHORDER. Revisiting their early influences of punk, hardcore and thrash, the band self-produced 12 merciless tracks that sound as vital as when they  first carved their groove in metal in 1985. Featuring crushing songs like ‘Year of the Goat’ and ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’ and ominous cover artwork by Travis Smith (Katatonia, Opeth), Defectum Ominum finds EXHORDER at the top of their game with one of the year’s most vicious records.

Vocalist/guitarist Kyle Thomas has said of the new record:
“It’s been quite a journey for Exhorder since the 2019 release of Mourn the Southern Skies. Lineup changes as well as the 2020-2021 pandemic and lockdown presented hurdles that weren’t easy to overcome. But we persevered, kept our heads down and went to work with intense focus and real goals. One of those goals was to bring our fourth full length album to our fan base. Defectum Omnium is a collaborative effort in songwriting, much as it was in the early days of Exhorder. We produced it ourselves, as we felt no need or desire to bring in anyone from the outside based upon our shared vision. It was also important to us not only to continue the natural progression this band has been in since the early 90’s, but to put a foot back into our roots. The influence punk and hardcore had on this band from getting our start in the New Orleans punk rock scene has a strong presence. We’ve also made sure to keep plenty of our thrash roots as well in our songwriting process. But we have also managed to keep our doom roots alive, which first surfaced on the song (Cadence of) the Dirge back in 1992. In fact, on one new song we have guest appearances by Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin from Trouble, and they absolutely killed it!
From the time that we began pre-production until the actual release date, we can promise you that every bit of Defectum Omnium was crafted with great care, and we are really excited about it! Our goal was to make an album that WE loved and gives the experience of a journey.” 

With today’s record release, EXHORDER has unveiled a new video for their next standout track, and album opener ‘Wrath of Prophecies.’ 

Thomas adds on the new single:
“Our third single, Wrath of Prophecies, is the opening track on Defectum Omnium. It is the oldest song title on the album, dating back to 2009. However, it was never truly completed as a song, though it did have its own line of merchandise at the time. Lyrically, it is a nod to the prophecies of Nostradamus, which were much more prevalent topics at that time based upon what many people felt were predicted end times. Regardless, it fit right into the overall theme of despair and hopelessness that Defectum Omnium embodies. Musically, it is a fierce and unrelenting thrasher. With the vocals committing to the song as soon as the entire band kicks in, “Wrath of Prophecies” grabs you by the throat right out of the gates. It is obvious and evident that there is something the listener must pay attention to, or turn away and play ostrich. Lacing melodies in with venomous, spitting aggression, this song is a feature example on this album of our commitment to returning to our roots, and not just the punk ones.”

Purchase/Stream Defectumm Omnium: https://exhorder.bfan.link/defectum-omnium

Following the release of Defectum Omnium in April, EXHORDER will kick off a US tour with Bay Area thrash legends VIO-LENCE, Virginian extreme metalheads DECEASED and LA death metal band MORTAL WOUND. The brutality starts April 5th in Cambridge, MA and will culminate April 13th in Chicago, IL

TAKE & TAKE to Release Debut Album “Disillusion” on March 22nd

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 10, 2024
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Progressive metal band Take & Take announced their debut album Disillusion is slated for release on March 22, 2024. Crafting every element from concept to concrete, the musical visionary Eddie Trager helmed the entire process—ideas, composition, instrumental and vocal performances, and even the captivating hand-drawn cover art.

Yet, in this artistic endeavor, Trager found collaboration in the form of the legendary Matt Bayles. Known for his contributions to some of Eddie’s all-time favorite albums, Bayles lent his expertise to the mixing duties at the prestigious Red Room in Seattle. Meanwhile, metal production titan Jens Bogren took the reins for mastering at his renowned Fascination Street Studios in Malmo, Sweden, ensuring the album’s sound reaches new heights.

Disillusion draws inspiration from a diverse array of progressive musical influences, weaving a tapestry that spans from the avant-garde sounds of Ihsahn, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Opeth,  Mastodon,  Wilderun, and The Mars Volta to the vibrancy of Jacob Collier, The Beatles, Queen, and Yes. The album masterfully navigates through a spectrum of musical genres, seamlessly blending pop sensibilities with experimental twists that defy traditional forms.

Prepare to embark on a musical odyssey that transcends boundaries, as Take & Take introduces Disillusion to the world on March 22, 2024—a testament to innovation, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of artistic excellence.

“Sticky” – the first single from the upcoming Disillusion album – dropped January 12th with a simultaneous video premiere at Metal Injection. Check it out HERE

“That Won’t Last”, the second single, came out February 16 with a lyric visualizer by Drain Hope.

TRACKLISTING:

  1. Digging
  2. Sticky
  3. Get Off
  4. Lick
  5. I’m Ritch!
  6. Constantly
  7. The Straight Line
  8. Grudge
  9. That Won’t Last
  10. The Choice
  11. You Done Me Wrong

Meet Eddie Trager, a versatile artist whose musical journey spans a spectrum of roles and genres:

Formerly a rhythmic force as the drummer and percussionist for Nekrogoblikon from 2007 to 2016, Eddie contributed not only his drumming skills but also his talents on xylophone, glockenspiel, marimba, and earned credits as a songwriter.

Currently, he is making waves as the drummer for the new punk/hardcore band, Last Leg, as well as handling production and mixing duties for their debut EP. Additionally, Eddie showcases his guitar prowess with The Wailing Coast, a rock band based in China, where he intricately weaves melodies into their sonic landscape.

As the leader of Eddie Spaghetti and the Selfish Bitches, Eddie brings an absurd sensibility to modern music. Moreover, his collaborative efforts with Emo/Shoegaze/chamber music artist A Lady Named Isaac add another layer to his diverse musical portfolio.

Eddie Trager’s journey with Take & Take began in 2016, during his travels through Colombia. The song forms coalesced during live demo sessions in the midst of the 2020 lockdown in Xiamen, China. Take & Take is the sound of personal struggle and awakening, of greed and gain, of telling lies and being lied to, of deep disappointment and personal loss, the rise of ego and the inevitable fall. It’s a poetic testament to the transformative power of heavy music, inviting those who truly listen to join the experience. Take & Take isn’t just music; it’s an immersive journey through the complexities of the human experience—raw, unapologetic, and undeniably powerful.

Check Out Take & Take Online: Instagram – Facebook – TikTok – BandCamp