The long-awaited new album by Pagan/Black/Death Metallers HELGRINDUR prepares to cross the gates of Hel and see the light of day! On October 20, the self-titled sophomore album will be released via MDD.
There will be 10 songs on it, which are about fairy tales, myths, legends and also own stories. Embedded in a gripping atmosphere with a great sense for melodies, the Solingen-based band will leave nothing to be desired for fans of the genre.
A first look at the cover artwork, which symbolically shows the gatekeeper who guides the damned souls through the realm of Hel and keeps the creature of darkness in check, can be found enclosed. First tunes soon!
Finnish Oulu-based rocking power trio RAT BOOGIE released a new single Away From The Fire. The track is taken from the upcoming EP Ignoring The Cost which is set to be released on October 6th 2023 via Finnish record label Secret Entertainment.
Singer-guitarist Mika Palosaari comments: “‘Ignoring the cost’ is the new four-song EP by Rat Boogie. Maintaining the familiar feel for subtle melodies and sour commentary, it also ventures out on new rhythmic paths, with the pulsating reggae of ‘Running in circles’ and the counter-rhythm joys of ‘One star vacation’. Loaded with clear and dynamic production, ‘Country Boy’ opened the game as the first single, which will soon be accompanied by another single ‘Away from the fire’. As you clearly appreciate original rock music that does its thing without clinging to cliches, this is definitely for you! Check it out, ignore the cost!”
RAT BOOGIE: Hailing from Oulu, northern Finland, Rat Boogie is a trio that melts different influences into a tightly rocking, original package. In the core there is always the organic live playing that gives the flowing melodies a solid backbone. With an amply aggressive but breathing sound, Rat Boogie adventures inside the rock’n roll nucleus, celebrating all the good things that can be achieved with guitars, bass and drums.
With long musical experience in Finnish bands such as EBPSATRFM, The Blaster Master and Laid Back Townies, Rat Boogie makes memorable melodies, while rocking tightly in the trio format. The songs are firmly connected to the reality around us, but not without imagination and humour.
Line-up: Mika Palosaari – Vocals, guitar Mika Säkkinen – Bass, vocals Pasi Aikio – Drums
ALKALOID are mad scientists. With each album, the extreme metal concocters have poked and prodded at mysterious phenomena both of this world and far beyond. The band are now proudly presenting the title track of their upcoming album “Numen”. The new offering is now streaming via the official Season of Mist YouTube channel HERE.
‘Numen’ will be released on September 15, 2023 by Season of Mist. The album can be pre-saved HERE. Pre-orders are available HERE.
Here’s what Alkaloid have to say about their new single: ” We proudly present the title track of our new album, and the first of three new chapters in the ongoing Dyson Saga up the Kardashev Scale. Through mindbogglingly complex manipulation of mass, electromagnetism and the structure of spacetime itself over countless aeons, “Numen” transforms into an acceleration hub for sentinel worldlets sent toward other galaxies.
“Musically, we mangled materials inspired by Rainbow and Pink Floyd, as well as Meshuggah into a polyrhythmic context, while still staying true to the sound of our Dyson world. The subtle but continuous disturbance of the main 12/16 groove by a stubborn 7/16 layer is a hint at the massive forces at play in the story”.
Artwork: Christian Martin Weiss
After five years, ALKALOID are back with their third full-length and it’s got some of their most intricate, thought-provoking and batshit insane ideas yet. “Numen” is a 70-minute monolith of an album that doesn’t just colonize interstellar space with sentient fungi and cephalopods. No; it grabs the fabric of the universe and ties it into knots to break time and space themselves. The Bavarian band plays around with all kinds of genre experiments, effortlessly flipping death metal on its horned head with seductive flurries of jazz, flamenco, rock and gospel choirs.
Tracklist: Disc 1 1. Qliphosis (07:48) 2. The Cambrian Explosion (03:58) [WATCH HERE] 3. Clusterfuck (06:00) [WATCH HERE] 4. Shades of Shub-Niggurath (06:11) 5. A Fool’s Desire (08:10) 6. The Fungi From Yuggoth (06:06)
Disc 2 1. The Black Siren (Instrumental) (1:39) 2. Numen (Dyson VII) (7:03) [WATCH HERE] 3. Recursion (Dyson VIII) (3:29) 4. The Folding (Dyson IX) (6:54) 5. Alpha Aur (13:23) Total run time: 1:10:15
Progressive extreme metallers Alkaloid prepare to unfurl their new many-tentacled full-length, ‘Numen’ via Season of Mist. Featuring members of Triptykon, Obscura, Dark Fortress, and Obsidious, the Germany-based quartet of Morean (vocals, guitars, concepts), Hannes Grossmann (drums), Christian Münzner (guitars), and Linus Klausenitzer (bass) construct upon, expand away from, and journey between previous full-lengths The Malkuth Grimoire (2015) and Liquid Anatomy (2018) on Numen. In every respect, Alkaloid recommence the purposeful warp of various metallic genres they dimensionally blur. Tracks like the video single for “Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” and “Numen” posit heavy cosmological/Lovecraftian theoretic themes on top of musically-adept songs that are accessible yet undeniably intricate.
“We’ve all been around the block a few times by now as metal musicians,” says songsmith Morean. “The feeling that we’ve outgrown the narrow niche of pure extreme metal was a main motivator to start this band in the first place, ten years ago. The ‘prog’ tag is handy for us because, per definition, it already encompasses a wider range of possible styles and influences we can get away with than any one specific metal genre. This means we could ensure from the beginning that we’ll always be able to write whatever we want, no matter how crazy our ideas become. The heart of this band is always the songwriting, and we all like complex and virtuosic music in all its diverse manifestations. However, we do share a love for death metal as the smallest common denominator in the band, and we wanted to make sure no one thinks that just because we include melodies, clean guitars, and influences from other genres, we’d automatically sacrifice the brutality and relentless esthetic of extreme metal.”
‘Numen’ was written during the pandemic, but it was planned long before the scourge of disease wracked humanity. As a result, the songwriting sessions were predictably not “in the room” but over the Internet after the band members had isolated and worked on their constituent parts. Demos flew back and forth. Then, Tunker left amicably for personal reasons. Alkaloid could’ve folded, but the close-knit group soldiered on. They intensely relied on the professionalism and dependability of the collective to drive ‘Numen’ to completion. The complications of the two years it took to sonically inscribe the album into aeonic vastness didn’t fragment the end result. Instead, the process accelerated Alkaloid’s lambent, eldritch explorations. “Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” “Numen,” and “A Fool’s Desire” expertly bridge the past to the future, where Alkaloid’s originative, daedal storytelling captures (and holds hostage) the imagination.
The title, ‘Numen’, got its start at the dawning of Alkaloid. It’s a word that Morean fell in love with immediately, and he knew it had a place in his creative endeavors. Whereas The Malkuth Grimoire talked about combining existing elements into new structures, and Liquid Anatomy dealt with the creation of new elements, ‘Numen’ tries to look at the universe from a kind of meta-perspective from an imaginary god, as if the space that everything happens in was given a voice and a role as observer and shaper of everything that happens. In it, sentient panspermic mycelia are swathed in Lovecraftian nastiness—like Shub-Niggurath and the Fungi from Yuggoth—while the new Dyson chapters interpret the aspiration to reach divinity rather literally, reshaping the entire galaxy by manipulating spacetime itself. Desperate to escape their doom, the Cephalopods from previous songs have returned, too. ‘Numen’ is dense but not impenetrable. In fact, from the first moments of opener, “Qliphosis,” to the final contemplation of closer “Alpha Aur,” Alkaloid prove to be more charismatic than ever.
Line-up Morean – guitars, vocals Christian Münzner – guitars Linus Klausenitzer – bass Hannes Grossmann – drums
Recording Studio: Mordor Sounds, Nürnberg, Germany. Producer: Hannes Grossmann & Alkaloid Recording & mixing: Hannes Grossmann Mastering: Alan Douches at West West Side Music studio in Hudson Valley, NY.
Guest musicians Adam Wallis, Cydney McQuillan-Grace, John Schaffer, Lauren Gill, Sara Robalo, Shannon Bedford Additional choir tracks on “The Cambrian Explosion” and “Shades of Shub-Niggurath” Former Alkaloid guitarist Danny Tunker contributed to “The Cambrian Explosion”
L to R – Alon Karnieli – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar, Liam Fine – Drums, Saar Tuvi – Bass, Idan Kringle – Lead Guitar, Photo Credit: Or Shenkerman
Thrash metal fans, brace yourself for the next onslaught of music from SINNERY. The band is gearing up to drop their new EP “Below The Summit” this coming September to follow 2022’s break-out sophomore album “Black Bile”. Today, the band unleashes the second single “Somber”, which is ready to burrow into your ears with its animated music video. A blend of speed, technical prowess, and unyielding intensity, Sinnery will also be melting faces live this fall with UK tour dates with Sworn Amongst and a festival appearance at Metal Gates Festival in Romania alongside Katatonia, Rotting Christ, and more. The band comments on the single:
“‘Somber’ was the first song we wrote for the EP. We wanted a ferocious track combining everything we knew how to play up until that point in time. Musically, it’s probably one of the fastest, heaviest tracks we ever did. Lyrically, it’s about growing & emerging out of the soil and dirt that life can be for so many. It’s about dealing with some of the toughest issues in our lives.”
In the first song, the opening words are, “It feels like burying your mother,” because Sinnery wanted people to feel the intensities of the subject from the get-go. They wanted to present their human issues in the most loathsome and gruesome way possible while also focusing on dealing with them. The track combines all the things to love about metal – fast-paced riffs and drum licks take a bit from every genre that Sinnery admires and make it something very original. The initial concept behind “Somber” was taken from the book “The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck” by Mark Manson, which talks about making the best out of the cards you are dealt in life.
Prepare to be swept away by Sinney‘s raw power and unapologetic attitude. Their live act is known to be extremely energetic and heavy & they tend to keep the mosh pretty intense throughout all their sets. Combining modern sound and old-school ferocity they are all about creating an intense experience for everyone in attendance. Recommended for fans of Power Trip, Trivium, and The Haunted.
Tour Dates: September 18 – The Cobbletones – Bridgewater, UK w/ Sworn Amongst September 19 – The Black Heart – Camden, UK w/ Sworn Amongst September 20 – The Hairy Dog – Derby, UK w/ Sworn Amongst September 21 – Fuel Rock Club – Cardiff, UK w/ Sworn Amongst September 22 – The Gryphon – Bristol, UK w/ Sworn Amongst September 23 – The Cavern – Exeter, UK w/ Sworn Amongst September 28 – Quantic Club – Bucharest, RO – Metal Gates Festival w/ Katatonia, Rotting Christ
Track Listing: 1. Somber – 3:27 2. An Ode (Knife Of Erato) – 5:16 3. We Just Want You To – 0:21 4. Share This – 2:19 5. Serene – 5:13 EP Length: 16:38
EP Recording Credits: • All songs performed by: Sinnery • All songs written by: SInnery • Produced by: Sinnery • Mixed by: Arie Aranovich • Mastered by: Arie Aranovich • EP Artwork by: Xul1349
EP Band Lineup: Alon Karnieli – Vocals & Guitars Idan Kringel – Guitars Saar Tuvi – Bass Liam Fine – Drums
FEUERSCHWANZ have revealed a lyric video to the title track from their recent #1 charting album, Fegefeuer! Following Memento Mori (2021), Germany’s hottest band hit #1 on the Official German Album Charts for the second time in a row with their new studio album released last month, and that still remains on the charts.
Reigning in the German metal scene, FEUERSCHWANZ have had a busy year so far on live stages too, playing a nearly sold-out tour followed by premium and headline slots at main European summer festivals. Watch the new lyric video below, and don’t miss out on FEUERSCHWANZ‘s remaining festival shows and “Fegefeuer 2024“ tour with Orden Ogan and Angus McSix!
Formed in 2004, FEUERSCWANZ has gradually shifted from their roots in comedic medieval folk into a much more serious direction. With the switch to Napalm Records ahead of the release of Das Elfte Gebot (2020), FEUERSCHWANZ set their sights entirely on metal – soon becoming one of the most relevant German bands in the genre today. The band’s enormously successful previous album of original music, Memento Mori (2021), even stormed the official German charts, peaking at #1. On Fegefeuer, FEUERSCHWANZ spice up their medieval inspired folk metal with true heavy metal influences!
Fegefeuer kicks off with outstanding opening track “SGFRD Dragonslayer”. Successor “Bastard von Asgard” features beautiful vocals by Eluveitie’s Fabienne Erni. The catchy viking party anthem “Berzerkermode” calls for the listener to join the celebration and “party like a viking”, while the first three tracks, as well as heavy “Highlander”, are best proof of the band’s evolution from comedy rock to metal. Other tracks like the intense title track “Fegefeuer”, Lord of the Rings battlechant “Uruk-Hai” and “Die Horde” will be long-time fan favorites.
Fegefeuer stays lyrically true to trademark topics, exploring long forgotten legends and heroic battles, and shows off the band’s extraordinary musical skills. The album will be available in various formats, with some containing the live bonus album Live in Wacken 2022, which includes a recording of their co-headline show from the holy fields. With their new release, FEUERSCHWANZ clearly confirm their outstanding position!
Tracklist Fegefeuer: 1. SGFRD Dragonslayer 2. Bastard von Asgard 3. Berzerkermode 4. Knochenkarussell 5. Fegefeuer 6. Die Horde 7. Uruk-Hai 8. Highlander 9. Morrigan 10. Eis & Feuer 11. Valkyren
Various limited versions come with the bonus CD, Live in Wacken 2022, recorded during the band’s co-headline set at Wacken Open Air 2022. Other versions include the instrumental version of all 11 album tracks:
Live in Wacken 2022 Tracklist: 1. Intro (Das Elfte Gebot) (Live in Wacken 2022) 2. Memento Mori (Live in Wacken 2022) 3. Untot im Drachenboot (Live in Wacken 2022) 4. Metfest (Live in Wacken 2022) 5. Ultima Nocte (Live in Wacken 2022) 6. Schubsetanz (Live in Wacken 2022) 7. Methämmer (Live in Wacken 2022) 8. Dragostea Din Tei (Live in Wacken 2022) 9. Rohirrim (Live in Wacken 2022) 10. Das Elfte Gebot (Live in Wacken 2022) 11. Warriors Of The World United (Live in Wacken 2022 / feat. Melissa Bonny) 12. Die Hörner Hoch (Live in Wacken 2022) 13. Extro (Live in Wacken 2022)
Experience FEUERSCHWANZ live: Festivals 2023 26.08.23 DE – Wuppertal / Feuertal Festival 02.09.23 DE – Luhmühlen / MPS 16.09.23 DE – Klaffenbach / Klaffenbach Open Air 17.09.23 IT – Trezzo Sull’Adda / Metalitalia.com Festival 15.12.23 DE – Dortmund / Dortmund PLWM 16.12.23 DE – Neumünster / Walhalla Festival
Fegefeuer Tour 2024 w/ Orden Ogan, Angus McSix 11.04.24 DE – Hamburg / Große Freiheit 36 12.04.24 DE – Berlin / Huxleys 13.04.24 DE – Dresden / Alter Schlachthof 18.04.24 DE – Saarbrücken / Garage 19.04.24 DE – Erfurt / Club Central 20.04.24 DE – Munich / Backstage 26.04.24 DE – Hanover / Capitol 27.04.24 DE – Osnabrück / Hyde Park 01.05.24 DE – Nuremberg / Löwensaal 02.05.24 DE – Stuttgart / LKA Longhorn 03.05.24 DE – Wiesbaden / Schlachthof 04.05.24 DE – Cologne / Palladium 06.12.24 AT – Vienna / Arena
FEUERSCHWANZ are: Johanna – Violin, Hurdy Gurdy Hauptmann – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Irish Bouzouki Hodi – Vocals, Bagpipe, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin and many more Hans – E-Guitar, Acoustic guitar Jarne – Bass, Vocals Rollo – Drums Musch Musch – Dance & Performance Myu – Dance & Performance
The song is off the band’s debut self-titled album, which came out on the 12th of August 2022, and was written by Viv prior to A-Z forming so it had a different feel and sound. Mark Zonder and co. really liked it so they reworked the song to give it the A-Z sound and feel.
Mark Zonder comments: “We had planned to do a video for every song on the record and this is number 10 out of 11. We thought it was important, as we are currently in the process of recording the new album, to let the fans know we are moving forward and will be out with a record soon. Yes, there will be the all important video 11 as well!“
A-Z‘s current self-titled album can be streamed in its entirety at: metalblade.com/a-z
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 