WARKINGS Warriors Beware! The time has come to gather the masses and rise from the depths of Valhalla. Join the WARKINGS on a crusade of dimensions never seen before and become a Warrior! Get ready for one of the greatest battles in the history of heavy metal and support the mighty kings on their marches through Europe, telling the living about battles long ago!
In the tradition of the crusader, the four kings march through Germania, Austria-Hungary, Poland, France, and the Kingdoms of the Netherlands and Bohemia on a mission to bring true heavy metal to the masses. At each stop of the journey, their following will grow and more warriors will be drawn under their spell. The powerful sorceress Morgana will once again accompany the WARKINGS to their battles.
After successful forays with the high priests Powerwolf and the knights and shield maidens Feuerschwanz, it is now time to unleash a full 90 minutes of pure WARKINGS force. Get ready for songs never heard live before, the biggest stage set of their career and bombastic performances. The WARKINGS call for King and Crown – hear their call!
WARKINGS state: “Sound the war horns as we march ‚For King and Crown‘ Hear the clarion call, summoning our fierce and loyal army of fans, our WARKINGS Warriors, to rise and march alongside us. Let it be known that in this epic crusade, every friend and foe shall be brought forth, united under the banner of the WARKINGS. Gather your weapons, ready your breakfast and prepare for the battle of a lifetime. The stage is set, the world awaits our triumph. For King and Crown!”
Just recently, US Alt-rockers DAKAR‘s frontman David Benfield was interviewed by Metalheads Forever’s Keith Clement, talking about the band’s debut full-length “Say It Again”, about the band itself and the future plans + many cool news to be revealed soon.
DAKAR self-released their debut full-length album “Say It Again” in February 2023! The first single and lyric video for the title track was released at the end of April, in case you missed, watch the lyric video at https://youtu.be/PheD6Y8F5yM
“Say It Again” was recorded at Friends of Friends Studio in Jacksonville Fl, engineered, mixed & mastered by Brok Mende, who apprenticed with Butch Vig!
The band shared on “Say It Again”: “We’re really thrilled with the way it came together with Brok”, said Edmunds. “Things clicked right away, and I think that comes out clearly with the work.”
Benfield: “It was a lot of hard work, and it’s great to be able to share this with everyone.”
AVAILABLE on All major streaming platforms worldwide
Not Gonna Be Yo Sucka “Not Gonna Be Yo Sucka” is the rousing opening anthem of the album Say It Again, a dont-take-shit-from-nobody call to arms that appeals to the listener’s sense of purpose (what will inspire you/to fight for which you stand?/is it for power/or to serve your fellow man?”) to rally to challenge the forces that have convinced people to fight amongst one another. The song opens with thunderous toms from drummer Luke Jean, followed by the first of many overdriven, power chord riffs by guitarists David Benfield and Darrell Edmunds. While Edmunds’ vocals run point on this track, the harmonies and balance with Benfield settle in quickly and remain throughout the LP. “NGBYS” crescendoes into the crowd chant of the song’s namesake, setting a high bar that Dakar hits like a proverbial cowbell from track to track.
Chase Scene A hook-driven ode to racing that hearkens to the band’s namesake, “Chase Scene” mixes a hard-charging rhythm riff, bending lead guitar elements and soaring, swooning vocal melodies with lyrical imagery that dares the listener to “catch me if you can”. The band expands its sound with a dreamy wah pedal-filled interlude and vocal ranges that push the boundaries of the band’s previous work.
Say It Again While it may have been a last-minute edition to the album, Say It Again’s title track serves as an excellent microcosm for the band’s sound. Driving rhythms, powerful hooks, towering vocals; Say It Again checks all of the boxes of an epic rock song. “I Said it once, you can say it again!”
Over the Line With no-frills, straight-to-the-point rock riffs and anthemic hooks, “Over the Line” describes a longview into a dystopian future resulting from acceptance of the overreach by powerful authoritarian forces into the rights and lives of everyone. The imagery of the lyrics couples with a pogo-inducing backbeat to produce chant-worthy refrains and the timeless feel of a foot-stomping hard rock romp.
Come and Get It One of the first releases by Dakar from their initial EP, “Come and Get It” is a frenetic mini-medley within one composition. The twists and turns reflect a foray into the bases songwriters David Benfieldand Darrell Edmunds covered in their guitar-focused, rock-forward sound. The lyrics are an appeal to the attraction of the speaker’s love interest, a flirty missive backed by raucous guitar hooks and chants.
Ronnie Jean Inspired by a trip to Ireland and fueled by Southern roots, Ronnie Jean is the story of two childhood misfits that grow into lifelong friends. The bouncing rhythms and chord progression are youthful and ambitious, while the chorus is an infectious sing-along that’ll have even the most serious of cynics tapping their feet.
Clutches Dakar takes a respite from pumping the hard rock for “Clutches”, an off-beat off-ramp that features the bass work of Alejandro Soto under the surfy guitar color by Edmunds and Benfield. Edmunds’ vocals denote the despair of a lover who belatedly realizes it’s over. The fatalistic tone stands in contrast to the band’s usual high-energy optimism, but hints at the depth still to come as the band releases more work.
Grab Your Reigns Uplifting, powerful riffs compliment the inspiring lyrics on Grab Your Reigns. With its straightforward hooks and dynamic harmonies, Grab Your Reigns is the perfect song to boost self confidence or inspire that extra push to conquer your dreams. “You can be who you want to be, it’s up to you to decide.”
Reason It shouldn’t take listeners long to get a sense of Dakar’s penchant for bouncing between decades of guitar ethos – sometimes, in the same song. Such is the case with “Reason”, a cautionary love tale combining vocal hooks with shapeshifting sounds that could be placed in 70s punk, 80s glam or 90s alternative. With a lyrical theme of wisdom after love lost, the band’s writing reflects a certain maturity – or, at least, the scars of hard lessons.
Animal Dakar doesn’t shy away from social commentary, and “Animal” fits comfortably in the catalog of tracks that delve into the uncomfortable – in this case, domestic violence. Drummer Luke Jean’s old-school punk beat leads the song into Darrell Edmunds’ radiant lead guitar hooks. Edmunds’ harmonies with fellow guitarist and vocalist David Benfield stand out as part of the band’s consistent sound throughout the ebb and flow of the album’s genre influences.
Projection This no-frills kick to the earworm machine wastes no time eviscerating the subject of the song as a malignant narcissist (sometimes when you’re fucking with my head/I must remind myself not to believe a word you said/accusing me instead/of killing all the skulls under your bed) before delving into the group’s go-to vocal harmonies that evoke thoughts of mid-90s new-school punk.
Escape From New York “Escape” was written as a reflection of Benfield’s homesickness while living in Brooklyn, New York. Fed up with snow in April and nowhere to stretch his legs, he packed his guitars and dog into his car and set off for home. Powering guitars, raw vocals, and southern undertones paint a clear picture “I can see it in my mind’s eye, I’m kicked back, drinking water from my spring.”
Empire Dreams What happens when democracy gives way to autocracy and fascism? When capitalism is left unfettered? You start having empire dreams… With its blues-derived riffs, screaming guitars, and Dakar’s punk rock DNA, Empire Dreams dives into the dark possibilities of what happens when we stop fighting for what’s right, and let plutocrats and oligarchs take total control.
About the artwork the band shared: “An ode to analog, the extreme close-up photo of the guitar amplifier tubes point to the intent of the band to refrain from heavy digital music production influences such as synthesizers as well as the current paradigm of an eternally “plugged-in” society.”
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More on DAKAR:
DAKAR is the capital of Senegal. Dakar is a rally race. Dakar is also an American rock band from Duval County, Florida: named after the street in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Jacksonville where it was founded by David Benfield, Darrell Edmunds and Luke Jean in 2019.
Benfield and Edmunds initially based their songwriting in the style of 90s guitar-driven alternative hard rock with 2020’s Come and Get It EP and evolved from there, incorporating indie, punk, modern, and southern with an unabashed penchant for pro-democracy, anti-facist, pro-diversity, and anti-racist themes.
In 2021, Dakar followed up with their EP Over the Line, leading off with a raucous dystopian cautionary title track blending overdriven classic rock guitars with an anti-police state theme reflecting the sentiment of the previous year’s political strife in the U.S.
After a few attempts with a fourth member, the band recruited bassist Alejandro Soto and recorded their debut full-length, Say It Again, at Friends of Friends studio in Jax with engineer Brok Mendes. The band was unanimous in their account of the nine-month production process as arduous, but gratifying.
Of all the meanings of Dakar, the boys prefer the name derived from the Senegalese local Wolof word meaning “whoever settles here will be in peace”.
DAKAR are: David Benfield – Guitar/Vocals Darrell Edmunds – Guitar/Vocals Alejandro Soto – Bass Luke Jean – Drums
On July 28th, Pittsburgh deathcore unit SIGNS OF THE SWARM will unleash their fifth full-length, Amongst the Low & Empty, via Century Media Records. For a preview of the album, the new single – “Malady” – can be streamed here; the video (directed by Joey Durango) can be seen below.
Vocalist David Simonich comments: “This song reflects previous battles I’ve faced with my depression. A moment in my life reminded me of what I’d been through, and it became the fuel for ‘Malady.’ The song pushed me to be vulnerable in the studio, expressing my thoughts and emotions to my producer to paint the picture I was going for.”
Drummer Bobby Crow adds: “I wanted to craft a dark and primal song to match Dave’s subject matter, so the music and lyrics elevate one another. Seeing as ‘Malady’ is another word for disease, I wanted the song to be catchy enough to infect yet deteriorates as sickness does to your body over time. The song builds to a painful climax, growing in intensity as it devolves into a noisy cacophony. You can’t even wrap your head around it, then it’s over.”
Produced by Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, King 810, Tallah, Varials), Amongst the Low & Empty is the first Signs Of The Swarm album to feature an outside producer. Massive, unapologetic and unrelenting in its assault, this fifth full-length keeps listeners on the edge of their seat. Songs like the title track, “Pray For Death” and “Malady” put to shame the slamming “br00tality” of sophomore LP The Disfigurement of Existence, with vocalist David Simonich’s animalistic growls and screeches outdoing any swarm, pack, or otherwise, found in the wild. Despite the savage brutality, the leader of this herd IS the structure that is simultaneously more rigid yet more explorative, complete with a catchy groove underneath – the likes of which hasn’t been heard from Signs Of The Swarm . It’s the bedrock that allows “Tower of Torsos,” “DREAMKILLER” and “Pray For Death” to be as catchy as they are. Songs like “Shackles Like Talons” and “Fire and Stone” split the difference incisively. On the more cacophonous side, industrial flirtations were added both in-studio by band and producer, and beyond, with Joshua Travis (Emmure, Glass Cloud, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza) and Cameron Losch (Born of Osiris) throwing riffs and ruckus into the mix (“At one point, Joshua Travis was recording a chainsaw in his backyard,” the bandreveals). Trivium mastermind Matthew K. Heafy even sent over a guest shout for “The Witch Beckons”.
The resulting 11 tracks are so destructively deafening, it blew out Josh Schroeder’s subwoofer! “We’ve always been a deathcore band,” states Bobby Crow, the quartet’s longest-standing member, who serves as drummer and main songwriter. “But this record is a lot MORE – it’s got death metal, metalcore, djent, some industrial stuff…We wanted to make something that was just heavy.”
Amongst the Low & Empty track-listing
Amongst the Low & Empty
Tower of Torsos
Pray for Death
Borrowed Time
Between Fire & Stone
Shackles Like Talons
DREAMKILLER
The Witch Beckons (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
Echelon
Faces Without Names
Malady
Upon album release, Signs Of The Swarm will play several special shows in the USA, then head overseas for the summer; European fans can catch them at some of the biggest festivals, in addition to co-headlining off-dates with Humanity’s Last Breathand more. To finish off the season, Signs Of The Swarm will trek to the UK for a headliner with To the Grave and Harbinger.
The rising stars from ELECTRIC CALLBOY are set to captivate audiences once again with their latest single, “Everytime We Touch (TEKKNO Version)”.
Originally a massive dance hit in 2006 by Cascada, ELECTRIC CALLBOY has given the beloved track their own unique twist, showcasing their creative prowess and readiness to conquer the mainstream.
Combining their signature high-energy sound with a fresh approach, ELECTRIC CALLBOY’s rendition of this Euro-Dance classic breathes new life into the iconic track, adding their own distinct style and injecting it with a surge of contemporary rock vibes. The result is an electrifying anthem that will have listeners dancing and singing along in no time.
To complement the release, ELECTRIC CALLBOY has unveiled an impressive music video shot at castle Rothestein, providing a visually stunning backdrop for their energetic performance.
While basking in the success of their latest album ‘TEKKNO’, ELECTRIC CALLBOY is also making waves on the live circuit. The band is currently in the midst of a festival tour across Europe, where they continue to mesmerize audiences with their electrifying performances. The tour has been met with an overwhelming response, with fans eagerly anticipating their energetic and engaging shows.
Not stopping there, ELECTRIC CALLBOY is poised to embark on a highly anticipated nationwide tour across the United States. The buzz surrounding the band’s live shows has resulted in almost all tickets being sold out ahead of time, demonstrating their growing popularity and demand among music enthusiasts. Audiences can expect an unforgettable live experience filled with explosive energy and infectious melodies.
As they close out the year, the band has their sights set on UK and Australia, where they will bring their electrifying performances to enthusiastic fans across the continent. With their skyrocketing success and ever-growing fan base, the band’s tour in Australia promises to be a highlight of their journey, leaving a lasting impression on music lovers Down Under.
On his latest single “Samba Party,” out today on all digital platforms, the Sicilian guitar virtuoso MATTEO MANCUSO channels the excitement and jubilation of a Rio de Janeiro during carnival – but the song itself is anything but samba. “This is a strange one because, first of all, musically speaking, it doesn’t have anything to do with the samba style, but I wanted to write a happy “major chord” song and the thing I usually connect with giant happy parties with a lot of people is the carnival in Rio de Janeiro,” Mancuso explains. “The song’s main theme is inspired by samba rhythms, but I wanted a more modern groove. Gianluca Pellerito [drums] and Riccardo Oliva [bass] delivered this incredible groove, and I was super happy with the result. That’s why it’s probably my favorite song from the album.” The follow up to the album’s lead single “Drop D,” “Samba Party” is the latest taste of Mancuso’s debut album, ‘The Journey’, out July 21st via The Players Club/Mascot Label Group. Pre-order the album HERE.
“The evolution of guitar is firmly secure in the hands of these kinds of players… it’s just a new level, the tone, the touch, the notes!” – Steve Vai
“An absolute talent; his improvisational ability is light years ahead. It would take two or three lifetimes. It was like when Jacko (Pastorius) came on the scene…how did he get so good and so fast?” – Al Di Meola.
“There’s this Italian kid on the internet; his name is Matteo Mancuso. He’s 20 or something. I mean, he’s a virtuoso beyond virtuosos.” Tosin Abasi
“All the kids are talking about it, and I blanked when answering who my new favourite guitarist is… here he is, Matteo Mancuso. I have not seen anyone reinvent like this since Stanley Jordan” Joe Bonamassa.
Mancuso hails from Sicily, nestled in the Mediterranean Sea to the South of Italy. The island has always had a rich cultural heritage, from poets, writers, philosophers, and architects to painters and musicians. Born in 1996 and raised just outside the capital Palermo, the pedigree runs deep in the veins of those from the region.
At 12, Matteo took his first steps onto the stage at a local jazz festival. Since then, his acquaintance with live performances has seen him blossom and develop through various line-ups and collaborations with the finest local musicians, including a duo with his father, where they explore the complexities of Django Reinhart’s repertoire and contemporary jazz classics. As a multi-faceted player, either classical or electric, what is astounding is his one-of-a-kind technique and use of his fingers instead of regular picking.
As a YouTube sensation, his channel is now at 142k subscribers, with his international fanbase growing, which includes some of the world’s most iconic, ground-breaking players who are declaring Matteo as a force to be reckoned with, from Dweezil Zappa to Joe Bonamassa, Steve Vai to Al Di Meola and Tosin Abasi. In 2017, as part of a trio called Snips, Matteo and his bandmates took on more jazz-rock and fusion elements; their version of “The Chicken” hit 2.2 million views on YouTube.
His debut album of nine original songs was recorded at Fico d’India Studios Casteldaccia, Sicily, by his father, Vincenzo Mancuso – a gifted player who also played on the record and co-wrote two songs, “Polifemo” and “Blues For John.” The album also features Stefano India (Bass) and Guiseppe Bruno (Drums), with additional musicians Riccardo Oliva (Bass), Gianluca Pellerito (drums) and Guiseppe Vasapolli (Piano/Organ).
Mancuso began writing songs for the album around 2020. “I didn’t really have a specific concept behind the album, but I wanted to do something that wasn’t associated with only one genre, so there are some rock-oriented songs like Drop D and some modern Jazz tunes like Polifemo,” he says.”Drop D” was one of the first songs written for the album, which pays tribute to his teens’ hard rock and prog influences such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Dream Theater. “It is a mix of typical rock and prog elements and one of the most fun songs to play live,” he says.
He has recently performed with Tommy Emmanuel in Palermo, he’s shared the stage with Al Di Meola on classical guitar at the closing night of the Eddie Lang Jazz Festival and played at the Lugano Jazz Festival in Switzerland as a guest with prog-rockers PFM and an incredible performance at the New Ross Guitar Festival in Ireland.
2023 is now where ‘The Journey’ really begins. From the age of 12, when he took his first steps onto a stage in Sicily, has all led to this moment – the precocious talent which led to the youngster becoming a YouTube sensation, to the acclaim from some of the finest guitarists of their time, to the stages graced across Europe and the ones he has shared with icons, to this moment – his debut album release of nine deftly beautiful guitar instrumentals.
“I just want people to hear it,” he enthuses. “Music has always been my favorite form of communication, and the thing I love about instrumental music is that there isn’t a language barrier. I’m sure that people that don’t usually listen to instrumental music can find something interesting from this album.”
Mancuso will embark on a European tour early next month, gracing stages across the continent, including highly anticipated festivals like the A to Jazz Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Collinarea Festival in Lari, Italy, and the Sant’Elpidio Jazz Festival in San Elpidio, Italy. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/matteomancusoofficial/
Track list Silkroad Polifemo Falcon Flight Open Fields DropD Blues For John Time To Leave Samba Party The Journey
Boston heavy rockers MAMMOTHOR drop a brand new single “THE RED STATE BLUES” fresh off their latest full-length album, The Silence of Ecstasy… The Agony of Dreams, available now in CD or 180-gram heavyweight vinyl through retailer Bull Moose and on all major streaming platforms.
Mammothor entered The Halo Studio in Windham, ME to record with Kevin Billingslea (Lamb of God) and Chillhouse Studios in Charlestown, MA with Will Holland (Fall Out Boy). The new material has been mixed and mastered by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed, Shadows Fall), at Planet Z in Hadley, MA.
THE RED STATE BLUES is the tenth track off their latest album and premieres worldwide on June 23rd, on all major streaming platforms, with a rockin’ music video directed by Adam Noya (Red 13 Studios). The video showcases the lighter side of the band, with plenty of comedy thrown in alongside a hard-hitting song and performance. The signature tongue-in-cheek lyrics Mammothor has become known for, were inspired in part by films such as DELIVERANCE, WRONG TURN, and THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE.
THE RED STATE BLUES premiered June 23 rd , 2023 on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, and wherever digital music is sold or streamed.
THE RED STATE BLUES
Little piggy, squeal / When we cop a feel / You don’t contest or don’t mess with the man With the gun in his hand Wrists bound / Sewn mouth / You won’t make a sound Oh no / You can not go / We’ve got plans for you / As you’re singing the red state blues If you’ve got something to say then spit it out, ’cause you’re up next in the scramble. There’s no one to hear you, no one to spare you, so let’s scream together, say ‘AH!’ Little piggy bitch /It’s time to scratch that itch / You might have lost the map But you followed the laughter/ And got what you were after Hog tied /Wide-eyed/ In the countryside Sweet breeze /Be free You’d better run, piggy / Run piggy, run / You’d better run, boy
About MAMMOTHOR – With a decade of shows in the heavy metal/hard rock scene, Mammothor has toured and opened for heavy hitters MEGADETH, KORN, THREE DAYS GRACE, HED(PE), SALIVA, BUCKCHERRY, garnering over 1.1 million views on YouTube and current average of 18,000+ monthly listeners on Spotify.
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 ) 