Italian power metal merchants TRICK OR TREAT have released a video for ‘Aquarius: Diamond Dust’, second single taken from the live album “A Creepy Night Live” to be released on December 8th via Scarlet Records.
Trick Or Treat celebrate more than twenty years of an established and successful heavy metal career with their first official live record.
Recorded during the tour in support of the latest studio-album ‘Creepy Symphonies’, ‘A Creepy Night Live’ retraces the stages of the Italian band’s history: from the very first Helloweenish steps up to the current, brilliant and personal interpretation of the “happy metal” plot, passing through the most memorable and fun songs scattered throughout all their works.
But there’s more… As a special gift to their fans, Trick Or Treat have composed a magnificent Christmas single: ‘When the Lights Fade Out (Santa’s in Trouble)’ – featuring Sabaton & Majestica’s Tommy Johansson –is the perfect tune to spend a nice and entertaining power metal Xmas!
mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio
featuring the special guests Michele Luppi (Whitesnake) and Chiara Tricarico (Moonlight Haze)
including the very special Christmas single/video ‘When the Lights Fade Out (Santa’s in Trouble)’ featuring Tommy Johansson (Sabaton, Majestica)
artwork by Alessandro “Alle” Conti (Trick or Treat & Twilight Force singer; former Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody singer)
for fans of Helloween, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, Stratovarius, Rhapsody of Fire, Sabaton
TRICK OR TREAT: Alle Conti – vocals Guido Benedetti – guitar Luca Venturelli – guitar Leone Villani Conti – bass Luca Setti – drums
Having announced their return to Dark Essence Records after a one-album absence, Swedish Rockers ALFAHANNE are ready to (rock n) roll out their fifth full-length album. Titled “Vår tid är nu”, their latest release promises to be chock-full of ALFAHANNE’s very own “Alfapocalyptic Rock”, a sound that mixes Black Metal with Classic Rock and Punk and more than a large measure of Rock n Roll.
And, since ALFAHANNE is well known for being able to attract some very big names to appear both on studio albums and on stage, “Vår tid är nu” carries on that fine tradition, with Nattefrost (CARPATHIAN FOREST) and Doedsadmiral (NORDJEVEL) contributing their first ever guest vocals with the band, whilst Spellgoth (HORNA) and Nattfursth (SORHIN) make a welcome return.
With ALFAHANNE’s many fans chomping at the bit to see what their irrepressible heroes have got is store for them, Dark Essence Records have today released a none-too-gentle introduction in the form of a single and video for the track “Alfa Omega” which features Nattefrost himself.
“Alfa Omega” is available to download or stream on a variety of services at this location.
ALFAHANNE had this to say about the single and the album:
Today we’re dropping the first bomb from our upcoming album: “Vår tid är nu” (“Our time is now”) in the form of the single “Alfa Omega”. This was actually the first song that we wrote for the album, and is the foundation of the rest to come. It’s an up-tempo punk/metal song that includes the classic Alfa guitar melodies and features Nattefrost’s unmistakable vocals.
As to the album itself, “Our time is now” – this is the beginning of the end.
Set for release on February 9th 2024, and exactly ten years since the release of the band’s debut full-length, “Vår tid är nu” is ALFAHANNE’s heaviest album to date. Filled with the band’s trademark catchy melodies and punk attitude, “Vår tid är nu” has an underlying bleak atmosphere that is reminiscent of both the 80s and the early days of Black Metal.
With album cover art by Roger Pettersson and photography by Uffe Sandin, tracklisting on “Vår tid är nu” is as follows:
Intro
9:e cirkeln
Eremiten (Feat. Doedsadmiral)
Elden har vaknat
Alfa omega (Feat. Nattefrost)
Wolfman
När allt faller-Kaiken Kaatuessa (Feat. Spellgoth)
213
Vår tid är nu (Feat. Nattfursth)
Outro
“Vår tid är nu” will be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Swamp Green Vinyl formats and can be pre-ordered now from:
Since bursting onto the scene in 2010 ALFAHANNE has, as previously mentioned, shared both the studio and the stage with a list of artists that reads like a who’s who of Scandinavian Extreme Metal and includes Hoest (TAAKE), V’gandr (HELHEIM), Dolk (KAMPFAR), Erlend Hjelvik (KVELERTAK), Spellgoth (HORNA, TURMION KÄTILÖT), Nattfursth (SORHIN), David Lindh (YVONNE and BRODER DANIEL), Sanrabb (GEHENNA) and Niklas Kvarforth (SHINING).
Today’s lineup of Pehr Skjoldhammer on guitars and vocals, Fredrik Sööberg on guitars, Jimmy Wiberg on bass, Niklas Åström on drums, and Stefan Eriksson on keyboards and guitars, display a full-on attitude and an exuberance that is infectious. Pair this with an easy going, friendly interaction with the fans (both on and off the stage) and you have a band that is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
ALFAHANNE have already been confirmed to appear at 2024’s Karmoygeddon Festival to be held in Kopervik, Norway, 2-4 May.
A video of ALFAHANNE performing the track “Indiehora” from their album “Alfapokalyps”, live at Inferno Festival 2014, and featuring V’gandr of TAAKE & HELHEIM can be seen below.
Instrumental alternative rock phenomenonTRILOBEAT has signed a deal with Epictronic for the reissue of their masterpiece “Extinction Horizon”, due for re-release on January 26, 2024.
Trilobeat is an emerging band based in Slovakia, which crosses borders with its new ambitious album and establishes cooperation with musicians all over the world. They create and perform genre-blending instrumental music supported by emotional visual projection. Their work has attracted music fans of prog-rock, nu-jazz, alternative, and even classical music.
The band’s second album, “Extinction Horizon” was released via the prestigious Slovak label Hevhetia and is being distributed worldwide by Epictronic. It boasts of a collaboration between both local and international talents featuring names such as Adam Holzman, keyboardist (Steven Wilson, Miles Davis, Trifecta), and David Kollar, guitarist (KOMARA, Steven Wilson, Erik Truffaz) in addition to the original line-up. The album is an impressive sound adventure, while their compositions combine variable electronic surfaces, a distinct piano sound, and a rough rock background. The outstanding world-class sound quality of the recording was created in cooperation with the multi-genre Toronto-based producer, Vlad Avy (Iamthemorning, Gleb Kolyadin).
Unlike their debut, in which they looked to the past, with the new album they decided to explore current themes that resonate among society. The album takes its name from the black ash line that signals the demise of civilization during archaeological excavations. Trilobeat offers a concept album that forms a unified musical narrative mapping the theme of the climate crisis and the fate of our civilization.
“When composing, we tried to answer a question that was crucial to us – can instrumental music be a messenger of powerful current scenarios?” explains composer and pianist Jakub Mikula. Based on the reactions so far, the answer seems to be yes. But what is even more important – Trilobeat with its new work has brought an incredibly varied mosaic of feelings from contemporary times, which despite its complexity is listened to with unprecedented pleasure and lightness.
Tracklist:
The Red (feat. David Kollar)
The Blue / To the Top (feat. Vladko Mikláš)
The Green (feat. David Kollar & Michal Cálik)
Lullaby 2042
Look back / The Black (feat. Adam Holzman & Michal Šelep)
Extinction Horizon (feat. David Kollar)
The White (feat. Michal Cálik)
Take a sneak peek at “Extinction Horizon” with this tantalizing teaser:
The original line-up (Jakub Mikula – piano, Katarína Mikulová – flute and vocals, Norbert Neuschl – bass, Marek Sasko – drums) has been expanded on the new album to include guests from both the Slovak and the international scene. The key to the album is the collaboration with guitarist David Kollar, a unique music visionary from Slovakia, author of excellent albums, and collaborations with Steven Wilson, Erik Trufazz, Pat Mastelotto, and Marco Minnemann.
“Compared to the debut album, we experimented more with noises and field recordings, while also exploring a heavier sound. With some of the tracks we felt that David’s tone and unique style of guitar playing would fit perfectly,” explains Jakub, on the idea of approaching him. David ended up enriching three tracks on the album, with an epic solo enclosing the pilot single “The Red”. “We still can’t quite believe that you’re going to hear a keyboard solo from mastermind Adam Holzman on our new album,” he continues. “This genius has been an integral part of the evolution of the jazz-fusion scene and has played alongside such greats as Miles Davis, Marcus Miller, and Michel Petrucciani. He has been a member of Steven Wilson’s band since 2011 and has recorded several award-winning albums with him.” His solo on Moog synthesizer awaits you in the track “The Black”.
HELFRÓ are coming back in from the cold with Tálgröf. The Icelandic duo’s second album is inspired by the myriad dark manifestations of the human mind. Through intense rhythmic passages, sick drummer Ragnar Sverrisson and axeman Simon Thorolfsson delve into the most depraved cavities of the human psyche, while melting their native black metal with traditional, fiery death metal and tortured lyrics.
Tálgröf comes out this tomorrow Friday, December 1. But you can listen to all nine hell-raising tracks on HELFRÓ‘s new album today, thanks to Black Metal Promotion.
“Tálgröf is a high octane, extremely entertaining album”, according to Metal Sucks, “…the future looks very bright for a band that spends a good portion of their year shrouded in complete darkness”.
Lead single Fláráð Fræði puts a fresh, icy-cold twist on the blackened-death metal that HELFRÓ carved out on their self-titled debut album, with tremolo riffs that rain down with all the fury of a hailstorm.
“Ildi Óhreins Anda” chugs along a melodic groove, though the song is more sinister than it lets on. The lyrics on Tálgröf are based on interviews, journals and features on mass murders. “Traðkandi Blómin í eigin Hjartagarði” is about how these killers would poison themselves with mind-altering substances and sleep deprivation in order to commit heinous crimes that go ahead our very nature, all while reveling in the glorious death metal shredding that Ragnar grew up going to see with his uncle.
Cover art: Grindesign
HELFRÓ are still as cold and unforgiving as the winters in their home country. But ‘Tálgröf’ is prime to light a fire beneath Icelandic metal.
“…a barrage of killer riffs, crushing blast beats and even some melodies here and there”, writesMetal Injection. “…downright mesmerizing drumming by Ragnar Sverrisson, who puts on a freakin’ clinic on this record”.
Here’s what Ragnar has to say about his band’s new album:
“The gate has opened and unspeakable horrors are now loose! Immerse yourself in the darkest thought patterns of murder and death upon which Tálgröf was conceived. Let the majestic furiosity envelope your very being. Thank you all for joining us on this dark journey. Hail the duality of man.”
8. Traðkandi Blómin í Eigin Hjartagarði (03:21) [WATCH VIDEO]
9. Minning um Morðingja (04:23) Total: 35:25
Formed amidst the haunting landscapes of Iceland, HELFRÓ is a formidable force in the world of blackened death metal. With their relentless aggression, atmospheric soundscapes, and compelling songwriting, they have carved their own path in the metal scene.
The journey of HELFRÓ began when guitarist and songwriter Ragnar Sverrisson sought to bring his musical visions to life, Drawing inspiration from the bleakness of Icelandic winters, the mysticism of nature, and the chaos of the human experience. HELFRÓ‘s debut album, aptly titled “Helfró“, was released in 2020, marking the band’s official entry into the world of extreme metal. With a relentless barrage of blast beats, crushing riffs, and haunting melodies, the album showcased their ability to seamlessly blend aggression and atmosphere.
Evolving with the advent of the sophomore album, Tálgröf, listeners can expect even more ferocity as HELFRÓ dives deeper into death metal territory while not straying to far from the signature ice-cold climactic tremolo riffing notable of their previous work. Characterized by its ferocity, the new album also carries introspective and thought-provoking themes, reflecting the band members’ willingness to explore the depths of the human experience. HELFRÓ is destined to leave an impact on the realm of extreme music, captivating audiences with their unique brand of Icelandic metal.
Line-up: Ragnar Sverrisson: Drums, Vocals, Songwriting Simon Thorolfsson: Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Arrangements Recording Studio Dominion Recordings
Sound Engineer – Simon Thorolfsson Mixing Engineer – Mark Lewis Mastering Engineer – Mark Lewis
Following the release of their latest, eleventh studio album, “Reader Of The Runes – Rapture” (released in April 2023 on AFM Records, order HERE!),heavy metal, pagan, folk and melodic death metal fusionists Elvenking have suprised fans with a stunning cover version of VENOM‘s “Prime Evil“! But, this isn’t just another cover, the Elvenking version also features guest appearances of former VENOM singer and bassist Tony Dolan, and Snowy Shaw (ex-Mercyful Fate, ex-King Diamond)!
As ELVENKING revealed, “it is a special song in many ways, starting from the fact that it is a love letter to a band and to a specific moment in time when metal was in fact imprinting our lives indefinitely. The second special aspect of this recording is the lineup. It is a surprise and a metal-dream come true for us since it sees Tony Dolan “Demolition Man” on vocals + bass (he was the original singer and bass player of Venom in the era in which this album was released and now he is still kicking with Venom Inc.), Snowy Shaw (ex-Mercyful Fate, ex-King Diamond, ex-Memento Mori, etc.) on drums, Damna on vocals + rhythm guitars, Aydan on solo guitar + keyobards and Lethien on the violin.”
Ever since their inception in 1997, Elvenking mastered their way to their own identity with courage and bravado, leaving behind the shackles of genres step by step before they truly broke out with their 2014 monument “The Pagan Manifesto”. Elvenking have been defying all genres, now feeling quite at home in their very own enchanted realm. With “Rapture”, the Italian collective has unleashed part two of their monumental Reader Of The Runes trilogy, and an epic metal quest of woe and despair, wrought with mysterious figures, dark magic and an altogether mesmerizing autumnal flair reminiscent of a forest glade during an Indian Summer. It’s more than just a metal album. It’s a moving story set to fabulous songs, bridging the gap between fantasy and reality. Many times before, Elvenking have weaved powerful magic into the world. This time, they truly came into their own, wresting their best effort yet from a global pandemic.
The band is currently in the studio, working on a new album to be released in the hopefully not so distant future. Furthermore, ELVENKING just recently announced an extensive US and Canadian tour as special guests of ALESTORM. Find all upcoming live dates listed below!
US & Canada 2024, w/ ALESTORM Mar 19 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s Mar 20 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Elevation Mar 22 – Toronto, ON @ The Concert Hall Mar 23 – Montreal, QC @ MTELUS Mar 24 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place Mar 26 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Mar 27 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Mar 29 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave Mar 30 – Omaha, NE @ The Admiral Apr 02 – Winnipeg, MB @ The Park Theatre Apr 03 – Saskatoon, SK @ Coors Event Centre Apr 05 – Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall Apr 06 – Calgary, AB @ The Palace Theater Apr 08 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom Apr 09 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Apr 10 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Apr 12 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades Apr 13 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory Apr 15 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater Apr 16 – Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theatre Apr 18 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom Apr 19 – St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag Apr 20 – Indianapolis, IN @ Old National Centre Apr 21 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
GIRLSCHOOL have announced the first dates of their “Final USA Tour” 2024 , with special guests: ALCATRAZZ and LILLIAN AXE.
The band comment:
We are very excited to announce the first leg of our return to the USA – for the first time in nearly a decade…and for what will be our final full tour of the United States.
Also with us on this package we have the brilliant Alcatrazz and Lillian Axe. Our agency and management are making every effort to get us to as many cities as possible, and as always it’s all about where there is promoter interest, so even if you have to travel a little bit — we would love to see you there at one of the shows! More Eastcoast and Westcoast dates will be announced in the coming weeks… Cheers you lot – Girlschool.
GIRLSCHOOL North American Dates (w/ Alcatrazz + Lillian Axe): More dates TBA
03/21: Houston, TX @ Hell’s Heroes Festival* 03/22: New Orleans, LA @ Southport Music Hall 03/24: Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West 03/25: Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre 03/27: Bensalem, PA @ Broken Goblet 03/28: Washington, DC @ Black Cat 03/29: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club 03/30: New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre 04/02: Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall 04/06: Detroit, MI @ Token Lounge *Girlschool Only
Pre-sales for Boston MA and NYC start today, November 30
03/29: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club Pre-sale Info: Citizens Live presale Thursday 11/30 from 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. EST. No password, all you need to unlock this presale is the first six digits of your Citizens Banks card. Live Nation presale Thursday 11/30 from 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. EST, password is BACKSTAGE.
3/30: New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre Pre-sale Info: Live Nation Presale: Thursday, November 30 at 10:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M. EST (pw: BACKSTAGE) Ticketmaster Presale: Thursday, November 30 at 10:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M. EST (pw: STAR)
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
