Icelandic RING OF GYGES present the first single and video, “Parasite”, from their forthcoming album “Metamorphosis” (which will be released via ViciSolum Productions on May 19). An amazingly vivid and beautifully thought-provoking piece of art, which will make fans of bands like Leprous, Port Noir and Haken thrilled.
Ring of Gyges about the video: “We spent a very cold couple of days out in the breathtaking landscapes and adorable little villages of South-Western Iceland with our fantastic director Gaui and a fantastic cast of actors, creating the video for our latest single Parasite. Fun fact: one of the scenes is filmed inside the home of the local sheriff in Guðjóns hometown. We hope you enjoy it at least half as much as we enjoyed making it, although Gísli has insisted on a warmer location for the next shoot”.
Rockshots Records is proud to announce their signing of WALK WITH TITANS for the release of their debut album “Olympian Dystopia” on May 26th, 2023. Based in Montreal, Canada, the band’s goal is to bring all the epic elements you’d expect from a power metal band with a twist of Greek Mythology. On “Olympian Dystopia” the quintet showcases their writing and technical skills.
Efficient, epic, well executed, heavy, and mythical, this is what power metal fans will discover during 50 minutes of “Olympian Dystopia” brought forth by Nikko Cyr (drums), Nick Maugy (rhythm guitar), Louis Jacques (lead guitar) (ex-Blackguard), Lydz Grondin (bass), and Jonathan Vézina (vocals & orchestrations).
”We wanted to make a straightforward power metal album without compromising the epic side. I think listeners will realize that and enjoy it. We made this album during the pandemic and it kept us sane, we hope fans will find the same joy in listening to it as we had to make it! We bring some ancient Greek Myths to the forefront like Eurydice and Herakles, while others are more subtle like ‘Edge of Time’, which is Khronos representing time eating us all. Other tracks on the record we made as an analogy for societal issues.” adds guitarist Louis Jacques.
Today, the band presents their first story and single accompanied by a music video. Entitled “Seven Against Thebes“, the track tells the tale of the seven champions in Greek mythology who made war on Thebes, Adrastus, Amphiaraus, Capaneus, Hippomedon, Polynices, Tydeus, and Parthenopaeus. They were chosen by Adrastus, the king of Argos, to be the captains of an Argive army whose purpose was to restore Oedipus’ son Polynices to the Theban throne.
”This song is very ”in your face”. We wanted to make a fast song with a very epic catchy chorus, I think we succeeded here. This song is about the myth of the two Oedipus’ sons who fought to the death over the city of Thebes. The bridge solo section is very fast and intense, as a battle could be. We unleash everything on the stage when we play this one.” says guitarist Louis Jacques
Track Listing: 1. Herakles (4:08) 2. Edge of Time (4:34) 3. Gods of the Pantheon (5:53) 4. As Titans Fall (4:36) 5. Lost Ways (4:28) 6. Final Dawn (5:31) 7. Gift of Fire feat. Renato Osório (5:38) – Guest guitar solo by Renato Osório (Atomic Elephant, ex-Hibria) 8. Lost Paradise (5:17) 9. Seven Against Thebes (4:16) 10. Eurydice (5:46) Album Length: 50:22
Album Credits: Album Artwork: Jean-Michel Lima Logo and album cover layout: Jivago Raymond Booklet Layout: Simon Bertrand Recordings: Nick Maugy and Louis Jacques, and vocals were at Silverwings Studio by Jonathan Lefrançois Mix and Mastering: Francis Gagné from Progressive Acoustics Drums on the Album: Martin Plante (session drummer) Music by Walk With Titans Guest solo on ”Gift of Fire” by Renato Osório (ex-Hibria) Lyrics: Jonathan Vézina, Louis Jacques, and David Zinay (lost paradise, final dawn)
Walk With Titans is: Drums : Nikko Cyr Rythm Guitar : Nick Maugy Lead Guitar : Louis Jacques Bass Guitar : Lydz Grondin Vocals & Orchestrations : Jonathan Vézina
TRUTH DECAYED have released their anticipated second chapter of ‘Faded Visions’, the first single from ‘Faded Visions II’ called ‘Death By Design’, today, Friday 17 March (produced by Kris Xenopoulos from Vulvodynia). After the stout impetus and triumph of ‘Faded Visions I’ in 2022, the KZN-based quartet is primed and set to elevate things to a blistering next level!
Warren Jones (Guitar) “Death by design was a very smooth and enjoyable song to record. Playing it live is even better. Even though Death By Design is so enjoyable, it has a darker meaning of we were designed to behave a certain way in society and contribute to a system that has crushed our dreams and aspirations. Death By Design’s intentions is to give some hope, that those seeking to make a difference in their lives don’t stand alone.”
Daniel Philogene (Drums) “Death By Design has been a great song to work on as it’s our first recorded song as the new band line-up. It feels as it’s shaped Truth Decayed into a more solid direction of where the music is going. It’s a very groovy and powerful song with super memorable vocals. Having used live performances to test the waters with new material, Death by design has only had very positive feedback from our audience.”
Renz Kruger (Bass) “For me as the newest member of Truth Decayed, the recording process for Death By Design was extremely smooth and very enjoyable. Death By Design has got some brutal guitar riffs and some slick solo parts along with some smooth and groovy bass lines that blends in well with some dynamic drumming elements and not to mention, powerful and deep lyrics. Mix that all up together in a big pot and you get … Death By Design. Playing Death By Design live especially is even more enjoyable as the vibe and energy with the crowd participation is powerful and extremely fulfilling.”
Ryno Theron (Vocals & Guitar) “I feel Death By Design captures the sound of Truth Decayed’s most solid and cohesive lineup to date. It has become somewhat of an anthem at live shows, and the crowd’s reaction really makes us feel it was a step in the right direction.”
Architects of life, empowering, the oppressing kind Creating uncertainty, leeching, destroying your dreams Apoptosis, hypnosis
Trigger the cells impulse Entangling life’s repulse Ceasing to form at all Apoptosis, forming the call Inducing, psychosis
Death by design You’re running out of time Racing to the grave To the ego, you’re a slave Forming your core too late
Deciding life through hate Broken promises are a state Sealing your broken fate Inducing, psychosis
Death By Design You’re running out of time Racing to the grave To the ego you’re a slave Death by design
Recorded At: Vision Studios Mixed And Mastered By: Kris Xenopoulos Produced By: Daniel Philogene Author: Warren Jones Composer: Truth Decayed
Truth Decayed are Ryno Theron (Vocals & Guitar) Warren Jones (Guitar) Daniel Philogene (Drums) Renz Kruger (Bass)
Truth Decayed hail from Durban, South Africa, and started during lockdown early 2020. The quartet combines the talents of seasoned musicians from varied bands craftily collected by founders and long-time friends Warren Jones and Ryno Theron.
Mere weeks from formation, the band unleashed their debut single ‘Modern Day Illusion’ that earned them a top position on France The Planet’s ‘Metal Madness Week Competition’ on BurgStudio. This was closely followed by winning the Battle of the Bands with ‘The Metal Lab UK’. Their debut EP ‘Modern Day Illusion’ and Music Video for ‘Opposing Direction’ soon followed and received critical acclaim from numerous renowned global media channels, with positive reviews in magazines like Metal Hammer.
During 2021 Truth Decayed proudly represented South Africa on the global stage on international Online Festivals like SUBGB Festival de Música (Colombia), Heresy Fest (Argentina), Caio Indica Fest (Brazil), Larva Fest (Peru), La Ley del Rock (Argentina & Italy), Music Entropia (Greece), as well as the World Of Metal Online Festival (Portugal) where they opened for icons Venom, Rotting Christ, Anvil and Iron Saviour. Truth Decayed also enjoyed frequent Radio play from notable stations like Wacken Radio, Heavy Radio, and their track ‘Opposing Direction’ featured on the Greece Compilation ‘In The Sign Of Chaos Vol 3’ and ‘PTSD’ on the US Compilation ‘Rage Against Cancer’ from Malevolence Records.
In 2022 Truth Decayed unleashed the first part of ‘Faded Visions’, with the singles ‘PTSD’, ‘Faded Visions’, and ‘Absolute War’ receiving critical acclaim. The Music Video for ‘Faded Visions’ had its premiere with HEAVY Magazine in Australia (and Truth Decayed also feature on the cover of the latest Magazine Edition). The full ‘Faded Visions I’ had its Exclusive Worldwide Premiere with Metal Injection. The release was supported with extensive shows in South Africa. After the success of ‘Faded Visions I’, the KZN-based quartet is primed and set to elevate things to a blistering next level in 2023 with ‘Faded Visions II’, starting with the new single ‘Death By Design’ (produced by Kris Xenopoulos from Vulvodynia, who also produced ‘Faded Visions I’).
Tokyo’s death metal trailblazer DEFILED will be releasing a brand new album, ‘The Highest Level,’ on April 28, 2023 via Season of Mist! The band is now sharing the title track from the album, which can be found at THIS LOCATION.
DEFILED comments, “We are happy to release ‘The Highest Level,’ the title track of our new album. The intention of the track is to capture the nostalgia of the late 80’s and early 90’s transition from thrash metal to death metal and bring it into the 21st century with our own interpretation. How will this track sound to you in 2023? It is not exactly the same as it was back then, but we hope you enjoy it.”
‘The Highest Level’ can be pre-ordered HERE and pre-saved on streaming services HERE.
Moreover, 2023 marks a seminal year for DEFILED as it celebrates three decades since the release of their first demo and twenty years since the Japanese death dealers formed a union with Season of Mist!
The band will be celebrating this release with a headlining tour of Japan starting from April 28 until it concludes on May 10. Then, then band will join HATE and VADER for three Japanese dates in June. The full itinerary can be found below!
The artwork for ‘The Highest Level’ was created by Wes Benscoter.
Track-list: 1. Off-limits (02:35) [WATCH] 2. Stealth (03:11) 3. The Highest Level (03:17) [WATCH] 4. Entrapped (03:16) 5. The Status Quo (02:32) 6. Warmonger (02:37) 7. Demonization (03:29) 8. Inquisition (03:39) 9. Madness Accelerated (02:11) 10. Delusion (02:54) 11. Only the Strongest Survive (02:54) 12. Red World (04:06) 13. The Last Straw (03:25) 14. Requiem (02:43) 15. The Speech (00:36) Total (43:17)
DEFILED Live Dates (Japan 2023): 28 Apr 23 Yokohama (JP) El Puente 29 Apr 23 Tokyo (JP) Earthdom 30 Apr 23 Sendai (JP) Solfa 01 May 23 Koriyama (JP) Peak Action 02 May 23 Niigata (JP) Flower Pop 03 May 23 Nagano (JP) The Venue 04 May 23 Nagoya (JP) Daytrive 05 May 23 Kyoto (JP) Trust 06 May 23 Osaka (JP) Hokage 07 May 23 Takamatsu (JP) Toonice 08 May 23 Syunan (JP) Rise 09 May 23 Fukuoka (JP) Reflex 10 May 23 Okayama (JP) Ark 09 Jun 23 Tokyo (JP) WWW (Vader + Hate) 10 Jun 23 Nagoya (JP) Holiday Next (Vader + Hate) 11 Jun 23 Osaka (JP) Zeela (Vader + Hate)
When it comes to straight-forward, bone-crushing death metal, Tokyo’s DEFILED delivers! ‘The Highest Level’ stays true to the traditional death metal formula, while the band’s gritty songwriting approach lends to its authenticity. DEFILED attempts to make no frills with this new full-length, instead speaking directly to the sensibility of old school death metal fanatics who are simply looking for some face-melting violence!
The early 90s was a crucial and formative time for death metal, a genre that started to predominantly emerge in the west with bands like Decide, Cannibal Corpse, Autopsy, Obituary, and Morbid Angel having a stronghold on America while Entombed, Cadaver, Carcass, and many others started to make waves in Europe and the U.K. But across the vast Pacific Ocean, DEFILED was taking a cue from its peers and became one of Asia’s leading purveyors during the genre’s early inception.
Upon releasing a series of demos and EPs during the mid-90s, the Japanese powerhouse finally released its first full-length, ‘Erupted Wrath,’ via Nightfall Records. Upon its release, the band broke out of Asia and started to make its debut in America across the extreme metal fest circuit – performing twice at Milwaukee Metal Fest as well as appearing at November to Dismember in Texas.
The band kept busy during the turn of the century while continuing to build their profile and dominate metal audiences around the globe and by 2003, they formed a union with Season of Mist, where the band has become one of the label’s most consistent death metal mainstays. Since then, the band has released six full-length albums, the majority of which are under the Season of Mist banner.
As the band celebrates thirty years since its legacy was formed, they are ready to unleash another pummelling offering onto the masses. ‘The Highest Level’ still carries the same time-tested formula that Defiled established three decades ago, remaining true to their identity, and still carrying the torch as one of the genre’s founding fathers.
Modern metal pioneers SYLOSIS, helmed by Josh Middleton who also plays guitar for metalcore giants ARCHITECTS, have revealed the video for their vicious new single ‘Deadwood’. The band’s first new music of 2023 is a snarling cut of holistic savagery.
SYLOSIS mastermind Josh Middleton comments “We’ve never pushed so hard to create something as special as this new music! Deadwood is the first taste of what is to be a very busy year of new Sylosis music…more news to come. Our focus is to write the best modern metal and it’s very exciting to see a new scene of metal fans and bands emerging for us all to keep developing and growing!”
The band’s latest record, Cycle Of Suffering, was released back in February 2020 via Nuclear Blast Records, following a three year hiatus, and showcased the band at their most versatile and compelling. The album was heralded by fans and critics alike, and saw the band headline a sold out show at London’s Islington Assembly Hall prior to the ceasing of live events.
MAJUSTICE have released a video for “Ancestral Recall”, the title track from their upcoming debut album. It can be viewed below.
This song features the soaring vocals of Iuri Sanson (Eternity’s End) and shredding fretboard pyrotechnics of guitarists Jien Takahashi and Kelly Simonz.
Ancestral Recall will be released by Marquee/Avalon in Japan on March 22, 2023, and worldwide on March 24 via FC Metal. Ancestral Recall has a special guest performance from legendary vocalist Mike Vescera (ex-LOUDNESS/ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) who delivers incendiary lead vocals on two songs, “Now Your Turn” and ”Infinite Visions”. The video for “Now Your Turn” can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/L9d2XiqCZoQ
And “Temple of the Divided World” features the leather-lunged vocals of Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear) in a duet with Iuri. The video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/Q-jH66rp_l0
MAJUSTICE is a Japan-based multinational power metal band formed in 2021 by guitarist Jien Takahashi (STORMHEART), who was heavily influenced by Timo Tolkki’s composition skills (during the “classic” STRATOVARIUS period), as well as the guitar wizardry of Marty Friedman and Yngwie Malmsteen.
MAJUSTICE features the powerful vocals of Iuri Sanson (ETERNITY’S END), the genius of keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij (RING OF FIRE), and the fretboard pyrotechnics of guitarist Kelly Simonz (KELLY SIMONZ’s BLIND FAITH). The lineup is rounded out by bassist Kaz Nakamura and drummer Yosuke Ibuki.
The band’s debut album is titled Ancestral Recall, and features the tracks “Ancestral Recall”, “Tears Of The Sky”, and ”Temple Of The Divided World”. In addition, 4 songs written by Timo Tolkki appear on the album: “Sonata Black”, “Dangerous”, “Infinite Visions”, and “You Rock My World”; originally slated to appear on an album by Timo’s now-defunct band INFINITE VISIONS, these songs were acquired by MAJUSTICE and given new life.
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 