Alternative metal band based in Gothenburg DREAM DROP, has truly come out on top since the live scene made a comeback after the pandemic restrictions. The band has previously been on tour with Blood Command, Smash Into Pieces and STARSET and now they are preparing for an autumn filled with new gigs. With a constant presence on social media, and a close contact with their own community, the band shows a clear creative thinking that is required to get the attention of the outside world.
Recording an album is a complex process, something Dream Drop quickly realized. The band headed to a remote mountain cabin in Norway with a mission to complete their second studio album. When they returned home, they realized that the album had not reached its full potential.
“We had been debating which direction to take and were thinking about exploring different genres even more than on our first record. But then we suddenly realized that the real challenge this time might be to create something that felt more coherent and unified sonically.” – Dream Drop
Therefore, the band decided to scrap half of the album and start from scratch. During a month-long tour filled with new experiences and inspiration, the band found a new creative spark. When the tour came to an end, it only took one week to complete the rest of the album, which will be released to the public on December 8th, 2023.
In May “Malum Supplicium”, the new album of Portuguese extreme/symphonic/black metallers CAEDEOUS, was released and is available as a comprehensive double CD edition in stores, from the band and via MDD. In addition to the regular release, the second CD contains all tracks in a purely orchestral version.
With “Obscura Ascensionis” the band has now released another video clip, from the metallic version of the album, on the MDD YouTube channel. Check it out!
Ground-breaking symphonic death metal band GENUS ORDINIS DEI (Milan, Italy) just revealed another new music video and single entitled “Genesis”. This is the second video episode and single from the band’s upcoming full-length concept album The Beginning which is scheduled to be released on December 8, 2023 via Eclipse Records. The album was produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Tommaso Monticelli at Sonitus Studio in Crema, Italy. The video series was directed by Genus Ordinis Dei, and filmed by Steve Saints.
Watch “Genesis” (Episode 2) right now, below.
“Genesis” is the second episode of The Beginning, introduces us to a new character, The Fallen, who teaches the Brother and Sister, a new truth. Symbolically, the water is a live being, representing a cascade of danger and fortune in the waterfall, and our tragic tendencies to follow false Gods, as The Sister lovingly caresses the reptilian skin of the river. Musically, hope and fear make our hearts race as the band takes us to a dangerous place where both emotions become one.
“Shooting this video near the Valbondione Waterfall and at Fedaia Lake was the most physically difficult (and complicated) experience of the entire work.” says guitarist & producer Tommy Monticelli. “The strong winds and low temperatures made the day very difficult for everyone involved. The actors were practically naked in their primitive costumes, and their ability to focus on the script was very low.Furthermore, the mist from the waterfall was constantly getting the camera lenses wet and it was impossible to shoot at certain angles and distances. Many scenes could only be shot in “one take”, and the tension level was high and we were all stressed out. In short, it was a real challenge. I remember on several occasions; we were reviewing footage during playback and Nick was shaking from the cold while the freezing mud ran down his body.Of course, all this happening to him made his performance even more credible. Do you want to know if we won this challenge? Watch the video to find out!”
(Cover art by Andrea Spoto)
The Beginning is the fourth studio album from symphonic death metal band Genus Ordinis Dei, which redefines the way we listen to music and process cinematic theater. In simpler terms, the final product is an exceptional twelve-track album and a stunning set of representative videos called “Episodes,” that directly address the way we use our senses. Interspliced in a clever foreshadowing technique, are images of blood pouring over a stone, advancing like the crooked fingers of some skeletal miscreant, and when the Brother character starts singing, we are startled into the recognition that this is not merely some standard high-quality film, but the vibrant offspring we get from a brilliant, well-produced metal album. Symbolically, the parallel is clear. We are watching exquisite savages at the dawn of existence, who are shockingly similar to us in terms of their passion, physicality, and natural tendencies toward glorified violence. More thematically, Genus Ordinis Dei shows us quite clearly that brutality is the lifeblood of society, as we still so ironically fool ourselves with carefully crafted social constructs. The Beginning is not just music. It is an experience. A red dawn. An awakening.
KALT VINDUR was established in the spring of 2015 in Dukla, Poland. After personnel changes in the line-up of Artur (Svart) on guitar, Julian (Xakhariash) on drums, Szymon (S) on bass guitar, Wojciech (Celsus) on vocals, the band recorded their first album entitled “Delusions” (2017) where keyboard & synth was recorded by U. Reck from legendary Lux Occulta.
In 2020, the second album “And Nothing Is Endless” was released on tape & CD by Witching Hour Productions (Batushka, Vader). On this record band consistently developed their own style called “subcarpathian black metal”.
In 2022, the band recorded the material for their third album entitled “Magna Mater“. The drum recordings for the new album were made by new talented drummer Rafał Chruścicki (ex-Pandrador). The band’s style has also evolved this time, making it the most mature work with some surprising changes, but at the same time a multidimensional and coherent album.
Music for new album was recorded at Regnat Studio (Dargor, Krusher) in Cieklin (PL). Mix & mastering was done by Krzysztof Kokosiński. Cover artwork and layout by Maciej Kamuda (Blut Aus Nord, Spaceslug, Sunnata).
“Magna Mater” will be released on tape, CD and winyl on January 26, 2024 by Greek label The Circle Music. Pre-order is available here.
Tracklist:
Magna Mater
Żywioły
Agonizing Luminosity
Bless Us
Possessed By Lunacy
Visions Of Purification
Mist Over Cergova
Guests:
keyboard by Marek from mysterious band MYSTHICON in song “Mist Over Cergova”
drums by Julian Zacharjasz from thrash metal band INTERCEPTOR in song “Mist Over Cergova”
keyboard by Krzysztof Kokosiński in songs “Visions Of Puryfication” and “Magna Mater”
drums by Andrzej Czujko from tech death metal KARPATHIAN RELICT in “Possessed By Lunacy”
Band already released two songs from upcoming record which you can watch&hear below.
Celsus, described the track: “Żywioły is a nod to our ancestors, whose deeds, lives and desires are reflected in each of the evoked title elements. Your relationship to spirituality, religion, etc. is not important. The energy of your predecessors is still present, even though their bodies have long since crumbled into dust. This energy drives our lives today, just as our energy will go back to the next generations.”
Svart comments song: “Bless Us is a good preview of the music contained on ‘Magna Mater’, which is a mixture of atmospheric and progressive black metal. The album consists of seven compositions including one instrumental, different from the rest of the album.“
ESPRIT D’AIR has released a cover of Iron Maiden’s classic track ‘The Trooper’, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens (KK’s Priest, ex-Judas Priest) on guest vocals, and Ben Christo (The Sisters of Mercy) on guitar to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its release.
Kai’s vocal video cover of ‘The Trooper’ on TikTok gained attention from Iron Maiden’s Official account stating, “Great Cover 🤯”, which inspired him to make it an official licensed release with Esprit D’Air. The release is accompanied by a music video filmed and edited by Charlie Smith of MindArtVisual, who produced all the music videos for KK’s Priest.
Vocalist and guitarist Kai says: “Like many metalheads, I was introduced to heavy metal with Iron Maiden. They are one of the biggest reasons why I am making music. Like for many metalheads, “The Trooper” was one of the first heavy metal songs I got into. I am honoured to team up with both Ripper and Ben on this to commemorate its 40th anniversary with our own version! We also wanted to respect the original version but also make it our own, so Ben and I wrote our own guitar solos in it.”
As featured on Loudwire, BBC Radio 1, and Kerrang! Radio, Esprit D’Air released their latest album Oceans in 2022, which entered six Official Charts, including #8 in the Rock & Metal Albums, and #5 in Album Downloads. In 2023, the band sold out their 7-day UK tour entirely and entered the Official UK Singles Charts with their single, ‘Shizuku’ (feat. Misstiq).
Esprit D’Air will be embarking on a 22-date tour across eight European countries in 2023/2024 with seven dates already sold out. Joining Kai on tour are Jan-Vincent Velazco (Pendragon, Gus G) on drums, Takeshi Tokunaga on bass, and Yusuke Okamoto and guitar, who all feature in the music video and recording.
Tim “Ripper” Owens will be on tour with KK’s Priest in October 2023 with Paul Di’Anno and Burning Witches as special guests on their “Priests, Killers & Witches” UK tour in Birmingham, Glasgow, Nottingham, Manchester, and London.
Ben Christo is currently on a 40-date European tour with The Sisters of Mercy. Ben will also be joining Esprit D’Air as a special guest in Budapest on October 10th to perform ‘Dead Zone’, a song he co-wrote with Esprit D’Air.
Esprit D’Air’s cover of Iron Maiden’s ‘The Trooper’ featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens and Ben Christo is out now on all streaming platforms.
Esprit D’Air UK/European Tour Dates
2023
Oct 8: Kraków, Poland, Klub Zaścianek (SOLD OUT) Oct 10: Budapest, Hungary, Dürer Kert (SOLD OUT) Oct 12: Barcelona, Spain, La Nau (SOLD OUT)
2024
Feb 12: Bournemouth, UK, The Old Fire Station Feb 13: Exeter, UK, Exeter Phoenix Feb 14: Bristol, UK, Thekla Feb 16: Swansea, UK, Hangar 18 Feb 18: Wolverhampton, UK, KK’s Steel Mill Feb 19: Sheffield, UK, Corporation Feb 20: Manchester, UK, Academy 3 Feb 21: Liverpool, UK, O2 Academy 2 Feb 23: Dublin, Ireland, The Grand Social (SOLD OUT) Feb 24: Belfast, UK, Oh Yeah Music Centre (SOLD OUT) Feb 26: Leeds, UK, The Warehouse Feb 27: Glasgow, UK, The Garage Feb 28: Newcastle, UK, Northumbria Uni S.U. Feb 29: Nottingham, UK, Rescue Rooms Mar 02: London, UK, The Garage Mar 29: Heerlen, the Netherlands, Poppodium Nieuwe Nor Mar 30: Hamburg, Germany, Headcrash (SOLD OUT) Mar 31: Köln, Germany, MTC (SOLD OUT) Apr 01: Antwerpen, Belgium, Kavka Oudaan
DISTORTED REFLECTION have announced the signing with Iron Shield Records for the release of their debut album “Doom Rules Eternally”, coming out in early 2024.
Furthermore the band has revealed their first official lyric video ‘Mr. Snake’ Feat. Nicholas Leptos, taken from the upcoming debut album.
Watch the official lyric video for the opening song “Mr. Snake” below.
GUESTS: Giannis Drolapas: Guitar Solo on “The Eternal Gate” Ross Friedman: Guitar Solo on “Cassandra” Nicholas Leptos: Vocals on “Mr. Snake” Cover Artwork, CD Artwork and Logo Artwork by Tomas Arfert Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Vangelis Yalamas at Fragile Studio Drums Recorded by Dionisis Christodoulatos at CFN Recordings Studio
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
