Italian apocalyptic death metal act VISION DEPRIVED will release their debut album “Self Elevating, Deep Inside The Void” on March 28th 2023 via Slaughterhouse Records.
Born from the twisted mind of Carlo Altobelli, producer and sound engineer at the Toxic Basement Studio (Cripple Bastards, Insanity Alert, Black Oath, Raw Power, Ekpyrosis, …), the band mixes early 90’s American gloomy metal with grim and dystopian imagery all captured at his iconic studio. And if for some reason the music won’t speak enough for itself, then the amazing artwork by Francesca Vecchio will further clarify what music and words won’t.
With plenty of atmosphere to spare, the band’s compositional skills astoundingly span the full reach of old school US death metal, subtly (and tastefully) touching such boundaries as grindcore and death-thrash.
The band was originally founded by drummer Carlo (Greedy Mistress, Moral Values) and bassist Aldo (Cain, Bang Bangalow), who eventually welcomed Elias (End) on guitar and Alberto (Forged In Blood, Ephyra) on vocals.
“Self Elevating, Deep Inside The Void” is its introduction to their musical abyss, 10 songs of claustrophobic and relentless riffs and hopeless lyrics for a 30 minute visceral trail.
Album tracklist:
01. Massacre Of The Truth 02. Deeper 03. Pledge Allegiance 04. Overturning Events 05. Realm Of Void 06. Lifetime Conviction 07. I Am 08. Beyond Myself 09. Mind Eraser Body 10. Randomly Somewher
All songs written and composed by Vision Deprived Produced by Carlo Altobelli Recorded, mixed and mastered @ Toxic Basement Studio by Carlo Altobelli Artwork by Francesca Vecchio Layout by Chickenbreast Band logo by Thom Brice
Line-up:
Alberto – vocals Elias – guitar Aldo – bass Carlo – drums
Progressive rock trio BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE will be releasing a brand new full-length, ‘Tempus Veritas,’ on April 14, 2023! The cover artwork, traklist, and details can be found below! In conjunction with this announcement, the band is now sharing the energetic first single, “Deny the Sun.” The song can be found along with an official music video, which was created by Alina Gordienco, at THIS LOCATION.
“‘Deny The Sun’ is the first song we wrote for ‘Tempus Veritas’ and we love how hard the riff goes!” exclaims vocalist/guitarist Paul Visser about the new single. “We’ve been pushing more and more into the technical side of our music for this album and this track is a great example of that. Lyrically, it deals with Galileo’s ideas about the central nature of the sun and the clash with religious views at the time, written from the point of view of his friend Pope Urban VIII who found himself in an impossible position and ended up condemning the astronomer. Our friend and long-time collaborator Alina Gordienco made the amazing video in LA, starring the wonderful Irina Dudyk as the sun goddess. Her work is consistently inspired and we love what she did for this song!“
Regarding the album, the Black Orchid Empire explains: “Interwoven with the fabric of our history as a species are countless opportunities for stories. Little pieces of imagined narrative, set within events we all collectively know as historical, that seek to explore what it means to be human – this is the idea behind ‘Tempus Veritas’. Whereas Semaphore looked to the future, this record reinvents the past, wondering what it was like to be inside the mind of a person living through times of consequence. Musically, we continue to seek the boundary between the savagely technical and the undeniably beautiful and attempt to push it as far as possible. We poured our entire creative beings into making this album – we sincerely hope you enjoy it.“
Pre-orders are now available HERE. The album can be pre-saved on various digital platforms HERE.
Track-list:
1. Tempus Veritas (1:24) 2. Hydrogen (3:57) 3. The Raven (3:41) 4. Last Ronin (4:27) 5. Scarlet Haze (3:42) 6. Deny The Sun (3:15) [WATCH] 7. Glory To The King (3:37) 8. Summit (3:07) 9. Weakness (2:49) 10. Vesuvius (3:44) 11. Latimer (3:43) Total: 37:26
Cover artwork: Black Orchid Empire & Ines Hernandez
BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE create huge, memorable rock music that combines heavy-hitting savagery with intense melodic beauty. Their technical, fearlessly complex grooves and gigantic sing-along choruses have already earned them a widespread fanbase.
A ferociously tight live band, BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE have toured Europe and the UK extensively, supporting Skunk Anansie, HED p.e, INME and Black Map as well as festival slots at Download, Standon Calling and Planet Rockstock. Black Orchid Empire have sealed the bands reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
Having released their debut album ‘Archetype’ (2016) to universal acclaim, BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE signed with German label Long Branch Records to release the follow up albums ‘Yugen’ (2018) and ‘Semaphore’ (2020). Both albums received stellar reviews and over 3,000,000+ combined streams.
“Tempus Veritas” is a collection of stories that seeks to find compelling imaginary narratives hidden away in what we all think of as history. Behind every milestone or major event in humanity’s long, complex past lies a treasure trove of possibilities for invention – how did Pope Urban VIII feel when confronted by his friend Galileo about the true nature of the sun? What really happened during an almost triumphant but ultimately doomed Everest attempt? What was it like to be a Norse settler amongst the Saxons; did the omens of the ancient gods begin to disappear?
In approaching “Tempus Veritas”, BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE sought collectively to push themselves both musically and thematically. Their pursuit of heaviness, melody, emotional power and rhythmic complexity has pushed them to create something they‘re immensely proud of. “Semaphore” was an album of Sci-Fi, this is an album of Hi-Fi. Tempus Veritas.
Recording studio: The Recording Studio London
Producer / sound engineer: Produced by Black Orchid Empire Paul Visser (engineer) Dobromir Vasilev (assistant engineer)
Mixing studio and engineer: The Recording Studio London Paul Visser (mix engineer)
Mastering studio and engineer: Systematic Productions Ermin Hamidovic (mastering engineer)
Line-up: Paul Visser: Vocals | Guitar Dave Ferguson: Bass | Vocals Billy Freedom: Drums
Finnish artist PIPER aka Päivi Sihvonen has rekeased her first single from the debut album “What is the heart for?” to be released later this year. Self-consciousness is a story about petrifiezing insecurity. The music on the album is based on classical music blended with blues inspirations and framed in rock sound.
Piper was born out of the desire to surrender to creativity and in her debut album “What is the Heart for?”, Päivi Sihvonen explores the themes of life. Fully written and composed by the artist herself, the songs tell the story of the woman and the piano, and life’s trials and tribulations.
Päivi also performs all songs, making the songs deeply personal and connected to her own experiences and emotions that reflect the hardships of life. Other instruments are performed by the talented Saku Anttila.
In typical expressive style of Piper, all songs originate from and around the piano. Other instruments have been added to bring the songs into rock sound.
Born out of feeling
This record is about the fleeting moments in life and the emotions that reflect those moments. Feelings are channeled into music and tune that ultimately became the titular Piper.
The lyrics and songs are a study of human feelings and emotions. I want those who listen to my music to be inspired and make their own interpretations of it, and be carried away by emtions. I hope this album, and the words in it, offers some consolidation.
Piper does not strive to be what others are, but to bring out their own story and experiences, which they can relate to and understand – through the dark and heavy shadows to the irisdecent colours of the Aurora Borealis. With a steady hand, Piper takes you through calm waters and rocky mountains.
On April 28th, ENFORCED will release their third full-length, War Remains (32 minutes of aggressive, no-frills thrash!). For a first preview of this record, the new single “Ultra-Violence” can be heard now here.
Knox Colby (vocals) comments:
“‘War Remains’ is a scathing perception of the modern crumbling world. Humanity seems imprisoned by its violent and chaotic nature; boiling over and doubling down on its own ignorance. The album contemplates and reflects upon the blight with cyclical themes rotating through the songs. It’s a hammer hitting a raw nerve.“
Pre-order War Remains now HERE: – where the album is available in the following versions: –Standard CD jewel-case –Black vinyl –Blue vinyl available from USA retail (500 copies) & CM Distro Wholesale EU and CMdistro.de (300 copies) –White vinyl available from EMP (150 copies) & Nuclear Blast (150 copies) –Red vinyl available from Enforced (limited to 300 copies) –Digital album.
Swedish Progressive Metalcore outfit ALLT have dropped a new standalone single/video: “Emanate”. Watch the clip [created by Tuomas Kurikka & Patrik Nuorteva (Riivata Visuals)] now here.
Allt comments: “
‘Emanate’ explores the theme of existentialism and the role of computers, algorithms and information in modern-day society. With all the information we could ever wish for readily available at our fingertips, keeping track of the natural world becomes increasingly difficult. When even a slight misstep in the virtual realm can incur the wrath of the hive mind, we are constantly reminded to stay in our lanes, consume and be docile. Stray, and you may face erasure. The video, art and lyrics concept is heavily inspired by modern-day Sci-Fi classics like Blade Runner, Ex Machina & The Matrix.”
Founded in 2020 in Karlskoga, Sweden, Allt blend down-tuned riffs with soaring melodies and orchestral arrangements to create their distinctive dark and emotive sound. The members have a shared love for nature and cinematography, which shines through in the music, and many of their songs and lyrics are directly inspired by literary works or movies. Putting old memories, experiences or scenes into music is one of the band’s main inspirations.
On April 7th, TRIBULATION will unleash their upcoming EP, Hamartia. Last year, the quartet dropped the title track for Hamartia as a standalone release (which can be heard HERE); now, they’re back with another single/video from this record: “Axis Mundi”. Stream this new song now HERE; watch the official video (directed by Johan Bååth in collaboration with Astrid Bergdahl) here: HERE.
Adam Zaars (guitars) comments:
“‘Axis Mundi’ sees Tribulation entering The Machine Age through the lens of dystopian fiction in a journey to the centre of the world, and beyond. Being the first composition by Joseph Tholl (guitars), it offers the listener and the viewer a new set of flavours and hues to the palate, and from the palette that constitutes the egregore that is Tribulation. A new year calls for a fresh start, so please consider making this a part of the soundtrack to yours.”
Pre-order Hamartia now HERE – where the EP is available in the following versions: –Ltd. CD Digipak, –180g black vinyl, –Lilac vinyl available from CM Distro Wholesale EU and CMdistro.de (limited to 500 copies), –Transparent blue vinyl available from Tribulation (limited to 300 copies), –Digital EP
Chief Shock Video
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
Ads
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 ) 