SYK Sign with Season of Mist Ahead of New Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 2, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Filippo De Dionigi

Season of Mist is proud to welcome syk to their label!

It’s fitting that syk have become one of the most twisted bands in extreme metal. After all, these Italians have successfully navigated a decade of twists and turns. Stefano Ferrian started the band in 2013, and while their lineup and labels have changed, the music has remained pleasantly unexpected. 

“We just haven’t heard anything even remotely like this before”, said New Noise about syk’s second album ‘I-Optikon’. Not to be outdone, last year’s follow-up ‘Pyramiden’ earned them a nomination from the Progspace Awards.       

Signing with Season of Mist isn’t the only thing that’s new about syk. Not only does the band have a new lineup that pushes Ferrian front and center, they’re working on a new album that’s scheduled to come out sometime next year.

“We still can’t believe that we’re signing to Season of Mist!” says syk. “SOM has always been one of the leading metal labels out there. They’ve released a huge number of our favorite acts in the current metal scene. Being part of their roster is just incredible. We’re so grateful and excited to be cherished by such a metal colossus! It’s definitely an opportunity that we didn’t want to miss. A new syk era is about to begin!”

Stay tuned for updates on syk’s forthcoming fourth album ‘eartHFlesh’.

Lineup
Stefano Ferrian – guitars, vocals
Marcello Cravini: guitars
Alan La Roca: bass
Federico Leone: drums

syk found the light back in 2013. Stefano Ferrian and Federico De Bernardi had already played together as members of Psychofagist, but once that band broke up, they decided to start a new one.

Ferrian and De Bernardi recruited Dalila Kayros after being impressed by her vocals while on tour. On May 1, 2014, their first album as syk was released through L’Inphantile Collective.

Later that same year, syk were contacted by Philip H. Anselmo at Housecore Records. Anselmo liked ‘Atoma’ so much that he offered to produce their next album. Metal Trenches called their follow-up ‘I-Optikon’ “unlike anything else I have heard”.

With second guitarist Marcello Cravini now in tow, Syk toured Europe for most of 2017 and 2018. They supported Godflesh and tore through Roadburn Festival, before De Bernardi stepped away from the band for personal reasons in 2019.  

Despite looking long and hard, syk didn’t find a new drummer until late 2020, when Mauro Maraldo joined the band. Immediately, the band went into the studio to record ‘Pyramiden’, which earn a nomination from the ProgSpace Awards in a category that included Cult of Luna and Allegaeon.

Unfortunately, after releasing their last album, Maraldo and Kayros also left the band for personal reasons. But since syk is all about evolution, Ferrian and Cravini decided to continue on with a new lineup. Alan La Roca joined on bass, while Federico Leone took his place behind the drums.

Even though syk has always been guided by his vision, the biggest difference about the band’s new lineup is that Ferrian has stepped up to the mic. As a result, ‘eartHFlesh’, their upcoming album for Season of Mist, sounds even angrier, while still staying plenty progressive.

Follow syk
https://www.instagram.com/syk_officialband
https://www.facebook.com/syk.official
https://syk-official.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwGCWRkavCbr7DanM6W7wvw

NEVER OBEY AGAIN Release Official Audio for Fourth Single ‘9:45’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 2, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Roberto Vinciguerra

Italian modern metallers NEVER OBEY AGAIN have released an official audio stream for ‘9:45’, fourth single taken from the debut album ‘The End of an Era’ to be released on September 22nd via Scarlet Records.

‘The End of an Era’ combines dramatic and introspective melodies, heavy precise riffs and layers of electronic landscapes which create the perfect scenario to welcome the powerful voice of charismatic frontwoman Carolina. 

The Never Obey Again debut album represents the purest and deepest needing of an artistic expression of 5 experienced musicians who found their own space in this piece of work; the record felt like it was created by itself as every little idea fell perfectly into place at first attempt. 

The main goal of ‘The End of an Era’ is dragging the listeners into experiencing the song and allowing them to wear the lyrics and the atmosphere of every single track on their own skin.

  • recorded at Never Obey Again Studio, Voghera (Italy)
  • artwork by Alessandro Tuvo and Alex Pedrotti
  • for fans of Evanescence, Halestorm, Linkin Park, In This Moment, Spiritbox, Paramore

NEVER OBEY AGAIN:

Carolina Bertelegni – vocals
Alessandro Tuvo – guitar
Alex Pedrotti – guitar
Cristiano Trappoli – bass
Matteo Malchiodi – batteria

DYECREST Reveal Title Track of New Album “Once I Had A Heart”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 2, 2023
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Powerful melodic Finnish metallers DYECREST (ft. members Metal de Facto, Thy Row, Everfrost, Kiowan Dynamo) are now streaming the second glimpse of their forthcoming album “Once I Had A Heart” due out at the end of September 2023 via Rockshots Records.

The album’s title track, this second song from the full-length tells the story of a person who’s thinking back on his life and reflecting on whether he has made the right decisions or not.

Drummer Niko Takala explains the single in further detail:

“This one ended up being the title track of the album, and it was one of the new tracks written on the album. Probably the newest one together with “Oathkeeper”. I remember well the moment we got the song’s chorus together. We were just humming the melody lines together with the guys and had the biggest of smiles on our faces! It’s got to be one of the best choruses we’ve ever written!”

Listen to “Once I Had A Heart” on all digital platforms at https://bfan.link/once-i-had-a-heart-1

The band’s first single “Colder” is also available at the following links:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/iSWG7fZoGa0​
Listen – https://bfan.link/DyecrestColder

Dyecrest’s new album “Once I Had A Heart” features nine melodic melancholic tracks to follow their 2019 EP “The Stage Is Set” and 2018 album “Are You Not Entertained?”. Seven of the nine songs are brand new songs and two are a bit older but weren’t properly recorded at any point. This new record has some new “twists” in the songs, but still, the trademarks that Dyecrest is known for with their pounding and powerful anthems and strong vocal melodies with big choirs, accompanied by flashing guitar solos.

“The album overall is a tighter package than any previous Dyecrest album, and it lifts the band to a whole new level, for sure! On the album, there are some songs which have been written already some years ago (for example “Read My Mind” and “Man Made God”) as well as brand new songs, such as the title track “Once I Had a Heart”, the crushing opener “Sacred Sleep”, the bouncing and heavy “Oathkeeper” and the majestic and powerful half-ballad “Fire From Your World”, which also ends the album with it’s the heartbreaking atmosphere.” adds Niko Takala.

Guitarist Matti Pasanen also adds:

“This is the album, which in my opinion reflects the sound of Dyecrest in the best way so far. Heavy, yet atmospheric and also a bit progressive musical elements are combined with meaningful lyrics and intriguing melodies!

On this album we were able to build up layers, which aren’t “chewed ready for you”, but which you have to find out by listening to the songs over and over again. Those layers can be found both in compositions as well in lyrics. “Once I Had a Heart” is truly the album out of which I can honestly say “Hey, check this out, THIS IS DYECREST!”

This time the Dyecrest-way of songwriting (meaning that we are writing the songs as they were meant purely and just for ourselves) has created the heaviest, catchiest, and also the most beautiful Dyecrest songs so far.”

The whole band continues:

“We want to dedicate this album in the loving memory of the band’s former singer, friend, and brother forever, Kimmo Blom. Kimmo sadly passed away in the fall of 2022. We feel privileged that there are three songs on the album which we have written with Kimmo, and that we had the chance to have him as one of the backing vocalists on the album. “One day we’ll meet and rock together again – there, Where the Light Was Born!”

“Once I Had A Heart” is due out on September 29, 2023.

PRE ORDER – https://bit.ly/DyecrestCD
PRE SAVE – https://bfan.link/once-i-had-a-heart

Track Listing:​

1. Sacred Sleep – 5:23
2. Man Made God – 4:00
3. Once I Had a Heart – 5:29
4. Oathkeeper – 4:33
5. Face the Light – 5:07
6. Read My Mind – 4:18
7. Colder – 3:39
8. The Final Act – 4:15
9. Fire From Your World – 7:10
Album Length: 43:58

More Info: Rockshots.eu | Facebook.com/dyecrestband

DISGUISED MALIGNANCE Share New Single ‘Unearthly Extinction’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 2, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photographer credit: Eero Palmu

Helsinki, Finland’s DISGUISED MALIGNANCE has today shared a new single, titled Unearthly Extinction. Unearthly Extinction is the third song to be taken from from the death metal quintet’s forthcoming debut album, Entering the Gateways, which is due to be released via Prosthetic Records on September 29.

Speaking on Unearthly Extinction‘s release, Felix Pennanen (vocals) comments: “Unearthly Extinction is a ferocious, groovy and subtly melodic track that captures the blend of different styles of death metal quite well. The erratic twists and turns together with ear-catching hooks and tasteful leads make for an intense yet memorable death metal brutalizer.”

Stream Unearthly Extinction via Apple Music | TIDAL | Deezer | Bandcamp and Spotify
Pre-order Entering the Gateways here.

DISGUISED MALIGNANCE’s formative years up until this point has seen the group operate primarily as a duo, with vocalist Felix Pennanen and bassist Aatos Palmu forming the band in 2021, and carefully constructing the band’s foundational sound of old school death metal sensibilities with a calculatedly modern view of technical songwriting embellishments. The young band’s dichotomous approach to the genre was evidenced in their early demo and 2023 promo tapes respectively, before Pennanen and Palmu found themselves with growing ambitions for the band.

Commencing writing and recording in 2022 with their core pairing, DISGUISED MALGINANCE display a musical chemistry far beyond their years on Entering the Gateways. Frenzied passages careen and jolt forward with a menacing intent, whilst swarming tremolos and an dexterous rhythmic backbone bring to mind greats such as Demilich and Crytopsy. Written specifically with a solidified quintet in mind, Entering the Gateways ushers DISGUISED MALIGNANCE’s more textured passages into the fold – look no further than Disengagement into Eternity or Remnants of Serenity – that invoke more modern death metal acts such as Tomb Mold and Blood Incantation.

Inspired heavily by Lovecraftian horror and armed with an esoterically eldritch unease at the simultaneously unknown and unknowable, Entering the Gateways oscillates between the physical and the otherworldly throughout its 34 minute runtime. DISGUISED MALIGNANCE’s ambitions to take death metal’s elemental parts and impart their own verve and voice into the genre are plain to see on their first full-length, and it’s a testament to their natural talents that Entering the Gateways stands as a bold introduction to the band.

Entering the Gateways tracklist:
1. Gates to Nihil
2. Confined
3. Unearthly Extinction
4. The Fading Path of Existence
5. Malignant Visions
6. Remanants of Serenity
7. Disengagement into Eternity
8. Beyond (Entering the Gateways)

DISGUISED MALIGNANCE is:
Felix Pennanen – vocals
Aatos Palmu – bass
Daniel Gamache – guitar
Tuure Suomalainen – guitar
Juuso Hämäläinen – drums

AWAKE THE DREAMER Release Video for Brand New Single ‘Labyrinth’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 2, 2023
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Metalcore quartet AWAKE THE DREAMER have released a video for their brand new single Labyrinth, out now via Arising Empire. An anthem of self-discovery, empowerment and liberation, Labyrinth explores breaking free from the chains of the past and rising above struggles with fierce determination. 

Stream/purchase Labyrinth here: https://arisingempire.com/labyrinth

Labyrinth is more than just a melody, it’s a declaration of the strength it takes to reclaim control and build a better future. A musical journey that celebrates the power of self-determination and the strength that comes from within.

Vocalist Max Andrén comments: 
“We are really excited to continue the next chapter of Awake The Dreamer and for all awesome things we have in store in the near future. See you out there!”

To celebrate the release of the new album, Awake the Dreamer will be touring Europe this Fall! A full list of confirmed shows can be found below.

» Dead By April – Scandinavia 2023 «
Special guests: Eyes Wide Open, Awake The Dreamer, Those Without, Paleskin

19.10.23 Sweden, Norrköping @ Dynamo
20.10.23 Sweden, Örebro @ Frimis Salonger
27.10.23 Sweden, Bollnäs @ Travrestaurangen

» Self Deception – You Are Only As Sick As Your Secrets EU Tour 2023 «
Special guests: Awake The Dreamer, Those Without

15.11.23 Germany, Bochum @ Die Trompete
16.11.23 Germany, Hamburg @ Indra Club
18.11.23 Germany, Mainz @ Schon Schön
19.11.23 Germany, Hannover @ Bei Chez Heinz
20.11.23 Germany, Stuttgart @ Im Wizemann Studio
21.11.23 Germany, Munich @ Backstage Club
22.11.23 Austria, Graz @ Explosiv
23.11.23 Austria, Vienna @ Viper Room
24.11.23 Germany, Leipzig @ Hellraiser
25.11.23 Czech Republic, Prague @ Cross Club
26.11.23 Poland, Warsaw @ VooDoo

Tickets

Formed through childhood and high school friendships in 2015, Stockholm-based quartet Awake The Dreamer released their Grow EP the following year, leading to tours in Europe and Asia alongside bands including Ice Nine Kills, Northlane, Adept and Crystal Lake.

In 2019, Awake The Dreamer released their debut album Damaged Souls via Arising Empire. The 10-track release featured guest appearances from Adept’s Robert Ljung (‘Vigilant’) and Crystal Lake’s Ryo Kinoshita in (‘Atmosphere’).

Bassist/vocalist Benjamin Turesson adds:

“Being a small band that didn’t even have an album out by the time we had toured Europe and Asia finally caught up to us, then the pandemic hit. Like that wasn’t enough, unfortunately we had former members leave the band, so it became natural for us to just start from scratch in order to redevelop a new sound. A sound which we are really happy and proud of. It feels great to start releasing music again and we are really excited to be back.“

Awake The Dreamer are:
Max Andrén | Vocals
Victor Sandberg | Guitar
Johan Norsander | Guitar

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/awakethedreamerofficial
https://twitter.com/atdbandswe
https://www.instagram.com/awakethedreamer
https://www.tiktok.com/@awakethedreamer

PALEHØRSE Unleash Captivating New Single ‘Revival’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 2, 2023
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Finnish metal act PALEHØRSE is back with another anticipated single, “Revival,” set to be released on August 31st. This straightforward rock anthem, filled with unexpected twists and turns, serves as a powerful reflection on fighting depression and isolation, and the need for a fresh start after enduring life’s challenges.

Listen here: https://orcd.co/revivalp

Led by the multitalented frontman Lassi Mäki-Kala, Palehørse has earned a devoted following with their unapologetic attitude, technical prowess, and raw intensity. “Revival” is the opening track on their upcoming album, and the band aims to mark their return from a longer-than-intended hiatus. Prepare to be captivated as Palehørse once again showcases their passion and musical brilliance in “Revival.”

Samu Honko – Drums | Lassi Mäki-Kala – Vocals / Guitar | Ville Siivonen – Bass

About Palehørse

Led by the visionary frontman Lassi Mäki-Kala, Palehørse crafts music that defies simple categorization, demanding the attention of music enthusiasts worldwide. Originally known as Amendfoil, the band has garnered rave reviews, perfect scores, and a consistent stream of live performances and festival appearances. Their self-titled album, “Palehørse,” released in spring 2019, and further solidified their position as a rising star in the genre.