Australian groove metal sensation CARBON BLACK proudly presents the official music video for the track “Under Order” featuring the legendary Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens. The captivating video, directed by Adam Jordan and starring the talented Shakira Pacana, serves as a visual masterpiece that perfectly complements the band’s energy and lyrical intensity. The video won two awards in the 2022 Euro Video Song Awards in the categories “Best Rock Music Video” and “Best Action Music Video”.
“Under Order” is a gripping musical journey that delves into the realms of exhaustion, despair, and societal corruption. With its dark and intense portrayal of societal decay, personal struggle, and the moral implications of power, the track serves as a potent anthem for those seeking truth in an increasingly tumultuous world.
“We wanted to make a video that showed an everyday person going about their daily grind, but suffering from crippling self-doubt and internal conflict at every turn. The catchphrase from the beginning was “Beware the enemy within”, and our director Adam Jordan captured this perfectly. Shakira is a professional stuntwoman and MMA fighter, she was so dedicated to her action scenes that it was inspiring to watch! “ – Steve Giles (drums)
Capturing the essence of Carbon Black’s unique sound, “Under Order” is taken from their forthcoming album, ‘We Remain’ Special Edition, scheduled to be released on July 14th, 2023, via Wormholedeath label. The album was mixed by legendary Producer Kevin ‘Caveman’ Shirley (Dream Theater, Iron Maiden) in his studio in Manly, Sydney during the lockdown. Kevin lends his immense experience to a truly thunderous mix that sets the bar higher than ever.
Carbon Black’s lineup includes Jonathan Hurley on vocals, Steve Giles on drums and percussion, Rob Giles on bass guitar, and Damon Bishop on guitar. The band’s blend of social and political commentary and a lot of heart has earned them a loyal following and critical acclaim.
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Italy’s avant-garde, one-man black metal band, HIEMS,reveals details of its third studio album and first since 2009. “Stranger in a Wasteland” will be released on September 8th via Agonia Records in physical and digital formats.
HIEMS was launched in 1996 by Italian songwriter & multi-instrumentalist Alessandro “Algol” Comerio. “Stranger in a Wasteland” marks his third outing and is the sound of an artist confident in his craft. Recorded during lock-down, the music captures the dismal feelings of alienation and detachment, and translates them into malevolent, minimalistic and non-canonical black metal, infused with dark hard rock and ominous grooves. In comparison with “Worship or Die” – the second and last installment from 2009 – “Stranger in a Wasteland” boasts a much clearer and refined production, which added a commanding character to the vocals, exposed the weight of the guitars, and sharpened the overall listening experience. The topic of death – closely followed by a sense of not belonging – is equally present in the musical and lyrical layer of the album.
“It’s been a long time since the last Hiems record,” recalls Comerio. “I’ve always continued to write material, but only when the pandemic gave me some free time was I able to gather the songs written in the past years and shape them. I chose the name of the record to highlight the song that is the best representation of my vision of life and the current world. I feel like a stranger wherever I go. I can’t find any religion or philosophy with which I can completely agree, and today’s world seems to me a wasteland; destroyed and forgotten. So yeah, I do feel like a stranger in a wasteland. It’s about not belonging to any creed or flag. To follow your own path, even if it leads to loneliness. Regarding the production, I’m a sound maniac. I spent days and days in the studio, searching for the sound I had in mind. I wanted the record to sound different from actual ‘plastic’ metal, so I chose not to use triggers or artificial reverbs and go completely old school.”
“Stranger in a Wasteland” was recorded at Elfo Studio (Forgotten Tomb), engineered by Daniele Mandelli and mixed and produced by Daniele Mandelli and Alessandro “Algol” Comerio. The album was mastered at La Maestà Studio (Muse) by Giovanni Versari and comes with artwork by Adam Burke (Solstafir, Enforcer). Layout illustrations (medieval engravings) were provided by Davide Schileo. Guest appearances include Gabriel Minuta (guest guitars), Paolo Apollo Negri (guest hammond organs) and Elisabetta Marchetti (guest vocals).
Tracklisting: 1. A Night on the Bare Mountain 2. Death Unites Us 3. Master of Lies 4. March! 5. The Rites of Terror 6. Bereavement 7. Better Off Dead 8. Stranger In A Wasteland 9. Quietus
In celebration of their 40th anniversary last year, British thrash metal pioneers ONSLAUGHT reissued their latest three studio albums “Sounds Of Violence“ (2011), “VI” (2013) and “Generation Antichrist” (2020) as red 180 gram Vinyl editions in gatefold sleeve and a special anniversary edition of “Sounds Of Violence” as a 2-CD digipak including a bonus CD. A brand new music video for one of the colossal title tracks, “Generation Antichrist”, is now premiering here:
“It’s cool to hear the sonic assault of the title track from the last Onslaught studio album, Generation Antichrist, hitched up to the energetic visuals of the headline show that we put on for the UK’s Bloodstock Festival,” the band comments. “It keys things off nicely for a new level of total aggression we’ve got planned for you all coming real soon…watch this space!”
Earlier in 2022, ONSLAUGHT were inducted into the “Metal Hall of Fame”, being characterized as “one of the most ferocious, explosive and controversial metal bands ever to come out of the UK.” ONSLAUGHT belong to one of the most influential and respected bands of their genre. To date, they have released seven studio albums, one compilation, four singles and two live recordings: a live album and a live DVD. ONSLAUGHT‘s much-acclaimed anniversary LP re-releases, which belong into every well-sorted thrash metal record collection, are available via the AFM Records store at THIS LOCATION!
ONSLAUGHT Live: 30.06-02.07.2023 NL – Pitfest / Oude Meerdijk, Emmen 05.-08.07.2023 GER – Rockharz / Ballenstedt
EMPIIRES – hailing from Dallas, Texas – are super stoked to be releasing their version of this epic song “Wrapped Around Your Finger”. . The recording process was a great experience for the band. Producer Eddie Wohl pushed them every day to bring out their best performances. Mad respect to him for his patience, discipline, and all knowing musical wisdom.
The Aaron Fairooz video production was equally as exciting, great to see all those visions come together. Thanks to the record label and everyone that made this possible!
“Wrapped Around Your Finger” is streaming on Spotify or visit FEATURE.FMto find other streaming platforms.
EMPIIRES are Bishop Booker – Vocals Darren Wise – Guitar Matthew Gene – Bass Kyle Garrison – Drums
Pagan metal quintet ARKONA have revealed an official music video for their beautiful synth-driven track “Ugasaya”, just in time for the release of their new album, Kob’, also out today! Conceptually, the album is a catabasis depicting humanity’s gradual descent into the abyss. Every problem of humanity is indicated in the album in the order of its inevitable occurrence.
Surrounded by tormented nature, the official music video for “Ugasaya” reflects the broken soul of Mother Earth and the dystopian world we are living in. Bone-dry earth surrounds a former beautiful lake as ARKONA perform their doom metal-inspired song. The shattering and dreadful scenery merges the rhythmic synths and a grooving baseline, creating a turbulent atmosphere with the depths of Masha’s growls and heartbreaking screams.
ARKONA on the new music video for “Ugasaya”: “Ugasaya” is the third step out of 6, which humanity is consciously taking down the path into the abyss, thus dooming all human race to total annihilation. This song tells about an ecological catastrophe, the inevitable result of the insane deeds committed by human beings throughout their entire existence and worthless living at the expense of the endless suffering of Mother Earth. It’s about natural cataclysms and disasters, as consequences of human intervention in the desire to rise above the true divine essence of nature, resulting in all the elements rebel against the humans, and nature, initially being the only parent – Creator, killing its insensitive and selfish child.”
“At the beginning of the song, you can hear the parable by the Soviet filmmaker Konstantin Lopushansky, which states: “Look at yourself, human! For there is nothing more beautiful than you. Lies – that’s your name, and hypocrisy – that’s your deeds. Everything you touch will be desecrated: the living and the dead, trees and stones of planets, air, animals and fish. Everything will be poisoned, everything will be distorted…”
ARKONA on the new album, Kob’: “We’re enormously proud to present you our new album, Kob’, which is finally ready to step out into this world in its full glory. Clad in a black robe, it’s prepared to reveal itself in the image of the many-faced and majestic death, which inevitably leads us along an invisible thread, by the whisper of a prophetic divination spell called Kob’. Close your eyes. Led by the Universal Darkness that has risen from the grave, taste the flesh of a blatant bloody reality. Drink the tears of Mother Earth’s sufferings. Take your filthy skin off your innocent face, in order to be cleansed from the suffering received during the dark power of epidemics and wars which were created by your pure, gentle hands. For you are a human and the world hasn’t seen anything more beautiful than you….”
Preparing listeners for the first step into the abyss, the album opener “Izrechenie. Nachalo” (ENG: The Speech. The Beginning) gently takes the listener’s hand, leading them into trancelike realms of ominous whispers and murmuring voices – a recurring motif on the album. Dominated by rhythmic synths and a catchy bassline, “Ugasaya”(ENG: Fadin’ Away) represents the modern era of ARKONA’s pagan roots, as well as the great diversity in their music. Although Kob’ is dedicated to pagan metal, “Mor”, one of the album’s longest tracks, leans towards black metal – forming the most epic hymn on the album. Not only articulating through lyrics, Masha also sets the tone with her keyboard solo on the emotional “Razryvaya plot’ ot bezyskhodnosti bytiya” (ENG: Tearing the flesh owing to the despair of being). While society digs its own grave through wars, religious beliefs and environmental problems, pensive wind instruments and acoustic guitar interludes transform the aggression of deep low growls and fast-paced guitar shredding. Closing the album with the world’s absolute apocalypse on “Izrechenie. Iskhod” (ENG: The Speech. The Conclusion), Kob’ is deeply rooted in pagan metal stylings of the old days, but offers a modern spirit via its production and variety alike.
Kob’ Tracklisting: 1. Izrechenie. Nachalo 2. Kob’ 3. Ydi 4. Ugasaya 5. Mor 6. Na zakate bagrovogo solntsa 7. Razryvaya plot’ ot bezyskhodnosti bytiya 8. Izrechenie. Iskhod
Experience ARKONA Live 2023 with Batushka 28.09.23 RO – Bucharest / MGF 29.09.23 BG – Sofia / Mixtape 30.09.23 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra 01.10.23 SRB – Belgrade / Dom Omladine 02.10.23 HR – Zagreb / Boogaloo 03.10.23 SL – Ljubljana Cvetlicarna 04.10.23 SVK – Zvolen / DK ZSR 05.10.23 PL – Krakow / Klub Studio 06.10.23 DE – Berlin / Orwo Haus 07.10.23 BE – Arlon / Night Metal 08.10.23 DE – Erfurt / From Hell 10.10.23 PL – Bialystok / Zmiana Klimatu 11.10.23 LV – Riga / Melna Peiktdiena 12.10.23 EST – Tallin / Tapper 13.10.23 FI – Oulu / Kantakrouvi 14.10.23 FI – Tampere / Olympia Kortteli 15.10.23 FI – Helsinki / Vanha Ylioppilastalo
ARKONA are: Masha “Scream” – Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion Sergei “Lazar” – Guitars Ruslan “Kniaz” – Bass Vladimir “Volk” – Wind Instruments Alexander Smirnov – Drums
f.l.t.r: Oliver Seebacher (Area53), Hannes Kaufmann (Area53), Thomas Caser (Napalm Events/Napalm Records)
The AREA 53 Festival is entering its next round, set to become a heavy metal pilgrimage site from 13 – 15 July 2023. Napalm Records and Napalm Events are proud to co-host the festival in Leoben, Styria, not far from Napalm Records’ home in Eisenerz. Over 25 top-class acts, including renowned headliners such as FEUERSCHWANZ, KREATOR and HAMMERFALL, as well as symphonic metal pirates VISIONS OF ATLANTIS, Dutch thrash metal legends LEGION OF THE DAMNED, epic power metallers ANGUS McSIX, Italian heavy metal dwarves WIND ROSE and Brazilian death metal machine CRYPTA will be present at this year’s edition.
With its extraordinary character, AREA 53 is one of the most exciting open air festivals today, and manifests Styria as a heavy metal stronghold. The festival is presented by Rock Hard magazine, Stormbringer and Radio 88.6, among others.
Hannes Kaufmann, AREA 53 Festival: “I am already very much looking forward to our festival season and AREA 53 again! We could find a powerful partner in Napalm Records, with whom we want to become the new metal capital of Austria together.”
Thomas Caser, Napalm Records/Napalm Events: “The AREA 53 Festival is to be established on the European festival summer calendar in the long term and we are looking forward to many joint editions. The location with its castle-ruin character in the middle of green Styria will imprint itself in the hearts of visitors and artists!”
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
