Any Given Sin will release their debut album’ War Within’ via Mascot Records (Black Stone Cherry, Fozzy) worldwide on 4th August. To celebrate, they have revealed a new song, “Cold Bones,” which you can listen to here.
Inner struggle incites outward expression. Any Given Sin transfigures conflict into caustic and catchy hard rock. The Maryland quartet—Victor Ritchie [vocals], Mike Conner [guitar], Rich Stevenson [bass], and Mike Showalter [drums]—encase these unrestrained emotions inside arena-size anthems with bold hooks and bludgeoning riffs.
Representing the emotional apex of the record, “Cold Bones” leans on soft piano. These icy tones underscore a vulnerable yet vital vocal performance just before the distortion kicks back in underneath the refrain. As a military vet often faced with the horrible news of duty’s permanent scars, Ritchie dug deep inside himself for the lyrics. “I wrote it by myself on the piano,” he recalls. “I was in the military for seven years, and I had a lot of friends commit suicide. We lost too many of our buddies in Iraq and Afghanistan. This song is about those people, but it could be for anyone who has lost a friend under similar circumstances.”
Amassing nearly 20 million streams to date, buzzing at US radio, and building a devout fan base, the group perfected this pummeling and powerful style on their forthcoming Mascot Records debut. The band recently revealed the videos for “Still Sinking” and “Calm Before the Storm” from the album. In 2021, “Dynamite” and “Insidious” both cracked the Top 40 at Active Rock radio in addition to catapulting to #1 on SiriusXM, overtaking the fan-powered “Big’ Uns Countdown.” Along the way, they have toured with Steel Panther, Crobot and Shaman’s Harvest, gracing festival stages and headline slots and building a formidable stage presence.
Produced by Chris Dawson, keyboards augment the verses’ cinematic scope as guitars power up an undeniable chant, “I’m making no apologies.” “It’s a song about perseverance,” says the frontman Victor Ritchie. “You’re standing up to whatever’s in front of you.” Guitarist Mike Conner adds, “You’re not just surviving a traumatic experience though – You’re also becoming stronger because of it.”
On the title track, Ritchie’s arresting delivery echoes before the chorus issues a proclamation, “This is the war within.” “It’s a free speech song,” reveals Ritchie. Ramping up the momentum, sirens herald the onset of the roaring “House On Fire.” With a one-two punch of raw riffing and walloping bass, the momentum bleeds into another chantable chorus. “It’s about the condition of the world,” notes Conner. “It’s just getting worse and worse. The fire’s growing bigger. Will we ever be able to put it out?” “We’re all trapped in it,” agrees Ritchie.
Presenting a 360-degree vision, the album cover holds a special significance for the band as it pairs their respective star signs with a personal vice. “It essentially displays the Seven Deadly Sins,” Mike goes on. “We’re admitting to the sin we struggle with on the cover. It speaks to our band name as well.”
By sharing their trials, tribulations, and triumphs, Any Given Sin ultimately offers a communal catharsis for fans to share. “When you listen to us, we hope you feel like you’re not alone,” Ritchie leaves off. “No matter what you’re dealing with, the music shows a reminder that someone hears you.” “A lot of it may sound dark and depressing, but there’s a positive message,” Conner concludes. “Keep going.”
Whenever EVERGREY’s Tom S. Englund and acclaimed US-based pianist/composer Vikram Shankar (Redemption, Lux Terminus) come together to merge their creativity, the result is magical. Now arrives the next product of this fateful encounter, as the Swedish-American cinematic-pop duo releases its third album, Dormant, on September 1, 2023 via Napalm Records. Continuing on the atmospheric path of Scandinavian melancholy charted on their previous full-lengths, Nectar (2022) and Satellites (2020), Dormant, the new brainchild of Englund and Shankar, features stunning piano melodies, atmospheric keyboards, lush and expansive soundscapes, and hauntingly beautiful and intense vocals.
SILENT SKIES’ third offering is melancholic and calming, yet effervescent and incandescent, expanding the duo’s sonic universe in every direction – it is the result of brave sonic experimentation married to the tastefully artistic aesthetic that defines the group. Throughout the varied peaks and valleys of their compositions, it is their powers of expression, and reflection on the human experience – in their own words, “conversations with life, about life” – that give their music the power to speak to a vast array of lived experiences, and reach people with diverse tastes, as long as they are interested in appreciating art as a reflection of life itself.
SILENT SKIES add: “We are thrilled to present Dormant, our third record, crafted with immense joy and offered with satisfaction and eagerness to share our heartfelt dedication over the past 18 months. With Dormant, SILENT SKIES propels itself further into more uncharted territory, embarking on a journey whose destination remains unknown even to us. Like passengers on a train, we embrace the excitement and exhilaration of the ride, relishing in the uncertainty of our future direction. The freedom of creativity is a vital source of energy for us during the composition and production journey for our music. Within Dormant, you will find a multitude of intricate details, a plethora of musical landscapes, and an abundance of concepts, all waiting for you to dive in and explore their depths. At its core, Dormant delves into the awakening of a sleeping or forgotten consciousness, urging it to be present and take action in the now.
It is an album that, from the early stages, felt like a profound conversation with life, about life. It encapsulates the ongoing dialogue and introspection with our inner selves as we seek equilibrium and harmony. Ultimately, it is a realization that what we yearn for is a stillness of the mind and soul — a sense of contentment, pride, and connection with what is our most authentic selves. We believe that you will find resonance with many of the reflections we share within Dormant, and we eagerly anticipate continuing this dialogue with all of you.
This journey has only just begun. Let’s awaken together.
Before diving into ten tracks of gripping original compositions, the duo has unveiled their very own interpretation of Iron Maiden’s opus “The Trooper”, served in a never-before-heard auditory atmosphere.
After putting their stamp on Linkin Park’s “Numb” earlier this year, hymnic “The Trooper” marks the next out of three bonus tracks closing the new album. The song lines up with a harmonizing visualizer video, underlining the incomparable atmosphere SILENT SKIES create with their inimitable soundscapes that speak directly to one’s soul.
SILENT SKIES on “The Trooper”: “When you work on a world-class song like ‘The Trooper’, you approach it with the utmost respect, eager to honor its essence and craftsmanship. Everyone who hears it recognizes its iconic lyrics and knows that it has stood the test of time – it’s a true classic. As for us, we never quite reflected deeply on the song’s severe lyrics, instead focusing on its raw energy. However, given the current state of the world, we cannot ignore how poignant and relevant its words have become. It’s disheartening to acknowledge that they are more pertinent now than ever before. Nonetheless…
We’ve poured our hearts into this song, with the hope of honoring its message and evoking a different emotional response from listeners than the original. As we embarked on the remaking process, we couldn’t help but again be moved by the lyrics and their stark reminder of the horrors of war. The thought of those in the world who cannot feel safe, who have lost loved ones, and who have no certainty about their future, weighs heavily on our minds. We have strived to infuse our rendition of “The Trooper” with the same intensity and passion as the original, while also recognizing and honoring its powerful message.”
Floor Jansen (Nightwish) “Music can take you by the hand and into a world away from your own. This song took me; the melodies, Tom’s amazing voice, the lyrics. The perfect combination left me in tears. A beautiful song that touches, and will surely help us to not forget what happens daily on this world, right next to our own little world.”
Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity) “Another stellar reimagining of a classic from Silent Skies. The layers of melancholy over this iconic song really highlights the strength of the original as well as the skill and craft behind this version from Vikram and Tom.Who would have thought this could be done in such a way? Absolutely incredible!”
Hannes van Dahl (Sabaton) “To make an awesome song more awesome is rarely achieved… to me the emotion of an actually quite serious topic is felt and present, and the lyrics really shine through together with the arrangement to indeed make this an awesome version.”
Dormant tracklisting:
Construct
New Life
Churches
Just Above The Clouds
Reset
Tides
The Real Me
Light Up The Dark
Dormant
The Last On Earth
The Trooper (Bonus Track)
Dancing In The Dark (Bonus Track)
Numb (Bonus Track)
The opening track “Construct” calls for the listener to join the two musicians on a soulful journey, building the atmosphere to a sublime conclusion, before continuing along a darker, brooding and intense path in the yearning “New Life”. Englund’s heartfelt vocals speak directly to the soul, while balancing perfectly with Shankar’s thoughtful instrumentation, driven by tender piano and elevated by an engulfing production. The harmonious “Churches” and pop-inflected “Just Above The Clouds” – the latter featuring a compelling solo from Leprous/Musk Ox cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne – build up to a mesmerizing daydream, leaving the listener lost in the wonderful nuances that Dormant has to offer.
The calming and profoundly introspective “Reset” and “Tides” envelop the listener in seemingly endless melancholic soundscapes, whereas the poignant “The Real Me” is imbibed with electronic hues that yield a brighter, more modern atmosphere. Throughout these tracks, SILENT SKIES’ work is characterized by deep and thoughtful expansion of their signature sound, where analog synthesizers, intricate programming, meticulously constructed soundscapes, and stately piano melodies are paired with the introspective vocals of Englund, who delivers profound lyrical sentiments with thoughtfully expressive character. The deeply moving “Light Up The Dark” and the serene atmosphere of the title track “Dormant” are followed by the glimmering hues of “The Last On Earth”, the last original composition on Dormant, in which modular synth loops and moody piano reflections are paired with chiming guitars that encapsulate the duo’s commitment to the development of their sound.
SILENT SKIES are: Tom S. Englund – Vocals, Production Vikram Shankar – Piano, Keyboards, Production
Just in time for the release of their highly anticipated upcoming album, The Poison Chalice, Dutch death thrashers LEGION OF THE DAMNED unleash their third brutally infectious single, “Contamination”, together with a hauntingly oppressive official music video, produced by frontman Maurice Swinkels himself! The new full-length, The Poison Chalice, drops tomorrow, June 9, 2023 via Napalm Records.
“Contamination” takes no prisoners – the track attacks mercilessly and kills everything in its path. With this release, the band once again proves that they are at the top of the scene. As shown during the live premiere of the song at Rock Hard festival, fans can look forward to their furious sets at the biggest metal festivals this summer, such as Wacken, Summer Breeze and Graspop.
LEGION OF THE DAMNED on “Contamination”: “Contamination deals with the appearance of a new plague, a manifestation of one of the horsemen of the apocalypse. A rapidly spreading, horribly lethal disease causes dilemmas and ruthless restrictions. Mass death occurs and societies collapse, deprived from their commodities. The title for this song was already floating around for previous albums, but never made it, so it was not directly inspired by the Corona pandemic. It is fair to assume more and perhaps more gruesome plagues will come and cause havoc on mankind. Remember the mass death during the ages of the black plague.”
Founded in 1990 as Occult, the thrash machine around founding members Maurice Swinkels and Erik Fleuren was reborn as LEGION OF THE DAMNED in 2005. Conquering the European charts for decades, the LEGION crowned itself at #17 in the Official German Album Charts with predecessor Slaves Of The Shadow Realms (2019). For almost 35 years, they have formed their aggressive signature sound from the most horrific ingredients of thrash and death metal, combined with brutal blackened influences, resulting in one of the most defined and unique sounds in the scene. On The Poison Chalice, the band unites with Fabian Verweij as second guitarist beside Twan van Geel, and conquers hell together with bassist Harold Gielen.
The Poison Chalice Tracklist: 1 Saints in Torment 2 Contamination 3 Progressive Destructor 4 Skulls Adorn the Traitor’s Gate 5 Behold the Beyond 6 Retaliation 7 Savage Intent 8 Chimes of Flagellation 9 Beheading of the Godhead 10 The Poison Chalice
Bonus CD: 1 Werewolf Corpse – Live at Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2022 2 Pray and Suffer – Live at Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2022 3 Diabolist – Live at Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2022 4 Bleed for Me – Live at Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2022 5 Legion of the Damned – Live at Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2022 6 Intro/Slaughtering the Pigs – Live at Dynamo Metal Fest 2020 7 Doom Priest – Live at Dynamo Metal Fest 2020’ 8 Place of Sin – Live at Dynamo Metal Fest 2020 9 Undead Stillborn – Live at Dynamo Metal Fest 2020 10 Intermezzo – Live at Dynamo Metal Fest 2020 11 Taste of the Whip – Live at Dynamo Metal Fest 2020 12 Slaves of the Southern Cross – Live at Dynamo Metal Fest 2020 13 The Widow’s Breed – Live at Dynamo Metal Fest 2020 14 Legion of the Damned – Live at Dynamo Metal Fest 2020 15 Dark Coronation/Outro – Live at Dynamo Metal Fest 2020
The Poison Chalice comes to life by spreading its eerily beautiful wings within the first few seconds, then dives headfirst into a hellishly furious storm. In classic LEGION OF THE DAMNED manner, there is no escape as the track relentlessly drives into the abyss.
The album spreads brutal and ice-cold thrash soundscapes through relentless, attacking drums and incredible guitar harmonies from both lead guitarists, underlined by angry bass lines. Infectious thrash treasures such as “Progressive Destructor”, and the almost seven-minute berserk “Behold The Beyond” break necks with hammering guitar riffs and bloody double bass infernos. “Beheading of The Godhead” delivers what the song title promises, before the past 48 minutes of hate closes with a final deep gulp from “The Poison Chalice” – leaving no one behind.
Together with producer Erwin Hermsen, the band closed the gates of the underworld in Toneshed Studio and demonstrate that they remain the unchallenged masters of brute and unrelenting death-thrash metal in 2023!
LEGION OF THE DAMNED are: Maurice Swinkels – vocals Twan Van Geel – guitars Fabian Verweij – guitars Harold Gielen – bass Erik Fleuren – drums
Watch A-Z‘s new music video for the track “Rise Again” that tackles the age-old concept of getting back up after being knocked down from the band’s debut album that came out on the 12th of August 2022 HERE.
“One of the very first songs we wrote and the first one Ray sang. The song musically is based on the electronic drum groove. Robbie Wyckoff did an amazing job with some of the backing vocals. Another song that will translate extremely well to a live audience” comments founding member and drummer Mark Zonder.
A-Z is currently at work on the band’s second album with a cast of world-class musicians that will be revealed in the coming months. Fans can expect the new material to be heavier in nature and will feature two guitarists while maintaining space for great vocals and choruses. In touring news, A-Z plans on hitting the road following the release of the second album.
“Several of the new songs have been shared with a group of respected friends and musicians,” Zonder said. “Their consensus is this is next-level music that even surprised them with how well the songs blend the heaviness and prog of the 1970s with today.”
A-Z‘s current self-titled album can be streamed in its entirety at: metalblade.com/a-z
Groundbreaking avant-garde/acoustic doom discovery FOREVER AUTUMN is thrilled to announce their recent signing with Epictronic Records for the EP “Crowned in Skulls,” set to be released worldwide on July 21st, 2023. This record is an exploration of shamanism and witchery through the captivating fusion of Pagan Folk and Acoustic Doom, featuring five mesmerizing tracks that will transport listeners to mystical realms.
Following the success of their 2021 EP, “Hail the Forest Dark,” Forever Autumn continues to push the boundaries of their musical prowess with “Crowned in Skulls.” The EP showcases the band’s evolution as they delve further into the territories of acoustic and pagan music, accompanied by the hauntingly beautiful guest appearance of Aaron Stainthorpe on ‘The Forest and the Nyght’.
Autumn Ni Dubhghaill, the visionary founder and driving force behind Forever Autumn, expressed the excitement regarding this new chapter: “Here, in the twenty-third year of Forever Autumn, we are pleased, proud, and humbled to announce that after decades of hard work and hopeless toil, we have signed with Epictronic Records to take ‘Crowned in Skulls’ global, thus moving forward into a new era. This record is the most accurate, contemporary, and ancient portrait of Forever Autumn yet. It honors past works while moving forward with a more overt metal influence than Forever Autumn has seen in decades.”
Since its inception in 2000, Forever Autumn has captivated audiences with their enchanting compositions. Their self-titled demo in 2001 marked the beginning of their journey, followed by a series of demos throughout the following decade. In the 2010s, Forever Autumn made their mark with a series of impactful album releases, including the critically acclaimed “Patience of ðm Fire-Keeper” (2014), the reborn version of their debut full-length “Waiting for Öktober MMXVI” (2016),the evocative “Howls in the Forest at Dusk” (2019), and the recent EP “Hail the Forest Dark” (2021). Their distinct blend of instruments, with Autumn Ni Dubhghaill leading on guitar, balalaika, bodhran, doom drum, rattle, cello, and vocals,accompanied by the talented cellist Jon McGrath, has garnered them acclaim as a band whose music is “elegant in its simplicity, fragile in its beauty” (DoomMetal.com).
The upcoming EP, “Crowned in Skulls,” promises to be a landmark release for Forever Autumn, solidifying their position as pioneers of the Avant-garde Acoustic Doom genre. With the support of Epictronic Records, this mesmerizing collection of songs is destined to captivate listeners and take them on an ethereal journey through ancient mysticism and sonic exploration.
Tracklist:
The Forest and the Nyght
Death Folk
Incense and Deer Skulls
Dried Herbs in Water
Under Shadows of Annwn
For a taste of their fascinating sound, check out the audiostream video for “Under Shadows of Annwn” on YouTube:
To stay updated on Forever Autumn and their upcoming releases, follow them on Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Germany’s most extreme punk metal titans, THE IDIOTS, have signed to Massacre Records for the release of their upcoming, tenth studio album entitled “König der Idioten” (engl. King of Idiots)! The iconic band, who made their debut in 1982, has now set their forthcoming offering for an August 4, 2023 release. The pre-save is now available at THIS LOCATION!
With “König der Idioten”, THE IDIOTS are screaming for a better world. Lyrically, as musically, this album is certainly the most extreme and heaviest THE IDIOTS album to date.
“THE IDIOTS are free thinkers and the last 2 1/2 years with this fucking pandemic and the nonsensical, inhuman wars as well as dictatorships have let an insane rage potential boil up in us. We do not eat and consume everything that is served and prescribed to us. Neither do we gobble down everything or belong to the peasants in the new recurring Middle Ages. We don’t let ourselves be distracted or manipulated by corruption, genocide, a surveillance state, cyber wars, and state authority with “bread and games” (soccer & major events).” The band comments. “We stand and fight for respect, diversity, human rights, nature, and animal welfare! Also, we stand up against oppression and any kind of dictatorships and for minorities.”
Be it helping the homeless, fundraising for flood victims, supporting the Sea Shepherd organization or calls and actions for rescuing and supporting clubs, print media, bands and the whole cultural scene – THE IDIOTS put their heart and soul into it: “We live in the here and now and with our new album we want to call for a departure into another life. With a community that respects each other, is there for each other and enjoys small things and where everyone is equal, no matter what rank they hold or whether you are rich or poor. Rich is the one who can share, and poor is the one who always sees only himself!”Says THE IDIOTS singer Sir Hannes Smith.
Their new album has become a very explosive mixture of words, music, energy, and anger, which offers fans and listeners a musical firework of a special kind. It should be liberating, awakening, thought-provoking, but of course also spread power, joy, and energy. On “König der Idioten”, THE IDIOTS embody what they feel, think, and live for! Every note, every word is lived by them, celebrated with devotion and is full of authenticity.
THE IDIOTS‘ forthcoming rager was mixed and mastered by Dennis Koehne, with a cover artwork by Gregor Kierkowicz. Slated for a release as CD Digipak, Ltd. Vinyl LP and Digital formats on August 4, 2023, you can now pre-save your album copy HERE!
“König der Idioten” track listing:
Darkness
Terror
Downtown Lover
Ich bin böse
König der Idioten
Never Give Up
Proud To Be An Idiot
Psychopath
Punk Rock Bunny
SchwArz
Neverland (CD Bonus Track)
Zeit (CD Bonus Track)
THE IDIOTS Live: 08.07.2023 DE Lünen – Brinkhoff’s Brunnenfestival 04.08.2023 DE Dortmund – Idiots Records (unplugged – Album Release Show) 05.08.2023 DE Dortmund – Idiots Records (unplugged – Album Release Show) 29.09.2023 DE Coesfeld – Fabrik 30.09.2023 DE Quedlinburg – KUZ Reichenstrasse 01.10.2023 DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp 02.10.2023 DE München – Backstage 08.10.2023 DE Braunschweig – KUFA 04.11.2023 DE Dortmund – Junkyard
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
