Guitarist Marios Samaris comments: “‘Vague’ refers vaguely to our existence. We’ve been thinking about how elusive is, in fact, to be alive; trying to find that piece that the world is seeking. People constantly studying the past and the future, making recipes which theoretically will help them to achieve happiness while everything is transitory. Do we feel alive? What’s the cost of one’s dream? Would any of it make sense if there was no end? It seems like there are no successes, no failures, no patterns, no universal truth. There is just the urge to escape any routine. As surprises and the aftermaths grind on, all is vague.”
A highly regarded group from Athens, Blame Kandinsky in their time have played alongside Cavalera Conspiracy, and toured multiple times across Europe. The band released their debut album Spotting Elegance In Chaos in 2017, recorded 100% live, capturing the very essence of a group steeped in the creative tradition of the best mathcore and melodic hardcore.
Due to COVID activity hiatus, Blame Kandinsky used the years to focus entirely on the compositional honing of Eclectic Ruiner. The group’s second album is a broad concept record about everyday struggle – it describes the idea that pain is not an illusion, and empathy is essential in order to survive.
In a world asphyxiated by indecency, racism, inequality, and greed, the brutal honesty of Eclectic Ruiner shines though. Elements of Fall of Troy, The Chariot, Every Time I Die, and even Converge also blossom on a record that overflows with fury, melody, and passion. A true gem from the East.
Norwegian rock-legends RICOCHETS have released their new single «Shooting Star». This is the first taste from the band’s first album release in 17 years, that will drop early 2023.
In 2019 Ricochets finally came back to play and captured crowds at festivals all over Norway. Their live shows have gotten magnificent reviews in the press and massive love from the crowds – that have become both older and younger since last time!
The experience of being back on stage awoke the creative powers of the band, that ended up writing their fourth full-length album which will be their first since 2005.
The single Shooting Star is the first taste of what’s to come on the upcoming album. A heavy, drifting, and energetic banger of a rock track, that really carries the message that something big is on the way from a band in its prime.
ABOUT RICOCHETS Ricochets started their carreer back in 1998, and quickly bacame a force to be rockon with in the Norwegian rock scene. Their debut album Slo-Mo Suicide landed them a nomination to the Norwegian Grammy Awards, as newcomer of the year, and their next album was also nominated the the Norwegian Grammys, in the rock album of the year category.
In 2009 the band split up, and it wasnt before 2019 the band annouced that they were coming back. Ricochets return to festival stages have thrilled the crowds at festivals as Øya, Bukta, Pstereo, Månefestivalen and Tons of Rock since then, and they are now finally announcing that a new album is set to release in 2023.
“Their album trilogy is some of the most timeless and solid rock ever made in Scandinavia, and they will stand as long as people listens to rock.But we must not forget that this first and foremost var a live band.They were so good that it was almost unbelievable” – Egon Holstad
February 2023 the band goes back on tour with their brand new album “Closer to the Light”!
Members: Trond Andreassen – Vocal Knut Øyvind Olsen – Bass Svenn Poppe JR – Piano Fredrik Gretland – Guitars Johan Edvardsson – Drums
American progressive metal super-project PYRAMID have finished the production of their upcoming 5th album “Rage” Revisited.
For the new masterpiece of Pyramid-like in their previous album “Validity” – Lance Sawyer, the mainman of this band some of the best musicians of the metal scene:
Tim Ripper Owens (ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth, among others), Andry Lagiou (The Harps), Harry Conklin “The Tyrant” (Jag Panzer) on vocals, Mike Abdow (Fates Warning) on guitars and Chris Quirarte (Redemption) on drums, Adam Bentley (Arch Echo)guitars and mixing engineer ,Joey Izzo (Arch Echo) the master on the keyboards and Perrine Missemer on the amazing violin.
For the mastering of “Rage”, Pyramid once again had the best, so Maor Appelbaum did an amazing job at Appelbaum Studios (AbbathI, Angra, Annihilator, Anvil, Armored Saint, Candlemass, Dokken, Faith No More, Fates Warning, Rob Halford, Queensrÿche, Sabaton, Sepultura, Yng J. Malmsteen,etc).
In the album are included the singles “Empty Roads” and “Greed” and you can watch the videos below:
Pyramid released “Rage” worldwide on physical (2-cd) and digital edition, on 4th November 2022.
THE ENIGMA DIVISION will release their stunning self-titled debut album on 27th January.
The Enigma Division have produced one of the most captivating debut albums you’re likely to hear in 2023.
Featuring the virtuosic talents of guitarist Conor McGouran [ex-Xerath], with acclaimed producer/mixer/composer/drummer, Ben Wanders [ex-Xerath/Shardbourne] and Ronan Burns with guest appearances from William Alex Young (Defences), Derek Sherinian (Sons Of Apollo/Planet X/Dream Theater), and Sam Bell (Mask of Judas/Solo).
With new music being teased as far back as last 2019, The Enigma Division immediately caught the attention of Prog fans from around the world with their string of independent releases, ‘1977’, ‘Afterglow’ and ‘Clarity’, which all individually raised the bar to greater heights upon release, thanks to their unique mix of ‘80s synth, Progressive Rock and Technical Metal as well as eye-catching videos’, from Very Metal Art.
Today sees the first new music from the band in the form of ‘The Escapist’ – an eye watering display of musicianship and songwriting that will please a wide variety of fans who enjoy the sounds of Rush, Liquid Tension Experiment and Opeth.
Speaking of the band’s formation, guitarist Conor McGouran explains: “The Enigma Division started as the brainchild of myself and Ronan Burns. We both have quite a wide range of musical tastes and the idea was to create a sound that combined all of those influences and make it our own. It’s become a sound we refer to as “Tech-Noir” as it incorporates our love for atmospheric 80’s synth music, film score and science fiction combined with extremely groove laden heavy riffs”.
McGouran gives an insight into the new single; “‘The Escapist’ is a song about having profound feelings of dissatisfaction about where one is in life, but creativity is the one thread that helps overcome an existential crisis. Musically I guess Nevermore, Fear Factory and Brad Fiedel were the driving influences on this one. It was also my first venture into using 8 string guitars.”
After the success of “Britania” album in 2021, LEGADO DE UNA TRAGEDIA return offering us the maximum potential of Spanish metal opera with their epic and deep single “La Procesión de las Ánimas”.
Joaquín Padilla displays top level compositional elements marking the souls heavy walk by contrasting his melodic vocals along with José Broseta and Diva Satánica’s heartbreaking voice.
“La Procesión de las Ánimas” has been directed by Crisof Productions and mixed and mastered at The Mixtery in a new brilliant and impeccable work.
This first single will be part of “Aquelarre de Sombras”, his most ambitious work to date, which will be released on March 10th 2023 via Art Gates Records worldwide.
SATAN TAKES A HOLIDAY are serving up a swaggering slice of electro-powered rock’n’roll cool on their new single “All Nighter”, due out today, Thursday 24th November. The follow-up to their powerful and personal previous single “Feel My Love”, “All Nighter” was masterminded by esteemed producer Johan Gustafsson (The Hives, Randy) and features the rising queen of electro-clash EMMON.
A fitting soundtrack as the autumn nights draw in, “All Nighter” is sure to captivate listeners who are all too familiar with the midnight hours, charismatically inviting them to join Satan Takes A Holiday in the swirl of late-night mystique. Fred Burman reveals: “All Nighter is a seductive groove about intrusive voices, lingering ghosts and sleepless nights.”
He continues: “We searched far and wide for that other voice to tie in to the themes of the lyrics and when Swedish electro queen Emmon was suggested to us we leapt at the massively intriguing opportunity. Our vision for the personality and sound for this song required a level of engineering skill and track record Johan Gustafsson (the Hives/Randy) has displayed throughout his career with successful recordings by Sahara Hotnights, Fireside and Viagra Boys. It goes from a cool retro synth strut to an explosive and massive rock chorus and back again and we are beyond pleased with his work on this album and on this song in particular.”
Pre-save/Listen to All Nighter on all major streaming services here
Last month, Satan Takes A Holiday announced details of their upcoming album “Satanism” which is set for release in Spring 2023 on Swedish label Despotz. The Swedish stalwarts headed into the revered Studio Ingrid with Johan Gustafsonn (The Hives, Randy) and long-time collaborator Alexander Idfalk to reignite the flames behind their mix of rock’n’roll and 60’s garage with their love for dark contemporary pop.
“All Nighter” and “Feel My Love” will appear on “Satanism” – the follow-up to 2019’s “A New Sensation” album and 2017’s “Aliens” album, both of which saw them pick up TV soundtracking credits with the singles “Set Me On Fire” (as recognised on Netflix’s Lucifer) and “The Beat” (on Fox’s Gotham). These two previous releases saw Spotify support in the form of additions to All New Rock, New Noise, Rock Rotation, The Rock List, Most Wanted Rock and New Music Friday.
A spectacular addition to Satan Takes A Holiday’s impressive back catalog, “Satanism” is the band’s most upfront and arresting album to date, dealing with topics of grief, sleepless nights, parenting, violent confrontations and final showdowns while inviting you to dance, riot and reflect. It is quite simply, Satan Takes a Holiday distilled into their purest form, making for one hell of a soundtrack. The new album sees the likes of artists Emmon, (Patrik) Von Arfve, Andreas Hourdakis and David Park jump on board and join Satan Takes A Holiday on this crazy new trip.
“Satanism” track listing: Follow Me To The Desert All Nighter Feel My Love FBL MND Sky And Me You You You No Friends In High Places The Sound I Like Make A Boy A Man Traps! I Am Become Island Is Man
As the world went into hibernation, sprawling Swedish rock outfit Satan Takes A Holiday had to find opportunity in isolation – to open every window while doors were slamming shut. The band hunkered down and meditated, reflected on where they had been, where they were and where to go next. The lemons were turned into lemonade, spiked with Jack and sweat. Aesthetically, conceptually, tonally; where there previously had been artistic boundaries, suddenly none remained. Songs, sounds and grooves that had seemed off limits and intimidating were now temptingly calling to be explored. Intoxicated, frustrated and ready to dance, the stage was set for the bands most playful yet sincere, thoughtful yet utterly audacious album to date.
Satan Takes A Holiday grabs you by the neck and doesn’t let go until you shake your butt to the point of beverage spill. With their mix of rock’n’roll, 60’s garage and 70’s groove as well as a clear love for the darker sides of modern pop Satan Takes A Holiday will make you move, and then move some more. In addition to the TV credits, Satan Takes A Holiday have enjoyed recognition from radio stations such as BBC 6 Music with godfather of Punk Iggy Pop and consistent playlisting from Sweden’s P3, earned praise from press outlets such as Classic Rock/Louder Sound, Ghost Cult Magazine, Rock Hard etc. and have played alongside legends such as the likes of Kiss, the Sonics, Mustasch, Juliette Lewis, Backyard Babies and Imperial State Electric all while holding their own.
Satan Takes A Holiday is now firmly held as one of the best live bands in Sweden, a fixture at festivals and venues around Europe and a phenomenon few have missed.
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 