ARJEN LUCASSEN’S SUPERSONIC REVOLUTION have released their new album “Golden Age of Music”, out now via Music Theories Recordings / Mascot Label Group.
To celebrate the new album, the band has revealed the official video for ‘They Took Us By Storm‘, watch it below.
The album is available on various formats; 2LP Transparent Blue, 2LP Pink Marble, 2LP Purple Marble, 2LP Yellow Marble, CD, Digitally and Artbook.
Talking about the song Lucassen says, “Album sleeves were always so important for me back then in the original days of vinyl LPs! I bought a lot of albums just because of the cover art. And my absolute favourite design company was the mighty Hipgnosis team. Their head man was called Storm Thorgerson, which explains the wordplay on ‘Storm’ in the song title. These lyrics talk about four of my favourite Hipgnosis sleeves: obviously Led Zeppelin’s ‘Houses Of The Holy’ and Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’, two of the most iconic front covers of all time. The other two are not as well known: ‘Electric Warrior’ by T. Rex (the first album I ever bought) and UFO’s ‘Phenomenon’. Incidentally, I only discovered years later that on the UFO cover the guy is throwing a hubcap in the air and the lady is sneakily photographing it as if it were a real UFO!”
You think you know Arjen Lucassen? Towering Dutch prog rock polymath? The man behind the super successful prog rock conceptualists Ayreon? Not to mention his prog metal of Star One and Guilt Machine? Enormous overarching concept albums about space and time, packed to the hilt with special guests that read like a who’s who of modern-day progressive rock? Arjen Lucassen? Well, think again…
Supersonic Revolution, the band behind ‘Golden Age Of Music’, are simply five men: Arjen on bass, long-standing keyboard player Joost van den Broek, guitarist Timo Somers, drummer Koen Herfst and singer Jaycee. Five men rocking out and having one hell of a time doing it.
The whole project grew from a request to provide a track for a cover CD for the German music magazine Eclipsed. A seed was sewn in Lucassen’s mind and the end result is 11 tracks of high energy, progressively inclined heavy rock that swings with the kind of groove Deep Purple rocked with in the early to mid-1970s. The album also features covers of some legendary songs given the Arjen Lucassen treatment as bonus tracks: T-Rex’s ‘Children of the Revolution,’ ZZ Top’s ‘Heard It On The X,’ Earth Wind and Fire’s ‘Fantasy’ and Roger Glover’s ‘Love Is All.’
Track list 01 SR Prelude 02 The Glamattack 03 Golden Age Of Music 04 The Rise Of The Starman 05 Burn It Down 06 Odyssey 07 They Took Us By Storm 08 Golden Boy 09 Holy Holy Ground 10 Fight Of The Century 11 Came To Mock, Stayed To Rock 12 Children Of The Revolution (Bonus Track) 13 Heard It On The X (Bonus Track) 14 Fantasy (Bonus Track) 15 Love Is All (Bonus Track)
Canadian sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD are celebrating 40 eventful years of existence in 2023 and therefore announced a special Anniversary studio album entitled Morgöth Tales, to be released on July 21st, 2023 via Century Media Records.
A first single/video off Morgöth Tales is being launched today with the song “Nuage Fractal (2023 Version)” and can also be checked out in a lyric video created by Cloud Music Typography here:
VOIVOD bassist Dominic “Rocky” Laroche has checked in with the following comment about “Nuage Fractal (2023 Version)”: “We are excited to present the first single from our 40th anniversary album! Its solid drum and bass, alien guitar line on top, lyrics and melody that connects it all towards a spinning triangle bridge makes ‘Nuage Fractal’ unique, which represents the era of ‘Angel Rat’. Let’s get ready to celebrate this amazing journey of ‘Morgöth Tales’!”
Once more recorded and mixed by Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio, mastered by Maor Appelbaum and produced by VOIVOD, Morgöth Tales includes fresh studio (re-)recordings by the band’s current line-up of 9 especially selected, not-so-obvious picks from the band’s hyper-classy and extremely diverse back catalogue (between 1984 and 2003) as well as a brand-new song in the album’s title-track, “Morgöth Tales”.
VOIVOD drummer Michel “Away” Langevin commented about Morgöth Tales as follows: “’Morgöth Tales’ covers 40 years of space exploration. It was really exciting for us to revisit a more obscure part of the Voïvod catalogue, from thrash-punk to prog-metal to…? The title track is a new song, which we started writing in the tour bus and hotels during the Opeth European tour in November/December 2022. It has the vibe of the experimental music we are doing nowadays, with a new twist I think. We also had the great thrill of getting E-Force and Jasonic involved on this album. I hope you’ll dig it, Chewy, Rocky, Snake and I certainly had a blast recording it. All aboard and ready for take off!“
VOIVOD – Morgöth Tales
Condemned To The Gallows (2023 Version) [Originally on Metal Massacre V Compilation, 1984]
Thrashing Rage (2023 Version) [Originally on “Rrröööaaarrr”, 1986]
Killing Technology (2023 Version) [Originally on “Killing Technology”, 1987]
Macrosolutions To Megaproblems (2023 Version) [Originally on“Dimension Hatröss”, 1988]
Pre-Ignition (2023 Version) [Originally on “Nothingface”, 1989]
Nuage Fractal (2023 Version) [Originally on “Angel Rat”, 1991]
Fix My Heart (2023 Version) [Originally on “The Outer Limits”, 1993]
Rise (2023 Version, feat. Eric Forrest) [Originally on “Phobos”, 1997]
Rebel Robot (2023 Version, feat. Jason Newsted) [Originally on “Voivod”, 2003]
In other news, VOIVOD have also just unveiled another brand-new song, unrelated to Morgöth Tales. Instead, “Chaotic Harmony (Mystic Festival Anthem)” has been recorded as official anthem for this year’s Mystic Festival event, taking place in Gdansk, Poland between June 7th and 10th. Mystic Festival will see VOIVOD appear next to bands like Ghost, Gojira, Danzig, The Hellacopters and many more, as well as also host an art exhibition by VOIVOD drummer Michel “Away” Langevin.
The entire listing of upcoming shows for VOIVOD’s 40th Anniversary touring cycle reads as follows:
VOIVOD – USA Tour w/ Imperial Triumphant: May 20, 2023 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall May 21, 2023 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It May 23, 2023 – Pensacola, FL – The Vinyl Music Hall * no Imperial Triumphant
VOIVOD – Europe Tour: May 26, 2023 – Wiesbaden (Germany) – Schlachthof w/ Testament, Exodus May 27, 2023 – Ulm (Germany) – Roxy May 28, 2023 – Munich (Germany) – Backstage w/ Testament, Exodus May 30, 2023 – Lyon (France) – Transbordeur w/ Testament, Exodus May 31, 2023 – Pratteln (Switzerland) – Z7 w/ Testament, Exodus June 1, 2023 – Trezzo sull’Adda / Milano (Italy) – Live Club w/ Testament, Exodus June 2, 2023 – Ljubljana (Slovenia) – Kino Siska w/ Testament, Exodus June 3, 2023 – Stuttgart (Germany) – Im Wizemann w/ Testament, Exodus June 5, 2023 – Berlin (Germany) – Columbia Theater w/ Testament, Exodus June 7, 2023 – Budapest (Hungary) – Durer Kert June 8, 2023 – Salzburg (Austria) – Rockouse Bar June 9, 2023 – Prague (Czech Republic) – Futurum June 10, 2023 – Gdansk (Poland) – Mystic Festival June 13, 2023 – Hamburg (Germany) – Markthalle w/ Testament, Exodus June 14, 2023 – Amersfoort (The Netherlands) – Flour June 15, 2023 – Wasquehal / Lille (France) – The Black Lab June 17, 2023 – Clisson (France) – Hellfest June 18, 2023 – Dessel (Belgium) – Graspop Metal Meeting June 22-24, 2023 – Oslo (Norway) – Tons of Rock Festival Aug. 3-5, 2023 – Wacken (Germany) – Wacken Open Air Aug. 11-12, 2023 – Helsinki (Finland) – Helsinki Metal Festival And more international dates to be announced soon…
Morgöth Tales succeeds VOIVOD’s 15th (!) much acclaimed and Juno Awards winning studio album “Synchro Anarchy”, which entered sales charts upon release in early 2022 as follows: Germany # 7 (!), Switzerland # 64, Austria # 67, The Netherlands # 88, Belgium # 129, UK (Rock & Metal) # 7, Canada (Hard Music) # 2, USA Current Hard Music # 8, USA Top New Artist # 11, USA Heatseekers # 56 and USA Current Album # 67. VOIVOD also released the special “Ultraman – EP” in late 2022, which contains a highly original tribute to the “Ultraman” TV series theme.
Purveyors of the legendary Gothenburg sound THE HALO EFFECT have presented us with a visualizer for the song ‘Path Of Fierce Resistance’, which was previously released as a Japanese exclusive on the band’s globally acclaimed debut album Days Of The Lost, that was released in August 2022.
Now, the ferocious track is finally being released to the rest of the world, before the band embarks on their first US headline run in May and gets back to the studio to work on their next full-length album.
Frontman Mikael Stanne comments: “Path Of Fierce Resistance” is a song we wrote for the Days of the Lost album but it only surfaced on the limited Japanese edition and it has been very close to us and having it here now for all to hear feels fantastic. The new album is in the works and we are incredibly excited about it, so consider this as something to keep you guys going until we unveil what is coming next. The song is another Jesper and Niclas classic that features everything that we love doing together in this band. Lyrically it deals with unrealistic expectations and about how important it is to follow one’s own path and be adamant about it no matter what. We start our tour in the US on the 20th of May and we are beyond stoked to bring this band to America for the first time. Do not miss this!”
Alongside the new song, THE HALO EFFECT has also released an official band documentary on their YouTube channel. The 30 minute long film was previously only available as part of the initial run of physical formats for Days Of The Lost, and features in-depth interviews with the members, dwelling on their humble beginnings and discussing how the band eventually came to be.
THE HALO EFFECT will kick off their first ever US headline tour on May 20, in Hartford Connecticut.
USA Headline Tour 20.05. Hartford, CT – The Webster, USA 21.05. Brookly, NY – Monarch, USA 22.05. Philadelphia, PA – Brookly Bowl, USA 23.05. Worcester, MA – The Palladium Upstairs, USA 25.05. Montreal, QC – Fairmount Theatre, CA 26.05. Toronto, ON – Horseshoe, CA 27.05. Detroit, MI – Crofoot, USA 28.05. Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Metal Fest, USA Special Guest: Unearth and High Command
Festivals 05.06.2023 – Gothenburg 400th anniversary festival, SE 18.06.2023 – Graspop, Dessel, BE 25.06.2023 – Full Force, GER 20.07.2023 – John Smith Festival, Laukaa, FI 07.09.2023 – Progpower USA XXII, Atlanta, USA
Norwegian death metallers, CADAVER are proud to reveal The Age Of The Offended will be unleashed on July 21, 2023 via Nuclear Blast Records. True to the band’s primitive roots and an audacious, ground-breaking, psychedelic horror-show, the album is an angry, fucked up album for angry, fucked up times, defiantly created against the odds. Today, the band offers fans the first taste of the album with the title track.
Anders Odden comments, “We began working on The Age of the Offended during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. We aimed to push the boundaries of our music adding all the flavors we like in the mix. We rejoined forces with Eilert Solstad, the bass player from …In Pains as well as guitar wizard, Ronni Le Tekrø. This collaboration led to an album that sounds out of this world and sends our music into the stratosphere. The theme, The Age Of The offended, is a node to the times we live in. The chaos, conflicts, and turmoil of the human condition will never stop inspiring us. The title track reflects this vision by pointing to the zeitgeist and works as the perfect soundtrack to the current post-apocalyptic world.”
The Age Of The Offended was recorded at Daufembach Studio, Villa Necro, Studio Tomb, and Studio Studio. Adair Daufembach was responsible for producing, engineering, mixing, and mastering. Kjartan Hesthagen also assisted with the engineering working in tandem with the band and Adair. The band enlisted Fleshflies to create the artwork for The Age Of The Offended.
Below is the tracklisting for The Age Of The Offended: 1. Sycophants Swing (Intro) 2. Postapocalyptic Grinding 3. Scum Of The Earth 4. The Age Of The Offended 5. Death Revealed 6. The Shrink 7. Crawl Of The Cadaver 8. The Drowning Man 9. The Sicker, The Better 10. Dissolving Chaos 11. Deadly Metal 12. The Craving 13. Freezing Isolation
For almost 3 decades, the US/French Canadian-based melodic death metal syndicate KATAKLYSM has delivered unapologetic waves of powerful sound across the entire globe. On August 11th, 2023 the band’s 15th full-length studio album GOLIATH will be unleashed unto the masses via Nuclear Blast Records.
‘Bringer Of Vengeance’ is the first single from the album. The song opens with drop-tune guitars and takes the listener on a journey mashing together modern Metal and Djent components that are layered over the traditional KATAKLYSM sound.
Maurizio Iacono comments, “Our new album Goliath comes at a time in our society where division and hate are growing and spreading on a worldwide basis, where ideologies on how the future should be for humanity is colliding, This is also a time of unprecedented power structures fighting for the control of our lives, the story of David vs Goliath has never been more important than these modern times, Metal has always been a voice of rebellion against oppression and for the protection of our freedoms, the album also touches on inner conflict and doing what needs to be done to confront your inner demons. The ‘Bringer of Vengeance’ single’s main idea is about a carefully and patiently plotted revenge. The song is inspired by the events surrounding the assassination of King Richard I ‘The Lionheart’ and the idea that it might take time but, one day justice will always be served”.
GOLIATH was recorded at JFD Studios in Dallas, TX and Studio City, CA as well as The Cabin in Orlando, FL by J-F Dagenais, who also produced and engineered the album. For the mixing and mastering, the band returned to Chris Clancy with assistance from Colin Richardson. The cover artwork required an image that captured the iconic battle of David versus Goliath theme that is echoed throughout the album while matching the power of the music. The band enlised renown Berlin metal illustrator Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE) to create the artwork which who took the KATAKLYSM look and gave it a macabre filter that compliments the brooding sense of uneasiness that was felt during the writing and recording of the album.
Below is the tracklisting for Goliath: 1. Dark Wings Of Deception 2. Goliath 3. Die As A King 4. Bringer Of Vengeance 5. Combustion 6. From The Land Of The Living To The Land Of The Dead 7. The Redeemer 8. Heroes To Villains 9. Gravestones & Coffins 10. The Sacrifice For Truth
The band will play two exclusive releaseshows for Goliath in Germany, playing the new album in its full length. Tickets for the Exclusive Goliath Special Show will be available together with a jewelcase as a limited ticket bundle at the EU Nuclear Blast Mailorder. The dates for the shows can be found below:
KATAKLYSM – Exclusive Goliath Special Show w/BRAND OF SACRIFICE 15.08. Essen – Turock 18.08. München – Backstage
Having just earned a remarkable 26th #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart for his sprawling and extensive live concert film and album Tales Of Time, the blues rock icon Joe Bonamassa is back with a brand-new single from his highly anticipated new studio album, due out later this year on his J&R Adventures label.
Joe shows off his blues roots with a captivating rendition of “I Want To Shout About It” originally performed by Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters. Bonamassa’s joyful version features solos from Reese Wynans on organ and Paulie Cerra on sax, as well as some killer adlibs from vocalists Dannielle DeAndrea and Charles Jones as the track winds to a close. When Joe recently performed the song on his UK tour, UK music website Sonic Abusedescribed it as “a glorious, fifties-style boogie.”
Bonamassa called upon his close friend, band mate and co-producer Josh Smith to produce this track. Smith recalls, “Shout About It is a song originally by the great Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters with Darrel Nullisch on vocals. It’s a tough/high song to sing and Joe really pushed himself and nailed it. It’s a real rave up, a party song. Joe has been playing it live lately and the crowds are really digging it!”
“The world’s busiest bluesman’s singing is better than ever, and he still turns in a
foot-stomping blues riff better than most” & “He is, in short, a modern-day king of the blues.” – Classic Rock Magazine’s Louder Sound
Bonamassa has been performing “I Want To Shout About It” live on his current tour and is receiving an enthusiastic response from his audiences. His summer is packed with live shows in the US and Europe beginning with the Capitol Theatre in Yakima, WA on Friday, May 26th and ending May with Kenny Wayne Shepherd at the Backroads Blues Festival in Bend, OR and Seattle, WA.
After 3 weeks of performing on Europe Festivals in July, Joe will be back in the states for a US summer run and to make his debut appearance at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, August 9th, with an exclusive, one-night-only concert experience alongside an orchestra, which will be recorded for his next live concert film.
Then the hardest working bluesman in show business begins his US Fall Tour on October 23rd at The Cannon Center in Memphis, TN, which will take him from coast-to-coast to end at the guitar shaped Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL. For more information and to purchase tickets, click HERE.
Cited by Guitar World as “arguably the world’s biggest blues guitarist,” Bonamassa is known for taking risks and venturing into uncharted territory throughout his wide-ranging career. His most recent full-length Time Clocks marked his most raw, rocking studio album yet, with American Songwriter sharing, “Bonamassa pushes into fresh territory while staying within a blues-based framework,” and “there is more than enough proof in this sprawling set that Bonamassa doesn’t intend to rest on his laurels or take his star status in the blues-rock genre for granted.”
Hailed as “a near spiritual experience” by Classic Rock Magazine and featuring songs from his latest #1 studio album, Time Clocks, Bonamassa’s latest live concert release Tales Of Time, captures a stratospheric performance by the blues-rock titan at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which found his virtuoso guitar style and unique technique and flair elevating the evening to an almost heavenly high. The project was produced by long-time collaborator and producer Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Journey).
“This live show represents our most progressive and largest production to date, focusing on my most ambitious studio album to date,” commented Bonamassa. “My band was a force of nature on this show, and it truly was a special night.” For more information on Tales Of Time, click HERE.
Summer European Festivals
July 7 – Ghent Jazz Festival – Ghent, Belgium July 9 – Bospop – Weert, Netherlands July 10 – Jazz A Vienne – Isere, France July 11 – Jazz A Juan – Juan les Pins, France July 13 – Munich Tollwood – Munich, Germany July 14 – Montreaux Jazz Festival – Montreaux, Switzerland July 16 – Umbria Jazz Festival – Perugia, Italy July 18 – Festival De – Carcassone, France July 20 – Guitar En Scene – Saint-Julien-En-Genevois, France July 22 – Festival Jazz In Marciac – Marciac, France
Summer U.S. Tour
May 26 – Capitol Theatre – Yakima, WA May 27 – Backroads Blues Festival – Hayden Homes Amphitheatre – Bend, OR* May 28 – Backroads Blues Festival – Chateau Ste Michelle Winery – Woodinville, WA* August 2 – Vina Robles Amphitheatre – Paso Robles, CA August 4 – The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Las Vegas, NV August 5 – Eccles Theater – Salt Lake City, UT August 6 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO August 9 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA^ August 12 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY** August 13 – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – Bethel, NY** September 23 – Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival – Los Angeles, CA
*Featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Joe Bonamassa **Keeping the Blues Alive presents: Joe Bonamassa & Friends: Styx and Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles ^Joe Bonamassa with Orchestra
Fall U.S. Tour
October 23 – Memphis, TN – The Cannon Center October 25 – Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium October 27 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre October 28 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre At Sugar Land October 29 – Austin, TX – ACL Live November 1 – Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center November 3 – Little Rock, AR – Robinson Performance Hall November 4 – Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre November 5 – Oklahoma City, OK – Civic Center Music Hall November 8 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater November 10 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre November 11 – St. Louis, MO – The Fabulous Fox November 12 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Paramount Theatre November 14 – Rochester, MN – Mayo Civic Center November 15 – Rockford, IL – Coronado Performing Arts Center November 17 – Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre November 18 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre November 19 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre November 21 – Reading, PA – The Santander Performing Arts Center November 22 – Providence, RI – Providence Performance Arts Center November 24 – Springfield, MA – Symphony Hall November 25 – Baltimore, MD – The Lyric November 28 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre November 30 – Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall December 1 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena December 2 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
ABOUT JOE BONAMASSA
Blues-rock superstar Joe Bonamassa is one of the most celebrated performing musicians of today. As a three-time GRAMMY-nominated artist and 13x Blues Music Award Nominee (4 wins), he achieved his 26th No. 1 album on the Billboard Blues Chart with Tales Of Time, a sprawling and expansive live concert film and album, shot at the breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado in August 2022. Only in his mid-40s, Bonamassa has become a living legend with an astounding multi-genre catalog. He has released more than 40 albums, including studio and live recordings, as well as collaborative albums with his adventurous side projects: Black Country Communion and Rock Candy Funk Party.
A prolific writer who is always on the hunt to expand his eclectic musical horizons, Bonamassa has a limitless work ethic whether it’s in a studio, on the road, or working with other artists to spur new music. In recent years, he has produced an immense number of albums including Joanne Shaw Taylor, Marc Broussard, Larry McCray, Jimmy Hall, and others for his independent label KTBA Records, and has also recently launched Journeyman LLC, a full-service artist management, record label, concert promotion, and marketing company that builds awareness for independent artists worldwide. Recent producing highlights include ‘Crown’ by the blues legend Eric Gales, which was nominated for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards.
Bonamassa has been featured in several publications from Esquire, WSJ, and Parade to Rolling Stone and American Songwriter, as well as on the covers of Guitar World, Guitar Player, Vintage Guitar, Guitarist, and Classic Rock Magazine. His non-profit Keeping The Blues Alive provides funds and resources to schools and artists in need and has positively impacted more than 91k students to date while raising over 2 million in donations.
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
