Grafting together the rough edges of grunge and neck-cramp grooves of proggy metal, with ‘Make Believe’SURPLUS gather up the last few scraps of human decency and reassembles the shreds into a world beyond recognition, beyond facts. This song encapsulates that unnamed feeling in your belly, that nagging voice in the back of your skull you can’t quite recognize. How do you escape a loop you built your whole world around?
Composed & written by Artturi Hautanen & Joonas Wigell.
Surplus is a Jyväskylä, Finland based two piece rock band founded in 2016. Following two EPs in 2017 and 2018, the duo released their debut record ‘Hindsight’ in 2020. The band scavenged shows where possible throughout the pandemic and released one single ‘Wannabe’ along with a music video. Make Believe is a sign of things to come for the band: Surplus is the best around and they show it.
On 24 September 2021, the Hessian thrash’n rollers STAGEWAR released their third album “Danger To Ourselves”. With “Follow Me”, the lads have now released a video clip for a song from this album, which contains performance sequences as well as drawings and animations made by bassist and cover artist James Reuter.
In the meantime, the plans for a follow-up album are beginning to take shape, but until then, everyone should check out “Danger To Ourselves”, produced by Aljoscha Sieg, which was released as a CD in a DigiPak and on vinyl, and is still available in well-stocked stores.
Live shows 09.06.2023 Frankfurt, Das Bett 22.09.2023 Oberursel, Portstraße
June 30, 2023 will see industrial dark rock and metal outfit, SCHATTENMANN, release their hotly-anticipated, fourth studio album, entitled Día de Muertos, via AFM Records. The pre-sale has just started at THIS LOCATION!
With their unique sound and profound music, SCHATTENMANN has become one of the most promising bands in the German metal scene. Chaos, the band’s latest, much acclaimed album (2021, AFM Records), has already seen them unmistakably showcase: SCHATTENMANN‘s sound became heavier, more metallic, more multifaceted and uncompromising in terms of content.
Following previously-released songs such as “Menschenhasser”, “Hände Hoch” or just recently, “Dickpic”, today, the four-piece has unleashed a music video for their blistering, new Fear Factory-esque single “Jeder Ist Schlecht” (engl: “Everyone is bad”). SCHATTENMANN frontman Frank Herzig reveals: “Everyone is bad”, as the name suggests, is about the fact that no one can acquit themselves. Everyone has, if you dig deep enough, “dirt on the stick”. Even if they may only be small sins of everyday life, such as gluttony, lust or greed. None of us are perfect, everyone is bad, and that’s absolutely human.”
With Día de Muertos, SCHATTENMANN has purposefully expanded their sound to include modern and enthralling elements through the influences of metal and industrial, and their upcoming offering won’t make any exceptions. The album promises to take their fans on an even more intense journey and solidify their already strong presence in the world of heavy music!
“On ‘Día de Muertos’, you will only find songs that get straight to the point without detours. Half-hearted ideas or even filler material is sought in vain here,” says Herzig, who also produced and mixed the album.
“We sorted out a lot during the songwriting and kept only the very best tracks to present to the public. In this way, ten strong songs have been created that leave no questions unanswered.”
This statement is all the more true since Herzig and his three bandmates Jan Suk (guitar), Luke Shook (bass) and Nils Kinzig (drums) once again draw on the full range of content. Their credo is: “We wish, that our fans are touched by our music and take something out of it for themselves personally. We want to arouse emotions, from good mood to anger, but at the same time it can also be melancholic or thoughtful.”
Iconic heavy speed metal force SAVAGE GRACE celebrates the release of their brand new studio album, “Sign Of The Cross”, via Massacre Records!
Forty years of metal experience went into crafting each of the new album songs into classics they will soon become. In addition, provocative, thought-inspiring lyrics and powerful topics weave their way through this mesmerizing collection of songs. In support of today’s record release, the band – who were one of the first bands in L.A. playing speed metal – just unleashed a music video for the album track, “Stealin’ My Heart Away”! This is 80’s FM radio hit metal for fans of Dokken, Whitesnake and TNT, while Christian Logue’s beautiful and complex guitar solo evokes memories of Lindsey Buckingham on “Rumours”.
On “Sign Of The Cross”, SAVAGE GRACE are not only introducing their new vocalist Gabriel Colon – who is described as a blend of the early Rob Halford and the young Ian Gillian – but creating and moving into a new dimension of metal while keeping true to their authentic roots. Logue assembled the most incredible musicians from across the world to create the most devastating version of SAVAGE GRACE yet.
As Logue recently said: “This album is my masterpiece and a grand addition to my legacy of universally acclaimed classic metal recordings. Every song on this album is powerful, there is not one weak track on this record.”
“Sign Of The Cross” was produced by Logue and was mixed and mastered by Roland Grapow at Grapow Studios.Out now and available as CD, ltd. Vinyl LP and Digital formats on Massacre Records, you can order your album copy at THIS LOCATION!
DUN RINGILL announce that they will be going on tour together with Pentagram in August across Europe, celebrating the release of their upcoming album “Where the Old Gods Play Act 1”. Set for release on The Sign Records on the 4th of August, the concept album follows the story of main character Lucia’s spiritual and religious journey, brought to life by Dun Ringill’s uniques blend of nordic folk music, doom metal, and progressive metal.
Dun Ringill now shares “Baptised in Fire”, the third and final single from “Where the Old Gods Play Act 1”. The single is released together with a lyric video.
With its Gaelic melodies and Tribal rhythms, Baptised in Fire carries the momentum of a powerful storm, tearing down everything in its path. The tempo of the song reflects Lucia’s eagerness to be baptised into the congregation which she believes to be welcoming….but the pastor’s sinister powers are extremely strong at the baptism, which is suitably mirrored in the music and aggressive vocal-style.
(…Evil is lurking in the shadows…)
”Baptised in Fire” is out now all streaming platforms. Catch Dun Ringill live with Pentagram:
EUROPEAN TOUR WITH PENTAGRAM 03.08 DK – Copenhagen, Pumpehuset 04.08 SWE- Gothenburg, The Abyss * 05.08 NOR – Oslo, Parkteatret 06.08 TBA * 07.08 GER – Wiesbaden, Schlachthof 08.08 GER – Dortmund, Junkyard 09.08 GER – Kassel, Goldgrube 10.08 GER – Leipzig, UT Connewitz 11.08 GER – Berlin, Lido 12.08 TBA * *=Dun Ringill only
Dun Ringill are: Thomas Eriksson – Vocals (Also in Intoxicate and Ex-Grotesque and Doomdogs) Neil Grant – Drums (Ex- End Of Level Boss and RAAR) Patrik Andersson Winberg – Bass (Ex The Order of Israfel and Doomdogs) Jens Florén – Guitar ( Also in Lommi and ex live guitarist for Dark Tranquillity) Tommy Stegemann – Guitar ( Ex Silverhorse) Patric Grammann – Guitar ( Ex Southern Festival Train and Neon Leon)
Sludge/Doom project SNAKE HEALER has announced their signing with Wormholedeath Records for the reissue of their critically acclaimed EP, Oblatio, on June 9th, 2023.
Oblatio (The Offering) is a spiritual journey that follows the monks of Snake Healer as they summon their Lord, fulfill an ancient prophecy, and become the new beacons of light for their Lord Serpentis Dominus. Through rigorous meditation, painful self-flagellation, and various attempts on his life, the monk, known to us only as “The Speaker,” interprets the words whispered into his mind by his lord into music and ritual. By combining various musical genres such as Sludge, Doom, Mongolian, Gregorian, and Norse chants, the monk brings glory to his lord through his unique blend of music and ritual.
Tracklist: 1 · Serpentis Dominus 2 · Evocation 3 · In His Name 4 · Record Entry February 22, 1922 5 · Call on Me 6 · Record Entry November 22, 2021 7 · Oblatio
Snake Healer was formed in Miami, Florida, in November 2021 by monks dedicated to their Lord Serpentis Dominus (The Serpent from the Garden of Eden). Through their Music and Ritual, they bring the light to the children of knowledge. Their musical inspiration comes from the Serpent Lord, the bringer of knowledge, who has inspired countless religions, cults, and of course, musical genres.
Snake Healer’s story is a fascinating one. In the beginning, there was a garden with no pain, suffering, or free will. The Serpent Lord brought knowledge to humans and gifted them with free will. Armed with this knowledge, the human race advanced, influencing all advancement from behind the veil of secret societies and corporations. The current coven has an influence on all social media, technology, and global economics, losing the real aspects of The Serpent Lords’ gifts.
With their greed and power growing stronger, corruption grew internally. The previous Speaker did not follow the teachings, he lost his abilities but hid them from the coven. And they became corrupt.
The new speaker starts to hear the whispers. And follows the directions of the serpent Lord which tells him to kill the previous speaker for his betrayal and to lead the coven in the old ways.
The new Speaker gathered their most loyal monks, dawned the ancient robes, and created the Songs you hear today. Whispered to them by the Serpent Lord, they carry the light and bring the message back to the children of knowledge.
Snake Healer’s Oblatio EP is a mesmerizing musical journey, and its reissue on June 9th, 2023, is a significant milestone for the band. Join Snake Healer andshed your skin as they bring the light of their lord to the world.
For more information on Snake Healer and their music, please visit their social media links below.
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
