EXIT IMMORTAL Return with New Single + Video ‘Flare’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 20, 2022
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

UK progressive metal juggernauts, EXIT IMMORTAL, return with their new single ‘Flare’. The track is taken from the quintet’s upcoming full-length, self-titled album due 14th October via Seek and Strike.

‘Flare’ features crushing dual guitar madness backed with catchy, soaring melodies and hooks.

On the new single, vocalist Meyrick de la Fuente states:

“Our new single ‘Flare’ is a rallying call to anyone who has simply had enough. We are all fed up of things we’ve seen over the past few years and we won’t be afraid to join together with others and fight back. The song signals a return to our heavier roots, but brings together all the aspects we have explored over our last couple of releases. It came together as one of the first songs for this new album and it was clear that it would be a guiding light for how the rest of the songs would turn out and grow during the writing process. We are EXIM and this is who we are. We are for everyone who wants to join us on this journey.”

On the upcoming full-length album, the band comment: 

“We are very excited to present our latest, self-titled, full length album. For us this is a culmination of a lot of work, building and evolving. We bring back a lot of the heavier elements from our older releases while keeping a lot of the aesthetics and layers from Triptych. As musicians we have always struggled with where to place ourselves amongst our peers and always written music we wanted to make over intentionally fitting into existing trends. We feel that this album is by far our most accomplished and self-assured record to date, reincorporating harsh vocals while exploring new territory on the guitar side of things.”

In celebration of the album’s release date, Exist Immortal will be embarking on a string of UK-based tour dates, including a headline set in Camden’s intimate Black Heart on release day.

“We are bringing our biggest and best headline show we have ever toured with us and will be playing new songs alongside fan favourites, so old and new fans alike will experience something fresh. Our new record is set for an 14th October release, which we feel is easily our best work to date drawing influence from our entire back catalogue of music into the most refined, truest version of EXIM. This London show will be the official launch party of the new album and we are so excited that this show and iconic venue will be the very first time this new era is brought into the world.”

Full tour dates below:
14.10 – London, Black Heart
26.10 – Bristol, Crofters Rights
27.10 – Sheffield, Corporation
28.10 – Newcastle, Head Of Steam
29.10 – Birmingham, Scruffy Murphy’s
30.10 – Southampton, Suburbia

THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT Release New Single + Video ‘Voodoo Doll’, to Tour US in October/November

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 20, 2022
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

(Photo Credit: Aaron Marsh)

THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT have released their new single “Voodoo Doll” via Better Noise Music. The song describes unrequited devotion and taps into the pain of being in love with someone who self-sabotages by abusing substances. The track will be featured in the band’s highly anticipated first full-length record set for release in early 2023.  Also dropping today is the official music video.

Already drawing critical acclaim, The Funeral Portrait has been featured in Alternative Press’ “100 Bands You Need To Know.” After playing the main stage at Inkcarceration Fest in 2019, the band took a short break during the pandemic to rechange and have now announced upcoming support dates for a fall US tour with KINGDOM COLLAPSE and DEAD POSEY.  The tour runs from October 14 through November.

Stream “Voodoo Doll” HERE. Watch the official music video HERE.

“We’re beyond excited to share VOODOO DOLL with everyone, especially our Coffin Crew.  We finally get to share the record that we have created for everyone,” said vocalist Lee Jennings.

He continued sharing the inspiration behind the band’s new song, “I’ve experienced tons of grief from personal relationships ending, and I’ve shown my full heart to the wrong person too many times in my life. While recording this record, I wanted to write about the experiences and situations along my life’s path so far.  “Voodoo Doll” speaks to everyone who has ever been in an abusive relationship, either with a loved one or with themselves…. or both” This is something I have had to overcome many times in my life, and I want to share my feelings whether high or low… with the world.”

The band collaborated with director Aaron Marsh on the official music video, which features colorful gothic imagery, an arrow-pierced angel voodoo doll interspersed with a live performance by the band.

ABOUT THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT

The Funeral Portrait is an emotional rock outfit with a mix of theatrics and devotion to their passion for loud, uncompromising, anthemic music. Composed of Lee Jennings (Vocals), Cody Weissinger (Guitar), Caleb Freihaut (Guitar/Auxiliary), Robert Weston (Bass), and Homer Umbanhower (Drums), the band is currently signed to Better Noise Music. Their first full-length record will be released in early 2023. This massive, no-holds-barred new record has production provided by both Johnny Andrews (Three Days Grace, Motionless In White, Halestorm) and Josh Landry, aka Lø Spirit (Motionless In White). An incredible mix and mastering job was completed by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Arch Enemy).  The band has been touring relentlessly and has opened for acts such as Shinedown, Underoath, Skillet, From Ashes To New, Starset, Pvris, and more. TFP recently played the main stage at Inkcarceration Fest. Their most recent single, “Holy Water,” had consistent play at SiriusXM Octane upon its release. They have been featured in Alternative Press’s “100 Bands You Need To Know,” Rocksound. The Funeral Portrait believes in the power of devotion to their music and their unwavering fanbase, The Coffin Crew. The ritual is beginning, and they want everyone involved.   No excuses for not attending will be allowed…

LANGUISH Share New Single + Music Video ‘Comply or Die’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 20, 2022
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photographer credit: Pablo Vigueras

LANGUISH have shared a new single, Comply or Die, alongside an accompanying lyric video. The second track to be taken from the Tucson, AZ based deathgrind group’s forthcoming third album, Feeding The Flames Of Annihilation, Comply or Die offers up a scathing indictment on police institutions and abusive power dynamics. 

LANGUISH‘s Feeding The Flames Of Annihilation is due out via Prosthetic on October 7.

Stream Comply or Die via Apple Music, TIDAL, Deezer, Bandcamp and Spotify
Pre-order Feeding The Flames Of Annihilation here.

Speaking on the release of Comply or Die, the band comments: “The police have terrorized the American people with little to no consequence. This song is a reflection of our frustration and anger towards the officers and institution that has waged war against its people for far too long.”

LANGUISH is a band that has relied on speed to deliver their message in the most caustic and devastating way possible, but conversely, they’ve taken their time to reach the point they’re now at, on the precipice of releasing Feeding The Flames Of Annihilation. World events forced a creative go-slow which granted them time to “hyperfocus” on crafting their latest studio effort.

Although grindcore continues to make up a good deal of the LANGUISH calling card, a considered leaning towards death metal across the twenty five minute runtime has allowed the group room to enunciate their distaste with more clarity, both literally and metaphorically. The world-weariness felt by its authors is colored with rage, disappointment, and a cycle of hitting rock bottom over and over. Inspired by the socialist anthems of Woody Guthrie, taking swipes at landlords, megacorps, and billionaires, with few escaping their scathing sulfur.

The prolonged writing period enabled the vitriol to permeate the bones of each track as they took shape. Old-school influences from the likes of Morbid Angel and Immolation seeped in to inspire additional flourishes as the songs were fleshed out before they were taken to the studio. An expanded drumming palette allowed Zack Hansen to up his technical ability, tying into the sound of a band that has found confidence in taking their time, evolving along the way. Guitarist, Matthew Mutterperl delivers skin-shredding death metal riffs in abundance, as well as creating the visual accompaniment for Feeding The Flames Of Annihilation.

The band self-produced the album at Homewrecker Studios in Tucson with bassist Ryan Bram engineering and mixing, before the album was handed to Brad Boatright at Audiosiege for mastering. A four-year absence hasn’t mellowed LANGUISH any; this new album cranks up the intensity, obliterates expectations, and provides the perfect soundtrack to accompany watching the world around us seemingly implode.

Feeding The Flames Of Annihilation tracklist:
1. Manifesto
2. Last Legs
3. Ripped Remains
4. Parasite
5. Poisoned Chalice
6. Judas Goat
7. The Collector
8. Failed State
9. Feeding The Flames
10. Comply Or Die
11. Corporate Dystopia

TOTO’s DAVID PAICH Releases Official Music Video for “Willibelongtoyou”, Debut Solo Album Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 20, 2022
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo credit: Alex Solca Photography

David Paich and The Players Club / Mascot Label Group have released the debut solo album “FORGOTTEN TOYS”, and to celebrate the release, David Paich has unveiled the official Music Video for “Willibelongtoyou”.

The recording features a duel piano/organ approach from Paich, topped with a warm vocal and a classic tenor chorus from Joseph Williams.  Gregg Bissonette provides drums; Nathan East bass and Dean Parks and Steve Lukather the electric guitars. To view the official music video click here:

Prior reveals in to the release date included “Queen Charade” which can be heard and seen here: https://youtu.be/_yUoW8Ar4jY  and “Spirit Of The Moonrise here: https://youtu.be/yE6ObiOwqgA

Boz Scaggs. Mötley Crüe. Steely Dan. Bryan Adams. George Martin. Michael Jackson. Quincy Jones. P!NK. Aretha Franklin. Miles Davis. The Doobie Brothers. Stevie Nicks. Dolly Parton. Jessie J. Cher. Rod Stewart. Tina Turner. Michael McDonald. Joan Baez. Ray Charles. Elton John. Barbra Streisand… and countless others. If you’ve listened to music in the last 50 years, including any of the iconic artists above, you were hearing David Paich. Music is the soundtrack of our lives, and David is one of its architects.
 
He initially embraced music by his father—jazz icon, musician, and arranger Marty Paich. “I met Jimmy Webb when I was 10 years old, when my father was working with him,” he recalls. “My dad nudged me towards songwriting because I had the ability to write poetry. Somehow, my father saw my lyrical potential. I followed in Jimmy’s footsteps until Elton John’s first record came out in 1970. That really cemented my musical path. I continued to soak up all the great songs from then on.” Together, Paich and his father notably co-wrote “Light The Way” for Ironside, winning an EMMY® Award for “Best Song or Theme” back in 1974.

With Boz Scaggs, he co-wrote the songs “Miss Sun”, “Lido Shuffle”, and Grammy Award-Winning “Lowdown” from the multi-platinum album Silk Degrees. 

Around that same time, Paich and childhood friend, iconic studio drummer Jeff Porcaro wiggled their way onto two Steely Dan albums, which helped form some of their musical direction. Paich and David Foster co-wrote “Got To Be Real” with Cheryl Lynn, catapulting her to disco stardom. All of these accolades solidified him as one of the go-to studio musicians for music’s A-list. Paich decided it was time for him and Jeff to form their own band, which you now know as Toto.
 
With his TOTO bandmates, David arranged and performed songs on Michael Jackson’s legendary albums, Bad and Thriller. “One of my greatest memories is collaborating with Michael Jackson, on the bestselling album of all time, Thriller, Helping arrange the Jackson/Paul McCartney duet, “The Girl is Mine”, is still a musical highlight in my career.”
 
Over the past several years, David, along with TOTO has had a major renaissance in popularity like few bands at this point in their career and now have a multi-generational global fan base. In fact, “Africa” has amassed over 1 billion streams worldwide and is one of the most covered and sampled songs in music history, including by Jay-Z, Pitbull, Ellie Goulding, and Weezer.
 
As a six-time Grammy® Award Winner, Paich has contributed to over 2,000 albums, shaping the sound of popular music as a songwriter, performer, producer, arranger, vocalist and primary composer of the seminal band TOTO. With TOTO, Paich has released 17 albums, sold over 40 million records and garnered over 3 billion streams worldwide. Paich wrote or co-wrote TOTO’s biggest hits, “Hold the Line”, “Rosanna” and “Africa”.

Like most treasured mementos and keepsakes, we hold on to songs forever. We dust them off when we need them, put them back on the shelf, and discover them again months or sometimes years down the line. With his diverse catalogue, he has been kicking around song ideas for a solo album for some time. The COVID lockdown presented Paich the opportunity to revisit those songs, and the result being a collection of tunes that he has carried in my head for years. He shares, “It seemed like it was time to put something together. Some of these really are forgotten toys. It had been a while since I’ve been in my studio and I found myself listening to these little pieces continuously. I kept rediscovering them, hoping to fit the tracks together like a musical puzzle.”

For as much as it may be a “solo” album, Paich couldn’t help but invite a few friends to play. Joined by Joseph Williams as co-producer and sometimes co-vocalist, he welcomed everyone from Toto’s Steve Lukather to Brian Eno, Michael McDonald, Ray Parker Jr., Don Felder, and Steve Jordan of The Rolling Stones.

The album cover artwork provides a poetically nostalgic representation of the concept. It features a variety of memories Paich’s wife has held onto over the years. “I hope this will give everyone a glimpse into another side of me, one they’ve never heard in a musical context.”

Music is the soundtrack of our life. For David, music is much more than the soundtrack of his life. As one of its architects, it is his life.

Track list
Forward
willibelongtoyou
Spirit Of The Moonrise
First Time
Queen Charade
All The Tears That Shine
Lucy

INHALE EXISTENCE Release New Single ‘Facade Breaker’, Debut Album “The Spiral” Coming 2023

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 20, 2022
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Creating extremely heavy and catchy prog metal, Detroit, MI founded INHALE EXISTENCE is offering up another taster from their forthcoming debut album “The Spiral”, which was recorded, mixed, and mastered by audio engineer guru Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist, Scale The Summit). Entitled “Facade Breaker”, it is the band’s third single to follow previously unleashed tracks “The Spiral” and “Absolve”. Compared to the first two songs of the eleven that will be featured on their first full-length, “Facade Breaker” serves as the band’s most “technical” song.

“I think fans of technical music who also enjoy catchy riffs and melodies will really enjoy it. I drew inspiration from bands like Necrophagist and Archspire to write the song; I even wrote the final riff and outro of the song purely as an homage to Necrophagist. Nikhil wrote about his love for music and being a part of the music scene, which is something I think we all identify with. As an aside, I like that our most technical track to date is about a love for something, in contrast to much of the lyrical themes found in tech death.” adds guitarist Sam Mooradian.

Bludgeoning, and chaotically heavy, all the tracks were written remotely during the pandemic. The band was founded just before Covid impacted the US; the pandemic was officially declared days later. They each individually worked from home during those rough months to write and shape the music for their debut.

The forthcoming record has been arranged to be heard as a full album from start to end. The album will have a lot of weird and interesting twists, musically speaking, but they all feel natural and help contribute to the listening experience. The band made “The Spiral” to play like a concept album, but only musically – the lyrics are all thematically linked and exist in the same universe, but there’s no single story being told.

“Our first album “The Spiral” is a work that we’re all exceptionally proud of. It’s a landscape of melodies portrayed angrily, with tinges of extreme melancholy. It’s brutal, heavy, and infectious. We can’t wait to share the rest of it with you.”

All band members are seasoned touring musicians. Nikhil Rao (vocals) toured with A War Within, Sam Mooradian tours with Fallujah, James Knoerl (drums) has toured with The Faceless and plays in Aviations and Gargoyl, and Brian Krahe (bass) has toured with Abiotic and is a member of Krosis.

All together the quartet brings forth tight playing and a huge stage presence. They have evolved since their inception, with Nikhil digging deeper on lyrical content, inspiring Sam to push the music to heavier and darker places. The band is currently writing their follow-up to “The Spiral”.

Fans of progressive metal and tech-death, along with bands like Periphery, Necrophagist, Archspire, Meshuggah, and The Dillinger Escape Plan, will enjoy having their auditory senses assaulted.

“Facade Breaker” can be heard below.

Previous singles:
Music Video – Spiral – https://youtu.be/wVs2Nd64WQ4​
Music Video – Absolve – https://youtu.be/kZ1h6zep9gw

Their debut album “The Spiral” is being planned for release in 2023.

TOMB OF FINLAND Unleash New Album “Across The Barren Fields”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 20, 2022
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Tomb Of Finland

Freezing coldness, burial ground and worms swirling in dead things. As the ravens caw in the distance and the steps leads closer to the gallows, TOMB OF FINLAND plays cold and heavy death metal with a twist of melodies that drills into your head like a jackhammer. And, after two previous albums – ”Below The Green” (2015) and ”Frozen Beneath” (2018) – it is time for the melodic death metal doomsters to present their most versatile and sharp cutting material combination the band has yet to offer. 

Tight performance with strong melodies and sturdy interpretation brings their third studio album ”Across The Barren Fields” a step closer to top Finnish metal acts. In contrast to crushing heavy sounds and down to earth album, recorded, mixed and produced by main composer and guitarist Jasse Von Hast, the gory soup has more frail Schlager-influences which makes the combination at least original. Something old. More new. 

Tomb Of Finland has achieved ten years of grave activity in 2022, so what is better than to celebrate it with a new album and live audience? 

“Across The Barren Fields” is out today on digital, CD and LP (transparent orange/black vinyl, limited to 300 units) via UPRISING! Records. Orders are available here and here.

Tomb Of Finland began the digging of graves in the fall of 2009 in Finland. From the grave, a five-piece band was revealed, with players from different musical backgrounds, including Charon, Kaunis Kuolematon, Cartilage, Vomiturition, Enochian Crescent and Elvenscroll. With two full-lengths and numerous live funerals, the band signed to UPRISING! Records to condemn the world with its third, more restless, album. 

Lineup:
Olli Suvanto – vocals
Jasse Von Hast – guitars 
Mikko Hannuksela – guitars 
Ville Kangasharju – bass 
Janne Lukki – drums