One of this year’s most intensely anticipated releases is finally announced today: the new full-length album from synth wave phenom, PRIEST! As most already know, PRIEST consists of former members from the Grammy-award winning metal act GHOST, but what everyone is about to find out is that PRIEST stand on their own as one of the most brilliantly creative and diabolically catchy electronic acts to come along in years.
The album’s early singles, “A Signal In The Noise” and “Techno Girl,” have already been generating a major buzz across both the metal and electronic music worlds, preparing the path for the full-length release. Produced by Simon Söderberg, another GHOST alumni, Body Machine will be the band’s third studio album and their first to be released in conjunction with U.S. indie label juggernaut Cleopatra Records. Look for Body Machine to be released simultaneously on all formats including CD, vinyl and digital on July 15.
But for now, fans can bask in the glory of another stellar pre-release single, the throbbing, hypnotic “Blacklisted,” which is released today on all digital platforms.
The band had this to say about the upcoming release of Body Machine, “We’re excited to finally release our diverse and heavy rhythm driven third album! Body Machine is steeped in darkness, but it also shows glimpses of hope through the black, hovering smog of polluted future cities.”
Progressive rock collective CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX will be releasing a brand new album, ‘Banefyre,’ on September 9 via Season of Mist! The album artwork, tracklist, and additional details can be found below. In conjunction with the announcement, the band is now sharing the first single, “Blackout77,” which is about the infamous New York City blackout during the chaotic summer of 1977. The video, which was created by Guilherme Henriques, can be found along with a music video at THIS LOCATION.
Mastermind Justin Greaves comments on the track:
“A story of when, just for a night, the underclass, the downtrodden, the subjugated and outcast, all exploded in a rage when the power in New York City went down. The tension of years of oppression and abuse was released. For one night the freaks made themselves known and fired arrows to the sky. ‘Blackout 77’ is one part of our ‘Banefyre,’ The Musical Journey. Fitting with the other tales and laments giving light to life’s outcasts, the freaks, the different.
“Who’s laughing now?“
Pre-orders for ‘Banefyre’ are now live HERE while the album can be pre-saved across digital streaming services HERE.
Track-list 1. Intro/Incantation For The Different (2:49) 2. Wyches And Basterdz (4:57) 3. Ghostland (5:43) 4. The Reckoning (6:49) 5. Bonefire (4:36) 6. Rose Of Jericho (13:47) 7. Blackout77 (7:37) [WATCH] 8. Down The Rabbit Hole (10:32) 9. Everything Is Beautiful But Us (4:36) 10. The Pilgrim (6:19) 11. I’m OK, Just Not Alright (10:05) 12. The Scene Is A False Prophet (15:13) 13. No Regrets (4:30)
CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX previously announced new European tour dates in support of the new album, together with label mates IMPURE WILHELMINA and MØL. A full list of confirmed shows can be found below.
CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX – BANEFYRE EUROPE MMXXII Special Guests: MØL, IMPURE WILHELMINA
25.08.22 Germany Hannover @ Faust 26.08.22 Germany Hamburg @ Bahnhof Pauli 27.08.22 Denmark Copenhagen @ Hotel Cecil 28.08.22 Germany Berlin @ SO36 29.08.22 Germany Leipzig @ Täubchenthal 30.08.22 Germany Munich @ Backstage 31.08.22 Hungary Budapest @ A38 01.09.22 Austria Vienna @ Chelsea 02.09.22 Italy Bologna @ Link 03.09.22 Switzerland Winterthur @ Gaswerk 04.09.22 France Paris @ Backstage 05.09.22 Germany Cologne @ Essigfabrik 06.09.22 Netherlands Zoetermeer @ Boerderij 07.09.22 UK London @ The Dome 08.09.22 UK Bristol @ The Fleece 09.09.22 UK Manchester @ Rebellion 10.09.22 UK Glasgow @ Classic Grand
H.E.A.T are hitting the stage in H.E.A.T City with their brand new single and video ‘Hollywood’. H.E.A.T’s new album Force Majeure will be out on August 5th, 2022.
Hollywood – a world of wonder, glamour and fantasies come true. Or is it? With their new single and the accompanying video, H.E.A.T deal with the question of appearance and reality, the standards created by the media and the pressure that weighs especially on the younger generations. With the accompanying music video, the band makes this rather serious matter accessible with a funny little twist – they play on the first ever H.E.A.T City talk show (keep your eyes open for the Easter eggs).
After the electrifying ride through H.E.A.T City with the previous music video for Back To The Rhythm, the band now opens the door to even more previously unseen places and corners of the exclusively created virtual world.
For most people, the last two years have probably been marked by exactly what has given H.E.A.T’s album its name – a “force majeure”. But H.E.A.T definitely don’t let such force stop them, quite the opposite. The band is back with original singer Kenny Leckremo on the lead, taking everyone on a speedy and energetic ride through H.E.A.T City!
Since the band’s early days, starting from their song “1000 miles” – a huge hit in their Scandinavian home in 2009, media worldwide has been praising each and every of the band’s albums as one of the best rock albums in the respective years.
TRACKLISTING
BACK TO THE RYTHM
NATIONWIDE
TAINTED BLOOD
HOLLYWOOD
HARDER TO BREATHE
NOT FOR SALE
ONE OF US
HOLD YOUR FIRE
PARAMOUNT
DEMON EYES
WINGS OF AN AEROPLANE
H.E.A.T – OCTOBER 2022 UK TOUR with special guests Mason Hill and Collateral TICKETS: WWW.MYTICKET.CO.UK
Leeds, Warehouse Friday 14 October 2022
Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill Saturday 15 October 2022
Irish Viking Metal/Norse Pagan Rockers REN MARABOU AND THE BERSERKERS Frontman Ren Marabou has posted online the 21th episode of Metal Podcast ‘SAGAS’ in collaboration with Corban Skipwith AKA ‘Serpent Tongue’, this week discussing DIAMOND HEAD’s 2016 self titled Album 🔥🤘🏻!
Serpent Tongue shared: “Welcome back to the SAGAS Metal Podcast where today we talk about the 2016 release by band ‘Diamond Head’ This album is a modern day blast from the past and has enough rockin tunes to keep any metal head (past or present) entertained!”
In earlier SAGAS episodes, Ren and Serpent Tongue were discussing about the great albums of TNT, Týr, Black Label Society, Suicide Silence, Amorphis, Ghostmane, Celtic Hills, Pantera, Mastodon, Aztlan, Gloryhammer, Nails, Insomnium, Sunn O))), In Flames, Cradle Of Filth, Megadeth, Dimmu Borgir, Him, and last but not least, Ren Marabou and the Berserkers. In case you missed, check them out at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5agm3BCgG1k0XGafH4TaoA/videos. Also catch the episodes every Sunday at 3pm est on Inner Demon Radio and on the United Music Mafia Roku/Amazon Channel.
Hailing from the Emerald Isle and based in the hills of Co.Donegal these Irish Viking Metal/Norse Pagan Rockers, REN MARABOU AND THE BERSERKERS, deliver their own take on this powerful genre with a high energy stage show and anthemic, contemporary stylings. Endorsed by Cassidy Guitars, Skull Strings, Fishsticks drum sticks and Iron Age Guitar Accessories. Signed to United Music Mafia and Managed by Split Screen Management. The band’s next album ‘Tales Of Rune’ will come out this Summer. More information TBA.
In a unique collaboration with the world famous MUNCH museum in Oslo, Norway, SATYRICON have created a musical composition in album format, entitled Satyricon & Munch, now available on all digital platforms! The album is also now available to be pre-ordered in physical formats.
The new music, created by SATYRICON mastermind Satyr, is written in the shape of a so-called musical work, it is 56 minutes long and transcends any genre barriers. Although the music was written for the art exhibition, it clearly has the emotional depth to take on any environment outside the exhibition room. The new, astonishing and critically acclaimed art exhibition of the same title is on display at the MUNCH museum in Oslo until August 28, 2022.
Pre-Order your physical copy of Satyricon & MunchHERE
[Artwork: Halvor Bodin]
Satyr onSatyricon & Munch: “In the musical work Satyricon & Munch, you will find my musical response to the emotions that the works of Edvard Munch instilled in me when working on the art exhibition. One could therefore say that the album release is not only a consequence of the making of an exhibition, but also a reflection of my studies of Edvard Munch’s life and philosophy on the making of art – and my eagerness to push myself as an artist. I deeply appreciate his emphasis on feeling over technique, his will to experiment and his determination to walk his own way. Of course these are also core values to SATYRICON, which in this particular case becomes even more important.
To make this into what it is, it became clear early on that we needed to reverse the roles in the instrumentation: What has been complimentary in the past must now perhaps take more of a lead role, what is given in a regular song is perhaps not needed at all for this project. These types of reflections. To create the layers of emotion and atmospheres that we aspired to, the instrumentation needed to be rich in diversity. That is why we have a wide range of old school analog synthesizers, electric guitar, baritone guitar, bass guitar, drums, theremin, cello, viola, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, jouhikko, Hardanger fiddle, grand piano to name some. Some of these instruments are particularly receptive to the personal input of the musician and very suitable for creating the depth of layers that was necessary for this project. It has been important to us to break away from formatted approaches and focus strictly on what this project needs.
Black metal’s true nature is being limitless and while the format is unlike anything you’ve heard from SATYRICON before, the tonality and personal signature is highly recognizable to those who know their SATYRICON. We encourage everyone to refrain from trying to label the music and just accept that there is no need to. It is certainly not film music, it is not ambient and it is not something you have to make up a word for. It is SATYRICON.”
In early 2020, famed former drummer for Fates Warning and Warlord, Mark Zonder, began working on new material with the vision of beginning a new, full-time band that would offer something different from his current catalog. The mission was to deliver straightforward, no-frills hard rock that speaks to a broader audience. The end result, which sees Zonder reunite with Fates Warning lead vocalist Ray Alder, along with bassist Philip Bynoe (Steve Vai, Warlord), guitarist Joop Wolters, and keyboardist Vivien Lalu, is A-Z! Today, the band is thrilled to announce their self-titled debut album will see an August 12, 2022 release via Metal Blade Records.
A-Z is pleased to share a new music video for the album’s first single, titled “The Machine Gunner”, here:
Speaking about the band’s debut album, Zonder (drums) comments: “It has been a long time coming, but we are all very excited to share A-Z with the world and get the show on the road!! With an exceptional-sounding album and brilliant artwork from Hugh Syme, let the games begin!“
‘A-Z‘ tracklist: 01. Trial by Fire 02. The Far Side of the Horizon 03. The Machine Gunner 04. Rise Again 05. Window Panes 06. Run Away 07. Stranded 08. At the Waters Edge 09. Borrowed Time 10. Sometimes 11. The Silence Broken (Bonus Track)
About A-Z: When Mark Zonder, famed former Fates Warning and Warlord drummer, started working on material in early 2020 he had a very clear vision for the band he wanted to put together. “I was thinking beer commercials, car commercials, and Cobra Kai. I wanted to have a very accessible band that would appeal to the masses and would lead to the ability to tour larger venues and build a second and third record off the success of the first. I did not want to hear things like, ‘I don’t hear a single, it is too proggy, I just don’t get it, let me listen to it a few more times’. I knew from myself and the others that I would recruit, it would have some sophisticated music parts but the big hook was the main priority.” The result was A-Z, and while Zonder is adamant it is not a supergroup that is doing a ‘one and done’ record it has a stellar lineup, reuniting him with Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder, Warlord/Steve Vai/Ring of Fire bassist Philip Bynoe, guitarist Joop Wolters and keyboardist Vivien Lalu, the combination of these players stirring up a very specific kind of magic that could not be replicated.
Things came together smoothly from the start, Zonder sending drum patterns and grooves to first recruit Lalu, and he would write songs using guitar sounds so between the two of them they had basic song structures pretty quickly. Zonder knew Bynoe would jump on board as they have a long history and mutual respect and Lalu had worked with Wolters for years, recruiting him for the band. Both Wolters and Lalu brought in great musical ideas that were turned into songs. The goal was always the same: shorter songs and getting right to the chorus, no twelve-minute songs, and everyone found it easy working to this remit. With everything else coming together nicely, finding the right singer was the hardest aspect of the whole process.
“I had sent out a basic song to over 20 different singers, some popular named singers and some unknown, but completely struck out,” says Zonder. “Then I just decided to call Ray as I was not sure what he was up to. I figured it could not hurt to get in touch. I do remember speaking with him back in the day and him talking about how he loved this kind of music. I sent him a track or two and he just killed it.” Adds Alder, “I found this a chance to do something completely different than what I am used to, being in a prog metal band for 30 years. I find the blend of the 80s, 90s and a touch of 70s style of music very cool, and it is great to work with Mark after all of these years.” Thrilled to have him on board, Zonder did not have a list of demands. “My only words to him were ‘do whatever you want.’ I was not going to tell him what to do. Same for all of the others guys. Yes, there has to be some editing and making decisions, but when it came to the music I just wanted everyone to do what they do best.” The results are undeniable, from the high octane stomper “The Machine Gunner”, to the gorgeous sway of “Rise Again” or the towering “Stranded”, every track an anthem that sounds like only the biggest venues could contain them.
The band’s name came courtesy of Alder – A-Z = Alder thru Zonder – and it fit straight away. “What I liked is that it did not limit what someone would think of the band. If we named the band Scary Serpent it would give a certain direction and I did not want people to prejudge the band and record,” Zonder says. Likewise, self-titling the record made sense. “I did not want to give a direction idea to the audience. If we named the album Far Side of the Horizon, people would probably think ‘prog band’. But if you named it The Machine Gunner, it would give a totally different direction for thought.” For artwork, wanting to again get the best possible contributor, they turned to the famed Hugh Syme (Rush, Fates Warning), who delivered the vivid image of a zebra eating an apple, encompassing the band name in a sly way. “Again, hire the best people you can find and just let them do what they do. The artwork is absolutely fantastic and really fits the whole concept. He is truly the best. Just a great guy to work with.“
A-Z lineup: Ray Alder – Lead and Backing Vocals Philip Bynoe – Bass Guitar Vivien Lalu – Keyboards Joop Wolters – Guitars Mark Zonder – Drums
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Ads
Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 