EPICA to Celebrate 20th Anniversary with “We Still Take You With Us” + “Live At Paradiso”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 4, 2022
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2022 marks the 20th anniversary of Symphonic Metal titans EPICA. After nearly 1 million albums sold worldwide and over 300 million combined streams on all digital platforms, the Dutch band has manifested their talent to combine metal with unique operatic vocals and has gained a huge international fanbase in the process. Through their career EPICA have played over 1,000 shows in more than 60 countries across all continents. With their latest musical output “Omega”, the band achieved Top 5 placements in the album charts of several countries such as Germany and Switzerland, but now they look to their past:

On September 2nd, EPICA will re-issue their first three albums “The Phantom Agony”, “Consign To Oblivion” and “The Score”, which have become milestones of the genre and rarities within the physical market. Each record will be available in either a CD box, a collector’s LP box or as an earbook and each will come with previously unreleased bonus tracks for each album. As a special surprise for their fans, the band have dug up some spectacular hidden gems from their early career that will be available as bonus material on some of the formats.

“Live At Paradiso” – Initially recorded in 2006 at the beautiful “Paradiso” venue in Amsterdam, the performance has become shrouded in legend; often scheduled for release, this will be the first time it’s seen the light of day. The recording allows fans to relive the memories of a young band who had just freshly released their two first albums, and features a number of their evergreen hits like ‘Cry For The Moon’ or ‘Solitary Ground’. Now, after being hidden away in a dark drawer for more than 16 years, “Live At Paradiso” is finally available on 2CD and BluRay/DVD – specifically revamped in 4K resolution.

Get a first glimpse here, with the first single ‘Sensorium (Live At Paradiso)’:

“We Will Take You With Us”
Recorded at the ‘Twee Meter Sessies’ on public Dutch TV, most hardcore fans will be familiar with this release that was the band’s first major performance on television and first DVD release that has long been sold out. You can also discover two especially rare demo recordings from SAHARA DUST – the band that should later become EPICA. Fans have their chance to see SAHARA DUST for the first time ever as they support EPICA at their sold-out anniversary show in Tilburg!

Available on September 2nd, the anniversary releases are available for preorder here, http://nblast.de/Epica-WeStillTake

After just concluding a successful headline tour through Mexico, EPICA will return to Europe to perform at several summer festivals before embarking on a North America Tour in September 2022 with Sabaton, a Latin American headline Tour in November and an extensive run through Europe in early 2023 with Apocalyptica. All upcoming dates can be found at www.epica.nl

BLEED FROM WITHIN Release Visualizer for Single ‘Temple of Lunacy’, New Album Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 4, 2022
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Credits: Ian Coulson

BLEED FROM WITHIN are proud to release their stunning new studio album, Shrine, out now via Nuclear Blast. The most fiercely anticipated record of their career, Shrine marks their most groundbreaking work to date. Staking their bold intent, the Scottish 5-piece claim their position as the most exciting prospect in modern metal.

In celebration, the band have revealed their fifth album single – a knockout blow titled ‘Temple of Lunacy’, alongside a visualizer video, created by Craig Gowans – 12 Inch Media.

Ali Richardson quoted,
“Temple Of Lunacy was just the perfect track to be dropping on release day. It has all the ingredients that people would expect of a Bleed From Within song, but we ramped up all that groove, aggression and melody to another level. A great showcase of the production value also with the symphonic elements carrying the main riff. It’s a relief to have this album out in the open now for everyone to enjoy. You’d better believe that we’re just getting started.”

Purchase ‘Shrine’: https://bleedfromwithin.bfan.link/shrine.ema 
Vinyl will be released on October 14th 2022.

With an impressive set of tour dates on the horizon alongside the record of their career, Bleed From Within are raring to air their new material live. Catch them live at the following show dates:

Bleed From Within – Summer Festivals
10/06/22 – Castle Donnington, UK – Download Festival
24/06/22 – Gräfenhainichen, DE – Full Force Festival
29/06/22 – Viveiro, ES – Resurrection Fest
18/08/22 – Sulingen, DE – Reload Festival

Shrine – EU Tour 2022
w/ Humanity’s Last Breath + Allt
01/12/22 – Cologne, DE – Club Volta
02/12/22 – Nijmegen, NL – Doornroosje
03/12/22 – Eindhoven, NL – Dynamo
04/12/22 – Hamburg, DE – Logo
05/12/22 – Copenhagen, DK – VEGA
06/12/22 – Berlin, DE – Hole 44
07/12/22 – Frankfurt, DE – Das Bett 
08/12/22 – Stuttgart, DE – Kulturquartier
09/12/22 – Vienna, AT – Arena 
10/12/22 – Warsaw, PL – Hydrozagadka
11/12/22 – Prague, CZ – Underdogs
12/12/22 – Munich, DE – Feierwerk
13/12/22 – Aarau, CH – Kiff
14/12/22 – Lyon, FR – Warmaudio
15/12/22 – Paris, FR – Le Backstage

‘Shrine’ was recorded at Real World Studios and at Bleed From Within’s HQ, UK. The record was self-produced. Mixing was handled by Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood and Sebastian Sendon, with engineering handled by Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood and Bleed From Within. The ‘Shrine’ artwork was created by David Provan, with layout by Simon Atkinson. 

THE HALO EFFECT Unleash New Single ‘The Needless End’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 3, 2022
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photo credit: Lucas Englund

Three singles have been released so far by the new Gothenburg outfit THE HALO EFFECT and they have raised a lot of attention and praise in the media and fan world.

Just before hitting the stage at legendary Sweden Rock festival, the band yet reveals another melodic death metal gem, leading up to their highly anticipated debut album “Days Of The Lost”, to be released on August 12th via Nuclear Blast.

Frontman Mikael Stanne tells about the track: “The Needless End deals with the crippling inability to deal with abstract problems. Issues that just seem too huge or incomprehensible falls by the wayside in order to deal with more immediate but less important issues. We end up somewhere not because we want to but because we were unable to understand what we needed to do. There is an intensity to this song and a uplifting melody that I think suits this idea. Among all the anger and resentment it’s also hopeful and has an infectious groove and drive.”

The single comes along with a track video.

Listen to the song here: https://bfan.link/the-needless-end
Pre-save the album here: https://bfan.link/days-of-the-lost

Catch the band live:

11.06.   SE          SWEDEN ROCK
27.07.   SLO        METALDAYS SLOVENIA
30.07.   TUR        ROCK OFF TURKEY
05.08.   DE          WACKEN OPEN AIR
14.08.   JP           DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL

AMON AMARTH, MACHINE HEAD /w THE HALO EFFECT
08.09.   UK         Nottingham – Arena
09.09.   UK         Cardiff – Arena
10.09.   UK         London – Wembley Arena
12.09.   UK         Manchester – Arena
13.09.   IE          Dublin – 3 Arena              
16.09.   CH        Zurich – Hallenstadion
17.09.   AT         Vienna – Stadthalle
18.09.   PL         Krakow – Tauron Arena 
20.09.   EST       Tallinn – Saku Arena
21.09.   FIN        Helsinki – Ice Hall            
23.09.   N           Oslo – Spektrum
24.09.   S           Stockholm – Hovet                         
26.09.   DK         Copenhagen – Forum Black Box
27.09.   DE         Hamburg – Barclays Arena
28.09.   DE         Frankfurt – Festhalle      
30.09.   DE         Oberhausen – König Pilsener Arena
01.10.   DE         Berlin – Velodrom
02.10.   NL         Amsterdam – Afas Live  
04.10.   IT          Milano – Lorenzini District
06.10.   ES         Barcelona – Sant Jordi
07.10.   ES         Madrid – Vistalegre
08.10.   ES         La Coruna – Coliseum
09.10.   P           Lisbon – Campo Pequeno            
12.10.   FR         Paris – Zenith   
14.10.   DE         Munich – Olympiahalle
15.10.   DE         Leipzig – Arena
16.10.   CZ         Prague – Tipsport Arena 
18.10.   HU        Budapest – Barba Negra
20.10.   LUX       Esch zur Alzette – Rockhal
21.10.   BE         Brussels – Forest National
22.10.   DE         Stuttgart – Schleyerhalle

THE LUCID Release ‘Maskronaut’ Video to Support Cancer Awareness

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 3, 2022
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photo credit: Tharasa DiMeo

THE LUCID, featuring vocalist Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge), bassist David Ellefson (ex Megadeth), guitarist Drew Fortier, and drummer Mike Heller have released their music video for “Maskronaut”, a track from their debut self-titled album released October 15 via SpoilerHead Records. The video was directed by Michael Sarna.

Watch “Maskronaut” here:

In conjunction with the video release, the band are also aiming to help raise awareness for testicular cancer after their guitarist, Drew Fortier had been diagnosed with the disease last month. He is currently recovering from surgery and waiting to hear results back from pathology as well as next steps.

The Lucid along with Brynn Arens (Flipp) have set up a Gofundme page to help Fortier with medical costs during this time. Please donate here: https://gofund.me/858a5084

Fortier states,
“You truly never know with these things. I wanted to make this public to help raise awareness with this type of cancer because it literally came on out of nowhere. I’m thankful for all the support and I want to give a big thank you to Dr. Masterson and his team at Indiana University for being true rock stars in their field.”

Ellefson adds,
“We always felt ‘Maskronaut’ was a special song, even more so with the video. In light of recent circumstances with Drew’s health, we agreed this was the right time to release something uplifting and positive heading into the summer.”

“Maskronaut” was produced by Michael Sarna & David Ellefson, and apart from the band, stars Kyle & Ashleigh Abbott along with Alyson Montez.

The album, produced by Mike Heller and mixed and mastered by Lasse Lammert, is out now streaming on all platforms. Physical copies can be purchased at: lucidofficial.com

Signed vinyl copies will be shipped out next month due to a shipping error with the signed inserts.

The Lucid are a four piece hard rock band featuring vocalist Vinnie Dombroski
(Sponge), guitarist/filmmaker/actor Drew Fortier, Grammy Award winning bassist David Ellefson, and drummer Mike Heller (Malignancy, Raven, Fear Factory). The band formed in early 2020 initiated by demos from Fortier and Heller which caught the attention of frequent Fortier collaborator David Ellefson who joined the fold along with Sponge frontman Vinnie Dombroski to complete the lineup. The Lucid’s debut self-titled album was released October 15 and features 9 heavy hitting and emotionally charged tracks showcasing this eclectic quartet’s unique sonic approach.

DEAF RAT Release Enthralling Cover Version + Music Video for ‘Take Me To Church’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 3, 2022
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo: Georgios Grigoriadis]

Following their much acclaimed, 2019-debut Ban The Light (AFM Records), Swedish hard rock act sensation DEAF RAT has released a new single and music video, for an enthralling cover version of ‘Take Me To Church’!

Featuring members hailing from various angles within the hard rock scene, the Dalarna-based band fills up the cracks in the ageing concrete between old school and modern hard rock with a lot of dirt, darkness and melody. DEAF RAT opens the curtain on a sinister but tempting stage set from a dark musical with massive guitar riffs and strong melodies. With Ban The Light, DEAF RAT took the heavy rock world by storm; one can only hope, their new single marks a first harbinger of a new album to be released in the not so distant future.

While covering Hozier’s gospel pop anthem ‘Take Me To Church’, DEAF RAT stripped down the original song to its bare bones and then built their own, heavy Frankenstein body around it.

“Take Me To Church was recorded a while back in between touring and album recordings,“ says charismatic frontman Frankie Rich. “We let ourselves go in a direction where we had not gone before and the result became somewhat different from what we’re used to. Aaaaand the video…. Well…. Don’t think you will be disappointed.”

Get the song on all digital platforms HERE!

SUPPORTING JUDAS PRIEST
DEAF RAT was born rock, and is, in the truest sense of the word, one of Sweden’s most explosive live acts.

News of their impressive, high voltage stage prowess quickly reached the top, culminating with DEAF RAT receiving the highest honor: an invitation from none other than heavy metal icons JUDAS PRIEST to appear as special guest at the spectacular outdoor arena Dalhalla in Rättvik, Sweden, on June 11, 2022.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Share ‘As Sure as the Sun Will Rise’ Video from “Live at the Palladium” Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 3, 2022
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On August 6, 2021, three-time Grammy-nominated hard rock heavyweights and platinum-selling band KILLSWITCH ENGAGE unleashed a streaming event that took fans by storm. The event took place at The Palladium in Worcester in the band’s native Massachusetts, which has been the site of many iconic KsE shows throughout the band’s history. The performance setlist consists of 2019’s Atonement in full, along with their 2000-released, self-titled debut album in full – with some fun and unexpected surprises along the way! This special event was directed by David Brodsky and Allison Woest for MyGoodEye.

Today, the band has shared the video for “As Sure as the Sun Will Rise.” Watch it here:

Vocalist Jesse Leach comments: “This song was an uplifting song for me as soon as I heard the demo. It’s about spiritual redemption and hope amidst this troubled world. It’s a call to arms for those who seek a just and righteous path in this life. The message is fight through the darkness and perils to overcome the war of spirit and flesh.“

This compelling performance is now available for the first time digitally, on 2 LP, and 2 CD/BR via Metal Blade. Get it here: metalblade.com/killswitchengage

Live at the Palladium Track Listing:
01. Unleashed
02. The Signal Fire
03. Us Against the World
04. The Crownless King
05. I Am Broken Too
06. As Sure as the Sun Will Rise
07. Know Your Enemy
08. Take Control
09. Ravenous
10. I Can’t Be the Only One
11. Bite the Hand That Feeds
12. Temple from the Within
13. Vide Infra
14. Irreversal
15. Rusted Embrace
16. Prelude
17. Soilborn
18. Numb Sickened Eyes
19. In the Unblind
20. Just Barely Breathing