TOMBS Premiere New Song + Music Video ‘Ex Oblivion’, Unveil Digital EP Details

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2022
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Photo by Dan Higgins

New York/New Jersey metal collective TOMBS is now unveiling a music video for their brand new song, ‘Ex Oblivion,’ inspired by the haunting H.P. Lovecraft story of the same name. The single is the first of TOMBS‘ upcoming ‘Ex-Oblivion’ digital EP, for which the final single will be made available on July 13. All songs will be available via Bandcamp, YouTube, and across all streaming services while a vinyl counterpart will be announced at a later date. The video, which was created by Guilherme Henriques, can be found at THIS LOCATION.

In addition, TOMBS is welcoming new member Todd Stern (PSYCROPTIC, HAMMER FIGHT, ABACINATE) on second guitar! Stern will make his debut with the band on their upcoming U.S. co-headliner with CLOAK, which kicks off on April 5 in Providence, RI.

‘Ex-Oblivion’ can be pre-saved across all digital platforms HERE and downloaded via Bandcamp HERE.

TOMBS will be hitting the road in the states next month for a co-headlining run with label-mates CLOAK and will return again in May for a full tour in support of ORIGIN along with label-mates ABYSMAL DAWN. The full itinerary and ticket links can be found below!

The EP follows up TOMBS‘ latest full-length, ‘Under Sullen Skies,’ which was released in November of 2020. The record has been named one of the best metal releases of 2020 by Metal Insider, Decibel Magazine, The Pit, Riff Magazine, Chicago Music Guide’s Global Music Podcast, and others while drummer Justin Spaeth has been dubbed one of the best drummers of 2020 by Sick Drummer Magazine.

The cover artwork for ‘Ex Oblivion’ was created by Mike Goncalves.

Tracklist:
01. Ex Oblivion (4:35) [WATCH]
02. Killed By Death (Motorhead Cover) (5:00)
03. Commit Suicide (GG Allin Cover) (2.01)
04: Sombre Ruins Nothing Remains (RKGD Audio Remix) (4:25)
05. Murder Legendre (5:59)

TOMBS/CLOAK:
04/05: Providence, RI @ Dusk
04/06: Philadelphia, PA @ Silk City [TICKETS]
04/07: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery [TICKETS]
04/08: Winston Salem, NC @ Break Time [TICKETS]
04/09: Greenville, SC @ Radio Room [TICKETS]
04/10: Atlanta, GA @ Boggs [TICKETS]
04/16: Brooklyn, NY @ Kingsland* [TICKETS]
*Tombs only, no Cloak

TOMBS + ABYSMAL DAWN (supporting ORIGIN):
05/23: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad [TICKETS]
05/25: El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill [TICKETS]
05/26: Denver, CO @ HQ [TICKETS]
05/27: Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep [TICKETS]
05/28: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall [TICKETS]
05/29: Mesa, AZ @ Nile Underground [TICKETS]
05/30: Los Angeles, CA @ 1720 [TICKETS]
05/31: San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick [TICKETS]
06/01: Fresno, CA @ Full Circle Brewery District [TICKETS]
06/02: San Francisco, CA @ The Great Northern [TICKETS]
06/03: Portland, OR @ Dantes [TICKETS]
06/04: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon [TICKETS]
06/05: Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater [TICKETS]
06/07: Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room 
06/08: Calgary, AB @ Dickens 
06/10: Winnipeg, MB @ Good Will [TICKETS]
06/11: Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze [TICKETS]
06/12: Madison, WI @ Crucible 
06/13: Iowa City, IA @ Wildwood [TICKETS]
06/14: Sioux Falls, SD @ Bigs Bar [TICKETS]
06/15: Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck [TICKETS]

Finnish Fantasy Metal Force BATTLELORE Present First Single ‘Firekeeper’ from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2022
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[ photo: Toni Salminen ]

The time has come to wield your sword and charge back to the battlefield! Following their last studio album, Doombound (2011), and extensive touring, Finnish heavy metal force BATTLELORE took a creative break. On June 3, 2022, the long, lingering 10-year sleep of the collective will finally end with the release of their much awaited, seventh record, entitled The Return Of The Shadow, via Napalm Records!

“It wasn’t intentional, time just passed, and we didn’t want to push things to happen, because we knew that the new album would come when the stars are aligned and the time is right,” vocalist Tomi Mykkänen reveals. “This is our “comeback” album and we are ready to be back!“

The album title perfectly represents their sensational comeback. Named after Tolkien’s original, shelved title for his legendary epic fantasy novel Fellowship of the Ring, BATTLELORE’s brand new album features nine Middle-earth themed songs, shining with the blistering aura the band has become known and loved for.

Today, they have finally shared a first track taken from The Return Of The Shadow! On “Firekeeper”, the Lappeenranta-based fantasy metal warriors showcase their exceptional songwriting skills, diving deep into dark facets of symphonic yet heavy metal realms. The vocal duets of Tomi Mykkänen’s power and the fairylike voice of Kaisa Jouhki merge with otherworldly guitars on this epic metal hymn!

Guitarist Jyri Vahvanen says about the track, “In the beginning there was nothing but silence. Then came the Creator called Ilúvatar and began a song which gave a birth to a world called Arda, and in the heart of it he set a flame, The Secret Fire. The One, All Father, Firekeeper of the World!”

Watch the new BATTLELORE lyric video for “Firekeeper” HERE:

The Return Of The Shadow was recorded by Janne Saksa at the Sound Supreme Studios, Finland, and was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound Studios. As a special gift to fans, the album will also include a bonus EP, entitled Lost Lands, that features three songs written around the beginning of the band’s hiatus that, soundwise, are different from the tracks on the main album.

“This bonus EP is something we wanted to record and release alongside the actual album, to clear the table and continue our musical career without any unpublished material haunting us from the past.“ Tomi explains. “The songs of the EP are from the beginning of our 10-year hiatus, so the compositions and the overall atmosphere differ from The Return Of The Shadow. Therefore, we felt that these hymns from the old days deserved their own release.”

As the first single proves, the energy BATTLELORE showcases on The Return Of The Shadow – their first full-length album in more than 10 years – is immediately evident, making this record one of their strongest, heaviest and best works to date. Thankfully it’s not just their shadows, but the return of one of the most thrilling acts in heavy fantasy metal – welcome back, BATTLELORE!

The Return Of The Shadow will be out on June 3, 2022 through Napalm Records, the pre-sale has just started at THIS LOCATION!

The Return Of The Shadow track listing:

  1. Minas Morgul
  2. Chambers of Fire
  3. Orcrist
  4. Homecoming
  5. Elvenking
  6. Firekeeper
  7. Mirrormere
  8. True Dragons
  9. Shadow of the East

Lost Lands Bonus EP track listing:

  1. Avathar
  2. Caves of the Forgotten
  3. Isenmouthe

KAMPFAR Announce New Album + Release Second Single ‘Urkraft’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2022
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Photo: Carl Eek

Norwegian Black Metallers KAMPFAR have announced their new album and released the second single “Urkraft” today!

The second step. Out the door, the creaking sound of it shutting behind you, and off you wander into the valley.

We have written an album, and we have recorded it. It was created and partially captured at home, in our little refuge, among the trees, below the mountain tops, right there by the river that is never silent. There are six parts, six stories, six conflicts, collected under one banner soon to be named for the world to hear. You will get to experience each one on its own, before they are released together in the fall.

For now, part two is ready for your ears. Join us and we will find true riches together.

You can listen to it here: https://orcd.co/urkraft

Kampfar is one of the original Norwegian Black Metal acts.

Approaching 30 years of existence and having grown to become one of extreme music’s premier live outfits Kampfar prevails and continue to be a force to be reckoned with.

Releasing key albums that have both dominated and contributed to form the modern black metal scene as we know it today.

Their discography has been featured on numerous best-of-the-year lists and received honours such as the Norwegian Grammy for Metal 2019 for their album Profan.

ECSTATIC VISION Announce European Tour Dates, New Album “Elusive Mojo” Out in May

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2022
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Philadelphia’s psychedelic hard rockers ECSTATIC VISION have announced an extensive European tour kicking off this summer, with selected club shows as well as festival appearances at such as Hellfest, Heavy Psych Sounds Fest, Red Smoke and many more! The band will release their fourth studio album, Elusive Mojo, on May 13, 2022 through Heavy Psych Sounds Records.

Elusive Mojo finds ECSTATIC VISION firing on all cylinders with this unhinged, raw and dangerous new album. The band continues down their unique warpath mixing heavy psych rock, Detroit-rock, proto-punk, and world music. The album contains caveman grooves that would rattle the remaining teeth out of the Asheton brother’s skulls, scorching saxophones that would make Nik Turner feel high on a potent mix of speed and Viagra, and basslines hot enough to melt down the Lemmy statue.

Just recently the band shared a first album single, “March Of The Troglodytes/Elusive Mojo”! Listen to the track right here:

ECSTATIC VISION have tapped into something that expands heavy rock’s vocabulary and moves into a far-out sonic galaxy where there is music in the spheres, but the spheres vibrate on previously untold frequencies. Spacey, tripped-out, avant-garde, and definitely rock and roll are key words when describing their sound. They introduced their brand of heavy primal psych influenced by Hawkwind, Aphrodites Child, Olatunji Can and Amon Duul ll in late 2013. Formed in Philadelphia to primarily “play what they wanted to hear”, the band quickly rose to those in the know as a force to be reckoned with through two albums released on Relapse Records, followed by a signing to Italian powerhouse Heavy Psych Sounds, who released their latest record For The Masses in 2019. ECSTATIC VISION have shared the stage with the likes of Enslaved, YOB, John Garcia, Dead Meadow, Bongzilla, Earthless, Red Fang, Acid King and many others. 
Their upcoming album, Elusive Mojo, was recorded live to 2” tape in Philadelphia by Joe Boldizar (Sonic Praise) with Bob Pantella (Monster Magnet), and was mastertered by Tim Green (Melvins). What emerged was a burly, timeless and unique sounding record that is hard to tell if it was recorded in 1971 or 2022. It will be out on May 13th in various Vinyl formats, CD and digital via powerhouse label Heavy Psych Sounds, the pre-sale is available at THIS LOCATION!

Make sure to catch ECSTATIC VISION live this summer at the following dates:

In Memoriam of a Dear Friend – CEREBRAL MIST Release EP to Pay Tribute to Band’s Founding Member Late Antti Parviainen

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2022
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IN MEMORIAM OF A DEAR FRIEND

CEREBRAL MIST was a melodic death metal band from Joensuu, Finland – or barely had time to be.

Its founder Antti Parviainen died abruptly in February of 2018, leaving behind him six demos, which were to serve as the backbone of an upcoming album. Parviainen was 32 years old.

The band’s vocalist and other composer Antti Argillander, bassist Erno Venäläinen and current music producer Erno Sallinen – all of whom had played together as teenagers – met at the funeral and swore that one day they would finish what Parviainen had started.

In the summer of 2021 Sallinen finally took the bull by the horns and started the production of the EP later to be named Age of Mist. Apart from the vocal recordings plagued with calendar problems, remote work and even a corona case, the production was finished in a couple of months.

“The project was interesting due to the fact that everything needed to be arranged around Parviainen’s demo guitars”, Sallinen recollects. “No guitar tracks were re-recorded, unless absolutely necessary.” The final product is not without changes, but – thanks to studio magic – 95% of the guitar tracks are still played by Parviainen.

Finally the project ballooned in to a full-blown work party, when others wanted to support a good cause as well.

Argillander’s vocals were recorded by Elmo Kröger (also currently in Kings of Guilt) and the backing vocals were sung by Nevicate’s Anni Kokkonen. The record was mixed and mastered by Joona Muistola of HAW Studios, and the cover art was drawn by Sinni Jensen.

The EP is released by Inverse Records, and it’s available on all major streaming platforms on the 31st of March 2022. For those interested to dive deeper, the original untouched demos of the songs are available at Cerebral Mist’s Bandcamp site.

“Parviainen was a wonderful person and a great friend. Making music with him was a privilege. I believe he would have been proud of this release”, Argillander states.

Listen to Age Of Mist EP on:
Youtube: https://youtu.be/g21pzzUwhGc
Bandcamp: https://cerebralmist.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NAHJpW
Apple Music: https://apple.co/3DmFDW2
Tidal: https://listen.tidal.com/album/220042686
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B09V5DZFHL

Age of Mist Track list:

  1. New Age
  2. Broken Winged Statue
  3. Through the Storm
  4. Skeleton Grin
  5. The Cubicle
  6. The Alchemist

STIRIAH Announce New Album “…Of Light”, Out May 27th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2022
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[Photo by Irina Akhmetova]

Following their latest album “Into The Depths”, May 27th will see the release of “…Of Light”, the third full length record by Berlin, Germany -based black metal act STIRIAH. Featuring six brand new tracks spanning over 45 minutes, with “…Of Light” the band delivers a furious and ferocious, yet emotional journey through the spheres of black metal. Crossing musical borders between the legendary sounds of the 90s and hypnotic soundscapes, STIRIAH‘s brand new album is a dark and mournful, harsh and desolate ride from start to finish, which thematically narrates the tightrope between origin and extinction of existence.

STIRIAH comments:

“More precisely that ever, our upcoming concept album strikes with blasting infernos merged with Ambient layers and lots of kick ass grooves. We are really proud to have come up with this more technical approach to the good old black metal recipe – give it a taste!“

Tracklist reads as follows:

  1. The Emergence Of Being
  2. Drifting In The Sea Of Flames
  3. Companion Of Light
  4. Threatening Shadows
  5. Lonely The Moon Is Enthroned
  6. My Burden The Last Crown

“…Of Light” will be self-released by STIRIAH on May 27th. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Cryst in Aurora Studio, Berlin. Cover artwork by Donovan Hernandez, with layout by Irina Akhmetova. 

STIRIAH are:

Tyrann – Rhythm Guitar / Lead Vocals
Cryst – Bass / Lead Vocals / Lead Guitar (Studio)
Tom – Lead Guitar (Live)
Ortok – Drums