THUNDER have shared the second taste of their upcoming new album ‘Dopamine’, out 29th April on BMG – a slab of optimistic arena-rock, ‘Dancing In The Sunshine’.
The band have also shared a lyric video for the track, which is a perfect pick-you-up and rallying cry against the current gloomy period of human history.
‘Dopamine’ is Thunder’s first ever double album, consisting of 16 tracks, and comes at the perfect time for Thunder, whose line-up for the last quarter-century and more has been Luke and Danny Bowes (singer), plus Ben Matthews (guitar and keyboards), Chris Childs (bass) and Harry James (drums).
They’ve been riding a wave of success since their 2015 comeback album Wonder Days, releasing the acclaimed All The Right Noises last year, with Classic Rock speculating that it could be the band’s best album yet.. The record went Top 3 in the UK Albums Chart; a quite incredible feat for a British hard rock band into their 4th decade.
Thunder are at the very peak of their considerable form, still offering fans doses of ‘Dopamine’ after all these years. The album will be available in CD and double LP vinyl, with exclusive lenticular cover versions available only from the Thunder online store.
Thunder will also embark upon a UK arena tour in May 2022, including a date at London’s OVO Arena Wembley.
Tracklisting:
CD1 / LP1
The Western Sky
One Day We’ll Be Free Again
Even If It Takes a Lifetime
Black
Unraveling
The Dead City
Last Orders
All the Way
CD2 / LP2
Dancing in the Sunshine
Big Pink Supermoon
Across the Nation
Just a Grifter
I Don’t Believe the World
Disconnected
Is Anybody Out There?
No Smoke Without Fire
THUNDER ON TOUR IN MAY 2022 Saturday 21st May Glasgow SEC Armadillo Sunday 22nd May Leeds First Direct Arena Thursday 26th May Cardiff Motorpoint Arena Friday 27th May Birmingham Resorts World Arena Saturday 28th May London OVO Arena Wembley
Prepare to be transported to a “New World” with the magical offering from LINDSAY SCHOOLCRAFT. Featuring a duet with Fabienne Erni of ELUVEITIE and a guitar solo by Jen Majura of EVANESENCE, the new release delivers an epic sound infused with Celtic elements.
Landing just in time for St Patrick’s Day, “New World” is the first heavy driven to be unleashed since the release of LINDSAY’s full-length album Martyr. Made possible through the Patreon community, a symphonic/ folk version will also be available as a Patreon exclusive. Emerging out of ethereal realms, ghostly Celtic folk instruments perform an alluring backdrop for LINDSAY’s haunting vocals. Melodies soar gracefully seeing a subtle dark undertone weaving throughout. Explosive metal instrumentation thunders into existence elevating the track with an intense manifestation of power. Fabienne Erni’s dynamic vocals beautifully complement the atmosphere of “New World”; it’s a stunning duet. Enthralling distorted guitars and bass tones provide a grounding contrast to the soaring melodies, and Jen Majura’s solo enhances the sound even further.
Become immersed in a dramatic tale of folklore, an exploration into stunning soundscapes and thrilling composition. “New World” is a truly bewitching release to kick off 2022. LINDSAY is already hard at work on her next release, preparing another heavy composition in collaboration with SARAH JEZEBEL DEVA.
The band release their album in honour and recognition of frontman and founder JP Haddad, who tragically has passed away at the age of 39. JP was a true pillar of metal in the Middle East – leading Kimaera as the first metal band from Lebanon to tour internationally and sign an international record deal.
The new album IMPERIVM depicts JP’s love for ancient Roman culture and is a fitting tribute for the man.
Atmospheric death/doom with a progressive touch collides with traditional Middle Eastern and orchestral instruments, to produce a complex dark sound with a cross-generic flair on the new album. Their transcending of musical boundaries is inspired by Epica’s melodies, Dimmu Borgir’s black symphonies, Behemoth’s aggression, Katatonia’s darkness and Middle Eastern oriental music.
Formed in 2000 by the late JP Haddad, Kimaera’s path has helped put Lebanese metal on the world map, signing with Stygian Crypt Productions after releasing their first single ‘God’s Wrath’ in 2004. Since then, they have continued to secure firsts in their home country, where they are known as the “Lebanese ambassadors of doom”. They were the first Lebanese metal band to release songs internationally, to tour outside Lebanon, and to release professionally produced music videos, gaining a loyal worldwide following.
Their music has attracted attention both in their native Middle East and in Europe. Metal Hammer magazine included their single ‘A Silent Surrender’ in its September 2011 covermount CD, and they have shared the stage with renowned international bands at festivals across Europe and the Middle East, including Masters of Rock (Czech Republic, 2010, featuring Epica, Behemoth and Annihilator), Unirock Open Air (Turkey, 2011, featuring Decapitated, Vader and Mayhem), Beirut Rock Festival (Lebanon, 2011, featuring Katatonia and Moonspell), Metal Heads’ Mission (Ukraine, 2012, headlined by Nile), Doom Upon Russia tour (opening for Amorphis on the last night in 2013), and, after a period of hiatus, the Beirut Metal Fest (Lebanon, 2017, headlined by Legion of the Damned) and Zobens Un Lemess (Latvia, 2017, headlined by Amorphis).
After the release of their debut Ebony Veiled in 2006, followed by Solitary Impact in 2010, and The Harbinger of Doom in 2013 (released by Eternal Sound Records, Germany), on 15th March, 2022 Kimaera launch their fourth studio album IMPERIVM,in which they continue to reject being defined by boundaries.
Despite hailing from one of the most war-torn regions in the world in which they have had to overcome ongoing political, economic and security hurdles, Kimaera refuse to be seen simply through the prism of current conflict. They have instead chosen to engage with their country’s ancient history through an original take: Their new album’s theme is inspired by Roman history, with Lebanon having been part of the Roman Empire with all its power, brutality and majesty. The Middle Eastern ethnic instruments whose sound infuses the album also have their origins in ancient Rome, giving the album a distinct aural mark.
Kimaera are dedicating their new album to the band’s founder and frontman JP Haddad, whose untimely death is mourned by the whole of the metal community in Lebanon. The album will be launched posthumously at a tribute event to JP Haddad,taking place in Beirut, Lebanon on 15th March, 2022.
On May 6th Italian alchemists and power trio UFOMAMMUT return with their ninth studio album, Fenice via Neurot RecordingsandSupernatural Cat. But not as we’ve heard them before, now “more intimate, more free.”
For over 20 years, the band has combined the heaviness and majesty of dynamic riff worship with a nuanced understanding of psychedelic tradition and history in music, creating a cosmic, futuristic, and technicolor sound destined for absolute immersion.
Fenice (meaning Phoenix in Italian) symbolically represents endless rebirth and the ability to start again after everything seems doomed. The album is the first recording with new drummer Levre, and truly marks a new chapter in Ufomammut history.
“I think we lost our spontaneity, album after album,” says Urlo. “We tried to make more complicated songs and albums, but I think at some point we just ended up repeating ourselves. With Fenice, we were ready to start from zero, we had no past anymore – so we just wanted to be reborn and rise from the ashes..”
Whilst the band are well-known for their psychedelic travels into the far reaches of the cosmos, Fenice is a much more introspective listening experience. Fenice was conceived as a single concept track, divided in six facets of this inward-facing focus. Sonic experimentations abound in the exploration of this central theme; synths and experimental vocal effects are featured more prominently than ever before as the band push themselves ever further into the uncharted territory of their very identity.
Check out the video for “Psychostasia” belowand read on for more about their new album:
The towering synths on the opening track “Duat” evoke an almighty machine rising from the depths of primordial ooze. There’s a shift to a frenetic garage-psych pace before mellowing out into a more familiar doomy stomp. “Kepherer” is a respite, albeit a slight one, returning to the pulsing rhythms of the album’s intro before plunging the listener into the menacing build and release of “Psychostasia” next.
The second half of the record brings with it an even greater sense of dynamic exploration. “Metamorphoenix” oozes with curious synth patterns and noises, before descending into sinister chords and an oddly choral chant. An explosion of emotion heralds the beginning of “Pyramind”, all-encompassing in its riff worship and quasi-religious climax of mantra-esque vocals. “Empyros” is groovy yet irregular, with rhythms interplaying and more chanting voices, bringing the records to its end with a sense of dedication and purpose.
Each oscillation of this extraordinary album feels inevitable – Ufomammut are after all, masters of their craft, and when it comes to creating enveloping sonic journeys into the unknown, it’s their uninhibited sense of exploration that breaches new sonic ground.
Fenice is the sound of a band whose very essence has been rejuvenated, and are welcoming the chance to create music in the way they know best; by unfolding carefully and attentively, by melding those extreme dynamics which render Fenice as a living and breathing creature – and by writing gargantuan riffs that herald their very rebirth.
Fenice shall be released on LP and CD formats via Neurot Recordings, with a limited edition LP version of 666 copies on Supernatural Cat.
French perverts of GRONIBARD are not yet done violently assaulting your auditory senses and are now dropping a second new single, “Mon Siamois Maléfique!” The song, if you can even call it that, is taken from the band’s new album, Regarde les Hommes Sucer,’ which is due on May 20! Listen at THIS LOCATION.
GRONIBARD again felt the need to deliver a personal note on the second single:
“You know that we love to tell love stories, so here is a new one:
“This fairytale talks about two Siamese brothers. The first one is a deviant and wants to physically seduce the other one that is ‘sensible.’
“As they share the same ‘Johnson,’ is it bad? Is it okay? “For sure the answer is 42, but the question remains.”
And when you haven’t gotten enough of their first single ‘Fast Gays of Humanity’, go on and get some more in you HERE.
‘Regarde Les Hommes Sucer’ is now available for pre-orders HERE.
Photo credit: Courtney Santos-Awkwardeye Photography
Texas’ electronic rockers CEDARS have just released a new video ‘Give Up The Ghost‘!
CEDARS’ frontlady Sandeigh on ‘Give Up The Ghost’: “Give Up The Ghost take a deep look into the parts of ourselves that struggle to let go. When does the past start to control the future? For this video, we wanted to create an aesthetic that felt really closed in and chaotic. Something that sort of gave the feeling of being trapped, with lots of jagged movement and oversaturated lights. “
Watch ‘Give Up The Ghost’ here:
Just previously, the band released an acoustic version for their radio hit single ‘Circles’, in case you missed it, watch here: https://youtu.be/az98_HVa_o4
Earlier Sandeigh revealed on ‘Circles’ single: “Circles is about rhythms. All of life – everything around – is filled with them. The tides, the moon, the weather, our breath, our blood, you, me. There’s this incredible circular, life-death-life rhythm to everything.
I feel like we get talked out of listening to the wisdom these circles have to offer us. There’s so much knowledge in our bodies and in the natural world and when we tune into those places, they have a lot to say. Sometimes, in order to hear that, we have to be willing to let go of things we think matter, things we might not want to part with, to burn those things down to make room for new growth. That’s part of the life-death-life cycle -that’s part of the cyclical nature of life and growth. Even when it’s uncomfortable or we have to go against popular opinion or maybe the “way we’ve always done things.”
For me, the inner wisdom I hear is often one calling me to a wilder life. She’s asking me to wake up to my true nature and helps me see what needs to die in me to make room for more authenticity. Her voice is wise and daring. (And sometimes asking me to get WAY outside of my comfort zone. But I trust her.)
What circles are you being called to look at in your world? Inside and out…what needs to die and what needs to be tended?”
Currently the band is in the studio working on their next full-length album.
The band issued: “We got started on new concepts even as we were gearing up to release Cowards back in June.
While Cowards explores a theme of letting go and shedding what’s no longer needed, this new body of work is a deeper look into what comes alongside that purging, and what can be possible in its place. Cowards really feels like a forest fire. Everything was burning down in our actual lives and that, of course, made its way into the stories on that album and the videos we’ve created from it. But some of the most fertile soil is found after fire removes what’s no longer serving the forest. It makes room for new life.
But first we sit and sift through the ashes.
The new album’s title has a lot to do with the pause in-between the burning away and next season. It will explore themes of shadow work and inner patterns, and how the light needs the dark. And as usual, we’re doing it with an expansive and deep soundscape.
We’re excited. We’ve been in the demo phase for a bit and what’s coming together feels really good, like we’re more settled into who we are individually and as a family.”
Stay tuned for more information!
CEDARS released their latest album “Cowards” on June 11th 2021, via Gruene Records.
CEDARS is an electronic rock band from central Texas whose music incorporates the DIY ethos of bands like The Pixies and PJ Harvey, the haunting atmospheres of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, and the infectious grooves of MuteMath. CEDARS is more than just a band: it’s is a vision of community, a community driven by the idea that beauty can save the world. Led by longtime friends Sandeigh Kennedy and Drew Heaton, they blend industrial and organic textures, drawing together disparate elements to marry complex sonic landscapes with compelling stories. Gritty synths and wispy vocals; hard hitting beats and delicate textures are the tools they use to tell powerful, authentic stories that explore truth and beauty.
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
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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
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