Bristol, UK-based band RXPTRS – who blend rock, metal, punk, and hardcore with a seamlessness that is enviable, creating something that is unique that seethes with boundless energy – have kicked off 2022 with the video for the ripping new track “Collapse.” Watch it here:
Last year, the band announced that it had signed with Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records. RXPTRS, tipped by Alternative Press as one of 20 UK bands you need to know, previously shared the track “Gutterflies.” Watch the clip, directed by Nathan Roach, here: youtu.be/RIa-83B8Rls
“‘Collapse’ is about the sinking feeling when you’re struggling with anxiety and depression,” says singer Simon Roach. “For a long time, I couldn’t understand why, for periods of time, getting out of bed was impossible, or why the constant feeling of dread was ever present. I never spoke about it, as I didn’t think anyone would understand. So, I channeled it into this song, it was only after completing the song that I realized what these feelings were.“
RXPTRS (pronounced “Raptors”) are a new wave of British rock. The energetic quintet combines ferocious grit with an ear for melody. Built upon the backdrop of the UK, the fiercely creative, long-term friends set out with a sonic mission statement to not succumb to a single barrier, to push boundaries and go beyond the limit of genres, creating a raw sound that is unmistakably their own. Each raucous track is laced with lyrical depth as RXPTRS lay it all on the line. They state, “Music is a vessel, this is how we channel the experiences that have shaped us. This is how we bare our scars.” Quickly becoming renowned for their explosive live performances, the group’s hardcore following continues to grow. Their workhorse mentality towards touring has seen them light up stages across the UK and Europe alongside the likes of Escape the Fate,King 810, As It Is, Light the Torch, and more. RXPTRS‘ visceral energy continues to infect the population as they cut their teeth on the live scene, with no sign of slowing, they’re truly hellbent on showing everyone the way of the RXPTR.
On January 28th, French avantgarde black metallers CELESTE will unleash their new longplayer “Assassine(s)”, produced by Chris Edrich (GOJIRA, TESSERACT, THE OCEAN, LEPROUS). With their unique mix of black metal, sludge and post hardcore, and over 500 shows played since their inception in 2005, CELESTE have cemented their status as one of France’s most important underground acts and now unveil a new single off their upcoming album soon to be released via their new label Nuclear Blast.
Today, CELESTE unveil another single of their album, their haunting offering ‘Le coeur noir charbon’ that comes with another video revealing a glimpse of insanity. WIth this third video to herald the beginning of a new era for the band, the French managed to create a song showcasing the band’s full abilities from their tactful sense for atmospheric mood to their harsh brutality in riffing and vocals.
The band states: “CELESTE’s final act of ASSASSINE(S) had to be one of the climax of this album. Begining with blastering bass drums over an almost baroque riffing, this hectic start is part of the most diversed song of this album. Black metal, post rock and post hardcore are blended in this story teller of a song. It also welcome a guest singer Emily Marks and a guitar sample from Katsuta from Heaven In Her Arms to enrich the band’s universe. Patiently building its pace through dreamy guitars and heartful vocals, CELESTE is bringing tension over and over. It of course worth every penny, the end of ‘Le coeur noir charbon’ is absolutely relieving and rewarding. The band lets all its passion burst in probably one of the most grandiose riff the band has ever written.”
Catch CELESTE together with their new label mates CONJURER on the upcoming European tour:
CELESTE + CONJUREREuropean Tour 2022 02/03/ FR Clermont Ferrand – La Coopérative De Mai 03/03/ FR Toulouse – Le Rex 04/03/ ES Barcelona – Sala Bóveda 05/03/ ES Madrid – Independance Club 06/03/ FR Nantes – Le Ferrailleur 07/03/ BE Brussels – Le Botanique 08/03/ FR Tourcoing – Le Grand Mix 09/03/ FR Paris – Trabendo 10/03/ UK London – The Dome 11/03/ NL Rotterdam – Baroeg 12/03/ LU Esch-Sur-Alzette – Kulturfabrik 13/03/ DE Cologne – Gebäude 9 14/03/ DE Hamburg – Hafenklang 15/03/ DE Berlin – Lido 16/03/ DE Leipzig – UT Connewitz 17/03/ CZ Prague – Nová Chmelnice 18/03/ PL Krakow – Hol 19/03/ SK Kosice – Collosseum 20/03/ HU Budapest – Dürer Kent 21/03/ RO Cluj-Napoca – Form Space 22/03/ RO Bucarest – Quantic 23/03/ BU Sofia – Live And Loud 24/03/ CR Zagreb – Mixtape 5 25/03/ SK Bratislava – Randal Club 26/03/ AT Vienna – Viper Room 28/03/ DE Wiesbaden – Schlachthof 29/03/ BE Antwerp – Trix 30/03/ FR Strasbourg – La Laiterie 31/03/ CH Düdingen – Bad Bonn 01/04/ IT Milan – Tunnel Club 02/04/ FR Lyon – Ninkasi
Having played more than 500 shows around the world, including appearances at several prestigious extreme music festivals, theaters and venues (Hellfest, Roskilde, Copenhell, SummerBreeze, Brutal Assault, Roadburn, Psycho Las Vegas…), with one EP and five albums under their belt, CELESTE has succeeded in creating their own musical atmosphere and are today considered to be one of the most important bands of the “French Avant-Garde Black-Metal” scene.
Multi-platinum selling Finnish rockers THE RASMUS have revealed that they have entered Finland’s annual Eurovision selection contest, UMK, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (The New Music Competition). The band have also announced the release of their Eurovision entry bid and new single ‘Jezebel’ which will be available on 17th January 2022 via Playground Music. Pre-save it here.
‘Jezebel’ was co-written and produced by Desmond Child, who collaborated with The Rasmus on their seventh studio album ‘Black Roses’. Child is responsible for formulating some of rock’s biggest hits, with co-writer and production credits on iconic songs by KISS, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Alice Cooper, to name a few.
Singer Lauri Ylönen comments: “It was awesome to work with Desmond again. He really knows how to put a hit song together. Jezebel is about a girl who takes what she wants, without asking. A free spirit.”
Speaking about the collaboration, Desmond Child says: “Lauri gives me a call and says ‘Hey, I need to write the biggest, greatest song in the entire world, ever. Will you do it [with me]?’ and I said ‘Yeah but I am in Folegandros (Greece)’ and he says, ‘I’ll be right there’. Jezebel is an homage, a tribute, to the strong women of today, who own their bodies, who are in charge of their sensuality, their sexuality, and who are determined to be an equal.”
The UMK winner and Finland’s next Eurovision Song Contest participant will be chosen at the UMK22 event in Turku Logomo on February 26, 2022. The final will be shown live on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle’s radio channels from 9 pm to 11 pm EET. The winner will be chosen by TV viewers and the International UMK Jury. Those outside of Finland can watch the show at https://areena.yle.fi/tv
There is more big news to share from The Rasmus, as they have announced that founding guitarist Pauli Rantasalmi has left the band. Pauli comments:
“I have decided to make my departure from the band and seek for new adventures and challenges in life. I want to thank everybody that has made this journey possible, especially all you amazing Fans, for the best moments and memories, I Love You. I`m eternally thankful to my band brothers for everything and wish the best from the bottom of my heart. Lauri, Aki & Eero, I Love You.
Music lives forever!
“This is not the end, it’s just time to turn the page”
The remaining band members emphasise that it is an amicable split. “We have always been like a family, more like brothers than a band. We are still very good friends, and we wish Pauli all the best,” says Lauri.
The torch is passed to Finnish guitarist and singer, Emilia ‘Emppu’ Suhonen. Speaking of her invitation to join the band, Emppu says: “I got a very surprising call in the fall and answered YES. Although I was a bit nervous to go to the rehearsal room with the guys for the first time for a test drive, I still had a strong feeling that this would be a good thing. That feeling turned out to be right and playing together felt totally natural right from the first riff. I am The Rasmus’ new guitarist, and it’s pretty insane to be on this ride!”
Emppu began playing the guitar when she was 5 years old and at 13, she made her album debut with the band Tiktak, who went on to become one of Finland’s biggest rock bands in the early 2000s. Since then, she has played in several bands including Dame, Alavala and Mira Luoti, amongst other projects.
“At the moment I’m getting ready for the UMK and the upcoming gigs with this awesome band I’m now in, The Rasmus”, says Emppu. “Being part of this group is a dream come true on so many levels.”
Whist fans eagerly await the release of ‘Jezebel’, they can revisit the previously released singles from the band’s upcoming as-yet-untitled album: “Venomous Moon” (feat. Apocalyptica): https://youtu.be/71fGZWoncZQ “Bones”: https://youtu.be/dMfRJofGyIs
Armed with a new arsenal of songs and a revitalised lineup, The Rasmus will embark on a World Tour in the fall of 2022.
October 2022 10 Germany Hamburg / Markthalle 11 Germany Berlin / Metropol 12 Poland Warsaw / Proxima 13 Poland Krakow / Kwadrat 14 Germany Leipzig / Taubchental 15 Czech Rep. Prague / Forum Karlin 17 Hungary Budapest / BNMC 18 Austria Vienna / Ottakringer Brauerei 19 Germany Munich / Neue Theaterfabrik 21 Italy Milan / Fabrique 22 Switzerland Bern / Bierhubeli 23 France Paris / La Maroquinerie 24 Luxembourg Esch-Sur-Alzette / Rockhal 25 Germany Wiesbaden / Schlachthof (Halfhouse) 27 Germany Cologne / LMH 28 Holland Haarlem / Patronaat 30 England Nottingham / Rock City 31 England Manchester / O2 Ritz
November 2022 01 Scotland Glasgow / Garage 02 England Bristol / O2 Academy 03 England London / O2 Forum Kentish Town 05 Ukraine Kiev / Mc Hall 06 Ukraine Lviv / Malevich Club 07 Ukraine Odessa / Musical Comedy Theatre 08 Ukraine Dnipro / Shynnic House Of Culture 09 Ukraine Kharekiv 11 Russia Moscow / Stadium 12 Russia St Petersburg / A2
With ZWANZIG.TAUSEND VOLT set for release on January 28 via Napalm Records, Berlin’s finest Streetcore powerhouse TOXPACK releases the third single “Totgelaubt, doch neugeboren”, confidently moving forward and firing up the moshpit once more! The legendary five-piece from Germany’s capital are charged up and ready to deliver the streetcore sound that fans have been loving for over 20 years!
TOXPACK on “Totgelaubt, doch neugeboren”: “Many have had to struggle hard, some have lost everything in the last two years. Be it due to the current situation, the flood disaster in Germany or other precipitation that hit mercilessly out of nowhere. As so often, friends were on the verge of giving up, burying their dreams and goals. This song is for you. It should give you courage and strength to get through it all. ‘Time is your enemy, it always has been – But you stay strong, show it the middle finger!'”
ZWANZIG.TAUSEND VOLT is a flare of expulsion – anger, hate and despair, raw and unfiltered. It’s the tone TOXPACK has been setting for 20 years. They can’t do and they don’t want anything else: from the streets for the street.
ZWANZIG.TAUSEND VOLT is also a gift to all old and new fans. TOXPACK is 20 years of streetcore, force, intensity and unconditional honesty, felt by many. The connection between band and fans is unique – and ZWANZIG.TAUSEND VOLT is the energy boost for everything that is yet to come.
Guitarist and lyricistTommi Tox about the new album: “All the energy, perseverance, what we have experienced and the constant will to always give everything, simply everything that has accumulated over the past 20 years, inevitably comes together on this album and that has to be sent to this world. We probably couldn’t have given ourselves a better birthday present.”
Varying in select territories,ZWANZIG.TAUSEND VOLTwill be released digitally and via CD, as a bundle with T-shirt as well as a 2-CD bundle with flag and exclusive demos, in black as well as limited yellow-black vinyl (100 pieces worldwide) and as an impressive Earbook with 60 pages + hand-numbered autograph card. ZWANZIG.TAUSEND VOLT belongs in every collection of punk rock, hard rock and metal fans, and friends of German-language rock!
ZWANZIG. TAUSEND VOLT tracklist: 1. Gekommen um zu bleiben 2. ZWANZIG.TAUSEND VOLT 3. Wecke den Kampfgeist 4. Ozean voll Scheiße 5. Bastarde für alle Zeit 6. Totgeglaubt, doch neugeboren 7. Kopf durch die Wand 8. Zusammen einsam 9. Letzte Warnung 10. Noch einmal so wie früher 11. Schweinehund 12. Wehe, wenn wir losgelassen 13. Nur für Dich 14. Wir kommen wieder irgendwann 15. Himmelwärts
UK hard rock stalwarts TEN used the downtime during the worldwide pandemic to work on not one, but two new albums. The first album to be released, “Here Be Monsters”, will land on February 18, 2022. Their new single and lyric video for the track “Hurricane” is out today. Listen to our both singles so far – “Fearless” and “Hurricane” and pre-order/save “Here Be Monsters” on CD/LP/Digital HERE: https://orcd.co/herebemonsters
You can watch the lyric video for “Hurricane” HERE:
Following the success of the recent string of albums, from “Albion” to “Illuminati”, Hughes is joined once again by guitarists Dann Rosingana, Steve Grocott and John Halliwell along with bass player Steve McKenna, and keyboard maestro Darrel Treece-Birch. Drums on the album have been handled by Markus Kullman (Sinner, Glenn Hughes, Voodoo Circle). TEN continue to raise the musical bar higher for themselves, a goal they push on every release. Stunning guitar work, rich keyboards, excellent bass and drum interplay along with Hughes’ rich vocals are the order of the day here. “Here Be Monsters” was produced by Gary Hughes and mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. TEN’s longstanding professional association with Dennis has been ongoing since he mixed their 2011 album, “Stormwarning” and has always guaranteed albums with stunning sound and production.
Fans should note that there are no ties between this and the next album, ie. “Here Be Monsters” is not a “Part One” or anything of this nature. The band has simply crafted two high quality releases and decided to put them out separately, in a fashion not too dissimilar to what happened to the amazing first two records which were recorded one after the other in a very short period of time.
British hard rockers TEN have an outstanding history of releases in their storied and revered catalog. Starting out as a sort of solo project built around singer and songwriter Gary Hughes, TEN found their audience playing a hard rock sound influenced by such giants as UFO, Thin Lizzy, Magnum, Giant, and Whitesnake in a time when playing this particular sound was considered ommericial suicide. The band’s early records such as “The Name Of The Rose”, “The Robe”, “Spellbound“, and “Babylon” established the band as mainstays in the melodic hard rock genre, which has continued throughout their now 26 year career over the course of 14 studio albums.
Tracklist:
Fearless
Chapter And Psalm
Hurricane
Strangers On A Distant Shore
The Dream That Fell To Earth
The Miracle Of Life
Immaculate Friends
Anything You Want
Follow Me Into The Fire
The Longest Time
LINE-UP: Gary Hughes – Vocals Dann Rosingana – Guitars Steve Grocott – Guitars Darrel Treece-Birch – Keyboards Steve McKenna – Bass
Norwegian multi-instrumentalist SYLVAINE will be releasing her fourth studio album, ‘Nova,’ on March 4, 2021! The singer/songwriter has teamed up with Metal Injection to premiere her devastating new single, “Mono No Aware.” The song can be found along with a visualizer at THIS LOCATION.
SYLVAINE comments on the track: “The moment when you appreciate the beauty of our human existence and what lies within it being completely transient, yet feeling overcome by sadness for the exact same reason, that is ‘Mono No Aware.’ Every Sylvaine record holds one song title that can’t be directly translated into English, and this time I felt the melancholy and depth of the Japanese saying ‘mono no aware’ fit perfectly with the emotions that went into creating this record. Existing somewhere between nostalgia, a yearning for things lost and past times and a respect for the ephemeral nature of things, ‘Mono No Aware’ basically deals with how hard it is to accept that the only constant in our existence is change. Being one of the heaviest tracks I wrote to date, ‘Mono No Aware’ is filled with intensity in every way, pushing the borders of light and dark even further. This song also holds some of my favorite lyrics of the album; ‘You need to fade away, so I can truly see you. Show me the meaning of being alive – Fading, I see you now.'”
The song and album are available for pre-saving on all other digital platforms HERE while the record is available for pre-orders HERE.
Track-list 1. Nova (04:36) 2. Mono No Aware (09:42) [LISTEN] 3. Nowhere, Still Somewhere (04:34) [WATCH] 4. Fortapt (11:55) 5. I Close My Eyes So I Can See (05:16) 6. Everything Must Come To An End (07:47) Bonus track 7. Dissolution (05:58) Total: 49:51
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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
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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
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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 