Finnish Death metal band HAUTAJAISYÖ is set to release their fourth studio album “Ei Hauta Kysy Lupaa” later in 2022 via Inverse Records. The first single ‘Kuuleeko kukaan’ is released today.
The band comments: “Hautajaisyö (Funeral Night) puts the cement shoes on and takes a dive deep into death metal. With this this new song the band shows its heaviest side and tells a story about forgetting yourself for others. ”Kuuleeko Kukaan” (Does Anybody Hear) is the first single from the upcoming ”Ei Hauta Kysy Lupaa” (Grave Wont Ask Permission) album that is coming in 2022.”
”Does anybody hear the final scream?”
Band photo by Sami Kettunen / Kuvauksellista Valoa. Single cover art by Minttu Harju.
To thank our dedicated followers in the prog-rock and jazz-rock communities for their support in these days of cancelled concerts and shuttered venues, MANDOKI SOULMATES are reaching out with a live global streaming event on January 15, 2022 (3pm NYC time; 21:00 Berlin time).
Our music-loving supporters have continued to inspire our creativity through these uncertain times for musicians and for the world, and we want to express our gratitude by hosting this event with band members in a live Zoom hang-out, followed by streaming a never-before-seen sumptuous concert film from our electrifying open-air Budapest performance in August 2021.
Join the band for the Zoom meet-up and video premiere on YouTube:
During the band meet-up, we’ll update everyone on what we’ve been doing musically and personally in these trying times, and preview exciting new and upcoming releases from band members, such as the new Jethro Tull album from Ian Anderson. In the first days of real pandemic lockdown in 2020, Ian, Leslie, and members of the SOULMATES created a song for charity celebrating front-line workers, “We Say, Thank You” https://youtu.be/l0Y6XFZw7Hk.
In the upcoming streaming event, the two-and-a-half hour concert video premiere includes the brilliant prog-rock suite “Hungarian Pictures,” and while the concert was attended by 30,000 people, this high-end concert film brings you into the music and performances in ways that are only possible in this audio-visual medium. You won’t want to miss it—it’s free and not available anywhere else—our way of saying a special thank you to our amazing audience.
The MANDOKI SOULMATES, once described by the late Soulmate Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) as “one of the best bands in the world,” are the “Super-Group” musicians surrounding singer, drummer, and songwriter Leslie Mandoki, who has worked as a producer for Disney masterpieces and with greats like Lionel Ritchie, Phil Collins, and Chaka Khan, among many others.
In addition to Leslie, the MANDOKI SOULMATES include: Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), John Helliwell (Supertramp), Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann’s EB), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Nick van Eede (Cutting Crew), Al Di Meola, Jesse Siebenberg (Supertramp), Cory Henry, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans, Tony Carey, Richard Bona, Julia Mandoki, Peter Maffay, Till Brönner, David Clayton Thomas (Blood Sweat & Tears), and Klaus Doldinger.
Playing together in the MANDOKI SOULMATES band, these luminaries have been writing and producing new original music for 30 years. Founding band members include Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Jack Bruce of Cream, and Al Di Meola; collectively they have earned 35 Grammys and sold over 350 million records.
The band’s latest album, “Utopia For Realists,” defines itself as sophisticated and mature new music that combines the intellectual and artistic essence of British prog rock with the virtuosic brilliance of New York’s jazz-rock and fusion scene.
But let’s hear what some American music journalists are saying:
Raymond Shasho: “The new Mandoki Soulmates album Utopia for Realists is a modern-day musical masterpiece. A magnificent production of masterful compositions. The instrumentation is bold and surreal with strong implications of European and perhaps Arabic musical flair. ‘Return to Budapest’ is a 15:27 breathtaking and uplifting song that travels in many musical genre directions. The song’s beginnings feature legendary voices: Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) and David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears). Although the instrumentation is intricate, the message is straightforward… ‘LET THE MUSIC SHOW YOU THE WAY!’ The tracks ‘Return to Budapest’ and ‘The Torch’ could easily be Top 40 hits! ‘The Torch,’ also released as a single, is a beautiful composition about placing our hopes for the future on our young … ‘be brave, be strong, be hungry – pass on THE TORCH!’ (https://youtu.be/RE2Un-9h5XA) … all are gorgeous songs written with perfection… Five Stars for Utopia for Realists by The Mandoki Soulmates… A brilliantly orchestrated musical performance with a perception of perseverance, tenacity and a greater good for all mankind.”
Nick Tate: “He’s one of the most accomplished artists you’ve probably never heard of, he’s collaborated with everybody who’s anybody in British prog circles, American jazz-fusion legends, and even world-beat luminaries. Cream’s Jack Bruce compared him to Duke Ellington. Al Di Meola calls him the ‘Hungarian Quincy Jones.’ Greg Lake deemed his band ‘probably the best in the world.’ Ian Anderson says he’s the ‘master chef in the kitchen, mixing all of these exotic spices and mystical musical influences.’ Leslie Mandoki has worked with a ‘Who’s Who’ of British prog and American jazz-fusion legends. If you’ve ever wondered what it might sound like with Al Di Meola guesting with Yes, Ian Anderson fronting Return to Forever, or King Crimson scoring Igor Stravinsky for rock orchestra, Mandoki Soulmates music just might be your cup of prog tea.”
Mistress Carrie: “Leslie Mandoki is a perfect example of what is possible in life! He is doing what he was born to do, and loving every minute of it. We could all use a little bit more of that in this world. Check out the Mandoki Soulmates, and Utopia for Realists, you’ll be glad you did!”
During the Covid-related lockdown in March 2021, the MANDOKI SOULMATES decided it was time to give back to their audience and joined together for their first, highly successful online concert from around the world to celebrate music as the greatest unifier against division. The result, titled “Music Is The Greatest Unifier!” premiered on YouTube on March 26, 2021 and has since been seen by more than five million people through broadcasts on ARD, Germany’s largest television network, and various other third party broadcasters including BR, WDR, hr, and SWR. You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/gDDpdhuC4Rg
What could be more appropriate than to unite through music in these uncertain times, to stick together, and to repeat the success of “Music Is The Greatest Unifier?”
Looking forward to seeing you all! Let us bridge the gap around the world!
Recently Italian old school heavy metallers GUNJACK announced the release of their third album “The Third Impact” due on February 2nd 2022.
Today the band unveils the video for the first single “Heart Of Tank”.
“The video for ‘Heart Of Tank’ was shoot in different places, and we added some scenes taken from war documentaries. Each band member has his own battlefield. We had fun making the video because we tried to mix old video clips with new ones. It was like entering history and those visual tales, which are terribly real”, explains the band.
On “The Third Impact” the power trio from Milan heads towards a darker sound. Written during a difficult time for the humankind, the album is about awkward, introspective, and complicated topics. “The Third Impact” is a powerful mix of old and new school but remaining loyal to their roots.
The album was recorded at A.D.S.R. Decibel Studio and Triblade studio.
The track listing for “The Third Impact” reads as follows: 1. Dagon 2. Blast N’ Roll 3. Twirling On Your Grave 4. The Tournament 5. Hypnotic Desease 6. Destroy The Seventh Seal 7. Coma 8. Meltdown 9. Nuke To Be Sure 10. Metal Influencer 11. The Thermopylae 12. Heart Of Tank 13. The Knights In White 14. Lie Of God
GUNJACK project was born in 2017. The band features in its ranks Mr. Messerschmitt (Alessandro Dominizi) on voice/bass, Gamma Mörser (Fabio Cavestro) on guitars and M47 (Andrea Ornigotti) on drums. Three guys, three metalheads and three fans of old school metal decided to create a new band with scratching and powerful sound. Influenced by old school metal and big bands such as Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and many others, they use their music background to merge the old school riffs with a modern sound. The debut album “Totally Insane” was released in 2018, while the sophomore record “The Cult of Triblade” in 2019. GUNJACK’s live attitude is just loud music, booze, rock’n’roll and a crazy entertainment! A real drunk’n’roll experience to try!
Canadian progressive metal rising stars DEVIANT PROCESS are now sharing the official guitar play-through for the song “Emergence,” which is taken from their brand new record, ‘Nurture!’ The video can be seen at THIS LOCATION.
DEVIANT PROCESS comments, “For those who were wondering what the hell is going on between the two guitars in our song ‘Emergence,’ here’s a play-through of Steph & JD performing the song at ‘La Boîte Noire Studio.'”
“For the next 47-minutes, the complexity never lets up. Jazz and metal and folky prog all swirling together in a head-spinning storm of sound.” – The Wire (UK) on ‘Nurture’
‘Nurture’ was released on October 15, 2021 and can be ordered, streamed, and downloaded HERE.
The artwork was created by Sien-Sébastien.
Tracklist: 1. In Worship, In Blood (07:32) 2. Emergence (05:20) 3. Asynchronous (05:42) 4. The Hammer Of Dogma (05:50) 5. Syrtis Magna (05:57) 6. Homo Homini Deus (04:37) 7. The Blessings Of Annihilation Infinite (07:49) 8. Cybervoid (Obliveon cover) (03:56) Total playing time: 46:43
Italian alternative metal band VIOLET BLEND are back with a new music video for their latest single “Among All These Fools“. This is the second single from the band’s new album Demons, which is set to drop worldwide on April 1, 2022 via Eclipse Records. The music video was directed by Angelo Mura. Watch it right now at this location.
“There is no more uncertain and difficult place to understand than a crime scene” says lead vocalist & composer Giada Celeste Chelli. “The song tries to reflect this feeling of insecurity and vagueness, but it also tries to instill a sense of hope and rebirth that (for me) can come from the music.Only music, with its bursting life force, can alleviate and heal the wounds of the soul, so the song is an invocation, a prayer to the music to accept us, to enfold us with its power, to inspire us and make us ascend to its heaven. Music becomes the only God to believe in and the only muse who can save us.
Drummer Michel Agostini adds, “The video was shot at Cellai Boutique Hotel 4*S in Florence and represents a crime scene. Giada is the victim of the case and the first suspects are Ferruccio and I with whom she spent the last moments of her life. During the filming, some customers of the Hotel were sincerely worried about the situation and thought that it was a real crime scene. Some of them asked the actor who played the detective questions what had happened, and others asked to take some pictures of the set.”
Demons contains thirteen hard-rocking tracks that personify discontent, passion, beauty, and rage. The lyrical subject matter of the album explores the human soul by investigating its contradictions and ambitions. The album was produced by Alessandro Del Vecchio (Quiet Riot, LA Guns, Nanowar of Steel). Demons will be released worldwide via Eclipse Records on April 1, 2022. Singles from the album include the powerful debut “Rock DJ” which describes the primordial sense of joy and freedom that music transmits. Watch the “Rock DJ” music video at this location. The latest single entitled “Among All These Fools”, is about asking the music to guide you through some wicked people that try to surround you and prevent you from reaching your goals. The third single “Need” is about a situation of great uncertainty, where you must decide if you should abandon the old life for a new one. The last single “La Donna Mobile” is part of a prominent social campaign to raise awareness against discrimination and gender-based violence, featuring AIDOS (Italian Association of Women for Development) and the Municipality of Florence, Italy. Altogether, Demons is an exciting record with something for everyone, from the superlative vocal to the rhythm-chops which seem to echo the true pulse of the world. Get ready to rock!
Season of Mist is proud to announce the signing Portuguese death doom duo OAK, featuring the guitarist of GAEREA. The band will release their sophomore full-length later this year.
OAK comments on the signing: “Back when we first started, we wanted to trace the path of a true giant. Today, following its marks carved into the ground, we have come further than we ever imagined. We came face to face with a colossus and, looking up, we now know what ‘giant’ really means. From now on, OAK is a Season of Mist artist and we are set to release our second album this year.”
For a glimpse of what to expect, listen to OAK‘s debut album, ‘Lone,’ via Bandcamp here.
OAK churn out scintillating death/doom metal that’s expansive and harrowing. ‘Lone’ is their debut full length and yet the songwriting is accomplished, as if this is what they were meant to be doing all along. There’s nothing forced here – the music oscillates between the pensive, slow parts to the cathartic, faster ones with relative ease, almost intuitively. The texture of the music does full justice to it all, enhancing the feelings of despair, helplessness and fear.
Lineup: Guilherme Henriques – Vocals/Guitars Pedro Soares – Drums
Chief Shock Video
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 ) 