After BAEST celebrated the release of their current long-player “Necro Sapiens” only a few months ago, the death metal powerhouse from Denmark is already in the starting blocks with their new single “Ecclesia”. Accompanied by an energetic live performance clip the band presents an equally epic and heavy Death Metal banger!
Furthermore, the band announces their upcoming EP release Justitia that the guys are currently working on with full throttle.
The band comments:
“’Ecclesia’ was the covenant that led to the demise of Necro Sapiens. A foul circle of preachers, with their eyes set for domination. Ecclesia is the first single of our forthcoming EP release Justitia. It concerns the birth of the necro society, the church of the decadent rule.
Recorded live in Lundgaard Studio, we continued the style of our 3rd record, emphasising our natural flow and groove, striving to make catchy and timeless heavy metal.
Ecclesia marks a creative and musical challenge, that we set for ourselves after the release of Necro Sapiens. We wanted to test our abilities and challenge ourselves and our listeners. How far can we push our sound, and how diverse can our releases be? Be the judge.”
Check out the new single as well as the live performance clip HERE
Polish traditional/classic heavy metal act CRYSTAL VIPER released 4-track “live in studio” video. The video can be seen below.
CRYSTAL VIPER front woman Marta Gabriel explains: “2021 wasn’t an easy year. We released new studio album “The Cult”, but we managed to play literally 3 live shows only, as our other festival appearances and the European Tour on which we were supposed to promote new album were either postponed or cancelled. So instead, we did few new studio recordings, including full #RockOutSessions recording, where we played 4 songs from “The Cult” in the live, stripped down versions. We decided to release the video version for free – it’s our way of saying thank you to all the fans who are supporting us in those weird times, who bought the new album. The same recording will be later released as Side-B of our special Mini Album, which will be released in the next few months, and which will include few rather big surprises”.
CRYSTAL VIPER’s latest studio album “The Cult”, as well as Marta Gabriel’s first solo album “Metal Queens” were released in 2021 by Listenable Records.
Photographer Deborah Samuel is credited for capturing the now-iconic album cover images for the RUSH albums ‘Permanent Waves,’ ‘Moving Pictures,’ ‘Exit…Stage Left,’ and ‘Signals.’ Now in the 40th anniversary year of ‘Moving Pictures’ – long considered one of rock’s all-time classic albums – fans will be able to obtain extremely rare photograph outtakes from the album cover shoot.
Incredibly, these ‘Moving Pictures’ photographs have never been made public. No alternate versions have appeared in magazines, in calendars, in books, or online anywhere, and have now been made available for the first time ever with the release of the Deborah Samuel Collection.
Contained in this ultra-limited-edition curated collection are: three alternate front album covers, three alternate back album covers, and twelve alternate interior album art photographs of both Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee taken from the original ‘Moving Pictures’ photo shoot.
“I clearly remember the day Deborah set up for this cover, and especially the interior series of the ‘Moving Pictures’ photographs,” said Alex Lifeson. “I was jumping around in the dark with a bright strobe flashing away, which was disorienting to say the least, but the results fit so well with the album concept, and I loved the final photos she produced. I’m thrilled to revisit them and make the covers and these interior photos available in support of Grapes For Humanity.”
In partnership with Definitive Authentic, Grapes for Humanity is supporting the Genius 100 Foundation’s (G100) Gift of Sight Campaign and the Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP). Proceeds from the sale of this special anniversary collection of photographs will provide the funds necessary to perform as many sight restoring surgeries ($125USD per) as possible for those in need in various under-resourced regions around the global where HCP has operations. These groups are working to eradicate preventable and curable blindness in low to middle income countries.
“I’m very thankful to Deborah for generously making these rare photographs available to our fans, the proceeds of which will help bring sight to the sightless,” commented Geddy Lee.
Season of Mist is proud to announce the signing of STRIGOI! Risen from the ashes of VALLENFYRE and PARADISE LOST, mastermind Greg Mackintosh and co-conspirator Chris Casket return with a second doom/death-laden album called ‘Viscera.’ The new offering will be released via Season of Mist in the summer of 2022!
STRIGOI comments on the signing: “We are very pleased to announce that STRIGOI have signed a deal with Season of Mist records to release our second studio album: ‘Viscera.’ Season Of Mist has come to represent all shades of musical darkness, and with such an eclectic roster and impressive history we feel this union affords us the best and most suitable platform to launch STRIGOI’S second offering of cold terror.“
For a glimpse of what’s to come, check out STRIGOI‘s debut album ‘Abandon All Faith’ HERE
When PARADISE LOST guitarist Greg Mackintosh put to rest his VALLENFYRE side project in 2018, he closed a difficult, but ultimately cathartic period in his life. Created as a tribute to his father John, who passed away in 2009, VALLENFYRE originally served as a sounding board for Greg’s grief, but then delved into his nihilistic take on the world. VALLENFYRE’s brief existence was intentional — the band always knew they could go no further than the three studio albums that bore their name.
A mere few days after VALLENFYRE played its last live show in September 2018, Mackintosh announced the formation of a brand-new band with VALLENFYRE bassist Chris Casket (Ex. Extreme Noise Terror), STRIGOI. The English twosome released their debut album Abandon All Faith on 22nd November 2019 which was met by widespread critical acclaim and support. From this success, the band began preproduction to take the project live, recruiting to the line-up drummer Guido Zima (Ex Implore / The Secret) and live guitarist Sam Kelly-Wallace (Ex VALLENFYRE) to begin spreading their foreboding gospel throughout the European festival circuit.
Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic that hit Spring 2020 STRIGOI were unable to perform live as planned, and realising this situation was going to be a long-term constraint Greg and Chris decided to begin writing for a second album. This 18-month process culminated in STRIGOI signing to Season Of Mist records, then heading to Orgone Studios UK to track 14 brand new songs under the watchful eye of award winning producer Jamie Gomez Arellano.
The bands line up, now set with the addition of guitarist Ben Ash (Satyricon / Ex. Carcass) completed the recording of the album ‘Viscera’ in October 2021, subsequently mixed by Kurt Ballou at GodCity Studios and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Studios. ‘Viscera’ represents the further evolution of STRIGOI as a band, a concept fully realised as a statement of terror, malaise, and ultimately a record representing what Greg and Chris wanted to achieve from the band’s inception.
This winter renowned Swedish trio NEKROMANT unveil ‘Temple Of Haal’, their fourth album, and first for new label Despotz Records.
Standing on the shoulders of metal giants such as Black Sabbath and Pentagram, Swedish trio Nekromant are well versed in the art of crushing riffs and powerful melodies, boasting a sound that echoes the might of the past with an eye cast toward the future. With a much admired set of releases to their name, the three-piece have been turning heads wherever they go with their authentic and effortlessly brilliant old school metal assault. From a punishing percussive battery through to the Iommi-esque guitars, this power-trio understand that the riff is king. The first fruits of their new album is packed with ambitious metal gems such as ‘The Woods’, the epic ‘Behind The Veil Of Eyes’ and the doom-laden ‘Olórin’s Song’. Nekromants new album ‘Temple Of Haal’ marks a new chapter in the band’s musical evolution.
The album ‘Temple Of Haal’ embraces a typical Swedish darkness in amongst a desire to reject the notion of living life through social media and seeks to reconnect with the things that really matter. The new album is an unashamedly old school heavy metal record, blessed with crushing riffs and inescapable hooks. The band, originally known as Serpent, have a large and loyal following, and the new album is very much in keeping with what those fans have come to expect from this acclaimed Scandinavian three-piece. With single ‘The Woods’ and ‘Behind The Veil Of Eyes’ proving to be a perfect calling card for the upcoming, Nekromant are in the perfect position to fulfill that early promise with ‘Temple Of Haal’, and bring a new level of Swedish bleakness to the world.
“I see this place, top of the mountain side Dreaming away to the gods of old I will defend by the sword, the spear, the flame, the fire.”
Nekromant about the new album: “A big part of this album is dedicated to our hometown. The small town called Vargön is hardly defined by its size or industrial prowess but rather by its location between the twin mountains, Halleberg and Hunneberg. The name “Haal” is dated to 1325 and serves as firm proof that people have been living in the shadow of the mountains for a very long time. These two giants have always been the subject of local myths and stories which offered a huge amount of inspiration concerning the lyrics for this album. This place also has a strong connection to Sweden’s biggest lake Vänern and all that it entails.
We are not the right people to judge the credibility in legends, but it is very hard to deny that this area has a certain nerve about it. Musically, we do what we always do; music that makes sense to us. We are glad and proud that this record contains even more elements of classic heavy metal than before, with strong and clear melodies as well as an extra pinch of aggression. Nekromant has always been a band that is moving forward without ever losing connection to our musical roots. We plan on continuing doing just that.” // Nekromant
When asked to describe ”Hook”, the first single from his upcoming album, Marco Luponero says ”It’s one of those straightforward speed rock songs that’ll smash your teeth out from the first beat to the last – in the most pleasant way possible, of course.”
The former founder and frontman of Finnish speed metal trio Terrorwheel, who also did a run as the vocalist/bass player in melodic metal band Altaria, has been busy during the last couple of years, writing material for his new hard rock/punk project Marco Luponero & The Loud Ones.
The debut album, which will be released in its entirety in March 2022, has been co-produced and recorded by Owe Inborr at Wolfthrone Studios. ”I worked with Owe a couple of years ago when we did an EP”, says Marco. ”He gets what I’m after and the chemistry is great, so there was no question about what studio I’d be using this time.”
The lead vocals, rhythm guitars and bass on the album are all played by Marco. Simon Grundvall, who’s played with Luponero quite a lot in the past, handles the drums. The album also features several guest performers, among them Jacob Björnfot of Kvaen, who recorded the guitar solo for ”Hook”. ”Jakob is an extremely talented guitarist. I’m very happy to have him playing on the song. The solo turned out absolutely majestic.”
Even though ”Hook” tells the story of a zombie pirate on a slashing spree, the song was actually inspired by something very serious: ”A while ago, I got blood clots in my lungs. It was a scary event that fortunately ended well. But the pain was excruciating. It felt as if my lungs were ripped apart by a sharp object, like a hook or something. I knew I had to write about it.”
Inspired by classic horror movies, the video was produced and directed by Marco himself. ”I’m a director as well, so it felt natural to take that job on myself. I also had a lot of help from good friends and actors. Big thanks to all of them all for their contribution.”
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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
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
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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 