‘Into The Depths I Ride’ is the latest single from international technical modern, melodic death metal outfit ANCIENT SETTLERS and and it is out now on all digital platforms via Crusader Records along with an accompanying video clip. The track was produced by the legendary Fredrik Nordstrom.
ANCIENT SETTLERS was founded in 2020 by Carlos Chiesa-Estomba & Herman Riera (former Haboryn), Rene González (former Aesthesis), Emmy Reyes (Blackbeer, former Gamalyel), and Antony Hämäläinen (Meridian Dawn, former Nightrage & Armageddon), a group of musicians with more than fifteen-years of experience in the European and American metal circuit.
‘Into the Depths I Ride’ describes an introspective exploration of the dark side of the human mind. Sonically, the song takes the listeners through a rollercoaster of speed and aggression as powerful guitar riffs blend with blunt drums, and deep vocals provide the appropriate space for a spiritual interlude.
The band started their journey with the intention to explore the frontiers of modern melodic death metal, including catchy guitar riffs, the use of synths & keyboards, and a variety of different sounds and rhythms, trying to develop their own music personality.
From a lyrical point, the band gets inspired by the recent tragedies that affect the earth and human race. They try to spread their message over all those who want to listen.
Despite this, the band needed to modify their starting plans, due to the pandemic outbreak. They pushed ahead and in January of 2021, the band released their first digital single ‘Diamond Eyes’, along-side a limited edition 7″ vinyl. The following February, the band released their debut album Autumnus. Both were recorded in Portugal, France, Spain and the USA, and requested the service of Daniel Cardoso (Anathema, Anneke Van Grisbergen) to mix & master the album, as well as Gus “Perkele” Sazes (Angra, Kamelot, Gus G, Firewind, Arch Enemy) to design the artworks.
In April 2021, Miguel Herrera joined the band as a full-time bass player. The band started to develop a live-session tour, including venues throughout Portugal, France and Spain.
Ancient Settlers have just signed to Crusader Records to release their killer 10–song album, produced by worldwide Grammy awarded Fredrik Nordstrom.
Tokyo based “Samurais from Hell” SURVIVE – active in the world for 20+ years – are currently in the studio, working on the band’s next full-length album, coming out in 2022. The band wants to share their studio experience with their fans, releasing jam session studio vlog updates.
The band stated: “We lost the place to work with this pandemic. It’s a concert or a tour. This pandemic stopped our band from gigging and touring. We decided to use the time we have now to create new music in the studio. We will share this studio experience with our fans over the coming months as a Vlog. We are also looking for a label to release this new album in Europe and Russia. We are still composing the songs so there are jam sessions to help us to compose the final songs. The plan is to have this album out 2022. We are looking forward to see you all very soon live!”
Tokyo’s Thrash Heroes SURVIVE – active in the world for over 20 years – have forged their own indelible path within the jmetal scene. It was back in 1998, when former Death File guitarist and mastermind Nemo decided to form a thrash metal band of his own which soon became the juggernaut known as SURVIVE. Over the next two decades the band have played many big festivals (Loud Park, Beast Fest, Multiplex-motorbike event, Korean Live Rock, Formoz Festival, Asia Metal Festival, Dongducheon Rock Festival, Trendkill Extreme Feast, etc) and toured all over the world with acts such as Behemoth, United, Killswitch Engage, Dope, Pulling Teeth, Testament, Outrage, Anthrax, Hatebleed, Napalm Death, Amon Amarth, Venom Inc, At The Gates, to name just a few, cementing their place in Japanese metal history. Still going strong, SURVIVE‘s latest album “Immortal Warriors” was released to the Japanese market on September 12th, 2018 and a year later, on September 24th 2019, the album is out worldwide via Sliptrick Records. SURVIVE have lost none of their verve and “Immortal Warriors” is an absolute must for fans of this fantastic, often overlooked band.
“With my dying breath I’ll stand / And scream for what is right”Billy Graziadei bellows on the single “One Life To Live” from the new BillyBio album titled Leaders And Liars, due out on March 25, 2022 via AFM Records. The fast-paced video, featuring a slew of up-and-coming talent, including Los Angeles tattoo artist Julia Azevedo @_7777777j, can be seen HERE:
The song is a call to action in authentic hardcore style and epitomizes the PMA (positive mental attitude) Graziadei lives by. Video director Antoine Combelles says “we wanted to explore his message of “unapologetically being who you want to be” with a flowing sequence seamlessly linking people together in one place, one energy and suspended in moments no one can take from them.” Co-director Vincent Jacob adds “Billy’s music is a reminder that all we have is now. We wanted to capture the urgency of that message but also the positive aspect of it. Yes, the future is uncertain, so why not try to enjoy the ride?”
BillyBio will host a benefit in Los Angeles on Friday, December 17th that is open to the public. Plans to live stream the fundraiser are in the works. Fans can text the word “nowhere” to (+1 ) 877-327-1645 to access event details.
BillyBio‘s sound recalls classic New York hardcore bands such as Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags and Crumbsuckers. Leaders And Liars borrows from the Biohazard legacy by defying strict definitions, but ultimately this album represents Graziadei’s love of punk, hardcore and classic metal (Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden).
Graziadei wrote, performed, recorded and produced all fifteen tracks on Leaders and Liars in 2020 and 2021 at Firewater Studios in Los Angeles. In addition to recording and producing Biohazard there, he’s also had Powerflo, Madball, Agnostic Front, Devil Driver in the studio which he runs full time when not on tour. The record was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen. Additional musicians performing on the album include Fred Aching Rios (Powerflo) on drums; Ra Dias (Suicidal Tendencies, currently touring with KORN) on bass; Daniele Manca on bass; Dan Palmer (Death by Stereo, Zebrahead) on guitar; Robbie Davidson (The Exploited) on guitar. Vocals on “Remission” and “Just In The Sun” by Jennifer Bair with Jay Roth. Toby Morse (H2O, Hazen Street) appears on “One Life To Live.” Album artwork by Lecru Eyebrows and design by Filipe Horsch.
Leaders And Liars Tracklist:
Black Out
Fallen Empires
Leaders and Liars
Lost Horizon
Turn the Wounds
Sheepdog
Deception
Generation Kill
Looking Up
One Life To Live ( feat. Toby Morse [H2O, Hazen Street] )
Swedish saviors of heavy metal HAMMERFALL let the hammer strike again with their twelfth studio album, Hammer of Dawn, set to be released on February 25, 2022 via Napalm Records! The album’s release is preceded by the arrival of the first single and title track, “Hammer of Dawn,” accompanied by a music video filmed at Liseberg amusement park in Gothenburg, and by famed director Patric Ullaeus.
Oscar Dronjak on the single: “The song itself was initially conceived in Germany during the World Dominion tour, with the rest of the work being done at home. I immediately knew this had the potential to be something important, and when Joacim added his vocal melodies we both felt it would be the perfect single. One with substance and power but also one you can’t stop singing when the music fades out.”
Joacim Cans adds on the video: “We already had the idea to shoot a video at legendary amusement park Liseberg 20 years ago. But like any good bottle of Champagne this idea needed to rest and mature before taken into action. And FUCK I am happy we waited! Together with director Patric Ullaeus we have created something unique and astonishing that totally blows me away every time I watch it. You can really tell that we haven’t played together for almost two long and never-ending years. We are as energetic as a pack of hungry wolves in the video ready to shred and deliver the heavy metal gospel!”
As one of the main forces in heavy metal, HAMMERFALL have dominated not only the Swedish album charts, but album charts across Europe throughout their extensive career, while earning gold status thrice. Faced with the daunting task of following up the band’s last studio album, Dominion, an album that fans and critics hailed as one of the band’s strongest releases, HAMMERFALL collectively met the challenge head on and have delivered what many early listeners are predicting as the best metal album of 2022 and a high point of the band’s catalogue.
Joacim Cans on the new album: “It’s hard to describe in words how extremely happy and proud I am about the outcome of Hammer Of Dawn. It was a struggle, for sure, but in the end we pulled it off and delivered a solid, vital and positive new album. Everyone is on top of his game and together we have created yet another milestone in HAMMERFALL history. Can’t wait to sing these songs live together with my sisters and brothers, The Templars of Steel!”
Oscar Dronjak adds: “We spent a long time creating the songs for this album, mainly due to the Coronavirus but also because we began working on the material very early. That’s definitely evident in the result, the attention to detail is very big. Another thing that is quite palpable is the energy level, and that can be contributed to the extreme and forced downtime we all had to endure during the pandemic. The atmosphere in the studio was relaxed and laid back and the lack of stress created the perfect working environment for turning up the heat when the red light came on. It was easy to peak when you had to since there was no outside distractions or immediate deadlines. This album is a product of the pandemic in some ways, but more importantly it’s a strong statement that we are experiencing the high point in our creativity at the moment. I’ve said it before: HAMMERFALL has never sounded better than we do right now!”
Hammer of Dawn tracklist: 1. Brotherhood 2. Hammer of Dawn 3. No Son of Odin 4. Venerate Me 5. Reveries 6. Too Old to Die Young 7. Not Today 8. Live Free or Die 9. State of the W.I.L.D. 10. No Mercy
Hammer of Dawn starts off with remarkable opener “Brotherhood”, a hymn echoing the deep connection of bandleaders Joacim Cans and Oscar Dronjak with their loyal Templars of Steel worldwide. Other tracks on the album present one smasher after another, with songs like “Reveries”, “No Son Of Odin” and “Venerate Me” – the latter featuring an appearance by none other than King Diamond – making sure it will go down as another milestone in the career of the Swedes.
Hammer of Dawn was produced by long time collaborator Fredrik Nordström (In Flames, Opeth etc), who handled mixing, mastering, drum recording, and shared the duty of recording guitars and bass with Pontus Norgren and Oscar Dronjak. Jacob Hansen (Volbeat etc), produced the lead vocals.
When HAMMERFALL released their debut album, Glory To The Brave, in 1997, it signaled the second coming of heavy metal… Since that very day, HAMMERFALL has proudly flown the heavy metal flag high and while doing so have influenced a generation of musicians. They have also left a twenty five year long trail of classic timeless music, sold out shows and an army of loyal fans, aka the Templars Of Steel, in their wake. Rest assured everyone, that legacy continues and in fact strengthens with the arrival ofHammer of Dawn.
HAMMERFALL live Fans can already look forward to seeing Hammer of Dawn live, as in 2022, HAMMERFALL will go on an extensive co-headlining tour through Europe, together with German metal stars Helloween.
UNITED FORCES TOUR 2022 25.03.22 NO – Oslo / Sentrum Scene 26.03.22 SE – Göteborg / Partille Arena 28.03.22 FI – Helsinki / Black Box 29.03.22 EE – Talinn / Noblessneri Valukoda 01.04.22 DE – Bamberg / Brose Arena 02.04.22 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle 03.04.22 DE – Berlin / Verti Music Hall 04.04.22 DE – Regensburg / Donau Arena 08.04.22 ES – Madrid / Wizink Center 09.04.22 ES – Barcelona / St. Jordi Club 11.04.22 IT – Milan / Lorenzini District 12.04.22 DE – Kempten / Black Box 13.04.22 CH – Zürich / Samsung Hall 15.04.22 LU – Luxemburg / Rockhal 16.04.22 NL – Tilburg / 013 18.04.22 PL – Katovice / MCK 20.04.22 BG – Sofia / Arena Armeec 22.04.22 AT – Vienna / Gasometer 23.04.22 CZ – Prague / O2 24.04.22 SK – Zvolen / Ice Stadium 26.04.22 HU – Budapest / Papp Laszlo Sportarena 29.04.22 DE – Bochum / Ruhrcongress 30.04.22 DE – Stuttgart / Schleyerhalle 01.05.22 DE – Frankfurt / Jahrhunderthalle 04.05.22 UK – Manchester / Manchester Academy 05.05.22 UK – London / Brixton Academy
Richmond, Indiana’s WOLFTOOTH are just about to drop their colossal new Napalm Records debut, Blood & Iron, this Friday, December 3, 2021! Offering an immense slab of proto-metal influenced heaviness with a deep dose of doom essence and addictive stoner riffage, the album travels through a treasure trove of fantasy-themed lyrical influences – exploring mystical and often treacherous themes of mythology, lore and legend with a focus on sorcery, battle and non-stop adventure.
Following the release of charging previous singles “The Voyage” and “Broken Sword”, WOLFTOOTH have just revealed yet another gritty single, this time in the form of anthemic stoner metal-infused burner “Ahab”. Accompanied by a naturally nautical lyric video, the track impresses from start to finish with an almost psychedelic intertwining of haunting guitar melodies, glorious vocals and winding riffage.
WOLFTOOTH says about “Ahab”: “’Ahab’ is a song about revenge and the consequences of achieving it. A classic story of a man’s obsession that leads to his own demise. Sonically, the song stays true to our roots. It’s a Sabbathian tribute to the music we grew up on.”
WOLFTOOTH launched onto the scene in 2017, swiftly grabbing the attention of fans, tastemakers and industry alike. Now, building upon the subterranean success of their lauded previous albums (2018’s Wolftooth and 2020’s Valhalla), the band unveils Blood & Iron – a true nod to classic, feel-good American heavy metal with modernized flair. If you enjoy your metal homegrown, larger-than-life and with a weighty dose of mystical storytelling, WOLFTOOTH’s Blood & Iron is your next favorite!
Recorded, mixed and mastered by producer Jeremy Lovins, Blood & Iron begins ominously with “Ahab” – beckoning the listener to join WOLFTOOTH’s fabled trek with an isolated guitar introduction before bursting into a sticky, metallic blues jam, instantly echoing the likes of Black Sabbath to Pallbearer while maintaining fresh delivery. The track effectively poises the album for greatness before leading into two tales of historic prevalence backed by trudging riffage – Xerces epic “Hellespont”, and mythical ode to triumphant Irish warrior Cú Chulainn, “Blood & Iron”. The tracks ebb and flow amid melodic solos, sludgy rhythms and charging drums, evident on songs like galloping, thrash-injected assault “Broken Sword” and headbang-inducing, lead-laden “A King’s Land”. WOLFTOOTH continue their immense sonic storytelling with soaring saga “The Voyage” and frigid ballad “Winter White” before closing out the nine enormous tunes on Blood & Ironwith two of its most standout offerings – cohesive and rhythmically-enticing “Garden Of Hesperides” and driving final epic “The Mare” – depicting stories of 100-headed dragons, witches, dark horses and mind control. What more could a true metalhead ask for?
WOLFTOOTH add about the album: “Blood & Iron is the culmination of all the work that we as a band have put into forging our sound over the last four years. Musically, we feel that we’ve honed what works well for us while expanding on what was already there. This album represents a more mature direction, relying on classic heavy metal influence with a strong nod to our proto-metal roots. Lyrically, the album focuses on kings, battle, conquest and myth. These elements together coalesce into a riff-laden slab of heavy metal that we are all proud of.”
Blood & Iron track listing: 1. Ahab 2. Hellespont 3. Blood & Iron 4. A King’s Land 5. Broken Sword 6. The Voyage 7. Winter White 8. Garden of Hesperides 9. The Mare
WOLFTOOTH turned heads in 2017 with the release of their debut EP, followed by their 2018 self-titled album, Wolftooth – scoring rave reviews and a “best albums of the year” chart nod via DoomCharts.com. Immediately hitting the road in support of the album, WOLFTOOTH harvested countless new fans, building a reputation as a hard-hitting live act by supporting metal icons like Iced Earth, Sanctuary, Black Label Society, The Atomic Bitchwax, EYEHATEGOD and The Obsessed. In 2019, the band returned to the studio to record their sophomore release, Valhalla. WOLFTOOTH expanded on their already potent sound with cleaner production, hooky choruses and colossal riffs, all while harking back to the golden age of heavy metal. The record hit the underground in mid-2020, debuting on DoomCharts.com at #1. Now, the band will ignite the scene once again with Blood & Iron!
Following the release of two incredible new singles from his forthcoming solo album American Vampire – one that featured the legendary guitar player for hard rock icon Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, and another featuring industrial metal renegade and ex-Marilyn Manson guitarist Tim Skold – what’s left for a goth metal idol like Helsinki’s Jyrki 69 to do? Naturally, he releases a third single, a collaboration with the quintessentially American pop superstar, Tiffany! It’s an odd coupling to be sure, but when you hear Jyrki’s beastly baritone blend with Tiffany’s beautiful and seductive voice, it will make you a believer!
“Don’t You Want Me” is the third single to be released from Jyrki’s sophomore solo album, and it’s the only track on the album where he shares vocal duties, trading verses with the supremely talented, All-American pop princess. The song, of course, was originally written as a male/female duet and became a megahit for ‘80s new wave band The Human League, but the new version transforms the bubbly keyboards of the original for some hard-hitting, industrial sounds and distorted guitars courtesy of producer DK-Zero. Amping the dark and brooding vibe even higher is British guitarist/producer Mark Gemini Thwaite (Lords Of Acid/The Mission), who mixed the track and provided additional production. The combined efforts of all involved make this one of the most compelling collaborations on an album stacked with contributions from indie experimentalists Xiu Xiu, UK electro duo The KVB, industrial veterans Leæther Strip, and more!
Jyrki had this to say about the song “Whenever they open up Goth clubs again I hope this tune will bring people together to dance on very smoky dance floors in the deepest crypts where the sun never shines!”
Meanwhile, Tiffany declares “It was great to work with Jyrki 69 on this. ‘Don’t You Want Me’ is one of my favorite Human League songs. I enjoyed recording this track. So much fun!”
American Vampire will be released December 17 on all formats including CD in a deluxe gatefold wallet, vinyl in your choice of BLUE or SILVER, and digital!
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 