FALLEN SANCTUARY (Feat. Members of SERENITY & TEMPERANCE) Sign with AFM Records

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 19, 2022
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AFM Records is proud to announce the signing of a very special new band: FALLEN SANCTUARY, led by masterminds Georg Neuhauser (singer of Serenity) and Marco Pastorino (guitarist of Temperance), who indulge their common love for melodic power metal here.

The two became friends in 2018 during a joint tour and soon realised that they pretty much share musical idols and tastes. Neuhauser: “Marco and I often got talking at night on the tour bus to the next show with Serenity and Temperance. It was amazing that we have so many favourite bands in common. And since we also get along really well on a personal level and live only a four-hour drive apart, we came up with the idea of releasing an album together some day.” It would appear that “some day” has now arrived: June 2022, Neuhauser and Pastorino’s debut album ‘Terranova’, released under the moniker of Fallen Sanctuary. The new band also features a permanent rhythm section consisting of Alfonso Mocerino on drums and bassist Gabriele Gozzi, who will complement Fallen Sanctuary live on stage.

“The quality of Fallen Sanctuary convinced and amazed us right away,” says AFM Records A&R Timo Hoffmann. “The passion and dedication, their attention to detail and the super high standards they set for themselves, make Fallen Sanctuary stand out. Songwriting, performance and production are on an immensely high level and will thrill fans of varied Melodic Power Metal. In addition, Georg and Marco are such positive characters that we are very much looking forward to working with them.”

Georg Neuhauser states: „Since I bought Edguy’s ‚Vain Glory Opera‘ album back in 1998 I always followed AFM Records and dreamed of becoming a part of this family. So with Fallen Sanctuary this will happen now and I am sure that AFM is the perfect partner for us to release our debut album ‚Terranova‘.“ „Many memories come to my mind“, the vocalist recollects, to continue – while smiling whimsically: „…sitting in my room listening to the AFM albums from Edguy and Avantasia – and now another melodic power metal masterpiece will see the light on this label“.

„We are thrilled to announce that we are joining AFM Records‘ roster for the release of our new  album“, guitarist Marco Pastorino adds. „They are the best team possible to be part of our journey.
We worked extremely hard to give you the best debut album possible and we are looking forward to giving you more updates very soon! Get ready for some great melodic power metal!“.

The Fallen Sanctuary debut album ‘Terranova’ will be released on June 24th, but February 25th will already see them present the first single ‘Broken Dreams’.

GUS G. Shares ‘Night Driver’ Music Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 18, 2022
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[photo: Gustavo Sazes]

October last year seen Firewind mastermind and guitar icon, Gus G., release his critically acclaimed, new solo affair entitled Quantum Leap via AFM Records. Following an impressive music career of more than 20 years, nine record releases with Firewind, as well as recording and touring with acts such Mystic Prophecy, Nightrage, Arch Enemy, Dream Evil and Ozzy Osbourne, Quantum Leap is Gus G.‘s fourth, and entirely instrumental solo album, featuring 10 tracks that both showcase the distinctive playing style Gus is known for yet taking fans into new territory.

Quantum Leap came together over the course of the worldwide pandemic that, unfortunately, prevented Firewind’s self-titled album from 2020 from gaining any real momentum. Immobilized by the quarantine measures that kept him at home, Gus began compiling musical ideas to keep himself occupied, which led to the full-on effort to write and record an album during the summer of 2021 “I didn’t make Quantum Leap with the intention of it being the next one in the cycle of solo albums,” Gus admits. “It was more of a case of, ‘What else is there?’ I needed the creative outlet.”

Just a few months since the successful album release via AFM, today the guitarist has shared a brand new music video clip for the song ‘Night Driver’! Gus comments: “Night Driver is probably the most stylistically diverse song of Quantum Leap. I gave it a synth wave twist and it now has that 80s vhs movie vibe!”

Quantum Leap was assembled in pieces, featuring new compositions and material taken from Gus’ “riff vault”, where he stores unfinished ideas and revisits them when he’s able. The album started as a full-on solo outing, with Gus programming drums and playing guitar, bass and keyboards, but a chance encounter with drummer Vincent Velasco – who volunteered his services and subsequently blew Gus away – opened up the production. Producer / engineer Dennis Ward, who was responsible for mixing and mastering Quantum Leap ended up laying down bass tracks on eight of the 10 tracks.

Unlike many instrumental albums, Quantum Leap doesn’t feel like a musical root canal or long and drawn- out brain surgery. Each of the 10 tracks are solid and compact musical ideas, with Gus’ guitar acting as the voice. “I really needed to have the guitar taking a vocal approach. I knew that if I just kept the playing technical it wasn’t going to be enjoyable. So the playing isn’t always about technique, and once I found the formula it was easier to create melodies for the record,“ he reveals.

“I’m a guitar player and I cannot stand most instrumental guitar albums,” he adds. “The classic are the classics, but very rarely do I get into them because after the third track it just seems like an endless guitar solo where everything that sounds the same. That’s something I wanted to avoid on Quantum Leap and I think I succeeded in doing that.”

And without a doubt, he did. Grab your album copy of this must-have solo effort by one of the greatest guitarists in rock and metal, Quantum Leap is available at THIS LOCATION!

JOE SATRIANI Releases ‘Faceless’ Single + Music Video from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 18, 2022
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: © Eduardo Peña Dolhun

World-renowned guitarist, JOE SATRIANI recently announced the upcoming release of. 19th studio album, “The Elephants of Mars” set for release on April 8, 2022. Today he unleashes his second single, “Faceless”, via his new label, earMUSIC, the international rock label of entertainment group Edel.

Pre-orders are available now and include a special limited digi-pack CD release featuring seven double sided cards of original artwork by Satriani representing each song from the album. In addition, several coloured vinyl options will be available as well to pre-order including an orange, pink (D2C only) and purple version. 

“The Elephants of Mars” crackles with an exciting new energy, briskly traveling through stylistic roads that feel freshly updated, viewed through new eyes. 

New single, “Faceless,” available to stream here, shows a melodic and poignant side of the album. Satriani describes Faceless as a composition that deals with loneliness. “It’s about when the person you want to see you for who you really are, doesn’t seem to recognize you.” He continues, “It’s also a comment on a society where people are truly knowing each other less and less, being separated by their differences rather than being united for their shared hopes and dreams. The solo section represents one’s true self finally breaking free.”

Watch below the visualiser video for “Faceless”.

The guitarist challenged himself to create a “new standard” for instrumental guitar albums to be measured against, one which would work from “a new platform of his own design,” as he terms it. “I want to show people that an instrumental guitar album can contain far more creative and entertaining elements than I think people are using right now.”

From the gripping, sci-fi madness of “Through A Mother’s Day  Darkly,” to the isolation felt in a decaying urban landscape, as depicted  in first single “Sahara,” to the general endorphin levels that peak as  the elephants finally roar in the title track, “The Elephants of Mars” will  stampede across your mind, leaving a sonic imprint that doesn’t fade. 

In 2020 with all time constraints removed, “The Elephants of Mars” truly represents the album that Satriani himself hoped he could deliver with his band. “We did everything. We tried the craziest ideas. And we entertained every notion we had about turning something backwards, upside down, seeing what could happen.”

With this new album Satriani joins the eclectic and exciting roster of earMUSIC. General Manager, Max Vaccaro remarked, “Some years ago, we were lucky to be the label chosen by Joe Satriani for the extremely fortunate Chickenfoot project. It was impossible not to notice and admire the dedication, the work ethic, and the monstrous talent in the recording studio and on stage. We knew, though, that he had the same “home” for his solo music for decades and that for him, being signed to a record company meant loyalty and belonging. “It is with great joy and sense of responsibility that now, some years later, we welcome Joe for his first solo work with earMUSIC. We thank him for having written and recorded very special music that will make a lot of fans happy, and we like to think this will be the first of many great albums to come.”

TRACKLISTING

  1. Sahara
  2. The Elephants of Mars
  3. Faceless
  4. Blue Foot Groovy
  5. Tension and Release
  6. Sailing the Seas of Ganymede
  7. Doors of Perception
  8. E 104th St NYC
  9. Pumpin’
  10. Dance of the Spores
  11. Night Scene
  12. Through a Mother’s Day Darkly
  13. 22 Memory Lane
  14. Desolation

FORMATS:
CD Jewel case, Ltd. CD Digi sleeve (incl.14 images created by the artist himself), 2LP Gatefold, Ltd. 2LP Gatefold Orange, Ltd. 2LP Gatefold Purple, Ltd. 2LP Gatefold Pink, Digital

For over three decades, the guitar virtuoso has travelled the world, playing to sold-out crowds as both a headliner and as founder of the all-star “G3” guitar extravaganza. Satriani’s studio and live recordings have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide to date and of his many solo albums, two have gone platinum and four others went gold, with 15 Grammy nominations between them. His side project, Chickenfoot, featuring former Van Halen front man Sammy Hagar, former bassist Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith saw their debut album certified gold and their second studio album debuted at #9.

Glam Rockers WIG WAM Take The World By Storm with Peacemaker Opening Theme

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 18, 2022
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Photo credit: Fredrik Arff

Norwegian glam metal superstars WIG WAM have rocketed into headlines in 2022 thanks to their hit song from 2010 “Do Ya Wanna Taste It” serving as the theme song to HBO Max’s Peacemaker series, part of the DC Extended Universe which stars John Cena.

The catchy and infectious track was chosen by the show’s creator and director James Gunn and serves as the perfect backdrop for the opening credits which feature a choreographed dance routine performed by the entire cast. Their hit “In My Dreams” was also included in episode seven of the series.

“After 9 years apart, having our comeback ruined by a pandemic and being dumped by our agent for the lack of interest in the band, to suddenly experience this unexpected success has been quite a roller coaster ride!”, said Wig Wam vocalist Åge Sten Nilsen.

View Peacemaker’s iconic opening credits here: https://youtu.be/_mrr3UNALww

View the official music video here:

After forming in 2001, Wig Wam released four albums before ultimately parting ways in 2013. The group reunited in 2019 and got to work on new music, eventually releasing their new album Never Say Die in 2021. Thanks to the opening credits becoming a viral sensation, the band’s streaming numbers have gone through the roof in 2022.

Despite being dropped by the booking agency just days before the Peacemaker premiere, Wig Wam has secured a new agent and is set to tour the world in 2022 including their first-ever US tour.

Åge Sten Nilsen added, “We are currently writing new material for a forthcoming album titled OUT OF THE DARK (Oct 2022), and we are finally coming over to the US for live gigs in 2023. We can’t wait to bring the whole spectacle overseas!”

SABATON Singer Joakim Brodén Recalls Night Richie Faulkner Was Rushed To Hospital

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 18, 2022
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Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon interview Sabaton singer Joakim Brodén about the band’s upcoming new studio album ‘The War to End all Wars’ . Plus he recalls his memories of the Judas Priest tour that got cancelled when Richie Faulkner got a ruptured aorta and recalls Blaze Bayley encounter.

When asked about the new album
“Our previous album ‘The Great War’ obviously dealt with the same conflict and when we were doing that album we had two stories that we really wanted and those were the ‘Christmas Truce’ and the story of the Harlem ‘Hellfighters’ but we didn’t have the right music and we thought we would do them another time. That in combination of when we released ‘The Great War’ there are such an amount of books and emails from fans and friends telling us stories, saying have you heard about this. And a lot of moments it was like how we haven’t heard about this, how did we miss this. Since we couldn’t tour if we don’t do another album we can tell some of the stories our fans and friends told us.”

When asked about what the band saw while opening for Judas Priest band when Richie Faulkner had fell down from a ruptured aorta during a concert in late September
“I had not idea he (Richie) fell at all, I didn’t watch their show I was probably in the dressing room showers the whole time. We came back to the tour bus and a few of us were drinking and some of the Judas Priest crew came in our bus. A few of them said you hear about Richie, he had to go with Paramedics, that was it. We were like ok he had to go with the Paramedics he wasn’t feeling good, that is all we knew. So we kept on blasting Van Halen and jumping in the tour bus pretty much. We felt like assholes the next morning in Kansas City and were told he was undergoing 10.5 hours of surgery. We did not know until the day after. Then we managed to do one final show in Denver, Colorado cause we were already going to be there and we thought, is this going to be the last show or this tour? We booked a venue in 24 hours, it filled up and a whole bunch of Sabaton fans made it.”

Tommy Lee Welcomes CLASSLESS ACT to Stadium Tour with MÖTLEY CRUE, DEF LEPPARD, POISON + JOAN JETT

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 18, 2022
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Emerging rock band CLASSLESS ACT is set to open Dorothy’s tour this Spring, and now the band is also confirmed to open THE STADIUM TOUR this summer with MÖTLEY CRUE, DEF LEPPARD, POISON + JOAN JETT.

Mötley Crüe member and rock icon Tommy Lee gave his thoughts on the band’s addition to the line-up, saying: “I remember when we went out with Ozzy in 1984 and how it was an insane game changer!! We literally blew up after having that opportunity to play live in front of 20,000 people every f***ing night! Since then, we’ve always felt it was important to help new bands; whether it was Guns N Roses, Skid Row or so many others.  This summer we’re gonna help out Classless Act.”

After two summers of delays it is FINALLY happening!! The world’s most iconic and celebrated rock legends will hit the road together this summer for a coheadlining tour SO MASSIVE that it could only be held in North America’s biggest stadiums. THE STADIUM TOUR featuring, MÖTLEY CRÜE, DEF LEPPARD with POISON and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS and CLASSLESS ACT will hit select cities in the U.S. and Canada where each band will bring their electrifying stage shows while promising to perform their stadium sized anthems. Produced by Live Nation, the summer tour is set to steamroll through North America starting June 2022.

Due to fan demand, the tour is adding 5 all new stadium shows to the epic run. Tickets for the new dates will go on-sale to the general public beginning Friday, February 25 at 10 am local time at www.LiveNation.com, check local listings for details. Def Leppard & Mötley Crüe VIP offerings for the 5 new shows will be available coinciding with the general onsale next Friday Feb. 25 at 10 am local time.

Citi is the official card of The Stadium Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets for Indianapolis and Las Vegas shows beginning Tuesday, February 22 at 10 am local time until Thursday, February 24 at 10 pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com. For Toronto, Vancouver, and Edmonton shows American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, February 22 at 10 am local time until Thursday, February 24 at 10 pm local time.

Following the huge success of their NETFLIX biopic THE DIRT, Mötley Crüe has seen a massive surge in new audience with fans around the world demanding the band tour again. This led to the band members reuniting and announcing that “Mötley Crüe is back” in 2019. While The Dirt caused a meteoric 350% increase in streams of Mötley Crüe’s music across all platforms and the younger 18-44 demographic now represents 64% of the band’s fanbase most of the new fans have never seen any of the band’s legendary live shows that Crüeheads have relished for 4 decades. In 2021, Mötley Crüe celebrated their 40th band anniversary, as well as the 40th birthday of their iconic debut album, TOO FAST FOR LOVE. The 35th anniversary of their GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS hit album is coming up on May 15. Mötley Crüe have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, achieving 7 platinum and multi-platinum albums, 9 Top 10 albums, 22 Top 40 Mainstream Rock hits, 6 Top 20 Pop singles and 3 GRAMMY nominations. The band have amassed close to 5 billion streams across digital platforms. They have over 15 million social media followers, a New York Times best-seller and a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. The band is ready to deliver an over the top stage show packed full of hit songs.

“It’s on!  We don’t think we’ve ever looked forward more to kicking off a tour than this one. We can’t wait to finally see all the fans across North America again. Get ready for a wild ride this summer!” Mötley Crüe said in a joint statement.

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Def Leppard are one of the most important forces in rock music. In 2019, the icons closed out a sold-out worldwide tour including a North American stadium run & headlining the UK’s Download Festival to 90k screaming fans. Def Leppard’s star continues to rise and prevail. The band have amassed a staggering 5.5 billion streams since 2018, reaching a younger 18-44 demographic that now represents 58% of their fanbase. Additionally, the band have garnered an impressive 15 million followers across their social media platforms. Def Leppard also celebrates the landmark 45th anniversary of their formation this year, marking 45 years of legendary rock ‘n’ roll history making. Def Leppard’s influential career crosses generations and includes 110 million records sold, numerous hit singles and ground-breaking multi-platinum albums—including two of the best-selling albums of all time, Pyromania and Hysteria, both of which are certified Diamond (10x platinum).

“On behalf of the band, we’re beyond thrilled that the stadium tour is finally happening this summer … it’s been a while coming and we can’t wait to get back on stage again & we can’t wait to see you in one of the many stadiums soon!” said Joe Elliott.

POISON will be bringing a rocking real and relevant no holds barred thunderous live show to the Stadium tour this summer with the all original lineup of Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett. POISON will be unleashing an onslaught of hit after hit songs in its set. The humanitarian of the year, two years running, Michaels along with POISON is known to bring a unique style of passionate high energy, sincere gratitude and a positive attitude.  Michaels engages all the fans and makes it an absolute epic ride of true live music. Together With C.C.Deville on guitar, Bobby Dall on bass, and Rikki Rockett on drums POISON will rock the stadium with a chemistry that will bring a big summer mega party vibe and Michaels promises to give 1000 % on the stage as the hotter it gets the harder POISON promises to rock!!!

Poison’s Bret Michaels also added: “There are not enough words to thank the three generations of fans for making this such an exciting, record breaking, historical tour with the fastest sell outs in history at these stadiums.”

Joan Jett grew up during a time when rock ‘n’ roll was off limits to girls and women, but as a teenager, she promptly blew the door to the boys’ club right off its hinges. After forming her band the Blackhearts in 1979, with whom Jett has become a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, she has had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics “Bad Reputation,” “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.” With a career that has spanned music, film, television, Broadway, and humanitarianism, Joan Jett remains a potent force and inspiration to generations of fans worldwide. As a producer, she has overseen seminal albums by Bikini Kill, and the Germs’ LA punk masterpiece ‘GI.’ Jett and Kenny Laguna (her longtime producer and music partner) co-founded Blackheart Records from the trunk of Kenny’s Cadillac after rejections from no less than 23 labels. 40 years later, Blackheart is a thriving entertainment company producing music, film and television, and continues to champion emerging bands. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts continue touring the globe with headlining shows alongside fellow rock legends like The Who, Green Day, Heart, and Foo Fighters. After two COVID-19 postponements, the group will return to the road in summer 2022 for The Stadium Tour with Def Leppard, Motley Crue and Poison. ‘Bad Reputation,’ a documentary about Jett’s life, premiered to critical acclaim at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and is now available for streaming.

“We are so excited to be back out on the road! We missed doing what we love most and can’t wait to see the fans out there again!” said Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

Emerging rock band Classless Act, signed to Better Noise Music, is set to open the tour. With the release of their single “Give It To Me” in 2021, the band has already received critical praise from the likes of rock media including SPIN, Loudwire, and more. Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee was an early follower of the band and is excited to have them join him and his bandmates on the road, saying, “I remember when we went out with Ozzy in 1984 and how it was an insane game changer!! We literally blew up after having that opportunity to play live in front of 20,000 people every f***ing night! Since then, we’ve always felt it was important to help new bands; whether it was Guns N Roses, Skid Row or so many others.  This summer we’re gonna help out Classless Act.”

New Shows Highlighted

Thursday, June 16 Atlanta, GA Truist Park
Saturday, June 18 Miami, FL Hard Rock Stadium
Sunday, June 19 Orlando, FL Camping World Stadium
Wednesday, June 22 Washington, DC Nationals Park
Friday, June 24 Queens, NY Citi Field
Saturday, June 25 Philadelphia, PA Citizens Bank Park
Tuesday, June 28 Charlotte, NC Bank of America Stadium
Thursday, June 30 Nashville, TN Nissan Stadium
Saturday, July 2 Jacksonville, FL TIAA Bank Field
Tuesday, July 5 St. Louis, MO Busch Stadium
Friday, July 8 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field
Sunday, July 10 Detroit, MI Comerica Park
Tuesday July 12 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
Thursday, July 14 Cleveland, OH FirstEnergy Stadium, Home of the Cleveland Browns

Friday, July 15 Cincinnati, OH Great American Ball Park
Sunday, July 17 Milwaukee, WI American Family Field
Tuesday, July 19 Kansas City, MO Kauffman Stadium
Thursday, July 21 Denver, CO Coors Field
Friday, August 5 Boston, MA Fenway Park
Saturday, August 6 Boston, MA Fenway Park
Monday, August 8 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre
Wednesday, August 10 Orchard Park, NY Highmark Stadium
Friday, August 12 Pittsburgh, PA PNC Park
Sunday, August 14 Minneapolis, MN U.S. Bank Stadium
Tuesday, August 16 Indianapolis, IN Lucas Oil Stadium
Friday, August 19 Houston, TX Minute Maid Park
Sunday, August 21 San Antonio, TX Alamodome
Monday, August 22 Arlington, TX Globe Life Field
Thursday, August 25 Glendale, AZ State Farm Stadium
Saturday, August 27 Inglewood, CA SoFi Stadium
Sunday, August 28 San Diego, CA Petco Park
Wednesday, August 31 Seattle, WA T-Mobile Park
Friday, September 2 Vancouver, BC BC Place
Sunday, September 4 Edmonton, AB Commonwealth Stadium /Stade du Commonwealth

Wednesday, September 7 San Francisco, CA Oracle Park
Friday, September 9 Las Vegas, NV Allegiant Stadium