Philadelphia based extreme metallers IATT are pleased to once again team up with Black Lion Records for the follow up to 2019’s “Nomenclature”; the new full-length album entitled “Magnum Opus“. Meticulously crafted to pick up thematically where its predecessor left off, the listener is catapulted from the 1700s (Arsenic Ways) further back in time to a much darker, older world and the esoteric sciences of Alchemy.
It was in this time man aimed to harness the world around him, bending the natural elements in a quest to obtain power, knowledge, control, and even immortality itself. Alchemy was the key to unlocking the secrets of existence and elevating one’s self to the pinnacle of enlightenment through transmutation and manipulation of the earthly elements. It was only through the process of Magnum Opus (the great work) that alchemists could harness the elementals in their purest form to create the Philosopher’s Stone – the key to power, enlightenment, and immortality.
Just as in alchemy itself, creating this album has been a journey of transformation; a period of great growth as individuals and as a unit. It’s through adversity, struggles, and the forging of the elements – of literal blood, sweat, and tears – IATT strive to transcend and elevate to their highest self, “the great work”, “Magnum Opus“.
The band comments:
“We are excited to unveil the culmination of all our hard work and present a new exciting chapter in IATT’s story. Magnum Opus is an album of discovery; both in terms for us as writers as well as for listeners who seek to unravel the saga we present.”
Tracklist:
SERVITUDE SUBJUGATE
OUROBOROS
PRIMA MATERIA
ELIXIR OF IMMORTALITY
EXCULPATE EXONERATE
DEMIURGOS (ARCHITECT OF DISASTER)
PLANES OF OUR EXISTENCE
SEVEN WANDERING STARS
CHRYSOPOEIA (BONUS TRACK FOR CD)
“Magnum Opus” was produced by Joe Cantamessa and got mixed and mastered by Marcos Cerutti. Stunning cover artwork by Nightjar art of Adam Burke. Furthermore, the album features guest performances by musicians from UADA, RIVERS OF NIHIL, EMPEROR, WINDFAERER + more and a first album teaser can be seen here:
“Magnum Opus” will be available as CD Digipak + limited vinyl and is available for pre-order atTHIS LOCATION
MOONLIGHT HAZE have released a lyric video for the song “We’ll Be Free”, second single taken from the new album “Animus”, set to be released on March 18th 2022 on Scarlet Records.
“’We’ll Be Free’… the title itself says it all. We wrote this song during the second lockdown we had in Italy, around November 2020. We were just about to announce some shows but obviously they all ended up cancelled due to the pandemic situation. So we got the inspiration to write this song, in which we were basically daydreaming about all the cool stuff we should have been doing. But we never lost our hope and our will to bring our music worldwide! This is how the second single taken from ‘Animus’ was born”. – Chiara Tricarico, frontwoman & lyricist
Recorded by MOONLIGHT HAZE and mixed & mastered by Simone Mularoni at the renowned Domination Studio, “Animus” boasts the stunning performance of vocalist Chiara Tricarico and is graced by the amazing artwork and pictures of Beatrice Demori.
Tracklist is as follows:
01. The Nothing 02. It’s Insane 03. Kintsugi 04. Animus 05. The Thief and the Moon 06. Midnight Haze 07. Tonight 08. Never Say Never 09. We’ll Be Free 10. A Ritual of Fire 11. Horror & Thunder
French heavy psych rockers DECASIA have announced their signing with powerhouse label Heavy Psych Sounds Records, who will proudly release the band’s first full-length album in the Spring of 2022!
Raised by any type of uplifting music, and with two much acclaimed EPs and their upcoming debut LP, DECASIA forged their sound from the bottom of the deepest ocean to the highest mountains carrying with them, strength and sensibility with a rich and colorful range of emotions. On stage, the Paris-based trio offers an immersive and powerful show, always providing an explosive cocktail: Channeling the flavor of the best stoner rock scene (All Them Witches, Elder, Colour Haze…) and adding their own recipe to it, showing us all the richness and diversity the genre has to offer.
“We are thrilled to join the fuzzy Heavy Psych Sounds family,” the band comments. “Behold what will come next! New music, new videos, and a lot other exciting projects are on the way!We can’t wait to share it with all of you and hit the road soon, stay tuned Folks!”
The pre-sale alongside a first song premiere of DECASIA‘s upcoming album, will be available on January 18, 2022.
Although the last album “Blacklist Utopia” was already released in October 2021, media interest in this album is still high, not least because of the best-of 2021 posts from the editorial team. No wonder, since the album was overwhelmed with great reviews by all magazines, big and small.
Reason enough for DAVID REECE to thank everyone again via press release:
“Greetings everyone and I’d like to wish you all a safe and happy new year. Also I’d like to thank each and every one of you, fans and editors for your incredible support of my latest album Black list Utopia. And my many thanks to El Puerto records and all at El Puerto records for working so hard to promote my record. Also my brother Bob Reece at Redwoods custom video and photo creations for his professional work ethic and hunger helping to create the visuals on I can’t breathe and my new video soon to be released To the core. All my best to you all”
You don’t have to say much about David Reece anymore, he’s a big name in heavy metal. He has already put his stamp on bands such as Accept, BangaloreChoir, Bonfire and most recently the Sainted Sinners and refined the albums with his charisma and his unique voice. His latest work “BlacklistUtopia” has long been a fan favorite. The successful collaboration with Andy Susemihl (including Ex-UDO) as guitarist, songwriting and recording partner and Malte Frederik Burkert (now also with Victory), who made the previous album “Cacophony Of Souls” an absolute pleasure, is also working another round of “Blacklist Utopia”.
Tracklist DAVID REECE – “Blacklist Utopia” 01 – Utopia 02 – Red Blooded Hell Raiser 03 – Down To The Core 04 – Civil War 05 – I Can’t Breathe 06 – Most Of The Time 07 – American Dream 08 – Before We Fade Away 09 – Hindsight is 2020 10 – Devil At My Doorstep 11 – Save Me 12 – Highway Child 13 – Book Of Lies
Line-Up: David Reece – Vocals (Ex-Accept, Ex-Sainted Sinners, Ex-Bonfire, Ex-Bangalore Choir,solo) Andy Susemihl – Guitars (Ex-U.D.O., Ex-Sinner, Ex-Bangalore Choir, solo) Malte Frederik Burkert – Bass (Victory, Ian Paice, Ex- Sainted Sinners) Francesco Jovino – Drums (Ex-U.D.O., Ex-Primal Fear, Ex-Voodoo Circle, Ex-Jorn)
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!
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 