CYNIC Share Behind the Scenes Artwork Video + Exclusive Interview

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 1, 2021
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Ekaterina Gorbacheva

Progressive rock legend CYNIC will be releasing its highly-anticipated new full-length, ‘Ascension Codes,’ on November 26 via Season of Mist! Guitarist and founding member Paul Masvidal is now sharing an intimate one on one conversation with ‘Ascension Codes’ cover artist Martina Hoffman. In addition, Masividal has also done an exclusive interview with Heaviest of Art regarding this powerful collaboration. You can watch the video, see exclusive behind the scenes images of the artwork, and read Masvidal’s interview below.

Cynic’s Ascension Codes is a remarkably far-reaching work, and if nothing else, a clear indication that they have landed in a place of mastery. The album, paradoxically, acts as both swan song and rebirth. The band has recently released the mind-bending first single, “Mythical Serpents,” which can be heard at THIS LOCATION. A video for the song will be coming at a later date… stay tuned!

Track six, “Mythical Serpents,” is imbued with propellant adventure, exciting peaks and valleys that tug at the heart while its mathematical sequences challenge the head in a dizzying push/pull dynamic. It’s that quintessential Cynic approach of kaleidoscopic intensity and mannered discipline. Ascension Codes was mixed and co-produced by Warren Riker, who worked with Aeon Spoke, Cynic in the Traced in Air era and mixed Paul Masvidal’s solo acoustic trilogy.

Pre-orders for ‘Ascension Codes’ are now live at the Season of Mist E-Shop, the CYNIC Bandcamp, and official CYNIC shop.

Masvidal recently shared a touching tribute to late bassist Sean Malone, who died on December 7, 2020. To commemorate Malone’s legacy, CYNIC has released a never-before-heard recorded performance of the song “Integral,” in which Malone performs fretless bass.  “Integral” was originally released as a solo guitar and vocal track on Cynic’s ‘Re-Traced’ EP. The emotional tribute can be found at THIS LOCATION.

As an act of support, CYNIC is inviting fans to donate as you wish for the “Integral” song download, which comes with a guitar/bass transcription of the song and an instrumental (no bass mix) to play along with. 50 percent of proceeds will be shared with suicide prevention organizations: To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) and The Trevor Project. The remaining will go towards funding a documentary about the lives and artistry of Sean Malone and Sean Reinert.

To contribute: https://cynic-alliance.bandcamp.com/album/cynic-integral
Cynic links: https://listen.cyniconline.com/bio

TWLOHA is nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery. https://twloha.com/

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

LYBICA – Feat. Killswitch Engage Drummer Justin Foley on Guitar – Sign with Metal Blade Records

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 1, 2021
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Zack Jones

LYBICA are a dynamic and instrumental three-piece force from South Florida that seamlessly blends flavorful guitar melody with powerful metallic crunch. Lybica take you on an epic musical journey of peaks and valleys where the possibilities are endless.

Today, the band has announced its signing to Metal Blade Records and has shared the virtual performance video for the song “Ferment.” Watch it here:

“After recording, we were just hopeful to generate any kind of label interest,” Lybica says. “Having Metal Blade come forward and believe in us was unexpected and, quite honestly, thrilling. We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of such an amazing roster.“

Lybica were first conceived in 2020 when it became clear to Justin Foley (drummer for Killswitch Engage) that he wasn’t going to be spending much time with his normal bandmates for a while. Quarantine days still needed to be time well spent, and he’d been working on some demos that he finally decided to share with a few local friends in South Florida. “I’d written a bunch of stuff that didn’t quite fit into traditional song structures,” Foley says. “And I’ve always been drawn to bands where the instruments provide hooks, rather than relying on a lyric. It seemed like a good time to start something new and see where it could go.“

Foley met fellow musicians Doug French (Gravel Kings) and Joey Johnson (Gravel Kings, Barriers Now Bridges, Days Spent) back in 2016, and they had repeatedly talked about jamming together but never actually got around to it. Foley and French – both drummers by trade – often spoke about trying something different that allowed them each to get out from behind the kit.

“I’ve always wanted to play a stringed instrument,” French shares. “And bass felt natural, since it is the other half of the rhythm section.“

Johnson grew up playing shows all over Florida, heavily influenced by early punk and then both hardcore and metal. “[People at] all the good places to get a beer kept asking me if I had met Justin, since they know I play music,” he recalls. “I heard about him in our town for about a year before we actually met through mutual friends. We hit it off when we started talking [about] instrumental music.“

When French and Johnson eventually received the demos from Foley, they really liked what they heard. For several months, the three of them emailed music back and forth while learning the parts, especially Foley and French on instruments – guitar and bass, respectively – that they weren’t experienced playing. They eventually started playing together with the drum tracks from the demos blasting through the PA speakers. Before too long, they had enough music for a full record and the direction of the band was taking shape.

The trio soon discovered that they had something else in common besides music.

“The three of us are pretty big cat people,” Foley points out. “So it only made sense to call the band Lybica.“

Named after a small wildcat species native to Africa that is widely considered the godfather of the modern house cat, Lybica is the first known feline species to be tamed and domesticated by humans.

Fast forward 10,000 years, and today, Lybica the band are as addictive as catnip.

With plans to release their debut self-titled full-length album early next year, Lybica are poised to make some serious noise in 2021 and beyond – fur-real!

HARDCORE SUPERSTAR Release Hard Hitting New Single ‘Dreams in Red’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 1, 2021
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Photo by Julia Cronqvist

Fresh off the heels and success of their recent runaway single “Catch Me if You Can”, Gothenburg’s favourite sons HARDCORE SUPERSTAR have unleashed their hard hitting new single “Dreams In Red” through GAIN/Fifth Island Music!

Slicing through the speakers like a psychotic 80’s slasher movie, “Dreams in Red” takes the listener on a twisted journey through the mind of a mentally unstable killer, haunted and torn by their violent past. Powerfully weaving between melody and aggression, “Dreams in Red” showcases the bands heavier sound, punctuated by their trademark ‘in your face’ production style and presenting a stark contrast between the infectious chorus of “Catch Me if You Can” and some of the heavier songs that comprise their upcoming album “Abrakadabra”, scheduled for release in March 2022.

With countless positive reviews and radio playlisting all over the world; coupled with over 100,000 Spotify plays of “Catch Me If You Can” within the first week of its release, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR are set to invoke some more Nordic Magic with “Dreams in Red” as they head out on the road with some exclusive dates to support its release ahead of their “Abrakadabra” World Tour currently being planned for 2022.

TOUR DATES

October 2021
09 ROMANSHORN, Swiss Rock Cruise

November 2021
06 GOTHENBURG, Pustervik
12 UPPSALA, katalin
13 ÖREBRO, Frimis
19 MOTALA, Harrys
20 BLOMSTERMÅLA, Folkets Hus
26 HELSINGBORG, The Tivoli
27 ESKILSTUNA, Saga Salongen

December 2021
03 VISBY, Donners
04 JÖNKÖPING, Fabriken
10 KARLSTAD, nöjesfabriken
11 MORA, Lilla helfvetet
17 MALMÖ, KB
18 STOCKHOLM, Nalen

March 2022
25 VÄSTERÅS, O’Learys
26 ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK, Solberg

WOLFTOOTH to Release Third Full-Length Album “Blood & Iron”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 30, 2021
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[Photo Credit: Stephanie Harrison]

Richmond, Indiana’s 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 their colossal full-length Napalm Records debut, Blood & Iron, out December 3, 2021.
 
Offering an immense slab of proto-metal influenced heaviness with a deep dose of doom essence and addictive stoner riffage, Blood & Iron isn’t just epic in sound, but at heart. 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. Recorded, mixed and mastered by producer Jeremy Lovins, Blood & Iron is a true nod to classic, feel-good American heavy metal with modernized flair.
 
Today, listeners can get a first taste of Blood & Iron with victorious first single “The Voyage”, accompanied by a brand new music video filmed in Indianapolis, Indiana by Mike Yonts. Fists will be pumping within the first few notes as the track triumphantly gallops forth with chugging riffs, soaring vocals, piercing basslines and powerful melodies.
 
WOLFTOOTH says about “The Voyage” and its music video:
“The concept of ‘The Voyage’ was initially about Marco Polo’s voyage on the Silk Road, but we adapted it to our voyage through our musical careers from young children to now. The boys in the video represent us as kids in the beginning of our voyage, daydreaming about where we are now. All in all, the song is based on the idea of what it takes to reach your destination – the sacrifices, pitfalls, and ultimately the rewards that come along when striving for your goals.”

Watch the official music video for “The Voyage” HERE

If you enjoy your metal homegrown, larger-than-life and with a weighty dose of mystical storytelling, WOLFTOOTH’s Blood & Iron is your newest obsession.
 
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 & Iron with 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 adds 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.”

Pre-Order Blood & Iron HERE

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

Indiana-local fans, take note! WOLFTOOTH will perform a hometown show on November 6 at E Street Pub in Richmond, Indiana with Rattlesnake Venom Trip and Steel Aggressor. Check local venue listings for more information.
 
About WOLFTOOTH:
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!

DANZIG Announces First Ever Vinyl Release Of The 1996 Album ‘Blackacidevil’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 30, 2021
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The fifth DANZIG studio album, BLACKACIDEVIL, is finally coming to vinyl! Following in the wake of an extensive personnel restructuring as well as a new label partnership for the band, the album made a deliberate stylistic shift incorporating elements of industrial and electronic music. BLACKACIDEVIL also brought in some fresh new blood in the form of drummer Joey Castillo (later of Queens Of The Stone Age), keyboardist Joseph Bishara (now one of the preeminent horror film scorers working today) and some stellar contributions from Alice In Chains’ axeman Jerry Cantrell who plays guitar on 3 of the album’s tracks. Since its initial release in 1996, the album has since gained a strong reputation as both a groundbreaking and necessary experiment that succeeded in bringing the Danzig legacy into the new millennium.

Now this important album will be getting the deluxe vinyl treatment courtesy of Cleopatra Records. Presented in 3 different vinyl configurations including silver, black & white haze, 180-gram, picture disc and glitter, BLACKACIDEVIL is finally receiving the respect it both deserves and commands.

Danzig had this to say about the release “I’m happy to see BLACKACIDEVIL getting the vinyl treatment after all these years.”

The album will also be available in a special limited edition CD version which features an all black o-card covering a jewel case with full lyric booklet!

Pre-order the LP: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/danzig-5-blackacidevil-limited-edition-colored-vinyl/
Pre-order the CD: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/danzig-5-blackacidevil-cd/
Pre-order/Pre-save the digital: https://orcd.co/danzig_5_blackacidevil

  1. 7th House
  2. Blackacidevil
  3. See All You Were
  4. Sacrifice
  5. Hint Of Her Blood
  6. Serpentia
  7. Come To Silver
  8. Hand Of Doom: Version
  9. Power Of Darkness
  10. Ashes

Swiss Federal Music Prize 2021 Awarded To TOM GABRIEL WARRIOR

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 30, 2021
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Photo by Marian Duven/Swiss Federal Office of Culture, used with kind permission

Four decades into his career as a musician, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost/Triptykon founder TOM GABRIEL WARRIOR was among the recipients of the Swiss Music Prize 2021, awarded by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture in a ceremony on 17 September 2021 at Lugano’s Arte e Cultura (LAC) centre. This event marked the first time the Swiss Music Prize formally recognized the genre of heavy metal.

Statement by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture: Tom Gabriel Warrior’s bands have played a significant role in music history and influenced musicians around the globe. A metal music pioneer, Warrior is an idol not just within the boundaries of the metal scene, and as an advocate for animal rights, he aims to provide a voice to those who don’t have one.

Also among the winners of the Swiss Music Prize 2021 was legendary producer Roli Mosimann, Warrior’s past collaborator during the recording sessions for Celtic Frost’s Vanity/Nemesis album (1990) and Apollyon Sun’s Sub album (2000). Unable to attend the ceremony due to health reasons, Mosimann asked Warrior to accept the prize on his behalf.

Edited transcript of Tom Gabriel Warrior’s acceptance speech for the Swiss Music Prize 2021:

Although I was very fortunate to be granted a loyal audience already early on in my career, not least in my native country of Switzerland, the local Swiss music industry and cultural institutions either ignored me or expressed derision for my music, and sometimes they even obstructed it. In their perception, it simply didn’t conform and wasn’t commercial enough. And indeed, my music was dark, experimental, and obstinate. But exactly due to these qualities, it was noticed abroad.

I do of course understand that receiving this prize is an honour, and I do feel grateful for it. But given that an inconceivable fourty years have passed since I first became a musician, this prize is also quite irrelevant to me by now. I have pursued my path regardless, without subordinating myself to any of the customary inbreeding rituals of the Swiss music scene, and without ever applying for any kind of cultural funding from the Swiss state or the relevant institutions.

The support granted to me throughout the years by the following individuals was absolutely essential, however, and my gratitude to them is limitless:

Antje Lange
Vanja Slajh
Alois Wendelin
Urs Sprenger
Maya Ghirardello
Martin Eric Ain
Michelle Fischer
H.R. Giger & Carmen Giger
Jörg Michael
Denise Mathieu
Corinne Kühne
Kathy Lenze

And there are many more.

Moreover, I would also like to express gratitude to those who do not kill animals, do not enslave them, and do not mistreat them, but instead respect and protect them. I bow to you.

More information at this location.