As people across the northern hemisphere brace for winter, Canada’s EXES FOR EYES are releasing a new single, the aptly named “The End Of Summer”. This will be the first music released from the band since 2019, and they are eager to get back into the ears of fans. Featuring Björn Strid of Soilwork, the idea behind the single was to question our integrity as a species. “Do we as western humans have the ability to toughen up? Or are we basically just fucked on a biblical scale?” Exes For Eyes continue to explain the track:
“It can be heavy, it can be subdued, it has tension and release, and a few good old-fashioned earworms. Having Björn onboard has only solidified that this is a song with something special. When we sent him the pre-production, he instantly knew this was a song that had substance. “Your best work” he called it. It has the ability to uplift you to euphoria, and the bottom will instantly drop out, leaving you wondering what exactly happened and looking for a repeat play.”
Essentially a metaphor for the amazing quality of life we take for granted, the song explores the notion that without facing true adversity in life, we are becoming soft and approaching the end of that golden era. This single is the first of four, which will make up an internet fourth release, due to the global situation, the band is taking the time to perfect this next offering and give it the revel it deserves when the time is right.
Exes For Eyes has been going for almost ten years, during which they released three albums, toured heavily, and shared the stage with an impressive list of metal titans. They have a level of cohesion that only comes with that much experience.
Melodic, with plenty of low-end grooves, Exes For Eyes is recommended for fans of Lamb of God, Slipknot, Soilwork.
The music video for “The End of Summer” ft. Björn Strid of Soilwork can be seen and heard via its premiere on TheCirclePit YouTube channel.
On October 29th, WHITECHAPEL will release their new album, Kin, via Metal Blade Records. For a preview of the record, a video for the new single, “Orphan” (directed by David Brodsky // mgenyc.com) can be viewed below.
Front-man Phil Bozeman comments: “‘Orphan’ represents the battle of accepting what reality has given me within the story of ‘Kin’, and the battle between me and my alternate reality’s realm.“
The previously released clips for “Lost Boy” and “A Bloodsoaked Symphony” can be seen at: metalblade.com/whitechapel – where Kin can also be pre-ordered in various formats.
At this stage in the game, the name Whitechapel commands respect. Already sitting on one of the most enviable catalogs in contemporary metal, in 2019 they dropped The Valley, showcasing a confident evolution in their sound and standing as a true landmark release that sets a new standard for the genre. “To me, it was like the stars aligning for us to create our almost perfect record in regard to songwriting, vocal performance, the mix and master, and the artwork,” says guitarist Alex Wade. “We like to look at our albums as chapters of our career, and that is one chapter I will never forget. I think it really solidified that we can embrace a new sound, and if we execute it properly, then the fanbase is going to support and enjoy it.” In 2021, they return with that album’s successor, the mighty Kin, which is an even more dynamic and diverse collection, further advancing the band’s sound into new territory without losing sight of what brought them to this point. “I feel with every album, we learn what worked best on the last one and try to utilize that in our writing. Early in the writing, there was some discussion of the album being like ‘The Valley‘ part II, not literally called that, but in how the songs sound and flow through it. It’s very much a storytelling type record like ‘The Valley‘ was,” adds vocalist Phil Bozeman, “Musically, we just want to create what we vibe with at the given moment. We write music with how we feel and not what is expected of us, while lyrically the idea of continuing from the story of ‘The Valley‘ was always the goal.”
The resulting record explores a lot of sonic and emotional territory, and for the first time, it could be said that a Whitechapel record is as much a rock album as it is a metal one, an assertion Wade agrees with. “It’s still very much a metal album, but there are elements of the record that have more of a rock and open vibe. We really wanted these songs to breathe and have life and to sound bigger than anything we’ve made so far. We have explored more singing on ‘Kin’ too. It wouldn’t make sense to have the majority of the fanbase enjoy that sound and then shy away from it.” This is not to say that the band have lost their hardest edges, with the full-on death metal assault that kicks off both “Lost Boy” and “To The Wolves” as brutal and serrated as extreme metal gets, and while Bozeman explores his wide-ranging singing voice more, he also cuts loose with his trademark roar across the album’s eleven tracks.
Tracking of Kin was predominantly done at guitarist Zach Householder’s home studio with producer Mark Lewis producing his fifth straight Whitechapel album, making for a very comfortable working environment. “Creating records with him has an effortless flow to it, and we can track things pretty quickly and efficiently these days,” says Wade. “Mark has a great ear for giving us unique and complementary guitar and drum tones for the songs we are trying to record.” The tracks were then sent off to David Castillo at Ghostward Studios in Sweden for mixing, with Ted Jensen mastering it in Nashville, TN. Now, having another album they can be as proud of as its predecessor, it stands them in good stead as they look toward the future. “I see more growth and a limitless potential,” says Wade. “I think we found a great formula on ‘The Valley’, and we used that to create another monumental record for our career that I can’t wait for people to hear. We hope to continue to grow our fanbase with this new album, and always seek to move in a positive direction. I’m excited as the pandemic lessens for the touring world to come back to life and to be able to perform these massive songs we have created in the manner they were meant to be heard – live and loud.”
Kin track-listing 1. I Will Find You 2. Lost Boy 3. A Bloodsoaked Symphony 4. Anticure 5. The Ones That Made Us 6. History Is Silent 7. To the Wolves 8. Orphan 9. Without You 10. Without Us 11. Kin
Next year, Whitechapel will join Cannibal Corpse, Revocation, and Shadow Of Intent for an extensive USA tour, kicking off in February 2022. See below for all dates!
Whitechapel tour dates w/ Cannibal Corpse, Revocation, Shadow Of Intent: Feb. 18, 2022 – Center Stage – Atlanta, GA Feb. 19, 2022 – The Ramkat – Winston-Salem, NC Feb. 20, 2022 – Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD Feb. 21, 2022 – Reverb – Reading, PA Feb. 22, 2022 – The Roxian – Pittsburgh, PA Feb. 24, 2022 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY Feb. 25, 2022 – The Palladium – Worcester, MA Feb. 26, 2022 – Anthology – Rochester, NY Feb. 28, 2022 – The Majestic – Detroit, MI Mar. 01, 2022 – The Vic – Chicago, IL Mar. 02, 2022 – Skyway Theater – Minneapolis, MN Mar. 04, 2022 – The Gothic – Denver, CO Mar. 05, 2022 – Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT Mar. 07, 2022 – Showbox – Seattle, WA Mar. 08, 2022 – Hawthorne – Portland, OR Mar. 10, 2022 – Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA Mar. 11, 2022 – The UC Theatre – Berkeley, CA Mar. 12, 2022 – The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA Mar. 13, 2022 – The Belasco – Los Angeles, CA Mar. 14, 2022 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ Mar. 15, 2022 – Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM Mar. 17, 2022 – Vibes Event Center – San Antonio, TX Mar. 18, 2022 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX Mar. 19, 2022 – Amplified Live – Dallas, TX Mar. 21, 2022 – Red Flag – St. Louis, MO Mar. 22, 2022 – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY Mar. 23, 2022 – Iron City – Birmingham, AL Mar. 25, 2022 – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL Mar. 26, 2022 – Revolution – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Rugia, the impending new full-length from long-running blackened death metal practitioners HATE, is streaming in its fiery entirety, released today Friday, October 15th via Metal Blade Records.
Watch the epic video for the 2nd single “Resurgence” at: youtu.be/VvHPGPSbq5I – you can still stream the title track at: metalblade.com/hate – where Rugia can also be ordered in various formats.
No one combines death and black metal quite like Poland’s Hate. With unflinching viciousness and a sense of atmosphere unique to the band, on Rugia, their twelfth full-length, they push the boundaries of their craft even further. “It was clear to me that it should build upon and evolve from our previous record, ‘Auric Gates Of Veles’ (2019), both musically and lyrically. However, every Hate record stands as a separate journey, and never twice to the same place. You never know exactly where it will lead you,” states vocalist/guitarist ATF Sinner, who has led the band since 1991. Fresh blood in the band’s line-up also helped contribute to Rugia‘s unique sound. Pavulon (drums), who had played with the band since 2014, was forced to step down from the band due to serious health issues. The band tapped Nar-Sil (Neolith, Virgin Snatch, Embrional) to take his place. “Working with a new drummer this time around was a fascinating experience for me. Nar-Sil’s technique and presence are quite different from Pavulon’s, and that definitely comes across. I believe we managed to construct a refreshing new chapter to our discography, composing nine truly sinister onslaughts of pure rage.”
The band elected to once again track the album in the Hertz Recording Studio in Poland, and it was recorded, mixed and mastered by the Wiesłaski Brothers (Behemoth, Decapitated). Everything was laid down over about two to three weeks, with longtime collaborator Michał Staczkun providing the ambient elements of the band’s sound. The only struggle came about at the mixing stage, where the final character of the record emerges. “Here we encountered many problems, contradictory visions too. The producers had their own idea for the overall sound, which differed from what I had in mind, so we were trying to find a good compromise and it took us a few months.” Given how strongly the personality of the record shines through, it is safe to say that the compromise reached was definitely in its best interest, standing as perhaps the best sounding record in the band’s long career. Hate is also celebrating thirty years of activity with Rugia, Sinner affirming he is as driven as ever. “Well, the fire is still burning! I’m proud that I have built a band with such strong energy, that’s lasted for a long time in spite of numerous line-up changes and obstacles in our way. We are still here and we create with ever growing consciousness and dedication. The energy speaks through us. Honestly, I think of the band as something much bigger and more profound than the individual people involved in it over any given period of time. I believe we create a channel for energies that surpass us.”
Rugia track-listing 1. Rugia 2. The Wolf Queen 3. Exiles of Pantheon 4. Saturnus 5. Awakening the Gods Within 6. Resurgence 7. Velesian Guard 8. Sun of Extinction 9. Sacred Dnieper
God Ends Here, the new full-length from Swedish death metal veterans AEON, is been released today, Friday October 15th via Metal Blade Records.
With 2012’s Aeons Black standing as one of the defining death metal albums of the twenty-first century it has been a long wait for the follow-up. In 2021, Aeon finally returns with its successor, God Ends Here, and in doing so only up the ante with a record that is more decimating in every way.
Stream the whole album below.
Watch the video for God Ends Here at: metalblade.com/aeon – where God Ends Here can be ordered in various formats.
With 2012’s Aeons Black standing as one of the defining death metal albums of the twenty-first century, it has been a long wait for the follow up. In 2021, Sweden’s Aeon finally return with its successor, God Ends Here, and in doing so only up the ante with a record that is bigger, harder and stronger in every way. A darker, even more epic collection, it is everything an Aeon fan could want with a few surprises in store, pushing the genre in new directions, and once again asserting that they are one of the most important bands in extreme metal.
The main reason for the gap between records lies in finding the right drummer, having had a few pass through their ranks in the interim, Dark Funeral/Imperium drummer Janne Jaloma now manning the kit. Making his recording debut with the band is also bassist Tony Östman, who joined in 2013, during the touring cycle for Aeons Black. Guitarist Daniel Dlimi, who departed the Aeon fold in 2013, also returned to the band’s ranks in 2019, which inspired guitarist Zeb Nilsson to write, having really missed collaborating with him.
Drums were recorded in Jaloma’s own Studio Starköl, guitars and bass in the band’s own Rise to Dominate Studio, and the vocals were recorded at Metallfabriken Studio, where some guitar re-amping was also done. Producer Ronnie Björnström, who presided over Aeons Black, once again oversaw proceedings, making sure everything sounded as big as possible. Expanding the sonic palette are strings and choirs, the orchestral elements primarily programmed by Nilsson with Dlimi handling those on “Mephistopheles”, while Nilsson wrote the choir parts. With dramatic artwork by Italian artist Paolo Girardi the final piece of the puzzle, the finished package extends Aeon‘s legacy and gives the genre the push that was intended from the outset. They may have been gone a long time but make no mistake: Aeon are back, and God Ends Here will lay waste to all.
God Ends Here track-listing 1. The Nihilist 2. Liar’s Den 3. Let It Burn 4. Orpheus Indu Inferis 5. Church of Horror 6. Deny Them Eternity 7. Forsaker 8. Into the Void 9. God Ends Here 10. Severed 11. Just One Kill 12. Mephistopheles 13. Let the Torturing Begin 14. Despise the Cross 15. Overture: Magnum Reginae 16. Queen of Lies
Finnish melodic death metal masters INSOMNIUM have announced the cancellation of their upcoming European Tour with OMNIUM GATHERUM, which was supposed to start on November 26th this year.
The band states:
Dear Fans,
We were looking forward to hitting the road again next month together with our brother in OG. Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, we are forced to cancel the tour and take a break for a couple of months to re-group. We were excited to be back on stage but this will take a little longer than expected.
We can’t wait to see you again next year.
Love,
Insomnium
The tickets will be refunded at point of purchase.
INSOMNIUM live:
17.11.2021 Tel Aviv (Israel) – Havana Club 07.01.2022 Oulu (Finland) – Tullisali with FINNTROLL 15.01.2022 Jyväskylä (Finland) – Lutakko with FINNTROLL 28.01.2022 Helsinki (Finland) – Kulttuuritalo with FINNTROLL 29.01.2022 Tampere (Finland) – Pakkahuone with FINNTROLL 11.02.2022 Tallinn (Estonia) – Helitehas with FINNTROLL 12.02.2022 Turku (Finland) – Logomo with FINNTROLL
Australian heavy rockers WICKED SMILE have just released their debut full length album ‘Wait For The Night’. It’s out today in the United Kingdom via Cargo Records and also available on all worldwide digital platforms.
To coincide with the release, the band have released a video for their new single ‘Date With the Devil’. Watch the video below.
Lyrically, ‘Wait for the Night’ explores current issues within society such as civil unrest, bullying and mental health.
Wait For The Night is produced by Paul Laine (The Defiants) and mastered by Bruno Ravel (The Defiants / Danger Danger).
Guitarist Stevie Janevski expresses what the band stands for: “We’re not for the flashy modern approach to heavy rock, instead we produce true gritty old-school heavy rock, you know the fist-pumping anthemic rock style. If you’re a fan of bands like Judas Priest, Dio, Iron Maiden, Savatage, Icon & Skid Row, chances are you’ll like what we’re about.”
Wicked Smile are:
Danny Cecati (ex-Pegazus & Eyefear) – vocals Stevie Janevski (ex-Black Majesty) – guitars Dave Graham (ex-In Malice’s Wake) – guitars Glen Cav (ex-Virtue) – bass guitar Jason Tyro – drums
View the video for the new single ‘Date With The Devil’ here :
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 ) 