Anthony Assaker, guitarist and songwriter of Lebanese breakthrough metal bands Kaoteon and Death Tribe, has released a solo acoustic song ‘Some Things Never Change (Words of a War Child)’, reflecting on the devastating Beirut explosion one year on.
Featuring Jo Quail on cello, watch the lyric video here:
Anthony commented “Today marks one year since the massive non-nuclear explosion in Lebanon that took the lives of 218 people, injured 7,000 and left 300,000 homeless. My house in Beirut was damaged beyond repair, the streets I played in as a child changed forever beyond recognition. This event rendered the Lebanese hopeless as the situation seems helpless. This is what Lebanon has been ever since I saw the light.
“We always try to comfort ourselves and look at the positive side of things. My parents are “at least” alive, our houses were destroyed but “at least” we are all still here, we lost all our hard earned life savings but we “still” have our body parts.
“This is the result of a corrupt regime that has paralyzed a nation and knocked out its rebellious spirit into a coma of numbness – One year later and there is still no one to blame and no hope of a better tomorrow. On the contrary, the situation worsens each day, the Lebanese are fighting for basic supplies: from simple medicine to gasoline. This is heart-breaking. What hurts even more is knowing that many other nations that suffered and made news headlines are still suffering in silence and the world goes on.
“This is an exemplary life of a war child who did not chose the land nor the race nor the religion they were born into. George Carlin once said: “Pride should be reserved for something you achieve or obtain on your own, not something that happens by accident of birth. Being Irish isn’t a skill… it’s a … genetic accident. You wouldn’t say I’m proud to be 5’11”; I’m proud to have a pre-disposition for colon cancer.”
“This works the other way around too, some people are cursed for a lifetime of troubles and hardship because they hold the scars of the nation they were born into. The difference between you and them is just destiny.
“Thank you to all those who helped and continue to help make the world a better place for future generations. We are all one nation sharing one planet floating in the vast dark space – together we are stronger.”
This follows his politically-charged solo acoustic song, ‘Who’s To Blame’. Highlighting issues such as discrimination, racism and social injustice in the world, an unlisted version of the song went viral within the Middle-Eastern community during the US election, racking up over 70k plays whilst still unlisted. The video was filmed in Amsterdam, where Anthony now resides. Now officially released, watch ‘Who’s To Blame’ here: https://youtu.be/fEgwBjpxli8
Anthony Assaker has had a busy year so far, not only with his solo work, but he also released his critically acclaimed Death Tribe album, Beyond The Red Light District: A Canal Experiment, and completed work on a new Kaoteon record. More news soon.
With just over a month to go until the release of “In the Hollow of a Wave”, the third full-length album from Norwegian Rockers MONSTEREO, Karisma Records have today released a new single taken from the album. Titled “Wings I: Everlasting Darkness”, the band had this to say about it:
“Wings I” is the soundtrack of supersonic spacetravel. A modern take on the 70s progressive rock. With obligatory duelling guitars, rumbling organs, several high pitched vocal tracks and spaced-out-synthesisers. A cacophony of sound culminating in a rock’n roll banger that pushes the pop format to the edge of outer space.
“Wings I: Everlasting Darkness” can be download or streamed from a variety of services at this location.
Whilst the lyric video can be seen below.
For over a decade now MONSTEREO’s lineup of Ola Utaaker Segadal on lead vocals and electric guitars, Øyvind Aase Fluge on electric guitars, Jørgen Stangeland Bach on Bass guitar, and Jon Bolstad on Drums have been delighting fans with their energy-filled rock songs.
And, for “In the Hollow of a Wave”, MONSTEREO have used that energy to great effect, producing an album that is filled to the brim with the band’s trademark catchy melodies, heavy riffs and big sound, all of which are seamlessly combined with exploratory instrumental sections that lead the listener towards a euphoric climax.
The sound on “In the Hollow of a Wave”, is far richer, and more broad, than anything the band has come up with before. With the deft use of more keyboards, synths, and a variety of guitars, MONSTEREO have, without a doubt, produced their heaviest album to date, which, according to the band, is filled with “teeth-grinding riffs, big choruses and rock-solid grooves”.
With artwork by Robert Høyem, track listing for “In the Hollow of a Wave” is as follows:
Third Eye Seeing
A Sudden Rush
Wings I: Everlasting Darkness
Jigsaw
Witness
Wings II: Beyond Horizons
Wings III: Icarus
Golden
Set for release on the 17th September, “In the Hollow of a Wave” will be available in CD, Vinyl and Digital formats, and can now be pre-ordered at:
Season of Mist is proud to announce the signing of U.K. post punk outfit NAUT.
NAUT guitarist Jack Welch comments, “We are very pleased to finally announce our union with Season of Mist. As avid metal fans, especially extreme metal, myself and Gavin have followed the label’s output for many years, so to see our debut album released through them is a bit of a dream come true.
“Season has come to represent all shades of musical darkness and so we feel a good fit for the label because albeit less extreme in our musical approach, dark music in all its facets is what primarily drives us.
“We’re all very confident that the final outcome from both our side and the label will be a record of quality and we can’t wait to share this slab of infectious and pulsing drum machine rock with you all.”
For a glimpse of what’s to come, check out NAUT‘s Bandcamp HERE!
In addition to the signing, NAUT has just announced live appearances in the U.K.! The shows are as follows:
NAUT Live: 08/06/21: Bristol, UK @ The Exchange [TICKETS // EVENT LINK] 10/24/21: Camden, UK @ Restart The Heart Festival @ The Black Heart [TICKETS]
Co-headline with Deathsomnia & Zetra: 12/10/21: London, UK @ The Black Heart 12/11/21: Bristol, UK @ The Crofters Rights 12/12/21: Manchester, UK @ The Star & Garter
NAUT are a four piece drum machine rock band from Bristol, whose shared love of classic rock and metal, alongside reverence for the post-punk pioneers of the late 70s and early 80s makes itself known from the start. Triumphant synths and scything guitars entwine with danceable beats, while driving bass-lines, moving to pounding drums, create a dynamic and shifting rhythm section. The tracks pulse with a raw post-punk energy but always remain danceable and (perhaps most dangerously) catchy. The lyrics touch on mental paralysis, impending doom and divided peoples, and with the path our world is currently on they have become more relevant than ever.
Starting out as an evening sharing riffs in a flat in Bristol, the first tracks for NAUT had their genesis in 2016. Those first riffs, written by Gavin (vocals) & Jack (guitars) grew to become something much more compelling and after that initial moment, the idea of a band was born. Gathering musicians from Bristol’s small but active post-punk scene and armed with rough recordings, NAUT started working on the tracks as a full band in June 2017.
It all rapidly fell into place. NAUT’s first show was in September 2017 followed by two shows supporting Grave Pleasures before the year was out, and they entered the studio the following November. Raise the Lights – their debut EP was recorded at RS Studios in Bristol by Jamie Elton (Moss, Amulet, Spite) and was mastered by Orgone Studios (Ulver, Grave Pleasures, Ghost). The final mastered tracks were ready in March 2018 and plans were put in motion for a June release of a debut EP that made people take notice. The intention was to break out into the world and NAUT did just that, with coverage in Kerrang! Magazine as well as a host of smaller blogs, publications and radio.
2018 saw more live shows with Abysmal Grief and David Eugene Edwards & Alexander Hacke as well as a sell out show in Bristol, and the start of some new material.
Not content to sit still, NAUT were soon ready to enter the studio again with new tracks written at the end of 2018, initially planned as a double A single, but growing into a 3 track EP. The song writing was rooted firmly in the foundations laid by Raise the Lights, but also broke new ground.With a solo in the title track Semele provided by Henrik Palm (Henrik Palm, ex-In Solitude, ex-Ghost) and the same winning combination of recording with Jamie Elton and Orgone Studios taking care of mastering duties the tracks were finished by April 2019.
The Semele EP was released in November 2019 and was well-received. Featured in multiple high profile websites such as Louder, Vive le Rock, Distorted Sound and more, the EP helped establish NAUT on the scene as a band to watch.
Alongside this, NAUT played several more shows, including supporting post-punk legends Pink Turns Blue and playing the warmup show for Incineration Festival in London alongside Idle Hands.
Threads and Hand in Hand were recorded in late 2019, building on the spirit of experimentation in the Semele EP whilst calling on elements from Raise the Lights, creating a tantalising mix of the two. The songs were once again recorded by Jamie Elton with mastering handled by Orgone Studios.
During this time NAUT remained an active presence in the UK live scene, sharing the stage with bands as diverse as their fan base, from Discharge to Orange Goblin.
The end of 2019 also saw a change in NAUT’s format, with the departure of their drummer. NAUT had started life as a drum machine project before the addition of Kenny Selway for the debut EP, and after a string of changes, the obvious choice was to return to that format. This opened up new avenues for musical exploration, on and off stage.
With the spectre of a global pandemic looming large, in March 2020 NAUT played their last live appearance of that year in a sold out St Pancras Church in London with King Dude.
With that the world of live music went silent.
However NAUT remained active below the surface, Threads and Hand in Hand were released as a double A side 7” in June 2020. With this release NAUT further gained the attention of fans from across the spectrum of dark music. Word spread further around the scene adding fans to the ever growing following, with Hand in Hand featured in Kerrang! Magazine’s Kerrang! Rock Chart and a number of other high profile goth and post-punk playlists and the music video, creatively produced under the restrictions of a strict lockdown, garnering a strong reception.
Not content with releasing these new songs, work on a debut album was also underway. Over the long months of restrictions and lockdowns NAUT crafted the demos for their debut album, making the most of the dormant state of the music world, something special was being fashioned. The turmoil of 2020 also opened other opportunities and NAUT struck a partnership with Doomstar booking agency, ready for whenever the venues open.
Now NAUT are excited to have signed with Seasons of Mist for the release of their debut album. The label has come to represent all shades of musical darkness and feels like a strong pairing for NAUT, as although the band are less extreme in their musical approach, dark music in all its facets underlies all that they do.
NAUT can’t wait to share this upcoming slab of infectious and pulsing drum machine rock with you all.
Lineup: Gavin Laubscher – Vocals, drum programming Jack Welch – Guitar Andi Effe – Bass Laura Taylor – Synths/keys
With their new album Ritual being unveiled to the world this Friday, August 6 via Napalm Records, NYTT LAND offer another glimpse into their haunting and unique world of Shamanic Dark Folk!
Just as NYTT LAND begins “Svartravn” with mysterious whispers, the listener is pulled into the melancholic atmosphere of the song – a true display of NYTT LAND’s Shamanic Dark Folk. Experimental vocal technique meets deep, stomping percussive instrumentation inspired by ancient Siberian and Northern European culture. NYTT LAND are a truly unique duo and have rightfully earned millions of cross-platform streams with their authentic, traditional take on folk music.
NYTT LAND about the video for “Svartravn”: “’Svartravn’ for us is one of the most melodic and most dramatic songs in the new album. A lot of emotions are associated with it in the process of composing and recording. And undoubtedly, this energy is very accurately visualized in the video created for this song. In Russia there is a very famous 19th century kozak’s ballad, called ‘Black Raven’. And when we found the text that formed the basis of the song ‘Svartravn’, we were simply amazed that it says the same thing as in this Russian ballad. Therefore, this song got its name exactly ‘Svartravn’ – from the Icelandic language it is precisely ‘Black Raven’ that is translated.”
Watch the intricately animated music video for “Svartravn” HERE:
NYTT LAND adds about the animation in the “Svartravn” music video: “The work on the video for the song opened up the opportunity for us to work with the talents of the Siberian artist Ksenia Shcherbinina (Instagram: @kseniash_art) and the animation designer Alexander Golovko. A truly colossal work has been done, each frame of the clip is drawn by hand to bring to life the epic northern legend of betrayal and revenge, valor and fearlessness in the face of death. And of course, we all look forward to continuing our cooperation. And maybe soon we will meet again with the heroes created by Ksenia and Alexander to find out the continuation of this story, which was born in the work on the song ‘Svartravn’.”
Ritual is a previously uncharted display of intense, dark folk music inspired by NYTT LAND’s unique, authentic and ancient Siberian culture. If bands like Wardruna, Heilung or Runahild ensnare your senses, then you must prepare for this Ritual!
In celebration of the release of Ritual, NYTT LAND will perform their new album live on August 13 at 8:00PM CET/2:00PM EDT via the Napalm Records YouTube channel – make sure to join the Ritual and experience this one of a kind musical performance!
NYTT LAND’s ancient shamanic culture is palpable on songs like “U-Gra” – based on the legend of the Siberian native tribe known as Khanty. It tells the story of the guardian spirits of the tribe’s homeland as somber ritual chants at the start of the song ask the spirits to be kind to their people and help them retain their lands. An atmospheric, meditative journey accompanied by an enthralling percussive section accents the unmatched, unique throat singing layers of NYTT LAND vocalists Natasha “Baba Yaga” Pakhalenko and Anatoly “Shaman” Pakhalenko. “Svartravn” seamlessly continues this vibe while introducing melancholic string sections, telling the story of a warrior dying on the battlefield with a crow circling him, awaiting his coup de grace. The dying warrior tells the crow about his worthy life and the deeds that he performed, and that he is not afraid of death, asking the raven to take the news of his death to his family. Underlying themes on Ritual become apparent in NYTT LAND’s artistic entity, pulled together by mysterious, haunting visuals while still welcoming the listener into their spiritual world. Songs like “Dead Man’s Dance” and “Blood Of The North” showcase the Nordic folk-driven roots of NYTT LAND, while the duo takes the genre to new levels on “The Fires of Ragnarok”.
NYTT LAND on the record: “Our new album is a big story, a long way – from the harsh, snowy fjords of ancient Scandinavia – to the endless expanses of the great Siberian taiga. Having chosen life in a small Siberian village, we are inspired by nature, its eternal, primordial life force. And this inspiration finds expression in our music.”
Ritual Track listing:
Ritual
The Fires of Ragnarok
The Birth of a Shaman
Dead Man’s Dance
U-Gra
Gróttasöngr
Svartravn
Blood of the North
Prepare for an extraordinary experience when NYTT LAND performs the Ritual on their Majestic European Tour 2021, together with Korpiklaani, Equilibrium and Jonne, starting this fall.
Majestic European Tour 2021: 30.09.21 DE – Hamburg / Fabrik * No Jonne 01.10.21 NL – Dracthen / Iduna 03.10.21 BE – Antwerpen / Kavka Zappa 04.10.21 FR – Lille / Splendid 05.10.21 FR – Strasbourg / La Laiterie 06.10.21 FR – Paris / Élysée 07.10.21 FR – Rennes / L’Etage 08.10.21 FR – Bordeaux (Mérignac) / Krakatoa 09.10.21 FR – Lyon / Transbordeur 10.10.21 FR – Toulouse / Le Bikini 11.10.21 CH – Lausanne / Les Docks 12.10.21 IT – Trezzo sull’Adda / Live Club 13.10.21 SI – Ljubljana / Kino Siska 14.10.21 DE – Munich / Backstage 15.10.21 DE – Stuttgart / LKA 16.10.21 CH – Pratteln / Z7 17.10.21 DE – Geiselwind / Music Hall 18.10.21 CZ – Prague / Roxy 19.10.21 PL – Krakow / Hyde Park 20.10.21 PL – Warsaw / Progresja 21.10.21 DE – Berlin / Huxleys 22.10.21 CZ – Zlin / Masters of Rock Cafe 23.10.21 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser 24.10.21 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra 25.10.21 AT – Vienna / Simm City 27.10.21 PL – Gdansk / B90 29.10.21 DE – Cologne / Essigfabrik 30.10.21 NL – Hengelo / Metropool
Have you ever wondered how to avoid paying taxes while actually getting away with it? Well, you’re in luck! NANOWAR OF STEEL are here to teach you about the art of tax fraud! Not only is “Sulle Aliquote della Libertà” a joyful and upbeat tune that will make you move right from the start, but it’s also filled with loads of sage advice to prepare you for your next tax fraud experience!
NANOWAR OF STEEL on the song: “Sulle Aliquote della Libertà” (AKA On the Tax Rates of Freedom) is a song about Italy’s national hobby, tax evasion. It tells the story of two accountants, a story that takes place in Berlusconi’s home region in the North on a Pizzica-style kind of music (typical of the southern region of Puglia), to properly pay tribute to a practice that characterizes our peninsula in full. Listen to the song and learn the ancient art of not paying money to the State with NANOWAR OF STEEL!“
Watch the animated lyric video for “Sulle Aliquote Della Libertà”HERE:
Parody metal powerhouse NANOWAR OF STEEL turns to the musical roots of their homeland, bringing heavy new life to traditional Italian music on their new album Italian Folk Metal! Filled with references to Italian folklore, NANOWAR OF STEEL puts its own comedic metal twist on the various traditional sounds of their beautiful country. Each song on Italian Folk Metal is performed in a distinct style of Italian folk music: Napoli-based sounds of musica neomelodica clash with melodic guitar sweeps on “Scugnizzi of the Land of Fires” and speedy accordions (prominently known from northern Italy‘s mazurka) are layered with dizzying guitar solos on “La Mazurka del Vecchio che Guarda i Cantieri“. Mixed with the band’s eclectic, comprehensive brand of catchy, comedy-infused metal, Italian Folk Metal is a truly multi-faceted listening experience and a deep dive into the roots of Italy’s folklore!
In the process of recording the new album in Rome and Milan during the summer of 2020, NANOWAR OF STEEL took the Italian-focused theme as an opportunity to gather Italy’s crème de la creme of musicianship: the album features Francesco Paoli from FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE on “L’assedio di Porto Cervo”, Alessandro Conti of LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY and TRICK OR TREAT fame on “La Mazurka del Vecchio che guarda i Cantieri” and FROZEN CROWN’s Jade on “Rosario”, among others.Italian Folk Metal showcases NANOWAR OF STEEL’s musical versatility at its best!
Italian Fok Metal tracklist: 1. Requiem per Gigi Sabani in Re minore 2. L’Assedio di Porto Cervo 3. La Maledizione di Capitan Findus 4. La Marcia su Piazza Grande 5. La Mazurka del Vecchio che Guarda i Cantieri 6. La Polenta Taragnarock 7. Scugnizzi of the Land of Fires 8. Rosario 9. Il Signore degli Anelli dello Stadio 10. Gabonzo Robot 11. Sulle Aliquote Della Libertà 12. Der Fluch des Kapt’n Iglo 13. El Baile del Viejo que Mira las obras
Greek heavy rockers, CELLAR STONE, have announced the signing of a multi-album deal with ROAR! Rock of Angels Records!
Earlier the band revealed that the band’s upcoming, yet-untitled, second album was mixed by Mr. Jordan Westfall (Black Stone Cherry) at Monocle Studios in Kentucky, USA. The album also features Chris Robertson (singer-guitarist Black Stone Cherry). The final result is something fresh, heavy and intensely melodic. Fourteen songs of pure heavy rock with great songwriting and an over the top production. If you love strong melodies, big choruses and guitar riffing, Cellar Stone won’t disappoint. Just dive in, the album is essential listening. More information TBA.
Influenced by the rock & metal giants of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, UFO, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Alice In Chains, as well as the bands of today like Black Stone Cherry, Shinedown, Mastodon and Alter Bridge, CELLAR STONE are making their own statement in a characteristic way. Choruses that stick, a pandemonium of guitar harmonies and riffs and a rhythm section that grabs at you, the band is setting the scene and they won’t go unnoticed. Cellar Stone members have toured next to several famous acts such as UFO, Uriah Heep, Black Star Riders, Candlemass and Avatarium. In May 2020, the band released their debut album “One Fine Day” independently, receiving enthusiastic reviews by many highly esteemed magazines and websites (Powerplay UK 9/10 – Metal Temple US 9/10 – Hellfire Magazin DE 8,5/10 – Legacy DE 12/15 – Bleeding4Metal DE 8/10 ) while it was voted as 32nd best Hard Rock album of the year by Denim & Leather US.
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
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