Danish Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Legends MIRAGE Sign to From The Vaults

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 9, 2021
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From The Vaults proud itself to announce the signing – and return – of one of Denmark’s heavy metal/hard rock most revered “secret treasures”: MIRAGE. The band released the successful album “…And The Earth Shall Crumble” in 1985 to much praise of the audience and press alike, being one of the most sought-after pieces of metal music nowadays. Later, there was also a compilation that re-released the album and some of the demo tracks that Mirage put out also back in the day.

And now, the lost album of their 80’s busy-career era will finally be released!

Mirage explains it all: ” When Mirage had released the debut album in 1985 the world was ripe for the taking – we thought! But because our record company at the time went broke we never had the opportunity to release a second album.

We’re  making up for that 36 years later. We just signed a contract with FROM THE VAULTS to release the “lost” album with the cool songs written in the 80’s. The album will contain songs that were written by the band back then but never released. The style – as it was back then – is true heavy metal with melody and big choruses, hardhitting riffs, dirty hammond keys and great solos.

The waiting is over and we are excited to be able to prove that MIRAGE was – and is – more than just one album.

And the earth will crumble once again…“

JUODVARNIS Release Intimate + Lyrical Version of ‘Tik dulkės’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 9, 2021
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Sapiens Music teamed up with the Lithuanian dark metal band JUODVARNIS and released a different version of their song ‘Tik dulkės’ from the band’s latest album ‘Nerimo Dienos’ (EN: Days of Disquiet) in video format.

Sapiens Music describes themselves as: “a music platform collecting various talents from all over the world. We want to bring the change by showcasing inspiring music and sharing the message together with artists.”.

The main point of the project is to present various artists from an unexpectedly different angle than their audience (and even the artists themselves) are used to. The videos mainly concentrate on the vocal performances that are backed with minimalist instrumental arrangements of the original songs. Sapiens Music have already worked with a large number of artists from Lithuania, styles ranging from mainstream pop, hip hop to alternative and rock.

This is the first time that a metal band from the underground scene is chosen for this project, which is expected to be a very unusual, yet intriguing experience for both the wider audiences as well as the die-hard underground metalheads. Juodvarnis gladly accepted a challenge to rearrange their song “Tik dulkės” in a different, a very intimate way.

Vocalist Paulius comments: “This was a unique experience for me. I am not used to perform without a band and guitar in my hands. Also this new arrangement pushed all focus to the vocals, so I had to do my very best to make this composition work. It was challenging, but I am really happy with the result!“

Video produced by Sapiens Music team
Directed by Saulius Baradinskas
Photos by Paulius Butkus
Re-arrangement of the song: Paulius Simanavičius (Juodvarnis)

Album “Nerimo Dienos” (Days of Disquiet) was recorded in Sound Division Studio in Riga, Latvia, and Muzlab Studio in Vilnius, Lithuania. Mixing done in Muzlab Studio. Mastering by Tony Lindgren (Enslaved, Dimmu Borgir, Sepultura, Leprous) at Fascination Street Studios in Orebro, Sweden. The album has been released on 28th of Aug, 2020 via Lithuanian label Dangus.

Swedish GAUPA Sign With Nuclear Blast, Live Version Of “Mjölksyra” Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 9, 2021
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Photo Credit: Johanna Aspfors

Today, NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS are happy to announce the signing of exciting young psychedelic hard rock band GAUPA from Falun, Sweden. 

With surreal lyrics, an energetic, very unique singer, and an addictive sound that combines progressive stoner rock with doom, folk and psychedelic rock influences, GAUPA released their self-titled debut EP in June 2018 and have since made a name for themselves in the international underground rock scene. The “GAUPA” EP was well received and led to the band playing one of their first live performances at Scandinavia’s biggest rock festival, Sweden Rock. GAUPA then got a chance to release the EP on vinyl via German label Kozmik Artifactz in October 2019 and went on to playing a good number of shows and festivals. Critics were impressed not only by the studio recordings and their diverse & complex arrangements, but also by the level of intensity the band displayed live. 

In April 2020 GAUPA, which means “lynx” in Swedish dialect, followed up to release their first full length album, “Feberdröm,” gaining even more attention from both the underground scene as well as NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS, who will release their next album in 2022.

Jens Prüter, Head Of A&R at Nuclear Blast Records Europe comments:
“While most newcomer bands struggled during the Corona pandemic, GAUPA managed to grow by quality. Their unique sound hasn’t remained unnoticed and word of mouth spread fast. Once we had seen their live stream show and had some video conferences, we knew they would sit well in an artist roster that contains the likes of Graveyard, Opeth, Earthless and Meshuggah who appear to be some of their favorite bands, even if GAUPA isn’t very metal at all. But it’s that attitude to tear down boundaries between genres – just for the sake of art. We are proud to welcome them in good company.”

GAUPA‘s vocalist Emma Näslund adds:
“We’re all still nurturing dreams of working more with our music and playing larger shows. One could argue that it would be time to shake those dreams and grow up. We don’t. If you’re doing something you love, keep going! We are beyond humbled to find ourselves among the giants and we’re very happy to announce our signing with Nuclear Blast!“

Listen to GAUPA‘s new single, a live version of the track “Mjölksyra“, taken from their most recent full-length “Feberdröm“: https://bfan.link/Gaupa-Mjölksyra.ema

Watch the impressively surreal official music video for the album version of the song “Mjölksyra“:

LIZZY BORDEN: ‘Give ‘Em the Axe’, ‘Visual Lies’ Vinyl Re-Issues Now Available

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 9, 2021
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On August 27th, LIZZY BORDEN will release vinyl re-issues of classic albums Give ‘Em the Axe (1984) and Visual Lies (1987) via Metal Blade Records. Pre-order your copies now at:

–USA: indiemerch.com
–EU: eu.kingsroadmerch.com

The records are available in the following versions:

Give ‘Em the Axe vinyl versions
– 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
– pink / white marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 300 copies)
– clear w/ blue & white splatter splash vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 200 copies)
– white / blue marbled vinyl (US exclusive)
– white w/ black dust vinyl (US exclusive)

Visual Lies vinyl versions
– 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
– sunflower yellow marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 300 copies)
– clear w/ red & yellow splatter vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 200 copies)
– silver vinyl (US exclusive)
– orange w/ black dust vinyl (US exclusive)

HORISONT Release Cover Version of “Sheldon Churchyard”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 9, 2021
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Sweden’s HORISONT used their downtime to record two new songs. First is “Sheldon Churchyard”, originally by Larry Jon Wilson: “That driving groove combined with those enigmatic lyrics really transfer you to another time and place. Let the groove lead the way and see where you’ll wound up.”

While the song is available on all DSPs make sure to catch the video here:

The band comments on the idea of the recordings: “As big fans of country music we wanted to do a couple of songs that people might not expect from us. Still, we wanted them to sound like Horisont. So we set up at Let Them Swing Studio and hit the record button just to see where the songs took us. This is the result. Let Them Swing Studio is a recording studio in the countryside outside of Gothenburg, Sweden, owned and run by Kim and Malin. They rebuilt an old barn on their property and set it up for live recording. With no neighbors in sight, it’s an ideal place to make noise 24-7. A weekend mixed of relaxed creativity and fun.”

Stay tuned for another obscure cover that will be out soon. Both songs are not part of HORISONT’s last album “Sudden Death” that was released in May of 2020.

FRACTAL UNIVERSE Announce “The Impassable Horizon – Alive” Livestream Event

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 9, 2021
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Photo credit: Anthony Dubois

After releasing their latest album, The Impassable Horizon, last month via Metal Blade Records, Fractal Universe is now ready to announce an upcoming livestream event in support of this new release: “The Impassable Horizon – Alive”. Set to take place on Sunday, July 25th at 11AM PST//2PM EST//8PM CEST, this show will be the one and only time that the band performs The Impassable Horizon in its entirety. Tickets can be reserved now at: fractaluniverse.veeps.com *Fans who can’t watch the initial stream will be able to re-watch it through Veeps until August 8th; additionally, an exclusive shirt design will be available for purchase during the show at Veeps.

Fractal Universe comments: “With the release of ‘The Impassable Horizon‘, we received messages from fans all around the world asking us when we’ll be able to perform in their countries. While we don’t have an answer for that, with ‘The Impassable Horizon – Alive’ we want to give all of you the opportunity to experience a Fractal Universe show from home!
We’ve prepared a unique setlist: this is our one and only time performing the new record in its entirety, alongside some of your favorites from our previous albums, all of that with our brand new stage production! So make sure not to miss it!”

Purchase and stream The Impassable Horizon at: metalblade.com/fractaluniverse – where the record is available on CD, vinyl, as well as digitally. Fans can also visit Fractal Universe‘s official store for additional vinyl and more: shop.fractaluniverseband.com

With 2019’s Rhizomes Of Insanity, France’s Fractal Universe created one of the most musically, lyrically, and emotionally complex and compelling progressive metal works of the twenty-first century. The band toured the record hard, joining heavyweights Obscura in February/March of 2020, making for one of the last tours in the world pre-pandemic, and in doing so, sated their faithful while winning legions of new followers. With its successor, The Impassable Horizon (once again produced by Flavien Morel), they have gone even deeper, effortlessly following the trajectory they set themselves on to create an album that is riveting from start to finish. “We wanted to keep developing our musical personality and the natural sound we managed to get on ‘Rhizomes‘,” says drummer Clément Denys. “It’s a very versatile and complex album. Musically speaking, you will find catchy songs which are really direct, progressive and mysterious ballads with epic saxophone solos, and technical songs with intricate riffing.” Elaborates vocalist/guitarist/saxophonist Vince Wilquin, “despite the record being even more diverse, dynamic and including more clean vocals than its predecessor, the overall atmosphere is also slightly darker and more melancholic.” And with the introduction of Wilquin’s newly honed saxophone skills to their live set, alongside working with Gojira‘s Christian Andreu on their stage scenery and production, once the band return to the road, they are sure to be an unmissable act.