Malta- based stoner metal / grunge act A BROKEN DESIGN has announced the release of their latest album, Another Day In Hell, via Argonauta Records. The band’s much acclaimed debut album was self- released in October 2020, but will be now reissued on Vinyl and as Digital formats on October 1, 2021 via the Italian powerhouse label.
A BROKEN DESIGN was formed in 2014 and features former band members of extreme metal heavyweights SLIT, doomsters NOMAD SON and electro rockers KILL THE ACTION. With an eclectic mix of various influences, their 2017- debut EP ‘Halo Of Flies’ already showcased A BROKEN DESIGN’s passion, drive and skills to write catchy songs that deliver a heavy dose of flat out grooves with a nostalgic, oldschool touch of a raw and rough sound. Their follow up album, Another Day In Hell, marks the band‘s most mature and emotional record to date, delving deep into a personal catharsis while the four- piece broadens its sound to further sonic templates.
Finally available on Vinyl and all Digital platforms, Another Day In Hell will be out on October 1, 2021 through Argonauta Records. Get a glimpse and watch the official video for the heavy yet catchy as hell album title here:
“Another Day In Hell” Tracklist: 1. Landslide 2. Another Day In Hell 3. Bird On A Wire 4. Curse Of May 5. Alone 6. Too Far Gone
Before releasing the new album “Rites of Love and Reverence” on August 13thGOST is showing a very different side with the new track and video “Burning Thyme”.
GOST comments: “I experimented a lot with instrumentation for ‘Rites of Love and Reverence’. Writing a song featuring an acoustic guitar and cello was honestly the furthest thing from my mind for this record. “Burning Thyme”, refers again to the past and was a term used for announcing the burning of witches. “Invoke the spirit that’s been hiding deep within.”
“Rites of Love and Reverence” is both an album of beautifully crafted songs and a fascinating and intuitively gothic journey, rich with thoughts of supernatural wickedness and real world retribution.
“The lyrics were inspired by witchcraft themes,” says the man himself. “It’s mainly about how witchcraft has affected women throughout history. Witch trials and the subsequent executions throughout the ages terrify me. I fear, as a society, we are always on the verge of such horrible psychosis based on the misunderstanding and intolerance of one another. I try to educate myself on any historical subject I use as an influence, out of respect for the real people who actually lived through it.”
In keeping with its dark theme, “Rites of Love and Reverence” arrives adorned with the most stunning image GOST has used to date, created by celebrated doyen of macabre art, Nona Limmen. Both eerily psychedelic and hazily mysterious, it’s the perfect visual representation of this extraordinary record’s grim but vivid depths.
The perfect soundtrack to these uncertain and frequently horrifying times, “Rites of Love and Reverence” renders GOST’s post-synthwave exploits in kaleidoscopic technicolor, delivering all the glass-shattering grit, incisive melodic melancholy and tripped-out, electronic fervour that his ever-expanding army of admirers demand.
In the past GOST has become renowned as a potent and idiosyncratic live act. Over the last few years he has shared stages with Perturbator, 3TEETH, Mayhem, Carpenter Brut, Power Trip, The Black Dahlia Murder, Midnight, Pig Destroyer and many more, while several headline tours of North America and Europe have further consolidated that already robust reputation.
KK’s PRIEST, the band comprised of renowned former Judas Priest guitarist, KK Downing and former vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens, is pleased to announce the release of the single “Brothers Of The Road” off their forthcoming SERMONS OF THE SINNER. The album comes out via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records on October 1, 2021.
The band has also announced a limited collector’s piece, a scroll that chronicles the lyrical content of SERMONS OF THE SINNER. The scroll features lyrics of all 10 tracks on the forthcoming album; spanning 14X50”on parchment paper rolled on metal pole ends. Also included is a certificate of authenticity signed by KK Downing. It can be found HERE
Fans are able to pre-order the debut album in various configurations including an exclusive limited edition autographed Metal Vinyl (Silver Disc) with bonus CD Album, via the band’s online store HERE. The album can be pre-saved via all global digital streaming partners as well.
KK’s Priest has unleashed an album with a modern sound that hearkens back to what fans have always loved about KK Downing and his music and which still sounds fresh including the high-speed album opener “Hellfire Thunderbolt”, the title track “Sermons of the Sinner,” “Raise Your Fists” and “Wild And Free” which revel in the passion and excess that metal fans embrace. The guitar interplay is intense and inspiring, and the band is firing on all cylinders. SERMONS OF THE SINNER is a musical statement that KK Downing’s heavy metal ride is far from over after his extended hiatus. “The whole concept is the fact that I continue proudly to be who I am and what I am and do what I do,” declares KK. “It’s been nearly 10 years. I’m back making music.”
KK’S PRIEST is set to tour worldwide as soon as current restrictions are lifted. Details of touring to be announced.
WARKINGS Warriors beware! The mighty kings return to the battlefield, armed with glorious weapons made of pure Heavy Metal – the time for Revolution has come!
The mighty Tribune raises his voice to tell the story of “Spartacus”, the legendary Gladiator who led the major slave uprising against the Roman Empire. Joined by none other than The Lost Lord (a.k.a. Chris Harms) the WARKINGS forged their weapons and call for Revolution with yet another uptempo banger that will be stuck in the heads of all warriors forever
The Tribune on “Spartacus”: “Some call him hero, some call him a rebel…and we tell his story. With the help of the mighty Lost Lord. Die for Spartacus.”
Chris Harms a.k.a The Lost Lord adds: “There are moments when I realize that there is a power metal passion slumbering in me that never wanted to fit into any of my bands and projects. I was very grateful when the four gladiators of heavy metal came to me and gave me the chance to refine one of their songs as The Lost Lord. “Spartacus” is a monumental uptempo power machine that I enjoyed immensely. I look forward to performing the song live at some point – with sandals and a helmet, of course!”
The third part of the WARKINGS saga will be unleashed on August 20 via Napalm Records, so sharpen your weapons and join the WARKINGS Revolution!
After their rebirth and the fight against the armies of the underworld, it’s time for Revolution under the flag of the WARKINGS. The four ancient kings, a Roman Tribune, a wild Viking, a noble Crusader and a martial Spartan, raise the red flag and gather their warriors for the next battle!
The Viking on the new album: “The time has come, the world needs a Revolution. Raise your banners, fly our colors and join us on our way. We are the fire!”
Tracklist: 1. We are the Fire 2. Sparta – Part II 3. Fight 4. Spartacus 5. Kill for the King 6. Deus lo Vult 7. Ave Roma 8. Ragnar 9. By the Blade 10. Where Dreams Die
To give listeners a summer of warm rock sounds, today Italian alternative rock band SMOKING ROGERS releases their debut album ‘Comfort Zone’ via Seahorse Recordings.
To celebrate the band presents the second single taken form the new album, ‘I Want You To Know’.
“I Want You To Know” is the confession and retraction, more apathetic than resigned, of a lifelong temp, a prisoner of himself and his own inconclusive routine, disillusioned yet willing to allow himself the luxury of hope that something might still change. But in an immobile wait. It is also the acknowledgement of the substantial difficulty in declaring his condition to the person to whom he imagines to turn. So much so that it raises the doubt that this confession can ever be made out loud”, declares the band.
Listen to the first single “Spiritual Song” on major streaming platforms and watch the lyric video here: https://youtu.be/wqvNRuW-DLw
“Comfort Zone” was produced and recorded by Maurizio Lollobrigida and mixed and mastered by Maurizio Lollobrigida and Alessandro Scerpa at Officine Zero/Il Merlo Studio in Rome.
SMOKING ROGERS elaborate their sound without bright artifices, preferring to underline a note and accompany a verse with the craftsmanship of their instruments, seeking the perfect combination of cleanliness and distortion, chords and noise, study and improvisation.
The concept of the album is based on the analysis of the difficulty of being accepted in the discovery of one’s own identity, and of coming out of that “free zone” in which we close ourselves. We want to defend it from the arrows of a cultural world increasingly based on the emptiness of appearing and being mainstream rather than real.
The album ranges from deeply intimate songs (“Thovez House”, “I Want You to Know“) to actual 90s tunes (“One Division Left”, “Spiritual Song“), from electro-acoustic ballads (“Pascal-On Stage“) to decidedly lighter sounds (“70’s”, “The Butterflies, Daybreak“), all the way to the noir climax of “I’ve Got Your Eyes”, which locks the door of the comfort zone.
“Comfort Zone” tracklisting:
Thovez House
Pimple
One Division Left
Spiritual Song
I Want You To Know
Pascal On Stage
70’s
The Butterflies
Daybreak
I’ve Got Your Eyes
If they had been in the United States 30 years ago, SMOKING ROGERS would most likely have spontaneously become part of the Seattle grunge scene. But although this seminal influence is clear, the band’s identity is also much more: a powerful hard rock vein that can be traced back to the Los Angeles scene of the late ’80s, guitars strongly linked to punk culture and a natural tendency towards acoustic songwriting.
The band’s propensity for dissonance and sharp riffs does not prevent them from exploring different sounds and genres, always guided by their own instincts.
Alt-rock quartet EL MOONO have released a video for their brand new single ‘Forced to Smile’, out now via Lockjaw Records.
The band worked with Kieran Gallop (GLKMedia) at The Spire in Brighton to create the video for ‘Forced to Smile’. The juxtaposition of social and religious ‘normalities’ is portrayed through a ‘happy’ birthday party, with a vast spectrum of imagery.
Originally premiered via Distorted Sound Magazine, check out the video for ‘Forced to Smile’ here:
“We’ve been sitting on this song in particular for over two years now and we’re so relieved and excited to finally be putting it out into the world. Since writing ‘Forced to Smile’, it feels as though the lyrics have come into sharper focus given the social/political landscape of the past year.
“The majority of Parliament have recently shrugged off the changing of vital laws that directly impact the LGBTQI+ community and how their gender/identification is legally recognised. This blatant dismissal of human rights is something we cannot accept in 2021 – ‘Forced to Smile’ is about not accepting our reality as ‘good enough’. The song also tackles the subject of toxic masculinity that is engrained deep into our society. Living day to day and forcing ourselves to be happy, forcing ourselves to smile, just to keep going. We dream to make a difference in whatever way we can.”
Signing to Lockjaw Records marks a new era for El Moono. Following their 2019 single ‘Thanks for Nothing’ (Small Pond Records) and heavy touring around the UK and Europe with the likes of Black Peaks, Phoxjaw, Haggard Cat, Fangclub, and Press to MECO – El Moono are back with a vengeance. With influences of rock, hardcore, metal and grunge, the band’s off-kilter and oftentimes mind-bending riffs, emotive songs and expressive lyricism combine to create a sound that’s difficult to pigeonhole.
‘Forced to Smile’ follows ‘Thanks for Nothing’, their self-released EP ‘Tides’ and standalone single ‘Aura’. El Moono‘s captivating music have seen support from Kerrang! Radio’s Alex Baker, who has played every single to date on his show, as well as Amazing Radio and more.
With an upcoming tour supporting Haggard Cat, festival appearances, including Burn it Down and Attitude Festival, and their first hometown show in two years lined up for 2021, there’s no stopping this promising quartet.
Live dates:
31.07.2021 – Portals Festival 10-11.09.2021 – Burn It Down Festival 23.09.2021 – Newquay, Whiskers (w/ Haggard Cat) 24.09.2021 – Plymouth, The Junction (w/ Haggard Cat) 25.09.2021 – Exeter, Cavern (w/ Haggard Cat) 26.09.2021 – Attitude Festival 31.10.2021 – Brighton, The Prince Albert (headline)
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 ) 