SAMAEL: Vinyl Editions Of ‘Rebellion’ And ‘Eternal’ To See Release Via Transcending Records; Preorders Available

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 7, 2021
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Transcending Records is pleased to issue limited edition vinyl pressings of Rebellion and Eternal from Swiss blackened experimental metallers, SAMAEL.

Initially released in 1995 via Century Media, Rebellion collected out-takes from the band’s legendary Ceremony Of The Opposites album hinting at the band’s new direction. The EP includes two new tracks, two re-arranged songs, and a rendition of Alice Cooper’s “I Love The Dead.” “Static Journey” and the title track marked the first songs SAMAEL  recorded with programmed drums. Elaborated AllMusic, “The Rebellion EP served as a tasty morsel of what SAMAEL  was about to accomplish musically. Tracks like ‘Rebellion’ and ‘Static Journey’ advanced the Swiss black metal merchants’ experiments with synths and electronic drumbeats, and an amusing cover of Alice Cooper’s ‘I Love The Dead’ added a little variety to boot.” This is one of the first steps in the new path taken by the band after their black metal early days and one of the most unique releases of the genre.

Transcending’s vinyl edition of Rebellion, set for release May 28th, comes in three color variants: standard black, marble (limited to 200 copies), and splatter (limited to 200 copies). Find preorders at THIS LOCATION.

Eternal is SAMAEL’s fifth full-length. Initially released in 1999 via Century Media, Eternal was recorded and mixed in Montreux, Switzerland at the world-famous Mountain Studios (which today serves as a museum dedicated to Queen), with late rock producer David Richard (Queen, David Bowie, Iggy Pop). The sound and the overall production of Eternal is very much rooted in the 1970s while the approach of the songs, very contemporary. Rough Edge championed the band’s “electricity-charged, cliché-free romp through darkness,” likening the band’s new sound to, “the eclectic, worldly approach of Peter Gabriel along with the sinister delivery of black metal…The circuitry of Switzerland’s SAMAEL is a little hard to understand at first, but once the taste for this blend of insanity is acquired there is little doubting SAMAEL‘s powerful performance.” The record would take the band on several successful tours including European jaunts with Grip Inc. and Lacuna Coil and US runs with Dimmu Borgir, Monstrosity, and Epoch Of Unlight.

Transcending’s vinyl edition of Eternal, set for release June 25th, also comes in three color variants: standard black, blue/purple galaxy (limited to 200 copies), and purple/black splatter(limited to 200 copies). Find preorders at THIS LOCATION.

THE LION’S DAUGHTER Stream Full Album Ahead of Release

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 7, 2021
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St. Louis horror metal trio THE LION’S DAUGHTER are now streaming their entire upcoming opus, ‘Skin Show,’ ahead of Friday’s release! The haunting album can be heard in its entirety at THIS LOCATION. 

The band will also be hosting an in-person album release party and merch pop up in their hometown of St. Louis, MO on April 8 on the Punk Patio of The Record Space. Fans who attend the event will be able to purchase the record one day in advance of the release and will have an opportunity to meet and greet the band. 4 Hands Brewing will be sponsoring the event and providing free beverages to those who are 21+. The event is free to attend and will occur from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. CDT. RSVP HERE.

In addition, THE LION’S DAUGHTER will be hosting a two-hour radio special via Gimme Metal on April 9 @ 3:00 P.M. EDT to celebrate the release of the new record! Frontman Rick Giordano has cultivated a very special playlist and will be present in the live chat to interact with fans! As always, it is FREE to subscribe and sign up! Tune in HERE.

Moreover, THE LION’S DAUGHTER will also be supporting the new offering with a brand new live stream! The virtual concert is part of a four night event by Sinkhole and will air on Sunday, April 11 @ 8:00 P.M. EDT. The band will also be joined by HELL NIGHT for a double feature! Tickets and merch bundles are available at THIS LOCATION.

‘Skin Show’ could serve as the soundtrack to Times Square in the 1970s – the epicenter of sin and salacious misdeeds; a haven for sex, drugs, and crime beneath the inviting glow of neon signs from sleazy adult video stores; a place one would not dare walk alone after midnight unless tempted by devil himself. Its deviant, raw, nasty, disturbing, and yet, the most lively, evolved, and polished version of the trio yet.

‘Skin Show’ is due on April 9 and is available now for pre-orders HERE.

The album artwork was once again created by Mothmeister

‘Skin Show’ Tracklist:
01. Become the Night (4:26)
02. Curtains (4:17)
03. Neon Teeth (4:19)
04. Dead in Dreams (3:30)
05. Werewolf Hospital (3:22)
06. Sex Trap (4:06)
07. Snakeface (4:07)
08. All Hell is Mine (3:55)
09. Skin Show (4:02)
10. The Chemist (6:06)

CIRITH UNGOL Reveal Details For New EP ‘Half Past Human’, Launch New Single “Brutish Manchild”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 6, 2021
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On May 28th, CIRITH UNGOL will release their new EP, Half Past Human, via Metal Blade Records. For a first preview, the new single, “Brutish Manchild”, can be heard at: metalblade.com/cirithungol – where the EP can also be pre-ordered in various formats.

The globe was ravaged by pandemic in the wake of the release of Cirith Ungol‘s triumphant reunion album, Forever Black, in April 2020. As time stood still, the band dug deep into their archival crypts, drawing back the veiled mists of history to expose long-forgotten jewels from their storied past. In so doing, the band exhumed four songs written in a bygone era but never properly included as part of their fabled discography. Cirith Ungol swept the dust off these precious relics, summoning long-dead forces back to life. Each song was reimagined for today, injected with a fresh dose of power and vitality while preserving their trademark mysticism and remaining drenched in sinister, apocalyptic energy. Recorded under the watchful eye of producer Armand John Anthony (Night Demon / Bewitcher / Gygax) in the darkness of 2020, Half Past Human promises to be a treasured addition to the music collections of Cirith Ungol‘s loyal legions. In keeping with tradition, the package is completed by stunning cover art courtesy of acclaimed fantasy artist Michael Whelan, from the original Elric series.

Half Past Human track-listing
1. Route 666
2. Shelob’s Lair
3. Brutish Manchild
4. Half Past Human

ARABS IN ASPIC To Re-Release First Three Albums On Karisma Records

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 6, 2021
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With a firmly established reputation for welcoming some of the finest Prog and Rock acts, both long-established as well as new, to its roster, Norway’s Karisma Records is also  making a name for itself by taking some of the legendary, and long-unavailable recordings of its established artists and making them once again available to fans. And, declining to take the easy route, the re-releases are often either re-mixed or re-mastered (in this case by Jacob Holm-Lupo), and  in formats not previously available.

Next up in its catalogue of re-releases come three albums from ARABS IN ASPIC, a band that has been in the forefront of 70’s inspired progressive rock and proto-hard rock in Norway for the past fifteen years.   The three re-releases in question will be “Progeria”, “Far Out in Aradabia” and “Strange Frame of Mind”, all of which will be available in CD, Digital, Black Vinyl and Limited Edition Coloured Vinyl formats.

2003’s mini-album “Progeria”, was released as a CD only, and was the first outing for ARABS IN ASPIC, which, at this point was as a mixture of the psychedelic space rock akin to Hawkwind, and the heaviness and darkness of early Black Sabbath.  At the time of “Progeria’s” release the band had released several demo and was very active in the live scene in the Trondheim area. Their rehearsal space was located in the Hells Angels club house in Trondheim, much to the consternation of the local police!

Released in 2004, again in CD only, “Far Out In Aradabia”  saw ARABS IN ASPIC becoming bolder and more adventurous with their song writing sound.  Having enlisted a keyboard player, the band’s musical inspirations had become broader as well, and ARABS IN ASPIC started to venture more into the realms of progressive rock.  It is interesting to note that the last track on the album was a 65 minute studio jam, which was eventually edited down to 19 minutes.  “Far Out In Aradabia” was also the first album on which Julia Proszowzka did the artwork, and she has worked with the band ever since.

By the time “Strange Frame of Mind” appeared as a CD in 2010, ARABS IN ASPIC had recruited Hammond virtuoso Stig Arve Jørgensen on keys and backing vocals after seeing him perform FOCUS’ “Hocus Pocus”!  “Strange Frame of Mind” is very much an album that serves as a bridge between early ARABS IN ASPIC, and the band they are today.

In addition to the individual re-re releases of each of the three albums, Karisma Records will also be releasing a Limited Edition LP box set titled “I-III”.  Aside from all three of the albums in an exclusive “Aspic” coloured vinyl, the box will include a slip mat and a 12 page booklet with stories and photos from the early days of ARAB IN ASPIC.

 
All three albums and the box set (which is limited to 300 copies) will hit the streets on the 18 June, are now available to pre-order from:
 
Bandcamp:  https://arabs.bandcamp.com 
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.aisamerch.com 

Today, only Jostein Smeby on Guitars and Vocals and Eskil Nyhus on Drums and Cymbals, remain from the original ARABS IN ASPIC lineup, which now also includes  Stig Jørgensen on Organs and Vocals, Erik Paulsen on Bass and Vocals, and Alessandro G. Elide on Percussion and Gongs.  Despite rather modestly saying of themselves that they “play music”,  dive deeper into ARABS IN ASPIC and you will find that the music the band produces  includes a multitude of aspects of classic rock, funk, pop, prog, heavy rock, bossa nova and a capella.  

A video of Arabs in Aspic live can be seen at https://youtu.be/v3jekw2m19c

VIVALDI METAL PROJECT Unveil More Details Of New Studio Album, Pre-Order Available

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 6, 2021
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All-Star VIVALDI METAL PROJECT are currently in production for the 2nd studio (double) album.

The new record features a larger cast of world-class musicians than ever before and, as on the previous album “The Four Seasons“, all songs will include vocalists, band, orchestra and choir, as well as a featured cast of internationally-recognized metal and classical artists from all across the globe.

Vivaldi Metal Project’s crowd-funding campaign page for the new album is officially live and running at https://gogetfunding.com/vmp2 featuring exclusive prize packages that will only be available during this pre-order campaign.

At this point in production, many renowned artists are already slotted to record. This list includes such sensations as Mike Portnoy, Rob Rock, Jeff Scott Soto, Mike Terrana, Mark Boals, Roy Z (B. Dickinson), Dirk Verbeuren  (Megadeth), Anders Johansson (Manowar), Michele Guaitoli (Visions of Atlantis/Temperance), Rolf Pilve (Stratovarius), Gerit Lamm / Aeva Maurelle (Xandria), Steve Di Giorgio (Testament), Zaher Zorgati (Myrath), Emma Zoldan / Nils Courbaron (Sirenia), Coen Janssen (Epica), Jennifer Batten, Joe Stump (Alcatrazz), Nick Z Marino (Y. Malmsteen), Allan Sorensen (Pretty Maids), Chris Caffery (Savatage), Mark Cross (ex-Firewind), Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Elina Siirala (Leaves’ Eyes), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Jorn, Revolution Saints), Fabio D’Amore (Serenity), Melissa Ferlaak (Plague of Stars), Philip Bynoe (S. Vai), Kelly Simonz, Matt Bissonette (E. John/J. Satriani), Giacomo Voli / Roberto De Micheli (Rhapsody of Fire), Felipe Andreoli (Angra), David Folchitto (Fleshgod Apocalypse), Roger Staffelbach (Artension), Marco Sfogli (J. Labrie), Andreas Passmark (Royal Hunt), Marcelo Moreira (Z. Stevens), Bob Katsionis (Firewind), Henrik Klingenberg (Sonata Arctica), Milan Polak, Andrea Martongelli (D. Ellefson), and many more…

The Vivaldi Metal Project is an international symphonic-metal group conceived and produced by Italian keyboard player, composer and producer Mistheria (Bruce Dickinson, Roy Z, Rob Rock, Mark Boals, Artlantica, Joe Stump’s Tower of Babel).

PRE-ORDER Vivaldi Metal Project’s new album at https://gogetfunding.com/vmp2

Listen to the latest live album “Live Concert Premieres 2018” on Spotify below.

THEY FELL FROM THE SKY Release Animated Music Video For Debut Single ‘Dry’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 6, 2021
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THEY FELL FROM THE SKY formed after Colin Doran (Hundred Reasons) and Jason Bowld (Bullet For My Valentine, Pitchshifter, Killing Joke) got together for Jason’s collaborative project ‘This Is Menace’. They then started writing with Dave Draper and completed the line up with Lee Erinmez (Snuff) and Oly Edkins. 

Once in the studio the band’s songwriting flourished and an album began to take shape, blending the multitude of styles each member brought to the table. The songs started to flow and the sound honed to make the unique songwriting juggernaut that is ‘They Fell From The Sky’.

Their upcoming single ‘Dry’ is a perfect example of the bands ability to mix their heavier backgrounds with mainstream appeal, taken from their debut album due for release in the Spring of 2021. The album is produced by the band’s guitarist Dave Draper, who’s best known for his work with The Wildhearts, The Professionals and Kerbdog.

Commenting on the track, vocalist and lyricist Colin Doran explains: “It’s about people who are consistently only apologetic when absolutely caught out; But are not actually sorry at all.”

STREAM THE SINGLE HERE:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5bi8qXZqW1UTwlPFAnHfnb
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/dry-single/1553213150