In these troubled times, blackgaze pioneers ALCEST shine a little light into the dark with their otherworldy sound. Labeled as innovators of a surreal genre mixing shoegaze and black metal, the French duo has established itself as a forerunner of its own style of music that draws the listener into a dreamy soundscape, achieving them over 42 million streams worldwide.
Their latest studio album ‘Spiritual Instinct’ saw the light of day in 2019 via Nuclear Blast. Hitting the German album charts at #12, it was supported by a massive European tour which included several sold out shows. With ‘Spiritual Instinct’, Neige and Winterhalter melded both the heavy and lighter aspects of the band, and today, ALCEST present a brand-new face to their art with a cinematic instrumental acoustic version of their hit single ‘Protection‘. Listen to the track with captivating alt-pop vibes now via this link: http://nblast.de/AlcestProtectionAcoPre
New Frontier is a song written as a final epos, the speech a commander gives his troops before the final battle. Releasing their new single, REACH lead their listeners into an era of explosive intimacy with songs wrapped in a veil of mystery and playfulness telling stories about love, death and emotion in severe conflict with each other.
Singer/guitarist Ludvig Turner, comments: ”I grew up watching Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Independence Day – kinds of movies. I absolutely loved them and I still do. I find these epic wars and powerful eve-of-battle speeches strangely inspiring. New Frontier was the last song recorded for The Promise of a Life and it made so much sense that it would be written as the final epos. Put Aragorn on a robotic horse shooting laser beams from his sword and that’s what I see before my eyes when I listen to this chorus! The verses are my speech to the soldiers before the final battle. This is one of the more challenging songs to perform off the album but we look forward to playing this live due to its epicness.”
The band members playfulness and mutual trust gives the trio freedom to offer explosive, intimate live shows with a lot of free improvisation. Before the pandemic breakout in 2020, Reach gave a sold out show at Fryshuset, Stockholm with rock bands H.E.A.T and Crashdïet followed by a performance at Trädgårn, Gothenburg. In 2021 they embark on an extensive European tour with H.E.A.T and supported by Temple Balls. Out on the road they’ll bring an explosive repertoire full of new songs.
The alternative rock band Reach was founded in 2012 and is a power trio consisting of Ludvig Turner, Marcus Johansson and Soufian Ma´Aoui. During their eight years as a band, they have released albums praised by critics and met audiences from stages around Europe. Reach is defined by strong melodies and original song-writing – they are keen to constantly be under development and chasing a sound that is exciting and unique.
ROB ZOMBIE has released his second single “The Eternal Struggles Of The Howling Man” off of The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy, to be released March 12th, 2021 via Nuclear Blast. Watch the new music video HERE.
The LP is ROB ZOMBIE’s seventh studio album and marks his first new album in nearly five years. The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy is a classic Zombie album to its core with high-energy rages like “The Eternal Struggles of the Howling Man” and “Get Loose” to heavy-groove thumpers like “Shadow Of The Cemetery Man” and “Shake Your Ass-Smoke Your Grass.” The new album is produced by ZEUSS.
Listen to “The Eternal Struggles of the Howling Man” and lead single “The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition)” HERE.
Pre-order The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy HERE.
CRITICAL PRAISE FOR LEAD SINGLE “THE TRIUMPH OF KING FREAK” “A ferocious blast.” – Rolling Stone “Magnet to the weird and wild.” – Revolver “Shock-rock mastermind.” – Alt Press “Industrialized thunder.” – Stereogum “Just the bit of monster movie-style fun we need right now.” – Consequence of Sound “So good it’ll make you forget every sh*tty thing about 2020” – Louder
As a rock icon and filmmaker with a unique vision, ROB ZOMBIE has continuously challenged audiences as he stretches the boundaries of both music and film. ROB ZOMBIE is a 7-time Grammy nominee, has sold fifteen million albums worldwide to date, and is the only artist to experience unprecedented success in both music and film as the writer/director of eight feature films with a worldwide gross totaling more than $150 million. His re-imagining of John Carpenter’s Halloween in 2007 debuted at #1 and still holds a Box Office record for Labor Day Weekend.
The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy Tracklist
1) Expanding the Head of Zed 2) The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition) 3) The Ballad of Sleazy Rider 4) Hovering Over the Dull Earth 5) Shadow of the Cemetery Man 6) A Brief Static Hum and Then the Radio Blared 7) 18th Century Cannibals, Excitable Morlocks and a One-Way Ticket On the Ghost Train 8) The Eternal Struggles of the Howling Man 9) The Much Talked of Metamorphosis 10) The Satanic Rites of Blacula 11) Shower of Stones 12) Shake Your Ass-Smoke Your Grass 13) Boom-Boom-Boom 14) What You Gonna Do with That Gun Mama 15) Get Loose 16) The Serenity of Witches 17) Crow Killer Blues
AMORPHIS have released their shaped vinyl single “Brother And Sister”, limited to 666 copies via Nuclear Blast. The band have also revealed a new lyric video for the song ‘Brother And Sister’ that you can watch here:
Keyboard player Santeri Kallio comments: “Two great songs from the “Queen of Time” sessions on vinyl which is great. The atmospheric ‘Brother and Sister’ and majestic prog-driven ‘As Mountains Crumble’ were also good candidates for the “Queen of Time” album’s final tracklist, but in the final run ended up as album bonus tracks to give a special edge to different releases. With this release it is great to see these songs get the attention they deserve.”
Tracklist: A-Side: ‘Brother And Sister’ B-Side: ‘As Mountains Crumble’
Recently, AMORPHIS started the pre-order for their special 30th anniversary vinyl box set, the “Vinyl Collection 2006 – 2020”, that will contain all their albums featuring Tomi Joutsenon vocals since their 2006 classic “Eclipse”. The box set will be released on May 21st 2021 via Nuclear Blast, and will also contain the exclusive double live album “Live At Helsinki Ice Hall”. The concert during which the album was recorded took place on December 7th 2019, and it was also AMORPHIS‘ last live performance in Finland before the Covid-19 pandemic. The live album contains 15 tracks in total with a playtime of around 1,5 hours. The live album will also be available digitally and on 2CD.
The box will contain the following albums:
“Eclipse” – 1LP (2006) “Silent Waters” – 2LP (2007) “Skyforger” – 2LP (2009) “Magic And Mayhem” – 2LP (2010) “The Beginning Of Times” – 2LP (2011) “Circle” – 2LP (2013) “Under The Red Cloud” – 2LP (2015) “Queen Of Time” – 2LP (2018) “Live At Helsinki Ice Hall” – 2LP (2021)
After an enforced production break in spring 2020 and a recent virus-related postponement of the release recently, the time has come: ACCEPT, the German masters of heavy metal are releasing their new, eagerly awaited 16th studio album today, on 29 January 2021 via Nuclear Blast. The masterpiece’s ingenious title is “Too Mean To Die”.
US vocalist Mark Tornillo, who put his incomparable stamp on the album explains: “After the cruel year 2020 for all of us worldwide, we are happy that we can present our new album to the fans. We are very excited about the reactions. And we’re looking forward to hopefully being on stage in front of you again soon and looking into your beaming faces as we rock out together with you. No question: The Best Is Yet To Come.”
True to the motto of the beguiling new album ballad ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’, Tornillo is at his best. The metal world knows that Mark can scream like no other, but here it’s impressively shown that the frontman can also sing magnificently. “Mark sang this song, which is rather unusual for us, stunningly well. The fantastic thing about Mark is that he not only masters the typical metal screams, but can also sing melodically and beautifully. He proves this in this song,” enthuses chief guitarist Hoffmann.
The recordings were made in Nashville (USA), produced by the British master producer Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH, among others), who once again (as always since 2010) provided the brilliant ACCEPT mix.
Philip Shouse (GENE SIMMONS BAND etc.) is a new member and can be heard for the first time on an ACCEPT album. The US guitarist fights hot duels with Hoffmann, whileUwe Lulis perfects the guitar trio and provides solid rhythm. “Phil was part of our orchestra project and was also completely convincing live. We recognised his great talent immediately and simply wouldn’t let him go,” explains Hoffmann.
The three pre-release singles ‘The Undertaker’, ‘Too Mean To Die’ and ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ showed how varied the ACCEPT guitar army is on the new album. The con-genial duo Hoffmann and Tornillo were responsible for the songwriting of the album and have reached a new peak of creativity with “Too Mean To Die”.
In addition, ACCEPT added the very strong Martin Motnik on bass, who according to Wolf Hoffmann, “immediately contributed some good song ideas of his own“. Together with Christopher Williams, the “powerhouse” on drums, Motnik provides the foundation for ACCEPT‘s unmistakable sound.
With “Too Mean To Die”ACCEPT are once again playing in the Champions League of the genre. Wolf Hoffmann & Co. are presenting the (music) world with eleven new masterpieces – eleven songs for eternity!
Wolf Hoffmann says: “We are too mean to die! Weeds do not die! ACCEPT won’t let it get us down!”
And unfortunately, ACCEPT had to prove this once more… After the virus-related release postponement, because we wanted to make sure that all fans received their orders on time – now Brexit has caused some further issues. Unfortunately, parts of the vinyl boxes and editions are stuck – unbelievable but true – since two weeks in customs. We’ve never experienced anything like this before!
ACCEPT and Nuclear Blast together decided not to postpone the album again as we don’t want to keep fans waiting any longer. All editions that are in stock will be delivered at release date, but we have to warn the fans that some vinyl colors and box sets will be a few days late. We must ask for a little patience again unfortunately.
In this sense: THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
Most of the limited vinyl formats of the album “Too Mean To Die” are already or nearly sold out incl. the recently announced white 2-LP vinyl edition done in cooperation with ACCEPT‘s partner Spotify.
LEVARA and Mascot Records are pleased to present the lead single ‘Automatic’ taken from the band’s upcoming self-titled debut album, coming out on May 14th. Watch the video below.
Guitarist Trev Lukather offers, “’Automatic’ is a statement. It is the song that started it all for us as LEVARA. This song set the standard for the album, and really solidified the sound that we would run with throughout the debut album. It elevated us into a whole new universe and we couldn’t be more grateful. It’s everything we are as a band – Anthemic, massive drums, epic fills, loud guitars, soaring solos, huge vocals, unreal high notes, strong melodies and a hook that you can’t get out of your head. This is our main single and this is the true beginning of what’s to come. Can’t wait.”
Singer Jules Galli reflects, “Automatic is about the magic in a moment. The way this song was born in the green room of a Foreigner show we were opening for, to getting a record deal, and finally releasing it to The World as LEVARA…So much has happened since the creation of this anthem. I mean, we were a different band before we wrote it! It’s incredible what a song can do. I hope it means as much to our fans as it does to us.”
Drummer Josh Devine shares, “Automatic was the definite pivotal point that changed everything for us as a band, it just had this extra ‘it factor’ that we had been searching for when finding our voice as a band, while still holding true to the sonic elements that created LEVARA. This is the beginning! We’re excited for everyone to start this journey with us! And, for those already listening, sharing, and being a part of this journey, we could not be more thankful than we are for your support. Over time, we plan on reaching every corner of the globe to perform these songs.”
Late 2020, LEVARA and Mascot Records presented “Chameleon,” That video, alongside the initial introduction with “Heaven Knows” and this video for “Automatic” were produced and directed by Jake Hays and Olivia DeLaurentis. Trev Lukather offers, “The video we made for ‘Chameleon’ shows how we all blend together. We all have our unique qualities and they are beautiful, we are beautiful. Truly showing we are one race, the human race. We had our close friends from all different backgrounds come by and sing a pass through the song. No direction other than sing along and be you. The song brought nothing but connection, happiness and love out of everyone that took the time to be a part of it. You can clearly see that in the video.
‘Levara’ tracklist: Heaven Knows Automatic Ever Enough On For The Night Allow Can’t Get Over Chameleon Ordinary Just A Man No One Above You
Trev Lukather, Jules Galli and Josh Devine are LEVARA. Collectively, their musical union brings life to the individual talents of three musicians that together have enriched the aural landscape for all of us. Their songs offer an escape, as all music does, with points of reflection that relate to any listener’s life. The collective hope is simple. To be the catalyst for each and every person who comes across the music to find revelations through the experience of hearing these songs.
Their union merged in Los Angeles, one The World’s epicenters of musical creativity. Singer Jules Galli emigrated from France, while drummer Josh Devine chose L.A. as home versus his native United Kingdom following success behind the kit with One Direction. There they found common vision with Trev Lukather (guitar), son of Toto’s Steve Lukather, one of SoCal’s most successful ensembles to ever emerge from the city. On some level these three players believe the universe brought them together.
Prior to recording their debut, the band toured the United States several times and supported Toto on an arena tour last Summer. While in Europe, they staged several headline appearances across Germany and other countries, floored by the response with fans coming out at every date. In Early 2020, they began their collaboration with Producer Ethan Kaufmann at Elephant In The Room Studios in East Hollywood. The album unequivocally captured the magic they sought to see take life.
“I believe LEVARA is a band that can spark an influence for young kids and people of all ages to pick up an instrument and feel that connection,” Trev concludes. “At the same time of singing along to anthemic, feel-good, and emotional tunes, you can incorporate the heart and soul that started music in the first place. We want to inspire our generation and the next to want to pick up a guitar, pick up a bass, pick up drum sticks, or go for those high notes vocally. I feel there is a need for epic ‘pop’ tunes to have that musicianship behind them like the classic bands we all love and admire. I believe we accomplished that with our album. If we can influence that in any way, we are winning.”
A confirmed itinerary of appearances planned for late-Spring continues to be impacted by the global pandemic. Details will be forthcoming.
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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
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