ELECTRIC BOYS To Release New Album ‘Ups!de Down’ In April

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 28, 2021
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Photo by: Sven Isaksson

ELECTRIC BOYS are much loved for their idiosyncratic combination of hard rock and other forms of music such as funk beginning with their first album “Funk-O-Metal Carpet Ride” in 1989. On April 30th 2021 the band will release worldwide their seventh album “Ups!de Down” which continues and advances this fusion of music styles to make something of their very, very own.

Recorded at Ghost Ward studios like their successful previous album “The Ghost Ward Diaries” and co-produced with David Castillo the album showcases the songwriting and performing talents of founder members Conny Bloom on guitar and vocals and Andy Christell on bass while also introducing  ‘Slim’ Martin Thomander on guitar. Jolle Atlagic plays all the drums on the album, as the band’s original drummer Niclas Sigevall – still very much part of the band – could not leave LA due to the pandemic.  

The album reflects the turbulent times of this year and spontaneously and organically formed into a concept album tackling adversity and fearmongering and championing the human fighting spirit and ability to transcend even the most difficult situations to find hope and victory over life’s circumstances. As such the album taps into the collective consciousness of 2020, being contemporary while also drawing on a wide variety of influences such as Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Bowie, 50’s Rock and Roll, late Beatles and even the Sisters of Mercy. Probably less funky than some of the band’s earlier material it is no less eclectic and provides a potent cocktail reflecting the history of rock and roll and the light and darkness of existence. 

“You can see the light at the end of the tunnel rather than simply the runaway train” in songs like “This Is Not The End”. When things are This big and seem out of control you can reverse it and gain control by letting it go.” (Conny Bloom). The freethinking and rebellious spirit of the band is alive and well in this latest album and the belief in the power of the message of music and its ability to change the world. 

People commonly mention to the band that Electric Boys songs have changed their lives, inspiring them to take up instruments and how much the band’s songs have meant to their fans. Known for his fine guitar work and languidly cool persona Conny Bloom is also recognized for his work with Hanoi Rocks and Ginger in the Wildhearts. Andy Christell also joined Hanoi Rocks with Conny and with his distinctive top knot is the epitome of steady, bellbottom-fluttering rock bass.

The band has a tour planned in Sweden and is hoping to widen and include more dates worldwide as circumstances permit. 

“Ups!de Down” will be released in digital, LP (four different formats) and CD formats by Mighty Music on 30th April 2021.

Tracklist:
01. Upside Down Theme
02. Super God
03. Tumblin’ Dominoes
04. Never Again Your Slave
05. She Never Turns Around
06. Globestrutter
07. The Dudes & The Dancers
08. Twang ’em & Kerrang ’em
09. It’s Not The End
10. Interstellafella

Finnish BYRON (Feat. Former Members of CHURCH OF VOID, HORNA And BATTLELORE) Reveal Album Details + New Single

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 28, 2021
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BYRON is a melodic heavy metal band from Finland founded 2019 as a one-man studio project, now standing as a full-grown band. Byron mixes its eclectic sound with influences from various genres, such as occult rock and doom, topping it with themes and imagery of the arcane and the occult.

Participants at “The Omega Evangelion” -sessions were:
Johanna Eteläkari, Christoffer Frylmark: Vocals
Jaakko Puusaari, Jyri Vahvanen: Guitars
Johannes Lahti: Bass, guitar, drums, piano
+ Magus Corvus: Guest vocals

Live line-up TBA

The band is excited to reveal today cover artwork, tracklist and the new killer single “Corn, Drought and the Lord”.
Byron V says: “The song “Corn, Drought and the Lord” is the second single taken from “The Omega Evangelion”, an occult rock song loosely based on the 1977 short story “Children of the Corn” by Stephen King – one of my favorite writers of all time. I’ve always wanted to do something musicwise as a tribute to mr. King, so this was a logical step to do as a part of this project.
The song started with a working title “Church of Void”, based on the legacy behind the name, having the bizarre reverend mr. Void and his congregation, the Church of Void, as it was originally made to the band but never made its way to decent rehearsal. But when the lyrics start to take their form, the song kind of started to give birth to itself and grew out of the original lyrical concept to how it eventually turned out to be.
It’s a great song with -to my ear atleast- a bit Ghost-ish chorus and once again, awesome guitar licks by mr. Puusaari, (as a fun fact to mention, recording the tracks on one stand, hearing the song first time on the same sessions. Phew.)”

Hear the new single here:

The Omega Evangelion TRACKLIST:
01_Intro
02_Through The Eye Of The Nightingale
03_Amalthea
04_Corn Drought And The Lord
05_Oktober
06_Oasis Of Tranquility
07_Night´s Watch
08_Over The Wall

THE OMEGA EVANGELION is scheduled for March 26, 2021 with many more details and preorder info to follow soon!

IMMORTAL GUARDIAN Unveil Music Video For Pandemic-Inspired Track “Clocks”; New Album Out February 12th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 28, 2021
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IMMORTAL GUARDIAN  has unveiled a music video for “Clocks”, the third single from their forthcoming concept album “Psychosomatic”. The clip, which features footage from the last time the extreme progressive/power metal quartet was together before the Covid pandemic broke out, can be viewed via its premiere on GearGods HERE.

“No matter how hard we try to control our futures, history constantly repeats itself,” guitarist/keyboardist Gabriel Guardian says of the new single. “’Clocks’ is a song about trying to break out of cycles that seem to inevitably repeat themselves.”

The video for “Clocks” features footage from the band’s early production work on “Psychosomatic”, as well as clips of their experiences at last year’s NAMM convention, which was the last time the band was together prior to the pandemic. Due to subsequent lockdowns – the subject of a song and video the band released last month – “Psychosomatic” ended up being a truly multi-national record, with Gabriel remaining in Las Vegas, vocalist Carlos Zema recording his vocals from his home in Brazil, new drummer Justin Piedimonte contributing from his hometown of Montreal, Canada, and new bassist Joshua Lopez remaining in IMMORTAL GUARDIAN‘s native Texas.

The song and video for “Clocks” also features a dizzying dual guitar/keyboard solo from Gabriel Guardian. His uncanny ability to play guitar and keyboard simultaneously has been showcased on MTV’s “Amazingness,” and his unique dual-instrument covers of classics by the likes of Iron Maiden, Pantera and Guns N’ Roses have garnered hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. The song also captures the soaring vocal performance of Zema and the power brought to the table by new members Piedimonte and Lopez.

IMMORTAL GUARDIAN began building their following through multiple self-released EPs before signing with M-Theory Audio for the 2018 release of their first full-length record, “Age of Revolution.” The band has performed live alongside some of the biggest names in metal, including Judas Priest, Dragonforce, Kamelot, Symphony X, Sonata Arctica, Slayer, Metal Church, Soilwork and Steve Vai, and in countries such as Brazil and Russia, and at high-profile events such as ESPN’s X Games, South By Southwest and the Fun Fun Fun Fest. The band supported the release of “Age of Revolution” by touring relentlessly alongside fellow shredders such as Marty Friedman, Powerglove and Exmortus, winning over new audiences nationwide.

IMMORTAL GUARDIAN gathered in Las Vegas at the beginning of 2020 to record their second album. As the spread of COVID-19 and the subsequent pandemic began to ensue, shutdowns around the world began being enforced, resulting in the band completely scrapping the record that they had been working on and writing and creating a new thematic record about their emotions surrounding current events. “Psychosomatic” is a product of the extraordinary turmoil of 2020 that affected millions of people around the world, and the next step in IMMORTAL GUARDIAN’s evolution while still capturing the band’s exhilarating trademark melding of melodic power metal with progressive/shred tendencies.

Digital pre-save, CD, and limited-edition purple vinyl pre-orders for “Psychosomatic”, which will be released by M-Theory Audio on February 12, 2021 are available now at http://smarturl.com/immortalguardian.

First Single – “Read Between The Lines” – YouTube (Lyric Video)
Second Single – “Lockdown” – YouTube (Music Video)

Track Listing:
1. Psychosomatic (5:33)
2. Read Between The Lines (6:01)
3. Lockdown (4:12)
4. Phobia (6:13)
5. Clocks (5:12)
6. Self-Isolation (0:39)
7. Goodbye To Farewells (5:50)
8. Candlelight (5:24)
9. Find A Reason (7:00)
10. New Day Rising (5:56)
Album Length: 52:06

Album cover art by Nathalia Suellen (Secret Sphere, Almah, Dark Moor).

QUEENSRYCHE Singer Todd LaTorre Goes In Depth About Songs on Solo Album ‘Rejoice In The Suffering’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 28, 2021
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Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon from Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke to QUEENSRYCHE Singer Todd LaTorre about the release of his first solo album ‘Rejoice In The Suffering’ that will be released on February 5 2021 via Rat Pak Records. Todd also gives a Queenrcyhe update in terms of new music.

When asked about the recording and writing process
“My friend Craig (Blackwell) and I wrote and recorded the album here in Florida between my studio and his in about a four month period. We wrote the music and recorded everything and then we gave the recordings to Zeuss  (producer Chris “Zeuss” Harris) who you know from doing all the work with Queensryche and other artists and he did the mixing and mastering and that was when Covid started and the lockdown happened. We flew home from two cancelled shows and I called him and said hey this is the time as we have talked about the solo record for several years now (on The Metal Voice). It was really simple to be honest and it was a great opportunity to get it done. There was no touring for the foreseeable future and I remember saying we are going to be down for a long time. So I thought I am never home for any real length of time so I told Craig this is the time, right now and every single day I woke up and we just worked on the music  and recorded  and we got it done.I just considered it (Covid Lockdowns) as an opportunity that I am never going to get again with this kind of isolated downtime to just focus on this.”

When asked about the different tones and types of vocals used on the album
“This is how I have been singing for so long on my own in various ways and people will say you’re a chameleon, you can mimic and sound like so many different people but at the same time others say but what does he sound like? You know what I sound like? I sound like all this stuff cause I sing whatever the song makes me feel like it wants. Well when Michael Wilton writes a song and it sounds like Queensryche I’m gonna phrase the vocals that way. But I do have other textures to my voice that people don’t get to hear because again I am never going to use that  in Queensrcyhe.”

When asked about the musical style of the album
“It’s heavy in a classic sense and in a thrash sense. The guitars are very biting and they are very present. Craig’s guitars needed to stand out but we didn’t want a bunch of layered guitars we wanted to keep it two rhythms and that’s it. The guitars are just simple classic metal right to the point. I just wanted to do music that I hear in my car that makes me want to headbag and groove to.”

When asked if Queensryche is working on new material for an upcoming studio album
“Yes, Michael (Wilton) flew down recently a week or two ago and Zeuss came down we recorded 14-15 new song ideas and Michael will be coming back in a month or so. So yes we are writing new Queensryche stuff and Zeuss is recording it in real time as we are in a room coming up with fresh ideas on the fly.”

When asked if Queensryche would consider doing a new live album
“We have tons of multi track recordings from two years of live shows and I told Eddie I think Michael has the hard drives why don’t we send hard drives to each of us and we can pick three songs. Each guy picks three songs and maybe we can assemble 15 songs for a live record. That is something we are talking about, we shall see.”

Todd teamed up with longtime friend and collaborator guitarist Craig Blackwell, alongside producer Chris “Zeuss” Harris, to create a diverse heavy metal album that draws influence from different styles. These styles will surprise fans who only know La Torre from his previous work with QUEENSRŸCHE or CRIMSON GLORY.

pre order here
“Rejoice In The Suffering” available on CD/Vinyl/Cassette at: https://smarturl.it/tltbundles​ – Also available on iTunes: https://smarturl.it/tltitunes​ and Amazon: https://smarturl.it/tltamazon

“Rejoice In The Suffering” track listing:

  1. Dogmata
  2. Pretenders
  3. Hellbound And Down
  4. Darkened Majesty
  5. Crossroads To Insanity
  6. Critical Cynic
  7. Rejoice In The Suffering
  8. Vexed
  9. Vanguards Of The Dawn Wall
  10. Apology

Bonus tracks (deluxe version only)

  1. Fractured
  2. Set It Off
  3. One By One

FROZEN SOUL Announce Wrecking Ball Metal Madness Live Stream Feat. Devourment & Creeping Death

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 27, 2021
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FROZEN SOUL live up to their name as the sound of death metal at its most cold and classic. Their new album “Crypt of Ice” is out now and can be ordered HERE.

The Dallas-based quintet has announced Wrecking Ball Metal Madness, a livestream event set for Thursday, January 28 at 8 pm CT/ 3 am CET. The stream will be available to re – watch afterwards. Click HERE to check it out.

It will feature live sets from Frozen Soul, Devourment, and Creeping Death. The performances take place in an abandoned industrial freezer — making it very “on brrr-and” for Frozen Soul.

Exclusive merch will also be available at Holy Mountain Printing

“We are so proud of what we have done with Wrecking Ball Metal Madness,” the band shares. ” This event is our DIY take on the old shows and the horror genre we all loved growing up. It focuses on fun and we really feel that we did our best to give the audience something funny — and sick. This will be an ongoing series that we hope to expand on and do more with bringing more bands in mix and continuing to give people enjoyment during such dark times. This event will have an exclusive store through Holy Mountain Printing, which will include limited merch from the bands, as well as physical VHS tapes specially made of the show.“

Papa Roach & Jeris Johnson Join Forces For “Last Resort (Reloaded)”, Celebrate 20th Anniversary Of Renowned Track

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 27, 2021
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PHOTO CREDIT : STEPHANIE MOSER

Today, genre blending one-to-watch Jeris Johnson and renowned rock sensation Papa Roach unveil “Last Resort (Reloaded).”  Celebrating the 20th anniversary of certified triple platinum hit “Last Resort,” Jeris Johnson & Papa Roach unite to breathe new life into an iconic track, which was named the most played video on TRL in 2000.  “Last Resort (Reloaded)” boasts an infectious bounce, potent guitars, and punchy vocals in true Jeris & Jacoby fashion.  With an effortless raw, nostalgic punk-rock vibe, listeners are sure to be transported to their own personal concert.

Stream and buy HERE.

The rework arrives with a visual that reimagines the original Papa Roach music video and encapsulates the whirlwind of a mosh pit.  Out tomorrow, January 28th, Jeris and Jacoby bring their palpable energy and dynamic sonics as they prove an undeniable ability to unite a crowd, whether that’s through the collective screens of ‘quarantine’ or the hopeful imagining of the days we’ll be able to jump around in a crowd once again.  The poignant visual gives a bit of relief to those feeling overwhelmed, allowing viewers to sing at the top of their lungs and jump off the restlessness and anger they may be feeling. The lyrics tackle hard-hitting topics, as Jeris continues Jacoby’s verse from 2000 and adds his own thoughts, feelings, and struggles as he navigates life.  

Jeris Johnson has garnered a devout cult following on TikTok for his genre-transforming reworks of popular songs.  As he picked up traction on the platform following the success of “damn!,” which reached #19 on the Shazam charts and was included on Spotify’s US Viral Chart, Jeris covered Papa Roach’s “Last Resort” and caught the eyes and ears of the critically acclaimed group themselves.  Proving the power of TikTok, Jacoby and Jeris became fast friends, forging a brotherhood that sees Jacoby knighting Jeris in his quest to break into uncharted territory and create a whole new sonic wave.

“It was amazing to hear that Jeris connected with the track the same way people all over the world have. That conversation of “Last Resort” and its impact on all types of people hasn’t stopped for 20 years, and we were stoked to “Reload” it for a new generation to keep that conversation going” – Jacoby Shaddix

“”Last Resort (Reloaded)” is a song surrounded by magic. The original “Last Resort” is one of the most impactful and loved songs from an entire generation of music (and my childhood). There is an energy to that song that has just made it a living breathing art form at this point. After I remixed it and threw it up on TikTok the last thing I expected was that I’d end up in the studio with Papa Roach a couple weeks later. The reaction and reception was so overwhelming that me (a random kid on TikTok) got the attention of a legacy band and the invitation to team up and remake “Last Resort” for an entirely new generation.  I don’t give a fuck what anyone says, that’s magic.” – Jeris Johnson