On Friday January 22, 2021 at 19:00 CET two beautiful singers of IMPERIAL AGE and ELUVEITIE will come together online and answer the questions from their fans.
JANE ODINTSOVA is the leader, composer and singer of Imperial Age – the most internationally famous symphonic metal band from Russia and also a medical doctor by education.
FABIENNE ERNI is a well-known singer, the vocalist of Eluveitie and Illumishade – one of the most famous Swiss bands in the modern world of metal.
The ladies will meet online on the Imperial Age YouTube channel to discuss various topics which include:
Music & the music industry
Their backgrounds
Their personal plans for the rest of the year
The plans of their bands
And, of course, fans will be able to post questions and get answers in real time!
Canada’s The Metal Voicerecently spoke with Tesla’s Bassist Brain Wheat about his new book “Son of A Milkman‘ Which was released December 1 2020 via Post Hill Press.
Why did you feel you had to write a book? “I talk about this early in the book when I was in therapy in 1990. The doctor said one day you should consider writing a book, I think it would be helpful with you and your anxiety and stress and letting shit go. I said yeah sure I’m gonna write a book in 1990, no one gives a fuc*k? He said it was part of his therapy for me to just write it down so I can let it go. So I said yeah cool whatever but I didn’t write anything down just kept going through my life. But when I hit 50 (years old) eight years ago. I thought to myself I’m 50 years old, I’ve been doing this Tesla thing for about 25 years maybe it’s time to write a book about my life, maybe someone will be interested. Now when the book comes out I’m 58 Tesla has been a band for about 35 years so it’s time.”
Which part of your career are you most proud of? “I said in the book that I am more proud of the second half of Tesla’s career than the first half and I’m not talking about the records I’m talking about the band persevering. The second half our career has been us all on our own doing it ourselves and that is what I am really proud of. The first half we had the big giant machine we had Q Prime (Management), Geffen Records, we had MTV we had all these things that help make bands big. But in the second half of our career after we got back together it’s all up to us to carve out a niche for ourselves and we did and I am really proud of that.”
What was it like to be on tour and open for David Lee Roth? Is he the same person we see on TV? “He is always in David mode, to be quite honest with you I only spoke to him one time the whole tour. We walked in a room and it was all David mode, that whole it’s Dave TV thing, that was my take on him. Like I said I only got to spoke to him one time and he wanted to manage the band (Tesla). Talk about coming out of left field he said guys I really want to manage you. We are like whoa ok well we got this management Q prime you heard of them and that was it.”
Describe the relationship between Tesla and Def Leppard over the years “Def Leppard are kind of like our big brothers and mentors. We started out with them when we were just starting to develop. After David lee Roth (Eat Em and Smile Tour) we went on the Hysteria tour. They took us under their wing and even before that we kind of modeled ourselves after them. We used to play their songs when we did covers. And me and Joe (Elliot) just bonded one night in New York in rehearsals for the American tour over Paul McCartney, when he came into Frank’s (Hannons) room. We both had this love of Paul McCartney and Wings and we just connected with him and we have always been really good friends ever since then. Joe is the same guy now that he was then, never changed. We like playing with Def Leppard, the show is a good show, both bands together makes for a good show, it’s just a good match.”
You met Def Leppard before Tesla right, what was it like meeting them back then? “I met Rick Allen and Pete Willis when I was a kid as a fan, I met them on the High and Dry (tour) and I went back to their hotel and smoked weed with Pete Willis and Rick Allen and then four years later I am on tour with them, it’s like weird? Pete Willis was really short and he had these little elf boots on but he was really cool and then one of my friends that was with me said something that kind of pissed him off. And Rick Allen is the exact same Rick Allen from that night at that Holiday Inn after the High and Dry Tour to today.There is a strong bond between Tesla and Def Leppard, I think they look at us like we remind them of themselves when they were younger but they are not that much older than us.”
How did you develop a relationship with Jimmy Page and you’re not even a guitar player “Probably cause I’m not a guitar player and I met Jimmy backstage at Hammersmith Odeon London with my good friend Ross Halfin who is like Jimmy’s brother. When I met Jimmy, Ross said don’t fanboy out on him. Jimmy Page said to me that day, I really like Five man Acoustic Jam I think it’s great. I said excuse me? Five Man Acoustic Jam your Record. I said I didn’t even think you knew who I was? Page said of course I know who you are, you’re Brian in Tesla we are on the same label. He said I love you record, you’re the first band to do an all live acoustic album and just from that we just became friends and now we are really good buddies he is the one who got me into collecting vinyl records again.”
On a side note is Tesla working on a new Studio Album or doing any live streams since there are no live shows? “I don’t think so, I don’t know, Tesla is the kind of band that feeds off the crowd, it’s a live experience, when you say live it’s live. It’s hard for us to do that, that’s probably why we were not that good at doing videos. We got approached earlier for that and said no. If we don’t end up playing this year maybe we will do just one purely for the fans. Maybe more of a round table interactive thing. In regards to new material we have to be in a room together. My buddies in Def Leppard are making a record and the members are in different places all over the world and they send files to a central place in Ireland. Tesla can’t make a record like that, that’s not how we do things. And God bless them for being able to do it but we just can’t. We are very much in the old school kind of way.” I think the next record will go a different way a bit more organic instead of so produced (like the last one) and maybe we will try to do this one on our own.”
Brian Wheat is far from your typical rock star. As bassist for the multi-platinum band, Tesla, he’s enjoyed the spoils of success and lived the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle to the hilt. But it came at a cost, one that took years to repair. In this deeply honest and utterly revealing memoir, Wheat sheds light on the many challenges he faces, including bulimia, weight issues, and the crippling anxiety and depression caused by his conditions. Just like the songs his legendary band made, this is no-nonsense, bluecollar storytelling at its best. While revealing the vulnerable human behind the bass guitar, this autobiography also offers tremendous stories of life on the road, and collaborations and encounters with legendary figures like his pals in Def Leppard, David Lee Roth, Alice Cooper, and Paul McCartney. Son of a Milkman will entertain, surprise, and inspire.
With the release the of the single “Meldrøye”, taken from VESTINDIEN’s debut full-length album “Null” , Dark Essence Records have revealed another tantalising glimpse into what fans can expect to hear from a band whose initial brief foray into the music scene generated a considerable amount of interest thanks to their frenetic live shows, and enthusiastically received 2011 EP “We are the Lords of Hellfire”.
“Meldrøye”, about which VESTINDIEN say “Exploring and expanding one’s mind is crucial to help us understand that we are not placed above nature. We are nature”, can be streamed or downloaded from various services at https://darkessencerecords.fanlink.to/Vestindien_Meldroye
Despite having garnered a substantial following for themselves, VESTINDIEN called it a day seven years ago, and, for reasons known only to themselves, had remained silent. Until now, that is, with the band’s original lineup of Torjus Slettsnok on vocals, Simon Skøien on guitars, Karl Johan Johannessen on drums and Pål Eirik Veseth on bass, storming back, having replaced their classic 90’s hardcore sound, with its heavy metal twist, with one that embodies the essence of Black Metal, Punk and Old School rock’n’roll.
The result of this new direction is a more introverted and less aggressive approach to music, resulting in “Null”, an album which still subtly hints at VESTINDIEN’s hardcore roots, but whose songs are dark, desperate and desolate, with some hard-hitting punches of energy and groove.
Set for release on Dark Essence Records on the 12th February 2021, tracklisting for “Null” is as follows:
1. Mot Dag 2. Berenberg 3. Meldrøye 4. Null 5. Ormegard 6. Ned 7. Øst for Sol
“Null” will appear in CD, DIgital and Black/Gold Vinyl formats, and can be pre-ordered from the following:
Named after the last surviving brothel in Bergen (now a museum), more information about VESTINDIEN can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Vestindien/
WOLF KING are today premiering the second single, Wandering Soul, taken from their upcoming album, The Path of Wrath, via Invisible Oranges. Having announced their return in late 2020, the Bay Area quartet’s latest single solidifies WOLF KING’s stellar reputation as prime purveyors of blackened heavy metal. Accompanied with a dread inducing and horror-inspired black and white video from Chariot Of The Black Moth, Wandering Soul is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
The Path of Wrath is due for release via Prosthetic Records on March 5.
Of the new single, the band comment, “Wandering Soul is a tale of passing from this existence, and how our souls will forever wander among the living. We seek the light to take us to our final resting place, but we can never grasp it.”.
Recorded at both Prairie Sun Recordings and Rapture Recordings in California by Cody Fuentes, with mixing and mastering handled by Jack Shirley at The Atomic Garden, WOLF KING‘s blackened metal sound is captured at it’s most captivatingly unrestrained on The Path of Wrath. For an uncompromising, filth-drenched, smoke-infused take on the genre, The Path of Wrath delivers the goods and then some.
The Path of Wrath track list: 1. River of Light 2. Messenger of Death 3. Wandering Soul 4. Triumph of the Slain 5. Sanctuary 6. The Oath 7. The Path of Wrath 8. Incantation 9. Grief Portrait 10. Beholder 11. Holy Serpent 12. Eternal Hunger
Alt rockers SKINNY KNOWLEDGE have released their official video for ‘Keep Me Out Of It’.
“Bournemouth alt rockers new music video takes aim at the UK Government and calls for inspiration in challenging times!”
“We’d like to thank Rishi Sunak for inspiring this tongue in cheek music video with his words of ‘wisdom’ a couple of months ago. We live in one of the most creative countries in the world, let us never forget that. The Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Elton John, David Bowie, Rolling Stones, and more… You name it. We enjoy their music thanks to our beautifully artistic British culture!” – Skinny Knowledge (January 2021)
Skinny Knowledge’s new single ‘Keep Me Out Of It’ is an ear-worm you’ll be likely to be whistling to all day long. Simple, but punchy with a strong, motivational lyrical theme; it’s encouraging people to push through the cracks in the world, and not let anything (or anyone) bring you down. Coupled with the new music video taking aim at the UK Government’s “RETRAIN” campaign for the artist sector; within the fizz of ‘Keep Me Out Of It’ resides a potent call to action.
“Lyrically, the message is pretty simple and we’ve conveyed this in the new music video”, explains Andy L Smooth (vocals/guitar). “Don’t put up with other people’s hang ups! Don’t let it affect you, because life is WAY too short to be miserable. If something or someone is making your life a misery, find a way to lose that toxicity. Take this past year for example: we have so much more to worry about than petty, playground ‘he said this, she said that’ nonsense. Whenever I feel I’m being drawn away from a positive place, I have a favourite quote from Ricky Gervais which always resonates with me, and sums up ‘Keep Me Out Of It’ perfectly: “life is a lot easier to deal with if you can laugh at it”, concludes Smooth.
Out this March, Skinny Knowledge’s debut album ‘Don’t Turn Out The Lights’ is pure blood rock n’ roll tinged with punk influences. However, peel back the layers and what you’ll find at the centre is a big middle finger to a society that makes people feel like it’s not okay to not be okay. A society that creates a tormenting image of false pretence that kicks us when we’re down, rather than helping us back up. In a world full of tainted phone screens and technology, the songs presented on ‘Don’t Turn Out The Lights’ believe there’s a place inside of all of us that’s searching for some form of realism. This is honest rock n’ roll in every essence. Thundering drums, roaring guitars, and a voice with something to say.
‘Don’t Turn Out The Lights’ is released 5th March 2021.
SAXON proudly display their “Inspirations” with classic covers release. Pre-order Inspirations here
Legendary British Heavy Metal heroes Saxon loudly continue unveiling their Inspirations covers project with second single ‘Speed King’, Deep Purple’s classic tune from their 1970 album Deep Purple In Rock.
Said Biff Byford when explaining the importance of the song on Saxon’s early career ascendance.
“Without ‘Speed King’ there would be no ‘Motorcycle Man’. I love the attitude, energy and driving speed of this song, not to mention those screaming vocals! I’d never sung it before, and I had great fun with it!”
Watch/Listen to the recently released ‘Paint It Black’ here
‘Speed King’ is part of Saxon’s forthcoming 11-track Inspirations album, where in 2020 the band took residence at Brockfield Hall in York, UK, to record cover versions of various songs which deeply influenced the band, engaging in a proper old-school live and recording process which was a hallmark of many old-school rock ‘n’ roll records.
Inspirations was produced by Biff Byford with Jacky Lehmann engineering and will be released through Silver Lining Music on March 19th 2021.
Saxon’s Inspirations is available on Vinyl, CD, digital formats and limited edition D2C products; for pre-orders go to at this location.
Tracklisting
1. Paint It Black
2. Immigrant Song
3. Paperback Writer
4. Evil Woman
5. Stone Free
6. Bomber
7. Speed King
8. The Rocker
9. Hold The Line
10. Problem Child
11. See My Friends
Chief Shock Video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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