Metal Shock Finland’s 13 Best Rock And Metal Albums Of 2020

Posted by Stargazer on December 30, 2020
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With all its difficulties and surprises, 2020 has finally come to its end. A year that was cruel on almost all of us, but it was worse for the music industry, when all concerts and shows were forced to be cancelled and left the bands not able to celebrate their releases properly with their fans. However, metal musicians released tons of great albums that cheered up fans who listened and banged their heads in isolation! Here, we listed 13 of the best of them for you that we recommend listening to, if you haven’t done so already.

1- VADER – Solitude In Madness

2- WOLF – Feeding The Machine

3- TESTAMENT – Titans of Creation

4- AYREON – Transitus

5- SONS OF APOLLO – MMXX

6- ONSLAUGHT – Religious Suicide

7- THERION – Leviathan

8- REECE: Cacophony of Souls

9- RAIDER – Guardian Of The Fire

10- ANGELES – Hell on High Heels

11- INSIDIOUS DISEASE – After Death

12- JINJER – Alive in Melbourne

13- MYRKUR – Folkesange  

There were also a few interesting and surprising things that happened in 2020 that we would like to mention here aswell.

  • In 2020, a few artists were able to be among their fans but in unusual ways. Doro Pesch was one of them, who played her metal for her fans but this time in their cars. Not as great as the usual shows but still better than nothing!
  • Between all the bad news, 2020 had a great surprise for die hard fans of ICED EARTH who followed them from their very beginning. Surely the news of the reunion of Matt Barlow and Jon Schaffer in a new project brought smiles to their fans faces and of course our Chief Editor!

QUIET RIOT’s Kevin Dubrow Book ‘Keep on Rollin’-Randy Rhoads & Metal Health Years & Beyond

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 30, 2020
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Just recently The Metal Voice had a deep discussion on the life and times of controversial QUIET RIOT‘s singer Kevin Dubrow with Author and fan club president Missy Whitney, Photographer Mark Weiss and best friend/filmmaker Ron Sobol. Other topics US festival 1983, Randy Rhoads era.

Pre order the book here.

Watch the chat below.

Also watch
Matt Barlow (Ashes Of Ares, Ex Iced Earth) Interview-New E.P. & Shaffer/ Barlow Project – https://youtu.be/5AareRbJYbo

Coney Hatch Andy Curran Carl Dixon Interview- New Live Album & Rush Neil Peart & Steve Harris – https://youtu.be/eyxX5qO_E-k

Watch Third Trailer For Chris Holmes Documentary Film MEAN MAN: The Story of Chris Holmes

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 29, 2020
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Cleopatra Entertainment has secured the North American, UK, Australian, New Zealand and South African distribution rights to the documentary film MEAN MAN: The Story of Chris Holmes.

Watch the third documentary trailer below.

Written and Directed by French filmmakers Antoine de Montremy and Laurent Hart (whose Music production career includes televised interviews with SCORPIONS, DEEP PURPLE, SLAYER, GUNS N’ ROSES and more), MEAN MAN: The Story of Chris Holmes was a project that was born in 2014 after they had an opportunity to meet and direct Holmes in a music video for the Holmes-penned song “Let It Roar” in Cannes, France. At that time, the former W.A.S.P. guitarist had more or less disappeared from the music scene, leaving his home in the U.S. to seek a new beginning with his wife Sarah in France. Not content with merely directing a music video for the re-born Holmes, de Montremy pursued his bigger dream of writing and directing a documentary film about this iconic metal guitar legend and for the next several years shadowed him throughout Europe while filming everything from band rehearsals, to recording sessions to live performances.

By creatively combining archival footage, interviews with past and present band members and musical peers, family members and childhood friends – interspersed with beautifully filmed concert performances of Holmes’ current solo band – Director de Montremy skillfully portrays the story of an iconic guitar player who has lived a life of extreme highs and lows. After losing the publishing rights of his own songs and combatting dangerous addictions, the legendary W.A.S.P. guitarist is shown starting over from scratch while living at his mother-in-law’s in Cannes, France as he puts together with his wife a brand new band and a brand new musical role as not only the main guitarist, but now as the actual lead singer of this newly-born musical project aptly named MEAN MAN. 

Quotes de Montremy “Over the last five years, I’ve had the privilege to establish a true relationship with Chris Holmes and to follow him throughout Europe. I was impressed by his charisma, his approach towards life, his multiple experiences and taste for simplicity which have actually altered my own vision of existence. In fact, he has almost become a spiritual father to me, in the way that he inspired me in many of my own decisions. “ 

Cleopatra Entertainment’s plans for release include a stand-alone DVD Home Entertainment version and a Blu Ray version chock full of bonus goodies not available on the Digital VOD version which will follow the DVD and Blu Ray Release this November, just in time for the Holidays. A U.S. west coast Theatrical premier is being discussed as well, pending the revision and/or relaxation of the current local State Government’s restrictions on movie theaters operating during the Covid pandemic. 

DRAKKAR Sign With Punishment 18 Records, New Album Coming In 2021

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 29, 2020
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Legendary power metallers DRAKKAR have signed a record deal with Punishment 18 Records for the release of the band’s long-awaited new album in 2021! More details will be revealed soon.

A couple words from Dario:
“We are very happy to have found a new home at Punishment 18 for Drakkar. I’ve been very satisfied with their work on the last 2 Crimson Dawn records. I’ve known Corrado Breno for ages and he’s a real professional who is always truthful, and never afraid to speak his mind, which is something I value immensely. He and the rest of the P18 staff have been very supportive of our efforts, and also of the launch of our Patreon page, so it was only natural to ink this new deal with them”. More details – and MORE METAL – will follow soon!
Ps. Band portraits are from the great Alessandro Bragalini, as usual!

Born in 1995, Drakkar is one of the prime movers of the Italian Power Metal scene, together with bands like Rhapsody Of Fire, Labÿrinth and Domine.

More information at https://www.facebook.com/drakkarmetal

The END 1977 – 2020 The First Finnish Heavy Metal Godfathers – SARCOFAGUS – Call It A Day!

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 29, 2020
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SARCOFAGUS, The Godfathers of Finnish Heavy Metal, fronted by filmmaker and guitarist Kimmo Kuusniemi, declares the band has returned to the Valley Of The Kings.

Kimmo Kuusniemi: “Sarcofagus has been great balance of fun and pain. My albums have always had social commentary as many of my films have. I had come to the conclusions on the CORE VALUES re-release video long before the Covid19 pandemic arrived, that I am fed up with writing songs about social problems. Technology is progressing with ever increasing speed but us as humans we seem to be doomed to repeat our mistakes.

Since Covid started I have been working on a new audio visual project. This combines my need to create something new both in music and in film. There is already several songs finished with collaboration with great musicians from Siberia to Los Angeles.

This project will be released as album, videos and a world tour. Without going yet into too much detail this project is designed to work in the post Covid world. When we get over this virus I do not think the music business will ever be the same. So it is time to re-invent the wheel 😉

Ending Sarcofagus has been in my mind quite long time but this year it became very clear that there is no space for Sarcofagus in my mind anymore. Time for a reset.

Sarcofagus has been an interesting and complicated 43 year rollercoaster ride, but everything comes to an end. At the end of this press release there is the Sarcofagus story ‘in brief’. The same story with plenty photos, some never published before, are available online at http://www.sarcofagus.com .

On digital platforms (Spotify, iTunes…) you will also find the newest single release “Absence Of Light”, accompanied by a fresh remake of the song “Go To Hell”, featuring an almost original lineup of the band.

We started the band with Hannu Leiden, Juha Kiminki and Esa Kotilainen so like the title of the first album “Cycle Of Life” another Cycle of Life has come to a full circle with the “Absence Of Light” release.

The “Absence Of Light” was meant to be the next Sarcofagus album but in 2019 I decided to stop working on it. There already were few songs made for it.

Now the fantastic artwork for “Absence Of Light” by Toni Hietomaa are available as Sarcofagus T shirt and A3 Poster from the Sarcofagus website: http://www.sarcofagus.com.

These are made to order for awhile. So there is no stock and these are aimed for the fans and collectors to commemorate the 43 years of metal work.

The next project will be introduced soon so stay tuned.

Thank you for all the fans who have been supporting us through these years!”

Kimmo Kuusniemi

More information at
http://www.sarcofagus.com

SARCOFAGUS IN A NUTSHELL:

Sarcofagus is reputed to be one of the most influential & original Scandinavian Progressive Heavy Metal Bands (formed 1977). They have inspired numerous new metal bands.

-Officially the first Finnish Heavy Metal Band

-First Finnish Heavy Metal Band singing in Finnish

-First Scandinavian Heavy Metal Band to have a female vocalist (Muska Babitzin)

-First Scandinavian Band (first in the world?) to release a FULL ALBUM length story/broadcast quality video ever (Moottorilinnut/Motorbirds). This was before MTV, rental or sales videos and before people had VHS players

-1979-1982 Released 1 Single and 3 Albums (Single: Go to Hell/All those Lies 1979, Albums: Cycle of Life 1980, Envoy of Death 1980, Moottorilinnut 1982)

-Kimmo Kuusniemi was the 1st spoke person for Finnish Heavy Metal. He also started the Finnish Heavy Metal Association to bring together all the Finnish metal fans

-Kimmo Kuusniemi brought metal to radio, TV and papers where he was often used as the expert to explain the metal philosophy to reporters

-1996 the albums Cycle of Life and Envoy of Death re released as CDs in Italy by Mellotron

-2004 Kimmo Kuusniemi released a downloadable free web version of 1981 Moottorilinnut (Motorbirds) album with original alternative Sarcofagus cover

-2006 Cycle of Life re released in Finland

-2007 Envoy of Death and Moottorilinnut (Motorbirds) re released in Finland

-2007 the 4th Sarcofagus album “Core Values” came out after 25 years with most of the original band onboard; Kimmo Kuusniemi (guitars/drums), Esa Kotilainen (keyboards), Juha Kiminki (bass) and Tanja Katinka Karttunen (vocals)

-2008 limited edition CD release of an previously unpublished studio tape “Sarcofagus Live in Studio 1979″, and a limited edition DVD release of the 1982 full album length music video “Moottorilinnut”

-2008 Kimmo Kuusniemi produced a feature length HD TV documentary “Promised Land of Heavy Metal” that tells the story of the Finnish Metal Phenomenon (featuring also Sarcofagus) – Finland is the only country in the world where metal is now mainstream. The film is directed by Tanja Katinka Karttunen. It is in worldwide TV and DVD distribution (and also available as an iPhone App)

-2009 Sarcofagus Anthology 1979-1982 double CD by Rocket Records published in Finland, including the first Single and 3 Albums, artwork and booklet with lyrics, history of the band and a foreword by Kimmo Kuusniemi

-2010 First Finnish Metal Band to have an iPhone App

BILL CHAMPLIN (Formerly of Chicago) New Single “Reason To Believe” Drops January 1st; New Album Livin’ For Love Releases January 22nd

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 29, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Legendary Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist BILL CHAMPLIN has signed a record deal with Imagen Records. Bill’s first single, “Reason To Believe,” is due out on January 1, 2021. The single is off of his new record Livin’ For Love that will release on January 22, 2021.

“Hey everyone, this is Bill Champlin. I just wanted to letcha’ know that my new album Livin’ For Love has got a new home. Bob Winegard, at Imagen Records, loved the music and we’ve decided to work together on the Digital Release of the new album. We’re both hard at work coming up with ways for people to know that it’ll be available in the usual places: Spotify, I-tunes, etc etc. Bob has Steve Nathan working on opening up my visibility factor. I’m very happy that Bob’s team is “Taking the bull by the horns” and working on getting this record heard. Imagen has great world wide distribution in place and I’m sure it’s gonna’ be a good thing. My wife Tamara and I will be simultaneously releasing CD versions at billchamplin.com/shop. I know some of my friends really like CD’s with info about the songs in the booklet. I’m sure we’ll be putting a link out that you can use to get lyrics and credits if you just do a digital thing. Now, the music. Many of you have heard my stuff over the years and may think you know what this one sounds like. I think it’s the best album I’ve ever made and anyone who’s heard it agrees. Imagen Records will be releasing a single, right around New Year’s Day, so you can get an idea what “Livin’ for Love” is about. A lotta’ good songs and great playing. Anyway, I digress; I want to say how proud I am to be doing this with Bob Winegard and his whole team on Imagen Records. Onward and Upward. Be safe, Be good, Be Baaaaaaad.”

Bill Champlin started his career very early on in Marin County, CA. In 1965, his band “Sons Of Champlin” released a single on Verve Records and got a little AM radio play. The band then recorded a double album in 1968, Loosen Up Naturally, that got more than local notice but little “Top 40” airplay. Over the next 10 years the Sons released a total of 8 records on 3 different labels, but still not a lot of “Top 40” play. The band, and Bill in particular, got a lot of notice from industry people and, for sure, other musicians across the country. After the Loving Is Why album Bill left the Sons and moved to LA and started working on 2 solo albums, as well as various studio background vocal dates. His two solo albums Single and Runaway were produced by David Foster, who has proven to be a major league player/writer/arranger/producer over the years. One of the songs written for Single was covered by Earth, Wind. and Fire. The single “After the Love has Gone” became a big hit for EWF and Bill replaced the song on the Single album with something else after EWF cut it.

Two years later, Jay Graydon and Steve Lukather called Bill in to co-write “Turn Your Love Around,” which Bill did along with backgrounds on the song for George Benson. It was a big #1 hit for George. Bill, Foster and Graydon wrote “Friends in Love” for Dionne Warwick and Johnny Mathis, as well as “Smile Again” for Manhattan Transfer. Bill was also a co-writer for Lee Ritenour’s “Is It You” and was on backing vocals for it as well.

As a singer and ensemble arranger he was on numerous hits which included “Little Jeannie” by Elton John, as well as a lot of Donna Summer songs. Bill and Chicago cohort, Jason Scheff, did pretty much the whole chorus of “20 Years Ago” for Kenny Rogers. Bill has arranged and sung background vocals for numerous artists that we’ve all heard, as well as some TV and movie vocals. The TV show “In the Heat of the Night” had Bill on the theme and is still playing regularly in living rooms all over the world. Bill was also a member of the musical group “Chicago” and sang on numerous hits like: “Hard Habit to Break”, “I Don’t Want to Live Without your Love” and one of the band’s bigger radio hits, “Look Away”. He was with the band for 28 years but still made CD’s during that time, which were mostly released in Japan, Scandinavia, Europe etc. Through it All, He Started to Sing, Mayday and No Place Left to Fall were all well received CD’s.

Bill has just finished his first solo album in almost 10 years and is very excited about this music. The title of the album is Livin’ For Love. He’s inked a deal with Bob Winegard’s Imagen Records, who will be in charge of digital sales. Bill will also have CD’s available for mail order at www.billchamplin.com/shop. According to Bill and some of the awesome players on the album, they all think that this music is as good as it gets. If you think you know what this album sounds like based on past albums you’ve heard of Bill’s, you’re wrong. This thing is really raising the bar for any singer/player/producer/songwriter albums, even Bill’s past albums. Bill Champlin has a long career of great music and Livin’ For Love is the cherry on the cupcake.