Belgian dark metal outfit EMPTINESS has shared an official music video for the new song “Le Mal est chez lui,” which is the second single from their upcoming full-length, ‘Vide,’ due February 12. The song and video can be found at THIS LOCATION.
EMPTINESS comments on the track, “Self-isolation, but Evil is at home.“
The new album is completely produced by vocalist/bass player Jérémie Bézier, who is trying to create something authentic and avoid all external energies. The tracking mostly happenened during the Belgian lockdown, in his apartment and rooftop 7th floor in Brussels. Pre-orders are now available HERE.
The cover artwork for ‘Vide’ was created by guitar player Olivier Lomer.
Track-list 1. Un corps à l’abandon (4:16) 2. Vide, incomplet (4:12) 3. Le mal est chez lui (3:42) 4. Le sévère (0:30) 5. Ce beau visage qui brûle (3:39) 6. Détruis‐moi à l’amour (4:34) 7. Plus jamais (6:21) 8. L’erreur (4:31) 9. On n’en finit pas (4:14) 10. L’ailleurs (7:33)
Recording Studio & Sound Engineers: Recorded with a portable recording setup, in an apartment, a cabin in the woods and a rooftop. Drums recorded in Blackout studio (BE).
Doom rockers VESSEL OF LIGHT have unveiled the latest video from the fourth album, Last Ride, in the Sabbath-esque “Torture King.”
The video was captured by Jason Stewart and includes footage from one of VESSEL OF LIGHT’s rare full-band rehearsals, when vocalist Nathan Opposition flew in from Cleveland to join the rest of the guys in New Jersey just before Halloween. Watch the video now, below.
“The opening riff to ‘Torture King’ was the first riff I wrote after we finished our last album,” says guitarist Dan Lorenzo. “Even though it’s not drop tuning it just sounded so heavy. Obviously, it’s very Sabbathy and I was curious if Nathan could come up with a cool melody line to it. When I first heard what he wrote to it I was blown away…I still am. I actually asked him if we should change the name of our new album from ‘Last Ride’ to ‘Torture King’ at one point.”
As the title may suggest, “Torture King” is in line with the lyrical theme that permeates Last Ride, exploring the darkest sides of humanity and indulging both Opposition and Lorenzo in their fascination with true crime.
“The riff in ‘Torture King’ is so heavy and dark that I wanted to make the lyrics evil and descriptive to get into the listeners head and convey a message equally as dark and sinister,” Opposition says. “For me it’s about creating a mood when I sing and when I write lyrics. The mood of ‘Torture King’ is sadistic terror through the eyes of a cold-blooded killer. The subject matter is a familiar story, from Jack the Ripper to Dennis Rader. Sick people in the world playing sick games, winning sick prizes. Just a pawn in someone else’s game of chess where human life holds no value and the ones who suffer are the innocent. There will always be real horror out there in the world no matter how much we try to hide it. There’s no escape from it, just a blind eye.”
The most refined of VESSEL OF LIGHT’s releases, Last Ride, released October 23 via Nomad Eel Records, is rife with depth, harmonies, the trademark riffs and guitar sound of guitarist Dan Lorenzo while also maintaining a familiar feel. Like the haunting first single and title track from Last Ride, “There’s No Escape” has a sinister lyrical theme, keeping in line with the darker subjects that permeate this record.
Founded in 2017 by Lorenzo, best known for his work with seminal New Jersey bands Hades and Non-Fiction, and Cleveland based Opposition, the duo released two albums, Vessel of Light and Woodshed, with Italian label Argonauta Records before introducing former Overkill drummer Ron Lipnicki and former Hades bassist Jimmy Schulman into the fold for the recording of a third album, Thy Serpent Rise. It wasn’t until VESSEL OF LIGHT’s first live show before a sold-out crowd at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom with Life of Agony that vocalist and the band’s new drummer and bassist finally met, merely hours before the quartet hit the stage.
The all-powerful HAMMER KING will set forth on a heroic journey in 2021 and have chosen their mighty allies for the trek – none other than Napalm Records! The band has signed a worldwide record deal with the premier rock and metal label and are set to release new music soon.
Ever since HAMMER KING burst onto the scene in 2015 with their first album, Kingdom Of The Hammer King, swiftly followed up with King Is Rising in 2016 and Poseidon Will Carry Us Home in 2018, they have proven themselves as an unstoppable force! Celebrating the truest of heavy metal in the tradition of IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST and PFALZGRAF LUITPOLD, the band keeps it heavy with speedy riffs, energic grooves and fist-pumping choruses, devoting their existence to the one and only myth of the godly HAMMER KING himself!
Hand-picked by thy majesty himself, the band consists of former ROSS THE BOSS vocalist Titan Fox and former SALTATIO MORTIS drummer Dolph A. Macallan, alongside Gladius Thundersword on bass and Kleveland’s most timeless lead guitarist: Gino Wilde. Now proudly joining the Napalm Records roster, this powerful heavy metal unit is even more of a serious force to be reckoned with in 2021.
HAMMER KINGon signing to Napalm Records: “It has been done! Ever since thy Majesty, the Hammer King, founded the band, it was our strongest desire to move onward and upward. Now, signing with Napalm Records, we are joyous, proud and confident to have taken at least one giant step upward. Napalm Records has always been our dream partner for Hammer King as they very obviously are doing an outstanding job promoting and pushing their classy roster of bands.
We are blessed to now be a part of that roster and we are equally sworn to work as hard and consistently as possible to deliver whatever it takes to fulfill Napalm’s expectations in us – as well as our own and those of the Hammer King. We kneel in gratitude – and we stand with the Kingly Hammer raised to take the world!
Right in time for Christmas, symphonic/melodic shooting stars BEYOND THE BLACK are gifting their fans with a really special treat: their new EP, W:O:A Acoustic Clash – The Lockdown Session, available digitally on December 18, 2020 via Napalm Records.
The W:O:A Acoustic Clash began as a bet between BEYOND THE BLACK and Thomas Jensen (Wacken Open Air): In the course of 48 hours, the quartet had to arrange and record acoustic cover versions of four different all-time rock and metal favorites, chosen by the Wacken community. Each song is now being presented by the band via both the Wacken and BEYOND THE BLACK YouTube channels every Advent Sunday as a world premiere via FULL METAL GAMING’s Twitch live stream and on BEYOND THE BLACK’S YouTube channel afterwards. The symphonic combo already covered SABATON’s “To Hell and Back”,VOLBEAT’s “A Warriors Call” and DISTURBED’s “Down With The Sickness“.
As the successor to their chart-breaking studio album Hørizøns (GER #3), Symphonic and Melodic firestarters BEYOND THE BLACK have conjured up a special gift for their fans: The W.O.A Acoustic Clash – The Lockdown Session, digitally available December 18 via Napalm Records.
In an undeniably hard year for festivals and the entire music industry, Wacken Open Air challenged BEYOND THE BLACK to cover four songs, chosen by their fans and presented on every Advent Sunday. All tracks now culminate in an extraordinary EP featuring four covers of undeniable rock and metal hits, presented in a stunning yet tranquil manner: SABATON’s “To Hell and Back”, DISTURBED’s “Down With The Sickness”, VOLBEAT’s “A Warrior’s Call” and last but not least, “The Trooper” by IRON MAIDEN are dipped in a new light. Jennifer Haben’s remarkable, bold voice weaves throughout every cover version and elevates them to genuine, unique stunners. The soft, acoustic cover versions of these all-time mainstays showcase the band’s musical talent whilst also emphasizing their soft and melodious side. Better be ready for another spark of their multifaceted universe!
Tracklisting: 1. Sabaton – To Hell and Back 2. Disturbed – Down With The Sickness 3. Volbeat – Warrior’s Call 4. Iron Maiden – The Trooper
2022 will get thrilling: BEYOND THE BLACK joins forces with modern melodic metal standouts AMARANTHE to kick off their joint co-headline tour, to spread the news of a new metal generation across the continent.
BEYOND THE BLACK live 2022: 09.01.22 | BE – Antwerp | Trix 11.01.22 | FR – Bordeaux | Rock School Barbey 12.01.22 | ES – Madrid | Sala BUT 13.01.22 | ES – Barcelona | Razzmatazz II 15.01.22 | FR – Lyon | Ninkasi Kao 16.01.22 | FR – Paris | Elysée Montmartre 24.01.22 | CH – Lausanne | Metropole 26.01.22 | IT – Milano | Live Club 28.01.22 | HU – Budapest | Barba Negra 29.01.22 | AT – Vienna | Arena 31.01.22 | PL – Warsaw | Progresja 04.02.22 | CZ – Zlín | MOR Café 06.02.22 | NL – Utrecht | Tivoli Ronda 08.02.22 | DK – Copenhagen | Amager Bio 10.02.22 | SE – Gothenburg | Pustervik 11.02.22 | SE – Stockholm | Klubben Fryshuset 12.02.22 | NO – Oslo | Sentrum Scene
Recently re-emerged technical death metal outfit ABIOTIC are back with their third full-length, Ikigai. Set for release on Friday, February 12th, 2021 via The Artisan Era.
While going on hiatus does not necessarily mean a group’s best days are behind them, often this rings true, yet Abiotic eagerly buck that trend with their finest effort yet on Ikigai. Ikigai is strongly recommended for fans of The Faceless, Gojira, The Black Dahlia Murder, Job For a Cowboy, and Rivers of Nihil. Abiotic states, “We also leaned on some classical and eastern style instrumentation, along with some progressive and jazzy elements.”
Ikigai also boasts numerous killer guest spots from musicians such as Trevor Strnad (The Black Dahlia Murder), Chaney Crabb (Entheos), Brandon Ellis (The Black Dahlia Murder), Scott Carstairs (Fallujah), Jared Smith (Archspire), and Jonathan Carpenter (ex-The Contortionist). Abiotic have dug deep and hit a new apex and the end result of their evolution is astounding on Ikigai.
The band partnered with No Clean Singing to premiere “Smoldered” featuring a guest spot from Entheos vocalist Chaney Crabb.
No Clean Singing comments “Smoldered” may be the song’s name, but it blazes. With the exception of a sudden and surprising instrumental interlude that’s musing and seductive, the band unleashes a full-throttle, adrenaline-fueled thrill-ride, one that’s packed with hairpin twists and turns. While the vocals are unrelentingly ferocious (and barked at a speed that manages to keep pace with all the instrumental extravagance), the band deliver an experience that’s not merely technically eye-popping but also emotionally gripping, mentally engaging, and vigorously bone-smashing.”
SOEN‘s new album ‘Imperial’ will be released on January 29th 2021, via Silver Lining Music. Available as a CD Digipak, Vinyl Album, digital formats and special D2C bundles. For pre-orders, go to this location
The provocative, imperious and engaging Swedish-based metal group SOEN unveil the captivating yet unnerving video for ‘Monarch’ today, taken from their fifth album, IMPERIAL, set for release via Silver Lining Music on January 29th 2021.
Founder members Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums), along with Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards and guitar), Oleksii “Zlatoyar” Kobel (bass) and Cody Ford (lead guitar) are an undeniable cypher for all the issues and emotions which swirl around us. With its epic, dynamic tale alluding to men raised in aggression and sent to war, ‘Monarch’ commences with a stomping crushing riff that is perfectly juxtaposed with moments of pure majestic melodic bliss.
Explains Lopez:
“‘Monarch’ is an epic, dynamic song about the traditional attributes of mankind. The belief that showing compassion and kindness is a sign of weakness.”
Furthers Ekelöf:
“because they are living in an age where bullies are kings and the rest are prey”
On the making of the video, Lopez comments:
“Making videos is a difficult task because it means that you need to hand over the control of your music to someone on the outside. You want to make a video that not only represents the lyrical content but that also captures the atmosphere and emotion of the song and for that you need to find a producer that has the capability of understanding and transforming all these words and notes into images and I think we found the right person in Daniele Berretta… It was a pleasure to work with him and we’re very happy with how the video turned out.”
Watch/Listen to the recently released ‘Antagonist’ here.
Produced by Iñaki Marconi and the band, IMPERIAL was mixed and mastered by Kane Churko, who has worked with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Bob Dylan, IMPERIAL is an album which will engage the listener immediately and sustain long after this crazy time has passed, its rich details destined to make it a classic metal album of this era.
SOEN are an undeniable cypher for all which swirls around us, something which will continue to set them apart from their peers for years to come, and IMPERIAL is the latest potent, unmissable commentary from their journey. Excited to bring the new material on the road, SOEN also announce the first leg of their IMPERIAL European Tour 2021, which will kick-off in the Spring in Oslo, Norway. More dates to be announced soon; tickets and additional information available at this location
Tour Dates:
6 April – John Dee, Oslo – Norway
7 April – Pustervik, Gothenburg – Sweden
8 April – Posten, Odense – Denmark
9 April – Hellraiser, Leipzig – Germany
10 April – Proxima, Warsaw – Poland
11 April – Fraanz, Berlin – Germany
13 April – Colos Saal, Aschaffenburg – Germany
14 April – Z7, Pratteln – Switzerland
15 April – Backstage Halle, Munich – Germany
16 April – Revolver Club, San Donà di Piave – Italy
17 April – Largo Venue, Rome – Italy
20 April – Magazzini Generali, Milan – Italy
21 April – Luxor, Cologne – Germany
22 April – o2 Academy Islington, London – United Kingdom
23 April – Melkweg, Amsterdam – The Netherlands
25 April – Logo, Hamburg – Germany
28 April – Klubben, Stockholm – Sweden
30 April – Olympia, Tampere – Finland
1 May – Tavastia, Helsinki – Finland
IMPERIAL Track Listing:
1. Lumerian
2. Deceiver
3. Monarch
4. Illusion
5. Antagonist
6. Modesty
7. Dissident
8. Fortune
All songs written by SOEN
Produced and recorded by Iñaki Marconi
Vocal editing by Ricardo Borges
Vocals on track 1 to 5 and drums recorded and produced by David Castillo
Mixed and mastered by Kane Churko
Cover design by Enrique Zabala
Art Design by Wriliya
Cover photo by Mark Laita
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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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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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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 