Following the release of the much-anticipated album ‘Cycle Of Suffering’ back in February, SYLOSIS staged a monumental live return at a sold out Islington Assembly Hall in London. After a string of cancelled Summer festival performances, Josh Middleton went straight back to work on new music intended for the next Sylosis record. With uncertainty surrounding the future of live music, Sylosis offer the first taste of these new recordings today with the release of a brand new standalone single! The new track, titled ‘Worship Decay’, was written and recorded during the first UK lockdown and is a thunderous amalgamation of thrash and melodic death metal, bearing the unmistakable Sylosis trademark.
Watch the new video for ‘Worship Decay’ here:
Sylosis founder Josh Middleton comments “With everything happening in our world right now, we wanted to keep things moving in Sylosis’ world. We started writing new music as we entered the first set of lockdowns and ‘Worship Decay’ quickly developed as a song we feel confident stands up by itself and showcases something different for Sylosis. We’re of course looking forward to playing music live again (hopefully soon!), but it feels great to be able to continue creating music and sharing it with our fans during this time of uncertainty and unrest.”
The legendary Dutch Death Doom Elite ASPHYX will be releasing their new, 10th full studio album “Necroceros” worldwide on January 22nd, 2021 via Century Media Records.
Therefore, ASPHYX are launching a second single for the album with the song “Knights Templar Stand” today, which can also be checked out in a lyric-video created by Maurice Swinkels / Younique Film (Legion Of the Damned, Exodus, Kataklysm, etc.) here:
ASPHYX frontman Martin van Drunen checked in about the song as follows: “A mainly very heavy uptempo track about the Knights Templar battling bravely in the Levant. Outnumbered by many, standing their ground until the very end. A typical ASPHYX song in our well-known neck-breaking metal style and fashion.”
A video for the upcoming album’s first single “Botox Implosion”, also directed by Maurice Swinkels / Younique Film, can still be seen here: https://youtu.be/9zw241m3JRQ
“Necroceros” was recorded at Tom Meier’s Tom Meier Studio as well as at Paul Baayens’ The Mörserstudio and then finally mixed/mastered by Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann at Greenman Studios. The album once again features front cover artwork by Axel Hermann and contains the following tracklisting:
In addition to several festival appearances coming up for 2021 and 2022, ASPHYX have most recently also announced a very special FREE live-stream release show event for “Necroceros” to be held on Saturday, January 23rd, 2021 at the “Metropool” venue in Hengelo, The Netherlands. Save the date and stay tuned for more details fir this special event to come soon.
ASPHYX – Live 2021/2022:
23.01.2021 Hengelo (The Netherlands) – Metropool (Free live-stream online release show!) * 06.03.2021 Zaragoza (Spain) – C. C. Valdefierro 03.04.2021 Oslo (Norway) – Inferno Metal Festival 24.04.2021 Amersfoort (The Netherlands) – Headbangers Bash * 07.05.2021 Plozévet (France) – Courts of Chaos Festival 22.05.2021 Vienna (Austria) – Vienna Metal Meeting 29.05.2021 Charkiv (Ukraine) – Metal East Festival * 12.06.2021 Hauptmannsgrün (Germany) – Chronical Moshers Open Air 29.07.2021 Tolmin (Slovenia) – MetalDays 30.07.2021 Vagos (Portugal) – Vagos Metal Fest * 12.08.2021 Jaromer (Czech Republic) – Brutal Assault 13.08.2021 Schlotheim (Germany) – Party.San Open Air 28.08.2021 Wörrstadt (Germany) – Neuborn Open Air 04.09.2021 Copenhagen (Denmark) – Kill-Town Deathfest 10.09.2021 Hüttikon (Switzerland) – Meh Suff Fest 16.10.2021 London (UK) – Sublime Terror Fest 20.11.2021 Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium) – Mass Deathruction 29.01.2022 Rostock (Germany) – Mau Club *
Virginia-based crossover maniacs ENFORCED open their Century Media account with their blistering new album, “Kill Grid”. Informed by an incredible cross-section of extremes—from thrash and punk to death metal and hardcore—the emergent outfit drop a nine-song cluster-bomb of thrashing death on apathetic times. Formed in Richmond in 2017 out of shreds of disbanded hardcore and punk bands, ENFORCED quickly found their calling between the undying support of regional punk/hardcore scenes and their respective record collections. Whether it’s Sacred Reich and Integrity or Bolt Thrower and Amebix, “Pure Crossover Death,” as ENFORCED call their devastating din, devastatingly speared its way through two demos (“Demo 2017” and “Retaliation”) and their no-holds-barred debut, “At the Walls”.
“Kill Grid” came together over a two-year period while ENFORCED were marauding halls and dive bars across the East Coast and Canada. Indeed, inspiration came from different directions, but playing live with bands like Sacred Reich, Red Death, Iron Reagan, All Out War, and Integrity shaped what was to come out of the Richmonders. While it was the previous output that attracted the attention of Century Media, it’s “Kill Grid”, featuring a striking Joe Petagno (Motörhead, Vitriol) cover, that’s going to put ENFORCED on top-lists of circle pit lunatics around the globe. To track their sophomore full-length, ENFORCED enlisted long-time friend and studio maven Bob Quirk (Memory Loss, Misled Youth) to engineer, as well as Philadelphia-based studio whiz Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Cavalera Conspiracy) to mix and master.
Stay tuned for a first track from “Kill Grid” that will be unleashed soon!
Norwegian Melodic Metal band NERGARD releases the first pre-listening of their new concept album “Eternal White”, an album that deals with the tragic story of the Carolean Death March in 1718.
The man behind Nergard; Andreas Nergård, shares his thoughts about the pre-listening clip. “This song really defines the new sound of Nergard. We’re aiming for a heavier direction than on the previous releases. I really wanted to go full scale Symphonic Power Metal this time. The song is entitled “”Where no one would shed a tear”” and was written by me and my buddy Andi Kravljaca. It’s a song that tries to capture the horror and chaos of a battle, both musically and lyrically. I think we ended up with quite a hysterical but beautiful Power Metal song.”
Nergard has since the previous album evolved into a steady line-up after being a project that was relying on guest performances. “I came to a crossroad earlier this fall and realised I needed to re-think the whole Nergard-thing. All-star guest projects are popping up in increasing numbers these days and I must admit that I grew a bit tired of that. Don’t get me wrong. I got to work with many of my biggest heroes from the rock/metal scene for which I am forever grateful but I felt the need for a change and to do something different.” The last piece of the puzzle was found just a month ago. By recruiting the British singer Stefani Keogh the line-up was completed. “Stefani has an amazing voice that I’m incredibly happy to have found.” Andreas says. “Her voice represents diversity and fits perfectly into the ever-changing atmospheres of my music.”
Nergard’s upcoming album “Eternal White” will see its release in 2021 and is being mixed at this very moment. To fund the last bits of the production the band has launched a crowdfunding campaign where the new album can be pre-ordered.
Line-up: Stefani Keogh – Lead vocals Mathias Molund Indergård – Lead vocals Andi Kravljaca – Lead vocals, lead guitars and lead keyboards Ørjan Halsan – Rhythm guitars Andreas Nergård – Drums, keyboards and orchestral programming
Special guest: Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Yngwie Malmsteen)
February 26, 2021 will see Portuguese dark metal titans MOONSPELL release their hotly anticipated 13th studio album, entitled Hermitage, via Napalm Records.
MOONSPELL is not only approaching their 30th band anniversary more ambitiously and stronger than ever, but with their forthcoming record, they created a wonderfully intuitive, yet epic masterpiece and a testament to what they’ve always loved the most: Honest, emotional metal that binds us even in these dark times.
Hermitage was recorded, mixed and mastered this past summer by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Primordial, Ghost, Sólstafir & many more) at the Orgone Studios in the UK. Building upon the sensitive facets of the album, one can expect an entertaining and revolutionary journey through the darkest days of human existence. Beautifully crafted songs such as “The Greater Good“ show us the modernity of the wolves in 2021, while tracks alike “Common Prayers“ embrace the MOONSPELL tradition of writing a gothic metal song like no other band can. The ethereal and melodic sounds of MOONSPELL, while never straying away from their metal roots, make Hermitage most likely one of the deepest, surprising and most epic albums MOONSPELL has ever written.
Following upon their just recently unleashed album opening track, “The Greater Good“, today MOONSPELL is sharing their second single and a brand new video for “Common Prayers“!
Directed by Guilherme Henriques and featuring actress, singer and performer Aurora Pinho, this clip was shot 90 meters below the surface at the amazing caves of Grutas de Mira d’Aire, one of Portugal’s seven natural wonders. With a classy gothic and catchy feel, MOONSPELL flexes their best songwriting skills. The lyrical content is “perverse, almost religious” and deals with the 18th century pregnancy surge amidst Portuguese nuns. Twenty century demolitions and excavations unearthed the bones of hundreds of children, revealing the sad faith of Jesus’ sons and daughters.
Vocalist Fernando Ribeiro states: “Political? Religious? Who the fuck cares, really? Music is, for Moonspell, about self-expression, and we are old enough to pick our battles. ‘Common Prayers’ is the kind of song we love to write, sensual, different, with a to-die-for chorus. Hermitage is coming your way, you can run, but you cannot hide. Staying safe is staying smart. Say a prayer!”
With “Common Prayers”MOONSPELL successfully builds upon their previous dark works. Watch their brand new music video right here:
“Hermitage is about turning our backs to the conventions of modernity. We are currently convincing ourselves that it’s all about us, that we (humanity) are everything. That the world revolves around us.“ Ribeiro continues. “However, ipsi facto, we are nothing and nothing revolves around us. Moonspell’s goal, on these last turns around the Sun, are to write the best music we possibly can. To tell you a few stories with our lyrics, to be close to you in these times of distancing. We wish not to tease you or to influence you or to sell you our fish. We want to sit down with you at your table and feast together upon our notes and words. Like if we were close friends, like back in the time where music matters the most. In your bedroom listening to music, without having to post our smart remarks about it, inviting the hate in. Hermitage is an open-hearted invitation to simplicity. To be humble. To be thankful. To serve you solace. Provide you comfort, entertainment. We sincerely hope this call reaches you. That you kindly accept what we offer. That you take our music with you to the place you must feel as yours. To your secret place, to your hermitage. Blessed be.”
Hermitage will be out on February 26, 2021 via Napalm Records, and will be available in several highly limited and collectible Deluxe Editions, Mediabook, Cassette, all of them including the Candlemass Cover “Darkness in Paradise”, but also as Jewelcase and Digital formats. The Deluxe Box will also include an etched 7’’ Vinyl with another special bonus track, “The Great Leap Forward”, as well as much more exciting additional collectable items! The album pre-sale is available at THIS LOCATION
Album Tracklist: 01. The Greater Good 02. Common Prayers 03. All or Nothing 04. Hermitage 05. Entitlement 06. Solitarian 07. The Hermit Saints 08. Apophthegmata 09. Without Rule 10. City Quitter (Outro)
Bonus Tracks:
Darkness in Paradise (Candlemass Cover – available on LP, Deluxe Box, MC + Mediabook)
The Great Leap Forward (7″ Vinyl – available in Deluxe Box)
Garnering press-raves including: “VENOM PRISON have captured the hearts and minds of many fans of extreme music since bursting onto the scene in 2015.” (Metal Hammer UK), “Nothing shy of absolutely destructive in the best way.” (Revolver). And placing #4 on Kerrang!’s list of “The 50 Greatest Death Metal Bands Right Now”, UK extremists VENOM PRISON are taking their next step with their new label home, Century Media.
Commenting on the signing, VENOM PRISON, who are busily writing their third full-length LP say: “We are proud to announce that VENOM PRISON has signed with Century Media Records for a worldwide deal. This deal marks the beginning of a new chapter for VENOM PRISON and we are honoured to call Century Media our home, which we look forward sharing with some of the most iconic artists in heavy metal, as well many of our talented friends.”
VENOM PRISON has carved an uncompromising space for themselves over the course of two full-length albums, “Animus” (2016) and “Samsara” (2019) with 2020’s “Primeval” reinvigorating the band’s earlier EP’s with new recordings and offering a preview of the shape of brutality to come with two newly written tracks. What began as an explosive collaboration between Russian-born vocalist Larissa Stupar and guitarist Ash Gray (with the lineup rounded out by guitarist Ben Thomas, bassist Mike Jefferies and drummer Joe Bills) has exploded into a force to be reckoned with as vitriolic and outspoken lyrically as they are musically.
“VENOM PRISON is an important band in every sense of the word,” says Century Media A&R Mike Gitter. “They are a wakeup call with songs that are not just musically brutal, but dig into issues that challenge our day-to-day existence. Gender issues. Cultural and political oppression. They’re relevant in ways that so many bands fall short of. VENOM PRISON is the band we need now more than ever.”
Philipp Schulte, Director Century Media Records, comments: “With VENOM PRISON one of the finest British bands of recent years joins the ranks of Century Media Records. VENOM PRISON’s vision marks an overdue turning point in the sort of musical and lyrical complacency that has long plagued the worldwide metal scene. This is not your older brother’s feel-good metal. This is extreme music with a compelling message, and it perfectly fits to what Century Media as a label will always stand for: Establishing bands and artists who are willing to make a difference and take a stand. VENOM PRISON is a trailblazing band for what metal can and will be in the upcoming decade. Welcome to Century Media Records!”
It’s not surprising that VENOM PRISON’s wage of intensities has reverberated with a wide array of fans and fellow musicians. They’ve toured with the likes of Trivium, made a scorched earth North American debut on the Summer Slaughter tour and were hand-picked by Parkway Drive to open their Covid-cancelled 2020 European tour. For the five band members, this is only the beginning. “We have been writing new material relentlessly for the last 12 months,” says VENOM PRISON. “We’re pleased to finally be back in the studio.”
VENOM PRISON have pushed back their headlining tour with support coming from Creeping Death and Leeched to October 2021
VENOM PRISON EU/UK TOUR 2021 Special Guests: Creeping Death, Leeched
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
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 