CELEB CAR CRASH have released “Pretend We Are Fine”, a new single mixed by Riccardo “Paso” Pasini at Studio73 and mastered at La Maestà Studio by Giovanni Versari (Muse, Afterhours …)
“A Song every 3 Weeks. We are proud and feel lucky to be able to continue producing music in such a delicate historical moment. Our mission is precisely to be able to create a fixed appointment with those who follow us and give dignity to every single release and to every single song that will make up the album, it is definitely an ambitious project for the moment we are living in, the pandemic it is taking everything away from us, but art must find a way to survive, this includes those who make music, those who write about music and those who live rock as a profession or simply as a lifestyle ”.
PRETEND WE ARE FINE: “Abandoning ourselves by pretending that everything is going well, when someone is compulsively torn by questions, the only thing a person wants is to find a place to rest his mind waiting for a day that maybe will never come and of something that is perhaps not real”.
This is the second single and video released by the band which will be included in the album “The World Is Busy, Try Again Later” to be released by Zeta Factory on April 16, 2021.
The Visualizer like all Celeb Car Crash visual production is curated by Erika Errante.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Polish death metal legends VADER‘s “Morbid Reich” release Witching Hour Prod presents the reissues of the iconic Vader demos, coming out January 29th:
“Live in Decay”
“Necrolust”
“Morbid Reich” !
The history of DEATH METAL on limited analog editions. All releases in limited editions comes with posters. Also special edition triple 12″ lp and cassete box will be released. All vinyls are 45rpm audiophile pressing.
Iconic guitarist STEVE HACKETT, releases his new acoustic album Under A Mediterranean Sky on 22nd January 2021 as a Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP + CD + LP-booklet and Digital Album via InsideOut Music. Under A Mediterranean Sky is Steve Hackett’s first acoustic solo album since Tribute in 2008 and takes inspiration from Steve’s extensive travels around the Mediterranean with his wife Jo.
Today he has launched the first single from the album, titled ‘Andalusian Heart’, and you can watch the video here:
Steve comments: “The beauty of Andalusia with its Moorish and Gypsy magic and the strains of distant guitars echoing through its ornate archways has to be experienced at least once in a lifetime. So many of the things that have inspired me about Spain are embodied in this romantic track, featuring Roger King’s orchestral arrangement, Franck Avril on oboe, Christine Townsend on violin and viola, and myself on classical guitar.”
Working closely with long-time musical partner Roger King, Hackett has used his time during 2020’s lockdown to take us on an extraordinary musical journey around the Mediterranean, painting vivid images of stunning landscapes and celebrating the diverse cultures of the region. Famed for his rock roots with Genesis, and through his extensive solo catalogue, Hackett demonstrates the exquisite beauty of the nylon guitar at times venturing into the exotic ethnic and often supported by dazzling orchestral arrangements.
“A lot of acoustic ideas had been forming over the years, and it felt like the perfect time to create this album,” notes Hackett, “a time to contemplate the places we’ve visited around the Mediterranean with the kind of music which evolved from the world of imagination.
“Because we can’t really travel, substantially at the moment, I hope that the album will take people on that journey. Whether you sit down and listen to it or drift off to it with a glass of wine…”
Track Listing:
Mdina (The Walled City) (Steve Hackett / Roger King) Adriatic Blue (Steve Hackett) Sirocco (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King) Joie de Vivre (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett) The Memory of Myth (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King Scarlatti Sonata (Domenico Scarlatti) Casa del Fauno (Steve Hackett / Roger King) The Dervish and the Djin (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King) Lorato (Steve Hackett) Andalusian Heart (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King) The Call of the Sea (Steve Hackett)
Our journey around the Med begins on the island of Malta, in Mdina – The Walled City. It’s imposing strength is portrayed by Roger King’s dramatic orchestration while Hackett’s guitar weaves through the atmospheric streets describing the creativity, love and strength that held Malta together between all the waves of conflict.
With Hackett’s delicate guitar work, Adriatic Blue paints an enchanting view of stunning scenery as tall cliffs of forested mountains plunge into the deep blue sea along the Croatian coastline. Sirocco is altogether more atmospheric, inspired by the winds playing through the imposing structures of Egypt.
The lively Joie de Vivre expresses the unique sense of joy the French have through their wine, food and folk music, with paintings reflecting family gatherings, spectacular vistas and the vibrant colours of their cities. The art of dreaming is embodied in their sensual love of life.
“At first hand, I’ve marvelled at the mystical whirling Dervishes,” says Hackett. Along with otherworldly beings such as the Djin (Genie) they sprang from Persia’s dreaming past. The Dervish And The Djin captures the extraordinary atmosphere of this most exotic of civilisations with the help of Hackett’s touring band regular – Rob Townsend’s soprano sax, the tar of Malik Mansurov (from Azerbaijan) and Armenian Arsen Petrosyan’s duduk. “Of course, those countries are virtually at war with each other,” Hackett adds, “and there has been something like a thousand casualties (at the time of writing) on both sides. Again, it’s a case of music being able to do things that politicians fail to do – something constructive.”
The Memory of Myth embodies the deep and rich history of Greece and features the violin of Christine Townsend (no relation) while Lorato – ‘love’ in the language of the African Tswana tribe – is a pretty folk tune. Love is the force that heals and links all disparate peoples of the Mediterranean.
Hackett and his wife Jo were enchanted by the little Faun statue in the House of the Faun, Pompeii. “The villas there seemed to come back to life as we walked through those wonderful atriums and gardens,” inspiring Casa del Fauno and featuring the light and airy flute of Hackett’s brother John and Rob Townsend on flute.
The only non-original piece is Domenico Scarlatti’s Sonata. This embodies the Baroque music of Italy, a sensitive interpretation embellished with cross-string trills, a technique introduced to Hackett by the fine classical guitarist, the late Theo Cheng.
Hackett also expresses his admiration for the flamenco guitarists of Andalucía who are celebrated on Andalusian Heart. “One of the flamenco guitarists was showing me the extraordinary things they are able to do,” Hackett explains. “Seeing the gypsies playing and dancing in caves there, you get the feeling that these people are dancing for their lives.”
Our journey comes to an end with The Call Of The Sea, a gentle and peaceful reflection of the vast body of water that unites the many civilisations both ancient and modern.
Under A Mediterranean Sky features Steve Hackett playing nylon, steel string and twelve string guitars, charango and Iraqi oud. Keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements are by Roger King. Featured musicians are John Hackett and Rob Townsend, flute (Casa del Fauno); Malik Mansurov, tar and Arsen Petrosyan, duduk & Rob Townsend, Sax (The Dervish And The Djin); Christine Townsend, violin (The Memory of Myth and The Call Of The Sea). All tracks were produced by Steve Hackett and Roger King with all tracks recorded and mixed by Roger King at Siren.
“I had a great time doing this album, seeing it take shape, and I’m very pleased with the outcome. I’m very proud of it,” says Hackett. “The nylon guitar has a very individual sound but, within the compass of what the nylon-strung guitar can do, there are a lot of different tones. You can do the full-on attack, the kind of salvo that you expect from the flamenco players but, at the same time, it can also be very gentle, gentle as a harp. It’s shades of black and white. It’s also exciting to play alongside instruments from around the world, as well as a wide range of orchestral sounds.”
Irish thrashers, GAMA BOMB, have today released Miami Supercops – the third single to be taken from their upcoming studio album, Sea Savage. Miami Supercops is streaming everywhere now, and has an accompanying video premiering at New Noise Magazine. Sea Savage will set off on it’s maiden voyage and be released via Prosthetic Records on December 4; pre-orders are available now.
Of the track, vocalist, Philly Byrne comments: “Miami Supercops is our love letter to all classic cop movies, listing all the cliches and tropes you’d expect in the genre. It’s inspired by the 1985 Italian comedy-cop movie of the same name. Over the last year, and God knows why, Domo has become obsessed with this film and wrote lyrics that sum up the plot with eerie accuracy. The music is kinda classic Gama Bomb speedy-thrash and has some of the coolest riffs of the new album. There’s a line in this that says, ‘Have your friends over, but don’t take off your gun belt’ and I think it’s the most accurate observation ever made about cop movies.”
Clocking in just shy of three and a half minutes, GAMA BOMB’s Miami Supercops is a high octane ode to classic cop films, evoking classic metal acts à la Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Overkill at their very best. Sea Savage presents itself in the form of a 19th Century play, with Act One and Act Two playing out on side A and side B of the record respectively. The pelagic tale follows the crew of the steamer ‘S.S. Gama Bomb’ as they voyage in search of a real-life Yeti, only to go slowly mad on the high seas. In true GAMA BOMB fashion, the album also features songs about 80s and 90s movies – because, why the hell not?
Sea Savage track list
1. Judo Killer 2. Sea Savage 3. Miami Supercops 4. She’s Not My Mother, Todd 5. Ironblood 6. Lords Of The Hellfire Club 7. Sheer Khan 8. Rusty Jaw 9. Monsterizer 10. Ready, Steady, Goat! 11. Electric Pentacle 12. Gone Haywire
Metal mainstays, recording artists BUTCHER BABIES have released the music video for their new single, “Bottom Of A Bottle”.
The new music video premiered exclusively with Alternative Press who said, “It’s a powerful and ultimately very personal ode to pain and past relationships that speaks of drinking to forget and hoping the hangover keeps the memories at bay a little while longer.”
The video features footage collected over the past decade. The visuals include footage that fans will vibe on including BB on tour, recording, partying, and enjoying life in a band. The song and video “Bottom Of A Bottle” marks the next step for this seasoned band. The sound is a departure from the band’s extreme metal sound but yet borrows elements from that signature and builds on it creating a new breath of fresh air for fans. Heidi Shepherd tells Alternative Press, “The way I see it, there’s nothing like sitting with your best friend and spewing your wildest hopes and dreams over some drinks. Heck, that’s how Carla and I decided to go all-in on this roller coaster. There are those moments where you just need someone to talk to, whether it’s your best friend, your family, or that guy at the end of the bar. During the writing process, I was feeling particularly lonely. In a way, stuck. I think we all were. We were having a hard time feeling motivated or inspired. So we sat down, poured a drink, and watched the sun go down. In that exact moment, with my best friends, that’s all I needed, the inspiration was right with me. I started pouring my emotions onto paper and voilà! A song was born.”
Co-frontwoman Carla Harvey continues, “Pain and hurt are inevitable in life, and sometimes it’s you who hurts you, and that’s the absolute worst and calls for the most extreme reaction, in this case guzzling some whiskey. . When it comes to “Bottom Of A Bottle,” I think the pain stemmed more from a time when all of us in the band were feeling like we didn’t know what was next for Butcher Babies. It felt like our career was in a weird limbo, and that it could all implode at any moment. I think we’re over that melancholy hump… But hey, we’ll still drink about it!”
Prior to the video release, Butcher Babies celebrated 10 years as a band by releasing their own signature wine called “Butcher Burgundy”. The new wine will be available for purchase on the Butcher Babies website.
The new single marks the first release from Butcher Babies forthcoming EP, which is set for release in mid-2021.
Ukraine’s progressive groove metal frontrunners JINJER have finally released their very first official live album, Alive In Melbourne, today via Napalm Records. The album shows JINJER at what they do best: smashing crowds to bits like very few bands can. Recorded on March 5th 2020 on the Australian leg of their highly successful Macro World Tour, the show was one of the last performances for JINJER, as well as the rest if the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Alive In Melbourne features 17 of JINJER‘s heaviest hitting tracks including I Speak Astronomy, Noah, Pit of Consciousness, Words of Wisdom and their breakthrough single Pisces.
As an added bonus and a surprise to their fans, not only can you listen to Alive In Melbourne in its entirety on all streaming platforms but together with Napalm Records, JINJER have also premiered the complete Alive In Melbourne concert video on Youtube FOR FREE! Tune in to the Napalm Records Youtube Channel now and experience the energy that JINJER deliver live and up close in your own living room.
Alive In Melbourne is not only a live album but a very personal project of JINJER‘s enigmatic and outspoken bassist Eugene: “When this idea first came about, never could I imagine that it would grow into the project that it has become. First it was supposed to be a single video or maybe 1 or 2 more, then it was meant to be an online concert video for Knotfest.com …. and now, after 6 months of planning, reacting and fighting to get this little piece of heavy metal history out to our fans and friends: Alive In Melbourne is out! From picking the cover artist Gabriel Nicoletti, to writing the very intense and personal band history in the linear notes … this album was not only something that I felt that our fans deserved in these strange times but it also helped me get through some of my own darkest times during the first Covid-19 lockdown. This was a moment in time that none of us will forget anytime soon.”
As one of the hardest working and most innovative bands in the business, JINJER wouldn’t be JINJER if they didn’t play any of the many aces up their sleeves in a situation and climate as harsh as this. After the announcement of the live album, the band made the impossible a reality and, as the first non-European outfit, set foot on stage again in September, bringing back their intense live shows to their longing fans in Germany and Switzerland – under all necessary precautions.
Alive In Melbourne Tracklist 01. Intro 02. Teacher, Teacher! 03. Sit Stay Roll Over 04. Ape 05. Judgement & Punishment 06. I Speak Astronomy 07. Who Is Gonna Be The One 08. Noah 09. Retrospection 10. Perennial 11. On The Top 12. Pit Of Consciousness 13. Home Back 14. Words Of Wisdom 15. Pisces 16. Captain Clock 17. Outro
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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 ) 