Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

STRYPER’s Lead Singer MICHAEL SWEET Announces 5th Annual Christmas Show For December 19th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 16, 2020

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Michael Sweet, Stryper. Leave a comment

Rock sensation and STRYPER founder and frontman Michael Sweet announces his 5th annual Christmas concert with new partnership with VenueNet (tickets.venuenet.live), a brand new premier social platform for concert live streaming. This fully interactive concert experience brings the spirit of Christmas and the music you love right to your laptop or mobile device. Michael’s Christmas show has been a success for years in the Massachusetts area but now fans across the globe will have an opportunity like never before to be a part of this yearly celebration. Featuring original music and Christmas classics (with a twist) this once in a lifetime experience is an opportunity for fans to see Michael like never before as he streams directly from the newly opened state of the art Bank Of New Hampshire Stage in Concord, NH.

For this unique fully interactive concert experience fans will have three price options to choose from that will offer them varying degrees of access to Michael during the live concert experience. (Ticket options below)

$10.00 – General Admission

Access to view the livestream on VenueNet
Access to watch the Re-Play until December 25th

$25.00 – Front Row

Access to view the stream and, using your devices camera, have your image featured on the fan wall (full stage LED Video wall) that the band will be performing to
Access to the replay until December 25th

$100.00 – VIP Experience

Access to view the stream and, using your devices camera, have your image featured on one of two freestanding video displays directly in front of Michael that the band will be performing to
Access to the fully interactive (two-way communication) Post Show VIP talk back session.
Access to view the replay for an unlimited amount of time.

Michael Sweet: When you’ve fronted one of the most trailblazing groups of the MTV generation, written a stable of Billboard charting singles, filled arenas all the world over, said goodbye at the peak of it all, took stock in a thriving solo career, got the band back together for yet another record breaking run and even took a stint co-leading one of the most legendary classic rock acts ever, then you undoubtedly have a story to share. But there’s still much more to Michael Sweet than selling over eight million albums in Stryper or singing and guitar slinging for Boston, including an equally riveting behind the scenes story packed to the brim with triumph, heartbreak and redemption. Musically speaking, Sweet is coming off yet another creative high in the Stryper camp thanks to their return to form record No More Hell To Pay. Besides making an instantaneous Top 40 debut on the Billboard 200, it landed at #2 on the Top Christian Albums charts, #3 on Top Hard Rock Albums and #6 on Top Rock Albums. It’s certainly a testament to the band’s perseverance, whetting the public’s appetite all the more for solo music from Sweet.

EMPTINESS Unveil New Single “Le Mal est chez lui”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 16, 2020

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: EMPTINESS. Leave a comment

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).

Producer/Sound engineer: Jérémie Bézier
Mixing & Mastering: Jérémie Bézier

VESSEL OF LIGHT Release Brand New Video ‘Torture King’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 16, 2020

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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.

Last Ride has produced two other singles – the title track and its dark accompanying video, and “There No Escape.” Last Ride is available at https://nomadeelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/last-ride.

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.

HAMMER KING Sign Worldwide Record Deal With Napalm Records

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 15, 2020

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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!

God bless the King, may the King bless you!”

BEYOND THE BLACK Announce New Digital EP ‘W:O:A Acoustic Clash – The Lockdown Session’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 15, 2020

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: BEYOND THE BLACK. Leave a comment

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“.

Watch the stunning cover versions HERE:

Pre-Save The Acoustic EP NOW!

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.

ABIOTIC Launch Music Video For “Smoldered” (Ft. Chaney of Entheos)

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 15, 2020

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Abiotic. Leave a comment

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.”

Pre-orders for Abiotic – Ikigai are now live
Label Store: https://www.theartisanerastore.com/category/abiotic
Bandcamp: smarturl.it/Abiotic-Bandcamp

Abiotic – Ikigai Line-Up
Travis Bartosek – Vocals (ex-Vale of Pnath live)
John Matos – Guitar
Matt Mendez – Guitar
Killian Duarte – Bass (Scale the Summit, ex-Felix Martin)
Tony Lusk-Simone – Drums, Backup Vocals (Pathogenic, Mimesis)