LORD OF THE LOST Indulge in Darkness with Multifaceted New Single ‘Bazaar Bizarre’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 8, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo credit: VD Pictures]

LORD OF THE LOST indulge in darkness with the complex “Bazaar Bizarre”, the latest single off their upcoming studio album OPVS NOIR Vol. 1, out this Friday, August 8, 2025 via Napalm Records. Appropriately opulent, the album opener “Bazaar Bizarre” immediately proves the bands’ sonic recalibration, re-adding their early edge to create somber mysticism in irresistible guise. LORD OF THE LOST hauntingly unite the children of the night in a sophisticated anthem, reassuring: No one lost behind.
 
“Bazaar Bizarre” ornately crafts a new doorway into LORD OF THE LOST’s ever expanding universe – a testament to their ability to constantly uncover new angles while staying true to their roots. Following the success of their #1 album Blood & Glitter (Official German Album Charts) and their celebrated appearance in the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, LORD OF THE LOST continue to push boundaries with unmatchable versatility. OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 is the first album of an exciting album trilogy, featuring several strictly limited special editions.
 
Chris Harms on “Bazaar Bizarre”:
“‘Bazaar Bizarre’ is too long, too complex, and too weird to be an album opener—almost like a mix between an acoustic hidden-object painting by Hieronymus Bosch, Apocalypse Now, and the underground troll market from the Hellboy universe. Everything hurts and is somehow eerie, but at the same time too fascinating to want to escape.
We could’ve picked a simple and accessible song to kick things off—but we didn’t want that. We wanted a long cinematic trailer for the ears, one that instantly makes it clear what kind of world all three parts of OPVS NOIR will drag you into. And ‘Bazaar Bizarre’ captures that perfectly—sonically, and in the music video, also visually—covering the full spectrum of our upcoming trilogy.”

What is the essence of LORD OF THE LOST in 2025? That is one of the questions OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 fearlessly begins to answer. Once again, the band proves not only musical excellence but also masterful craftsmanship: produced by Chris Harms, recorded, mixed, and mastered at the legendary CHAMELEON STUDIOS in Hamburg, the 11 tracks hit with a force and brilliance that immediately transport us into a dark yet colorful ballroom. From there, the tone is set: Dark Wave Metal on an amphitheater scale.
 
Chris Harms about the album:
“Darkness, melancholy, loneliness – all words that often have negative connotations, that we may associate with danger, sadness and loss, and not without reason. But darkness can also be security, melancholy the warm and sentimental feeling of our memories, and loneliness becomes necessary silence, peace and inner contemplation. OPVS NOIR is a travel guide, or perhaps also a travelogue, through the dark sides of our inner world, which so often move precisely in the area of tension between what we emotionally categorize as positive or negative. And with Vol. 1, all of this is just the beginning of this 3-part journey…”

Get your copy of OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 HERE – First Limited Editions Are Already Selling Out!

OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 tracklist:

  1.  Bazaar Bizarre
  2. My Sanctuary
  3. Light Can Only Shine In The Darkness (& Within Temptation)
  4. I Will Die In It
  5. Moonstruck (& Stimmgewalt)
  6. Damage (feat. Whiplasher Bernadotte)
  7. Ghosts (feat. Tina Guo)
  8. Lords Of Fyre (& Feuerschwanz)
  9. The Things We Do For Love
  10. The Sadness In Everything (feat. Anna Maria Rose)
  11. Dreams Are Never Alone

OPVS NOIR is not only a musically exciting step but also a bold one! This becomes clear when looking at LORD OF THE LOST’s immediate past: support for IRON MAIDEN on two European tours, followed by their first North American shows in over a decade, sold-out headlining tours, participation in the final of the EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2023, a #1 chart entry with the previous album Blood & Glitter, celebrated performances at the biggest festivals worldwide – they even had the honour of meeting King Charles in person. Hand on heart: How easy would it have been to keep riding this wave of success just a little longer? But that’s not how LORD OF THE LOST operates – the only constant remains change.
 
Everything is new, yet every note feels familiar. Behind each chorus awaits a surprise, in every line, a new door opens to further uncharted paths within the LOTL universe. This band takes the expectations of its ever-growing fanbase and molds them into songs that transcend genre boundaries – and turn moments into monuments that carry us all along: No one lost behind!
 
OPVS NOIR Vol. 1: To be continued…

LORD OF THE LOST Live 2025
 
LORDS OF FYRE CO-HEADLINE TOUR
LORD OF THE LOST & FEUERSCHWANZ
w/ The Dark Side Of The Moon
02.10.25 DE – Berlin / Columbiahalle
03.10.25 DE – Leipzig / Haus Auensee
04.10.25 DE – Offenbach / Stadthalle
10.10.25 DE – Hanover / Swiss Life Hall
11.10.25 DE – Fürth / Stadthalle
17.10.25 DE – Munich / Zenith
18.10.25 DE – Düsseldorf / Mitsubishi Halle
 
UK + IRELAND TOUR 
30.10.25 UK – Wolverhampton
31.10.25 UK – Manchester
02.11.25 UK – Glasgow
04.11.25 UK – Belfast
05.11.25 IE – Dublin
07.11.25 UK – Bristol
08.11.25 UK – London
09.11.25 UK – Southampton
 
LORDFEST
13.12.25 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle
Tickets: tour.lordofthelost.de
 
FESTIVALS
10.08.25 UK – Derbyshire / Bloodstock Open Air
19.10.25 NL – Den Bosch / The Rock Circus
01.11.25 UK – Whitby / Tomorrows Ghosts Festival
 
LORD OF THE LOST Live 2026
 
DARK WINTER TOUR – USA & CANADA 2026
Co-Headliner Tour w/ The Birthday Massacre
Special Guest Wednesday 13
19.01.26 US – Baltimore, MD / Baltimore Soundstage
20.01.26 US – Philadelphia, PA / Theatre of Living Arts
21.01.26 US – New Haven, CT / Toad’s Place
23.01.26 US – New York, NY / Webster Hall
24.01.26 US – Worcester, MA / The Palladium
25.01.26 CA – Montreal, QC / Beanfield Theatre
26.01.26 CA – Toronto, ON / Phoenix Concert Theatre
28.01.26 US – Cleveland, OH / House of Blues
29.01.26 US – Cincinnati, OH / Bongart’s
30.01.26 US – Detroit, MI / St. Andrews Hall
31.01.26 US – Chicago, IL / Concord Music Hall
02.02.26 US – Minneapolis, MN / First Avenue
04.02.26 US – Denver, CO / Summit Music Hall
05.02.26 US – Salt Lake City, UT / The Complex
07.02.26 US – Los Angeles, CA / The Fonda
08.02.26 US – San Francisco, CA / UC Theatre
 
Australia 2026
19.02.26 AU – Brisbane / Crowbar
20.02.26 AU – Melbourne / Max Watts
21.02.26 AU – Sydney / Crowbar
22.02.26 AU – Adelaide / Lion Arts

LORD OF THE LOST are:
Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar
Pi Stoffers – Guitar
Benjamin “Benji“ Mundigler – Guitar, Synths
Klaas Helmecke – Bass
Gerrit Heinemann – Piano, Synths, Percussion
Niklas Kahl – Drums
 
LORD OF THE LOST online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK
LORDSHOP
NAPALM RECORDS

AMBUSH Reveal Exhilarating Third Single + Lyric Video ‘Come Angel of Night’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 8, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[Photo credit: Philip Truong/Bläcksquid Inc]

Swedish heavy metal force AMBUSH reveals the third single from the highly anticipated new album Evil In All Dimensions, out September 5, 2025, via Napalm Records! Arriving alongside a lyric video, “Come Angel of Night” is a fierce anthem of raw power, with galloping drums, sharp guitars, and soaring belts. Featuring career high performances, the track explores themes of reconciliation after seemingly irreparable damage is caused.
 
Founded in 2013, AMBUSH continue to showcase their unyielding energy and intricate musicianship, establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with, within the underground heavy metal scene. This fall, the five-piece will bring their iconic live show to several German festivals, including Keep It True Rising, followed by a release show in Stockholm, and a full headlining tour in South America. Make sure to check out the new single below and secure your copy of Evil In All Dimensions now – denim and leather all the way!
 
AMBUSH on “Come Angel of Night”:
“We live in important times with conflicts that cause damages irreversible and seemingly beyond repair. How many generations will forever clash over the actions taken at this very moment? Can we find ways to start all over again or will the cuts run too deep?”

Evil In All Dimensions is undeniable proof of AMBUSH’s unwavering passion and talent for the genre. Now, with Napalm Records as their partner, they are primed to take the world by storm. The title track and opener perfectly delivers classic 80s heavy metal hooks with sleek, modern production. Taking listeners along a nightmare turned reality, this song kicks off with high energy drum grooves by Linus Fritzson and powerful riffs from guitar-virtuosos Karl Dotzek and Olof Engqvist. Bassist Oskar Andersson knows how to hypnotize the audience with his lines in the brooding “The Night I Took Your Life”, while “Maskirovka” is an anthem with a standout performance from vocalist Oskar Jakobsson. The track’s mid-tempo groove personifies the difficulties of standing up for truth in a world shaped by manipulation. In addition to their undeniable talent to revive fast and glorious 80s headbangers, the Swedes also surprise with the gripping power ballad “I Fear the Blood”. A song to pump your fist to, vacillating between themes of escapism and self-destruction, amidst the battle against one’s inner demons.  Founder Oskar Jakobsson screams his soul out in this heavy-hearted and honest masterpiece, which creates the perfect moment to wave your lighters in the air, passionately belting along.
 
AMBUSH about the album:
“We are stoked to unveil Evil In All Dimensions – our long-awaited 4th album. For us the album feels like a new dawn where everything is possible and steel rules the world. We regard it as the proudest moment in our hellbent strive for Heavy Metal mastery, and we hope that you guys will appreciate it!”

Pre-Order Your Copy of Evil In All Dimensions NOW

Evil In All Dimensions tracklisting:
1. Evil In All Dimensions
2. Maskirovka
3. Iron Sign
4. The Night I Took Your Life
5. I Fear The Blood
6. Come Angel of Night
7. The Reaper
8. Bending The Steel
9. Heavy Metal Brethren

AMBUSH Live 2025
European Shows
20.09.25 DE – Villingen-Schwenningen / Black Forest Fest
26.09.25 DE – Hohenlimburg / Heavy Metal Fans Festival
27.09.25 DE – Rauschenberg / Erntedrunkfest
03. – 04.10.25 DE – Würzburg / Keep It True Rising V
17.10.25 SE – Stockholm / Patricia
13.12.25 SE – Eskilstuna / Luciarock
 
‘Evil In South America’ Tour 2025
09.11.25 BR – São Paulo
11.11.25 BR – Brasilia
12.11.25 BR – Curitiba
14.11.25 BR – Fortaleza
15.11.25 BR – Recife
16.11.25 BR – Limeira
19.11.25 PR – Asuncíon
21.11.25 UR – Montevideo
22.11.25 AR – Buenos Aires
23.11.25 CH – Santiago

AMBUSH is:
Olof Engqvist – Guitars & Backing vocals
Karl Dotzek – Guitars & Backing vocals
Oskar Andersson – Bass, vocals & Backing vocals
Linus Fritzson – Drums & Backing vocals
Oskar Jakobsson – Vocals
 
AMBUSH online:
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

LEAH MARTIN-BROWN to Release Debut Album “Love & Other Crimes” on October 24th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 8, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Jack Lue

Acclaimed international singer-songwriter Leah Martin-Brown is pleased to announce the release of her debut album, “Love & Other Crimes”, out on October 24, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.
To mark the occasion, Leah shares also her new single and official video “Rainbow”, available now. 

“Sometimes we all need a bit of light in our life. Rainbow truly is a catchy, feel-good song. Whether it’s the best day of your life or you feel like you need a pick me up – I really feel that Rainbow delivers that energy”, Martin-Brown commented.

Pre-Order “Love & Other Crimes” HERE

A fearless collision of rock grit and pop fervor, “Love & Other Crimes” heralds the arrival of Leah Martin-Brown – an artist who defies genre with every note.

Leah stated: “Working on this album has been one of the most intense experiences of my creative career. Being asked to be part of an album with Mutt Lange has been a dream of mine since I first picked up a guitar. It has been almost 5 years of blood, sweat and actual tears to give these songs and stories life”.

“This record encapsulates such an intense personal & musical journey and I am truly honoured to be able to now share this with the world via Frontiers. I hope that people find songs that they can connect with, that they can sing out the windows of their cars and shout from their apartment balconies, that they can dance to in their living rooms with the people they adore. I hope you all love Love & Other Crimes”, she added.

Hailing from the vibrant Australian music scene, Leah began performing live at just 13 and fronted the band Lilly Rouge, before taking her talents to the US with Evol Walks. Her journey has taken her from the sweaty rock stages of Los Angeles to Stockholm’s elite songwriting circles. 

Now signed to Frontiers Music Srl and managed by Jens Lundberg, Leah has worked alongside legendary producers Robert “Mutt” Lange, Tony Nilsson, and Tommy Denander to create a debut that’s bold, cinematic, and unrelentingly modern.

Her debut single “Boys” made a strong impact upon release in March 2024, followed by the high-energy “Hysterical Love” – which generated over 73,000 Spotify streams. With the sultry “Shush”, she embraced darker melodic territory, showing a vocal style that is both powerful and emotionally nuanced.

On “Love & Other Crimes”, Leah blends searing guitars, cinematic programming (courtesy of Nilsson), and thunderous production to explore the highs and lows of love – and the lengths we’ll go to for it. From danceable hooks to emotional slow burns, each track is a chapter in a sonic manifesto.

This is more than a debut – it’s a declaration. Leah Martin-Brown is a cross-genre powerhouse, ready to stake her claim on the global stage.

“Love & Other Crimes” Tracklist:

1.    Mr X
2.    R U Chicken
3.    Clooney
4.    Levitate
5.    Boys
6.    Shush
7.    Rainbow
8.    Light Show
9.    Hysterical Love
10.    Hell No Kitty
11.    Unscrew You

Line Up:
Leah Martin-Brown – Vocals
Tommy Denander – Guitars
Tony Nilsson – Keyboards & Programming
Leah Martin-Brown & Robert John “Mutt” Lange – Backing Vocals

Follow LEAH MARTIN-BROWN:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok

PERCIVAL SCHUTTENBACH Sum Up 25 Years of Activity with New Album “Ćwierć wieku muzyki” + More

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 8, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Percival Schuttenbach is a Polish band founded in 1999 by Mikołaj Rybacki and Katarzyna Bromirska, specializing in combining traditional folk music with heavier metal sounds. Since its inception, the group has consistently developed its unique style, drawing inspiration from Polish and, more broadly, Slavic folklore, combining it with modern rock-metal instrumentation. The band quickly gained recognition in the folk community and distinguished itself with its original approach to reinterpreting tradition, and their concerts combined musical energy with historical and cultural messages. 

Percival Schuttenbach is also the co-composer of the soundtrack to the global hit game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, for which he received the prestigious MocArt RMF Classic award in 2016 and the Golden Possum award in 2015. The band’s music has also been featured in the Netflix series The Witcher, as well as in the game Asterigos: Curse of the Stars.

June 13, 2025, the Band released brand new album titled “Ćwierć wieku muzyki” in digital format (stream here) and CD which could be purchased in official band webstore. Together with new album, a band biography (first part) was released, and an author is Zuzanna Topolińska (buy here). Music was recorded between 2020 and 2025 at RedBaaron Studio in Legnica (PL). All was mixed and mastered by Marek Dziedzic, and all graphic project was done by Zuzanna Topolińska.

The album features premiere songs, though some have been sitting in a drawer for years, waiting for the right moment. It provides a backdrop to the world of The Witcher, seen through the eyes of a band that has remained a loyal fan of the universe created by Andrzej Sapkowski from the very beginning. This musical backdrop serves as a unique soundtrack to the Witcher saga, but also to the band’s history itself.

The album’s release coincides with an ambitious project – an American concert tour, encompassing over 40 cities across the United States. Live shows will take place in major venues: philharmonic halls, theaters, and opera houses, and the tour is dedicated to the anniversary of the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The repertoire includes selected compositions by the game’s composers: Marcin Przybyłowicz, Mikołaj Stroiński, Piotr Musiał, and Percival Schuttenbach. Tickets for US tour you can buy here.

This is how the band comments their the newest studio release:
“We present to you our latest offering – a surprise. An album that comes as a surprise to us. A surprise because it matured slowly, over the years, sometimes quietly and inconspicuously, only to suddenly take on a shape and meaning we hadn’t even anticipated.

“Ćwierć wieku muzyki (en. A Quarter Century of Music)” isn’t just a summary of our 25-year adventure with sound – it’s a story that intertwines the band’s history with the history of the Witcher universe. And it all began with a single, seemingly trivial decision – to name our band Percival Schuttenbach. A decision – as it turned out – fateful, one that, from the dawn of our history, has led us, by the power of destiny, to places we never dreamed of.

This album is a tribute to a universe that, over the years, has become not only an inspiration but also a space in which our music has found its place. It’s also a humble nod to fate, which gave us the honor of collaborating on the music for both the game “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” and the third season of the TV series “The Witcher.” 

Today, after years of creating Slavic, folk, and fantasy music, we consciously wanted to return to our roots. To create something entirely dedicated to the atmosphere of the Witcher world – as fans, not just creators. 

At the same time, this album also serves as a soundtrack to the book “A Quarter Century of Music” – our biography, the first part of the story about the band, our ups and downs, and our creative journey. We hope that these sounds will allow you to immerse yourself not only in the world of The Witcher, but also a little bit into our history. 

We present this album to you with pride – but also with a slight tremor in our hearts. Because for us, it’s more than just another album. It’s the closing of a chapter. And the beginning of another.“

TRACKLIST:

01.Ciemność
02.Percival Schuttenbach
03.Mroczne miejsce
04.Dol Blathanna
05.Trupie uroczysko
06.Panie lasu
07.Sodden
08.Tor Zirael
09.Leszy
10.Oczy Wiedźmina
11.Miecz przeznaczenia

More information: Facebook | Instagram | WWW

BLACKBRAID Streams New Album “Blackbraid III”, Out Today

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 8, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Photo by Wolf Mountain Productions

Indigenous solo black metal project BLACKBRAID is anointing fans with a stream of his new opus, ‘Blackbraid III.’ The album is now streaming in its entirety, out today Friday, August 8! Listen at THIS LOCATION.

Vinyl and cassette formats of ‘Blackbraid III,’ as well as new merch designs, can now be pre-ordered via Blackbraid.US & Blackbraid.EU while the album can be pre-saved across all streaming services HERE.

ICYMI: Blackbraid recently unveiled the latest single, “The Dying Breath of a Sacred Stag,” along with a music video via Black Metal Promotions! The clip was created by Wolf Mountain Productions (The Anti-label) and can be found at THIS LOCATION.

BLACKBRAID will also be embarking on a North American headliner later this year with support from Lamp of Murmuur and Dödsrit, with Gudsforladt replacing LoM as support for two Canadian dates. The trek will kick off on September 19 in San Diego, CA and will make its way around the U.S. + Canada until the final stop on October 11 in Los Angeles, CA. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets are available HERE.

In addition, BLACKBRAID is the cover story for Decibel Magazine’s September 2025 issue! Fans can order a copy at THIS LOCATION.

Blackbraid is a solo indigenous black metal project from from the depths of the Adirondack wilderness creating music as raw and powerful as the mountains from whence it came… 

The captivating album artwork for ‘Blackbraid III,’ was created in collaboration with Adam Burke, who handled the painting, and mainstay Blackbraid album artist Adrian Baxter, who did the illustration. 

Tracklist:

  1. Dusk (Eulogy)
  2. Wardrums at Dawn on the Day of my Death [WATCH]
  3. The Dying Breath of a Sacred Stag [WATCH]
  4. The Earth is Weeping
  5. God of Black Blood
  6. Traversing the Forest of Eternal Dusk
  7. Tears of the Dawn
  8. Like Wind Through The Reeds Making Waves Like Water
  9. And He Became the Burning Stars…
  10. Fleshbound (Lord Belial cover)

LACKBRAID North American Tour w/ Lamp of Murmuur + Dödsrit,:

09/18: San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick
09/19: Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live
09/20: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
09/22: Dallas, TX @ Trees
09/24: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Purgatory)
09/25: Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819
09/26: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery [SOLD OUT]
09/27: Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows [LOW TICKET WARNING]
09/28: Albany, NY @ Empire Live
09/30: Boston, MA @ Middle East (Downstairs) [LOW TICKET WARNING]
10/01: Montreal, QC @ Café Campus *
10/02: Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground * [LOW TICKET WARNING]
10/03: Lakewood, OH @ Mercury Music Lounge
10/04: Chicago, IL @ Reggies [SOLD OUT]
10/05: St. Paul, MN @ The Turf Club [LOW TICKET WARNING]
10/07: Denver, CO @ HQ
10/08: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
10/10: Oakland, CA @ Thee Stork Club [LOW TICKET WARNING]
10/11: Los Angeles, CA @ 1720

*w/ Gudsforladt, no LoM

BLACKBRAID Upcoming Festivals:

08/23: Eisfeld (DE) @ Wolfszeit Festival
12/19: Leipzig (DE) @ Black Hole Fest Germania III – Frost Edition
04/05/26: Munich (DE) @ Dark Easter Metal Meeting

Creator of Blackbraid: Sgah’gahsowáh

‘Blackbraid III’ Album Credits:
Composed & performed by Sgah’gahsowáh
Drums, recording, mixing & mastering by Neil Schneider
Guitar solo in “God of Black Blood” performed by Randy Moore
“Fleshbound” originally composed by Lord Belial
Painting by Adam Burke
Illustration by Adrian Baxter
Visual development & graphic design by Wolf Mountain Productions

Follow // Listen: Bandcamp – Spotify – Apple Music – YouTube – Instagram

Shop/Order: Official Merch Store (USA), Official Merch Store (EU) 

The Spirit of Lemmy Amps Up Ex-Hawkwind Master Alan Davey And Gunslinger’s New Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 8, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

It is ten years since the world of hard rock, metal – and beyond! – mourned the passing (on December 28, 2015) of Lemmy, mercurial frontman of Motörhead and, before that, the thunderous bass that drove Hawkwind to never-again equalled heights.

Of course he has lived on in music and memory, and  both Lemmy and Motörhead are, arguably, as beloved and inspirational today as they ever were at their peak.  And Alan “Boomer” Davey – who followed Lemmy into Hawkwind in 1984 (nine years,and three bassists after Lemmy’s departure) – has done as much as any to perpetuate the legend.  

The pair, after all, were close friends until the end of Lemmy’s life, with Davey crediting the bass solo in Hawkwind’s “Time We Left This World Today” with inspiring him to play bass in the first place. 

“It’s got lots of note bending, growling bass chords and a bass/guitar solo element about it. I had no interest in music till I heard that.”

Hanging out together, Lemmy and Davey often jammed together and “Boomer,” as he is affectionately known, credits Lemmy’s example as the key influence upon his own playing style – an accolade borne out by Lemmy’s own love of Davey’s Motörhead tribute band, Ace of Spades.

“He said to me, ‘What’s this Ace of Spades band ya doing, Al, and why ya doing it?’ 

“I replied, ‘Cause I love the songs and I love playing them.’ 

“‘That’s good enough for me,’ said Lemmy. He gave me a hug and his blessing to carry on with it and use the name Ace of Spades.”

But there is more!

Davey has, over the years, led a number of bands and projects, among them Bedouin, the Psychedelic Warlords, Djinn and Pre-Med, alongside a string of solo projects. Closest to his heart, however, is Gunslinger – a resurrection of the band he led, alongside his cousin Nigel Potter, in the years before he first joined the Hawks.

“He got a guitar about the same time I got a bass, so we got together and started with a band called Stallion. Then it was Chainsaw and then onto Gunslinger. So Nigel and I stuck together from the start until I joined Hawkwind.”  Potter, he adds, is also “one of the best songwriters the UK ever produced in my opinion.”

Indebted both to Motörhead and the newly-insurgent New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, the original Gunslinger were very much a “local” band, chiefly gigging around their native East Anglia. 

“We used to play the local scene, village halls, rock pubs, but we did some big gigs too, like Woodbridge Cinema and the Ipswich Corn Exchange (600 capacity).”  

Gunslinger made its recording debut in 1981, after spotting a “demos wanted” ad placed by Neat Records. “It came down to two bands, Gunslinger and Raven. Unfortunately our drummer at the time left, and we couldn’t find another drummer in time to carry onto the next level, so Raven got the deal.”

Gunslinger’s repertoire would not be lost, however. The original line-up reformed for a one-off reunion show in Ipswich in 1985; and, in 2008, their debut album Earthquake in E Minor included material composed during the band’s original lifespan.  Further early material appears on the live set, Unlawful Odds.  Gunslinger broke up in 2014.

And now they’re back, with Amped Up, a triumphant new album that includes not one but two stunning tributes to Lemmy.

Alan Davey and original Motörhead drummer Lucas Fox

One, “The Ace,” Gunslinger’s last single, is a livid lyrical combination, as Alan puts it, of Lemmy’s own song titles with Davey’s experiences “hanging out with Lemmy at his house and out clubbing in London. What fun days they were!”

And now comes “Amped Up,” the new album’s volatile title track, originally written back in 1988, “after Lemmy asked me to write a song for a single we could release as a partnership.”

Alan made a quick demo which Lemmy loved. But the timing was off. Lemmy was also planning to relocate to the USA at that time and this, coupled with Motörhead’s exhaustive touring regimen, saw the project mothballed.  Until now, and what a thrill it is to finally hear it, invoking the magic that the original collaboration would so effortlessly have cast.

SINGLE: https://orcd.co/ gunslinger_ampedupsingle

Elsewhere, too, Amped Up is gloriously infused with the spirit of Lemmy and Motörhead alike, an impression borne out too by the presence of that band’s original drummer, Lucas Fox on the sessions (Deep Purple’s Ian Paice, too, makes an appearance on “Amped Up” itself).  And while the rest of the material is original, the elixir remains just as powerful, and just as rooted in Davey’s storied past. 

“Black Glamdring,” for example, was the first song Gunslinger ever played together as a band,.  “Luckily we had a boom box recording of it and it’s great to bring it back to life alongside four other songs that were among the songs Nigel and I ever wrote, in 1979-1980: Berlin Wall,’ ‘Stone Scared,’ ‘Smoke Wagon’ (originally titled ‘Draw’) and the classic ‘Living Like a Viking,’ all of which have been given the new lease of life they all deserve.”

Alan also credits Lemmy with the very sound and tone of Amped Up.  It was Lemmy, after all, who encouraged the young musician’s own musical ambitions and style, which in turn allows Alan to proclaim, without an ounce of hyperbole, “the Motörhead sound still lives on through Gunslinger, Lem is still with us and always will be. I know 100% that Lemmy would’ve loved this album. 

“We have that aggressive, high energy sound, but we have our own unique writing style… and that is a quote from a long time ago, from Lemmy himself!”

CD/VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=gunslinger+amped+up
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/gunslinger_ampedup

Track listing

1. Sun Up
2. Berlin Wall
3. Stone Scared
4. Smoke Wagon
5. Living Like A Viking
6. Black Glamdring
7. The Ace
8. Someone’s Got You In The Gunsights
9. Like A Bullet
10. 20 Paces
11. Amped Up
12. Sundown