French black/death metal band ACOD is ready to unveil their brand new full-length album “Fourth Reign Over Opacities And Beyond“, the perfect sequel of the band’s previous opus. A shiny black death metal with epic parts who reveals the beauty and the greatness of the depths. This saga tells the long journey of a uncommon soul into the abyss. Losing faith in men and gods, but also in himself. Facing his own fears in form of chimeras. Trying to understand what this tormented afterlife is, as a strong similarity with our current lives. But everything happens for a reason and the revelation could be made at the end of his path…
In support of the upcoming album, ACOD just released the brand new track ‘Through The Astral Door’, streaming here:
With the release of four albums and two EPs, as well as the epic “Lustmord and Tourgasm” European tour alongside CRADLE OF FILTH in April 2019 and a French tour with ARCH ENEMY in summer 2019, ACOD have become a leading force in the French metal scene. With a constant output and live activities since the band’s inception in 2006, the band has won the heart of many extreme music fans out there, from newcomers to experienced metalheads.
The band’s new album was recorded during 2021 at Fascination Street Studios. Mix by Linus Corneliusson and master by Jens Borgen. Stunning artwork by Paolo Girardi.
“Fourth Reign Over Opacities And Beyond” will be coming out on September 16th on Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions and is available for pre-order HERE.
Finnish progressive metal giants AMORPHIS are seasoned veterans of the metal music scene, rapidly heading towards their 30 year anniversary. The band’s highly anticipated follow-up to 2015’s “Under The Red Cloud”, their 13th studio album “Queen Of Time”, produced by Jens Bogren will be released on 18th May via Nuclear Blast Records.
Metal Shock Finland Senior Manager Alison Booth caught up with bass player Olli-Pekka Laine, AKA Oppu, to discuss the epic new album and all things AMORPHIS. Look out for a special Blackdiamond’s Metal Mayhem radio show next week on http://www.totalrock.com starring Oppu and of course new AMORPHIS music! Some excerpts from the chat can be read below, with the full interview on the audio player:
On how the band feel about the forthcoming album release, Oppu stated:
“Well, it’s really exciting, it’s like being in a candy store or something! We’re even more excited than back in the day somehow. It’s like, wonderful – two videos out and one is coming next Friday from another song. And we have already played a couple of songs live in Norway and we will add a few more songs to our live set.”
Discussing “Queen Of Time” and the new areas explored this time around:
“Jens did a great job – he’s an amazing producer and he has great ideas. You can see from him that he kind of hears things in his head, in some weird way.
When it comes to the choirs and strings, that’s something Amorphis has used from Day One – even when we did our first demo, we had a human voice synthesizer on the album on a couple of songs. So in a way it’s not a new thing for us, the new things is that it’s done with a real choir and a real orchestra. We are known for wanting to explore things in our music and this is something totally new for us and yeah, we’re kind of open minded when it comes to new things and this is our way to do it this time.”
Regarding lyricist Pekka Kainulainen and the lyrical content of the songs,Oppu revealed his thoughts:
“I think that I even haven’t met Pekka, though I am his friend on Facebook and Instagram. I think he’s doing a great job, the guys have been working with him with previous albums as well and he is kind of writing the lyrics in the timeless way, that the Kalevala was written back in the days – the book which we have been using in the nineties. It’s kind of a good thing because our music is timeless as well, so the lyrics fit our music really well.
Personally, I kind of like the idea not to explain the lyrics too much, or coming up with certain themes too much because I tend to enjoy to find my own personal interpretations in the lyrics, so it would kind of boost the music. Everyone reads the lyrics in their own way and finds their own meanings.”
Talking about his favourite “Queen Of Time” tracks, Oppu explained:
“Yeah well Daughter Of Hate is great and The Bee, that has grown as one of my favourites and Grain Of Sand, which has a kind of Slayer vibe on it. They were one of the bands which inspired Amorphis in the first place, so it’s nice to have that kind of influence there as well. So maybe those three songs are my favourite and it’s really hard to pick up the top one – it could vary from one day to another.”
Oppu enthused about being back in the band:
“Well it’s great! It’s sort of familiar to be in the band but feel it’s kind of a new band, because it’s much more professional and we have a great background organisation. We have our own stage crew and the playing is much better and also the mood in the band is, I wouldn’t like to use the word ‘mature’, (laughs) but I think I will. We have all matured in a way and the guys are just great.
Everyone has developed in playing very much and for example I have discovered new kinds of music. I’m listening to a lot of jazz nowadays and I’ve played in a stoner rock band, so I play a lot more these days than I used to do. On a personal level, we were good friends, almost brothers, back in the day already and that remains. We had that spiritual connection throughout the years anyway. It kind of felt for me that I’m part of Amorphis even though I wasn’t in the band, so it was kind of a natural thing to enter again.”
On touring and the recent show in Norway:
“Yeah I’m sure we will tour like hell for the couple of next years, so it’s almost 100% certain we will come to the UK as well. We have our first European tour booked for next January.
Well, surprisingly good you know – I saw a few people singing the songs by the heart. It was kind of surprising because I wouldn’t learn any band’s lyrics before the show! But it’s great to see there are hardcore fans who are excited in Amorphis and yeah, they were received really well. We will have our first show in Finland on the 8th of June and we are playing plenty of the new stuff and also some classics.”
Discussing what’s coming up in the future for AMORPHIS, Oppu stated:
“Only gigs coming up, nothing that should be mentioned. There are some surprises which I actually cannot reveal. I’m not saying that they will happen in one year, but maybe next year there will be something special I think.
But for now we will go to tour and we will have our new stage set up. The first tour will be in North America with Dark Tranquillity and Moonspell which will be interesting to experience. We have several visitors on the album, I hope that at least some of them could join us on stage at some stage during the tour. It’s gonna take time because of the conflicting schedules, so let’s see!“
Finnish metal giants AMORPHIS have finally finished recording their upcoming new studio album, entitled “Queen Of Time”. The record is scheduled for a May 18th release.
In comparison to its predecessor, “Under The Red Cloud” (2015), the album will include the use of real strings, flutes, orchestral arrangements and even choirs! In addition, this will be the first time that people will be able to hear their lyricist Artist Pekka Kainulainen on the album as he contributes a speech in Finnish.
The album was once again produced by the famous Jens Bogren(OPETH, AMON AMARTH, KREATOR, and many others).
The cover artwork, which was created once again by French artist Jean ”Valnoir” Simoulin from Metastazis, captures the feeling of the lyrics and the music.
“Queen Of Time” will be also the first album with their old/new bass player Olli-Pekka ‘Oppu’ Laine following the departure of Niclas Etelävuori in 2017.
Esa comments: “I guess »Queen Of Time« turned out as a massive surprise to all of us. During the rehearsing and pre-production we didn’t have any idea that Jens had this huge picture inside of his head about the landscape of the album. It’s a very natural continuation to »Under The Red Cloud« but with steroids. The songs are more aggressive but there’s more dynamics, harmonies and orchestral arrangements present. The result is AMORPHIS as something you’ve never heard before! Essentially, working with Jens worked really well. As a person he is very similar to us – we share the same kind of weird humor and we all like to work hard.”
Over seven years, deathlike silence has filled the halls of the world’s biggest black metal forge, DIMMU BORGIR, whilst powers have been gathering to resurrect the band right in time for their 25th anniversary. Now they finally mark their return with a vicious work of art that can be defined as timeless in the truest sense of the word: “Eonian”.
The songwriting core of DIMMU BORGIR furthermore consists of charismatic vocalist Shagrath, as well as the string wizards Silenoz and Galder, but other familiar faces also emerge from the darkness: Drummer Daray and keyboarder Gerlioz are still part of the team, and Gaute Storaas helped with the choral arrangements for the majestic voices of the Schola Cantrum Choir.
The cover artwork was designed in fascinating detail by Zbigniew M. Bielak (GHOST, BEHEMOTH, MAYHEM).
This tenth full-length record will see the light of spring on May the 4th, and it will contain 10 new tracks, produced by the band itself and engineered by Jens Bogren. Emerging from the dark minds of the three songwriters, “Eonian«”follows a philosophical concept, dealing with the illusion of time:
“Time, when not approaching it from the construct we’re used to can’t be defined and thus it is illusory”, explains axemaster Silenoz. “There’s only an ‘eternal now’, which the album title is already hinting at. When we travel between the worlds seen and unseen, the perception of time ceases to exist, it has no function. Our energy is our torch and our compass when we make rifts and pierce through the veil – when we go beyond.”
Vocalist Shagrath adds: “»Eonian« represents the illusion of time, everything that is and always has been. For us, it also marks the 25th anniversary of DIMMU BORGIR and the album itself is a tribute to our own history and the Norwegian black metal history.”
On February 23rd, DIMMU BORGIR will unveil their first single ‘Interdimensional Summit’, that will be released as a 7” vinyl EP, providing a first taste of the upcoming album.
You can pre-order the EP here. The pre-order for the full-length album starts on the single’s release day, February 23rd.
The following re-released LPs are already available in our shop: »Death Cult Armageddon« (2 LP black vinyl) »Death Cult Armageddon« (2 LP silver – mailorder exclusive!) »For All Tid« (2 LP black vinyl) »For All Tid« (2 LP orange vinyl) »Enthrone Darkness Triumphant« (black vinyl)
While these LPs will see the light of day a little later, on February 23rd: »Spiritual Black Dimensions« (black vinyl) »Spiritual Black Dimensions« (mint vinyl – mailorder exclusive!) »Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia« (2 LP black vinyl) »Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia« (2 LP blue vinyl – mailorder exclusive!) »Stormblåst« (LP + 7” EP, black vinyl) »Stormblåst« (LP + 7” EP, clear vinyl – mailorder exclusive!)
So far, DIMMU BORGIR announced the following festival shows for 2018:
22. – 24.06. F Clisson – Hellfest
05. – 07.07. E Barcelona – Rock Fest
02. – 04.08. D Wacken – Wacken Open Air
16. – 18.08. N Horten – Midgardsblot Metalfestival
When melancholic progressive metallers AMORPHIS released their 2015 studio album “Under The Red Cloud”, it reached great chart results all around the world, including their first ever entry in United Kingdom and Australia, as well as their highest ever entries in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Following this success, they released their “Under The Red Cloud Tour Edition” in February 2017, including the entire album with two bonus songs as well as the live tracks of their “An Evening With Friends”-Shows @ Juhlaviikot – Huvila.
Today, there are some good news for all fans of AMORPHIS: The band is currently working on a new studio album! The pre-production process is already done and most of the recordings have been finished. But this time, the band didn’t rush at all and took their time to focus on details so there’ll be also some really amazing surprises: additional recordings with real strings and flutes, as well as orchestra arrangements and choirs! In addition, this is the first time that people will be able to hear their lyricist Pekka Kainulainen on the album as he contributes a speech in Finnish!
Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH, KATATONIA, and many others) will be once again the producer of the upcoming album. More details to be announced soon, so stay tuned!
AMORPHIS live 2018:
12.05. N Kopervik – Karmoygeddon Metal Festival
08.06. FIN Hyvinkää – Rockfest
09.06. FIN Tampere – South Park Festival
13.06. J Tokyo – Shibuya Club Quattro
14.06. J Osaka – Umeda Club Quattro
21. – 23.06. D St. Goarshausen – RockFels
22. – 24.06. F Clisson – Hellfest
04. – 07.07. D Ballenstedt – Rockharz Open Air
06.07. FIN Lohja – Rantajamit
12. – 14.07. D Balingen – Bang Your Head!!!
12. – 15.07. CZ Vizovice – Masters of Rock
20./21.07. FIN Laukaa – John Smith Rock Festival
26. – 28.07. FIN Kuopio – RockCock
27./28.07. FIN Oulu – Qstock
02. – 04.08. D Wacken – Wacken Open Air
08. – 11.08. E Villena – Leyendas del Rock
It’s been over two years since the release of critically acclaimed album “In Times”, and now Norway’s progressive metal legends ENSLAVED have entered the studio again to record their 14th, yet untitled full-length release. Aiming for both wilder and yet more progressive and melodic horizons, the band who celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, never ceases to surprise and challenge their fans; they will once again step up to the plate. The recordings are taking place at Duper & Solslottet Studios in Bergen throughout April, and will be mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios. With its epic touch, the album promises to be original and refreshing – and to contain some surprising new elements.
“It is absolutely fantastic to be in the studio with these new songs”, states mastermind Ivar Bjørnson. “So many doors were opened with »In Times« and the times (sic) that followed; for us as a band, for me as a composer and I guess for us all on a personal level. I have never worked this hard to put together music for an album before, and that intensity continues into the studio where everybody is giving their everything, every hour of every day. We are a tighter unit than ever before, which is obvious sonically. The concept conjured by myself and old war-brother Grutle is the strongest we have worked with. Finally, I am proud that we have taken more risks than ever before, and one in particular – and it is yielding awesome results. What does that mean? Stay tuned to find out!”
The eye-catching cover and artwork is once again being currently created by renowned designer and painter Truls Espedal. More info will be revealed soon!
In the meantime, enjoy ENSLAVED‘s latest album “In Times” that was released in March 2015 via Nuclear Blast, which blew away both fans and journalists. Secure your physical copy here.
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