Finnish metal shooting stars ARION today proudly present the official music video for their latest single, “Bloodline”. The track features guest vocals by none other than Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast). Noora also appears in the new video of course. The clip was directed by André Rodriguez Films.
Arion’s latest album „Life Is Not Beautiful“ was released in October 2018. The band has been special guest on Battle Beast’s European tour in 2019.
During the production of BLACK SUN‘s new material, the band parted ways with the band’s longtime lead singer. Under the wing of the band’s producer, NINO LAURENNE (Emma Winner – Finnish Grammy, Hevisaurus, Amorphis, Lordi, The Rasmus and more at http://www.ninolaurenne.com), BLACK SUN managed to find ways to finish the upcoming material, which will feature guest singers in all songs.
‘Still Alive’ is the first single from the band’s upcoming release, and it will mark a new era, a clean slate for the South American rockers. Producer NINO LAURENNE arranged Finnish metal legends and talents like TONY KAKKO, LORDI, NOORA LOUHIMO, PASI RANTANEN, and ELIAS VILJANEN (Sonata Arctica), NETTA LAURENNE (Smackbound), JUKKA PELKONEN (Omnium Gatherum) and ASIM SEARAH (Wintersun / Damnnation Plan) to feat in this powerful and catchy metal hymn.
BLACK SUN plan to release ‘Still Alive’ on January 21st, accompanied by a lyric video.
Spotify Artist Page:
HAMMERFALL have revealed a new version of their beautiful, energetic ballad, “Second to One”, featuring Noora Louhimo of Battle Beast. The original track was featured on HAMMERFALL’s chart-breaking album Dominion, which was released in August 2019 via Napalm Records. Noora Louhimo’s bittersweet vocals compliment Joacim Cans’ equally multifaceted performance, making this duet a true musical highlight of the new year. Beautiful harmonies, emotional storytelling and powerful vocal lines weave throughout the song and will light your way in dark times. The song preaches themes of trusting your instincts and following your own heart, as well as taking time for yourself.
Guitarist Oscar Dronjak on “Second to One”:
“It all started with Joacim suggesting we should try to write a song together with our long time producer James Michael. We went over to Los Angeles for a weekend, not knowing what to expect. Within the first 30 minutes, I played an idea I had for James. He immediately responded with some chords and melodies, and we took it from there. Together, we wrote the music in just a couple of hours and met the next day to just finalize all the details. That’s how fast it can go sometimes when you get a feeling for something and the snowball just starts rolling, and it’s the greatest feeling in the world! The ‘hit-or-miss’ weekend in this case definitely turned out as a hit!”
Singer Joacim Cans on the duet:
“Already during the writing process I had the feeling this song would be perfect as a duet – a sort of modern ‘Ozzy & Lita Ford’. I have had my eye on Battle Beast and Noora Louhimo for quite some time and was blown away by her vocal skills and stage presence. I had a feeling our voices would be a perfect match. When we decided to make the duet idea reality, I just picked up the phone and called Noora who instantly said ‘Hell Yeah!’ Working with Noora was nothing but awesome and we bonded the second we met. Not only is she an extremely talented vocalist, she is also a fantastic human being. The great connection between Noora and I really shows in the video clip for the song.”
Noora Louhimo on the duet and the video shooting:
“I was contacted by Joacim and asked if I wanted to do a duet with him on “Second to One”. My first thought was ‘what an honor’ and that I needed to listen to this song to make my final decision. Once I heard it, I knew it was going to be something special and agreed on the collaboration. I flew to Gothenburg for the sessions and even though I hadn’t met Joacim or the others from Hammerfall before, it felt very natural and easy to work with them. I also agree with Joacim that we hit it off right away and you can see that in the music video how comfortable things were between us. I am so excited to be part of this and to go on tour with them with Battle Beast in the end of January.”
Watch The Emotional Video For “Second to One” here!
The marvelous audiovisual was directed by Patric Ullaeus, who has worked as a director for almost thirty years and has collaborated with numerous bands like In Flames, Europe and Within Temptation over the years.
Digitally Available On All Streaming Platforms TODAY!
The Swedish heavy metal icons and special guest Battle Beast will meet again on the European run of HAMMERFALL’s monumental World Dominion Tour throughout Europe, starting on January 30. Get the 7” vinyl (strictly limited to 750) of “Second to One” including a karaoke version of the track exclusively on tour! Tickets are selling out fast – get yours now!
HAMMERFALL
World Dominion Tour 2020
Europe
w/ Battle Beast, Serious Black
30.01.20 DE – Bremen / Aladin
31.01.20 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle
01.02.20 DE – Osnabrück / Hydepark
02.02.20 DE – Oberhausen / Turbinenhalle
03.02.20 NL – Nijmegen / Doornroosje
05.02.20 BE – Antwerp / TRIX
06.02.20 DE – Saarbrücken / Garage
07.02.20 DE – Munich / Tonhalle
08.02.20 DE – Kaufbeuren / All Kart Halle
09.02.20 IT – Milan / Live Club
11.02.20 DE – Langen / Stadthalle
12.02.20 DE – Leipzig / Werk 2
13.02.20 CZ – Prague / Forum Karlin
14.02.20 DE – Bamberg / Brose Arena
15.02.20 DE – Ludwigsburg / MHP Arena
16.02.20 CH – Pratteln / Z7
18.02.20 PL – Warsaw / Progresja
19.02.20 PL – Krakow / Studio
20.02.20 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra
21.02.20 AT – Graz / Orpheum
22.02.20 AT – Vienna / Gasometer
23.02.20 DE – Berlin / Huxley’s Neue Welt
25.02.20 RU – St Petersburg / Cosmonaut
26.02.20 RU – Moscow / Glavclub
28.02.20 BY – Minsk / RePublic Club
29.02.20 UA – Kiev / Atlas Club
w/ Dragonforce
24.03.20 DK – Odense / Posten
25.03.20 DK – Aarhus / Train
26.03.20 DK – Copenhagen / Amager Bio
27.03.20 SE – Gothenburg / Partille Arena
28.03.20 SE – Stockholm / Annexet
North America
w/ Beast In Black, Edge of Paradise
14.09.20 US – West Palm Beach, FL / Kelsey Theatre
15.09.20 US – Tampa, FL / Orpheum
26.09.20 US – Atlanta, GA / The Masquerade
18.09.20 US – San Antonio, TX / Rock Box
19.09.20 US – Dallas, TX / Trees
20.09.20 US – Houston, TX / Scout Bar
22.09.20 US – Tempe, AZ / Club Red
23.09.20 US – Anaheim, CA / City National Grove
24.09.20 US – Oakland, CA / Oakland Metro
25.09.20 US – Portland, OR / Hawthorne Theatre
26.09.20 US – Seattle, WA / El Corazon
27.09.20 CA – Vancouver, BC / Rickshaw Theatre
29.09.20 CA – Calgary, AB / Dickens
30.09.20 CA – Edmonton, AB / The Starlite Room
02.10.20 US – Salt Lake City, UT / Liquid Joe’s
03.10.20 US – Englewood, CO / Gothic Theater
05.10.20 US – Minneapolis, MN / The Cabooze
06.10.20 US – Racine, WI / Rt 20
07.10.20 US – Chicago, IL / Concord Music Hall
08.10.20 US – Westland, MI / Token Lounge
09.10.20 US – Cincinnati, OH / Riverfront Live
10.10.20 US – Cleveland, OH / Agora Ballroom
11.10.20 CA – Toronto, ON / MOD Club
12.10.20 CA – Montreal, QC / Corona Theatre
13.10.20 CA – Quebec, QC / Imperial
15.10.20 US – Poughkeepsie, NY / The Chance
16.10.20 US – Worcester, MA / The Palladium
17.10.20 US – New York, NY / Gramercy Theatre
18.10.20 US – Philadelphia, PA / Theatre of Living Arts
19.10.20 US – Silver Spring, MD / The Filmore
Dominion is HAMMERFALL’s eleventh studio album and second with Napalm Records, and hit the charts worldwide. Dominion is available as CD, Vinyl, and a limited edition Deluxe Box Set consisting of a digipack, limited 7” light blue vinyl, limited cassette, cover art print, photo cards, patch and sticker.
Order Dominion HERE!
For Canada’s The Metal Voice former Anthrax singer Neil Turbin spoke to Singer Noora Louhimo and guitarist Joona Björkroth from Finland’s BATTLE BEAST. The two talked about their influences, the difference between Europe and America and their musical style.
Watch the interview here:
When asked about Noora Louhimo influences
“If you want to be an artist you have to be good at combining being a vocalist and being an entertainer and that makes you better than someone else. The world is filled with really good singers and really good performers if you can combine the two to make it something bigger.”
When asked how Noora Louhimo joined the band
“I was discovered on YOUTUBE in 2012, the band found me on the recommendations part of Youtube page. The band saw a clip of me signing Janis Joplin on Youtube then they asked me to join the band. I had never sang Heavy Metal before. I used to sing Janis Joplin, Hard Rock Blues, Jazz, Soul Music. Whitney Houston is my first idols, when I first heard her sing the song ‘I will always love you’ it was mind exploding and then I said i want to sing like that. I then started to develop my voice.”
When asked about the difference between touring in North America and Europe
“I think the biggest difference in America is the longer distances between cities and that’s not cheap. Europe is smaller you can book shows far closer to each other. The culture is a also different than in America people are crazy about merchandise in Europe they are not so crazy about merchandise. Europeans don’t go haywire when they see a new band and buy everything. Americans when they see a band they like the say I need 9 shirts and 4 cds, that’s the American way.”
BATTLE BEAST’s fourth album, “Bringer Of Pain”, was released in February 2017 via Nuclear Blast Records.
BATTLE BEAST vocalist Noora Louhimo has crossed the realm of mere mortals into the world of computer games. Having recently recorded the vocals for League Of Legends band PENTAKILL, Noora is proud to announce that Riot Games has created a new skin for her, titled “Pentakill Kayle”. The new skin will be available in League of Legends soon but until then, listen to Noora‘s vocals on the new PENTAKILL track ‘Tear of the Goddess’, over here:
Noora commented:
“I’ve got some exciting and great news for all of you who love League of Legends and PENTAKILL’s music! I’ve had the honor to take part in the new upcoming »Pentakill ll« album as the vocalist on the single ‘Tear of the Goddess’. More amazing news about »Pentakill ll« coming soon!”
‘Tear of the Goddess’ is taken from PENTAKILL‘s forthcoming second album »Grasp of the Undying«. Recorded in the catacombs of the Shadow Isles, the album was engineered and produced by Riot Games in Los Angeles, CA and London, UK; with mixing and mastering duties being handled by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, EPICA, DORO etc.).
Order »Bringer Of Pain« now: http://nblast.de/BBBringerOfPainNB
Order »Bringer Of Pain« digitally or stream it: http://nblast.de/BattleBeastDownloads
Interview by Mohsen “Stargazer” Fayazi
Finnish metallers, BATTLE BEAST, are set to release their 4th studio album, “Bringer Of Pain”, on February 17th through Nuclear Blast Records. I recently had an interview with Noora Louhimo, to speak about their forthcoming album, tour and more news from the band. Several excerpts of this interview can be read below:
To start the chat, I asked Noora how she is feeling about this album:
“Very relieved because we got it done in time and it turned out pretty good, so we are very happy. We hope that everybody is gonna like it, or most of the people are gonna like it, so that we can continue doing this as a job.”
The music style of the band in “Bringer Of Pain” seems to be changed, it sounds more like a pop/rock/metal album than a heavy/power metal one. So I asked her if it was because of the change in the line up, she stated:
In Battle Beast, the thing is to do different kinds of music and not to get stuck in some certain kind of heavy metal style.”
I was interested to know about her personal influences as a vocalist as indeed it is her voice and style of singing that makes this album sounds more like metal music;
“I have a lot of different influences – my first idol was Whitney Houston. For example, Janis Joplin was the reason I found the rasp in my voice and Bruce Dickinson is the reason I wanna do best as a performer on stage. And Ronnie James Dio, his way of interpreting songs is a very good example for me.”
We continued to talk about this album and I asked Noora who is really the bringer of pain?
“Bringer Of Pain is actually a character in the song. I actually created a new fantasy world called Glow It was the easiest song that was born, that is the best situation for songwriting. The character is a female kind of warlord and heiress of the kingdom of the …. and her story will definitely continue on the next album.”
Today, almost everybody is talking about Donald Trump, his comments, decisions …etc. So before finishing this interview I asked Noora‘s opinion about him, her answer as you can read below made me think and become worried, if these new policies of the U.S.A government are going to affect the work of artists around the world who think different;
“Well actually, what I’ve decided, I can’t comment because that can affect the band in a negative way, so I can’t comment about politics or whatever. I’m a very open person and I hope that people are treated equally, no matter the gender or the religion or your skin colour and that is my point of view.”
As the final question, I asked Noora if she has ever felt any discrimination during her career as a female vocalist,
“No, I’ve always been taken very well and people have been very respectful and people have liked that I’m a female singer in a heavy metal band.”
You can listen to the whole of this interview on the audio player below:
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 