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
Recently, Nuclear Blast proudly announced the release of the upcoming first MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST studio album! Along with producer Michael Voss-Schoen, the band recently completed the recordings for the record, entitled “Resurrection”, out on March 2, 2018. Besides Michael Schenker and the three M.S.G. singers Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and Robin McAuley, you can also hear Doogie White (Michael Schenker’s TEMPLE OF ROCK) as well as musicians Steve Mann (guitars, keyboards), Ted McKenna (drums) and Chris Glen (bass). In addition, there are also some guest appearances from Kirk Hammett, Wayne Findlayand Michael Voss-Schoen included.
Today, Michael Schenker is explaining his idea behind the concept of the upcoming album and tells the story of how it came across that all of these singers take part in this project. Watch the trailer, here:
The band has also already released their first digital single ‘Warrior’ as well as a video including some impressions of the studio recording process. Watch this clip, here:
Pre-order “Resurrection” digitally and get ‘Warrior’ instantly or stream the song here.
The album will be available in the following formats:
CD
CD + DVD-DIGI (incl. Bonus-DVD)
CD + DVD-Earbook (incl. Bonus-DVD & extended artwork)
2LP (black in gatefold)
2LP (clear in gatefold)
2LP (clear + red splatter in gatefold, NUCLEAR BLAST MAILORDER EXCLUSIVE!)
2LP (gold in gatefold, NUCLEAR BLAST MAILORDER EXCLUSIVE!)
BOX (DIGI + Flying V Replica + photo card)
Tracklists:
CD
01. Heart And Soul
02. Warrior
03. Take Me To The Church
04. Night Moods
05. The Girl With The Stars In Her Eyes
06. Everest
07. Messin’ Around
08. Time Knows When It´s Time
09. Anchors Away
10. Salvation
11. Livin‘ A Life Worth Livin‘
12. The Last Supper
2LP (33 RPM)
Side A
01. Heart And Soul
02. Warrior
03. Take Me To The Church
04. Night Moods
Side B
01. The Girl With The Stars In Her Eyes
02. Everest
03. Messin’ Around
04. Time Knows When It´s Time
Side C
01. Anchors Away
02. Salvation
03. Livin’ A Life Worth Livin’
04. The Last Supper
Bonus DVD
01. Warrior (video clip)
02. Michael Schenker Fest – The Documentation
03. Michael Schenker Fest – Interview
04. Michael Schenker Fest at Loudpark 2017
MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST LIVE 2018
featuring 3 original M.S.G. singers Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and Robin McAuley plus Doogie White (ex-RAINBOW, Michael Schenker’s TEMPLE OF ROCK)
03/06 USA Silver Springs, MD – The Fillmore
03/07 USA Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Music Hall
03/09 USA Boston, MA – Berklee Performance Center
03/10 USANew York, NY – Irving Plaza 03/11USA Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
03/12 CDN Montreal, QC – Club Soda
03/14 USA Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
03/16 USA Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
03/17 USA Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
03/18 USA Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
03/19 USA Minneapolis, MN – Cabooze
03/22 USA Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
03/24 USA San Jose, CA – Events Center
03/25 USA Anaheim, CA – The Grove 03/26USAPhoenix, AZ – Marquee Theatre
03/27 USA Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
03/29 USA Denver, CO – Cervantes Ballroom
03/31 USA San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center
04/01 USA Dallas, TX – Bomb Factory
04/03 USA Tampa, FL – The Ritz
Michael Schenker is one of the most significant rock guitarists in the history of music. He has mesmerised the rock community since the 70’s with his characteristic guitar play and constructed himself a monument during his time in UFO by writing hits like ‘Doctor Doctor’ and ‘Rock Bottom’, as well as SCORPIONS classics such as ‘Lovedrive’, ‘Coast To Coast’ and ‘Holiday’, among others. His playing has influenced several generations of guitar players enormously.
Back in 1979, the “German Wunderkind” decided to be his own boss. He founded the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP aka M.S.G. and released the masterpieces »Assault Attack« and »Built To Destroy«, the live legacy »One Night At Budokan« as well as the McAULEY SCHENKER GROUP pearls »Perfect Timing« and »Save Yourself«. M.S.G. also became the home of great vocalists, most notably Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet (ex-RAINBOW etc.) and Robin McAuley. Those guys were also a part of the comprehensive MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST, whose celebrated Tokyo show was released as live CD, DVD and Blu-ray this March recently passed. Now the time has come for Michael Schenker to move another step forward: by releasing the new MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST studio album, he fulfils the long-awaited dream of all hard rock fans!
The war rages on! Old school death metallers, MEMORIAM, are set to unleash their second album, “The Silent Vigil”, on March 23rd, 2018 through Nuclear Blast Records. Just one year after the release of debut album “For The Fallen”, the band returns with an authentic, raw flood of old school Death Metal destruction!
The album’s impressive artwork was created again by Dan Seagrave (BENEDICTION, DISMEMBER, HYPOCRISY, SUFFOCATION,…).
MEMORIAM stated on the cover artwork: “Following the success of working with Dan Seagrave for our debut album For the Fallen, we decided that we had to get Dan involved for the next album cover.
Initially we used Dan as we were all very impressed with the art that he has created for bands over the decades and Scott in particular wanted to have an album cover designed by Dan Seagrave, as part of the things he wanted to achieve with Memoriam.
Dan really encapsulates the Old School Death Metal feel to the album covers that he creates; they are full of detail and very atmospheric. We gave him a brief for the For the Fallen debut cover and he did a great job.
We briefed Dan and asked him to create an image which followed on from the first album; the first album features a funeral procession, the coffin of the fallen leader paraded across an ethereal battle scarred landscape.
The Silent Vigil represents the next phase of the journey where the coffin is lying in state with the followers standing in silence almost like terracotta soldiers. The cover has an overall solemn feel to it, with the ravaged landscape in the background and burnt out wrecks of military hardware in the foreground.
The tree in the centre of the album cover is symbolic of life – that continues on.
We are really pleased with what Dan Seagrave has created for us once again and we are proud to have his artwork on our album cover.
We already have an idea for the next album cover and we hope that Dan will be able to do this for us too.”
“The Silent Vigil” – Tracklisting:
1. Soulless Parasite
2. Nothing Remains
3. From the Flames
4. The Silent Vigil
5. Bleed The Same
6. As Bridges Burn
7. The New Dark Ages
8. No Known Grave
9. Weaponised Fear
MEMORIAM was primarily developed to fill the void that was left following the tragic death of Martin “Kiddie” Kearns, the drummer from BOLT THROWER, back in September 2015. BOLT THROWER subsequently placed all activity on hold for the foreseeable future which gave Karl Willetts an opportunity to develop a new project with friends that had expressed interest in forming a band for some time. MEMORIAM are an old school death metal band, maintaining the high standards set by their previous bands, focusing on the themes of death, loss and war. Initially the band members got together to play covers of songs that had influenced them throughout their careers within the death metal scene, however it soon became apparent that the new songs that they created were of a superior standard.
MEMORIAM are: Karl Willetts – ex-BOLT THROWER | vocals Frank Healy – BENEDICTION, SACRILEGE | bass Andy Whale – ex-BOLT THROWER | drums Scott Fairfax – ex-LIFE DENIED, BENEDICTION (live) | guitars
On February 2nd, symphonic metal pioneers THERION will finally release Christofer Johnsson‘s monumental brainchild “Beloved Antichrist” a sweeping rock opera loosely inspired by Vladímir Soloviov’s “A Short Tale Of The Antichrist”. The entire piece reaches an impressive length of 3 hours. The dramatic and epic opus comes to life through 27 different character roles, performed by long-time band members like Thomas Vikström, Lori Lewis and Chiara Malvestiti, amongst many others. The band will unveil the first excerpt from “Beloved Antichrist“in single form before Christmas – and today, they present the cover artwork designed by Thomas Ewerhart, as well as the tracklisting:
THERION presents “Beloved Antichrist”
Act I
01. Turn From Heaven
02. Where Will You Go?
03. Through Dust, Through Rain
04. Signs Are Here
05. Never Again
06. Bring Her Home
07. The Solid Black Beyond
08. The Crowning Of Splendour
09. Morning Has Broken
10. Garden Of Peace
11. Our Destiny
12. Anthem
13. The Palace Ball
14. Jewels From Afar
15. Hail Caesar!
16. What Is Wrong?
17. Nothing But My Name
Act II
01. The Arrival Of Apollonius
02. Pledging Loyalty
03. Night Reborn
04. Dagger Of God
05. Temple Of New Jerusalem
06. The Lions Roar
07. Bringing The Gospel
08. Laudate Dominum
09. Remaining Silent
10. Behold Antichrist
11. Cursed By The Fallen
12. Resurrection
13. To Where I Weep
14. Astral Sophia
15. Thy Will Be Done!
Act III
01. Shoot Them Down!
02. Beneath The Starry Skies
03. Forgive Me
04. The Wasteland Of My Heart
05. Burning The Palace
06. Prelude To War
07. Day Of Wrath
08. Rise To War
09. Time Has Come/Final Battle
10. My Voyage Carries On
11. Striking Darkness
12. Seeds Of Time
13. To Shine Forever
14. Theme Of Antichrist
Currently, THERION are working on the possibility of bringing the entire production to the stage. And while this monumental undertaking still simmers away in the production halls, the band has announced a pan-European tour taking them to 25 (!) different countries, where they will perform some new and some classic THERION hits. Catch the symphonic metal titans on one of the the dates of their pan-European tour:
THERION
w/ IMPERIAL AGE and NULL POSITIV
01.02. D Essen – Turock*
02.02. NL Amsterdam – Melkweg*
03.02. UK London – Islington Assembly*
04.02. UK Manchester – Rebellion*
06.02. UK Newcastle – Riverside*
07.02. UK Aberdeen – The Assembly*
08.02. UK Glasgow – Audio*
09.02. UK Sheffield – Corporation*
10.02. UK Belfast – Limelight*
11.02. IRL Dublin – Tivoli*
13.02. UK Bristol – Bierkeller*
14.02. UK Birmingham – o2 Institute*
15.02. B Kortrijk – De Kreun*
16.02. F Paris – Le Trabendo*
17.02. CH Pratteln – Z7*
18.02. F Lyon – Ninkasi Kao*
20.02. E Bilbao – Santana 27*
21.02. P Porto – Hard Club*
22.02. P Lisbon – Lisboa ao Vivo*
23.02. E Sevilla – Sala Custom*
24.02. E Madrid – Sala Mon Live*
25.02. E Barcelona – Razzmatazz 2*
27.02. F TBA**
28.02. F Marseille – Espace Julien**
01.03. I Brescia – Circolo Colony**
02.03. I Rome – Orion**
03.03. I Bologna – Zona Roveri**
04.03. SLO Ljubljana – Kino Siska**
05.03. HR Zagreb – Tvornica**
06.03. SRB Belgrade – Dom Omladine**
08.03. GR Thessaloniki – Principal Club Theater**
09.03. GR Athens – Piraeus 117 Academy**
10.03. BG Sofia – Mixtape 5**
11.03. RO Bucharest – Arenele Romane**
13.03. H Budapest – Barba Negra**
14.03. SK Bratislava – Majestic Music Club**
15.03. CZ Prague – Meetfactory**
16.03. PL Wroclaw – A2**
17.03. PL Warsaw – Progresja**
18.03. PL Gdansk – B90**
20.03. LT Vilnius – Rock River Club**
21.03. LV Riga – Melna Piektdiena***
22.03. EST Tallinn – Club Tapper***
23.03. FIN Helsinki – Nosturi***
24.03. FIN Jyväskylä – Luttako***
25.03. FIN Tampere – Olympia-Kortteli***
27.03. S Stockholm – Klubben***
28.03. S Gothenburg – Brewhouse***
29.03. D Bremen – Tivoli****
30.03. D Berlin – Bi-Nuu****
31.03. D Flensburg – Roxy****
01.04. D Cologne – Jungle****
03.04. D Munich – Backstage****
04.04. F Charmes – Rock ’n’ Roll Stage****
05.04. D Jena – F-Haus****
06.04. B Bomal-Sur-Ourthe- Durbuy Rock****
07.04. NL Tilburg – 013****
*w/ MIDNIGHT ETERNAL
**w/ THE DEVIL
***w/ ENEMY OF REALITY
****w/ ACYL
10.04. IL Tel Aviv – Barby Club
12.04. RUS Moscow – GlavClub Green Concert
13.04. RUS St. Petersburg – Zal Ozhidaniya
15.04. UA Kiev – Sentrum
PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS, led by the legendary long time MOTÖRHEAD guitarist, have released the third episode of the official studio diary for their upcoming debut album, “The Age Of Absurdity”. Check it out here:
Recently the band has announced the dates of their upcoming European headline run.
PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS – live
Feb 27, 2018 Netherlands Haarlem Patronaat
Feb 28, 2018 Netherlands Hengelo Metropool
Mar 01, 2018 Netherlands Uden De Pul
Mar 02, 2018 Belgium Hasselt Muziekodroom
Mar 03, 2018 Denmark Aarhus Voxhall
Mar 05, 2018 Germany Hamburg Logo
Mar 06, 2018 Germany Berlin Bi Nuu
Mar 07, 2018 Germany Frankfurt Das Bett
Mar 08, 2018 Germany Siegburg Kubana
Mar 09, 2018 Germany Mannheim 7er Club
Mar 10, 2018 Germany Munich Strom
Mar 12, 2018 Switzerland Solothurn Kofmehl
Mar 16, 2018 Italy Rome Jailbreak Club
Mar 17, 2018 Italy Pavia Dagda Club
Mar 18, 2018 Italy San Dona (Nr Venice) Revolver Club
The band will also appear at Matapaloz Festival 2018 on June 23, taking place at Leipziger Messe, Germany.
The album is now available for pre-order in various formats (CD, CD + tote bag and signed photo card as well as on black, white/red bi coloured and clear vinyl – see images of all products below) at this location.
“The Age Of Absurdity” was recorded at Rockfield Studios and Longwave Studios in Wales and produced, engineered and mixed by Romesh Dodangoda and mastered at legendary Abbey Road Studios in London.
“The Age Of Absurdity” will feature 11 tracks + 1 bonus track (see tracklist below) and will be released on January 26, 2018 via Nuclear Blast.
“The Age Of Absurdity” Tracklist
01. Ringleader
02. Freak Show
03. Skin And Bones
04. Gypsy Kiss
05. Welcome To Hell
06. Dark Days
07. Dropping The Needle
08. Step Into The Fire
09. Get On Your Knees
10. High Rule
11. Into The Dark
————————-
12. Silver Machine (HAWKWIND cover feat. Dave Brock of HAWKWIND)* *=only to be included on the CD version of the album More info on PCATBS: Phil Campbell was the lead guitarist in MOTÖRHEAD for 32 years. He has toured the world, sold millions of albums and headlined the biggest festivals. Phil has a passion for music and it is this passion that has led to the formation of PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS.
The band is unique as it features Phil‘s 3 sons on drums, bass and guitar. The band is completed by Vocalist Neil Starr.
Line-up:
Phil Campbell – Guitar
Todd Campbell – Guitar
Dane Campbell – Drums
Tyla Campbell – Bass
Neil Starr – Vocals
Michael Schenker is one of the most significant rock guitarists in the history of music. He has mesmerised the rock community since the 70’s with his characteristic guitar play and constructed himself a monument during his time in UFO by writing hits like ‘Doctor Doctor’ and ‘Rock Bottom‘, as well as SCORPIONS classics such as ‘Lovedrive‘, ‘Coast To Coast’ and ‘Holiday‘, among others. His playing has influenced several generations of guitar players enormously.
Back in 1979, the “German Wunderkind” decided to be his own boss. He founded the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP aka M.S.G. and released the masterpieces “Assault Attack” and “Built To Destroy”, the live legacy “One Night At Budokan” as well as the McAULEY SCHENKER GROUP pearls “Perfect Timing” and “Save Yourself”. M.S.G. also became the home of great vocalists, most notably Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet (ex-RAINBOW etc.) and Robin McAuley. Those guys were also a part of the comprehensive MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST, whose celebrated Tokyo show was released as live CD, DVD and Blu-ray this March recently passed.
Now the time has come for Michael Schenker to move another step forward: he fulfils the long-awaited dream of all hard rock fans by announcing a new MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST studio album. Along with producer Michael Voss-Schoen, the band recently completed the recordings for the record, entitled “Resurrection”, out on March 2, 2018, on Nuclear Blast Records. Besides Michael Schenker and the three M.S.G. singers Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and Robin McAuley, you can also hear Doogie White (Michael Schenker’s TEMPLE OF ROCK) as well as musicians Steve Mann (guitars, keyboards), Ted McKenna (drums) and Chris Glen (bass). In addition, there are also some guest appearances from Kirk Hammett, Wayne Findlay and Michael Voss-Schoen included.
Today, the band releases their new digital single ‘Warrior’ as well as a video including some impressions of the studio recording process. Watch this clip, here:
‘Warrior’ is one of two album tracks on which all of the four lead singers appear. It was composed by Michael Schenker, the lyrics were written by Michael Voss-Schoen.
“When Michael Voss-Schoen showed me his lyrical and vocals ideas, it instantly came to my mind that all four singers should be involved”, Michael Schenker looks back and adds: “I’m really fascinated by the result. It’s really interesting how the different voices complement each other. ‘Warrior’ is really heavy but at the same time ear-friendly and catchy!”
“Michael Schenker played the basic riff of the track to me and I immediately had the expression ‘Warrior’ pop into my mind. On the next day, the first raw version of the song was created; my vision was to let the four voices sound like the four musketeers!” comments Michael Voss-Schoen.
MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST – Tour Dates 2018:
MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST
featuring 3 original M.S.G. singers Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and Robin McAuley plus Doogie White (ex-RAINBOW, Michael Schenker’s TEMPLE OF ROCK)
03/06 USA Silver Springs, MD – The Fillmore
03/07 USA Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Music Hall
03/09 USA Boston, MA – Berklee Performance Center
03/10 USA New York, NY – Irving Plaza
03/11 USA Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
03/12 CDN Montreal, QC – Club Soda
03/14 USA Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
03/16 USA Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
03/17 USA Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
03/18 USA Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
03/19 USA Minneapolis, MN – Cabooze
03/22 USA Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
03/24 USA San Jose, CA – Events Center
03/25 USA Anaheim, CA – The Grove
03/26 USA Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theatre
03/27 USA Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
03/29 USA Denver, CO – Cervantes Ballroom
03/31 USA San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center
04/01 USA Dallas, TX – Bomb Factory
04/03 USA Tampa, FL – The Ritz
