Swedish doom metallers AVATARIUM‘s highly-praised new dark gospel “The Fire I Long For” (soundcheck winner at Metal Hammer (D) and Rock Hard (D) as well as “Album of the Month” at Metal Hammer (PL) and Rock Hard (F) among others), saw the light of day last week via Nuclear Blast. Today the outfit has launched a new album trailer, in which guitarist Marcus Jidell talks about some of his musical main sources of inspiration. Watch the video below:
“The Fire I Long For” is available in the following formats:
– limited digipak
– black vinyl in sleeve
– white vinyl in sleeve (NB mailorder and wholesale exclusive)
– golden vinyl in sleeve (NB mailorder exclusive)
– digital
More on “The Fire I Long For”:
‘Rubicon’ OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO:
‘Voices’ OFFICIAL VISUALIZER:
‘Lay Me Down’ OFFICIAL ACOUSTIC VIDEO:
Album Trailer #1 – ‘Rubicon’:
Album Trailer #2 – The 100 Year Old Guitar:
“The Fire I Long For” – Track Listing:
01. Voices
02. Rubicon
03. Lay Me Down
04. Porcelain Skull
05. Shake That Demon
06. Great Beyond
07. The Fire I Long For
08. Epitaph Of Heroes
09. Stars They Move
Only two years after taking fans by storm with »Hurricanes And Halos,« the Swedes are back with a new offering that sees them return to their epic doom roots, whilst also paying their respects to rock legends such as RAINBOW, LED ZEPPELIN and THE DOORS.
AVATARIUM live:
w/ PRINS SVART
10.01. S Stockholm – Nalen
11.01. S Gothenburg – Pustervik
AVATARIUM is:
Jennie-Ann Smith | vocals Marcus Jidell | guitar Andreas “Habo” Johansson | drums Rickard Nilsson | organ Mats Rydström | live bass
Victor Smolski’s ALMANAC are pleased to announce the next piece of big news for the band – that their third studio album “Rush Of Death” will be released on 06.03.2020 via Nuclear Blast. The epic cover artwork has also been revealed today.
Victor has made a statement regarding the news: “The new ALMANAC line-up has been working out very well indeed, and following on from our latest headline tour and festival run in Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia and Korea, it seemed the perfect time to enter the studio. I spent a lot of time on the song writing and I contemplated a lot on what has influenced my style throughout my thirty plus year career. There’s the hard riffing in tracks like “Unity”and “Soundchaser”of RAGE, bombastic orchestration in “Suite Lingua Mortis”, plus the versatile vocal parts and crazy solos in Lingua Mortis Orchestra. You can find all these influences on the new ALMANAC album “Rush Of Death“, which some people might find surprisinglyheavy.It is a very guitar-intensive record which consists of two parts: one half with energetic metal songs without orchestration, and the other half (no less harder!) contains an epic “Suite Lingua Mortis Part 2” recorded with the same symphony orchestra as the original Part 1 of “Speak Of The Dead” by RAGE. Album guests Frank Beck of GAMMA RAY and Marcel Junker have enriched the vocals with their versatile range of singing. Lyrically, we’ve remained true to ourselves and have researched the history thoroughly. As an adrenaline junkie, I found that the theme of “gladiators” has tied in very well with the songs, but this time, we transferred the issue to the present – portraying racing drivers as modern gladiators. I’m very familiar with the dangers of being behind the steering wheel: with eleven 24 hour Nürburgring races under my belt, including various victories, but also fails, I have already fought many hard fights. We as a band also took ourselves to the limit in the studio, staying true to the motto: “pedal to the metal!”
ALMANAC won’t be resting on their laurels with live shows either – they’re set to present tracks from “Rush Of Death” to fans in spring 2020, when the band joins the Finnish Horror Metal maniacs LORDI on their European tour.
Headliner Shows:
01.02. D Hamm – HoppeGarden
15.02. D Dusseldorf – Pitcher
29.02. D Bocholt – Alte Molkerei
“KillecTour 2020” w/ LORDI
05.03. F Epinal – Souris Verte
06.03. F Paris – La Machine du Moulin Rouge
07.03. NL Sneek – Bolwerk
10.03. D Munich – Backstage
12.03. D Hamburg – Markthalle
13.03. D Berlin – Kesselhaus
14.03. D Leipzig – Hellraiser
15.03. D Stuttgart – LKA
18.03. D Aschaffenburg – Colos Saal
19.03. D Nuremberg – Hirsch
20.03. D Memmingen – Kaminwerk
21.03. D Regensburg – Eventhalle Airport
22.03. CZ Prague – Roxy
25.03 D Cologne – Essigfabrik
26.03. CH Pratteln – Z7
27.03. D Heidelberg – Hallo 02
28.03. CH Schaffhausen – Kammgarn
29.03. NL Amstelveen – P 60
ALMANAC documented their time in the studio with several clips. Check them out here:
L-R: Henrik “GG6” Englund Wilhelmsson, Olof Mörck, Angela Gossow (Kult Management), Morten Løwe Sørensen, Elize Ryd, Johan Andreassen, Marcus Hammer (Nuclear Blast, Managing Director), Nils Molin – Photo Credit: Jenny Milz
Today, Nuclear Blast is very pleased to announce the signing of modern metal outfit AMARANTHE. The Swedish/Danish six-piece is currently working on their 6th studio album, which will tentatively be unleashed in 2020. More big announcements are currently in the pipeline, stay tuned!
AMARANTHE‘s Olof Mörck states, “It feels amazing to unveil our cooperation with the giants at Nuclear Blast! Ever since we held our shiny new Nuclear Blast CD’s in our teenage hands back in the mid-90’s, they have been at the forefront of bringing the best of the best to the metal scene, and to have them as partners is a dream come true! They are not only massively experienced in the metal scene, but also wonderful people and it has been a pleasure getting to know them. We are already nailing down great plans for the future, and things are looking brighter and stronger for AMARANTHE than ever! Keep your eyes open for our next leap forward together in the near future!”
Marcus Hammer, Managing Director of Nuclear Blast, adds, “We’re more than happy to welcome AMARANTHE and Kult Management to the Nuclear Blast family. I’ve already been following the group for a while as they were touring with some of their new label mates. Being both great musicians and humans, that have a clear vision and are supported by an experienced team in the back, it was a no-brainer to try to win this outstanding band for our roster. Now we’re stoked to be the new partner at their side pursuing one goal: adding a successful next chapter to their already shiny career. The future looks bright for both, AMARANTHE and Nuclear Blast.”
With their foundations tracing back to 2008, the group have released 5 albums since then (2011’s »Amaranthe,« 2013’s »The Nexus,« 2014’s »Massive Addictive, « 2016’s »Maximalism, « and 2018’s »Helix«), consistently delivering hauntingly catchy tunes led by their unique three-part vocals. Within their arsenal of hit singles – with ‘Drop Dead Cynical’ leading right at the front – a myriad tracks have been received very well via press and fans alike; having also gained countless plays on both radio stations around the globe and across streaming services (the group’s songs have been streamed more than 100 million times on Spotify). A string of support tours have blazed AMARANTHE‘s trail in front of huge crowds as well as at their own headline concerts (the group impressively once performed in front of 10,000 fans at Liseberg, Gothenburg). They have kept working incredibly hard over the years, the latest product of which culminated in the form of »Helix,« which achieved them some of their highest chart positions in the band’s history (Switzerland #21, Germany #29 etc.).
Before AMARANTHE enter the studio once again, the sextet will embark on their Scandinavian »Helix« tour in November 2019, followed by a support tour with Swedish metal giants SABATON alongside Finnish cello metallers APOCALYPTICA set to take place early next year (incl. 5 recently unveiled headline dates in between). All dates can be found below!
Be sure to follow the band on Spotify & YouTube to not miss any of their upcoming releases!
German thrash titans DESTRUCTION are set to unleash their 17th studio album, “Born to Perish”, on August 9th, 2019 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Today, the band releases the second single entitled, ‘Betrayal’.
The official video clip can be seen here:
Video directed by Achilleas Gatsopoulos for Hypnagogia Films | www.hypnagogia.com
Filmed in June 2019 in Berlin/Germany & Basel/Switzerland
Director Achilleas Gatsopoulos states: ” It was my honor to be entrusted by such a historic band to create a fresh visual aesthetic for their new album. It was important for me to strip things down and start with the basic raw and powerful visual elements that derive from their trademark logo: Sharp angular shapes, high contrast and a monochromatic color palette of red, black and white. Inspired by Dario Argento’s horror masterpiece SUSPIRIA as well as by the existential portraits of Francis Bacon and mythology, we create a dark tableaus of archetypal forms of betrayal: Two-faced/deceit, Back-stabbing, Infidelity, Garden of Eden, Wartime Snitch and we close with none other than the iconic Kiss of Judas. It was an immense pleasure to work with the guys and I am really looking forward to next time. ‘Til then, enjoy the audiovisual onslaught that is BETRAYAL.”
Frontman Schmier adds: “This is maybe my fave song from the new album cause of it´s classic thrash feel and the very catchy chorus. Randy is all guns blazing here and Mike & Damir have an awesome solo battle! “We all have our experience with BETRAYAL and wanted an emotional, atmospheric and different video!”
The tracklisting of “Born to Perish”
01. Born To Perish
02. Inspired By Death
03. Betrayal
04. Rotten
05. Filthy Wealth
06. Butchered For Life
07. Tyrants Of The Netherworld
08. We Breed Evil
09. Fatal Flight 17
10. Ratcatcher
Bonus:
11. Hellbound
The recordings for “Born To Perish” took place from January to March 2019 in the Little Creek Studio in Switzerland under the aegis of long time intimate VO Pulver.
The stunning cover artwork was created by acclaimed artist Gyula from Hungary, who has also created artwork for ANNIHILATOR, GRAVE DIGGER, STRATOVARIUS, TANKARD and many more.
The brand-new line-up featuring the Canadian drum animal Randy Black and Swiss shred-master Damir Eskić, together with veterans Schmier and Mike, is here to bring you musical destruction. This is a new chapter in the long, impressive history of the band.
Tour dates:
07. – 10.08. CZ Jaroměř – Brutal Assault
08. – 10.08. D Schlotheim – Party.San Open Air
16.08. BG Varna – Rock Fest
31.08. A Breitenstein – Metal Escalation Festival
“Killfest 2019 – Part II” w/ OVERKILL, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
12.09. P Porto – Hard Club
13.09. E Madrid – La Riviera
14.09. E Barcelona – Salamandra
17.09. D Saarbrücken – Garage
18.09. D Nuremberg – Hirsch
19.09. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
22.09. D Herford – X
23.09. D Wiesbaden – Schlachthof
24.09. B Antwerp – Trix
08./09.11. D Weissenhäusser Strand/Ostsee – Metal Hammer Paradise
07.12. D Balingen – Crazy X-Mas
L-R: Yorck Eysel (Nuclear Blast | Managing Director), Philipp Adelsberger (Nuclear Blast | Promotion), Luca Turilli (Turilli / Lione RHAPSODY), Markus Wosgien (Nuclear Blast | Head Of Promotion/A&R), Fabio Lione (Turilli / Lione RHAPSODY), Daniel Regan (Feat First Management) // Photo Credit: Frank Wilkens
Turilli / Lione RHAPSODY – featuring original RHAPSODY members Luca Turilli and Fabio Lione, completed by former RHAPSODY members Dominique Leurquin, Patrice Guers and Alex Holzwarth – have signed to Nuclear Blast and King Records (Japan & rest of Asia) for the release of their debut album. The band is currently mixing the album which is set to be released this summer.
Fabio comments, “I just listened to the first mixes and I have no words to describe what we have been able to achieve. The result is from ‘another planet’ and finally we have reached what we always wanted through great ideas, songs and the hard work of everybody involved, I have been able to deliver the performance I have always dreamt about for this kind of music. The album is almost ready, and we are so proud and excited to be working together with Nuclear Blast and King Records for Asia for the release of it. An album like this deserves the best and strongest record label in metal and we expect them to give the upcoming album the attention and love it deserves. I’m sure people will love our new songs!”
Adds Nuclear Blast A&R/Head Of Promotion Markus Wosgien, “Having this band and our beloved friends Luca Turilli and Fabio Lione on Nuclear Blast is a matter of the heart. Our working relationship with them already goes back a decade, when they signed their first deal with us in 2009, followed by the album »The Frozen Tears Of Angels«. My personal relationship with them goes back to 1995, when I got the demo tape »Eternal Glory« from their manager at that time, Limb. I became a fan right from day one, and during the years our paths crossed several times, which led us to becoming friends. It was a question of time about working together and I am more than happy and proud, that we renew our deal for this new chapter in their career, which a year ago wasn’t to be expected. This upcoming new album from Luca and Fabio is simply amazing, they enter a new era and reinforce once again what it means to be true visionaries. You can feel in every single note, that it is coming from the bottom of their hearts. It feels good to see them being reunited both as friends and musicians. And I am proud, that Nuclear Blast keeps on being the partner at their side, building a strong alliance. If your idols become close friends and you trust each other, you’re in the best position possible for the future.”
In support of the album, the band setup a crowdfunding campaign to finance the recordings of the album, through which they collected an overwhelming amount of €60,000 from their loyal and dedicated fanbase.
Turilli / Lione RHAPSODY live:
05.07. E Barcelona – Rock Fest
09.07. H Dunaújváros – Rockmaraton
11.07. CZ Vizovice – Masters of Rock
German power metal generators, HELLOWEEN announce the re-issues of two of their classic albums to be released on April 19th: The legendary double-album “Keeper Of The Seven Keys: The Legacy” (2005), including the singles ‘Mrs. God’ and ‘Light The Universe’ feat. Candice Night, and the album “Gambling With The Devil” (2007) including the singles ‘As Long As I Fall’ and ‘Find My Freedom’.
The albums will be available in the following formats:
“Keeper Of The Seven Keys: The Legacy”:
2CD + 2LP
CD1:
01. The King For A 1000 Years
02. The Invisible Man
03. Born On Judgment Day
04. Pleasure Drone
05. Mrs. God
06. Silent Rain
CD2:
01. Occasion Avenue
02. Light The Universe
03. Do You Know What You’re Fighting For?
04. Come Alive
05. The Shade In The Shadow
06. Get It Up
07. My Life For One More Day
Bonus:
08. Run (The Name Of Your Enemy)
09. Revolution
“Gambling With The Devil”:
CD + 2LP
CD
01. Crack The Riddle
02. Kill It
03. The Saints
04. As Long As I Fall
05. Paint A New World
06. Final Fortune
07. The Bells Of The 7 Hells
08. Fallen To Pieces
09. I.M.E.
10. Can Do It
11. Dreambound
12. Heaven Tells No Lies
Bonus:
13. Find My Freedom
14. We Unite
15. See The Night
16. Never Surrender
Get the new single here: 
