New Shockwaves Skullsessions Podcast episode #65, hosted by Bob Nalbandian, is now online, and features Megaforce Records Chief Jon Zazula along with Raven bassist/vocalist John Gallagher regarding Jon Z’s new audio book HEAVY TALES: The Metal. The Madness. The Music.
Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon for The Metal Voice recently spoke to NWOBHM band Raven’s singer/ Bassist John Gallagher about Motorhead Day plus news about Raven’s up and coming studio album. The interview was done on Zoom via Youtube Live on May 8 2020.
Can you give us an update on their up and coming new studio album
“We have had this pain in the ass process of getting this new album together, with just about every hurdle and impediment that got got in the way of it. However it will be coming out September 2020 and we would like to have one single out beforehand probably around July 2020. It will blow a lot of people’s minds.”
Musical Direction of the new album?
“I guess you can take the live album we put out last year and that points to where the new studio album will be, it’s an introduction to what we will be dealing with on this new studio album. It’s fast, it’s crazy a lot of insane playing on it and we really went balls out on it all the way through. So far people who have heard it are saying, are you F$$$ kidding me? ”
Is the new album in the can and ready to go or just demos?
“The album is in the can and ready to go just a few odds and sods to clean up like getting the artwork stuff together but ya it’s ready to rock.”
Which album in the Raven back catalog would you compare it to?
“It’s basically if time traveled to 1982 when we were doing the album after ‘Wiped Out’continuing in that vein. There are a couple of really really fast songs. its opens up with a killer one called ‘The Power’, then a fast one called ‘Human Race’ and there is an epic song called ‘When worlds collide’ and some good rock and roll Raven style songs as well. ”
RAVEN’s latest album, “ExtermiNation”, was released in April 2015 via SPV/Steamhammer
On October 13, 2018, American alternative metal artist Melissa VanFleet released her highly anticipated and hauntingly spellbinding new project “Ode To The Dark”, available now at all major digital retailers.
“Ode To The Dark” was recorded in February 2017 at BRX Studio in Milan with the team behind Italian gothic metal band LACUNA COIL‘s 2016 album Delirium – bassist/producer Marco Coti Zelati with engineers Marco Barusso (Thirty Seconds To Mars, Coldplay), Dario Valentini and Marco D’Agostino – and features guest musician Douglas Blair of W.A.S.P. on lead guitar.
From the opening song “Raven”, released last year as a single to underground critical acclaim, to the liberating and transformative closing title track, “Ode To The Dark” consistently showcases VanFleet’s emotionally intense signature vocal delivery and powerful songwriting ability accompanied by Coti Zelati’s atmospherically dark orchestration and trademark bass tone.
Watch “Ode To The Dark Part I: RAVEN” Official Trailer here:
About Melissa: A vocalist and musician who crafts dark songs with haunting melodies and intense messages, Melissa VanFleet brings a true singer/songwriter element to alternative metal music. She has powerfully and effectively established her own unique sound by presenting her signature vocal prowess at the forefront while incorporating her classical and orchestral influences with heavy, melancholic undertones.
Watch below a special unplugged version of “Raven”:
On October 13, 2017, American alt-metal artist MELISSA VANFLEET released her highly anticipated and hauntingly compelling new single, “Raven”, available now at all major digital retailers.
The single was recorded in February 2017 at BRX Studio in Milan with the team behind Italian gothic metal band LACUNA COIL‘s critically acclaimed 2016 album Delirium – bassist/producer Marco “Maki” Coti-Zelati with engineers Marco Barusso (Thirty Seconds To Mars, Coldplay), Dario Valentini and Marco D’Agostino – and features guest musician Douglas Blair (W.A.S.P.) on lead guitar.
Blending atmospherically dark orchestration with heavy, melodic guitars and Coti-Zelati’s trademark bass tone, the soaring “Raven” showcases VanFleet’s emotionally intense signature vocal delivery and powerful songwriting ability, establishing her as an artist to watch.
As previously announced the New Haven based metal titans DEAD BY WEDNESDAY will kick off the EMP Label Group U.S. Tour, alongside RAVEN, on August 17th in Clifton Park, NY. See below the complete tour trek.
In celebration of the upcoming tour, DEAD BY WEDNESDAY have released a brand new song/lyric video, “Darwin’s Dance”, an example of what’s to come on the band’s upcoming full-length album. Watch “Darwin’s Dance” here:
“Darwin’s Dance” will be available for download via iTunes, Amazon, Spotify very soon. For now, the track is available for a limited time on Bandcamp, featuring the “pay your own price” option.
DEAD BY WEDNESDAY vocalist Rob Roy says: “We are super pumped to unleash our new tune “Darwin’s Dance” to the masses but better yet even more stoked to be touring as direct support to British metal legends Raven! Can’t wait to hear some of their road stories and I’m sure we’ll be learning a thing or two from them as well.”
Tour dates:
August
17 – Trickshots – Clifton Park, NY
18 – Jewel Nightclub – Manchester, NH
19 – AxeFest 2017@The Outer Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT
20 – The Brighton Bar – Long Branch, NJ
22 – The Riffhouse – Chesapeake, VA
23 – The Pour House Music Hall – Raleigh, NC
24 – Ground Zero – Spartanburg, SC
25 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA
26 – The Basement – Nashville, TN
27 – Twist of Lime – Metairie, LA
30 – Gold Bar – San Antonio, TX
31 – Texas Mist – Austin, TX
September
1 – Diamond Jim’s Saloon – Arlington, TX
2 – The Vanguard – Tulsa, OK
3 – Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
4 – Madison Live! – Covington, KY
5 – Empire Concert Club & Bar – Akron, OH
6 – Black Circle Brewing Co. – Indianapolis, IN
7 – Full Terror Assault Open Air III 2017 – Cave-In-Rock, IL
8 – The Frequency – Madison, WI
9 – The Revival 2017 – Yorkville, IL
10 – The Token Lounge – Westland, MI
12 – Evening Star Concert Hall – Niagara Falls, NY
13 – Oneida American Legion Post 169 – Oneida, NY
14 – Saint Vitus Bar – New York, NY
15 – Jabber Jaws – Allentown, PA
16 – Bar XIII – Wilmington, DE (Raven only)
DEAD BY WEDNESDAY released their latest effort “Darkest of Angels” in May 2016 via EMP LABEL GROUP/eOne, (and in August in Europe via Ellefson Music Productions/SPV), featuring 11 tracks with 11 heavyweight guest vocalists including, Brian Fair (Shadows Fall), Waylon Reavis (A Killer’s Confession, ex-Mushroomhead), AK (Flotsam and Jetsam), John Arch (Fates Warning), Rob Dukes (Fragile Mortals, ex-Exodus), Carley Coma (Candiria), Sean Danielsen (Smile Empty Soul), Paul Stoddard (Diecast), Kris Keyes (formerly Gargauntua Soul), Antony Armageddon (Armageddon) and Ceschi Ramos (Fake Four, Inc.). Earlier this year DEAD BY WEDNESDAY released the lyric video for “I Will Define”, featuring Waylon Reavis of A KILLER’S CONFESSION, watch it here:
New Haven based metal titans DEAD BY WEDNESDAY have announced new shows for the EMP Label Group U.S. Tour, alongside RAVEN, being now 100% completed. The tour will kick off on August 17th, 2017. Check out the updated list below. The tour is presented by Mindsnap Music.
Raven & DEAD BY WEDNESDAY EMP Tour 2017, complete list of dates:
August 17th – TrickshotBilliards SportsPub, Clifton Park, NY.
August 18th – Jewel Music Venue Manchester NH
August 19th – Axe Fest@The Outer Space / The Ballroom, Hamden, CT.
August 20th – The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ.
August 22nd – RiffHouse Pub, Chesapeake, VA.
August 23rd – The Pour House Music Hall, Raleigh, NC.
August 24th – GroundZero, Spartanburg, SC.
August 25th – The EARL, Atlanta, GA.
August 26th – The Basement / Nashville, TN.
August 27th – Siberia, New Orleans, LA.
August 30th – Tricky Falls, El Paso, TX.
August 31st – Limelight, San Antonio, TX.
September 1st – Diamond Jim’s Saloon, Arlington, TX.
September 2nd – The Vanguard Tulsa, OK.
September 3rd – The Riot Room, Kansas City, MO.
September 4th – Madison Live!, Covington, KY.
September 5th – The Empire Concert Club & Bar, Akron, OH.
September 6th – The Headquarters, Indianapolis, IN.
September 7th – Full Terror Assault Open Air III 2017 (Official), Cave-In-Rock, IL.
September 8th – The Frequency, Madison, WI.
September 9th – The Revival 2017, Yorkville, IL.
September 10th – The Token Lounge, Westland, MI.
September 12th – Evening Star Concert Hall / VENUE, Niagara Falls, NY.
September 13th – Oneida American Legion Post 169, Oneida, NY.
September 14th – Saint Vitus Bar, NYC.
September 15th – Jabber Jaws Bar and Grille, Allentown, PA.
September 16th – Bar XIII Delaware (Raven only)
DEAD BY WEDNESDAY released their latest effort “Darkest of Angels” in May 2016 via EMP LABEL GROUP/eOne, (and in August in Europe via Ellefson Music Productions/SPV), featuring 11 tracks with 11 heavyweight guest vocalists including, Brian Fair (Shadows Fall), Waylon Reavis (A Killer’s Confession, ex-Mushroomhead), AK (Flotsam and Jetsam), John Arch (Fates Warning), Rob Dukes (Fragile Mortals, ex-Exodus), Carley Coma (Candiria), Sean Danielsen (Smile Empty Soul), Paul Stoddard (Diecast), Kris Keyes (formerly Gargauntua Soul), Antony Armageddon (Armageddon) and Ceschi Ramos (Fake Four, Inc.). Earlier this year DEAD BY WEDNESDAY released the lyric video for “I Will Define”, featuring Waylon Reavis of A KILLER’S CONFESSION, watch it here: