Thursday, April 30, 2020

upcoming on May 8th: OMNIARCH

Canada’s Omniarch has their debut self-titled album scheduled for release on May 8, 2020. The official information about it says, "The album itself, as the band suggests, is a vastly differing and unique journey through history, mythology, imagination, and learning through introspection and reflection. The seven tracks are a composite of progressive and technical death metal, played by five seasoned musicians that bring an eclectic set of skills to the band. Recommended for anyone with an interest in melodic, technical, relentless death metal especially fans of The Black Dahlia Murder, The Absence, and Arsis."
About: Omniarch was formed from the ashes of two former bands, Netherward and This is War. Morgan Lambert (guitar), Mason Wilson (guitar), Jon Hofmann (bass), Mackenzie LaHaye (vocals), and Henry Giesbrecht (drums) who had played gigs together in separate bands, had always entertained the idea of joining forces. Eventually, conditions allowed for the amalgamation of the two bands into a new and wholly different alloy of metal and formed the beginning of Omniarch.
Giesbrecht, the original drummer, added a new dynamic to the band with his fresh approach to metal song structures. Eventually, Giesbrecht moved on and made way for Sean Higgins to step in and make his own indelible mark on the band with his nuanced sense of rhythm and pace. The disparate and yet congruous influences have come together to showcase a truly unique and exciting band, full of opportunity.
Each Omniarch song starts with a collaboration between Wilson and Lambert to determine the riffs, which are then brought to the rhythm section where they are morphed into a cohesive idea that is splattered with aggressive technical death metal vocals with themes surrounding history, fantasy/science fiction, and mythology.
Omniarch is just getting started, as of spring 2020 they have a fresh self-titled release out on May My 8th with plenty more music coming down the pipe. Watch out for them on the live circuit and take your chance to witness a compelling live show that challenges boundaries.
omniarch.bandcamp.com/releases

HIRAX's Katon and wife Anne launch "Rapid Fire Radio Station" online

Thrash cult band HIRAX's vocalist Katon W. De Pena & his wife Anne De Pena announced a new project called "Rapid Fire Radio Station" and the first two episodes feature all the songs below; lots of the 1970s and 1980s classics and cult stuff that they like.
radioking.com/radio/rapid-fire
Playlist One:
1. Krokus - Eat The Rich, Headhunter, I’m On The Run, Long Stick Goes Boom.
2. Thin Lizzy - A Merry Jingle, Don’t Believe A Word, Cold Sweat, Dedication.
3. Bullet - Storm Of Blades.
4. AC/DC - Sin City (Live).
5. Malice - Godz Of Thunder.
6. Anvil - AC-DC.
7. Y&T - Hurricane.
8. Def Leppard - Ride Into The Sun.
9. Malón - Castigador Por Herencia.
10. Ram - Blades Of Betrayal.
11. Twisted Sister - Under The Blade (Original Version).
12. Girl - Hollywood Tease.
13. Massive Wagons - Back To The Stack.
14. Warrior - Fighting For The Earth.
15. Dark Angel - Darkness Descends.
16. Girlschool - Screaming Blue Murder, Don’t Call It Love.
17. Trouble - The Tempter.
18. Gypsy Jack - TNT (AC/DC Cover).
19. Hurriganes - Get On.
20. Led Zeppelin - Moby Dick (Short Version) edit.
21. Johnny Winter - Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1974 UK TV), Stones Cover.
22. Legs Diamond - Diamond Is A Hard Rock.
23. The Boyzz - Too Wild To Tame.
24. Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Midnight Moses.
25. Montrose - I Got The Fire.
26. David Bowie - White Light White Heat (Velvet Underground Cover).
27. Slayer - South Of Heaven, Ghost Of War, War Ensemble, Seasons In The Abyss.
28. Riot - Swords And Tequila, Fire Down Under, Outlaw.
29. Ted Nugent - Stranglehold, Just What The Doctor Ordered, Wang Dang Sweet Poontang, Cat Scratch Fever.
30. Van Halen - Runnin’ With The Devil, Eruption, I’m The One, Feel Your Love Tonight, Spanish Fly, Take Your Whiskey Home.
31. Cheap Trick - Hello There.
32. Kiss - Do You Love Me, Shout It Out Loud, Love Gun, I Want You, Deuce, Black Diamond.
33. Metallica - (Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth, Orion (Instramental), For Whom The Bell Tolls, Creeping Death, Seek & Destroy, Battery.
34. The Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop, I Want You Around, I Believe In Miracles, Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio, I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, I Just Want To Have Something To Do, She’s The One.
35. The Runaways - Wasted, School Days.
36. Accept - Metal Heart, Midnight Mover, Breaker, Son Of A Bitch, Balls To The Wall, Fast As A Shark, Restless And Wild.
37. Voivod - Killing Technology.
38. Discharge - Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing, Protest And Survive.
39. Cro-Mags - Death Camps, We Gotta Know, World Peace.
40. Plasmatics - Butcher Baby.
41. Zodiac Mindwarp And The Love Reaction - Prime Mover.
42. Poison Idea - Plastic Bomb, Feel The Darkness.
43. GBH - City Baby Attacked By Rats.
44. Abattoir - Screams From The Grave.
45. Loudness - Crazy Nights, Heavy Chains, In The Mirror, Speed.
46. Turbonegro - Get It Ón, The Age Of Pamparius.
47. Mötley Crüe - Shout At The Devil, Red Hot.
Rapid Fire Radio
Playlist Two:
1. Iron Maiden - 22 Acacia Avenue, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Children Of The Damned.
2. Judas Priest - Delivering The Goods, Hell Bent For Leather, Rapid Fire, Metal Gods, Grinder, Steeler.
3. Budgie - Power Supply.
4. Black Sabbath - Turn Up The Night, The Mob Rules, Neon Knights, Children Of The Sea, Lady Evil, Die Young.
5. Ozzy Osbourne - I Don’t Know, Suicide Solution, Revelation (Mother Earth), You Lookin’ At Me Lookin At You, Over The Mountain, Flying Hight Again, S.A.T.O., Diary Of A Madman.
6. S.O.D. - March Of The S.O.D., Sargent D And The S.O.D., Kill Yourself, Milano Mosh, Speak English Or Die, Pussy Whipped. 7. Samson - Riding With The Angels, Earth Mother.
8. Saxon - Heavy Metal Thunder, 20,000 FT, Motorcycle Man, Wheels Of Steel.
9. Rose Tattoo - Rock ‘N’ Roll Outlaw, The Butcher And Fast Eddie, Nice Boys, Suicide City.
10. Mercyful Fate - Curse Of The Pharaohs, Melissa, A Dangerous Meeting, Nuns Have No Fun, A Corpse Without Soul.
11. W.A.S.P. - I Wanna Be Somebody, L.O.V.E. Machine.
12. Wargasm - Wasteland, Bullets And Blades.
13. Celtic Frost - Into The Crypts Of Rays, Circle Of The Tyrants.
14. Demolition Hammer - Skull Fracturing Nightmare, Epidemic Of Violence.
15. Korrozia Metalla. Russian Vodka.
16. Nifelheim - Gates Of Damnation.
17. Metal Church - Ton Of Bricks, Start The Fire. 18. Pretty Maids - Future World.
19. Queensryche - Queen Of The Reich.
20. Danzig - Twist Of Cain, Am I Demon, The Hunter, Long Way Back From Hell, Her Black Wings.
21. Dio - Stand Up And Shout.
22. Warlock - All We Are.
23. Angel Witch - Angel Of Death, Angel Witch.
24. Riot - Hard Lovin’ Man.
25. Raven - Take Control, Hard Ride.
26. Steeler - Cold Day In Hell - Featuring (Yngwie J. Malmsteen).
27. Dissection - At The Fathomless, Night’s Blood.
28. Pentagram - Forever My Queen.
29. Exciter - Violence & Force, Pounding Metal.
30. Sammy Hagar - Heavy Metal.
31. Metallica - So What.
32. Y&T - Open Fire.
33. Testament - More Than Meets The Eye.
34. Crumbsuckers - Sit There.
35. Anthrax - Madhouse, Metal Thrashing Mad.
36. Fastway - Easy Livin’, Say What You Will.
37. Manowar - All Men Play On 10, Metal Daze, Battle Hymn.
38. Megadeth - Holy Wars...... The Punishment Due, Symphony Of Destruction, In My Darkest Hour.
39. Exodus - The Toxic Waltz, Call To Arms, Blacklist.
40. Kreator - Violent Revolution, Enemy Of God.
41. Dr. Living Dead - Coffin Crusher.
42. Rainbow - Stargazer, Kill The King.
facebook.com/hiraxthrashmetal/
metalhit.bandcamp.com/album/el-rostro-de-la-muerte
hiraxband.bandcamp.com

SpellBook (formerly Witch Hazel) Signs With Cruz Del Sur Music

Cruz Del Sur Music is proud to announce the signing of York, Pennsylvania vintage proto-metal purveyors SpellBook. The band’s debut album, Magick & Mischief, is due for release in September.
Originally formed in 2007 under the name of WITCH HAZEL by lead singer Nate Tyson and drummer Nicholas Zinn, WITCH HAZEL had three self-released albums to their credit, Forsaken Remedies (2012), Nocturnity (2015) and Otherwordly (2018). The band, rounded out by guitarist Andy Craven and bassist Seibert Lowe, nearly changed their name before the release of Otherwordly, but decided to make the switch to SpellBook when its current formation started writing the material that would become Magick & Mischief.
“Eleven years named one thing wasn't easy to get past, but we realized to take this to the next step it was necessary,” says Zinn. “We liked the idea of having the song ‘The SpellBook’ from ‘Forsaken Remedies’ being the representing name that ties the past, present and future together. We’re very proud of our past, though, and plan to still play some WITCH HAZEL songs live, especially those from Otherworldly.”
SpellBook was brought to Cruz Del Sur Music directly by the label’s A&R rep and WHILE HEAVEN WEPT main man Tom Phillips who reveals how he was “tipped off” about the band: “A good friend of mine Mike Smith pulled me aside to suggest I check out this band WITCH HAZEL he recently had included as part of a tour package… more or less raving about how good they were…and boy, was he right! In an age where we’ve seen a number of retro-inspired acts rising in popularity that ultimately come across as stale or reeking of gimmicks, WH ticked all the right boxes for even MY jaded ears; equal parts BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE, B.O.C., ALICE COOPER, and THIN LIZZY - songs so well-crafted and capably performed that I immediately reached out to Enrico saying “We NEED to sign this band immediately!” - because Magick & Mischief totally blows away the already awesome Otherwordly in every possible way!”
Zinn describes Magick & Mischief as the band’s “most dynamic offering yet.” From proto-metal jaunts such as “Wands To The Sky” and “Ominous Skies”, to the epic doom rocker “Not Long For This World” and already-crowd favorite “Amulet”, it’s easy to see why SpellBook is eager to hit the road in support of the album.
“We're a unique band and we're proud of that,” closes Zinn. “There is no formula; there are no rules. We write what feels good and we are tapped into a creative high right now, already writing for the next album. However, the release of Magick & Mischief in September is priority number one and we're excited for everyone to hear it. It's rewarding this label is taking us on and recognizes the potential. We're thrilled!”.
facebook.com/spellbookband/

A SECRET ENDING Christian melodic death metal

A SECRET ENDING "is a one-man Christian metal project" and at this point this publication does not have much information about this entity of catchy melodic death metal. At the moment it seems like it is best to keep up with them at their Instagram account. Anyway, here are the songs and lyrics as posted on YouTube in anticipation of their upcoming EP that will be called Redemption. The message of the music is: "Praise be to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ."
A Secret Ending | A New Dawn | Christian Metal
I know there lies a broken spirit below
the unblemished surface you show
But there is someone who can hear your silent cries
How low will you sink before you let go
and give up your life to follow
The Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Unlike a star dimming within the firmament, He won't let you fall
Thus I know it cannot be the end
Lo and behold, these tears are nothing permanent
Call out His name, for a new dawn...
awaits all who repent and are born anew
The Holy Ghost shall come into your darkened heart
and do away with the pain in you
I know you feel neglected and left alone
Cast away into the unknown
But there is someone longing for you to come home
although you devour what has been thrown
from the shade of the devil's throne
As a nightfall it all stands to be outshone
A Secret Ending | A New Dawn | Christian Metal
A Secret Ending | The Ninety-Nine | Christian Metal
Anywhere I venture
I still remember
the place I used to be
In such a weather
that none could ever
calm the raging sea
The gravest danger
my fallen nature
would ever lead me near
Who could tell if whether
my soul would enter
a demise I now only used to fear
O Lord, when all had forsaken me
You did not leave me behind
Only Thy mercy could have taken me
back to the ninety-nine
His grace was given
A life rewritten
Unworthy as I was
My sins forgiven
through blood within Him
shed upon the Cross
A Pauline conversion
crushed the person
I was into debris
My eyes have opened
So they may see
the abounding love
only He could lay on me
A Secret Ending | The Ninety-Nine | Christian Metal
instagram.com/asecretending/

SEPULTURA quarantine videos

While the Brazilian band is in lockdown, they have been doing some band playthrough videos during April. Just for fun, below is also a live full set in France in 2019. The concert video boasts a very good live sound and the overall quality of the video makes it easy to watch the band play their set.
SepulQuarta - Isolation (live playthrough | April 22, 2020 | Sepultura #001)
SepulQuarta - Agony of Defeat (live playthrough | April 29, 2020 | Sepultura #002)
Sepultura - live @ La Maroquinerie, Paris (Full Show HiRes) – ARTE Concert
facebook.com/sepultura/

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

review: Black Pestilence

Black Pestilence
Hail the Flesh
1 May 2020
Black Pestilence (2008; Canada) releases its sixth album during the middle of a pestilence. Good times. Driven by punk speed, BP’s black thrash depends indispensably on high energy. Imagine punks that have extreme metal in their DNA filtering a mix of Motörhead, The Exploited and the punkish era of Darkthrone, add blasting, and they jget to work making noise for a good time in the pit. In the 34 minutes and nine songs BP runs through every track growling and pounding away. That’s their recipe for the party. Their simplicity is great for musical adrenaline. BP is obnoxious attitude and mosh pit sweat: encouraging fans to party too much, make too much noise, and generally instigating moshing. At its most basic the band relies on dirty blasting and thrashing speeds, black metal vocals, and a rumbling bass guitar. BP is ready to host the next mosh pit, whenever that is allowed.
blackpestilence.bandcamp.com/album/hail-the-flesh

Animals As Leaders NAMM Show 2020

In case you missed it, here is this video of guitarist Tosin Abasi at NAMM Show 2020. Below it are two older videos of the songs from NAMM Show 2020.
BIO: Sometimes, a band’s music registers just as seismically on an emotional wavelength as it does on a sonic spectrum. Animals As leaders—Tosin Abasi [guitar], Javier Reyes [guitar], and Matt Garstka [drums]—reimagine, reinterpret, and refresh instrumental prog, experimental metal, modern jazz, alternative, and even world music to a point where the reaction becomes primal on their fourth full-length album, The Madness of Many [Sumerian Records].
“What you’re hearing is the madness of the band, what happens in our heads, and what it sounds like when you put it all together,” exclaims Javier. “For us, that’s the sound of the new album. It’s simply the madness of these three individuals. We’re trying to create something that only we can do.”
That’s why Animals As Leaders have risen to celebrated heroes of their respective instruments since first emerging in 2007. Most recently, 2014’s The Joy of Motionbowed at #24 on the Billboard Top 200, moving 13,000 copies first-week. Along the way, the trio has earned acclaim from the likes of Consequence of Sound, Revolver, Ultimate Guitar, and Rolling Stone who extolled them, “as satisfying in their visceral kick as they are in dazzling displays of dexterity.” Tosin would grace the cover of Guitar World twice, while Matt covered Modern Drummer. Consistently delivering a captivating show, they’ve toured alongside Deftones, Between The Buried And Me, Periphery, and many others in addition to Tosin joining Joe Satriani at the G4 Experience and Steve Vai and Nuno Bettencourt for the Generation AxeTour. Matt remains a sought-after talent, performing on Late Night With Seth Meyers and at drum clinics and festivals worldwide, and Javier’s solo project Mestis stands out as a fan favorite.
NAMM Show 2020 | Tosin Abasi Performing at the Neural DSP Booth
Animals as Leaders "Kascade" At Guitar Center
Animals as Leaders "Tooth and Claw" At Guitar Center
facebook.com/animalsasleaders/

FRANTIC AMBER videos

Frantic Amber (Sweden) has published two videos this month. The songs come from the album Bellatrix (2019). Both videos are available below, where you will also find the band's official information.
Biography: FRANTIC AMBER started in 2008 as a project in Stockholm by founding guitarist Mary Siebecke with the intention to play metal with females. At first it was an experiment through various genres and with clean vocals. It wasn’t until 2010, with the recruitment of Danish ballet dancer Elizabeth Andrews on extreme vocals as well as Japanese vocal and guitar teacher Mio Jäger handling lead guitar and main songwriting, that the identity of FRANTIC AMBER started to take its form into the melodic death metal beast they are known as today.
Their music can best be described as melodic death metal with thrash, black, progressive, classic heavy metal and symphonic elements. The thunderous bass together with the technicality and power of the drums provide the backbone, while the guitar’s shredding and soaring melodies complete the soundscape together with Elizabeth’s powerful and aggressive vocals.
Their first EP "Wrath of Judgement" was released in 2010 and landed them the opportunity to play live on national TV at the prestigious "P3 Guld" awards. From then on things went straight forward: Tours in Europe with Six Feet Under among others and multiple tours in Russia followed by releasing three videos for the songs "Wrath of Judgement", "Bleeding Sanity" and "Ghost". In 2012 they won the Swedish Wacken Metal Battle and got to play a show on the huge W:O:A festival.
Their debut full length album "Burning Insight" was finally released worldwide in 2015 and caught raving reviews. Due to internal differences a lineup change was made and they found a perfect fit in immensely talented bass-player Madeleine Gullberg Husberg from Swedish heavy metal band "DWARF" and Colombian drummer Mac Dalmanner, from brutal death metal legends "Insision". With a stronger than ever line-up, they continued their journey and toured Europe and Sweden to promote the debut album. They also won a show on Sweden’s biggest rock festival, Sweden Rock Festival, competing against thousands of bands.
They have since released three more videos for the songs "Burning Insight", "Soar" and "Gráinne Mhaol" and have gained millions of views on Youtube. They sold out and re-released their debut album, played numerous festivals and toured around Europe. They have shared stages with bands like Behemoth, Exodus, Sabaton, Exciter, Hammerfall, Carach Angren, Dark Tranquillity, Unleashed, Taake, Insomnium, Myrkur, Sportlov and Tarja.
FRANTIC AMBER continue to conquer stages all over the world with their fierce and powerful live-show and will stop at nothing to share their passion for music with metal fans around the globe.
Frantic Amber - Scorched Earth (Official Music Video)
Frantic Amber - Jōshitai (Bass Playthrough by Madeleine Gullberg Husberg)
franticamber.bandcamp.com/album/bellatrix

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

out now: PERDITION TEMPLE

"Sacraments of Descension" is the third album by Perdition Temple, the cult extreme metal band from the U.S. led by Gene Palubicki, formerly of Angelcorpse. The new album continues their tradition of tight, blasting extreme metal with both black and death metal elements and known for fast riffs and shredding. Listen to the entire album at the Bandcamp link below. The album was released in late March, 2020.
PERDITION TEMPLE was formed in 2009 by Gene Palubicki, directly after the disbanding of his former band, ANGELCORPSE ... The lineup for PERDITION TEMPLE at that time and onward into 2010 consisted of Lefteris Eleftheriou on drums, and Gene on guitars/vocals/bass...this lineup recorded the subsequent debut full length album "Edict of the Antichrist Elect", released in 2010 on Osmose Productions(France)... geographical restraints made it impossible for Lefteris to continue as a permanent member after the albums release... in 2011 Ronnie Parmer became the new drummer, and into 2012 both Gabriel Gozainy on bass, and Bill Taylor on 2nd guitar joined...some select shows ensued throughout the USA in 2012 with a stand in vocalist... in 2013 the band enlisted Impurath of BLACK WITCHERY as vocalist and writing of the sophomore album commenced... during this time additional shows were done whilst the new album was being written during 2013-2014 leading to the completion of 2nd full length album "The Tempter's Victorious" and pre-album 7" "Sovereign of the Desolate"(released Dec 2014), both seeing release on new label Hell's Headbangers Records(USA)..."The Tempter's Victorious" is slated for release between Jan-Mar 2015... Several festival shows in USA and Canada take place between 2015-2019.
In September 2019 PERDITION TEMPLE records their 3rd full length album, entitled “Sacraments of Descension” (HELLS HEADBANGERS RECORDS), set for release Spring/Summer 2020. The lineup consisting now of Gene Palubicki(Guitars/vocals), Alex Blume(Bass/Vocals), and Ronnie Parmer(Drums). During Oct/Nov 2019 PERDITION TEMPLE embarks on a USA/CANADA tour for 5 weeks supporting CANNIBAL CORPSE.
perditiontemple.bandcamp.com/album/sacraments-of-descension

DAWN OF A SOUL

The DIY horror death metal band DAWN OF A SOUL (El Salvador) has posted their 2020 album on YouTube. The album is called A Chemical Night. This publication at this moment does not have much information about the band, but it appears that this is their second album, the follow-up to the 2018 debut album.
Fans who are interested in hearing DIY bands from Latin America might be interested in the band's take of horror/gothic metal and death metal. The band says that they like King Diamond, so that might help to understand their music as geared towards horror, ghostly elements.
Dawn of a Soul - A Chemical Night 2020 Full Album
facebook.com/DawnofaSoul/

ALL ABOVE ME Announce New Project

The melodic hard rock band ALL ABOVE ME (2015; Canada) has announced that they will be doing online church service: "We are excited to launch All Above Me Church this Sunday! Tune in for a 30 minute service where we will be leading worship (All Above Me style) and sharing a message. This is something that we felt God calling us to do during this current season. Please help us spread the word!"
Here are a couple of their official videos in case you are new to their music. The official band information is included below.
All Above Me is an award winning, internationally recognized, Christian hard rock band from Calgary, AB, Canada. The band has had major success on Canadian Christian radio, they have performed at some of the world’s largest Christian music festivals, and have shared the stage with some of the biggest names in Christian music, such as Skillet, Switchfoot, For King & Country, Tenth Avenue North, Hawk Nelson, and many more.
The band was started in early 2015 by guitarist, singer and songwriter, Guiller Contreras. Guiller had a vision to use his music as a tool, to be able to share the Gospel. Britt Harris (vocals) and Tim Wikkerink (Drums) joined in the fall of 2015 to complete the band’s line up.
All Above Me began to gain recognition after releasing their first EP called “We Are Outcasts”. The release included their first radio single called “Anthem”, which received a nomination for the YYC “Rock Song of the Year” Music Award. The EP also includes the song “Can’t Stop Now”, which features 5-time Juno Award nominee, MANAFEST.
All Above Me began gaining popularity by touring North America throughout 2016 and 2017. They performed in some of the world’s largest Christian music festivals, such as Creation Fest, Billy Graham Festival of Hope, No Greater Love Fest, Praise Fest and many more. They have shared the stage with well-recognized Christian artists such as Skillet, Disciple, Family Force 5, Switchfoot, Michael W. Smith, Tenth Avenue North, Love & The Outcome, Manafest, Hawk Nelson, Starfield, Hillsong Young & Free, and many more.
In September of 2016, All Above Me won the YYC “People’s Choice” Music Award.
They have also received 3 nominations for the GMA Covenant Awards, and 5 nominations for the YYC Music Awards.
In 2018, All Above Me released their first full-length album called “Return To The Battlefield”. The album includes their radio singles “Sing To You” and “Saviour”, as well as a feature from Kevin Young of the Christian metal band, DISCIPLE.
“Return To The Battlefield” has received great reviews from fans and other sources such as NewReleaseToday. The album has helped launch the band forward, opening many touring opportunities, including a European tour, and a spot to perform in Germany’s Loud and Proud Fest, featuring Kutless, Demon Hunter, Decyfer Down, Manafest and many more.
Since the beginning of All Above Me, Guiller, Britt and Tim have travelled and will continue to travel the world, performing their songs and spreading their message of hope and salvation in Jesus Christ.
All Above Me - New Generation (Official Music Video)
All Above Me - Long Live The King ft. Heesun Lee
All Above Me - Can't Stop Now feat. MANAFEST (Official Music Video)
facebook.com/allaboveme/

RAVENSCRY "Maybe" official video

RAVENSCRY (Italy) is nearing the time for their fourth album 100 to be released. Below you will find the official information about the history of the band.
The new album 100 will be released on May 15th, 2020. The band is known for quality, melodic contemporary music with elegance and class that appeals to audiences looking for a band that can combine intelligent and catchy songs with both a bit of a pop sensibility and a nice prog feeling.
In anticipation of the new album they have an official video for the song "Maybe" and the video is available below, in addition to another new song. Also, below you will find a couple of older official videos from their previous works in order to provide to you a broader idea of what the music sounds like.
At any rate, here is the official history of the band.
2011 - “One Way Out”
The first album “One Way Out” was recorded in 2009 with Simone Mularoni (DGM, Empyrios), Simone Bertozzi (The Modern Age Slavery, Empyrios) at Fear Studio in Ravenna (Italy), Dario Ravelli at Suono Vivo in Bergamo (Italy), it was mixed by Fabrizio Grossi (Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, Slash, Laura Pausini, Cypress Hill, Alice Cooper as well as labels like EMI and Warner) at Sounds of Pisces in Los Angeles (USA) and it was mastered by Tom Baker (Judas Priest, Sevendust, Marilyn Manson, Megadeth) at Precision Mastering in Los Angeles (USA). The artwork was designed by Rhett Podersoo (Stephen King). One Way Out first single, Nobody, was released as a video directed by Salvatore Perrone (Exilia, From Autumn to Ashes, August Burns Red, Sick Of It All) in 2010 and it reached almost a million views on YouTube. In 2010 Ravenscry toured for 2 weeks in UK and Belgium. The album was released in 2011 through Worm Hole Death in Europe and through The Trips Record in Scandinavia. In 2011 Ravenscry toured for 3 weeks in Scandinavia, playing in all the biggest cities. In 2012 the first album has been released in Japan through Hydrant Music and the official video of Calliope (directed by Salvatore Perrone) was released. After some shows in Italy in 2012, Ravenscry began to work on the new album.
2014 - “The Attraction of Opposites”
Ravenscry’s second full length, “The Attraction of Opposites” was recorded in 2013 at Ravenstudio by the band itself, it was mixed by Roberto Laghi (In Flames, Diablo Swing Orchestra, Sonic Syndicate) at Bohus Sound Recording in Gothenburg and mastered by Dragan Tanasković (In Flames) still at Bohus Sound Recording studios. The artwork was designed by Stefano Mattioni (The Modern Age Slavery) and it has been nominated as “Best Metal Album Covers of 2014” by the American webzine PureGrainAudio.com. In the meantime Ravenscry became label, in order to have control on every single step of its work. Ravenscry played at PPM Fest in 2014 as the only Italian band in the bill, presenting the new album before the official release and reaching a good feedback from the audience. The single “Missing Words” was released as a video directed by Salvatore Perrone in April 2014. “The Attraction of Opposites” was released on May 27th 2014 and it is distributed worldwide (except Japan) by Revalve Records through Masterpiece Distribution. The album charted #6 in the Amazon.com best sellers Alternative Metal chart. In December 2014 Ravenscry funded the shooting of the new video “Noir Desire”, directed by Matteo Terzoli, through the crowdfunding platform “Musicraiser”, supporting a campaign to build consciousness about the Violence Against Women them, which lead to the release of a second video of the song “Alive” in on the International Women’s Day. In March 2015 Ravenscry charted on Spotify at #31 in “Top Metal Tracks” with “The Witness”.
2017 - "The Invisible"
“The Invisible”, the first concept album by Ravenscry, is the story of a journey, both physical and inner. Coral, the main character, is a young librarian assistant grown up in an orphanage. Books and physics are her biggest passions, and thanks to a book she decides to start her journey: on a book cover she sees a photo that shows a place which reminds her of her childhood and suddenly she feels the need to reach this place and hopefully get to know her origins. Every track of the album is a chapter of the train journey of the girl that, like in every other coming-of-age story, is very risky and difficult but is also a great opportunity to find independence and personal identity. Coral meets a travel buddy, a retired teacher who at first wants to fool her, but then changes his mind when he understands how special this girl is. With an unusual and seeming unconsciousness, Coral moves towards her nebulous past without any fear, almost as it doesn’t belong to her, and in every track she sings her emotions, accompanying the listener through the story with an incessant intriguing tension in a bizarre atmosphere of incompleteness which, only seemingly, culminates in the final encounter with her father. The poetic fragments of the songs and the booklet containing some interviews to the characters of the story complement each other, and together give birth to a clear, unquestionable and cruel picture: the Truth that we are looking for is fragile and incomplete. Science, religion and feelings, too, replace it and obfuscate it. Coral’s journey really ends only when the happy ending is denied, the certainties vanish and we stand alone facing an unpredictable and withering Truth. The journey of discovery of the Truth is also the one taken by the musicians, who wanted to release a very natural and direct album, in which the music goes with the story and gives voice to it in a relentless movement of different styles and sonorities. “The Invisible” has been recorded at Ravenstudio by Ravenscry, it’s been mixed at Oral Majority Recordings by Roberto Laghi and it’s been mastered at Hansen Studios by Jacob Hansen. The artwork has been designed by Mario Sanchez Nevado. The distribution is managed by Plastic Head Distribution.
After participating in different European festivals, Ravenscry toured with Angra and Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime as a support act in the Omni World Tour 2018 playing across Europe.
RAVENSCRY - Maybe (New Single 2020)
RAVENSCRY - The Entertainer (New Single 2020 - Lyric Video)
RAVENSCRY - Missing Words (Official Video)
RAVENSCRY - Calliope (Official Video)
facebook.com/RavenscryBand/

Monday, April 27, 2020

review: Monolith

Monolith
Lord Conspirator
MMD Records
28 April 2020
Monolith (South Africa) is extreme metal with plenty of fast parts and all the usual elements that fans want, but what stands out for them is the little gems of progressive, midtempo melodies that form a contrast with the death metal. They do a contemporary, non-retro sound with a noticeably rumbly bass guitar. As already stated, the music is not slow, but songs often have room for the guitar melody to be expressed in an expansive, mellow way for pleasant segments within songs that have blasting parts and other such intensity.
The biggest reason for extreme metal audiences to look into the band would be their ability to make their contemporary death metal accessible through their proggy melodies. The band is not “old-school” in their style. It’s a bit groove-oriented but not too much. They use some tremolo picking and that adds a different angle, too. They do blasting, but it’s not a monotonous trait. They have the low growling vocals and the higher, raspier ones, too. All good stuff. However, their efforts to have the melodies as a style is central to what they do. It’s a nice thing that they make their death metal more accessible with some melody. While fans of old-school energy will dig the heaviness, blasting and the brutal vocals, other people may like the fresh, 2020 vibes. This is not melodic death metal per se, but it also has enough hooks for those fans to check it out. Fear not, there is abundant headbanging music going on here, too.
mmdrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-lord-conspirator

upcoming in June: MOONLIGHT HAZE

MOONLIGHT HAZE will have their new album Lunaris out on June 12th, 2020, a bit less than a year later from their previous De Rerum Natura. As you can imagine, this band wants to waste no time in hitting back with another chapter of their melodic metal that impressed since last summer. The Italian group has put together another work of their melodic, contemporary, easy-listening and catchy music that goes straight to the memory immediately upon being heard. In anticipation of the new album they already have an official video for the song "The Rabbit of the Moon." Below that video you will find a couple of official videos from the debut album in 2019, in case you missed them when they came out a year ago. Here is the official propaganda about the new album: "Second chapter in their fast rising career, the follow-up to their acclaimed 2019 debut ‘De Rerum Natura’, Moonlight Haze's ‘Lunaris’ consists of eleven tracks that will bring you through a timeless journey far away, enough to get trapped between frantic grooves, powerful lyrics and addictive melodies. The band kept up experimenting with electronic samples, folk music and even more unpredictable sonic elements; a deeper musical research and a thoughtful inner exploration for a silvery dream, deep in the haze of the moonlight. The album’s lyrics are very introspective yet confident and positive, even though they deal with tough themes sometimes, investigating the deepest abyss of our conscience and the complexity of human relationships. In addition, legends and tales from different traditions and cultures will fascinate your imagination and give you some time to think quietly over life and nature. Led by the former Temperance frontwoman, the stunning Chiara Tricarico, Moonlight Haze is a more than welcomed breath of fresh air in the symphonic-power metal scene."
MOONLIGHT HAZE - The Rabbit Of The Moon (Official Video)
MOONLIGHT HAZE - To The Moon And Back (Official Video)
MOONLIGHT HAZE - Ad Astra (Official Video)
facebook.com/Moonlighthazeband/

out now: DEMISE OF THE CROWN

Watch three videos from the Canadian band Demise of the Crown. Their 2020 album is called Life in the City. The album was released on April 24th. The following official information below explains who the band is. Listen to the complete album at the Bandcamp link below.
BIO: Brandish your weapons and bare your teeth in the battle for new world order with Montreal’s metal quintet, Demise Of The Crown. They run the gambit from heavy metal to hard rock weaved together with soaring solos reminiscent of Eddie Van Halen with undertones of Yngwie Malmsteen.
The band’s music, written by Manuel Iradian and Darren Beadman, uses standard pop music songwriting skills to hook listeners into the Demise of the Crown’s infectious and melodic metal sound. Iradian writes all the music, then hands it off to Kevin “Kevy Metal” to dress up each song with his high-speed, galloping rhythms, finally, Beadman crafts the anthemic lyrics rousing crowds to chant along with an anarchistic frenzy. Each song is rooted in all basic human emotions; anger, lust, depression, happiness, death, and revenge.
Each member has spent their time paying dues in the local community and they have banded together with the same goal and vision of a band determined to shake the foundation of power metal. The current lineup of Beadman (vocals), Iradian (guitars), Kevin Alexander (drums), Simon Doiron (bass) and Vince Doiron (guitar) has been going strong over the years playing a plethora of gigs in their area and releasing their debut self-titled record in 2016.
Demise of the Crown has garnered a reputation for redefining modern metal with a sound that is a melting pot of styles, including the occasional influences of death metal, components of hard rock, groovy riffs and catchy choruses alongside explosive guitar solos topped off with Beadman’s striking vocal techniques and unique tone. Influenced by headliners like Nevermore, Avenged Sevenfold, Opeth, Pantera, and Faith No More, the band is working their way up the royal bloodline to cause chaos right alongside their heroes.
DEMISE OF THE CROWN - MY MIND IS FREE (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
DEMISE OF THE CROWN - FIXATED (OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO)
DEMISE OF THE CROWN - DYING HEAT (Guitar Playthrough)
demiseofthecrownofficial.bandcamp.com

Sunday, April 26, 2020

out now: Cathartes Aura

Four things.
1.This recording is ambitious and the band seeks to take their art as high as they can. See the track listing below to get an idea of what this might contain just by looking at this information.
Movement i... Origins 20:10
Movement ii.. Contemplation 06:12
Movement iii. Sacrament 07:42
Movement iv Death 07:48
Movements i-iv Unabridged 41:53. [all the tracks above as one]
2.The truth is that the band does not seek casual listeners or people that need their music to be instantly gratifying. The band is looking for those patient listeners that do want the music to be like an adventure. They are searching for those listeners that are able to sit down for long periods of time and are able to concentrate on a piece of music that does more than simply follow the rules of commercial success in rock music by delivering short songs, quick melodies, and fast happy feelings.
3.This is not crazy-whacko experimental music. It is extreme doom, it does go slow, and it does go slow for long periods of time, and then some. They also have a black metal sensibility weaving in and out in some spots of the landscape. They also have some melody and melancholy. Interestingly enough, they are not trying to be the heaviest and the slowest thing that you have ever heard. It's clear that what they want is for the music to be good within its own context.
4.The album should be satisfying for people that are interested in extreme doom with melancholy and black metal in it. After one listen, the second one will start to open the doors in a much more interesting way and more things become visible to the mind's eye. This album was released on April 17, 2020. Hear the entire recording for yourself at the link below.
cathartesaura.bandcamp.com/releases

kids perform Judas Priest (vocals)

This is a seven-year-old singing "Breaking the Law." This is a channel featuring music videos (rock, pop, and others), piano songs and also children's playtime videos. This aspiring singer wants you to subscribe to the channel to keep up with the latest videos.
María sing "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest (Sept. 7, 2019).

kids perform Judas Priest (drums)

This is Avery Drummer Molek doing a drum cover of "Breaking the Law." Avery Drummer Molek also videos performing AC/DC and Metalllica and others.
BREAKING THE LAW - JUDAS PRIEST - Drum Cover by Avery Drummer

kids perform Judas Priest (guitar)

MelSickScreamoAnnie is the name of the guitarist. This is a guitar cover of "Painkiller." MelSickScreamoAnnie also covers of Slayer and other music.
Judas Priest - Painkiller (mini cover)

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Stone Vengeance

The long-running California heavy metal band STONE VENGEANCE today posted an interview in which they talk about the history of the band going back to the origins in the late 1970s, and their activities in 1980s and more. In the interview they talk about a bunch of old stories about the scene in the Bay Area in the 1980s when things were in the early days. Anyway, they cover quite a few topics, including some ridiculous stories, like shocking the unsuspecting audience at the Juneteenth Festival that had no idea what they were about to witness. Below you will find some information about the band and some tunes to hear.
The above mentioned interview itself is at the link at the bottom; it is the next-to-last link.
Biography: STONE VENGEANCE "THE LORDS of HEAVY METAL SOUL" was formed JUNE 1978. For more information, visit their official website. They are living legends! You'll be surprised to find they've shared the stage with all the thrash and Heavy Metal legends of the 80's. From MANOWAR, RAVEN, DENNIS STRATTON (formerly with IRON MAIDEN), AL ATKINS (formerly with JUDAS PRIEST), ROB ROCK, ANVIL, POSSESSED, BLUE CHEER, SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, DEATH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, TROUBLE, LIZZY BORDEN, ICE-T & BODYCOUNT, VICIOUS RUMORS, DEATH ANGEL, GBH, DRI, HIRAX, LAAZ ROCKIT, FORBIDDEN and many more! Best of San Francisco ® 2006: Lose Yourself in the City SAN FRANCISCO WEEKLY! Arts &Entertainment Best Unknown Metal Act Stone Vengeance!!!
True metalheads may be surprised that we're talking up Stone Vengeance instead of one of those hip new post-black metal freaks like the mysterious Leviathan. Granted, Leviathan's underground drone is cool and all, but Stone Vengeance, three maverick black dudes from Bayview-Hunters Point, have been kicking ass under the radar for 27 years. So it's about time that the trio's raw, leather-clad speed metal attack (which fucks eardrums in the fine tradition of Venom, Raven, Celtic Frost, Manowar, and Iron Maiden) gets some well-deserved attention. Hell, just track down the vinyl reissue of the group's mid-'80s stuff, titled Here Lies Stone Vengeance 1987 , and you'll understand why the band's all-too-rare recordings are sought after by rabid collectors of speed metal and thrash. Better yet, check out a live concert — because Stone Vengeance shows no signs of slowing down.
Stone Vengeance - TO KILL EVIL
Stone Vengeance - The Angel
Bullfight/Malice - Stone Vengeance
Stone Vengeance - Time Is At Hand
Episode #51- Stone Vengeance
spreaker.com/user/shockwavesskullsessions/episode-51-stonevengeance?fbclid=IwAR1YDWdatt6gky8cY6C33DTi1uvzejwPKJ7pZXwDpkmyJkXxfT9JioyGPtQ
facebook.com/STONE-VENGEANCE-115000841854550/

PESTIFER video "Swallower of Worlds"

Pestifier (Belgium) had its 2020 album Expanding Oblivion issued back in March. Below you can read the official propaganda about this tech-death band. Check out the video "Swallower of Worlds" also and listen to the entire album at the last link at the bottom.
For Fans of... ATHEIST, (mid) PESTILENCE, (old) ATROCITY, OBSCURA
Overview
With its analog and near-live sound and mastering by Victor BULLOK (TRIPTYKON, NONEUCLID…), "Expanding Oblivion" is not only inspired by classic SciFi literature (Liu CIXIN, Isaac ASIMOV…), it's a metaphorical chronicle of our relationship with technology without being moralistic, wotj a lyrical concept wide enough in its building of a whole Universe for the listener let the imagination flow... Welcome aboard, resistance is futile!
Born in an hostile system, they used their advanced technology to transfer their consciences int servers-spaceships-factories to survive and roam the Universe, swallowing and disembodying life forms, expanding the network without boundaries, all as one, fusing knowledges, experiences, thoughts and reflections, being everywhere as oversighting sentinels sometimes creating carnal hosts to feel for a while among other species until they found Earth.
A world on the verge of apocalypse with a dying specie to which they offered a remedy through disembodiment and absorption in the network. But, like one can’t travel faster than light, a network can’t grow limitlessly in its quest of omniscience, and, reaching its own end, having absorbed all consciousness of the Universe, every single trace of life that ever existed got lost, forever…
Expanding Oblivion!
PESTIFER "Swallower of Worlds" [Music Video]
xenokorp.bandcamp.com/album/expanding-oblivion

Friday, April 24, 2020

Black Pestilence - Spurn All Gods (official video)

The extreme metal band BLACK PESTILENCE (Canada) will have a new album called Hail The Flesh on May 1st. Check out the official information below and the official video in anticipation of the album.
In the winter of 2008, Black Pestilence was formed in Calgary, Canada by bassist/vocalist Valax. Initially, Black Pestilence started as a one-man studio project, but years afterward, it evolved into a three-piece band. Over the course of twelve years, Black Pestilence has been known for their unique sound by combining black metal, punk rock, and noise.
The band has released five full-length albums, filmed four music videos, and performed all over Canada and Europe. They have also shared the stage with a number of notable bands including The Black Dahlia Murder, Toxic Holocaust, Absu, Skeletonwitch, and Wednesday 13.
Their sixth studio album “Hail The Flesh” due out May 1st, 2020 consists of nine infectious and chaotic anthems that Black Pestilence has become known for. Over the last year and a half of writing and recording, the album has become the most polished and mature sound for the band. The infectious formula that which Black Pestilence has become known for is still apparent throughout the album and they cannot wait to share this milestone with the world.
BLACK PESTILENCE - Spurn All Gods (Official Music Video)
blackpestilence.bandcamp.com/album/hail-the-flesh

review: Dark Forest

Dark Forest
Oak, Ash & Thorn
Cruz Del Sur Music
24 April 2020
The most distinguishing characteristic of DF is the ways that they integrate the melodies into their songs for a more elegant sense of traditional heavy metal. What types of melodies? They seem like their own representations of something like European medieval, folk, renaissance, Celtic, and classical melodies reiterated through rock music, sounding both familiar and very interesting at the same time. The clean, catchy, and vibrant melodies on this album would not be strange to rock audiences, from 1970s heavy metal (classic and hard rock) to today’s traditional heavy and power metal, for instance, but done with more class than is usually heard.
Rock fans looking not so much for "angry" music but rather skilled and smooth melodic heavy metal would be the people that would be possible listeners. A lot of metal music is all about that crunch on the guitars, making things loud, and of course, that’s very entertaining, but this British band’s guitar work has a certain silkiness that’s noticeable, as if they are so good that they do not need to go out of their way to prove anything because they do not need it. One listen to the album is enough to hear the difference. Actually, if you are really skeptical and you do not feel like listening to the entire album, this reviewer recommends that you go listen to the song “The Midnight Folk” and if that song does not do it for you, then, OK, this band is not for you. Knowledgeable fans might hear various influences; some people will notice the smooth melodies that might recall bands like Boston, Thin Lizzy, U.F.O., Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian and other bands known for the melodies.
Lastly, the singing. An additional advantage of DF singing is that the voice is also smooth. The DF voice avoids the high screaming that some people find annoying, like when singers keep hitting the high notes for no apparent motive other than to show their pipes. We do know that some people specifically do not like the unnecessary high note screaming in traditional heavy metal. However, for those people we can say, try DF for a change. The singing is not “yelly” and sounds a lot more pleasant on the ears. You never know, maybe you might agree with some of those Metal Archives reviewers that have given this band some rather high marks. This new album is a great illustration how good DF is.
darkforest-uk.bandcamp.com

HEAVENLY is still alive!

The lords of power metal have been gone for a long time, but apparently they are still alive. There has been no new studio album for more than ten years and every once in a while they post stuff on Facebook, and you never know what they are doing or what's really going on. Well, HEAVENLY (France) recently spoke to its fans by posting on Facebook a new lockdown version of their song "Virus" from the 2006 album of the same name. It's almost like the universe has had enough of Heavenly's foolishness and games and is now calling them to at last make themselves present in the world.
The new lockdown version of the song is below and also at the band's Facebook.
For power metal fans who have never heard Heavenly, below is their song "Miracle" from 2004. You should need no more proof from Heavenly for you to hear what the deal is.
Biography: From the very second French band HEAVENLY entered the world of power metal (Paris, 1994), their passion was evident; to play to their strengths not denying their influences; Gamma Ray and Helloween, but also to take their influences forward building on them and taking them to their natural conclusion.
Their debut album "Coming From The Sky” came in 2000. HEAVENLY had earned their record contract by leaving literally hundreds of other bands behind them in the online-competition 'Be Your Own Label Boss', the aim to let music fans vote for he band that should be signed by a company, but no one could believe that Heavenly would be so bold and so confident. Noise Records dutifully released the album, which was produced by Piet Sielck (Iron Savior) and which also featured a guest appearance by Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray / Helloween - the ultimate vote of confidence for a band that had grown up listening to his music.
HEAVENLY supported Symphony X and toured impressively with Stratovarius and Silent Force at the end of that year. One year later the young bunch returned with their second album "Sign Of The Winner” – a sure-fire winner indeed. Produced by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids) and the band themselves, this record showed HEAVENLY continuing their vibrant mission, this time with even more progressive elements and a tremendous writing style that defied their youth. As support to Edguy they went on a six-week tour throughout Europe, and followed that with an impressive appearance at the Wacken Open Air Festival.
After just one year on the road, HEAVENLY struck back with their third release: “Dust To Dust“, and again they presented themselves as a band maturing and greatly improved. Songs like "Lust For Life“ or the very fast "Evil“ showed them reaching a new level of technical skill and brilliance. The album sold not only well in France, but also received great reviews from all over Europe and hit the long-play LP charts in Finland!
Now a brand new virus threatens the scene. We're talking of course, about HEAVENLY's newest effort, simply entitled "Virus“. HEAVENLY it seems, have exceeded themselves, brought their own style to perfection and simply delivered the best album of their career so far.
If you've listened to songs such as "Liberty“ or "Spill Blood On Fire“ yet you won't want to miss the rest. From January 26th, the 'Melodic Metal Virus' will be out there, released!
Let it infect you….!
Heavenly - Miracle
HEAVENLY. - "CORONA" VIRUS, VERSION, LIVE, CONFINÉ. - ( #RESTEZCHEZVOUS #STAYHOME ). - ( 2.020 ).
facebook.com/Heavenly-404578799941/

out on April 245h: SURVIVAL ZERO

SURVIVAL ZERO (France) has its debut album out on April 24th, 2020. Survival Zero is totally new to this publication, which very recently received the information about the album The Ascension on M&O Music / Season Of Mist. Fortunately, they already have an official video for the song "Ascension" that you can watch below, where you will also find another song called "Old Man's Path." The band says about itself: Combining the energy of groove metal with extreme metal, SURVIVAL ZERO gives birth to a striking and intense music sometimes heading for post-hardcore atmospheres. The lyrics draw inspiration from the leading lights of literature such as ASIMOV or KAFKA to tackle isolation, depression or the expression of contained violence. Hail from Champagne, France, the band is made up of activists of the metal scene, among which former members of Embryonic Cells (black-metal) or Shredding Sanity (technical death).
blockquote> SURVIVAL ZERO - ASCENSION (official music video)
SURVIVAL ZERO - OLD MAN'S PATH
facebook.com/TheSurvivalZero/

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Images of Eden- "Autumn Is Burning" (Official HD Music Video from the upcoming album, "Angel Born")

Below is the announcement of the official video by IMAGES OF EDEN (U.S.) in anticipation of the new album that will be called Angel Born.
We are extremely pleased to announce the release of our new video single, “Autumn Is Burning” (taken from our upcoming 5th studio album, “Angel Born” to be released later this year). This was the very last song written for the upcoming ”Angel Born” album, and is about an increasingly volatile society that leads to an inevitable martial law/ police state. The idea for the song flooded out in September, 2019 as an “afterthought”, but due to the intensity of the concept, we decided to do a music video for it. In December, 2019, we laid out a full script (treatment) depicting one man’s “end times” apocalyptic journey and how his faith and repenting leads him to safety. We were going to hold off and release this along with the “Angel Born” album but decided to release the video now due to its almost “prophetic” and haunting relevancy of the current state of the world in shutdown/ quarantine."
Images of Eden is a fearless concept band that brings together familiar, well-loved elements of metal and rock combined with their own unique vision, message and delivery. The result is a distinct musical hybrid that speaks directly to the struggles and tribulations of the listener.
Musically, Images of Eden draws its inspiration from a hybrid of modern hard rock combined with classic metal, creating a modern sound rife with progressive elements and impassioned, unfeigned vocal delivery.
Each release from Images of Eden is a chapter in the tale of a life's journey, dealing specifically with the trials and darkness that each of us must face in this world, each track is meant to inspire the listener to overcome these obstacles through human perseverance strengthened by guidance from above. The distinct vision that gives Images of Eden its identity is about drawing strength and determination from faith to see us through our toughest times, but what makes IoE stand out as one of a kind is that its message is simultaneously accessible to everyone while still speaking to the listener on a very personal level. Images of Eden first sparked into existence in 1998 as an ambitious concept in the mind of founder and vocalist Gordon Tittsworth. Staring down a fateful crossroads in life, Gordon found himself headed in an unusual direction and envisioned a band completely unique in scope and sound. Knowing that in order to bring this new vision to life the core concept would have to remain undiluted and that he'd have to be uncompromising in his goals, Gordon parted ways with his previous band. Stepping into the studio in September 1999 with only a session drummer, Gordon recorded Images of Eden's debut album (to later be known as Chapter I) with the goal of producing a one of a kind proof-of-concept. Filling in the rest of the band's instrumentals himself, Images of Eden was now more than a mere vision: it had been given flesh and bone, and was already evolving into something more. Images of Eden's vision being as distinct as it is made it easy for Gordon to hand pick like-minded artists to ensure that the band would always move in right direction. The proto-lineup of musicians in IoE's early days cemented the band's spot as a remarkable force on the local scene, and before long Images of Eden had shot up the local food chain. Through winning a battle of the bands competition and several performances later, Images of Eden was rapidly gaining notoriety and now had teeth. Gordon took hold of the band's momentum and was already at work on IoE's next release: Sunlight of the Spirit.
Released through Nightmare Records, Sunlight of the Spirit was Images of Eden's first taste of international notoriety. IoE was now seeing airplay across the globe, with Sunlight of the Spirit landing on the number 17 spot on domestic college radio charts. Images of Eden supported the album through a multitude of live performances during the era of Sunlight of the Spirit, until just before work on their third record began. As a concept IoE's goal would never change, but a person's goals may, and just before the work began on their next release the group's original lineup parted ways.
Gordon found himself essentially starting from scratch. He continued writing what would become the band's third release, appropriately titled Rebuilding the Ruins. Along the way IoE picked up a few new members, including Dean Harris, who would go on to be the band's permanent keyboardist. Dean is a classically-trained keyboard/ piano player with decades of live performance experience to his credit. By 2010 the group was back in the studio and recorded Rebuilding the Ruins, which would go on to be released through Nightmare Records the following year. The album built on Images of Eden's past success, and once again the band was seeing international airplay. Rebuilding the Ruins was received well by critics, and was compared to giants of the genre such as Fates Warning and Dream Theater, and in early 2016 the album's title track made it to the number 1 spot on N1M's hard rock/metal charts for the state of Pennsylvania, and made it to number 5 nationally. "Human Angels", also from Rebuilding the Ruins, jumped 90 spots and was ranked #1 in March of 2016.
The band’s momentum was undeniable at this point, and the individual notoriety the group members had gained led to another restructuring of the lineup as a few members parted ways to pursue their own goals. This turn of events would eventually see the addition of full-time percussionist, Steve Dorssom. A veteran of the metal scene, Steve is also the percussionist, manager, and one of the founding members of the internationally renowned metal band, Born of Fire (which also featured Gordon Tittsworth as lead vocalist in 2014). Steve's also an accomplished Film Director & Producer with several award winning music videos to his credit. Also joining the lineup was seasoned bass player Eric Mulvaine (who has played with drummer Steve Dorssom in the recent past and at the beginning of both their musical careers), would become IoE's permanent bassist, as well as veteran musician and lead guitarist Carlos Urquidi Perez: founder of Blue Note Guitar Academy in Chihuahua, Mexico and a renowned guitar instructor with an extensive resume of live and in-studio experience. Images of Eden was now a force to be reckoned with. Today, Images of Eden finds itself amidst a perfect storm: a lineup comprised of professionals of the genre that have spent decades honing their talents, with new material that's more polished and masterfully executed than ever while still remaining genuine to the band's original vision. Images of Eden is poised to unleash its full potential on the world of metal. The band's 4th studio album “Soulrise” (produced by the legendary, Bill Metoyer) was released on August 17, 2018 through Pavement Entertainment. As of May, 2019, Images of Eden just wrapped up a full coast-to-coast US tour with Metal Church and Doro Pesch (the voice of Warlock) in support of "Soulrise". The band is about to hit the studio this summer to record their 5th album, titled “Angel Born”.
Images of Eden- "Autumn Is Burning" (Official HD Music Video from the upcoming album, "Angel Born")
facebook.com/imagesofeden/

review: Cirith Ungol

Cirith Ungol
Forever Black
Metal Blade Records
24 April 2020
“How many of you would work 22 years, 5 nights a week for free, this after putting in an 8 hour day job during just to pursue an ever elusive dream that is somehow always out of reach." Rob Garven, 2010 (Cirith Ungol drummer)
The 1981 debut by Cirith Ungol (1972-1992; 2015-) and subsequent albums were ahead of their time or just too weird for the audiences, or born too late, or all three. In the 1980s there were a lot of rules, uniforms, and the bands followed those rules. This California band sounded too proggy-doomy-fantasy at a time when there was a lot of super low IQ druggy Los Angeles bands, drunk-jerk/narrow-minded thrash bands, and the drugged-out big bands were obsessed with being as famous as the King of Pop. The biggest metal bands were unhappy with albums sales in the millions. They wanted TENS of millions. This Tolkien-loving band was something like one third prog, one third doom, one third heavy metal, and just too much for the rules that said: be glam, be thrash or be stadium metal. The songs would sort of go sideways, and go bluesy doom prog and just sound unorthodox for the young minds expecting either Van Halen or Metallica or Priest-like songs. Poor devils, the listeners! They did not know what to do with this band. To top it all off, the singer had a slightly strange yelly-wildman-in-the-woods quality; not super bizarre, but certainly not a party metal singer, for sure.
Decades later enough fans have remained stubborn by keeping the name alive. It turns out that more people are ready for the music now. It doesn’t sound that unusual today, given that nowadays pig squeals, accordions, grunting, growling, guitarless metal are real things, and there is even a capella metal, mariachi metal, and blues doom is a thing, Swedish bands make retro proto metal in unusually large quantities, and there is jazz metal, to name but a few of the things that metal bands do today. Well, well, well, good ole literature professors Cirith Ungol are not so weird now!
It the 1980s it seemed like the band had not gotten the memo that said:
“Attention all metal bands,
For the 1980s you are required to sound only like Van Halen/Ratt/Motley Crue, Metallica/Slayer/Megadeth, or Priest/Scorpions/Maiden. Write lyrics only about metal, the news, parties or religion. Drop all prog sounds right now. Drop all hard blues doom guitar sounds now. Your public image must be: a cool alcoholic, an awesome druggy, a party person or an evil, tough, sick jerk. Do not give your band a strange name that no one knows how to pronounce. No Tolkien names allowed! No literary album covers, either.”
The above memo went out, but this band never received it. If they received it, they grabbed the paper, rolled it up into a ball, and they threw it in a trash can.
It is now 2020 and the band has finally ended their studio silence. The metal world is much more ready for this music: classic heavy metal with a bit of prog and doom vibes. In some of the guitar playing you will hear a bit of that hard rocking blues proggy heavy metal of the 1970s. In addition, given the passage of time, the singing is a bit lower, and sounds as good as ever in its own peculiar, unique, cult way, but less screechy than in the 1980s. The band basically broke up because it seemed like nobody cared about their music. It took decades, but the new chapter of the band is now in the process of being written. Here is the evidence. Believe it or not, Ripley.
Cirith Ungol "Legions Arise" Lyric Video (OFFICIAL)
Cirith Ungol "Before Tomorrow" (OFFICIAL)
cirithungol.bandcamp.com