SevenKingdoms

Friday, January 31, 2014

MITHRIDIUM Confirmed for Warriors Of Metal Fest VII

The Warriors of Metal, Inc. non-profit organization is pleased to announce that one of the biggest supporters of our event in Ohio's capital city, Melodic Thrash Metal band MITHRIDIUM, has been confirmed to make a return performance at this summer's seventh annual metal celebration.

Band drummer Tony Kaliszewski states: "It is an honor to be a part of Warriors of Metal Fest once again. We would like to the thank the fest organizers for inviting us back and giving Mithridium another opportunity to share our music with the WOM family; old and new. We look forward to seeing all of our friends and welcoming everyone back to our hometown of Columbus, Ohio."

Check out MITHRIDIUM's "With the Blood of Retribution" at this location.

More on MITHRIDIUM at the links below:


Bands confirmed for Pre-Fest Showcase on Thursday, June 26 at O'Sheckeys Live Bar & Grill include: AUTOMATON, DEADIRON, DETHRATS, ETERNAL LEGACY, GRAVE ROBBER, LOWER 13, and SPLIT THE ABYSS. 

Warriors Of Metal Fest VII confirmed bands thus far for the main Fest on Friday, June 27 & Saturday June 28 include: ARMORY, BEYOND FALLEN, BURNING SHADOWS, CELLADOR, CRUSADER, FLESH ENGINE, MITHRIDIUM, RESTLESS BREED,  and SHALLOW GROUND.

Keep up-to-date with all of the developments such as band announcements and ticket information for next year's show through the Warrior's of Metal Fest's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/warriorsofmetal

CORSAIR Launches Kickstarter Campaign for European Tour

US-based prog rock/metal outfit CORSAIR has launched a campaign with Kickstarter.com to help fund the band's upcoming European tour. In exchange for your support, the band is offering a wide selection of music, merch, personalized messages & photos, music lessons, personal performances and more. The purposed tour itinerary would have the band trekking across the European countryside from February 20 - March 16. Details and a complete rundown of expenses and perks can be found at the link below. 

CORSAIR SHREDS: European Tour Campaign:


After five years together, two EPs (Alpha Centauri 2010, Ghosts of Proxima Centauri 2011) and a full length (Corsair 2012) CORSAIR was picked up by Shadow Kingdom Records in 2012. By mid-2013, SKR had re-released all of the band's material and the Berlin-based High Roller Records was slated to press their entire catalogue on vinyl. This garnered the band much attention from reviewers and magazines all over the world, bringing high praise and features in publications such as Decibel Magazine (U.S), Rock Hard Magazine (Germany) and Terrorizer Magazine (U.K.). CORSAIR is currently hard at work prepping for their upcoming European tour and have plans to tour the U.S. and record a new album upon return. For more on CORSAIR, visit the links below. 



Praise for CORSAIR

"This co-ed Virginia quartet's first full-length is as confident and realized a debut as has come down the metal pike in many a moon. Two instrumentals ignite midway between '70s fusion and '80s Metallica; seven songs with words alternately set mythic D&D play-by-play to relaxed NWOBHM or the toastiness, tunefulness, rhythm and calm of classic Thin Lizzy. Criss-crossing guitars of Paul Sebring and Marie Landragin warm prog intricacy with blues á la the great lost Chicago band Winterhawk. Landragin finally takes vocal reins in "The Desert," and closes the set traversing Yes-like topography."- Chuck Eddy, Rhapsody

"The Ghosts of Proxima Centauri are plenty haunting, and one gets the sense that Corsair have the means to make the most of their growth in the time to come. Hope to catch them at Beta Centauri or coming to a star system near you." TheObelisk.net

"At the intersection of Clutch, Thin Lizzy and Hawkwind lies Corsair, with their beautifully vintage guitar tones, emphasis on often-harmonized leads and solos, drifting and yet energetic prog-jam tendencies, and hints of hazy psychedelia." - Last Rites

"Ghosts of Proxima Centauri is unique work I can't recommend highly enough - I mean, Slough Feg, Falcon AND ELO?? Get outta here! Great, unique sound, 'Adventure Rock' supreme!!" - Hellride Music

"Yes: beautiful, is not Ynwie-Malmsteen-dudelig. We are talking about very tasteful, fresh, intelligent composed riffs that you want to hear again and again. So was the 1983 Iron Maiden also: They wanted to replace the same record over and over again. And so what happens truly not often nowadays!" [9/10] 

 - Fenriz, Rock Hard

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Pure Steel Release PRIMEVAL REALM "Primordial Light"


Pure Steel is proud to present a new band, PRIMEVAL REALM from the USA who have now recorded their debut album called “Primordial Light”. Until now we only had very few Doom bands in our back catalogue, but this quartet, formed in 2009, plays this genre with a passion and devotion which is contagious.

In 39 minutes’ playing time, the album features seven songs, some of which are overlong. They are full of homage to bands like TROUBLE, CANDLEMASS, SAINT VITUS/THE OBSESSED and SOLITUDE AETURNUS. But the band never copies the originals, they present fresh ideas of their own. The songs are not always in slow-motion but also offer some brisker passages. Epic, melancholic parts alternate with groovy riff-monsters in the best Iommi-tradition; the sentimental, melodic vocals of mastermind Joe Potash show authenticity and power, keyboards/Hammond organs are only used as intensification for the gloomy and menacing aura. The track “Heavy is the Mind” shows even classic Heavy-influences and the final track “Primordial Light…Departure” surprises with light flute-sounds. The sound is fat, powerful and heavy on the basses, but this is of course a point of honour.

Excellent, sometimes epic Doom Metal from utter conviction: PRIMEVAL REALM are truly a candidate for coming HAMMER OF DOOM-gigs!



TRACKLIST:
1. A Primeval Realm
2. Black Flames & Shadows
3. Electric Knowledge
4. Galaxy Lifter
5. Heavy Is This Mind
6. Night Of The Wolfmoon
7. Primordial Light... Departure


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

MARS RED SKY Signs with Listenable Records

Considered one of the greats of the European stoner rock scene, France's MARS RED SKY have gained international recognition due to a unique sound, based on thick infectious grooves and melodic aerial guitar riffs. This is truly a one of a kind experience, wrapped up by Julien Pras' ethereal vocals, Matgaz' powerful rhythms and Jimmy Kinast's pachydermic bass lines. Somewhere between doom metal and 70s psyche pop, MARS RED SKY intrigues and attracts the masses to celebrate this cosmic ritual of solar burning fuzz and reverberated atmospheres.

Driven by the huge success of their eponymous debut record, recorded in Spain's mystic Bardenas Desert and released in 2011, the band was invited to play on the largest European stages with Kyuss Lives!, Dinosaur Jr. and Sleep, as well as popular festivals like Eurockéennes de Belfort, Roadburn, London & Berlin Desertfests, Sziget Festival and SXSW (USA). All in all, MARS RED SKY has played in more than 20 countries. 

With their incredibly heavy and hypnotic performances, MARS RED SKY have been considered as one of the most thrilling live acts among the international stoner rock scene. In 2012, they paired up with French doom metal monsters Year Of No Light to release a three-track split record, which sold out in a blink of an eye.


The release of their Be My Guide EP in 2013 opened the path for an extensive tour across Europe, then across the Atlantic for gigs in Latin America. This is where the band recorded their new album, due out this spring on Listenable Records. A limited edition 7" EP containing exclusive material will be released in March, more details coming shortly. 

Focus on Metal 164 with Ralf Scheepers and Alex Beyrodt is now available


We are on a roll so far this year, hot on the heels of last weeks giant size Michael Schenker episode we bring you more metal from Germany. This week we have Ralf Scheepers from Primal Fear and Alex Beyrodt from…well from lots of stuff including Primal Fear but this week he's on the show talking about Silent Force.

Our track of the week is from Holy Cross from their latest "Place Your Bets" on Pure Steel Records.


And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.


Grab it now from the Focus on Metal SiteThe Cast Iron Ring or on iTunes

MORFIN Debut New Song with Decibel Magazine

US death quartet MORFIN has invaded Decibel Magazine's cyberspace for the exclusive world premiere of "Cryostasis," off their upcoming debut Inoculation. Coming next month on FDA Rekotz, the band proudly offers a blood-soaked bite of the carnage to come. Check out "Cryostasis" at this location

From the depths of Californian crypts, FDA Rekotz presents bone-breaking death metal act MORFIN and their debut album, Inoculation. Comprised of 10 classically-inspired death metal hymns - including a surprise cover tune - Inoculation crushes faces in the vein of early Death, Gorguts and Skeletal Remains. The album was recorded at Executer Studio in Pico Rivera, Calif., (Skeletal Remains), with artwork by Badic Art (Skeletal Remains, Goregast, Demonical, Dehuman Reign).


Inoculation is set for a February 21 release on CD, vinyl and digital formats. The vinyl LP will be offered on red/black marbled (100 copies only) or standard black vinyl. Pre-orders are being taken now at www.fda-rekotz.com.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

ARMORY Confirmed for Warriors Of Metal Fest VII

The Warriors of Metal, Inc. non-profit organization is excited and privileged to announce that Massachusetts-based, Eurocentric Power Metallers ARMORY have chosen the Warriors Of Metal Fest VII to host its first and only Midwest performance in 2014. The band will be appearing in support of their sophomore release, Empyrean Realm, which came out late last year.  Much like the band's 2007 debut, Dawn of Enlightenment, this album was released independently, but this time through the band's own label, Metavania Music. Warriors of Metal Fest VII will take place on Friday and Saturday, June 27 & 28 at O'Sheckeys LIVE Bar & Grill in Columbus, Ohio. 

Band founder, guitarist and studio drummer Joe Kurland states: "It feels great to finally play a show outside of the Northeast and the timing is perfect to showcase songs from our new album, Empyrean Realms! Warriors of Metal Fest VII will be Armory's first metal festival and we couldn't be more excited to be a part of such a premier event."

Check out the Empyrean Realms album sampler at this location.



Keep up-to-date with all of the developments such as band announcements and ticket information for next year's show through the Warrior's of Metal Fest's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/warriorsofmetal

Pre-order Savage Messiah's new album 'The Fateful Dark' now!


Greetings, thrashers and headbangers!

British shred-heavy melodic metallers Savage Messiah are gearing up for the release of their brand new studio album, "The Fateful Dark", and we must say, it's an absolute riff-fest!

"The Fateful Dark" is due to be released on March 12th and is practically exploding with crushing riffs, face-melting solos and soaring vocals.  This is undoubtedly going to be one of the best metal albums of the year!

Pre-order "The Fateful Dark" now from the Earache Webstore on CD and you'll receive a free exclusive bonus disc featuring three killer cover tracks, or pre-order the album on vinyl and get a free bonus 10" with four cover tracks!  "The Fateful Dark" is also available on iTunes with three bonus tracks, and if you pre-order the album now you'll be able to download two tracks straight away, with another available on February 10th.

Reserve your copy of "The Fateful Dark" now:
Europe - http://webstore.earache.com/savage-messiah
North America - http://uswebstore.earache.com/savage-messiah
iTunes - http://bit.ly/fatefuldarkitunes

As a little taste of what's to come, you can check out two new Savage Messiah tracks now, plus a sneak preview of the full album:
"Minority of One" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCLbE-cfkrg
"Cross of Babylon" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj5Ts57_U24
Album preview - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4k7tZPkl70

Finally, make sure you don't miss Savage Messiah performing live in the UK in support of "The Fateful Dark":

Mar. 02 - London, UK - Barfly
Mar. 05 - York, UK - Fibbers
Mar. 06 - Glasgow, UK - Audio
Mar. 07 - Manchester, UK - Sound Control
Mar. 08 - Wolverhampton, UK - Slade Rooms
Apr. 19 - Norwich, UK - Thrashersaurus Festival

Rock on!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Listenable Records and GoHastings.com Offering Free Winter Sampler


Listenable Records and GoHastings.com have teamed up, in celebration of Hasting's "Metal Month," to offer fans a free digital compilation album. Listenable Records' Winter Sampler features exclusive brand new tracks off of upcoming albums from black/death/thrash extremists ACHERON and dark metallers OTARGOS. The sampler also includes tracks from SOILWORK, INCANTATION, PANZERCHRIST, SATAN, SVART CROWN, 77, IZEGRIM and more. 

To snag your copy of Listenable Records' Winter Sampler, visit the link below and click on the Winter Sampler banner (download will begin automatically). 


ETERNAL LEGACY to headline Warriors Of Metal Fest VII Pre-Fest Showcase

The Warriors of Metal, Inc. non-profit organization is proud to announce that 2009 WOM Fest II Open Air veteran band from Parma, Ohio and Auburn Records recording artist ETERNAL LEGACY will be the headliner for this year's Pre-Fest Showcase of Warriors Of Metal Fest VII which will take place on Thursday, June 26 at O'Sheckys LIVE Bar & Grill in Columbus, Ohio.  ETERNAL LEGACY will be supporting the release of their third full-length studio album, Seeking No Peace.

Band co-founder and guitarist Shaun Vanek states: "Glad to make it down here again for the Rock N Roll show. It's going to really whoop a llamas ass!! We are all looking forward to hanging out with our budz in the C-bus area. See you soon!"


Check out ETERNAL LEGACY performing "Cauterize" at Waken Open Air 2010 HERE.


Keep up-to-date with all of the developments such as band announcements and ticket information for next year's show through the Warrior's of Metal Fest's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/warriorsofmetal

Friday, January 24, 2014

BURNING SHADOWS Confirmed for Warriors Of Metal Fest VII

The Warriors of Metal, Inc. non-profit organization is excited to announce the confirmation of Maryland Power Metallers BURNING SHADOWS, whose awe-inspiring performance at 2012's Pathfinder Metalfest V as a support band for the legendary Raven led to the Warriors Of Metal Fest organizer Datis Alaee to comment: "I had known Burning Shadows for a while at that time since my friend Tim Regan had sent his band's previous albums for air play on my Metal Messiah Radio show.  But making our annual pilgrimage from Ohio to Georgia to support our friend Hoyt Parris with the 5th edition of his Pathfinder Promotions' Metalfest series, Burning Shadows was a definite not-to-be-missed band for me and boy did those guys deliver!!!  My neck was wrecked, my ass was kicked and my face was melted.  Big kudos to Hoyt for such an awesome booking!  After their performance I went over to my wife and said 'We HAVE TO get these guys to our Fest!!!'"  
Band guitarist Tim Regan states: "We are thrilled to join the lineup for Warriors of Metal Fest VII! It is a huge honor to be part of a festival that always brings together so many amazing acts. We are grateful to battle alongside so many like-minded bands, organizers and fans. Datis has been a strong supporter of ours and we very much look forward to bringing our music to new audiences looking to help us prove that true metal is alive and well. Many of our favorite bands that we've shared the stage with have played this festival in years past and we're excited about what's in store for 2014." 

The band has posted the song "A Thousand Lies (Abridged)," from their Last One To Fall EP at this location.



Keep up-to-date with all of the developments such as band announcements and ticket information for next year's show through the Warrior's of Metal Fest's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/warriorsofmetal

Thursday, January 23, 2014

SAVAGE MESSIAH: 'THE FATEFUL DARK' TO RECEIVE JAPANESE RELEASE VIA TROOPER ENTERTAINMENT


British shred-heavy melodic metallers SAVAGE MESSIAH have secured a deal with Trooper Entertainment for the Japanese release of their upcoming new album, THE FATEFUL DARK.

The album is due to be released in Japan on March 12th, following its European launch on March 10th through Earache Records.  The album will then release in the USA via Century Media/Earache Records on March 18th.

SAVAGE MESSIAH frontman DAVE SILVER comments:

"We're extremely excited and proud to be able to announce our first domestic Japanese release!  So a massive thanks goes to Earache and Trooper for putting this together.  Japan is a country that we've always held in high esteem and we know that there is a vibrant rock/metal scene over there which we hope to become a part of.  This deal should hopefully enable the band to tour over there and we look forward to the adventures to come!"

THE FATEFUL DARK was recorded at Grindstone Studios in Suffolk, England with producer SCOTT ATKINS (AMON AMARTH, SYLOSIS, BEHEMOTH) and features artwork created by PETER SALLAI (SABATON).

SAVAGE MESSIAH recently took part in a photoshoot in London with renowned photographer PETER BESTE, famous for his photos of the early black metal scene in Norway.  View some photos from the shoot at http://earacherecords.com/myspace/sm_peterbeste1.jpg and http://earacherecords.com/myspace/sm_peterbeste2.jpg

THE FATEFUL DARK is available to pre-order now from the Earache Webstore on CD with an exclusive bonus disc featuring three cover tracks, and is also available on limited edition coloured vinyl LP including a bonus 10" vinyl featuring four cover tracks.

Pre-order the album now from the Earache Webstore in Europe at http://webstore.earache.com/savage-messiah or in North America at http://uswebstore.earache.com/savage-messiah

THE FATEFUL DARK is also available to pre-order now on iTunes including three bonus cover tracks and three instant grat tracks at http://bit.ly/fatefuldarkitunes

Listen to two new SAVAGE MESSIAH tracks from the upcoming album:

"Minority of One" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCLbE-cfkrg
"Cross of Babylon" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj5Ts57_U24

See SAVAGE MESSIAH on tour at the following shows:

Mar. 02 - London, UK - Barfly
Mar. 05 - York, UK - Fibbers
Mar. 06 - Glasgow, UK - Audio
Mar. 07 - Manchester, UK - Sound Control
Mar. 08 - Wolverhampton, UK - Slade Rooms
Apr. 19 - Norwich, UK - Thrashersaurus Festival

Get more SAVAGE MESSIAH news and info at:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SavageMessiahMetal
Twitter - http://twitter.com/savagemessiah

DIAMOND PLATE ANNOUNCE CO-HEADLINING U.S. TOUR WITH EAST OF THE WALL


Chicago metal trio DIAMOND PLATE have confirmed a co-headlining US tour with New Jersey progressive metallers EAST OF THE WALL.

Sponsored by MetalSucks and Metal Injection, the "Redacted Pulse Tour" is due to kick off on February 28th in Brooklyn, New York, before tearing its way across the US throughout March and into April.  DIAMOND PLATE will be touring in support of their new album, PULSE, while EAST OF THE WALL are touring off their latest release, REDACTION ARTIFACTS.  Both albums are available now worldwide.

DIAMOND PLATE comment:

"We're kicking off 2014 with a co-headlining tour, featuring the incredibly talented East of the Wall.  We'll be playing cities we've never been in and songs we've never played before.  Redacted Pulse, like a heart stopping, combines the album titles of both bands.  People can expect intensity and musicianship at every show."

EAST OF THE WALL add:

"It's going to feel great climbing back in the van and bringing songs from Redaction Artifacts on the road.  And it's been a good time rearranging some of the old material for the new lineup.  Plus, we have Diamond Plate keeping us on our toes every night."

Don't miss DIAMOND PLATE on tour with EAST OF THE WALL at the following shows:

Feb. 28 - Brooklyn, NY - The Omega Order
Mar. 01 - Long Branch, NJ - The Brighton Bar
Mar. 02 - Kenilworth, NJ - 10th Street Live
Mar. 03 - York, PA - The Depot
Mar. 04 - Springfield, VA - Empire
Mar. 05 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero
Mar. 07 - Knoxville, TN - The Bowery
Mar. 09 - Orlando, FL - Uncle Lou's Entertainment Hall
Mar. 10 - Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits
Mar. 12 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia
Mar. 15 - Oklahoma City, OK - Leon's Lounge
Mar. 16 - Albuquerque, NM - The Jam Spot
Mar. 17 - Phoenix, AZ - Yucca
Mar. 18 - Anaheim, CA - Mirror Image Studios
Mar. 19 - Reno, NV - Jub Jubs
Mar. 20 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Bar Deluxe
Mar. 21 - South Tahoe, CA - Rojo's Tavern
Mar. 22 - TBA
Mar. 23 - TBA
Mar. 24 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
Mar. 25 - Spokane, WA - Checkerboard Bar
Mar. 27 - Great Falls, MT - Machinery Row
Mar. 29 - Billings, MT - The Railyard
Mar. 30 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
Apr. 01 - Saint Louis, MO - Fubar
Apr. 02 - Chicago, IL - Cobra Lounge
Apr. 03 - Warren, MI - The Ritz
Apr. 05 - Buffalo, NY - Broadway Joe's
Apr. 06 - TBA


Get DIAMOND PLATE's new album, PULSE, on CD in the US from CM Distro at http://bit.ly/176xt2F or get the album on iTunes at http://bit.ly/1dPuJ73

Watch DIAMOND PLATE's music video for the track, "Dance With Reality", at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awMKsnoyB_4

Get more DIAMOND PLATE news and info at:

Official site - http://www.diamondplateband.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/diamondplate1
Twitter - http://twitter.com/diamondplate1

PRIMEVAL REALM signed a worldwide deal with PURE STEEL RECORDS!


American metallers PRIMEVAL REALM have signed a worldwide deal with PURE STEEL RECORDS! The official release date of the new album "Primordial Light" is the 14th of March 2014. More news coming soon.


LINE-UP:
Joe Potash - vocals, guitars, (keyboards, bass, drums)
Reed Thomas - bass and backing vocals
Mike White - drums and percussion
Brian Leahy - keyboards

Get the Primeval Realm app at:

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Lizzy Borden to headline an open to the public Epiphone party at the NAMM Show

Lizzy Borden will headline the Epiphone party for the NAMM Show, Friday January 24th 2014 at the Tiki bar in Costa Mesa (about 15 min away from the convention center). You do not need to be part of the NAMM show to get tickets. This will reunite the "Appointment with Death" line up (Joey Scott, Marten Andersson, Ira Black and Lizzy) for a one night only performance. Be sure to catch this exclusive one-off show. It's our first show together in 5 years, we go on at 11:35pm for a full headlining set. There will also be Epiphone giveaways and other fun stuff. See poster below or go to lizzyborden.com for details. (Tickets are now available to the public and can be found here)
  

NAMM Appearances:
    
- Carvin Bass Amps (signing and performance) - #4290 Hall C at 2pm on Friday, January 24 
- Lizzy Borden Live - Epiphone NAMM Party at the TIKI Bar - 11:30 pm January 24 (open to the public)
- EBS Sweden - #5391 Hall B at 2pm on Saturday, January 25. 
    
I hope to see you, come by and say hi! Thank you again for reading this and for being awesome. Feel free to follow me on your social media outlets as well. Keep checking the sites as more shows and news will be announced soon. Have a great safe 2014!
   

Focus Metal 162 Featuring Michael Schenker and Ethan Brosh is now available


Episode 162 - Focus on Schenker

After an all too brief two week break we are back with a vengeance. We have two guitarist guests this week. Legendary guitarist Michael Schenker and in another edition of the Shred Chronicles we have Ethan Brosh. If that wasn't enough Richie and I also discuss the return of Jake E Lee.

Catch up with the latest Schenker news at:http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com/

Get Ethan's music at: http://www.ethanbrosh.com/


And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Grab it now from the Focus on Metal SiteThe Cast Iron Ring or on iTunes

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Ripper

   I was in Newbury Comics yesterday to pick up the new Michael Schenker cd and stumbled across Tim Ripper Owens Play My Game solo album from a couple of years ago. In the bag that went to. I put it on and fuck me it's really good stuff.

   Got me thinking, as he has been in multiple bands was he in the right place at the right time or vice-versa. Is he entirely blameless for what happened. Let's have a little peek at the bands he was in:

   Priest, the big one. Huge shoes to fill, it's Halford he's replacing for fuck's sake who's on the Mount Rushmore of metal vocalists. Off he goes with Fight (good band) and Two (shite band). Tipton takes over Priest and the resulting Jugulator album fails to set the world on fire. Ripper excels throughout and has no writing credits whatsoever. Odd considering the credits for old Priest were always Tipton/Downing/Halford. The album was heavy but the songs were patchy. The follow up Demolition was more old school sounding. Ripper faultless vocally again but only one writing credit and that's on a track called What's My Name buried on the Japanese release. Not a ringing endorsement of his song craft eh? Two live albums and one dvd and boy can he sing the old shit too. The problem was they were in clubs and so it was inevitable.......

   Yngwie. The control freak. A man who needs an extension bigger then his house to keep his ego in. Ripper hung around to sing for a while. All Yngwie's vocalists hang around for a while. They spend longer offstage then James La Brie from Dream Theater even though Yngwie's songs are two thirds shorter in length. It says Yngwie on the ticket and people come to see ME. Now thinks he can sing to for fucks sake. Ripper had no chance.

   Iced Earth, the Jon Schaffer band. Members come and go except him. Ripper hangs around for a couple of albums. Great vocally again but the fans want Matt Barlow. He did get to write some lyrics though but no chance of a long term deal here.

   So can he write good stuff? Fucking right he can. Anyone who loves great metal should have the Beyond Fear cd in their collection. Great cd. Better then the two Priest studio albums he sung on. Charred Walls of the Damned is good too and so is the solo album I just picked up. Did the guys in the bands he was in think he couldn't write or did they just not want to give him a piece of the pie. Makes me scratch my head. In the end it's their loss. Oh and the solo album is better then Nostradamus too.

Richie.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Original TROUBLE Drummer Jeff “Oly” Olson Launches Beer/Schedules Meet And Greets


Original TROUBLE drummer JeffOlyOlson will launch a Belgium-style stout named RED HOWES with Allagash Brewing Company set for release on Saturday, January 25th. The limited bottles will be sold in 750 ml and will be distributed nationwide on draft. 


Named after Olson’s Grandfather, RED HOWES is an Imperial Stout brewed with over 3,000 pounds of New England cranberries. Coincidently, the cranberry’s brewed in the beer are of the Red Howes and Early Blacks variety. The beer is black in color with a creamy beige head brewed with 2-Row barley, a blend of roasted malts and grains. Cocoa, coffee, and berries fill the aroma with flavors of dried fruit and bitter chocolate with a slight tartness and a dry lingering finish. 8.5% ABV.  

Olson is no stranger to the brewing industry having worked in breweries and wineries for over twenty years whilst not on band tours. Moreover, Olson has been writing and recording in the music industry since the formation of TROUBLE (1979) and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in film scoring, cum laude, from Berklee College of Music. Currently, Olson is playing drums and keyboards for THE SKULL (featuring original TROUBLE vocalist Eric Wagner and longtime TROUBLE bassist Ron Holzner), Victor Griffin’s IN~GRAVED, and is a multi-instrumentalist with his heavy psychedelic/doom project RETRO GRAVE.

In other news, Olson will be scheduling meet and greets both in Portland, Maine and New York, New York. The dates are as follows.

Saturday, January 25th – Allagash Brewing Company – Portland, Maine
8AM- Doors
9AM- Beer goes on sale
10AM – JeffOlyOlson will perform a set list from the music of TROUBLE, THE SKULL, Victor Griffin’s IN~GRAVED, and RETRO GRAVE.
*Bottles only

Saturday, March 1st – Idle Hands Bar- New York, New York
8PM-11PM
*Draft only


ARMAGEDDON REV.16:16 join Pitch Black Records

PITCH BLACK RECORDS is extremely proud and honoured to announce the addition of ARMAGEDDON REV.16:16 to its artist roster and the release of their album, “Sundown on Humanity”, on March 11th, 2014.

ARMAGEDDON REV.16:16 (aka ARMAGEDDON) is the longest living and most respected Cypriot metal band. The scene veterans were formed in 1985 and have kept active since then, mainly with their continuous live presence as well as their demo and EP releases. Of course their renowned 1993 s/t 12” EP needs no introduction as it is now considered a truly hard-to-find, major collector’s item internationally.

“Sundown on Humanity” is actually the band’s first full length album after all these years, making this album an even more highly anticipated release! The band’s style remains true to its original beginnings of melodic classic heavy metal with some power and progressive elements fused in their style.
The album line up sees original members Jimmy Mavrommatis on vocals, Kikis A. Apostolou on lead guitar and Elias A. Andreou on rhythm guitars joined by accomplished musicians Nikolas Papaeftychiou on bass and Kerry Elgar on drums (replaced recently by Evangelos Varnava).
“Sundown on Humanity” includes guest appearances by Bob Katsionis (FIREWIND) on keyboards and guitar, Nicholas Leptos (ARRAYAN PATH, WARLORD), Tasos Karonias (R.U.S.T.) and Andreas Paraschos (BLYND) on vocals. Bob Katsionis also mixed and mastered the album at his own Sound Symmetry Studio in Athens, Greece.

Featuring 12 tracks, “Sundown on Humanity” clocks in at just over 58 minutes! Special mention should be made to the closing track of the album, “Icy Blackness (Kursk)”, a tribute to the crew of the Russian submarine “Kursk” that perished in the summer of 2000. This song includes yet another guest appearance, that of Petros Leptos (SOLITARY SABRED), who lends his voice to create a haunting spoken intro.

The full track listing is as follows:
  1. E.K. 40 (Intro)
  2. Human Sundown
  3. Shades of Tomorrow
  4. Strange Dreams
  5. Fallen Angels and Lost Souls
  6. Hypocrites of Destruction
  7. New Day Will Come
  8. 13-Seventh Eleven
  9. Why
  10. Heavy Metal
  11. United
  12. Icy Blackness (Kursk)

The album will be available worldwide on CD and digital through Pitch Black Records and its distribution partners. A song taken off the album is now available for free download and streaming at www.pitchblackrecords.com.

NITRO "VOLATILE ACTIVITY" ON VINYL NOW!

US traditional metal veterans NITRO joins with Blood and Iron Records/Metal Soldiers Records to issue the legendary “lost” never-released album “VOLATILE ACTIVITY” on VINYL.


2013 was a good year to be a NITRO fan and now the dawning of 2014 sees the Pennsylvania quartet offering an extremely rare full LP.

New and long-term NITRO followers worldwide can now add the fabled, “VOLATILE ACTIVITY” to their NITRO collections thanks to vinyl specialists Blood and Iron/Metal Soldiers Records.
With amazingly strong staying power, NITRO formed in 1979, released their famous 10 inch EP “LETHAL” in 1982, quickly signed with legendary Belgian label Mausoleum Records, and released the full length LP “LETHAL + II” in 1983.

Hot on the heels of Skol Records July 2013 CD release of the NITRO anthology “LETHAL DOSE”, “VOLATILE ACTIVITY” comes from Blood and Iron/Metal Soldiers records as a eagerly awaited limited release in black vinyl and blue vinyl.

For more than 26 years, this complete and self-produced album has been tucked away deep in the NITRO vaults. Vinylphiles will be treated to 10 vintage tracks forged in 1987, as well as the new 2013 single “URANIUM” serving as the connective tissue to span the decades between classic and farm-fresh NITRO. “VOLATILE ACTIVITY” includes plenty of exciting extras such as detailed liner notes, lyrics, and never-before-seen NITRO photos from the 80’s of original members Dana Confer, John Hazel, Brad Gensimore, and Tim Wilson.

FULL ALBUM streaming now! www.soundcloud.com/nitroamerica

Order “VOLATILE ACTIVITY” now from Blood and Iron Records at http://bloodandironrecords.com/ bloodandironrecords@gmail.com


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

CAULDRON ANNOUNCE EUROPEAN HEADLINING TOUR


Canadian heavy metal trio CAULDRON have announced dates for a full European tour, following last week's announcement of a headlining show in London, UK on March 3rd.

The "Caulture Shock Tour" kicks off on March 2nd in Newcastle, UK, and features support from Virginia metallers VOLTURE.

CAULDRON vocalist and bassist JASON DECAY comments:

"By the candle snakes invested and bestowed upon man's most darkest inner odjizgfcnsum, we are proud to announce our return to Europe in March for the concert event of the year - the European Caulture Shock Tour with our good buds Volture.  We're glad that Tomorrow's Lost has afforded us a second tour of Europe and a chance to hit some of the places we missed on the last tour.  Looking forward to a guaranteed good time and seeing everyone again!"

See CAULDRON on tour in Europe at the following shows:

Mar. 02 - Newcastle, UK - Brofest
Mar. 03 - London, UK - Birthdays
Mar. 04 - Paris, France - La Miroiterie
Mar. 05 - Bordeaux, France - Heretic Club
Mar. 06 - San Sebastian, Spain - Mogambo
Mar. 07 - Lisbon, Portugal - TBC
Mar. 08 - Braga, Portugal - TBC
Mar. 09 - Madrid, Spain - Excalibur Metal
Mar. 13 - Turin, IT - Nightbreaker Club
Mar. 14 - Winterthur, Switzerland - Gaswerk Kulturzentrum
Mar. 15 - Brescia, Italy - Play It Loud Festival
Mar. 16 - Innsbruck, Austria - Livestage
Mar. 18 - Prague, Czech Republic - Modra Vopice
Mar. 19 - Berlin, Germany - Cassiopeia
Mar. 22 - Mariehamn/Aland, Finland - Dino's Bar
Mar. 23 - Stockholm, Sweden - Püssy A Go Go
Mar. 26 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Stengade
Mar. 27 - Hamburg, Germany - Bambi Galore
Mar. 28 - Hengelo, Netherlands - TBC
Mar. 29 - Dordrecht, Netherlands - Popcentrale
Mar. 30 - Antwerp, Belgium - Kavka

CAULDRON's latest album, TOMORROW'S LOST, is available now on CD and limited edition coloured vinyl LP.  Get the album in Europe at http://webstore.earache.com/cauldron or in North America at http://uswebstore.earache.com/cauldron

TOMORROW'S LOST is also available now on iTunes at http://bit.ly/MFZT9G

Watch CAULDRON's music video for the track "Nitebreaker" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZYrPR5cr5o

Get more CAULDRON news and info at:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/cauldronmetal
Tumblr - http://cauldronmetal.tumblr.com
Twitter - http://twitter.com/cauldronmetal

Review - Varga "Enter The Metal" (Vargantuan Music 2013)


Surprises are usually pretty cool. Pregnancy surprises not so much but metal surprises are damn awesome. In this case the metal surprise came in a CD mailer from one of the industry folks we works with. Inside was "Enter The Metal" from the band Varga.

Now I have to admit that up till now I had never heard of this band and I was surprised to find out that they have been knocking it out in Canada since 1989.
Enter The Metal is their third full length release. Word is they split up for over decade and this release marks their return after seventeen years.

The six tracks that comprise the disc definitely have a horror metal bent to them. Besides the classic stuff like Mercyful Fate I've never been a big fan of that side of metal. That makes this disc all the more of a surprise. The songs and especially the guitar work really drew me in. 

So I spent several days listening to this one. It was very adept at making a crappy commute much better. At that point I had not even looked at the liner notes I was just absorbing the metal. The first thing I noticed was what seemed like a host of classic metal influences such as the aforementioned Mercyful Fate, Anthrax, Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, and Priest. I was in for another surprise when I got around to reading the liner notes and they cite every one of those great bands and a half dozen more as well.

Let's take a quick run through this one. It kicks off with "Beginning Of The End" which clocks in at over six minutes. Unlike a lot of releases this one kicks in with 15 seconds of drums which resolve in a riff very influenced by "Exciter" but quickly gives way to more of a Mercyful Fate/Annihilator set of riffage. Nice powerful rhythms let the vocals float nicely on top lithesome tasty fills between verses. It has very live sound. Right around the 4 minute mark you get some cool Rush-like bass and guitar interplay which gives way to some acoustic and fuzz doomy parts. All of this in just one song. Usually a six minute could get old but these guys have put so much into every song that you don't realize how long it is.

Next up is the seven minute "Gamera". Now normally I would be skipping through any song about some sci-fi beast. This one has some really nice elements. They have managed to put the doom riffs of Black Sabbath in a prog context. Not an easy task but it works. This one also includes some King Diamond like vocal maneuvers and some nice thrashy break downs.

Track 3 is "Mad Scientist". There's some nice scalar soloing in the beginning which gives way to some Anthrax like guitar work. This one didn't quite hold up for me since I really wanted the Anthrax feel to continue but they chucked in a change that a thought brought the overall energy down. It does return to form in the second verse though and redeems itself a bit. The solo in here was also notable. It starts with a very eighties guitar hero sound which turns into a more Dimebag influenced section.

After that is the 8 minute behemoth "Plane Crash". I will say that the first two minutes is just instrumental. If this was the first Ozzy album they would have chopped it off and called it a separate song. This whole song is a cool concept these guys are trying to put the whole mental rollercoaster of a plane crash into a musical format. It damn impossible to put it into words and you'll just have to buy the disc to experience it.

"No More Clean Air" is up next. This ones the shortest song on the disc. This is the ultimate horror track. It's not just the everyday pollutants that they talk about it's also all the crap on our airwaves. Nicely done!! Killer breakdown on this one too. Live this one must absolutely slay.

Rounding it out is "Shark Attack". This one is my favorite on here and for once I can't figure out why. The watery intro is an excellent way to kick this one off and the addition of the fuzzed out bass (ala Anesthesia Pulling Teeth) add like element of dread. Between the guitars and the drum lines this is probably the thrashiest track on here. I think it has the old school SF sound to it.

So the songs are all solid, how about delivery? Well if you actually buy CDs this one comes in a nice gatefold with some nice artwork so that's solid too.

The icing on the cake, they dedicate the disc to Cliff, Ronnie and Jeff Hanneman. So all in all a great metal album created by true metal fans for metal fans.


Well done boys. Hope the next one isn't going to take another seventeen years.

VARGA is:

Adam Alex – Guitar

Dan Fila – Drums

Joe Varga – Bass & Vocals

Sean Williamson – Guitar


Discography:

Multiple Wargasms – 1991 (Independent)

Prototype – 1994 (Zoo/BMG)

Oxygen – 1996 (Zoo/BMG)

Enter the Metal – 2013 (Vargantuan Music)


For further information, please visit:


JOLLY ROGER RECORDS PRESS RELEASES : STRANA OFFICINA CDS & L'IMPERO DELLE OMBRE "CORVI NERI" VIDEOCLIP ONLINE


"Corvi Neri" videoclip from italian heavy / doom metal band L'impero delle Ombre is online. This is an unreleased track taken from the split vinyl 12" L'impero delle Ombre / Bud Tribe which came out on October 2013 to celebrate first 5 years of Jolly Roger Records.

  • Strana Officina's "Strana Officina", "Ritual", "Rock & Roll Prisoners" and "Rare & Unreleased" albums will be released for the first time on Cd format by Jolly Roger Records and will be out on half February 2014 (European distribution by H'Art & Code7). Completely remastered will include also bonus tracks. Here are covers and tracklists : 

STRANA OFFICINA (1984)
VIAGGIO IN INGHILTERRA
AUTOSTRADA DEI SOGNI
LUNA NERA
PICCOLO UCCELLO BIANCO

SOLE MARE CUORE (BONUS TRACK / DEMO 1982)
VAI VAI (BONUS TRACK / DEMO 1982)
OFFICINA (BONUS TRACK / RECORDING SESSIONS 1985)
GUERRA TRISTE (BONUS TRACK / LIVE 1983)



RITUAL (1987)
THE RITUAL
GAMBLIN' MAN
UNKNOWN SOLDIER
METAL BRIGADE

VITTIMA (BONUS TRACK / RECORDING SESSIONS 1985)
UNKNOWN SOLDIER (BONUS TRACK / LIVE 1988)
THE RITUAL (BONUS TRACK / LIVE 1988)
NON SEI NORMALE (BONUS TRACK / LIVE 1988)



ROCK N ROLL PRISONERS (1988)
KING TROLL
WAR GAMES
THE KISS OF DEATH
BLACK MOON
ROCK & ROLL PRISONER
BURNIN' WINGS
FALLING STAR
DON'T CRY

KING TROLL (BONUS TRACK / LIVE 1988)
WAR GAMES (BONUS TRACK / LIVE 1988)



RARE AND UNRELEASED
VAI VAI (DEMO 1979)
NON C'E PIU' MONDO (DEMO 1979)
AMORE E FUOCO (DEMO 1979)
VIAGGIO IN INGHILTERRA (DEMO 1979)

OFFICINA (BONUS TRACK / DEMO 1979)
PROFUMO DI PUTTANA (BONUS TRACK / DEMO 1979)

NON SEI NORMALE (DEMO 1979)
DIFENDI LA FEDE (1985)
GUERRA TRISTE (1981)
SOLE MARE CUORE (1989)

MIDNITE HELLION Streaming Entire Discography at StereoKiller.com

New Jersey metallers MIDNITE HELLION have made their entire discography available for streaming at StereoKiller.com. With the band's newest release, the Hour of the Wolf 7-inch, limited-edition vinyl single, on track to selling out, fans can now bang their heads to MIDNITE HELLION's complete catalog of powerful and melodic brand of trad-inspired metal. Check it out now at www.midnitehellion.stereokiller.com.

Hour of the Wolf is out now on Witches Brew Records. Order the 7-inch and more from MIDNITE HELLION at www.midnitehellion.com.

From now until January 31, HardRockHaven.net is offering their readers a chance to win a copy of Hour of the Wolf, as well as their 2012 release Enter the Unknown and demo cassette, The Fever. To enter, visit hardrockhaven.net/online/2013/12/giveaway-midnite-hellion-prize-pak

MIDNITE HELLION is currently hard at work on material for a new full-length album, to be recorded and released in 2014. A live cassette is in the works as well. The band has been confirmed for the 2014 Ragnarökkr Metal Apocalypse, set for April 4 & 5 at Reggie's in Chicago, Ill. For fest details, visit www.ragnarokkrmetal.com.

MIDNITE HELLION Live:

January 18 @ The Fire -  Philadelphia, Penn.
April 4 & 5 @ Reggie's - Chicago, Ill. Ragnarökkr Metal Apocalypse  

April 12 @ St. Vitus Bar -  Brooklyn, New York w/ TOXIK and Deathrash


Side Witches:  Hour Of The Wolf 
Side Brew:  The Morrigan

"Killer tunes!" -Ron Lipnicki, OverKill

"I've never felt so happy to get hit repeatedly in the face with a plastic fence." 
-Brian "Lumberjack" Smith

"Hour of the Wolf is two solid slabs of melodic Metal goodness from start to finish." 
- Apoch's Metal Review 

Monday, January 13, 2014

Listening to now......




Love this album, loved it then and love it now. Saw the tour too, haircut and all and he was still great. It's not Eat 'Em And Smile or VH but surely that's the point. Lots of different styles on this. Commercial suicide for sure but a lot more fun then the stuff the numerous other miserable bastard bands were putting out at the time. I have a signed copy too.

Richie.

New video of Nick Menza covering "Wake Up Dead"

Check out this great video of Nick Menza (Ex-Megadeth) covering the "Megadeth" classic "Wake Up Dead"


If you are lucky enough to be going to the NAMM show you can meet Nick and see him play in the Soultone booth (#2977, Hall D) at the NAMM show in two weeks, January 23-26 


SAVAGE MESSIAH: NEW TRACK 'MINORITY OF ONE' AVAILABLE NOW



London shred-heavy melodic metallers SAVAGE MESSIAH have released a new track from their upcoming album, THE FATEFUL DARK, which is due to be released on March 10th in Europe via Earache Records and on March 18th in the USA via Century Media/Earache Records.

SAVAGE MESSIAH, who were recently banned from entering the Freemason UK headquarters in London for a photo shoot after the society deemed the band's name offensive, are releasing three instant grat tracks on iTunes which can be downloaded in advance of the album's release.

The new track, called "Minority of One", is available now as an instant grat download, along with a previously-released track, "Cross of Babylon".  A further track, "Hellblazer", will be available as an instant grat download on iTunes on February 10th.

Listen to "Minority of One" now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCLbE-cfkrg

SAVAGE MESSIAH frontman DAVE SILVER comments:

"The title for this song comes from a famous saying by Ghandi, who said that even if you're in a minority of one, the truth is the truth.  Which is a good message to people about breaking the mould and not getting sucked into 'group think' mentality.  Standing up for what's objectively right and not compromising for the sake of social acceptance.  Musically, this is my favourite Savage Messiah track ever; we've managed to marry the thrash and heavy metal elements into a cohesive track, which is catchy and melodic, but still fast and thrashy.  Enjoy!"



THE FATEFUL DARK was recorded at Grindstone Studios in Suffolk, England with producer SCOTT ATKINS (AMON AMARTH, SYLOSIS, BEHEMOTH) and features artwork created by PETER SALLAI (SABATON).

THE FATEFUL DARK is available to pre-order now from the Earache Webstore on CD with an exclusive bonus disc featuring 3 cover tracks, and is also available on limited edition coloured vinyl LP including a bonus 10" vinyl featuring 4 cover tracks.

Pre-order the album now from the Earache Webstore in Europe at http://webstore.earache.com/savage-messiah or in North America at http://uswebstore.earache.com/savage-messiah

Pre-order THE FATEFUL DARK on iTunes including 3 bonus cover tracks and 3 instant grat tracks at http://bit.ly/fatefuldarkitunes

See SAVAGE MESSIAH on tour at the following shows:

Feb. 25 - London, UK - Borderline
Mar. 05 - York, UK - Fibbers
Mar. 06 - Glasgow, UK - Audio
Mar. 07 - Manchester, UK - Sound Control
Mar. 08 - Wolverhampton, UK - Slade Rooms
Apr. 19 - Norwich, UK - Thrashersaurus Festival

Get more SAVAGE MESSIAH news and info at:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SavageMessiahMetal
Twitter - http://twitter.com/savagemessiah