The promising symphonic/alternative metal band from Coimbra, Secret Chord, have just released an official music video for a new original song, entitled “Wraith Of Oblivion”, that will be included on their first full-length record.

Little more than a year after releasing their debut EP “Dimensions Of A Dream”, Secret Chord astonish their fans with a brand new song. “Wraith Of Oblivion” is the title of their most recent composition, revealed last September 8th. The new song’s music video, already available on YouTube, was recorded by Marta Malva in Tentúgal (Coimbra) and Amieira (Soure) and directed and produced by Bruno Vale (PubliTV). The recording, mixing and masterization was done by João Dourado at Golden Jack Studios, in Coimbra.

You can watch the video at this location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ycEVbl1OAQ

“Wraith Of Oblivion” is the follow-up to Secret Chord’s dramatic and melancholic approach in their music about the world they live in, a concept started with “Dimensions Of A Dream”, the four-track debut EP released on April 2017, from which the single “Set The Firestarter Ablaze” stands out due to the theme of forest fires. With “Wraith Of Oblivion”, the band intends to demonstrate that, in today’s society, every single person is compelled to accept an imposed destiny – albeit subconsciously – becoming a product of the status quo and “social normalization”.

With a powerful sound and a strong melodic support, Secret Chord continues with their symphonic metal path in “Wraith Of Oblivion”, adding some electronic elements, but always with demolishing and pulsing guitars leading the song’s progression. Raquel Subtil’s voice is once again the main attraction, having reached a whole new level of execution and interpretation, easily demonstrated by the vocal work performed during the recordings, joined by Carlos Pereira and his contrasting and aggressive contribution.

The song “Wraith Of Oblivion” is currently a part of Secret Chord’s live set. The most recent gig was in September 6th, during their hometown’s annual handicraft festival “Poiartes 2018”, where they were featured as the main act in a concert that had the special participation of the mixed choir from “Sociedade Filarmónica Lousanense” and the keyboardist João Carlos Ramalheiro, teacher and director at the “Classplash” music academy from Lousã. On October 6th, Secret Chord will be sharing the stage with Henriette B (Switzerland), Shady Gringos (UK) and portuguese bands like The Temple and Tales For The Unspoken at the “Rock dos Romanos” festival, in Condeixa-a-Nova.

On their curriculum, Secret Chord counts with gigs at venues like Metalpoint (Porto), Stairway Club (Cascais), Massas Club (Coimbra) and Cabra Negra (Marinha Grande) and shared the stage with bands like Switchtense, Midnight Priest, Terror Empire, 11th Dimension, Inner Blast and Waterland. In November of 2017, they won the first edition of ASMUSITEC Band Contest.

Secret Chord’s sound sits between symphonic and alternative metal with clear references to bands like Nightwish, Epica, Delain and Kamelot or even Evanescence and Lacuna Coil.

Secret Chord is a Portuguese symphonic metal band, from Coimbra, that was formed in 2015 by Raquel Subtil on main vocals, Jorge Oliveira on guitars and back vocals, Bruno “EkID” Marques on bass guitar and back vocals and Afonso Martins on drums. In 2016, João Conceição (Stigma Sphere) took the role of lead guitarist, right when the recordings for their debut EP “Dimensions Of A Dream” started. This record was released in April 15th 2017, exactly one year after their first live appearance.
During the spring of 2017, Secret Chord suffers a line-up change with Jorge’s exit. Carlos Pereira (Mortem Tales, Dark Oath) took his place as rhythm guitarist and back vocalist. At the start of 2018 and after showing their work at several venues around the country, the band decides that it was time to record a new song and a music video. “Wraith Of Oblivion” is the title of the new single, released in September 8th 2018, that will be included on their future full-length record.

Portuguese speed metallers Toxikull have just released the teaser for their upcoming video for the song "Freedom to Kill". The video will be out on September 16th.

Lex Thunder comments: “This video exposes the primal bloody desires of the Human being, how they are guided, moulded and controlled by the evolving society. Any attempt of revolt is chewed up and used against you!”  

You can watch the teaser here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUPUqIDMULM&feature=youtu.be

Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUPUqIDMULM&feature=youtu.be
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toxikull

The Nordic Epic Metal masters Sirenia are going to return to the European stages again. In November, Morten Veland and his bandmates are heading South for an headlining tour. Supported by their fellow Norwegians, Triosphere, Sirenia will bring their epic melancholic symbiosis of orchestral opuses and raw heavy metal sounds to the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Italy. Don’t miss the chance to see them on the road.

On this tour, Sirenia will play tracks from their brand new album, called Arcane Astral Aeons, scheduled for release by the end of October 2018. Be amongst the first to listen to this brand new opus live! Today, we are proud to unveil the album cover.

Band leader Morten Veland about the artwork and the album:

     “We are very pleased to present the artwork for our new album Arcane Astral Aeons. Once more we have worked with designer Gyula Havancsák to create an artwork that renders and adorns the heart and soul of our music. The album was recorded in Audio Avenue Studios (Norway), and Sound Suite Studios (France), while the mixing and mastering took place in Hansen Studios (Denmark) with mixing engineer Jacob Hansen. This album is something unique to us as it is the first one we have made together with our fans, everyone who have supported our pledge campaign has directly contributed to the funding of the album and to make it what it has turned out to be. We are very proud of what we have achieved together and we're very eager to share it with you, hoping that you all will find it as special as we do."

Sirenia on tour:

04.11.18 UK – London / The Dome
05.11.18 FR – Paris / La Boule Noire
06.11.18 FR – Nantes / Ferailleur
08.11.18 ES – Barcelona / Razzmatazz 2
09.11.18 ES – Madrid / Mon Live

10.11.18 PT – Lisbon / RCA Club
14.11.18 CH – Musigburg / Aarburg
15.11.18 CH – St-Maurice / Le Manoir Pub
16.11.18 IT – Bologna / Alchemica Club
17.11.18 IT – Milan /  Legend Club

more dates to be announced soon!

Morten Veland about the upcoming tour:

     "We are excited to announce the first tour dates in support of our upcoming album to be released the 26th of October. We will return to some countries we have not been to for some time. We intend to announce further dates later on, covering more countries and territories. Stay tuned for more news and we are looking forward to see you on the road again soon."

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Portuguese black metal cult Cinzas streams its debut Demo I at IndyMetalVault.com. Set for international release today via Purodium Rekords on cassette tape format, hear Cinzas' Demo I in its entirety exclusively HERE.

Coming out from the ashes of time and space, Cinzas' Demo I proves that silence, mystery, and knowledge can walk different paths. Deep in this cave has been Mortiferus, who in total isolation and away from the mundane world forged his nature to the primeval genesis source of all wisdom. Achieving this wholeness through minimalism, the left hand of this wandering and ancient soul speaks out its music, remembering the only thing that truly matters: black metal was meant to be raw, cold, and dark as the longest winter nights. Expect nothing more than this, and be sure to embrace these non-pure relentless torments as your feeble flesh burns!

Here's what Mortiferous has to say about Cinzas' origin:

     "All music created and recorded by Mortiferus between 2012-2015, while D.O.R. was active. These tracks were taken from a forgotten full album, but since D.O.R. was going to a new path and experiences, Cinzas spawned into this world. Mortiferus salutes the few who still embrace and live by the true black metal values. You know who you are!"

In the meantime, hear Cinzas' Demo I in its entirety exclusively HERE. Order info can be found HERE. 

www.purodium.com

Portuguese black metal titans Black Howling stream the entirety of their highly anticipated sixth album, Return of Primordial Stillness, at heavily trafficked web-portal IndyMetalVault.com. Set for international release on July 27th via Signal Rex, hear Black Howling's Return of Primordial Stillness in its entirety exclusively HERE.

One of the oldest and most prolific bands in the Portuguese black metal underground, Black Howling have built up a staggering body of work of unparalleled anguish and misery. By no means strictly "depressive suicidal black metal," the duo's aesthetic often runs parallel to DSBM but fortunately evades all the usual cliches of such. More importantly, Black Howling's commitment to an unapologetically raw sound-field yet suffusing that misery 'n' anguish with a remarkably accomplished melodicism has largely shaped the modern Portuguese black metal paradigm that has received so much international fervour in recent years.

Now, after three years of silence, Black Howling return with Return of Primordial Stillness, a compact-yet-massive distillation of their enduring aesthetic. Comprising four tracks in an epic 40 minutes, Return of Primordial Stillness indeed sounds primordial and indeed invokes a crypt-like stillness, but there's so much more going on here. The record is bookended by two mostly instrumental tracks, with the two central compositions - "Celestial Syntropy" and "Celestial Entropy," which are 14 minutes and 16 minutes, respectively - canvassing a wide sonic landscape, howling and desperate and yet strangely triumphant and even perversely soothing, such is their catharsis sought. However, this is all BLACK METAL through and through, undiluted and uncompromising; it's just that Black Howling possess a profound understanding of it and are thusly able to shape it in dazzling(ly malodorous) ways. Simply put, if you aren't mesmerized by the conjuring's contained within, then perhaps black metal isn't for you...

Though their output has slowed in recent years, each Black Howling recording is a stained treasure unto itself. When their next recording shall reveal itself, no one knows but then, but hereby witness their Return of Primordial Stillness...all of which can be heard exclusively HERE, courtesy of IndyMetalVault.com.

Pre-order info can be found HERE. 

www.facebook.com/blackhowlingofficial 

www.signalrex.com
www.facebook.com/signalrex
www.signalrex.bandcamp.com

The release of a maelstrom of wickedly intense death metal has come about, in the form of Cronaxia’s debut full length album, the staggering Collapsing The Outer Structure. Cronaxia have been stalwarts of the Portuguese death metal underground for twenty years, with previously just one EP release to their name, 2008s The Solution Above Continuity.  The sheer stamina, dexterity and technical skill required to perform Cronaxia’s music has left band members burnt out and used up, hindering their progress.

Refusing to be delayed any further, band members Felipe (guitarist and founder member), Renato (guitars) and Sergio (vocals) enlisted the help of a session rhythm section, both from the band Grog - drummer Rolando Barros and bassist Alex Ribeiro – to help bring their complex creations to life. The result of this alliance is an album of blistering, hyperactive death metal that goes by the name of Collapsing The Outer Structure.

On September 7th Lusitanian Music will release this collection consisting of eight pieces of wild, inventive, planet-crushing force. Mixed and mastered by Paulo Viera, known for his production work with Ironsword and Ravensire, Collapsing The Outer Structure is a work that walks the tightrope between genius and insanity. With a lyrical concept as brain melting as the music, Cronaxia’s first album is bewildering yet incredible, almost too much to comprehend.

The countdown has begun to that September 7th launch date. Prepare to be consumed, to be undone, to have your brain restructured. This is death metal from beyond the event horizon, from the unfathomable heart of darkness.

This release represents the first step in a new working relationship between Imperative PR and Lusitanian Music. Great things lie ahead!

For pre-orders from Lusitanian Music click here

Visit Cronaxia on Facebook

Portuguese black metal titans Black Howling premiere the new track "Celestial Syntropy" at Decibel magazine's website. The track hails from the band's highly anticipated sixth album, Return of Primordial Stillness, set for international release on July 27th via Signal Rex. Hear Black Howling's "Celestial Syntropy" in its entirety exclusively HERE.

One of the oldest and most prolific bands in the Portuguese black metal underground, Black Howling have built up a staggering body of work of unparalleled anguish and misery. By no means strictly "depressive suicidal black metal," the duo's aesthetic often runs parallel to DSBM but fortunately evades all the usual cliches of such. More importantly, Black Howling's commitment to an unapologetically raw sound-field yet suffusing that misery 'n' anguish with a remarkably accomplished melodicism has largely shaped the modern Portuguese black metal paradigm that has received so much international fervour in recent years.

Now, after three years of silence, Black Howling return with Return of Primordial Stillness, a compact-yet-massive distillation of their enduring aesthetic. Comprising four tracks in an epic 40 minutes, Return of Primordial Stillness indeed sounds primordial and indeed invokes a crypt-like stillness, but there's so much more going on here. The record is bookended by two mostly instrumental tracks, with the two central compositions - "Celestial Syntropy" and "Celestial Entropy," which are 14 minutes and 16 minutes, respectively - canvassing a wide sonic landscape, howling and desperate and yet strangely triumphant and even perversely soothing, such is their catharsis sought. However, this is all BLACK METAL through and through, undiluted and uncompromising; it's just that Black Howling possess a profound understanding of it and are thusly able to shape it in dazzling(ly malodorous) ways. Simply put, if you aren't mesmerized by the conjuring's contained within, then perhaps black metal isn't for you...

Though their output has slowed in recent years, each Black Howling recording is a stained treasure unto itself. When their next recording shall reveal itself, no one knows but then, but hereby witness their Return of Primordial Stillness. In the meantime, hear the massive 14-minute "Celestial Syntropy" in its entirety exclusively HERE, courtesy of Decibel, North America's only monthly metal magazine. Pre-order info can be found HERE. 

www.facebook.com/blackhowlingofficial 
 www.signalrex.com
www.facebook.com/signalrex
www.signalrex.bandcamp.com

Welcome Okkultist! Portuguese Death Metal, straight to the point and vicious as if summoned from the depths of abysses and the ugly layers of Hell. Inspired by the likes of Master / Abomination, early Morbid Angel, Death and Dismember, Okkultist picks up where impure Nineties Death Metal left and are ready to unleash upon you their debut album “Reinventing Evil“, that will soon be released worldwide by Fernando Ribeiro’s (Moonspell) new record label Alma Mater Records!

Okkultist formed back in late 2015. They started playing live and spreading their raw notion of evil Death Metal on October 15th 2016. In 2017 “Eye Of The Beholder”, the band’s debut EP was unleashed independently, but caught up and spread around Europe and overseas – selling out every single printed copy.

Even at this early stage, Okkultist already had the honour to curse stages such as at Mosher Fest or Female Growler United Front in Portugal and as an opening act for legendary names such as Entombed AD.

They now became the very first band to sign with Alma Mater Records, Moonspell’s singer Fernando Ribeiro record label, committed to showcase all around the world, with the promo partnership of All Noir and Rastilho, conjured in Portugal, Metal from the Navigator’s land. Stay tuned on the infernal vibes of this deadly raw and PURE FVCKING EVIL Portuguese talent!

https://okkultist.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/okkultistband/
https://www.youtube.com/okkultistband
https://www.instagram.com/okkultistband/
https://www.facebook.com/almamaterrecords/

AWS qualified for the Grand Final of Eurovision 2018 - vote for metal on saturday!

AWS -  a hard working, underground modern metal band did it again: after they won the local Eurovision Song Contest - with the support of the whole local scene from the major rock bands till’ the underground death metal fellows - they qualified for the Grand Final of Eurovision 2018.

We would like to thank for all of your support so far! Every single post, encouraging word brought the boys one step closer to the success. A young, talented modern metal band coming from the depth of underground scene blasted the Eurovision stage yesterday and that is what we call magic. The magic of metal unity. Please help them with a share to make it happen!

#voteformetal #voteforaws #metal #unity #esc2018 #eurovision

So here’s the time to join our forces again! How to vote in the Grand Final?
source: eurovision.tv/vote

If you are in one of the 43 participating countries you can vote in the contest.

After all songs have been performed, you can vote for your favourites for ±15 minutes. You can vote by telephone and SMS through the numbers shown on your screen, and via the official app. Rates and legal terms will be shown on screen.

You can vote up to 20 times, but you cannot vote for the country you are voting from.

Televotes make up 50% of the result, the other 50% are being determined by a professional jury in each participating country.

The official Eurovision Song Contest app is your ultimate second screen tool during the live shows, available for your iOS, Android and Windows device. You'll get live information about the participants, shortlist your favourites and vote. After voting you get a special video message from your favourite contestant. The app also features the latest news, videos and backstage photo galleries, selfie filters and easy access to the songs.

AWS is unique not just because they are representing metal music and stage dives at ESC - also not afraid to shock the crowd - but presenting theirs song in Hungarian. All theirs behaviour is true to themselfs: pure feelings and acts from a nearly DIY band and a barefooted frontman. Please support the boys, support metal!

►AWS - Viszlát nyár (Eurovision Semi-Final, Lisbon) - bit.ly/2wAQSvq
►AWS - Viszlát nyár (english and acoustic versions) - bit.ly/2Ibhfxd
►AWS - Viszlát nyár (contest song and karaoke version) - bit.ly/2Ka410j

www.facebook.com/awszenekar
www.facebook.com/EdgeRecordsHungary
www.facebook.com/EurovisionSongContest

Portuguese thrash metallers Rasgo have published a video for the track "Homens Ao Mar", which was recorded on March 7th with the "Circulo de Musica de Camara" Orchestra, directed by Pedro Teixeira Silva.

"Homens Ao Mar" (translates into "men overboard"), showcases a band that is not afraid of exploring and creating a solid musical output, while showing their ability to musically adapt to different environments.

This track is, without any doubt, an intriguing listen but a very quality-oriented one that combines two very distinct universes, and that will work with all the open minded thrashers out there, as well as the symphonic metal fans.

     "We had the dream of giving this track a really epic dimension and that's the reason why we've decided to record it with an orchestra. We're very pleased with the final result and we feel this work is a giant step in our journey! In fact, we like to take risks, break barriers and do new things that, as far as I'm concerned, were never done by other Portuguese thrash metal band... debuting at the Coliseum with Slayer was already something unique and recording with the orchestra was another great achievement."

Watch the video for "Homens Ao Mar" with the "Circulo de Musica de Camara" Orchestra at this location:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfiAkyk_CLE