The 31. Wacken Open Air is in the books. At the world’s biggest metal festival, 83.400 fans witnessed spectacular shows by Judas Priest, Slipknot and Powerwolf. In total, more than 200 bands rocked nine stages, Sweden’s Amon Amarth even played an unannounced secret concert right underneath the famous Wacken skull. 

     The joy of finally being able to experience live music and a multi-faceted open air event with like-minded people from all over the world could be felt everywhere. Festival promoters Holger Hübner and Thomas Jensen commented: "The Wacken Open Air is back – finally! We missed the festival as much as the fans did. Now we’re very much looking forward to next year’s edition, which will offer four full days of live concerts for the first time. Tickets go on sale this Sunday evening.“


     At a press conference held during the afternoon, police, fire department and emergency medical services as well as the local regulatory authority looked back on an exceptionally peaceful and trouble-free event. The number of occurrences in their respective fields all stayed below of those from 2019. For example, the number of times the fire brigade had to jump into action only was in the lower double digits, the number of cases for the police dropped by 60 percent.


Bands confirmed for 2023, four days of live music for the first time. A first glimpse of next year’s billing was announced on the main stages during the night. W:O:A 2023 will take place Aug 2-5, making it the first time the festival officially boasts four days of live music.

     Headlining the event will be the mighty Iron Maiden: There is not a single metalhead that doesn’t know them. And it’s hard to think of a band that has defined classic heavy metal as much as they have. So consequently, there might very well be no band that is a better fit for the "holy ground of metal“. So in 2023, Iron Maiden will return to headline at the Wacken Open Air for the fourth time! So get ready for impressive production, a passionate performance, amazing music and of course Eddie! It has been seven long years since those iconic words have been heard: "Scream for me, Wacken!“


     Also announced have been Megadeth from the USA, who are considered worldwide as originators of Thrash Metal and being part of the "Big 4“ of the genre. Also playing will be Irish-American folk-punks Dropkick Murphys and Jinjer from the Ukraine, one of the hottest bands in modern metal today. Two Steps From Hell, a duo from Los Angeles, have amassed millions of followers with their brand of „Epic Music“, used in thousands of movies, trailers, series, spots and games, turning them into the biggest in their field. At the W:O:A, their first festival ever and only festival in Europe in 2023, they will perform a special and unique Wacken set. Fans can look forward to doom pioneers Pentagram and their „50th Anniversary Show“, while death metallers  Deicide will celebrate their genre shaping sophomore album "Legion“ with a special show as well. More announcements are: Wardruna (atmospheric Nordic folk), Beartooth (hardcore), Ensiferum  (Viking metal), Nervosa (thrash), and Burning Witches (heavy metal). More bands to be follow.


     In 2023, there will be once again a theme running through the whole festival: vikings and their culture. This will manifest itself in the overall appearance of the W:O:A as well performances and additional content all over the festival site.


Pre-sale has begun,

Tickets for Wacken Open Air 2023 are now on sale at metaltix.com. Fast-Tickets are sold with an exclusive special shirt, but are limited to 10.000 units. As soon as they are gone, Hard-Tickets go on sale. Pre-sale details can be found at metaltix.com and, starting Sunday, at wacken.com.

     Metalheads that move fast could even get their hands on a real Harley Davidson motorcycle! Everybody purchasing a W:O:A ticket within the first 24 hours of the pre-sale starting is automatically entered eligible to win the this totally unique bike which has been customized with a high-class W:O:A paint job.


See you in Wacken. Rain or shine.
www.wacken.com

     Metal On The Hill is on fire for its next round! This year the most popular open-air venue in Graz, the Schlossberg Stage Kasematten, will burn for metal once again. Napalm Records  and  Napalm Events are happy to announce the final line-up of this year’s edition, which will be headlined by #1 charting band Feuerschwanz and metal icons Stratovarius! With melodic death metal force Hiraes, local heroes Watch Them Fail and Ukrainian melodic modern metal up and comers Ignea – who the festival is extremely happy to host after they were finally able to leave their country and the ongoing war – the line-up is finally complete.  

     Metal On The Hill has become a permanent institution on the international festival map with its exclusive and boutique character, high calibre acts and the most beautiful festival location in Austria, which are unmistakably connected with the uniqueness of Styria! The festival will once again take place on the most beautiful stage in Austria: The historical Kasematten. Daily schedules have been announced and are available to view now.     


     VIP tickets are almost sold out and can be purchased exclusively through Napalm Records. Alternatively, weekend or daily tickets can be purchased in the online store. All tickets are available HERE!
 
SEE YOU ON THE HILL IN 2022!
 

www.metal-on-the-hill.com
www.facebook.com/metalonthehill
@metalonthehill
Tickets: https://napalmrecords.com/tickets/metal-on-the-hill

     Members of the European Metal Festival Alliance (EMFA), have today launched a new ‘Metal United’ t-shirt, with all proceeds going to a recognised relief charity to aid Ukrainian people most in need in their current crisis.
 
     The festivals taking part in this fundraiser - Alcatraz Hard Rock & Metal Festival, Belgium; Art Mania Festival, Romania; Bloodstock Open Air, Great Britain; Brutal Assault, Czech Republic;  Dynamo Metal Fest, Holland; Inferno Metal Festival, Norway; Into The Grave, Holland; Leyendas Del Rock, Spain; Midgardsblot, Norway; Motocultor Festival, France; Party.San Metal Open Air, Germany; Resurrection Fest, Spain; and Summer Breeze Open Air, Germany - are all united against war and oppression, and welcome all people, no matter what country they are from, or what race or religion they are. The festivals want to make plain that they are not for Ukrainians and against Russians; that they wish most of all to just help people who are in need in these troubling times.

     The t-shirt is available in a wide range of sizes at https://www.sbtix.de/produkte/45549-charity-shirt-for-ukraine for 16,66 Euro, with proceeds going to Music Saves UA. It can be pre-ordered until March 20th, with shipping beginning at the start of April.
 

Vlad Yaremchuk, Booker of Atlas Weekend Festival, co-initiators of Music Saves UA, states: 

     “We are the All-Ukrainian Association of Music Events, in peacetime we are the largest association of representatives of the music industry of our country.

     Now, normal life in Ukraine has completely stopped. So, we are using all our resources and people to provide humanitarian help to our people who need it the most right now. Our team works 24/7 to help as many victims of this cruel war as possible.

     Humanitarian help centre has already been deployed on the premises of the Atlas venue in Kyiv. We are also working on setting up refugee assistance centres on the borders with Europe to facilitate a safe and robust infrastructure for hundreds of thousands of civilians fleeing the country. Our entire team is currently located in multiple cities of Ukraine, and we are in close contact with volunteers, Ukrainian military, and humanitarian groups so we are aware of the current urgent needs on the ground and are ready to provide immediate help where it is most needed at this very moment.

Therefore, we need financial assistance urgently. For this we have organized a project aimed at raising funds for the humanitarian needs of the civilians in Ukraine. We encourage you to not remain indifferent and to help Ukrainian families to survive this difficult time.”


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vamp.org.ua
Instagram: https://instagram.com/vamp.org.ua
 

Adam Gregory from Bloodstock Festival on behalf of EMFA comments:

     “We all find ourselves shocked at recent events and wish to do all we can to aid in such harrowing times. All proceeds from the t-shirt will be going to support those in need and our thoughts are with everyone affected by war or oppression.”

     Jinjer have announced a short album release tour in 14 select cities around Europe, together with Swedish special guests and deathcore brutalists Humanity's Last Breath and French cinematic metallers Hypno5e. This package is not only a buffet of some of the most cutting edge bands in metal today but will also be the first chance to hear brand new Jinjer music live. While their Macro World Tour was suddenly cut short in March 2020 – Jinjer did manage to pull off the impossible in September 2020 by doing a short tour of Germany and Switzerland, making them the first Non-European band to cross International borders and successfully tour during the pandemic.

Grab tickets for the EU Tour HERE

Catch Jinjer on their EU tour w/ Humanity's Last Breath & Hypno5e
 
18.09.21 - SK - BRATISLAVA / Majestic
19.09.21 - CZ - JABLONEC NAD NISOU /  Eurocentrum
20.09.21 - PL - KRAKOW / Hype Park
22.09.21 - DE - LEIPZIG / Hellraiser
23.09.21 - DE- ROSTOCK / Mau Club

24.09.21 - DE - POTSDAM / Lindenpark
25.09.21 - DE - AARHUS / Train
26.09.21 - NL - NIJMEGEN / Doornroosje
28.09.21 - FR - REIMS / Cartonnerie
29.09.21 - CH - PRATTELN / Z7

30.09.21 - DE - MANNHEIM / Alte Feuerwache
01.10.21 - DE - SAARBRUECKEN / Garage
02.10.21 - DE - COLOGNE / Euroblast Festival
03.10.21 - FR - STRASBOURG / La Laiterie


JINJER is:

• Tatiana Shmayluk - Vocals
• Roman Ibramkhalilov - Guitars
• Eugene Abdukhanov - Bass
• Vlad Ulasevich - Drums

 

JINJER online:

• FACEBOOK
• TWITTER
• INSTAGRAM
  
• HOMEPAGE
  
• NAPALM RECORDS
  

Moldovan up and coming, extreme metal outfit, Infected Rain, took the heavy music world by storm when they released their blistering new album, Endorphin, this Fall with Napalm Records. The band – fronted by extraordinary multi-talented vocalist Lena – unleashes fierce screams and growls, heavy riffs and pounding beats combined with ingenious samples that make Infected Rain’s style an energetic blend of the best modern metal styles of today and one can be sure, this band no longer belongs to one of the world's best-kept metal secrets!

While they are currently touring Europe in support of their new album, Infected Rain won't be stopped and have just announced a bunch of European summer tour dates for 2020!

     "After releasing Endorphin in October then right away hitting the road with the European tour, we felt so much love and support from you.” The band comments. "Thanks to you we are able to be ourselves and share our most sensitive emotions. So we are extremely happy to announce our next European visit. Summer of 2020 promises to be very hot, with a lot of festivals and some special club dates. Stay tuned for more updates and details. See you soon!"

Kicking off in June 2020, with selected club shows as well as prestigious festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Summer Breeze or Metal on the Hill to name just a few, you will get infected by the band's high-voltage shows and a vehemence that is Infected Rain live at the following dates:

10.06.2020 PL Kraków / Mystic Festival
26.06.2020 CZ Plzen / Basinfire Festival
02.07.2020 SP Viveiro / Resurrection Festival
04.07.2020 FR Colombier-Saugnieu / Plane'R Fest
10.07.2020 HU Dunaújváros / Rockmarathon
18.07.2020 FIN Laukaa / John Smith Rock Festival
24.07.2020 DE Ottobeuren / Schlichtenfest
30.07.2020 DE Wacken / Wacken Festival
01.08.2020 UKR Ternopil / Faine Miasto Festival
02.08.2020 RO Rasnov / Rockstadt Extreme Fest
08.08.2018 RUS Krasnodar / Taman Festival
14.08.2020 DE Dinkelsbuhl / Summer Breeze
15.08.2020 AT Graz / Metal on the Hill
28.08.2020 RO Bistrita / Way Too Far Rock Festival

with many more dates to be announced soon!

To shorten your wait for a heavy as hell summer with INFECTED RAIN, catch them live on the following, remaining dates of their current tour with LACUNA COIL and ELUVEITIE:

14.12 - (FI) Tampere - Pakkahuone
15.12 - (EST) Tallinn - Rock Cafe
17.12 - (SE) Stockholm - Klubben Fryshuset
18.12 - (NO) Oslo - Vulkan Arena
19.12 - (SE) Gothenburg - Trädgarn
20.12 - (DK) Copenhagen - Amager Bio
21.12 - (DE) Hamburg - Docks

www.infectedrain.com
www.facebook.com/infectedrain
www.twitter.com/infectedrain
www.label.napalmrecords.com/infectedrain

Finland's Gothic Metallers The 69 Eyes recently announced that they will release their 12th studio album on September 13th. Right in time for their 30th band anniversary, 'West End' will see the light of day, so prepare for 11 up-tempo rock anthems full of heaviness, black memento mori moments and dark humour featuring several top-notch guest vocalists including Cradle Of Filth's Dani Filth, Wednesday 13 and Beastö Blancö's Calico Cooper.

Today, the band have revealed the first trailer for their upcoming album, in which they discuss the ”funeral balloons” sculpture on the cover of the album. The artwork was created by the famous Finnish sculptor Jiri Geller, a friend of the band since the very early days.

     "It was like black magick to have Jiri back in our Helsinki Vampire circles again! I literally haven’t seen him for twenty years but he was the same freak as back then - and as we all are,” - singer Jyrki 69 praises the long-lost lost boy.

Watch the trailer, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq5A3il7Dec

In addition to their previously announced European tour dates, the Helsinki Vampires are ready for more extensive touring through their home country and will soon embark on a tour through Finland before hitting the rest of Europe and Russia:

14.09.  FIN      Radio Rock Cruise, Helsinki – Tallinn – Helsinki
20.09.  FIN      Viking Grace, Turku – Stockholm – Turku
25.09.  FIN      Tampere - Klubi
28.09.  FIN      Ähtäri - Club B 52
04.10.  FIN      Hämeenlinna - Aulanko Areena
05.10.  FIN      Mikkeli - Wilhelm Public House

10.10.  FIN      Kuopio - Henry’s Pub
11.10.  FIN      Joensuu - Ravintola Kerubi
12.10.  FIN      Kotka - Ravintola Leikari
25.10.  FIN      Jyväskylä - Lutakko
26.10.  FIN      Seinäjoki - Rytmikorjaamo
01.11.  FIN      Helsinki - Tavastia


THE 69 EYES - West End Tour 2019

02.11.  D         Leipzig - Hellraiser
03.11.  D         Berlin - SO36
05.11.  D         Hamburg - Logo
06.11.  D         Cologne - Essigfabrik
07.11.  D         Stuttgart - Wizemann Club
08.11.  D         Munich - Backstage (Halle)
09.11.  CZ       Prague - Meet Factory

11.11.  PL       Wroclaw - Stary Klasztor
12.11.  HU      Budapest - Barba Negra
13.11.  SK       Bratislava - Atelier Babylon
14.11.  AT       Vienna - Chelsea
16.11.  IT        Parma - Campus Music Industry
17.11.  CH      Pratteln - Z7
19.11.  D         Trier - Mergener Hof

20.11.  F          Paris - Backstage by the Mill
21.11.  UK      London - The Garage
23.11.  D         Oberhausen - Kulttempel
24.11.  D         Frankfurt – Zoom
 

Catch THE 69 EYES also in 2020:

06.03. LVA      Riga - Melna Piektdiena
07.03. LTU     Vilnius - Vakaris
08.03. BLR     Minsk - Republic
10.03. UKR    Lviv - Festrepublic
11.03. RUS     Kiev - Atlas

13.03. RUS     St.Petersburg - Zal
14.03. RUS     Moscow - RED
16.03. RUS     Khabarovsk - Velicano
17.03. RUS     Vladivostok - Kraft

Ticket Link: http://69eyes.polygon.group/

As the first taster for their new album, The 69 Eyes have recently revealed the music video for their new single '27 & Done'. The clip features excerpts from the horror film 'The 27 Club' by Cleopatra Entertainment and you can watch it, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLoqIdCMZCE

THE 69 EYES are:

Jyrki 69 - vocals
Bazie - guitar, backing vocals
Timo-Timo - guitar
Archzie - bass, backing vocals
Jussi 69 - drums 
 
www.69eyes.com
www.facebook.com/the69eyes
www.instagram.com/the69eyesoffical
www.nuclearblast.de/the69eyes

Canadian folk metal group Mongol head all the way over to East European for 13 dates across Ukraine, Russia, Poland and Latvia throughout May and June 1st. The band have been riding high since the release and critical success of their last album The Return which has turned into quite the sleeper hit for Sliptrick. Expect a high energy, gonzoid show from the boys full of theatre and rabble rousing tunes.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

15.05 | Old Pub | Zaporizhzhya, UKR
16.05 | Madisan | Kryvyi Rih, UKR
17.05 | Art Café Étage | Zhovti Vody, UKR
18.05 | Rocker Pub | Kremenchug, UKR
19.05 | Volume Club | Kyiv, UKR
22.05 | Hertz | Orel, RUS
23.05 | A Club | Smolensk, RUS
24.05 | Alibi | Moscow, RUS
25.05 | Irris | Vologda, RUS
26.05 | Music Box | Tver, RUS
30.05 | MCB | Jelgava, LV
31.05 | Black Pub Komin | Suwalki, PL
01.06 | Fontaine Palace | Liepaja, LV

The Return, the new album from Canadian folk metal group Mongol, is a concept album written about a Mongolian Prophecy that states that Genghis Khan will return from the grave to complete his conquest of the world. Intertwined within the tracks, you’ll find melodic harmonies that conjure imagery of the vast glory of a great united Empire, and the raw beauty of her homeland; but you will also hear ruthless thundering rhythms that recall the reckless unbridled violence of battle. R

Buy now from: Shop Sliptrick | iTunes | & other major stores
Listen to The Return on: Spotify

Mongol are:

Tev Tengri – Vocals
Zev – Guitar
Zelme – Guitar
Bourchi – Drums
Sorkhan Sharr – Bass
Sche-Khe – Keyboard/Folk Instruments

Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Reverbnation | On Sliptrick

US symphonic metal Beyond Forgiveness have announced their Live To Tell The Story Eastern European Tour which takes in Ukraine, Russia and Latvia for 14 dates in June and includes an appearance at the 3 day ARM Antimateria Rock and Metal Festival in Lipetsk, Russia on June 14th.

For the tour, the group will be featuring new tracks from their upcoming release Live To Tell The Story. They are currently putting the finishing touches to the album with a plan to release worldwide via Sliptrick Records later in the year.

Since 2014, Beyond Forgiveness have cultivated their signature symphonic metal sound through the composition of lush classical orchestras, choirs, and operatic vocals colliding with heavy and aggressive metal. In 2019, the band continues to push the boundaries of the symphonic metal genre with Live To Tell The Story, which follows their 2016 EP, The Ferryman’s Shore, and their 2017 debut full length album, The Great Wall.

Beyond Forgiveness vocalist Talia Hoit says:-

     “We are so happy to announce our upcoming tour this summer! We are very excited to introduce our new music and visit our friends and fans in Eastern Europe and are really looking forward to teaming up with the other fantastic bands in this tour package!” –

Upcoming Tour Dates:

07.06 | Zaporizhya, UKR | Old Pub
08.06 | Kryvyi Rig, UKR | Madison
09.06 | Odessa, UKR | More Music club
10.06 | Kyiv, UKR | Volume Club
13.06 | Voronezh, RUS | Club 12
14.06 | Lipetsk, RUS | ARM Antimateria Rock and Metal Festival
15.06 | Rostov, RUS | Badland

16.06 | Krasnodar, RUS | Rock Bar
17.06 | Volgograd, RUS | Belaya Loshad
18.06 | Tambov, RUS | Molotov
19.06 | Moscow, RUS | Rock House
20.06 | Riga, LV | Depo
21.06 | Liepaja, LV | Fontaine Palace
22.06 | Jelgava, LV | MCB

Beyond Forgiveness are:

Talia Hoit – Vocals/Orchestration
Greg Witwer – Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
Richard Marcus – Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals
Sean Rogers – Drums/Percussion
Jim Lasselle – Bass

Official Website | Facebook | Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | VK | On Sliptrick

Italian progressive metal band, Last Union, have announced European - Eastern Europe Tour Dates as support of Delain & Amaranthe, and one show with Soundstorm & Kalidia. Last Union have released their debut album ‘Twelve‘ in December 2018 via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records, which feat. as guest Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie and Mike LePond (Symphony X) on bass, Uli Kusch (Helloween, Masterplan) on drums.

Tour dates as follow:

Feb 08 - Sonic Room, Fabriano, Italy w/ SOUNDSTORM + KALIDIA
Feb 16 - Известия Hall, Moscow, Russia w/ DELAIN
Feb 17 - Зал Ожидания, St. Petersburg, Russia w/ DELAIN
Mar 09 - Atlas, Kyiv, Ukraine w/ AMARANTHE
Mar 10 - RE:PUBLIC, Minsk, Belarus w/ AMARANTHE

The quiet city of Tolentino in the Marche region of Central Italy not only boasts a rich historical background, it is also the place progressive metal band Last Union calls home. Founded by vocalist Elisa Scarpeccio, guitarist Cristiano Tiberi and keyboardist Claudio Feliziani in 2007, the band — originally known as Blazing Ice — embarked on their journey in the pursuit of sharing their thoughts and feelings about life, and ultimately their art, with the world. With the assistance of professional session bassists and drummers, the trio established themselves on the Italian scene with a string of shows that helped them evolve and refine their craft.

LAST UNION live line-up:

Elisa Scarpeccio - vocals
Cristiano Tiberi - guitars
Alessandro Binotti - guitars
Matteo Brillarelli - bass
Alessandro Vagnoni - drums

www.facebook.com/lastunion
www.lastunion.it

Hell:on  are going in Hell Chains tour:

21.09.2018 - Bielsko-Biala, Rude Boy (PL) 
22.09.2018 - Hradec-Kralove, Kraft (CZ) 
23.09.2018 - Zagan, Electrownia club (PL) 
26.09.2018 - Magdeburg, Flowerpower (DE) 
27.09.2018 - Koblenz, Florinsmarkt (DE) 
28.09.2018 - Razorblade Festival, Datteln (DE) 
29.09.2018 - Cologne Metal Fest (DE)
30.09.2018 - Gorzow Wielkopolski, C-60 (PL)

Hell:on is a Ukrainian thrash/death metal band from Ukraine. The band's lyrics usually relate to mysticism, philosophy and anti-religion.

Hell:on  is the forefront of the Ukrainian metal scene. During the recording of the last three albums, the band worked with Jeff Waters (Annihilator), Andy LaRocque (Death, King Diamond), Marek Pajak (Vader) and Andreas Kisser (Sepultura).