Finnish Love Metal pioneer Ville Valo (VV) of HIM will release his debut solo album, Neon Noir, on January 13 via Heartagram Records, distributed by UMG/ Spinefarm. Pre-order it here. "Neon Noir is a sonic step-by-step guide on how to survive, and perhaps even enjoy, the realm of VV with its abundance of things that go bump in the night," says Valo. "It's a teary mascara marathon between Robert Smith and Ozzy, with a dash of hope."
In the annals of 21st century alternative rock history, there are few artists who cast a longer or more peculiar shadow than Finnish Love Metal pioneer Ville Valo. After all, his band HIM was easily among the most iconic and idiosyncratic groups of the millennium. Zealously revered, gleefully reviled but impossible to ignore, their music left an indelible mark on a worldwide legion of fans. The scarlet letters stood for "His Infernal Majesty." Their founder stood for something delightedly out of step with the status quo. "We only hoped to temporarily redirect hard rock's blood flow from the nether regions towards the heart," reminisces Valo, the singer, songwriter, and primus motor of HIM. Judging by the monolithic presence of the Heartagram in any account of music this side of the millennium, it's apparent that he succeeded. Inspired by everyone from Poe to Bukowski and tinged by a penchant for perfumed Sabbathian gloom, Valo's creative lovechild would produce eight era-defining studio releases and over 10 million record sales, not forgetting a Grammy nomination, countless magazine covers, critical acclaim, and the veneration of a generation. Thus, it came as no surprise that the news of a farewell tour in 2017 was greeted with shock and disbelief among devotees and endless speculation as to what or who was to take up the velvet mantle. “As fun as the funeral rites for HIM were, it took me more than a few moons to lick my wounds in the shadow of the Heartagram and come up with an excuse to strum and hum again. Eventually, I decided put a leash on my beloved black dog and we started howling together instead of barking at each other. That's how VV was born."
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Svart Records unleash a heady brew of nocturnal post-punk atmosphere and avant-garde metal from Swedish band Shaam Larein. The goth-tinged doom rockers share new single 'Murderer', taken from their upcoming album "Sticka En Kniv I Världen" due 9th December. The album's title, Sticka En Kniv I Världen, literally means to “stick a knife into the world”, and is a ravishing, cut-throat statement of Shaam Larein's heavy intent that casts a new shadow of stunning darkness. Formed in 2018, Shaam Larein released their debut album Sculpture in 2020 to raptured underground praise, earning them an instant booking to the prestigious Roskilde Festival and planting them on the radar of cult artists such as Chelsea Wolfe. Now signed to Finland’s Svart Records, Shaam Larein is soon to be hot on the tongues of the cult grapevine. Named after their auteur-like visionary singer Shaam Lerein, who was brought up on Russian classical art and the cinema of Tarkovsky, composes and visualises their dark materials, cementing Sticka En Kniv I Världen as an utterly unique take on bat-winged heavy rock. Shaam's background in the theatrical arts and her Syrian roots shine through in the dramatic structures and middle eastern scales her melodies incorporate, all driven by a powerful female voice that commands and charms in deadly measure. Conducting her band of Swedish vamps like a montage of Siouxsie Sioux and Lisa Gerard meeting in a Murnau horror, Shaam Larein casts a spell both occult and hypnotic. Carrying a haulage of blackened heavy metal doom in it’s gothic post-punk drive, Sticka En Kniv I Världen does what it says on the tin, providing a stab of something unearthly but also hyper-real with songs like 'I Have No Face' as a stark eye-meeting stare of emotion. With a devout appreciation of the mystic powers inherent in heavy music, Shaam Larein will ignite memories of Swedish metal artists such as In Solitude, who swayed towards the eclectic and gothic atmospheres Shaam's music touches on in their later days. With artist friends from back home in Uppsala, Pelle Åhman making the album cover and his brother Gottfrid Åhman, both of In Solitude fame, making four videos for Shaam Larein, the links weave closer, but it is to artists like Chelsea Wolfe, Ruth Rundle and Marissa Nadler that you can imagine fans drawing parallels and opening their heart to the enigmatic sound of Sticka En Kniv I Världen. Shaam describes her music as “a touch of aggression mixed with passion”, and Sticka En Kniv I Världen for her is about finding the light through a sea of darkness, “accepting the melancholy and seeing the beauty of what lies underneath our mysterious sound”. For a world of heavy rock hungry for a new wave of something dark and mysterious, Shaam Larein has it all in unparalleled dosage, just waiting to be discovered. Band Members: Shaam Larein Facebook || Instagram Maryland-based crossover thrash Metal quintet Ninth Realm will release debut full-length album A Fate Unbroken November 4 on Mercenary Press. The album is a perfect blend of of crossover thrash and traditional heavy metal that represents the band's refined vision. "Plea to the Heavens," the album's first single, is streaming now at:
A Fate Unbroken is a nine-track album that takes the influence of the widest range of heavy metal, 80s-toned thrash, death thrash, and hardcore that the decisive genres have to offer. Not only do the riffs, consistent guitar solos, and blackened vocals take the listener through a whirlwind of Slayer / Demolition Hammer era thrash metal, but the lyricism and quintessential raw fantasy style of their art and themes harken back to a Frank Frazetta / Ralph Bakshi age of pure Sword & Sorcery. A Fate Unbroken, for all intents and purposes, is a Maryland band’s attempt to bring a reunion of heavy metal and hardcore punk back to its raw, old-school roots. Basing their lyricism and overall theme around the original fantasy realm of Tythorin, Ninth Realm delivers an electrifying synthesis of traditional heavy metal and hardcore punk for fans of both respective genres to enjoy. Pulling from a range of influences that span everything between blackened thrash to old-school death metal, the music of Ninth Realm rips and tears with a ferocity and cadence that perfectly encapsulates the epic scale and grisly atmosphere of grim-dark fantasy. Between the use of aggressive thrash d-beat and viscerally direct song structure of classic metal acts such as Celtic Frost, combined with the melodic riffage of classic bands like Testament / Mercyful Fate, and an added twist of Cro-Mags / Leeway style crossover, Ninth Realm wields what is perhaps one of the most poignant new sounds to emerge from the metal underground in recent memory. Sharing a bon d for all things heavy metal and high fantasy, college classmates Joey Burke (drummer) and Liam McMahon (lead guitarist) joined forces in the fall of 2018, writing and practicing every week to produce the 2019 demo, Gates of Tythorin. Later adding Jared Henry (bassist) and Ben Hageage (vocalist) to the mix, Ninth Realm solidified their sound with their succeeding 2020 EP, All Hail Treachery. In 2022, to offer a glimpse at what is to come with their debut LP, Ninth Realm released Ondreis MMXXII, a promo tape featuring two songs that both share a track space on the debut full-length record.
The debut full-length studio album by Israeli doom metal project Defiled Embrace is out now. "Whispers Of The Forest" is an eight song album that present the similarities between the human suffering and the death of different nature elements, alongside songs about love and loss. The album contains slow and heavy songs, with soft and clean melodies, colliding with brutal riffs and growls, giving it a strong Death Metal vibe. Recommended for fans of Swallow The Sun, Clouds, Ahab, Doom:VS, Mourning Beloveth, Novembers Doom, Remembrance, Shape Of Despair, The Sins Of Thy Beloved, Trees Of Eternity, and more. Defiled Embrace is a one-man-project formed in Israel in 2021 by local musician Matan Kedar. The project started as a collection of different Doom Metal songs, written by Matan over the course of 11 years. Some songs were originally written for another projects, but eventually they all came together under the name Defiled Embrace. During 2021, Matan decided to record the songs using session musicians he works with in other bands, and the debut album “Whispers Of The Forest” was recorded during 2021-2022. On July 2022, Defiled Embrace singed a deal with Metal Scrap Records Inc. Three videos were shot for three Singles of the forthcoming release: “In Her Sullen Reflection”, “Autumn” and “Whispers Of The Forest”. September 9 became as an official release date of “Whispers Of The Forest” album through Another Side Records, a division of Metal Scrap Records Inc. Currently, the project is in a process of becoming a full band, and a second album is already composed and about to be recorded. https://www.facebook.com/DefiledEmbrace Turkish heavy metallers Pentagram premier their new music video "Damn The War" here: https://youtu.be/aYaIE50Hcwg Tarkan Gozubuyuk, Bassist, states:- "After the Turkish military coup in 1980, we were misfit kids in an authoritarian environment. The music reached out and offered the liberty to express our frustration in a civilized way. We’ve always looked up to great legends and aspired to be like them. Becoming a band was our primary objective. We yearned to mature into fine musicians and belong in the music scene we love. It’s been the case ever since. Fortunately, we’ve endured long enough to see our work relate to a younger generation and feel like a ring of the chain that binds us. Our style is mostly identified with its blend of Anatolian music with heavy metal. The upcoming record is about our generation who still lives under the shadow of guns. We've reunited with all former members for our last stand along the purpose against fascism, with music as our only weapon. The songs on the album are monuments of faith, gratitude, passion, conceit, failure, acceptance and regret in one's life. We were fortunate enough to feature a timeless master, Erkan Ogur on 'baritone fretless guitar' and 'kopuz'; along with Cahit Berkay from the legendary Mogollar, playing the 'yaylı tambur'. Music is a language, magically native to everyone. The world's most ancient tradition and a loyal comrade in each one's own personal struggle. It unites us in shared feelings and insight. We're devoted to this tradition because we trust in its virtue that sustains our grip in life. Besides, it's so much fun, making it more convincing than anything else." Demir Demirkan, Guitarist, adds:- "It's a very unique experience, really. Think about it, a 30 year old heavy metal band reuniting with all of its members on an acoustic "best of" album in 2017. On top of that, touring with 9 people on stage for 5 years and collaborating on a new album with all of the 9 members. Honestly, I do believe that Makina Elektrika is the most collaborative work that I've done in my life, considering 9 members creating together! I'd also like to note that most of the members have had very successful solo careers in performing, producing, film making and in celebrity circles in the past years. Now when we're on the bus or backstage, studio or stage we all drop our last names and find an environment to express our individualities freely just like how we did decades ago when we were in our twenties. I believe it is the magic of that brotherhood that makes Pentagram what it is, and this new album is flooded with emotion, talent, experience, mastery and love."
Pentagram is a heavy metal act from Istanbul, performing since 1987. After several changes in the line up over the decades, the band reunited with all former members for their continued stand against fascism, with music as their weapon. The reunion was intended to be exclusively for an acoustic album, a live tour and a concert video to celebrate Pentagram's 30th anniversary, in 2017. However, the healing outcome of this gathering has driven the band to make their 8th studio record, Makina Elektrika, as a 9-piece band, with four lead singers. The upcoming album Makina Elektrika drops September 9th via Sony Music. A blend of Anatolian music with heavy metal, the album consists of English and Turkish lyric songs and an instrumental track. All songs were written by Pentagram, except two cover tributes; "Dunya" by Yavuz Cetin (a fellow musician who passed away in 2001) and "Seek and Destroy" by Metallica, in memory of Cliff Burton.
www.thepentagram.net www.instagram.com/pentagramofficial www.youtube.com/pentagram www.facebook.com/thepentagram www.twitter.com/Pentagramzrkbl Rockshots Records announce their signing of Italian fantasy power metallers RuinThrone for the release of their new J.R.R. Tolkien-inspired album “The Unconscious Mind Of Arda” due out on January 2023 to follow their debut album “Urban Ubris” and EP “Leaden Field”. Set to create an interesting narrative world, RuinThrone composes very captivating musical sections that are supported by complex and progressive structures. The band explains: "The album itself has been composed of stories inspired by Tolkien’s poems, his “Legendarium”. We hope the concepts we wrote can be “messengers” of reflection for our listeners, turning in a better awareness of their daily life. We focused on an alternative point of view of some stories written by Tolkien. We thought it would have been interesting to explore the mind of the main villains: Morgoth, the Witch-king, and Gothmog. The main concept is to develop a poem with no need for heroes. It’s a world populated by humanized characters creating a correspondence with the listener’s life." “The Unconscious Mind Of Arda” is mixed and mastered by Giuseppe Orlando (sound tech for Rhapsody of Fire) at the Other Sound Studios. Singles for “The Unconscious Mind Of Arda” will be revealed at future dates. "We want the listener to be “lured” by the darkness and to become as a whole with it." RuinThrone was founded in 2009 in Rome, Italy by Adriano Strinati, Haedus and Alessandro Finocchiaro. Soon after, Giorgio Mannucci (keyboards), Nicolò De Maria (guitars), and Francesco Comerci (drums) joined the band. The sound of RuinThrone is inspired by German and American metal bands like Blind Guardian, Helloween, Iced Earth, and Nevermore, but they have their own distinguishable dark and modern character.
It's official! Bulgarian thrash metallers Mosh-Pit Justice have signed with Punishment 18 Records for their new sixth full-length album "Crush the Demons Inside", which is expected to be released later this year. This will be the second full-length under the label's wing following the previous one released in 2019, "Fighting The Poison". New information will follow soon. Finland's Antipope announce their new studio album - 'Rex Mundi', due out on October 28th 2022 via Moribund Records. Antipope return with their highly anticipated genre-melding 6th Album of melodic and progressive heavy metal: 'Rex Mundi'! A conceptual, progressive melodic heavy metal masterpiece based on the 1200’s Cathar Crusades. The ever transforming but always recognizable, progressive, melodic heavy metal artisans Antipope are a staple in today’s modern hard music scene. Since their founding in 2004 they have released 5 full length albums, “Desert” (2010), “House of Harlot” (2011), “3 Eyes of Time” (2013), “Denial / Survival” (2017), culminating with 2020’s break-through release “Apostle of Infinite Joy” on Fertile Crescent / Moribund Records.
Finland’s icons of melodic and progressive metal return with their highly anticipated 6th album “Rex Mundi”. A through-and-through concept album is set in the 1200’s based on the Albigensian Crusade / Cathar Wars, delivering 11 bold tracks of progressive, melodic and deeply conceptual metal unrestricted by the confines of any singular genre. The bloody, brutal and tragic story of the birth of the Inquisition and the rise of the church of Rome as the spiritual super-power of the era is backed by melodic yet heavy guitar rhythms which breathe with acoustic segments, all interspersed amongst monster metal riffs and searing drum grooves. The album showcases a depth and range of sound and variation demanded by the epic, brutal, and tragic story told on “Rex Mundi”! Norwegian industrial goth metallers Gothminister shares "This Is Your Darkness" music video3/9/2022 October 21, 2022 see Norway's Gothminister release their new album, entitled "Pandemonium", through AFM Records. Following a previously-released, first single and music video for the album title track, today the goth and industrial metal ministers present a second track taken of their upcoming magnum opus! "This Is Your Darkness" once again plays with the deepest primal fears of human beings - persecution, hopelessness and no chance to save oneself. This new album single takes up where "Pandemonium" left off. A drama in three acts. The Gothminister and his monsters are coming to get you! "The aftermath of Pandemonium - or are we somewhere between place and time?" Band mastermind Bjørn Alexander Brem comments. "This Is Your Darkness is the 2nd of in all 3 videos telling the Pandemonium tale where the army of the undead keeps marching on looking for new souls to conquer in the evil kingdom, while Gothminister himself this time scouts from the watchtower and preaches from the book of evil. Chris Dead has teamed up with his drums from hell - but be aware, there is still a third story to tell!" With his captivating debut ‘Gothic Electronic Anthems’ in 2003, Gothminister Bjørn Alexander Brem took the dark music scene by storm, unleashing a thunder of pitch-black magic. Powerful metal riffs march relentlessly arm in arm with huge orchestras and heavenly choirs, while the master himself reveals an astonishing range of vocal art: from the deepest gothic-dungeons up to the higher spheres of steaming rock. It’s the overwhelming combination of catchiness and darkness; a thrilling craft of composing within the marrow of gothic, industrial-metal and electronica, that became Gothminister’s trademarks ever since. With tracks like “Devil” (Gothic Electronic Anthems 2003), “Monsters” (Empire of Dark Salvation 2005), “Darkside” (Happiness In Darkness 2008), “Liar” (Anima Inferna 2011), “Utopia” (Utopia 2013), the last single from the CD/DVD horror movie concept album which even reached the national finals of the Norwegian Eurovision contest, “Ich will alles” and “We are the ones who rule the world” which both entered the Top 10 of the German Alternative charts and brought thousands of fans together on a tour across Germany together with ASP, Gothminister has gotten a significant following all over the world through the years. Today, the Norwegian industrial metal act has surprised them with an epic music video for a brand new single! The new Gothminister album, "Pandemonium", will be released on October 21, 2022 through AFM Records, the pre-sale is now available at THIS LOCATION!
Brisbane thrash metal titans Asylum have released their second single "Sadistic Intent" from their upcoming album due to be released on the 2nd of September 2022. ‘Sadistic Intent’ challenges one of humanities most horrific crimes. Based on the brutality of human trafficking, ‘Sadistic Intent’ musically portrays this as being one of the most intense songs on the ‘Tyrannicide’ album while lyrically depicting the lives of the victims. Lead Guitarist Rob Armstrong comments: "‘Sadistic Intent’ delivers on all fronts, its aggressive and in your face but also tackles a very dark part of the human race. Personally, I have always felt that we live in a false sense of safety and this song for me describes what could be lurking around the corner. Musically its dark, intense and melodic – it definitely contains some of my favourite riffs!" Check out the single at
Asylum is a thrash metal band from Brisbane Australia. Since forming in 2012, Asylum has quickly established itself as one of Australia’s hardest working thrash metal bands. The band has released two EPs, "Slaughterhouse" (2013) and "Concealed Death" (2016) which have captivated thrash metal fans locally and overseas. They released a live EP "Live In Melbourne" (2021), but ultimately they have been super hard at work to release their long awaited debut album "Tyrannicide" in 2022. Asylum's live shows have been described by critics as energetic, engaging and musically flawless. The band have toured regularly around Australia performing at Australia's annual festivals such as LEGIONS OF STEEL (VIC), AUSOCAPLYPSE (VIC), STORMRIDER (WA), SHREDFEST (QLD), STEEL ASSASSINS (NSW), NEW DEAD FEST (SA), CHURCHES OF STEEL (SA) and BODIES ON BODIES (SA). Over the years, Asylum has supported international touring bands such as ACCEPT, DESTRUCTION, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, VOIVOD, TANKARD, GEOFF TATE, ANVIL, ANGELUS APATRIDA, METAL CHIRCH, ARTILLERY, LICH KING, GIRLSCHOOL, TANK AND RAVEN. In 2017, Asylum embarked on their first international venture, performing at Japans annual TRUE THRASHFEST, alongside DARKNESS (GER), S.D.I (DER) and DEFILED (JPN). Shane Robins - Vocals & Rhythm Guitar Rob Armstrong - Lead & Clean Guitar Levi Damiris - Drums https://www.facebook.com/asylumthrash |
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