|
The votes are in, have been counted, vetted and verified. So without further ado, we present the winners of the 2021 Global Metal Apocalypse (GMA) awards. All categories except "Release Of The Year" came with an 'other' option. See you in December 2022 Release Of The Year IRON MAIDEN - SENJUTSU  Global Metal Release Of The Year SOULMASTER (NICARAGUA) WARRIOR OF LIGHT  Breakthrough African Band CATHARSIS (EGYPT)  Breakthrough Asian Band OVERLORD (BANGLADESH)  Breakthrough European Band GHOSTS OF ATLANTIS (ENGLAND)  Breakthrough North & Central American Band FLESHTORTURE (NICARAGUA)  Breakthrough Oceanian Band ABYSMIA (HAWAII)  Breakthrough South American Band ALTARS OF REBELLION (COLOMBIA)  Breakthrough UK Band BEYOND EXTINCTION (ESSEX) & GHOSTS OF ATLANTIS (ESSEX / SUFFOLK)  Breakthrough International Band BLIND CHANNEL (FINLAND)  Music Video Of The Year Cradle Of Filth - Necromantic Fantasies 
0 Comments
 Japanese post-grunge / gothic metallers Gods Of Decay have signed with Sliptrick Records. Gods Of Decay was formed in Tokyo in 2018 by Japanese guitarist Frost and Georgian vocalist Anna. Their music lies at an intersection of genres and styles such as post-grunge, alternative and gothic metal, the fusion of which gave birth to a dark, “meaty” and yet beautiful sound. The band pride themselves with a strong adherence to melody, intricately interwoven with heavy and angry guitar riffs – a feature that makes them stand out. Anna’s fascination with modern literature has a strong impact on the lyrics she writes. The major themes in her lyrics are introspective, dreams, vanishing boundaries between the real and the imaginary, madness and social criticism. Her musical influences range from the mellow (The Cure) to the brutal (Necrophagist). She enjoys experimenting with styles and aims for “theatricality” in her singing manner. She has received opera vocal training in the past, but enjoys experimenting with extreme vocals. The mastermind behind Gods Of Decay‘s compositions, Frost, names among his favourite artists and major influences such bands as Creed, Pearl Jam and Nirvana. By implementing beautiful melodies into heavy distortion “shell”, his compositions are powerful, yet at the same melodious. “Beauty in strength” can nicely describe the sound that he aims for. Yorke, on bass and programming, has joined the group recently but has immediately brought new colors to the band’s musical palette and yet more layers into compositions by balancing out the aggression of Frost’s guitar with his mellifluous and sensual basslines. His influences include such bands as Nine Inch Nails, Apex Twin and Portis Head. Gods Of Decay are currently preparing to release their first full-length album Collective Psychosis, which is planned to be preceded by the release of a single and a music video titled Suffocate You. Gods Of Decay are:
Band links: Official Website | Facebook | Youtube | Instagram | On Sliptrick  Tokyo based metalcore outfit Sailing Before The Wind have released their new single “Break the Silence (Rerecorded)”. This single is a re-recording of the original track that was on their EP “A Ray of Light'” (2012). The band has been centred around bassist and composer Bitoku Sakamoto who is the only constant member of the line-up, he is also known as a former touring bassist of Crystal Lake. This self-released single features vocalist Kneeya and guitarist Takaya; both are founding members of the band to celebrate the band’s 10th anniversary. The track was produced, mixed and mastered by Bitoku. The lyrics have been rewritten around the theme of the band's 10 years struggle to get out of Japan's small metalcore scene. Some of the riffs and lead guitars have also been rearranged to make it more guitar oriented metalcore. “Break the Silence (Rerecorded)” now available on Spotify, Apple Music, and most other online streaming platforms. You can check out the video for “Break the Silence (Rerecorded)” below. https://youtu.be/KYkI7VKEYX0 BUY/STREAM “Break the Silence (Rerecorded)”: https://linkco.re/ENp82G8d The Tokyo based metalcore band Sailing Before The Wind formed in 2011. The band had numerous line-up changes over the years, currently the band consists of five members, bassist Bitoku with four recruited members. Sailing Before The Wind made their presence known continuously, releasing their first EP “Judgement” (2012), and following up with their second EP “Sanctuary” (2016). Their EP “Revised Standards” (2019) which features guest appearances from A Scent Like Wolves and Sienna Skies, charted No.1 on Japanese iTunes metal chart. Sailing Before The Wind songs frequently feature highly melodic twin guitar leads, metal riffs, and breakdowns, with a variety of influences including As I Lay Dying, Trivium, August Burns Red and In Flames. Sailing Before The Wind is also noted for their aggressive live performance and synchronized stage presence. Sailing Before The Wind Socials:  Japanese metal band Bridear have today (May 7th) released their debut international album Bloody Bride, out now via Setsuzoku Records. The album features recent singles ‘Daybreak’ and the haunting title track, two insatiable samples of what to expect from the record. Listen to Bloody Bride here. Brimming with big riffs and even bigger hooks all tastefully laced with both classic and modern metal characteristics, Bloody Bride is the perfect introduction to the quintet and what they are capable of. From furious thrash passages, blistering lead lines and irresistible pop sensibilities, the 45 minutes of music encased within displays their talent, their creative vision and their individuality among their peers, showcasing J-metal like you’ve never heard it before. Formed in Fukuoka, Japan in 2012, Bridear are one of Japan’s premier heavy metal bands and are setting their sights on the global stage. With diverse influences from German metal legends Helloween to British prog-pop pioneers Muse, the all-female quintet combine elements of power metal, progressive rock, and the melodic hooks of J-Pop to create a sound unlike any of their rivals from the Land of the Rising Sun.
Bridear released their first EP Overturn the Doom in 2012, and followed up with their hit single ‘Light in the Dark’. They have been performing across Japan ever since where they have developed a dedicated following. International audiences soon discovered the video online creating a massive buzz and ever-expanding global hard rock/metal audience. Following the 2016 release of their first full-length Japanese album Baryte, the group continued to perform across their home country gaining a reputation for excellent musicianship and engaging live performances. In 2017, Bridear performed in Europe for the first time and appeared at major conventions such as Mondocon in Budapest, Hungry and Made in Asia in Brussels, Belgium supporting their EP HELIX. Having now performed in 11 countries, Bridear have built a passionate fan base in the West while becoming a major label act in Japan for their 2019 album Expose Your Emotions. In October 2019, Bridear performed in London at METAL MATSURI, the first all J-Metal festival outside of Japan, with a stunning set winning more international fans and praise for their memorable performance. With their ‘Into The Darkness’ UK and European tour scheduled for later this year, the band aim to pick up exactly where they left off as they continue on their ascension. WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE  Japanese metal band Bridear have unveiled a brand new video for their recent single ‘Bloody Bride’, the title track from their debut international album release out May 7th via Setsuzoku Records. Watch the video here and pre order the album here. Brimming with big riffs and even bigger hooks all tastefully laced with both classic and J-metal characteristics, ‘Bloody Bride’ showcases everything that the band are capable of in one five-minute-long package. It serves as a whistle-stop tour of their vast musical ability complete with mesmerising licks, a relentless thrash-like pace and a surprising, unexpected dark turn that the new music video makes even darker. Haru, bassist and composer of the track states that:- “‘Bloody Bride’ is an intense tribute to our love of heavy metal history. Before we performed in London in 2019, we went to the site of the old Marquee Club where the New Wave of British Heavy Metal began. I was so inspired by the history of that music and of the mystery and lore of great cities so fantastic to us. I really wanted to express a fantasy world: a castle dungeon, demons, a trapped bride. We can't wait to perform it live for everyone!" Speaking on the video, Haru explains, “The video reflects the imagery and mood of the song. Heavy and haunting!” Accompanying the video, the band have also announced ‘Global Metal Connection’, a very special on-demand livestream event filmed from a limited capacity club in Tokyo. Featuring a support performance from fellow Setsuzoku Records artist IBUKI, the stream will see the band tearing through new material from the album for the first time as well as journeying into their back catalogue to perform fan favourites. The stream will be available for on-demand viewing from May 28th and details about how to secure a ticket are coming soon.
Formed in Fukuoka, Japan in 2012, Bridear are one of Japan’s premier heavy metal bands and are setting their sights on the global stage. With diverse influences from German metal legends Helloween to British prog-pop pioneers Muse, the all-female quintet combine elements of power metal, progressive rock, and the melodic hooks of J-Pop to create a sound unlike any of their rivals from the Land of the Rising Sun. Bridear released their first EP Overturn the Doom in 2012, and followed up with their hit single ‘Light in the Dark’. They have been performing across Japan ever since where they have developed a dedicated following. International audiences soon discovered the video online creating a massive buzz and ever-expanding global hard rock/metal audience. Following the 2016 release of their first full-length Japanese album "Baryte", the group continued to perform across their home country gaining a reputation for excellent musicianship and engaging live performances. In 2017, Bridear performed in Europe for the first time and appeared at major conventions such as Mondocon in Budapest, Hungry and Made in Asia in Brussels, Belgium supporting their EP "Helix". Having now performed in 11 countries, Bridear have built a passionate fan base in the West while becoming a major label act in Japan for their 2019 album "Expose Your Emotions". In October 2019, Bridear performed in London at "METAL MATSURI", the first all J-Metal festival outside of Japan, with a stunning set winning more international fans and praise for their memorable performance. The new track and video follows the release of their recent single ‘Daybreak’, an insatiably catchy introduction to their upcoming international debut album Bloody Bride. You can watch the band effortlessly perform ‘Daybreak’ in the official music video here. And all pre-orders of the album come with instant downloads of both tracks – ‘Daybreak’ and ‘Bloody Bride’. WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE  Japanese metal band Bridear have released the video for their latest single ‘Daybreak’. It’s the first track to be taken from their debut international album release Bloody Bride, which is coming out May 7th via Setsuzoku Records. Lead singer KIMI comments: "We are so excited for Bridear's first international release and look forward to bringing our music to fans across the UK and Europe!" The new single is a furiously catchy taste of what’s to come from their forthcoming album, with crushing riffs, technical prowess and soaring vocals. You can watch the band effortlessly perform the track in the brilliant new video for ‘Daybreak’ (watch by clicking link). Formed in Fukuoka, Japan in 2012, Bridear are one of Japan’s premier heavy metal bands and are setting their sights on the global stage. With diverse influences from German metal legends Helloween to British prog pop pioneers Muse, the all-female quintet combine elements of power metal, progressive rock, and the melodic hooks of J-Pop to create a sound unlike any of their rivals from the Land of the Rising Sun. Bridear released their first EP Overturn the Doom in 2012, and followed up with their hit single ‘Light in the Dark’. They have been performing across Japan ever since where they have developed a dedicated following. International audiences soon discovered the video online creating a massive buzz and ever-expanding global hard rock/metal audience. Following the 2016 release of their first full-length Japanese album Baryte, the group continued to perform across their home country gaining a reputation for excellent musicianship and engaging live performances. In 2017, Bridear performed in Europe for the first time and appeared at major conventions such as Mondocon in Budapest, Hungry and Made in Asia in Brussels, Belgium supporting their EP HELIX. Having now performed in 11 countries, Bridear have built a passionate fan base in the West while becoming a major label act in Japan for their 2019 album Expose Your Emotions. In October 2019, Bridear performed in London at Metal Matsuri, the first all J-Metal festival outside of Japan, with a stunning set winning more international fans and praise for their memorable performance. WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE  Sliptrick Records are pleased to announce the signing of Japanese Christian metal band Imari Tones. Imari Tones are a Christian heavy metal band from Japan, where majority of people believe in Buddhism and Christianity is very scarce. The band was formed in 2004 but the real start was in 2008, when they declared themselves as “The first Christian metal band from Japan”. Since then, Imari Tones toured in and out of Japan, while making many albums independently. The band play old school metal music inspired by bands from 1980’s, such as Van Halen, Judas Priest, and Japanese bands like Loudness. But their music is fairy diverse and sometimes wanders into progressive territory, making it inevitable for listeners to compare them to prog bands such as Rush and YES. One of their goals is to combine Christianity and Bushido, the Samurai spirit, because they believe they can believe in Jesus Christ without losing their identity as Japanese. That’s why they play Christian music with Japanese traditional taste, which puts them in a very unique position both musically and culturally. Imari Tones always say their “roll” is that of a bridge. A spiritual and cultural bridge between Japan and the world. A lot of people in the world are interested in Japanese pop culture. On the other hand there are so many people in Japan who have never heard of Jesus. Imari Tones are trying to reach both groups of people. They show the world what the Japanese spirit is like, while introducing Christianity to Japanese audience. Imari Tones are:
Band links: Official Website | Facebook | Youtube | Instagram | On Sliptrick  Season of Mist are proud to announce the signing of Japanese music collective VAMPILLIA. More details about the new record will follow in due time. The band comments: “It's a great honor for us to join the Season of Mist legion with so many great other bands. We will work hard like gladiolus flowers with secret chords and inaudible lyrics to be the greatest of the corps.” Check out the discography of VAMPILLIA on Bandcamp HERE.  Man With A Mission have gone straight in at No.1 with their new album "Man With A “B-Sides & Covers” Mission in Japan. LISTEN HERE The album is the first of three new records to be released in celebration of the Japanese superstar’s 10th anniversary, and also makes global history as the first ever album of B-sides to top an album chart. "Man With A “B-Sides & Covers” Mission spans the breadth of the wolf-collective’s phenomenal rise to the stadium-conquering sensation they are today. It includes rarities and songs solely in their native tongue, such as 2015’s ‘Stella’, right through to the tearaway surprise B-side crossover hits including 2018’s ‘The Anthem’ and 2017’s ‘Mr. Bad Mouth’, which have since gone on to prove firm fan live favourites across the world. The album also includes the brand new song ‘The Victors’, which is also the lead track for the forthcoming feature length documentary Man With A Mission The Movie –Trace The History - due for release later this year. The second part of the 10th anniversary celebration album trilogy will be Man With A “Remix” Mission, released on April 29th. The record will feature remixes of Man With A Mission’s hit singles by famous producers from Japan and overseas  Man With A Mission are one of the most successful rock bands in Asia today. They regularly sell out arenas across their homeland and have also completed sold-out headline tours of the UK, Europe and US. The five-piece have a rabid following in the UK, no better demonstrated than at the overflowing tents at their recent performances at Reading & Leeds and Download festivals. Man With A Mission have been a part of major cultural moments in Japan and beyond. Their songs have sound tracked numerous anime films, TV shows, video games including Street Fighter V and also high profile sporting teams including Japan’s Sunwolves Super Rugby Team and New Japan Pro Wrestling G1 Climax last year. They provide the Super Rugby Sunwolves official theme song once again this year, with the new song ‘Fly Again –Hero’s Anthem-‘ which fans will get the first taste of in the forthcoming Man With A “Remix” Mission album.  Crossfaith are thrilled to announce their brand new EP SPECIES, out on May 22nd through UNFD. The five-track offering features recent single, "Endorphin," as well as today's new track "Digital Parasite." The opening track "Digital Parasite" sees the band getting "dirty and heavy. I felt an explosion from the song and I knew the lyrics should be aggressive and offensive," starts vocalist Kenta Koie as the band look at "people selling their soul to get fame. We need to be honest to the music, to ourselves and to our audience but some people are happy to start cheating and I don't care for it." "Playing heavy music is how I feel alive. We want Crossfaith to be the band making music that no one has ever heard before." And from the opening battle cry of "Digital Parasite" through the unifying anthem of "Truth of Insanity" to "Your Song"'s glitching sorrow, their SPECIES EP sees them breaking new ground. The industrial rave of "Endorphin"is about finding yourself in a world that makes you doubt everything and champions the idea of facing those questions head on while "Truth of Insanity" is a call to arms. "In Japan, there are so many contradictions from the government. There will always be a minority of people who only think about themselves but we can fight. We can think. This song is a trigger to start a war against the world of contradiction." Crossfaith have a history of working with their peers, Enter Shikari, Beartooth and Ho99o9 have all appeared on previous releases, but there are more new adventures to be had on SPECIES EP'. "None of Your Business"sees them team up with Jin Dogg, a rapper from their home town of Osaka for an explosive meeting of minds. "That song's about straight up anger. So many people are fuelled by jealousy and I know the most important thing is to push forward but those people bother me, so this song is about telling them to shut their fucking mouth. It's very straight forward," he grins. "Plus you can learn Japanese from Jin Dogg's verse."
The closing track on the EP is "Your Song." No, not an Elton John cover but "the most emotional Crossfaith song of all time. It's about the emptiness and sorrow of a time that will not return," whether that's death or the loss of a friendship or a lover. "It's about farewell. I feel sadness but those emotions make me strong and teach me to not take things for granted. It's not a ballad but it is a very beautiful song. I think people will be surprised by it." And surprising people is exactly what Crossfaith want to do, even after eleven years of making music. "That's the main role of the band," promises Ken. "I hope," he continues before deciding on a more forceful word, "Actually, I believe this EP will set the course for the band for the next ten years. We've already started making more new music. We're not going to stop." For more information: Website: www.crossfaith.jp Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossfaithofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/CrossfaithJapan Instagram: www.instagram.com/crossfaithjapan |
If you enjoy reading this content, please consider a donation Donate© 2011-2021
Global Metal Apocalypse Archives
January 2022
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed