 [Photo Credit: May Lee] Ukrainian blackened death/doom metal visionaries 1914 continue to reflect the gruesome tales of World War I, its soldiers’ fate, their death, fear and feats to be never forgotten on their sinister third epos, Where Fear and Weapons Meet, out this Friday, October 22, 2021 via Napalm Records. After smashing their massive first treat “...And a Cross Now Marks His Place”, feat. none other than Paradise Lost icon Nick Holmes, followed by scorching “Pillars of Fire (The Battle of Messines)”, the Ukrainian WWI experts now reveal the secret of their third single “FN .380 ACP#19074”, alongside a thrilling lyric video. The track breaks in with a majestic yet intimidating orchestra, heavy guitar lines, thunderous black metal drumming like a blaze of gunfire and raw vocal power. It reflects the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife 1914 in Sarajevo, an event that caused the outbreak of World War I. Ditmar Kumarberg comments: “This track marks the beginning of the entire conflict - the assassination of Franz Ferdinand - the event that triggered the conflict that had been brewing for the last 10 years. The royal houses of Europe wanted this war, it was inevitable - technical progress, territorial claims and dissatisfaction of people led to this. And so, the Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip fired the shots that launched the process. Two shots from a .380 ACP FN Model 1910 pistol numbered 19074, which changed the world forever, collapsed large empires and killed tens of millions of people.”
1914 break into their third offering with the intro “War In”, summed up by final “War Out”, and immediately build a common thread to the previous records. “War In” is the original of the most famous Serbian song of the Great War period, “Tamo Daleko”. Like World War I, the album begins in Serbia and continues on the first track from the prospective of Gavrilo Princip, who assassinated Franz Ferdinand and his wife on June 28, 1914. What happens next is an intense, in-depth analysis of historical events. For example – Battle of Vimy Ridge, shameful pages of the British Empire history in the track “Coward” featuring Sasha Boole (Me And That Man), The Battle of Messines on “Pillars of Fire” or the infantry regiment, the Harlem Hellfighters, on “Don’t Tread On Me”. Authentic forces like ambient sonic war samplings transport these stories even further into the present and make Where Fear and Weapons Meet another heavily intense and deep-reaching output that will grant 1914 even higher appreciation than the five-piece is already credited with. 1914 on the album: “Where Fear and Weapons Meet continues the theme we started on The Blind Leading the Blind - with one major difference: these are the stories about hope where most of our characters are staying alive, becoming heroes, and returning back to their homes. Yes, it is still about fear, death, and senselessness of war, but the hope is the only thing the soldier holds on to. And a good portion of luck as well. Even the album cover reflects this - the man lays wounded, bleeding in the trench, reaching his hand to Death begging for relieve, and Death declines to take him. He deserves to live. The album starts with the assassination in Sarajevo, leads you through the bloodiest moments of the Great War, and ends up with the monologue on a grave of a young man killed in his first battle. This time we did have even more hard digging into the historical background while making the tracks. We are not singing the songs, we are telling the stories!”
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 Credit: Terhi Ylimainen After re-signing to Nuclear Blast in early 2021, the Finnish heavy metal sextet Battle Beast are once again getting ready to unleash their force upon the world in the shape of their brand new masterpiece "Circus Of Doom". The album is set to be released on January 21st 2022 via Nuclear Blast and in true Battle Beast fashion, the 10 tracks blend true heavy metal with pop and rock-vibes, paired with Noora Louhimo’s unique voice. "Our goal was to make an interesting and absorbing album, with both lighter party songs and heavier stuff as well. In a way the whole album is like a joyful day at the circus. Full of enchanting surprises and wild carnival atmosphere", explains keyboardist Janne Björkroth. Now the band reveal a stunning music video for the first single, 'Master Of Illusion', directed by Markus Nieminen, that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/6sLSyTEXfCI - Get the single digitally here: https://battlebeast.bfan.link/master-of-illusion Janne comments on the single: "The first single from the upcoming Battle Beast album, 'Master Of Illusion', is a groovy and catchy song that makes dance floors roar and disco balls explode. The story of the song is about a self-centred, greedy, narrow-minded, and thoughtless character, who sows destruction all around without listening to or respecting others. The character may represent various things in the many arenas of power – for example, those of personal relationships, as well as in politics, and everywhere in between. Despite these heavy themes, there is playfulness in the composition, lyrics, and production, and the small twinkle in the corner of the eye that characterises Battle Beast." In addition to the single release, the band also kick off the physical pre-order for "Circus Of Doom" today. Pre-order the album in the format of you choice here: https://bfan.link/circusofdoom
Since their 2011's debut album »Steel«, Battle Beasthave achieved over 200 million digital streams. Alongside the huge #1 success of their last three albums in the album charts of their home country, Finland, their last album »No More Hollywood Endings« (2019) reached a remarkable #11 in German album charts. Order the previous album "No More Hollywood Endings" now: http://nblast.de/BattleBeastNMHE BATTLE BEAST is:
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 Austrian metallers Teardown have set January 2022 as the international release date for their debut EP! Now the band has released their second single / lyric video for "Haunting Circle", which is available on all major streaming platforms (e.g. Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube) and can be found here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/teardown/haunting-circle "Haunting Circle" is a faster paced and shorter track of the upcoming EP. "The song is about a person who is overwhelmed by life itself and has difficulty dealing with daily challenges, while being at the lowest point they can mentally be. Just like being in a circle where you cant get out. But just as there is an absolute low, there are also highs, and those highs have to be enough to get through all of it, even if it seems hopeless and impossible at first, sometimes it's the only chance to get through. These lyrics should show that we never know how even the smallest thing can affect a person. Not everyone deals with certain problems in the same way and certainly not everyone is strong enough to overcome these situations on their own." They say that the best way to create space for the new is to dismantle the old. This sentiment rings true for Austrian metal band Teardown, who collectively use music as a pressure release valve to escape from the social constructs of what passes as "acceptable". Consisting of founding members Dominik Windisch and Nikolaus Rothmund (guitarists), they have now been joined by Barbaros Teker (vocalist) and Markus Winkler (bassist). After the recordings of the EP drummer Mathias Unterberger had to leave the band due to a lack of time because of personal changes. Having all grown up in Vorarlberg, a region where metal remains a largely underground endeavour, the band offers a place of complete escapism for each member and is reflected in the passion they portray throughout their music. Influenced by the likes of Metallica, Iron Maiden, Trivium, Linkin Park, and Gojira, Teardown's eclectic approach to metal has resulted in diverse and distinguishable pieces of music that offer moments of familiarity as well as splashes of surprise. Energetic, aggressive, and high-octane verses effortlessly are contrasted with supporting choruses and rugged instrumental segments, all of which glue together to form an undeniable sense of groove. Lyrically, Teardown's songs deal with both social and personal topics, always leaving room for interpretation from a listening perspective. With live music adding an element that guarantees a further intensification of the band's emotion, Teardown are now intent on sharing their latest material with the world. 2021 is shaping up to be a big year for Teardown, with the release of their Debut Single and the following 'Teardown EP' release in Q1 of 2022, which will also feature a collaboration with local rap artist Jherip. www.teardown.band facebook.com/BandTeardown twitter.com/BandTeardown https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCut8pAAX_HLbIL6XnwbmVxw https://www.instagram.com/teardownband https://teardown.bandcamp.com  [photo credit: Victoria Wonka] Moldovan progressive modern metal unit Infected Rain have become one of the most exciting new acts in the heavy music world, with charismatic, multi-talented frontwoman Lena Scissorhands emerging as one of the fastest-rising leading ladies of the genre. Now, the band arises from the dark depths once again – freshly off their very first tour of the USA with Butcher Babies and Stitched Up Heart – to reveal the next chapter of their metamorphosis. The band will release their otherworldly fifth album, Ecdysis, on January 7, 2022 via Napalm Records! Infected Rain redefine themselves with the follow up to 2019’s Endorphin. Ecdysis electrifies with resonating riffs, cosmic electronics, Lena’s treasure trove of vocal abilities and intense lyrical themes ranging from depression and abandonment to embracing reality – showcasing the band’s advancement while blending extreme, progressive groove with dark, haunting melody. Now, fans can get a first taste of Ecdysis by witnessing the brand new single, “Postmortem Pt. 1”, and its cerebral music video. The potent track dispenses the band’s patented formula instantly, with eerie synth-laden soundscapes seamlessly cascading into countless layers of cosmic atmosphere backed by thick, grooving riffs, barrelling drums and skyscraper growls. Vocalist Lena Scissorhands says about “Postmortem Pt. 1”: “Postmortem is about the constant search. The never happy, never content… Blind to the real treasures of life, we constantly want more and more…” Watch the official music video for “Postmortem Pt. 1” HERE: Produced once again by Valentin Voluta, Ecdysis successfully demonstrates ultramodern brutality without sacrificing emotion and melody – showcasing a new layer of Infected Rain that long time followers and new fans alike will embrace. Vocalist Lena Scissorhands adds about Ecdysis: "While the whole world was in a deep depression, Ecdysis was slowly but surely maturing. The time in isolation away from all our plans and goals, away from loved ones and the stage, brought out something so new and different in us. A new chapter starts with this album, a chapter of raw emotions and complete commitment." Tracks like “Fighter” bring out the ruthlessness of the band in full force with hardcore levels of aggression, inciting a tornado of rhythms and provoking lyricism beckoning the listener to stay focused in the here-and-now and fight! Featuring tough-as-nails Butcher Babies vocalist Heidi Shepherd, sonically slaughtering single “The Realm Of Chaos” pummels and bends as it decimates with a mosh-attack unlike any other on Ecdysis. Noteworthy standouts like “Longing” and “These Walls” ransack with instant angst while showcasing some of the most varying guitar work on Ecdysis – fluxing between churning grooves, towering leads, technical effects and ominous chords – while selections such as “Everlasting Lethargy”, “November” and “Never The Same” boast some of Lena Scissorhands’ most eclectic vocal performances amid ripping pit-worthy metalcore and dazzling electronic passages. Examples of stunning, dynamic song writing manifest with honest offerings like the impressive “Goodbye”, haunting “Showers” and threatening album closer “Postmortem Pt. 2” (shortly advanced by sneaking electro-interlude “Nine, Ten”). The finisher encapsulates the album’s ethereal, immense quality while connecting back to its start like a sonic ouroboros. Pre-Order Ecdysis HERE
Ecdysis will be available in the following formats:
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INFECTED RAIN online:  Recently reformed Jordanian thrash metal band Esodic has revealed a guitar playthrough for one of the band’s new tracks, “Undoing.” Watch guitarist Michael Nolasco’s playthrough today via Ultimate Guitar at https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/ug_exclusive_premiere_jordanian_metal_band_esodic_shares_guitar_playthrough_of_undoing.html. “Undoing” was mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud (Dragon Force, Once Human, Fear Factory) and produced by Nolasco with bassist Kevin McCombs. The song features a guest appearance by Jeff Potts (Vocana, Mantic Ritual, Warbringer) on lead guitar in addition to Nolasco. "‘Undoing’ is about the experience of shedding old skin and ridding old versions of oneself, and how those versions will come back to haunt you,” says drummer Zed Amarin. Born and bred in the underbelly of Amman, Jordan, nearly 20 years ago, Esodic’s sound was inspired by legendary old school - albeit culturally forbidden - thrash and death metal bands like Slayer, Testament and Kreator. Fuelled by an insatiable obsession with metal music and anger and frustration resulting from the significant socio-political strife in their country, the band became a regular fixture in the underground music scene of Amman. Esodic quickly stood out from other local bands, distinguished by their own style of fast-paced, loud thrash metal. Not long after forming in 2003, they began booking gigs and forming a solid loyal following throughout Jordan. Unfortunately, gaining attention for any countercultural activity was no small matter in Jordan and was met with great repercussions. Members of the band were regularly harassed, detained and arrested, and underground shows were often cancelled or raided. In 2005, Esodic entered an international music competition, The Global Battle of the Bands, marking the first time the group was able to play publicly to a wide audience. Esodic destroyed with their performance, receiving massive praise and positive feedback for their unique sound and onstage presence. In addition to making their way to the finals, Esodic also received the highest number of fan votes in the competition. In the end, the thrashers came in second, but the experience proved Esodic to be a force to be reckoned with worldwide. Esodic continued to play local shows until 2008 when the Jordanian Intelligence Department raided a show, sentencing the organizers to jail time. Following this incident, the Jordanian underground scene was shut down, as it remains to this day. By 2010, due to a combination of life circumstances and political unrest including the Arab Spring, all the members disbanded to different parts of the world. But just before disbanding, Esodic released a split record with Tampa-based death metal band Generichrist on Deathstar Records. In 2015, drummer Amarin relocated to Los Angeles and began gathering all of Esodic’s recorded material for mixing and mastering in preparation for their first EP, Mirrors of Disgrace. Though the members had disbanded, they had all agreed that this album was an important snapshot that needed to be released. Mirrors of Disgrace was self-released in February 2018. Two years later, Amarin made the decision to revive Esodic and continue the legacy. “Undoing” is the first musical output from the reinvigorated trio. “Our new line up has a strong multiple disciplinary foundation, ensuring the beginning of a new era for Esodic” Amarin says. “Undoing” is available today at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/esodic/undoing-2. Stay tuned for more new music from Esodic. ESODIC is:
ESODIC online: www.esodic.com www.facebook.com/esodic/ www.instagram.com/esodicofficial/  Once Human has released “Only in Death,” the second single from their upcoming new studio album "Scar Weaver", which hits streets on February 11 via EAR Music. Watch “Scar Weaver” now at https://youtu.be/F1VbPOHMFFY. Download / stream the single at https://oncehuman.lnk.to/OnlyInDeath. Following the first single “Deadlock,” “Only in Death” is yet another killer track from their heaviest album yet and underlines Once Human’s presence as the hottest up and coming band in the modern brutal metal world. Lauren Hart shares her thoughts on the single:- "This is my most personal song on the new album. It meant so much to me that I really needed to get my hands dirty with the visuals. Logan and I filmed everything to keep the song’s raw meaning. Musically, it’s very emotional and dire, and the outro is probably my favourite piece of music on the album!” Pieced together over the last two years, Once Human’s "Scar Weaver" represents a massive step forward for the band. Blessed (or perhaps cursed) with plenty of additional time during the last year’s lockdown situation, the band has been able to refine and redefine their sound, inspired by a sudden creative surge from latest recruit Max Karon. The result is a gloriously idiosyncratic modern metal record, with Hart’s career-best vocal performance as just one of its dazzling revelations. With Once Human’s most intense and explosive music to work with, the singer has pushed herself to new heights, showcasing a vastly expanded vocal range in the process. Scar Weaver will be available on limited edition coloured and black vinyl, Digipak-CD and digitally. Pre-order / pre-save Scar Weaver at https://oncehuman.lnk.to/scarweaver. ONCE HUMAN online:  After shaking the world in its foundation with the announcement of their 13th manifesto, "Existence Is Futile", that will see the light of the day on October 22nd, Cradle Of Filth gather again to bring their next sacrifice to the devilish forces of Dark Metal: Today, the band reveals the second single of their new album to come – “Necromantic Fantasies.” Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/PiV5XupV-TI Directed by Vicente Cordero, this video was shot back-to-back with his previous work for the band, the horribly apocalyptic “Crawling King Chaos,” though both are remarkably contrasting. Dani Filth had this to say of the latest video to enter the CRADLE catalogue: “This is a very different video from its predecessor, sporting more of a narrative amid leaning back toward a dark Victorian gothic vibe, showcasing the second of many unique tracks on this, our 13th album. It’s very cinematic, much like ‘Crawling King Chaos,’ but walking a much more 'dark faerytale' path. The director Vicente has done such an amazing job bringing the storyline together with the band and the incredible sets. It looks gorgeous. And the song is pretty good too!” Pre-order Existence Is Futile here: https://bfan.link/existence-is-futile.ema
Pieced together in isolation, at Grindstone Studios in Suffolk with studio guru Scott Atkins (Devilment / Benediction / Vader), the band's latest chef-d'oeuvre is a pitch-black, perverse and at times absurdly brutal and extreme masterpiece following a truly nihilistic concept: Dani Filth explains: “The album is about existentialism, existential dread and fear of the unknown. The concept wasn’t created by the pandemic. We’d written it long before that began and it is really but the tip of the mountain as far as the way the world is headed, you know? I guess the title, ‘Existence Is Futile,’ does sound a little morbid. But again, it’s more about recognising that truth and saying that everything is permitted because nothing really matters, which mimics the occultist Aleister Crowley’s maxim. We all know we’re going to die, so we might as well indulge life while we possess it. The final track on the album – 'Us, Dark, Invincible' – really drives that point home. Also, the artwork for this record was created by the Latvian visionary Arthur Berzinsh, who also dressed the last two albums, and that reeks of the exceedingly beautiful yet apocalyptic too.” Diehard fans will be thrilled to learn that horror icon Doug 'Pinhead' Bradley makes a welcome return to the CRADLE fold, lending his dulcet tones to the band's most politically astute song to date, the epic “Suffer Our Dominion” as well as the album bonus track “Sisters Of The Mist,” which is the conclusion to the “Her Ghost In The Fog” trilogy that started over 20 years ago on the infamous and classic Midian. CRADLE OF FILTH, 2021 A.D., are:
Follow or subscribe for further FILTHy propaganda:  Photo credit: Cristian Carrasco Criminal have released their new album, "Sacrificio", via Metal Blade Records. To celebrate the album release, the band has launched a video for their latest single, "Sistema Criminal". Directed by Carlos Toro of Abysmo Films (Kreator, Arch Enemy, Rob Halford), the video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdbK9CO2eaQ Sacrificio is Criminal's ninth full-length studio album: a twelve-track bludgeoning that harks back to their roots - both literally and metaphorically. Whilst writing for Sacrificio, Criminal's home country of Chile saw a social uprising that has impacted the lives of Chileans in immeasurable ways. Protests against corruption, inequality and the poor standard of living saw citizens take to the streets to make themselves heard. This civil action and vehement anger seeped into the creative process of the four members of Criminal - three of them being Chilean. Although there is a deep personal connection to the lyrical content, the events unfold from the perspective of a spectator - albeit one who has also experienced tyrannical leadership and witnessed the divide between ordinary citizens and the social elite. Chilean culture weaves its way into the album in other ways too; though suitably heavy, there's a percussive element to the sound of Sacrificio that reveals its Latin American roots. Coupled with an unapologetic nod to the 90s in terms of both composition and production, this album sees Criminal finding their groove in more ways than one. The resulting sound is celebratory, rhythmic, organic, and captures everything that was glorious about the flourishing extreme metal scene in the 1990s. For a band that originally formed out of the ashes of 80's death metal legends Pentagram Chile, the album highlights the benefits of embracing the band's origins; writing and recording took place in Chile for the first time since the 1990s. Criminal continues to prove that South America can create powerful death metal on its own terms. For Sacrificio, much of the material was written in the old-fashioned way - jamming in a sweaty rehearsal room, refining as they went. The old school vibe is further enhanced by the natural sounding production of Seba Puente, which adds to the immediacy and live feel found throughout Sacrificio. The past 30 years have seen twists and turns in the Criminal tale, but Sacrificio finds them sounding more compelling than ever. The sole original member, vocalist / guitarist Anton Reisenegger (Brujeria, Lock Up, Pentagram Chile), allows plenty of room for the newer and younger members of the band - Danilo Estrella (drums), Danny Biggin (bass), Sergio Klein (guitar) - to add their personal touches to the band's missives. Criminal line-up:
 Artwork by: Jani Stefanovic Swedish epic doom metallers Sorcerer have released a new single - their tribute version of Rainbow's 1978 classic "Gates Of Babylon" - through Metal Blade Records! Watch the video for this cover song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njPeQpBRmUk Since Sorcerer's latest release, Lamenting Of The Innocent (2020), the pandemic restrictions have impacted the whole music scene and interfered with promotional aspirations and touring. While Sorcerer's main focus lies on creating new material for a fourth record with Metal Blade and moving forward, the vacuum of the pandemic offered the band some spare time for a fun side project. Sorcerer had been playing with the idea to do a tribute cover for quite some time. But finding time to make an arrangement, record and even choosing a song always seemed challenging; many epic tracks appealing to the members had also already been covered. To bridge the period to their new album and also to shine some light in these dark days, Sorcerer felt the time was now to put that idea into action. Once they committed to it, the song choice was actually a no-brainer. Rainbow had always been a huge inspiration for all and influenced Sorcerer since the beginning, so it felt like an obvious choice to go for their anthem "Gates Of Babylon" - a track that hasn't lost its magic decades after its release. Regarding this cover project, Sorcerer guitarist Kristian Niemann says: "When trying to come up with a way to arrange 'Gates Of Babylon' and give it a different spin, I tried to imagine what it would've sounded like if Tony Iommi wrote it instead of Ritchie Blackmore. It probably would've been slower and heavier, possibly down-tuned a bit. We skipped the keyboard intro because it would be impossible to capture the magic of the original. We had a great time recording this single at SolnaSound Studios, and overall we are very happy with how it turned out. We hope our fans will dig it too." Sorcerer's "Gates Of Babylon" is now streaming on all digital platforms: www.metalblade.com/sorcerer Sorcerer line-up:
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 Following up on their latest comeback single 'Into The Night', modern metalcore outfit City State brings forward a new track 'Dead Sun', a plethora of masterful riffs with ambient and melodic elements. Lyrically, the song is about processing trauma, about how even routine things can seem wrong after you’re deeply harmed by someone, and how it can seem impossible to overcome. 'Dead Sun' is out now on various music streaming platforms via Famined Records. Stream / purchase here: https://sym.ffm.to/deadsun For Fans Of: Northlane, Architects, Currents City State is a metalcore band from Grand Rapids, Michigan, that was formed at the end of 2017 by Duncan Green, Logan Jahr, and Parker Sovinski. The band was completed by the addition of Daniel Bryan at the beginning of 2018. City State released an EP, "Finding Solace in Loss" in June 2018, before officially signing to Famined Records and releasing their debut album "Equinox", in September of 2019. https://www.facebook.com/citystateband/ |
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