 "Would you put your life on the line for your music?" As announced a couple of days ago, after the successful launch of THE PIT (aka the first ever SVOD platform dedicated to the rock & metal universe), the team behind The Pit Edition added massive new content and presents today 'RocKabul' available right now on the platform. As suggest the title of the documentary, "RocKabul" tells the story about District Unknown, the first and only metal band from Afghanistan. It is a coming of age documentary which deals with youth identity and freedom of expression that existed on the precipitous of the fragile city of Kabul. It shows the strength of the human spirit as Afghanistan’s first and only metal band, District Unknown, reach out to the disenchanted Afghan youth, the expat community and eventually the outside world. However, by challenging this traditional Islamic republic, District Unknown literally put themselves and their fans in the firing line. For reminder, THE PIT is and available right now through your best ISP. Inside a decimated nation, witness the birth, rise and fall of Afghan rock music. After living in Afghanistan for seven years, Australian journalist Travis Beard began recording local metal band District Unknown to chronicle a part of Afghan life that is rarely shown in Western media. The film features never before seen footage of Kabul and the underground expat party scene, at odds with an extremely conservative society. To challenge conflict with culture, Afghanistan’s first metal band, District Unknown, literally put themselves and their followers in the firing line.
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Renowned business insiders Angela Gossow and Andy Siry have joined forces in Alpha Management United to execute top tier consulting & management for their current and future artists. The two founders state: "As a team, we are looking forward to the future, supporting and growing our artists in an ever-changing environment. Tough times require strong alliances! We are ready for you!" Angela and Andy bring in decades of practical insight and an extensive knowledge of both physical and digital product, marketing, touring and consulting. They are being backed up by a team of highly experienced and skilled people. This team includes Jan-Ole Lamberti (junior management), Cobra Agency (booking agent), a few dedicated social media managers and web designers, Nikki Law (US PR), Pascal Amann (attorney) and EAI Ltd (accounting). Close partners are All Your Band Needs and Solver Productions (show production and travel agent), Bravado and Rebellion Republic (merchandise) and of course all the (major) labels and distributors worldwide. Leaving her footprint in the international metal scene as singer of Swedish extreme metal group Arch Enemy, Angela Gossow's career equals a rocket launch: Taking over the management duties of Arch Enemy in 2008, she quickly made the band one of the most known metal bands of our time including headliner positions on festivals like Wacken, Graspop, Hellfest and more. With an inexhaustible drive and an eye for modern marketing and business solutions, her clients can be found on the line-ups of all important metal events, the roster of the biggest names of the business and on the top of album charts worldwide. Having led the metal powerhouse Nuclear Blast Records over twenty years in its golden times as Head Of A&R and label manager, together with bands like Nightwish, Sabaton, Slayer, etc., Andy Siry undeniably is a renowned music industry luminary with a clear sight on business structures and mechanisms. His foresight also has mirrored in the marvellous rise of Powerwolf that he built up as a manager and helped to international success. To his stories of success also belongs Feuerschwanz, who shot up to a fantastic #1 in the German album charts under his mentoring. Alpha Management United is the home of:
www.alpha-management-united.com  Revealing the latest addition to the ever expanding range from UK independent publisher Rock N’ Roll Colouring – the first official colouring book from Iron Maiden, Heavy Metal’s most iconic, influential and enduring band. Featuring iconic artwork and instantly recognisable images all printed on high quality paper in a square format fully endorsed and officially licenced, these amazing designs have the potential for hours of satisfying colouring in. The book encourages you to celebrate every detail of Iron Maiden’s iconic imagery, letting your imagination run riot as you create your own personalised versions of your favourite Maiden designs. The book contains painstakingly created renderings of each image with detailed outlines ready for you to unleash your artistic skills using pens, pencils or paint. Including artwork from legendary albums such as ‘Piece of Mind’, ‘Powerslave’ and ‘The Number of the Beast’, plus Iron Maiden’s glorious recent albums ‘The Book of Souls’ and their hugely successful new album ‘Senjutsu’. Channel your inner creativity and add your own interpretations of these classic images or simply recreate them as closely as you can to the originals. Whatever you decide, the satisfaction of adding your personal touch to these classic designs is extremely rewarding.  Devised and created by two lifelong rock and heavy metal devotees and colouring book fans, Rock N’ Roll Colouring was formed by fans for fans. Every effort has gone into making sure this book does justice to the legacy of Iron Maiden and their iconic figure, Eddie, painstakingly re-creating some of the most famous Heavy Metal images of all time to ensure that Maiden fans everywhere get the best creative experience possible. Colouring has proven significant mental health benefits including mindfulness, relaxation and increased focus and can be enjoyed by any age group. These books provide hours of creative and restful activity that combines the love of the music with the love of the art. The Iron Maiden book follows on from the previous Rock N’ Roll Colouring releases from Alice Cooper, Motörhead, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy and Megadeth. The book is published on 8th December 2021, available for worldwide shipping, and can be exclusively pre ordered via Eyesore Merch https://eyesoremerch.com/brands/rock-n-roll-colouring-books  From the Munch Museum: "The Norwegian Black Metal band Satyricon meets Edvard Munch’s art. The exhibition Satyricon & Munch explores the intersection of Black Metal and visual art, where a specially composed musical work is connected with a selection of Edvard Munch’s images. When you enter the large hall on Munch’s tenth floor, this exhibition will create an atmosphere that opens up new entrances to Edvard Munch’s work, and to Satyricon’s music." From Satyricon: "Since the fall of 2018, Satyricon has been working on the writing and recording of a musical work whose main objective is to create a symbiosis with Edvard Munch’s iconic art in an exhibition that will be held at the new Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, opening 26/3/2022. Following the exhibition will be the release of the musical work in album format, carrying the same title as the exhibition, Satyricon & Munch. We consider this massive challenge the greatest honour of our career. Edvard Munch created some of the most iconic images in the world of art and through his career demonstrated the kind of courage and freedom we have always embraced and aspired to us as artists ourselves. To write music whose ambition is to take the art of Munch into uncharted territory, is quite a journey to be on. We look forward to sharing more details with you in the coming months” Watch the announcement video with Satyr and curator Trine Otte Bak Nielsen HERE: Satyricon are:
More Info on Satyricon: More Info on Munch Museum:  Dutch extreme metal outfit Autarkh are being featured on the national television show 'Muziekstad' (Music City), from the Dutch broadcasting company 3Voor12/VPRO. In the 30-minute short documentary, founder Michel Nienhuis explains his take on the heavy music scene of the city of Tilburg. The TV show also features Autarkh's first ever live performance of the tracks 'Turbulence' and 'Alignment'. Check out the documentary HERE (English subs are available) Founder Michel Nienhuis comments: "It is quite rare to see extreme or underground music on Dutch national television nowadays - but due to the Dutch government investing in culture during the covid-19 crisis we got this unique opportunity to be part of the VPRO series Muziekstad. We feel honoured that we were chosen for this episode about the metal scene in Tilburg and it was heart-warming to be able to perform once again with our friends of Witte Wieven and Temple Fang. If you like what you see you can check out our full album premiere online at Roadburn Redux, Friday April 16th at 5:30 CET." www.autarkh.com www.facebook.com/autarkh www.instagram.com/autarkhband  WEST HAM ATTACKING MIDFIELDER SAÏD BENRAHMA & STEVE HARRIS IN THE NEW WH/IM AWAY SHIRT Die With Your Boots On is the name of the successful collaboration that launched back in 2019 between Iron Maiden and West Ham United. With thousands of home shirts sold, there was huge appetite from West Ham & Steve to extend the range for fans around the world to enjoy in both football and music. The new West Ham / Iron Maiden away shirt (worn by West Ham attacking midfielder Saïd Benrahma & Steve Harris above) is accompanied with a new West Ham / Iron Maiden training jacket and a new range of Iron Maiden training wear. Harris has been flying the flag for West Ham on stage for decades, with his bass guitar even featuring the club’s iconic logo. His love for the Hammers goes back to 1965 and many Maiden fans around the world have embraced Harris’ passion for West Ham and taken up support for the club themselves, often appearing at concerts in Hammers apparel.  WEST HAM DEFENDER ARTHUR MASUAKU IN THE NEW WH/IM TRAINING JACKET  Norwegian black metallers Vreid team up with Sogndal F.C. for unique uniform collaboration11/4/2021  Vreid is now pleased to announce their exciting and unique partnership with the Sogndal Football Club! The club has for many years been known for developing and cultivating extraordinary talent, as the men's team currently plays in first division, the second tier of the Norwegian football league system. Now, Sogndal Football Club is paying tribute to the band that has brought Sognametal to the whole world, by putting the logo of metal veterans and forefathers Vreid on the chest of player’s uniforms for this upcoming season. The concept of a football club choosing to use the space to pay tribute to local heroes is very unusual, breaking typical partnership traditions, but Sogndal is no ordinary club. The collaboration oozes local patriotism as it champions two of the region’s prime exports – football and metal. In addition, head coach and former professional player Eirik Bakke (Leeds United) has himself played football with members of Vreid, bringing this collaboration full circle. 
Vreid bassist Jarle 'Hvall' Kvåle pridefully exclaims:- “Having our logo on the chest on Sogndal football's kit is an honor that is very rare. This football club has been hammered into our hearts since growing up. This is the club that was our whole childhood and youth, and it is with favorite teams as with favorite bands, it is love for life. That Sogndal Football incorporates Vreid in its value in such a way shows the will, madness, fearlessness and pride that has built this club. Since the 1970s, these pioneers with enormous courage have built a national top club in this beautiful mountain village, and it is wonderful to see that the club is characterized by tenants, staff, players, partners and the public with a passion for the team and their hometown. The eternal underdog who constantly does the unnatural. We are extremely proud to be part of the journey of our childhood friend and Sogndal's legend Eirik. Stao no pao!” Proud head coach and former Leeds United player Eirik Bakke adds: "Incredible fun that my childhood friends Jarle, Einar and Jørn together with the rest of the gang in Vreid will be presented on our uniform. What they have achieved with their band is just absolutely fantastic. I myself have been out in the big world and played football in front of tens of thousands of supporters, and that they now do the same with their music makes us Sogndøler proud. This year we will go all the way with Vreid on the team. Stao no Pao.”  Above: UMPG China’s songwriting camp contestants in a writing session. For 127 years, Gibson has shaped sound across generations and genres of music, becoming one of the most relevant, played, and loved guitar brands around the world. Gibson announced today it has formed a full-scale partnership with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG)--the world’s second largest music publishing company--in China and Hong Kong. With a catalogue of over three million songs and offices in 46 countries worldwide, UMPG is part of the Universal Music Group, a subsidiary of Vivendi and Tencent. Gibson will offer tailor-made support for artists, songwriters, and producers in China. First up for 2021 are the widely popular UMPG songwriting camps and artist events. Gibson has outfitted UMP China’s professional recording studios in Beijing and Shanghai and UMP China marketing and social media will work closely with Gibson in expanding social media reach via joint promotional social campaigns and artist content launches regionally and globally. UMPG and Gibson are committed to supporting charity campaigns and causes that serve the music community, from forthcoming opportunities with major content sites such as Tencent, Tik Tok and Bilibili, to promoting respective artists’ charitable efforts globally and regionally throughout Asia.  UMPG China Managing Director Joe Fang (L) and Gibson China sales director Wells Wang (R) congratulate the top three songwriting camp winners. James "JC" Curleigh, President and CEO of Gibson Brands says: “We are very excited about the emerging partnership between Gibson and UMPG China to further our support for musicians and for the broader music community in China. We have amazing momentum around the world, and now we have an incredible opportunity to take this momentum to another level with our new partnership in China.” Joe Fang, Managing Director of UMPG China says: “I’m excited to announce that UMPG China will be partnering with Gibson, the number one guitar brand in the world. With Gibson’s support, we will now have the chance to jointly promote emerging artists, support music education, and create causes for music education and charity events.” UMPG China: Gibson:
Internationally esteemed heavy rock and metal record labels Napalm Records Handels GmbH and SPV GmbH are pleased to announce that they have joined forces, combining decades of renowned expertise and passion for music, their artists, and those who inspire it all - the fans. Napalm Records’ acquisition of SPV was completed at the end of November 2020 and represents a logical step in the Austrian company's global strategy. Long-established company SPV, founded in 1984 by Manfred Schütz, along with its current subsidiary labels such as Steamhammer (featuring a roster including Sodom, Running Wild, Magnum, Axel Rudi Pell, Rage) and Long Branch Records (featuring artists such as Agent Fresco, The Intersphere, The Hirsch Effekt, Silvertomb, A Pale Horse Named Death), is now part of the Napalm Records family. The company’s current location in Hannover, Germany and the SPV team around Managing Director Frank Uhle will maintain their structure and, in regard to new distribution partners and labels, be expanded in the future. Napalm Records CEO Markus Riedler states: "The continuation and expansion of SPV GmbH as a distributor and the strengthening of the in-house labels are our major priorities. We will combine all forces, and link them with the power and worldwide network of Napalm Records in order to positively shape the future together. The employees of SPV are music-savvy, extremely experienced experts who are needed, now more than ever, to survive in these turbulent times on the international market. Together with Managing Director Frank Uhle and his team, we will seize the opportunities that currently present themselves and face the ever-growing challenges that the modern music market brings with it. In the ever-changing music landscape, we will continue to deliver our strong digital setup alongside our partners The Orchard, and also continue to provide strong physical product distribution for both our retail partners and the fans worldwide via our mail-order stores. We have purposefully launched and implemented this major project under difficult conditions in 2020. This was a great team effort, for which I would like to thank everyone involved, in particular to the attorneys Prof. Pascal Charles Amann (Napalm Records) and Joris Brand (SPV). For Napalm Records, this acquisition is without a doubt an extraordinary, historic moment!”
SPV Managing Director Frank Uhle adds: "With Napalm Records, we have found a synergistically perfect partner for our artists, bands and labels. The international setup and the additional reach and power of Napalm's marketing capabilities mean an important upgrade for SPV in tackling future tasks. I look forward to working with Markus Riedler and the affiliated teams to further strengthen and expand our position in the market." More information on NAPALM RECORDS: More information on SPV: More information on STEAMHAMMER: More information on LONG BRANCH RECORDS:  What happens when you cross Metal with gaming? You get The Red Opera. This is going to be one exciting ride to come, devised by the brilliant minds of Rick Heinz, Drake Mefestta (DiAmorte) and Paul Allender (Cradle of Filth), this 5E campaign is ultimately going to bring the metalheads of the gaming world and the gamers into the metal world as the two come clashing together, simply into one mesmerising and excitable game. Rick divulges into what is going into this mind-blowing masterpiece:- Metal, Gaming, and the Rise of the Red Opera: Last Days of the Warlock Do you remember Satanic Panic? That troubled period of US culture that raged from the 1980s into the early 1990s. It spread to other parts of the world and weaved its way into culture at an important time in history—when gamers were just being born. In the ’80s; ‘Stranger Danger’ was all the rage, and fundamentalist preachers like Jerry Falwell had picked up steam. Geraldo Rivera’s made a documentary Devil Worship: Exposing Satan’s Underground that told metal fans everywhere: Ozzy Osborne will lead your children to the devil. Alongside this, anti-occult crusader Pat Pulling led an organization called BADD, which stood for ‘Bothered About Dungeons and Dragons.’ If you’re a fan of metal, this might sound either familiar or wickedly cool. After all, witches and warlocks are part of our regular medium today. If you’re a gamer, then you might remember the cheesy anti Dungeons and Dragons comics. Naturally, for a large portion of us; we saw both sides. When BADD published ‘The Devil’s Web: Who Is Stalking Your Children For Satan?’ (Published in August 1989); it asked police officers to openly interrogate teenagers about the Necronomicon. H.P. Lovecraft’s Necronomicon. At that moment, there was nothing that could stop me from listening to Nine Inch Nails or Black Sabbath while rolling D20s in my basement. After all, a South Side Calumet City Police Officer just asked a 12-year old boy if he was in league with the devil—because his mom was listening to Metallica. Now let’s fast forward to 2020. The year of murder hornets, riots, COVID-19, and who can say what is yet to come. Music and Gaming both serve as an important cultural means of escapism and bonding. With the concert industry taking a massive hit; it is going to become undoubtedly harder for bands to get noticed. Tabletop RPG’s faded from view for some time, but have made a recent resurgence in popularity thanks to shows like Critical Role. However, the Comic Con or gaming circuit is in the same struggling boat as the concerts are. Once again, I find myself having both my fandoms pinched by events outside of anybody’s control. Fortunately for me, I’m a writer who happens to enjoy a fair bit of escapism, healthy doses of Diablo, and the fine arts of Folk Metal.
One year ago, Drake Mefestta (DiAmorte) and Paul Allender (Cradle of Filth) were in my kitchen talking about their live production: ‘The Red Opera’. They already had the music done and they were going to shoot a video in the upcoming months. They were excited and filled with enthusiasm over how wickedly cool it was going to be. A metal-rock opera with drama, symphony, actors, a stage show, and friggin’ vampires (because why not). After hearing the instrumental version of the music, I made a simple comment: “I could run a game to this music. You should turn this into a 5E campaign.” Everyone agreed. A year of writing, filling in holes, and battling with the coolest inverted dungeon: Joseph Asphahani (The Animal in Man), Pat Edwards (Space Tripping), and Myself (Rick Heinz) finished! Right as 2020 got off to a start, DiAmorte and us joined forces with Apotheosis Studios to bring the project to life. A merging of metal and gaming, inspired by warlocks and witches, and a twelve-year-old kid who was told that we should never make deals with the devil. The Red Opera: Last Days of the Warlock is an extensive, player-driven campaign book designed for 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons using the open gaming license. Drawing inspiration from the heavy metal DiAmorte album ‘The Red Opera’, we centred upon the often- overlooked and much-misunderstood class: Warlocks. A class that rules a setting called the Shadelands, where the veil between worlds runs thin, and anybody (warlock or not) can cut deals with the elusive hidden Patrons that exist there. Bring along your existing higher-tier campaign and characters following a mysterious trail, or wander the Shadelands as entirely fresh characters experiencing adventure for the first time. But be assured, whether Warlock or no, the pacts these mad magicians strike for power with their mysterious patrons will be at the centre of the experience, and players will find many opportunities to peak beyond the veils separating realms and pledge to these beings if they so choose. The very foundations of the Shadelands are built upon the forces that fuel Warlock magic, for it is a place unlike any other where all the pacts of all the patrons converge. And its ruler, Dorian The Accursed King, binds them together. He once envisioned a realm where Warlocks would not have to hide who they were or who they served, a place where they would not be shunned by other professions. And by his will, Dorian made it so, although lately his hold on sanity has been strained…  In order to bring this project to life, Apotheosis Studios has chosen Kickstarter as our medium. It’s where most bands and gamebooks go these days. Simply search www.theredopera.com and the internet will whisk you right there. The band DiAmorte has grown and evolved to feature a vicious cast: James McClellan Dorton III (Black Crown Initiate and Doom Eternal), and Colin Parks (Devilment / Ghosts of Atlantis) have recently joined Drake Mefestta and Paul Allender. Everyone from the writers to Apotheosis Studios, to DiAmorte is itching to bring this project to life. A full metal album and a full-length campaign adventure with a wicked cool setting. By helping us with the Kickstarter, you can even bring your world to life in the book and collaborate on this project with us! Come take part in The Last Days of the Warlock with us at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stonejamison/the-red-opera-rpg |
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