SONATA ARCTICA – ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE ‘CLOSER TO AN ANIMAL’ AND ALBUM PRE-SALE START

After announcing the new album ‘The Ninth Hour’, due on October 7th, the Finnish melodic metal quintet SONATA ARCTICA now present their first single and lyric video ‘Closer To An Animal‘.

“‘Closer to an animal’ was a song that our vocalist Tony sent to the studio somewhere around the middle of the sessions with the words: ‘This will be the album opener’,” keyboarder Henkka Klingenberg remembers. “After checking out the demo, we all just had to agree. I would say that musically this is a ‘metal meets 80’s’ type of song. We wanted this as the first single, since it gives quite a clear picture of what you can expect on the upcoming album, or at least some of it. I’m really looking forward to opening the shows on the next World Tour with this track!”

Watch the lyric video to ‘Closer To An Animal‘:

Pre-order the album digitally here: http://nblast.de/TheNinthHouriTunes

Nuclear Blast UK store exclusive:
Limited Edition Light Blue Vinyl: http://nblast.de/SonataBlueVinyl
Exclusive Digipack CD + Canvas Artwork Print: http://nblast.de/SonataDigiCanvas

Pre-order from Amazon.co.uk:
Digipack CD: http://nblast.de/SonataDigiAmz
Black Vinyl: http://nblast.de/SonataVinylAmz

‘The Ninth Hour’ full tracklist:
01. Closer To An Animal
02. Life
03. Fairytale
04. We Are What We Are
05. Till Death’s Done Us Apart
06. Among The Shooting Stars
07. Rise A Night
08. Fly, Navigate, Communicate
09. Candle Lawns
10. White Pearl, Black Oceans Part II – “By The Grace Of The Ocean”
11. On The Faultline (Closure To An Animal)

Once again, the upcoming album was produced by SONATA ARCTICA themselves and mixed by Pasi Kauppinen.

Right after the summer festival season and the release of their anticipated record, the band will embark on a European tour together with their label mates TWILIGHT FORCE. Dates as follows:

SONATA ARCTICA
Special Guests: TWILIGHT FORCE
presented by: Metal Hammer, Musix, Blast, Rock it + Powermetal.de & Dragon Productions
07.10.16 NOR – Trondheim, Trondheim Metal Fest
08.10.16 SE – Borlänge, Liljan
09.10.16 SE – Huskvarna, Folkets Park
11.10.16 DK – Copenhagen, Pumpehuset
12.10.16 DE – Hamburg, Markthalle
13.10.16 NL – Haarlem, Patronaat
14.10.16 NL – Tilburg, 013
15.10.16 UK – London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
16.10.16 FR – Paris, La Machine du Moulin Rouge
18.10.16 FR – Strasbourg, La Laiterie
19.10.16 CH – Pratteln, Konzertfabrik Z7
20.10.16 IT – Milan, Alcatraz
21.10.16 DE – Mannheim, Alte Seilerei
22.10.16 DE – Bochum, Zeche
Booking: Dragon Productions – www.dragon-productions.com

Watch their latest clips:
‘The Wolves Die Young‘ official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGp0kms-GEk
‘Love‘ official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBACRtmu0VQ
‘Cloud Factory‘ lyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO5FPHFI6sI
‘Kingdom For A Heart’ – official track: http://youtu.be/TnhNPM1A4t8

More info:
www.sonataarctica.info
www.facebook.com/sonataarctica
www.nuclearblast.de/sonataarctica

METAL ALLEGIANCE – FALLEN HEROES EP OUT NOW + FOURTH VIDEO TRAILER RELEASED

On Friday, METAL ALLEGIANCE released their newest EP, entitled Fallen Heroes, which pays homage to the 3 legends – Lemmy Kilmister, David Bowie, and Glenn Frey – who impacted not just their lives but the world as well.

To celebrate the band’s new EP, they released the fourth video trailer which features Mark Osegueda talking about his cover of “Suffragette City” by David Bowie. Check it out on the Nuclear Blast YouTube channel:

Mark Osegueda comments about David Bowie: “He transcended so many more things then just the word musician. He was a true original and made people feel as if they were apart of something. He made you feel comfortable within your own skin about being different and apart from the masses.”

If you missed any of the previous trailers, please see below:
Trailer 1 – Alex Skolnick discusses the loss of the 3 legends as well as how the songs were chosen:
Trailer 2 – Alissa White-Gluz chats about her vocal cover of “Life In The Fast Lane” by The Eagles
Trailer 3 – Mark Menghi talks about how the EP came into fruition

Below is the track list for Fallen Heroes:
1. Iron Fist featuring Troy Sanders
2. Suffragette City featuring Mark Osegueda
3. Life In The Fast Lane featuring Alissa White-Gluz

– Guitar: Alex Skolnick
– Bass: Mark Menghi
– Drums: Mike Portnoy

Order the EP via iTunes now: http://nblast.de/MAiTunes

Recorded at Conclave Studios in New York City, Fallen Heroes was produced by Mark Menghi, Mike Portnoy,and Alex Skolnick. The album was mixed by Jay Ruston in Los Angeles, CA and mastered at Sterling Soundin New York City by Ted Jensen. The initial sketch of the artwork was created by Mark Menghi and Stephen Thompson (Anthrax) and was later finalized by Marcelo Vasco (Slayer).

METAL ALLEGIANCE took the news of Lemmy’s passing very hard as the bands very first gig was onMotörhead’s first Motörboat cruise. It was on that boat where the idea to write a record together and carry the MA flag as a brand/band rather than a sporadic, special event. The band comment, “all of us in MA are humbly grateful for the opportunity that team Motörhead gave us“.

In late 2015, the band scheduled a West Coast string of intimate club dates with a stop as the world-famous Whisky A Go-Go. The year concluded with the band heartbroken saying goodbye to their beloved friend. They later found out that his funeral and memorial services would be held the day of their performance. The band was asked by their tour agent who is also Motörhead‘s agent, Lemmy‘s management, close friends of his, and the owner of the Rainbow & Whisky to incorporate a tribute which of course, they obliged. The day of their performance, Sunset Blvd. was shut down and their bus was parked on a street filled with tears, madness, partiers and a sea of mourning metal heads. They said goodbye to their friend that evening with help fromMotörhead drummer Mikkey Dee amongst a ton of other special guests.

The next day they played their final show at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. Mid-set they were informed that David Bowie had passed. Mark Menghi comments, “I remember coming off stage to trade bass duties with David Ellefson (we would rotate songs) and he stopped me, looked me and Osegueda in the eyes and said ‘Dude, Bowie just passed away.’ Literally in mid-set we got that news. I looked at Mark and he was in tears. Not even a minute later, he was on stage telling the Bay area crowd of the news he just learned. I turned to the side and looked over at Mike Portnoy and he just had his head down with his hands over his head trying to comprehend what Mark was saying. The next few songs was our Lemmy tribute and tears rolled off all of our eyes while paying tribute to one while learning of the passing of another.”

NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS UK
Web: nuclearblast.de
Facebook: facebook.com/nuclearblasteurope
Twitter: @nuclearblasteu
Instagram: @nuclearblasteurope
YouTube: youtube.com/user/NuclearBlastEurope

DESTRUCTION – BAND RELEASE LYRIC VIDEO FOR “GENERATION NEVERMORE”

Iconic thrash metal band DESTRUCTION released their new masterpiece ‘Under Attack’ on May 13th via Nuclear Blast Records.

Today, the band has uploaded the lyric video for the track Generation Nevermore.

Frontman Schmier states:
“Did you ever ask yourself how is it possible that the global population just loves to make cash with killing our planet and our fellowmen and doesn’t give a fuck? Where is the wake up call of our political leaders in charge? Mankind does not really wanna have a look in the mirror till it’s too late … and this is an angry Thrash song about that sad fact!”

Pick up ‘Under Attack’ here:
CD: http://bit.ly/UnderAttackAMZ
Limited Edition Red Vinyl: http://bit.ly/UnderAttackVinyl

DESTRUCTION will join forces with US-based thrash metal monsters FLOTSAM & JETSAM, Swedish metal maniacs ENFORCER and Brazil’s NERVOSA for a full European headlining tour this fall. Find all dates below!

‘Europe Under Attack 2016!‘
w/ FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, ENFORCER, NERVOSA
15.09. CH       Pratteln – Z7
16.09. D         München – Backstage
17.09. I           Brescia – Circolo Colony
18.09. D         Ludwigsburg – Rockfabrik
20.09. D         Bochum – Matrix
21.09. F          Strasbourg – La Laiterie
22.09. F          Grenoble – La Belle Electrique
23.09. F          Marseille – Le Moulin
24.09. F          Toulouse – Metronum
25.09. E          Barcelona – Razz2
27.09. E          Sevilla – Custom
28.09. P          Lisbon – RCA Club
29.09. P          Porto – Hard Club
30.09. E          Madrid – Arena
01.10. E          Bilbao – Stantana 27
02.10. F          Paris – La Machine
04.10. UK       Glasgow – Audio
05.10. IRL       Dublin – Voodoo Lounge
06.10. UK       Manchester – Club Academy
07.10. UK       London – Underworld
08.10. NL        Rjissen – Lucky
09.10. NL        Drachten – Iduna
10.10. D          Rockstock – M.A.U. Club
11.10. CZ        Prag – Storm Club
12.10. D         Nürnberg – Hirsch
13.10. D         Siegburg – Kubana
14.10. A          Dornbirn – Conrad Sohm
15.10. B          Hasselt – Muziekodroom*
16.10. D         Mannheim – 7er Club
*without Flotsam & Jetsam

More DESTRUCTION dates:
10.08. CZ        Jaromer – Brutal Assault
14.08. RO       Rasnov – Rockstadt Extreme Fest
16.12. NL        Eindhoven – Effenaar
08.10. NL        Rjissen – Lucky
09.10. NL        Drachten – Iduna
10.10. D          Rockstock – M.A.U. Club
11.10. CZ        Prag – Storm Club
12.10. D         Nürnberg – Hirsch
13.10. D         Siegburg – Kubana
14.10. A          Dornbirn – Conrad Sohm
15.10. B          Hasselt – Muziekodroom*
16.10. D         Mannheim – 7er Club
*without Flotsam & Jetsam

Ray Wilson releases video for Amen To That, first single from new album ‘Makes Me Think Of Home’

Ray Wilson has released a brilliant video for the track Amen To That, the first track from the former Genesis vocalist’s new album ‘Makes Me Think Of Home’ which is out on 7th October….this electric album comes hot on the heels of his critically acclaimed acoustic album ‘Song For A Friend’ which came out earlier in the year.

‘Makes Me Think Of Home’, the 6^th solo studio album from former Stiltskin and Genesis frontman, Ray Wilson, will be released on 7^th October. This release comes hot on the heels of ‘Song For A Friend’, an acoustic album released earlier this year and which garnered great reviews.

‘Makes Me Think Of Home’ is a mix of pop, rock and prog which showcases Ray’s remarkable voice. The title track sees Ray looking back to his days living in Scotland, a country he left after finding love with a Polish dancer. He moved to Poznan 8 years ago, and in this ambitious and very moving track he reflects on his years trying to find peace and happiness in Edinburgh.

The album also contains subtle humour; particularly in the first single Amen To That. The track is accompanied by a multi-layered video production in which Ray showcases his acting skills as he takes on multiple characters in a range of unusual professions. The intense 7-day shoot produced what is undoubtedly the best video of Ray’s career and which takes the instantly memorable Amen To That to another level, throwing in some unexpected twists along the way.

The album also touches on complex contemporary Scottish issues such as The Scottish Referendum with They Never Should Have Sent You Roses, exploring how it divided families and a nation. Also, widespread alcoholism, which affected one of Ray’s close family members, is challenged in The Next Life, and having to fight these demons alone in Anyone Out There.

He also has time to pay homage to one of the world’s best-loved cartoon strips with Calvin and Hobbes.

Reflecting on his latest work, Ray says,

“’Makes Me Think of Home’ encompasses the joy of freedom we have all come to enjoy and perhaps take for granted as well as the fear of solitude. It highlights the many imperfections that make us special and reminds us not to fear them, but to embrace them. In the words of Leonard Cohen. “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in”.”

Makes Me Think of Home full Tracklist:

Never Should Have Sent You Roses
The Next Life
Tennessee Mountain
Worship The Sun
Makes Me Thin Of Home
Amen To That
Anyone Out There
Don’t Wait For
Calvin And Hobbes
The Spirit

Pre-order ‘Makes Me Think Of Home’ from Amazon

http://www.Raywilson.co.uk

Ray Wilson, recognized as one of the UK’s finest ever vocalists by Classic Rock Magazine, is also renowned as an exceptional singer/songwriter and live performer. He has built his solo career the hard way. With extensive tour schedules covering 15 years, Ray meets his fans after the show and has built a strong, loyal fan base who continue to support him time after time.

As Ray says,

“It’s a great joy to regularly meet people who come to my concerts and buy albums. It allows me to connect with my audience and understand why my own music strikes a chord in them. Social Media is one thing – face to face is another level completely”.

TWILIGHT FORCE – SECOND SINGLE ‘TO THE STARS’ + BONUS TRACKLIST!

Swedish adventure metallers, TWILIGHT FORCE, will release their label debut album, ‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic‘ on August 26th via Nuclear Blast. Following the release of several album trailers, the time has come to reveal the brand new track ‘To The Stars‘. Check out the lyric video for the track:

The band commented:

“‘To The Stars’ is our fastest song to date, and something rather different from our previous works. It is a song that intriguingly strays slightly from the tonal path of ‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic‘, and brings a rejuvenating and swift gust of wind to the overall experience.

With guitar work faster than the speed of might, soaring starlit vocals and a soundscape filled with cosmic powermagic, ‘To The Stars‘ is a song about a perilous journey through arcane planes and distant firmaments to restore light and magic, and to transcend time. The stars are calling you for the eternal destiny of fate!”

Pre-order ‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic‘ now:

Limited Edition Double Gatefold Blue or Magenta Vinyl, exclusively from the Nuclear Blast UK Store: http://bit.ly/TwilightForce

Limited Edition Double CD from Amazon.co.uk: http://bit.ly/TwilightForceAmz

Alternatively, pre-order the digital album and get ‘Battle Of Arcane Might’ instantly: http://bit.ly/TwilightForceiTunes

More on ‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic’:
‘Battle Of Arcane Might’ lyric video: https://youtu.be/DP1R5cWC0jI
‘The Power Of The Ancient Force’ track video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qRc8tod7K4 or listen to it on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4VU2OBwRbLL3wAH2STZOoj
‘Gates Of Glory‘ (feat. Joakim Brodén from SABATON) video single: https://vimeo.com/137369607
Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnAG66N4K38
Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2SrnaaO7SQ
Trailer #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mm5SnDK5ZM
Trailer #4: https://youtu.be/O_k7-QgwLCQ

‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic‘ – Tracklist:
01. Battle Of Arcane Might
02. Powerwind
03. Guardian Of The Seas
04. Flight Of The Sapphire Dragon
05. There And Back Again
06. Riders Of The Dawn
07. Keepers Of Fate
08. Rise Of A Hero
09. To The Stars
10. Heroes Of Mighty Magic
11. Epilogue
12. Knights Of Twilight’s Might

TWILIGHT FORCE live:

20.08. S Falun – Sabaton Open Air

w/ SONATA ARCTICA
07.10. N         Trondheim – Byscenen *SOLD OUT*
08.10. S          Borlänge – Liljan
09.10. S          Huskvarna – Folkets Park
11.10. DK       Copenhagen – Pumpehuset
12.10. D         Hamburg – Markthalle
13.10. NL        Haarlem – Patronaat
14.10. NL        Tilburg – 013
15.10. UK       London – o2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
16.10. F          Paris – La Machine Du Moulin Rouge
18.10. F          Strasbourg – La Laiterie
19.10. CH       Pratteln – Z7
20.10. I           Milan – Alcatraz
21.10. D         Mannheim – Alte Seilerei
22.10. D         Bochum – Zeche

—
More info:
www.facebook.com/twilightforce
www.nuclearblast.de/twilightforce

PAIN – THIRD ALBUM TRAILER RELEASED

PAIN, the Swedish metal force led by multi-instrumentalist and producer Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY,LINDEMANN), are ready to unleash the follow-up to 2011’s ‘You Only Live Twice‘. After the substantial success of Peter‘s LINDEMANN project with RAMMSTEIN vocalist Till Lindemann, he retreated and took time to write another industrial metal album entitled ‘Coming Home’. The release of this record is scheduled for September 9th via Nuclear Blast.

Yesterday, the band reveal the third album trailer instalment:

Catch up on parts 1&2:
1#: https://youtu.be/FnT0i5bjMw8
2#: https://youtu.be/_pkOCSEbuWE

Fans can pre-order ‘Coming Home’ here:
Limited Edition Gatefold Orange Vinyl from the Nuclear Blast UK store:http://nblast.de/PAINComingHomeNBUK
Limited Edition 2 CD Digibook / CD / Vinyl via Amazon.co.uk: http://nblast.de/PAINComingHomeAmz

Check out the lyric video for Black Knight Satellite:

The band recently announced that they will be hitting the road for a full European headline tour this autumn.PAIN will join forces with the German gothic metal outfit THE VISION BLEAK.

Check out the confirmed tour dates:

PAIN
w/ THE VISION BLEAK
DYNAZTY
BILLION DOLLAR BABIES

13.10. D         Berlin – Astra
14.10. D         Wuerzburg – Posthalle
15.10. D         Leipzig – Hellraiser
16.10. CZ        Prague – Meet Factory
17.10. A          Vienna – Szene
19.10. D         Ludwigsburg – Rockfabrik
20.10. D         Munich – Backstage
21.10. CH       Lausanne – Les Docks
22.10. D         Lindau – Vaudeville
23.10. D         Essen – Turock
24.10. UK      London – Underworld
25.10. UK      Bristol – The Fleece
26.10. UK      Wolverhampton – Slade Rooms
27.10. F          Paris – Petit Bain
28.10. E          Barcelona – Razzmatazz 2
29.10. E          Madrid – Changó
30.10. P          Lisbon – RCA Club
01.11. E          Bilbao – Stage Live
02.11. F          Marseille – Jas Rod
03.11. F          Lyon – Ninkasi Kao
04.11. F          Nancy – Nancy On Rock Festival*
05.11. D         Markneukirchen – Music Hall
06.11. NL        Tilburg – 013
08.11. B          Antwerp – Trix
09.11. D         Hamburg – Klubsen
10.11. DK       Aalborg – Aalborg Metal Fest
11.11. S          Gothenburg – Brewhouse
12.11. S          Stockholm – Debaser

17.11. FIN       Kuopio – Henry’s*
18.11. FIN       Oulu – Hevimesta*
19.11. FIN       Helsinki – Nosturi*
24.11. FIN       Tampere – Klubi*
25.11. FIN       Jyväskylä – Lutakko*
26.11. FIN       Seinäjoki*
(*without THE VISION BLEAK)

FESTIVALS 2016:
20.08. D Dinkelsbühl – Summer Breeze

MORE INFO:

www.painworldwide.com
www.facebook.com/officialpain
www.nuclearblast.de/pain

OPETH RELEASE 2ND STUDIO BLOG FOR ‘SORCERESS’; NEW ALBUM OUT SEP 30TH

Swedish experimental heavy-rock pioneers OPETH have released the second instalment, “Studio Report – Episode 2,” of their in-depth, behind the scenes series on the making of their 12th studio album, ‘Sorceress’. The highly-anticipated record is due out on September 30th via the band’s imprint label Moderbolaget Records with Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

Opeth recently released a lyric video for the record’s title track “Sorceress“, which has has already received mass critical praise from fans and critics alike.

Additionally, OPETH, with their label, have launched a variety of pre-orders for physical copies of ‘Sorceress”. The record will be available in an array of formats and editions including Standard Jewel CD, 2CD Digipak, 2LP Vinyl (in various colors at 180 gram) and a Deluxe Edition Wooden Box Set.

Pre-order ‘Sorceress’:
Nuclear Blast Store: http://nblast.de/OpethSorceressNB
Recordstore.co.uk: http://nblast.de/OpethSorceressRS

Pre-order ‘Sorceress’ Digitally:
iTunes: http://nblast.de/OpethSorceressIT

OPETH will return to the UK for a headline show at Wembley Arena on Saturday 19th November. Tickets are on sale now from www.livenation.co.uk.

Full tour dates as follows:
05.11. S         Stockholm – Annexet
06.11. N         Oslo – Konserthus
07.11. DK       Copenhagen – DR Koncerthuset, Koncertsalen
08.11. D         Hamburg – Docks
10.11. A          Vienna – Arena
11.11. D         Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn
12.11. D         Munich – Theaterfabrik
13.11. CH       Zurich – Volkshaus
14.11. I           Milan – Alcatraz
16.11. D         Cologne – E-Werk
17.11. B          Brussels – AB
18.11. NL        Tilburg – 013
19.11. UK       London – SSE Arena Wembley
21.11. F          Paris – Le Trianon
23.11. LUX      Luxemburg – Den Atelier
24.11. D         Berlin – Astra Kulturhaus

Or catch the band on the following festivals, before they embark on a US headline tour together with THE SWORD:

30.07. FIN       Oulu – Qstock Festival
05.08. P          Corroios – Vagos Open Air Festival
19.08. B          Hasselt – Pukkelpop Festival
24.09. USA      San Bernardino, CA – Ozzfest

w/ THE SWORD
29.09. USA     Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
30.09. USA     Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
01.10. USA     New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
02.10. USA     Boston, MA – House Of Blues
04.10. CDN     Montreal, QC – Metropolis
05.10. CDN     Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
07.10. USA     Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
08.10. USA     Akron, OH – Good Year Theater @ East End
09.10. USA     Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater
10.10. USA     Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
12.10. USA     Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
13.10. USA     Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
14.10. USA     Austin, TX – Emo‘s
15.10. USA     Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Live!
18.10. USA     Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
19.10. USA     Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
21.10. USA     Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades
22.10. USA     San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
24.10. USA     Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
25.10. USA     Seattle, WA – The Moore
26.10. CDN     Vancouver, BC – Orpheum

Opeth release lyric video for title track to ‘Sorceress’ – article by Progradar

This is the official title track from Swedish progressive legends OPETH’s twelfth studio album, SORCERESS, out September 30, 2016 via Moderbolaget Records / Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

2016 marks the monumental return of one of heavy rock’s most unique, revered and fearless bands of the last three decades, Opeth. Over the years, the experimental, prog veterans have continuously reinvented themselves, pushing the boundaries of their craft and expectations of fans and critics alike.

OPETH’s new album, ‘Sorceress’, their first for Nuclear Blast via the band’s imprint label Moderbolaget Records, is proof chief architect Mikael Åkerfeldt has a near-endless well of greatness inside. From the album’s opener Persephone to The Wilde Flowers and Strange Brew to the album’s counterpart title tracks Sorceress and Sorceress II, OPETH’s twelfth full-length is an unparalleled adventure, where visions cleverly and secretly change, colors mute as if weathered by time, and sounds challenge profoundly.

Sorceress Track List:
1. Persephone
2. Sorceress
3. The Wilde Flowers
4. Will O The Wisp
5. Chrysalis
6. Sorceress 2
7. The Seventh Sojourn
8. Strange Brew
9. A Fleeting Glance
10. Era
11. Persephone (Slight Return)

”The new album “Sorceress” is our 12th studio album since our beginnings in 1990,” says Åkerfeldt. “I find it difficult to understand that we’ve been going on for 26 years, let alone that we’ve made 12 records now, all of which I am very proud of. ”Sorceress” is no exception. I love this album, as does the whole band. I wrote the music during 5-6 months and we spent only 12 days recording it at Rockfield studios in Wales. I find that once again we’ve taken a step forward. Or sideways, Or backwards. Somewhere!? It’s different! It’s extremely diverse. And if I may say so myself, extremely good.

I feel the right to say that since I like to think I know this band better than anyone on the planet. Also, I always manage to detach myself from the record and listen as a fan. It’s a fine little record. My favorite in our discography right now. Of course. That’s how it should be, right? It’s both fresh and old, both progressive and rehashed. Heavy and calm. Just the way we like it. Hopefully there’ll be others around the globe sharing this opinion. It was a joy to make it. A fucking joy to record it, and a sheer joy listening to it. So there you have it!”

For Sorceress, OPETH returned to Rockfield Studios in Wales, also home to pivotal releases from Queen, Rush and Judas Priest, where the Swedes had tracked Pale Communion in 2014 with Tom Dalgety. The band spent 12 days recording at the countryside venue among its serene and inspiring surroundings. The result is nothing short of a powerful and intriguing record that will add yet another layer to the band’s celebrated career.

ORDER ALBUM AT
Nuclear Blast (Worldwide): http://nuclearblast.com/opeth-sorceress
OPETH Store (US): http://www.jsrdirect.com/bands/opeth
OPETH Store (Euro): http://store.moderbolagetrecords.com
iTunes: http://nblast.de/OpethSorceressIT
Amazon Music: http://nblast.de/OpethSorceressAMZMP3
Google Play: http://nblast.de/OpethSorceressGP

Glass Hammer talk about new album ‘Valkyrie’ – article by Progradar

Glass Hammer are due to release their 18th studio album, ‘Valkyrie’, in September and I managed to grab a few words with main man Steve Babb and vocalist Susie Bogdanowicz.

The follow up to last year’s ‘The Breaking of the World’ is a concept album in the vein of ‘Lex Rex’ and ‘The Inconsolable Secret’ and will see Bogdanowicz take a bigger role than on previous releases she has appeared on.

Steve told me,

“Fred and I both contribute lead vocals on the album. The lyrics of ‘Valkyrie’ were, for the most part, intentionally written so that the female lead would gradually come to the fore. To my ears the whole thing has more impact that way. The male vocals tend to convey the darker parts of the story while Susie really had to bring out the more emotional moments and the hopefulness that our albums tend to convey.”

The concept behind the album is the struggle of a soldier’s return home from the horrors of war, to the girl that loves and who must ultimately find her way to him.

When asked what it was like to to create a concept album with Glass Hammer, Susie went on to say,

“I really enjoy seeing the creative process behind a Glass Hammer concept album. There’s the beauty and complexity of the songs written with these musical threads that unite the album; and then there are these gorgeous lyrics that usually have a much deeper meaning. It’s such a rich and fulfilling experience.”

The stunning album art is by Michal Xaay Loranc who also handled the design for ‘Ode To Echo’ and ‘The Breaking Of The World’.

The tracklist for ‘Valkyrie’, released 27th September, is as follows:

The Fields We Know
Golden Days
No Man’s Land
Nexus Girl
Valkyrie
Fog Of War
Dead And Gone
Eucatastrophe
Rapturo

Pre-orders for ‘Valkyrie’ begin on August 30th with signed copies available

Gravitysays_i is set to release their first album in five years, “Quantum Unknown” – article by Progradar

Greek rock group Gravitysays_i is set to release their first album in five years, “Quantum Unknown”, on September 16th via Inner Ear Records.

Gravitysays_i is a six member band from Greece. Their sound is a mix of prog-rock, Pink Floyd-style space-rock, ambient electronics, with a traditional Mediterranean flair (In addition to the usual rock band instruments, Gravitysays_i adds acoustic instruments like trumpet, Cretan lyra and the beautiful sound of the santur).

It’s been a long time since the release of their previous album “The Figures Of Enormous Grey And The Patterns Of Fraud” (2011). Gravitysays_i are back with their third album, “Quantum Unknown”, which makes the long wait worthwhile.

If their previous album was a big battle with themselves, “Quantum Unknown” is the liberation from their own selves. In this mood, they began creating this album of 6 tracks, which is the result of four years of recordings and intense experimentation by the band in new fields of music and lyrics.

This time, the band’s themes play with every knowledgeable form in an attempt to escape from the human gaze itself. Music-wise the experimental and electronic element replaces the electric effusions of their previous work.

Gravitysays_i was formed in March of 2003 by Manos Paterakis and Nikos Retsos in Piraeus. Their debut album entitled “The Roughest Sea” (2007) was released on Sirius, the label founded by the famous Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis. It consists of nine compositions inspired by the egotism, vanity and isolation of modern man. It is a conceptual album characterized by consecutive flow, where the electronic element meets traditional instrumentation, while minimalistic forms follow the general pop-rock spirit.

Their sophomore album entitled “The Figures of Enormous Grey and The Patterns of Fraud”, released in 2011 (Restless Wind) is different, with regard to its theme, as it re-examines social values, institutions and morality as an extension of individual, as well as collective conscience. This time, their sound follows a more traditional / Mediterranean audio vocabulary, while, at the same time, the dark, atmospheric elements become even more apparent.

In 2016, after a period of absence, they are back to present live their new album ”Quantum Unknown”, which will be released this September via Inner Ear Records.

1. More Than A Matter Of Instinct
2. Of Woe / Migratory Birds
3. Dowser
4. An Ivory Heart
5. Every Man

6. Quantum Unknown (Riveted Eye)

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