TWILIGHT FORCE – ENTER EUROPEAN CHARTS + THE LORE OF AERENDIR!

Twilight Force Cover

On August 26th, TWILIGHT FORCE‘s label debut entitled ‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic’, was released through Nuclear Blast. Today, glorious news can be revealed! The album has hit charts in various European countries (#20 – UK Rock among others; find all entries below!).

Lynd comments:
‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic’ has made its way to the bazaars of the world. Sold by many a merchant, among livestock, magic potions and other goods; the album has proven itself to be a popular item indeed. So popular that it has been inscribed in the weekly sonic tablets of the merchants!”

#17 – Sweden (Rock)
#20 – UK (Rock)
#41 – UK (Indie)
#44 – Switzerland
#54 – Germany

Additionally, the fourth part of their lore series has been launched today.

Learn more about bass player Born:

Catch up on the series:
The lore of Chrileon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7CvYv0I8U4
The lore of Lynd: https://youtu.be/JwFtRpxfZcs
The lore of Aerendir: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_udzbbL2UU

Order ‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic’:
Limited Edition Double Gatefold Blue or Magenta Vinyl, exclusively from the Nuclear Blast UK Store:http://nblast.de/TwilightForceNBUK
Limited Edition Double CD from Amazon.co.uk: http://nblast.de/TwilightForceCDAmz
Digital album: http://nblast.de/TwilightForceiTunes

Listen to the track-by-track commentary version of ‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic’ over on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/twilightforceofficial/playlist/3ANk2ilrmyDgpugaNF5RUh

More on ‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic’:
‘Powerwind’
video: https://youtu.be/gLxmoaewFVs
‘Battle Of Arcane Might’ lyric video: https://youtu.be/DP1R5cWC0jI
‘To The Stars’: https://youtu.be/oZMu0-nL3Xo
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
Trailer #5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN55u184w8Y

‘Heroes Of Mighty Magic‘ – Tracklist:
CD1
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

CD2
01. Rise Of A Hero (Orchestral Version)
02. Flight Of The Sapphire Dragon (Orchestral Version)
03. Heroes Of Mighty Magic (Orchestral Version)
04. Battle Of Arcane Might (Karaoke Version)
05. There And Back Again (Short Version)
06. Powerwind (Chip Version)

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

KORPIKLAANI RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘FC LAHTI’!

korpi-2

Finnish folk metal superstars KORPIKLAANI have released a new single today. A very special release – supporting the 20th Anniversary of their local football team FC Lahti. FC Lahti, play in finnish Veikkausliiga, the highest soccer league in Finland.

Jonne Järvelä states:
When I was asked if Korpiklaani would want to support the local football team playing at the top level in Finland, my answer was definitely yes. My first idea on how to take this forward was the
thing that is important to us as a band, to write a song, a new official anthem for FC Lahti, and here it is now. Lyrics are not just about football, but also about love for your home
town without forgetting it’s history. I wish the fans of FC Lahti and everyone else too will like the song.”

Tomi Honkanen, the Managing director (President) of FC-Lahti adds:
“FC Lahti and Korpiklaani are two strong brands that generate strong emotions in Lahti and internationally.
At FC Lahti we highly value that Korpiklaani wears our colours and brings our great FC Lahti to the world. Lahti rocks!”

Order the song “FC Lahti” here: http://nblast.de/KorpiklaaniDownloads

KORPIKLAANI on tour with MOONSORROW and SKÁLMÖLD, full dates below:

Finnish Folk Metal Mafia, ROCK HARD, Kulturnews, metal.de,
metalnews.de & Dragon Productions present:

w/ SKÁLMÖLD
22.10.  EST      Tallinn – Tapper
23.10.  LV        Riga – Melna Piektdiena
24.10.  PL        Gdynia – Ucho
25.10.  PL        Warsaw – Proxima
26.10.  PL        Wroclaw – Alibi
27.10.  PL        Katowice – Mega Club
28.10.  SK        Bratislava – Majestic

w/ MOONSORROW, SKÁLMÖLD
29.10.  CZ        Prague – Club Meet Factory
30.10.  A          Vienna – Szene
31.10.  A          Graz – Explosiv
01.11.  I           Bologna – Zona Roveri
02.11.  I           Milan – Alcatraz
03.11.  A          Innsbruck – Hafen
04.11.  CH       Lausanne – Les Docks
05.11.  CH       Solothurn – Kulturfabrik Kofmehl
06.11.  CH       Winterthur – Salzhaus
07.11.  D         Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
08.11.  D         Lindau – Vaudeville
09.11.  D         Nürnberg – Hirsch
10.11.  D         Köln – Essigfabrik
11.11.  NL        Zoetermeer – De Boerderij
12.11.  D         Hannover – Musikzentrum
13.11.  D         Hamburg – Klubsen

More KORPIKLAANI dates:
25.11.  RUS     St. Petersburg – Club Zal
26.11.  RUS     Krasnodar – Arena Hall
27.11.  RUS     Samara – Zvezda
28.11.  RUS     Ufa – Ogni Ufy
29.11.  RUS     Ekaterinburg – Teleclub
30.11.  RUS     Omsk – Angar
01.12.  RUS     Barnaul – Pharaon
02.12.  RUS     Novosibirsk – Otpusk
03.12.  RUS     Kranoyarsk – Havana
05.12.  RUS     Irkutsk – Megapolis
06.12.  RUS     Khabarovsk – Velicano
07.12.  RUS     Vladivostok – Sanremo
09.12.  RUS     Yaroslavl – Gorka
10.12.  RUS     Moscow – Volta
11.12.  RUS     Nizhny Novgorod – Milo Concert Hall

Order the latest KORPIKLAANI album, ‘Noita‘, here: http://smarturl.it/KORPIKLAANI-NoitaNB

More onNoita’:
‘A Man With A Plan’ OFFICIAL VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc0sJvtKrRM
‘Ämmänhauta’ OFFICIAL VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvZMFmbdue8
‘Pilli On Pajusta Tehty’ OFFICIAL VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCGlO2Ssqwk
‘Lempo’ OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://youtu.be/GWCowljfU0s

More info:
www.korpiklaani.com
www.facebook.com/korpiklaani
www.nuclearblast.de/korpiklaani
Buy tickets:  http://bit.ly/KorpiklaaniTickets

KYROS (Ex-Synaesthesia) To Return With New, Double Album “Vox Humana”

Multi-national Alternative / Progressive Rock outfit KYROS, formerly known as Synaesthesia — are set to return later this Fall with a release of their independently produced and engineered double album entitled Vox Humana, a follow-up to the critically acclaimed eponymous debut album, Synaesthesia, released in 2014 through GEP Records.

A culmination of approximately three years of writing, recording and mixing with efforts from all members; Adam Warne on vocals, keyboards and mixing, Joey Frevola on guitars and programming, Sam Higgins on vocals, guitars and additional programming, Peter Episcopo on vocals and bass guitar and Robin Johnson on drums and percussion, are proud to present Vox Humana as KYROS’ first professional release as a band since transitioning from a solo studio project whilst signed to GEP Records. The album also features a full live brass section with parts arranged by Raymond Hearne, more known as the drummer in the progressive metal band, Haken. Mastering of the album was expertly undertaken by Jens Bogren at the Fascination Street Studios (HakenDragonForce and Opeth) in Sweden.

Guitarist and singer Sam Higgins says, “Vox Humana has been the catalyst for a huge amount of change, and I feel that it is a tremendous step forward for us as a band. It has led us to go independent, something we decided on for a great number of reasons, but the big one is that when push comes to shove, we know exactly what we want from our music and we needed control of that. Maybe it’s naive and maybe it’s arrogant, but ultimately we need the decisions to be ours, that way the end product is something that is a true expression of our vision as a band. The end result is a concept double album, spanning a broad range of sounds, with a narrative that explores themes around what it is to be human.

Looking back, it almost seems inevitable that such an ambitious project would have a profound effect on our outlook as a band.”

Accompanying the release of the double album is the independent release of the band’s first maxi-single, entitled “Cloudburst.” This release includes the album mix of the track, as well as a special edition single edit, instrumental mix and newly written extended version of “Cloudburst.” This maxi single release also features mastering efforts from Jens Bogren.

As well as the album, we will be releasing a maxi single, inspired by the 12” singles of the 80’s. We are all huge fans of Trevor Horn, so it was an easy decision to make. Taking ‘Cloudburst’ as the single was another easy decision, the song is heavily synth- driven, and has quite a ‘poppy’ sound to it, which made it the perfect choice. Hopefully the alternate versions of the song will give people a deeper insight into the track,” Higgins commented.

The double album, Vox Humana will be released through KMG Music in November as a physical premium double-CD package available from the band’s online merch store and Amazon and digitally through online outlets such as iTunes, Napster, Tidal, Amazon MP3 and Spotify.

The maxi-single, “Cloudburst” will also be released through KMG Music as a physical and digital release within the coming weeks.

KYROS on the web:

www.kyrosmusic.com

www.kyrosmediagroup.com

https://www.facebook.com/KyrosOfficial/

KYROS line-up:

Adam Warne – vocals, keyboards, mixing
Joey Frevola – guitars, programming
Sam Higgings – vocals, guitars, programming
Peter Episcopo – vocals, bass
Robin Johnson – drums, percussions

kyros-2

About KYROS:

Not afraid to take songwriting and musical experimentation to a whole new level by pushing the boundaries. Creating fresh, new and exciting music with influences ranging from eighties pop e.g. Depeche Mode and Kate Bush through to modern post-progressive and alternative rock music such as Muse and Porcupine Tree.

KYROS (known as Synaesthesia 2012-2015) formed in 2012 in London, England and consists of Adam Warne on lead vocals and keyboards, Joey Frevola and Sam Higgins on guitar, Peter Episcopo on bass guitar and Robin Johnson on drums. The five piece came together after Adam was in need of completing the band line up to transition from a solo studio project to a fully fledged performing and writing group.

Although only having existed for a few years, the group has already released a critically acclaimed debut album and a successful limited edition EP. The debut album featured artwork designed by Freyja Dean, the daughter of legendary album cover artist Roger Dean. Songs from these two releases have received airplay on various radio stations including Team Rock Radio. On top of this, KYROS has performed a number of impressive shows ranging from festival dates in UK, Germany and USA to supporting high profile bands such as Marillion and Anathema. In 2015, the band performed sixteen dates across Europe supporting Spock’s Beard, all with hugely receptive crowds and positive reactions.

KYROS has also gained positive reactions from within the press. They received top spot in the ‘Tip for 2014’ and runner up in the ‘Tip for 2016’ awards from Prog Magazine as well as a nomination for the ‘Limelight’ category within the Progressive Music Awards. Their debut album received critical acclaim from all over the spectrum. The band has attracted interviews and article write-ups from respected journalists such as Malcolm Dome and Rich Wilson. Both gave positive words regarding the debut album and their thoughts on the future and direction of the band. Wilson described the album as being “an exceptional debut from a band who will only improve.”

In Autumn 2016, KYROS will be independently releasing a maxi single entitled “Cloudburst,” which is to be shortly followed by a double-album called Vox Humana. This album will mark the band’s fourth overall release as well as being the band’s second official album release.

NOSOUND PREMIERE NEW VIDEO FOR “IN CELEBRATION OF LIFE” FEAT. ANATHEMA’S VINCENT CAVANAGH FROM NEW ALBUM SCINTILLA

Nosound - Scintilla

With the release of Nosound’s new studio album, Scintilla, the band is pleased to be able to premiere their new video for the song “In Celebration Of Life” featuring guest vocals from Anathema’s Vincent Cavanagh.

Giancarlo Erra explains how the song is a collaboration with and tribute to music fan Alec Wildley “’In Celebration Of Life’  was probably among the first tracks written for Scintilla, it was inspired by an artist and well known member of the fellow prog community, Alec Wildey. Those who knew Alec know what happened t and I’m not going to delve into details, but it really was a tragedy that shook everyone.

He was a big fan of Nosound and our Kscope label mates, in the past Alec contacted me to see if we could work together, but I was always too busy, this time I felt particularly hit by the situation, for personal and musical reasons, so I wrote the track and recorded it all quickly in my studio as I wanted Alec to be able to hear it. His lyrics fitted perfectly the music and the message we wanted to send. His reaction to the song was, and I suspect will always be the highest point in my personal career, with my music I felt part of something bigger and beyond me.

Although it was a very difficult time when we decided to collaborate, paradoxically we created a celebration of life song. As I always say the beauty of music is to transform something negative into something positive, transform pain in beauty, anger in happiness, desperation in hope.”

Giancarlo continues on how Anathema’s Vincent Cavanagh became involved “This uplifting anthem to life immediately struck a chord with Vincent. I played him the song without saying anything about all this, and he liked it immediately. When I told him about Alec, his emotional and moving reaction told me that he too was somehow linked to that situation, and we instantly knew that we were going to work together on this track.  Anathema and Nosound were two of Alec’s favourite bands and we know now that wherever he is, he’s enjoying the track he worked on with me and Vincent.

For the video we wanted to tell a story, but one that everyone can interpret in their own way: there was a lot of thought put in as to how to leave it open. So,while  I’m not going to reveal my personal story, I  encourage you to look at the details and enjoy the song we wrote In Celebration Of Life, something we should all remember to do every day.”

Scintilla will be Nosound’s fifth album, introducing a wholly new musical and visual approach for Giancarlo Erra’s ever-evolving band, it is an emotionally complex and musically direct work presenting a stripped-down set of compositions that mark a major departure from Nosound’s trademark symphonic lushness and production precision. Taking in influences from Post Rock, Shoegaze and Alt-Singer-Songwriters, the album imaginatively utilises a mostly organic and acoustic sound palette. As well as featuring Andrea Chimenti , Anathema’s Vincent Cavanagh lends his distinctive vocals to two of the album’s tracks, and cellist Marianne De Chastelaine returns once more to the Nosound fold (this time in a more free-flowing and improvisational capacity).

Scintilla is available on the following formats:

A deluxe CD/Blu-Ray in Mediabook with a 24 page booklet. The Blu-Ray contains HD stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes, plus additional video content.

An audiophile double 180g vinyl edition (mastered at 45rpm to ensure quality) in a gatefold cover with booklet and poly-lined inner bags. Also includes a download card featuring the vinyl master at 320kbps.

Nosound online: 

www.nosound.net

www.facebook.com/nosoundnet

www.twitter.com/nosoundofficial

www.instagram.com/nosoundofficial

https://www.youtube.com/user/nosoundnet

ESBEN AND THE WITCH ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘OLDER TERRORS’ AND SHARE NEW TRACK ‘SYLVAN’

esben-and-the-witch-500x500px-72dpi-rgb

The dark atmospheric rockers ESBEN AND THE WITCH are now sharing the first track from their forthcoming album ‘Older Terrors’. The band will release their new full-length on November 4th.
 
ESBEN AND THE WITCH comment: “Our forthcoming album ‘Older Terrors’ was written and recorded over the course of a year in Berlin, our adopted home. We’ve spent eight years getting here, sweating on stages, holed up in studios and exploring all that which inspires awe and terror. The album features four tracks. In this digital age of music we wanted to create a collection that worked together but could also be separated, each track standing alone, carving its own path and telling its own tale. This record is dedicated to the sublime. To Edward Young’s Night Thoughts, John Martin’s apocalyptic visions, Caspar David Friedrich’s forays into the forest and to the sparks of light that glimmer in times of utter darkness.”
 
Regarding new track, “Sylvan” the band adds: “We wanted to paint a picture of a forest in flames. Of wild destruction, spectacular and terrifying. The calm amidst the ancient pines shattered by an insatiable desire, all-consuming, all-devouring and with a raging intensity so fierce it can set anything on fire. Ultimately, as the flames engulf the trees, it is a song about searching for meaning and even beauty in a burning world.”
Track-list
01. Sylvan
02. Marking the Heart of a Serpent
03. The Wolf’s Sun
04. The Reverist
Something ancient and primordial stalks the four tracks on the fourth full-length of ESBEN AND THE WITCH. The haunting voice of Rachel Davies weaves arcane spells through hypnotic patterns. Interlaced in these invocations is the emotive string sorcery provided by guitarist Thomas Fisher, while Daniel Copeman evokes a state of trance with his shamanic drumming and wide sonic landscapes painted by electronic synthesizer magic.
 
ESBEN AND THE WITCH were formed in Brighton, a windswept English seaside resort, when Daniel Copeman hooked up with Thomas Fisher in 2008. After a number of failed auditions for a vocalist, Fisher had a chance meeting with longtime friend Rachel Davies, who proved to be the perfect fit as singer for the newly created three-piece. A band name was found in the foreboding Danish fairytale “Esben and the Witch”.
 
The self-released ’33 EP’ (2009) and a 7″ single entitled ‘Lucia, at the Precipice’ (2010) caused a vibrant buzz that led to a first record deal. With the single ‘Marching Song’ (2010), ESBEN AND THE WITCH heralded their debut full-length ‘Violet Cries’, a Gothic post-rock nightmare that hit the stores in January 2011. The album was immediately picked up by critics and fans alike, managing to climb to #13 in the UK Indie Chart. Two singles, ‘Warpath’ and ‘Chorea’ and the ‘Hexagons’ digital EP followed in the same year.
 
2012 saw the trio commence work on their sophomore album ‘Wash the Sins Not Only the Face’ which was released in early 2013 and again scored critical praise. ESBEN AND THE WITCH decided to take matters into their own hands and published the third full-length ‘A New Nature’ (2014) on their own imprint, ‘Nostromo Records’. The band travelled to Chicago to record with Steve Albini and the result was an intense, sprawling creation inspired by the trio’s increasingly heavy live show.
 
Having established themselves as a highly individual act and an excellent reputation as an outstanding live force, ESBEN AND THE WITCH have honed their songwriting skills to the sharp crystalline edge that now manifests itself clearly on ‘Older Terrors’. Beauty, emotion, and musical depth celebrate a glorious wedding on these tracks. You are herewith invited to join this aural feast.

Pre-order the album – smarturl.it/EsbenandtheShop

Line-up

Rachel Davies: vocals, bass

Thomas Fisher: guitar

Daniel Copeman: drums, synths

http://esbenandthewitch.co.uk/

www.facebook.com/esbenandthewitch

https://twitter.com/WEAREEATW

https://esbenandthewitch.bandcamp.com/

CROBOT – RELEASE NEW TRACK ‘PLAY IT COOL’

Crobot - Fat City

Central Pennsylvania-based rockers, CROBOT have released another track ‘Play It Cool’ from their forthcoming album, ‘Welcome To Fat City’ – set for release on September 23rd via Nuclear Blast.

Pre-order ‘Welcome To Fat City’ now:
– Limited Edition Gatefold Blue Vinyl + signed insert from the Nuclear Blast UK store:http://nblast.de/CrobotNBUK
– CD + Vinyl + signed insert from Recordstore.co.uk: http://nblast.de/CrobotRS
– Alternatively, pre-order the digital album and receive ‘Welcome To Fat City’, ‘Play It Cool’, ‘Not For Sale’ and‘Plague of the Mammoths’ as instant grat tracks: http://nblast.de/CrobotWTFCIT

Check out the official video for ‘Not For Sale

The band are set to return to the UK this Autumn with Aussie rockers Airbourne. Tickets are now on sale, full tour dates and ticket links below.

25.11   UK       Ebbw Vale – Brain Freeze Festival

With Airbourne
17.11   UK       Portsmouth, Pyramids Centre
18.11   UK       Norwich, UEA
19.11   UK       Nottingham, Rock City
21.11   UK       Birmingham, O2 Institute
22.11   UK       Leeds,  O2 Academy
23.11   UK       Newcastle, O2 Academy
24.11   UK       Glasgow, Barrowland
26.11   UK       Manchester, Ritz  (SOLD OUT)
28.11   UK       London, Electric Ballroom
29.11   UK       London, Electric Ballroom

Tickets available here: http://nblast.de/CrobotAirbourneTIX

More info:

Crobot are:
Chris Bishop – guitar, vocals
Brandon Yeagley – lead vocals, harmonica
Paul Figueroa – drums
Jake Figueroa – bass
http://crobotband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Crobotband
@Crobotband
https://www.instagram.com/crobotband/
Crobot live

SEVEN IMPALE ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM & SHARE NEW TRACK

Cover

Seven Impale‘s debut album, “City of the Sun”, was very well received by the prog audience over the world, and in the year poll of 2014 at Progarchives.com, the album got ranked as the 7th best that year. 
So, in spring 2016, Seven Impale teamed up again with producer Iver Sandøy (produced Enslaved, Krakow etc.) in Solslottet Studio to record the follow up. 
 
The band has grown a lot since the debut, without loosing any of their  youthful energy. New album “Contrapasso” consists of nine highly varied and complex tracks expanding upon the unique sound Seven Impale started investigating on “City of the Sun”, but….. they’ve gone much further this time. 
 
On “Contrapasso” you find a band that are more daring, experimental and complex. Again, they touch upon the harder soundscapes as well as including more catchy and upbeat tracks, but on this album everything goes one step further. 
 
Visiting places where no band has been before, with “Contrapasso” Seven Impale pay no heed to genre boundaries. Melding melody, experimentation, dramatics, atmosphere and contrasting rythms, with “Contrapasso”, Seven Impale has created an essential album for any fan of progressive rock!  Listen to new track ‘Languor’ now:

Line-up:

Tormod Fosso – Bass, cello

Erlend Vottvik Olsen – Guitar

Benjamin Mekki Widerøe – Sexophone, midiflute

Stian Økland – Vocals, guitar

Håkon Vinje – Keyboards

Fredrik Mekki Widerøe – Drums, percussion

“Contrapasso” is released on 16th September via Karisma Records with the vinyl version of the album following on 28th October.

www.facebook.com/sevenimpale

http://www.karismarecords.no/

 

 

ANTHRAX RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO FOR ‘A MONSTER AT THE END’

Anthrax cover

ANTHRAX has released the official video for ‘A Monster At The End‘, a song from the band’s latest album, ‘For All Kings‘. Watch it here:

http://www.vevo.com/watch/anthrax/Monster-at-the-End/USME31600498

The original concept was to have four still photographers placed strategically on a Florida set while the five members of ANTHRAX performed song ‘A Monster At The End‘ live. Each photographer would hold down his camera’s shutter button continuously for the near-four minute-long song, capturing a steady stream of hundreds of still images.

Hey, it might have been a great idea,” laughed video director Jack Bennett, “but holding down the shutter button on a still camera for that long a time? All we would have ended up with were four jammed cameras!”

Shooting the entire video with Super Sharp HD video still cameras, Bennett wanted an animated, staccato-feel to the flow of the individual images. “Video shutter speeds are faster and more reliable than anything we could have done manually, and we wanted as big a pool of still images to choose from as we could get.”

In post-production, Bennett went through the footage frame by frame and hand-picked the still images he wanted to animate — hundreds of them. Rather than print the video at 24 frames per second, he animated movement of the band members using the still images, creating a jagged, crude motion. “We didn’t want fluidity, we wanted the video to have more of a comic book feel to it, like flipbook animation.”

This also allowed Bennett to hang on the band members’ individual movements to accentuate the power of their playing, such as the strength in Charlie Benante’s drum hits, or Scott Ian’s strumming or Frank Bello‘s rhythm.

ANTHRAX‘s latest masterpiece “For All Kings” reached #4 in the Finnish charts, #5 in the German and #21 in the UK charts.

Order ‘For All Kings’ here:
Digital Album from iTunes: http://nblast.de/AnthraxForAllKingsIT
Limited Edition Double Gatefold Etched Lilac or Clear Vinyl from the Nuclear Blast UK store:http://nblast.de/AnthraxNBUK
Limited Edition Digipack CD from Amazon.co.uk: http://nblast.de/AnthraxForAllKingsDigi

More on ‘For All Kings’:
‘Evil Twin’ Lyric Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPmLkF3e6Fc
‘Breathing Lightning’ Official Track: https://youtu.be/NXYKpKWHxaI

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

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

MESHUGGAH POST SECOND TRAILER FOR THE VIOLENT SLEEP OF REASON

Meshuggah Album Cover

The Swedish extreme tech-metal pioneers MESHUGGAH will release their upcoming eighth album, The Violent Sleep Of Reason on October 7th via Nuclear Blast. Today, the band release the second trailer in which Tomas discusses the lyrical inspiration of the eighth album.

Order your copy of the album on iTunes and receive “Born In Dissonance” as an instant grat:http://nblast.de/MeshuggahiTunes

Tomas Haake comments about the album, “Basically, the whole idea of why we chose the title is it kinda connects with the lyrical content of the album. Which is to a fair degree about current events and what you see is going on as far as terrorism today, extremist views on ideals, and religious dogma and the violent implications that you get from being asleep so to speak and not acting/reacting to what is going on in the proper way”

The album was produced by the band and was engineered by Tue Madsen of Puk Studios in Kaerby,Denmark. For the cover, the band once again enlisted Keerych Luminokaya who created the artwork forKoloss and The Ophidian Trek as well as the new images for each of the 7 albums and 3 EP’s featured in the25 Years of Musical Deviance box set.

Track listing as follows:
1. Clockworks
2. Born in Dissonance
3. MonstroCity
4. By the Ton
5. Violent Sleep of Reason
6. Ivory Tower
7. Stifled
8. Nostrum
9. Our Rage Won’t Die
10. Into Decay

“The Violent Sleep Of Reason” will be available in the following formats:
Nuclear Blast UK Store:
– Mail-Order Exclusive Box Set*
Limited to 1,000 worldwide
Includes: Latex face mask, (2) stickers, (2) 1.25” buttons, poster flag, certificate of
authenticity
– Limited Edition Double Gatefold Gold Vinyl
– Limited Edition Double Gatefold Silver Vinyl
– Limited Edition Double Gatefold Light Blue/Orange Bi-Coloured Vinyl
Available here:  http://nblast.de/MeshuggahNBUK

Recordstore.co.uk:
– Limited Edition Black Double LP
– Limited Edition Double Gatefold Picture Disc
– CD Digipack
Available here: http://nblast.de/MeshuggahRS

Visit MESHUGGAH online at  www.MESHUGGAH.net
Like:  www.facebook.com/MESHUGGAH
Follow:  Twitter.com/MESHUGGAH
Watch:  www.youtube.com/MESHUGGAH

NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS UK
Web:  nuclearblast.de
Facebook:  facebook.com/nuclearblasteurope 
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Review – Glass Hammer – Valkyrie – by Progradar

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What separates the bands that have longevity from those that are just a flash in the pan is the ability to evolve and progress while never losing sight of what endeared them to their fans in the first place.

They take the basic ingredients of what makes them unique and then add new ideas and sounds to build on that original idea and, in the case of current classic prog maestros Glass Hammer, end up releasing 18 studio albums, yes, read it again, 18 studio releases and every one an evolution of what has gone before.

I’ve been a huge fan of Glass Hammer since the days of ‘If’ and am privileged to be close to them enough to be able to get an insight into what makes them tick and how the new album, ‘Valkyrie’, came to be.

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 vocalist Susie Bogdanowicz take a bigger role than on previous releases she has appeared on. 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.

I asked original founder member Steve Babb where the idea for the new album came from,

“We hadn’t done a full blown concept album since Perilous and we all knew it was high time we did one. We were ready. The subject matter was trauma. How to get past it? Sometimes you can’t. Sometimes it takes a hero to rescue the hero from the aftermath! The world is so torn up at present, and there are a million tales of trauma. It’s a violent time we live in. Most people’s own experiences pale in comparison to what some are living through – so it’s to them I dedicated the lyrics and to those who are standing by their sides to help.”

With a more pared back line-up, Steve explained why Susie had been brought to the fore,

“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.”

Susie

The writing of the album was a taken on by Steve and fellow co-founder Fred Schendel, with such a sensitive subject being dealt with extremely well I asked how he and Fred go about the writing process,

“Fred assuredly changes some things in his sound. I added some vintage gear to my own rig to achieve “the bass that ate the world” sound – which is what we call it. (Intro to No Man’s Land). The overall sound changed too. It’s very live. That was what we set out to do. Not make a sterile, pure, overproduced sounding album. We wanted it to be on the edge. Hope it works!”

Steve went on to say,

“Alan (Shikoh) has co-written in the past, but he insisted Fred and I write the entire thing in the same way we did some of our best known albums. We’ll write separately, then run the ideas by each other. In some cases we combine our ideas (Dead And Gone). Being a concept album and I have the entire thing playing in my head – its up to me to fill in the gaps or to let Fred know what kind of song we need to keep the story moving. “Rapturo” was the very first thing that he wrote – the album’s ending. “Valkyrie” was the first I wrote – the title track. We spend several weeks writing, then months rehearsing and rewriting. That’s how it happened this time.”

alan

“Long years ago I travelled, Upon a road that led me, To fields of battle far from home, And that is where you’ll find me…”

The Fields We Know begins with an eerie note, a haunting tone before Steve’s instantly recognisable bass opens up, lively but intent. A fast paced song definitely from the Glass Hammer stable, it has lulls and highs and a dreamlike feel in places, emphasised by Susie’s delightful vocal. Some wonderful hammond playing by Fred and Alan’s signature guitar sound deliver something fresh and yet still the sound we have become accustomed to. This album is as much about the intelligent lyrics as it is the excellent music and it is worth having the lyric booklet with you as you listen. A strong opening that has already drawn you in to this intense story. The powerful drums of Aaron Raulston come to the fore as the track comes to a satisfying close.

“He debated one idea the morning through, Were his memories of childhood even so, He believed that good resides in every heart, Now it seems man’s been rotten from the start…”

A drum and bass heavy start begins Golden Days, another fast paced track with insistent vocals and staccato soundtrack where Susie’s vocals come to the very fore. A song that demands your attention and gives a reality check to our young soldier. Some of the keyboard playing leaves you in a trance and the excellent musicianship we have come to expect is present and correct. Alan Shikoh gives another guitar masterclass in the middle of the track aided and abetted by Fred’s magical fingers across the keys. There’s a darker core that opens up, smoldering and heightened, the real horrors of war becoming reality. This is progressive rock at its most profound, telling a story in an intensive and vivid manner, technically superb but still with deep emotion right at the heart of the song.

“The orders came at two a.m., At dawn the first wave would advance, As prayers were said the notions fled, Of honor, glory and romance…”

If the opening two tracks could be called ‘classic’ Glass Hammer then No Man’s Land is the first big evolution in sound, the intro is deep, dark, meaningful and, actually, quite scary and it reminds Steve Babb of some pre-Glass Hammer stuff he and Fred used to do years ago. To quote Steve,

“If we ever play that one live it will peal the plaster off the walls. It’s scary HUGE when we’re doing it together!”

The instrumental opening to the song is actually spine chilling and has your mind imagining all sorts of different scenarios on the field of battle, if you are of a certain age then you will have heard stories, even seen them in films, of the desperate charges into no man’s land that killed so many soldiers, young and old and left thousands severely injured and there is a serious tone to the music that befits those memories. It is a stop you in your tracks moment in the album, a moment of reflection and thought. A jarring guitar, keys, drums and bass section brings you back from your reverie, interspersed by some delicate playing from Alan and Fred, before the vocals begin, fervent and impassioned, as I’ve said before, read the lyrics as you listen to the song and you will be almost transported back in time to that dreadful day of carnage and horror. A powerful song imparting a dark story but one that has flashes of light, hope and heroism throughout. Steve’s bass anchors another insistent and passionate instrumental section where these musicians seem to just bounce of each other to deliver an intricate and concentrated piece of music that takes you on a diverse musical journey, as if you are flying over the battlefield witnessing all below. The end of the song is quite mournful and sad, the intensity of the music begins to dig deep into your soul and leaves you wondering what will happen to our lonely soldier next.

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What comes next is a real surprise, Nexus Girl is a beacon of light in the darkness and could be called electro-pop. It’s upbeat vibe and tone is highly addictive and just seems to lift your soul and mood after the dark vibes of the previous track. Aaron’s drumming is tight and precise and the rhythm of Steve’s bass lays the foundation for Fred to work his electronic wonders with the intricacies and free-thinking of the keyboards, quite delightful.

“I lay down my head and I dreamed of you, I’ve fought to remember the whole day through, The dream that smiles today and then, tomorrow dies, Sets me to longing and then away it flies…”

Another stand out moment on an excellent album, title track Valkyrie is just brilliant. The band wanted to get a sound like The Beatles playing in a very big Church and I think they nailed it. A slow burning opening with a low key vocal as the story becomes less about the soldier and more about the girl. Eventually he tells her he can never make it back. That’s when she comes to him – and then promises to help him home. Which is why the song was named Valkyrie. A mythical angel of the battlefield who swoops in to take the fallen warrior to Heaven (or Valhalla). A really deliberately paced track that has an utterly uplifting feel to it. The vocals are fervid and heightened and full of an emotive force and the organ sound raises the hairs on the back of your neck. It sounds nothing like Glass Hammer but you intrinsically know it is them and it is a profound, almost spiritual musical experience, cinematic progressive rock at its very best.

“His mind is shaken, He tries to waken but it’s all in vain, always in vain, So he tends his wounds as best he can, Here within the lingering fog of war, Which hides his weary heart…”

Another deep and weighty introduction starts Fog Of War, the stylish bass and edgy drums joined by the keys to give an illusion of perplexity and puzzlement before there is a chink of light in the fog afforded by the lilting keyboards and the angularity of Alan’s guitar note. A complex mosaic before Susie’s vocal tells the story of a man lost in his war and the fog of uncertainty. There’s a dynamic, compelling lift to the chorus but this track has many facets, like a human brain unsure of what is actually happening. The music takes you on a circuitous journey of 70’s influences and modern themes as the band evolve their sound into a more aggressive style but never lose sight of their roots, Alan’s solo is a case in point with an Alex Lifeson feel to it, yet with a rarefied edge. A byzantine, Daedalean song that asks more questions than it answers, very deep.

Fred

“Time’s come now at last, let all that’s passed be past, You’ve been wandering, lost in a dream, only a dream…”

Dead And Gone is a heartfelt song, the soldier’s love trying to bring him back from the brink and convince him there is light where all he sees is darkness. A lament, the vocals delivered in a beautifully poignant fashion by Susie with just a delicate piano as accompaniment. A wistful, ethereal song and one that brings a lump to your throat and tears to your eyes. There is beauty and good among the ugliness, horrors and evil of war, just bring yourself to the light. A thoughtful and contemplative song brought to life by the nostalgic longing that is its foundation. A fight between the darkness and trauma that war imposes on those who have to fight and the love and devotion of those who want to help. There’s a darkly fervent instrumental section that spars with its uplifting, vocal lead alter ego and yet the song has a melancholy, sombre feel as it comes to a close, she seems unable to bring her love back from beyond the darkness.

“I see the shadow in your heart, The chains upon your spirit, And all that’s kept you far away from me, yet I have come at last my love…”

The heroine has finally come to her love in the winsome Eucatastrophe, love is a light that can pierce the darkness that engulfs his heart and the refined feel to the song has love and light written large all over it. The heavenly note of Susie’s vocals leaves a gossamer like feeling of  joy on your soul before the song opens up with an inspirational Hammond organ note that builds to a wholly positive and hopeful crescendo.

“Don’t turn away, hold onto me my love, Just open your eyes, The Long night has passed, The dark on has fled…”

The final track on the album and the most intensely poignant, Rapturo is a delicate, soulful and beautiful piece of music that brings the conclusion of our epic story. A wonderfully warm and charming opening full of peace and love opens up to a rapturous vocal and a widescreen sound that seems to pervade every part of your being and fill you full of hope and emotion. There is a powerful feel to the music, the force of good will always strive to overcome the force of evil and, as long as we can see the goodness inside of us, we will prevail. The music just fills you will a feeling of fervent emotion, passion and goodwill, like the huge ensemble numbers that close out all the inspirational musical shows, quite superb.

Forest

After suitable pause for reflection on the amazing musical experience that I have just enjoyed, this is my conclusion:

“With its insightful, thoughtful lyrics every bit as important as the mightily impressive music, ‘Valkrie’ is a concept album in the true sense of the word. With some delightful departures from what some would call their signature sound (The Beatles anyone?) Glass Hammer continue to evolve into one of the world’s foremost Progressive Rock bands. This iconic group of musicians lead you on a journey through the horrors of war with a totally immersive sixty-five minutes of music and you will come out the other side changed forever. I can’t recommend this album enough, one of the best albums of 2016? One of the best albums of recent years more like…”

Released 27th September 2016

Pre-order ‘Valkyrie’ from the official Glass Hammer store