Tuesday 24 March 2015

ATREYU REVEAL NEW VIDEO FOR "SO OTHERS MAY LIVE"



Atreyu, one of the most prominent bands of the '00s American metal scene, exited a period of self-imposed dormancy in 2014 to the delight of fans. They played several shows. They released a brand new song, "So Others May Live," which became an instant social media trending topic. The song touched on an important topical issue—what veterans who serve their country feel and experience upon returning home from duty. The song's heartfelt subject was matched by its musical heft.

Now, the So Cal band has revealed the video for the song. Watch it here:



In addition to this adrenalized live video, which proves that Atreyu have not lost a step since returning to action and that they are as vital and vibrant as they ever were, the band will participate in Record Store Day, which is Saturday, April 18.

They will release a 7" featuring both "So Others May Live" and the brand new track "When the Day Is Done." These are the first new Atreyu songs to surface since 2009.

This live footage, which captures the band in its most natural state, was filmed at The Observatory in Ateryu's native California in December of 2014.

The clip truly captures the electrifying essence and vibe that is always present at an Atreyu concert, due to the exchange of energy between the band and its dedicated fans. It also puts the viewer front and center, as though you were pressed up against the barrier after taking a whirl in the pit.

A brand new Atreyu album will be released later this year via the joint venture partnership between Raw Power Management’s Search&Destroy label and Spinefarm Records.

The band will play a very special, intimate, one-off and sold-out headline show at the Camden Underworld, London, on April 29th . Further to this, they will perform at their first European festival since their 2014 return to action, making an appearance at Groezrock in Belgium on May 1st 2015.

Pist.on Reunites



After more than a decade of silence, gloomy melodic New York metallers PIST.ON have confirmed an end to their self imposed exile and are set to reunite. Having never officially split up, the band is ready to pick up from where they left off. Henry Font (Vocals / Guitar), Burton Gans (Guitar) and Jeff McManus (Drums) from the bands’ last album ‘$ell Out’, will be joined by new bass guitarist Jack Hanley (ex THE DEADLYZ).

Commenting on the reunion the band said: “It feels great being reunited after all this time.”

“When we got together for our first rehearsal, it was as if we’d never been apart; the chemistry was still there.”

“We kinda left everything hanging after our last tour but never split, just took a back seat and dealt with a lot of professional and personal issues that was thrown at us. We’ve all moved on but we kept in touch over the years .In our own minds we always had the desire to get back together, but it was never talked about until recently.”

“We’re excited at having the chance to do this again. We’re jumping back in and gonna see how it goes.”

Discussing their new material the band added: “It's been a great time experimenting with different ideas. Having the chance to use some of the newer technology on the PIST.ON sound is helping us work through the process. Things are moving in a positive way. It’s feeling like the best work we have done.”

Regarding his addition to the group, new bass guitarist Jack Hanley said: “I am very proud and excited to join a band I am very much a real fan of. These guys are amazing musicians and great guys. I feel right at home in PIST.ON and can’t wait for all the great music to come. It is a wonderful opportunity to work with them and I could not be happier.”

Work has already started on new material and plans are in place for a European tour in autumn 2015, which is due to be confirmed imminently.

Plagued by a number of professional and personal challenges, it took some time for PIST.ON to come to terms with the way that the band spectacularly imploded at the end of their last European tour in 2001 - an episode they have more or less kept to themselves. At the time, years of pent up frustration and inner turmoil finally boiled over as the catalyst which had held the band together eventually led to their undoing, resulting in bass player Val.ium leaving the band. In the intervening years the remaining members have pursued various musical interests, but feel the time has never been better than now to bring PIST.ON back into the limelight.

PIST.ON released two albums - ‘Number One’ through Mayhem / Atlantic Records in 1996 and ‘$ell Out’ through Mayhem / Music For Nations in 1999.

Following the release of the Josh Silver produced debut ’Number One’ and the first single ‘Grey Flap’ through Mayhem, PIST.ON had an instant reaction with fans, leading to strong album sales. The attention the band was gaining sparked major label interest from Atlantic Records, who subsequently secured a deal for the world-wide release of ‘Number One’. However the relationship with Atlantic was short lived. With sales approaching gold status, PIST.ON came under pressure from the label to make a number of changes which the band were unhappy with. As a result the band took the decision to leave Atlantic.

In an interview at the time Henry Font recalled "Atlantic records saw the chance to make a lot of money because we were an unknown band selling a lot of records with virtually no airplay. Problem was, they didn't know what to do with us".

PIST.ON returned to Mayhem for the release of the follow up album, ‘$ell Out’, which was a reaction to the troubling experiences they had encountered under the rule of Atlantic Records. Their frustration was clearly visible on tracks such as ‘Suddenly Sober’ and ‘Low’.

PIST.ON toured the US and Europe on numerous tours, with Marilyn Manson, Korn, Clutch, Fu Manchu, Type O Negative, Queensryche, The Misfits and many more. The tours solidified the bands presence, building a healthy following on both sides of the Atlantic.

THE DARKNESS REVEAL FIRST SINGLE 'OPEN FIRE'



Following the stealth attack of new track ‘Barbarian’ exploding onto the internet last month, THE DARKNESS have announced details of the first single from their forthcoming fourth album ‘Last Of Our Kind’. ‘Open Fire’ is an explosion of rock which sounds like The Darkness if The Darkness were offered a million pounds to come up with the best song ever in 10 minutes and then 10 minutes later The Darkness are all just driving around in Ferraris – sweet! The track is released on the same day as the album, June 1st via Kobalt Label Services and and is the first album to feature new drummer Emily Dolan Davies.

Check it out here:



The band have just completed a warm-up tour of Ireland where some of the new songs from the album received their first airing and the classics were dusted off for the enjoyment of fans new and old alike.

'Last of Our Kind', released 1st June is the meaty and impassioned follow-up to 2012’s ‘Hot Cakes’ which saw the band reunited having enjoyed a well-publicised and well-deserved hiatus. As distinguished guests of Def Leppard, The Darkness destroyed Download Festival in 2011, then waved goodbye to their loved ones and toured planet Earth for over 18 months. They rounded off 2013 with a celebratory tour marking the 10th Anniversary of their legendary number one debut album. 'Permission to Land' featured the classics ‘I Believe In a Thing Called Love’, 'Love is Only a Feeling', 'Love on the Rocks with No Ice' and 'Love is a Many Splendoured Thing'; it was the fastest selling debut album by a British band in America since that of The Spice Girls.

'Last of Our Kind' will be released on limited edition colour vinyl, Compact Disc and downloadable computer files. The Darkness will be announcing more touring plans for later this soon.

New single: ‘OPEN FIRE’ – 1st June 2015

New album: ‘LAST OF OUR KIND’ – 1st June 2015

Track Listing:

Barbarian * Open Fire * Last of Our Kind * Roaring Waters * Wheels of the Machine *Mighty Wings * Mudslide * Sarah O’Sarah * Hammer & Tongs * Conquerors

Blastfest 2016 - A One Time Only Celebration Of The Norwegian Metal Scene



You heard it! Blastfest 2016 will be celebrating its national metal scene and will boast a lineup that will be 100% Norwegian. Has that even been done before?

It's hard to imagine how when the first ever Blastfest took place in Bergen in 2014 organisers were going to beat the lineup that had been assembled. But, 2015 smashed its predecessor out of the park with bands such as Watain, Satyricon, At The Gates, Primordial, Decapitated, Melechesh, Craft, Demilich and more taking to the stage in what will undoubtedly go down as a major highlight in this year's festival calendar.

Just hours after the final note rang out across the venue at Blastfest 2015 organisers were brainstorming ideas for the third edition of the festival and here we are, a brand new concept - A One Time Only Celebration Of The Norwegian Metal Scene!

The first round of bands has also been announced including Green Carnation, Ihsahn, Ancient and the very first headliner, Gorgoroth. Read on...

Red Harvest: An always supremely crushing live band and a true Norwegian phenomenon is back! Six years ago they called it quits, after filling the world with industrial angst for over two decades. Blastfest welcome you to dive into a greater darkness, to handle the cold dark matter that is none other than extreme industrial metal band Red Harvest. This reunion is going to be a fucking hammer-blow to the solar plexus!

Green Carnation: Dissolved in 2007 and sporting members that have been a part of class acts such as Emperor, Satyricon, Carpathian Forest, Blood Red Throne, Tristania, Sirenia, etc. This band has finally reunited!!! The usual selling points are completely unnecessary, so we’ll just skip them altogether this time. Why? Because Green Carnation have not only reunited to appear at Blastfest 2016, but they have also agreed to play their masterpiece Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness in its entirety! ‘Nuff said!

Ihsahn: A major figure in the Norwegian black metal scene as a founding member of Emperor, Ihsahn has since become the front man of his very own band. Still the primus motor, and in charge of orchestral manoeuvres, his eponymously dubbed solo project sees him channel the sophisticated dark arts through a more progressive expression. In a fitting move, he also uses the members of progressive metal band Leprous as his live backing band. Five critically acclaimed albums have been released by the multi instrumentalist and light bringer. All of which make us really look forward to finally having Ihsahn grace Blastfest! - Thus spake Blastfest.

Ancient: It’s been eleven years since they released their last album, but 2015 will see them bring their long awaited Back To The Land Of The Dead to life - and in 2016 they will come back to the land of Blastfest. If that isn't enough, 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of their album The Cainian Chronicle. So brace yourselves for 'Lilith’s Embrace' in a live setting, because the renowned and reviled Ancient are finally returning to their roots in Bergen, Norway. This time around they are also bringing the infamous Nick Barker (Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Lock Up, etc, etc) behind the drumkit.

In The Woods: If you’re In The Woods and in the woods, and there’s no one else around and a tree falls, would anyone hear the tree fall? Well, the answer is probably 42, so let’s just get on with it: the point is that Blastfest has gotten hold of a band oozing psychedelia throughout all eras of their career: In The Woods. The band has stood out by progressing immensely through their active years. They started out in the black metal vein with Isle Of Men, presented extreme metal extraordinaire with Heart Of Ages, and before calling it a day released Three Times Seven On A Pilgrimage where the band even included their own takes on King Crimson, Pink Floyd, and Jefferson Airplane. 2016 sees In The Woods back on stage, and better than ever, at Blastfest!

Funeral: Feeling empty, feeling full of despair, feeling sad and gloomy? No worries, Blastfest will patch you up paradoxically with the flagship of Norwegian doom metal, Funeral. Pioneers of the funeral doom genre, the creators of such masterpieces as Tragedies and From These Wounds, and probably the only band to lyrically address the neurological condition tardive dyskinesia (involuntary, repetitive body movements). Funeral will definitely bring you a solid dose of tristesse. “La tristesse durera toujours.” Pft! Blastfest 2016 cures everything, Vincent!

Khold: Varden tennes, Kari Bremnes! Blastfest hereby welcome Khold to the 2016 lineup. Since their formation in 2000 they have been devoted to parsimony in their musical expression, and are almost the equivalent of Occam’s razor as applied to black metal; groove and the good riff is in the main agenda here, not a bunch of gothic dresses and cheap synths. Their lyrics are also noteworthy, mainly written in their native Norwegian tongue, and written by the band's “fifth member”, Hildr, wife of vocalist and guitarist Gard. Recently the band released their sixth album, Til Endes, and we are really looking forward to hear that material in a live setting here in Bergen. Blastfest: der kulden rår!

Blood Tsunami: Thrash ‘till death! What would a proper Blastfest be without a thrash alibi? Well, to make sure the universe stays in order, Blastfest hereby pull Blood Tsunami out of festival booker Yngve’s circus hat! Fronted by former MTV VJ and lifetime thrasher Pete Evil, and with none other than Faust of Emperor fame behind the drumkit, these guys will give all the other bands a run for their money. Expect thrash metal that rips you a new one, nothing less!

Virus: Time to go viral! From the ashes of cult 90’s ensemble Ved Buens Ende a phoenix arose, it bore the name of Virus. Over the course of three full-length albums and an EP they have put the avantgarde back in the Norwegian metal scene. Brilliant song writing, good musicianship, and members also currently associated with acts such as Beyond Dawn, Aura Noir, Lamented Souls and Audiopain … Well, this is surely one of the names to follow in the current Norwegian scene, and Blastfest are proud to welcome them to the 2016 lineup.

Manes: Be All, End All is what they named their most recent album, and Manes is certainly a band that encompasses all, and then some. From their first formative steps as a pure black metal outfit, they have since evolved into what must be deemed an eclectic mixture of multiple genres, never compromising, never conforming, never obeying, and most importantly, a part of the Blastfest 2016 fold. Whatever they have in store for us this time it surely can’t be missed. This is artistry!

Gorgoroth: It’s on high time that we present one of the true legends of the Bergen black metal scene. Hence we give you Satan’s propaganda ministerium on earth, Gorgoroth. The notorious collective lead by Infernus have so far released nine albums, with a tenth scheduled for release this coming June, Instinctus Bestialis. It’s already been six years since the band were on stage in Bergen, so they will be catering to a hungry local audience. Blastfest welcome you all, also those who are traveling from afar, bring your hammer and join together under the sign of hell at Blastfest 2016!

Tristania: Do you remember when Norway, and especially the area of Rogaland, completely dominated the gothic metal scene in the late 90’s? Well, Blastfest figured this lineup needed some velvet, blood and tears, and large New Rock boots… Or, things have changed since then, or at least the shoe fashion. However, Tristania still delivers powerful melodic metal, now more than ever.

A One Time Only Celebration Of The Norwegian Metal Scene!

Blastfest 2016 - Bergen, Norway
17 Feb - Garage, 18 - 20 Feb - USF Verftet

Lineup:
Ancient | Blood Tsunami | Funeral | Gorgoroth | Green Carnation | Ihsahn | In The Woods | Khold | Manes | Red Harvest | Tristania | Virus | Plus More TBA

Tickets on sale now: www.billettservice.no

Book accommodation at the official festival hotel www.augustin.no using the promotion code "BLASTFEST" for a discounted rate.

COAL CHAMBER to release "Rivals" on 22 May 2015 via Napalm Records



Photo credit: Dan Santoni

U.S. nu-metal legends Coal Chamber took a hefty 13-year break – but before they went on hiatus, they thrilled thousands of fans worldwide with the wickedest of all grooves that churned out 90s anthems like ‘Loco’ and ‘Big truck’. Frontman Dez Fafara went on to reach superstardom with DevilDriver, but there`s nothing like old love: Rivals is Coal Chamber`s fourth album and has been produced by Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, DevilDriver). Behold: the trademarks of the band encounter exciting and mature songwriting; all adding up to one furious comeback!

Release Dates:

19.05.2015 USA/CAN 22.05.2015 GSA, RoE, AUS 25.05.2015 UK/NOR/FR/DK/IT 27.05.2015 SE/ESP

Tour Dates:

COAL CHAMBER

w/ Filter, Combichrist and American Head Charge

3/6: Tempe, AZ @ Marquee 3/7: Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues 3/8: San Francisco, CA @ Regency Grand 3/9: Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades 3/11: Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market 3/12: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater 3/13: Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory 3/14: Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory 3/16: Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall 3/17: Wichita, KS @ The Cottillion 3/18: Tulsa, OK @ Cains Ballroom 3/20: Milwaukee, WI @ Rave 3/21: Detroit, MI @ Harpos 3/22: Joliet, IL @ Mojoes 3/23: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue* 3/25: Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall 3/26: Toronto, ON @ Opera House 3/27: Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theater 3/28: Worcester, MA @ Palladium 3/29: New York, NY @ Webster Hall 3/31: Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live 4/1: Hartford, CT @ The Webster 4/2: Patchogue, NY @ The Emporium 4/3: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom 4/4: Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero 4/6: Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls 4/7: Norfolk, VA @ The Norva 4/8: Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte 4/9: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade 4/10: Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall 4/11: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live 4/12: Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live

w/ Soil, American Head Charge & Dope

20.05.15 UK - Leeds / Stylus 21.05.15 UK - Norwich / THE LCR 22.05.15 UK - Warwick / Copper Rooms 23.05.15 UK - Notthingham / Rock City 24.05.15 SCO - Glasgow / ABC 26.05.15 UK - Bristol / Motion 27.05.15 UK - Exeter / Lemon Grove 28.05.15 UK - Brighton / Concorde 2 29.05.15 UK - Wolverhampton / Wulfrun 30.05.15 UK - Manchester / The Ritz 31.05.15 UK - London / Koko

w/ Soil & American Head Charge:

01.06.15 NL - Amsterdam / Melkweg Max 02.06.15 LUX - Luxembourg / Kulturfabrik 03.06.15 BE - Antwerp / Trix 04.06.15 DE - Wiesbaden / Schlachthof 07.06.15 AT - Vienna / Vienna Rocks

Metal Icons W.A.S.P. Sign to Napalm Records! New Album Set For Release This August



Almost six years have passed since the world saw a new studio album from Metal Icons W.A.S.P. That is about to change as W.A.S.P. has signed a new worldwide record deal with Austria’s Napalm Records. W.A.S.P. will release their 15th studio album titled Golgotha this August.

"W.A.S.P. are excited to announce they have signed an exclusive recording contract with Napalm Records. We chose Napalm for their personal belief and professional commitment to our career. We're looking forward to years of great success together starting with the release of our upcoming album Golgotha", states W.A.S.P. front man Blackie Lawless.

Vice President of Napalm Records Thomas Caser on W.A.S.P. joining Napalm Records: “It is a true honor to announce this signing today, a dream has come true. With their impressive career and ability to create musical masterpieces W.A.S.P have always been one of the most influential Metal bands out there since the beginning of their career. We are thrilled about the upcoming album Golgotha which will be released this summer!”

W.A.S.P. came out of the Los Angeles Metal scene in 1982 gaining notoriety for their shock rock antics. With a career spanning over 3 decades, 17 world tours, and now their 15th studio album, they are a metal band that has evolved in maturity without having lost their signature sound, unlike many of their peers from their origins. Golgotha will continue down the path that 2007's Dominator and 2009's Babylon started on, both in production style and theme. Six years in the making, Golgotha will undoubtedly lead the listeners on the emotionally epic undertaking that W.A.S.P. has become acclaimed for!