Monday 1 February 2016

VOIVOD – 'Post Society - EP' pre-order started; Title track launched online



Canadian progressive sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD are soon approaching the release of their “Post Society - EP” Mini-CD on February 26th, 2016 via Century Media Records.

VOIVOD have launched the Mini-CD’s title track, “Post Society”, for you to check out here:



VOIVOD’s drummer Michel “Away” Langevin checked in to comment as follows about the song: “Another apocalyptic song from the RadicArt sessions. I think ‘Post Society’ is a good indication of where we are heading for musically. Ingredients from all the VOIVOD eras with a futuristic touch. I can't wait to play it live!”

The “Post Society - EP” is a very special release available as Digipak CD and as Digital Download, containing 5 studio tracks, including the previously vinyl-only new VOIVOD songs from the limited split 7” EP’s with label-mates At The Gates and Napalm Death, two brand new songs and a Hawkwind cover (“Silver Machine”) with a total playing time of 30 minutes. The artwork was once more created by VOIVOD drummer Michel “Away” Langevin. Here is the full track-listing:

VOIVOD – “Post Society - EP” (30:34):

1. Post Society (06:17) 2. Forever Mountain (05:12) 3. Fall (06:42) 4. We Are Connected (07:26) 5. Silver Machine (04:48)

Michel “Away” Langevin previously checked in to comment on the Mini-CD release as follows: “More songs from out in the woods! In between tours, we are steadily finding our way through recording the next album at RadicArt studio. Many riffs were composed on the bus but until the North American tour with Vektor in 2016, we will spend most of wintertime in Montreal writing another batch of material. Meanwhile, we hope you will enjoy this EP of good old thrash-prog-punk-metal or whatever people want to call Voïvod nowadays :)”

HELION PRIME announce Northern California cd release shows & track by track video breakdown



Sacramento, California science fiction power metal band HELION PRIME have announced two cd release shows in Northern California during the month of February.

Helion Prime guitarist Jason Ashcraft has checked in with the following comment:

We are very excited to announce two very special shows that will help us celebrate the release of the album. We look forward to seeing as many of our friends as possible at these. We hope to make them memorable nights in Helion Prime's history.

February 26 - Blue Lamp - Sacramento, California
February 27 - Bobby D's Cocktail Lounge - Redwood City, California

With the album now just fifteen days from it's release, we are all getting very excited at the Helion Prime camp. As a little teaser for everyone, we've decided to do a track by track break down of the songs from the debut album. This is part one of two parts.



The self titled Helion Prime debut album is scheduled for an independent release on February 15, 2016 and can be pre-ordered now as either a physical or digital copy at the band's BandCamp website:

Helion Prime - "Helion Prime" Pre-Order Link

All pre-orders will be able to immediately download the album's new single "Into the Black Hole" featuring a guest guitar solo from Jeff Teets of Allentown, Pennsylvania progressive metal band Mindmaze.

Helion Prime - "Helion Prime" album tracklist:

1. Into the Alien Terrain 2. The Drake Equation 3. Life Finds a Way 4. Into the Black Hole 5. A Place I Thought I Knew 6. Keep What You Kill 7. Ocean of Time 8. Moon-Watcher 9. Apollo (The Eagle Has Landed) 10. Live and Die On This Day

Produced by Jason Ashcraft, Heather Michele and Carlos Alvarez Lead/Acoustic Guitars & Drums recorded by JK Northrup at Alien Productions Rhythm Guitars recorded at Jason Ashcraft's Bury the Sun Productions studio Bass Recorded by Jeremy Steinhouse at home studio Edited and Mixed by Carlos Alvarez at Dirty Viking Audio Productions Mastered by Brett Caldas-Lima at Tower Studios

Helion Prime are:

Heather Michele - Vocals Jason Ashcraft - Guitars Jeremy Steinhouse - Bass Justin Herzer - Drums

ANGERHEAD back in the studio recording new EP and shooting new videos



ANGERHEAD, the San Jose, California up and coming raging band who expertly combine razor sharp elements of Thrash, Metal, Punk and Hardcore music into their incendiary sound are currently in the studio recording their new upcoming EP.

Angerhead guitarist Eric Beard has checked in with the following comment:

Angerhead has entered the studio once again with producer Juan Urteaga (Machine Head, Testament) to record another four killer original songs and a special bonus cover song. The plan is to shoot video footage for the song "Endless Nightmares" during the recording sessions for the new EP. Also, a new video for the new single "Legacy of Hate" will follow shortly after we finish mixing. We are primarily concentrating on recording music and shooting videos for now. No shows are currently booked at this time but once March or April comes around, we will come out huge with the new EP release and some big show announcements, so stay tuned.

Angerhead has been a crossover sensation with music fans throughout the Bay Area during support slots to big named acts such as Soulfly, Suicidal,Testament, DRI, Exodus, Death Angel, Kittie and Quiet Riot to name a few.

REDEMPTION premieres new track, 'Thirty Silver' via Rock Hard Germany



On February 26th, Los Angeles prog-metal outfit REDEMPTION - featuring Nick van Dyk, Ray Alder (Fates Warning, Engine), Sean Andrews, and Chris Quirarte (as well as guitarist Bernie Versailles, who is presently on an indefinite medical hiatus) - will release their sixth full-length, 'The Art of Loss', via Metal Blade Records worldwide! In anticipation of its release, the band has premiered a new track, 'Thirty Silver' - featuring guest guitarists Chris Poland, Marty Friedman, and Chris Broderick - via Rock Hard Germany at THIS location!

For another preview of 'The Art of Loss', please visit metalblade.com/redemption to view the lyric video for the first single, 'Damaged' - featuring guest guitarist Marty Friedman - and to pre-order the album.

Containing over 70 minutes of their unique blend of passion, melody, aggression and complexity, 'The Art of Loss' was produced once again by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pagan's Mind, Pretty Maids, etc.), who worked with the band on 2009's Snowfall on Judgment Day. The cover artwork was also created by long-time REDEMPTION collaborator Travis Smith (Opeth, Amorphis). Musically, The Art of Loss follows its predecessor (2011's This Mortal Coil), but their newest work finds composition, musicianship and production taken up another notch, with an array of songs ranging from hard-hitting melodic metal to the 23-minute epic "At Day's End"-- plus, special guest appearances from Chris Broderick, John Bush, Marty Friedman, Simone Mularoni and Chris Poland. See below for the official track-listing!

The European CD-edition will be a Euro-exclusive 2-Digipak-CD with an exclusive bonus-CD!

The Art of Loss track-listing

1. The Art of Loss (featuring Simone Mularoni and Chris Poland) 2. Slouching Towards Bethlehem (featuring Simone Mularoni and Chris Poland) 3. Damaged (featuring Marty Friedman) 4. Hope Dies Last (featuring Chris Poland) 5. That Golden Light 6. Thirty Silver (featuring Chris Poland, Marty Friedman, and Chris Broderick) 7. The Center of the Fire (featuring Chris Poland) 8. Love Reign o'er Me (The Who cover; featuring John Bush and Chris Poland) 9. At Day's End (featuring Chris Poland and Simone Mularoni)

BURY TOMORROW - Jason and Dav discuss the tracks of new album 'Earthbound'



BURY TOMORROW released their fourth studio album Earthbound on Friday. To celebrate the release, we caught up with Jason Cameron and Davyd Winter-Bates to discuss the tracks off the album and how they all came together. Watch the guys discussing 'Cemetary', 'Restless & Cold' and '301 (featuring Jamey Jasta)', here:



TRACK BY TRACK #1: 'The Eternal', 'Last Light', 'Earthbound' and 'The Burden' in the first track by track trailer, here:



Watch the official video for 'Last Light':



Vocalist Dani Winter-Bates commented on the new album: "With Earthbound, it's each individual track is a stand alone track. We did it on purpose to a point where we wanted to hit home so hard. With each each individual theme, with each individual riff, to the point of a snare hit - we wanted people to feel what we felt when we wrote each song. We were on the road when we wrote the songs. We were traveling around and we wanted people to feel that; we wanted people to almost emulate exactly what we do live into a record."

The Earthbound track list racks up as follows:

01. The Eternal 02. Last Light 03. Earthbound 04. The Burden 05. Cemetery 06. Restless & Cold 07. 301 (featuring HATEBREED's Jamey Jasta) 08. Memories 09. For Us 10. Bloodline

Earthbound certainly finds BT on a more concise form than ever before: ten tracks that get in, batter you across the face, and get out again with precious little time for respite or caught breath. Hardcore mentality for a metalcore generation.

“A big thing for us this time around was to get down to the real nitty gritty of what our fans wanted from us and how to give them without wasting a single second”, continues Dani. “With Earthbound we wanted pace, we wanted heaviness, and for me, personally, I wanted to write a record which was the sonic embodiment of a circle pit. I think we’ve done that.”

With notable influences ranging from axe-slinging new wave of American heavy metallers UNEARTH and DARKEST HOUR to the apoplectic fury of TERROR and MADBALL, this is one that will get the pit spinning with such ease.

Fans of the heavy stuff will still find plenty to grasp onto here, it’s the now trademark interplay between Dani and guitarist and vocalist Jason Cameron which sets Earthbound apart. “It’s much more mature in the interplay between me and Jason,” Dani notes. “We’ve been playing together for ten years now and it feels like we have an almost telepathic understanding of one another. We’ve always wanted to be like one vocalist in two parts and I think we’ve achieved that here.”

One listen to the sky-scraping euphoria of 'Last Light' or the call-to-arms swagger of the title track will tell you that Dani isn’t lying: monstrous anthems from a band who is coming of age as a truly astonishing force of musical nature. Elsewhere, the chastising punch of '301' sees HATEBREED's Jamey Jasta lending his iron lungs the shattering event.

“More than anything that song is about how our music belongs to our fans first, those first 301 people who run to Youtube who want to check it out and are excited about it. It’s kind of a "fuck you" to all those people who go ‘Bury Tomorrow aren’t proper metal’ or whatever. It’s Jamey fucking Jasta and I know our fans are going to love it.”

It’s that focus on their fan base which has made BT not only one of the best, but one of the most well-loved bands working in the UK today, and, in Dani, one of the most charismatic frontmen imaginable.

With Earthbound looming on the horizon, BURY TOMORROW’s fortunes look set to go through the roof and all the hard work pay off in spades..

“Where we are now is where we’ve always wanted to be”, smiles Dani. “And now we’re in the position to truly deliver on what we’ve promised so far. We aren’t going to let anyone down."

Watch the official video for 'Earthbound':

Nuclear Blast sign Al Jourgensen's SURGICAL METH MACHINE



MINISTRY mainman Al Jourgensen's new project, SURGICAL METH MACHINE, has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records for their self-titled debut album. The record, which was recorded primarily at Jourgensen's home studio in Burbank, California with his longtime engineer Sam D'Ambruoso, will be released on April 15 worldwide.

"Hello folks, thanks to Nuclear Blast the long awaited SURGICAL METH MACHINE album is finally coming. Now quit your bitching, go spark a fatty, and listen to the record! You won’t regret it. I’m Al Jourgensen and I approve this message."

SURGICAL METH MACHINE CD track list:

01. I'm Sensitive 02. Tragic Alert 03. I Want More 04. Rich People Problems 05. I Don't Wanna 06. Smash And Grab 07. Unlistenable 08. Gates Of Steel 09. Spudnik 10. Just Go Home 11. Just Keep Going 12. I'm Invisible

SURGICAL METH MACHINE LP track list:

Side A

01. I'm Sensitive 02. Tragic Alert 03. I Want More 04. Rich People Problems 05. I Don't Wanna 06. Smash And Grab

Side B

01. Unlistenable 02. Gates Of Steel 03. Spudnik 04. Just Go Home 05. Just Keep Going 06. I'm Invisible

Pre-Order the album in the UK on neon pink vinyl HERE



In an October 2015 interview with In The Loop magazine, Jourgensen stated about how the idea for SURGICAL METH MACHINE came about: "You know, [guitarist] Mikey [Scaccia] died a couple of years ago, from MINISTRY, and I just figured, like, nah, it's time to quit. I don't want to have John Bonham's kid playing drums for us and having replacement parts forever; that's just not my scene. So I just figured, 'All right, let's stop this. Let's do some other stuff.' And not only that. I found that it was really unburdensome to not have the MINISTRY moniker or expectations and just do something like whatever the fuck we want. I mean, the band's name is SURGICAL METH MACHINE. It's not like we're gonna be on Top 40 radio and on 'The Voice' and 'American Idol'. [Laughs]"

He continued: "I understand it's not a real commercial project for us, it's not gonna put bank in my wallet, but it was a lot of fun to do, in that sense — of just not having the constraints of the expectations of what you've done for twenty years. So this is… It's kind of new stuff. It's pretty cool. It sounds like kind of MINISTRY, but it's a different level. It's like I literally just put my foot on the gas pedal for this record."

According to Jourgensen, the sound of SURGICAL METH MACHINE's debut release leans heavily on the aggressive side, but fans can also expect to hear a few surprises. "There's a couple of real poppy things on there, which brings me full circle, because, literally, I don't give a fuck anymore," he said. "So I'm actually almost acknowledging that first horrible pop record I did in 1983. I'm crooning on some songs, I've got some pop songs on there, and then there's just brutal assault for the rest of it. It's a very dichotomous record, but it's me, and I'm acknowledging everything that's been me through, like, the last 35 years. Let's just throw my balls on the table and hope somebody doesn't have a meat cleaver running."

As far as the future of MINISTRY, Jourgensen has said in recent interviews that there will be no more MINISTRY albums, making 2013's 'From Beer To Eternity' the band's swan song following Scaccia's death.

"Mikey died during the recording," Al told the Illinois Entertainer. "He just got finished with his last parts, went back to Dallas to play a show with RIGOR MORTIS and I got the call two days later that he was dead. I had to mix the record with his death still fresh in my mind, so the final playback on that one was extra special, and that album to me is very special."

KING PARROT release European tour trailer



Australian thrash/punk misfits KING PARROT have released a tour trailer for their extensive European trek with legendary metallers SOULFLY. The tour kicked off on January 29th in the UK, and will run until March 10th, hitting 17 countries. Full routing is included below. Watch a video invitation from the band here:



SOULFLY
+ KING PARROT
+ INCITE


January 29th - UK, Nottingham @ Rock City Basement January 30th - UK, London @ O2 Academy Islington January 31st - UK, Bristol @ Marble Factory February 2nd - Ireland, Dublin @ Academy Green Room February 3rd - UK, Belfast @ Limelight 2 February 4th - UK, Glasgow @ King Tut's Wah Wah Hut February 5th - UK, Manchester @ Academy 3 February 6th - UK, Norwich @ Waterfront February 7th - UK, Wolverhampton @ Slade Rooms February 8th - UK, Brighton @ Concorde 2 February 10th - France, Paris @ Point Ephemere February 11th - France, Toulouse @ Connexion Live February 12th - Spain, Vitoria-Gasteiz @ Jimmy Jazz Gasteiz February 13th - Spain, Valencia @ Sala Noise February 14th - Spain, Zaragoza @ Centro Cívico Delicias February 16th - Switzerland, Schaffhausen @ Kammgarn February 17th - Switzerland, Lucerne @ Schuur February18th - Germany, Lindau @ Club Vaudeville February19th - Italy, Milan @ Fabrique February 20th - Italy, Pordenone @ Il Deposito Giordani February 21st - Austria, Vienna @ Szene February 22nd - Austria, Salzburg @ Rockhouse February 23rd - Germany, Wuerzburg @ Posthalle February 24th - Germany, Dresden @ scheune February, 25th - Czech Republic, Prague @ Roxy February 26th - Poland, Katowice @ Mega Club February 27th - Poland, Wroclaw @ Alibi February 28th - Germany, Wiesbaden @ Alter Schlachthof March 1st - Luxembourg, Luxembourg @ Den Atelier March 2nd - Belgium, Gent @ Vooruit March 3rd - Netherlands, Nijmegen @ Doornroosje March 4th - Denmark, Aarhus @ Train March 6th - Norway, Oslo @ John Dee March 7th - Sweden, Stockholm @ Debaser Strand March 9th - Finland, Helsinki @ Nosturi March 10th - Finland, Joensuu @ Kerubi

Emerging from Australian metal scene in the last few years, KING PARROT have quickly pillaged their way to international recognition since the release of their debut album. Drawing influence from the thrash, grind, hardcore and punk scenes of the 80’s and 90’s, they have created a fresh sound that perfectly encapsulates their aggression, intensity and dark sense of humour seamlessly. Their music and intense live show gained high praise from critics and musicians, including the likes of Max Cavalera (Sepultura), Chuck Billy (Testament) and Phil Anselmo (Pantera).

WITCHSORROW TO EMBARK ON HEADLINE UK TOUR



Having recently released their third studio album, ‘No Light, Only Fire’, via Candlelight Records (now part of the Spinefarm/UMG family), Witchsorrow will embark on a headline UK tour, starting at Sheffield’s Riverside on February 4th and finishing in Cambridge, at the Portland Arms, on February 20th. Throughout these dates, the Hampshire-based trio will unleash their firebomb of doom on lost British souls, north and south…

In addition to these headline dates, Witchsorrow have been confirmed for a host of UK / European gigs and festivals, including London’s Desertfest at the Electric Ballroom, Camden, on May 1st.

A full list of gigs and dates can be seen below. More touring and festival plans will be revealed shortly…

4/2 – Sheffield, Riverside
5/2 – Glasgow, 13th Note
6/2 – Newcastle, Northumberland Arms
7/2 – Nottingham, Chameleon
20/2 – Cambridge, Portland Arms
17/3 – Dusseldorf, Exit
18/3 – Tilburg, Little Devil
2/4 – Manchester, Noiz All Dayer
1/5 - London Desertfest, Electric Ballroom
30/7 - Metal Brew Festival, London
1-2/10 - Sheffield Academy, HRH Doom Vs Stoner Festival


‘No Light, Only Fire’ is available now in digital and physical formats, including a double LP, at the following link:-

iTunes

Amazon (CD)

Amazon (vinyl)

ALMANAC - OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR 'SELF BLINDED EYES' PREMIERES ONLINE



Victor Smolski's ALMANAC are set to release their debut album Tsar on March 18th via Nuclear Blast. In support of the new album the band have released the official video for 'Self Blinded Eyes'. The video is a continuation of the album themes and includes some killer performance footage too! Watch over on YouTube:



For all the members of Almanac, Tsar is a new, exciting, and very interesting chapter. Traditional metal in conjunction with classical music, world music and elements of Russian folklore with a modern sound all make Almanac a compelling and absolute listening experience.

Singer David Readman states: “When I was first asked by Victor to join the band I felt very honoured to be a part of a new great band, I have to admit I was very uncertain where we would go musically with the band, and this was my feeling even as I entered the studio a few weeks ago.

As soon as we started to record it was very clear to me that this would be a great collaboration of musicians creating a masterpiece…

The whole experience from the first pre-production recording in my home studio and writing lyrics, to finally getting the real emotion on tape with Seeb and Victor was an evolution.

Some records are difficult to make, but this was just easy!”

Fans with an interest in deeper subjects including history and culture will also be able to dive into a new world with Tsar, which combines historic and modern parallels that will surprise many. From the warlike nomadic horsemen in the steppes of Russia, to the tsardom, Ivan the Terrible, warlike Cossacks who dominate the Tatar, the siege of Constantinople and the Mongol invasion are stories about battles, wars, intrigue, conquest, terror, power and love that can be heard vocally using the different styles of the singer’s voices.

The Limited Edition version of the album features a bonus DVD with more than two hours playing time! The track list and DVD features can be seen below:

CD:

01. Tsar 02. Self Blinded Eyes 03. Darkness 04. Hands Are Tied 05. Children Of The Future 06. No More Shadows 07. Nevermore 08. Reign Of Madness 09. Flames Of Fate

Bonus DVD - Chapter overview:

01. Self-Blinded Eyes 02. Tsar (Lyric Video) 03. Making-of Tsar Extras 04. The Making Of 'Self-Blinded Eyes' 05. Winter Masters Of Rock 06. Instruments & Techniques 07. Bandinterview 08. Outtakes 09. Studio Bits 10. B-Roll 11. Unity Music School 12. Credits

Pre-order Tsar from Amazon

Blaze Ya Dead Homie Releases Shocking, NSFW Horror Themed Music Video, "Worm Food"



Blaze Ya Dead Homie has released a Horror themed music video for his track "Worm Food" from his new album The Casket Factory which was released on January 15th on Majik Ninja Entertainment. You can catch Blaze this February on The Casket Factory Tour. Watch Blaze Ya Dead Homie's "Worm Food" HERE.

All in a day's work... Watch an artist at his craft... Preparing the caskets and the earth for the wormfood!!! - Blaze Ya Dead Homie

Blaze Ya Dead Homie "The Casket Factory"
Album available nationwide on 1/15/16

"Measure twice and cut once" is a saying that is as age old as the craftsmanship of Grundy Family Casket Factory. A name and business founded in the early 1200s and passed down from generation to generation keeping it's roots deep within it's dark ancestral family tree. The bloodline and the Casket Factory had all but faded away by the mid 1900s until inherited by Blaze. Albeit a Casket Maker by trade, Blaze had chosen a different path in life and death and seemed more consumed with filling caskets rather than building them. But when offered the opportunity to obtain his heritage and inherit the family business things changed for Blaze, and changed quick! Adorned with a top hat and gold skull maple cane, his blueprint for turning the enormous basement of the rundown and timely Casket Factory into a makeshift cemetery was just the first of many insane ideas. He even decided to put the caskets back into production and only offer a one size fits all Casket and guaranteed it to fit any and everyone! Needless to say these so called rumors and speculations as well as the remote secret location of the newly opened Casket Factory is but a mystery spoken through whispers on the lips of those who have claimed to see it for themselves, and their stories that have carried on through time until now.

We here at Majik Ninja Entertainment are proud to present you.... Blaze Ya Dead Homie's forthcoming masterpiece entitled The Casket Factory based on the story of his inheritance that drove him from killer to death incarnate! We warn you that these recordings may be unsettling and inappropriate for some listeners. That said we recommend that you use extreme caution listening, purchasing, or selling this product.

ASKING ALEXANDRIA Debuts Music Video For New Album’s Title Track, ‘The Black’



ASKING ALEXANDRIA are perfectly poised for the biggest year of their already illustrious career with the release of their fourth full-length album, ‘The Black’ – set for release March 25th. Couple that with a huge North American trek with fellow countrymen, Bullet For My Valentine and While She Sleeps, starting Feb 2nd and all the pieces are set into place. In anticipation of that tour the band are very proud to present the epic, new music video for the new disc’s title track. Visit www.facebook.com/askingalexandria for all touring info.

Watch ‘The Black’ – Official Music Video - http://askingalexandria.com and here:



Life is all about how quickly you get back up. In January 2015, everything changed for Asking Alexandria. The chart- topping, gold-selling UK hard rock outfit parted ways with singer and founding member Danny Worsnop. On the outside, the future might’ve seemed uncertain—even grim—to some, but Ben Bruce [lead guitar, vocals], James Cassells [drums], Cameron Liddell [rhythm guitar], and Sam Bettley [bass] dusted themselves off, lifted their chins, and got right back up.

“We hadn’t reached our destination yet, and Danny had,” admits Bruce. “I think it was necessary. When it happened, I was devastated. I lost my best friend. We even started referring to this part of our career as ‘The Black period.’ It was the darkest time, but we weren’t going to give up. If he hadn’t left, I don’t think we would’ve been as inspired as we were. I also don’t think Asking Alexandria would still be around. Instead, we’re more excited than ever about this band.”

In order to properly do that, the band actually turned to a fan. Ukrainian singer Denis Stoff gained notoriety posting Asking Alexandria covers on YouTube and consequentially inked a deal with Sumerian Records in his band Down and Dirty. Bruce shot him an email one night. The next day, a new Asking Alexandria song had vocals and a new era in the
band’s history took form.

‘The Black’ will be released via Sumerian Records on March 25th 2016



Pre-Orders for ‘The Black’ are also now available below:

Amazon
D2C (UK)