sabato 30 luglio 2016

NIGHTWISH - to release live DVD »Vehicle Of Spirit« in November!



2016-07-29 - After touring for a year and a half throughout almost every corner of the world and leaving fans of all nationalities breathless, the time has come for NIGHTWISH to immortalize their »Endless Forms Most Beautiful« tour on DVD. Therefore, the symphonic metal visionaries are set to release their new live milestone »Vehicle Of Spirit« on November 4th, featuring not only two full concerts, but also plenty of bonus material.


"The title »Vehicle Of Spirit« came from a friend of Troy's, who after seeing our show a few years ago defined NIGHTWISH as 'A vehicle of spirit that defies category'. That beautiful description has followed us ever since, and felt like a perfect match as the DVD title," states keyboardist and songwriter Tuomas Holopainen.

Sold out arenas and spectacular shows with never before seen pyro effects, wind machines, video screens and of course NIGHTWISH's incomparable melodies are the elements that made their latest tour so unique. Special highlights for the band have been two particular shows though: The one in London, where they not only played their hymns such as 'Élan' and the majestic 'The Greatest Show On Earth' to more than 12.000 fans, but also welcomed the world famous scientist Richard Dawkins live on stage with them. Richard Dawkins´ works had a massive impact on the thematical orientation of their latest studio album ”Endless Forms Most Beautiful”. Finland's Tampere show however was a home run for the band and never before NIGHTWISH had such an immense stage production with them:

"I would say the main part of the DVD are those two shows, both Wembley and Tampere. Wembley is mentioned first due to its recognizability and legendary status. I remember the show being very special, both a goal achieved, and a starting point. The crowd was heartwarming. The presence of Richard Dawkins on stage was just mind-blowing. The overall experience was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill ride! The show in Ratina Stadion, Tampere, was a home crowd specialty (for 4/6th of the band) with the biggest stage production we've ever had. A lovely atmosphere throughout the concert, with many same faces in the front row as there were 15 years ago. Heartfelt."

When it comes to the fine artwork of the DVD, NIGHTWISH decided to walk different paths this time and come up with a little alternative idea, as Tuomas explains:

"We didn`t want to include a traditional band shot for the cover, as on the previous DVD release »Showtime, Storytime«. So we started brainstorming on different options and the idea of a classic silent movie era Hollywood visuals quickly came up. With those classic slogans the cover has a little tongue-in-cheek-touch to it, but it's still classy and eye catching in its simplicity and originality."

Order NIGHTWISH's current record, »Endless Forms Most Beautiful«, here:

venerdì 29 luglio 2016

DREAM THE ELECTRIC SLEEP - Beneath The Dark Wide Sky

"Beneath The Dark Wide Sky"

Release date: 22.07.2016

Label: Mutiny Records Rough Trade

Style: Progressive, Rock, Indie, Shoegaze

Country: Lexington, KY USA

Tracklisting:
01. Drift
02. Let The Light Flood In
03. Flight
04. We Who Blackout The Sun
05. Hanging By Time
06. Culling The Herd
07. The Lst Psalm To Silence
08. The Good Night Sky
09. Headlight
10. Black Wind
11. All Good Things


Provenienti dal Kentucky, i Dream The Electric Sleep, sono la combinazione prog/dark wave più eccitante di questa estate.

Beneath The Dark Wide Sky apre il baule dei ricordi, suoni in grado di catturare le visioni audaci di David Gilmour e Roger Waters proiettandoli brillantemente in un concentrato più moderno di effetti alternative, tra brit pop e post grunge.

Il livello di tensione si alza su "Hanging By Time", in cui linee melodiche pure e radici ben consolidate nell’intricato groviglio post punk lanciano basso e batteria tra le innocenti emozioni degli anni ’80.

La musica dei Dream The Electric Sleep non è da prendere alla leggera, perché sviluppa un percorso d'innovazione tecnica ed intensità psichedelica davvero unico e creativo. 45 minuti progressivi ed altamente contaminati in cui il leader Matt Page dimostra di essere un musicista poliedrico, nonché capace di propagare  le onde rock della sua chitarra per tutte le undici tracce, creando quasi una suite ambient che rivela la vera essenza di un disco compatto e versatile.

Chiunque voglia godere di un compromesso sulla carta impossibile tra alternative rock, dark wave evoluta e prog moderno, scoprirà un ottimo compagno di viaggio per le prossime vacanze estive.

7.5/10
Michela (Anesthesia)

Line Up:
Matt Page (vocals, guitar)
Joey Waters (drums, vocals)

Guitar Force to release new album "Different Universe" in September.


Polish band Guitar Force and Finnish record label Inverse Records have inked a deal. The new album "Different Universe" is released September 16th 2016. 

Guitar Force was founded in 2007 by Marcin Habaj – a guitarist, a composer and lyrics author. It consists of 5 young people from south – eastern Poland and music style oscillates around hard rock and heavy metal. 

Album track list:
1. To the End Of The World With Ronin
2. Tribute
3. Punishment
4. Nurt
5. At The Crossroads
6. Magical Power
7. Without Names
8. Forever
9. Another World
10. White Lady

Line-up:
Marcelina Bieniarz – vocal, bass guitar
Antonina Rysz – vocal, rhythm guitar
Dorota Kulig – vocal, violin
Marcin Habaj  – solo guitar
Jakub Calka – solo guitar 
Ignacy Rudnicki – drums

Upcoming tour dates:

05.08.2016 / Bałtów, Poland
06.08.2016 / Strzyżów, Poland
11.08.2016 / Arad, Romania
12.08.2016 / Sibiu, Romania
13.08.2016 / Varna, Bulgaria
14.08.2016 / Svishtov, Bulgaria
15.08.2016 / Sofia, Bulgaria
16.08.2016 / Smederevo, Serbia
17.08.2016 / Pale, Bosnia
18.08.2016 / Sibenik, Croatia
19.08.2016 / Djakovo, Croatia
20.08.2016 / Regietów, Poland
27.08.2016 / Świdnik, Poland

Links:

Anciients finish recording new album


ANCIIENTS are now presenting the first smoking hot track from their highly anticipated new album 'Voice of the Void'. The Canadian heavy rockers will release this follow-up to their acclaimed debut full-length 'Heart of Oak' (2013) on October 14.

The opening song "Following the Voice" is now exclusively streaming via Metalitalia

Guitarist and vocalist Kenneth "Kenny" Paul Cook comments on behalf of the band: "The new ANCIIENTS record is titled 'Voice of the Void' and somewhat of a step in a new direction lyrically and musically. I think, it still has the sound we developed on 'Heart of Oak', but the riffs are a lot heavier at times and the lyrics are far more cynical and dark. With all of the chaos happening on this planet as of late it seems as though things will get worse before they get better, and that kind of embodies the theme of this album as a whole. Jessie Gander did a great job capturing the music and his production far surpassed our expectations. The first new song out, 'Following the Voice' is about struggles with inner demons that many people face. Knowing what the right thing to do is, but not listening to your conscience and choosing the path that is best for yourself, but harms others in process. It is about following the evil voice in your head as opposed to the voice of reason."

'Voice of the Void' was produced under the direction of Jesse Gander at Rain City Recordings in the bands' hometown of Vancouver, Canada. Artwork and track-list are now revealed below. 

You want an album that delivers smoking hot rock and delicious heaviness in equal measure? 'Voice of the Void' does exactly that. An avalanche of brilliant riffs comes crashing down your speakers, driven by a relentlessly pounding rhythm section. Vancouver's ANCIIENTS have no time to spare, no fillers, no hesitation, they are just pushing and pulling and banging those heads from start to finish.

With their sophomore opus 'Voice of the Void', the Canadians are fulfilling all the glorious promises that 'Heart of Oak' (2013) already made. In comparison to their critically acclaimed debut full-length, which already contained the musical equivalent of the warm flow, solid earthiness, and beautifully dark undertones of whisky matured in ancient oak casks within an intoxicating song-writing, the new songs have exponentially boosted the tasty formula unique to this band.  

ANCIIENTS have remarkably honed their composition skills and moved further into their very own musical territory, which makes it considerably harder to just liken this band to kindred spirits such as MASTODON, KYLESA, BARONESS, THE SWORD, and HIGH ON FIRE and happily drop them into the same box without second thought. Those amazing vocal duels between grim growling and clean singing, which have been brought to perfection, would alone support the constant tension and high dynamics of this record. Yet of course, a barrage of crunchy riffs as their instrumental counterpart maintains the proper balance.

ANCIIENTS were founded in 2009 featuring former 3 INCHES OF BLOOD member Aaron "Boon" Gustafson on bass, who is flanked by the outstanding guitarist and vocalist duo Kenneth Paul Cook and Chris Dyck. Drummer Mikey Hannay constitutes a mighty powerhouse of quite complex yet heavily driving rhythmical patterns. With the release of their 7" EP "Snakebeard" (2011) alone, the Canadians were invited to join on the stages of HIGH ON FIRE, GOATWHORE, BORIS and THREE INCHES OF BLOOD. More touring and festivals shows followed the release of highly praised 'Heart of Oak', but now ANCIIENTS are ready for the next giant leap of their career. Let 'Voice of the Void' rock your mind!

Track-list
1. Following the Voice
2. Buried in Sand
3. Worshipper
4. Pentacle
5. Descending
6. Ibex Eye
7. My Home, My Gallows
8. Serpents
9. Incantations


giovedì 28 luglio 2016

Serravalle Rock - 30-31 luglio ore 20,00 - Serravalle Pistoiese martedì 26 luglio 2016 - 08:50


Al via la prima edizione del Serravalle Rock che si terrà presso la Rocca di Castruccio.

Il festival, organizzato dal Comune di Serravalle Pistoiese - Assessorato alla Cultura in collaborazione con Vrec si svolgerà il 30 e 31 luglio 2016

Programma:
Sabato 30 luglio (dalle ore 20,00)
KELEVRA [pop amaro]
SMALL JACKET [hard rock]
ENDLESS HARMONY [rock]
BETTER PLACE [pop rock]

Domenica 31 luglio (dalle ore 20,00)
PLATONICK DIVE [avant post rock]
BIRTHH [electro folk]
THE FOOOTS [blues rock]
THE TRICK [hard rock]

Come headliner sono stati scelti due nomi di assoluto rilievo come Kelevra e Platonick Dive. Entrambe le band, forti del successo degli album 'Cronache Per Poveri Amanti' e 'Overflow', sono risultate vincitrici nell’ambito di Toscana 100 band, iniziativa finanziata da Regione Toscana - Giovanisì.  Al bill del festival si aggiungono poi gli Small Jackets, formazione hard rock attiva da oltre quindici anni, e gli Endless Harmony, guidati dalla cantante italo-dominicana Pamela Pèrez. Prima dei Platonick Dive si esibirà Birthh, rivelazione di quest'anno con il magnifico 'Born In The Woods'. Nell’ottica di una valorizzazione del territorio sono state invitate anche tre band locali ovvero BetterPlace, The Fooots e The Trick. 

L'ingresso è libero e per entrambe le serate è stato organizzato un servizio bus navetta da Masotti con orario 20,30-24,30. 




mercoledì 27 luglio 2016

HIGHLORD - Hic Sunt Leones

"Hic Sunt Leones"

Release Date: 24.06.2016


Style: Heavy/Power Metal

Country: Italy

Tracklist:
1. Time For A Change
2. One World At A Time
3. Be King Or Be Killed
4. Let There Be Fire
5. Hic Sunt Leones
6. Wrong Side Of Sanity
7. Feathers To A Bird
8. Warmight
9. I’ve Chosen My Poison
10. Once Were Immortal
11. Full Circle

Per me è sempre un piacere parlare dei torinesi Highlord, band emersa sul finire degli anni 90 in pieno boom power metal e giunta oggi all'ottavo lavoro.

In questi anni la band ha avuto numerosi cambi di line-up, e anche il suono ha avuto la sua giusta evoluzione pur rimanendo sempre fedele a quel power metal che ha permesso ai nostri di ottenere riconoscimenti anche in Giappone, paese da sempre ricettivo a queste sonorità. 

Hic Sunt Leones è l’ennesimo lavoro di qualità, che non lascerà delusi gli aficionados.
L’impressione è che la band abbia guadagnato in impatto e potenza, perdendo in parte l’epicità dei primi lavori. Prova ne sono “One World At A Time” e “Be King Or Be Killed”, che aprono nel migliore dei modi tra ritmiche trascinanti e arrangiamenti come sempre curati. Non ho particolarmente apprezzato gli inserti in growl di “Let There Be Fire” e della citata “One World At A Time”, a mio avviso fuori luogo, ma che potrebbero anche aggiungere nuove sfumature al sound della band. Probabilmente il vertice di “Hic Sunt Leones”  è la title-track, 6 minuti di power metal sinfonico ai massimi livelli, con notevoli scambi tra tastiere e chitarra nella parte centrale. Il nuovo arrivato Marco Malacarne si rivela un “acquisto” azzeccatissimo: chitarrista competente e tecnicamente molto preparato. Altri brani da segnalare sono “I’ve Chosen My Poison” e “Warmight”: rocciosi, compatti e trascinanti.

Un lavoro e una band che meritano il nostro supporto incondizionato. 

7,5/10
Andrea

Line-up:
Andrea Marchisio – vocals
Marco Malacarne – guitars
Massimiliano Flak – bass
Luca “T-1000” Pellegrino – drums

http://www.highlordofficial.com
https://www.facebook.com/highlordmetalband

martedì 26 luglio 2016

Creinium – Hallucinosis

"Hallucinosis"

Release date: on 1st July

Label: Inverse Records

Style: metal band 

Country: Finland.

Track list:
01. Hallucinosis
02. Seams
03. Astral Strain
04. The Ophidian Heir
05. Vigilance
06. Passage To An Altered Portrait
07. Conscious Eclipse
08. Solarbound Colony
09. The Diminished Perception
10. Prometheus Through Immolation
11. Compulsive Transition
12. God Monument 


Catalogare i Creinium tra la miriade di melodic death metal band finlandesi sarebbe troppo facile e non renderebbe loro giustizia. Come testimoniano le dodici tracce che vanno a comporre Hallucinosis, i finnici  mescolano numerose influenze, partendo da una solida base metal dei conterranei Children Of Bodom, con quei riff death metal filtrati attraverso le tastiere, fino ad arrivare alle più oscure atmosfere elettro dark.

In possesso di una raffinatezza musicale e lirica coltivata nel tempo e volando sull'onda dell’entusiasmo tipico della loro età, il disco convoglia al suo interno le brucianti stratificazioni dei primi Dark Tranquillity, le transizioni un po’ incerte di metà carriera dei Paradise Lost, fino a giocarsi il jolly rock ruffiano degli HIM dell’era Dark Light.

A mantenere sobrio ed accrescere il suo fascino la potenza vocale di Eeli Helin, che raccoglie a sé la forza e la velocità degli Omnium Gatherum, confermando così il proprio DNA.

Che Hallucinosis sia un bel disco credo non vi siano dubbi al riguardo, unico neo, la recente partenza di molti membri che potrebbe gettare ombre sul loro futuro. 
Ai posteri l’ardua sentenza.
Al momento noi li promuoviamo a pieni voti.

8/10
Michela (Anesthesia)

Line-up on the album:
Aleksi Holma - Drums
Antti Myllynen - Keyboards
Eeli Helin - Vocals
Miiro Varjus - Bass
Tone Nyström - Guitars
Mikko Asplund - Guitars

Links:

ALTER BRIDGE - Launch Preorders For New Album "The Last Hero" & Premiere First Single "Show Me A Leader" Worldwide!

                                                         Photo Credit: Carlos Amoedo

FIRST SINGLE “SHOW ME A LEADER” PREMIERES ON RADIO STATIONS WORLDWIDE!

ALTER BRIDGE have announced their fifth studio album, The Last Hero, will be released on October 7 through Napalm Records. The Last Hero is the follow up to 2013's critically acclaimed Fortress, which swept into album charts worldwide - including a #6 slot in the UK, #12 in the US (Billboard 200), #7 in Germany and #4 in Austria. 

ALTER BRIDGE have announced their fifth studio album, The Last Hero, will be released on October 7 through Napalm Records. The Last Hero is the follow up to 2013's critically acclaimed Fortress, which swept into album charts worldwide - including a #6 slot in the UK, #12 in the US (Billboard 200), #7 in Germany and #4 in Austria. 

The band worked with producer and longtime collaborator Michael 'Elvis' Baskette to craft the songs for The Last Hero, recently showcasing those tracks at a special listening party for fans at The Beacham club in the band's home base of Orlando, FL. The sleeve artwork was also revealed.

lunedì 25 luglio 2016

Völur - "Disir"

"Disir"

Release date: June 24, 2016


Tracklist:
1. Es wächst aus seinem Grab
2. The Deep-Minded
3. White Phantom
4. Heiemo










Quando The Eldritch sembrava aver consegnato definitivamente i Blood Ceremony alla consacrazione della nuova frontiera doom, ecco che dalla sommità dalle montagne rocciose canadesi si affaccia un nuovo talento. Loro sono i Völur, che vantano tra i suoi fondatori proprio il bassista dei Blood Ceremony, Lucas Gadke.

Influenzati ed appagati dalle atmosfere europee, i Völur sembrano aver solcato gli oceani della vecchia scuola doom metal, molto simile al lavoro più lento dei primi Black Sabbath, volgendo al tempo stesso uno sguardo più benevolo verso quel prog rock intimista cesellato negli ultimi anni dai fratelli Cavanagh (Anathema).

Attingendo alla tipica atmosfera oscura del nord Europa, Disir riadatta completamente l’intera scena psichedelica con parsimonia negli arrangiamenti, grazie ai delicati pizzichi del violino di Laura Bates, soprattutto nei brani più coinvolgenti come The Deep-Minded e White Phantom.

Pensare che, in qualche modo, la magia dell’occulto e le atmosfere anni ’70 possano continuare a vivere attraverso un piccolo gioiello come questo, ci prepara più dolcemente all’imminente fine di un’era.

The End… o forse no.

7,5/10
Michela (Anesthesia)

Line-up:
Lucas Gadke – Electric bass, double bass & vocals
Laura C. Bates – Violin & vocals
James Payment – Drums

Facebook

Départe premiere first new album track




DÉPARTE are unleashing the first vitriolic song taken from their forthcoming full-length 'Failure, Subside'. The release date of their debut album has been slated on the 14th of October. 'Failure, Subside' is now exclusively streaming via Metalitalia


Frontman Sam Dishington comments on behalf of DÉPARTE: "Our new track 'Vessel' is a reaction to deeply entrenched feelings of isolation and futility. It deals with the despair of being stranded in that place, that void, and even still finding peace, stillness, and victory, drawing you out into the light. From a musical standpoint, 'Vessel' is quite broad, touching on many of the elements you can expect to hear throughout the rest of the album. Dark, crushing and dissonant, yet in the same breath powerful and emotive."

The Australian post-black metal extremists have previously revealed the cover art of 'Failure, Subside', which is based on a photograph by Alistair Davis of Zac Blain that has been edited by Sam Dishington and Michael Rankine. Artwork and track-list can be viewed below.


Tracklisting
1. Seas of Glass
2. Ashes in Bloom
3. Wither 
4. Grief Echoes (Golden Scars)
5. Mara's Choir
6. Vessel
7. Ruin 

Darkness descends, physically oppressive, a heavy weight on the chest. Black tendrils probing, intruding, coldness seeps into skull and bones. Pain and a crushing despair grip the soul. Yet this bleak onslaught is as precise as methodical. A grim determination drives this spike deep into the heart. With their debut album 'Failure, Subside', DÉPARTE set a new benchmark for musical viciousness. 

DÉPARTE were formed in Hobart, Tasmania as a black metal quartet at first under the name ØRANNIS in 2011. The Australians intended to create dark, brooding atmospheric black metal with a focus on an intense, hypnotic live performance. Yet with the addition of a second guitarist, their sound developed further. 

DÉPARTE started to drift from the more traditional black metal ethos, shed their face paint and incorporated elements from various other genres, such as post metal, drone, doom and death metal. The combination of these ingredients resulted in something unique, emotive and truly powerful. 

DÉPARTE released their first official demo 'MMXIV', which contained two tracks in November 2014. It speaks volumes that the band was already invited to share stages with local heroes such as NE OBLIVISCARIS, PORTAL, and THE AMENTA as well as international heavy-weights from the calibre of GORGUTS, ULCERATE, WORMED, ABSU, and many more.

DÉPARTE then proceeded to record their debut full-length 'Failure, Subside', an album which is now ready to sink its claws into any unwary listener. Beware of this black beast!

Line-up
Sam Dishington: guitar, vocals
Michael Rankine: drums
Mitchell Golding: guitar
Jarrod Sorbian: bass

www.facebook.com/departe
www.departenoise.com

venerdì 22 luglio 2016

Denominate released a single from their upcoming album.



A Finnish progressive death metal band Denominate have just released a single "Penumbra" from their upcoming album. The debut full length album "Those Who Beheld The End" is released August 5th 2016 via Inverse Records


Denominate draws influence from bands like Death and Carcass and blends it together with newer, more progressive and technical elements to create a progressive sound with a touch of old-school.

Listen to Penumbra on Spotify

Track list:
01. In A Chasm Of Stone
02. Degradation
03. Penumbra
04. The Demented Scholar of Abatos
05. Torments of Silence
06. Apeirophobia
07. Terrestrial Funeral

Line-up:
Vocals – Ville Männikkö
Guitars – Kimmo Raappana
Guitars – Eetu Pylkkänen
Bass – Tuomas Pesälä
Drums – Joni Määttä



Links:



TO CAST A SHADOW - Winter's Embrace

"Winter's Embrace"

Release date: June 24th, 2016


Genre: Gothic / Doom Metal

Country: Norvegia

Track List:
1. Seven Days
2. Into Oblivion
3. Bereft
4. Darkest Thoughts
5. When Death Comes
6. Devils Hand
7. Winters Embrace
8. Unveiled
9. A Secret Kingdom

A volte l’inverno può durare veramente in eterno se ci lasciamo andare alla sua oscurità. Troppo a lungo ci siamo fatti cullare dalle note tormentate di Last Fair Deal Gone Down dei Katatonia per accorgerci di chi stava percorrendo la medesima strada.

Il quartetto norvegese To Cast a Shadow torna rinnovato nella line up, offrendo un incredibile album doom/gothic metal che raccoglie il testimone da Toni Iommi per i suoi riff profondi e taglienti e rivolge a Jonas Renkse il suo sorriso sardonico.

Stimolata da Black Sabbath e Katatonia, appunto, la band riesce a domare sonorità riconducibili al doom, al gothic ma soprattutto all’heavy metal classico, dal quale Winter’s Embrace sembra traree la principale contaminazione, serpeggiando tra atmosfere surreali ed occulte, stimolato nel suo intimo dalla passionalità del nuovo vocalist Nils Stenmyren. Nove tracce che evocano vividi ricordi di un passato da conservare... ma non rimpiangere.

7/10
Michela (Anesthesia)

Line-Up:
Nils Stenmyren – vocals, guitars
Marcus Granlien – guitars, backing vocals
Stian Dalslåen – bass

giovedì 21 luglio 2016

MONOLITH WIELDER copertina e singolo del nuovo album


Gli Heavy Doomsters di Pittsburgh MONOLITH WIELDER svelano l'artwork e una canzone tratta dall'album omonimo in uscita il 17 ottobre.



"Monolith Wielder", registrato da Jason Jouver e masterizzato da Jack Endino, verrà pubblicato da ARGONAUTA Records in CD/DD. I pre-ordini saranno disponibili a breve.

Tracklist:
1. Illumination
2. Best Intentions
3. Angels Hide
4. Monolith Wielder
5. Lift Your Eyes
6. No Hope, No Fear
7. Chains
8. Into Madness
9. King Under Fire
10. Electric Hessian

A PERFECT DAY dal vivo al SONISPHERE‏


Gli A PERFECT DAY, che hanno pubblicato il nuovo album ‘The Deafening Silence’ lo scorso 18 marzo su Scarlet Records, saranno tra i protagonisti del SONISPHERE Festival di Roma il 24 luglio con Iron Maiden e molti altri.

Andrea Cantarelli, chitarrista e co-fondatore dei LABYRINTH, dichiara: "A Perfect Day, in questi anni, ha saputo mutare da 'semplice' side project allo stato di band vera e propria. Vedo in A Perfect Day la possibilità di mettere a frutto nel migliore dei modi l'esperienza maturata in più di 20 anni di carriera. Il Sonisphere è una grande occasione per noi di metterci in mostra al grande pubblico. E' il primo frutto di tanto lavoro e siamo certi che non sarà il solo".