Incoming! Seventh Station

 

Prog Metallers SEVENTH STATION’s Next Single "The Ruthless Koba" Reflects A Soviet Union Childhood

New Album "Heal the Unhealed" Out November 7th

Slovenian progressive metallers Seventh Station will be presenting their second album “Heal the Unhealed” this coming November. The record is an international effort - rehearsed and recorded through five different studios on three continents ranging from the United States, Slovenia, and Turkey. Full of magnificent sweeps, heavy riffs, and intricate melodies, the band creates an eclectic progressive experience.

For this sophomore effort, band founder and guitarist Dmitri Alperovich wanted to bring his personal point of view from his roots growing up as a Soviet Union child before his family moved to Israel, before finally settling in Slovenia.

"I went through a lot of different circumstances and the processes of adaptation for each country - also resulting in anxiety and panic attacks after all these significant paradigm shifts. Heal The Unhealed is a personal reflection on these experiences and the psychological states they brought, voiced through different characters, including the primary actors of the conditions I had back in the Soviet Union," adds Alperovich.

Today, Seventh Station presents a studio video for their third single "The Ruthless Koba", which is an original arrangement of Dmitri Shostakovich's 10th Symphony - 2nd Movement (op. 93).

Alperovich explains the song in further detail:

"This instrumental track is an original arrangement of a classical orchestral epic, Dmitri Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony, second movement. The arrangement was written by Dmitri Alperovich and it’s the second part of the Soviet Union / Stalin trilogy. The original movement is a description by Shostakovich, of the circumstances and conditions through Stalin’s evilness as the ruler of the Soviet Union. It was very important for us to represent the atmosphere of the original work, so we made a great effort to both respects and celebrate it through the arrangement decisions. Koba was the nickname that Stalin was given by his close friends and the name of the track is an attempt to show the duality between the “friendly” Koba and the ruthless dictator."

Watch and listen to "The Ruthless Koba" via its premiere on MetalInsider HERE.

Following their debut album 2016's "Between Life and Dreams", Seventh Station's sophomore record “Heal the Unhealed” comes out after two years of delay due to the Covid pandemic, and the band is excited to share its six creative and inventive progressive influenced metal songs. Ready to be discovered, it's a hidden gem that was on the shelf way too long and its timing couldn’t be more appropriate. Overall, the album reflects historical events and their psychologies throughout its listening experience. From dreamy atmospheres to technical madness', it’s a musically diverse record.

Vocalist Davidavi Dolev, who was involved for the first time with writing lyrics and vocal lines, explains the full length:

"I wanted to find the right ‘voice’ for the lyrics, trying to voice Dmitri’s musical ideas through surrealism and through the absurd. So, lyrically the point was to magnify even more the panic attacks Dmitri was trying to describe, through the light of harsh and incomprehensible historical events. This album could very much be a progressive assault on the ear, very much for the open-minded, not at all for the weak-hearted. Musically this album is choosing the long path rather than quick gratification but at the same time very satisfying for those who manage to go through this entire orchard."

Applying the knowledge and techniques from classical music in to progressive metal, Seventh Station is an artistic progressive metal band that makes personal storytelling into an auditory event that must be experienced from beginning the end.

Recommended for fans of Dream Theater, Symphony X, and Opeth, Seventh Station's “Heal the Unhealed” comes out on November 7, 2022.

The album pre-order is available at http://www.seventh-station.com.

Music Video - All Hail the Moustache - https://youtu.be/-upgWRhKqz0

Music Video - The Heart of a Nation (Nadia) - https://youtu.be/q8dbzZbTHgY

Track Listing:
1. Unspoken Thoughts (07:37)
2. Seven Digits (07:36)
3. The Heart of a Nation (Nadia) (12:27)
4. The Ruthless Koba (05:19)
5. All Hail the Moustache (12:04)
6. A Final Bow (13:41)
Album Length: 58:47

Album Recording and Live Band Line Up:
- Dmitri Alperovich - Guitar
- Eren Basbug - Keyboards
- Davidavi Dolev - Vocals
- Jure Lopatic - Bass
- Grega Plamberger - Drums and Percussion

For more info:
Facebook.com/SeventhStation
Instagram.com/seventhstationofficial

About: Seventh Station is a progressive metal band based in Slovenia, led by Israeli Guitarist Dmitri Alperovich and Turkish Keyboardist Eren Başbuğ. Constructing their sound by fusing progressive metal with contemporary classical music, the band’s new album Healed the Unhealed is their second full-length record, released independently. Featuring an international lineup, Davidavi “Vidi” Dolev (Vocals), Jure Lopatic (Bass), and Grega Plamberger (Drums). On their new record, Seventh Station adds to their “on the edge” performances and compositions more blood, more sweat, and more tears.

Formed between the Academy of Music & Dance in Jerusalem and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Seventh Station released its debut album Between Life and Dreams in 2016. After relocating to Europe and a few line-up changes, Alperovich and Başbuğ knew no borders in the search for uncompromising compositions and musical executors, progressive and challenging. After several tours between the Middle East and post-Yugoslavia, the band gathered together on recording ‘Heal the Unhealed’. Inspired by the Second World War and the Soviet Union, the album is an hour-long reflection in the eyes of Alperovich, who was born in Minsk, Belarus, moved to Israel and eventually found his way to Slovenia. Featuring surrealistic epos, harnessing the band’s skillful abilities in order to express Kafkaesque situations, Heal the Unhealed examines resemblances between dictatorships and the personality disorders of an artist.

Seventh Station is now gearing up for their upcoming record Heal the Unhealed released on November 7th, 2022, along with a supporting tour through Europe and the Middle East, to be announced later this Fall.

Maiden DNA Interviews

The Iron Maiden DNA interview series on ROX TV. 3 great interviews with the people who helped shape Maiden into the band it became…

Gypsys Kiss.  https://youtu.be/Bwqo1O1c7v8

Terry Wapwrams Buffalo Fish. https://youtu.be/alRjGl3Apnk

Thunderstick. https://youtu.be/XVNHuvK_Rxo

Incoming! Upon Your Grave

 

Quebec City's UPON YOUR GRAVE Now Streaming “Gold & Decay” On NoCleanSinging

New EP "Gold & Decay" Out October 7th; mixed and mastered by Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy)

NoCleanSinging is now streaming the latest EP from Quebec death metal act Upon Your Grave. With the help of a successful GoFundMe campaign, the band was able to record “Gold & Decay” with producer Chris Donaldson of Cryptopsy in March. This collaboration was the perfect fit that would elevate their performances to a more genuine and aggressive sound. Vocalist Jordan Jolicoeur shares his thoughts on the theme of the EP:

“The theme exposes the duality of beauty and horror and their relation to each other. Nothing is black or white, everything is a nuance of grey living independently in every distinct mind. The heart also represents the revival of the band from the ashes, beating a creative flow in each of our personal lives. The golden heart also represents the power of creativity unphased by the passing of time and the withering of leaves. Instead beating stronger and renewed like the passing seasons. Its creative, aggressive and more mature than any other effort we put out until now.”

The EP is five tracks that each show off the capabilities of this band that has been around since 2009. Over the years, they have experimented with their sound and are now steady and impressive. A live show involves energy, full on impact with the crowd, funny moments and overall a tight performance, that is true to the recordings.

Proving that work ethic and perseverance can truly refine a band’s sound to what they had always been striving for, this new release will be a fresh start for great things to come and is only the beginning of a flourishing career.

Upon Your Grave delivers everything discerning metalheads look for in an album, they incorporate crushing vocals blended with catchy melodies, bad ass guitar riffs and memorable solos, the album is recommend for fans of Daath, Lamb of God, and The Black Dahlia Murder.

The EP “Gold & Decay” is being released on October 7, 2022 and be heard in full before its official release via its premiere on NoClenSinging HERE.

Fun Fact: Main composer/guitarist Sim Diamond was a finalist on Banger TV's Shredders of Metal Season 1 - https://youtu.be/smraNlKUdcU?t=265

EP pre-order - https://uponyourgrave.bandcamp.com

Music Video - “Supremacy” - https://youtu.be/Wt4kw3d6bTE

Music Video - “Pandora” - https://youtu.be/zukpcrmhwxE

Lyric Video - “Transcend” - https://youtu.be/-BnBzcjmZJ4E

Show Dates:
Nov 12 - Bar Paradox - La Baie, QC
Dec 10 - La Source de La Martiniere - Quebec, QC (EP launch show)

Track Listing:
1. Revived (0:40)
2. From Beyond (4:57)
3. Pandora (3:04)
4. Supremacy (4:59)
5. Transcend (5.02)
EP Length: 18:01

EP Lineup:
Yan Pelletier - Bass
Sim Diamond - Lead Guitar
Jordan Jolicoeur - Vocals
Sebastien Gagné - Drums
Alex Bussieres - Rythm Guitar

EP Credits:
- ALL SONGS PERFORMED BY : UPON YOUR GRAVE
- ALL SONGS WRITTEN BY : SIM DIAMOND
- PRODUCED BY : UPON YOUR GRAVE
- MIXED BY : CHRISTIAN DONALDSON
- MASTERED BY : CHRISTIAN DONALDSON
- EP ARTWORK BY : MEIKE HAKKAART

For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/UponYourGrave
https://www.instagram.com/uponyourgrave
https://www.twitter.com/UponYourGrave

Quick EPK - https://wp.me/pciNW-i76

About:
Established in 2009, Quebec, Canada-based death metal act, Upon Your Grave, is finally back swinging.

In 2019, at the dawn of the band’s 10th anniversary, Sim Diamond, Alex Bussieres and Jordan Jolicoeur grasped the opportunity given by the lockdown to start writing and rehearsing for a new album. This is their first effort since the Eponym debut album back in 2013. During their time away from Upon Your Grave, each member stayed active by releasing albums with other projects like Vibrant Heels and Universal Minds. Lead guitarist Sim Diamond also got to be part of Sam Dunn's Shredders of Metal season 1 and made it all the way to the finals in Toronto. Now adding two new members to the mix, Sebastien Gagné on drums and Yan Pelletier on bass, two good friends from the local band Scars Of Disgrace, the band had found their perfect lineup to go forward.

With the help of a successful GoFundMe campaign, the band was able to go record a new EP with Chris Donaldson of Cryptopsy in March of 2022. this collaboration was the perfect fit that would elevate their performances to a more genuine and aggressive sound. Incorporating crushing vocals blended with catchy melodies, bad-ass guitar riffs and memorable solos that remind us of bands such as Daath, Lamb of God, Sylosis and even All Shall Perish.

Gold & Decay proves that work ethic and perseverance can truly refine a band’s sound to what they had always been striving for. This new release will be a fresh start for great things to come and is only the beginning of a flourishing career.

Incoming! Matt Miller

 

Multi-Instrumentalist MATT MILLER Video For Progressive, Cinematic Single “The Acheron”

New Album “Monument of Velocity” Out Now!

Akademia-Award-winning producer, engineer, and songwriter Matt Miller side-steps these industry achievements to embark on something deeply introspective and personal; a transcendent, reactionary and vile personage embodying soaring progressive melodies and captivating crushing rhythms, which engulf the listener in black clouds of desperation and shimmering hope. His latest instrumental album “Monument of Velocity” is the sixth out of seven in his discography, which boasts three originals and four covers. As an instrumental artist, he believes it allows me more freedom not only creatively but also as a performer. He intends for his music to feel unrelenting to the audience. He comments on the album and the single “The Acheron”:

“Most of “Monument of Velocity” was written without a guitar. After the initial riffs were recorded, the rest of the song was written during the notation process. The album takes you on a journey and makes a bold statement. I like to think of the songs on the album as scenes from a movie. “Acheron” is a joyous expression that slowly turns into something much more prolific.”

Miller expects “Monument of Velocity” to go over well as it has a lot to offer metal fans of all genres and encompasses the best elements of technical guitar playing while still having well-written songs. Most of the album was written without a guitar. This approach forces Miller to think outside the box creating a sound that is more melodic and rhythmically interesting.

Soaring, crushing, ferocious, and emotive, Miller conveys a wide range of tones throughout his instrumental music. It is recommended for fans of Dragon Force, Racer X, and Jeff Loomis.

The video for “The Acheron” can be seen and heard at https://youtu.be/bKkMTLG2dPo

“Monument of Velocity” was released on July 19, 2022 via Blood Blast Distribution (powered by Nuclear Blast and Believe Digital) and available on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music.

Music Video - The Obscurantist - https://youtu.be/5PJQpqLZSz4

Guitar playthrough - Coral Sword - https://youtu.be/wQ18boWD4G0

Track Listing
1. The Fissure (1:01)
2. Abominable Sands (3:13)
3. The Obscurantist (3:18)
4. Monument of Velocity (4:32)
5. Coral Sword (3:27)
6. Sacred Geometry (3:32)
7. Acheron (3:15)
8. Human Race Against Time (3:38)
Album Length: 25:59

For more info:
https://mattmillerhhakmusi.wixsite.com/mattm
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100052177364686
https://www.instagram.com/mattmiller630

EPK - https://wp.me/pciNW-itE

Booking - Extreme Management Group
Mark Kloeppel - emg.markkloeppel[@]gmail[.]com

About:
Akademia-Award-winning producer, engineer, and songwriter MATT MILLER side-steps these industry achievements to embark on something deeply introspective and personal; a transcendent, reactionary and vile personage embodying soaring progressive melodies and captivating crushing rhythms which engulf the listener in black clouds of desperation and shimmering hope.

Drawing upon the gut-wrenching timed-precision of European death metal stalwarts NECROPHAGIST and SPAWN OF POSSESSION, MATT MILLER progressively blends this approach with deep synthetic and symphonic atmospheres like that of DEVIN TOWNSEND, often arriving at surprisingly emotive and heart-clenching metallic passages like that of RIVERS OF NIHIL.

Calling upon other single-member death metal projects such as PUTRID PILE or INSIDIOUS DECREPANCY, the live performance can best be described as a reclaiming and repainting of the earth by a relentlessly sweeping and deranged berzerker appealing to the vast minions of the extreme music. The combination of elements within MATT MILLER distills the traditions of the international metal realm, the progressive atmospheres of modernity, and reactions to a vile world into a single unrelenting persona of despair and vengeance.

MATT MILLER’s first self-produced instrumental EP came in 2017, drawing on influences from classic metal bands such as MEGADETH and IRON MAIDEN to shredders like YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and PAUL GILBERT, while combining a technical death metal approach to create a maximum intensity music with a frenetic and frantic feel and ferocious atmosphere. Since then, and a few releases into this brief career, MATT MILLER boasts 12,000 consistent monthly listeners on Spotify before hitting the international touring circuit. This was garnered from his 2017 EP, the 2021 self-released ‘Decrepit Shed’ LP, the ‘Reekomposer/Decomposer’ covers double LP, as well as the ‘8E’s’ 1980’s themed covers LP.

In 2022 Matt released the formidable original instrumental LP Monument of Velocity on Blood Blast Distribution. Matt also toured supporting Rings of Saturn on the CYBER SHRED TOUR 2022. 29 shows encompassing the continental United States. Matt has released the cover LP Only What the Light Allows through Blood Blast Distribution as well.

Matt Miller hails from the rain soaked northern Oregon Coast; influenced by the natural foreboding environment. Moving into the present, MATT MILLER has joined up with Extreme Management Group to spread a singularly relentless auditory mind-bend.

Incoming! Black Hole

 

Rockshots Records - Black Hole Unveil First Single "Never Surrender" Off Upcoming Album "Whirlwind of Mad Men" Out November 2022

Rockshots Records is proud to announce their latest signing BLACK HOLE for the release of their new album "Whirlwind of Mad Men" due out on November 11th, 2022.

Presenting anthemic guitar riffs, powerful rhythms, frenzied solos, and enlightening vocals, brace yourself for a power metal band that's progressive, symphonic, and strongly influenced by masters of the genre such as Stratovarius, Kamelot, Powerwolf, Nightwish, and Iron Maiden.

Today, in preview of the album, BLACK HOLE is unveiling the first single "Never Surrender" off the forthcoming album. The track offers up a Celtic atmosphere that is inspired by the character of "Braveheart" William Wallace who fought to save his land.

"It is a message to all those who have fought, are fighting, and will fight for their country and their freedom." adds the band.

Listen "Never Surrender" at https://bfan.link/never-surrender-2

Formed in the East of France, BLACK HOLE is a collective of musicians who play and perform for the pleasure and passion of metal above all. Their new album "Whirlwind of Mad Men" follows their two EPs "Victim of Illusion" (2000), "Children of the Sun" (2006), and their first full-length 2018's "Lost World" (Via Nocturna). Since their inception BLACK HOLE has supported bands like Nightwish, Rage, Evergrey, John Oliva's Pain, Firewind, Circle II Circle, Jeff Scott Soto, Nightmare, Vulcan, Killers, Shakra, Tankard along with performing on multiple festivals in France (Foire aux Vins, Festival Fracass), Germany (Regio Jam), and Belgium (Devil's Rock for an Angel).

Their sophomore full-length "Whirlwind of Mad Men" navigates between heavy and power metal with melodies carried between the vocals and guitar solos along with being supported by solid rhythmic parts and great orchestral pieces which give intensity to the compositions. The diversity of all the songs allows listeners to travel through various atmospheres and contexts. The album's goal is to give feelings of power while mastering strong emotional moments.

The new album also features new memberChristophe (keyboards/orchestrations), adding more epic and orchestrated tracks. A collaboration that promises to be more interesting than their previous record "Lost World". Mixing and mastering were helmed by Roland Grapow (ex-Helloween, Masterplan) who also added a guitar solo on the album's cover track of Iron Maiden's "Fear of the Dark".

"We are very happy to be releasing this powerful symphonic metal album. We have worked hard to deliver a high-quality product. The lyrics, the moods, the symphonic arrangements, and the performances of each individual give a special resonance to this record. The overall sound and the sound of each instrument has been an essential point throughout the genesis and we are proud of the finished product. The visual side is not to be outdone. The high-quality artwork represents well the universe of the themes and the general atmosphere of the album. We hope that fans will take as much pleasure to listen to it as we did to conceive it." adds the band.

Recommended for fans of Stratovarius, Kamelot, Powerwolf, Nightwish, and Myrath, BLACKHOLE's "Whirlwind of Mad Men" is available on November 11th, 20222, and available for pre-order at https://bit.ly/Whirlwind_CD.

In additional news, Black Hole will be performing this Friday, October 7th their new album in full for fans at Le Triangle in Huningue, France. The band explains in a video via their Facebook page here.

 

Track Listing:
1. Chasing The Kraken - 3:56
2. Walking With The Devil - 4:12
3. Dark Horizon - 4:19
4. Whirlwind of Mad Men - 3:51
5. Legend of Justine - 5:04
6. My Precious Dream - 4:56
7. Never Surrender - 5:24
8. Breaking The Rules - 5:43
9. Line of Sight - 5:41
10. My Friend - 4:30
11. Deliverance - 7:07
12. No Return - 3:12
13. Fear of the Dark (Iron Maiden cover) - 7:31
14. Dream On (Aerosmith cover) - 4:30
Album Length: 1:10:01

Black Hole is:
Fabio Torrisi (vocals)
Matthieu Acker (Guitar)
Patrick Umber (Bass)
Christophe Brunner (Drums)
Christophe Burghard (keyboards/orchestrations)

For more info:
https://www.rockshots.eu
http://www.black-hole.fr
https://www.facebook.com/blackhole.official.fanpage

Incoming! Iron Kingdom

 

Here's the next promo to check out for Vancouver's heavy metallers IRON KINGDOM and their new album "The Blood of Creation" (their fifth release) due out on November 4th.

You might be familiar with their band from highly praised 2019 full-length "On The Hunt", which took the band to new heights with tours across Canada, the USA, and Europe along with topping the Canadian loud radio charts at #5 (Earshot) and garnering such reviews as "Holy Shit! Have you heard Iron Kingdom's On the Hunt? If you haven't you are missing out on one of the coolest albums of 2019. 10/10" (Keeper Magazine),"Classic sound, modern feel" Powerplay Magazine (UK), "a glorious gallop of foot on the monitor, traditional heavy metal that will have NWOBHM fans drooling. 9/10" (Metal Gods TV) and "40 minutes of enjoyable no-frills classic metal." (Angry Metal Guy). 

"The Blood of Creation" continues the reign of classic heavy metal that Iron Kingdom has been presenting over the years to music lovers of the style along with keeping the flame burning for a new generation.

"We wanted to create music in a style of metal that seemed to have been forgotten when we were kids. Since no one else seemed to be doing it, we decided to play metal the way it used to be played in the 70s and 80s. That was the reason for forming Iron Kingdom. Essentially, we wanted to give people an exciting show like an early Iron Maiden, Scorpions, or Saxon show from the 1980s." recalls Osterman on the beginnings of the band.

Iron Kingdom has come a long way since their 2011 debut "Curse Of The Voodoo Queen" and their next offering is a potent full force of classic shredding heavy metal thunder and will take the fans into some unique fantastic worlds, but will also show a dark side of storytelling.

"I think we started as a bit more of a hard rock band on the first record, taking a progressive metal dive for Gates Of Eternity and Ride For Glory, then for On The Hunt, I’d say we went fully classic metal, leading into this new record being a pretty solid mix of all those styles combined. We also came out of the pandemic, which brought some darker emotions some people may have never experienced previously that I think this album may parallel. In the end though, we want people to get the chance to escape this world for a time and find solace in the music." adds Osterman.

The new album also sees new drummer Max Friesen (ex-Ophelia Falling) making his recording debut with the band to add another angle to their songwriting for this release. The album was self-produced by Iron Kingdom with mixing done by Andy Boldt and mastering by Greg Reely (Overkill, Fear Factory, 3 Inches of Blood).

Recommended for fans of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Helloween, and Saxon.

Below I've included their link to their info and album for media coverage (interview, feature, spotlight, album review, radio airplay of single "In The Grip of Nightmares", social media share, news share, Spotify add, etc.).

Radio Single
- In The Grip of Nightmares - https://youtu.be/Z0HrAd6WGNI 

Latest News Item - https://ashermediarelations.com/2022/09/06/bravewords-premiering-canadian-nwothm-iron-kingdoms-new-single-in-the-grip-of-nightmares-new-album-the-blood-of-creation-out-november-4th/ 

Incoming! Graveshadow

 

The Sacramento-based quintet GRAVESHADOW – who deftly mixes symphonic/gothic metal with elements and influences from a variety of styles to create something epic, progressive, melodic and powerful - release a brand-new music video for “The Betrayer” from their recently released comeback album, ‘The Uncertain Hour’, which can be seen here - https://youtu.be/fshpIWhMTbQ

The footage that comprises the clip was shot on the band’s recent west coast headlining tour from a show at Seattle’s Funhouse venue by Karl Whinnery, bassist from tour and labelmates Vintersea.

“’The Betrayer’ was written with the intention of continuing the more power metal direction that was introduced with the release of [the first single] ‘Gwynnbleidd,’” explains guitarist Aaron Robitsch. [Guitarist] Will also wanted to make more use of guitar harmonies, and I think this song showcases that well. It also continues a theme we have become known for -- lyrics about World of Warcraft.”

“This song became an early favorite of mine during the recording process. Aaron worked out the idea to have a video shot while we were on tour and the fantastic Karl Whinnery from Vintersea helped us out by shooting it,” states guitarist William Lloyd Walker. “Really happy with how it came out and a huge thanks to Karl for helping us put this together.”

GRAVESHADOW’s third album, ‘The Uncertain Hour,’ was produced by Miss May I guitarist Justin Aufdemkampe (Clutch, War of Ages), mastered by Alberto De Icaza (Crobot, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) and features artwork by Roman Ismaylov (Battle Beast, Beast In Black). It sees a new lineup for GRAVESHADOW now augmented by the newfound energy that has been brought into the band by the soaring melodic performance of new vocalist Rachl “Raxx” Quinn and the rumbling rhythm section of new bassist Luci Rae and new drummer Bones Padilla. The returning guitar duo of William Lloyd Walker and Aaron Robitsch once again deliver a beautiful display of guitar histrionics that tastefully mix searing shred with warm melody, while Aaron even adds some harsh backing vocals. GRAVESHADOW are back on the scene with a story to tell. Intertwining melodic highs and crushing lows to sweep listeners away on a journey of self-discovery, loss and the will to carry on.

Jewelcase CDs and limited-edition vinyl (200 copies) of ‘The Uncertain Hour’ are available in stores or can be ordered online from www.smarturl.com/graveshadow, as well as digital downloads/streaming.

Three digital singles and videos have been released in the buildup for the album. The first taste of new music from the reformed lineup came with The Witcher inspired song “Gwynnebleidd” https://youtu.be/XrorDG70g3Q way back in May 2020. It proved the revamped quintet could create new music and be accepted by their existing fanbase and a new audience. Collaborating on more new music further sessions continued and were evidenced by “Soldier Of 34” https://youtu.be/qXDzhkfRjuM and “The Swordsman” (the latter even featuring guest vocals from Chelsea Murphy of Dawn of Ouroboros, Cailleach Calling and Tegmentum) https://youtu.be/WnFOUN9S4aw.

Additionally, GRAVESHADOW will perform two shows in Northern California next month with direct support on both shows coming from buzzworthy So Cal band Our Dying World.

Upcoming GRAVESHADOW live shows
10/14 Cafe Colonial – Sacramento, CA
10/15 Hotel Utah Saloon – San Francisco, CA

GRAVESHADOW's previous album, 2018's ‘Ambition's Price,’ was given accolades by Metal Utopia for being “a great record with lots of great moments for fans of Nightwish and The Birthday Massacre.” Metal Nation praised ‘Ambition's Price,’ declaring that “GRAVESHADOW has taken what has become a somewhat complacent and stagnant style of metal and breathed fresh life into it, creating something vibrant and memorable.” The fantastical lyrical themes that were explored by the band on ‘Ambition's Price’ - their debut record for M-Theory Audio and the follow-up to the group's incubatory 2015 debut full-length ‘Nocturnal Resurrection’ - were applauded by critics and fans alike. The band followed the release of ‘Ambition's Price’ by winning over new audiences with extensive touring alongside bands such as Arkona, Sirenia, Exmortus, Night Demon, and Unleash The Archers.

Track Listing:
1. Soldier of 34 (6:04)
2. Gwynnbleidd (4:18)
3. Sea of Apparitions (3:55)
4. The Swordsman (5:28)
5. Vengeance of Envy (3:57)
6. A Beautiful End (4:54)
7. The Betrayer (4:12)
8. Shadow Battles (4:19)
9. The Two Lived (6:45)
10. Damsel’s Finesse (7:05)
Album Length: 51:04

GRAVESHADOW is:
Rachl ‘Raxx’ Quinn – vocals
William Lloyd Walker – guitars
Aaron Robitsch – guitars/keyboards
Luci Rae – bass
Bones – drums

For more information:
www.m-theoryaudio.com
www.facebook.com/graveshadow
www.instagram.com/graveshadow

Incoming! Wednseday 13

 

Heavy horror punk icon WEDNESDAY 13 has climbed his way to the top of the horrendous heights of rock, punk and metal with his electrifying solo music and as frontman of renowned horror punk supergroup Murderdolls, amassing a colossal cult-following along the way. In 2022, the undisputed harbinger of metal horror returns, following up on 2019’s acclaimed Necrophaze (#2 US Heatseekers) with Horrifier – a brand new slathering of 11 terrifyingly grim and groovy anthems to get blood pumping and brains melting! Showcasing a blend of styles from the band’s 20-year career, Horrifier manages to weave an underlying sonic thread reminiscent of WEDNESDAY 13’s roots – a raucous blend of ballistic metal and macabre heavy rock that’ll have new and diehard fans alike ascending from the depths. As always, various tracks on the album are inspired by classic horror flicks, this time circling cult-favorite slasher John Carpenter’s Halloween and the iconic Christine supernatural thrillers. WEDNESDAY 13’s ninth full-length album kicks off with eerie introductory track “Severed” before careening into one of the band’s heaviest songs ever recorded, the massive, slow and low “Insides Out”, accented by hair-raising guitar leads and slithering vocals. The aggressive, industrial-edged “Exhume and Devour” and warning sing-a-long single “You’re so Hideous” pick up the pace with danceable 90s sonic vigor, while surefire hit “Good Day to Be a Bad Guy” aces the pure horror punk spirit of Murderdolls as a downright blissful tongue-in-cheek earworm that’ll seep into the listener’s head on repeat. John Carpenter’s Halloween inspired anthem “Return to Haddonfield” convinces with marching gang vocals and a searing metallic guitar solo before the pace picks up again on fast-riffing, mosh-ready title track “Horrifier”. Southern-fried metal tinged “Hell Is Coming” is one of the album’s best displays of stylistic versatility, accented by an impressively commanding vocal performance while pumping out a thrash-worthy breakdown and blues rock solo. “Halfway to the Grave” sees the band echoing 80s flavor accented by memorable leads and imploring lyrics before leading into the charging Christine themed album standout “Christine: Fury in the Night”, featuring pounding drums, an unforgettable hook and a transfixing guitar lead that quite literally drives. Horrifier closes with its most heartfelt track, “The Other Side” – a personal ode WEDNESDAY 13 penned about the sudden loss of his mother, as well as former Murderdolls bandmate Joey Jordison – but that also shines as a vital anthem made further pertinent after recent years of intense worldwide loss and reflection. Horrifier was produced and recorded by WEDNESDAY 13 with mixing and mastering by Brent Clawson, and features stunning album artwork by Jonny Bush. A dynamic journey into the 20-year career-spanning sound of WEDNESDAY 13, Horrifier revitalizes with something for every listener to latch onto – boasting intensely fun horror punk energy with gruesome metallic attitude!

Incoming! Kings of Mercia

 

Album: Kings Of Mercia

Release Date: September 22, 2022

Bio by Dan Slessor

 

The combination of big riffs, driving rhythms, thick yet lithe bass lines and rich vocal melodies has made for some of the greatest music of all time, and in the hands of Kings Of Mercia this recipe is intoxicating. Best known as the founding guitarist for Fates Warning, but with countless other projects under his belt - including Arch / Matheos and most recently Tuesday The Sky - Jim Matheos is incapable of stifling his creativity. In early 2021, he started working on the songs that would become Kings Of Mercia’s self-titled debut album, bringing his distinct style yet doing something a little different. “I started writing without any real idea of what direction I wanted to go in or what I was going to do with the material. The first few songs came together quickly and were a bit more straightforward than I’m used to, and I really liked that idea, kind of going back to my early heavy/hard rock roots.” Not having any pre-conceived ideas of what the record should or would end up sounding like, at least early on, certainly helped, “as did the fact that it’s our first record, so there was nothing to measure it against or expectations to live up to, even if only in my own head.”

 

Churning out songs, Matheos’ next concern was to find the musicians who would help him realize the material, and his first priority was a vocalist. Putting together a list of 30-40 contenders he contacted a handful but none of them worked out for various reasons, and it was his friend Jeff Wagner who suggested FM’s Steve Overland, and another friend, rock journalist Dave Ling, who put them in touch with each other. “Jim had asked Dave for my contact details, we talked about his idea for mixing the two styles, his heavier background, with my melodic/bluesier direction,” says Overland. “We decided to try a collaboration on one song and see how it worked, we came up with the track “Humankind”, and we both loved it.” The combination of Matheos’ riffs and Overland’s vocals makes for perfect bedfellows, and the evident chemistry belies the fact they have never met. “We both wrote on our own, me completing songs instrumentally and then sending them to Steve who wrote the lyrics and recorded the vocals on his own. But there was never a moment where he said, ‘I don’t really like this part, or that song’, and likewise there was never anything that he sent me where I thought, ‘Hmm, I’m not sure about that…’ Everything I sent to him he worked on as is and everything he sent back to me ended up being final vocals, first time around. So there wasn’t any of the usual ‘what if you try this instead?’ that I’m so used to. That was really refreshing.” Having already settled on this hard rock direction, it was only once Matheos got the first couple of songs back from Overland that it became all the way clear of the shape the record would take, with the vocalist sending over his parts every few weeks, everything gradually coming together. “I think “Humankind” set a precedent for the way the album would go,” says Overland. “It’s a heavy anthemic track, but it’s hooky and has melody. Although the songs all have their own identity, I think they are all very powerful. Lyrically, it’s very varied, and there is a different subject matter and story in every song, so there’s no concept or thread that runs throughout the album.”

 

Behind the kit for the record is the legendary Simon Phillips (ex-Toto, Derek Sherinian), one of Matheos’ favorite drummers. “I decided to contact him on a whim, not really expecting that he’d be available or interested in this project. But, to my surprise, he liked the music and was able to fit some recording into his schedule. It’s an honor to share a credit with him and I couldn’t be happier with what he added to the record.” Rounding out the group is bassist Joey Vera - Matheos’ Fates Warning bandmate - who brings his trademark style and professionalism to the table. “My old friend and co-worker Joey Vera was a natural choice for bass. Not only did I know he would deliver performance-wise, but it was nice to have a familiar face among the new personalities.” With these players involved it was an easy, stress-free process throughout, making music for the love of it, and coming up with something that sounds familiar yet new, expanding the repertoire of all involved. This means songs like the half-acoustic ballad, half-swaggering “Too Far Gone” or the beautiful “Everyday Angels”, and the soaring “Wrecking Ball”, which opens the record on a high note, all brought to life in dynamic style.

 

The hardest part of the whole process was coming up with a name for the band. “We didn’t want to go with Matheos / Overland, or Overland / Matheos, etc, and Steve and I probably batted around 50 ideas before settling on Kings Of Mercia. It’s pretty much the only one we both liked. There’s no specific meaning or message behind it.” It made sense to self-title the record due to it being the band’s debut, and given how much life there is in the songs it would not be surprising if it did not become the first of many, the combination of those involved creating something special, and with Matheos’ permanent creative hunger you may well be hearing a lot more from Kings Of Mercia.

 
LINE-UP:
 
Jim MATHEOS - Guitars
Steve OVERLAND - Vocals
Simon PHILLIPS - Drums
Joey VERA – Bass
 
Kings of Mercia TRACK-LISTING:
 
Wrecking BallHumankindSweet RevengeSet the World on FireToo Far GoneLiberate MeNowhere ManEveryday AngelsIs It Right?Your Life
 
ONLINE: http://www.metalblade.com/kingsofmercia