OPETH - THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

It's always a musical and emotional journey listening to an Opeth album. Many questions arise – will it be melodic death metal, how progressive will it be, will the vocals be melodic and will there be any new instrumentation?

This 14th studio album, each song (with the last one the exception) is titled by a section sign (§), as per the definition a typographical character for referencing individually numbered sections of a document. The concept is set in the post-World War I era, the story of a wealthy, conservative father whose last will and testament reveals shocking family secrets. I am listening to a stream so it’s good to pick up a format that includes lyrics.

Musically, it’s progressive as you would want it, with first single and opener begun by drum patterns and melodic guitars before the rhythm kicks in to familiar musical territories, the death metal vocal a counterbalance to the melodic parts, representing two emotions. And for Opeth it’s nothing new and works for the composition as it travels from hard to melodic parts, Hammond organ, and guitar solo. After becoming familiar with Opeth, you know this all works within an arrangement. The last minute ride out incorporates a melodic orchestral part, voices that flows right in to “§2” which at the start is angry and aggressive, music and vocally. But then all of a sudden, a switch to a melodic verse with another orchestra piece and spoken words with Joey Tempest (Europe), to further the story.

FINLAND’S FIRE ACTION – NEW SINGLE “SURVIVE” ISSUED

Finnish metallers Fire Action have issued their electrifying new single and music video for "Survive", marking a thunderous preview of their upcoming studio album Until The Heat Dies. The single is also accompanied by a music video.

Guitar player Juri Vuortama states: "'Survive' is about - well - surviving. It comes after 'No Drone Zone' on the LP so maybe we defeated the evil powers pretty quick!"

With three albums - Rock Brigade (2016), Fahrenhater (2018), and 9112 (2020) - to their name, Fire Action are anything but newcomers and have long established themselves as an integral part of Finland's metal scene. However, their international career looks to gain added momentum with Until The Heat Dies and an exciting new contract with Steamhammer/SPV.

HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: Thunder, Lightning, Strike – The Go! Team

THE GO! TEAM emerged out of Brighton in the early to mid 2000s in an explosion of noise, colour and life affirming glory and their 2004 debut album Thunder, Lightning, Strike encapsulated all of these facets in a cacophony of brilliant sounds. It’s a album that sounds as fresh today as it did when it first came out.



THE GO! TEAM was the brainchild of Ian Parton and what started as a project that consisted of Parton alongside his brother Gareth, after the release of Thunder, Lightning, Strike which was released on the Memphis Industries label, soon morphed into a full live band. This was solidified after the band were invited to play at a festival in Sweden with the group featuring longtime vocalist/MC Ninja alongside a selection of deft musicians that make up the group to this day, both live and on record.

Initially it was just Parton though, who “wanted to create music incorporating SONIC YOUTH style guitars, double Dutch chants, Bollywood soundtracks, old school hip hop and electro” and incorporates these elements to create a smorgasbord of eclectic sounds with THE GO! TEAM‘s Bandcamp page summarising it perfectly, “the first and solo practitioners of cheerleader punk. THE GO! TEAM‘s Thunder, Lightning, Strike is an explosion of colour and energy that evokes images of high school sports meets, inner-city summer days and the liberty of youth”.
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Thunder, Lightning, Strike is an aptly named album and it explodes from the get go and sounds like the soundtrack to a 70s action film with so many sonic influences working in tandem to create a listening experience that is instantly infectious and joyous and brims with energy from start to finish.

The album was nominated for the following years Mercury Music Prize (with the award ultimately being won by Antony And The Johnson’s I Am A Bird Now) and the fact that the album was nominated highlights the impact that Thunder, Lightning, Strike made.

The singles from the album, Junior Kickstart, The Power Is On, Ladyflash and Bottle Rocket made a big impression but the album is littered with songs that could also have been framed as single. This highlights what an incredible album this is, with tracks like the opening blast of Panther Dash, Feelgood By Numbers, Get It Together and the beautiful closing Everyone’s A V.I.P To Someone all sounding like instant classics. The album obviously is best listened to from start to finish to showcase it in all its technicolour glory.


The making of the album wasn’t without its troubles though and due to samples not being cleared, as Parton didn’t think it would make the impact it did, the original version (also known as the “illegal” version) was slightly different to the album that was rereleased in 2005 and contained reworking of the album tracks. Sample issues notwithstanding, whichever version of the album you listen to, the sublime vibe remains exactly the game and the results still sound timeless.
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With the album still blowing minds and putting smiles on people’s faces two decades after its release, THE GO! TEAM celebrated this momentous anniversary by embarking on a tour celebrating Thunder, Lightning, Strike. It goes without saying that the album still sounds as fresh and exciting as it did when it was originally released, and undoubtedly has a timeless quality about it. With the album recently reissued as a twentieth anniversary special edition as well, (which brilliantly recreates the original CD-R versions of the albums tracks alongside a selection of versions by Glasgow indie rock legends THE PASTELS and avant pop band THE ORIELLES) so a whole new generation can enjoy the legacy and continued celebration of the classic album.

Those live shows are part of what makes THE GO! TEAM so special. The songs from Thunder, Lightning, Strike sound sound as good when they are played in a live setting as they always have and having witnessed the group a number of times, they always deliver such a celebratory experience every single time, with the band looking as though they are having the best time of their lives in tandem with the very audience that is watching them. From start to finish, it feels like a nonstop party as the band blast out their set.

There is also a set of remixes of Thunder, Lightning, Strike tracks from the likes of Kevin Shields, RJD2, Hot Chip and Simian Mobile Disco that was released in 2006 that compliments the original greatly and is well worth checking out, as are more twentieth anniversary remixes by the likes of LOS BITCHOS, CORNERSHOP, LOUIE ZONG, and LILIEN ROSARIAN.

Thunder, Lightning, Strike was the beginning of it all and is an ultimate feelgood album, positively fizzing with life affirming triumph from the moment it dropped and twenty years on, it still sounds as good as it did when it first exploded into the conscious of listeners, and that’s is beyond doubt. This is an album that can cheer you up in an instant and put a big smile on your face, and you can’t help but get swept up in its positivity and joyously uplifting vibe as the album plays on.

So, as the nights start to draw in, crank up Thunder, Lightning, Strike and let the electric sounds of THE GO! TEAM explode like fireworks in the sky and light your life up with one of the most joyous, uplifting, original and comforting albums ever made.

Thunder, Lightning, Strike was originally released on September 13th, 2004 via Memphis Industries.

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Killswitch Engage announce new album ‘This Consequence’

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have announced a new album!



Titled This Consequence, the upcoming album from the Massachusetts-based veteran metalcore band is the long-awaited follow-up to 2019’s Atonement, and is scheduled to be released in February next year, via Metal Blade Records.

Speaking about the upcoming album, vocalist Jesse Leach shares, “This Consequence, to me, is the combination of everything the past five years has thrown at us as a band, as humans, and society as a whole. This album is just as much about everybody and their stories as it is for me about my journey personally. Sonically, I love the combination of everybody’s ideas and contributions on this album. It feels more like a collaboration than the past few records have been. When all is said and done, I wouldn’t change anything about this album. I think it’s the exact record we needed to make. I’m honoured and proud of what we all were able to create and refine through this music and message.”
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Alongside the announcement of the new album, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have released a new music video for a new song lifted from the upcoming album; Forever Aligned. Speaking about the new song, Leach shares, “Forever Aligned is one of those songs that is not just about us as humans, our love, and connection, but that connection to the unknown, the greater power, the universe, or God. It feels like a really good first song to release not just sonically, but lyrically, as it is all about connection. The device of world we live in could use a lot more connectivity.”


Watch the official music video for Forever Aligned here:

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Also, you can view both the track list and artwork for the upcoming new album below:

Track List: Abandon Us
Discordant Nation
Aftermath
Forever Aligned
I Believe
Where It Dies
Collusion
The Fall Of Us
Broken Glass
Requiem



And that’s not all from the band! To support their new album, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE will embark on their first headlining North American tour since late 2022 in March through to May next year. Support for the tour comes from KUBLAI KHAN TX, FIT FOR A KING and FROZEN SOUL. European dates will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Tour dates are as follows:

3/5 — Nashville, TN — The Pinnacle
3/6 — Chesterfield, MO — The Factory
3/8 — Fayetteville, AR — JJ’s Live
3/9 — Oklahoma City, OK — The Criterion
3/11 — El Paso, TX — Don Haskins Center Arena
3/13 — Las Vegas, NV — The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
3/14 — Reno, NV — Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort
3/15 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live
3/17 — Garden City, ID — Revolution Concert House
3/18 — Seattle, WA — The Paramount
3/19 — Vancouver, BC — PNE Forum
3/21 — Penticton, BC — South Okanagan Events Centre
3/22 — Tsuut’ina, AB — Grey Eagle Resort & Casino
3/24 — Winnipeg, MB — Burton Cummings Theatre
3/27 — Peoria, IL — Peoria Civic Center
3/28 — Waukee, IA— Vibrant Music Hall
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3/29 — La Vista, NE — The Astro
3/30 — Kansas City, MO — The Midland Theatre
4/1 — Grand Rapids, MI — GLC Live 20 Monroe
4/3 — Corbin, KY — The Corbin Arena
4/4 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE
4/5 — Philadelphia, PA — Franklin Music Hall
4/6 — Greensboro, NC — Greensboro Special Events Center
4/8 — New Haven, CT — College Street Music Hall
4/9 — Buffalo, NY — Buffalo RiverWorks
4/11 — Laval, QC —Place Bell
4/12 — Portland, ME — Cross Insurance Arena
5/8 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple*
5/16 — Daytona Beach, FL — Welcome to Rockville*
*Festival Appearances





This Consequence is set for release on February 21st via Metal Blade Records. Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.

For more information on KILLSWITCH ENGAGE like their official page on Facebook.

Obscura announce new album ‘A Sonication’

Obscura announce new album ‘A Sonication’



OBSCURA have announced a new album!



Titled A Sonication, the upcoming album from the German progressive death metal band is the follow-up to 2021’s A Valediction, and is scheduled to be released in February next year, via Nuclear Blast Records.

Alongside the announcement of the new album, the band have released a new music video for a new song lifted from the upcoming album; Silver Linings.
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Speaking about the new song, band mastermind Steffen Kummerer says, “with Silver Linings we present you the first track of our brand new album A Sonication, which sees the light of day in early 2025. Supporting the new record, OBSCURAwill embark on the first leg of a world tour in February next year. Lend your ear to the music, and see you at a venue near you!”


Watch the official music video for Silver Linings here:

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Also, you can view both the track list and artwork for the upcoming new album below:

Track List:

1. Silver Linings
2. Evenfall
3. In Solitude
4. The Prolonging
5. Beyond The Seventh Sun
6. Stardust
7. The Sun Eater
8. A Sonication



And that’s not all from OBSCURA! To support their new album, the band will embark on a headlining European and UK tour in February next year. Support for the tour comes from RINGS OF SATURN and GOROD. Tickets for the tour are available now and can be purchased here.

Tour dates are as follows:

04.02. GER Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
05.02. IT Milan – Legend
06.02. CH Aarau – Kiff
07.02. FR Lyon – MJC O Totem
08.02. ES Barcelona – Wolf
09.02. ES Madrid – Sala Mon
10.02. PT Lisbon – Lav Lisboa
11.02. ES Portugalete – Groove
12.02. FR Toulouse – Le Rex
13.02. FR Rennes – L‘ubu
15.02. UK Birmingham – Asylum
16.02. UK Manchester – Rebellion
17.02. IRE Dublin – Whelans
18.02. UK Bristol – Thekla
19.02. UK London – O2 Academy Islington
20.02. FR Paris – Petit Bain
21.02. NL Eindhoven – Effenaar
22.02. GER Hamburg – Headcrash
23.02. GER Köln – Gebäude 9
24.02. GER Berlin – Lido
25.02. PL Wroclaw – Klub Lacznik
26.02. CZ Prague – Futurum
27.02. GER München – Hansa39



A Sonication is set for release on February 7th via Nuclear Blast Records. Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.

For more information on OBSCURA like their official page on Facebook.

INTRODUCING: Terminals

One of the UK’s most exciting fresh talents, TERMINALS have just unleashed their stunning debut EP Baptise. We caught up with the trio about recording in an Air BnB, their friendship and having utter trust in each other in all areas of their music.
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“When we started this band, I didn’t feel comfortable vocally,” vocalist and guitarist James Whitehouse informs. “But as soon as I started writing about the stuff that was in my head that I kind of hadn’t fully processed, I don’t know, I just became kind of comfortable with it,” having that relaxed dynamic, to make bold moves within their musical space and it not only be acceptable but encouraged is an ongoing part of the magic for TERMINALS. “The fact that we can have clean melodic vocals, and then these big, unapologetic heavy riffs underneath it all, put it together, and it sounds like it works is really, really gratifying.”

There’s some pretty heavy riffs and heavy themes through TERMINALS‘ debut EP Baptise. The way James could approach putting his dark ideas out into the world with the band’s brooding, groove laden sound comes from the level of respect the guys have for each other. “I think with the nature of the music, because I’m writing all the lyrics and come up with the subject matter. It’s all coming from me and if I wasn’t comfortable enough to be open with how I’m feeling maybe it wouldn’t get translated over well. But it’s nice to know that because we’re comfortable with each other enough that I can write a song about something really dark and tell the guys about it. It feels more gratifying when we actually put the song together, that the guys know where everything’s coming from. And that comes out from their performance as well as mine.”

The importance of that friendship can’t be understated for how TERMINALS operates. To have such a distinct sound, you have to be completely at ease to be creative and outspoken. “Even though it’s like James‘ lyrics and the meanings behind the songs comes from him, the rehearsals are normally like a bit of a group therapy for us all,” bassist James Cohu explains further from the other bandmates perspective. “We’re just friends, we just chat and get a lot of stuff out. So it feels like when we perform those songs, I can perform it with James‘ thoughts in mind, because we know like the backstories and the meanings that songs that come from so even though they’re like his stories, I feel like we’re all projecting those feelings.”
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The bands sense of assuredness and confidence in each other in inherent in all areas of their work, from writing and recording, to live playing. “I’m so sure of them,” drummer Joe Cooper assures of his bandmates. “And so sure that we know the songs, because we love the songs and we admire them. I think songs get better once we’ve played them live loads of times. There are little things we do live that are just natural, it’s funny because that’s one thing that most people just wouldn’t care so much about or wouldn’t pick up on, [we are] really locked into the little things. To us, those tiny little details are really important.”

While TERMINALS have a close bond, they don’t necessarily get much time to just be mates. The recording of Baptise was as good an opportunity to get together as friends as well as work. “With the Air BnB,” James Whitehouse describes the place they rented to put together a makeshift studio for the week, “we wanted we wanted to go somewhere that was like far away from everything. And this place was literally in the middle of nowhere, which was great, but it was kind of like a little holiday; when we spend time together, we just laugh and talk absolute bollocks to be totally honest with you. But it’s just like, we have a lot of fun doing what we do.”


“Because we live so far apart, we only meet up once or twice every couple of months. So we want to just get in a room together and play and do stuff. Having a whole five to seven days, in a really nice place together, recording music as well. It was just loads of fun.”
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The record has a big sound, and an organic energy the band can pat themselves on the back for; not only did they write and record it all, but they mixed it in house too. “We only had like eight inputs!” James Cohu recalls. “It’s kind of annoying because we like to make it sound live, without being able to record it live. So that was the whole process behind it, trying to recreate how we sound live, but recording instruments individually. To use the space was a bit of a nightmare,” they laugh, “we had we padded out all the windows and the doors with pillows to stop the sound getting out more than anything acoustic. Mostly it was just throwing mics up and fix everything afterwards. Which was why it took so long to mix and why it was me pulling my hair out for ages.”

Baptise is out now via self-release.

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INTRODUCING: Vower

There is a really exciting moment at the beginning of a band where there are no preconceived notions on what something should sound like. For VOWER, a project amalgamated from the bare bones of Rabea Massaad [TOSKA], Josh Mckeown [PALM READER] and Joe Gosney and Liam Kearley [both formerly of BLACK PEAKS], with bassist Rory McLean, sonically they rest on heavy foundations of the bands that came before, but have instead created something entirely ferocious and new.





Bringing the best out of the post-hardcore supergroup, they released their new EP Apricity earlier this year, which we ranked a solid 9/10 in our review and appear to be one of the most promising voices in alternative music. Ahead of their Radar Festival set, we chat to Joe and Josh about the direction of the band, their evolution of their sound and new music on the horizon.
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The project started when Liam and Rabea started making music instrumentally, putting the bare bones together for what would become VOWER. Through a few different iterations, with the band almost putting the project to bed entirely, it was picked up again as Joe was asked to play some shows with PALM READER. From there, the stage was set to start recording new music.

As most of the band were based in Brighton, vocalist Josh would come down to do recording sessions of “intense energy”, with Shroud being the first song he recorded the vocals for. However, it was In The Wake Of Failure that made them realise that the project was worthwhile. Joe says, “I got sent a demo straight afterwards and I remember really clearly where I was walking. I listened on my headphones and I got full goosebumps.”


For Josh, who had recently played their last show with PALM READER (on the same day VOWER performed their first festival), his “inspiration for vocals and melodies have come easier than I’ve ever known it to,” with In The Wake Of Failure allowing him to explore “a lot of really different vocal techniques, and utilise my rage in the song in a way that wasn’t contrived.” For both Josh and Joe, this became the stand-out track on their new EP.




Their four track record Apricity – meaning the warmth of the sun in winter – was the benchmark for their new sound, constructed from Rabea’s prog background and unmistakably riff-heavy sections descended from BLACK PEAKS. Spearheading their music, Josh’s vocals reminisce and build upon the intense vocals from PALM READER. The EP is daring, with bursts of unpredictability and soaring choruses. In terms of the band’s overall direction, Josh comments that they are “not aiming for a sound necessarily, it’s just what we think sounds cool. What we want to play.” Regardless, VOWER is a true passion project, pushing into uncharted territories in heavy music. It is clear the band are very enthusiastic and excited about this new chapter for the band.

Supporting KARNIVOOL for two dates on their Tri Continental Drift Tour, the band properly got together for the first time to rehearse a few days before their set. They’ve later taken this show on the road in the UK at ArcTanGent, 2000trees and Radar, as well as further afield at Cologne’s Euroblast progressive music festival.

The reception of the project has been really positive for the band with Joe commenting that they’re “all very lucky to be in a band driving to a show to perform to a bunch of people, playing music that we all really care about and all really stand behind.” Josh adding with a smile , “it’s absolutely outrageous. We expected with the notoriety that the other bands have that we had, we thought there would be a bit of a reception, but we never expected it to be received as well as it had been!”



Apricity is out now via self-release.

Like VOWER on Facebook.