RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS: ASSISTA PERFORMANCES DE “BLACK SUMMER” E “CAN’T STOP” NO MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS 2022

 

As lendas do Funk Rock californiano do Red Hot Chili Peppers, subiram ao palco na cerimônia de domingo (28 de agosto) do MTV Video Music Awards. Esse evento foi realizado no Prudential Center em Newark, NJ.


Além de ser agraciado com o prêmio “Global Icon”, o quarteto veterano no topo das paradas também subiu ao palco para apresentações de “Black Summer” e “Can’t Stop”.

Ao receber o prêmio acima mencionado, o baterista do Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chad Smith, dedicou sua vitória ao falecido baterista/vocalista do Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins, e sua família. Abaixo você pode assistir a apresentação ao vivo do Chili Peppers na cerimônia de premiação.



No dia 14 de outubro será lançado o novo álbum duplo do grupo, “Return Of The Dream Canteen”, que será sua segunda oferta de estúdio a chegar este ano. Um videoclipe para seu primeiro single, “Tippa My Tongue”, pode ser visto mais abaixo.

CYHRA GEARING UP TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE / VIDEO "READY TO RUMBLE"

 

Cyhra, featuring former Amaranthe vocalist Jake E, are gearing up to release a new single, "Ready To Rumble", on September 2nd. Watcj for the official video, pre-save the song here.

KING DIAMOND TALKS NEW ALBUM, PLANS FOR 2023 SUMMER TOUR STAGE SHOW - "IT'S VERY DIFFERENT, VERY SICK; THIS IS GONNA BLOW PEOPLE'S MINDS

 

August 2019, King Diamond revealed the title and theme for a new studio album,entitled The Institute. The album was due to be released in 2020, but it will see the light of day via Metal Blade in 2023.

In the clip below, King Diamond talks with Bloodstock TV’s Oran O’Beirne about a host of topics including The Institute, and the live show in planning to support it.



King Diamond: "It's going to be a two-album story. The release will be next year, and touring in the summer is the plan. We are building something that you will never have seen on a stage before — not that way - and with the light guy, he's never done it that way either. It's very different, very sick. You will not have seen musicians standing on stage in that type of light; it's gonna be very dark. They have to learn to play in dark areas. It's crazy. I know that our light guy, he can't wait for us to do it. I showed him some pictures that have the kind of feelings I want, the kind of backdrops I want, stuff like that. This is gonna blow people's minds when they see it, I am 100% sure."

EDGUY – MANDRAKE (ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Scary to think Edguy’s Mandrake was released 21 years ago (September 24, 2001) and before their jump to Nuclear Blast, Mandrake marks the Germans’ last “pure” power metal album before the hard rock-isms made their way into 2004’s Hellfire Club. AFM Records has been releasing these Anniversary Editions of all the Edguy albums on digipak CD and vinyl with complete remastering (which Mandrake doesn’t need and the difference is minimal).

This Anniversary Edition marks the first vinyl reissue of Mandrake (presented on 2LPs in different colors) so naturally longtime fans may want to get their hands on these. There’s no essay on the album from mainman Tobias Sammet or a rock journalist in the linear notes – just lyrics, album credits, and pictures from the era. As for bonus material – there’s one extra track with “The Devil & The Savant”, which isn’t rare and has been readily available for years.

Musically, there’s a lot to love on Mandrake. Youthful exuberance, blazing, heavy guitars, big choruses, and fast, melodic solos rule the day. The lyrics are interesting and are fun to follow with themes of individuality, achieving your dreams, and fantastical, historical environments. Opener “Tears Of A Mandrake” still raises goosebumps after all these years with the huge chorus and Sammet’s soaring vocals while the acoustic begun, but vicious and thrashy “Nailed To The Wheel” reigns as the heaviest track Edguy has ever released. Their quirky, Helloween like humor makes its way to “Save Us Now” – the lyric “highspeed alien drum bunny” drums up a silly smirk. Magnificent, mellow ballads like “Wash Away The Poison” fit in nicely, especially after the 10-minute epic “The Pharaoh”, a brilliant, Egyptian themed masterpiece with wondrous, mysterious vocals and mid-paced chugging, but meaningful guitars.

STRATOVARIUS - SURVIVE

 

Survive is the 16th studio album from Finnish power metal giants Stratovarius, fifth one with the new lineup since guitarist Timo Tolkki left in 2008. Singer Timo Kotipelto and Jens Johansson (keyboards) the only members left from the classic era 1995-2003. Guitarist Matias Kupiainen is not a Tolkki clone, he does keep with the Strato composition traditions, but guitar tone is heavier, see the title track.

The music also is often more progressive, less predictable within a song. Kotipelto not singing as high as he used to. Bassist Lauri Porra's bass more defined and heard in the mix. "Demand" one of those steadfast riff rockers in "Against The Wind" vein, drums and riff begins "Broken" as keys are fed in, not a traditional chorus section as keyboards segue out to the verse. "Firefly" a catchy single and melody like "Dragons", and "Fantasy". "We Are Not Alone" hits punchy, guitars briefly drop out during the verses. Epic keys/intro to six plus minutes "Frozen In Time" sets up for the song's singalong flow. I really like the accenting keyboards too, very classic Strato in that great chorus like something from Dreamscape or Fourth Dimension. Probably my favorite song.



"World On Fire" is a good choice for a single as it kicks off the second half of the album keeping up with the energy; lyrics giving something to think about. "Glory Days" a Tolkki-ish riff and rhythm drive without sounding redundant like any past faster power metal songs in the cannon post Episode album. There's those triumphant keyboards on "Breakaway", at the start Timo shows his softer side, acoustic guitar and beautiful melody in the keys. Great transition into the chorus. Well done, Stratovarius doing what they do best. "Voice Of Thunder" ends the album with an eleven minute metal slab of dynamics and more a classic Strato era guitar sound.

PAUL STANLEY REVEALS WHY HE WON'T WRITE NEW KISS SONGS - "WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HEART AND SOUL INTO DOING SOMETHING AND IT GETS A POLITE NOD, THERE'S OTHER THINGS I'D RATHER DO"

 

Guesting on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, KISS frontman Paul Stanley revealed his reasons for not wanting to write any new music for the band. Following is an excerpt from the chat.

Stanley: "I came to the conclusion that it (new music) can never compete with the past. Not because it's not as good, but it hasn't the connection to important times in your life. It doesn't have that patina to it of, 'Gee, I remember I heard this song when I was 18,' or, 'I heard this song when I was on my first date...' or whatever. You can't compete with that. It's more than a song; it's a snapshot of your life at a certain point.



Somebody says, 'Why don't you do a new album?' You do a new album and do a song... we have one song, 'Modern Day Delilah', which is as good as 'Love Gun' or any of these songs, but it hasn't aged; it's not like wine that has a chance to have grown in importance. Not just because of what it is, but because what it's surrounded by.

NIGHTWISH: ANUNCIADO OFICIALMENTE JUKKA KOSKINEN COMO NOVO BAIXISTA

 

O Nightwish anunciou oficialmente a adição do baixista Jukka Koskinen (Wintersun) como membro da banda. Koskinen, que fez sua estreia ao vivo com o Nightwish em maio do ano passado, nas duas experiências interativas da banda, passou o último ano em turnê como músico de sessão. Ontem (domingo, 21 de agosto), o Nightwish divulgou a seguinte declaração, via mídia social:


"Estamos muito satisfeitos em anunciar que nosso querido amigo Jukka Koskinen é oficialmente apresentado como membro da banda. Estamos incrivelmente gratos por tê-lo em nosso lado durante a turnê e é natural que ele se junte à banda oficialmente."

Semblant lança clipe de “Through the Denial” com cenas de turnê pela Europa

Banda curitibana acaba de retornar de turnê por vinte cidades europeias

A banda curitibana Semblant recentemente retornou de uma turnê pela Europa

como headliner, que foi registrada no novo clipe de “Through the Denial”, faixa presente no último disco da banda, Vermilion Eclipse (2022).

Lançado na última segunda-feira, 15, o clipe traz cenas de bastidores e registros dos shows, que passaram por um total de vinte cidades em dez diferentes países, contabilizando mais de treze mil quilômetros rodados pelo velho continente.

O álbum Vermilion Eclipse, quarto da carreira do Semblant, foi lançado mundialmente pela renomada gravadora italiana Frontiers Records e no Brasil pela Shinigami Records, em abril deste ano.

Assista ao clipe de “Through the Denial”.

Maule

Estou começando meu ano com uma nota positiva. Na minha coluna Top Ten(ish) (juntamente com muitos outros) um comentarista opinou sobre nossa falta de amor por coisas melódicas. Eu realmente levei essa afirmação ao coração 1 e decidi que para janeiro é apenas tradicional e glam metal para este gato velho. Então aqui vamos nós, com uma nova criação nascida na costa oeste do Canadá, Maule . Apresentando-se como parte da nova onda do heavy metal tradicional, eles pretendem galopar em nossos corações com ritmos agitados, refrões empolgantes e personalidades canadenses bastante agradáveis. Realmente uma mistura potente!

Se eu tivesse que resumir o estilo de Maule em Maule em uma palavra, essa palavra seria exuberância. Sete das nove músicas do álbum são de ritmo acelerado, hinos empolgantes que galopam como cavalos selvagens – ou como as primeiras músicas do Iron Maiden , para colocar de uma maneira diferente. “Evil Eye” tem uma vibe que lembra muitos abridores do Maiden, iniciando o álbum de forma imprudente. O ritmo continua sem diminuir ao longo da primeira meia dúzia de músicas, todas cruas, mas encantadoras. “Ritual” e “Summoner” se destacam com alguns riffs de baixo matadores, o que apenas torna as comparações do Maiden ainda mais agudas. Os vocais de Jakob Weel têm mais em comum com Paul Di'Anno do que com Bruce Dickinson, daí as comparações do início da era.

Iron Maiden é o 2 quadro de referência mais óbvio e conveniente , mas o NWOBHM em geral é amado por Maule . Saxon e Angel Witch tiveram uma palavra a dizer na composição genética desta banda, e essas influências são mais ativas na parte de trás do álbum, onde o ritmo diminui um pouco para material de ritmo médio como “Father Time” e “March of the Dead”. .” O encerramento do álbum “We Ride” trouxe à mente Diamond Head enquanto tocava nos alto-falantes aqui. Ótimos riffs, excelentes refrões e muitas músicas sobre espadas e feitiçaria (até mesmo uma homenagem à tão esquecida contraparte feminina de Conan, “Red Sonja”) fazem deste um álbum que dá um sério déjà vu para o início dos anos 80.

As quebras de chumbo em todas as músicas são estelares. Infelizmente, o guitarrista Daniel Gottardo deixou a banda antes do lançamento do álbum, mas que legado, e que sapatos para o recém-chegado Justin Walker preencher. Johnny Maule é o Steve Harris da banda, com dedos ágeis nos dando intrincadas linhas de baixo para a esquerda e para a direita, e Eddie Riumin leva tudo para casa com um ótimo trabalho na bateria. Curiosamente, Maule foi produzido por Michael Kraushaar, que também produziu seu EP de estreia. Mesmo ele intensificou seu jogo tremendamente. From Hell tinha uma sensação definitiva de banda de garagem, enquanto Mauleé muito mais profissional. Com cinco músicas aparecendo em ambas as gravações, é fácil perceber a diferença na produção e nos arranjos, e a coisa toda é um grande salto em qualidade. No topo de tudo está a performance vocal de Weel, que traz uma tonelada de energia adicional e uma vantagem não polida, mas irresistível, ao álbum.

Maule é um começo de ano tão divertido – e bem-vindo –, depois do que para mim foi uma merda absoluta de dezembro e primeira quinzena de janeiro, que joguei mais do que deveria, e escrevi sobre isso menos – e menos oportuno – do que ele merecia. O espírito do álbum é contagiante e, embora não haja uma música fraca à vista, a banda ainda tem espaço para crescer com ritmo e variedade. Algo me diz que o segundo álbum deles será estelar. Por enquanto é só, pessoal. Volte em breve para um glam metal de bem-estar!

AMARANTHE TO RELEASE CINEMATIC VERSION OF "STRONG" NEXT WEEK

After releasing a beautiful orchestral version of their power ballad "Crystalline", Swedish metal heroes, Amaranthe, turn up the heat and deliver a spicy variation of "Adrenaline". "Adrenalina" transforms the modern metal anthem into a seductive summer hit featuring new Spanish lyrics and virtuoso acoustic guitar pickings.

Amaranthe comment on "Adrenalina": "At the very tail end of the Manifest sessions, we were looking into the traditional bonus tracks and wanted to do something special for these ones. 'Adrenaline' already had a slightly latin sounding C-part, and after breaking out the classical guitar and a glass of Rioja, the flamenco vibes were filling the studio. The result is 'Adrenalina', and it might very well be our own favourite bonus track we have done so far! Enjoy!"

Stream the single here, and below:

EDENBRIDGE SHARE BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE FROM "THE CALL OF EDEN" VIDEO SHOOT

August 26th will see Austrian symphonic metal force, Edenbridge, release their eleventh studio album, Shangri-La, via AFM Records. Following previously-released songs "Somewhere Else But Here" and the magical "The Road To Shangri-La", the band premiered a music video for new single, "The Call Of Eden".

They have now released a Making Of clip for the official video, both of which can be viewed below.

With its nine epic, new tracks, Shangri-La takes the dedicated Edenbridge listener on a musical ride into the realms of finest symphonic metal. Their forthcoming album not only unleashes a sophisticated range of compositions along with an intoxicating and bombastic sound atmosphere Edenbridge are known and loved for, but the band created their most diverse record to date. Despite constantly high quality standards and as the new offering proves, Edenbridge continually expands their musical expression from album to album without abandoning their trademarks. This time, the band has created a fine balance between emotionally magical moments, an ever-present mystical atmosphere and heavy, fast-paced riffage.

Tracklisting:

"At First Light"
"The Call Of Eden"
"Hall Of Shame"
"Savage Land"
"Somewhere Else But Here"
"Freedom Is A Roof Made Of Stars"
"Arcadia (The Great Escape)"
"The Road To Shangri-La"
"The Bonding (Part 2)"
"The Bonding Overture"
"Alpha And Omega"
"The Eleventh Hour"
"Round And Round"
"The Timeless Now – Finale"

NORDIC UNION: OUÇA NA ÍNTEGRA O NOVO ÁLBUM “ANIMALISTIC”

 

O projeto dinamarquês Nordic Union, de hard rock melódico, que reúne uma dupla de peso do metal nórdico, o lendário vocalista Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids) e o compositor e produtor sueco Erik Martensson (Eclipse, W.E.T.), acabaram de lançar seu mais novo álbum, Animalistic, o terceiro de sua discografia, pela gravadora italiana Frontiers Records. Junto a eles, neste novo álbum, estão Fredrik Folkare (guitarra solo), Henrik Eriksson (bateria) e Thomas Larsson (guitarra solo nas faixas “Scream”, “Riot” e “Last Man Alive”. Ronnie é o responsável pela voz principal e vocalizações de apoio, enquanto Erik se responsabiliza pelas guitarras solo e rítmica, baixo, teclados e vocais de apoio. Martensson, em uma sequência absoluta de vitórias criativas e comerciais com os álbuns mais recentes do Eclipse, escreveu a maior parte do álbum com contribuições de Atkins e Miqael Persson, e também produziu, mixou e masterizou Animalistic.

OZZY OSBOURNE E TONY IOMMI SE REÚNEM PARA TOCAR MÚSICAS DO BLACK SABBATH NA COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Para encerrar a Commonwealth Games de 2022, Ozzy Osbourne e Tony Iommi se reuniram no palco para tocar “Paranoid” do Black Sabbath e uma versão abreviada de “Iron Man”.


Iommi se apresentou na cerimônia de abertura no mês passado, mas a aparição conjunta dele e Osbourne foi mantida em segredo até o grande momento no palco, que marcou a primeira vez que as duas lendas do Metal tocaram juntas desde o último show do Black Sabbath em 4 de fevereiro de 2017.

Juntando-se a eles no palco estavam um par familiar de músicos – o baterista Tommy Clufetos, que tocou ao vivo com o Black Sabbath de 2012 até o último show e está na banda de Ozzy desde 2009, bem como o baixista Adam Wakeman, que tocou teclados ao vivo para Sabbath e Ozzy por muitos anos.

Tornando ainda mais doce é o fato de que os Jogos da Commonwealth de 2022 (uma competição interna multiesportiva entre as Nações da Commonwealth que ocorre a cada quatro anos) foram realizados em Birmingham, Inglaterra, onde Osbourne e Iommi cresceram e formaram o Black Sabbath há mais de 50 anos atrás.


Assista a imagens de sua performance de “Paranoid” abaixo e veja fotos profissionais da noite mais abaixo na página.

Créditos da foto: Eddie Keogh, Getty Images

SYLOSIS ESTREIA VIDEOCLIPE DO NOVO SINGLE “HEAVY IS THE CROWN”

A banda de Progressive Death Metal, Sylosis, lançou uma nova música online. Essa faixa carrega o título de “Heavy Is The Crown” e um videoclipe oficial dirigido pela Dark Fable Media pode ser encontrado abaixo. O vocalista/guitarrista da banda, Josh Middleton (também do Architects) disse o seguinte sobre esta última oferta, que representa a primeira de uma série de três músicas que a banda planeja lançar este ano:



“‘Heavy Is The Crown’ é o primeiro de uma trilogia de singles que estamos lançando este ano – essas músicas foram desenvolvidas durante a composição do próximo disco do Sylosis e, embora não fossem adequadas para o álbum, são perfeitas para serem lançadas independentes. ‘Heavy Is The Crown‘ é uma música que todos os nossos fãs podem curtir e também destaca um pouco da progressão no som da banda.”

LUNARIAN: CONFIRA O SEGUNDO SINGLE DO NOVO PROJETO DA CANTORA AILYN (EX SIRENIA)

 

Na última segunda-feira (8), a cantora Ailyn Gimenez (ex Sirenia) e a sua nova banda, Lunarian, lançaram o segundo single que fará parte do álbum de estreia “Burn The Beauty”.


A faixa, “Endless Sleep”, já está disponível em todas as plataformas de streamings, além do lyric video disponível no canal oficial da gravadora italiana, Frontiers Music srl. O álbum, “Burn The Beauty”, está previsto para ser lançado no dia 9 de setembro.



Confira:

STRATOVARIUS: OUÇA O NOVO SINGLE “FIREFLY”

A medida que o tempo avança vamos chegando cada vez mais perto de um dos lançamentos mais aguardados do ano para os fãs de power metal-metal sinfônico. Survive, o primeiro álbum a ser lançado pelo ícone do estilo, o Stratovarius, em 7 anos, chegará, mais precisamente em 23 de setembro, via earMusic. E nesta semana, a banda lançou mais uma das canções do álbum, para o delírio dos fãs. Desta vez, a faixa escolhida é “Firefly”, que você ouve abaixo:

ALLEN/OLZON: DUPLA LANÇOU O SINGLE “ALL ALONE” – SEGUNDO SINGLE DO PRÓXIMO DISCO DE ESTÚDIO

Nesta sexta-feira (5), a dupla Allen/Olzon – em parceria com o guitarrista Magnus Karlsson – lançaram o single “All Alone”, em todas as plataformas digitais. A música também rendeu um videoclipe, que também já está disponível no YouTube.


Este é o segundo single, que estará no segundo disco da dupla (um trio, na verdade) “Army Of Dreamers”, cuja previsão de lançamento está para o dia 9 de setembro, via Frontiers Music srl.

ANTHRAX - XL

 

July 2021 marked the 40th anniversary of iconic New York thrash band, Anthrax. Unable to celebrate this milestone with a world tour due to pandemic-related restrictions, vocalist Joey Belladonna, guitarists Scott Ian and Jon Donais, bassist Frank Bello, and drummer Charlie Benante delivered a 25-song set to fans around the world, in the safety of their own homes, via a global livestream event. Now, a year later, that pay-per-view is available as a 2CD/Blu-ray set.

Filmed at Los Angeles soundstage The Den, XL (the Roman numeral for 40, not the short form for Extra Large) has Anthrax playing to only the camera crew, yet the band gives it their all, performing as though they were in front of thousands of fans, complete with concert style lighting. Inexplicably, after nine songs, the band changes from jeans to shorts, with Scott and Joey both changing their shirts as well. Three songs are performed in summer attire, after which the original clothing returns for the remainder of the set – bizarre!

Chuck D from Public Enemy joins Anthrax on their ground-breaking hit “Bring The Noise”. Unfortunately, there is no onstage banter between songs; neither Belladonna or Ian address the viewers like they normally would a live audience at a club, arena, or outdoor festival. Alongside expected hits such as “Caught In A Mosh”, “I Am The Law”, and “Antisocial”, the setlist includes a few deep cuts, namely “Lone Justice”, “Now It’s Dark”, and “Aftershock”. While Belladonna does a great version of “Metal Thrashing Mad”, which was originally sung by Neil Turbin on the 1984 debut Fistful Of Metal, he doesn’t tackle any material from the John Bush era, which is rather disappointing. It cannot truly be a 40th anniversary celebration without acknowledging the four albums that Bush sang on. That being said, Scott Ian handles lead vocal on a cover of “Protest And Survive” by Discharge, which Anthrax included on their 1991 release, Attack Of The Killer B’s.



Bonus material comes in the form of rehearsal footage, offering a neat glimpse behind the scenes. Also included is Scott’s NYC Walking Tour, during which he visits the offices of Megaforce Records, the site where legendary club CBGB used to be, Electric Lady Studios, his favorite comic book and pizza shops, as well as Madison Square Garden.

BATTLELORE The Return Of The Shadow

 

Whether it was by coincidence or design, scarcely a year after film director Peter Jackson released the first part of his epic Lord Of The Rings trilogy in 2001 - capturing the hearts and minds of J. R. R. Tolkien fans the world over - an unknown Finnish band by the name of Battlelore unleashed their debut album, ...Where The Shadows Lie. The songs were unashamedly based on Tolkien lore, with the band going so far as to get permission to use artwork created by illustrator Ted Nasmith, known for his work on the books The Lord Of The Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion. It was the beginning of a successful career, with Battlelore releasing six albums between 2002 and 2011 and touring as much as they were able. Following the Doombound record, however, the band announced they were going on indefinite hiatus with no plans for the future. They stayed quiet as promised save for a couple festival shows in 2018, but much to their fanbase's surprise, Battlelore teased their return in early 2020, confirming in July of the same year that new music was in the works. That music surfaced in June 2022 as The Return Of The Shadow and its companion EP, Lost Lands. And a welcome return it is.

"To be honest I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea it has been so long that we've been away," says vocalist Tomi Mykkänen. "Time flies, definitely. It was a long career already in 2011; six albums in 10 years, I think. We just got tired and weren't motivated to do this anymore. We stayed in touch, we saw each other, some of us played together in different bands, but Battlelore just wasn't interesting to us. We all knew that we would get back together and do something at some point, and before COVID hit we had actually planned a Finnish tour and had some festival dates lined up for 2020. "

"We had the songs for the new album by that point," he continues, "and we started talking about recording some of them, maybe releasing an EP. When the pandemic hit we had more time, so we made some demos of the songs that appear on the Lost Lands EP and realized, 'Whoa, we still know how to do this...' (laughs). From there we started writing more songs, and they were more upbeat - I don't know if I should use the word 'cheerful' (laughs) - compared to the ones we wrote for Lost Lands, and that's how we got the idea to split them up between and album and an EP."

In spite of being away from the trenches for a decade, Battlelore's 2011 line-up - which was solidified in 2004 - remained fully intact for The Return Of The Shadow.

"Truth be told, if it hadn't been all of us involved on the new album, we probably wouldn't have done it," says Mykkänen. "Battlelore really is a group effort, and it's with this group of people."

On top of that, Battlelore is still on Napalm Records. The band was signed to the label when it was nothing more than a fledgling gothic / doom metal record company with a handful of artists to its name; far and away from the metal powerhouse they are now.



"We discussed that," Mykkänen says of staying - or being invited to remain - with Napalm. "Our guy at the label was always asking us if we were coming back and when we were coming back. We actually didn't have a deal with them during the break but there was an option, and they wanted to change the deal and make our budget lower, which is understandable because times are different now. We shopped around and got a few offers, but we ultimately decided we should go with Napalm because we can work with them and they are just cool people in general.

the upbeat tone of The Return Of The Shadow is reminiscent of Sword's Song from 2003, the album that is widely regarded as the record that put Battlelore on the map. Asked if it was part of a grand plan or a reflection of the band's collective mood, Mykkänen claims it was a bit of both.

"When Jussi (Rautio / guitars) and Jyri (Vahvanen / guitars) started bringing in the songs for the new album they sounded like the Lost Lands EP material. I told them we needed stuff that was more upbeat because we only had these songs that were slow and doomy. I wrote the song 'Homecoming' as an example of what I was talking about, and when we did write a few more songs that went in the same direction they still fit in with the original material Jussi and Jyri had first presented."

"We arranged the songs really well, and this was actually the first time we did the arranging together; taking parts out of the songs, adding melodies... we were really well prepared for the studio. So, in the end we were really fast when we went in to record. I think Henkka (Vahvanen) started recording drums on a Friday morning, and by Wednesday he had finished tracking all his parts. Tina (Honkanen) came in and did all the synths in one day. We really knew what we wanted to do."

"I actually listened to Doombound the other day and I realized that it's really a strange album (laughs). I was amazed that when the album starts with 'Bloodstained', which I wrote, you can hear all the influences from Tool and progressive metal coming through. It's a really dark album compared to the new one. Personally, I think The Last Alliance (2008) is our best album, not including the new one, but I do understand when people say Sword's Song is Battlelore's best record because that really defined what the band is."

The interplay between female vocalist Kaisa Jouhki and Mykkänen - and his predecessor Patrik Mennander (1999 - 2004) - has always been an integral part of the Battlelore sound. Like any band with multiple singers trading off vocal parts, the songs eventually fell into a predictable rut with their last couple records. The Return Of The Shadow finds Mykkänen and Jouhki sounding vital and fresh. Mykkänen agrees the break was good for them as songwriters and performers.

"I have a home studio, so Kaisa came here and we did demos together. We built up and the melodies and the harmonies together, and as you know I'm not a singer in the classical sense (laughs) so I can't do those really 'hard' melodies. We had that in mind when we were writing, and I actually ended up doing quite a few melodies on the album because Kaisa had just had a baby and didn't have a lot of time. I wrote most of the melody lines and then Kaisa came in and improved on them, as well as doing some stuff on her own. But I think one of the reasons the melodies are maybe a bit catchier than before is because they are simpler since I wrote a lot of them. Kaisa is a better singer than me, much more talented, but sometimes nobody can follow what she does (laughs). We worked together, tried many different things, and I think that shows on the album. And we had a really good time working together; I think you hear that as well."

Regardless of Tolkien's expansive catalogue of material to draw from, Battlelore eventually grew bored of their own concept, which led to their 10 year hiatus. There was the question of "Can we keep writing about the same thing and make it effective?" which the band ultimately could not as of 2011. The Return Of The Shadow finds Battlelore back to diving deep in Tolkien's well.

"On this album all the lyrics were written by Jyri," Mykkänen reveals. "He had some writer's block on the Doombound so I wrote three or four songs, but this time the ideas came quite easily for Jyri. Having this huge break definitely helped him. When we were doing Evernight (2007) we decided to start fading out Tolkien a bit. If you know Tolkien really well you can time some of those song ideas into his work. With this album we decided that it was going to focus completely on Tolkien. Right from the first song, 'Minas Morgul', that's like a 'Fuck you, this is a Tolkien album...' (laughs)."

"It was quite easy to do that, and if we make more albums it could be that sometimes we don't write about Tolkien. There are lots of other things to write about. We actually had some different ideas when started talking about the new album maybe five years ago - and Jyri had this idea of having Numenor as a theme. When we were making Doombound he realized he wanted to make songs based around all these lost lands in Tolkien's works. So, as we were making the new album Jyri realized that all the songs had towers, walls and flames in them. So, the new album is about places and fire (laughs)."

DENIED – HUMANARCHY

A seasoned metalhead would guess by the album title and cover art that Denied’s Humanarchy is a slice of thrash metal, but the Swedes’ new album displays numerous influences, rather than a full-on thrash attack. The band’s sixth album, guitarist Andy Carlsson remains the sole original member since their inception in 2003 with second guitarist Chris Vowden in tow since 2009 and the rhythm section of Fredrik Thörnblom (bass), Markus Kask (drums) and former Artillery vocalist Søren Adamsen all entering the fold in the last 5 years.

The production is crisp with a modern punch although the bass could have used more “oomph!” The soloing is spectacularly melodic rather than showing insane speed furiously ripping through notes. Those familiar with Adamsen’s voice know he has a diverse range, kind of similar to Ralf Scheepers and his vocals spit out aggression on “Divided” and the forceful “Flesh Made God” while they soar on the Iced Earth, Nevermore type ballad “Don’t Cross That Line”.

There is a mish-mash of everything on Humanarchy with opener “Divided” sporting Exodus type stomping thrash, but then “Death By A 1000 Cuts” introduces keys with a commercial appeal that sounds like a song Dynazty would write. It’s undeniably catchy and well-written but a bit jarring going from the intense opener to it and then following up with the mid-tempo and angry title track.

Longest cut “Maintenance Of Insanity” is an atmospheric slow burn with thunderous chorus and stands out as a highlight as well as the catchiness of the Judas Priest like “Ten Ton Hammer Of Pain”. Eight songs and 41 minutes is the perfect length and while a couple more up-tempos scorchers would have been preferred, Humanarchy is a solid slice of thrashy heavy metal.

HYPOCRISY FRONTMAN PETER TÄGTGREN TALKS BECOMING A VOCALIST - "I WANTED TO TRY AND COMBINE GLEN BENTON, DAVID VINCENT AND L-G PETROV"

In the clip below, Hypocrisy / Pain frontman Peter Tägtgren chats with Finland's Chaoszine about his journey as a metal frontman.

On becoming a vocalist

Peter: "At the beginning of the '90s I wanted to try and combine Glen Benton with David Vincent and L-G Petrov. Those were the three highlight bands, so to say: Deicide, Morbid Angel and Entombed. That was the perfect mix for me."

Hypocrisy's latest album, Worship, is 11 tracks of precise, ferocious musicianship. Commonly inspired by the fusion of the modern and the ancient, Hypocrisy has once more found a way to combine innovative ideas with classic sound in order to deliver something metalheads can enjoyably consume with awe and brutal vigor. As usual, all recording and mixing took place at Tägtgren’s Abyss Studio AB in Sweden while mastering was completed by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers Audio Mastering. Designed by artist Blake Armstrong (Kataklysm, In Flames, Carnifex), Worship’s artwork speaks to the history of the relationship between humanity and extraterrestrials.

Worship was released on November 26, 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records.

 

IN FLAMES ESTREIA O SINGLE “THE GREAT DECEIVER”; CONFIRA

As lendas do Melodic Death Metal do In Flames lançaram outro novo single chamado “The Great Deceiver”, além de anunciar uma grande turnê européia com o apoio dos colegas pesos pesados ​​de Gotemburgo, At The Gates.


A nova música do quinteto vem logo após o recente single “State Of Slow Decay”, que recebeu muitos elogios por abraçar o som clássico do In Flames. “The Great Deceiver” também explora as raízes melódicas da banda, mas adiciona um sabor distintamente Thrash aos procedimentos.

O frontman Anders Fridén explica:


“‘The Great Deceiver’ nasceu da frustração, basicamente uma reação às bandeiras falsas, mas desde então cresceu para representar vários significados. Há uma estrofe que diz: ‘Bend the truth to fit your opinion (Dobre a verdade para se adequar à sua opinião)’ e sinto que fala muito sobre a narrativa que está acontecendo online, entre pessoas, nações etc. hoje. Estamos mais separados agora do que nunca, mas é mais fácil nos comunicar do que em qualquer outro momento da história.”

A nova faixa é acompanhada por um grande anúncio de turnê que fará com que o In Flames pegue a estrada pela Europa neste inverno, acompanhado por ninguém menos que o At The Gates. Também apoiando no projeto estão o Imminence e Orbit Culture. As datas tem início em 12 de novembro no Helitehas, em Tallinn, Estônia e finalizam em 17 de dezembro no Scandinavium, em Gotemburgo, Suécia.