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”.