Monthly Archives: March 2022

Music News

LOVEBITES Seek Fifth Element with Auditions For New Bassist

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Japanese heavy metal band LOVEBITES will hold auditions to find their new bass player! The band, who won Metal Hammer’s Golden Gods Award for ‘Best New Band’ and went on to play metal festivals around the world, will be taking applications for the role of bassist from Saturday 2 April, 2022.

Applications will be open to everyone, regardless of age, gender, nationality or professional / amateur musicians and can be submitted via the band’s website: https://lovebites.jp

To apply, bass players need to record a video of themselves playing along to a specific track and dropping in their own bassline. Applicants must be able to travel to Tokyo for further phases of the audition process, as well as able to conduct band activities around Tokyo, Japan and the rest of the world if they are successfully chosen.

The first phase of auditions is from 2 April until 24 May 2022, and if you upload your audition video to social media, the band is asking to please include the hashtag #LOVEBITES_BassistAuditions.

LOVEBITES formed in 2016 with vocalist Asami, guitarists Midori and Miyako, bassist Miho and drummer Haruna. The band’s EP THE LOVEBITES EP was mixed by Mikko Karmila and mastered by Mika Jussila, a team of talented Finnish engineers known for their work with Nightwish, Children of Bodom and Amorphis. In May 2017 LOVEBITES made their debut and released THE LOVEBITES EP through London’s JPU Records, followed by full length album AWAKENING FROM ABYSS in October 2017 and had a series of shows in Japan and the UK.

In 2018 LOVEBITES made their first festival appearance at Vans Warped Tour Japan 2018 Presented by XFLAG, as well as a headline show in June for mini album BATTLE AGAINST DAMNATION. In July they participated in HEADSTRONG FES.18 organised by ANTHEM, followed by performing at the world’s biggest metal festival Wacken Open Air in Germany and Bloodstock Open Air in the UK. They also toured Europe with X-ray Touring. After returning to Japan LOVEBITES completed their second album CLOCKWORK IMMORTALITY by the end of the year, and performed at Metal Mania by RED BULL, which also featured LOUDNESS.

LOVEBITES began 2019 by touring Japan, followed by supporting Arch Enemy on tour in China. First live album DAUGHTERS OF THE DAWN: LIVE IN TOKYO 2019 was released in July, recorded at MYNABI BLITZ AKASAKA in Tokyo in support of CLOCKWORK IMMORTALITY. The same month the band toured festivals, including Download Festival in the UK, Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium, and Download Festival Madrid in Spain. At Download Festival in the UK, Asami joined HALESTORM on stage to sing “Love Bites (And So Do I)”, the song that gave LOVEBITES their name. When the band returned to Japan they toured Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka before appearing at SUMMER SONIC 2019. They then joined DragonForce for their UK tour in November as special guests.

In January 2020, the band released third album ELECTRIC PENTAGRAM. It became the band’s first album to enter Japan’s Oricon Top 10 rankings, peaking at number nine. The band then kicked off tour of Japan in February and released FIVE OF A KIND: LIVE IN TOKYO 2020 in July, recorded at Zepp DiverCity, which reached number one in the Oricon Music Blu-ray chart.

In March 2021 they released mini album GLORY, GLORY, TO THE WORLD, which reached number ten in the billboard general chart. Immediately afterwards the band began the RIDE FOR VENGEANCE TOUR 2021, touring four cities across Japan. In August Miho left the band and it was announced that LOVEBITES would take a break. In the meantime HEAVY METAL NEVER DIES – LIVE IN TOKYO 2021 is set to be releases shortly in the UK as a CD and video on demand release, featuring the Tokyo show from the RIDE FOR VENGEANCE TOUR 2021.

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SUICIDAL ANGELS Sign To Nuclear Blast

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Greek powerhouse SUICIDAL ANGELS are happy to announce their return to the Nuclear Blast family, after over a decade.
The band around mastermind Nick Melissourgos has been busy lately with writing the new album and is now ready to hit the studio in Athens in April.

The band comments on the signing news: “Through the weirdest of times, we didn’t lay low, we didn’t lay back and wait. With hard work, a never-ending passion for what we love to do, we reach the point where we can share some amazing news with you. After a dozen years, we are in the same exciting position, as in the past, to announce our return to Nuclear Blast. We renewed our vows and we are about to take the bull by the horns and do what we know best! Keep your eyes and ears open, more is yet to come. No matter what, onwards, always!”

Jaap Wagemaker, A&R Nuclear Blast continues: “Nuclear Blast proudly presents the signing of Greek thrashers Suicidal Angels! Already back in 2009, we released their album Sanctify The Darkness! After that, the band worked very hard building up their name across Europe releasing very strong albums like Dead Again, Bloodbath, Division of Blood, and especially their last album Years of Aggression which secured the band their highest charts entries in Germany, Austria, and Swiss. Live the band worked very hard on becoming a force to be reckoned with which they clearly showed at their tours with Satyricon and several thrash packages and their shows at some big festivals across Europe. The band has used their downtime during the pandemic really well and is ready to go into the studio again to record their 8th album and is hungry to confirm that they are one of the best Thrash bands in Europe! Although the band was founded in 2001 and they just celebrated their 20th anniversary the band is still young and with re-signing to Nuclear Blast the band is ready to go to the next level!”

Catch the band live on various club shows and festivals this spring and summer!

Line up:
Nick Melissourgos – vocals, guitar
Gus Drax – guitar
Angel Lelikakis – bass
Orpheas Tzortzopoulos – drums

Music News

AMORPHIS To Kick Off North American Tour Next Month

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Finland’s metal legends AMORPHIS will kick off their long-awaited North American tour next month! The journey will commence on April 13th in New York City and make its way through nearly two dozen cities, coming to a close on May 12th in Baltimore. Support will be provided by Uada, Sylvaine, and Hoaxed. See all confirmed dates below.

AMORPHIS will be touring in support of their Halo full-length, released in February through Atomic Fire Records. Thirty-one years after their inception, AMORPHIS still proves to be the musical fountain of youth, an extraordinary band constantly reinventing itself without abandoning its mystical roots. With Halo, they deliver an astonishing album that deserves to be played everywhere, transcending the realms of metal and rock by its sheer profoundness and musicality.

The vibrant, lively, and touching beauty that is Halo highlights their musical and storytelling mastership on a once again soaring level: It’s a progressive, melodic, and quintessentially melancholic heavy metal masterwork plucked from the fickle void of inspiration by original guitarists Esa Holopainen and Tomi Koivusaari, bassist Olli-Pekka Laine, drummer Jan Rechberger, longtime keyboardist Santeri Kallio, vocalist Tomi Joutsen, the band’s long-standing lyrical consciousness, Pekka Kainulainen, and a selected group of world class audio professionals led by renowned Swedish producer Jens Bogren. Considering the band’s prolonged journey in the forefront of innovative metal music, it’s difficult to grasp how AMORPHIS manages to raise the proverbial bar time and time again, presenting a more than worthy finale to the trilogy begun with 2015’s Under The Red Cloud followed by 2018’s Queen Of Time.

AMORPHIS:

Tomi Joutsen – vocals

Esa Holopainen – guitars

Tomi Koivusaari – guitars

Santeri Kallio – keyboards

Olli-Pekka Laine – bass

Jan Rechberger – drums

Music News

CROWBAR Issues “Making Of…” Video Clip

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March 30th, 2022 – New Orleans, Louisiana’s favorite sludge metal goliaths CROWBAR today unveil a Zero And Below “making of…” video clip. 

Produced, mixed, and mastered by Duane Simoneaux at OCD Recording And Production in Metairie, Louisiana, Zero And Below was released via MNRK Heavy earlier this month to critical acclaim. Reverently old-school, counterbalanced by a resonant melodicism that’s stunningly mature, the record is the most unforgivably doom-driven CROWBAR record since their 1998 landmark effort, Odd Fellows Rest.

The moment you hear it, you know it’s CROWBAR. Led by Windstein, with guitarist Matt Brunson, bassist Shane Wesley, and drummer Tommy Buckley, songs like “Chemical Godz,” “It’s Always Worth The Gain,” and “Bleeding From Every Hole,” are unapologetic emotional outpourings, with a bare-knuckle resolve alongside its soul-searching vulnerability, reliably delivered with crushing heaviness. A genuine band’s band, with a wide-ranging influence across multiple genres, CROWBAR “helped draw up the sludge metal blueprints” (Kerrang!).

CROWBAR is in the midst of a US tour with Sepultura and Sacred Reich. Initially scheduled as a 2020 run, the journey commenced on March 4th, in Sacramento, California and runs through April 9th in Berkeley, California. Additional support is provided by Art Of Shock. See all remaining dates below. 

CROWBAR w/ Sepultura, Sacred Reich, Art Of Shock [remaining dates]:

3/31/2022 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK     

4/01/2022 Warehouse Live – Houston, TX      

4/02/2022 GMBG – Dallas, TX   

4/03/2022 Rockhouse – El Paso, TX    

4/05/2022 The Nile Theater – Phoenix, AZ      

4/06/2022 House Of Blues – San Diego, CA     

4/08/2022 Belasco Theater – Los Angeles, CA   

4/09/2022 UC Theatre – Berkeley, CA 

CROWBAR:

Kirk Windstein – vocals/guitar

Matt Brunson – guitar

Shane Wesley – bass

Tommy Buckley – drums

Music News

Watain Premiere Video For New Single “We Remain” Feat. Farida Lemouchi

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Today, notorious Swedish black metal collective WATAIN is proud to unveil the third and final single from their upcoming new studio album, “The Agony & Ecstasy Of Watain,” which will be released on April 29th, 2022. 


The song is called “We Remain” and represents the deepest shadow of the album. A profound contemplation on the winding abyss of the past. Fearlessly extending across the known borders of Watain’s musical wilderness, “We Remain” also features noble contributions by Farida Lemouchi (ex The Devil’s Blood, now Molassess) and Gottfrid Åhman (ex In Solitude, now PÅGÅ).

The video for “We Remain” was directed by Johan Bååth who has been documenting WATAIN‘s journey through the world for many years.

Photo Credit: Evelina Szczesik (Ever Vision Art)

Erik Danielsson (vocals) comments:

“I begun writing “We Remain” in 2012, as a meditation on the concept of Mythopoeia; our mythical origins and how our understanding and approach to them is shaped and transformed throughout time. The lyric is built around the five elemental wings of the Pentagram, and the mysteries embedded in that ancient symbol. It is a song about forgotten things that ought to be remembered, the search for truths that were lost, of the ever burning flame that illuminates the darkness of times immemorial, the passing of aeons and and our ponderable place therein.”

ABOUT WATAIN
Watain crawled out of Satan’s cunt in 1998, and has since then ascended and grown into one of the world’s most well known and notorious Black Metal bands. Their legacy is often referred to with fear, love, confusion or awe, but seldom with indifference.
 
Their infamous live shows have become a worldwide phenomenon; inimitable ceremonies of wild Black Metal fanatism where the sacred and solemn collides with raw unadulterated force. With their greatly anticipated seventh studio album, Watain continues to arouse and electrify their audience with an unmistakable, adventurous brand of Black Metal Magic, processed and distilled over the course of a 25-year long history.
 
Recorded live by long time collaborator Tore Stjerna in his infamous Necromorbus studio, now re-located to an old church on the Swedish countryside, ”The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain” takes the listener one huge step closer to the innermost heart of a band that despite always being surrounded by rumors and controversy has always strived for a most sincere and genuine form of expression.
 
With 10 songs written by the founding trinity of Watain (E. Danielsson, H. Jonsson and P. Forsberg), it is also the first Watain album to be recorded live with a full line up completed by A. Lillo, H. Eriksson and E. Forcas.
 
The material is further enriched by noble contributions from Farida Lemouchi (ex The Devil’s Blood, now in Molassess) and Gottfrid Åhman (ex In Solitude, now in PÅGÅ).
 
The lyrics, always a central aspect of every Watain album, range from manic proselytism to profound contemplation on the relativity between life and death, sacred and profane, holy and unholy, agony and ecstasy, eagerly excavating the winding depths of mind and spirit with a new sense of clarity and determination.
 
Characterized by a morbid sense of beauty mingled with raw primal force, Watain is the wolf that keeps hunting, fearless and free, in the dark night of man.

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SKULL FIST Reveals New Single/Video “For The Last Time”

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Toronto-based heavy metal outfit SKULL FIST are pleased to reveal their latest video single, “For The Last Time.” The track comes by way of the band’s impending new full-length, Paid In Full, set for release on April 22nd via Atomic Fire Records.

Comments the band’s Zach Schottler, “We filmed this video in -20º C weather in my shed. For your sake, I hope you are nowhere near as cold as we were when we did this. This song was actually written more recently than the other ones and I’m happy its tombstone has finally been erected.”

Since their steely inception back in 2006, dungeon keeper Zach Schottler and his shredding band of reckless companions have released three classic heavy metal almanacs, have eaten more dust than is good for their health, have endured various hardships and propped up countless beers at countless bars in countless cities. But now, after fifteen years of metal and mayhem, Schottler is coming into his own with the proverbially titled Paid In Full album, a heavy metal wonder of the defiant middle finger variant. With heads held high, empty pockets, and enough gas to make the next show, SKULL FIST has won 2022. Don’t mess with the FIST. The FIST is the law!

Written at home and recorded at Vespa Studios near Toronto, Paid In Full encompasses Schottler’s sonic efforts of the past two years: tales of steel and legends from the underworld…

SKULL FIST:

Zach Slaughter – vocals, guitar

Casey Guest – bass

JJ Tartaglia – drums

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SINNER Signs To Atomic Fire Records

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To Release New Studio Album “Brotherhood”

Atomic Fire Records today welcomes German hard rock quartet SINNER to its expanding roster. The band will release a twelve-track full-length, aptly titled Brotherhood, this Summer. Produced by frontman Mat Sinner and co-produced by guitarist Tom Naumann, Brotherhood was recorded by Basi Roeder at Backyard Studios as well as Mitch Kunz at Apollo 13 Audio, and mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, Denmark.

Vocalist/bassist Mat Sinner comments, “We’re enormously happy to be a new member of the Atomic Fire Records family and to work with many great ex-colleagues. Brotherhood simply is such a strong album that we need their motivated and loyal team to make it a big success.”

Says Atomic Fire Records CEO Markus Wosgien, “We’ve been connected and good friends with Mat Sinner and his band mates for a long time. To welcome SINNER at Atomic Fire Records is nothing but a matter of the heart for us because – like Primal Fear – they’re a very important part of our past but now also of our present and future again; and we’re even prouder and happier about their monstrous new album that was crafted in brilliant teamwork by Mat (mostly) alongside Tom Naumann. Brotherhood is a heavy, straight, and hard-hitting opus, graced with an impressive amount of guests and friends. The album title says it all – it’s definitely another masterful addition to the already long listing of great SINNER records.”

More information on SINNER‘s Brotherhood as well as the first digital single and preordering details will be announced soon.

SINNER:

Mat Sinner – vocals, bass

Tom Naumann – guitars

Alex Scholpp – guitars

Markus Kullmann – drums

Interviews

THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR Q&A with BRENDAN SHANE

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• What’s the inspiration behind (META)MORPHOSIS and how did its name come about?

BRENDAN SHANE: “The idea for ‘(Meta)morphosis’ came to mind as I was healing from the loss of a close family member and going through a significant heartbreak. My previous material was dark and broody and was weighing me down before the band had even got off the ground. As I began to work on healing myself, my writing developed and allowed me to grow and expand as an artist. The entire album process morphed my perspective on life, love and the music industry. I’ve been working hard every day to continue to strive to be better and constantly morphing and evolving. I believe Bear Grylls famously once said, ‘Improvise, adapt, overcome,’ so that’s the advice I’ve followed.

• The definition of ‘metamorphosis’ is a change of physical form, structure or substance. If you had the ability of metamorphosis, what would you change to and why?

SHANE: “I love moths and I absolutely love bees. Both go through a complete metamorphosis. Though bees are known pollinators a lot of people don’t know the value moths bring to the ecosystem. They’re responsible for many things but one of which is pollinating plants at night while other insects can’t. I absolutely love nocturnal bugs and animals. Surprise, surprise!”

• (META)MORPHOSIS was produced by John Moyer (Disturbed) and mixed/mastered with Logan Mader.  How did you get connected to both of them and what was your favorite part about working with them on this album?

SHANE: “I’ve known John Moyer for over a decade. We first met when he produces a previous metal project of mine and we’ve been friends ever since. Aside from being a killer bass player, he’s an insane producer and songwriter and has always brought the absolute best out of me. Every time I think I’ve got his production style figured out he does a complete 180 and blows my mind. I had shared the project when it was in its early stages, and he was so supportive from the start. As it evolved, I sent over some demos of the newer sound and he said, ‘let’s get you into the studio.’ My immediate reply was to get Logan Mader involved.”

“I was originally connected with Logan (I bet he won’t remember this) long ago when I had met the original Bass player of Five Finger Death Punch. I was 18 or 19 then. I loved Roadrunner’s ‘All Star Sessions’ CD/DVD and in it saw Logan behind a mixing board and looked up his credentials and was shocked. I was then determined to work with him. John reached out to him to get involved with Nocturnal after we started recording and the rest is history.”

“I knew they John and Logan had worked on stuff together in the past, but I had no idea how great this team would be. Getting them both in a room with me is the perfect checks and balances of production and songwriting. We can almost read each other’s minds at some points.”

• Your tour with Fozzy starts later this week and its your first time being on the road since Covid performing. What are you most looking forward to about being on tour?

SHANE: “Everything. The road. The new friends I’ll make. The quick trip hot dogs. Haha, I’m made to travel. I’m made to perform. This is a dream come true.”

• If you had to choose one band from the past to tour with, who would it be & why?

SHANE: “Prince. I’m a workhorse when it comes to music. I write and record demos every day. Even if it’s just a riff or a chorus or a vocal melody. I know he did the same. I’d love to have learned the tips and tricks of his recording and performing process.”

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THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR Debut Album ‘(META)MORPHOSIS’ Out Now

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Band Embark on Fozzy Tour

Las Vegas-based dark rock outfit THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR have just unveiled their debut album (META)MORPHOSIS. Released via Earache Records, the 10-track album emphasizes the band’s crushing and melancholic musical style and is heavily influenced by industrial/dark rock torchbearers like Type O Negative, HIM, David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails. It was produced by John Moyer (Disturbed) while being mixed and mastered by Logan Mader (Machine Head, Once Human). Stream/download (META)MORPHOSIS here

THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR will embark on a 30-date tour across the U.S. starting this Thursday, March 31 in Detroit, MI which marks their first jaunt post-Covid. The tour is headlined by Chris Jericho’s rock band FOZZY, with additional support from Gold Frankincense and Myrrh and KRASHKARMA. Grab tickets HERE.  

THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR performed a solo headlining show this past Saturday night in their Las Vegas hometown at the “Scarlet” event at the Arts District club Artifice to kick off the tour and celebrate (META)MORPHOSIS’ release. Previously they’ve toured with a diverse range of bands including HELLYEAH, Asking Alexandria, Pop Evil, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and The 69 Eyes. 

THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR TOUR DATES

with FOZZY, Gold Frankincense and Myrrh and KRASHKARMA

Mar. 31 – Diesel – Chesterfield, MI

Apr. 01 – Piere’s – Ft Wayne, IN

Apr. 02 – The Piazza – Aurora, IL

Apr. 03 – Epic Event Center – Ashwaubenon, WI

Apr. 04 – 1175 – Kansasville, WI

Apr. 07 – Toad’s Place – New Haven, CT

Apr. 08 – Aura – Portland, ME

Apr. 09 – Wally’s – Hampton Beach, NH

Apr. 10 – Fete Ballroom – Providence, RI

Apr. 11 – Irving Plaza – New York, NY

Apr. 14 – Stone Pony – Asbury Park, NJ

Apr. 15 – Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA

Apr. 16 – The Queen – Wilmington, DE

Apr. 17 – The Chance – Poughkeepsie, NY

Apr. 18 – Tally Ho Theater – Leesburg, VA

Apr. 28 – Southport Music Hall – New Orleans, LA

Apr. 29 – Warehouse Live – Houston, TX

Apr. 30 – The Rock Box – San Antonio, TX

May 01 – Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX

May 02 – Amplified Live – Dallas, TX

May 05 – The Whisky A Go Go – Los Angeles, CA

May 06 – Garden Grove Amphitheater – Garden Grove, CA

May 07 – Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA

May 08 – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA

May 09 – Virginia Street Brewhouse – Reno, NV

May 12 – Sunshine Studios – Colorado Springs, CO

May 13 – Oriental Theater – Denver, CO

May 14 – Temple Live – Wichita, KS

May 15 – Temple Live – Ft Smith, AR

May 16 – Pop’s – Sauget, IL

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AS I LAY DYING Celebrate Two Decades of Destruction in the U.S.

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San Diego quartet AS I LAY DYING is celebrating its anniversary as a band with the “Two Decades Of Destruction Tour”. Today, the band announced the U.S. leg of the tour will kick off on June 10th in Las Vegas. Joining the band for the 30 dates are WHITECHAPEL, SHADOW OF INTENT, BRAND OF SACRIFICE (June 24-July 17), and OV SULFUR (June 10-23)The tour will conclude on July 17th in Oklahoma.


Phil Sgrosso comments, “After 2 years of anxiously awaiting the safe return of live events it’s finally our time to get back out on the road to celebrate ‘Two Decades of Destruction’ with WHITECHAPEL, SHADOW OF INTENT, BRAND OF SACRIFICE, and OV SULFUR. We’ve had enough time to fully recharge and can’t wait to feel that energy of performing onstage again. We’ve certainly missed our fans so we look forward to reconnecting with everyone as we celebrate our 20-year milestone and get back on the road. See you soon!”

The band’s latest album, Shaped By Fire, was produced by AS I LAY DYING and was mixed by Joseph McQueen at Sparrow Sound in Los Angeles, CA while mastering was completed by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in Nashville, TN. The only exception was for the track “My Own Grave” which was produced by AS I LAY DYING, co-produced by Drew Fulk, and mixed by Adam “Nolly” Getgood. The artwork was created by Corey Meyers.

The band releases the Shaped By Fire (Deluxe Version) which features live and instrumental versions as well as re-interpretations of the original tracks. AS I LAY DYING band offers fans the live music video for “My Own Grave”.