Tag Archives: Rockshots Records

EMBRYO New Video “Darkest Lights” ft. Drummer George Kollias (Nile)

Off Forthcoming Album “A Vivid Shade on Misery” Out March 2023

Italian melodic death Embryo is sharing the first glimpse of brutality from their forthcoming fifth album “A Vivid Shade on Misery”, which features the band’s recruitment of international drumming powerhouse George Kollias (Nile) for its recording. Due out on March 17th, 2023 via Rockshots Records, Embryo shares its first single “Darkest Lights” accompanied by a music video. The track is melodic, but with an unforgettable groove.

“A Vivid Shade on Misery” follows the band’s 2017’s “A Step Beyond Divinity” (Art Gates Records), 2015’s Self-Titled (logic(il)logic Records) that featured Fleshgod Apocalypse’s drummer Francesco Paoli, 2010’s “No God Slave” and their 2006 debut “Chaotic Age”.

Since the band’s inception, Embryo has toured across Europe with Melechesh, Keep of Kalessin, Tribulation, Nile, Immolation, Ragnarok, Monuments of Misanthropy, and Suffocation along with performing on festivals such as Masters of Rock (CZ), and Total Metal Festival (Italy).

Embryo began writing their fifth offering in 2020 with George Kollias and entered the Domination Studio in July 2021 with producer Simone Mularoni, and engineer Simone Bertozzi.

Monolithic, intense, powerful, technical, and melodic this new album features eight brand new tracks and is another concept album like its predecessor “A Step Beyond Divinity”. The band is inspired by historical Italian figures of the Renaissance era and their tormented lives, their absolute genius, and the gifts they gave to the world. While the previous album “A Step Beyond Divinity” was inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci, this new work is totally inspired by Michelangelo Merisi alias Caravaggio, an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life.

“With “A Vivid Shade on Misery” we want to have listeners dive into our world by giving them brutal and atmospheric music melted together in the way we love to do plus having Kollias drum on this new album, one of the best drummers in the world, is just an absolute honour. Overall, fans will find this album has the “Embryo” matrix, there’s no doubt about that. It will be a more direct record and its songs make up a pattern that takes the listener on a journey through torments and anxieties, but which at the same time gives him pure energy.” adds the band.

From the band’s first album “Chaotic Age” (2006) to today, Embryo‘s music has evolved over the years. On the first record, they were more brutal and messier, now their compositions are much more “thought out” and brilliant. If they had to use one word to describe their compositional evolution they would say “sharp”.

Album pre-order – https://bit.ly/Embryo_CD

Current Line-Up:
Roberto Pasolini – Vocals
Eugenio Sambasile – Guitars
Simone Solla – Keyboards
Gabriel Pignatta – Bass
George Kollias – Drums (guest)

Track Listing:
1. Pride – 3:58
2. Highest Fame – 4:19
3. Darkest Lights – 4:01
4. The Seed of Lividity – 4:02
5. MMDC – 5:04
6. Medusa – 4:18
7. Vanitas – 3:59
8. Concrete Visionary – 3:29
Album Length: 33:13

A Vivid Shade On Misery album credits:
The album was recorded in July 2021 @ Domination Studio – San Marino
Technicians: Simone Mularoni, Simone Bertozzi.
Mixed and Mastered by Simone Mularoni.
Drums recorded @ George Kollias Studio

Rockshots Records Signs EMBRYO For New Album “A Vivid Shade on Misery” ft. Drummer George Kollias (Nile)

Rockshots Records is proud to announce their signing of the Italian melodic death Embryo for the release of their fifth album “A Vivid Shade on Misery” on March 17th, 2023. For the album’s recording, the band recruited international drumming powerhouse George Kollias (Nile).

The fifth full-length follows the band’s 2017’s “A Step Beyond Divinity” (Art Gates Records), 2015’s Self-Titled (logic(il)logic Records) that featured Fleshgod Apocalypse’s drummer Francesco Paoli, 2010’s “No God Slave” and their 2006 debut “Chaotic Age”.

Since the band’s inception, Embryo has toured across Europe with Melechesh, Keep of Kalessin, Tribulation, Nile, Immolation, Ragnarok, Monuments of Misanthropy, and Suffocation along with performing on festivals such as Masters of Rock (CZ), and Total Metal Festival (Italy).

Embryo began writing their 5th offering in 2020 with George Kollias and entered the Domination Studio in July 2021 with producer Simone Mularoni, and engineer Simone Bertozzi.

Monolithic, intense, powerful, technical, and melodic this new album features eight brand new tracks and is another concept album like its predecessor “A Step Beyond Divinity”. The band is inspired by historical Italian figures of the Renaissance era and their tormented lives, their absolute genius, and the gifts they gave to the world. While the previous album “A Step Beyond Divinity” was inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci, this new work is totally inspired by Michelangelo Merisi alias Caravaggio, an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life.

“With “A Vivid Shade on Misery” we want to have listeners dive into our world by giving them brutal and atmospheric music melted together in the way we love to do plus having Kollias drum on this new album, one of the best drummers in the world, is just an absolute honour. Overall, fans will find this album has the “Embryo” matrix, there’s no doubt about that. It will be a more direct record and its songs make up a pattern that takes the listener on a journey through torments and anxieties, but which at the same time gives him pure energy.” adds the band.

From the band’s first album “Chaotic Age” (2006) to today, Embryo‘s music has evolved over the years. On the first record, they were more brutal and messier, now their compositions are much more “thought out” and brilliant. If they had to use one word to describe their compositional evolution they would say “sharp”.

Track Listing:
1. Pride – 3:58
2. Highest Fame – 4:19
3. Darkest Lights – 4:01
4. The Seed of Lividity – 4:02
5. MMDC – 5:04
6. Medusa – 4:18
7. Vanitas – 3:59
8. Concrete Visionary – 3:29
Album Length: 33:13

Current Line-Up:
Roberto Pasolini – Vocals
Eugenio Sambasile – Guitars
Simone Solla – Keyboards
Gabriel Pignatta – Bass
George Kollias – Drums (guest)

HIGHLORD’s Ninth Studio Album “Freakin’ Out of Hell” and New Video “Soul Sucker” out now

Out Now! Italian Power metallers Highlord release their new album “Freakin’ Out of Hell” via Rockshots Records.

Digital – https://bfan.link/freakin-out-of-hell
CD – https://bit.ly/Highlord_CD

For the album’s release day, the band is sharing their latest music video for the track “Soul Sucker”, the first song on the record. It welcomes the listener with a riff that is a punch in the face. It’s fast and raw, then it develops in a very catchy chorus, with a surprising breakdown before going into the next track. It also features some of the most aggressive vocal performances from Andrea Marchisio ever delivered. The guitar solo section slows down, with a dreamy fugue, before it gets fast and aggressive again until its conclusion. The lyrics deal with people that can almost drain us of our blood and souls, we’ve all met at least one in our lives.

Infusing heavy-power metal with progressive and symphonic influences was formed in Turin Italy in 1997, over the span of their career they have released eight albums, contributed to two tribute albums for Manowar and Helloween, have toured all over Europe and performed with Zak Steven’s Circle II Circle, Dark Moor, Freedom Call, Pino Scotto, Vision Divine, Elvenking, Sacred Steel, Seventh Wonder and more along with music featured on movie soundtracks for ‘The Werewolf Chronicles’ and ‘Blood Of The Werewolf’.

For their ninth album “Freakin’ Out Of Hell”, the band began recording it between May 2020 and December 2021. The album includes 11 tracks of pure power-metal in perfect Highlord style, but with a much more aggressive sound and a touch of prog-metal. Again the album has been recorded, mixed, mastered, and produced in-house by bass player Massimiliano Flak at Evolution Recording Studio (Italy). The album’s artwork was created by Harley Velasquez on a concept by Highlord.

The band adds about the ninth offering:

“Our debut; it’s been a joy to work with everyone to make these songs the best that they can be. The overarching theme is the onset, the snowballing, and the eventual climax of all of the negative thoughts leading to death. On Freakin’ out of Hell we have also set the average level of heaviness and aggression a bit higher; this is not a happy metal record, it’s a heavy metal piece that fully deserves this definition.”

Track Listing:
01. Prelude To Hell – 1:20
02. Soul Sucker – 5:16
03. Freakin’ Out Of Hell – 5:19
04. Sweet Unknown – 5:15
05. Off The Beaten Path – 4:18
06. Hollow Space – 5:12
07. If You Say Yes – 5:27
08. Eyes Open Wide – 5:36
09. The Devil’s Doorbell – 4:15
10. Fallen From Grace – 4:44
11. One Eyed Jack – 4:18
Album Length: 51:05

Rockshots Records Signs Finnish Rockers Leaflet For 2023 Album “Something Beyond”

Rockshots Records is proud to announce their signing of Finnish rockers LEAFLET for the release of their sophomore album “Something Beyond” in 2023. The album follows their debut album “Outta Door” released through VR Label Finland in 2017.

The band comments on “Something Beyond”:

“With this album, we are definitely showing that rock music is alive and pumping! The album is full of catchy metal-influenced rock tunes that would fit perfectly in the heavy rotation of every rock radio station. The album has a lot of variety within the songs and we got a diverse selection of singles as well. Three very different singles trying to represent the entire album as well as possible. As singles, we got one heavy and hard-hitting tune, one straightforward and super catchy tune, and one fast-paced in-your-face type of tune. You should check out them all to see what you think! “

Formed in 2013, LEAFLET is a four-piece hard rock band from Turku, Finland. Their music can be described as metal-infused American-style hard rock and while you might hear echoes of bands like Alter Bridge or Shinedown they have their own unique Nordic flavour. “Our musical cocktail is a blend of many things. Although we love the 80s, we are trying to keep our hard rock fresh and not follow the retro route”, the band says.

The band has performed on Finnish festivals such as Kuopiorock and Saaristo Open Air along with touring across their home country to support their debut album. They also spent time on the road in the Baltics with Willie & the Goodsouls in 2018 again playing clubs and festivals.

In 2019, LEAFLET released “Johnny Two-Face” as a single through VR Label Finland followed by an ambitious music video shot in both Turku, Finland, and Tokyo, Japan. After a couple of years of silence due to the pandemic, the band is now back with their second album “Something Beyond” to be released by Rockshots Records in January 2023, sounding stronger than ever.

LEAFLET is:

Jaakko Leaflet – lead vocals & guitar

Antti Kallio – guitar & backing vocals

Fabian Korsström – bass & backing vocals

Pekka Jokela – drums

Rockshots Records Silent Angel For 2023 Album “Unyielding, Unrelenting”

Rockshots Records announces its signing of the international collective Silent Angel, an Italian / Malaysian-based band that has its foundations deeply rooted in power and symphonic metal with a mix of progressive along with Japanese metal influence.

Rockshots Records announces its signing of the international collective Silent Angel, an Italian / Malaysian-based band that has its foundations deeply rooted in power and symphonic metal with a mix of progressive along with Japanese metal influence.

Silent Angel will be releasing their first full-length entitled “Unyielding, Unrelenting” for release in 2023.

Originally formed in 2000, and taking over a decade-long hiatus, the band returned in 2015, the band returned with a fresh new lineup and released two EPs along with gaining support on American, Canadian, Italian, Australian and UK radio stations. The band was also honoured with recording a track for Samsung’s Milk Music Ad Campaign, plus performing a Malaysian tour where they headlined the IDX SummerFest, which was followed by two tours of Japan.

After the Japan tours, Silent Angel returned to the studios to record their full-length album, but unfortunately were struck with tragedy with the untimely passing of their bass player putting the recording on pause.

Fast forward to 2020, Silent Angel brought in multi-award winning recording and mixing engineer, Rahmad Kamikaze as the co-producer and welcomed bassist Dauz and professional drum sessionist PAE. The beautiful and talented Italian soprano powerhouse vocalist, Claudia Beltrame, became Silent Angel’s newest member in 2021 thus completing the lineup.

Silent Angel is:

Eric “StormBlade” Poon – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Backing Vocals, Songwriter, Lyricist

Claudia Beltrame – Lead Vocals

Gracie Shona – Co-lead Vocals

Dauz – Bass

VICTORIA K Shares Music Video “Tower” Off New Album “Kore” Out October 2022

Australia’s Victoria K is sharing the next single “Tower” from the forthcoming sophomore album “Kore” set for release this coming October via Rockshots Records to follow the highly praised 2020 debut album “Essentia”.

Being unveiled with a music video, “Tower” is the longest song on the album. Clocking in at over seven minutes, the band got the inspiration for this track from the part of the hymn where Kore’s mother orders the people of the world to build a tower in her honour. The band explains further:

“This idea and concept sparked a lot of ideas, taking inspiration from events and questions that we face in our current society. Questions such as the existence of a divine power, and why we praise higher powers both spiritually speaking and in our physical world. It also raises ideas about our current social regimes, like capitalism, as well as the toxicity of materialist and consumerist cultures. Aspects of this song touch upon the exploitation of the middle and lower class. This is a topic that we wanted to bring forward, as musicians, artists, and writers as we feel it is relevant and important. This song also takes a lot of inspiration from ethnic sounds. The chanting is sung in ancient Greek, meant to imitate marching and worship, this ties into the message that the song is trying to convey.”

Offering up progressive symphonic sound, “Kore” was specifically written to provide a full orchestral experience that drives people through a sonic journey of growth and grandeur.

“We wanted to take a new approach with this record and to grow our sound and bring something new to Victoria K. Incorporating sounds from our vocalist’s ethnic culture and heritage is something we are so extremely proud of! A concept album is something we really wanted to explore, and we are so excited to bring you this ancient story and create a sonic experience and journey for all our listeners. We cannot wait to share this new stage of Victoria K!”

“Kore” explores modern-day issues through the Homeric Hymn to Demeter (the story of Persephone). Victoria K conceptualized the idea for the album with her producer Lee Bradshaw and then spent many months researching and analyzing the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, even meeting with experts of the Homeric Hymns from Greece. The story was then broken up into its different parts where Victoria Knight wrote the lyrics and developed the melodies for each section of the tale, exploring the myth from a modern perspective.

The tracks were written specifically to encapsulate the various sections of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter and tell the story chronologically through each song and the music grows in intensity throughout the record capturing the emotional state of Persephone and other characters as the story progresses.

The various instruments on “Kore” were then written by Victoria around the lyrics and further enhanced and developed through the production process. Lee Bradshaw then finalized the songs by writing orchestral scores for each song, which were recorded live in Europe, before the final mixing and mastering.

Track Listing:
1 – Prologue – 1:09
2 – Raptum – 5:12
3 – Mothers’ Garden – 4:34
4 – The Child – 4:01
5 – Persephone – 5:19
6 – A Divine Revelation – 7:09
7 – Tower – 7:29
8 – Blasphemia – 5:43
9 – Pomegranate – 5:52
10 – The Afterlife – 3:58
11 – Epilogue – 0:54
Album Length: 51:25