METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

FEAR NOT Sign With Roxx Records to Release New EP:
Press Release / Classic Christian rockers FEAR NOT have signed on with Roxx Records to release their brand new EP entitled For The Wounded Heart. This EP will showcase the first new recordings from FEAR NOT since the release of the bands one and only full length self-titled album in 1993, over 25 years ago. This year after celebrating the 25th anniversary with a beautifully done reissue of that debut album on both vinyl and limited edition CD, the Christian rock community was buzzing about FEAR NOT! That buzz caught the attention of the 4 original members, and the creative juices and chemistry of those 4 guys was so great it ultimately led them to writing and recording 5 brand new and amazing tunes.

Featuring all 4 original members  including original vocalist Larry Worley, on guitar and backing vocals, Chris Howell on guitar, Rod Romero on bass and Gary Hansen on the drums. If that was not amazing enough to have all 4 original members recording again, you’re in for a treat as they also bring in to the fold a brand new addition with lead vocalist Eddie Green, who helps take this new EP to a whole new level with his metal vocal stylings. Eddie is a seasoned, touring vocalist who most recently fronted EVEN THE DOGS, who had a charting single titled ‘Ghost’. 

Kicking things off watch for the brand new debut single “Don’t Want None (Come Get Some)” making its worldwide premiere on January 11, 2019 on Spotify, Pandora, Amazon, iTunes and everywhere you stream digital media. If that’s not enough for you we will also be launching a brand new lyric video AND the single will be serviced to radio outlets everywhere, so get out there and start requesting it today!

Stay Tuned to www.roxxproductions.com for full release details and special limited edition packages coming your way very soon, including a limited edition CD as well as a full digital release.

FEAR NOT online: www.facebook.com/FearNotRoxx

REVOLUTION SAINTS To Record Third Album In 2019:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net:

According to a recent tweet by drummer/vocalist Deen Castronovo (THE DEAD DAISIES, ex-JOURNEY), REVOLUTION SAINTS - the melodic hard rock super group that also features bassist Jack Blades (NIGHT RANGER, DAMN YANKEES) and guitarist Doug Aldrich (THE DEAD DAISIES, BURNING RAIN, ex-WHITESNAKE) - will record their third album in 2019.

"Doug, Jack and I are gearing up for a new record with drum tracks being laid down end of March," Castronovo wrote on December 14.

REVOLUTION SAINTS was conceptualized by Frontiers Music Srl president Serafino Perugino, a longtime JOURNEY fan who wanted to find a vehicle for Castronovo - a long-established drummer who has performed with artists as varied as OZZY OSBOURNE, SOCIAL DISTORTION and BAD ENGLISH - to display his vocal prowess. The label released the group's self-titled debut album, which featured guest appearances by JOURNEY members Arnel Pineda and Neal Schon, in 2015.

In 2017, the group made their live debut (and to date, their sole concert performance) in Milan, Italy at the Frontiers Rock Festival IV. Later that year, they released their second album, Light In The Dark, which - like their debut - was produced by Alessandro Del Vecchio (HARDLINE, JORN). Most of the album was recorded at Del Vecchio's studios in Somma Lombardo, Italy, with additional recording taking place at Blades's studio in Washington, Aldrich's CasaDala studio in Los Angeles and in other countries all over the world while Aldrich was on tour with THE DEAD DAISIES.

Note: Per the 90% Angelic Warlord review of Light In The Dark, REVOLUTION SAINTS ‘impresses as a professional form of melodic hard rock I have heard, or at the very least ranks alongside Novella (One Big Sky) Fear Not (self-titled) and Guardian (Fire & Love) in this capacity’.  Lyrically, the album reflects on several tracks the faith of Castronovo, whom in the albums liner notes thanks ‘My Savior, my Restorer, my champion, Jesus Christ’.

REVOLUTION SAINTS lineup:

Deen Castronovo - Lead Vocals & Drums
Doug Aldrich - Guitars
Jack Blades – Bass

REVOLUTION SAINTS online: www.facebook.com/RevolutionSaints

THE WORLD WILL BURN Announce Third Album, Nothing Is As Real As It Seems:
Press Release / THE WORLD WILL BURN first arrived on the heavy music scene in 2016 with their debut album Severity.  Hard to describe, but certainly different, the band achieved critical acclaim and showed some impressive staying power on the Amazon alternative metal charts.  Fronted by singer Dale Thompson, best known as the long time singer for the highly popular band BRIDE, the group followed up quickly with the album RuiNation in 2017.  RuiNation took a big step for the band, with more mature musical renderings that continued the bands totally different/vaguely familiar song arrangements.  RuiNation expanded the band’s popularity and put them solidly as one of the fastest rising bands in the hard rock genre. 

With the success of their first two albums under their belt, why would THE WORLD WILL BURN change things up on their third album?  Simple, says co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Alan Zaring.  “I have always felt that our weak spot was the drumming on our first two albums.  I hacked it out the best I could, mainly programming anything complex.  At the same time, I didn’t want to give up too much control over the process, and really didn’t know who would be a good fit.  When Dale reached out to Michael, I started to listen to his music and knew immediately he was the perfect drummer for TWWB” said Zaring.  "It turns out he is a super cool guy as well as being a world-class drummer”.

The Michael he refers to is Michael Feighan, the drummer well-known for his long stint with the band WHITECROSS, and well as the all-star collaboration KING JAMES.   States Feighan, “I started playing drums and caught the music bug around 16 ears old and was a huge fan of Kiss and Rush.  Drumming became my passion and I started listening to all the greats such as Steve Gadd and David Garibaldi and guys like that. When I was around 19 years old I was in Germany and really dedicated my life to Christ. I knew then that I wanted to use my gift in God’s army somehow, someway!”  Feighan continued by saying “I have so much to be thankful for and one of those things is being brought into the company of Dale Thompson and Alan Zaring of The World Will Burn!  I am excited about the outcome of this album as I have always wanted to work with Dale, and now meeting his songwriting partner and the wizard behind the curtain Alan I think this has great potential!”

Dale Thompson echoed Zaring and Feighan’s excitement. “The World Will Burn has taken a permanent place in my heart working along side Alan Zaring and creating vocal melodies to go with his creative guitar hooks and crafty songs.  I have always wanted to have the beat master Michael Feighan record drums on something I have sung on and now after all of these many years, Michael is on board and adding his incredible drums licks to TWWB.  Michael and I have shared the stage many times when he was drumming for Whitecross.  I am thankful to God that he has some downtime to join Alan and me.”

About the new album?  Thompson explains "the title of the third release from The World Will Burn is Nothing Is As Real As It Seems and I guarantee if you enjoyed our first two albums, this monster of an album is going to rock your world!”  Zaring describes the album this way “take equal parts Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Frank Zappa, then punch it in the face with our intensity to make it mad.  This time, the music is super emotional, even more than our last two.  That is saying a lot because we have been known for being super emotional on our prior songs.  We can not wait to release this album.  We really think it is going to shake some things up and the fans will really love it.”

The band is on track to release the album sometime in the beginning of the second quarter of 2019.  For more information, visit their website at: www.theworldwillburn.com

NEWS BRIEFS

* THE HERO, “Cold World” single teaser: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKK9Dyw1Ogo

The single, which comes off the Gothic rock/metal acts upcoming studio album Warpaint, will be released in January 2019.

* JACOBS DREAM update (Facebook - September 29, 2018):

“Here’s a quick update on things here at the JD camp. We are very blessed to welcome Kevin Wright back to the band. Kevin lent his voice and talents to us on our latest album Sea of Destiny, so he’s no stranger to anyone.  We are very happy to have him back in the band are ready to book shows and were working on new material that we know you will enjoy.

“So the obvious question this brings to mind is, "what happened to David Taylor? The answer is David will always be a part of Jacobs Dream. However, currently the demands of the band don’t fit in with his life right now. Hey, if this was easy anyone could do it. Double that for being a vocalist. But don’t worry the door is always open to David and be sure you haven’t heard the last of him.”

* KEN ADLER BAND is a new/old project from vocalist Christian Liljegren (NARNIA).  According to Liljegren, the groups debut album Kingdom was recorded in 1995 but never officially released until it was recently made available for streaming via Nostalgic Roxx: https://nostalgicroxx.com/project/ken-adler-band-kingdom

Ken Adler handles all instrumentation on the project, while Liljegren shares vocal duties with Andrea Lagerin (MEAN STREAK).  Production attributes to Björn Stigsson (LEVITICUS, XT).

* “Hallelujah”, new music video from WALES ROAD: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e84uaHKW4E

* Both TEMPLE OF BLOOD albums, Prepare For The Judgement Of Mankind (2005) and Overlord (2008), have been re-mastered and are available digitally at BandCamp: https://templeofblood.bandcamp.com

CD version to PFTJOM will be released in the near future; Overlord to follow on CD sometime in 2019.

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

LES CARLSEN - 1971 Solo Album Details Revealed:
Press Release / Girder Music and Girder Records are very proud to announce this amazing CD by BLOODGOOD's lead singer, Les Carlsen.  This amazing CD comes from a re-mastered cassette that Les recorded in 1971, while touring as the lead role "Claude", with the Broadway musical Hair.  Les put together material for an album with a group of musicians from Seattle, but it's never been released until now. It was the first album ever recorded by Les, a lost treasure found on cassette and re-mastered by David Zaffiro. It's a real honor to be working with these amazing guys on this project.

The song “Bad Credit” was re-worked and re-titled as “It’s Alright” and recorded along with the song “Changing Me” by BLOODGOOD on Out Of The Darkness. “Flesh Failures” and “Let The Sunshine In” were original Hair songs.

Les originally wrote the song “Changing Me” for a clothing store in Miami, back in 1971, in exchange for clothes from their store including those Stars and Stripe pants that he's wearing on the back cover and disc face.

Hair influenced Les's theatrical approach to all his music. Les’s vocals sound very young but the Les Carlsen 'sound' is unmistakable. The primal scream in “Someday” is a foreshadowing of the signature screams in later BLOODGOOD material.

1971 lineup:

Les Carlsen - Vocals
Mike Elliott - Guitar, Moog
Ted Shreffler - Keyboard, Mellotron
Bob Coie – Bass
John Agostino - Drums

1971 track listing:

1. “Valley Of The Shadow” (Mike Elliott)
2. “Elevator Operator” (Ted Shreffler)
3. “Hello There” (John Agostino)
4. “Can You Hear Me” (Mike Elliott)
5. “Flesh Failures - Let the Sunshine In” (Galt McDermott, James Rado, Gerome Ragni)
6. “Lay Me Down” (Les Carlsen, John Agostino)
7. “Bad Credit” (Les Carlsen)
8. “Someday” (Bob Coie)
10. “Changing Me” (Les Carlsen)
11. “Battle Fatigue” (Les Carlsen, John Agostino)

1971 pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/products/les-carlsen-1971-cd

THE NEAL MORSE BAND Release “The Great Adventure” Music Video:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net:

Press Release / THE NEAL MORSE BAND - Neal Morse (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Randy George (bass), Bill Hubauer (keyboards, vocals), Eric Gillette (guitars, vocals) - will take fans on The Great Adventure with its latest double concept album, due out January 25, 2019 on Radiant Records via Metal Blade worldwide. It will be available in three formats: a two-CD package, two-CD/DVD special edition featuring behind-the-scenes video clips of the making of the album, and three vinyl LPs.

The official music video for "The Great Adventure" title track can be seen above.

The follow-up to 2016's critically acclaimed The Similitude Of A Dream will be the ninth studio album with Morse, Portnoy and George, and the third as a true collaboration with this current lineup. Together, Morse and Portnoy have launched four bands, but the one that has endured the longest and thus with the most musical output has been THE NEAL MORSE BAND.

"Let the great adventure now begin…" The closing line of The Similitude Of A Dream has proved to be strangely prophetic. The new album is exactly that: a perfect companion piece to The Similitude Of A Dream’s partial retelling of John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress". It has everything that fans would expect from an album by THE NEAL MORSE BAND, and more: rock, metal, classical and jazz elements appear throughout, as well as some killer melodies, all played faultlessly by some of the greatest rock musicians on the planet.

As Neal Morse explains: "This band continues to amaze me! I have to say it was a little daunting to follow up The Similitude Of A Dream as it was such a special album and it delivered every night at our concerts, but I believe that 'The Great Adventure' will have a tremendous impact as well. This new double album is everything that I hoped it would be! I listened through last night and I was in tears at the end!"

Mike Portnoy emphatically agrees. He says: "How do you follow an epic double concept album??? Well, create another epic double concept album!! Hahaha. I always knew topping The Similitude Of A Dream was going to be difficult, if not impossible, as I held it in such high regard, but alas, I am absolutely blown away with what we achieved here! We've created what is the ultimate companion to The Similitude Of A Dream."

"Sometimes there are things that you just can't mess with," Randy George continues. "On The Similitude Of A Dream, we tapped into something special. I was sure that the follow up should be something quite different, but you have to follow your heart and follow the music where it wants to go. The Great Adventure is nothing short of a miracle. It's similar to 'Similitude' in concept and form, but yet it's tougher and deeper in its tone! This is a powerful work and I look forward to playing it live!

True to the album's title, the creative process was indeed a "great adventure." Unlike many previous Morse albums, which have often been written and arranged within weeks, this time around these prolific and world-class musicians spent almost a year working on the end result, producing an abundance of top-quality material. This meant some ruthless decision-making: some already completed songs and characters had to go, and - with studio time running out - new links and ideas were being composed and recorded up to the eleventh hour. "A lot of work and re-work has gone into this," says Morse, "but I know that some of the most successful and far-reaching albums I've been involved with have been just like that.  Sola Scriptura and SPOCK'S BEARD's Snow album come to mind."

Another key question that had to be addressed in the studio was how to pull all the ideas together into a coherent whole. In the end, what unlocked this "adventure" for Morse was the realization that The Great Adventure needed a new voice and perspective. This time, it is that of the Pilgrim's abandoned son, a younger, perhaps angrier, voice than was heard on The Similitude Of A Dream.

THE NEAL MORSE BAND will bring The Great Adventure to fans worldwide with a new round of headlining tour dates, which begin February 2, 2019 in Nashville at City Winery.

Radiant Records online: www.radiantrecords.com/default.aspx & www.facebook.com/RadiantRecord

THE NEAL MORSE BAND online: www.nealmorse.com & www.facebook.com/nealmorse

Authorized Biography OF KING’S X Due In February:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net:

King's X: The Oral History, the definitive companion to one of the most acclaimed hard rock acts in the business, will be published on February 19, 2019 via Jawbone Press.

Countless accolades have been bestowed upon KING'S X over the years, and, since their formation in 1980, they have grown to become one of the most universally admired in hard rock and heavy metal. But their story is one of many ups and downs, trials and tribulations, and periods of good and bad luck.

This authorized biography examines and explores all aspects of their history, both personally and professionally, and allows the band's three members - singer/ bassist Doug Pinnick, guitarist Ty Tabor and drummer Jerry Gaskill - to tell their full story for the first time. It also opens the floor to friends and collaborators, plus some of the many top rock names who are also fans of the band, including PEARL JAM's Jeff Ament, THE POLICE's Andy Summers, SMASHING PUMPKINS' Billy Corgan, SOUNDGARDEN's Kim Thayil, PANTERA's Rex Brown, MÖTLEY CRÜE's Mick Mars, and many more.

In addition, King's X: The Oral History explores the stories behind every single song the band have recorded over the years, while also detailing the creation of each of their twelve albums and offering insight into the influence of religion on their work. It also features memories of the band's tours with some of rock's biggest names - including AC/DC, PEARL JAM and MÖTLEY CRÜE - and the events that led to their show-stopping performance at the mammoth Woodstock '94 festival. Packed full of rare and never-before-seen photographs from throughout their career, and with a foreword by Scott Ian of ANTHRAX, this is the definitive companion to the band and their music.

Greg Prato is a journalist from Long Island, New York, whose writing has appeared in such renowned publications as Rolling Stone, Classic Rock and Vintage Guitar. He is also the author of several popular books, including Shredders! The Oral History Of Speed Guitar (And More), Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History Of Seattle Rock Music and A Devil On One Shoulder And An Angel On The Other: The Story Of Shannon Hoon And Blind Melon.

Admired and respected by musicians and music fans alike, KING'S X is one of the most acclaimed hard rock bands in the business. Since 1988, they have issued twelve studio albums, including such classics as Gretchen Goes To Nebraska, Faith Hope Love and Dogman, and achieved MTV/radio hits, including "Over My Head", "It's Love" and "Black Flag". They remain one of rock's finest live acts.

NEWS BRIEFS

* The Pure Metal Fan FIERCE HEART studio update (from guitarist Rex Carroll):

”Drum recording at Girder Mode Studio went GREAT! I have been doing some editing and minor tweaking this week, and will soon move to the next phase of recording guitars and basses. Also have been talking to a couple of industry people this week, looking for help for the band.”

* In celebration of its twentieth anniversary, www.stryper.com will be re-reissuing the Roxx Regime Demos on vinyl.  Originally released on July 7, 2007, the Roxx Regime Demos complied the early demo recording of STRYPER that would become its signature sound.  Featured will be the eight original tracks in addition to three never previously released alternate demos.  Production will be limited to 1000 copies and features new cover artwork.  The limited edition release will be pressed on randomly selected color vinyl.  Available January 15, 2019.

ARTIST COMMENTARY

Vocalist Dale Thompson regarding the various recording projects in which he is involved (Facebook - December 21, 2018):

“Bride is back in retirement until Troy (guitarist) is inspired to write again. Yes, I hope he gets inspired too.  No Other God (N.O.G.) with Nenel Lucena (guitarist) is signed to Roxx Records and we are trying to get (our debut album) Take it by Storm out to you by February. Wondering about Perpetual Paranoia? Well, Tiago James de Souza (guitarist) has moved to Texas (and) is setting up his recording studio there. We are half way through recording our third album; however, our second album "untitled" has been handed over to the drummer who is adding finishing touches to the album. We have not secured a label or distribution yet, but with the buzz floating around about this second album I am sure when the time comes we will find a home for the project.

“The World Will Burn?  Finishing touches are happening now with our third "untitled" CD. We are hoping to return to Retroactive but have no assurance of that as of now. I will tell you that the addition of Michael Feighann on drums makes this a triumphant album. I can't wait to hear what Tim Bushong does to it mix wise... should be crazy good.

“The Thomas Thompson Earth Project. Yep the first album will be mixed soon. Garret Thomas will be mixing and mastering once some new equipment comes in and yep there will be a much heavier crushing album afterwards. That is right we are locked in for two albums at least. Then what can I say about Dapster Gentlemen? Myles Barfield and I have released our first project called Death and Life and are pleased to announce that it is really doing well. We did not sign to a record company but the album is out there in all of the usual places for download. Please do so because believe it or not I am now working on album 4 with two more to record. And the cool thing is album 4 will feature my brother Troy Thompson on some guitar.”

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

PYRAMAZE - Legend Of The Bone Carver Re-issue Announced:
Press Release / Legend Of The Bone Carver, the classic second album from PYRAMAZE will be re-issued on CD, digital and for the first time on vinyl on February 15th in Europe and North America via Inner Wound Recordings.

The re-issue includes an extended 16-page booklet that features album history written by PYRAMZE guitarist and founder Michael Kammeyer. The CD and digital editions also includes the bonus track "Flame and Retribution" that was originally only included on the Japanese edition of the album.

Michael Kammeyer comments:

"Dear fans of Pyramaze and all things metal: our highly praised concept album Legend Of The Bone Carver is up for a re-issue. Originally released back in 2006 to great acclaim, the album was dubbed by genre fans as one of the best concept albums in fantasy metal. Now almost 13 years later our album has found a new home with Inner Wound Recordings of Sweden. This release also means that ALL Pyramaze albums, both old and new, are finally under one roof with the very passionate crew at Inner Wound. The re-issue features a re-worked booklet, insightful album history and a bonus track.

“This should be a real treat for any Pyramaze fan. While I myself am no longer an active member of Pyramaze, I still follow the guys closely as a friend and fan of the new releases. I'm also still handling the business decisions regarding the three first albums, and this release has been in the making between myself, Pyramaze and Inner Wound Recordings for quite some time. Finally it's a reality and on behalf of all of us, I hereby announce that Legend of the Bone Carver 2.0 will be out in Europe and North America (digital worldwide) on February 15, 2019. Metal greetings and Merry Christmas (God Jul)"

Legend Of The Bone Carver album synopsis:

Close your eyes and picture an epic novel-like tale from start to finish. An original story centering on the classic tale of good vs. evil - of unspeakable horror consuming all that is good in a realm of Tolkien-like proportions, and a prayer that brings a mystical young hope of unknown origin to the world. Will this young innocent soul be able to help against the massive upheaval and chaos? You'll have to hear the album in its entirety to know the whole story and find out what the LEGEND OF THE BONE CARVER is all about!

Legend Of The Bone Carver was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, EVERGREY).

Legend Of The Bone Carver track listing:

1. “Era Of Chaos”
2. “The Birth”
3. “What Lies Beyond”
4. “Ancient Words Within”
5. “Souls In Pain”
6. “She Who Summoned Me”
7. “The Bone Carver”
8. “Bring Back Life”
9. “Blood Red Skies”
10. “Tears of Hate”
11. “Flame And Retribution” (bonus track)

PYRAMAZE, Legend Of The Bone Carver line-up:

Lance King – Lead Vocals
Michael Kammeyer - Guitars
Toke Skjønnemand - Guitars
Jonah Weingarten - Keyboards
Niels Kvist - Bass
Morten Gade Sørensen – Drums

Legend Of The Bone Carver pre-order: https://innerwound.bigcartel.com

PYRAMAZE online: www.pyramaze.com & www.facebook.com/pyramaze

NEWS BRIEFS

* DREAM PATROL, official video to “Tattooed Millionaire From Panama”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GG-m7j8lNU

The song represents a ‘cover mashup’ to BRUCE DICKINSON’S “Tattooed Millionaire” and VAN HALEN’s “Panama”.

* AgainstPR online interview with ECTHIRION: http://againstpr.com/interview-with-ecthirion

* Update from guitarist Rex Carroll regarding new FIERCE HEART album (Facebook -  December 2, 2018):

“And now for some positive news... Fierce Heart is in the studio as of tomorrow, and there is a new album on the way, featuring Robert Reynolds on vocals, Nick Forchione on the skins, Antonio Acevedo on bass, and yours truly on guitar. There will be more info coming with regular updates, couldn't be more excited...it's about TIME for some new music, right??!!”

* LOVEWAR Kickstarter project to release new album in follow up to 1993’s Soak Your Brain: www.kickstarter.com/projects/260601722/lovewar-the-new-release-25-years-later

 

FEATURED REVIEWS

ANGEL’S FIRE - O Conto
It would not be out of line to suggest that symphonic metal represents a missing genre within Christian hard music circles, or at the very least, it ranks alongside progressive metal in this capacity.  Read Full Review >>

DREAM PATROL - Phantoms Of The Past
Musically, Dream Patrol sidesteps the power metal of König’s and Prinsen’s main bands for a foundation of eighties influenced metal and hard rock with leanings towards classic rock, traditional blues and even some country western twangs.  Read Full Review >>

GREGORIAN ROCK - Fire
As its namesake implies, Gregorian Rock explores the mostly uncharted musical waters of Gregorian chant and contemporary music styles, or at the very least is one of the few that attempts to incorporate both.  Read Full Review >>

HEARTS ON FIRE - Call Of Destiny
Hearts On Fire and its Melodic Rock Records 2018 debut Call of Destiny has the AOR to melodic hard rock bases covered: a strong leaning towards the radio friendly and accessible, the needed heaviness to touch upon hard rock, complementary soaring lead vocals and guitar soloing to taste.  Read Full Review >>

IMAGES OF EDEN - Soulrise
Images Of Eden is back but with a newfound melodic heavy metal designation on its August of 2018 Pavement Entertainment fourth full length album Soulrise.  Read Full Review >>

IMPELLITTERI - The Nature Of The Beast
It’s tough to argue with more.  When a band releases a new album with more hooks, more versatility and ultimately more staying power than those previous, we take notice.  Read Full Review >>

LEAH - The Quest
The fall of 2018 reveals the third at bat for Vancouver, British Columbia based symphonic metal songstress Leah McHenry with The Quest.  Read Full Review >>

NARNIA - We Still Believe – Made In Brazil
Enter into the equation the most recent live album: the summer of 2018 released We Still Believe - Made In Brazil from Narnia, which is actually the group’s second live album, noting At Short Notice… Live In Germany from 2006.  Read Full Review >>

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

Roxx Records Sign NO OTHER GOD:
Press Release / Roxx Records is very excited to announce the first of several new releases coming your way in 2019. Starting off we are very excited to be bringing you the latest release from one of Christian metals most prolific singers, the one and only Dale Thompson, as we announce the signing of his latest project NO OTHER GOD ( N.O.G for short )

N.O.G features not only the talents of Dale Thompson out front on vocals but also Nenel Lucena on lead guitar, Alexandre Aposan on drums and rounding out their sound on bass Raphael Dafras. With Dale hailing from New Zealand, the rest of these very talented musicians hail from the beautiful country of Brazil. Despite the distance between them, this talented bunch was able to come together and bring you this most excellent debut wall shaking, heart stopping, and super heavy metal shredder, quite possibly the hardest rocking album you have ever heard Dale take the helm for.

Check out the new track “Take It By Storm” and get ready to rock: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ6O441CZT0

Stay Tuned in 2019 as we prepare to bring you NO OTHER GOD via Roxx Records.

Roxx Records online: www.roxxproductions.com & www.facebook.com/RoxxRecords777

NO OTHER GOD online: www.facebook.com/noothergodofficial

DARKWATER Announce New Album, Human:
Press Release / The Swedish melodic progressive metal band DARKWATER will release their new album Human on March 1 in Europe and North America via Ulterium Records. The album will be available on CD, double LP and digital.

Human won't leave fans of melodic metal or progressive metal disappointed. The songs are heavier, more melodic and atmospheric than before and the band worked very hard on tweaking the ten songs and over 76 minutes of playing time into perfection. Jacob Hansen (EVERGREY, VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE) was chosen to mix and master the album, and he did a fantastic job resultING in the best sounding DARKWATER album to date.

The albums lyrics welcome you into a world of you and me, how we affect the world around us and the struggles we deal with as humans.

Don't miss out on Human, a perfect album for fans of melodic progressive metal and bands like CIRCUS MAXIMUS, SEVENTH WONDER and EVERGREY!

Human track listing:

1. “A New Beginning”
2. “In Front Of You”
3. “Alive (Part I)”
4. Alive (Part II)
5. “Reflection Of A Mind”
6. “Insomnia”
7. “The Journey”
8. “Burdens”
9. “Turning Pages”
10. “Light Of Dawn”

Ulterium Records online: www.ulterium-records.com & www.facebook.com/ulteriumrecords

DARKWATER online: www.facebook.com/darkwaterofficial

THE NEAL MORSE BAND Premier “Welcome To The World” Lyric Video:
Press Release / THE NEAL MORSE BAND - Neal Morse (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Randy George (bass), Bill Hubauer (keyboards, vocals), Eric Gillette (guitars, vocals) - will take fans on The Great Adventure with its latest double concept album, due out January 25, 2019 on Radiant Records via Metal Blade worldwide. It will be available in three formats: a two-CD package, two-CD/DVD special edition featuring behind-the-scenes video clips of the making of the album, and three vinyl LPs.

The lyric video for the first single from The Great Adventure, a song called "Welcome To The World", can be seen above.

The follow-up to 2016's critically acclaimed The Similitude Of A Dream will be the ninth studio album with Morse, Portnoy and George, and the third as a true collaboration with this current lineup. Together, Morse and Portnoy have launched four bands, but the one that has endured the longest and thus with the most musical output has been THE NEAL MORSE BAND.

"Let the great adventure now begin…" The closing line of The Similitude Of A Dream has proved to be strangely prophetic. The new album is exactly that: a perfect companion piece to The Similitude Of A Dream’s partial retelling of John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress". It has everything that fans would expect from an album by THE NEAL MORSE BAND, and more: rock, metal, classical and jazz elements appear throughout, as well as some killer melodies, all played faultlessly by some of the greatest rock musicians on the planet.

As Neal Morse explains: "This band continues to amaze me! I have to say it was a little daunting to follow up The Similitude Of A Dream as it was such a special album and it delivered every night at our concerts, but I believe that 'The Great Adventure' will have a tremendous impact as well. This new double album is everything that I hoped it would be! I listened through last night and I was in tears at the end!"

Mike Portnoy emphatically agrees. He says: "How do you follow an epic double concept album??? Well, create another epic double concept album!! Hahaha. I always knew topping The Similitude Of A Dream was going to be difficult, if not impossible, as I held it in such high regard, but alas, I am absolutely blown away with what we achieved here! We've created what is the ultimate companion to The Similitude Of A Dream."

"Sometimes there are things that you just can't mess with," Randy George continues. "On The Similitude Of A Dream, we tapped into something special. I was sure that the follow up should be something quite different, but you have to follow your heart and follow the music where it wants to go. The Great Adventure is nothing short of a miracle. It's similar to 'Similitude' in concept and form, but yet it's tougher and deeper in its tone! This is a powerful work and I look forward to playing it live!

True to the album's title, the creative process was indeed a "great adventure." Unlike many previous Morse albums, which have often been written and arranged within weeks, this time around these prolific and world-class musicians spent almost a year working on the end result, producing an abundance of top-quality material. This meant some ruthless decision-making: some already completed songs and characters had to go, and - with studio time running out – new links and ideas were being composed and recorded up to the eleventh hour. "A lot of work and re-work has gone into this," says Morse, "but I know that some of the most successful and far-reaching albums I've been involved with have been just like that.  Sola Scriptura and SPOCK'S BEARD's Snow album come to mind."

Another key question that had to be addressed in the studio was how to pull all the ideas together into a coherent whole. In the end, what unlocked this "adventure" for Morse was the realization that The Great Adventure needed a new voice and perspective. This time, it is that of the Pilgrim's abandoned son, a younger, perhaps angrier, voice than was heard on The Similitude Of A Dream.

THE NEAL MORSE BAND will bring The Great Adventure to fans worldwide with a new round of headlining tour dates, which begin February 2, 2019 in Nashville at City Winery.

The Great Adventure track listing:

Act I:

Chapter 1 (12:50)

1. “Overture”
2. “The Dream Isn’t Over”

Chapter 2 (23:48)

3. “Welcome To The World”
4. “A Momentary Change”
5. “Dark Melody”
6. “I Got To Run”
7. “To The River”

Chapter 3 (17:59)

8. “The Great Adventure”
9. “Venture In Black”
10. “Hey Ho Let’s Go”
11. “Beyond The Borders”

Act II:

Chapter 4 (18:13)

1. “Overture 2”
2. “Long Ago”
3. “The Dream Continues”
4. “Fighting With Destiny”
5. “Vanity Fair”

Chapter 5 (30:57)

6. “Welcome To The World 2”
7. “The Element Of Fear”
8. “Child Of Wonder”
9. “The Great Despair”
10. “Freedom Calling”
11. “A Love That Never Dies”

Radiant Records online: www.radiantrecords.com/default.aspx & www.facebook.com/RadiantRecord

THE NEAL MORSE BAND online: www.nealmorse.com & www.facebook.com/nealmorse

NEWS BRIEFS

* DABSTER GENTLEMEN is an acoustic rock band to feature vocalist Dale Thompson (BRIDE, THE WORLD WILL BURN, PERPTUAL PARANOIA) and bassist and songwriter Myles Barfield.  “Thick As Thieves” is a song off its debut album Death Or Life: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6JpVMXDxU8

Death Or Life is available digitally on iTunes, Amazon, and Googleplay, as well as streaming on Amazon, Apple Music and Spotify.

According to the group: 'Dabster' is one that is especially skilled in the craft.  Not saying we are good or the best by any means, but we have all spent a lifetime studying our instruments. The word 'Dabster' is also thought to come from an old slang word meaning a “dabbler.” So in contrast to what was just said; an unskilled work-hand.

The band was originally formed in 2015 with a Jazz mindset. As the band grew and matured the sound changed, adding elements of Flamenco guitar, folk and rock.

* TRYTAN update from vocalist & guitarist Larry Dean (Facebook - December 6, 2018):

“So humbled, thankful, honored, glad & blessed to announce the following team for the new long awaited TRYTAN album Blood Of Kings:

Bass - Jim LaVerde (BARREN CROSS)
Drums, Keyboards & Producing - Eric Gillette (THE NEAL MORSE BAND)

“After 25 plus years of not recording or touring I’m absolutely pumped ‘outa my gord’ to be working with these two! I’ve hailed, admired & been inspired by both of these Warrior Christian musicians for a long time! The Lord is the dream maker!

“Been working on the material every day, and I’m so excited about this album. It’s gonna be tough, tasty & intense, bot musically & ministry wise!  I’ll be down at EKG Productions next week with Eric getting our foot in the door, finalizing the songs & some of the sounds. Recording in the Spring!

“Going for a mix of sounds & styles with the flavor of DREAM THEATER, RUSH, EXTREME, LIVING COLOR, KANSAS, QUEEN, KING’S X, SATRIANI and TRYTAN.

“Kickstarter campaign is coming is coming ASAP!”

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

KDBR Release Third Album, I Fill My Days With Noise:
Press Release / Seven years after the release of Autobiograph, multi instrumentalist, Doug Bowers, has released his third progressive rock album under the moniker of KDB3. Unlike his previous outing, I Fill My Days With Noise is comprised of longer, more detailed symphonic pieces.

Fresh from his stint co-engineering, mixing and providing keys, guitar and backing vocals on last year’s release The Trail of Tears Suite by Atlanta based band, VERTICAL ALIGNMENT, Doug began writing and recording his new album in earlier this year. Doug sings and plays all the instruments while engaging an outstanding international group of guitarists to provide the heavy hitting lead guitar parts, which define his signature sound.

I Fill My Days With Noise will be available via download only from KDB3’s Bandcamp page and digital distributors such as iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.

Doug Bowers is a multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter who makes his home on the gulf coast of North West Florida. He has dedicated his muse to his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ writing, recording and producing music during domestic down time. Although his taste in music ranges from classical to progressive metal, Doug's songwriting lends itself to a variety of styles. Musically, progressive rock influences are evident in the majority of his songs. His lyrics come from life experiences and his Christian worldview.

I Fill My Days With Noise track listing:

1. “Pitfall & Snare”
2. “Time From Time”
3. “Brand New Day”
4. “Lear Jet Gospel”
5. “Troll”
6. “Far Away”

I Fill My Days With Noise download: https://kdb3.bandcamp.com/album/i-fill-my-days-with-noise

KDB3 online: www.facebook.com/KDB3rocks

MICHAEL SWEET To Begin Recording New Solo Album In January:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net:

STRYPER front man Michael Sweet has confirmed that he is working on material for his next solo album. The follow-up to 2016's One Sided War will arrive in 2019 via Rat Pak Records.

Sweet wrote on his Facebook page: "Writing songs has always been part of my DNA. Once I get into that mode, the flood gates open.

"I spent the past few days working on some ideas, and so far I have 11 that I like. Now I need to weed through them and arrange them and program drum grooves to make 'em feel right.  Joel Hoekstra (WHITESNAKE) and I are co-writing two songs together so I'm waiting to hear what he comes up with and that will make 13 tracks total (12 for U.S., one bonus track for overseas).

"So far there are old school, straight-ahead metal ideas ala (JUDAS) PRIEST and DIO as well as a few up tempo riffs ala (IRON] MAIDEN). There's also a few ballads with a bit of a (LED) ZEPPELIN vibe. I'm sure there will be a few other ideas to come over the next few weeks as well.

"Between now and the first week of January, I'll arrange and fine tune everything as well as compose the lyrics.  So far, I'm really excited about the musical direction and I'm sure you will be too. I'm bringing back a few of those classic hooks and melodies that some of you have asked for. Ask and you shall receive.

"It's going to be a killer album, friends! We start tracking on January 14 and it should be turned in by mid-April at the latest (it would be sooner, but STRYPER is going to Japan in early February and rehearsing, so I'll be taking a few weeks off from recording).  Thank you all for believing in me and for your undying support. I couldn't do this without you and I’m blessed to be able to encourage and inspire all of you through music.

"God bless and stay tuned."

One Sided War was released in August 2016 via Rat Pak Records. Backing Michael on the record were Hoekstra, EVANESCENCE drummer Will Hunt, bassist John O'Boyle and East Coast shred-master Ethan Brosh.

In a 2016 interview with The Aquarian Weekly, Sweet said that he enjoyed making solo albums "because it's an opportunity to free myself up a little bit more, experiment a little bit more, and try some things that STRYPER may not be able to try."

STRYPER's latest album, God Damn Evil, was released in April via Frontiers Music Srl.

Michael Sweet online: www.michaelsweet.com & www.facebook.com/TheMichaelSweet

NEWS BRIEFS

* According to the Pure Metal Fan, guitarist Rex Carroll (Whitecross) plans to enter the studio in December to begin recording a new FIERCE HEART album.  It will reportedly include nine songs, a guitar solo and a surprise bonus track.  Carroll was part of FIERCE HEART at the time it recorded its self-titled debut in 1985. 

* Salem, Oregon based SAINT completed pre-production of its tenth studio album The Calf, which is scheduled for release in late winter of 2019.  Handling lead vocalist is the group’s newest member, Dave Nelson.

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

Official Video From BIOGENESIS, “Angel”:
Premiering this past week is a video to the BIOGENESIS song “Angel”.  It comes off the group’s five song EP Black Widow, which is scheduled for release via Roxx Records on December 14, 2018.

Black Widow features four original tunes, starting with the title track “Black Widow” but also including “Angel”, a power ballad written in tribute to loved ones lost.  Rounding out the EP is a beautiful interpretation of the classic DELIVERANCE tune “Flesh And Blood” and a hard rocker by the way of “Anti-Evolution”.

The Limited Edition CD release will be a one-time pressing of only 300 copies, with only a little over 200 available to the public. This fully replicated CD package comes housed in a jewel case with full color 8 page lyric booklet.

Black Widow track listing:

1. “Black Widow”
2. “Human Equilibrium”
3. “Angel”
4. “Flesh And Blood”
5. “Anti-Evolution”

Black Widow pre-order: http://roxxrecords.storenvy.com/products/24980238-biogenesis-black-widow-le-cd-2018

BIOGENESIS online: www.facebook.com/BiogenesisProgressiveMetal

ECTHIRION Premier “On Eagles Wings” Lyric Video:
Southport, Australia based orchestral metal band ECTHIRION debuted this week a lyric video to the track “On Eagles Wings”, which comes off its soon to be released (December 7, 2018) Soundmass Records debut full length Psalms Of The Risen Dead.

Formed in 2008 and releasing its debut EP Apocalyptic Visions on Soundmass in 2008, ECTHIRION combines a broad range of influences and contrasts with the aim to create unique and thought-provoking compositions, both musically and lyrically. You will hear elements of power metal, death metal and even tech death, with Eastern and folk influences bringing variety. Also very much inspired by nature, some songs are reflective of raging torrents, while others are brooding and serene.

An array of people contributed to Psalms Of The Risen Dead - 6 vocalists and several classical musicians who help to create an authentic neoclassical sound. The album features belting vocal performances from Celso Alves (Allos) and Eugen Dodenhoeft (FAR BEYOND), as well as David Cooney’s (JORVIK) intense screams contrasting with emotive female vocals. With riffy guitars and intense drumming, Psalms Of The Risen Dead is a spiritual journey for every listener to embark on, with lyrical themes of personal struggle, death, conquering sin and the brevity of life. The accompanying 16-page booklet illustrates this opulent metal musical, ending with death and what comes after.

Recommend for fans of epic symphonic, progressive, extreme, power metal - KAMELOT, SYMPHONY X, NIGHTWISH and DIMMU BORGIR.

Psalms Of The Risen Dead track listing:

1. “Uproot”
2. “Chariots Of The Elysium”
3. “March Of The Risen Dead”
4. “Mortality”
5. “On Eagle’s Wings”
6. “Though A Thousand Fall”
7. “Evanescent”
8. “Home”

Soundmass Records online: www.soundmass.com & www.facebook.com/soundmassFB

ECTHIRION online: www.facebook.com/ecthirion

S91 Signs With Rockshots Records:
Press Release / Italian power/progressive metal band S91 inked a worldwide record deal with Rockshots Records for the release of its third full-length album scheduled for an early 2019 release.

The S91 Underground Symphony Records sophomore album Behold The Mankind saw release in 2016 in being conceptually based around human history from a Christian standpoint.  Produced by Cristiano Bertocchi (LABYRINTH, VISION DIVINE, WIND ROSE) and mastered by Simone Mularoni (Domination Studios), Behold The Mankind was acclaimed by both critics and fans in leading to the band playing shows in Italy and abroad, including a performance at Elements Of Rock, the largest Christian metal festival in Europe.

The 85% Angelic Warlord review described Behold The Mankind as ‘progressive but also not to a fault’.  More specifically, it features ‘all the qualities to meet expectations of progressive music fans in the form of unconventional song structuring, extensive instrumental proclivity and lengthy songwriting, but S91 does not overdue it in this capacity either and lends an accessible element that at times escapes the progressive genre.’ 

With its name short for Psalm 91, S91 debuted in 2009 with the 5 song EP Sto Per Tornare (released on Morning Star Records) prior to putting out its 2011 independently released debut full length album Volonta Legata.

S91 line up:

Maria Londino - Lead Vocals
Francesco "Franz" Romeggin - Guitars & Lead/Backing Vocals
Francesco "Frank" Londino - Keyboards
Giacomo "Jack" Manfredi - Bass
Giacomo "Giachi" Mezzetti – Drums & Percussions, Lead & Backing Vocals

Rockshots Records Online: www.rockshots.eu & www.facebook.com/rockshotsrecords

S91 Online: www.facebook.com/S91band

NEWS BRIEFS

* Christmas Rock Night is scheduled for December 7-8, 2018: www.christmasrocknight.de/index.html

* Shades Of Noir song spotlight, “Throw Me Down” by Kerry Livgren: https://shadesofnoirsite.wordpress.com/2018/11/11/song-spotlight-throw-me-down-by-kerry-livgren

* LOVEWAR launches Kickstarter crowd funding project in support of its first album in 25 years: www.kickstarter.com/projects/260601722/lovewar-the-new-release-25-years-later

The as of yet to be titled new album will see release in follow up to the groups 1993 debut Soak Your Brain.

* Live footage of WYTCH HAZEL performing “Prelude”, “Reign” and “Victory” on November 18, 2018: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuW0nsc3BrM

 

MINI REVIEWS

COVENANT - Fall Of Rome
There is more to South Australia based Covenant and its 1993 five song demo EP Fall Of Rome than meets the eye.  Read Full Review >>

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

BIOGENESIS To Release Black Widow EP In December:
Press Release / Roxx Records and BIOGENESIS are very excited to announce a very special Limited Edition CD release just in time to blister your ears before the sleigh bells do! After the success of A Decadence Divine (third BIOGENESIS album from 2017) the band decided to go right back in the studio and work on several brand new tracks while the chemistry was hot, and wait until you hear what they came up with!

We are proud to unveil the brand new EP entitled Black Widow, which feature 5 blistering tracks that just might hold you over until the next full length release. The new EP features 4 original tunes starting off with the title track “Black Widow”, also including a beautiful power ballad called “Angel”, which is also the lead-off single. Rounding out the EP is a beautiful interpretation of the classic DELIVERANCE tune “Flesh And Blood” and we finish off the EP with a rocker by way of “Anti-Evolution”.

This  brand new Limited Edition CD will be a one-time pressing of only 300 copies with only a little over 200 available to the public. This fully replicated CD package comes housed in a jewel case with full color 8 page lyric booklet.

Black Widow track listing:

1. “Black Widow”
2. “Human Equilibrium”
3. “Angel”
4. “Flesh And Blood”
5. “Anti-Evolution”

Release date is scheduled for December 14, 2018. For pre-orders visit www.roxxproductions.com and get in on the special pre-order offer that features an introductory price of only $9.99 until release. As well, the first 50 pre-orders will come with an exclusive glossy sticker of the Black Widow album cover!

BIOGENESIS online: www.facebook.com/BiogenesisProgressiveMetal

No Remorse Records Announce EMERALD Armed For Battle Reissue:
The 1987 debut EP of Southern California heavy/power metal act EMERALD, Armed For Battle, is scheduled for CD and vinyl re-issue via No Remorse Records on December 21, 2018.  CD version includes four bonus tracks in addition to a booklet with lyrics, photos and line notes, while the vinyl version comes with two bonus tracks and insert with lyrics and liner notes.  Black vinyl is limited to 400 copies and green vinyl 100 copies.

EMERALD arose out of the eighties Sunset Strip metal scene after it was founded in 1978 by 15-year-old guitarist Dave Enos and 22-year-old vocalist Larry Phillips.  The group proceeded to go through a literal revolving door of bassists and drummers prior to solidifying its line up with drummer Kyle Morrett and bassists Roger Martin (VENGEANCE RISING) and Joe Palma. 

The EMERALD moniker was chosen due to its versatility: not only does it represent a stone in the throne of God, but it also does not force you to place a label on the band in terms of the style of music that it plays.  Consider, for instance, how EMERALD (as taken from an interview back in the day) describes itself as ‘(not) a typical Christian band- we don’t feel led to minster.  In fact, we look at ourselves as a band of Christians rather than a Christian band’.  More specifically, ‘When we started out (even before STRYPER) we wanted to go out into the whole world, because we felt our songs were to be sung to the world rather than sung in churches.  We would rather sing songs to lead people to the Word (rather) than preach to them’.

Armed For Battle was recorded on a budget of 13k, which, unfortunately, left little if no money for promotion.  The album, nevertheless, sold well in Europe’s underground metal scene, particularly in Germany, Switzerland and Denmark.  After having gone out of print and turning into a highly sought after collector’s item, Armed For Battle was re-issued on CD for the first time in 2001 by Magdalene Records as a ‘2-for-1’, with the second album being ORACLES’s power metal romping EP Selah.  In addition to the Armed For Battle tracks, the Magdalene re-issue also includes the two songs EMERALD recorded for the California Metal II compilation from 1988, “Traitor” and “Born To Die”.

Armed For Battle CD track listing:

1. “Armed For Battle”
2. “Judgement Day”
3. “Teenage Suicide”
4. “We Attack”
5. “Winds Of Doom”
6. “Traitor” (bonus track)
7. “Look To The Stars”
8. “Vengeance is Mine” (bonus track)
9. “King Of The Universe” (1984 demo bonus track)
10. “Battleground” (1984 demo bonus track)

Armed For Battle vinyl track listing:

Side A:
1. “Armed For Battle”
2. “Judgement Day”
3. “Teenage Suicide”
4. “We Attack”

Side B:
5. “Winds Of Doom”
6. “Traitor” (bonus track)
7. “Look To The Stars”
8. “Vengeance is Mine” (bonus track)

Armed For Battle CD pre-order: HERE

Armed For Battle green vinyl pre-order: HERE

Armed For Battle black vinyl pre-order: HERE

NEWS BRIEFS

* InnerSiege has launched a Kickstarter crowd funding project to help fund its upcoming second album: www.kickstarter.com/projects/innersiege/innersiege-album-2-melodic-power-metal

* MODEST ATTRACTION signed with Nostalgic Roxx for the re-issue to its early 90’s previously only available on cassette back catalog: http://nostalgicroxx.com/music

* The Pure Metal Fan online interview with guitarist CJ Grimmark (NARNIA): https://thepuremetalfan.wordpress.com/2018/11/08/breaking-cj-grimmark-talks-new-material-narnia-studio-album-exclusive/

* Roxx Records will be hosting a ONE day Black Friday sale with 50% all items (excluding pre-orders).  Saturday and Sunday are both 30% off.  All orders get a free Roxx Records button and this year’s annual sampler, of only which 100 will were printed.

* STRYPER performing “Take It To The Cross” live for the first time (at the Whisky A Go Go on Halloween night): www.youtube.com/watch?v=72os--o75Hw

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

STRYPER To Record New Studio Album In 2019:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net:

STRYPER front man Michael Sweet has told Sleaze Roxx in a recent online interview that the band will record a new studio album in 2019. The guitarist/vocalist is also planning on recording the follow-up to his 2016 solo album, One Sided War. Other releases in the works include another collection of cover songs from bands that inspired STRYPER and helped to shape the band's sound and musical identity.

"We have some ideas for songs for the follow-up to The Covering," Michael said. "I'd like to do some more (JUDAS) PRIEST, I like to do another BOSTON song, another (IRON) MAIDEN song, something from THIN LIZZY and maybe a STYX song. I'd like to do YESTERDAY & TODAY; they're now called Y&T. We used to do David Bowie. I'd love to cover something by David Bowie."

According to Michael, there will also be a new album of re-recorded versions of songs that originally appeared on STRYPER's earlier records. "We're one of those bands that will get to it, but it's just a matter of time until we make it happen," he said. "I'd love to record some more 'classic' songs with (new STRYPER bassist) Perry (Richardson) playing on them. It's just a matter of finding the time, but we have to do another 'The Covering' album and another re-record, with stuff from In God We Trust and a couple things from Against The Law and maybe even tap into stuff from Reborn and Murder By Pride."

Released in 2011, The Covering contained STRYPER's cover versions of classic songs from SCORPIONS, BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE, UFO and VAN HALEN, among others.

2013's Second Coming featured re-recorded versions of STRYPER's earlier material as well as two new songs.

Formed 35 years ago, STRYPER is the first overtly Christian metal band to go mainstream. The group's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER's albums include Soldiers Under Command, To Hell With The Devil, Second Coming, No More Hell To Pay, Fallen and the band's latest effort, God Damn Evil.

You can read the full interview with Michael at: http://sleazeroxx.com/interviews/michael-sweet-of-stryper-interview-2/

STRYPER online: www.stryper.com & www.facebook.com/Stryper

BIG CHRIS & D’BARE BONES BAND - Man Overboard Details Revealed:
Veteran vocalist, guitarist and bassist Chris Dickens has completed work on the sophomore album of BIG CHRIS & D’BARE BONES BAND, Man Overboard.  A release date is set for November 13, 2018.

Musically, BIG CHRIS & D’BARE BONES BAND “Brings an in your face rocked out blues sound that will get your head to bobbin' and your foot tappin'.  Mixing modern blues and Americana together, the groups blend of electric blues played on cigar box guitars, resonators made from license plates, etc. gives them a unique sound and feel of their own” (as noted in its press material).

Three tracks off Man Overboard tracks are re-recorded versions to MISSION OF ONE songs, including “Where The Worm Dieth Not”, “Man Overboard” and “Give It To Jesus ”.  MISSION OF ONE is the artist’s previous project, which has three albums to its credit in Show Me The Way (2005), Mission Of One (2008) and Hostile To The Gospel (2013).

According to Dickens, D’BARE BONES BAND has a double meaning: “Doing most of the instruments myself in the studio, this project is about as bare bones as it gets.  The D'Bare name is also my guitar brand.  I build, play, and sell cigar box guitars.”  “Big Chris” is a name given to him from one of the kids at his church youth group.”

Man Overboard also includes a parody cover to the ZZ TOP song “Tush” under the new title “Burning Bush”: “Since people like my parody of the George Thorogood song on the last album, I did another. This time, I took ZZ Top's "Tush" and told the story of Moses being called to go to Pharoh to release the Jews from Slavery. My parody is called "Burning Bush". I wrote it years ago when I still played with my former band mates Marty Jenkins and Bart Gardner. They cut the song from our set list because the pitch was too high for me. So, I redid the song and recorded it in F instead of G like the original. It works!”

Man Overboard will be distributed via CD Baby, Amazon, Spotify, YouTube and other outlets.

Man Overboard track listing:

1. “Man Overboard”
2. “Burning Bush”
3. “Free”
4. “Give It To Jesus”
5. “Completely Flexible”
6. “Bootlegger's Prayer”
7. “Where The Worm Dieth Not”
8. “Please, Don't Make Me Watch A Chick Flick”
9. “Yes, I Know”
10. “Legs”
11. “Lord, How I Love The Way She Walks”
“12. I Love You More Than Meatloaf”

Further reading about D’bare guitars: www.facebook.com/dbareguitars

Man Overboard pre-order: https://dbarebonesband.bandcamp.com

BIG CHRIS & D’BARE BONES BAND online: www.facebook.com/dbarebonesband

NEWS BRIEFS

* Wayne Johnson has started work on a guitar instrumental solo album entitled Atomic Tsunami.  The UNDER COMMAND guitarist previously released the hard rock of his independent 2013 (and 80% Angelic Warlord reviewed) debut solo album North Of Nowhere.

* NO OTHER GOD debut “Take It By Storm” official video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ6O441CZT0

NO OTHER GOD is the new project of vocalist Dale Thompson (BRIDE, THE WORLD WILL BURN, PERPETUAL PARANOIA).  Further details regarding the groups debut album of the same name as they become available.      

* Heaven’s Metal online interview with vocalist Rey Parra (DENY THE FALLEN, SACRED WARRIOR): http://dougvanpelt.wixsite.com/heavens-metal-mag/single-post/2018/10/26/The-Sacred-Musings-of-a-Warrior

* Traditional metal act THROUGH THE CLOUDS recently premiered a video to the song “Blinded Minds”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsswSX5Ijx4

“Blinded Minds” comes off the group’s debut album of the same name released via Roxx Records on September 28, 2018.  THROUGH THE CLOUDS consists of US based guitarist Tiago Souza and Brazilian vocalist Paulo Lima.

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

COVENANT, Fall Of Rome Re-issue On Soundmass Records:
Release date early November.

Press Release / COVENANT were a South Australian traditional heavy/power metal band from the early 90’s. Within the local scene, the band received a good response to their tight and professional live performances and original sound. In 1993, they released their one and only demo cassette which, before now, has never been available on CD. Although just a demo, their time in Mixmasters‘ 24-track studio produced a polished recording that faithfully captured the COVENANT sound and sold out quickly.

Unfortunately, the band would never record again as the melodic style tended to be overlooked with the era of extreme metal reaching its peak. Vocalist Wayne currently fronts the dynamic SONIC DIVIDE who recently supported STRYPER. Bassist Graham appeared on the VIRGIN BLACK demo and went on to engineer, record and tour extensively with VIRGIN BLACK for the Requiem Trilogy.

If you dig the late 80’s/early 90’s sound and vocal style of bands like NEON CROSS, RIOT, ARMAGEDDON, HERO and MALACHIA then you owe it to yourself to check out COVENANT.

Fall Of Rome track listing:

1. “Killing Time”
2. “Bleeding On The Inside”
3. “Fall Of Rome”
4. “Same Tomorrow”
5. “Someone Out There”

Fall Of Rome samples & pre-order: www.soundmass.com/product/fall-of-rome-2

Soundmass Records Announce ECTHIRION Debut Album, Psalms Of The Risen Dead:
Release date in December.

Press Release / Formed in 2008 and releasing their debut EP on Soundmass in 2009, ECTHIRION have been slowly and meticulously working on their follow-up ever since. December 2018 sees the culmination of this work in the release of the UK band’s full-length album Psalms Of The Risen Dead.

An orchestral metal band with a broad range of influences and contrasts, ECTHIRION’s aim has always been to create unique and thought-provoking compositions, both musically and lyrically. You will hear elements of power metal, death metal and even tech death, with Eastern and folk influences bringing variety. Also very much inspired by nature, some songs are reflective of raging torrents, while others are brooding and serene.

An array of people contributed to the project - 6 vocalists and several classical musicians who help to create an authentic neoclassical sound. The album features belting vocal performances from Celso Alves (Allos) and Eugen Dodenhoeft (FAR BEYOND), as well as David Cooney’s (JORVIK) intense screams contrasting with emotive female vocals. With riffy guitars and intense drumming, Psalms Of The Risen Dead” is a spiritual journey for every listener to embark on, with lyrical themes of personal struggle, death, conquering sin and the brevity of life. The accompanying 16-page booklet illustrates this opulent metal musical, ending with death and what comes after.

Recommend for fans of epic symphonic, prog, extreme, power metal – KAMELOT, SYMPHONY X, NIGHTWISH and DIMMU BORGIR.

Psalms Of The Risen Dead track listing:

1. “Uproot”
2. “Chariots Of The Elysium”
3. “March Of The Risen Dead”
4. “Mortality”
5. “On Eagle’s Wings”
6. “Though A Thousand Fall”
7. “Evanescent”
8. “Home”

Psalms Of The Risen Dead samples & pre-order: www.soundmass.com/product/psalms-of-the-risen-dead

THE NEAL MORSE BAND To Release The Great Adventure Album In January:
Press Release / THE NEAL MORSE BAND - Neal Morse (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Randy George (bass), Bill Hubauer (keyboards, vocals), Eric Gillette (guitars, vocals) - will take fans on The Great Adventure with its latest double concept album, due out January 25, 2019 on Radiant Records via Metal Blade worldwide. It will be available in three formats: a two-CD package, two-CD/DVD special edition featuring behind-the-scenes video clips of the making of the album, and three vinyl LPs. Pre-orders begin December 4 on Radiant Records' web site.

The follow-up to 2016's critically acclaimed The Similitude Of A Dream will be the ninth studio album with Morse, Portnoy and George, and the third as a true collaboration with this current lineup. Together, Morse and Portnoy have launched four bands, but the one that has endured the longest and thus with the most musical output has been THE NEAL MORSE BAND.

"Let the great adventure now begin…" The closing line of The Similitude Of A Dream has proved to be strangely prophetic. The new album is exactly that: a perfect companion piece to The Similitude Of A Dream’s partial retelling of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. It has everything that fans would expect from an album by THE NEAL MORSE BAND, and more: rock, metal, classical and jazz elements appear throughout, as well as some killer melodies, all played faultlessly by some of the greatest rock musicians on the planet.

As Neal Morse explains: "This band continues to amaze me! I have to say it was a little daunting to follow up The Similitude Of A Dream as it was such a special album and it delivered every night at our concerts, but I believe that The Great Adventure will have a tremendous impact as well. This new double album is everything that I hoped it would be! I listened through last night and I was in tears at the end!"

Mike Portnoy emphatically agrees. He says: "How do you follow an epic double concept album??? Well, create another epic double concept album!! Hahaha. I always knew topping The Similitude Of A Dream was going to be difficult, if not impossible, as I held it in such high regard, but alas, I am absolutely blown away with what we achieved here! We've created what is the ultimate companion to The Similitude Of A Dream."

"Sometimes there are things that you just can't mess with," Randy George continues. "On The Similitude Of A Dream, we tapped into something special. I was sure that the follow up should be something quite different, but you have to follow your heart and follow the music where it wants to go. The Great Adventure is nothing short of a miracle. It's similar to 'Similitude' in concept and form, but yet it's tougher and deeper in its tone! This is a powerful work and I look forward to playing it live!”

True to the album's title, the creative process was indeed a "great adventure." Unlike many previous Morse albums, which have often been written and arranged within weeks, this time around these prolific and world-class musicians spent almost a year working on the end result, producing an abundance of top-quality material. This meant some ruthless decision-making: some already completed songs and characters had to go, and - with studio time running out – new links and ideas were being composed and recorded up to the eleventh hour. "A lot of work and re-work has gone into this," says Morse, "but I know that some of the most successful and far-reaching albums I've been involved with have been just like that- Sola Scriptura and SPOCK'S BEARD's Snow album come to mind."

Another key question that had to be addressed in the studio was how to pull all the ideas together into a coherent whole. In the end, what unlocked this "adventure" for Morse was the realization that The Great Adventure needed a new voice and perspective. This time, it is that of the Pilgrim's abandoned son, a younger, perhaps angrier, voice than was heard on The Similitude Of A Dream.

THE NEAL MORSE BAND will bring The Great Adventure to fans worldwide with a new round of headlining tour dates, which begin February 2, 2019 in Nashville at City Winery.

Radiant Records online: www.facebook.com/RadiantRecord & www.radiantrecords.com/default.aspx

THE NEAL MORSE BAND online: www.nealmorse.com & www.facebook.com/nealmorse

NEWS BRIEFS

* “Savior”, the first single off the upcoming third EVANS & STOKES album entitled Children Of God, is scheduled for release on November 1.  It will be available on the usual digital providers, including Spotify, i-tunes, GooglePlay, Anghami, i-Heart, Amazon, etc.  A sample to “Savior” can be stream at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAeMDtgqf7s

*SARDONYX release “Perfected” lyric video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9NOXcberLA

The song comes off the Mount Joy, Pennsylvania based power/progressive metal groups second full-length album Sons Of The Kingdom, which saw a spring of 2018 release via LightShine Music Group.  The video was produced and edited by Juan Carlos Arce for Lux Studios.

* Update from vocalist Dale Thompson (Facebook - October 19, 2018):

“Getting that itch to retire again. Last time I did God brought me a few bands to work with. I am working on album number three with PERPETUAL PARANOIA for those of you into the heavier metal.  THE WORLD WILL BURN is almost finished with our third album, I am waiting to see if NO OTHER GOD (N.O.G.) gets picked up by a label.  BRIDE is back in retirement.

“THE THOMAS THOMPSON THE EARTH PROJECT is in major mix mode for our debut. So let's see what God has next. Maybe I will disappear and become anonymous? Now that would be the encore of all time.”

Consisting of Dale and multi-instrumentalist Garret Thomas, THE THOMAS THOMPSON THE EARTH PROJECT (per its Facebook page) combines many different styles of music, including  rock, ambient, synth, pop, tech, electronic and metal.

* “Blessed Them With Flames”, new single from VOX HEAVEN: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zQ3ZAYor0g

The song features the combined vocal talents of founding member Celso De Freyn and Germán Pascual.

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

THE CRIMSON BRIDGE MINISTRY Announce The Solution EP:
San Diego, California based THE CRIMSON BRIDGE MINISTRY announce the October 10, 2018 digital release of its new EP, The Solution.  CD version is to follow in early 2019.

With musical influences including IRON MAIDEN, KISS, AC/DC, CHEAP TRICK VAN HALEN, RANDY RHOADES, SCORPIONS, THE CULT, CAMELOT, RESURRECTION BAND and BARREN CROSS, THE CRIMSON BRIDGE MINISTRY debuted in early 2016 with the full length offering Remnant Rock followed by its sophomore effort Choices summer of the following year.

THE CRIMSON BRIDGE MINISTRY was born directly out of founding member and vocalist/guitarist Norm Campbell's decision to accept the un-earned gift of salvation paid for by Jesus on the cross.  Further details from the groups press material:

“The music he had been writing and performing for so many years reminded him how lost, empty and unfulfilling his efforts had been. From that day forward, he would take all he had learned from his strong Bible teachers, Pastor Joe Schiavone and Pastor Mike Mills, and relate it into the music he still loved, hard rock.

“Along with longtime friend, engineer and drummer Jeff Forrest, they created the sounds you hear now for the prodigal sons and daughters whom have come back to accept God's word but still need to crank up some tasty hard rock!  And for those still sitting on the fence, a safe haven of positive influence to make the choice easier.”

The Solution track listing:

1. “Mysteries & Miracles”
2. “The Solution”
3. “Nowhere Fast”
4. “A New Direction”
5. “Forgiven”

CRIMSON BRIDGE MINISTRY online: www.thecrimsonbridgeministry.com & www.facebook.com/CrimsonBridgeMinistry

IMPELLITTERI Premier “Symptoms Of The Universe” Video:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net:

IMPELLITTERI's music video for the cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Symptom Of The Universe" can be seen below. The song is taken from IMPELLITTERI's latest album, The Nature Of The Beast, which was released on Friday, October 12 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Guitarist Chris Impellitteri states: "To all of our heavy metal friends around the world, we hope you enjoy our version of BLACK SABBATH's 'Symptom Of The Universe'. We have always wanted to re-create this magical riff and song as it really inspired us musically. This type of song can be tricky as you want to respect the integrity of the original music, but at the same time you want to take the song in a new direction and make it your own! We obviously 'Impellitterized' the song and added lots of haunting melodies, screaming vocals, shredding guitar solos, walking bass lines, and thrash-style drumming (but what would you expect from IMPELLITTERI, ha ha!)

"We sincerely hope the great Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward enjoy our version of 'Symptom Of The Universe' as well as their fans!"

30 years into their musical career, IMPELLITTERI have created a mind-blowing, highly energetic and thrilling new musical adventure with The Nature Of The Beast. The band is on fire with their musical acrobatics, addictive riffs, shredding guitar solos, speed metal drumming, and screaming power metal vocals that are all ingredients in these killer songs!

Like many of their talented peers, IMPELLITTERI continue to carry the torch for guitar driven heavy metal. On The Nature Of The Beast, the band shines throughout, especially on songs like the power metal driven "Run For Your Life", the highly energetic remake of BLACK SABBATH's "Symptom Of The Universe", the lunacy of "Gates Of Hell", the addictive riff of "Hypocrisy", and the speed metal cover of "Phantom Of The Opera".

"The new music was written with passion and a sincere love for heavy metal," tells Chris Impellitteri. "I think as a band we grow stronger with each new album. Our artistic abilities seem to get better with age, but at the same time we seem to sound even more energetic, crazy, and youthful with this release. You could say the music on this newest musical child is an extension of our previous record, Venom. I love the Venom record, but I am currently obsessed by 'The Nature Of The Beast'. We are thrilled to share this new music with our FANS and friends around the world and I really hope they like it!"

IMPELLITTERI recorded The Nature Of The Beast in Los Angeles, California with legendary engineer/producer Mike Plotnikoff (VAN HALEN, AEROSMITH, IN FLAMES), mix engineer Greg Reely (OVERKILL, FEAR FACTORY), and engineers Jun Murakawa and Sean Shannon.

Like their childhood musical heroes, including Vivaldi, IRON MAIDEN, QUEEN, BLACK SABBATH, Al DiMeola, Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin and Pavarotti, IMPELLITTERI strive for greatness — creating, performing and recording this new music with all four band members, Chris Impellitteri (guitars), Rob Rock (vocals), James Pulli (bass), and Jon Dette (drums) contributing stellar performances. The album was recorded in a grand fashion using large tracking rooms and vintage analog equipment to capture the bands live musical energy and performance.

"As a guitarist, I challenge myself to conquer my human limitations," continues Chris. "I practice for hours each day to improve my technique. I also spend a lot of time customizing my guitars, amps, and pedals to achieve this crazy guitar sound. On this new record my guitar sound is really me trying to create a tone that sounds a bit like a chainsaw blended with a beautiful Stradivarius violin. It is Beauty and the Beast with lots of pick attack! The guitar solos have lots of technical shredding elements, but at the same time they are very melodic and I think fun for everyone to listen too. The riffs are also exciting for me to play as there is a lot of obvious influences that I brought to this new record."

Nature Of The Beast track listing:

1. “Hypocrisy”
2. “Masquerade”
3. “Run For Your Life”
4. “Phantom Of The Opera”
5. “Gates Of Hell”
6. “Wonder World”
7. “Man Of War”
8, “Symptoms Of The Universe”
9. “Do You Think I’m Mad”
10. “Fire it Up”
11. “Kill The Beast”
12. “Shine On”

Frontiers SRL online: www.frontiers.it/index.php & www.facebook.com/frontiersmusicsrl

NARNIA Announce New Live Album, We Still Believe - Made In Brazil:
During the ‘I Still Believe World Tour’ in 2017, NARNIA recorded this intense live show in front of a passionate audience at Grafinos in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.  A successful capture of the amazing energy and boiling atmosphere you only experience in Latin America, when devoted fans contribute to the whole.

We Still Believe - Made In Brazil, comprising 13 tracks, was released September 2018 in Europe on Limited Edition CD (500 copies) and two LP black vinyl (300 copies).

Newer fan favorites like “Reaching For The Top” and “I Still Believe” are mixed with classics such as “Shelter Through The Pain”, “No More Shadows From The Past” and “Into This Game”.

The boundary between band and audience is erased in a memorable moment when the crowd sings the epic anthem “Long Live The King” in Portuguese alongside energetic lead singer Christian Liljegren.  This live experience is packed with blistering guitar solos by CJ Grimmark, dueling solos between him and keyboardist Martin Härenstam, and steady work from new bassist Jonatan Samuelsson.

A tight production and very much alive live-experience with songs from NARNIA’s whole career, including the band’s most
recent studio album from 2016, Narnia.

We Still Believe - Made In Brazil track listing:

1. “Inner Sanctum”
2. “The Mission”
3. “Reaching For The Top”
4. “Shelter Through The Pain”
5. “No More Shadows From The Past”
6. “I Still Believe”
7. “Messengers”
8. “Drum Solo”
9. Guitar Solo
10. “The Awakening”
11. “Long Live The King”
12. “Into This Game”
13. “Living Water”

NARNIA line-up:

Christian Liljegren – Lead Vocals
CJ Grimmark - Guitars
Martin Härenstam - Keyboards
Jonatan Samuelsson - Bass
Andreas Johansson - Drums

NARNIA online: http://narniatheband.com & www.facebook.com/narniatheband

We Still Believe - Made In Brazil vinyl pre-order: http://christianmetaldistro.storenvy.com/products/24772125-narnia-2lp-we-still-believe-made-in-brazil-live

We Still Believe - Made In Brazil CD pre-order: http://christianmetaldistro.storenvy.com/products/24772203-narnia-cd-we-still-believe-made-in-brazil-live

 

FEATURED REVIEWS

JIMMY P. BROWN II's - Eraserhead
Hot on the heels of releasing the 3 Frogz / Roxx Records winter of 2018 ‘old school thrash’ Deliverance comeback album The Subversive Kind, founding member and front man Jimmy P. Brown II returns in the fall of the same year with his long awaited and highly anticipated debut solo offering Eraserhead.  Read Full Review >>

CRYSTAVOX - Crystavox & The Bottom Line (Roxx Records re-issues)
Few bands so aptly embody the eighties melodic metal aesthetic - pop influenced catchy hooks and the image to go hand in hand - as does Crystavox.  Read Full Review >>

DELIVERANCE - River Disturbance (Retroactive re-issue)
Enter into the equation River Disturbance, an album whose title draws from a quote by C.S. Lewis about ‘how the believer is able to find peace within the river disturbance’.  Read Full Review >>

MAD AT THE WORLD - Through The Forest (Retroactive re-issue)
That said, I was intrigued when the press material ahead of the re-issue described Through The Forest as an ‘essential hard rock album’, so to be completely fair I decided to listen with an open mind, noting my expectations were understandably modest.  Read Full Review >>

PEACEMAKER - Concrete And Terror
Despite its name implication, Peacemaker is not out to deliver the passive musical goods, but rather spreads its share of unrest with the traditional meets straightforward heavy metal of its summer of 2018 Brutal Planet Records debut full length Concrete And Terror.  Read Full Review >>

RIOT V - Armor Of Light
Every hard music enthusiast knows the Riot legacy is large and legendary.  Read Full Review >>

WYTCH HAZEL - II: Sojourn
Taking center stage is the Wytch Hazel summer of 2018 sophomore effort II: Sojourn (also Bad Omen), which approaches from a similar musical AND lyrical standpoint, noting how Wytch Hazel might not be a Christian band but does include a believing member in vocalist and guitarist Colin Hendra.  Read Full Review >>

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

Roxx Records Announce PHILADELPHIA Re-issues:
Press Release / Roxx Records is very excited to announce our next and very special Limited Edition pressings, this time coming from classic Christian rockers PHILADELPHIA.

PHILADELPHIA were one of the premiere Christian metal bands in the 80’s, releasing two classic and long out of print albums in Tell The Truth (1984) and Search & Destroy (1985) before calling it a day. The group reappeared in 2016 to release a re-recorded version of their never released third album, Warlord.

We are very excited to be releasing both a Limited Edition vinyl pressing and CD version of Search & Destroy, with the CD release featuring a previously never released bonus track entitled “Losin’ It”.  Both the vinyl and CD editions have been re-mastered and have never sounded better, courtesy of Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound.    As well as a classic new design and package by Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics.

The beautiful vinyl package is being pressed in a quantity of 500 pieces with 150 on a very limited Gold vinyl and 350 on classic black vinyl. The CD version comes housed in a jewel case with 8-panel insert limited to 500 pieces only.

In addition, we are pleased to announce the next release in our very special hand numbered series called the Roxx Underground Series will be none other than the most recent PHILADELPHIA album Warlord. This release is number 11 in the series, and is being pressed in a one-time pressing of only 150 hand numbered pieces. In case you missed out the first time with the limited edition CD pressing of Warlord we held back the very last 100 copies of that 500 piece pressing in anticipation of this limited vinyl release.

There you go PHILADELPHIA fans we are very proud to be presenting these new limited edition vinyl and CD pressings with you. Head over to www.roxxproductions.com to pre order and check out the various packages, which will include a very special limited edition sticker for pre order only.

Search & Destroy track listing: “Search & Destroy”, “Bobby’s Song”, ”Oh My Boy”, “Judgement Day”, “Mirror Man”, “Fastrack”, “Showdown”, “Decision Time”, “Losin’ It” (CD version bonus track)

Warlord track listing: “Brothers In Arms”, ”Defender”, “I’m Not Listening”, “Prophecy”, “Wasteland”, “Sane Asylum”, ”Son Of The Morning”, “Lady Fortune”, “Way Of The Skull”, “Warlord” 

Search & Destroy and Warlord pre-order: http://roxxrecords.storenvy.com

PHILADELPHIA online: www.facebook.com/PhiladelphiaMetal

TEMPLE OF BLOOD, Prepare For The Judgement Of Mankind Re-issue On Alone Records:
The 2005 independent debut full length of TEMPLE OF BLOOD, Prepare For The Judgement Of Mankind, is scheduled for a 2019 CD re-issue (limited to 500 hand numbered copies) on Greek label Alone Records. 

TEMPLE OF BLOOD formed in 2001 with the mission to ‘record, perform, and share their love of the music that inspired them with fellow Metal fans from around the world’.

Additional details from the TEMPLE OF BLOOD press material:

“Initially coming together as a power trio by founder/guitarist/vocalist Jim Mullis along with bassist/back-up vocalist Garth Lovvorn and drummer Lance Wright, TOB was created as a means of fusing the different metal styles that inspire them: power/ thrash metal with elements of traditional heavy metal, death metal, and doom. These elements flow seamlessly throughout each piece as the group’s ability to transcend their arsenal of influences into well-woven songs is acutely displayed.

“Initially playing mostly cover songs, TOB began by dazzling metal fans with songs from ANNIHILATOR, IRON MAIDEN, DEATH, CANDLEMESS and many more.  Original material was written and interspersed into the live setting, while a fan base was created that supported the group’s original material. Characterized by punchy and ferocious thrash riffs, melodic power metal vocals, doom-laden interludes, and a penchant for melody, the TOB sound was born.  Prepare For The Judgement Of Mankind captures that sound in question.

“Prepare… features the charter membership of Mullis, Lovvorn, and Wright along with the addition of lead guitarist Matt Barnes.  The album was recorded at the Sound Works studio in Alabama under the guidance of engineer Dave Pittman. An additional cover song of underground power metal legends DEADLY BLESSING, “Deliver Us From Evil”, was also recorded, with vocals handled by former DEADLY BLESSING vocalist Ski.

“Prepare… received great reviews from fanzines all over the world, and the first pressing sold out within months. The TOB fan base grew to international status as the album's distribution reached worldwide to eager fans in search of heavy, melodic and masterfully-performed metal.  Prepare… placed TOB firmly on the map as a band that is serious about its output. Reviews lauded the technical proficiency of the music and vocals and were impressed with the overall delivery.”

Prepare For The Judgement Of Mankind track listing: “Destruction Of The Twin Cities”, “Conviction”, ”Return To Eden”, “Spiritual Warfare”, ”Trampling The Serpent”, “Seeking The Truth”, “Legion Of The Crypts”, “The Ultimate Sacrifice”, “Realm Of Insufferable Burning (The Horrors Of Hell)”, “Deliver Us From Evil”

Further reading: http://alone.gr/html/ALONE%200088%20TEMPLE%20OF%20BLOOD%20CD.html

TEMPLE OF BLOOD online: www.templeofblood.net/index2.html & www.facebook.com/ToBMetalBand

NEWS BRIEFS

* The Pure Metal Fan reports that guitarist Rex Carroll (WHITECROSS, KING JAMES, FIERCE HEART) is at work on two new rock albums.  Further reading: https://thepuremetalfan.wordpress.com/2018/09/26/exclusive-rex-carroll-set-to-record-two-new-rock-albums

* New single from LEAH, “Lion Arises”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8uM83cV56k

As noted by the symphonic metal songstress: “As many of you are aware, I tend not to write in specific detail, but more in themes and moods and bigger concepts.  This particular song was inspired by a mix of a little passage from Psalm 3 and lots of imagination.”

The song comes off her third full-length album The Quest, which saw release on October 5, 2018.

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

HEARTS ON FIRE To Release Debut Album Call Of Destiny Via Melodic Rock Records:
Press Release / The advance publicity and fan excitement surrounding HEARTS ON FIRE has been immensely satisfying for the band and label. The amazing feedback from those that have received several tracks via the MRR Premium Preorder for this title, gives us great confidence that the melodic rock community as a whole will embrace this new, pure lighters-in-the-air, classic AOR/melodic rock band.
 
Today MRR is pleased to announce the worldwide release of HEARTS ON FIRE Call Of Destiny for October 19 (CD & Digital).
 
And to celebrate this announcement, we are excited to launch the first video from the album and the premiere of the song ‘Holding On’, as well as a regular preorder link.

HEARTS ON FIRE is about passion for life. All the songs are born from a place of true inspiration.  We believe that music is the perfect way to express deep emotions like Love, Pain, Regret, sadness etc. and the album Call Of Destiny is about that.
 
HEARTS OF FIRE are a long-term project for MRR and the guys, this is definitely going to be one of those debut albums you look back upon as a classic.

Formed in 2017, by Jean Funes, guitarist of SOUND OF ETERNITY. He had the vision to create an AOR/melodic hard rock band in the style of his lifetime heroes DEF LEPPARD, WHITESNAKE, SCORPIONS, EUROPE and called his former bandmate in CODIGO ETERNO, drummer Joel Mejia, who shares this passion and vision of creating new music, and together HEARTS ON FIRE was started.
 
The searching for vocalist begun and Richard Andermyr of RIAN was contacted after listening to the great RIAN debut album AND was introduced by Andrew McNeice. Richard proved to be a perfect fit for the band, not only with his voice, but because of his chemistry with the rest of the band. First single was created and recorded as the first song of the project, “Hearts On Fire”, an uplifting mid-tempo song with great hooks and melodies, being the perfect example of what the band have in their hearts to create.
 
Nello Dell’omo created the great logo and the artwork for the debut album titled Call Of Destiny, “We chose this name because we believe that it’s our fate to create music and deliver a message from the heart to the listener. Everything happens for a reason and we are together doing this, even with the fact that we are separated by an ocean, so far from each other.” says Jean Funes.
 
“This is the album I always wanted to make” says Jean Funes. “SOUND OF ETERNITY had that modern rock touch all over it and I’m proud of the album we made. But HEARTS ON FILE - Call Of Destiny have all the elements that I’ve always loved from Melodic Rock music and it comes natural for me to create songs in this style, because I grew up listening to all these great bands from the 80’s and early 90’s.”

HEARTS ON FIRE lineup:

Richard Andermyr - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Jean Funes - Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Acoustic Guitar
Joel Mejia - Drums
 
Additional Musicians:

Dennis Ward - Bass and Keyboards
Eric Ragno - Keyboards
 
Mixed and Mastered by Dennis Ward

Call Of Destiny track listing: “Hearts On Fire”, “Holding On”, “Dancing In The Rain”, “Ghost Of Yesterday”, “Lonely Eyes”, “Rainbow’s End”, “Falling Into You”, “Lost In Paradise”, “Live And Learn”, “Call Of Destiny”

Ulterium Records Announce INNERWISH Re-issues:
Press Release / The first three albums from the Greek melodic metallers INNERWISH will be reissued on November 23rd via Ulterium Records.  Waiting For The Dawn, Silent Faces and Inner Strength will be reissued on CD, digital download and for the first time on vinyl. The vinyl editions are limited to 300 copies.

The re-issues were re-mastered by Peter In de Betou, while Thimios Krikos handled the layout of the mini booklets with liner notes.

As commented by INNERWISH regarding the re-issues:

"This is something that we wanted to do for a quite a long time actually! Some of these albums are really difficult to find and we often had requests from our fans who wanted to have them in their collection. And besides that, we also wanted them to be released on vinyl for the first time, since they had only been released as CDs and we are vinyl fans ourselves. After talking with our label, Ulterium Records, both sides felt that now was the time for doing so. Why now? Because now we feel confident with our label, we feel stronger than ever and we also think that it's a good timing since we are in the creative process for our new album and this can nicely fill the gap between the InnerWish album and our new one.

“We didn’t want to remix the albums, since we wanted them to have the original feeling, but we decided to re-master them in order to have a better sound quality and ‘refresh’ lets say their sound. We also made some changes to the artwork to make the whole package more attractive even to the ones who already have these releases. We are really happy with how they turned out and we are sure that you, our fans, will appreciate the final result. Enjoy our first three albums, see the band changing and growing through them and wait for our next release! Thank you for all the support up to this day and may all your inner wishes come true!"

Waiting For The Dawn track listing: “Spacerunner”, “Lord Of Truth”, ”Beyond My Soul”, “Last Thing I’ll Remember”, ”Carry Your Cross”, “Ready For Attack”,”The Waves Of Destiny”,”Have You Ever…?”, “Waiting For The Dawn”

Silent Faces track listing: “Dancer Of The Storm”, “Hold Me Tight”, “If I Could Turn Back”, “Midnight Call”, “Hold On”, “Silent Faces”, “Dreadful Signs”, Set Me Free”, “Riding On The Wind”, “Realms of Tomorrow”

Inner Strength track listing: “Trivial”, “Travellers In Time”, “Far Away”, “Lonely Lady”, “Bleeding Soul”, “Feel The Magic”, “Eye Of The Storm”, “Final Prophecy”, “Never Let You Down”, “Dreamer Of The Night”, “Inner Strength”, “Gates Of Fire”

Ulterium Records online: www.ulterium-records.com & www.facebook.com/ulteriumrecords

INNERWISH online: www.facebook.com/innerwishofficial

THEOCRACY, Mirror Of Souls Vinyl Edition Announced:
Press Release / Ulterium Records are proud to announce the release of a limited vinyl edition of the classic THEOCRACY album Mirror of Souls. The vinyl edition is strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide (350 copies with black discs and 150 copies with transparent discs) and the release date is set to November 23rd.

Comments founding member and vocalist Matt Smith:

"I can't believe it has been 10 years since the release of Mirror Of Souls! I remember wondering if anyone would still care, since it had been so long since our first album... but thankfully, you guys did. It was a time of rapid-fire changes: adding band members, learning new recording techniques, and wondering if this crazy idea I had for a 23-minute song would actually work on record like it did in my head. Thank you for giving the album the life it has to this day, and for making those songs enduring standards that we still play at almost every Theocracy show. Cheers, and we hope you enjoy this vinyl release!"

Mirror Of Souls vinyl track listing:

Side A:
1. “A Tower Of Ashes”
2. “On Eagles' Wings”
3. “Laying The Demon To Rest”

Side B:
1. “Bethlehem”
2. “Absolution Day”

Side C:
1. “The Writing In The Sand”
2. “Martyr”

Side D:
1. “Mirror Of Souls”

Ulterium Records online: www.ulterium-records.com & www.facebook.com/ulteriumrecords

THEOCRACY online: www.theocracymusic.com & www.facebook.com/theocracyband

NEWS BRIEFS

* Lyric video from LEAH of Celtic fantasy metal song entitled “Edge Of Your Sword”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl-GkURe50k

The song comes off the symphonic metal songstress’ third full-length album The Quest scheduled for an October 5, 2018 release.

* A re-issue of the 1988 LIGHTFORCE debut album Mystical Thieves is forthcoming in early 2019 on Soundmass Records.  More details as they become available.

* ZION, Thunder From The Mountain remix sample: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUpNPRKY3I8

ARTIST COMMENTARY

Vocalist Chaz Bond regarding the background to BIOGENESIS (Facebook - September 17, 2018):

“BioGenesis started as an idea about 20 years ago. A good friend of mine Joseph Jonker rounded out the very first lineup and the two of us recorded a demo using my tax return to pay for the hours. Joe was the drummer and I played guitar and bass on separate tracks.

“The band Bio fans came to know ( a 4 piece by this time), signed with Rowe Productions and put out a very unique and powerful debut called The Mark Bleeds Through. We toured with Australia's Mortification, appeared in a full article in HM magazine, became good friends with Deliverance front man Jimmy Brown and at one time I even considered relocating the band from Dayton Ohio to Las Vegas.

“As the years passed members left, joined and left again. I let the band dissolve in 2005 and many of you know I was the vocalist of Jacobs Dream for 10 years as well as some other projects. I gave Bio a second life in 2009 and the lineup from the first record plus long time friend Paul Paul Anthony Witte recorded the second album The Rise The Fall The Rebirth which was released 11 long years after the debut.

“Again, lineups came and went and the band ended again in 2014. Two years later someone talked me in to giving Bio one more shot. Since then the new lineup ( only long time guitarist James Riggs and myself remain) released what I believe is the best Bio record to date in 2017, A Decadence Divine, after we signed with Roxx Records. Now here we are preparing to unleash the Black Widow EP. Its amazing how the band has evolved and grown over the years. Many bands record their best music early and then struggle to top those early albums. With Bio however it just keeps raising the bar which just amazes me as the band continues to grow and evolve...Bio fans just wait to you hear Black Widow…”

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

Lyric Video From Jimmy P. Brown II, “Stained”:
DELIVERANCE vocalist & guitarist Jimmy P. Brown II unveiled last week a lyric video to the song “Stained” from his soon to be released Retroactive Records debut solo album, Eraserhead.

Beginning in the early nineties, Brown distanced himself from the speed metal and thrash of early DELIVERANCE albums Deliverance (1989) and Weapons Of Our Warfare (1990) in favor of the ‘technical metal’ found on subsequent releases Stay Of Execution (1992), Learn (1993) and River Disturbance (1994).  Enter Eraserhead, which finds Brown returning to a ‘technical metal’ sound that is ‘heavy, metal, progressive, dark, and ultra creative but not thrash or speed metal’.

Joining Brown is bassist Manny Morales and drummer Jon Knox, whom also formed the rhythm section on Learn and River Disturbance.

Eraserhead track listing: “A Story of Time”, “Digital Postage Stamp”, “Ego”, “Entertaining Angels”, “Indecisive”, “Memoria”, “Stained”, “The Scales”, “The Swell Lot of Thieves”, “The Watchers”

DELIVERANCE online: www.facebook.com/DeliveranceRocks

Lyric Video From DENY THE FALLEN, “Predator”:
DENY THE FALLEN debuted this past week a lyric video to the track “Predator”, which comes off its forthcoming debut album Symptoms Of Eternity pending release via Dunamis Records.

The Rey Parra (SACRED WARRIOR) fronted group maintains a dual goal to ‘make a record that is powerful from beginning to end, both musically and lyrically’ but also to ‘develop a modern metal sound that incorporates all aspects and era's of metal’.  DENY THE FALLEN further describes itself ‘as neither old school metal nor nu metal, but rather it is something both classic and modern’.

Rounding out the DENY THE FALLEN lineup is former SACRED WARRIOR guitarist Jonathan Johnson in addition to bassist Erik Kyr and drummer Josh Johnson.

Symptoms Of Eternity track listing: “Oblivion”, “Mortem Amici (Friendship Dies)” , “Hands For War”, “Symptoms Of Eternity”, “Predator”, “Murder Machine”, “Razin Kane”, “Shelter”, “Rise”, “Burning The World”, “Death Rattle”, “Mortem Amici (Friendship Dies)”

DENY THE FALLEN online: https://denythefallen.bandzoogle.com & www.facebook.com/DenyTheFallenBand

Official Video From DREAM PATROL, “The Shortest Straw”:
Premiering this past week was a video to the DREAM PATROL song “The Shortest Straw”.  It comes off the group’s debut full-length album Phantoms Of The Past, which is schedule for release via Scandinavian label Mighty Music on September 21, 2018.

The international hard rock act consisting of bassist Ronnie König (Slovakia) and vocalist Eli Prinsen (USA) draws its name from the 80s horror movie A Nightmare on Elm Street, in which a demon-like creature would attack you while you were sleeping. With DREAM PATROL, however, you shall fear no more: it is a special office of combat against mind-invaders, working for you overtime, whenever you put on your headphones and start daydreaming.

DREAM PATROL also consists of guitarist Filip Koluš (Slovakia), guitarist Libor Křivák (Czech Republic) and drummer Radim Večeřa (Austria).

Phantoms Of The Past track listing: “Dream Patrol”, “Get Back Home”, “Tattooed Millionaire From Panama”, “The Shortest Straw”, “Phantoms Of The Past”, “Lost Child”, “Stand Up And Fight”, “Time Is A Healer”, “Piece Of Paradise”, “Is That The Thanks I Get”, “Playing With Fire”, “Haunted Tower”

DREAM PATROL online https://dreampatrol.net & www.facebook.com/DreamPatrol

IMPELLITTERI, “Run For Your Life” Official Video Premier:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net:

"Run For Your Life", the new video from IMPELLITTERI, can be seen above. The song is taken from the band's upcoming studio album, The Nature Of The Beast, which will be released on October 12 via Frontiers Music Srl.

30 years into their musical career, IMPELLITTERI have created a mind-blowing, highly energetic and thrilling new musical adventure with The Nature Of The Beast. The band is on fire with their musical acrobatics, addictive riffs, shredding guitar solos, speed metal drumming, and screaming power metal vocals that are all ingredients in these killer songs!

Like many of their talented peers, IMPELLITTERI continue to carry the torch for guitar driven heavy metal. On The Nature Of The Beast, the band shines throughout, especially on songs like the power metal driven "Run For Your Life", the highly energetic remake of BLACK SABBATH's "Symptom Of The Universe", the lunacy of "Gates Of Hell", the addictive riff of "Hypocrisy", and the speed metal cover of "Phantom Of The Opera".

"The new music was written with passion and a sincere love for heavy metal," tells guitarist Chris Impellitteri. "I think as a band we grow stronger with each new album. Our artistic abilities seem to get better with age, but at the same time we seem to sound even more energetic, crazy, and youthful with this release. You could say the music on this newest musical child is an extension of our previous record, Venom. I love the Venom record, but I am currently obsessed by 'The Nature Of The Beast'. We are thrilled to share this new music with our FANS and friends around the world and I really hope they like it!"

IMPELLITTERI recorded The Nature Of The Beast in Los Angeles, California with legendary engineer/producer Mike Plotnikoff (VAN HALEN, AEROSMITH, IN FLAMES), mix engineer Greg Reely (OVERKILL, FEAR FACTORY), and engineers Jun Murakawa and Sean Shannon.

The Nature Of The Beast track listing: "Hypocrisy", "Masquerade", "Run For Your Life", "Phantom Of The Opera", "Gates Of Hell", "Wonder World", "Man Of War", "Symptom Of The Universe", "Do You Think I’m Mad", "Fire It Up", "Kill The Beast", "Shine On"

NEWS BRIEFS

* Update from vocalist & guitarist Chris Dickens regarding new album from his BIG CHRIS & D’BARE BONES BAND project, Man Overboard:

“After having to go back to remix a few of the songs several weeks ago, I have finally achieved mixes of all 12 songs that I like!  I will be working on the mastering and editing of the finished tracks.  I still have yet to decide whether I want to print CDs or not this time or do them "on demand".  Regardless, the album will be available soon.”

* LEAH released a single to a new Celtic fantasy metal song entitled “Edge Of Your Sword”: https://leahmchenry.lpages.co/eoys/

The song comes off her upcoming third full-length album The Quest, which is scheduled for release on October 5, 2018.

* Footage of STRYPER performing with stand in guitarist Howie Simon, including “God Damn Evil” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8ynIgDoUys), “The Valley” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC7CsMIcrBI) and “In God We Trust” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWVS1iQBVJQ)

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

NEAL MORSE Signs With Frontiers SRL For Progressive Rock Opera, Jesus Christ - The Exorcist:
Press Release / Frontiers Music Srl is honored to announce the signing of a monumental project entitled Jesus Christ - The Exorcist, a Progressive Rock Opera written and produced by legendary musician and singer Neal Morse with performances by Neal and an all-star cast of singers and musicians.

Neal explains, "Sometimes providence comes with a whisper; sometimes it comes with an unexpected phone call. A friend of mine who works in the music business called me from New York one day in 2008 and said "Hey man, a friend and I were listening to Jesus Christ Superstar last night and were saying, 'Man, somebody ought to do a new rock opera based on the Jesus story.' I told my friend, 'I know the guy!'" He went on to tell me I ought to write an epic prog piece based on the gospels. With a New York accent he said, "Ya gotta do it!" I laughed and said, "Well, I'm busy right now, but I'll think about it." Over the next couple of months, I began to feel that "yes" inside and spent a few months writing the first draft. The strong sense that I was onto something continued to grow and the people that sang on the original version were really into it. However, my friend from New York, (Michael Caplan) shopped it around and a lot of people loved it, but it never found a home… until NOW! Again, the phone rang and it was Michael. He said, "You're not gonna believe this, but I've got a company interested in the musical!" I replied, '"That's great, 'cause I am in the middle of a rewrite as we are putting it on at Morsefest 2018 in a few months." Very timely! The company is called Frontiers Music Srl and after some communication, we struck a deal! Cool! So, here we are... ready to record and release this collection of songs and themes that is very dear to my heart and I believe tells the greatest story ever told in a powerful, new way."

With a cast of amazing singers and musicians like Ted Leonard, Eric Gillette, Nick D'Virgilio, Randy George, Bill Hubauer, Matt Smith, and others, this progressive rock opera is a landmark event that will leave its mark on every listener. "Let him who has ears to hear...let him hear!"

With recordings set to commence imminently, the record will be released in 2019 on a double album set featuring about two hours of music that will encompass all the spectrums and genres Neal Morse is known for and will, of course, tell the Story of Stories. In the meantime, you can hear an audio sample of DEMOS of the musical here: https://youtu.be/s1qAjOGJ928

Additionally, the project will be performed live for the very first time on Saturday, September 15th at [Morse]Fest 2018 in Cross Plains, TN! "JESUS CHRIST - THE EXORCIST", the world premiere of a musical written by Neal Morse will be performed by a Prog Rock all-star cast featuring Neal Morse (keys, guitar), Paul Bielatowicz (lead guitar), Bill Hubauer (keys), Randy George (bass), and Eric Gillette (drums). Featured vocalists will include Ted Leonard (SPOCK’S BEARD, ENCHANT), Nick D'Virgilio (BIG, BIG  TRAIN, SPOCK’S BEARD), Jake Livgren (PROTO-KAW), Matt Smith (THEOCRACY), Wil Morse and more.  Also, John Schlitt (PETRA) and Rick Florian (WHITE HEART) have been added to the performance as well.

Full cast:

Ted Leonard - Jesus
Talon David - Mary Magdalene
Nick D'Virgilio - Judas
Rick Florian - The Devil
John Schlitt - Caiaphas
Matt Smith - John the Baptist, Pharisee 3
Jake Livgren - Peter, Pharisee 4
Neal Morse - Pilate, Demon 1, Disciple 1
Mark Pogue - Israelite 1, the Madman of the Gadarenes, Pharisee 2
Wil Morse - Israelite 2, Demon 3, Pharisee 1,
Gabe Klein - Demon 2, Pharisee 4
Gideon Klein - Demon 4
Julie Harrison - Servant Girl

Plus strings, horns, orchestral percussion, vocal ensemble, and choir.

Visuals by Christian Rios

More info and ticket information for [Morse]Fest 2018 is available: www.radiantrecords.com/products/702-morsefest-2018.aspx

Neal Morse online: www.nealmorse.com & www.facebook.com/nealmorse

Frontiers SRL: www.frontiers.it/index.php & www.facebook.com/frontiersmusicsrl

STRYPER Guitarist Oz Fox To Resume Touring After Medical Scare:
Press Release / Guitarist Oz Fox intends to return to the road for most of the dates this fall, after suffering an on-stage medical emergency in August. Oz remains under doctor’s care, and additional testing and treatment will be necessary. However, he should be released to work this fall while his medical team decides the best course of action moving forward.

Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - After heavy touring for the first part of 2018, STRYPER will return to the road this fall for the second half of their God Damn Evil World Tour. And there is good news for STRYPER fans… guitarist Oz Fox intends to return to the road for most of the dates this fall.

This has been a challenging summer for Oz and his band mates. On August 11th, Oz suffered a medical emergency while performing with a side project in Las Vegas. An on-stage seizure led to the discovery of some previously unknown “spots” on the brain. Oz has been released from the hospital, although additional testing and treatment will be necessary. However, he should be released to work this fall while his medical team decides the best course of action moving forward. You can view STRYPER's original statement here: http://prez.ly/IwM

Oz was forced to sit out the Australia tour dates earlier this month, and he’ll miss the September dates as well due to air travel restrictions from his doctor. However, he intends to rejoin STRYPER on the road in October. Oz handpicked Los Angeles-based guitarist Howie Simon to fill in for him on the September dates, allowing Oz additional time to rest and recover. Simon will be a familiar face to many STRYPER fans with performance credits that include NELSON, JEFF SCOTT SOTO BAND, SCRAP METAL, TALISMAN, ERIC MARTIN BAND, WINGER and more.

"Howie Simon and I have been friends for well over a decade now,” says Oz. "It is great to have him help us out and fill in for me while I am in recovery. I am looking forward to catching some fan videos of him online. He's an excellent performer and his guitar playing outranks so many in the business. In my opinion, it is very important for the band to fulfill dates that have been booked for so long. I am thankful for the continued support of the fans while my STRYPER family and I face this detour in my career, and I look forward to seeing many of you on the road in October and November."

"We appreciate all the support, thoughts and prayers from everyone at this time,” says front man Michael Sweet. "We look forward to having our brother Oz back as quickly as possible. We're also very grateful to Howie for working so hard learning the material and parts to be able to sit in with us for the time being. We'll do our best to bring you the absolute best show possible until Oz returns.”

STRYPER continues to dominate the hard rock/heavy metal scene with the their critically-acclaimed tenth studio album, God Damn Evil - released in April via Frontiers Music srl. Rocking since 1984, STRYPER is responsible for such classic '80s metal albums as Soldiers Under Command, To Hell with the Devil and In God We Trust. In fact, STRYPER is the first band to ever have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously with their hits “Free” and “Honestly.” After a sabbatical for much of the 1990's, STRYPER returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the Dove Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated band has sold over 10 million records worldwide.

God Damn Evil is available now wherever you can buy or stream music: http://radi.al/GodDamnEvil

Watch STRYPER's “The Valley” Music Video: https://youtu.be/duEBraRtteo
Watch STRYPER's “Sorry” Music Video: https://youtu.be/ByWWzDl_xrw
Watch STRYPER's “Renewed” mini documentary here: https://youtu.be/69Zxu_LtNRI

STRYPER God Damn Evil tour dates:

September 7 - Rocktember Music Festival - Hinkley, MN
September 8 - The Arcada Theatre - St. Charles, IL
September 13 - House of Blues Orlando - Lake Buena Vista, FL
September 15 - “Rockin’ Vivo Fest” at Vivo Beach Club - Carolina, Puerto Rico
October 12 - The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN
October 13 - Delmar Hall - St Louis, MO
October 14 - Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK
October 18 - Stampede - Aurora, CO
October 20 – LeatherHheads - Draper, UT
October 25 - The Marquee - Tempe, AZ
October 26 - The Rialto Theatre - Tucson, AZ
October 27 - The Club @ Cannery Casino Hotel - North Las Vegas, NV
October 31 - Whiskey A Go Go - West Hollywood, CA
November 2 - San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino - Highland, CA
November 3 - The Canyon Theater - Santa Clarita, CA
November 4 - Ace of Spades - Sacramento, CA
November 6 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
November 11 - Virginia St Brewhouse - Reno, NV
November 14 - Pub Station Ballroom - Billings, MT
November 17 - Anthem @ Hard Rock Casino - Sioux City, IA
January 31 - Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH
February 1 - Wolf’s Den @ Mohegan Sun - Uncasville, CT
February 9 - Kawasaki CLUB CITTA - Tokyo, Japan - RESCHEDULED
February 10 - Kawasaki CLUB CITTA - Tokyo, Japan - RESCHEDULED

**More dates to be added!

NEWS BRIEFS

* Heaven’s Metal online interview with BRIDE vocalist Dale Thompson: http://dougvanpelt.wixsite.com/heavens-metal-mag/single-post/2018/09/04/BRIDE-Rolls-the-Snake-Eyes-and-the-Crowd-Goes-Wild

* EVANS & STOKES recorded a video of a new song entitled “Hallowed Ground”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S36bB2CDm8

Further details from vocalist Jenny Stokes:

“Today John (Evans, guitarist) and I released a new song. We've had some delays with the vocals on our album (when the singer gets a chest infection everything vocal comes to a grinding halt). In the meantime, we thought we'd share an instrumental with our fans. For a limited time, we decided to offer this song free on our website for anyone who joins our mailing list: www.evansandstokes.com

“A few weeks ago John was in Washington D.C. for a couple days. He decided to do a little filming as he visited some of the monuments. That footage inspired this song, which reflects on the elusive nature of peace and the horrible cost of war.

“This song has a long build up that is a bit different from anything we've done before, but in holding true to Evans and Stokes style it takes a hard turn at about the halfway mark. Although this is an instrumental, we think the images used in the video speak for themselves.”

* LEAH, The Quest official documentary: www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8yun96-hAU

* SHINING FORCE update from guitarist Billy G. Vaughn Sr (Facebook - September 7, 2018):

“After the release of Shining Force (sophomore album) By The Blood, we will hit the studio once more with our new drummer and guitarist to record our (next) album called Seven.  We will be setting up shows soon enough. We need to regroup with our new drummer and guitarist to complete the writing factor of the next CD. You can pre-order By The Blood By contacting me. I will only take 100 pre-orders after that you will have to buy the CD when it’s released in stores.”

By The Blood can be pre-ordered at: www.facebook.com/billyvaughn0423

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

Randy Rose Announces Kickstarter Campaign For New Album, The Masked Monster:
Press Release / The New ROSE album, The Masked Monster, is a journey through our hearts, and the wickedness we hide behind.

I am so excited to get going on this new ROSE album.  We all had such great success on the last two Kickstarter campaigns, and we owe that all to you, and God.  Thank You!  This record is going to go farther than (Songs For The Ritually Abused) by Unmasking the "Masked Monster".  It seems we get such a drive of confidence from hiding who we really are, the problem is...  how far will you go to get what you want.  This record lyrically will be intense, and hard to swallow.  Musically I'm very excited about this one, Rose Studios recently purchased a Vintage Auditronics 501Analog recording console, so this record is going to be thick and punchy. 

We appreciate all the years of support, and hopefully I can offer some wonderful stretch goals of the Rose Demos, and unreleased material, if we hit 20K.  This will be a 2 CD release.

We really need your support to get the message out that Jesus is the healer of all of our brokenness.  Thank you guys in advance.  Please look at all of the pledge levels and hopefully you will find your spot in this process of making this new record.

According to the artist, he will be ‘bringing in, some of the "Rose Crew" from our first two records, and I have some guest vocalists that you will love!’

You can support The Masked Monster at: www.kickstarter.com/projects/1260509704/new-rose-album-2018-kickstarter-campaign?ref=project_link

THROUGH THE CLOUDS Sign With Roxx Records For Debut Album, Blinded Minds:
Press Release / Roxx Records is pleased to bring you a brand new traditional killer metal band called THROUGH THE CLOUDS. THROUGH THE CLOUDS is a side project featuring members of HAND OF FIRE and VINTAGE MACHINE. The band is a combined effort featuring players in both the US and Brazil with Tiago De Souza (HAND OF FIRE / PERPETUAL PARANOIA) and Paulo Lima (VINTAGE MACHINE / ROCKLASS).

This special release is an outlet for the band to focus on music heavily influenced in the classic to power metal style. Check out the debut first single entitled “Blinded Minds” above.

Pick up your copy of Blinded Minds today and get ready to rock with nine brand new tracks.

Blinded Minds track listing:

1. “Crossfire”
2. “Blinded Minds”
3. “Make Your Choice”
4. “Better Way”
5. “Lost”
6. “Unforgiven”
7.  “Hard Times”
8.  “Wondering”
9.  “Blinded Minds (Reprise)”

The debut album will be released on Limited Edition CD pressing and as a digital release worldwide on September 28th.

“Blinded Minds” pre-order: http://roxxrecords.storenvy.com/products/24575358-through-the-clouds-blinded-minds-2018

NEWS BRIEFS

* DENY THE FALLEN update in regards to new album Symptoms Of Eternity (As noted by guitarist Jonathan Johnson, Facebook - August 30, 2018):

“I can't begin to describe how thankful I am to have all the vocals for Rey Parra tracked and completed for our album! I still have to track a couple of my lead vocal lines and a few guitar solos. That will take a day or 2 then I will begin final mixing of the record. I always premix along the way so the songs are close to being where I want them mix wise. So we are finally close to the finish line… or should I say the "starting line?"

Our plan is to release the album digitally as soon as it's completed, while the CD's and vinyl are being manufactured. We are SOOO excited! I just want to thank my great friend Jeffrey A Rankin for having my back with transportation. I love spending time with that dude! Also John Cassandro for working so hard on our media, graphics and marketing while we work on the music! You are a huge blessing and a vital part of getting this music to as many people as possible! As for everyone on the Deny The Fallen team, we love all our friends and can't wait for you to hear this album!! God bless you guys!”

DENY THE FALLEN online: https://denythefallen.bandzoogle.com & www.facebook.com/DenyTheFallenBand

* Vocalist Dale Thompson announces new project, DREAMLAND LOVECRAFT (Facebook - August 31, 2018):

“Big announcement, the electronic album that I am recording with Garret Thomas now has a title. The project will be called Dreamland Lovecraft. Yes the music is as eclectic, experimental not like anything you have ever heard me do before. I finished up vocals tonight on Song 6. This is a great project for those wanting something outside the box. I would say that if you took Willie Wonka (Gene Wilder version) mixed it with Thomas Dolby (Blinded by Science) and threw in a hint of Chemical Brothers and a dash of early David Bowie you might come close in describing Dreamland Lovecraft.”

* Oz Fox, latest update (Facebook - August 31, 2018):

Oz wanted me to let all everyone know:

“I’m very overwhelmed & humbled by everyone’s support. I’m so thankful for everyone who has helped out. I appreciate all the prayers.  The medication has been tough to deal with. I know more tests are coming & hopefully they will be able to lower my dosage. Then I can get back to doing what I do.”

Last night was hard, Oz wasn’t feeling well & was not too excited about taking his medication for seizures.  We are waiting for the docs to schedule more tests. Patience is truly a virtue!

Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times~Romans 12:12

Hope: We have hope in Jesus—that He will keep us focused on what’s important, His love.

Joyful: We purpose to be joy filled as we trust God for the results of all testing on Oz.

Patient: We don’t rush God, the doctors or anything else during this healing process. Take each day one day at a time!

Prayer: We wake up each day and pray to hear God’s direction He has for us & go to bed thankful we made it through another day!

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

IMAGES OF EDEN, “Harvest Day” Official Video Premier:
Phoenix, Arizona based melodic progressive metal act IMAGES OF EDEN debuted last week a video to the track “Harvest Day”, which comes off its fourth full-length album Soulrise released via Pavement Entertainment on August 17, 2018.

IMAGES OF EDEN is a fearless concept band that brings together familiar, well-loved elements of metal and rock combined with its own unique vision, message, and delivery. The result is a distinct musical hybrid that speaks directly to the struggles and tribulations of the listener.

Each release from IMAGES OF EDEN is a chapter in the tale of a life’s journey, dealing specifically with the trials and darkness that each of us must face in this world, each track is meant to inspire the listener to overcome these obstacles through human perseverance strengthened by guidance from above. The distinct vision that gives IMAGES OF EDEN its identity is about drawing strength and determination from faith to see us through our toughest times, but what makes IMAGES OF EDEN stand out as one of a kind is that its message is simultaneously accessible to everyone while still speaking to the listener on a very personal level.

Soulrise was mixed and mastered by legendary metal producer, Bill Metoyer at Skull Seven Studios in Hollywood, CA.

Pavement Entertainment is home of bands such as CANDLEBOX, SOIL, POWERMAN 2000, JANET GARDNER (VIXEN), DISHWALLA, SMILE EMPTY SOUL, FLAW and BLACK WATER RISING.  They also have multiple albums included in the Billboard Magazine Top 200 Best Selling Debuts.

IMAGES OF EDEN lineup:

Gordon Tittsworth - Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Carlos Urquidi Perez - Lead Guitar
L. Dean Harris - Piano & Keyboards
Eric Mulvaine - Bass Guitar
Steve Dorssom - Drums & Percussion

Soulrise track listing:

1. "Harvest Day"
2. "Let Me Die Young"
3. "Shield Me"
4. "Only Human"
5. "Moonrise"
6. "Godless"
7. "Once We Believed"
8. "Twice Upon A Time"
9. "All Is Now Forgiven"
10. "Waiting For The Sky To Fall"
11. "And Then There Was One"
12. "Soulrise"

The official video for the single “Shield Me” is streaming on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekAooXGsLhs

Soulrise purchase links:

Amazon- www.amazon.com/Soulrise-Images-Eden/dp/B07DVGWHG5/

iTunes- https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/soulrise/1385701458

Pavement Entertainment online: www.pavementmusic.com & www.facebook.com/Pavementent

IMAGES OF EDEN online: www.imagesofeden.com/index2.htm & www.facebook.com/Images-of-Eden

SAINT Announce In The Battle Vinyl Release:
SAINT has delivered the classic metal goods starting in 1984 with the independent release of its debut EP Warriors Of The Son and Pure Metal Records full length follow up efforts Time’s End and Too Late For Living from 1986 and 1988, respectively.  Subsequent to a fifteen-year hiatus, the Salem, Oregon natives rebounded in 2004 with the first of what led to many turn of the century comeback albums, In The Battle.  Notable is how In The Battle featured the return of founding members bassist Richard Lynch and vocalist Josh Kramer, whom were joined by newcomers guitarist Jerry Johnson and drummer Larry London.

Initially an independent release by the band, In The Battle was re-mastered and re-issued by Retroactive Records in the summer of 2010 with revised (and much improved) album artwork.  Fast forward to September 2018 and In The Battle is again scheduled for re-release (independently by the band) but on vinyl for the first time and to feature the new upgraded cover art.

In describing In The Battle as ’10 songs of Judas Priest influenced classic metal’, the 85% Angelic Warlord review pinpointed standout songs as ‘(including) “Sacrifice”, a dramatic piece dealing with Christ’s crucifixion, and “Ryders”, a superlative six minutes of inspired metal ranking with the finest in Saint’s repertoire.’  Other choice cuts encompass ‘the albums muscular title track (in addition to) the non-stops hooks of “The Choice” and abundant energy characteristic to “Star Pilot Return”.’

In The Battle track listing:

Side A:
1. “In The Battle”
2. “Star Pilot Return”
3. “Here We Are”
4. “Sacrifice”
5. “Holy Rollin’”

Side B:
1. “Ryders”
2. “The Choice”
3. “When”
4. “Acid Rain”
5. “Full Armor”

In The Battle vinyl pre-order: http://armorrecords.wixsite.com/saintsite

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

Official Statement From STRYPER Regarding Guitarist Oz Fox:
Press Release / News began circulating this morning that STRYPER guitarist Oz Fox suffered a medical emergency on stage in Las Vegas overnight. In order to provide accurate information and dispel any rumors, the band has issued an official statement:

Our dear friend and lead-guitarist Oz Fox fell ill Saturday night while performing in Las Vegas with a side project that he sometimes plays in when not touring with STRYPER. Oz suffered a seizure causing a fall on stage. After performing an MRI, doctors discovered an area of concern near his brain, which they are now running a biopsy on. The doctors have instructed him not to drive or fly for 90 days. No additional information is available at this time. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and we will communicate additional information as it becomes available.

The logistics and options for current tour dates are being discussed with the respective promoters. U.S. tour dates will play as scheduled and in anticipation of a full recovery will include Oz Fox. The upcoming Australian tour will be performed as a trio (with the blessing of Oz), and will include Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, and Perry Richardson. For our fans in Japan, please await an announcement from the concert promoter there as to the plans for the Japan tour.

An update regarding Fox’s condition was recently posted via Facebook (August 15, 2018):

This just happened: Neurosurgeon came in & talked to Oz about his medical history. Nothing shocking to indicate his current situation.  The tumor by the ear is not as much concern as the one by the back of the right brain. They are both inoperable. In other words, she recommends not removing them.

So Oz was given two choices:

1. Operate/do biopsy on the tumor in the back. There will be risk involved, but at least we will have answers to what this mass is. (About an inch)

2. Wait 6 more weeks and see if a new MRI shows growth, or that it stays the same.

Oz wants his quality of life back, and wants to find out what it is. So he has decided to go for option number 1. 

Now here is where we need serious, strategic prayer. Please pray for this mass to NOT be cancerous, and that he will recover quickly!  Pray for the doctors hands to be steady & her mind to be sharp with wisdom & Percision skill.

We don’t want to be in fear... we believe that God has a plan for this even though this is a serious & life altering trial!  Please continue to lift us up in prayer! The doctors best guess for cost of surgery is more than we will be expecting—she couldn’t give us a figure.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Fox, who has no medical insurance, pay for medical bills and supplement any lost income: www.gofundme.com/help-oz-fox-pay-his-medical-bills?member=597226

HEARTS ON FIRE To Release Debut Album, Call Of Destiny:
New AOR band from guitarist Jean Funes (SOUND OF ETERNITY) signs with Melodic Rock Records:

Melodic Rock Records is excited to introduce a new name in pure, lighters-in-the-air, classic AOR with a modern touch - HEARTS ON FIRE!

HEARTS ON FIRE are a modern melodic rock band with a sound based on the best of the 80s scene, influences including the likes of DEF LEPPARD, JOURNEY, WHITESNAKE, DOKKEN and BON JOVI.

HEARTS ON FIRE is also about passion for life. All the songs are born from a place of true inspiration.  We believe that music is the perfect way to express deep emotions like love, pain, regret, sadness etc. and the album Call Of Destiny is about that.

A lyric video to the first single off the album, “Hearts On Fire”, can be viewed above.
 
The band was formed in 2017 by guitarist Jean Funes (SOUND OF ETERNITY), and with the help of drummer Joel Mejia (CODIGO ETERNO) they begun to work in new songs ideas and sketches. Later they were introduced to vocalist Richard Andermyr (RIAN) by MRR’s Andrew McNeice, and together they brought to life all these songs about real life experiences.

Nunes describes HEARTS ON FIRE as ‘melodic rock and AOR songs inspired by real life situations, and represent the best I've done musically so far! I wrote these songs in the middle of a difficult personal stage and at the same time many beautiful things happening. These songs express my deepest feelings and experiences! I thank God for the gift of music and because life itself is the source of inspiration!”

Call Of Destiny was mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward.

HEARTS ON FIRE line up:

Richard Andermyr - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Jean Funes - Lead, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitar
Dennis Ward - Bass & Keyboards
Joel Mejia - Drums

HEARTS OF FIRE online: www.facebook.com/heartsonfireband

NEWS BRIEFS

* Update from vocalist Dale Thompson (BRIDE, PERPETUAL PARANOIA, THE WORLD WILL BURN), whom was recently hospitalized with chest pain (Facebook - August 15, 2018):

“Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. I am out of the hospital and scheduled for a stress test next Friday. Poked, prodded, x-rayed, discharged, I am no worse for wear. Blood test came back okay and the gripping tight painful feeling in my chest has subsided thanks to believers uniting. I will take the stress test next Friday however to relieve the minds of those still concerned.”

* DENY THE FALLEN uploaded a ‘sneak peek’ promotional video for its upcoming album Symptoms Of Eternity: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZZSTK7sP5k

* THROUGH THE CLOUDS has signed with Roxx Records for its debut album, Blinded Minds.  A project of vocalist and lyricist Paulo Lima and guitarist Tiago James (HAND OF FIRE, PERPETUAL PARANOIA), THROUGH THE CLOUDS recently released a lyric video to the track “Blinded Minds”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs94kbed9o8

 

FEATURED REVIEWS

KIKI APOSTOLOU - Phases Of Time
Phases of Time, the independent July of 2018 solo album of Nicosia, Cyprus based veteran guitarist Kikis Apostolou, stands apart with its multi-dimensionality, both in terms of featuring instrumental rock numbers and full length vocal cuts.  Read Full Review >>

BRIDE - Snake Eyes
As reputed, Snake Eyes, the summer of 2018 comeback album of multi-national act Bride, represents a return to the blues based hard rock style of its highly regarded 1992 release Snakes In The Playground, but is it also a return to the groups prime Snakes… form?  Read Full Review >>

CHAOTIC RESEMBLANCE - Covenant
No doubt Chaotic Resemblance draws upon a ‘hair’ or ‘glam’ metal basis in terms of describing its sound in that those both old (Hanoi Rocks, Kix, Junkyard and LA Guns) and new (Black Veil Brides, Hardcore Superstar, Crazy Lixx and Main Line Riders) come to mind when inviting comparison.  Read Full Review >>

EVANS & STOKES - Valley Of The Kings
Evans & Stokes is jumping into new territory with the spring of 2018 independent release of its sophomore album Valley Of The Kings.  Read Full Review >>

FRED MIKA - Withdrawal Symptoms
Solo albums from drummers do not have a reputation that inspires the highest degree of confidence.  Read Full Review >>

PERPETUAL PARANOIA - The Reapers
Setting Perpetual Paranoia apart and its summer of 2018 Retroactive Records debut The Reapers is how it follows a pattern similar to early Deliverance by joining the best aspects of the heavy and melodic.  Read Full Review >>

STEEL CITY - Fortress
Lots of key elements make a melodic pop metal album great, and Fortress, the March of 2018 Kivel Records debut full length of Youngstown, Ohio based Steel City, has pretty much all of them.  Read Full Review >

WALES ROAD - Trees & Pretty Things
Am I out of line to suggest expectation can be potentially unreasonable as it pertains to compilations albums?  If familiarity breeds contempt, then the better acquainted that one is with a band, then greater the opportunity to be disappointed over any compilation album to draw upon its back catalog.  Read Full Review >>

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

MAD AT THE WORLD, Through The Forest Reissue On Retroactive Records:
Release scheduled for October 13, 2018.

Press Release / 1992 was an epic year for Christian rock. BRIDE released Snakes In The Playground. ADAM AGAIN delivered the transformational art rock album Dig, DELIVERANCE blew audiences away with the masterful Stay Of Execution, MORTIFICATION released the deathly Scrolls album, MORTAL industrialized white middle-class suburbia with Lusis, L.S. UNDERGROUND released the concept album The Grape Prophet, and The 77s redefined world-class rock with the self-titled (aka Pray Naked) release. AND… MAD AT THE WORLD gifted us with their hardest hitting, most aggressive, and progressive album we could have imagined - Through the Forest!

MATW was a short-lived but brilliant band with seven must-have releases led by brothers Roger and Randy Rose (also of MOTHERSHIP and ROSE - all amazing as well). They started off as a synth-pop band and soon did a 180 into organic progressive rock. Through the Forest finds MATW mid-career and firing on all cylinders and refining their sound. There's something for everyone on this gem from the driving rock of the title track, to the Jim Morrison/Glen Danzig-inspired sound of "Trapped," the sweet "Always be My Love," and the playful cover of Elvis's “If I Can Dream."

Through The Forest is the perfect balance of passion and finesse, excellent musicianship, and great lyrics. And now a great album has been made better digitally, re-mastered to perfection by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound. Don't miss it. Limited to just 150 Black Vinyl copies as part of the Retroactive Records From the Vaults series, and also available on CD packaged in a jewel case with 6 page booklet with lyrics limited to a one-time pressing of just 300 copies. This is the first time this classic album is available on vinyl, and the re-master allows fans to hear the brilliance of this essential hard rock album even more clearly. Through the Forest is pure magic, and it’s never looked or sounded better! Get it while you can!

The track “That Lonesome Road” is available for streaming at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE-0v-V0hUM

Through The Forest track listing:

1. “That Lonesome Road”
2. “Trapped”
3. “Lost In The Forest”
4. “If I Lose My Way”
5. “Always Be My Love”
6. “M.A.T.W. Reprise”
7. “Alone”
8. I’ve Got A Heaven”
9. “I’ll Never Go Back There”
10. “If I Can Dream”

Through The Forest CD pre-order:  https://boonesoverstock.com

MAD AT THE WORLD online: www.madattheworld.net

Eric Clayton Announces New Project, ERIC CLAYTON AND THE NINE:
As noted by the SAVIOUR MACHINE founding member & front man (Facebook - August 3, 2018):

Five years ago Eric Clayton’s life was in turmoil. What’s new, right? Ever since he formed SAVIOUR MACHINE in 1989, in sunny California, with his brother Jeff, it seems much of his artistic career and his private life has been cursed rather than blessed. The stories about banishment, mismanagement and business relationships gone sour are legion. The man even felt the need to write a book about it because it was impossible to explain everything anymore in an interview. And yes- there’s also the stories about some album that remains unfinished.

But this time it was serious. In 2004, Eric got diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus, a condition that got worse over the course of some years.

By now we are all familiar with the American healthcare system. You’re not insured, there is no money, we’re gonna pump you full of pills. All kinds of them. The ones that make you feel numb, afraid of everything, weary of contact with anyone. The ones that make you feel dead inside.

This is not a state in which an artist can create, especially not when you’re dealing with the end of the world every day. Slowly but surely, both Eric’s musical career and his social life burned out.  SAVIOUR MACHINE was dead; his marriage fell apart. With little more on board then some clothes and a baseball bat, Eric Clayton retreated to a trailer in the middle of the Utah dessert, determined not to be found by anyone.

It took a number of years until Eric’s life took a turn, as he found a medicine that turned out beneficial to both his physical and his mental wellbeing. Shortly thereafter came an unexpected invitation to come over to the Netherlands to perform in a series of elaborate, top-cast live performances of The Theatre Equation; the lovechild of Dutch prog-maestro AYREON with whom Eric had already done studio work in 2004 on the highly praised rock opera The Human Equation.

As he had basically said farewell to the music industry, it took some persuasion from the AYREON camp, but eventually Eric went for it. Thinking this was a good opportunity to make a little money and show his then recently graduated daughter a bit of Europe. But what eventually happened, over the course of two weeks in 2015, was something much greater. Not only did Eric find out, much to his own surprise, he enjoyed delving deep into putting on a grand scale production, singing and playing with people, getting back on a stage to perform every night, proved there was still a little bit of that old beast inside him.

The death of David Bowie, who had always been Eric’s greatest source of inspiration, in January the following year, urged him to pay musical tribute. Reconnected with his brother Jeff, the founding fathers of SAVIOUR MACHINE set out to see if they still found solace in creating music together. And behold, instead of doing one song, the collaboration evolved into the Bowie/Decade project for which, over the course of a whole year, they released a Bowie cover every month. The spark that came from this endeavor reached further then the two brothers. By the time they got to working on the third track in the series, all the other members of SAVIOUR MACHINE had reached out wanting to take part. Creative juices started to flow and by the end of the Bowie-project everyone was eager to start work on new material.

But something else had happened during that faithful time in the Netherlands. Eric found love. A love that eventually proved so strong, the vocalist decided to permanently relocate to Europe in the summer of 2017.

Inevitably, it dawned on Eric Clayton that there was just one thing missing to make his new, happier life complete: a band to go out on stage with.

Yes, through the wonders of modern technology, SAVIOUR MACHINE is very much working on a new studio album, to be released whenever it is done. But due to a whole series of circumstances, for now, it is impossible for SAVIOUR MACHINE to go on the road.

Determined not to let his new found inspiration and eagerness slip, Eric reached out to a couple of close Dutch friends with a simple mission: to go out, rock out and have some fun.

And here we are. ERIC CLAYTON AND THE NINE are about to embark on a tour that will start on November 3 in the Netherlands and will eventually take them to various festivals and clubs all over Europe. Get ready for a set that’s stuffed with SAVIOUR MACHINE classics that in many cases haven’t been performed live, by a rock band, in over twenty years, a selection from the Bowie/Decade project and tributes to some other musical heroes.

Eric Clayton is back on stage. Who knows where this will lead.

ERIC CLAYTON AND THE NINE IS:

Eric Clayton (SAVIOUR MACHINE - Lead Vocals)
Bas Albersen (DE LOODS, LES NEUFTIES - Guitars)
Jeroen Geerts (A LINE IN THE DIRT, LEMONSEVE - Guitars)
Ludo Caanen (SONA, LES NEUFTIES - Keyboards)
Rob Dokter (VIBERIDER, CIRCUS MAYHEM, LES NEUFTIES - Bass)
Twan Bakker (CIRCUS MAYHEM, NEM-Q, LES NEUFTIES - Drums)

Interview requests and booking: ericclaytonandthenine@gmail.com

ERIC CLAYTON AND THE NINE online: www.facebook.com/ericclaytonandthenine

NEWS BRIEFS

* RAINFORCE audio update for 2018 and 2019: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNO1DYFhSnY

The multinational hard rock act released its debut full length Lion’s Den via Roxx Records in 2017.

*CRYSTAVOX re-issue update from Roxx Records:

* CRYSTAVOX fans rejoice as August 31st is right around the corner and both the self-titled debut and sophomore release The Bottom Line are being re-mastered and reissued for the world to discover or rediscover once again.  Both albums are being released as Limited Edition vinyl pressings for the very first time ever as well as Limited Edition and expanded CD formats.

With the re-release of both its albums, the band is also launching its first official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Crystavox

Roxx Records has also just launched a brand new lyric video for the ballad “Home Again”, courtesy of Kruse FX videos: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTeFejwW4R8

For full release details and pre-orders that start shipping in the next two weeks please visit: http://roxxrecords.storenvy.com/collections/1703253-crystavox

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

CRYSTAVOX, Vinyl & CD Re-issues Announced:
Release date is August 31, 2018:

Press Release / San Diego based Christian melodic rockers CRYSTAVOX were a staple on Christian rock radio in the early 90’s with hard rock hits like “Sacrifice” and ballad “Home Again” all over the airwaves. The band got its start on Regency Records in 1990 with its self-titled debut, which was followed in 1992 with its Ocean Records sophomore release The Bottom Line. Both of these classic Christian rock albums are long out of print and have been difficult for fans to find today at a decent price, until now.

Roxx Records is very pleased to be bringing you BOTH the self-titled debut Crystavox and sophomore release The Bottom Line back to life for fans to enjoy! Both albums are being released on vinyl for the first time ever, as well as on CD, in a truly Limited Edition format. Each album has been completely re-mastered by Rob Colwell at Bombworks Sound and feature brand new and updated cover art that remains true to the original artwork created by Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics.

Crystavox will be released on a one-time vinyl pressing of 500 pieces with 150 on a beautiful limited edition purple vinyl and 350 on shiny black vinyl, and all feature a beautiful glossy lyric sheet insert. The CD version is also limited to only 500 pieces and comes packaged in a jewel case with a beautiful new layout to feature an 8-page full color booklet with lyrics and credits enclosed. The CD version will also contain two additional bonus tracks taken from The Twenty Year Mix. Pre orders will receive a limited edition glossy sticker of the album cover art while supplies last.

The Bottom Line will be released on a one-time vinyl pressing of 500 pieces with 150 on a beautiful limited edition translucent red vinyl and 350 on shiny black vinyl, and all feature a beautiful glossy lyric sheet insert. The CD version is also limited to only 500 pieces and comes packaged in a jewel case with a beautiful new layout to feature an 8-page full color booklet with full lyrics and credits enclosed. The CD version will also contain two additional bonus tracks taken from The Twenty Year Mix. Pre orders will receive a limited edition glossy sticker of the album cover art while supplies last.

Crystavox track listing:

1. “Sacrifice”
2. “Power Games”
3. “Wear It Out”
4. “Turn It On”
5. “Home Again”
6. “All The Way”
7. “It's All Right”
8. “All Around The World”
9. “Never Give In”
10. “Tough Boys”
11. “Home Again” (bonus track)
12. “Power Games” bonus track)

The Bottom Line track listing:

1 “The Big Picture”
2 “Break Down The Wall”
3 “Rise Up”
4 “Snakes In The Grass”
5 “Stick To Your Guns”
6 “Paradise”
7 “Cry Out”
8 “Shame”
9 “Rockin' A Hard Place”
10 “No Boundaries”
11 “Stick To Your Guns” (bonus track)
12 “No Boundaries” (bonus track)

Crystavox and The Bottom Line are available for pre-order at: http://roxxrecords.storenvy.com

IMAGES OF EDEN To Release New Album, Soulrise:
Press Release / After inking a deal with Pavement Entertainment, IMAGES OF EDEN announces its fourth studio album, Soulrise, set for a worldwide release on August 17, 2018. In support of the upcoming album, the band has released the single "Shield Me" on digital outlets everywhere, as well as an official music video for the single.

"Shield Me" tells a powerful story about the dangers of addiction and the loss often accompanied with it through the eyes of a young woman. The music video has won several awards, most recently the Award of Merit from the One-Reeler Short Film Competition.

IMAGES OF EDEN is a fearless concept band that brings together familiar, well-loved elements of metal and rock combined with its own unique vision, message, and delivery. The result is a distinct musical hybrid that speaks directly to the struggles and tribulations of the listener.

Each release from IMAGES OF EDEN is a chapter in the tale of a life’s journey, dealing specifically with the trials and darkness that each of us must face in this world, each track is meant to inspire the listener to overcome these obstacles through human perseverance strengthened by guidance from above. The distinct vision that gives IMAGES OF EDEN its identity is about drawing strength and determination from faith to see us through our toughest times, but what makes IMAGES OF EDEN stand out as one of a kind is that its message is simultaneously accessible to everyone while still speaking to the listener on a very personal level.

Soulrise was mixed and mastered by legendary metal producer, Bill Metoyer at Skull Seven Studios in Hollywood, CA.

Pavement Entertainment is home of bands such as CANDLEBOX, SOIL, POWERMAN 2000, JANET GARDNER (VIXEN), DISHWALLA, SMILE EMPTY SOUL, FLAW and BLACK WATER RISING.  They also have multiple albums included in the Billboard Magazine Top 200 Best Selling Debuts.

IMAGES OF EDEN lineup:

Gordon Tittsworth - Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Carlos Urquidi Perez - Lead Guitar
L. Dean Harris – Piano & Keyboards
Eric Mulvaine - Bass Guitar
Steve Dorssom & Drums & Percussion

Soulrise track listing:

1. "Harvest Day"
2. "Let Me Die Young"
3. "Shield Me"
4. "Only Human"
5. "Moonrise"
6. "Godless"
7. "Once We Believed"
8. "Twice Upon A Time"
9. "All Is Now Forgiven"
10. "Waiting For The Sky To Fall"
11. "And Then There Was One"
12. "Soulrise"

The official video for the single “Shield Me” is streaming on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekAooXGsLhs

Soulrise pre-order:

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/soulrise
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4oq0v47cGM3Jx57C4mgTeF
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Soulrise-Images-Eden

Pavement Entertainment online: www.pavementmusic.com & www.facebook.com/Pavementent

IMAGES OF EDEN online: www.imagesofeden.com/index2.htm & www.facebook.com/Images-of-Eden

LEAH, The Quest Details Revealed:
Press Release / Celtic metal songstress LEAH will release her new album The Quest on October 5th in Europe and North America through Inner Wound Recordings.

The album was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, EVERGREY) and features guest musician appearances from Troy Donockley (NIGHTWISH), Timo Somers (DELAIN), Chen Balbus (ORPHANES LAND), Barend Courbois (BLIND GUARDIAN) and Sander Zoer (ex. DELAIN).

“I am totally delighted to work with the guest musicians on this album. Each and every individual is an expert at what they do, and I only wanted the best for these songs, as we were developing toward a very specific sound, which was a rock/metal album with a Celtic and fantasy twist,” says LEAH. “This album was truly an international effort!”

With a strong Celtic & Fantasy connection, some progressive rock elements, ethereal ambiance, combined with traditional symphonic metal elements, The Quest is an album LEAH is very proud to present!

The concept for The Quest is very simple: we're all on a journey, and sometimes we lose our way. There are adventures, wildernesses, treasures, monsters, looters and people out to send us down the wrong path. Through it all, we must grow in wisdom and experience, find our compass once again and find our way back to the true path in order to reach our full potential: our destiny.

Regarding the album’s beautiful artwork, LEAH adds, “The artwork for The Quest was inspired by immersing myself in fantasy and fiction during the writing of this album. I also wanted to make the visual imagery more about the music, the culture, and the visual representation of the songs, rather than me – the songwriter and vocalist. I consider my voice just one of many instruments which creates the overall sound. I wanted this artwork to compliment my vision of taking you on a real journey. Thanks to the talent of Jan Yrlund of Darkgrove Studios, we were able to make this idea, this vision, possible.”

Described affectionately by her fans as “the metal ENYA”, LEAH has released three albums, Of Earth & Angels (2012), Otherworld (2013), and Kings & Queens (2015), as well as several viral videos. Her latest video features an ethereal cover of “The Dragonborn Comes“, the main theme from the massive video game Skyrim. The video has racked up 5,000,000 views on Facebook and nearly 500,000 views on YouTube to date.

The Quest track listing:

1. “The Quest”
2. “Edge Of Your Sword”
3. “Lion Arises”
4. “Heir”
5. “Ruins Of Illusion”
6. “Labyrinth”
7. “Abyss”
8. “Oblivion (Between Two Worlds)”
9. “Ghost Upon A Throne”
10. “The Water Is Wide”

Inner Wound Recordings online: www.innerwound.com & www.facebook.com/innerwoundrecordings

LEAH Online: http://leahmusic.net & www.facebook.com/leahthemusic

NEWS BRIEFS

* EVANS & STOKES uploaded a video to its cover of “Mad World”, which was initially recorded by TEARS FOR FEARS for its 1983 album The Hurting: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMiNXQvMB4U

The song in its original inception showed the world as seen through the eyes of a teenage, while the EVANS & STOKES rendering expresses sadness at the state of the world.  “Mad World” is set to appear on the group’s third album Children Of God, which is scheduled for a 2018 release.

* Footage of DELIVERANCE performing “Stay Of Execution” at Sacrivox Festival, July 28, 2018: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lIzLB-O8O4

* “Surrender Of His Mercy”, promo song off the debut album of RIGHTFUL HEIR, In The Name Of The Blood: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulfvqve-ofI

Fronting RIGHTFUL HEIR is vocalist Norman "Ski" Kiersznowski, better known for his work with FAITH FACTOR & DEADLY BLESSING.

ARTIST COMMENTARY

BARREN CROSS bassist Jim La Verde in regards to persevering and not giving up (Facebook - August 1, 2018):

“Many years ago I knew a musician who was a prolific singer song writer. This person had talent coming from everywhere. This person wrote songs that cut to the heart and was backed up by a great voice. His career was taking off, he was running well. Then the people in the music industry cut into him, bitterness set in and then he quit. Is this you? You have talent, the favor of God and man and then people with negativity crossed your path. It could be people at work or church, you let them get to you then you quit.

“I say grow a backbone, stand up straight and get back into the fray. Do not let others dictate your future. God has plans for you. I can not tell you how many people I came across when Barren Cross was starting that discouraged me, said I was crazy, out of Gods will on and on. I would not let nasayers stop me from pursuing Gods will. I am glad we did not give up. With that being said, Fight the good fight of faith, don't give up, keep pushing forward my friend. God cares for you, His plans for your future are bigger than you think, if you don't give up.”

Galatians 5:7: ‘You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.’

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

CHAOTIC RESEMBALNCE, “Virtual Reality” Official Video Premier:
Poteau, Oklahoma based melodic metal and hard rock act CHAOTIC RESEMBLANCE debuted this past week a video to the track “Virtual Reality”, which comes off its May 25, 2018 independently released sophomore album Covenant.

Produced by Oz Fox (STRYPER) and mixed by Tony Palacios (GUARDIAN), Covenant features guest appearance from vocalist Les Carlsen (BLOODGOOD), helping front the song “Out Loud”, and Josiah Prince (DISCIPLE), whom co-produced three tracks.

The album follows on the heels of the CHAOTIC RESEMBLANCE 2014 debut full length Get The Hell Out and EP releases Battle Lines and Chaotic Resemblance from 2013 and 2012, respectively.

CHAOTIC RESEMBLANCE notes in its press material that Covenant is “packed with hard rocking, foot stomping, mosh pitting, double kick, rat-tat-tatting, face melting rock n’ roll.  We also have a few rhythm driving, guitar chugging, mid-tempo songs that we know you’re going to love.  There is also a few melodic gems that will blow you away.  If VAN HALEN can have keyboards on a few songs, CHAOTIC RESEMBLENACE can too.  Every band needs to have a ballad and ours is a worship song to “Jesus the King.”

CHAOTIC RESEMBLANCE, drawing its moniker from Isaiah 40:18 (To whom then will ye liken God? Or what likeness will you compare unto him?), believes that “No matter how good of Christians we are, we would never be more than a ‘chaotic resemblance’ of Christ”.  Hence, the bands motives to “shine the light of Jesus to a hurting world” and corresponding willingness as “sold out Christians devoted to Jesus” to “play anywhere from a bar to a church”.  The groups press material sums things up best: “Today's world is full of so much hate, lies & deceit. We offer love and hope through rock 'n roll.”

Covenant track listing:

1. “Only The Start”
2. “Chaotic Nights”
3. “Tongues Of Fire”
4. “Virtual Reality”
5. “Riot Anthem”
6. “Out Loud”
7. “Jesus Is King”
8. “Covenant”
9. “Aliens And Strangers”
10. “The Mark”
11. “Sound Of The Saints”

CHAOTIC RESEMBLANCE online: www.chaoticresemblance.com & www.facebook.com/ChaoticResemblance

New Album Update From DENY THE FALLEN:
DENY THE FALLEN, the new band to feature SACRED WARRIOR vocalist Rey Parra, provided a recent update in regards to its upcoming debut album Symptoms Of Eternity, which is scheduled for release on September 1, 2018.

As noted by guitarist Jonathan Johnson (Facebook - July 23, 2018:

“The interest and excitement for the release of our debut album Symptoms Of Eternity is such a blessing to us! Your support and encouragement are vital to us.

“As many of you know, we we're hoping to release the album by July 1st. There have been some delays and obstacles come up, however, that were totally unforeseen. I had a death in the family, and I also had to unexpectedly move all in the same month. Not to mention the last minute preparation for the Audiofeed Music Festival amongst several other things that threw us off our recording schedule.

“One of the biggest issues was also working in some of our amazing guests that are appearing on the record. Some of which had to honor their contracts to wait until after July to release any music. So that being said we can finally announce one more of our friends that recorded with us on a song.

“The legend himself, Oz Fox from STRYPER recorded the lead guitars on our single "Hands For War" with us! This was a dream come true for me, as he was my inspiration for playing guitar as a kid! So we are working hard to finish up the last of the recording.

“We are seeing the finish line! We really feel like we've been blessed with something very special. Please pray for us as we finish up the last of this album. We will keep you posted on our final release date. Thanks for your prayers and patience.”

The group offers further details (Facebook - July 28, 2018):

“We're excited to be in the closing stretch of completing the album. We actually have the song order in place. We will also be posting the lyrics to the songs here on our page as previews over the coming days.  Jon (Johnson) is finishing recording guitar solos and some additional guitar tracking. We will then have a few vocal recording sessions to do before the final mixing starts. This record is surpassing our wildest dreams and expectations. We are doing our due diligence to get it right and make the strongest statement lyrically and musically that we can!”

According to its press material, the goal of DENY THE FALLEN is ‘to make a record that is powerful from beginning to end, both musically and lyrically.’  The group furthermore wants to ‘develop a modern metal sound that incorporates all aspects and era's of metal. A powerful modern production and sound that pays homage to all era's and styles of metal. It doesn't sound "old school metal" as well as it doesn't sound "Nu metal". It's something else both classic and modern. It is heavy metal.’

In addition to Parra and Johnson, the DENY THE FALLEN line up also features bassist Erik Kyr and drummer Josh Johnson.

Symptoms Of Eternity track listing:

1. “Oblivion”
2. “Mortem Amici (Friendship Dies)”
3. “Hands For War” (featuring Oz Fox)
4. “Symptoms Of Eternity”
5. “Predator”
6. “Murder Machine”
7. “Razin Kane” (theme song for Monster Jam truck- Razin Kane)
8. “Shelter”
9. “Rise”
10. “Burning The World”
11. “Death Rattle” (featuring Jimmy P. Brown II)
12. “Mortem Amici (Friendship Dies)” (bonus version featuring Dale Thompson)

DENY THE FALLEN previously uploaded a lyric vide to the track “Hands For War”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHSIIziSgcQ

DENY THE FALLEN online: www.facebook.com/Denythefallenband

DREAM PATROL Debut “Get Back Home” Lyric Video:
International hard rock act DREAM PATROL premiered earlier this week a lyric video to the track “Get Back Home”.  The song comes off the group’s debut full-length album Phantoms Of The Past, which is schedule for release via Scandinavian label Mighty Music on September 21, 2018.

Founded in 2016 by Slovakian bassist Ronnie König (SIGNUM REGIS) but also featuring members from the United States, Austria and the Czech Republic, DREAM PATROL draws its name from the 80s horror movie A Nightmare on Elm Street, in which a demon-like creature would attack you while you were sleeping. With DREAM PATROL, however, you shall fear no more. It is a special office of combat against mind-invaders, working for you overtime, whenever you put on your headphones and start daydreaming.

The band started recording the debut album in 2016.  Timekeeper Radim Večeřa recorded all drum tracks during a 2-day studio session in the summer of 2016 in Senec, Slovakia. Ronnie started recording his bass parts shortly thereafter. The first three songs recorded by guitarist Filip Koluš (SIGNUM REGIS) are “Dream Patrol”, “Get Back Home” and “Playing With Fire”. The three were used to audition lead vocalists, which led the group to talented front man Eli Prinsen (THE SACRIFICED).

With its line up finalized, the band has been recording one song after the other. In the spring of 2018, demos were sent and several offers were received from labels in Europe and the United States.  DREAM PATROL decided to sign a deal with Scandinavian premier rock / metal label Mighty Music.

The group previously released a video to the track “Dream Patrol”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofSy2mwCyS0

DREAM PATROL line up:

Eli Prinsen - Lead & Backing Vocals
Filip Koluš - Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Acoustic Guitars &  Banjo
Libor Křivák - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Ronnie König - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals & Programming
Radim Večeřa - Drums

Phantoms Of The Past track listing:

1. “Dream Patrol”
2. “Get Back Home”
3. “Tattooed Millionaire From Panama”
4. “The Shortest Straw”
5. “Phantoms Of The Past”
6. “Lost Child”
7. “Stand Up And Fight”
8. “Time Is A Healer”
9. “Piece Of Paradise”
10. “Is That The Thanks I Get”
11. “Playing With Fire”
12. “Haunted Tower”

DREAM PATROL online https://dreampatrol.net & www.facebook.com/DreamPatrol

NEWS BRIEFS

* Christian metal and hard rock veterans BRIDE released on July 21, 2018 a video for the track “Laughter Of It All: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqT65lqih3Y

The song comes off the group’s upcoming (August 21, 2018 release) album Snake Eyes, which it promises to be a return to the sound and form of its iconic 1992 release Snakes In The Playground.

* LORDCHAIN update from guitarist Kelly Matthews (Facebook - July 24, 2018):

“After we released our first praise EP For The Love Of God on our Bandcamp site (which is still there & still free), I knew I wanted to do more praise albums in the future and make them all free for you to download. As you all know, we are going to release a new full length, heavy LORDCHAIN album next, but I have kept my ears open for possible songs to cover on future praise albums.

“I heard a song from Neal Morse called "Pierce My Heart" and I just knew we could do a killer version of it on a LORDCHAIN praise album. So I contacted Neal through his website (like 2 months ago) and today I got the okay from Neal himself for LORDCHAIN to record the song. It's from the album Songs From The Highway and it's just Neal & his acoustic guitar. I'm sure we'll give it the full band treatment. For me, this is very exciting. I'm a huge Neal Morse fan & to record one of his songs is an honor.”

For The Love Of God and other LORDCHAIN albums are available for download at: https://lordchain.bandcamp.com

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

IMPELLITTERI, Nature Of The Beast Details Revealed:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net:

Frontiers Music Srl will release IMPELLITTERI's brand new studio album, The Nature Of The Beast, on October 12, 2018.  Earlier this week the band unveiled a new song from the album, "Run For Your Life". Hear it above.

30 years into their musical career, IMPELLITTERI have created a mind-blowing, highly energetic and thrilling new musical adventure with The Nature Of The Beast. The band is on fire with their musical acrobatics, addictive riffs, shredding guitar solos, speed metal drumming, and screaming power metal vocals that are all ingredients in these killer songs!

Like many of their talented peers, IMPELLITTERI continue to carry the torch for guitar driven heavy metal. On The Nature Of The Beast, the band shines throughout, especially on songs like the power metal driven "Run For Your Life", the highly energetic remake of BLACK SABBATH's "Symptom Of The Universe", the lunacy of "Gates Of Hell", the addictive riff of "Hypocrisy", and the speed metal cover of "Phantom Of The Opera".

"The new music was written with passion and a sincere love for heavy metal," tells Chris Impellitteri. "I think as a band we grow stronger with each new album. Our artistic abilities seem to get better with age, but at the same time we seem to sound even more energetic, crazy, and youthful with this release. You could say the music on this newest musical child is an extension of our previous record, Venom. I love the Venom record, but I am currently obsessed by The Nature Of The Beast. We are thrilled to share this new music with our FANS and friends around the world and I really hope they like it!"

IMPELLITTERI recorded The Nature Of The Beast in Los Angeles, California with legendary engineer/producer Mike Plotnikoff (VAN HALEN, AEROSMITH, IN FLAMES), mix engineer Greg Reely (OVERKILL, FEAR FACTORY), and engineers Jun Murakawa and Sean Shannon.

Like their childhood musical heroes, including Vivaldi, IRON MAIDEN, QUEEN, BLACK SABBATH, Al DiMeola, Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin and Pavarotti, IMPELLITTERI strive for greatness = creating, performing and recording this new music with all four band members, Chris Impellitteri (guitars), Rob Rock (vocals), James Pulli (bass), and Jon Dette (drums) contributing stellar performances. The album was recorded in a grand fashion using large tracking rooms and vintage analog equipment to capture the bands live musical energy and performance.

"As a guitarist, I challenge myself to conquer my human limitations," continues Chris. "I practice for hours each day to improve my technique. I also spend a lot of time customizing my guitars, amps, and pedals to achieve this crazy guitar sound. On this new record, my guitar sound is really me trying to create a tone that sounds a bit like a chainsaw blended with a beautiful Stradivarius violin. It is Beauty and the Beast with lots of pick attack! The guitar solos have lots of technical shredding elements, but at the same time they are very melodic and I think fun for everyone to listen too. The riffs are also exciting for me to play as there is a lot of obvious influences that I brought to this new record."

The band will head out in support of the album, with dates to be announced in the coming months.

The Nature Of The Beast track listing:

1. "Hypocrisy"
2. "Masquerade"
3. "Run For Your Life"
4. "Phantom Of The Opera"
5. "Gates Of Hell"
6. "Wonder World"
7. "Man Of War"
8. "Symptom Of The Universe"
9. "Do You Think I’m Mad"
10. "Fire It Up"
11. "Kill The Beast"
12. "Shine On"

IMPELLITTERI lineup:

Rob Rock - Vocals
Chris Impellitteri - Guitar
James Pulli - Bass
Jon Dette - Drums

Frontiers SRL online: www.frontiers.it/index.php & www.facebook.com/frontiersmusicsrl

NEWS BRIEFS

* Heaven’s Metal online interview with Jimmy P. Brown II: http://dougvanpelt.wixsite.com/heavens-metal-mag/single-post/2018/07/17/Jimmy-P-Brown-Is-Eraserhead

* Details from vocalist Jenny Stokes in regards to next EVANS & STOKES album:

“Yes, we have started work on our third album. It started out as a concept album telling the story of the Exodus (leading on from Valley of the Kings), but somewhere along the way, we changed direction and decided to do something more lyrically varied. Instead, we are tackling The Exodus story in an intricate 12-minute track, and placing it alongside a collection of stand-alone songs with Christian themes.

“This album is more progressive than Valley of the Kings, and, as always, the overall sound will be a mix of light and dark and soft and heavy with songs that take hard turns, where a soft clean melody can be turned on its head by heavy drums and distorted guitar riffs. As with our previous albums, we will explore a varied sound scape, mixing gothic, thrash, doom, and progressive sounds into a hard rock/metal stew. We don't, as yet, have a release date, but it will be 2018.”

A sample of a song of entitled “Disciple” off the upcoming album can be streamed at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKKPn2_T0dA

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

Guitarist KIKIS APOSTOLOU Announces Debut Solo Album, Phases Of Time:
Press Release / KIKIS A. APOSTOLOU , a passionate hard rock/metal guitarist and composer for over 30 years from Nicosia, Cyprus, has contributed significantly to a number of bands and projects, including scene veterans ARMAGEDDON REV.16:16 as well as ARRAYAN PATH and CHAINSHEART, among many others.

2018 finds him taking a more personal path where he is now able to present his first solo album as a self-release. Titled Phases Of Time, the album is a journey through APOSTOLOU’s musical experiences as well as his charismatic guitar playing. His musical influences are clearly evident throughout the album, from classic, progressive and hard rock to heavy and even power metal.

Call him a virtuoso, a master, a shredder, or other, he is all that and so much more! Above all, APOSTOLOU’s music is honest and passionate. All it takes is one simple listen and any hard rock/metal fan will immediately be convinced of his abilities and strong musicianship!

Phases Of Time includes a total of 11 tracks, 6 instrumental and 5 songs each featuring a different vocalist, everyone extremely unique, talented and well-known and respected. The album also features some superb keyboard work by long-time friend Bob Katsionis (FIREWIND, OUTLOUD).

Phases Of Time is out on July 27th on CD and Digital, and two tracks are already available for streaming and free download at: https://soundcloud.com/kikis-a-apostolou

Phases Of Time track listing:

1. “Under Confusion”
2. “Shadows Of An Angel's Wings”
3. “Armies Of The Cheruvim - featuring Nicholas Leptos (ARRAYAN PATH, WARLORD)
4. “Full Moon In Spain”
5. “Living In A Carton Tent” - featuring Jimmy Mavromatis (ARMAGEDDON REV.16:16, MIRROR)
6. “Heaven Wish”
7. “Down On My Knees” - Andreas Papamichalopoulos
8. “Through Laughter And Cries” - Tania Kikidi
9. “Black Orpheus” (CD bonus track)
10. “Point Of No Return” - featuring Pavlos Gregoras
11. “Ending Theme”

KIKIS APOSTOLOU online: www.facebook.com/kikisapostolouphases & https://kikisapostolou.bandcamp.com

IMPELLITTERI Reveal Cover Art & Track Listing To New Album, The Nature Of The Beast:
The 11th studio album from IMPELLITTERI, The Nature Of The Beast, is scheduled for release on October 12, 2018 via Frontiers Music SRL.  According to the label, further details and the first single are coming soon.

The Nature Of The Beast includes 10 new songs and 2 covers, including BLACK SABBATH’s “Symptom Of The Universe” and ANDREW LLOYD WEBER’S “The Phantom Of The Opera”.

The Nature Of The Beast track listing:

1. "Hypocrisy"
2. "Masquerade"
3. "Run For Your Life"
4. "Phantom Of The Opera"
5. "Gates Of Hell"
6. "Wonder World"
7. "Man Of War"
8. "Symptom Of The Universe"
9. "Do You Think I’m Mad"
10. "Fire It Up"
11. "Kill The Beast"
12. "Shine On"

Frontiers SRL online: www.frontiers.it/index.php & www.facebook.com/frontiersmusicsrl

WYTCH HAZEL Streaming New Song, “The Devil Is Here”:
Lancaster, UK based classic hard rock act WYTCH HAZEL debuted at Bandcamp (link below) this past week a new song entitled “The Devil Is Here”.  The song comes off the group’s sophomore album II: Sojourn, which saw release via Bad Omen Records on July 13, 2018.

II: Sojourn follows on the heels of the WYTCH HAZEL (and 85% Angelic Warlord reviewed) spring of 2016 debut full length Prelude (also Bad Omen).

According to guitarist, songwriting and founding member Colin Hendra, II: Sojourn is “a concept album, but not in the traditional sense.  It’s quite strongly themed: side A is ‘The Plight’ and side B is ‘The Victory’. It goes from negative subject matter to something far more lifted, almost yin and yang really. Sides A and B are different works, but they’re meant to be together; the light highlights the dark.”

Hendra further comments: “I spent hours and hours painstakingly deliberating about how I wanted each track to flow into the next, shuffling the tracks (and) working out how to organize it, the idea of the two sides, of yin and yang and the progression of light overcoming the darkness. I probably put too much stress into it, blood, sweat, tears and everything! But if I’m going to do this, I want to do it properly. I might as well not do it unless I’m going to give it one hundred percent.”

In terms of the albums musical inspirations, Hendra adds, “I was listening to plenty of JUDAS PRIEST, THIN LIZZY and WISHBONE ASH last year.  This seems to be more of a hard rock album, where the last one was more rock-folk. It’s definitely more rock than folk!”

Similar to Prelude, the group’s faith continues to manifest in terms of its lyrics themes, as found in the Biblical inspiration behind the Sojourn title: “It’s used a lot in the Old Testament, people would travel somewhere to stay for a short period of time,” explains Hendra.  Likewise, “The Devil Is Here” refrains speaks of how ‘the Devil is here, and he wants to bring you down’.

“The Devil Is Here” can be streamed at: https://wytchhazel.bandcamp.com/track/the-devil-is-here

WYTCH HAZEL previously uploaded to YouTube the song “Save My Life”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR6I3Z1-1Uc

II: Sojourn track listing:

1. “The Devil Is Here”
2. “Save My Life”
3. “Still We Fight”
4. “Wait On The Wind”
5. “See My Demons”
6. “Barrow Hill”
7. “Chorale”
8. “Slaves To Righteousness”
9. “Victory”
10. “Angel Take Me”

II: Sojournis available for purchase at: http://sojourn.bad-omen-records.com

WYTCH HAZEL online: www.facebook.com/wytchhazel

NEWS BRIEFS

* New album on the way from TRYTAN, Blood Of Kings (Facebook - June 22, 2018):

“The new Trytan album Blood Of Kings is rolling along. Working on it every day! Lyrics, arrangements, praying on & writing/refining lyrics, melodies, developing sounds & instrumentation, plus a lot more. Pre-production is in full swing. Been doing R & D the past few days for the Kickstarter campaign, which is coming soon. The producer, drummer & keyboardist are confirmed!  Here’s a clue, they are all the same person!  The bassist and guest artists are all in the works & coming together.

“We’re hoping to launch the Kickstarer campaign, release the proposed track list & band roster soon.”

ARTIST COMMENTARY

TRYTAN in regards to its 1990 sophomore album Sylentiger (Facebook - June 25, 2018):

“Sylentiger was an attempt to help people see the Lord in a fresh, new & powerful way. So many of us that were raised in dead religion and cultural Christianity are needing to see God as He really is. Not bogged down with the perceptions of man. To truly see the God of the Bible. We thought the concept of the Lord being a ‘silent tiger’ would activate genuine awareness and revelation for people who were searching. He was silent before his accusers as a Lamb before it’s sheerer and yet, at the same time He is fierce like a tiger in his pursuit of lost souls.

“Sylentiger was a bitter sweet accomplishment. Scotty (Blackman – drums) had moved on to take care of his family after the dangerously early birth of their first son Kyle. Which we totally understood and celebrated. That opened the door for Jimmy Dobbs to come on board and he did an awesome job. We were wanting to have a more straight ahead, pocket metal type of sound at that point, and Jim totally hit the spot. Thanks to the amazing brilliance and talent of Steve Robinson (bass) we were able to sequence over half the album with incredible synth sounds, samples and layers and layers of symphonic sounds.

“We did a lot of shows in the Midwest with our dear friends Shadow Wings from Minneapolis. We had a lot of fun, sharing Jesus and cruising around the country with those guys. We developed a new expression for us which might be called “story - metal” within the context of somewhat of a concept album, with songs like “Deadly Masquerade”, “Beyond The Night”, “Make Your Move”, “Playin With Fire” & “Here To Stay”. I’m so thankful we got to do this album and do it with Jerome Mikulich and Joe Bader at the Playroom recording studios in Matteson, Illinois. Thankfully the Lord really used this album to touch & change lives. John 12:32”

 

METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS

CHOIRS OF VERITIS Debut “Thank You” Official Video:
Italian symphonic power metal band CHOIRS OF VERITIS has premiered a lyric video for the track “Thank You”, which comes off its debut full length I Am The Way, The Truth And The Life released March 27, 2017 via Underground Symphony Records.

Further commentary from the group regarding the song:

“Thank you God for everything You give to us, for all we attribute as good and for all we attribute as evil in our life.  Because where we make mistakes, You correct them; because when we fall, You help us to get up; and because You never abandon us.  Thank You because our life is not as we would like often, but through Your will we can reach the aim of life You fixed for each of us.

“The purpose of this song is to communicate an encouragement to be grateful to God because nothing is ours by right in this world, but everything we have is allowed to us by Him.”

CHOIRS OF VERITIS is a Christian Metal project that literally means “Choirs Of Truth”, to symbolize the union between music and spiritual truth attributable to Jesus Christ.  The brainchild of keyboardist and composer Davide Scuten, CHOIRS OF VERITIS seeks to unite the love of God and metal music, while offering thanks to God for the wonderful gift of music.  According to the group, lyrics draw inspiration from the Holy Bible with the goal of understanding God’s message through His Word.

I Am The Way, The Truth And The Life was mixed and mastered by Larsen Premoli at Rec Lab Studios, while cover art and mini booklet attributes to Mattias Norén, whom has previously worked with KAMELOT, EPICA, SABATON & EVERGREY.

CHOIRS OF VERITIS is certain to appeal to fans of THEOCRACY, STRATOVARIUS, NIGHTWISH and SONATA ARCTICA.

I Am The Way, The Truth And The Life track listing:

1. “God First”
2. “Ask Him”
3. “The Searching”
4. “Thank You”
5. “Vanitas Vanitatum”
6. “Miracles”
7. “Religiosity”
8. I Am The Way, Tthe Truth And The Life”
9. “A New Commandment”
10. “The Passion And The Cross”
11. “He Has Come to Forgive”
12. “Grace” (MEHIDA cover)

CHOIRS OF VERITIS online: www.facebook.com/ChoirsOfVeritas

NEWS BRIEFS

* House Of Finn online interview with Luke Easter: http://houseofinn.blogspot.com/2018/06/interview-with-luke-easter.html