METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
WEAPONS OF GOD Release “Give ‘Em Jesus” Single:
Press Release / WEAPONS OF GOD announce their return, bringing a new set of Jesus Metal songs to fans with its September of 2021 Roxx Records sophomore album, The War Within US. The album comes out on the heels of its 2019 self-titled debut full length (also Roxx).
On December 17, 2021, the group released the third single from the album, “Give ‘Em Jesus”, which premiered exclusively on Roxx Records and WEAPONS OF GOD channels on YouTube. A video to the song can be streamed above.
Consisting of guitarists and vocalists Steve McGowan and Leon Black, bassist Ed Girard and drummer Greg Alan, WEAPON OF GOD frequently plays regionally in addition to leading Worship at the First Heavy Metal Church of Christ in Dayton, Ohio
WEAPONS OF GOD recorded The The War Within US in Dayton with Engineer, Ron Pease at The Refraze Studio. Pease has worked with other bands in the past such as THE GOO GOO DOLLS, NELSON and ex MEGADETH guitarist Jeff Young.
The War Within US is composed of ten new tracks including: a heavy, crushing, instrumental song to kick off the CD, “Deep Wordless Knowledge", the blistering, southern, dirty metal song, “Give 'Em Jesus", the chaotic, driven force of "Isolate", and the powerful but mellow song, "I Am with You". Completing the CD are two bonus track re-recordings from the debut CD Weapons Of God: "Anger" and "Weapons of God".
And, while each song varies in tone, the songs are all originals and circle back to one universal theme. The War Within US is about the war and destruction of the world, the war within our country and the war within our minds. Hence, the "US" is capitalized in the title for the United States and for each of US for the personal and daily fight against the spiritual warfare of evil and its temptations, and the rise and outcome in the end for the need of our Savior.
Roxx Records online: www.roxxrecords.com & www.facebook.com/RoxxRecords777
WEAPONS OF GOD online: www.weaponsofgodmusic.com & www.facebook.com/WeaponsOfGodBand
STRYPER Announced May 2022 U.S. Tour:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net:
Openly Christian rockers STRYPER will embark on a U.S. tour in May 2022. The trek will include a stop at the M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, where they will be joined by SKID ROW and TESLA, among many others.
"We are so excited about touring again," said STRYPER front man Michael Sweet. "We'll be touring heavily in 2022 and hope to see you all. Here's our first round of tour dates. More coming soon but if you live near one of these cities, grab tickets now. Love you all and can't wait to see you in person next year."
STRYPER tour dates:
May 05 - Derry, NH - Tupelo Music Hall
May 07 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Casino
May 08 - Columbia, MD - M3 Rock Festival
May 10 - Vineland, NJ - Landis Theater
May 12 - Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
May 13 - Charlotte, NC - Amos Southend Music Hall
May 17 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue
May 19 - Saint Peters, MO - Diamond Music Hall
May 21 - Destin, FL - Lucille's Music Hall
May 27 - Fort Myers, FL - The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon
May 28 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
Last March, STRYPER and Frontiers Music Srl announced that they have extended their working relationship for the release of more new studio albums together.
STRYPER and Frontiers originally joined forces in 2013 for the release of Second Coming, an album comprised of new recordings of 14 songs from the band's early years, as well as two brand new songs. What followed has been a string of critically and commercially successful studio albums, including No More Hell To Pay (2013), Fallen (2015), God Damn Evil (2018) and Even The Devil Believes (2020). Additionally, a live album and long-form video, Live At The Whisky (2014) was made available. Every one of the albums released on Frontiers in the past eight years has successfully charted on the Billboard 200 chart and topped the Hot 100, Rock, Hard Rock, Current and Christian Music album charts.
STRYPER is one of the most well-known metal bands to emerge from the fertile '80s metal renaissance over three decades ago. The band first landed on the global scene in 1984 and is responsible for such classic '80s metal albums as Soldiers Under Command, To Hell With The Devil and In God We Trust and hit singles/videos such as "Calling On You", "Free" and "Honestly". To date, the band has sold upwards of eight million records worldwide and is a Dove Award winner and Grammy nominee. STRYPER was also the first band to have two songs in MTV's "Top 10 Video Countdown" simultaneously.
After being on a hiatus for much of the '90s, STRYPER returned stronger than ever in the early 21st century. Musically, the band has progressed and grown their fan base steadily and continuously, being one of the few "classic" metal bands of the '80s that managed to keep themselves front and center thanks to the consistency of their musical output.
Michael is joined in STRYPER by his brother Robert Sweet (drums), Oz Fox (guitars) and Perry Richardson (bass).
FRONTIERS SRL online: www.frontiers.it/index.php & www.facebook.com/frontiersmusicsrl
STRYPER online: www.stryper.com & www.facebook.com/Stryper
NEWS BRIEFS
* Brazilian melodic power metal act AURYAH recently released a lyric video to the song “Looking For Salvation”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJKBywmyzHM
AURYAH online: www.facebook.com/AuryahOfficial
* “Gloria”, official music video from FLAMES OF FIRE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_ABTH1cdlg
The FLAMES OF FIRE self-titled debut, of which “Gloria” will appear, is scheduled for release via Melodic Passion Records on March 19, 2022.
FLAMES OF FIRE online: https://melodicpassion.com/artists/flames-of-fire & www.facebook.com/flamesoffireofficial
* “Kingdom Will Come”, debut single from TESTIMONIUM: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX2l823YMm0
The song was released on all digital platforms May 24, 2021.
TESTIMONIUM online: www.facebook.com/WordOfTestimonium
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
“Creep”, Fourth Single Off New THE BRAVE Album, Evie’s Little Garden:
THE BRAVE is an American rock band hailing from the greater Los Angeles Area in Southern California, namely Lancaster. Originally signed to Pakaderm/Word Records in the early 90's, the band released two critically acclaimed albums (Battle Cries and Trust) under the Grammy award winning production of John and Dino Elefante, which yielded 7+ Top 10 CCM singles. The original lineup consisted of Stayce Roberts and Freddy Tierra on dual guitars, Randy Roberts on drums, Malcolm Paris on bass, and James Salters on vocals. THE BRAVE produced a huge arena rock sound, laden with fiery guitars and Def Leppard type harmonies rich in melody and attitude. Their debut album, Battle Cries, was mixed by none other than Neil Kernon (of DOKKEN and QUEENSRYCHE fame), and together THE BRAVE became a crowd and radio favorite.
After surviving their first personnel changes, the band found themselves searching for a new singer for their next album (STRYPER's Oz Fox was even considered); up to the plate stepped drummer Randy Roberts. Though more bluesy in style, Trust solidified THE BRAVE as a serious contender, specifically as the entire music landscape changed before their eyes when groups like SOUNDGARDEN and ALICE IN CHAINS began to turn the tides musically. While some fans did not embrace the changes, a whole new group of listeners emerged, as well as new bassist Steve Irwin and drummer John Spittle. The band continued in its evolution and was just hitting its stride when their label, Pakaderm picked up and left for Nashville, and the group disbanded.
Sadly, THE BRAVE lost singer/drummer Randy Roberts in 2007. In tribute to their fallen brother, remaining members Stayce Roberts, Freddy Tierra, Steve Irwin, and other friends put on a concert in his name, and certainly, his presence was felt. In fact, it was this very event that caused the members to stir, and even consider reforming and working on something new. 20 years after the release of the Trust record, THE BRAVE emerged with Rise, a 12 song collection of new material and re-recorded THE BRAVE classics. Rise featured the musical talents of Stayce Roberts on guitars, THE BRAVE -alumni Malcolm Paris and Steve Irwin on bass, on long time comrade Johnny Zimmerman on drums. Arguably, the greatest addition to the band was lead vocalist, Amanda Z. Her stellar vocal performances took THE BRAVE 's music to new heights onthe powerful release. As the music fates would have it, this band was short lived.
That brings us to 2021, and THE BRAVE released on July 27, 2021 their first full-length album of new, original material since 1994. The album is called, Evie's Little Garden, and it features 12 brand new tunes penned by longtime THE BRAVE songwriter Stayce Roberts. Roberts' last addition to THE BRAVE lineage of killer tunes were 2014's, “Tell Me Now”, “The Killing Floor”, “Somebody”, “Wither Me” and “I'm Your Reason”, from the 2014 release, Rise. Time will tell if history will remember these new songs as some of their finest.
On December 6, 2021, THE BRAVE released the fourth single from the album, “Creep”, which is available for streaming above.
A video to debut single “I’ve Always Wondered” is also available: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNcbRguBCUc
Evie’s Little Garden track listing:
1. “Evie's Little Garden”
2. “Run to You”
3. “I've Always Wondered”
4. “We're Not in Kansas Anymore”
5. “Elevate Me”
6. “Creep”
7. “Lonely Bones”
8. “If I Told You”
9. “And We All Fall Down”
10. “Lucid”
11. “Come to Me” (CD & vinyl bonus track)
12. “Love: Automatic” (CD & vinyl bonus track)
THE BRAVE online: https://thebravemusic.com & www.facebook.com/thebravemusicsite
“The Prophet’s Sign”, Japan Bonus Track From Self-Titled THE WAYMAKER Debut Available For Streaming:
Melodic Passion Records released in September 25, 2020 the self-titled debut of THE WAYMAKER. The group features an all-star lineup consisting of Christian Liljegren (NARNIA, AUDIOVISION, DIVINEFIRE, GOLDEN RESURRECTION), Jani Stefanovic (SHAKIAH, SOLUTION 45, THE WEAKENING, MISERATION, DIVINEFIRE, ESSENCE OF SORROW, etc) and Katja Stefanovic.
The Japan bonus track to the album, “The Prophet’s Sign”, can be streamed above.
THE WAYMAKER was formed in summer of 2019 by vocalist Christian Liljegren & guitarist Jani Stefanovic. Jani & Christian were both involved in DIVINEFIRE, who did five studio albums between 2005-2011 and reached a huge popularity, especially in Japan & South America. THE WAYMAKER line-up was completed when the talented and soulful Katja Stefanovic joined the band. Katja is a very talented vocalist and composer and she has done several solo albums in Finnish and English.
The band delivers bombastic Scandinavian melodic metal with virtuous guitar playing and powerful male & female vocals from all members, as Christian, Katja & Jani share lead vocal duties in THE WAYMAKER. If you listen to the music you hear influences from YNGWIE MALMSTEEN’S RISING FORCES, STRATOVARIOUS, MASTERPLAN & KAMELOT.
THE WAYMAKER album was produced and mixed by Jani Stefanovic and mastered by Multi Grammy, Gold & Platinum Award winning Thomas Plec Johansson at Panic Room Studios, Sweden (SOILWORK, NOCTURNAL RITES, GATHERING OF KINGS, DIVINEFIRE, NARNIA, SOLUTION 45 and many more). Sound Pollution handles distribution.
THE WAYMAKER line up:
Jani Stefanovic - Guitars, Bass, Keyboards & Vocals
Katja Stefanovic - Lead & Backing Vocals
Christian Liljegren - Lead & Backing Vocals
Music video links:
“Kingdom Of Heaven” - https://youtu.be/hoYyYjmM37Y
“Soldiers Under Command” - https://youtu.be/-vQm4bkMTyg
“The Waymaker” - www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dTBnaHM5x8
Streaming link: https://orcd.co/the-waymaker-album
Social Media links: www.thewaymakerband.com, https://melodicpassion.com, www.facebook.com/TheWaymakerBand & www.instagram.com/the_waymaker_official
NEWS BRIEFS
* Upcoming JOHN ELEFANTE solo album, The Amazing Grace, will see release in March of 2022. As noted by the veteran vocalist (Facebook - December 6, 2021):
“We expected this record to come out much sooner but every time I make a record random obstacles seem to pop up as they did on this one! I hope when you hear it, it will be worth the wait. We’ll explain some of the back story into the making of this project upon release. Some very interesting occurrences took place in a different world I’ve never experienced in my lifetime. Yes my faith has been challenged but my KING still sits HIGH on the Throne. Love it or hate it, it is all I have to give for such a time as this...”
* FAITH HEAD recently released a new single, “In Between”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx2zOn2mG0U
The group offers further detail:
“Going to the other end of the musical spectrum from our last single "When the Dominos Fall" our new song "In Between" cuts deep both sonically and lyrically. Again, reflecting our current times, so many people across the planet are struggling with stress, doubt, pain and depression amidst the pandemic with no signs of relief on the horizon, how do we cope when we think there is no hope?”
Look for the song to appear on the forthcoming (untitled) FAITH HEAD album, which is scheduled for a 2022 release.
FAITH HEAD online: https://faithhead.com & www.facebook.com/FaithHeadBand
* “Warrior”, official lyrics video from Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany based symphonic power metal outfit TIMELESS RAGE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd99vU0yz68
The song is the first single from the upcoming debut album Untold set for a February 25, 2022 release on Metalapolis Records.
TIMELESS RAGE lineup:
Frank Breuninger - Lead Vocals
Anna Keil - Keyboards & Backing Vocals
Michael Benk - Guitar & Backing Vocals
Christian Pirch - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Matthias Dold - Bass, Backing Vocals
Klaus Buchfink - Drums
TIMELESS RAGE online: https://timeless-rage.de & www.facebook.com/timelessrageofficial
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
HUMAN CODE To Release Debut Album In Early 2022:
‘An incredible, eclectic mix of ultra-talented musicians from great metal bands, past and present’, HUMAN CODE is set to release its debut album (untitled at the time of this writing) in March of 2022. The group originally started under the moniker M24 but recently made the change to HUMAN CODE. As noted by guitarist George Ochoa:
“M24 has changed its name to HUMAN CODE. The reason is that there is a thug rapper in England using the name M24. We like this new name better anyway. It is more pertinent to our time. We will be a thought provoking / going against the grain type band. Let’s see how many feathers we can ruffle. Plenty of good people on this planet that WILL SEE OUR POINT OF VIEW. We plan to start a movement.”
HUMAN CODE lineup:
Michael Drive - Lead Vocals (BARREN CROSS, GALE FORCE)
George Ochoa - Guitars, Keyboards & Background Vocals (DELIVERANCE, WORLDVIEW)
Terry Russell - Drums (HOLY SOLDIER, NEON CROSS)
Todd Libby - Bass & Keyboards (WORLDVIEW, A STORY BEHIND)
Look for the group to release in January a video for the debut song “Socially Incorrect”, which will speak to what is happening in our world right now.
Further details from Ochoa:
“As some of you have liked the previous bands that we have been in, HUMAN CODE will not disappoint. We strive to keep a modern heavy rock sound but our initial musical influences will always show through. There will definitely be some musical departures from anything that any of us have ever done before. Some “mature” type music if you will. But still rocking”.
HUMAN CODE online: https://humancodemusic.com/home & www.facebook.com/humancodemusic
NEWS BRIEFS
* “Fairest Jesus”, new worshipful hard rock single from CHAOTIC RESEMBLANCE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj6UuzyuITA
* YouTube interview with JACOBS DREAM: www.youtube.com/watch?v=208L0LTtyME
FEATURED REVIEWS
BIOGENESIS - Rise Of The Phoenix
For its September of 2021 fourth album Rise Of The Phoenix on Retroactive Records, Biogenesis maintains the progressive themes while upping heaviness to record by far its most aggressive work to date, pinpointing the greater emphasis on thrash and extreme distinctions. Read Full Review >>
BRIDE - Show No Mercy (Retroactive re-issue)
Bride traces its origin to 1983 and Louisville, Kentucky when brothers Dale (vocals) and Troy (guitars) Thompson came together initially under the Matrix moniker. Read Full Review >>
BRIDE - Live To Die (Retroactive re-issue)
Similar to 1986 predecessor Show No Mercy (also Pure Metal), Live to Die maintains a straightforward metal trajectory, albeit a bit heavier and with more of bent towards speed metal and thrash. Read Full Review >>
BRIDE - Silence Is Madness (Retroactive re-issue)
Bride in my opinion put it all together on its 1989 third Pure Metal offering Silence Is Madness with a choice joining of guitar driven fortitude and unmistakable songwriting to draw upon all aspects of its first two albums. Read Full Review >>
DARKHORSE HERO - Mixtape Volume 2:Living For A Bigger Kingdom
Introduced in 2019 with the eighties influenced metal and hard rock of its independent self-titled debut full length, Darkhorse Hero carries over a similar musical aptitude on its October of 2021 second independent release Mixtape Volume 2: Living For A Bigger Kingdom. Read Full Review >>
THE THOMAS THOMPSON EARTH PROJECT - Systematic Brain Drain
Everything about the Roxx Records September of 2021 The Thomas Thompson Earthy Project third album Systematic Brain Drain improves on its predecessors. Read Full Review >>
WALES ROAD- Scratch That Dirty Neck
Scratch That Dirty Neck represents a true ‘what you see is what you get’ live experience from how Wales Road did not doctor it with any vocal or musical overdubs on the backend. Read Full Review >>
WEAPONS OF GOD - The War Within US
Weapons Of God has stepped up all aspects of its game with the September of 2021 release to its Roxx Records sophomore album The War Within US. Read Full Review >>
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
IMAGES OF EDEN Release “Animation In A Still World” Official Video:
Press Release / Veteran metal band IMAGES OF EDEN released on November 12, 2021 the official video to “Animation In A Still World”. The song comes off the groups Bill Metoyer produced fifth full length album Angel Born, which was released via Pavement Entertainment on March 26, 2021.
On “Animation In A Still World”, IMAGES OF EDEN is making a very bold statement about the current state of the world.
The group is currently on tour with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN. Full tour schedule and ticket links: https://imagesofeden.com/tour3.htm
IMAGES OF EDEN is a fearless concept band that brings together familiar, well-loved elements of metal and rock combined with their own unique vision, message and delivery. The result is a distinct musical hybrid that speaks directly to the struggles and tribulations of the listener.
Singer Gordon Tittsworth and drummer Steve Dorssom say, "In the midst of the most trying times the world has faced, Images of Eden’s Angel Born is a beacon of light in a dark world that anyone can relate to. The album is a universal message of hope and inspiration conveyed through real-life struggles of hardship and pain that we all face. These inspired songs bring a real healing power to the soul and ignite all of the strength, passion and courage needed to face the harsh realities of the world today. It is said that 'music heals the soul’, but you can truly feel the change inside as the music speaks to you. This is the very comfort and resilience we all need right now!"
Angel Born track listing:
1. “Autumn Is Burning”
2. “Angel Born”
3. “My Promise”
4. “Where Dreams Begin”
5. “If?”
6. “Killing God”
7. Fight The Good Fight” (TRIUMP cover)
8. “War Room”
9. “Serenity Reign”
10. “Animation In A Still World”
11. “Marigold Sun”
12. “In Memory of Me”
The group’s previous album, Soulrise is also available on Pavement Entertainment. Visit the official IMAGES OF EDEN website for more details: www.imagesofeden.com
Online Store (releases & merchandise): www.imagesofeden.com/store.htm
IMAGES OF EDEN social media links:
Facebook- www.facebook.com/imagesofeden
MeWe- https://mewe.com/p/imagesofeden
Twitter- https://twitter.com/imagesofeden
Instagram- www.instagram.com/images_of_eden
YouTube- www.youtube.com/user/imagesofeden
SWEET & LYNCH, Only To Rise Green Vinyl Re-issue On Frontiers:
Album Release: December 17, 2021
SWEET & LYNCH is a brand new band centered around the talents of guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet of Christian hard rockers STRYPER and iconic guitarist George Lynch (LYNCH MOB, ex DOKKEN) along with bassist James Lomenzo (ex MEGADETH, WHITE LION, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Brian Tichy (ex WHITESNAKE).
“SWEET & LYNCH was born as the brainchild of Serafino Perugino, President of Frontiers Music”, recalls Sweet. “He asked me to basically sing on this record and then I suggested producing it and co-wrote the songs with George”, continues the singer. Brian Tichy and James Lomenzo were then called in to complete the lineup. Now a complete a band, plans are being formulated to rehearse and book a tour to play the music included on this amazing debut album Only To Rise to the fans in a live setting.
“It’s an incredible combination of classic 70’s and 80’s”, tells Michael Sweet. “You will hear some flavors of Journey, Bad Company, Dokken, Van Halen and Stryper. James and Brian are amazing musicians. They tore it up. The drums and bass are just as impressive as the guitars. Everybody really delivered... The musicianship level on this is top notch. It sounds as if we were all in the studio playing together and we were not. Basically, George wrote some riffs about a minute to a minute and a half long. I wrote lyrics and melodies then arranged them. Then Brian and James came out and tracked the drums and bass, as well as some rhythm stuff. We then sent it back to George to add the guitars.”
The combination of Sweet’s powerful, crystal clear vocals and Lynch’s unmatched guitar tone, provide the force and drive that the album needed. The result is truly a “state of the art” hard rock album, with fabulous melodies played to perfection.
An absolute must for all fans of Sweet and Lynch's musical stylings!
Only To Rise track listing:
Side A:
1. “The Wish”
2. “Dying Rose”
3. “Love Stays”
4. “Time Will Tell”
5. “Rescue Me”
6. “Me Without You”
Side B:
1. “Recover”
2. “Divine”
3. “September”
4. “Strength In Numbers”
5. “Hero-Zero”
6. “Only To Rise”
Only To Rise green vinyl pre-order: https://frontiers-us.shop/collections/vinyl/products/sweet-lynch-only-to-rise-lp
NEWS BRIEFS
* Video of three new songs from guitarist and vocalist Tommy Wales: “All Is Fair In Love + War”, “Don’t Pay Her No Mind” & “Burning Down The Woodland”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uD1IDI-jYM, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScBmyqaJ92o & www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qBL5Hnp1CM
Songs come off artist’s trilogy of acoustic rock albums, 50,000 Tears, All Is Fair In Love + War & Acoustic Shadows
ARTIST COMMENTARY
Former vocalist Chaz Bond in regards to the history of JACOBS DREAM (Facebook - November 23, 2021):
“Jacobs Dream originally formed in Columbus, Ohio in the late 1980s as Iron Angel. By the time their first demo was recorded, they had changed the name to Jacobs Dream. That same demo led to the band signing with Metal Blade Records. The self-titled debut album was released in 2000. It wasn't long before the band was quickly gaining a fan base especially in Europe where the band's genre is more prominent.
“I was introduced to (the group) in 2001 just as they were preparing to release their second album Theater Of War. My own band BioGenesis had just signed with Rowe Productions and the local label rep introduced us and the 2 bands began playing local shows together.
"Original vocalist David Taylor stepped down leaving fans shocked, as he was a major staple of the band's sound. Almost 2 years would pass with no announcement of a new vocalist. That was until they decided to contact me about trying out. I joined the band in 2004 and the 3rd album Drama Of The Ages was released in 2005 via Metal Blade Records. I'll never forget buying a copy at Best Buy. Yep. I did. My voice is quite different from that of Dave. So inevitably, there were those who wouldn't accept me, but there were also a lot of new fans who were joining the party.
“Following the Drama… album the Metal Blade contract was done (after 3 albums). The band had offers but chose to go the indie rout. The guys wanted to record, mix, master and produce their own albums going forward. The first was my second record with the band called Dominion Of Darkness in 2008.
“Just one year later I recorded my 3rd and final album as vocalist of Jacobs Dream called Beneath The Shadows. I was in my first music video and was able to perform in front of fans in Germany that same year. After that we parted ways and Kevin Wright became the 3rd vocalist of Jacobs Dream. Soon after the band's 6th studio album Sea Of Destiny was released.”
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
THEOCRACY, As The World Bleeds Vinyl Re-issues On Ulterium Records:
Album Release: December 3, 2021
Press Release / We are proud to announce two new vinyl editions of the classic THEOCRACY third album As The World Bleeds. The release date is set to December 3rd.
These are the new editions:
2LP White/Black marble vinyl + Blood Red vinyl - limited to 700 copies
2LP White vinyl - limited to 300 copies
Both vinyl editions include an A2 artwork poster!
The previous vinyl edition of the album has been sold out for a while and we constantly get requests about doing a re-press. Since As The World Bleeds turns 10 years old next month, we felt that the timing was perfect and that these new vinyl editions is a great way to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of this monster of an album!
As The World Bleeds vinyl track listing:
Side A:
1. “I AM”
2. “The Master Storyteller”
Side B:
1. “Nailed”
2. “Hide In The Fairytale”
3. “The Gift Of Music”
Side C:
1. “30 Pieces Of Silver”
2. “Drown”
3. “Altar To The Unknown God”
Side D:
1. “Light Of The World”
2. “As The World Bleeds”
THEOCRACY is a metal band from Athens, Ga., whose melodic style has more in common with their European contemporaries than with most of their U.S. counterparts. Characterized by huge choruses, epic arrangements and progressive elements, Theocracy’s music is both immediate and deep, managing to be instantly catchy and memorable, yet revealing new levels of intricacy and depth with each subsequent listen.
The self-titled debut album from THEOCRACY was released at the end of 2003 on Metal Ages Records, to fantastic reviews and worldwide acclaim within the metal community. After the release the band started playing shows (including the prestigious ProgPower USA) and working on new material. After years of hard work, THEOCRACY signed with Ulterium Records and released their second album Mirror Of Souls.
Mirror Of Souls was definitely a huge breakthrough for THEOCRACY and it received fantastic reviews from press around the world, and it was released in Europe, North America and Japan. The European live debut took place at the Elements of Rock festival in Switzerland 2009 in front of 500 crazy fans.
As The World Bleeds was mastered by Mika Jussila (NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIOUS, CHILDREN OF BODOM) and features artwork by Felipe Machado Franco (BLIND GUARDIAN, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, ICED EARTH).
As The World Bleeds white/black marble + blood red vinyl pre-order: https://ulteriumstore.com/collections/vinyl/products/theocracy-as-the-world-bleeds-2lp-white-black-marble-blood-red-vinyl-edition-pre-order
As The World Bleeds white vinyl edition pre-order: https://ulteriumstore.com/collections/vinyl/products/theocracy-as-the-world-bleeds-2lp-white-vinyl-edition
THEOCRACY online: www.theocracymusic.com & www.facebook.com/theocracyband
NLTM & Roxx Records Announce Holiday Sampler 2021:
Album Release: November 26, 2021
Press Release / We are Crazy! It is that time of year again, time to share our annual FREE holiday sampler.
This year we will be giving away or sampler FREE digitally to all people that purchase on Black Friday during our 12 hour sale from 6am to 6pm PST.
BUT the very fist 90 orders with a minimum $20 purchase will also receive a free limited edition version of the sampler on CD. But that's not all! Those first 90 orders will also receive an additional FREE CD courtesy of Roxx and Sovereign Cross
SOVEREING CROSS has donated 90 copies of their debut independently released CD to give to you as part of our Black Friday extravaganza!
Stay Tuned for full details on the sale as we get closer to Black Friday! Check out this track listing, which includes 3 previously unreleased tracks on CD.
2021 Roxx Records / NoLifeTilMetal Records Holiday Sampler track listing:
Roxx Records:
1. LAYTON & MARTIN – “O Holy Night”
2. FEAR NOT – “Struggle” (previously unreleased)
3. MOTIVK - “The Past Of Tomorrow”
4. WEAPONS OF GOD – “Decline”
5. THE THOMAS THOMPSON EARTH PROJECT – “Own Worst Enemy”
6. SWINGLE & THOMPSON ORDAINED - “Christ The Destroyer”
7. SOVEREIGN CROSS – “All Aboard”
8. HAUNTED NO MORE - “God Is Not Absent”
9. XL’S INNOVATION – “10 Years With You”
No Life Til Metl Records:
10. FROM THE RUINS – “Chaos”
11. MADROST – “Crypt Keeper”
12. BANSHEE - “The Madness”
13. GAMMACIDE – “Victims Of Science”
14. VINDICATOR – “Thrash & Destroy” (demo-lition)
15. IRON JAW – “Chain Of Command”
16. FINAL DECREE - “Mirror Mirror” (previously only available on 7”)
17. CHRIS MANNING - “Someday” (previously unreleased)
Roxx Records onlne: https://roxxrecords.com & www.facebook.com/RoxxRecords777
NEWS BRIEFS
* New instrumental hard rock video from ANGELICA, “WWIII”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsKL6rRw-3Y
Song comes from the group’s Girder Music 2019 fifth album Without Words.
* Kivel Records Announce ADRIANGALE double compilation album, Final Piece (Facebook - November 7, 2021):
“Well, the wait is over and the final piece is now in place- ADRIANGALE Final Piece (aka The Best Of).
“This is not just some typical band with a 10 song CD. NAY! This is a TWO CD Disc set of a beloved band with a 15-year career span and seven albums. It contains the band’s best material, along with some rarities and unreleased music. So being its double the music and double the fun.
“We decided to DOUBLE the record labels involved, as we have partnered with Eonian Records, and will be released in conjunction with them. All in order to bring the FINAL PIECE of this great band’s rock n roll puzzle to the Melodic Rock masses.”
ADRIANGALE, Final Piece (The Best Of):
• Containing over 28 Songs between both discs!
• 20 Page full color booklet of jammed pack photos!
• Album cover art by the great Nello Dell’Omo
* JOSHUA, Intense Defense re-issue has arrived. As noted by guitarist Joshua Perahia (Facebook - November 10, 2021):
“After a long, costly, & arduous battle with the POWERS THAT BE… this amazing, melodic ‘Super-album’ is here. The album that has won many awards & a place in my heart has been re-mastered, repaired artwork, new bass guitar added, & sonically improved. This was a magnificent album that RCA Records made the greatest accommodations for. Countless magazine articles spoke of it as The Greatest AOR album ever recorded.
“I know these songs will melt your hearts. Vocalist Rob Rock sang his heart out... as this album took many months in Koln, Germany to record with The Scorpions producer Dieter Dierks at the helm. The PRE-SALES will go out first (autographed) then the regular orders will follow. Since I have a LIMITED CREW, I ask our friends who ordered them a LONG TIME ago to be patient as they will be first to get their CD's with a little gift. I love you all and thank you for your patience.”
Intense Defense pre-order: www.joshuaperahia.com/product/intense-defense
* THEE FINAL CHAPTRE, “The Hallowed Hymn” official lyric video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2CKhW4_H-c
The song will be included on the upcoming album entitled So Let It Be Done. Further details from the group (Facebook - October 18, 2021):
“We've all waited a very long time to hear this album finished. The album is complete and we are just now finishing up the artwork and prepping it for distribution. After four long years, logistical nightmares, scheduling conflicts, and even a pandemic, we are very happy to present you with this completely re-recorded and re-produced version of the TFC classic “The Hallowed Hymn” which will also be included on the new album So Let It Be Done.”
“The Hallowed Hymn” was included as part of the groups 1991 WEI Records six song debut cassette release It Is Written, which was re-issued along with bonus material in 2016 on Divebomb Records."
FEATURED REVIEWS
STEVE POWELL - Revelation (The Party’s Over) (Retroactive re-issue)
The 1974 Wine Skin Records debut solo album of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Steve Powell, Revelation (The Party’s Over), is musically not that far removed from the self-titled debut full length of his main band Rainbow Promise released two years previous (also Wine Skin). Read Full Review >>
RAINBOW PROMISE - Rainbow Promise (Retroactive re-issue)
With its classic rock nuances, acoustic guitar inclining and psychedelic propensity, Rainbow Promise and its-self titled debut full-length screams retro 70’s rock. Read Full Review >>
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
FLAMES OF FIRE Sign With Melodic Passion Records For Self-Titled Debut Album:
Album Release: March 19, 2022
Press Release / FLAMES OF FIRE formed in spring of 2021 but traces to 1987 and its hometown of Jönköping, Sweden. Christian Liljegren and Mats-Åke Andersson met for the first time outside a burger chain called O’Briens. Christian was 16 at the time and front man of VENTUREAND, while Mats-Åke was 21 and guitarist and composer in legendary local band ZARAGON.
ZARAGON was active between 1984 and 1988 with a style influenced by RAINBOW, MSG, IRON MAIDEN and early EUROPE. They were close to a record deal but it fell through due to bad decisions and bad management. That said, ZARAGON did some fine recordings with Ragne & Styrbjörn Wahlqvist from HEAVY LOAD.
That meeting in 1987 had a great impact on both. It was the passion, fire and energy for the music, that really connected these hard rock & heavy metal lovers. Both watched the concerts in 1986-1987 with EUROPE and MADISON- two bands they both loved, as well as YNGWIE, MALMSTEEN’S RISING FORCE, MICHAEL SHCENKER, RITHCHIE BLACKMORE’S RAINBOW, IRON MAIDEN and ALCATRAZZ.
The meeting developed into a friendship that lasts until this day, even though the years went by and a lot happened along the way. Then 10 years later in 1997, Mats-Åke composed an intro that Christian’s new band NARNIA used for their first tour, promoting their debut album Awakening. NARNIA guitarist CJ Grimmark also helped Mats-Åke with some demos.
Every time Christian & Mats-Åke met, it was all about the musical fire, the passion and also the will to bring something more than the music. Long phone calls ended with a desire to do something together. Both still loved hard rock and heavy metal with soaring vocals and lots of twin guitars like IRON MAIDEN, THIN LIZZY. Mats-Åke had tons of ideas as did Christian.
Mats-Åke was amazed by the sound and production by Jani Stefanovic (SOLUTION .45, THE WAYMAKER and ex-DIVINEFIRE). So they asked Jani if he was willing to produce and co-wrote songs together with them, as he is a very talented songwriter, guitarist and drummer and also gifted arranging keyboards and strings.
To get the twin guitar sound, Christian suggested guitarist Stephen Carlson, who worked close with Christian on his solo album Melodic Passion as Stephenalso is a good co-writer. When searching for the right bass player, in the style Phil Lynnot and Steve Harris, they recruited Per Schelander (HOUSE OF SHAKIRA, ASTRAKHAN, ex ROYAL HUNT and PAIN OF SALVATION.
Christian came up with the band name FLAMES OF FIRE showing the passion they have as well as the spiritual dimension to it. Songs just came so naturally, and within 6-7 months they had material for several albums. Guitarist Stephen, who lives in Oppdal, Norway, recorded his parts in his studio. PerSchelander, who lives in Stockholm, tracked the bass parts there, and Christian recorded the vocals in Örebro,with NARNIA sound engineer, Viktor Stenqvist. Mats-Åke was also involved and along with Christian, heworked out the arrangements. Then Jani put everything together in his studio in Lahtis, Finland, where he lives. So it is all about explosive Scandinavian heavy metal.
FLAMES OF FIRE ’s first single and video, “Gloria”, ,is set for release December 17th, 2021. The song is an up-tempo song in the vein of classic heavy metal bands like IRON MAIDEN, STRYPER and CRIMSON GLORY. The album is planned to be released March 19th, 2022
Flames Of Fire pre-order: https://melodicpassion.com/produkt/flames-of-fire-s-t-cd
FLAMES OF FIRE online: https://melodicpassion.com/artists/flames-of-fire & www.facebook.com/flamesoffireofficial
NEWS BRIEFS
* New single from ARCLIGHT, “Fires Of Tension”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUGUg4FDICE
ARCLIGHT consists of:
Bryan Neal - Lead Vocals, Rhythm & Lead Guitars
Chris Hvezda - Bass Guitar & Keyboards
Dan & Aaron Lanning - Drums & Percussion
Hope Thompson - Vocals
Chris Thompson - Narration
* FEAR NOT new album update from Roxx Productions (Facebook - October 27, 2021):
“I have heard several mixes of new album tracks and this brand new album coming your way next year is going to smoke! We guarantee it is going to be a top release for 2022 on vinyl and CD. Stay tuned for lots more on that coming up early next year. Check out the first single ‘Struggle’ with almost 5,000 views already: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbrIubZNccQ
“If you're in Oklahoma you will want to head over to Faith Church this November for a LIVE appearance from FEAR NOT get all the details at: https://fb.me/e/1g6hfxe12
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
AFTERWINTER Signs With Roxx Records:
Roxx Records is excited to bring a brand new release, from a brand new band coming your way in late 2022, well sort of a new band anyway! AFTERWINTER is excited to be bringing you their debut release next fall. AFTERWINTER was formed from the disbanded BIOGENESIS line up that brought you two killer releases Black Widow and A Decadence Divine. If you loved those two BIOGENESIS releases as much as we did you are in for a killer treat of pure Christian Metal delight next year!
AFTERWINTER features the core band that created the music on both of those exceptional BIOGENESIS albums: James Riggs (rhythm guitar), Luke Nealeigh (lead guitar), Sam Nealeigh (keyboards), Dan Nealeigh (bass) and Eli Closson (drums). If you followed the band at the time, you may recall Majenica Nealeigh on the drums. Well, this time she steps up to the microphone to handle co-lead vocals on this classic symphonic metal masterpiece entitled Light Displaces Darkness. Out front with her on lead vocals is Jerry Grazioso of THIS BLESSED HATRED to round out the line up.
Last year if you were lucky enough to get one of our year-end holiday samplers you got your first taste of AFTERWINTER with the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA style Christmas tune “Under Fire”. (Side note we have a killer new holiday sampler in the works for this coming Black Friday).
To begin we are excited to share with you a lyric video to the brand new single “Light Displaces Darkness” (above).
To honor this killer new band and its upcoming release, we are going to be putting out a very limited 'one time only' 7” single from AFTERWINTER. This is to hold you over until the album releases next fall. This brand new limited edition single will feature “Light Displaces Darkness” on side A and “Under Fire” on side B. Stay tuned for release details in early 2022. This one is already in productions, but with a six-month lead time we are looking at a March. We won’t make you spend your money now, but get ready as we will put pre orders up in early 2022 prior to final completion and when the official release date can be determined.
Lastly, but certainly not least, we are stoked to share this exciting new 7” singe artwork designed by the one and only Scott Waters (NoLifeTIlMetal Graphics) with another killer design to add to his ever growing catalog of art.
Roxx Records online: https://roxxrecords.com & www.facebook.com/RoxxRecords777
DARKHORSE HERO Announce sophomore Album Mixtape Volume 2: Living For A Bigger Kingdom:
Album release: October 19, 2021
Eighties metal and hard rock project of vocalist and guitarist Andrew Gazaway announce the October of 2021 independent release to its sophomore album Mixtape Volume 2: Living For A Bigger Kingdom. Recorded in follow up to the St. Joseph, Missouri based groups 85% Angelic Warlord reviewed self-titled debut from 2019, Mixtape Volume 2 gives prominence to similar musical themes in highlighting catchy hooks and melodies, searing guitar solos and vocals of a soaring kind that range from classic tenor (somewhat akin to Michael Sweet) to gritty and mid-ranged (think Blackie Lawless).
Born a preachers son, Gazaway grew up heavily influenced by eighties Christian rock music, noting he was initially introduced to Petra (science fiction themed cover art to the debut gives it away) and later DeGarmo & Key, Daniel Band, Jerusalem and others. Lyrically, DARKHORSE HERO ‘is inspired by Christ and the purpose is to tell His story’. In the words of Gazaway: ‘I hope (they) encourage those who don't know Jesus to seek Him and those who do to continue fighting everyday for His Kingdom’.
Guest appearances include Miguel Vargas (on Piccolo) and Christian Liljegren (NARNIA, THE WAYMAKER). Gazaway handles bass, guitars and vocals, while drum programming and mixing/mastering attributes to Anthony Mallard (Octopus Audio). “Living For A Bigger Kingdom” mixed by Viktor Stenquist.
Mixtape Volume 2 track-listing:
1. “Morning Star” (featuring Miguel Vargas Piccolo)
2. “Storm The Keep
3. “The Wrath Of Shammah”
4. “Living For A Bigger Kingdom” (featuring Christian Liljegren)
5. “Crushing The Dragon:
6. “Darkhorse 2.0”
7. “Legend Of The Golden Charvel”
8. “Written In Stars”
9. “Fire Of God”
10. “Eat With The Pigs”
11. “The King With A Crown Of Thorns”
DARKHORSE HERO online: www.facebook.com/darkhorsehero2.0
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
DABSTER GENTLEMEN, Third Album The Sun Is Up on Roxx Records:
Album release: November 19, 2021
Press Release / DABSTER GENTLEMEN is another all star project featuring the talents of vocalist Dale Thompson (BRIDE) and brainchild Myles Barfield. DABSTER GENTLEMEN has released two full-length albums to date, including debut Death Or Life and sophomore release Answers. Coincidentally, Roxx Records also bought all the remaining copies of the bands debut independently released albums earlier this year. Search the store if you'd like to pick up one of those remaining copies while you still can.
Now get ready to set sail as Roxx Records is on board to bring you the bands third and best album yet The Sun Is Up, which once again featuring the vocal talents of Dale Thompson!
The Sun Is Up track listing: “The Sun Is Up”, “Bended Knees, “The Most Devout”, “Music Makes The World Go Around”, “I Find No Fault”, “A Moment To Reflect”, “Deeper”, “Hell Fire Monks”, “Topsy Turvey”, “Darkness Of God”, “Now I Fear God” “Night Fell”
The Sun Is Up pre-order: https://roxxrecords.com/collections/roxx-records/products/dabster-gentlemen-volume-ii-bride-dale-thompson-2021
DABSTER GENTLEMEN online: www.facebook.com/projectmissionbell
HAUNTED NO MORE, Sophomore Album Volume II On Roxx Records:
Album release: November 19, 2021
Press Release / HAUNTED NO MORE are another all star project featuring the talents of Dale Thompson (BRIDE) and brainchild Myles Barfield. HAUNTED NO MORE delivers a killer new rock and roll album for Roxx Records, their sophomore release this time around is Volume II and its about to rock your world. Coincidentally, Roxx Records also bought all the remaining copies of the bands debut independently released album Volume I earlier this year. Search the store if you'd like to pick up one of those remaining copies while you still can.
Volume II track listing: “When You Exhale”, “God Is Not Absent”, “Follow His Way”, “Music Box”, “We Love”, “As You See Me”, “Masterpiece”, “Taste And See”, “I'll Remember You”, “Leave No Stone”, “I'm The Size Of What I See”, “Do No Harm”
Volume II pre-order: https://roxxrecords.com/collections/roxx-records/products/sovereign-cross-bow-to-the-light-bride-dale-thompson-2021
HAUNTED NO MORE online: www.facebook.com/HauntedNoMore
SOVEREIGN CROSS, Sophomore Album Bow To The Light On Roxx Records:
Album release: November 19, 2021
Press Release / SOVEREIGN CROSS is the brainchild of Gary B Sullivan, who released the groups first album Rock In The Night which featured a plethora of well known musicians including Vinny Appice, Mark Boals and Phil Soussan to critical acclaim. Well, now the second incarnation of SOVEREIGN CROSS is upon us and it kicks some major tail.
SOVEREIGN CROSS is set to unleash Bow To The Light this time featuring the killer line up of Gary Sullivan, Tiago James (HAND OF FIRE) and Dale Thompson (BRIDE). Bow To The Light features lots of killer guitar riffs, heavy melodic metal for Christian music fans.
Bow To The Light track listing: “In The River”,“Long Live The King”, “Father Of Lies”, “Through The Flames”, “All Aboard”, “Pillar Of Fire”, “Bow To The Light”, “My Humble Claim”, “Your Eyed Closed”
Bow To The Light pre-order: https://roxxrecords.com/collections/roxx-records/products/copy-of-xls-innovation-dynamics-of-relation-xl-dbd-2021
SOVEREIGN CROSS online: www.facebook.com/sovereigncross
FEATURED REVIEWS
THE BRAVE - Evie’s Little Garden
With commercial hooks aplenty, soaring lead vocals and guitar to complement, Los Angels, California based The Brave embodies the definition of AOR meets melodic hard rock. Read Full Review >>
ETERNAL DECISION - Eternal Decision, Ghost In The Machine & ED 3 (Retroactive re-issues)
Eternal Decision is pitched as a Christian thrash alternative to Metallica, and it mostly makes good on that promise, particularly when factoring how rough-hewn vocalist Joe Chambless is a near dead ringer for James Hetfield. Read Full Review >>
TODD MICHAEL HALL - Sonic Healing
Are you keen on Todd Michael Hall’s well-regarded classic tenor vocal abilities but want them in a format outside the power and traditional metal in which he is best known? Then his May of 2021 Rat Pak Records sophomore solo album Sonic Healing should be up your alley. Read Full Review >>
INDEPENDENCIA - Homem e Mulher os Criou -
With its focus on lengthy compositions home to complex time signatures, extended instrumental jams and varied musical forms and genres, Brazil’s Independência is a pure seventies progressive rock style play. Read Full Review >>
MODEST ATTRACTION - Get Ready, The Truth In Your Face & Divine Luxury (Retroactive re-issues)
The Sweet, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Uriah Heep and early Whitesnake come to mind, as does a lesser known though no less able band from Sweden in Modest Attraction. Read Full Review >>
MOONSHINE ZOMBIES - Moonshine Zombies
The June of 2021 independently released self-titled debut full length of Bardstown, Kentucky based Moonshine Zombies is a mash-up of existing hard music styles. Read Full Review >>
SUNBOMB - Evil And Divine
It doesn’t take much to explain the appeal to Sunbomb and its May of 2021 Frontiers Music SRL debut full length Evil And Divine. Read Full Review >>
THRASH PUPPIES - Unleashed (Soundmass re-issue)
If metal edged punk ala One Bad Pig is what you’re after, Melbourne, Australia based Thrash Puppies and its appropriately entitled six song 1993 custom cassette EP Unleashed lands on its feet. Read Full Review >>
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
TRUE STRENGTH Announce New Album The House, The Holy, The Third:
Press Release / TRUE STRENGTH is both honored and humbled to announce that our fifth album The House, The Holy, The Third will be released in both digital and CD format through Roxx Records, early-2022. Stay-tuned to Roxx Records and the Official Website of TRUE STRENGTH (links below) for details in the months to come!
The album is a concept album about the Book of Ezekiel from the Old Testament and has the longest runtime of any TRUE STRENGH album to date as well, as some of the band’s most complex compositions. The album features the cover art of master artist Ward Silverman (Topps Comics, Star Wars). As with all previous TRUE STRENGTH releases, all digital sales of the album will be donated by the band to the International Christian Concern which assists persecuted Christians and their families around the world.
The House, The Holy, The Third track listing:
1. “Arrival Of The Glory Of The Lord (Intro)”
2. “Chariot Of God”
3. “Ezekiel's Call”
4. “Dwelling Of Abominations”
5. “Harlot Bride”
6. “Mourn Not The Delight Of Your Eyes”
7. "Judgement Will Come Against The Nations”
8. “The City Has Fallen”
9. “The Lord Will Be Israel's Shepherd (Instrumental)”
10. "Valley Of Dry Bones"
11. "Destruction Af Gog And Magog"
12. "The House, The Holy, The Third (John 2:19)"
Roxx Records online: https://roxxrecords.com & www.facebook.com/RoxxRecords777
TRUE STRENGTH online: https://truestrength.band/home
PETRA Re-issues On Girder Music:
Album CD release: November 19, 2021
Originally released in 1979, Washes Whiter Than has never been on CD with all 10 songs, until now. I know that is hard to believe but it was only released as a double album alongside of Never Say Die in 1988, leaving off 2 songs (#7 “Couldn't Find Love Without You” and #9 “Magic Words”). Finally, 42 years later we get to celebrate this complete album on CD for the first time ever. Now, completely re-mastered from original sources and containing all 10 songs in the order it was originally released on cassette and vinyl. Complete with LTD trading card, with an 8-page booklet containing lyrics, photos, and original credits in a jewel case. Incidentally, the original 1988 double album had all 10 songs listed on the disc face but not on the back of the CD (tray card) and were not actually on the CD. The tray card also incorrectly had Never Say Die listed first and Washes Whiter Than second.
Washes Whiter Than was Petra's 3rd album and introduced us to Greg X. Volz. It also introduced us to Rob Frazier and if you've been following our Legends of Rock series, you'll know that we released re-mastered CDs of both of Rob's first two solo albums. Both Rob and Greg handled lead vocals for the album and even sang on both “I'm Thankful,” as well as “Yahweh Love.” The band was intentional about creating a soft radio friendly album as their two previous albums were too hard/heavy for Christian radio in the 70s which was mellow. Thankfully, songs like “Morning Star” and “Magic Words” still rock, and musically it is a masterpiece and holds its rightful place among other albums. The album art was pretty cool too, originally created to look like a soapbox thanks to George Werth. Although there was no song called Washes Whiter Than, we clearly knew after listening to it, that Jesus washes our sins away.
Washes Whiter Than track listing: “I’m Thankful”, “Why Should The Father Bother?”, “Morning Star”, “Magic Mirror”, “Mary’s Song”, “Yahweh Love”, “(Couldn’t Find Love) Without You”, “Taste And See”, “Magic Words”, “Deep Love”
Washes Whiter Than pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/petra-washes-whiter-than-new-cd-webstore-exclusive-w-ltd-edition-trading-card-girder-records-1
PETRA's 1981 fourth album Never Say Die took a turn to very AOR/DEF LEPPARD-ish like approach compared to the AIR SUPPLY approach of Washes Whiter Than, dropping rockers like “Chameleon,” “Angel Of Light,” “Without Him We Can Do Nothing,” “Killing My Old Man” and “Praise Ye the Lord.” It became very clear that this band was headed for Christian arena-rock stardom, leaving the classic mellower style behind and forging a new path towards 80's epic Christian rock band status and success that few bands enjoyed.
You'll understand after listening to it how PETRA went from hand to mouth to become Christian Music's first stadium rock band and indeed the genre's first super group putting on a show like STYX or KANSAS traveling with a stage set-up that required 3 semi-trucks. This album is the all-out assault on the forces of darkness. Yes, it was militant like, and yes we all officially enlisted in God’s army after hearing it. From the graphics to the lyrics, to the stage set-up, PETRA officially waged war on the enemy but also on the complacency of a Christian band that just wanted to rock, and rock they did. Only getting better with each and every album.
The fact that this album was never on a CD alone by itself rather than on a 1988 double album with Washes Whiter Than surprises many to this day. Thankfully, it's now been re-mastered (and reloaded). Never Say Die is finally on a stand-alone CD complete with trading card and an 8-page booklet with lyrics and photos in a jewel case. Arena rock never sounded or looked better.
Never Say Die track listing: “The Coloring Song”, “Chameleon”, “Angel Of Light”, “Killing My Old Man”, “Without Him We Can Do Nothing”, “Never Say Die”, “I Can Be Friends With You”, “For Annie”, “Father Of Lights”, “Praise Ye The Lord”
Never Say Die pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/petra-never-say-die-new-cd-w-ltd-trading-card
Originally released in 1983. If there was an album that might have influenced an entire Christian rock culture, look no further than Not Of This World, the band’s 5th album. By 1983, PETRA was running on rocket fuel. Not Of This World proved to every creature on earth (and beyond) what a great rock album should sound like and while some Christian bands were content with using Christian cliches, PETRA had more of an interest in providing hope. It's no surprise looking back at why PETRA reached an entire generation. They proved that you could have an album that rocked but also provided a message of hope, and none more powerful than their song “Grave Robber.” Just take a moment and read these lyrics...
Here's a step that we all take alone
An appointment we have with the great unknown
Like a vapor this life is just waiting to pass
Like the flowers that fade, like the withering grass
But life seems so long and death so complete
And the grave an impossible portion to cheat
But there's One who has been there and still lives to tell
There is One who has been through both heaven and hell
And the grave will come up empty-handed the day
Jesus will come and steal us away
Where is the sting, tell me where is the bite
When the grave robber comes like a thief in the night
Where is the victory, where is the prize
When the grave robber comes
And death finally dies
PETRA - Not Of This World will blow you away, and once again "Death will be swallowed in sweet victory." Re-mastered from original sources with an 8-page booklet with lyrics in a jewel case. Also comes with a limited edition trading card.
Not Of This World track listing: “Visions (Doxology)”, “Not Of This World”, “Bema Seat”, “Grave Robber”, “Blinded Eyes”, “Not By Sight”, “Lift Him Up”, “Pied Piper”, “Occupy”, “Godpleaser”, “Visions Reprise (Doxology)”
Not Of This World pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/petra-not-of-this-world-new-cd-w-ltd-trading-card
On Fire!, originally released in 1988, is by far the heaviest of all PETRAL albums with the exception of Jekyll And Hyde. A true hard rock masterpiece if there ever was one. On Fire! was nominated for a Grammy™ and won a Dove award for their music video. It was also the first album to include their new bassist, Ronnie Cates. It was PETRA IN THEIR PRIME and deserving of all the awards bestowed on them by the critics and fans. After This Means War dropped in 1987 with such success, no one would ever go on record saying that PETRA would be able to top it. That thought would have been ludicrous.
But the band, engineers, and producers had other plans, forging an entirely new album that would go down as one of the band's all-time great albums, and for most, their absolute favorite. As much as this album rocks, it also checks all the boxes for a spiritual warfare attack on the kingdom of darkness. Make no mistake about it, this is one album that is a threat to the enemy or anyone that thinks that PETRA won't go down fighting. They were absolutely on fire (pun intended). It's a true representation of what a rock album should be. Just one listen and you'll quickly understand why PETRA was everyone’s favorite Christian Rock band.
Re-mastered from original sources with an 8-page booklet with lyrics in a jewel case. It also comes with a very special flaming LTD collector’s card inside.
On Fire! track listing: “All Fired Up”, “Hit You Where You Live”, “Mine Field”, “First Love”, “Defector”, “Counsel Of The Holy”, “Somebody's Gonna Praise His Name”, “Open Book”, “Stand In The Gap”, “Homeless Few”
On Fire! pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/petra-on-fire-new-cd-w-ltd-trading-card
NEWS BRIEFS
* JOSHUA, Intense Defense re-release update from guitarist Joshua Perahia (Facebook - October 5, 2021):
“We are announcing the rights & paperwork & finally the artwork have all been finished for the JOSHUA album... Intense Defense. Yes, they are being manufactured as we speak. I thank all my awesome brothers & sisters who have ordered this special RCA Record album...that has been "RE-MASTERED" & a new bass guitar track added because the original album did not have the bass tracks in the mix properly. We are 2 weeks away from mailing out the PRE-SALES first. Again, I cannot thank you all enough for your patience. It was important to us to re-release this album at an affordable cost after seeing it sell for ridiculously high prices on Ebay & other sites”.
Ordering information: www.joshuaperahia.com
* ”Decline”, new single from WEAPONS OF GOD: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzzE8tKU4L8
The song comes off the groups summer of 2021 Roxx Records sophomore album The War Within Us.
ARTIST COMMENTARY
Vocalist and guitarist Tommy Wales in regards to his next solo album (Facebook - October 10, 2021):
"As I am meticulously working on writing lyrics, music, arrangements, for my 26th Studio Album, this weekend, I am reminded of these WONDERFUL green stamps of wisdom imparted to me down through the years, via musicians, engineers, producers and writers whom i value their words of wisdom:
1. "Chances are, if YOU like the song, OTHERS will too." - M.D.G.
2. " If a song can't stand on its own, it cant stand." - Robert Blackburn
3. "Pop music is ALWAYS about the vocals being front + center." - Robert Blackburn
4. "Always focus on WHATS BEST FOR THE SONG. Don't be afraid to hurt band member / studio session players FEELINGS. At the end of the day, the song itself must SHINE. Leaders lead". - Wales Road Vision Statement.
5. "Write what's on your heart. If its uplifting, great. Be weird. Be WHO you are created to be. Find your moral compass. Not fame or money." - Author Unknown
6. "It has been said that art is not meant to answer questions, but to ASK them." - IN 3D Liner Notes
7. " Vanity is the enemy of art." - Author Unknown
8. "Your art and your eyeliner owes no explanation." - Pat Tharp
9. " If people don't understand your art, they are not your friend." - Jaimie Cole
10. "Every great pop, rock or metal song incorporates an element of conflict. Boy vs. girl. Man vs. his environment. Man vs. sin." - Tommy Wales, 98.9 The Buzz, Radio Interview.
"With all that in mind, please pray I give God MY BEST on this new batch of material I am, writing, arranging, rehearsing- plan on recording very soon… should our Lord tarry. Amen. Beyond blessed by those who support me and my guitars.'
Further details from the artist:
“I recorded/released 2 solo acoustic albums in 2021: 50,000 Tears and All Is Fair In Love + War. A trilogy of three albums.
“The 3rd album I am currently writing and arranging, is going to be called Acoustic Shadows. All three albums inspired musically by whom I refer to as the Acoustic Trinity: 1. Michael Knott, 2. Bob Dylan, 3. Johhny Cash. I love their audio art. The lyrics in my Trilogy are about a relationship that shipwrecked my heart (ex wife) 8 years ago she ran off with her boss, took my dog. Who takes a man’s dog?
“I have forgiven her; however, these tunes help / helped me process my grief. Its my prayer these tunes / albums / videos minister to OTHERS, who are broken. My engineer for this Trilogy is Robert Blackburn, of Blackdog Studios, in Rochester NY (same studio Metallica recorded their debut record, Kill Em All in the 80's. At the time, it was called American Studios).
“Roberts VISION was to record my audio art like the Bruce Springsteen Nebraska album. It was just him and his guitar and a 4 track recorder in his bedroom (of course Blackdog has some amazing hi tech gear). We recorded the acoustic guitar and my voice live in the studio. Each tune 3 or 4 times. We kept the best of the takes. Some takes I nailed on take one. Some took longer.
“I've ALWAYS loved the live recordings of my voice as they capture the passion + emotion of the tune, my voice etc. Its pushed my creativity to a high standard. No band. No overdubs. Where we lack in band / overdubs, I saturated the layout with my original acrylic on canvas paintings. One of my musical heroes, Michael Knott - does this on a lot of his releases.
“It's my prayer, these tunes minister to the broken hearted, like Jesus did.
“Three music videos released: “Don't Pay Her No Mind” (from 50,000 Tears) and “Burning Down The Woodland” (lyric video) and “All Is Fair In Love + War” (title track). Each can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/user/tommywales
“Robert is a gentle engineer. We work well together. He gently encourages me to reach my goals, push myself creatively and express my heart on my sleeve. He says this material is some of the best I’ve ever done. I give Jesus all the glory. For loving me, saving me, giving me gifts, and giving me BEUTY FOR ASHES, in these songs.”
- Tommy Wales
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
ANGELIC FORCES Announce Debut Album Arise:
Press Release / ANGELIC FORCES signed a deal with No Dust Records for the summer of 2022 release to its long awaited full-length debut album, Arise. Look for Arise to be available on CD and vinyl.
ANGELIC FORCES is a heavy metal band from the Netherlands strongly influenced by the 80’s metal scene, but with their own special sound. Founded in 2015 by bassist Wilco van der Meij (METHUSALEM), the group rounded out its lineup drummer Rudie Kingma, singer Harold de Vries (former METHUSALEM) and guitarist Maurice Gijsman (former L.S.D.). The Angelic Forces moniker was decided upon because it is a good fit for the style of music the band plays.
The first single from ANGELIC FORCES traces to June of 2016, which received positive reaction worldwide. An independently released three song-self titled EP followed in 2018 received both great reviews and worldwide attention from online magazines, radio shows and podcasts.
Over the years ANGELIC FORCES has created a steady fan base and played live with well known metal acts such as LEVITICUS, WAR OF AGES, PICTURE, TYGES OF PAN TANG, WHITECROSS, CRADLE OF FILTH, CANNIBAL CORPSE, PESTILENCE and KING DIAMOND.
The Angelic Forces track “Thunder And Thunder” is available fro streaming on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwDn_qbusy0
ANGELIC FORCES online: www.angelicforcesband.com/en/home & www.facebook.com/angelicforcesband
Debut Album On The Way From ARIEL, Sorrows To Seven:
Press Release / ARIEL combines elements of progressive and alternative rock with a vintage eighties vibe on its soon to be released debut album Sorrows To Seven. The group specializes in layered harmonic vocals, shredding guitars, driving percussion, ethereal keyboards and an uplifting lyrical message.
Formed by vocalist Steve Sawatsky 1983 in Victoria, B.C., ARIEL had its genesis as a band of musicians relaying the gospel message through quality music. The groups first live show performance was held in August of 1983 in Victoria, to an enthusiastic audience, yielding the beginning of a solid fan base on both Vancouver Island and the lower mainland of B.C. Over the next 3 years, along with some lineup changes, ARIEL forged ahead in compositional creativity playing across North America.
ARIEL had recorded various demos with the culmination of it's first official self-titled release in 1986 with Ariel Records. The band roster at that time consisted of: Steve Sawatsky, Lisa Sawatsky, Ron Willes, and Bruce Davies. ARIEL continued to tour, supporting the debut release with radio airplay throughout Canada, the American college network and several European countries, eventually reaching as far as South Africa. Toward the end of 1989, due to time restraints, ARIEL disbanded.
After a hiatus of more than thirty years the original vision has been kept alive and is now being revitalized by 3 members of the original band lineup. May you enjoy the energy, sonic pleasure, and uplifting power of ARIEL's next chapter.
ARIEL online: www.thearielband.com
BRIDE Gold Disc & Vinyl Re-issues On Retroactive Records:
CD release date: October 24, 2021; Vinyl release date: January, 2022
Press Release / The first three BRIDE albums define the hard rock and metal styles of the big 80's era. All three albums are absolute Christian metal classics. Sonically, all albums have been digitally re-mastered for dynamic perfection by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound (2021). The song to song transition work is fantastic. And there is a Dale Thompson interview that starts in Show No Mercy, continues in Live To Die, and concludes in Silence Is Madness 2021 CD reissues.
Silence Is Madness includes four non-LP bonus tracks recorded for the album but not used, while Show No Mercy and Live To Die each include three.
For fans of STRYPER, JUDAS PRIEST, and DIO!
Show No Mercy track listing: “Evil That Men Do”,, “Now He Is Gone”, “Fly Away”, “Forever In Darkness”, “Follow Your Heart”, “Show No Mercy”, “I Will Be With You”, “Thunder In The City”, “No Matter The Price”, “The First Will Be Last”, “Slippinin Into The Night” (bonus track), “We Are Going To Make It” (bonus track), “Stand Up And Shout” (bonus track)
Show No Mercy CD pre-order: https://boonesoverstock.com/collections/pre-orders/products/bride-show-no-mercy-3-new-gold-cd-2021-retroactive
Show No Mercy vinyl pre-order: https://boonesoverstock.com/collections/pre-orders/products/bride-show-no-mercy-3-new-purple-vinyl-2021-retroactive
Live To Die track listing: “Metal Might”, “Hell No”, “In The Dark”, “Out For Blood”, “Live To Die”, “Fire And Brimstone”, “Whiskey Seed”, “Here Comes The Bride”, “Heroes”, “Too Late For Me (Live ’89 bonus track), “Dirty” (Live ’89 bonus track), “All Hallow’s Eve (bonus track)
Live To Die CD pre-order: https://boonesoverstock.com/collections/pre-orders/products/bride-live-to-die-3-metal-icon-series-new-cd-2021-retroactive
Live To Die vinyl pre-order: https://boonesoverstock.com/collections/pre-orders/products/bride-live-to-die-3-new-splatter-vinyl-2021-retroactive
Silence Is Madness track listing: ”Fool Me Once”, “Hot Down South Tonight”, “Silence Is Madness”, “Until The End We Rock”, “Evil Dreams”, “Under The Influence”, “All Hallow’s Eve”, “No More Nightmares”, “Rock Those Blues Away”, “Dirty” (bonus track), “18 And (On Her Own” (bonus track), “Same ‘Ol Sinner” (bonus track)
Silence Is Madness CD pre-order: https://boonesoverstock.com/collections/pre-orders/products/bride-silence-is-madness-4-metal-icon-series-new-gold-cd-2021-retroactive
New Compilation Album From NARNIA, Soli Deo Gloria:
Album release: November 5, 2021
Press Release / Swedish melodic metal band NARNIA sums up it's first 25 years with the compilation album Soli Deo Gloria. This is a collection of 30 songs that show the band's wide range and long experience of being established as one of the best melodic metal bands on the metal scene. Songs from the first album Awakening to the latest studio album From Darkness To Light along with bonus tracks from different album versions, clearly shows how the band has managed to maintain a high level throughout it's history and at the same time how to hungrily strive forward to a promising future.
Meanwhile the band's ninth studio album is in the making and planned for release in 2022, this is a great introduction to the band for new listeners, as it is a gold mine for current fans to revisit favorites and discover lesser-known songs.
Soli Deo Gloria will be released both digitally and as a double-CD on November 5, 2021. It will be distributed by Sound Pollution.
Soli Deo Gloria track listing (Disco One): “A Crack In The Sky”, “You Are the Air That I Breathe”, “Has The River Run Dry?”, “MNFST”, “The War That Tore the Land”, “Reaching For The Top” (Live), “I Still Believe”, “On The Highest Mountain”, “Thank You”, “Sail Around The World”, “Scared”, “One Way To Freedom”, “Into This Game”, “People Of The Blood Red Cross”, “Another World”, “Enter The Gate”, “Back From Hell” (Live)
Soli Deo Gloria track listing (Disco Two): “Inner Sanctum” (Live), “The Witch And The Lion”, “Falling From The Throne”, “Revolution Of Mother Earth”, “Living Water” (2017 Version Featuring Jens Johansson), “Shelter Through the Pain” (Live), “The Mission”, “Dangerous Game”, “Miracle” (Japan Bonus Track), “Long Live The King” (Live), “Break The Chains”, “No More Shadows From The Past” (Live), “The Awakening” (Live)
Soli Deo Gloria pre-order: https://soundpollution.se/en/shop/f1/ha/N013CD
Tour Dates:
Nov 06, 2021 - Brainstorm Fest, The Netherlands
Nov 07, 2021 - De Verlichte Geest, Belgium
Jun 08, 2022 - Sweden Rock Festival
NARNIA online: www.narniatheband.com, www.facebook.com/narniatheband, www.instagram.com/narniatheband & www.youtube.com/narniatheband
NEWS BRIEFS
* “Crushing The Dragon”, new song from DARKHORSE HERO: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D3Z82IB8x4
The song comes off the upcoming DARKHORSE HERO sophomore album Mixtape Volume 2: Living For A Bigger Kingdom, which is scheduled for release this fall.
* Michael Sweet set to record new album with NARNIA guitarist CJ Grimmark (Facebook - September 26, 2021):
“I’m doing my next full length metal album with him (CJ Grimmark). He’s already written a lot of the music, and I’ll start working on lyrics sometime after the new Stryper album is complete (April/May) and hopefully recording not long after that. I can tell you this - it’s unlike anything I’ve ever done and it’s absolutely smashing, Follow CJ Grimmark and stay tuned for what will be one for the books”.
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
Retroactive Records Announce New BIOGENESIS Album, Rise Of The Phoenix:
Album release: September 24, 2021
Press Release / Tired of cookie-cutter, copycat metal albums? The September 2021 fourth album by BIOGENESIS, Rise Of The Phoenix, is everything you could ask or want from a hybrid metal masterpiece. Progressive metal? Check. Thrash metal? Check. Dark, ominous, haunting, aggressive? Check.
Guitarist Tiago James is a legit maestro with an axe in his hands and is guaranteed to induce legendary, instantaneous drooling straight from your mouth to the floor (we can offer a drool towel for your convenience). Chaz Bond is an A+ vocalist who transitions from aggressive thrash vocals to perfect prog metal vocals at the drop of a hat.
Just as you have come to expect with Tiago's work with PERPETUAL PARANOIA (all thee of their albums are must-have metal), Rise Of The Phoenix is a whirlwind of creativity and jaw-dropping progressions. The album is as dominating as they come. For those who like their music definitively HEAVY… this is your 2021 album of the year. Yes, it's THAT brilliant.
In addition to a 12-page booklet with lyrics, every CD comes with a foil-stamped band trading card. For fans of ICED EARTH, PERPETUAL PARANOIA, SLAYER, BELIEVER, FEAR FACTORY, NEVERMORE, JACOBS DREAM and MORTIFICATION.
Rise Of The Phoenix track listing:
1. “The Dwelling”
2. “The Covenant”
3. “By Design”
4. “Within These Walls”
5. “Breath Forgotten”
6. “Heavenly Darkness”
7. “The Suicide Lie”
8. “A Thousand Tears”
9. “Rise Of The Phoenix”
10. “Ashes To Glory”
Rise Of The Phoenix CD ordering details: https://boonesoverstock.com/products/biogenesis-rise-of-the-phoenix-trading-card-new-cd-2021-retroactive
Rise Of The Phoenix digital download ordering details: https://boonesoverstock.com/products/biogenesis-rise-of-the-phoenix-digital-download-mp3s-2021-retroactive-tiago-chaz-bond-jacobs-dream
STRYPER And SKILLET Featured In The Jesus Music Documentary:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net:
STRYPER and SKILLET are among the artists featured in The Jesus Music, a Lionsgate documentary that explores the ascent in the success of Christian contemporary music (CCM) and its often untold roots. The film tells the untold story of the genre and how "the universal power of music from these artists shine through from their messages of passion, sacrifice, and redemption that inspire millions of devoted listeners," according to an official synopsis.
Directed by the Erwin Brothers (I Can Only Imagine, I Still Believe, American Underdog), the film is the definitive love letter to CCM fans and features intimate interviews with the genre's biggest stars, including Kirk Franklin and Lauren Daigle. With stories of trials and triumphs, the universal power of music from these artists shines through from their messages of passion, sacrifice and redemption that inspire millions of devoted listeners.
STRYPER said: "We are honored to be a part of this amazing film, alongside many of our friends and peers, which chronicles the history and impact of Christian music."
The Jesus Music hits theaters October 1.
In a 2018 interview with the Detroit Free Press, STRYPER front man Michael Sweet said that his was never fully embraced by the heavy metal and hard rock communities, largely because of the band's Christian lyrics. "We've never been accepted by either side," he said. "The secular side, the mainstream, they've never accepted us to this day. We're probably that band that everyone's going to go to whenever there's a time to mock. We'll be the band used for that in most cases. Now on the Christian side, we've never really had the full support of the Christian side because we don't fit into their little club. We're not wearing suits and ties and going to every church and preaching."
In various interviews over the years, SKILLET front man John Cooper has said that he "always had faith in God" and that his mother was a "Jesus fanatic." He also claimed that he was willing to put his career on the line to take a stand for Christ.
This past April, Cooper told the "Undaunted.Life: A Man's Podcast" that it was perfectly fine for Christians to play rock music. "I would say that music is created not by the Devil; (it is) created by the Lord," he said. "All things were created by God. So instead of thinking that the Devil owns a genre of music, I would say capture that music and bring it back into subjection under the Lordship of Christ."
Cooper recently published his first book, titled Awake & Alive To Truth (Finding Truth In The Chaos Of A Relativistic World). It "tackles the reigning philosophies of our day of post-modernism, relativism, and the popular view of the goodness of man-and combats these viewpoints by standing on the absolute truth of the Word Of God," the book's description reads.
Further reading: https://thejesusmusic.movie
NEWS BRIEFS
* BRIDE recently released both a Christmas album, appropriately entitled Christmas, and a Gospel album, Bluegrass Gospel. Ordering details at the groups website: www.bridepub.com
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
KERRY LIVGREN, The Resurrection Of Lazarus, A Catana Details Revealed:
Press Release / Numavox Records is pleased to announce the release of The Resurrection of Lazarus, A Cantata by Kerry Livgren. A lifelong labor of love, it is Livgren's most stunning musical achievement to date.
The word cantata by definition is "a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, often involving a choir." Livgren's cantata, decades in the making, is a vocally and symphonically driven tour de force inspired by the Bible's Book of John (11: 1-45). Make no mistake, this isn't classic or progressive rock. Rather, Lazarus is a sweeping majestic orchestral masterpiece that highlights the most beautiful music instrument ever created, the human voice.
The name Kerry Livgren is synonymous with some of the most recognizable songs in modern music history. A songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Livgren is the founding member of the band, KANSAS. He penned and performed the timeless classic hits “Dust In The Wind” and “Carry On Wayward Son” during the peak of the band's success in the 1970's, thanks to his innate ability in melding rock and classical music into a hybrid of sprawling and melodic epics laced with time signature changes.
In 1979 as he was working on the next KANSAS album, Monolith, Kerry discovered some of the new music he was writing was "different from anything else that I'd created previously." It would be more than a decade later before his work on Lazarus would begin in earnest. Progress on it though would ebb and flow from between the releases of several of his solo albums as well as album releases with the bands AD, KANSAS and PROTO-KAW.
Then, in 2009, he suffered a near fatal stroke. Livgren though, much like Lazarus, would have a second chance at life. Led by his devout faith and months of intensive physical therapy he persevered, making what his doctor's and therapists described as a nearly miraculous recovery. With his faith in God stronger than ever he returned to the recording studio a year later "with a new determination in seeing the cantata finally becoming a reality."
The Resurrection of Lazarus - A Canata by Kerry Livgren is a triumph from its opening overture through its magnificent conclusion. Lazarus is a truly moving and riveting piece. Livgren''s cinematic-like compositions rise to crescendos in concert with a group of incredibly talented vocalists who bring the story of Lazarus to life with hair raising solos and awe inspiring choirs. The all-star cast that Livgren has assembled shines brightly throughout the album's 60 plus minutes. Solo vocalists include David Pack (AMBROSIA) as Jesus, John Elefante (KANSAS) as Lazarus, Greg X. Volz (PETRA) as Joseph of Arimathea, and Warren Ham as Nicodemus, (AD, Ringo Starr) to name a few. With the exception of KANSAS’ Phil Ehart driving the beat and a beautiful solo from guitarist extraordinaire Phil Keaggy, all of the album's orchestration and other instrumentation is performed by none other than the Maestro Livgren, making The Resurrection of Lazarus - A Cantata by Kerry Livgren, truly worth the wait.
KERRY LIVGREN online: www.numavox.com & www.facebook.com/kerry.livgren.1
LEVITICUS Re-issues On Girder Music:
CD re-issue release date: November 5, 2021; Vinyl re-issue release date: December 31, 2021
Press Release / LEVITICUS could sure school the current generation of metal fans a few things, starting with the longevity that goes hand in hand with creating quality art that has stood the test of time. LEVITICUS interweaved a foundation of melodic metal with tendencies towards power metal on first three albums I Shall Conquer, The Strongest Power and Setting Fire to the Earth while drawing upon AOR on fourth Knights Of Heaven thanks to producers John and Dino Elefante. LEVITICUS went in a live direction on its fifth and final album Live At BobFest .
Unlike the USA, not a lot of Christian heavy metal came out of Sweden. There have been a few bands, most notably BLINDSIDE, CRIMSON MOONLIGHT, DIVINEFIRE, JERUSALEM, NARNIA PANTOKRATOR, VENI DOMINE, XT and LEVITICUS, which was founded by guitarist Björn Stigsson, vocalist/bassist Håkan Andersson and drummer Kjell Andersson in the early 80′s.
LEVITICUS amassed a huge following in Europe but attracted a much smaller following among Christian head bangers in America who had to scramble to find their products pre-internet. Thankfully, their albums were released in the United States on labels such as Pure Metal, Refuge, Spectra, and Solid Rock.
The band’s first EP was released in 1982 entitled Stå och titta på with lyrics in Swedish and later in 1983 Jag Skall Segra!, which Google translates as "I'll Win.” I'm not sure how accurate Google translations are because in 1983 LEVITICUS released an English version of that album titled I Shall Conquer, which was most of America's first experience of the band.
It'll also might help you understand why many of the lyrics didn't rhyme. I remember shaking my head as a 15-year-old confused as to why musically it sounded so good but the lyrics felt a bit out of place. Upon reflection, we understand all these years later that the album was written in Swedish and then transposed to English later on.
In any case, the album is raw, unpolished, and sometimes uneven, but I love the unpretentious sound and feel of it. The album has a dynamic range that extends from mid-tempo rockers to an almost peaceful, PINK FLOYD kind of style on some songs. The vocals by original singer/bassist Håkan Andersson really make this a work of art. Loaded with keyboards and guitars yet somehow not too flashy. It's a solid mid-tempo hard rocker, but the real show-stoppers are the quieter, more reflective tracks "Psalm 23" and "All Is Calm." Both build to a crescendo in a grandeur way. If you haven't experienced LEVITICUS before, start here with I Shall Conquer.
I Shall Conquer track listing: “I Shall Conquer”, “Let Me Fight”, “He’s My Life”, “Doubt”, “Action More Than Words”, “All Is Calm”, “Day By Day”, “Strive Forwards”, “Psalm 23”
I Shall Conquer sampler: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZNEALCc0qQ
I Shall Conquer CD pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/leviticus-i-shall-conquer-new-cd-w-ltd-trading-card-80s-metal
I Shall Conquer vinyl pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/leviticus-i-shall-conquer-limited-run-vinyl-80s-metal
In 1985, LEVITICUS released a real powerhouse album called The Strongest Power. According to the metal magazine, Kerrang, the album was ”one of the best records of the year”... which incidentally came from one of the most respected music magazines. It also had two different covers or alternate covers, which we have made available on the CD. Just flip it over.
In 1987, Håkan Andersson left the band and was replaced by Ez Gomér, while Terry Haw became the band’s lead singer. (both later left and former JET CIRCUS).
The Strongest Power track listing: “The Winner”, “Deborah And Barak”, “On The Rock”, “King Of Kings”, “Stay With Us”, “I Got Power”, “Look Around”, “I Love You”, “A New Day”, “Light For The World”
The Strongest Power sampler: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPpt_vA3rqA
The Strongest Power CD pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/leviticus-the-strongest-power-new-cd-w-ltd-trading-card-80s-metal
The Strongest Power vinyl pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/leviticus-the-strongest-power-limited-run-vinyl-80s-metal
LEVITICUS released their third album Setting Fire To the Earth in 1987, which became a best-seller around the world and included many great reviews in multiple different music magazines. The album finally got the group noticed in North America during their 1988 US Tour opening for Larry Norman and serving as his backing band. “Flames of Fire” and “Saved” are standout metal songs on that release, with “The Suffering Servant” being a particularly strong ballad (based on Isaiah 41 and 53).
Setting Fire To The Earth track listing: “Flames Of Fire”, “Saved”, “The First & the Last”, “I`m A Believer”, “Don`t Go Out”, “Elijah On Carmel”, “The Suffering Servant”, “Get Up”, “Love Is Love”
Setting Fire To The Earth sampler: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8-fPdBRmmc
Setting Fire To The Earth CD pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/leviticus-setting-fire-to-the-earth-new-cd-w-ltd-trading-card-80s-metal
Setting Fire To The Earth vinyl pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/leviticus-setting-fire-to-the-earth-limited-run-vinyl-80s-metal
In 1989, LEVITICUS released their fourth album Knights Of Heaven, which was the band’s fourth release (unless you count their Swedish debut Jag Skull) and was produced by John and Dino Elefante and exhibits a AOR rock sound remarkably like PETRA, THE BRAVE, GUARDIAN and other Pakaderm bands. It received great reviews in a lot of magazines worldwide. The Swedish newspaper Göteborgs-Posten wrote, ”Leviticus takes the top position in Swedish hard rock, together with Europe. On Knights Of Heaven LEVITICUS debuted new vocalist Peo Pettersson.
Knights Of Heaven track listing: “Born Again”, “The World Goes Round”, “Isn`t It Love”, “Oh Lord”, “Feel So Good”, “Strong Love”, “Messiah”, “Over The Hills”, “For Once In My Life”, “Love On Fire”
Knights Of Heaven sampler: www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0TL3hR9BGM
Knights Of Heaven CD pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/leviticus-knights-of-heaven-new-cd-w-ltd-trading-card-aor-hard-rock
Knights Of Heaven vinyl pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/leviticus-knights-of-heaven-limited-run-vinyl-aor-hard-rock
In 2003, 13 years later, the band released the album, Live At Bobfest 2003. Thankfully Live At Bobfest 2003 gives you all the things you want in a live performance and none of the things you don't and just might be one of the best live albums you have ever set your ears to. Live albums are not popular for three main reasons. The audio quality is nowhere near the level and quality of studio albums, the singer often goes off into different vocal arrangements or lack thereof, which is not what the fans wanna hear, they want to sing along to the same song that they've been singing along to in their car. The other reason would be all the ad lib and talking between songs and chiding with the crowd. Without context it's impossible to feel like you were a part of it.
Live At Bobfest 2003 track listing: “Flames Of Fire”, “Saved”, “Messiah”, “Oh Lord”, “Majestic In Power”, “On The Rock”, “All Is Calm”, “Born Again”, “The Suffering Servant”, “Deborah And Barak”, “I'm Gonna Rock”
Live At Bobfest 2003 sampler: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbwUW0ltyTg
Live At Bobfest 2003 CD pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/leviticus-live-at-bobfest-2003-new-cd-w-ltd-trading-card-80s-metal
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
RAINBOW PROMISE, Rainbow Promise Re-issue On Retroactive Records:
CD release date: October 29, 2021; Vinyl release date: December 15, 2021
Press Release / One of THE top Christian psychedelic rarities is this custom guitar-based rock monster from the 5-man band, RAINBOW PROMISE with strong west coast vibes that recall the best of WILSON MCKINLEY! The stage is set right from the start with the righteous rocker "Get Ready," featuring mouth-dropped-to-the-floor sharp dual guitar leads (reminds us of "Paint It Black" by THE ROLLING STONES!). "Someone You Need" follows with some of the most insane scorching echoed wah-wah guitar on record anywhere and. "Do You Hear" starts off fast and then adjusts to a moodier feel, on par with much of what is on the Christian psych legendary album, "Spirit of Elijah" by WILSON MCKNLEY. The same can be said for both "Prophecy" and "Rebirth," with latter treating listeners to inspired echoed guitar leads. Track eight is an electrified cover of one of the most iconic Jesus Music tracks of the 70's - "Little Country Church," made popular by LOVESONG. The band even breaks open a fresh can of pure charm with the delightful country rocker, "Romans 8-28" and the laid back campy "The Joy of the Lord."
The album features dynamic drumming and not a single keyboard note to be found anywhere! The homemade cover art is psychedelic perfection, with a depiction of the glorified Son of Man in the midst of seven candlesticks as presented in Revelation 1:12-18. Guitarist and primary songwriter, Steve Powell (R.I.P. 2021) also has a 1974 solo album, Revelation (The Party's Over) also available on CD and vinyl. CDs come with a foil-stamped trading card, packaged in an eight-panel insert. Vinyl comes with a 12" insert, and both CD and vinyl have been re-mastered to perfection.
For fans of EXKURSION, WILSON MCKLINEY, THE DOORS, THE ROLLING STONES, CREAM IRON BUTTERFLY, early RESURRECTION BAND, ALL SAVED FREAK BAND and JC POWER OUTLET! If you like massive, haunting rock music, and a scorching, guitar onslaught, then this is for you!
The song “Do You Hear” can be streamed at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd7ehIG4ngg
Rainbow Promise track listing:
1. “Get Ready”
2. “Someone You Need”
3. “Do You Hear”
4. “Romans 8-28”
5. “The Joy Of The Lord”
6. “I've Got The Rebirth”
7. “Prophecy”
8. “Little Country Church”
9. “Please Don't Refuse Him”
Rainbow Promise CD pre-order: https://boonesoverstock.com/products/rainbow-promise-rainbow-promise-new-cd-1972-2021-retroactive-xian-acid-psych-fuzz-monster
Rainbow Promise vinyl pre-order: https://boonesoverstock.com/products/rainbow-promise-rainbow-promise
STEVE POWELL, Revelation (The Party’s Over) Re-issue On Retroactive Records:
CD release date: October 29, 2021; Vinyl release date: December 15, 2021
Press Release / This album will appeal to fans of the psychedelic monstrosity called RAINBOW PROMISE, as Steve Powell is the lead sing of that giant slab of FUZZ guitar. As with solo albums from bands like THE EXKURSIONS, and HARVEST FLIGHT, but the album still features plenty of electric basement vibes - fully in tact!
"Freedom" grinds out in a heavy, grungy Larry Norman way, while "Excites Me" lays it down with riffs that can only be described as raw and bluesy - in all the right ways! "I Wanna Live" sure sounds like one of those psychy rural ballads off of RAINBOW PROMISE. Powell goes on to nail several more rural rock tracks, all while playing piano, drums, while providing quality work on rhythm guitar and lead guitar. The man has no limits!
All ten tracks are digitally re-mastered. The CD comes with a four-panel insert, while the vinyl comes in at 140 grams, a quality heavy weight listening experience! For fans of LOVE SONG, PHIL KEAGGY, early PETRA, LARRY NORMAN, IRON BUTTERFLY, the TALBOT BROTHERS, and RAINBOW PROMISE!
The song “Gonna Take A Trip” can be streamed at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNxBVZch04I
Revelation (The Party’s Over) track listing:
1. “Gonna Take A Trip”
2. “It Doesn't Have To Be”
3. “Revelation”
4. “Freedom”
5. “I Wanna Live”
6. “Excites Me”
7. “Excites Me”
8. “I Love Jesus”
9. “The King's Lady”
10. “Come Back Home”
11. “Psalm 61”
Revelation (The Party’s Over) CD pre-order: https://boonesoverstock.com/products/steve-powell-revelation-the-partys-over-new-cd-1974-2021-retroactive-monster-rural-rock-psych-monster
Revelation (The Party’s Over) vinyl pre-order: https://boonesoverstock.com/products/steve-powell-revelation-the-partys-over-new-vinyl-1974-2021-retroactive
NEWS BRIEFS
“Light Replaces Darkness”, new single from Ohio based progressive metal band AFTERWINTER: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye7WC4oIEmM
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
Debut single from Michael Feighan, “I Still Believe”:
Courtesy of www.ccmmagazine.com:
Singer/songwriter/drummer, Michael Feighan, has a new solo project titled Someone Prayed. The first single from the project, “I Still Believe,” is a patriotic song that honors our military. Michael comes from a military family, as his dad is Chief Master Sargent Mike Feighan, and military celebrations mean a lot to both of them.
About Michael:
Michael’s high-profile career began when he joined the Christian metal band WHITECROSS, and he was ranked as one of the top 10 drummers in Christian music. The group’s music grew around the world that included the states, South America and Europe, and led to three Dove Awards for recordings with Triumphant Return (1990), In The Kingdom (1992) and Come Unto The Light (1994).
Michael became an on-demand drummer that led to other opportunities outside of WHITECROSS. This included being signed to Star Song Music (1991-1993), R.E.X Music (1994-1995), Madison Line Records (2013), playing with CURIOUS FOOLS on the Gotee label in 1997, performing with Oz Fox of STRYPER and pop artist B.J. Thomas.
Feighan has assembled an incredible team for his EP, which releases Oct. 15, 2021. Matt Bissonette (Elton John, Ringo Starr) joined as producer for Someone Prayed, while his brother, Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr), added his drumming expertise for the EP and five-time Grammy Award-winning engineer, Chris Lord-Alge (Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Tim McGraw) brings his talent to the mix.
Michael Feighan online: https://michaelfeighan.com & www.facebook.com/fanpage4christ
Someone Prayed pre-order: https://michaelfeighan.com/store/PRE-RELEASE-CD-p296644813
DEGARMO & KEY Re-issues On Girder Music:
Press Release / DEGARMO & KEY were forerunners and pioneers of early Jesus Music. Their music transcended generations and musical boundaries. They released 15 albums spanning 3 decades. Their first three albums This Time Thru (1978) Straight On (1979) and This Ain't Hollywood (1980) have been completely re-mastered on colored vinyl for the first time (release date April 30, 2022) along with re-mastered CDs (release date October 29, 2021) with 8 page booklets, lyrics and photos with LTD Trading Card.
DEGARMO & KEY’s debut album This Time Thru set a new standard for high quality songwriting, musicianship, and production raising the bar for all the future albums to come. From the opening acoustic guitar intro to “Emmanuel,” which soon explodes into a classic rock song filled with keyboards, guitar solos, passionate singing, and Biblically based lyrics, one is ushered into a sound that was every bit as high quality as anything being released in the mainstream market. Elements of progressive rock appear in songs such as “Too Far, Too Long,” which features a keyboard intro that echoes the work of Keith Emerson from EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER and “Chase the Wind,” which features elements that would be at home in a KANSAS song. Then there’s the country/rock flow of “Sleeper,” the grooving R&B shuffle of their cover of the traditional “Wayfaring Stranger,” and the title track, which closes the album and features a keyboard solo in the vein of STYX. All in all, This Time Thru, released in 1978, has stood the test of time and remains one of the finest debut albums in Christian rock history.
This Time Thru track listing: “Emmanuel”, “Addey”, “Only The Meek Survive”, “(Gone, Gone, Gone) Too Far, Too Long”, “Alleyways Of Strife”, “Sleeper”, “Wayfaring Stranger”, “In The Days Of Thy Youth”, “Chase The Wind”, “This Time Thru”
This Time Thru CD pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/degarmo-and-key-this-time-thru-cd-remastered-2021-girder
This Time Thru vinyl pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/degarmo-and-key-this-time-thru-sunset-orange-remastered-2021-girder-limited-run-vinyl
Straight On, the second album by DEGARMO & KEY, raised the bar for quality even higher. Eddie (DeGarmo) and Dana (Key) took part in its production, and established a tight knit band that gelled together like a well-oiled machine. On the opening track, “Jericho,” a classic rocker that features impeccable sound quality, we hear a band at the top of their game. On the catchy “Livin’ on the Edge of Dyin’,” Eddie is featured on lead vocals and this track hit #25 on the Christian radio charts. Flourishes of the progressive rock sound of their debut continue on “Bad Livin’,” but the band also mix in elements of gospel and soul on tracks like “I Never Knew You” and funkiness on the classic rocker “Long Distance Runner.” There’s even some Southern rock flavor blended in on “Let Me Help You Today.” This album helped establish DEGARMO & KEY as musicians and songwriters of the highest order, and is widely considered their masterpiece.
Straight On track listing: “Jericho”, “Livin' On The Edge Of Dyin'”, “Go Tell Them”, “Bad Livin'”, “Enchiridion”, “Long Distance Runner”, “Let Him Help You Today”, “I Never Knew You”, “Mary”
Straight On CD pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/degarmo-and-key-straight-on-cd-remastered-2021-girder
Straight On vinyl pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/degarmo-and-key-straight-on-red-vinyl-remastered-2021-girder-limited-run-vinyl
The band’s third album This Ain’t Hollywood proved to establish a trilogy of classic albums that would stand the test of time. Featuring the opening “Stella, This Ain’t Hollywood,” a plea to evaluate one’s values against eternal destiny, DEGARMO & KEY prove to be passionate songwriters. The album also yielded two radio hits: “You Gave Me All,” an infectious slow rocker that charted at #19, and the duet with Amy Grant on “Nobody Loves Me,” which charted at #6 and led to DEGARMO & KEY being a part of Amy Grant’s touring band. The album also features the hooky “Love Is All You Need,” co-written with rocker Mylon LeFevre, who is also featured on backing vocals. Mylon would later record this song with his band, LOOK UP, when he was signed to CBS Records in 1987. This album also became the first Christian rock album to be nominated for a Grammy award. Its timeless songs still pack a powerful punch of conviction wedded to a pulsating beat of rock and roll heaven.
This Ain’t Hollywood track listing: “Stella, This Ain't Hollywood”, “When He Comes Back”, “You Gave Me All”, “Never Be The Same”, “All Night”, “All You Need”, “Nobody Loves Me Like You”, “Light Of The World”, “Over And Over”, “One Step Closer”
This Ain’t Hollywood CD pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/degarmo-and-key-this-aint-hollywood-cd-remastered-2021-girder
This Ain’t Hollywood vinyl pre-order: https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders/products/degarmo-and-key-this-aint-hollywood-lime-green-remastered-2021-girder-limited-run-vinyl
NEWS BRIEFS
* The Metal Onslaught online interview with Glenn Kaiser (RESURRECTION BAND): www.themetalonslaught.com/2021/08/28/the-resurrection-band-revisited
* Area 312 Rock & Metal Vodcast interview with Richard Lynch (SAINT): www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhwLLHvp3AA
FEATURED REVIEWS
BRIDE - Kinetic Faith (Girder Music re-issue)
Fourth album from West Point, Kentucky based Bride, Kinetic Faith, traces to the time between the release of its second and third on Pure Metal Records - Live To Die (1988) & Silence Is Madness (1989) - when vocalist Dale Thompson, having grown increasingly disenchanted with the Christian music industry, decided to pursue a secular career. Read Full Review >>
BRIDE - Snakes In The Playground (Girder Music re-issue)
Not many albums actually deserve the label ‘iconic’, but West Point, Kentucky based Bride’s 1992 Star Song Records fifth full length offering Snakes In the Playground earned it. Read Full Review >>
INNERSIEGE - Fury Of Ages
Roxx Records InnerSiege debut Kingdom Of Shadows was one of our favorites from 2012, noting the 85% review in which we describe it as ‘the total package of vocals, musicianship and production’, but we like the Peoria, Illinois based groups spring of 2021 sophomore effort Fury Of Ages better. Read Full Review >>
JUSTICE - Counting Down (Soundmass re-issue)
If you want an eighties influenced melodic metal and hard rock band that offers ‘catchy choruses, fantastic songwriting and talented playing’, then Justice and its 1992 Round Records debut full length Counting Down should be on your radar. Read Full Review >>
DAN PEEK - Doer Of The Word (Retroactive re-issue)
Many will recall Peek from his time in America, having recorded seven studio albums and writing or co-writing four top 100 singles with the folk rock band between 1970 and 1977. Read Full Review >>
PERPETUAL PARANOIA - Hell Fest
Like its Retroactive Records predecessors The Reapers and Between The Altar & the Cross from 2018 and 2019, respectively, March of 2021 third Perpetual Paranoia album Hell Fest (also Retroactive) draws heavily upon the straightforward metal and thrash segments. Read Full Review >>
WALES ROAD - Character Voices
On the face of things, the April of 2021 Spun Records new album from Rochester, New York based Wales Road, Character Voices, feels more like an assembling of new studio songs as opposed to a compilation release. Read Full Review >>
WHITE HEART - White Heart, Vital Signs & Hotline (Retroactive re-issues)
We wouldn’t consider White Heart a master of one genre but rather skilled in many. Read Full Review >>
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
CHARIOT, History Lesson - The Complete Anthology Of Chariot Re-issue On Roxx Records:
Album release: September 3, 2021
Press Release / This one was a labor of love for all involved we are excited to be able to bring you this collection for the first time ever on CD and this package is a work of art.
Classic Christian rock band CHARIOT hailed from Florida and released two full-length cassette releases, which have been much sought after for fans of Christian rock the world over for many years.
After finally tracking down all the CHARIOT members and getting them back together, we were able to get this compilation together for all to finally enjoy in the highest quality ever. Both Tell The World, groups initial demo from 1985, and Step Into Light, released October 15, 1987 on Armor Records, have been meticulously re-mastered by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound and brand new cover art and an extensive layout by Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics.
The music is the best it has ever been, while the booklet was extended to 16 pages and includes a history lesson on the band, many unpublished photos from the bands archives and complete lyrics for every single track. This is a true collectible that will be released as a one-time Limited Edition CD pressing of only 500 copies.
Tell The World track listing:
1. “Constant Confusion”
2. “Don’t Forget The Love”
3. “I Can See”
4. “One More For Heaven”
5. “On And On”
6. “Look”
7. “Survive”
8. “Go Tell The World”
9. “For You”
Step Into Light track listing:
10. “Step Into Light”
11. “Wise Eyes”
12. “Voice”
13. “2000”
14. “Nothing’s Changed”
15. “Reflections”
16. “Know For Sure”
17. “Truth”
History Lesson - The Complete Anthology Of Chariot pre-order: https://roxxrecords.com/collections/2019-releases/products/chariot-history-lesson-the-complete-anthology-2021?mc_cid=cd52540b1e&mc_eid=ceab141ddf
SWINGLE & THOMPSON ORDAINED, Sophomore Album Firestorm On Roxx Records:
Album release: September 3, 2021
Press Release / Roxx Records is excited to announce the sophomore release from SWINGLE & THOMPSON ORDAINED is on the way! That is right Randy Swingle and the one and only Dale Thompson bring you their second and even heavier release to the masses. The second album is called Firestorm and we can tell you it definitely is!
This one has a very powerful message, as we are in the end times. This album will feature legendary Christian award-winning songwriter vocalist of the tear Dale Thompson Of BRIDE on lead vocals. legendary Christian award-winning guitarist Troy Thompson Of BRIDE guesting on lead guitar on a track. Christian Grammy Award winning hall of fame lead vocalist John W Schlitt of HEAD EAST & PETRA lead vocals on a single track & Erik Nelson on lead guitar, bass & drums.
The first single “Christ Conqueror” is about Christ Our Lord Destroying The Works Of The Devil. Featuring Dale Thompson on vocals along with his brother Troy Thompson as well as mastermind Randy Swingle on rhythm guitars and Erik Nelson On Bass and Drums
Firestorm track listing:
1. “Crash N' Burn”
2. “Firestorm”
3. “Violent Skiez”
4. “Fire N' Brimstone”
5. “Are You Ready?”
6. “Christ The Destroyer”
7. “American Hero”
8. “He Who Holds The 7 Starz”
9. “7 Thunderz Roar!”
10. “When Darkness Falls”
11. “Burning Bright”
12. “Unlimited Skiez”
Firestorm pre-order: https://roxxrecords.com/collections/2019-releases/products/swingle-thompson-ordained-firestorm-2021-dale-thompson-bride?mc_cid=cd52540b1e&mc_eid=ceab141ddf
SWINGLE & THOMPSON ORDAINED online: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063800912939
THE THOMAS THOMPSON EARTH PROJECT, third album Systematic Brain Drain On Roxx Records:
Album release: September 3, 2021
Press Release / THE THOMAS THOMPSON EARTH PROJECT started with great success and critical acclaim after their debut and sophomore albums, Dreamland Lovecraft & 7 Angels, 1 Sad Devil, released last year on Roxx Records. And now they are back with their third album and this one takes the band to an even heavier level in again featuring legendary BRIDE front man Dale Thompson on lead vocals.
The new album Systematic Brain Drain features 12 new blistering tracks for all to enjoy and features some of the heaviest riffs these guys have recorded. Dale Thompson shines again out front gives an amazing vocal performance and some of his heaviest vocals as well.
Stay tuned as we get ready to launch pre orders this Friday and release this one to the world on September 3rd 2021.
Systematic Brain Drain track listing:
1. “Own Worst Enemy”
2. “Fall Upon The Rock”
3. “All Things Return”
4. “Game Changer”
5. “Cast Them Out”
6. “Skeleton Bones”
7. “New Day”
8. “Overcoming Evil”
9. “Systematic Brain Drain”
10. “Losing Control”
11. “Save One”
12. “My Darkest Hour”
Systematic Brain Drain pre-order: https://roxxrecords.com/collections/2019-releases/products/thomas-thompson-earth-project-systematic-brain-drain-2021-bride?mc_cid=cd52540b1e&mc_eid=ceab141ddf
THE THOMAS THOMPSON EARTH PROJECT online: www.facebook.com/TheThomasThompsonEarthProject
TRUE STRENGTH Announce New Album The House, The Holy, The Third:
Press Release / TRUE STRENGTH are honored to announce that their fifth full-length studio album, The House, The Holy, The Third, is coming later this year! Stay tuned for more information about the release details in the months to come!
The House, The Holy, The Third is a theme-album based entirely on the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel. The events of the book are covered from beginning to end, as faithful to Scripture as possible. The lyrics for each song derive from actual scripture in the Book of Ezekiel!
The album will also feature the artwork of renowned comic book artist, Ward Silverman (Topps Comics, Star Wars)!
The House, The Holy, The Third track listing:
1. “Arrival Of The Glory Of The Lord (Intro)”
2. “Chariot Of God”
3. “Ezekiel's Call”
4. “Dwelling Of Abominations”
5. “Harlot Bride”
6. “Mourn Not The Delight Of Your Eyes”
7. "Judgement Will Come Against The Nations”
8. “The City Has Fallen”
9. “The Lord Will Be Israel's Shepherd (Instrumental)”
10. "Valley Of Dry Bones"
11. "Destruction Af Gog And Magog"
12. "The House, The Holy, The Third (John 2:19)"
TRUE STRENGTH online: https://truestrength.band/home & www.facebook.com/True-Strength-722436254439923
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
IMARI TONES Announce New Album, Nabeshima:
Album release: July 6, 2021
Press Release / Nabeshima is a new double album by Japanese Christian metal band IMARI TONES. It incorporates Japanese traditional essence into Christian metal music. The band has been making music independently for a long time and it’s hard to say how many records they have made so far, but if you count their English/International releases, this will be their 9th album.
Nabeshima is a double album consisting of 24 songs. While people may be amazed at the volume, it certainly takes listeners to a mysterious journey through ancient Japan. Unknown fantasy world where Japanese traditional culture and Christianity meet. The songs are sung both in English and Japanese. 11 songs are sung in English while 11 songs are in Japanese. The other 2 tracks are instrumental.
The musical style is very diverse. It has some of the heaviest songs from IMARI TONES, as well as some of the most outlandish progressive songs. At the same time it has straightforward pop songs and beautiful ballads.
And yes, it has a spiritual factor. Lead vocalist and guitarist Tak Nakamine doesn’t deny it. It has some strong Christian messages, which some people may be offended by. But IMARI TONES always try to be as much fun and entertaining as they are spiritual and religious which they have proved both in live and studio situations. Their international fans know it and people understand what is unique about IMARI TONES once they experience the music.
IMARI TONES has been an indie band that produces such quality music you will wonder where they have been hiding until now. But soon, that will change with Nabeshima. Ancient Japanese secret will be revealed and its message will change the world. Or at least you will be amazed at this, one of a kind, religious metal music.
Nabeshima track listing (Disc One): “Passion”, “Lord’s Prayer”, “Sakura Day”, “Atomic Jam”, “123,4&5”, “Sakura Night”, “Extravaganza”, “Chanbara”, “Yamagoya3”, “Jidai”, “Bloodthirsty”, “God Anthem”
Nabeshima track listing (Disc Two): “Crucified Boy”, “Sonic Soldiers”, “The Garden”, “Who Are You”, “Sengoku Christians”, “Screaming Sin”, “Matsuo”, “Once In A Lifetime”, “Redemption”, “Tsukuru”, “Not Of This World”, “Utage”
IMARI TONES lineup:
Takahiro “Tone” Nakamine - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Marie - Bass
Shinryu - Drums
IMARI TONES online: https://imaritones.net, www.facebook.com/imaritones, www.youtube.com/user/imaritones, www.instagram.com/imaritones & https://sliptrickrecords.com/imari-tones
ARTIST COMMENTARY
Oz Fox Update (Facebook - August 1, 2021):
“I wanted to make a quick announcement letting you all know that my recovery is going very well from my first surgery. Thankfully, after about 3 months of recovery I was able to record with the band in June. The circumstances for that project were well conditioned for my limited abilities at the time and I'm happy to say it was a successful mission but not without it's challenges for me.
“With that in mind, after my next surgery to remove my acoustic neuroma behind the left ear, my wife Annie and I feel it would be best for me to take the rest of the year off for some solid recovery time. Another big project is coming for Stryper in January and I really would like to be in my best shape for the task.
“With all of that in mind, I have strongly encouraged my brothers in the band to continue with booked shows coming up in the next few months with our dear friend Howie Simon covering my duties. Howie is an amazing guitar player and vocalist and I trust him to fully "out-shred" me for those up and coming dates! So I am trusting you all to welcome him with open arms so the band can continue to work in my absence.
“I will be updating everyone on my health status as things come up. And I thank you for your prayers and encouragement as I face another risky procedure. I know God will be with me like he was for the last one. I am thankful for everything he has pulled me through! Of course I will continue to be a part of our social media platforms including our Patreon page where we all have our weekly hour Q& A sessions. So I hope to see you all there! Take care and we'll see you soon!”
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
WEAPONS OF GOD Announce Sophomore Album, The War Within Us:
Press Release / WEAPONS OF GOD announce their return, bringing a new set of Jesus Metal songs to fans with the release of their sophomore album, The War Within US. Released in follow up to the group self-titled debut from 2019, The War Within Us is set to be released on September 3, 2021. WEAPONS OF GOD consists of Steve McGowan and Leon Black once again on guitars and sharing the lead vocals. Ed Girard is on bass guitar and Greg Alan on the drums.
Along with the album announcement, today also marks the release of the first single and video from the album, "War Within" premiering exclusively on Roxx Records and Weapons of God channels on YouTube.
WEAPONS OF GOD are playing regionally and are frequently leading Worship at the First Heavy Metal Church of Christ in Dayton, Ohio and they will be playing at the Rock-N-The-River in Diamond City, Arkansas October 2, 2021 along with Bred 4 War, 3 Days Under, Becoming Sons, Tetalastai, Bayou Believers and Rising Within.
WEAPONS OF GOD recorded the The War Within US in Dayton, Ohio with Engineer, Ron Pease at The Refraze Studio. Pease has worked with other bands in the past such as THE GOO GOO DOLLS, NELSON and ex MEGADETH guitarist Jeff Young.
The War Within US is composed of ten new tracks including: a heavy, crushing, instrumental song to kick off the CD, “Deep Wordless Knowledge", the blistering, southern, dirty metal song, “Give 'Em Jesus", the chaotic, driven force of "Isolate", and the powerful but mellow song, "I Am with You". Completing the CD are two bonus track re-recordings from the debut CD Weapons Of God: "Anger" and "Weapons of God".
And, while each song varies in tone, the songs are all originals and circle back to one universal theme. The War Within US is about the war and destruction of the world, the war within our country and the war within our minds. Hence, the "US" is capitalized in the title for the United States and for each of US for the personal and daily fight against the spiritual warfare of evil and its temptations, and the rise and outcome in the end for the need of our Savior.
Roxx Records online: www.roxxrecords.com & www.facebook.com/RoxxRecords777
WEAPONS OF GOD online: www.weaponsofgodmusic.com & www.facebook.com/WeaponsOfGodBand
THE NEAL MORSE BAND Premier “Bird On A Wire” Official Video:
Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net & www.angelicwarlord.com
THE NEAL MORSE BAND, now known simply as NMB, will release of its fourth studio album, Innocence & Danger, on August 27. The official music video for the disc's second single "Bird On A Wire", can be seen above.
With NMB's previous two releases being concept albums, it's perhaps remarkable that Innocence & Danger is a series of unrelated songs, but drummer Mike Portnoy says: "After two sprawling back-to-back double concept albums in a row, it was refreshing to get back to writing a collection of unrelated individual songs in the vein of our first album."
Indeed, making this album came easy to the band; while the initial inspiration came particularly from Bill Hubauer (keyboards) and Randy George (bass), the ideas flowed from everybody from there on, as George recalls: "I am excited about the level of collaboration that we achieved on this one. We even went in with a lot of ideas that weren't necessarily developed, and I think in the end we have something that represents the best of everybody in the band."
In fact - like its two acclaimed predecessors - Innocence & Danger is a double album by inspiration, rather than design, as Portnoy explains: "As much as we wanted to try and keep it to a single album after having just done two double albums, we wrote so much material that we found ourselves with our third double album in a row. That's pretty prog."
There is also plenty in Innocence & Danger to excite those prog fans who have a thirst for epics, as Neal Morse explains: "There's one half-hour epic and another that's about 20 minutes long. I really didn't realize that they were that long when we were recording them, which I guess is great because if a movie is really good, you don't realize that it's three hours long. But there are also some shorter songs: some have poppier elements, some are heavier and some have three-part acoustic sections. I'm excited about all of it, really."
The album will be released as a limited 2CD+DVD digipak (featuring a making-of documentary), 3LP+2CD box set, standard 2CD jewel case and digital album, featuring artwork by Thomas Ewerhard (TRANSATLANTIC).
Innocence & Danger track listing:
Disc One (Innocence):
1. “Do It All Again”
2. “Bird On A Wire”
3. “Your Place In The Sun”
4. “Another Story To Tell”
5. “The Way It Had To Be”
6. “Emergence”
7. “Not Afraid Pt. 1”
8. “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
Disc Two (Danger):
1. “Not Afraid Pt. 2”
2. “Beyond The Years”
Radiant Records online: www.facebook.com/RadiantRecord
NEAL MORSE online: https://nealmorse.com & www.facebook.com/nealmorse
NEWS BRIEFS
* “Morning Star”, new medieval tinged hard rock single from DARKHORSE HERO: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AazVHjJUTY
The song comes off the upcoming DARKHORSE HERO sophomore album Mixtape Volume 2: Living For A Bigger Kingdom, which is scheduled for release in September.
* GYPSY CARNS recently debuted a new hard rock single entitled “Color Of Skin”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKxpJ-1wrlQ
“Color Of Skin” appears on the Kryp II Knight, Volume II compilation recently released on Bongo Boy Records.
* Retroactive Records is scheduled to re-issue on August 13, 2021 the initial MODEST ATTRACTION demo releases under the title Get Ready in addition to the groups debut full length The Truth Is In Your Face (1994) and sophomore effort Divine Luxury (1996). A lyric video was uploaded the past week to the Divine Luxury track “15 Years”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JVoL193Qs8
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
THE BRAVE Premier “I’ve Always Wondered” Official Video:
Press Release / THE BRAVE is an American rock band hailing from the greater Los Angeles Area in Southern California, namely Lancaster. Originally signed to Pakaderm/Word Records in the early 90's, the band released two critically acclaimed albums (Battle Cries and Trust) under the Grammy award winning production of John and Dino Elefante and yielded 7+ Top 10 CCM singles. The original lineup consisted of Stayce Roberts and Freddy Tierra on dual guitars, Randy Roberts on drums, Malcolm Paris on bass, and James Salters on vocals. THE BRAVE produced a huge arena rock sound, laden with fiery guitars and Def Leppard type harmonies rich in melody and attitude. Their debut album, Battle Cries, was mixed by none other than Neil Kernon (of DOKKEN and QUEENSRYCHE fame), and together THE BRAVE became a crowd and radio favorite.
After surviving their first personnel changes, the band found themselves searching for a new singer for their next album (STRYPER's Oz Fox was even considered); up to the plate stepped drummer Randy Roberts. Though more bluesy in style, Trust solidified THE BRAVE as a serious contender, specifically as the entire music landscape changed before their eyes when groups like SOUNDGARDEN and ALICE IN CHAINS began to turn the tides musically. While some fans did not embrace the changes, a whole new group of listeners emerged, as well as new bassist Steve Irwin and drummer John Spittle. The band continued in its evolution and was just hitting its stride when their label, Pakaderm picked up and left for Nashville, and the group disbanded.
Sadly, THE BRAVE lost singer/drummer Randy Roberts in 2007. In tribute to their fallen brother, remaining members Stayce Roberts, Freddy Tierra, Steve Irwin, and other friends put on a concert in his name, and certainly, his presence was felt. In fact, it was this very event that caused the members to stir, and even consider reforming and working on something new. 20 years after the release of the Trust record, THE BRAVE emerged with Rise, a 12 song collection of new material and re-recorded THE BRAVE classics. Rise featured the musical talents of Stayce Roberts on guitars, THE BRAVE -alumni Malcolm Paris and Steve Irwin on bass, on long time comrade Johnny Zimmerman on drums. Arguably, the greatest addition to the band was lead vocalist, Amanda Z. Her stellar vocal performances took THE BRAVE 's music to new heights onthe powerful release. As the music fates would have it, this band was short lived.
That brings us to 2021, and THE BRAVE is set to unleash on July 27, 2021 their first full-length album of new, original material since 1994. The album is called, Evie's Little Garden, and it features 12 brand new tunes penned by longtime THE BRAVE songwriter Stayce Roberts. Roberts' last addition to THE BRAVE lineage of killer tunes were 2014's, “Tell Me Now”, “The Killing Floor”, “Somebody”, “Wither Me” and “I'm Your Reason”, from the 2014 release, Rise. Time will tell if history will remember these new songs as some of their finest.
A video to the debut single off the album, “I’ve Always Wondered” can be viewed above.
Evie’s Little Garden track listing:
1. “Evie's Little Garden”
2. “Run to You”
3. “I've Always Wondered”
4. “We're Not in Kansas Anymore”
5. “Elevate Me”
6. “Creep”
7. “Lonely Bones”
8. “If I Told You”
9. “And We All Fall Down”
10. “Lucid”
11. “Come to Me” (CD & vinyl bonus track)
12. “Love: Automatic” (CD & vinyl bonus track)
Evie’s Little Garden pre-order: https://thebravemusic.com/pre-order-evie-s-little-garden
THE BRAVE online: https://thebravemusic.com & www.facebook.com/thebravemusicsite
NEWS BRIEFS
* DYNASTY OF METAL release lyric video to “The Mud”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dUhgXmH3sU
Further details from the group:
On January 25, 2019, at 12:28 pm, an iron ore tailings dam at the Córrego do Feijão mine broke down and took 252 lives with 11 missing, including employees of the management company and residents of the region. Now, over 2 years after the tragedy, DYNASTY OF METAL joins with other personalities from the region's music scene and releases the single “The Mud”.
The Nova Lima, Brazil based traditional metal act is also at work on a new album to be entitled Back To The Past, which it is recording in tribute to the groups whom influenced it: BARREN CROSS, TOURNIQUET, BLOODGOOD, JOSHUA, IMPELLITTERI, PETRA, SACRED WARRIOR, MORTIFICATION, RECON, NARNIA, DELIVERANCE, WHITECROSS, BRIDE, STRYPER and SAINT. Look for the album to be released next year.
* List of vocalists whom will appear on Kerry Livgren’s Catana release (Facebook - July 7, 2021):
Jesus - David Pack
Lazarus - John Elefante
Thomas - Phil Keaggy
Mary - Kim Borchers
Martha - Susan Shewbridge
Nicodemus - Warren Ham
Joseph of Arimathea - Greg X. Volz
Disciple 1 - Allen Asbury
Disciple 2 - Bill Compeau
Disciple 3 - Cal Walker
Caiaphas - Jake Livgren
Pharisee 1 - David Luther Broxterman
Pharisee 2 - Rich Williams
Pharisee 3 - Steve Walsh
Pharisee 4 - Monty Colvin
Pharisee 5 - Robby Steinhardt
Pharisee 6 - Dave Hope
Pharisee 7 - Matthew Schellenberg
Background Vocals and Choir - Jake Livgren, David Pack, John Elefante, Kim Borchers, Susan Shewbridge, Bill Compeau, Cal Walker, Matthew Schellenberg, Jessica (Livgren) Matheis, Kreg Hoover, Stephanie Teagarden, Roxanne Livgren, Britta Livgren
FEATURED REVIEWS
ALLIES - Allies & Virtues (Retroactive re-issues)
Allies is a stalwart in the Christian AOR segment. Read Full Review >>
ARCLIGHT - Arclight
The Arclight self-titled debut demo EP from February of 2021 does a lot right. Read Full Review >>
DELIVERANCE - Weapons Of Our Warfare (Retroactive Records re-issue)
Another album that has gained a well-deserved iconic reputation but within speed metal and melodic thrash circles is 1990 Intense Records Deliverance sophomore album Weapons Of Our Warfare. Read Full Review >>
LAYTON & MARTIN - Roxology
It’s not easy to roll two musical forms into one, but that’s the task taken up by Layton & Martin on its May of 2021 Roxx Records debut full length Roxology (Unearthing Majestic Hymns From The Catacombs). Read Full Review >>
MALACHIA - Under The Blade (Roxx Records re-issue)
Three years after being included as part of the double CD Red Sunrise - The Complete Anthology compilation, Malachia 1986 debut EP Under The Blade receives a much needed standalone re-release. Read Full Review >>
RANSOM - Ransom (Retroactive re-issue)
Ransom traces its history to the mid-eighties and the burgeoning white metal scene to emerge following the commercial success of Stryper. Read Full Review >>
REFLECTION OF GLORY - Escape The Dream
When looking for an accompanying of European power and progressive metal with strong symphonic influences, you can’t go wrong with Reflection Of Glory and its independently released January of 2021 fourth album Escape The Dream. Read Full Review >>
XALT - Under The Ruins (Retroactive Records re-issue)
We had high-hopes for the Pure Metal Records 1990 Xalt debut full length Under The Ruins, and deservedly so. Read Full Review >>
METAL & HARD ROCK NEWS
RED SEA, Blood Gold Disc Edition Re-issue on Roxx Records:
Album release: July 30, 2021
Press Release / This one has been officially out of print since its original release in 1994! Until July of 2019 when we released a Limited Edition CD pressing and a first time on vinyl edition pressing of this classic release! Well, it sold VERY well. In fact the CD has been sold out for almost a year and the red vinyl version sold it in the first few months. We get constant requests for more copies of this release, and we are excited to be able to accommodate this request one last time.
Red Sea featured the amazing vocal talents of Robin Basauri (DIE HAPPY, JAGUAR) the guitar playing of Chris Sorenson (FEAR NOT) drums of Jeff Martin (BADLANDS, RACER X) and rounded out on bass by Greg Chaisson (BADLANDS, DIE HAPPY). The album boasted very well done heavy, bluesy rock bordering on metal. What you got here was a band that sounded very much like BADLANDS but featured Christian lyrics and themes.
Roxx Records is proud to present a Limited Edition pressing of the classic album Blood by RED SEA on an exclusive Gold CD. Limited to only 500 copies and featuring a 12-page booklet. If you missed out on the first CD this is your chance to get a copy in your collections, or if you’re the ultimate collector you may just want a copy of this special gold disc version.
Pre orders go live Friday July 2nd and with a release date of July 30th which is almost exactly 2 years since the original reissue was released.
Blood track listing:
1. “Soulshaker”
2. “Blood”
3. “Wolves At The Door”
4. “Dust To Dust”
5. “Last Days Of Winter”
6. “Walk On Fire”
7. “Shades Of Purple”
8. “Hellbound Train”
9. “Losin’ My Way”
10. “Down Home Static”
11. “Tears Of Joy”
Blood Gold Disc Edition pre-order: https://roxxrecords.com/collections/roxx-records/products/red-sea-blood-gold-disc-edition-2022
Martin Simson's DESTROYER OF DEATH release second single, “Master Of All”:
Press Release / New single “Master Of All” from American metal project Martin Simson's DESTROYER OF DEATH featuring Jørn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Anders Johansson (HAMMERFALL, MANOWAR) & CJ Grimmark (NARNIA, EMPIRE 21) out Friday, July 2nd, 2021. The single is released via JONO Music (Sweden) and Sound Pollution Distribution and is now available on all major digital platforms.
“Master Of All” is certain to please with Jørn’s trademark vocal attack, CJ Grimmark’s guitar pyrotechnics and Anders Johansson's masterful drum work. Grimmark returns as co-writer and producer.
Martin Simson is a long-time heavy metal fan and musician, having played bass in several bands in southern California during the 1980s. He recently began writing music and lyrics, some of which caught the attention of guitar legend and friend, CJ Grimmark.
“Master Of All” lineup:
Jørn Lande - Lead Vocals
CJ Grimmark - Guitars, Keyboards & Bass
Martin Simson - Bass
Anders Johansson - Drums
Rob Rock (IMPELLITTERI) contributed lead vocals to debut single “Destroyer Of Death”, which was released in January of this year: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn4Fk4tI4ZI
DESTROYER OF DEATH links:
Single: https://orcd.co/master-of-all
EPK: http://dod.jonomusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DestroyerOfDeath
Instagram: www.instagram.com/MSDestroyerOfDeath
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DestroyerOfDea2
NEWS BRIEFS
* BRIDE update from vocalist Dale Thompson (Facebook - June 30, 2021):
“Just ‘Facetimed’ with Troy (Thompson – guitars) and here is our plan. Christmas album, with one original song! Southern Gospel Hymnal album of old time favorites recorded with our dad. And then we are going to attempt to release our Classic rock song remakes without getting sued by the original artist and then we discussed in detail about the next official Bride album. Troy and I have debated our direction since the band begun. I win out sometimes, he wins out sometimes and that is why the diversity in our music over the years. We have come to an agreement, which I believe will be an album of epic proportions. We are going back in time.
“Not to the beginning because all of that music is dated. Matter of fact in this new world of music all rock is dated; however, we are going to follow our instincts and the leading of the Holy Spirit and we are only writing songs that we would want to perform live and that any WWF wrestler would be proud to walk to the ring while it was playing. So yes, 12 new songs written and recorded for the WWF ring walk. Now that should be the grooviest album we have recorded yet. We know we cannot compete with this new generation of metal artist who are able to blow the string off their guitars and smash drumheads and still keep playing. We are going to lay down the groove."
