Posts By Asher
0 CurvyMetal Dissecting Metal: Rockshots Records Nahaya Vital Alchemy Commentary And Review
0 EPK – Fell Harvest – Pale Light In A Dying World (2021)
EPK – Fell Harvest – Pale Light In A Dying World (2021)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Pallbearer, Paradise Lost, Opeth, My Dying Bride, Agalloch, Type O Negative
Facebook.com/fellharvest | YouTube | Spotify | FellHarvest.Bandcamp.com
“’A snapshot of the plague year’, so much of this record was shaped by the pandemic, from deciding to record when and how we did, to tracking parts with a 103-degree fever and the discovery that I couldn’t sing the same way anymore because COVID damaged my lungs too badly. While it’s ultimately about more than just this one, unique moment in the modern zeitgeist, it’s also impossible to separate from the things happening around us when we created it.” – Joseph Fell – Fell Harvest
Album Title: Pale Light In A Dying World
Release Date: July 16, 2021
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Self-Release
Track Listing:
1. Titanicide (4:36)
2. Pale Light In a Dying World (8:23)
3. The Lark at Morning (7:10)
4. The Wind That Shakes the Barley (4:32)
5. Thy Barren Fields (6:40)
6. The Ghosts of Scapa Flow (9:08)
Album Length: 40:32
Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Joseph Fell, Liam Duncan, Angel Enkeli
• All songs written by: Joseph Fell
• Produced by: Joseph Fell
• Mixed by: Alexander Backlund
• Mastered by: Alexander Backlund
• Album Artwork by: Sam Nelson/Stigma Art
• Album Recording Band Line Up:
Joseph Fell – Bass, Vocals, Additional Guitars
Liam Duncan – Lead and Rhythm guitars
Angel Enkeli – Drums
Synths and programming by Alexander Backlund
Live Band Line Up:
Joseph Fell – Bass, Vocals
Liam Duncan – Lead and Rhythm Guitars
Angel Enkeli – Drums
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Album was a whole: “A snapshot of the plague year’. So much of this record was shaped by the pandemic, from deciding to record when and how the band did, to tracking parts with a 103-degree fever and the discovery that vocalist Joseph Fell couldn’t sing the same way anymore because COVID damaged his lungs too badly. While it’s ultimately about more than just this one, unique moment in the modern zeitgeist, it’s also impossible to separate from the things happening around us when the band created it.
Describe each song track by track
Titanicide: This song is built around a collection of riffs I wrote more than 20 years ago. It has heavy influence from 90s bands like Samael and At The Gates. These riffs sat homeless in the back of my head all this time because I never felt an urge to unify and complete them. The title and lyrics are about transcending and ultimately destroying one’s idols, both literally and metaphysically.
Pale Light In a Dying World: This was inspired by walking to work during a dark winter morning and feeling like I was struggling to find life in a world that could offer only dimness and cold. It also has heavy 90s melo-death influences but also has an acoustic section that drops to one of the heaviest riffs I’ve ever written
The Lark At Morning: Much more of a straightforward death-doom song, its lyrics are a nod to the famous scene in Romeo and Juliette, inspired by watching the sunrise with a woman who I knew I’d never see again.
The Wind That Shakes the Barley: Classic Irish ballad about one of the many doomed rebellions that country has fought against the English. I feel like the lyrics and melody naturally lead to a very sorrowful, blackened doom feel.
Thy Barren Fields: Probably the song on the album I am most proud of. It encompasses a really broad scope of influences while never feeling like it’s reaching or forcing anything (I hope). This is another one made of brand new parts and things that have been hanging in the back of my head for years.
The Ghosts of Scapa Flow: This was a Thorns of Acanthus song written for that band’s debut EP in 2014. I decided to resurrect it in a new format because it’s always been a fan favorite whenever we play live. It was inspired by the scuttling of the interned German High Seas Fleet following the Treaty of Versailles.
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STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BAND:
– Joseph Fell found Liam through an ad on Craigslist after jamming with probably a half dozen other guitarists who just didn’t have the right combination of doom aesthetic and death metal technique. As soon as he heard Liam’s “audition” track, Crystal Mountain by Death, he knew this was the guy.
– This album was mixed and mastered by Alexander Backlund, the man behind 1914’s “The Blind Leading the Blind”.
– This album’s vocal styles are markedly different from prior efforts, being entirely “clean” with no death or black metal harshness. This was because Joseph Fell contracted COVID during recording and the resulting lung damage made that style of vocal impossible.
– All the clean sections of the album were recorded on an actual acoustic guitar and played fingerstyle.
– The band’s logo/sigil depicts an undead elk with rotting branches for antlers. The stag’s name is CJ – short for Creutzfeldt-Jakob, or “mad cow disease” which one can get from eating elk.
Photo Credit: Sean Castenada
L-R – Joseph Fell – Bass/Vocals, Angel Enkeli – Drums, Liam Duncan – Guitar
Fell Harvest, doom metal from Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA, strives to weave a tapestry of melody, despair, and longing to chronicle the last lights of a dying world.
Fell Harvest grew out of a former project of Joseph Fell (bass/vocals); which found its completed form as a trio with the additions of Angel Enkeli (drums) and Liam Duncan (guitars). The name Fell Harvest came from a dream Fell had where he was walking through a deserted vineyard with every vine bearing bleached bones and rotting flesh. He woke up and wrote a short poem called “The Fell Harvest” about the images and feelings.
Probably the most unique aspect of their live sound is rooted in the fact they are a trio. It’s somewhat rare these days to see a three-piece band in extreme metal, and even more rare to see one that is as melodically driven as Fell Harvest. Fans can hear parallels to bands like Paradise Lost and Rotting Christ, but more careful listeners can hear nods to Venom and King’s X as well.
The band debuted a self-titled EP in 2020 and is following it up with “Pale Light In A Dying World” out on July 16, 2021.
Discography:
2021 – Pale Light In A Dying World – LP
2020 – Fell Harvest – EP
Shared Stage with:
Velnias, Seed of the Sorcerer, Womb of the Witch, The Leshen, Belhor, Scepter of Eligos
0 KNAC.com – Reviews – ILLUSORY ‘Crimson Wreath’ Rockshots Records “If it is true that a band’s third album is supposed to be their “breakthrough” release, then ILLUSORY has certainly done their part in proving that belief to be true. Despite a run time of over 75 minutes, not once does the album drag. Rather, you can’t believe it when the album is over because you want to keep listening. I strongly feel that not only is Crimson Wreath one of the singular best albums you could hope to come across this year, but it will come to be seen as ILLUSORY’s magnum opus release! 5.0 Out Of 5.0″
@officialknac – Reviews – @ILLUSORY_band ‘Crimson Wreath’ @RockshotsRecords http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=37785
“If it is true that a band’s third album is supposed to be their “breakthrough” release, then ILLUSORY has certainly done their part in proving that belief to be true. Despite a run time of over 75 minutes, not once does the album drag. Rather, you can’t believe it when the album is over because you want to keep listening. I strongly feel that not only is Crimson Wreath one of the singular best albums you could hope to come across this year, but it will come to be seen as ILLUSORY’s magnum opus release! 5.0 Out Of 5.0″
0 Primalfrost – Stormbearer (single) (2021)
Primalfrost – Stormbearer (single) (2021)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Wintersun, Wolfheart, Stormlord, Kalmah, Insomnium
Facebook.com/Primalfrost | Instagram.com/primalfrostofficial |
Primalfrost.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Primalfrost.bigcartel.com | Apple Music
As unprecedented heatwaves cook the world this summer, there is one who is trying to bring a refreshing, chilling blast of cold to fans of melodic and black metal. Primalfrost is the solo project of Canadian Dean Paul Arnold and he is putting out a third single “Stormbearer” from the forthcoming album “Lost Elegies”.
“Lost Elegies”, the third album, has been a long time coming as Primalfrost has been on hiatus since shortly after the second album “Prosperous Visions” was released in 2014. This third single proves that Arnold has only gotten better at his craft as time has gone on. He details the track:
“This song showcases the refined, matured, and developed sound of Primalfrost in every way from beginning to end. It will surely satisfy those who love the darkness and melodicism of melodic metal while blended harmoniously with the sonic assault of extreme metal, and the audio production of Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc (ex- Blackguard/Ex Deo) to do the music justice.”
Due to touring schedules with other bands, Primalfrost was put into hiatus, only to be revived due to pandemic restrictions. Arnold writes, performs, and records all instruments, vocals and orchestration for the album. It was mixed and mastered by Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc of Silverwings Studios in Montreal, Canada who also adds additional orchestration.
Primalfrost brings forth the melody and intensity that is the backbone of melodic death metal and is recommended for fans of Wolfheart, Stormlord, and Kalmah.
The release date for the next full-length “Lost Elegies” is yet to be determined.
Single Title: Stormbearer (4:18)
Release Date: August 10, 2021
Label: Self-Release
Credits:
Dean Arnold – All Instruments, Vocals, & Orchestration
Recorded by Dean Arnold in Toronto, Canada
Mixed & Mastered by Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc of Silverwings Studios in Montreal, Canada
Additional Orchestration by Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc
TBA – Lost Elegies – Album
2021 – Stormbearer – Single
2021 – Nomad – Single
2021 – Maelstrom – Single
2014 – Prosperous Visions – Full-Length
2012 – Chapters of Time – EP
Primalfrost was formed in 2012 by Canadian musician Dean Paul Arnold when he was 15 years old. Dean is the sole composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist behind the band since its inception. Primalfrost’s sound combines melodicism/lush symphonic with the grit/power of extreme metal, taking influence from bands like Wintersun, Wolfheart, Stormlord, Septicflesh, & more.
Primarily a guitarist, Dean has performed hundreds of shows in 30+ countries across four continents. Primarily touring with American Death Metal band Vital Remains, and now Toronto’s own Operus, Dean has acquired hard-touring experience in a vast variety of settings. Dean has had dozens of guitar solo appearances on a wide variety of metal albums, including Polish death metal band Hate’s 2017 album “Tremendum” (Napalm Records) and for Colorado’s Buried Realm, alongside players like Teemu Mäntysaari (Wintersun) and Brandon Ellis (Black Dahlia Murder).
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple lockdowns, the band has been brought out of hiatus allowing a new album to be recorded/released. Titled “Lost Elegies”, Dean has teamed up with Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc (Blackguard, Ex-Deo) for mixing & mastering as well as Jan Yrlund (Manowar, Tyr, Korpiklaani) for artwork. This album is a powerhouse of melodic metal with blistering riffs, guitar solos, orchestration, & more, sure to be enjoyed by many. No official date has been set yet for its release.
Currently, Primalfrost has independently released three singles in preview to the full length, “Maelstrom”, “Nomad” and “Stormbearer”. All are available on Bandcamp, YouTube, & all major streaming platforms.
0 Distorted Sound Mag – ALBUM REVIEW: Crimson Wreath – Illusory
0 Dissecting Metal: As We Suffer: The Fallen Pillars Commentary And Review
0 As We Suffer – The Fallen Pillars • GRIMM Gent “This is a very good debut album to show the world who As We Suffer is. They seem to be skilled musicians with great arrangements, lyrics and productions. It is nice to hear they don’t stick to one genre and aren’t afraid to experiment and hover between hardcore, metal, punk and hard rock… If you’re a fan of Rise Against, Propagandhi, Death by Stereo or Killswitch Engage you have to listen to this album/band. If not, you still have to discover them!!”
As We Suffer – The Fallen Pillars • GRIMM Gent “This is a very good debut album to show the world who As We Suffer is. They seem to be skilled musicians with great arrangements, lyrics and productions. It is nice to hear they don’t stick to one genre and aren’t afraid to experiment and hover between hardcore, metal, punk and hard rock… If you’re a fan of Rise Against, Propagandhi, Death by Stereo or Killswitch Engage you have to listen to this album/band. If not, you still have to discover them!!” https://www.grimmgent.com/as-we-suffer-the-fallen-pillars/
0 Rockshots Records: Out Now! Greek Prog Power ILLUSORY New Album “Crimson Wreath”
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – May 21, 2021
For fans of Iron Maiden, Queensryche, Savatage, Jag Panzer
Rockshots Records: Out Now! Greek Prog Power ILLUSORY New Album “Crimson Wreath”
“Crimson Wreath” Out May 21, 2021
Greece’s prog power titans Illusory have released their new album “Crimson Wreath”, out now as of May 21st via Rockshots Records.
Having opened for such legendary acts Blue Oyster Cult, Warrel Dane, Geoff Tate, and Gus G, Illusory‘s third full-length “Crimson Wreath” is the next step in their widely praised evolution to follow 2016’s Polysllabic (7hard/7us) and 2013’s “The Ivory Tower” (The Leaders Records).
Melodic, riffy, cerebral, and complex “Crimson Wreath” is a very emotional and melodic release, yet heavy and strong at the same time. Both new fans and ones who have been listening to the band for years will indulge themselves in this latest offering of classic, progressive, epic, and thrashy performances. Lyrical themes found on “Crimson Wreath” are mostly anti-war, but the full length also includes a thematic unit consisting of three songs that deal with human loss.
The band comments:
“The band is thrilled! When we look back, from the first minute to the last one, from the moment we pressed record on the very first drum takes to the album wrap-up, we can’t stop thinking about all the things we set and done during those long hours of arranging every little album detail. “Crimson Wreath” has become a member of our discography and our most recent brainchild. And we are totally proud of it!”
For fans of Iron Maiden, Queensryche, Savatage, Jag Panzer, Illusory‘s “Crimson Wreath” is available at the following links:
CD – http://bit.ly/CrimsonWreathCD
Apple Music – https://apple.co/3ozyVoh
Spotify – https://spoti.fi/3f8gpAq
In additional news, the band will be revealing a new music video in the coming weeks for the track “Ashes To Dust”. The video will feature special guest Grigoris Valtinos, a world-renowned Greek theatrical actor and director.
Track Listing:
1. Besetting Sins (5:01)
2. Acedia (2:11)
3. Crimson Wreath (6:35)
4. Immortal No (4:25)
5. All Shall Fade (1:51)
6. All Blood Red (5:48)
7. The Voice Inside Me (1:28)
8. S.T. Forsaken (8:08)
9. Ashes To Dust (5:51)
10. A Poem I Couldn’t Rhyme (4:22)
An Opus Of Loss And Sorrow:
11. Pedestal I: Past Forever Last (6:07)
12. Pedestal II: The Isle Of Shadows (9:08)
13. Pedestal III: Agony’s Last (6:53)
14. Fortress Of Sadness (10:04)
Album Length: 1:18:00
ILLUSORY is:
Dee Theodorou – Vocals
George Papantonis – Guitars
Greg Bakos – Guitars
Niki Danos – Bass
Makis Vandoros – Keyboards
Costas Koulis – Drums
For more info:
Rockshots.eu
Illusoryband.com
Facebook.com/illusoryband
Instagram/illusory_band
Twitter.com/illusoryband
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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia
0 Out Now! Rockshots Records: NAHAYA’s New Album “Vital Alchemy” + New Lyric Video
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – May 21, 2021
For fans of Sylosis, Paradise Lost, The Haunted
Out Now! Rockshots Records: NAHAYA’s New Album “Vital Alchemy” + New Lyric Video
(ft. Members of Oceans of Slumber, Vesperian Sorrow, ex-Kingdom Collapse, Painting The Massacre, Cerebral Desecration)
Rockshots Records is proud to unleash NAHAYA‘s (ft. members of Oceans of Slumber, Vesperian Sorrow, ex-Kingdom Collapse, Painting The Massacre, Cerebral Desecration) new album, entitled “Vital Alchemy”, out now as of Friday, May 21st.
For the full-length’s release day, the band is sharing their latest lyric video for the title track, which features guest vocals from Aeternam’s Achraf Loudiy.
The band adds:
“Vital Alchemy is inspired by books like the Kybalion and loose study’s pertaining to Gnosticism and Kabbalah. To be put simply, it’s about self-transformation. It’s a very important song to us. We decided to have a close friend of ours Achraf Loudiy (Aeternam ) feature on a good majority of it. He adds some dynamic vocal range, going from the depths of brutality to soaring clean. We quickly realized this was going to be one of the standouts on the album and decided to name the entire project after it.”
Lyric Video – https://youtu.be/EZbWXhcPcZ8
The album “Vital Alchemy” is available from Rockshots Records at the following links:
Album CD – http://bit.ly/VitalAlchemy_CD
Digital – https://backl.ink/145036796
NAHAYA is a Texan-based band that is an amalgamation of American melodic groove thrash, Gothenburg sounds, and Middle Eastern influences. The band was founded in 2013 by Ryan Peters with Semir Ozerkan, who immigrated to the US from Istanbul, Turkey to pursue career opportunities in metal, one being with Oceans of Slumber.
“Vital Alchemy” follows the band’s well-received EPs “Transcendence Pt. II” (2020) and “Transcendence” (2018). Since the band’s conception, they have been working hard to make a name for themselves independently, performing over 50 shows year-round in Texas and neighboring states including Austin’s SXSW festival and becoming national finalists for the 2019 Wacken Metal Battle USA competition.
Mastered by Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, Scale the Summit), “Vital Alchemy” is seven tracks that will take fans through a wide range of emotions. There is something on this record for every kind of music lover. From the melody to the groove to the speed and unlike its predecessors that were focused on themes of science fiction, this new record takes on more personal interest, spirituality, and metaphysics along with it being more musically dynamic and experimental, incorporating progressive, acoustic, melancholic sounds with thrashing elements.
Overall, “Vital Alchemy”, signifies a rebirth for NAHAYA as the new tracks featured on the recording are the next step in the band’s evolution when it comes to their musical direction.
Music Video – Incubator – https://youtu.be/aGjv_ZNZAmU
Music Video – Deific Mask – https://youtu.be/ZaATqzhXdfw
Track Listing:
1. Madness of Maenads (1:22)
2. Deific Mask (3:42)
3. Vital Alchemy (4:27)
4. Incubator (4:46)
5. Kali Yuga (3:26)
6. Midnight Fidelio (3:22)
7. Aghori Fires (4:03)
Album Length: 25:11
Album Credits:
Music: Nahaya
Produced & Engineered by Clifton Miles and Damian Refuge at Stone Creek Sound in San Antonio, TX
Mixed & Mastered by Clifton Miles
Special FX on “Intro” by Russell Rott
Album Artwork by Cameron Burns
More info:
Rockshots.eu
Facebook.com/nahayaofficial
Instagram.com/nahayaofficial
– 30-
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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia
0 Antichrist Metalzine #Interview with Nightshadow
Antichrist Metalzine #Interview with Nightshadow
ashermediarelations.com 