Category: Music News

0 Rockshots Records – Power Metallers HIGHLORD Want You To Have Your “Eyes Open Wide” For First Single Off New Album “Freakin’ Out of Hell” Out December 2022

November 7, 2022
by Asher
· Highlord (Rockshot Records) · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – November 7, 2022

Rockshots Records – Power Metallers HIGHLORD Want You To Have Your “Eyes Open Wide” For First Single Off New Album “Freakin’ Out of Hell”

“Freakin’ Out of Hell” Out December 9th

Italian Power metallers Highlord are unveiling their first single “Eyes Wide Open” off their forthcoming album “Freakin’ Out of Hell” due out on December 9th via Rockshots Records.

The band explains the track:

“Starting with a state-of-the-art heavy riff and guitar solo, it slows down with clean guitars for the vocal parts, quickly regaining territory on the fast and heavy side, culminating with the chorus. The following section is quite progressive-fashioned, followed by back-and-forth guitar and keyboard solos. The final chorus concludes the song. The topic of the lyrics is basically the same as Off the Beaten Path, we must keep our eyes well open to detect a long list of deceits.”

Listen to “Eyes Wide Open” at the following links:

Lyric Video – https://youtu.be/Bkl8o9FDWCY

Digital – https://bfan.link/eyes-open-wide

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

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

The band adds about the ninth offering:

“Freakin’ out of Hell is a solid work from every point of view. Not only the songs are all potential singles, but they have more or less the same average length of 4/5 minutes; we avoided recording the classic long suite just as much as the hit-and-run happier song because in this album we have found the perfect balance between all the elements of our sound. We have also set the average level of heaviness and aggression a bit higher; this is not a happy metal record, it’s a heavy metal piece that fully deserves this definition.”

Album pre-order- https://bit.ly/Highlord_CD

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

For more info:
https://www.rockshots.eu
https://www.facebook.com/highlordmetalband

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—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations | Instagram @AsherMedia | Tweet @AsherMedia
(Rockshots Records, Extreme Metal Music, Armstrong MF, Loud As Hell, Metalocalypstick, Decimate MF, Electric Highway Fest, Wacken Metal Battle Canada/USA, Hyperspace MF, Le FestEvil)

0 Step Into A Vast Progressive Metal World With THE WRING’s “Stiletto” ft. Marco Minnemann Off New Album “Spectra” Out Dec 2022 via WormHoleDeath Records

November 4, 2022
by Asher
· Music News · The Wring

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – November 4, 2022

Step Into A Vast Progressive Metal World With THE WRING’s “Stiletto” ft. Marco Minnemann

New Album “Spectra” Out Dec 16th, 2022 via WormHoleDeath Records

Canada’s The Wring is gearing up to release a third album “Spectra” next month, which promises to be an assertive mix of different styles including hard rock, jazz, metal, classical, 80’s rock, 70’s rock, and probably a few other things. Solo artist Don Dewulf had the idea and with the help of accomplished musicians, the project has been brought to life. The next piece they are sharing is the single “Stiletto” ft. Marco Minnemann, which Dewulf outlines:

“This song is about the debilitating need for social media attention and validation. The blade goes in and you never even feel it, then you slowly bleed out. The verses are in 5/8 and ⅞ creating a somewhat jarring effect, and also speaking to the theme. Chandler does a killer job on the chorus vocal and there is a very peculiar odd-time breakdown before the solo. Very fun song to play.”

He also comments that “Spectra” is a bit like a 1970’s King Crimson album, but without any ethereal soliloquies and certainly with a more significant hard rock/metal influence. Compared to last year’s full-length “Project Cipher”, this new offering carries on in the same tradition and headspace, but the songs are fuller and cohesive.

The album got its name because Dewulf feels that it really touches on a wide range of musical styles and themes. The mixes are very layered with a lot of detail; you can listen to it many times and still continue to pick out intricacies and small details each time.

Dewulf is writing constantly as he always has a lot of ideas to flesh out and bring to the ears of listeners around the world. He has no intentions of stopping soon, so fans of “Spectra” should keep an eye out for new music. The Wring is recommended for fans of King Crimson, Dream Theater, and Opeth.

The music video for “Stiletto” ft. Marco Minnemann can be seen and heard via its premiere on Bravewords HERE.

Digital single – https://orcd.co/stilettopresave

“Spectra” is due out on December 16, 2022, via WormHoleDeath Records.

The album teaser can be heard at https://youtu.be/FBbV-FngKG0

Album digital pre-save available at https://orcd.co/spectrapreorder

Track Listing:
1. Stiletto 4:40
2. Stones & Bones 4:58
3. The Prince 3.54
4. The Wolf 5:00
5. Tin Man 5:25
6. From Mars 4:43
7. Sins 4:43
8. Fallen 5:05
Album Length: 38:28

Album Recording Line Up:
Don Dewulf – Guitars
Marco Minnemann – Drums
Chandler Mogel – Vocals
Reggie Hache – Bass & Keyboards
Isamu McGregor – Keyboards

For more info:
http://www.thewring.ca
https://www.facebook.com/thewringband
https://www.instagram.com/wringband

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““Wring² Project Cipher comes with a heavy, classic rock feel, but there’s an epic, questing nature to tunes like Sorceress, Steelier and Dose that pushes The Wring beyond metal norms and into prog territory.” – Prog Magazine

“The extreme professionalism on display throughout this entire album, although a labour of love, is a true master class of musicianship performed by musicians who are truly at the top of their game, making the industry what it is today. The sheer attention to detail is a credit to each and every performer as they tailor their craft neatly and precisely throughout every track, with nothing less than perfect being the order of the day.” – Stargazer Music Magazine

“Overall, the entire album is laden with a rich tapestry of sound and lyrics, well thought out and carefully developed by founder member and visionary Don Dewulf, taking the listener on that perfect journey of thought, and is a credit to its makers gathering no dust in any collection. 10/10” – Stargazer Music Magazine

“Thanks to his renowned session musicians and original compositions, The Wring is a refreshing discovery that offers a personal reading of modern metal. 4/5” – Music Waves

“What sounds at first to be a straight-forward rock album, turns out to be so much more. It’s a tad short, but sometimes less is more. You can hear many influences in these tracks, some of them familiar, but The Wring have stamped their own identity all over it. This should keep you going for the time being but expect more from Don Dewulf with The Wring3 already in the recording stage!” – The Prog Space

“Dewulf’s guitar work shines throughout, at times reminiscent of Alex Lifeson in his prime, such as his powerful solo on ‘Steelier’ which soars above the raging musical maelstrom below. There’s even a funk-infused breakout on ‘Dose’, which is infectious with its driving hook. It’s an absorbing record, one that takes time to soak in, but several plays ensure that it’s burnt deep into the memory. When those end-of-year lists come round, ‘Wring² Project Cipher’ is likely to be pushing for a slot.” – The Razor’s Edge

“The Wring generally succeed at what they’re going for—Dewulf has produced a fun, catchy record. Particularly on the album’s middle section (“Cipher,” “Steelier” and “Dissension”), there’s some great songs with great riffs. If you’re after some new prog, you could do a lot worse than this album, and I found it quite hard to score.” – Angry Metal Guy

“The overall sound is something like the heavier side of Rush, with hooks and melodic elements smoothing out the guitar crunch, making this very accessible.” – The Progressive Aspect

0 Canada’s Iron Kingdom Now Streaming “The Blood Of Creation”

November 4, 2022
by Asher
· Iron Kingdom · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – November 4, 2022

Canada’s Iron Kingdom Now Streaming “The Blood Of Creation”

New Album “The Blood Of Creation” Out November 4th

L-R: Chris Osterman (Lead Vocals / Lead Guitar), Leighton Holmes (Bass Guitar), Megan Merrick (Lead Guitar), Max Friesen (Drums)
Photo Credit – Caitlin Delaplace

The electrifying quartet of Canada’s Iron Kingdom have a hot new album “The Blood Of Creation” ready for release and can be heard in full at https://youtu.be/4pk7QzM4gBo

“The Blood Of Creation”, the band’s fifth, is not a concept album, but it does have a trilogy about the creation myth from the ancient Mesopotamians. It tells the tale of Tiamat and Marduk and the creation of the heavens, the earth, and mankind. This story is known as being one of the oldest, if not the oldest known story from mankind. The band comments on the album:

“Our music is best described as if Iron Maiden and Judas Priest had a child and raised it on Hammerfall, Helloween, Rush, and, Blind Guardian. With this album, we feel like we’ve merged the more straightforward approach of our last record ‘On the Hunt’ with the storytelling and epic quality of our earlier releases. We took advantage of the forced hiatus from shows and spent the longest on writing that we have for any of our previous efforts and feel like it’s really paid off. The pandemic also brought us a new drummer to solidify what we feel is our strongest lineup yet and his influence is felt on this record. This album shows the level of maturity we have reached as songwriters as well as musicians while maintaining what makes an Iron Kingdom release.”

According to the band, they expect that this new offering will be very exciting for fans old and new. They have caught the essence of all the previous albums into one killer new package, there are fast songs, mid-tempo bangers, and even an epic. They’ve put the time into getting this album just right and it shows.

“The Blood Of Creation” was completely self-produced, written, and recorded. The album was sent out for mixing (Andy Boldt) and mastering (Greg Reely), but they handled everything else. vocalist/guitarist Chris Osterman engineered the record with some help from the band and some friends (Dan Yakimow, Jeff Black).

With “The Blood Of Creation” listeners can expect the usual mix of fantasy and history-inspired songs that aim to entertain and at least lightly educate about past events and beliefs. They are recommended for fans of Queensrÿche, Riot, and Iron Maiden.

The band will also be hosting a now sold-out release party for their release day on Nov 4th at Wise Hall in Vancouver. For more info, please visit the following link here.

The album “The Blood Of Creation” is available as of November 4, 2022.

Music Video – Queen of The Crystal Throne – https://youtu.be/YyhEutgL9gI

Fun Fact: ‘Queen Of The Crystal Throne’ played on City TV for Hockey Night In Canada (Montreal Vs Dallas) – Sat Oct 22, 2022.

The Making of “The Blood Of Creation” – Pt 1. [Mini Documentary] – https://youtu.be/TSrv44SXQ-A

Album order and stream available at the following links:
http://www.iron-kingdom.com/shop/
https://iron-kingdom.bandcamp.com

Apple Music, Spotify

Track Listing:
1. Tides Of Desolation – 1:13
2. Sheathe The Sword – 5:25
3. Queen Of The Crystal Throne – 4:58
4. Hunter And Prey – 5:25
5. Witching Hour – 5:44
6. In The Grip Of Nightmares – 5:23
7. Primordial – 1:40
8. The Blood Of Creation – 13:38
Total Running Length: 43:29

For more info:
https://www.iron-kingdom.com
https://www.facebook.com/ironkingdom
https://www.instagram.com/iron_kingdom
https://twitter.com/iron_kingdom

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“Loads of riffs and melodies some excellent lead breaks and pounding rhythms. This is bonafide, foot on the monitor, fist pumping, horn throwing real metal. I have never heard Iron Kingdom before but on the strength of this I will be obtaining the back catalogue very soon.” – My Global Mind (The Blood of Creation)

“Iron Kingdom brings another solid heavy metal album with the fifth album ‘The Blood of Creation’. Slightly progressive, but especially heavy… Give the band a listen, you will be surprised!” – Metal Experience

“the hype is real: “The Blood of Creation” is an overdose of classic power metal, a homage to the late 80’s – 90’s power metal heroes: HELLOWEEN, GAMMA RAY, HEAVEN’S GATE, SCANNER, early CHINCHILA (remember those guys?), EDGUY with a touch of American stuff like RΙΟΤ.” – Forgotten Scroll

“They are aiming at the classic sound from the 70s and 80s, so if you want something modern then you have nothing to pick up here. The lyrics speak of war, fear, sacrifice and pain. Luckily the music is not that dark though, but rather very uplifting and pleasant, as it’s a more melodic kind of heavy metal that we get from this band, even though there’s some more powerful tracks too…. I like what I hear.” – Hard Rock Info

0 Doomed and Stoned Premiere – Exitus Stratagem Records – AITTALA Is Now Streaming Genre Defying, Eclectic Doom Album “Live to Regret”

November 4, 2022
by Asher
· Aittala (Exitus Stratagem Records) · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – November 4, 2022

Exitus Stratagem Records – AITTALA Is Now Streaming Genre Defying, Eclectic Doom Album “Live to Regret”

“Live to Regret” Out November 7th

L-R – AITTALA – Gary ‘Smith’ Zeus (Drums), Eric Aittala (Guitar/Vox), Ali Lugo (Bass)
Photo Credit – Formont Photography

Aittala has been around since 1991 and in that time has developed a sound that is unique, progressive, and memorable. With a solid core of doom metal, they add hints of power metal, sludge, and traditional metal, a feast of variety that is on full display in their upcoming seventh album “Live to Regret”. Lyrically, the album chronicles a chaotic period of time for members of the band personally as well as the global events happening in parallel. The band comments on the album:

“Aittala is extremely excited for the fans to hear the new album “Live to Regret”. The pandemic was a stressful time for everyone, but it’s even much more stressful when you’re dealing with an unhealthy relationship that’s full of tension and animosity on a daily basis. A lot of toxic energy fueled the writing of the album and became something of a way to cleanse the spirit of the toxicity. We hope the fans hear the pain, pleasure, and passion that went into the writing of these songs. I think they’ll connect with these songs more than prior albums because they are more personal. Overall, we’re very pleased with how the album turned out. It’s definitely the best Aittala album yet and we look forward to building on it in the future!”

The album has eleven tracks, each defying the limits of genre rules. There is the thrash-inspired track “Cannibals” that confronts the tightening grip of governmental monitoring and control. The sludgy “Big Brother” – is about the devolution/zombification of the human race due to technology. The smoky stoner infused “Never Forget” talks about dealing with a toxic person along with many more.

For Aittala, only enough songs are written for an album, so they don’t have the problem of having to select certain songs over others. During the songwriting process, only the best songs get past the idea stage, then they are developed and refined until the song is complete. As far as how much more music fans can expect, there are no plans to stop writing and releasing new material.

An eclectic mix of metal, “Live to Regret” is recommended for fans of Baroness, Crowbar, and Katatonia.

Listen to the album in full via its premiere on Doom And Stoned HERE.

“Live to Regret” will be available on November 7, 2022, via Exitus Stratagem Records and was produced by Eric Aittala and John E. Wooten IV, who also mixed the record along with mastering by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering. Album artwork by Mariano Pugliese.

Album pre-order: https://hypeddit.com/aittala/livetoregret

Music Video – Collateral Damage – https://youtu.be/Foh__WSHD4o

Lyric Video – Live to Regret – https://youtu.be/i-f-XCrJEy0

Track Listing:
1. Live to Regret – 2:49
2. Collateral Damage – 3:22
3. War of Attrition – 3:18
4. Saint – 3:35
5. Cannibals – 3:56
6. Betrayed – 3:26
7. Big Brother – 4:45
8. Dancing with Disaster – 3:35
9. Never Forget – 3:36
10. Well Enough Alone – 5:03
11. Juliet (2022) – 5:24
Album Length: 42:56

For more info:
https://www.exsrmusic.com
http://www.aittala.com
https://www.facebook.com/aittalamusic
https://www.instagram.com/aittalamusic

About: The music of AITTALA (pronounced ‘EYE-tah-la’) crosses many metal genres; it’s hard to put it into just one category. The sound infuses elements of classic heavy metal, doom, progressive, power, thrash, and hard rock with lyrics drawing inspiration from the darker side of the human condition. The AITTALA sound has been cited for being unique which is no easy feat in the metal genre.

The first version of AITTALA was formed in 1991 while Eric Aittala was living in Holland. With fellow American Tim on vocals and Dutch bandmates Ed (drums) and Jon (bass), the band became a staple of the Dutch metal scene.

With the release of the 3-song EP ‘Selling Heaven’ in summer of 1993, AITTALA opened for such bands as THE GATHERING and SADIST. Unfortunately, as the demo started to create a buzz in the underground European metal scene, Eric had to return to the US and disbanded AITTALA.

Over the next decade or so, Eric played in numerous bands (TRIBE, MAGNETHEAD, DWELL) and lost focus on AITTALA.

Near the end of the 00’s, Eric decided it was time to refocus his efforts on the AITTALA brand. From 2009 to 2016, AITTALA released 4 full-length albums: ‘Bed of Thorns’ (2009), ‘Haunt Your Flesh’ (2011), ‘Effigy’ (2014) and ‘American Nightmare’ (2016). Each album showcasing a natural progression of song writing and lyrical content but retaining the core AITTALA sound and evolving it.

In 2019, AITTALA signed with Curtain Call Records and released the band’s fifth full-length album ‘False Pretenses’. It was ten brand new songs that not only continued the song writing evolution of heavier but catchy songs, but also sonically. AITTALA used an entirely different approach for the recording, mixing and mastering to create the best AITTALA album to date.

The current lineup of AITTALA consists of Gary ‘Zeus’ Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL) on drums and Ali Lugo (ex-AGE OF DESPAIR) on bass.

They continue to write, record and tour to bring AITTALA to the masses with plans in 2022 to unleash their sixth studio album entitled “Live To Regret” to be released by label Exitus Stratagem Records.

– 30 –

“This platter is heavy melodic ear candy that drips with deep and mesmeric face-melting tones and grinding rhythms.” (Live to Regret) – The Metal Gods Meltdown

“The band’s sound is difficult to pigeonhole because they incorporate a variety of styles. The common element in all the songs is the potent groove. On tracks like “Black Coffin” and “Afterthought” stoner/doom is at the forefront, while songs such as “Disowned” have a more traditional metal vibe. There are progressive influences on “How Much Longer,” while the closer “Debt” is a piano based ballad. Even with so many disparate styles, Aittala bring everything together into a cohesive whole.” – Heavy Music Headquarters

“I would describe them as an eclectic Doom Metal band, although their sound is a bit tough to define. That’s ultimately a good thing though, and I enjoy the refreshment of something different. My only major complaint is that on some songs, the vocals and lyrics are so drawn out that they become a little boring and you end up waiting a bit for something cool to happen. The good news is something cool usually does end up happening” – Metal-Temple

“In the metal world, bands can start to sound the same and Aittala steps outside of the box. With clear crisp vocals, grinding rhythms and well executed leads, this band is definitely in a league of their own.” – The Metal Channel

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations | Instagram @AsherMedia | Tweet @AsherMedia
(Rockshots Records, Extreme Metal Music, Armstrong MF, Loud As Hell, Metalocalypstick, Decimate MF, Electric Highway Fest, Wacken Metal Battle Canada/USA, Hyperspace MF, Le FestEvil)

0 Streaming Now! SEVENTH STATION’s “Heal The Unhealed” – An Eclectic Progressive Experience of Sweeps, Heavy Riffs, and Intricate Melodies

November 4, 2022
by Asher
· Music News · Seventh Station

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – November 4, 2022

Streaming Now! SEVENTH STATION’s “Heal The Unhealed” – An Eclectic Progressive Experience of Sweeps, Heavy Riffs, and Intricate Melodies

New Album “Heal the Unhealed” Out November 7th

Seventh Station is a progressive metal band based in Slovenia, who are excited to announce their second album “Heal the Unhealed”. The record is an international effort – rehearsed and recorded through five different studios in three continents ranging from the United States, Slovenia, and Turkey. A new level of musicality and artistic expression blends magnificent sweeps, heavy riffs, and intricate melodies together, creating an eclectic proggy frame for personal topics.

The band comments on the album:

“After two years of delay due to the crazy pandemic, we are more than happy to release our new album “Heal the Unhealed” and share it with the rest of the world. This hidden gem was on the shelf way too long and its timing couldn’t be more appropriate. Reflecting on historical events and their psychologies through the album, we can see that history doesn’t change but repeats in variations, as the war in the east keeps raging in the present.”

In advance of the album’s official release on November 7th, Seventh Station has teamed up with AllAboutTheRock for its full-stream premiere.

Listen HERE.

Seventh Station expects that fans will be pleased with the latest offering, as compositionally, performance and production-wise they believe they have done some of their absolute best work to this day. Crafted meticulously, the band looks at it like a novel or a movie and suggests there’s a lot to discover even after the first pass of listening.

Seventh Station has put great effort into its compositions and performances, taking them to the next level with a wider palette of colors. From dreamy atmospheres to technical madnesses, it’s a musically diverse record. According to guitarist Dmitri Alperovich, the writing on the album and recording of it was his way to fight with the demons of his past and roots. “Heal The Unhealed” was mixed, and mastered by Matej Gobec at The Cosmosonic Studios, and the album artwork was done by Tal Asulin, it is recommended listening for fans of Opeth, Pain of Salvation, and Frank Zappa.

“Heal The Unhealed” will be available on November 7, 2022.

The album pre-order is available at http://www.seventh-station.com.

Music Video – All Hail the Moustache – https://youtu.be/-upgWRhKqz0

Music Video – The Heart of a Nation (Nadia) – https://youtu.be/q8dbzZbTHgY

Music Video – The Ruthless Koba (Studio Version) – https://youtu.be/mcVnIpq4oS8

Tour Dates:
08.12 – Club Wakum – Graz, Austria
09.12 – Orto Bar – Ljubljana, Slovenia
10.12 – Hard Place – Zagreb, Croatia

Track Listing:
1. Unspoken Thoughts (07:37)
2. Seven Digits (07:36)
3. The Heart of a Nation (Nadia) (12:27)
4. The Ruthless Koba (05:19)
5. All Hail the Moustache (12:04)
6. A Final Bow (13:41)
Album Length: 58:47

Album Recording and Live Band Lineup:
– Dmitri Alperovich – Guitar
– Eren Basbug – Keyboards
– Davidavi Dolev – Vocals
– Jure Lopatic – Bass
– Grega Plamberger – Drums and Percussion

For more info:
Facebook.com/SeventhStation
Instagram.com/seventhstationofficial

About: Seventh Station is a progressive metal band based in Slovenia, led by Israeli Guitarist Dmitri Alperovich and Turkish Keyboardist Eren Başbuğ. Constructing their sound by fusing progressive metal with contemporary classical music, the band’s new album Healed the Unhealed is their second full-length record, released independently. Featuring an international lineup, Davidavi “Vidi” Dolev (Vocals), Jure Lopatic (Bass), and Grega Plamberger (Drums). On their new record, Seventh Station adds to their “on the edge” performances and compositions more blood, more sweat, and more tears.

Formed between the Academy of Music & Dance in Jerusalem and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Seventh Station released its debut album Between Life and Dreams in 2016. After relocating to Europe and a few line-up changes, Alperovich and Başbuğ knew no borders in the search for uncompromising compositions and musical executors, progressive and challenging. After several tours between the Middle East and post-Yugoslavia, the band gathered together on recording ‘Heal the Unhealed’. Inspired by the Second World War and the Soviet Union, the album is an hour-long reflection in the eyes of Alperovich, who was born in Minsk, Belarus, moved to Israel and eventually found his way to Slovenia. Featuring surrealistic epos, harnessing the band’s skillful abilities in order to express Kafkaesque situations, Heal the Unhealed examines resemblances between dictatorships and the personality disorders of an artist.

Seventh Station is now gearing up for their upcoming record Heal the Unhealed released on November 7th, 2022, along with a supporting tour through Europe and the Middle East, to be announced later this Fall.

– 30 –

“This album creates and destroys barriers, making a point to invoke drama about the Second World War. The band has explored every aspect of orchestration in the form of King Crimson and dements the Frank Zappa sound that bombards the listener. They present complex arrangements and deep intricate movements. These are both alienating and perfect forms of musical momentum. Each phase has been constructed by the composer to invoke the sonic dissonance of the Stalin era of the Soviet Union.” – Caved Weller Music

“The guys definitely show that they are a very up-and-coming, well-thought-out Progressive Metal band”. – MetalUnderground.at

“Between Life and Dreams is not a typical progressive metal album, in its musical structure the listener can find elements of classical music and find intensive, delicate motive work in each song”. – Lady Obscure

“This is a combination of old and new influences, including those from musicians that are classically trained. This results in music that has a lot going on, with so many different styles involved that it would be pointless to try and list them all” – Wonderbox Metal

“Many of their creations are inspired from classical music compositions in which they mix their own virtuoso inputs of modern and progressive metal. Believe me, the album will open your ears fully and lead you into the magical world of fantasy between two worlds, the reality and the dreams.” – Paranoid Webzine

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia

0 Dive Into A Futuristic World And Question Your Existence With “Inner Skepticism” Off Opus Arise’s “The Network”

November 3, 2022
by Asher
· Music News · Opus Arise

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – November 3, 2022

Dive Into A Futuristic World And Question Your Existence With “Inner Skepticism” Off Opus Arise’s “The Network”

L-R – Derek Ho – Cello (live only), Matthew Logan – Drums, Violin II, Ellen Smith – Viola, Michelle Gao – Violin I, Kyle Hagen, Shawn Hillman – Guitar, Cello, Matthew Hannah – Keyboards

Photo Credit Jade Weekes

Vancouver, Canada’s Opus Arise is an orchestral metal ensemble that brings together classical strings and metal rhythms to create luscious soundscapes to dissonant chaos.

Their newest album, “The Network” teleports listeners into a cyberpunk world filled with neon lights, and punctuated with progressive riffs. The last album “Revelation” was released in 2016, and since then, they have taken a more orchestral direction using a string quintet and planning to incorporate more orchestral instruments. Within the cyberpunk world, research is conducted to find the correlation between chord progressions and the manipulation of space and time. The band explains further and details the first single “Inner Skepticism”:

“The combination of frequencies opens a wormhole into a future setting that blindsides the character. In this place, people have unseen technology and seem indifferent to his presence. This is the album opener that brings the listener into the world of “The Network”, an atmospheric opening into a bombastic tour de force. Tons of progressive riffing and virtuosic musicianship in this piece.”

The instrumental album is eight tracks long for a total running time of just over forty minutes. It is the result of many influences, especially prog, metal, classical, orchestral, electronic, and video game music combined into one strange form by nine members who met through orchestras and university. The vision and compositions by Drummer/Violinist Matthew Logan with the assistance of founding member Shawn Hillman are now being finally brought to life.

Taking their inspiration from classical symphonies, movies, and video game soundtracks as well as neo-classical even extreme genres like black and death, Opus Arise creates music that will challenge the listener. They are recommended for fans of Animals As Leaders, Liquid Tension Experiment, Planet X, and Scale The Summit.

The video for “Inner Skepticism” is available via its premiere on SpaceUntravel – https://youtu.be/rZxGd-0tumE

Album pre-order – https://opusarise.bandcamp.com

Track Listing:
1) Inner Skepticism – 5:50
2) Electric Jungle – 6:02
3) Antimatter – 3:22
4) Digital Soundscape – 4:38
5) Reminiscence – 5:21
6) Change – 5:23
7) Timeshift – 5:21
8) The Unanswered Question – 5:13
Album Length: 41:13

Album Band Lineup:
Shawn Hillman Guitar, Cello on “Digital Soundscape”
James Readman: Guitar
Daniel Carmago: Bass Guitar (Tracks 1-3, 5-7)
Matthew Logan: Drums, Violin II
Matthew Hannah: Keyboards
Michelle Gao: Violin I
Ellen Smith: Viola
Darrell Bennett: Cello
Kyle Hagen: Contrabass, Bass Guitar (Track 8)

For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/opusarise
https://www.instagram.com/opusarise
https://twitter.com/OpusArise

EPK – https://wp.me/pciNW-iFB

– 30 –

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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Facebook @AsherMediaRelations | Instagram @AsherMedia | Tweet @AsherMedia(Rockshots Records, Extreme Metal Music, Armstrong MF, Loud As Hell, Metalocalypstick, Decimate MF, Electric Highway Fest, Wacken Metal Battle Canada/USA, Hyperspace MF, Le FestEvil)

0 Voodu Announce Crushing, Varied Debut Single “Pictures” Off Upcoming Album

November 3, 2022
by Asher
· Music News · Voodu

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – November 3, 2022

Voodu Announce Crushing, Varied Debut Single “Pictures” Off Upcoming Album

Voodu is an American modern metal band from Los Angeles, USA. They got started during the pandemic, and now, with their debut album in the works, they are excited to introduce themselves to fans. The first look at who Voodu is comes through the groove-oriented single “Pictures”. It starts on a thick bassline and builds up from there before exploding into the song’s main riff. It dynamically bounces between quieter verses and explosively loud choruses. No part of the song is identical to another. Every verse, chorus, and the bridge is different in one way or another. The band shares their thoughts on the release:

“Pictures came from a place of confusion and despair. In its composition, the sense of spiraling into disarray and apathy before being consumed with anger and angst came naturally in its progression. We joke that it’s as “prog” as we get, between the verse starting on the 2 of a 4 count and chorus starting on the 4, the meter change from 4/4 to 7/4 in the bridge, and the key change at the end. While the song is far from “prog”, in many ways those elements fit in the song’s composition in a way we didn’t realize made total sense. They catch you off guard the same way the lyrics allude to being confused between what’s real and what’s made up. It is both a cry for help and an apathetic plea of defeat. The push and pull between “help me” and “leave me alone”. It’s begging to be numb or ambivalent to the pain caused by the confusion and doubt of one’s own self or the world around them.”

The forthcoming yet-to-be-titled album is a high-energy group of songs that are meant to walk fans through a vast range of emotions. Even the slightly slower or more emotional songs still have heavily distorted guitars and melodically aggressive vocals. It covers a wide range of subjects from feelings of self-doubt, toxic relationships, people who abuse power, the duality of human nature, and addiction. Voodu hopes that their first offering will resonate with people on a visceral level, in a way they haven’t heard before.

Chick full of a wide assortment of influences, Voodu makes music that will appeal to a wide audience. One of the bands they cite is Linkin Park, who introduced them to this kind of music. It’s the comparison they get most often, due to similarities in voice and the electronic element. Thus far, they have made fans out of the most dedicated of metalheads, as well as the “I don’t usually listen to heavy music” people and everyone in between. They are especially recommended for fans of Rammstein, Linkin Park, and Alice In Chains.

Listen to “Pictures” via its premiere on Spaceuntravel – https://youtu.be/ABcpckNPeR8

For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/Vooduband
https://www.instagram.com/vooduband
EPK – https://wp.me/pciNW-izW

About: Voodu is an American modern metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2021, the group formed amidst the chaos of the 2020 pandemic. The band consists of five members: Eddie Troy, Vinny Amico, Paul Burns, Ollie Williams, and Sean Aikins.

Voodu plays an aggressive style of music, blending elements from a wide range of metal and electronic subgenres, with attention-grabbing imagery through irreverent and visceral metaphors. They are known for their energetic and engaging live performances. They have managed to fill every venue they’ve played with loyal fans, prior to releasing the first single. The band considers themselves five equal parts of a whole, set out to subvert expectations, break the conventions of heavy music, and bring people together under the banner of raw visceral emotion.

– 30 –

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0 Canada’s Alienatör Take A Dark And Harrowing Turn With “The Priest” Off “Regrets” Out Nov 25th

November 3, 2022
by Asher
· Alienator · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – November 3, 2022

Canada’s Alienatör Take A Dark And Harrowing Turn With “The Priest” Off “Regrets”

New Album “Regrets” Out Nov 25th

(L to R) Sean Skillen – Bass/Back-up Vocals, Brad King – Guitar/Vocals, Simon Paquette – Drums
Photo Credit – Peter David Wragg

Hailing from Canada, Alienatör is a sludge metal band that confronts tough issues with razor-sharp riffs and memorable hooks. They released their debut album “Pariahs’ in 2019, and are now following it up this year with “Regrets”, which is darker, more focused, and more intense. They say it also boasts better songwriting and more dynamics. The themes of this upcoming release also explore some heavy topics including alienation, grief, pain, and disgust at the state of the modern world. The single “The Priest” is no exception, which vocalist/guitarist Brad King explains:

“This is the darkest song I’ve ever written. Another is where the bass really drives the song and the guitar comes in, jagged and angular on top. Ralph Rowe was an Anglican Priest who molested countless kids in fly-in reserves in the 70s and 80s. He ruined so many lives and plea-bargained for a prison sentence that was a slap on the wrist. There’s a documentary about him called “Survivor’s Rowe,” and I’ve met a few survivors through my work. Here, he serves as an example of the type of abuse of power we allow those in positions of trust. I’m proud of the dynamics of this one, lots of tension and release and the calm atmospheric part in the middle.”

The music video for “The Priest” can be seen and heard via its premiere on IDIOTEQ HERE.

Composed during the claustrophobia of the 2020 election and the global pandemic the album channels rage and catharsis before lulling the listener into a sense of security and then thundering down again into a feedback-drenched conclusion.

Compared to their debut release, fans will recognize a more hard-hitting sound, depth of songwriting, dynamics, darker themes, and more vulnerable and introspective lyrics. Alienatör has matured and grown as musicians, with the addition of drummer Simon Paquette who has added a lot of depth to the sound, and bass player Sean Skillen becoming part of the writing process has added a new dimension. The band is a more cohesive unit and it shows in the material.

Alienatör is recommended for sludge fans as well as those who enjoy Melvins, Neurosis, and Botch.

Album pre-order – https://alienator.bandcamp.com

Previous Single:

Blood Red Blood – https://youtu.be/BQcdJyF9PtM

Track Listing:
1. Revisionist History – 2:10
2. Loss Leader – 4:03
3. Blood Red Blood – 3:08
4. Regrets – 3:44
5. The Priest – 5:30
6. The Less Dead – 1:56
7. Flat Earth Society – 2:51
8. Irreconcilable – 2:59
9. Your Funeral – 3:20
10. Wounded Birds – 4:10
11. Dark Matters – 4:09
Album Length: 38:04

Album Recording Credits:
– All songs performed by: Alienator
– Music by Alienator
– Lyrics by Brad King
– Produced by: Sean Skillen
– Mixed by: Sean Skillen
– Mastered by: Brad Boatright
– Album Artwork by: Peter David Wragg
– Member of SOCAN
– Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album and Live Line Up:
Brad King – Vocals, Guitar
Sean Skillen – Bass, Vocals
Simon Paquette – Drums

For more info:
Exitmusicstudio.ca/alienator
Facebook.com/alienatorband
Instagram.com/alienatorband

About: Hailing from Thunder Bay, ON, Canada, Alienatör is a sludge metal band that combines punk, hardcore, and noise rock elements into a stripped-down package, full of razor-sharp riffs and memorable hooks.

Their debut album, “Pariahs,” released in 2109 moves from fast and aggressive to slow and swampy with touches of experimental weirdness. Many of the lyrics are about how we numb ourselves to the pain and disappointment of everyday life.

Fast forward to 2022, and the band is ready to unleash their follow-up, entitled “Regrets,” which introduces new drummer Simon Paquette to the fold. The album is bleak and abrasive, with moments of calm, melody, and beauty to juxtapose against the ugliness. Raw, uncompromising, and dark, it is emotionally heavy music that reflects a chaotic time in history.

– 30 –

“Noisy post-hardcore sludge, full of energy and rage… a genuine ass-kicker of a record.” – Decibel

“This band is burly, grimy, and the sonic manifestation of discontent. If it’s motivational music you seek, back away slowly. Alienatör ply their trade in the margins of metal, with elements of sludge, noise rock, hardcore, heavy metal, and crust punk. Listeners of Pariahs, the band’s debut full-length, will hear shades of Unsane, Red Fang, Cursed, Kvelertak, Acid Bath, and Cancer Bats, among other guitar-heavy acts by whom sophistication and polish are eschewed.” – Lambgoat

“Pariahs shows Alienatör firing all of their creative cylinders and marks a multifaceted, all-consuming sludge opera delivered with convincing force and accents.” – Idioteq

“Gritty, high-octane sludge…” – Metal Trenches

“From beginning to end Alienatör offers up a truly murky, chunky yet noise filled sound that tears at your ear drums, but in the best possible way. Each track is a madhouse of artery stopping, head banging sludge and noise rock that you cannot simply turn away from.” – Cadaver Garden

“Alienator are miserable and they’d like you to join them.” – Lambgoat

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Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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0 Rockshots Records – Tolkien-Inspired Power Metallers RuinThrone Unveil Their Dark Lord Single “The Past Is Yet To Come”; New Album “The Unconscious Mind Of Arda” Out Jan 2023

November 3, 2022
by Asher
· Music News · RuinThrone

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – November 3, 2022

Rockshots Records – Tolkien-Inspired Power Metallers RuinThrone Unveil Their Dark Lord Single “The Past Is Yet To Come”

New Album “The Unconscious Mind Of Arda” Out Jan 2023

Italian fantasy power metallers RuinThrone will be releasing their new J.R.R. Tolkien-inspired album “The Unconscious Mind Of Arda” due out January 13th, 2023 via Rockshots Records to follow their debut album “Urban Ubris” and EP “Leaden Field”.

The album itself has been composed of stories inspired by Tolkien’s poems, his “Legendarium”. The band hopes the concepts they wrote can be “messengers” of reflection for their listeners, turning in a better awareness of their daily life.

“With this album, we think we reached our own identity. Back in the early years, we started with a classic German power metal style, but year by year we changed and matured musically. This is why we use 7-string guitars with 1/2 step-down tuning, extreme vocals, etc. For this new record, we also focused on an alternative point of view of some stories written by Tolkien. We thought it would have been interesting to explore not only some interesting characters and heroes but also the mind of the main villains.” adds guitarist Nicolò de Maria.

Today, Ruinthrone reveal the second single “The Past Is Yet To Come” accompanied by a lyric video.

“If I think about that time when I wrote these lyrics suddenly the enthusiasm and the writing ease come to my mind. Long story short the song tells about the fear of death. I imagined that even a king at some point has to confront himself with this thought: “my life will come to an end, my consciousness will fade away, and nothing will mean anything cause I won’t be anymore.”. The power of writing can change this feeling. All of a sudden fate is tamed if you sign a contract with the Dark Lord. In exchange for immortality, the king agrees to turn into a Nazgûl and make a Mephistophelian agreement. My vision of the circle of life and death is similar to Nietzsche’s one of the Eternal Recurrence. The weight of immortality turns into ages and events happening over and over in the same way. The main character begins to understand why death is a gift of Iluvatar, not a curse.” says vocalist Haedus.

Watch and listen to “The Past Is Yet To Come” – https://youtu.be/rjemjwlMLZ8

Digital – https://bfan.link/the-past-is-yet-to-come

“The Unconscious Mind Of Arda” is mixed and mastered by Giuseppe Orlando (sound tech for Rhapsody of Fire) at the Outer Sound Studios.

The album is due out on January 13th, 2023, and is available for pre-order at the following link – https://bit.ly/RuinThrone_CD

First single:

Music Video – “Earendil” – https://youtu.be/Wr9PXgAgm64

Digital – https://bfan.link/earendil

Track Listing:
1 – Prologue – 2:19
2 – The Dreamweaver – 5:14
3 – I Am The Night – 4:50
4 – Earendil – 4:49
5 – The Past Is Yet To Come – 8:00
6 – Where Wise Men Stop – 1:17
7 – In Penumbra – 6:38
8 – The Eldest – 5:24
9 – Blessed By Loneliness – 4:23
10 – For Those Who Remain 9:54
11 – Where You Belong – 2:34
Alum Length: 55:26

RuinThrone are:
Vocals: Haedus
Drums: Francesco Comerci
Guitar: Nicolò de Maria
Guitar: Luca Grossi
Bass: Alessandro Finocchiaro
Keyboard: Giorgio Mannucci

For more info:
https://www.rockhots.eu
http://ruinthrone.altervista.org
https://www.facebook.com/RuinThrone
https://www.instagram.com/ruinthrone.official

About:

RuinThrone was founded in 2009 in Rome, Italy by Adriano Strinati, Haedus and Alessandri Finocchiaro. Soon after, Giorgio Mannucci (keyboards), Nicolò De Maria (guitars), and Francesco Comerci (drums) joined the band. The sound of RuinThrone is inspired by German and American metal bands like Blind Guardian, Helloween, Iced Earth, and Nevermore, but they have their own distinguishable dark and modern character.

– 30 –

0 Streaming Now! Violin Prog Metal Montreal’s CYDEMIND Explore Instrumental Creativity With The “The Descent”

November 2, 2022
by Asher
· Cydemind · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – October 11, 2022

Streaming Now! Violin Prog Metal Montreal’s CYDEMIND Explore Instrumental Creativity With The “The Descent”

Sophomore Album “The Descent” Out Nov 4th

L-R – Camille Delage (piano and keyboards), Kevin Paquet (guitars), Olivier Allard (Violin), Nico Damoulianos (Bass), Alexandre Dagenais (Drummer)

Montreal, Canada’s Cydemind is a progressive metal band backed with a violin instead of vocals and they are now ready to offer up their sophomore album “The Descent” due out on Friday, November 4th, 2022 to follow their highly praised 2017 debut album “Erosion”, which was produced by Christian Donaldson (Cryptospy).

“With Erosion, we were young and were still trying to define our own sound, which is why we previously chose producer Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy, The Agonist, Beyond Creation), who had considerable experience under his belt. This time around, the band has made a decision to lean toward self-production. Although we’ve encountered obstacles along the way, as well as significant delays, we couldn’t be prouder of the final product.” says drummer Alexander Dagenais.

Today, before “The Descent” officially releases, the band has teamed up with MetalInsider for the album’s full stream premiere, which can be heard at the following link HERE.

“The Descent” is seven new songs created for a listening experience that’s just under 60 minutes and meant to be heard from beginning to end. Cydemind presents the album to be heard on multiple listens to capture the recurrent themes, sometimes hidden, sometimes obvious, but in the end, the band really wants to reward prog fans to dive into the concept of the record ranging from obsessions and the abysses into which the human mind can plunge itself into.

Kevin Paquet explains further:

“Structurally, the album really represents a descent into hell. The first track, Obsessions, acts as an opening. There are rhythmic and melodic motifs from each track on the album. The opening melody acts a bit like the leitmotif of the obsession (whichever it is) and comes up several times throughout the album. Subsequently, the album continues with Hoax, which incorporates several elements of funk. As the name suggests, you should not expect the album to respect that tone; on the contrary, the music gradually turns into something much darker and complex.”

Commented by such outlets as TheProgSpace “Cydemind “Breach” The Walls of Normality With Next Violin Prog Metal Single” and Everything IS Noise “There Isn’t Any “Hoax” in the Quality of the Latest Cydemind Single”, Cydemind‘s new album definitely brings the band to another level in terms of writing and playing, and they’re pretty confident their fans, new and old will think the same. Compared to their first full-length “Erosion”, which was mainly focused around metal. The Descent explores new colors within the metal genre as well as integrates new styles and sounds.

The main songwriters for “The Descent” were Kevin Paquet (guitars) and Olivier Allard (Violin), but as a unit, all members still discussed with each other, making sure everyone’s input was satisfied. When the songs were done, drummer Dage (Alexandre Dagenais) creates his parts on top of everything.

Recommended for fans of prog bands and artists like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Haken, Tigran Hamasyan, and Avishai Cohen, Cydemind’s new album “The Descent” will be out on November 4th, 2022.

The album was mixed by Simon L’Espérance (Karcius) and mastered by Tony Lindgren (Fascination Street Studios). The cover art for the album was created by Alexander Dagenais.

Album Order – https://cydemind.bandcamp.com

Singles:

Hoax – Music Video – https://youtu.be/WVZO2-gig6w
Breach – Music Video – https://youtu.be/M72GMAKHoF8

Show Dates:

November 18 – Montreal, QC – Theatre Plaza – Info (Album Launch Show w/ Karcius)

Track Listing:
1. Obsessions – 8:56
2. Hoax – 6:11
3. Breach – 5:00
4. Call Of The Void – 8:25
5. Hemlock -13:44
6. Slumber – 4:30
7. The Last Stone – 12:17
Album Length: 59:06

Cydemind is:
Olivier Allard (Violins)
Alexandre Dagenais (Drums)
Camille Delage (Keyboards/Piano)
Nico Damoulianos (Bass)
Kevin Paquet (Guitars)

For more info:
http://www.cydemind.com
http://www.facebook.com/cydemind
http://www.instagram.com/cydemind

– 30 –

“Violin metal shredders, Cydemind, has just released a beautiful new video for their “Winter” single, using the gorgeous backdrop of Quebec, Canada. The neo-classical prog track showcases the amazing abilities of this young band on the rise, with captivating hooks that’ll leave you awestruck and hitting up their Bandcamp page for more!” – Metal Injection

“The instrumental band puts the violin front and center, which is strange (if not unheard of) in and of itself. They’ve also released a sweet cover of Vivaldi’s “L’inverno” (“Winter”), from The Four Seasons, which is definitely the first time in the 12+ years of MetalSucks that we’ve had to type that sentence… and they’ve done so when we’re just about a week away from the first day of spring, which was a ballsy decision. And on top of all of that, they made a really, really beautiful video for the track out on the frozen tundras of Québec. Do they have tundras in Québec? Whatever. The video looks really cool. Also, cold. I got mild frostbite just watching it.” – Metal Sucks

“presented what will easily be among the top prog metal albums of the year…” – Metal Underground

“An epic album in every sense of the word” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life

“Cydemind have shown me two things on this debut album: they’re damn good musicians, and they have the ability to write compelling music that sticks with you. ” – Angry Metal Guy

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