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Tag: greece

0 PROG METAL MANIA (Munich, DE) Announces 2025 Lineup w/ SCAR SYMMETRY, DISILLUSION, XAON, OBSIDIOUS, POEM, F.K.Ü. and More!

  • January 28, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Prog Metal Mania - Munich

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 28, 2025

PROG METAL MANIA (Munich, DE) Announces 2025 Lineup

w/ SCAR SYMMETRY, DISILLUSION, XAON, OBSIDIOUS, POEM, F.K.Ü. and More!

Festival Artwork by Ryan T Hancock

Offering an exciting mix of established greats as well as emerging, young bands, Prog Metal Mania Festival is making its event debut on May 2nd and 3rd in Munich, Germany at the world-famous Backstage, featuring the headliners SCAR SYMMETRY, DISILLUSION along with OBSIDIOUS, XAON, POEM, and more.

Official Prog Metal Mania Spotify Playlist – https://spoti.fi/4aqkF9p

​

Shaping up to be a must-attend for Progressive Rock and Metal fans from Germany and beyond, the 2025 inaugural lineup sees 13 bands and one special guest hailing from Sweden, Germany, the UK, France, Greece, Italy, and Lebanon. While each one of them brings something special out of the broad Prog, Metal & Mania spectrum, most haven’t played in the Bavarian capital before or rarely visited Southern Germany until now.

Organizer Katha states: “The idea for Prog Metal Mania came to life through the collaboration of Mostly Metal \m/ & The Progspace and the common wish to bring certain bands on one of Munich’s most prestigious stages for heavy music. Even though it’s a new festival, the response to the first announcements has been overwhelming, grateful for the warm welcome we got within the scene. We’re really happy to have so many fantastic bands on board, and can’t wait to celebrate their music and the festival’s debut with all those Prog Metal Maniacs from near and far!”

Day split tickets and weekend passes are available at the following link HERE.

Friday, May 2nd, 2025 – Doors 13:00, Stage times 13:30 – 23:30​
Disillusion
Obsidious
F.K.Ü.
Vulkan
Loch Vostok
Ihlo
Jester’s Tears
​
​Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 – Doors 12:30, Stage times 13:00 – 23:30​
Scar Symmetry
Poem
Xaon
Turbulence
Aeons
Soulsplitter
John Macaluso

About The Bands – https://progmetalmania.com/en/Bands/​

SCAR SYMMETRY – With legendary guitar wizard Per Nilsson as a driving force, the Swedish band perfectly blends mind-blowing riffs with virtuoso soloing, built up on mighty synth layers, complex yet groovy rhythms, and topped by a vigorous dual vocal attack. Fascinating Metal fans all over the world, they will play their first show in Munich after 12 years!

DISILLUSION – With their special blend of Progressive Death Metal, the German band takes their audience from the top of the world to the end of the sea. By creating dense, multi-layered soundscapes and versatile movements at the forefront of artistic concepts, they already released three rich, fully matured Metal masterpieces.

OBSIDIOUS – Named after black volcanic glass, the group’s moniker exudes something dark, of fiery origin, and metaphorically offers a nearly limitless platform for expression and advancement. Having caught the Extreme Metal scene by storm with their iconic debut in 2022, the international Tech Death powerhouse is set to blow the roof off at Prog Metal Mania 2025!

TURBULENCE – The Lebanese masters of musical story-telling even make a robot dream with their marvelous soundscapes and virtuosic playing, inviting their listeners on captivating, emotional journeys.

JOHN MACALUSO – Born in the US, now living in Italy, the legendary drummer has already played on over 200 albums (ARK, Michael Romeo, Powermad, Yngwie Malmsteen…) and countless tours. He will present a special show for fans of hot rhythms and cool stories with his terrific, versatile playing and some glimpses behind the scenes.

XAON – The French Symphonic Death Metal band spreads its wings on the hunt for nothing less than epicness. By melting the raw energy of Extreme Metal with the finesse and vehemence of a mighty orchestra, their music is absolutely mind-blowing, yet with an amazing sense for details – Brutal and beautiful at the same time.

VULKAN – The Swedish band with the eruptive name offers mesmerizing melodies to immerse yourself in, served on a layer of intriguing rhythms with a true sense for incredibly atmospheric soundscapes.

LOCH VOSTOK – By bringing together raw beauty with complexity and finesse, their music comes along brutal yet with a catchy grooviness, delivering fat choruses, shredalicious solos, and poisonous hooks.

POEM – There’s a certain beauty in melancholy, and the Greek quartet absolutely brings this to the top with its unique, intense compositions. The outstanding voice and expressive performance of singer George Prokopiou make each song a highly emotional experience.

F.K.Ü. – Since there’s a huge overlapping between the Horror and the Metal communities, it seems like a great idea to bring these two beasts together, and F.K.Ü. clearly pull out all the stops on this. Heavily inspired by Freddy Krueger & Co, these four Swedish guys will bring Metal and Mania to Munich.

AEONS – Hailing from the Isle of Man, the Progmetal powerhouse will come to Germany with three albums under their belt, taking their audience from the plains of the American West to ancient Greece, and even to the vast reaches of space with their mighty, musical tales.

SOULSPLITTER – Following their combined musical vision, the German arts collective melts various stylistic splitters into a soulful, new whole. Over the past years, they delved deeper into a specific aspect of their signature sound where heavy guitars and intricate rhythms meet classical piano in a prominent position.

IHLO – The band from Scotland blends modern Progressive Metal with electronic and pop influences to create a sound that is huge musically, emotionally crushing, and full of hooks. Their debut recently got a re-issue via Kscope, and with album No2 showing up on the horizon, they also might bring new music to Munich in May.

JESTER’S TEARS – Even though the name of this Munich-based band might be quickly associated with an album title by Marillion, it is rather the multi-layered symbol for their music, and was actually inspired by Venice and its famous carnival. The five musicians will open Prog Metal Mania with their powerful mix of wonderful playfulness and complex, yet accessible songs.

More info:

​https://progmetalmania.com​

​https://www.facebook.com/ProgMetalMania/​

​https://www.instagram.com/progmetalmania​

​https://linktr.ee/progmetalmania​

——

Festival Press Promotional Packet HERE.

About The Venue – Backstage – Reitknechtstraße 6, 80639 München – www.backstage.eu​

Located in the heart of Munich, Backstage is easy to reach by public transport thanks to the S-Bahn station Hirschgarten being pretty close. A chargeable parking space is also available, several hotels are within walking distance.

As all concerts are set on the same stage, there are no overlaps in the playing times so all bands can be experienced. The venue’s beer garden is a great place for lively chats with other music enthusiasts during the breaks while getting drinks and food there.

Festival Links:

Prog Metal Mania will take place on 2 & 3 May 2025 at the Backstage (Werk) in Munich, Germany

Organizer: Mostly Metal Events & PR

For requests please contact info[@]progmetalmania[.]com​

Powered by Mostly-Metal.net & TheProgSpace.com​

-30-

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

​

0 EPK – Karmic Link – Dark Metropolis (2018)

  • September 24, 2018
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Karmic Link

Karmic Link – Dark Metropolis (2018)

Release Date: October 19, 2018

DISTRIBUTION & LABEL: Rockshot Records

PR Rep – Jon Asher – ashermedia(@)gmail.com

karmiclink.tumblr.com |  Facebook | Youtube | Soundcloud

Bandcamp | Spotify | RockShots Store

Download High Res Photo | Download High Res Album Cover | Download Logo

Karma Link – Dark Metropolis (2018)

Release Date: October 19, 2018
Label & distribution: Rockshots Records

Track Listing:

1. Random Phantom
2. Dark Metropolis*
3. The Tone Of C
4. False Spots On The Highway
5. Your Fire Will Burn For Centuries
6. RiaMa (instrumental)
7. EndLess
8. Lost Magic Alchemy
9. Nostalgia

Album and live line-up
Stathis Kassios: Keys, Vocals, Samples
Evan Hensley: Guitars, Bass
Kim ‘Kimbo’ Gustavsson: Drums, Guitars

Album Credits

  • Produced by Stathis Kassios & Evan Hensley
  • Mixed by Stathis Kassios & George Frangelis at SoundHouse Studios Athens (www.soundhousegr.com)
  • Mastered by George Frangelis at SoundHouse Studios Athens
  • All music & lyrics by Stathis Kassios
  • Artwork & Design by Stathis Ridis (Lucifer’s Child)
  • Photography by Anastasia Michail
  • Guitars & Bass recorded in Nashville (USA) at Twilight Cloud Studio
  • Drums & more guitars recorded in Oslo (Norway) at Pluto Hill Studio
  • Keys recorded in Athens (Greece) at Cyberia Studio
  • Vocals recorded in Athens at SoundHouses Studio
  • Guest vocal appearance in “Dark Metropolis’’ by Vassilis Mazaris (Daylight Misery)
  • Guitars on Random Phantom, Dark Metropolis, Endless, Lost Magic Alchemy, Nostalgia, by Evan Hensley
  • Bass on all tracks by Evan Hensley
  • Drums on Dark Metropolis, The Tone of C, False Spots on the Highway, Your Fire Will Burn for Centuries by Kim ‘Kimbo’ Gustavsson
  • Guitars on The Tone of C, False Spots on the Highway, Your Fire Will Burn for Centuries by Kim ‘Kimbo’ Gustavsson

Album Line Up:
Stathis Kassios – Keyboards, Vocals
Evan Hensley – Guitars, Bass
Kim Kimbo Gustavsson – Drums, Guitars
*Dark Metropolis track features a guest vocal appearance by Vassilis Mazaris (Daylight Misery)

Discography:
UPCOMING RELEASE – Dark Metropolis (2018)
Esoterica (2010)
No Light But Rather Darkness Visible (2008)

L-R – Stathis Kassios (keys and vocals) and Evan Hensley (guitar and bass)
Photo by Anastasia Michail (Photography)

SHORT BIO:

Karmic Link is the brainchild of Stathis Kassios (Nightfall, ex-system Shock) who, after a period of extensive recording and live experience, gave birth to a surrealistic musical project. In 2006, he started experimenting on some songs with Mina G., a charismatic mezzo-soprano, full of karmic ideas. The link was established and the result was mixed and mastered in the famous Tico Tico studios in Finland. The group’s debut album “No Light but Rather Darkness Visible” was released in 2008 with a new lineup consisting of Stathis Kassios, Evan Hensley and Kim Kimbo Gustavsson. Karmic Link so far consists of Mediterranean energy, doses of industrial coldness, atmospheric landscapes, progressive bits, instrumental madness, dark pop tunes, electro breakdowns, funky grooves and hard rock pentatonic moments. Karmic Link’s new album Dark Metropolis (2018) is an album sourcing musicianship from Greece, Norway, and USA, different cultures bound together to offer an alternative metal experience!

LONG BIO:

Karmic Link is the brainchild of Stathis Kassios (Nightfall, ex-system Shock) who, after a period of extensive recording and live experience, gave birth to a surrealistic musical project. In 2006, he started experimenting on some songs with Mina G., a charismatic mezzo-soprano, full of karmic ideas. The link was established and the result was mixed and mastered in the famous Tico Tico studios in Finland. So sinners…beware. Karmic Link so far consists of Mediterranean energy, doses of industrial coldness, atmospheric landscapes, progressive bits, instrumental madness, dark pop tunes, electro breakdowns, funky grooves and hard rock pentatonic moments.

“Karmic Link is promoting thought-provoking concepts, ideas, heretic, and hermetic philosophies to explain today’s chaotic world and the dystopian times to come in a globally connected world…Karmic Link is the bitter yet powerful sound of our personal life’s soundtrack filled with anxiety for the future ruled by technology.” Stathis Kassios

The group’s debut album “No Light but Rather Darkness Visible” was released in 2008 and the concept behind this intriguing title, is questioning the Eastern vs Western modern conflict but from a metaphysical point of view. Guest musicians on the CD include Bob Katsionis (Firewind), who recorded and performed all rhythm and lead guitars, and Jani Liimatainen (Sonata Arctica), who laid down leads on one of the two instrumental songs of the album.

Although coming from a warm Mediterranean country, Greece, Stathis Kassios embarked on a life-changing trip in 2008 in cold Sweden where he met Evan Hensley coming from Nashville, Tennessee and Kim Kimbo Gustavsson who is Swedish. The 3 musicians started jamming and working together with great success in System Shock’s “Urban Rage” album and Karmic Link’s thought-provoking concept studio album ‘’Esoterica’’ released in 2010.

Karmic Link’s new album Dark Metropolis (2018) is an album sourcing musicianship from Greece, Norway, and USA, different cultures bound together to offer an alternative metal experience!

CDs and digital downloads available on Rockshots Records, iTunes, and Spotify.

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