NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 6, 2022
M-Theory Audio – PAGAN METAL PIONEERS HELSOTT UNVEIL MUSIC VIDEO FOR “INDEPENDENCE NIGHT”
New single featuring Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens from the new record, ‘Will and The Witch; Pre-orders available now
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HELSOTT – America’s leading pagan metal band – has unveiled the music video for “Independence Night,” the new single featuring guest vocals from Tim “Ripper” Owens, from their upcoming concept album, “Will and The Witch.” The group’s newest album will be released by M-Theory Audio on Friday, May 20th. Pre-orders for CD, limited-edition gold double vinyl, and digital editions of “Will and The Witch” are available now at http://smarturl.com/helsott. The visualizer video, created by Raf Ortega (Ayreon, Subterranean Masquerade) for “Independence Night” can be viewed at https://youtu.be/5Iq3yGT6Zrg.
Says Dow, “’Independence Night’ is a dark and heavy song. We have Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens doing guest vocals for us on this song and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Besides the opening money shot ‘Ripper scream’ we think you will be pleasantly surprised with the vocal performance by ‘Ripper.’ I have been a fan of his ever since I heard ‘Bullet Train’ from Judas Priest before the ‘Jugulator’ album was released. I know how hard it must have been to replace someone like Rob Halford and I felt like ‘Ripper’ killed it. It’s definitely surreal to be screaming alongside him in this awesome track. Enjoy!”
Says Owens of his guest appearance on the song, “I gotta say I had a blast doing this awesome tune with HELSOTT, anytime I can show off the wide range of my vocals, it’s a blast and doing the heavy-ass aggressive vocals are some of my favorite. I am ready for more.”
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HELSOTT has also announced a flurry of live performances along the West Coast coming up in June 2022, alongside Symphonic Black Metal mystics Malphas from Philadelphia. Full tour dates are below.
Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens is only one of the numerous guests on HELSOTT‘s newest album, “Will and The Witch.” The band’s latest effort – mixed and mastered by J-F Dagenais (Kataklysm, Misery Index, Ex Deo) and featuring artwork by Felipe Machado Franco (Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, Gamma Ray) – is augmented by a who’s who of heavy hitters. In addition to Owens, HELSOTT is joined on “Will and The Witch” by percussionist Vladimir Reshetnikov (Arkona, Imperial Age), guitarist/bassist Freddie Vidales (Ashes of Ares, Iced Earth), violinist Lethien (Elvenking), guitarist Kevin Storm (Heidevolk, Autumn, Fleetburner), guitarist Bjorn Friedrichsen (Withered Moon, Sanguineus) and Whistlin’ Rick Storey.
HELSOTT‘s new album, “Will and The Witch,” is a concept record that tells a fictional story about how Billy The Kid became the fastest gunfighter in the wild west. The first taste of music from the new album was recently unleashed with a visualizer video for the title track, which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/Gok7aEiO1Ys. The band returns to its musical roots on their latest record with heavier thrash overtones and less orchestral work than their prior record, while catching listeners off-guard with new influences befitting of the album’s theme. Thrash metal, power metal, and death metal all converge with acoustic campfire segments, Southern banjo and fiddle, and Native American-inspired hand drums and flutes. The end result is a record that is musically ambitious while remaining melodic, heavy, and true to the underlying sound of HELSOTT.
Since their formation, the California-based HELSOTT – whose name means “fatal illness” in Old Norse – has paid homage to pagan cultures, mythology, and history while keeping true to their American influences. The group’s unique mix of folk metal, death metal, symphonic metal, thrash, classical and rock was first unveiled to the world with the 2012 release of their debut EP “Fólkvangr.” The band soon caught the attention of audiences on a larger scale during the 2013 Paganfest North American tour, where they performed with Ensiferum, Tyr and Trollfest. That tour set the stage for the 2014 release of “Woven,” which was supported with tours alongside Arkona and Heidevolk.
In the years since the original release of “Woven,” HELSOTT signed with M-Theory Audio, released another EP (2017’s “The Healer”) and a second full-length (2018’s “Slaves and Gods”) and logged many touring miles worldwide with artists including Korpiklaani, Arkona, I Am Morbid, Necrophagia, Tengger Cavalry, Ashes of Ares, Felix Martin, Skyforger and Finsterforst. In addition, the band performed at major European festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Cernunnos Pagan Fest. “Woven” was also remixed, remastered, and re-released by M-Theory Audio in November 2020 in celebration of the group’s 10th anniversary.
This year will not just see the release of HELSOTT‘s new album, “Will and The Witch,” but will also see the band’s return to the live stage. American fans along the West Coast will get an opportunity in June 2022 to experience the band’s power live with performances alongside Philadelphia’s Malphas. HELSOTT have also been confirmed to play England’s HRH Vikings 2022, with more to come throughout 2022.
More information on HELSOTT‘s new album, “Will and The Witch,” will be revealed in the weeks to come by M-Theory Audio and at www.facebook.com/helsott.
06/16 – Viper Room – Hollywood, CA*
06/18 – Den of Sin – Sacramento, CA*
06/19 – Dante’s – Portland, OR*
06/20 – The Fun House – Seattle, WA*
06/22 – The Shredder – Boise, ID*
06/23 – Aces High Saloon – Salt Lake City, UT*
06/24 – Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA*
06/25 – Starlight Lounge – Glendale, AZ*
07/09 Ramona Mainstage – Ramona, CA*
12/03-12/04 HRH Vikings – Sheffield, England
* w/ Malphas
HELSOTT is:
Eric Dow – Vocals
Mark Dow – Guitar
Peter Truax – Guitar
Cooper Dustman – Drums
For more information:
www.facebook.com/helsott
www.instagram.com/helsott
www.twitter.com/helsott
www.helsott.com
www.m-theoryaudio.com
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