PROGRESSIVE MASTERS RETURN WITH NEW STUDIO ALBUM, ‘TELLURIAN’
IT’S HARD to put a handle on SOEN, but if progressive music is ‘entertainment for those who are easily bored’, then this Swedish outfit fits easily under that heading.
As forthcoming / second studio album, ‘Tellurian’, makes plain, SOEN – that’s drummer Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth, Amon Amarth), vocalist Joel Ekelöf (Willowtree), guitarist Joakim Platbarzdis & bassist Stefan Stenberg – are not concerned with the simple or the shallow; their musical journey takes an altogether more ambitious path, and the result is an expansive body of work, wrapped up in the stunning art of Mexican painter José Luis López Galván, that consistently challenges without being ‘clever-clever’ or tough to enjoy.
The melodies are intricate, the playing muscular and the choruses soaring; overall, the feel is one of a band whose intent is very much in synch with the sort of core values (skilled musicianship, emotion over precision, importance of album artwork, etc.) that seem to be back in vogue…
Produced by Platbarzdis, mixed by the legendary / Grammy Award-winning David Bottrill (Tool, Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, King Crimson, etc.) and mastered at Bob Ludwig’s Gateway set-up in the US by Adam Ayan, also a Grammy winner, ‘Tellurian’ sees SOEN taking the approach of their ‘Cognitive’ debut (2012, Spinefarm Records) and pushing the boundaries in terms of musical scope, the whole thing shot through with the confidence of a band who have found their voice.
Rhythmic, experimental and flowing, and with the ‘muso’ side never taking precedence over a good song and a telling chorus, ‘Tellurian’ (‘relating to, or inhabiting the earth’) will appeal to anyone with an ear for quality playing, and there’s further reward to be had below the surface, with the lyrics taking a more direct route than on ‘Cognitive’, and the construction of the material – including first single / video ‘Tabula Rasa’ (‘Clean Slate’) – allowing room for the raw emotion to shine through.
Music for the head and the heart.
Soen@Facebook
‘TIME TO DIE’, THE NEW ALBUM FROM ELECTRIC WIZARD, TO BE RELEASED SEPTEMBER 29TH
+ OFFICIAL ‘I AM NOTHING’ VIDEO CLIP UNLEASHED!
++ ALBUM / BUNDLE PRE-ORDERS LIVE!
Electric Wizard have today revealed that their forthcoming studio album, ‘TIME TO DIE’, will be released on September 26th via Spinefarm Records; ‘TIME TO DIE’ is the eighth full-length offering from the masters of aural punishment, and is testament to the fact that Electric ‘fucking’ Wizard continue to be the most uncompromisingly heavy, genuinely twisted and evil band in the world.
This will be their first album release since signing a worldwide deal with Spinefarm Records.
In addition to this, a brand new video clip for ‘I am Nothing’ has been unleashed via www.ElectricFuckinWizard.com.
EW guitarist / vocalist Jus Oborn has said of the track, which harnesses the dark underground death metal spirit of 1984:-
"It was the year I became a metal-head. It was heavy shit for real – there was no way you were ever going to get a decent job. So I became a Satanist, I dug up a grave, I got into tape-trading, I had a one-man noise/black/death metal band called Regurgitated Guts, and there were loads of documentaries on TV warning us not to listen to the devil's music..."
All official Electric Wizard pre-order bundles are now live on www.ElectricFuckinWizard.com, featuring limited numbers of vinyl, CD, T-shirt, back-patch & pin badge packages.
Electric Wizard, who have just played headline slots at a number of European festivals, including Hellfest (France), Roskilde (Denmark) and Sonisphere (UK), have the following appearances lined up for 2014, with more shows to be added:-
Aug 16th Jabberwocky, The Excel Centre, London, UK
Sep 12th Reverence Valada, Portugal (headline with Hawkwind)
Oct 10th Desertfest, Antwerp, Belgium
ELECTRIC WIZARD are here for REVENGE.....BE AFRAID.....
FIRST LISTEN TO MUSIC FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM “TIME TO DIE”
Electric Wizard, who recently revealed the title and artwork for their Spinefarm Records debut album, premiere the first new music from “Time to Die” with the song "I am Nothing", streaming now via the Spinefarm Records Soundcloud…
EW guitarist / vocalist Jus Oborn has said of the track, which harnesses the dark underground death metal spirit of 1984:-
"It was the year I became a metal-head. It was heavy shit for real – there was no way you were ever going to get a decent job. So I became a Satanist, I dug up a grave, I got into tape-trading, I had a one-man noise/black/death metal band called Regurgitated Guts, and there were loads of documentaries on TV warning us not to listen to the devil's music..."
Produced by Oborn, the new album was recorded at Toe Rag Studios in East London, with analogue gear used exclusively throughout, with finishing touches done at Skyhammer Studio in "deepest, darkest" Cheshire by Chris Fielding.
Natten med de levande Finntroll - June 13th
A tireless touring act, the unquenchably thirsty trolls have wreaked damage on stages big and small in all the corners of the Earth. Yet until now there has never been an official Finntroll live recording available anywhere. Finally, Friday the 13th of June 2014 will witness the uncaging of the live album “Natten Med De Levande Finntroll” (Night with the living Finntroll), the exhibit of what a cadre of alcohol-fueled trolls can do when leashed upon a live audience.
This is Finntroll in full flight as witnessed on stage at Amsterdam's Melkweg venue on September 20th, 2008; violently energetic, blatantly in your face, stark-barking-mad and fun as a barrel of monkeys!
The total running time for “Natten Med De Levande Finntroll” is 78.57 and the tracklisting goes like this:
1. Kitteldags
2. Slaget Vid Blodsälv
3. Blodnatt
4. Nedgång
5. Nattfödd
6. Ursvamp
7. Eliytres
8. Aldhissla
9. Jaktens Tid
10. Rivfader
11. Korpens Saga
12. Trollhammaren
13. Fiskarens Fiende
14. Svartberg
15. Försvinn Du Som Lyser
16. Midnattens Widunder
17. En Mäktig Här
18. Det Iskalla Trollblodet
19. Segersång
Worldwide preorders from Levykauppa Äx
Finntroll at Facebook
Brother Firetribe's third studio album Diamond In The Firepit will be released May 2nd in Finland/Europe, May 3rd in The UK, June 3rd in North America and June 4th in Japan. The album will be released as CD, limited LP with red vinyl and as a download/stream.
Tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. Love Is Not Enough
3. Far Away from Love
4. For Better or for Worse
5. Desperately
6. Edge Of Forever
7. Hanging by a Thread
8. Trail of Tears
9. Winner Takes It All
10. Tired of Dreaming
11. Reality Bites
12. Close To the Bone
Preorder from Record Store Äx
Preorder from iTunes
The new single "For Better Or For Worse" also available at Spotify
Brothers Firetribe @ facebook
Here's the artwork to Brother Firetribe's single "For Better Or For Worse" from the forthcoming album "Diamond in the Firepit"! Single out: FIN/EUROPE 21.3., UK 24.3. & US 25.3. Cheers!
Firetribe Facebook
The stygian Swedish hard rockers release their 7th album 'Circle' at the end of March. The overall sound of the album is the most natural sounding in their discography. The drum sound is in your face without being unnatural dry. The use of alternate tunings on the guitars has created a different sound than on the previous albums and the dark feel that was present on the”Death is Certain, Life is Not” album is more subtle this time around, “Circle” is in overall the most brutal album in the SPARZANZA catalog. It has a rawness and special edge to it that we are really happy to have achieved.
What’s inside the Circle?
It is also the most varied and dynamic album SPARZANZA have ever produced.
Not only that it contains the most brutal-and rawest-songs-and-grooves-that-will-make-heads-bang they have ever written, it also shows a different side on their songwriting skills that is different from what’s been done before. Although it still has the SPARZANZA trade mark sense of melodies. Fredrik Weileby has outdone himself with the most impressive vocal performances ever.
The first sample of the album is the single and video 'Underneath My Skin'. A song with melodies most bands would die for. The single basically has everything that you could expect from a great SPARZANZA track – just a little bit more in every aspect…. Watch the video here.
The 11 gloomy pins pricking your soul are called:
1. Bradycardia (cd only)
2. Pine Barrens
3. Underneath My Skin
4. Breathe
5. Into The Unknown
6. The Contract
7. Enemy Of My Enemy
8. As I Go Away
9. Black
10. Death Don't Spare No Lives
11. Do What Thou Wilt
Pre-order Circle.
www.sparzanza.com
On March 7th Metsatöll will release their sixth studio album “Karjajuht” (“Pack Leader”).
On the new album Metsatöll has employed a new approach towards its traditional ideas and notions of folk metal. The average pace and tardy epics of its latest studio albums are now things of the past, while new tracks are energetic, melodic and seductive. Naturally, Metsatöll’s entire park of folk instruments from zithers to bagpipes is engaged as well.
The album’s front cover is traditionally created by recognized Estonian artist Jüri Arrak. While the previous two albums of Metsatöll included the artist’s earlier creations, then this time the painting was created especially for the album “Pack Leader”.
Karjajuht will be available in Europe as of March 7, in UK as of March 9. The exact release date in USA will be announced as soon as possible.
“Life is not given to us to suffer and wail, life is given for standing upright on your own two feet! For supporting those who are weaker than you, and to accept help from those who are greater than you. For keeping your own tribe and pride! Only when “me” becomes “us” can we stand strong! Together. Shoulder to shoulder, back to back!”
Metsatöll 10227
www.metsatoll.ee
Amaranthe: Invincible single & video
The third single from AMARANTHE's sophomore album, 'THE NEXUS', is out now, accompanied by a video directed by Patric Ullaeus. The video was shot on location in Hollywood, Las Vegas, the Nevada desert & the Grand Canyon, amongst other locations, and it’s certainly the most ambitious AMARANTHE clip to date.
Comments guitarist Olof Mörck:
“‘INVINCIBLE' is probably my favourite AMARANTHE song so far, and it’s very exciting to see it finally becoming a single and a video! We had an absolute blast shooting it, and this time we flew in Patric Ullaeus and his crew to some kick-ass locations around the USA. People have come to expect elaborate videos from AMARANTHE, but this one certainly takes the cake!"
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!
Track list of the digital single goes like this:
1. Invincible
2. Serepidity - acoustic version
3. Invincible - instrumental
The single is now available at the digital marketplaces and Spotify.
Physical copies will be available at future AMARANTHE shows.
That's what MyGrain's new video "Waking Up The Damned" is about.
Better check it out right now!
The track is taken from band's fourth album "Planetary Breathing" out now on Spinefarm Records.
Records Shop X: http://bit.ly/1beXR5Z
CDON: http://bit.ly/172nYyY
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1hpx8fP
Nokia Musiikki: http://bit.ly/1cqBix6
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/1aeFLA6
