Category Archives: Rockshots Records

Italian Symphonic Metallers ETERNAL SILENCE Release ‘3’ EP with New Single called “Antithesys”

Building on the positive reception garnered by their full-length album “Timegate Anathema,” released through Rockshots Records in 2020, ETERNAL SILENCE has now unveiled their latest digital EP titled “3.”

About The ‘3’ EP

The EP serves as a conceptual exploration, drawing inspiration from the Norse legend of the Norns, divine beings entrusted with shaping the trajectories of human destinies. These eternal and formidable entities, wielding the power to script the fate of the universe, take center stage in a narrative uniquely crafted by Marika Vanni and the band. This tale unfolds across three distinct parts, each offering independent stories that seamlessly converge into a unified and compelling narrative.

"3" EP artwork by Jessica Campo
“3” EP artwork by Jessica Campo

The album is complemented by artwork created by Jessica Campo, where each piece visually represents a distinct chapter of the narrative conveyed in this EP. The recording sessions transpired at 2Play Studio in Induno Olona (VA), with the meticulous mixing and mastering skillfully handled by Maria Grazia Zancopè.

Tracklist:​

  1. Thread Of Life
  2. Prayer Of The Resilient
  3. Antithesys
  4. Death And The Maiden
  5. How Soon Is Now

The number 3 holds infinite significance, particularly within this EP, where profound connections to Norse mythology are interwoven. Much like the Norns, pivotal female figures transcending human existence, three is symbolic. These entities intricately weave, braid, and ultimately sever the threads of both mortals and gods, concurrently nurturing Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. Their care facilitates the perpetual flourishing of this ancient tree within its eternal life cycle.

Antithesys

WATCH VIDEO ON YOUTUBE | STREAM THE TRACK

Thus, the band reveals its most recent sonic opus, marking the third chapter in their conceptual series. The track offers a distinctive viewpoint from the final Norn, a Valkyrie grappling with the duality of strength and maidenhood, determining the fate of humanity by severing the thread of life. Infused with a captivating fusion of power, folk, doom, and gothic metal, the band delves into darker themes, narrating the internal conflict of a young woman navigating her various roles. This release, featuring the accomplished violinist Katija Di Giulio, further cements Eternal Silence’s stature as a dynamic force in the metal scene.

Alberto Cassina, singer, guitarist, and founder of the band, states: “This is a project that I had in mind for some time. I have always been fascinated by Norse mythology and its evocative atmospheres, which have accompanied me for several years and have become a part of me. In the pre-production phase, we worked closely with the Rockshots Records team and our management, who had the opportunity to listen to and appreciate the timeless atmospheres of the legends, showing curiosity about the development of the story. Hence the decision to present our effort divided into a few releases so that the listener can also be captivated by this magical and intense aura”.

ETERNAL SILENCE Line-up:

  • Marika Vanni – Vocals
  • Alberto Cassina – Guitar / Vocals
  • Martino Boneschi – Solo Guitar
  • Katija Di Giulio – Violin
  • Alessio Sessa – Bass
  • Lorenzo Aimo – Drums

For more information on ETERNAL SILENCE, visit the band’s official channels:

Victoria K to Release Sophomore Album ‘Kore’

Australia’s Victoria K returns in 2022 for the release of the sophomore album Kore this coming October via Rockshots Records to follow the 2020 debut album Essentia.

Offering up progressive symphonic sound, Kore was specifically written to provide a full orchestral experience that drives people through a sonic journey of growth and grandeur.

Pre-Order Kore

Victoria K Kore album artwork
Victoria K’s ‘Kore’ album artwork

A concept record, Kore” explores modern-day issues through the Homeric Hymn to Demeter (the story of Persephone). Victoria K conceptualized the idea for the album with her producer Lee Bradshaw and then spent many months researching and analyzing the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, even meeting with experts of the Homeric Hymns from Greece. The story was then broken up into its different parts where Victoria Knight wrote the lyrics and developed the melodies for each section of the tale, exploring the myth from a modern perspective.

Victoria K
Victoria K

The tracks were written specifically to encapsulate the various sections of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter and tell the story chronologically through each song and the music grows in intensity throughout the record capturing the emotional state of Persephone and other characters as the story progresses.

The various instruments were then written by Victoria around the lyrics and further enhanced and developed through the production process. Lee Bradshaw then finalized the songs by writing orchestral scores for each song, which were recorded live in Europe, before the final mixing and mastering.

Recommended for fans of Lacuna Coil, Rammstein, Within Temptation, Spirit Box, and Delain, Victoria K‘s forthcoming “Kore” will be released on October 14, 2022.

Victoria K’s “Tower” Music Video

Victoria K online:

EVERFROST Shares New Single “Flyers”

Finnish symphonic power metal band Everfrost shares brand new single “Flyers” taken from Frostbites, an EP of anime opening song covers coming out November 2022.

The band adds about the track: “‘Flyers’ by the band BRADIO became a big hit in the Japanese anime scene when it was used as the opening for cult classic show Death Parade. It’s a song we’ve wanted to cover for a long time because of its infectious groove and anthemic chorus, perfect for EVERFROST!

Listen to “Flyers” on Spotify

BRADIO – “Flyers” (Cover) by EVERFROST feat. Rob Lundgren video:

View it on YouTube

On this song we had the privilege of working with featuring vocalist Rob Lundgren, well-known for his bands Mentalist and Reveal, and vocal work on Youtube. His fun, energetic style was perfect for the track and he gave a great performance!

Aside from arranging the song into a heavier genre, main songwriter Benji wanted to elevate the chorus specifically with a huge vocal sound. This lead to us having the pleasure to work with a group of excellent singers in Finland to provide the large group sound heard on the track. This group consisted of Yannis Papadopoulos (Beast In Black), Bini Silvennoinen (Blame Me!), Mikael Salo (ex-EVERFROST, Thy Row, Dyecrest) and Sara Strömmer (Shereign, ex-Fear of Domination).”

“It’s time to crank ‘Flyers’, put your hands up and have a blast this summer!”

Frostbites CD Digipak pre-order here

Everfrost Frostbites

About Everfrost

Everfrost is a Finnish symphonic power metal band known for incorporating Japanese anime and manga influences into their music, visuals and storytelling.

Metal fans and anime enthusiasts alike have described Everfrost numerous times as the band they were always looking for as the music is created from a passionate desire to energize you, make you happy and take you away from the struggles of everyday life.

The familiar influences of classic and modern Finnish heavy metal (Nightwish, Beast in Black, Sonata Arctica, Wintersun etc) are present in the Everfrost sound, however the band’s trademark wintery style combined with elements from non-metal genres such as eurobeat, dance pop and anime music bring a unique freshness to the mix. The result is an addictive cocktail that has proven to find its way into a wide variety of playlists, DJ sets, parties and live events.

Another big reason people fall in love with Everfrost is because of how immersive the band’s universe is. Each album features ongoing stories of a group of characters living in a cursed city, sealed off from the world. The concept is inspired by the ‘secret cities’ experiments established during the Cold War.

The band’s latest full length album Winterider was in particular quite a unique release in the metal world, being a concept album featuring this world and characters in a fully coherent manga comic, following the story and working in tandem with the songs. It received critical acclaim and high scores from multiple well-known metal media outlets such as Kaaoszine, Powerplay Magazine, Bravewords Magazine and Tuonela Magazine. “9/10 The next great power metal band.”BRAVEWORDS

The album also made it to Disk UNION Japan’s top 10 charts for two weeks, charting at number 1 for the first week. The band also won Tuonela Magazine’s ‘best new discovery’ award for 2019.

While the music may sound energetic and cheery, the lyrical themes are usually dark, melancholic and vulnerable, dealing often with escapism through fantasy and entertainment, death and loss, social isolation and hardship. These feelings and ideas are manifested in the stories and characters, however the core inspiration stems from how cruel and cold the real world can be at times. This combination of happy music with sad lyrics empowers listeners in whatever stage they are going through or have been through in their lives.

The band features keyboardist and songwriter Benji Klint-Connelly, guitarists Samuli Heiskanen and Joose Ylianttila, bassist Roi Partanen and drummer Jope ‘James’ Salminen. Past members have included vocalists Hew Wagner and Mikael Salo (Thy Row, Dyecrest). The band has also featured and worked with many other esteemed musicians such as Rob Lundgren (Mentalist, Reveal), Yannis Papadopoulos (Beast in Black), Asim Searah (Damnation Plan, ex-Wintersun), Sara Strömmer (Shereign, ex-Fear of Domination) and Bini Silvennoinen (Blame Me!).

Everfrost online:

Rockshots Records Signs Italian Symphonic Metal ETERNAL SILENCE

For fans of Epica, Within Temptation, Sonata Arctica, Lacuna Coil, Evanescence

Rockshots Records is proud to announce their latest signing of Italian symphonic metallers Eternal Silence for the release of their next album Timegate Anathema due out in October 2021. 

The band comments: “We hope fans will be excited as we are for this new record. It is the most complete and refined album we made so far, and we think that the introduction of new elements and musical inspirations will attract new ones. We plan for it to be a heavy and romantic experience.”

Recorded at The Groove Factory (Udine, Italy) and Line/Out Studio (Milano, Italy) with mixing and mastering by Michele Guaitoli (Visions of Atlantis, Temperance, Kaledon), Timegate Anathema will feature ten tracks of symphonic and power prog metal plus will see the band introduce new elements and experimentation into their sound. The album goes from power metal songs like “The Way Of Time” and “My Soul Sad Until Death” to heavy and dark ones like “Rain and Red Death Masquerade“, passing through the catchy melodies of tracks like “Glide In The Air” and acoustic moments on “Lonely and Firefly“. The main theme that inspired the album is the concept of Time.

Bassist Alessio Sessa adds: “Time as the pace of life, time that gives a rhythm to the music, time as the nerve of existence, the ticking of a clock that brings back distant memories. The future developing through uncertainty and hope that flies on the wings of time. Time giving life to seasons, during which we struggle to give a sense to our hurry. The album’s image is of time represented by the two-faces god Janus, the divinity that looks backward and forward, guardian of thresholds, passages, chances, and who holds the keys of the flow of events. Musically the album puts together a solid metal rhythmic section with real strings orchestra and a choir, which accompany the melodies by the duo vocalists.

Formed in Varese, Italy in 2008, Eternal Silence combines powerful guitar riffs, a thunderous rhythmic section, catchy melodies, and bombastic orchestral tracks with the support of two vocalists, Marika Vanni and guitarist Alberto Cassina sharing the front stage. The band’s current line-up is completed by Alessio Sessa (bass), Andrea Zannin (drums) and Enzo Criscuolo (guitarist).

Since their formation, the band has unleashed three albums and two EPs. 2020’s Renegades (EP), 2018’s Metamorphosis (EP), and 2017’s Mastermind Tyranny were released on Sliptrick Records, and their earlier full-lengths Raw Poetry (2013) and Chasing Chimera (2015) were released on Underground Symphony Records.

Over the years, the band has been a consistent touring presence in Europe, performing in Germany, Switzerland, France, Czech Republic, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, and Hungary along with being support for bands such as Temperance, Therion, Haggard, Sound Storm, Timo Kotipelto (Stratovarius) and Jani Liimatainen (Insomnium) Blackoustic.

Eternal Silence is:

  • Marika Vanni – Vocals
  • Alberto Cassina – Guitar/Vocals
  • Alessio Sessa – Bass
  • Andrea Zannin – Drums
  • Enzo Criscuolo – Guitar

Eternal Silence Online:

Victoria K Shares “Mist Filled Sky”, Twitch Live Stream Scheduled

Australia’s Victoria K is sharing their new official audio track “Mist Filled Sky” in support of the debut album Essentia – released on April 24, 2020 via Rockshots Records. Listen here.

More Victoria K Videos:

Matrix | The Haunting | Forsaken | Lacuna

In addition, Rockshots Records and Victoria K will replay the release live set stream on Twitch directly to your home on Friday 17th July, at 11p.m. CEST! The show will be streamed on the official Rockshots Records’ Twitch channel, check it out and subscribe here.

Vitcoria K Twitch

This is the only way to see new songs from Victoria K’s debut album Essentia live for the foreseeable future, so don’t miss out!

Essentia was produced by Lee Bradshaw and features special guest Michalina Malisz (Eluveitie).

Victoria K Is:

  • Victoria K – Vocals
  • Sheri Vengeance – Extreme Vocals (Black Like Vengeance, ex. Ne Obliviscaris)
  • Julia Mammone – Guitar (Enlight)
  • Martin Kawaler – Bass (Black Like Vengeance, ex Ten Thousand)
  • James Davies – Drums

Victoria K Music:

Order Essentia | Stream/Download

Victoria K Online:

Website | Rockshots Records


NeroArgento Releases “Shed My Skin” Single and Video

Award-winning Italian vocalist / multi-instrumentalist NeroArgento is sharing with fans the new music video for the full length’s second single “Shed My Skin”, featuring singer/musician Brandon Ashley from The Dark and Caitlin Stokes from Corlyx.

Shed My Skin‘ is a more industrial-oriented song, based on heavy and low-tuned guitar riffs, plus huge and catchy layered vocals that give the song a killer radio attitude.

Watch the “Shed My Skin” Music Video

The music video was directed once more by Fabio Brunello
(Director, CGI, FX, and editing). 

Listen to “Shed My Skin

Spotify | Apple Music

Circles is NeroArgento‘s fifth studio album and it takes a step back to the original “industrial” roots as well as a step forward into a more mature and experimental sound. Known in the crossover scene as a solo artist, and founding member of the industrial metal act The Silverblack, NeroArgento has been involved in over 40 records to date including the Princess Ghibli compilation, a very well known collection in Japan that has sold several thousand copies along with performing multiple times at the New Years World Rock Festival, an event by Yuya Uchida.

NeroArgento’s tracks have also been featured in several official gameplay trailers, displayed on renowned websites as Warcraftmovies and Machinima plus his solo albums were released as special editions in Japan.

Among many collaborations as a producer, musician, and remixer, NeroArgento has worked with artists such as Dead By Sunrise, Vamps, Disarmonia Mundi, Rise To Fall, The Stranded, Massive Ego, Lady Faith alongside remixed songs for fan clubs of KORN, The Prodigy, Gorillaz.

Circles is set to be released via Rockshots Records on September 18th, 2020.

NeroArgento Online

Website | Facebook | YouTube
Instagram | Twitter | Spotify

Victoria K Shares The New Single “The Haunting”, Music Video

Australia’s Victoria K is sharing their new video for “The Haunting” in support of their forthcoming debut album Essentia – due out April 24, 2020 via Rockshots Records. The full length was produced by Lee Bradshaw and features special guest Michalina Malisz (Eluveitie).

Watch “The Haunting” Here:

More Music Videos:
Forsaken” | “Lacuna

The band comments about the song: “‘The Haunting‘ is about a tortured past that relentlessly plays on your thoughts and keeps you captive at that point in time. These memories and thoughts haunt you continuously until you can learn to let go of them, if you ever can. Only when you do let go of these torturing thoughts and feelings can you actually move forward again.”

Stream “The Haunting”:

Spotify | iTunes

Essentia

Victoria K Album Art Essentia
Essentia Album Artwork

Although Essentia was originally a solo project, it has now developed into the current band structure with each member bringing their own energy and experience to the collective.  The band is looking forward to collaborating on future releases and is now heavily focused on the release of this debut full length in April.

Pre-Save | Pre-Order

Essentia Track Listing:

  1. Freedom Uncharted (feat. Sheri Vengeance)
  2. Surreal
  3. Forsaken (feat. Sheri Vengeance)
  4. Matrix (feat. Sheri Vengeance)
  5. Shroud of Solitude (feat. Michalina Malisz – Eluveitie)
  6. The Haunting
  7. Freaks
  8. Mist Filled Sky
  9. Humanity
  10. Lacuna

About Victoria K

Victoria K’s talented songwriting and compositional influences include” Evanescence, Within Temptation, Nightwish and Kamelot amongst other current bands in the European metal scene, and her music has been likened to a blend of these influences.

Victoria K

Victoria K has racked up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube with her own original creations and through featured videos alongside a number of talented musicians covering a plethora of songs. Victoria K’s covers include Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper”, Nightwish’s “Last Ride of the Day”, Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” and Kamelot’s “Insomnia”, the latter of which received attention from the band themselves on Twitter and led to a meeting of talents when the American power metal band found themselves in Melbourne during their 2018 ‘The Shadow Theory’ Australian tour.

Victoria K Is:

  • Victoria K – Vocals
  • Sheri Vengeance – Extreme Vocals (Black Like Vengeance, ex. Ne Obliviscaris)
  • Julia Mammone – Guitar (Enlight)
  • Martin Kawaler – Bass (Black Like Vengeance, ex Ten Thousand)
  • James Davies – Drums

Victoria K Online:

Website | Facebook | Rockshots Records


Thy Despair Streaming New Single “The Free One”

For fans of Tristania, Draconian, Dimmu Borgir, Insomnium, Wolfheart

Rockshots Records announce their latest signing of Kiev, Ukraine’s Thy Despair for the release of their forthcoming album The Song Of Desolation due out on May 8, 2020. The dark metal band blends black, gothic, doom, symphonic and melodic death elements into their sound along with vocals being sung in both English and Ukrainian.

Today they are sharing with fans the first single off the full length, “The Free One“,
Spotify or YouTube

Thy Despair’s new album The Song of Desolation follows the band’s 2018 debut EP The Free One. Some of the album’s lyrics are influenced by the war in eastern Ukraine.

“It is a great tragedy for the nation and the main idea of these songs is that you should always fight back and keep freedom in your heart and mind. Lyrics of other songs are inspired by local legends or life experience.” says band founder Nephilim.

Nephilim adds: “Even when everything goes extremely bad, you should still stay strong, struggle and hope for the best, otherwise you won’t survive or will turn into a backboneless slave.”

The album as whole features 10 tracks each with its own tale to tell and a statement that unites all of them together.

PRE-ORDER is Available HERE

ThyDespairTSOD
Cover Art, Modeling: Elin | Cover photography: Katerina Vorona

The Song of Desolation Track Listing:

  1. The Free One
  2. Sabbath
  3. Fear and Despair
  4. Burned By Love
  5. Last Breath
  6. War
  7. Army of Dead
  8. Falling Star
  9. Ghost Rider
  10. Falcon

Watch their Epic Game of Thrones Metal Lyrics Cover here:

Thy Despair Is:

  • Elin – Vocals
  • Nephilim – Vocals / Guitar
  • Strike – Guitar
  • Navka – Keys
  • Alex – Drums
  • Anton – Bass

Thy Despair Online:

Facebook | Instagram

Rockshots Records