Tag Archives: Metal Music

Celtic Metal Goddess LEAH Releases “Archangel” Single

Featuring Special Guests Timo Somers & Sander Zoer

“Archangel was a really fun song to write and came easily and naturally. It’s one of those songs that felt like it wrote itself. It’s a song about the more ominous side of angelic warfare and the interaction between humans and the realm beyond. I hope everyone enjoys the concept and the music!” – LEAH

 Stream “Archangel”

"Archangel" single artwork
“Archangel” single artwork

Record-Breaking Crowdfunding Campaign Raises $83,000+ for 6th Album, The Glory and the Fallen, Dropping February 16th

Pre-order LEAH’s sixth album, The Glory and the Fallen now. Dropping February 16th, this much-anticipated, crowdfunded new release will feature a who’s who of renowned musicians with appearances from Mark Jansen (Epica, MaYaN), Timo Somers (Arjen Lucassen, Ex Delain), Sander Zoer (Delain), and was produced by Oliver Philipps (Everon, Phantasma). The amazing artwork was created by Giannis Nakos (Kamelot, Evergrey, Amaranthe.)

The Glory and the Fallen album artwork
‘The Glory and the Fallen’ album artwork by Giannis Nakos

Pre-Order Vinyl, CD, 3 Disc Digipak, Hoodies & Bundles Now!

Pre-orders for ‘THE GLORY AND THE FALLEN’ Collection: Vinyl, CD, 3 Disc Digipak, Hoodies & Bundles

'The Glory and the Fallen' vinyls
‘The Glory and the Fallen’ vinyls – Dream Sea Voyage 2 LP Gatefold

LEAH shares, “This is one of my biggest projects to date. Not only because there were more people involved, but also because of the scope of the music itself and the way I challenged myself in the songwriting process, and vocally. I think you’ll hear a continuation of my evolution as a songwriter and vocalist. This collection of songs is very much the classic LEAH sound but also explores some new territory that I think you’ll really enjoy.” 

In a gallant move, LEAH will also be treating fans to an instrumental album and folk versions of several songs from the album, providing a full experience for a wide range of musical tastes.

The Glory and the Fallen

ALBUM CREDITS:

  • All songs written by Leah McHenry
  • Mixed & mastered by Tom Müller | Flatliners Studio
  • Produced by Oliver Philipps
  • Vocal Arrangements by Leah McHenry & Oliver Philipps 
  • Artwork & layout by Giannis Nakos

LINE UP:

  • Lead vocals & keys: Leah McHenry
  • Guitars & Bass: Timo Somers
  • Drums: Sander Zoer
  • Orchestrations, programming, additional keyboard & guitars: Oliver Philipps

GUEST APPEARANCES:

  • Harsh vocals on “Sleeping Giant” & “Unshakable”: Mark Jansen
  • Flutes & pipes on “Victory” & “Dream Voyage”: Dagda (Celtibeerian) 
  • Vocals on “Unshakable”: Elektra, Victory, Geneva (Leah’s daughters)
  • Vocals on “Victory”: Oliver Philipps & Timo Somers
  • Vocals on “Revive”: Syr

About LEAH

LEAH press photo
LEAH

Throughout her trajectory, LEAH’s music has featured such notables as Troy Donockley (Nightwish), Eric Peterson (Testament), Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian), Chen Balbus (Orphaned Land), and Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe, Evergrey). She also joined Eric Peterson’s DRAGONLORD for its 2018 studio album Dominion and has participated in the charity group Project Aegis.

Her genre is “Celtic fantasy metal,” and her albums could easily serve as the soundtracks for shows like Game of Thrones or Vikings. Her fans refer to her as the “metal Enya,” and she embodies the archetype of the “warrior queen” to thousands of dedicated listeners around the world.

In addition to the upcoming The Glory and the Fallen, LEAH’s discography includes five previously released albums: Of Earth and Angels (2012), Otherworld (2013), Kings & Queens (2015), The Quest (2018), and Ancient Winter (2019), each a rapturous blend of a symphonic metal style carefully spiced with Celtic, folk, and fantasy. Her emotive vocals are often compared to Loreena McKennitt, Tori Amos, and Sarah McLachlan.

LEAH Discography

Fans and media outlets can also explore Leah’s captivating music on Spotify and Bandcamp, where her distinctive blend of Celtic and symphonic metal can be experienced firsthand. Available to buy from the LEAH shop.

LEAH online:

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:

REVIEW: Babyklok Tour 2023: An Unforgettable Night of Metal Madness with Dethklok and BABYMETAL in Phoenix (10-10-23)

PHOENIX — On a mild mid-October evening, with the first signs of fall evident throughout town – as seen in the changing colors of license plates, and the exchange of the brutal dry heat for a slightly less intense dry warmth – a crowd assembled at Arizona Financial Theatre in downtown Phoenix. Next to fine examples of how architecture should not look (brutalist architecture is the unsalted saltine cracker of the construction world) sits the theater. The crowd gathered here this evening had braved the traffic and lack of downtown parking to bear witness to a metal show like no other: Dethklok and BABYMETAL teaming up as co-headliners on the “Babyklok” tour, with Jason Richardson opening the show up. Dethklok – a fictional band that is surprisingly very real – was touring in support of their newest album, Dethalbum IV, and the new movie Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar. BABYMETAL was touring in support of the latest album The Other One, released earlier this year. 

Jason Richardson

Jason Richardson took the stage first. Richardson first broke into the music industry at 17, when he took over for Chris Storey in All Shall Perish in 2009. Since then, he has played in Born of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, and currently plays in All That Remains, filling the massive hole left when Oli Herbert mysteriously and tragically passed away in 2018. He has toured as a solo act, and puts on an absolute masterpiece of a solo show. He played for around half an hour, playing a total of 7 songs, including “Tendinitis” and “Ishimura”.

BABYMETAL

BABYMETAL
BABYMETAL
| Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

The history of BABYMETAL is an interesting look into the culture and entertainment of Japan. Formed in 2010 with then-13-year-old Suzuka Nakamoto (stage name Su-metal) as the lead singer, 11-year-old Moa Kikuchi (stage name Moametal), and 11-year-old Yui Mizuno (stage name Yuimetal), the group was a subunit of a group named Sakura Gakuin. Yuimetal left in 2018 due to an illness, and was replaced in 2023 by one of their back-up dancers, Momoko Okazaki (known as Momometal). The idea was to fuse the Japanese idol genres with heavy metal, with the result being a new type of metal called “kawaii metal”. There is a very strong J-pop sound to the vocals, layered over thunderous, earth-shaking metal music.

BABYMETAL executing precise choreography
BABYMETAL
| Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

This is combined with choreography that has near military-like precision, with the trio seldom, if ever, being out of sync. The show is equal parts entertaining and organized chaos, and BABYMETAL fans enjoy every second of it.

The chaos began at exactly 8 p.m., with the words “BABYMETAL WORLD TOUR 2023” coming up on the massive screen behind the band. The introduction drew inspiration from Star Wars, with the opening lines being ‘A long time ago in a heavy metal galaxy far, far away,’ followed by a tale of how the FOX GOD chose the heavy metal spirits to make up the band. At the conclusion, the band erupted into a riff that would make Rammstein proud. Even with the band attempting to rearrange the molecules of the audience members with a sustained sonic blast, the cheers from the crowd could still be heard.

BABYMETAL with a bursting, sparkling image on a backing screen
BABYMETAL
| Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

BABYMETAL has released 4 albums over the years, starting with 2014’s BABYMETAL, 2016 saw the release of Metal Resistance, 2019 brought Metal Galaxy and earlier this year the band released The Other One. They leaned heavily on BABYMETAL, opening the show up with “BABYMETAL DEATH”, and following that up with “Gimme Chocolate!!”.

BABYMETAL dancing while shrouded in blue light
BABYMETAL
| Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

Su-metal and the band said little beyond greeting the audience and giving instructions that were eagerly followed, such as having the crowd turn their phone lights on, getting low (which, in most cases, simply meant taking a seat before jumping back up), and a couple of other actions. While little was said, it is clear that the band has mastered the art of stage presence and crowd interaction. It should also be noted that unlike many recent metal concerts, there was a circle pit from the jump at this show. Watching the dynamics of said pit when the screen showed an overhead view of the audience was also an interesting study. Watching fully grown men slam into each other at full speed while listening to kawaii metal is not something I thought I would write about.

Dethklok

Dethklok logo on the backing screen at their concert
Dethklok
| Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

Dethklok answers the question, “What would happen if Weird Al were a metalhead who decided to write NSFW lyrics?” The answer is a bizarre and yet utterly enjoyable hour-long show. The birth of Dethklok came in 2006, when Metalocalypse premiered on Adult swim. The fictional band would soon release a very real album – The Dethalbum – in 2007, which shot to number 21 on the Billboard top 200 list. Lead singer and founder Brendon Small played all the instruments from 2006 until he was joined in 2007 by Gene Hoglan, one of the greatest metal drummers to ever grace the stage.

Dethklock performs at Arizona Financial Theatre
Dethklok
| Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

While the premise may seem a bit odd to an outsider, don’t be fooled. It is pure, silly, and rather metal fun. The show begins with the band members walking to their positions in backlit darkness. Then, the screen behind them plays scenes from the Metalocalypse TV show, including scenes from the full-length movie Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar, which was released on August 22nd of this year, while the real-life band performs. If you are not familiar with the show, it can be summed up as an over the top world where the fictional band accidently murders thousands of people with every show, and is also a massive economic powerhouse, but they can’t buy groceries or cook a meal due to their incompetence.

Dethklok with an animation with gravestones on the screen behind the band
Dethklok
| Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

None of that previous sentence is made up, and the over the top moments mixed with the over the top songs attracted a die-hard following that happened to have quite a crossover into the BABYMETAL fanbase. This should be no surprise, as both bands produce some face-meltingly amazing metal, with a twist.

Oh, and Facebones, an animated skull featured in concerts and the TV show, serves as a well-intentioned character, often tasked with providing guidance and explanations, but invariably finds himself unable to convey valuable information before things inevitably go completely off the rails. He makes a couple of appearances, reminding the audience about concert etiquette, such as the importance of not indulging in excessive pot smoking, as no one wishes to take on the role of caretaker.

It gets very weird very quickly, but that seems to be par for the course considering one of the song names is “I Ejaculate Fire,” with an incredibly bizarre music video that redefines the idea of how destructive an STD can truly be.

Dethklok appearing as a silhouette with a large fiery screen above them
Dethklok
| Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

Your aunt is likely to pray for your immortal soul upon discovering your attendance at a Dethklok concert. You might feel a tad confused and uncomfortable, but the music is undeniably absurd in the best possible way, with a real-life band producing some of the finest metal sounds you’ll ever encounter. Just don’t pay too much attention to the lyrics, or you might realize you’ve been headbanging to a coffee jingle. Not that anyone could fault you; “Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle” is undeniably a banger that leaves you uncertain about whether to charge through a wall to get some coffee or flee, especially since the video playing behind the band strongly suggests the brand has mistaken “waking up” for “burning alive in a pool of superheated coffee.”

Dethklok performs in front of a large crowd of fans
Dethklok
| Photography:
Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved

The Babyklok tour ended on October 12 in the Los Angeles area, and while BABYMETAL will continue on with another touring partner in Europe, fans will have to wait for Dethklok to announce their next steps. It is, after all, a concept band that just released a film to conclude the Metalocalypse era and has wrapped up their first tour in 11 years. The fandom can only hope to see another tour or two, but if there are no more, it would be difficult to argue against the idea that they truly exited stage left on a high note.

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Rodrigo Izquierdo

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Dethklok & BABYMETAL – Arizona Financial Theatre 10-10-23

Photography © Reagle Photography
All Rights Reserved

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: