Metal

Even among the many talented bands of the melodic metal scene, Finland's ARION stand out due to their incredible musicianship and songwriting craft. This is a young and ambitious band taking things to the next level: melodic metal 2.0! It becomes obvious right away what kind of "heavyweight" "Vultures Die Alone" is: producer Matias Kupiainen (Stratovarius) and mixing engineer Adam "Nolly" Getgood (Periphery) did an amazing job in making the manifold talents of ARION shine. Also, the two featured artists play an important role on "Vultures Die Alone": On "Bloodline", the group is joined by Battle Beast vocalist Noora Louhimo while the melancholic track "In The Name Of Love" features Finnish modern rock band Cyan Kicks. In addition, "Vultures Die Alone" comes up with very heavy guitar riffs, energetic (lots of times fast-paced) songs, symphonic monumental tracks ("Break My Chains") and even a beautiful instrrumental. "Vultures Die Alone" is the exceptional album by a young band which already has the experience and quality to reign supreme.

THERION всегда бросали вызов самим себе, когда приходили к открытию новых земель и при этом оставались верными своим музыкальным корням. На своем 17-м альбоме вдохновитель Кристофер Джонссон и его коллега по группе Томас Викстрём создали нечто, что было совершенно немыслимо для них обоих раньше. «Мы взялись за единственное, что мы еще не пробовали из всех этих возможностей», - объясняет Кристофер. «Мы решили дать фанатам то, о чем они так давно просили.« Leviathan »- это первый альбом, который мы намеренно упаковали хитами THERION».

This is the start of a new time calculation: Forget HELLOWEEN –Here comes HELLOWEEN! The sensation was perfect – Helloween, who has sold more than 10 million records worldwide, being one of the most respected German metal bands since 1984, announced their PUMPKINS UNITEDWORLD TOUR in 2016. The media was raving about the TOUR OF THE YEAR, playing 69 shows in 32 countries allover the world. More than one million fans on three continents were ecstatic because it was not only a reunion of the original band, it was the summit of seven ultimate HELLOWEEN heroes: Andi Deris, Michael Kiske, Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen, Markus Grosskopf, Sascha Gerstner & Dani Löble. Or to put it simple: it was a dream come true for fans around the world, the band received five times more spectators and all of them had only one wish: »Please stay together!« Following the excitement, one of the biggest magazines in this genre »BURRN!« (Japan) honored the band with four unbelievable cover stories, this was followed by the thunderstorm of the century within the social media universe, a celebrated PUMPKINS UNITED single and the quenchless hunger for more–much more! And yes, the musicians tasted blood and it was clear: there is no way back –the future of HELLOWEEN will be written in unity. It marked the beginning of a new era and the re-birth of a metal legend with exceptional artists. Their first new album will be released in summer 2021. Flatten the runway with a loud drumbeat: in April 2021 the spectacular single SKYFALL will be released. The 12 minute epos, written by Kai Hansen has the long yearned ‚Keeper-Vibe’ but it isn’t telling the story of the whole album. SKYFALL has a musical arch which will be loved by fans of every era: from unforgettable times to glorious adventures all the way to the upcoming first album of the HELLOWEEN new age. The epic track tells about an alien landing on earth and a dramatic chase while Hansen, Kiske and Deris duel with each other in a breathtaking manner and create a broadband adventure -with a lyric sheet with colored blocks identifying the singers as well as a video that is formidable. Produced by Martin Häusler, it will be the most elaborate clip in the history of the band, the story to be shown with 3-D animation and looking cinematic –in these times almost a dinosaur in implementation. The very first release of the new era is justified to so to do – worthy the occasion: not only a simple album, curated and treasured with love and affection, different formats will be available – especially for all collectors and super fans: Premium CD as digipak and 12“ Gatefold vinyl in various styles like shape-LP and picture disc – black or in combinations orange/transparent, orange/black, green/black marbled, orange/black splatter and red/black splatter (also available digitally). SKYFALL will be released in two versions: A-side with the 7 minute single edit and the B-side explodes with a 12 minute alternative version of the album track with a new mix and a different singer allocation. Available only on this very single. The second edition will offer „Indestructible“ as their B-side, another precursor from the album and limited availability with a premium package format. The base of the upcoming milestone album was already erected in the studio: using the original Ingo Schwichtenberg drum kit, the recording was done with the same modulators at the Hamburg HOME studios where back then »Master of The Rings«, »Time of the Oath« and »Better than Raw« was recorded. Back to the roots and completely analog is the UNITED impact -another great work by well-known producer Charlie Bauerfeind and Co-producer Dennis Ward before the album traveled to New York and got the final mastering polish in the Valhalla Studios of Ronald Prent (Iron Maiden, Depeche Mode, Rammstein). With all this brand new material an album has been created, an album that is set apart from the digital mainstream and showing that the essence of the band was never more solid. The artwork of Eliran Kantor (Berlin) is clear: SKYFALL is the beginning of something big – here comes HELLOWEEN. DIGI 01. Skyfall (Single Edit) 02. Skyfall (Exclusive alternative vocals mix)

Monumental isn’t even a word strong enough to describe the new EPICA offering Omega, the first collection of all-new material in five long years. On their eighth full-length, the Dutch symphonic metal titans go all cinemascope, in a stunt both effo

We originally composed this album 1998-1999, tracking and releasing in 2000. Former guitarist Sigurd (1993-2006) who marched with me around the globe wrote three songs on this monster. Session drums were handled by Manfred Man Gandler (Mastic Scum) and ba

Music has become more important than ever in recent times. As a result, the triumphant return of AMARANTHE feels particularly timely. The Swedish six-piece have spent the last decade establishing themselves as a formidable, positive and fervently melodic force for metallic good. Not just a glorious return but a wholesale upgrade for their exuberant sound, Manifest is simply the most daring, dynamic and unforgettable album that AMARANTHE have released to date. The perfect antidote to the nagging anxieties plaguing us all in these troubled times, it’s a Technicolor celebration of metal’s ageless power, blazing with all of life’s colours and chaos, but delivered with utmost artistry and skill. As Olof concludes, it’s one exceptional reason to be cheerful. Recorded in Denmark with long-time collaborator Jacob Hansen, Manifest is an album of multiple moods and textures, of immense power and aggression, and of exquisite beauty. That bold blending of disparate elements has always been part of the AMARANTHE ethos, but on their sixth album, the band exhibit an enhanced sense of lyrical and conceptual substance. With songs touching upon everything from looming climate disaster to theistic mythology, Olof and Elize have truly blossomed as commentators on mankind’s trials and tribulations. These are exciting, meticulously crafted future-metal anthems, custom-built to make heads bang, but underpinned by a profound sense of humanity and emotional honesty. As with preview single Do Or Die – released on Valentine’s Day this year, and featuring the legendary Angela Gossow – Manifest is a record that owes as much to the real world as it does to fantasy and escapism.

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With unflinching tenacity, the impenetrable heavy metal hardcore factory that is HATEBREED has brought forth yet another iron cast, sonic weapon with Weight Of The False Self. It comes as no surprise that their eighth, full length album is the result of the usual sweat and blood that have cemented HATEBREED’s unique niche in the world of music for over two decades. Renowned for their ability to provide an intense and cathartic release for their fans, HATEBREED challenged their writing style through this album cycle in order to produce material that is exceptionally relatable in a contemporary world flooded with overstimulation, emotional dampening, and lack of social patience. “Weight Of The False Self’ is a perfect representation of HATEBREED in 2020, a fresh onslaught of soon to be classics with all the elements that led you here since day one,” explains guitarist Frank Novinec. A metaphorical weight is carried by almost every individual in regards to their emotional construct. Our experiences shape who we become and over time, gradually produce a heavy burden that we continue to lug along. For many of us, the weight becomes so much that we struggle to get out from underneath, let alone move.