The Dead Daisies - "Bustle And Flow" (Deen playthrough)

Το συγκρότημα The Dead Daisies δημιουργήθηκε προ οκταετίας στην Αυστραλία και μπορεί κάλλιστα να χαρακτηρισθεί ως supergroup με βάση το βιογραφικό των μελών - μουσικών (πρώην και νυν) που το απαρτίζουν. Μουσικοί που έχουν θητεύσει σε συγκροτήματα όπως Whitesnake, Dio, Thin Lizzy, Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol κλπ. Η μπάντα περιγράφει την μουσική της ως:

«Influenced by 70's and early 80's rock, The Dead Daisies sound is soulful and accessible - equal parts of Aerosmith, Bad Company and Foreigner: muscular vocals, bluesy riffs, big choruses, powerful melodies and strong hooks. With stellar musicianship and pulverizing live shows, fans across the globe are discovering the band that is bringing back Rock & Roll!»

Το "δισκογραφικό τους παλμαρέ" μετρά πέντε "ολοκληρωμένους" δίσκους (συν τρία EPs και μπόλικα singles). Πιο πρόσφατο δισκογράφημά τους το ep "The Lockdown Sessions", το οποίο κυκλοφόρησε στα μέσα του περασμένου Ιούλη και η συλλογή "Locked and Loaded: The Covers Album" που "βγήκε" έναν μήνα αργότερα.

Το νέο τους δισκογραφικό πόνημα τιτλοφορείται "Holy Ground" κι έχει προγραμματισθεί να κυκλοφορήσει στην αυγή του νέου έτους. Ο Deen Castronovo μας δείχνει πως παίζεται στα τύμπανα το τραγούδι - single "Bustle And Flow". Νωρίτερα είχε κάνει κάτι αντίστοιχο και ο κιθαρίστας Doug Aldrich...

Band: The Dead Daisies
Country of origin: Australia / United States
Location: Sydney / Los Angeles, California
Formed in: 2012
Genres: Hard rock, heavy metal
Years active: 2012-present

Video: "Bustle And Flow"
Album: "Holy Ground"
Type: Full length
Release date: January 22th, 2021
Label: Spitfire Music

Band members:
Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio) - Guitar
Deen Castronovo (Journey, Bad English, Hardline) - Drums
Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Country Communion) - Vocals, Bass
David Lowy (Red Phoenix, Mink) - Guitar (rhythm)

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Lux Serpent - "Mortal Moon" (audios)

Οι Lux Serpent μας έρχονται από την Γερμανία. Doom metal μπάντα (ως symphonic ή epic doom metal μας συστήνεται), η οποία δημιουργήθηκε προ δεκαετίας. Έχουν δύο δίσκους στο ενεργητικό τους: το ντεμπούτο τους ("Requiem") που κυκλοφόρησε προ τριετίας και το album "Mortal Moon" που "βγήκε" στις αρχές του φθινοπώρου. Οι στίχοι όλων των τραγουδιών του δίσκου προέρχονται από σονέτα - ποιήματα του William Shakespeare...

Band: Lux Serpent
Country of origin: Germany
Location: Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia
Formed in: 2010
Genre: Doom Metal
Lyrical themes: Requiem Mass, Shakespeare
Years active: 2010-present

Album: "Mortal Moon"
Type: Full length
Release date: September 4th, 2020
Label: Independent
Format: CD, Digital

Track listing:
01. Prelude 02:15
02. How Heavy Do I Journey 05:26
03. Will 04:18
04. Mortal Moon 05:07
05. Why 04:58
06. Love's Not Time's Fool 05:50
07. In the Old Age 05:40
08. Frantic Mad 04:42
09. Love Is My Sin 05:41
10. No Longer Mourn for Me 05:07
11. Thine Eyes 05:34
12. No! Time 05:45

Band members:
Ingo Ross - Vocals
Dominik Sapia - Drums
Christian Schnittker - Guitars (lead)
Ludger Küpperkoch - Bass
Udo Stunz - Keyboards, Saxophone

ΥΓ. Το σονέτο είναι ποιητικό είδος, το οποίο ως τις απαρχές του εικοστού αιώνα ακολουθούσε μία σταθερή στιχουργική μορφή. Στην κλασική του μορφή το σονέτο αποτελείτο από 14 στίχους γι' αυτό συχνά αποκαλείται και δεκατετράστιχο.

Πρωτοεμφανίστηκε στην Ιταλία τον 13ο αιώνα, και συγκεκριμένα στην Σικελία. Στην συνέχεια εξαπλώθηκε στις υπόλοιπες Ευρωπαϊκές χώρες. Διακρίνονται δύο βασικές μορφές σονέτων: το Ιταλικό και το Αγγλικό. Το Ιταλικό σονέτο αποτελείται από δύο τετράστιχες και δύο τρίστιχες στροφές, ενώ το Αγγλικό από τρεις τετράστιχες και ένα καταληκτικό δίστιχο. (Πηγή: wikipedia)

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White Magician - "Dealers of Divinity" (audio)

Οι White Magician είναι ουσιαστικά το alter ego των Demon Bitch ή μάλλον η φυσική τους συνέχεια. Δημιουργήθηκαν το 2010 και ξεκίνησαν να δισκογραφούν το 2016 (χρονιά που έβγαλαν το τελευταίο τους album οι Demon Bitch).

Έχουν κυκλοφορήσει ένα ep, ένα single κι ένα split (μαζί με τους The Great Kaiser's White Magician, Prelude to Ruin) και πλέον είναι πανέτοιμοι για τον πρώτο "ολοκληρωμένο" τους δίσκο, ο οποίος φέρει τον τίτλο "Dealers of Divinity" κι αναμένεται στο δεύτερο μισό του Νοέμβρη...

Δελτίο τύπου: «Cruz Del Sur Music is proud to announce the signing of Detroit, Michigan metallers White Magician. The label will release the band’s first full-length, “Dealers Of Divinity”, on November 20. “The deal with Cruz Del Sur is an excellent opportunity brought about by a decision to reach out to some larger record labels,” says the band’s consigliere, Victron Power El.

“The amount of time, care, sacrifice and effort invested in this latest piece of music deserved to reach a wider audience and my guess was when Cruz Del Sur heard the material their reaction was the same as mine when I first heard the band’s 2016 ‘The Pledge’ EP many years ago: Holy hell, this is what heavy metal rock and roll is all about!”

Recorded over many nights and weekends between May 2018 and December 2019 in Lansing, Michigan by George “The Extortionist” Szegedy, “Dealers Of Divinity” is classic metal at its finest, defined by the band’s deft use of mystical twin guitar interplay and epic, ’70s-tinged song arrangements, which carefully bridge WHITE MAGICIAN’s vast influences, namely, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, KING CRIMSON, ANGELWITCH, ASHBURY, MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND and YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN, to name a few.

According to Victron Power El, Szegedy’s knowledge and expertise “pushed this recording to be better than ever possible before” due to his experience tracking more rock than metal bands. “This album is more everything that's been hinted at in previous releases,” notes Victron Power El.

“However, it is more developed, more precise, more over-the-top. The EP was a launching point, the rehearsal single was the bridge and the split were the rendezvous. Now it's time for the extravaganza of magic and power. The majesty of rock and roll will compel you once the album is in your hands!

“One thing that stands out is the carefully planned and executed vocals in each song,” he continues. “Something that The Great Kaiser has always strived for finally coming to fruition the way he has envisioned. Another thing that comes to the forefront is the way the band really comes together to deliver a full proper sound - something that has improved with each release but becomes quite evident on ‘Dealers Of Divinity’.

You can tell that time was taken and under the expert tutelage of George Szegedy, the WHITE MAGICIAN boys didn’t settle, but hit the tape till they got it right!” WHITE MAGICIAN’s debut EP, “The Pledge”, was released in 2016 via Dystopian Dogs Records. The “Antipathy” single followed a year later. The band released a split with THE GREAT KAISER’s WHITE MAGICIAN (not to be confused with this WHITE MAGICIAN) and PRELUDE TO RUIN in 2018.»

Band: White Magician
Country of origin: United States
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Formed in: 2010
Genre: Heavy Metal
Lyrical themes: Magic, Sorcery, Devilry
Years active: 2010-present

Audio: "Dealers of Divinity"
Album: "Dealers of Divinity"
Type: Full length
Release date: November 20th, 2020
Label: Cruz del Sur Music
Format: CD, 12" vinyl, Digital

Track listing:
1. Dealers of Divinity 07:32
2. Mad Magic II: In the Absence of Gods (Bad Magic) 05:11
3. Fading into the Obscurity of Ages (inst) 04:13
4. In Memoriam: Love and Magic (Magic and Love) 07:49
5. Magia Nostra 08:56
6. Power of the Stone 08:06
7. Spectre of a Dying Flame 07:57

Band members:
Mofang Tengrand - Bass, Vocals
Master Commandriani - Drums, Vocals (backing)
Mars Mysterio - Guitars
The Great Kaiser - Guitars, Vocals (lead)

Miscellaneous staff:
George Szegedy - Producer, Mixing, Recording
Matt Preston - Recording (additional)
Mofang Tengrand - Cover art
Sean Phillips - Recording (bass)

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Forsaken Age - "Raven's Cry" (ft. Tim Ripper Owens)

I have seen their future
A thousand different scenes
The path of men I have foretold
Within the realm of dreams...
A prophet of misfortune
The burden weighs so great
A weaver of black magic
Locked out beyond the gates

As the Raven's Tales unfold, keep safe your mortal soul

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

They do not heed the signs
Ignorance their plague
Their curse within the gloom
Reeking of decay...
The jaws of darkness nearing
Eyes glow in the black
Torment them with the truth
Of imminent attack

As the Raven's Tales unfold, keep safe your mortal soul

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

Horns sound the warning
Fires burn through the night
Men prepare to battle, men prepare to die…
Waiting for the daylight
Daring not to breathe
At the mercy of the beasts
Certain of defeat…

As the Raven's Tales unfold, keep safe your mortal soul

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

Curses spoken, Silence broken
Invoking death on the Raven's Cry

.... On the Raven's Cry!

Το 2009 σχηματίσθηκαν στην Νέα Ζηλανδία οι Twisted Metal. Επρόκειτο για μπάντα διασκευών κλασικών heavy metal τραγουδιών. Στα τελειώματα του επόμενου έτους αποφάσισαν να συνθέσουν το δικό τους υλικό και μετονομάσθηκαν σε Forsaken Age.

Με αναφερόμενες επιρροές μπάντες όπως οι Saxon, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Manowar, Accept, Exodus, Black Sabbath, Mercyful Fate, Dio, Bon Scott, Metal Church, Running Wild η μουσική των Forsaken Age έχει χαρακτηρισθεί ως "unapologetic 80s traditional metal worship".

Η δισκογραφική τους διαδρομή περιλαμβάνει ένα full length album το 2012 ("Back from Extinction") κι ένα ep τέσσερα χρόνια αργότερα ("Vengeance of the Slain"). Η συνέχεια θα δοθεί σε λίγες ημέρες. Ο δεύτερος "ολοκληρωμένος" δίσκος των Forsaken Age τιτλοφορείται "Heavy Metal Nightmare" κι αναμένεται την πρώτη εβδομάδα του Νοέμβρη...

Δελτίο τύπου: «The long awaited 2nd full length album from Forsaken Age features 11 tracks of fist pumping heavy metal for the 80s metal maniac. Released via Pure Steel Publishing. Featuring the single and title track "Heavy Metal Nightmare" and the full album length version of the previously released single "Raven's Cry" featuring Tim "Ripper" Owens on guest vocals.» 

Band: Forsaken Age
Country of origin: New Zealand
Location: Auckland, Auckland
Formed in: 2009
Genre: Heavy Metal
Lyrical themes: Heavy Metal, Rebellion, Dark fantasy, War
Years active: 2009-present

Lyric video: "Raven's Cry"
Album: "Heavy Metal Nightmare"
Type: Full length
Release date: November 6th, 2020
Label: Pure Steel Records
Format: CD, Vinyl, Digital

Track listing:
01. Death Terror
02. Raven's Cry
03. Ride On
04. Fire in Our Hearts
05. Blood Magick
06. Iron Overlord
07. Heavy Metal Nightmare
08. Running in the Dark
09. Hail and Farewell
10. Guardians of the Damned
11. Time Warrior

Band members:
Lee Scarfe - Bass, Vocals (additional)
Chrissy Scarfe - Vocals
Billy Freeman - Guitars (lead)
Tam Cramer - Drums, Vocals (additional)
Aidan MacNaughton - Guitars (rhythm)

Guest/Session: Tim "Ripper" Owens - Vocals (track 2)

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Motörhead - "Ace of Spades" (video)

If you like to gamble
I tell you I'm your man,
You win some, lose some
It's all the same to me,
The pleasure is to play
Makes no difference what you say
I don't share your greed
The only card I need is
The Ace Of Spades

Playing for the high one
Dancing with the devil
Going with the flow
It's all a game to me
Seven or Eleven
Snake eyes watching you
Double up or quit
Double stake or split
The Ace Of Spades

You know I'm born to lose
And gambling's for fools
But that's the way I like it baby
I don't wanna live forever
And don't forget the joker!

Pushing up the ante
I know you got to see me
Read 'em and weep
The dead man's hand again
I see it in your eyes
Take one look and die,
The only thing you see
You know it's gonna be
The Ace Of Spades

Τον Οκτώβριο του 1980, κυκλοφόρησε (ως single, με το "Dirty Love" στην δεύτερη πλευρά του βινυλίου) το τραγούδι "Ace of Spades". Λίγες ημέρες αργότερα (αρχές Νοεμβρίου) και ο ομότιτλος δίσκος. Τα υπόλοιπα είναι heavy metal ιστορία. Από τις σημαντικότερες στιγμές στην καριέρα των Motörhead κι ένα από τα καλύτερα (και εμβληματικά) τραγούδια στην μυθολογία του heavy metal.

Ο θρυλικός δίσκος των Motörhead θα επανακυκλοφορήσει μεθαύριο (30 Οκτωβρίου) στην επέτειο των σαράντα ετών με μπόλικα καλούδια. Μεταξύ αυτών και μία (ακυκλοφόρητη) συναυλία της Βρετανικής μπάντας στο Whitla Hall του Μπέλφαστ της Βορείου Ιρλανδίας προπαραμονή Χριστουγέννων (23 Δεκεμβρίου) του μακρινού 1981...

Δελτίο τύπου: «Ace Of Spades appears on Motörhead’s album ‘Ace Of Spades’. Originally released on Bronze Records on 8th November 1980, produced by Vic Maile. The line up on this album was Lemmy, Fast Eddie Clarke and Philthy Animal Taylor.»

Band: Motörhead
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Location: London, England
Status: Split-up
Formed in: 1975
Genre: Heavy Metal
Lyrical themes: Gambling, Rock 'n' Roll, Drugs, War, Life, Sex, Humour
Years active: 1975 (as Bastard), 1975-2015

Video: "Ace of Spades"
Album: "Ace of Spades"
Type: Reissue
Release date: October 30th, 2020

DISC ONE: "Ace Of Spades"
01. Ace Of Spades
02. Love Me Like A Reptile
03. Shoot You In The Back
04. Live To Win
05. Fast And Loose
06. (We Are) The Road Crew
07. Fire Fire
08. Jailbait
09. Dance
10. Bite The Bullet
11. The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
12. The Hammer

DISC TWO: Live At Whitla Hall, Belfast - 23rd Dec 1981
01. Ace Of Spades
02. Stay Clean
03. Over The Top
04. The Hammer
05. Shoot You In The Back
06. Metropolis
07. (We Are) The Road Crew
08. No Class
09. Bite The Bullet
10. The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
11. Jailbait
12. Leaving Here
13. Capricorn
14. Too Late, Too Late
15. Overkill
16. Bomber
17. Motörhead

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Steelforce - "Can't you see" (lyric video)

Οι Steelforce μας έρχονται από την Ολλανδία. Heavy metal μπάντα η οποία έδρασε στο δεύτερο μισό της δεκαετίας του ογδόντα κυκλοφορώντας μόνο δύο demos. Πριν την διάλυσή τους οι Steelforce είχαν στα σκαριά το ντεμπούτο τους, το οποίο ηχογραφήθηκε το 1988 και δεν κυκλοφόρησε ποτέ. Ποτέ;

Ποτέ μέχρι φέτος. Η δισκογραφική εταιρεία No Dust Records θα το κυκλοφορήσει, υπό τον τίτλο "Make Way", στις αρχές Δεκεμβρίου, 32 χρόνια αργότερα, με τον κιθαρίστα του συγκροτήματος (James Andriese) να μην μπορεί να κρύψει τον ενθουσιασμό του:

«Hi, here's James Andriese from SteelForce. Finally, after 32 years this album will be released on December 4, 2020. It's a long story why is hasn't been released earlier. Fact is, it is here right now and I am a happy man! Thanks to Henk van Helden at No Dust Records for his relentless enthousiasm in this project.»

Ο δίσκος θα κυκλοφορήσει σε βινύλιο (σε 300 συνολικά αντίτυπα) περιλαμβάνοντας δέκα μουσικά κομμάτια και σε cd με πέντε επιπλέον τραγούδια (από demo ηχογραφήσεις)...

Δελτίο τύπου: «From the album "make way" recorded in 1988, but was never released until now. The LP has 10 songs recorded in 1988, the CD (included) has the 10 songs plus 5 demo tracks recorded in 1986 and 1988. 

➩ Clear Silver vinyl (incl.CD and 12 page insert) 200 copies made
➩ Black vinyl (incl.CD and 12 page insert) 100 copies made»

Band: Steelforce
Country of origin: Netherlands
Location: Baarn, Utrecht
Status: Split-up
Genre: Heavy Metal

Lyric video: "Can't you see"
Album: "Make Way"
Type: Full length
Release date: December 4th, 2020
Label: No Dust Records
Format: CD, Vinyl

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Vomit Division - "Slaves of the Cock" (audio)

Οι Vomit Division είναι δημιούργημα του Desmotes, ο οποίος συμμετέχει ακόμη στους Fiat Nox (κιθάρα και φωνή), Funeral Procession (κιθάρα), Voreus (μπάσο). Πρόκειται για μονομελές συγκρότημα που μας παρουσιάζεται κάπως έτσι: «Black Thrash from the nasty shores of Bremen» και βασίζεται κυρίως στο ύφος των (πρώιμων) Bathory και των Venom.

Έχουν κυκλοφορήσει δύο EPs κι ένα split (μαζί με τους The Chainsaw Demons - από τρία τραγούδια η κάθε μπάντα). Το πρώτο full length album των Vomit Division τιτλοφορείται "Hell in a Bottle" κι αναμένεται στα τέλη του τρέχοντος μήνα...

Δελτίο τύπου: «Not even a year after the first sign of life, the German maniac from VOMIT DIVISION releases the first full-length titled "Hell in a Bottle", unleashing a black/thrash pandemonium, pushier than before, especially noticeable in the lyrics.

Loaded with more ripping riffs, fresh and unpredictable songwriting, quite diverse vocals and solid guitar solos, the album takes some unexpected turns while never losing the key aggression this project inherits. It's full of demented belligerence, hurtful honesty, pure abhorrence, arrogance and a stolid FUCK OFF attitude. More black metal than MIDNIGHT, more rock'n'roll than DESASTER.

If you're into these two bands as well as BATHORY, DARKTHRONE, NIFELHEIM, DESTRÖYER 666, GOSPEL OF THE HORNS, AURA NOIR, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, HELLRIPPER, WHISKEY RITUAL or ZEMIAL, you can’t go wrong with this one. Sex, drugs and a kick in the guts - VOMIT DIVISION is the perfect soundtrack to fucked-up nights and fucked-up lives!» 

Band: Vomit Division
Country of origin: Germany
Location: Bremen
Formed in: 2019
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
Years active: 2019-present

Audio: "Slaves of the Cock"
Album: "Hell in a Bottle"
Type: Full length
Release date: October 31st, 2020
Label: Metal on Metal Records
Format: CD, Digital

Track listing:
1. Panzerabwehr Rock'n'Roll
2. Slaves of the Cock
3. Cunts & Cocaine
4. Homunculus
5. Black Metal Bastards
6. Hunger of Ghouls
7. Demons Come Back
8. Goat VVytch King

Band members:
Desmotes - All instruments, Vocals

Guest/Session:
Lógos - Mixing, Guitar Solo on track 3,5, 8

Miscellaneous staff:
Hellish Visions - Cover art
Jowita Kamińska Peruzzi - Layout
Simone A. Peruzzi - Layout

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Reb Beach - "Infinito 1122" (video)

Ο Richard Earl "Reb" Beach Jr. (γνωστότερος ως Reb Beach) δεν νομίζω ότι χρειάζεται ιδιαίτερες συστάσεις (ή μήπως όχι); Αμερικανός κιθαρίστας ενεργός από τα μέσα της δεκαετίας του ογδόντα μέχρι τις ημέρες μας.

Το ντεμπούτο του δισκογραφικά πραγματοποιήθηκε το 1986 στον δίσκο της Fiona "Beyond the Pale". (Ίσως εκεί γνωρίστηκε με τον Kip Winger -που κάνει τα δεύτερα φωνητικά στο album και μετέχει στην σύνθεση ενός τραγουδιού- κι αργότερα συνεργάστηκαν στους Winger.)

Την ίδια χρονιά μετέχει ως καλεσμένος στους δίσκους της Chaka Khan "Destiny" (παίζει κιθάρα στο τραγούδι "Drums") και του Howard Jones "One to One" (ως ένας από τους τέσσερις κιθαρίστες που έπαιξαν στο album). Η metal / rock καριέρα του ξεκινά με τους Winger συμμετέχοντας και στους έξι στουντιακούς δίσκους που κυκλοφόρησαν, από το ομώνυμο ντεμπούτο του 1988 έως και το "Better Days Comin'" του 2014.

Τον ακούσαμε επίσης σε δύο δίσκους των Dokken ["Erase the Slate" (1999), "Live From the Sun" (2000)], ενώ αποτελεί μέλος των Whitesnake από το 2002 μέχρι και τις ημέρες μας με απολογισμό τέσσερα albums ["Good to Be Bad" (2008), "Forevermore" (2011), "The Purple Album" (2015), "Flesh and Blood" (2019)].

Το σωτήριο έτος 2020 "χτυπά" δισκογραφικά εις διπλούν! Αρχικά με το super group Black Swan και το ντεμπούτο τους ("Shake The World") που "βγήκε" τον περασμένο Φλεβάρη και πλέον με τον προσωπικό του (instrumental) δίσκο, ο οποίος φέρει τον τίτλο "A View From The Inside" κι αναμένεται στις αρχές Νοεμβρίου.

Πρόκειται για το τρίτο solo album του Reb Beach στην καριέρα του καθώς προηγήθηκαν το "The Fusion Demos" (1993) και το "Masquerade" (2001).

Δελτίο τύπου: «Reb Beach has announced that his long in the works instrumental solo album will now see the light of day. “A View From The Inside” is slated for a November 6th release via Frontiers Music Srl.

An album that showcases the dynamic talents of the guitar virtuoso, hard rock fans will be transported back to the days when giants like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani dominated the mainstream consciousness (and airwaves), while also simultaneously being shown a guitarist ever pushing himself forward into the future.

Reb Beach is one of the indisputable guitar giants of the current hard rock scene. His resume with ‘80s/’90s mega-stars Winger alone would earn him this distinction, but his legacy is cemented by his current membership and work with the legendary Whitesnake, his past efforts with Dokken, and his recent release with supergroup Black Swan, also featuring Jeff Pilson, Robin MacAuley, and Matt Starr.

Influenced by the legendary hard rockers of the ‘70s, Reb spent his teen years jamming along with the greats of that era like Aerosmith and Montrose, but it was when he discovered more progressive players like Steve Morse, Allan Holdsworth, and Larry Carlton that his musical world really opened up.

The complexity and the speed of the more prog style of playing was a unique challenge compared to the blues-based playing of most musicians of that era. The discovery of these players was ultimately the catalyst that drove his playing to the level he is now so well known to music fans the world over for.

Beach eventually graduated from his home practice space to the Berkeley School of Music, but after a couple of semesters he moved on and soon became one of the most sought-after session players in the music industry, working with such all-time great talents as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Roger Daltrey, Chaka Kahn, Howard Jones, and Twisted Sister.

While living in NYC, he hooked up with his future bandmate, bassist and frontman Kip Winger. Reb and Kip formed the band Winger and the rest is history. The two proved to be incredible writing partners, crafting multiple platinum records that featured no less than six Top Forty singles with music that was commercial yet complex.

After Winger went on a hiatus in the ‘90s, Beach’s career continued thanks to collaborations with Alice Cooper, Dokken and Night Ranger and he debuted as a solo artist in 2002 with the album “Masquerade". Following the Winger reunion in the ‘00s, Reb heard that David Coverdale was looking for a new guitarist for Whitesnake.

He reached out to him and since 2003, Reb has toured the world with the band as well as released multiple albums with them, including “Good to Be Bad,” “Forevermore,” “The Purple Album,” and the recent “Flesh & Blood,” plus a number of live albums.

Reb Beach will now release his first instrumental album, but this is not a mere exercise of self-indulgence. It is the culmination of over 30 years of study and extremely hard work on his craft.

Fans of Steve Morse and Joe Satriani will find a lot to love in the 11 songs on offer here, but while there is certainly a lot of ear candy for the musician types, fans of hard rock in general will find a wealth of melodies and transcendent moments where the songs simply make you forget there are no vocals.» 

Artist / Band: Reb Beach
Video: "Infinito 1122"
Album: "A View From The Inside"
Type: Full length
Release date: November 6th, 2020
Label: Frontiers Records S.R.L.
Format: CD, Digital

Track listing:
01. Black Magic
02. Little Robots
03. Aurora Borealis
04. Infinito 1122
05. Attack Of The Massive
06. The Way Home
07. Whiplash
08. Hawkdance
09. Cutting Loose
10. Sea Of Tranquility

Line-up:
Reb Beach - Guitars, Bass (on 4, 9), keyboards on (4, 6, 11), strings (on 10)
David Throckmorton - Drums (except on 6)
Robert Langley - Drums (on 6)
Michele Luppi - Piano (on 3, 10)
Phillip Bynoe - Bass (on 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 11)
John Hall - Bass (on 5, 6, 7)
Paul Brown - Keyboards (on 1, 2, 5, 7)

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Majestica - "Ghost Of Christmas Past" (lyric video)

Let's go back to
Where it started
Where my life
Was filled with peace
Though alone,
My dad cold hearted
My sister Fan,
Made my darkness cease
Was left at school
Every Christmas evening
Then one day
I found new meaning
When they would invite me home
Joyful, at ease - with family
With the news that Fanny died
I knew from this moment
That I'm all alone

(He thinks his alone when there's all around him others)
(That his lonely heart can’t see, it’s filled with greed)

Come and take my robe
We will fly away

Come with your robe, we fly away
To a time of jolly and gay
With the Ghost of Christmas Past
Here to help me find my way

Come with your robe, we fly away
To a time of jolly and gay
With the Ghost of Christmas Past
Here to help me find my way

On towards my glory days
Of working for a jolly man
Fezziwig, that kook, how he made us laugh and
Took us in with open arms
Dance ’til morning, singing, cheering
Christmas time was always steering
To a hope of better times
I still can recall that joyful night
When I met my love, my Belle
Wish for the rest of my time
That we could have made a life together

Come and take my robe
We will fly away

Come with your robe, we fly away
To a time of jolly and gay
With the Ghost of Christmas Past
Here to help me find my way

Come with your robe, we fly away
To a time of jolly and gay
With the Ghost of Christmas Past
Here to help me find my way

The hour strikes, it’s getting darker
Then I see a lonely man
Waiting for his true love Belle
Knowing that she won’t show up
She was my true love, I knew
But she had found herself someone new
Consumed by greed, his lust for wealth
Lost in his world, a tragic spell

Now I know what could have been
Should I regret that painful sin?
How I chose my own success
Before the only woman I have ever loved liked this

Come and take my robe
We will fly away

Come with your robe, we fly away
To a time of jolly and gay
With the help of the Ghost of the Christmas Past
To show me on my way

Come with your robe, we fly away
To a time of jolly and gay
With the Ghost of Christmas Past
Here to help me find my way

Το 2000 ο (νυν κιθαρίστας των Sabaton) Tommy Johansson δημιούργησε τους ReinXeed. Περισσότερο προσωπικό project (στο ντεμπούτο έπαιζε όλα τα όργανα μόνος του) στην αρχή, αλλά στην πορεία εξελίχθηκε σε "κανονικό" συγκρότημα.

Η μπάντα παρέμεινε ανενεργή δισκογραφικά της τελευταία εξαετία έχοντας κυκλοφορήσει (μέχρι και το 2013) έξι full length albums, δύο συλλογές, ένα ep κι ένα demo.

Πέρυσι τα τρία εναπομείναντα μέλη του συγκροτήματος αποφάσισαν να αλλάξουν όνομα κι οι Majestica ήλθαν στο προσκήνιο. Το ντεμπούτο τους έφερε τον τίτλο "Above the sky". Ο διάδοχός του είναι προ των πυλών. Τιτλοφορείται "A Christmas Carol" κι αναμένεται τον πρώτο χειμερινό μήνα.

Δελτίο τύπου: «In 2019 the new-coming Swedish Power Metal heroes MAJESTICA released their debut album "Above The Sky" and it became a huge success within the Metal community. Now in 2020 they are back with not only a new album, but a special treat for their fans: A Christmas Musical Power Metal album entitled "A Christmas Carol".

It's pure Symphonic Power Metal in the true MAJESTICA spirit along with elements from TWILIGHT FORCE, RHAPSODY, ALAN SILVESTRI, DANNY ELFMAN and JOHN WILLIAMS. What makes this a Christmas album is not only because during the entire album there's plenty of well-known Christmas songs inside the 9 tracks of Epic and Symphonic Power Metal, but also because the theme is the well-known story of Ebenezer Scrooge from the Charles Dickens Christmas novel "A Christmas Carol".

With many different voices for the many characters in the story and music that fits the story perfect people will not only hear a newly well-written Power Metal album, but also a Power Metal Musical that gives you the right Christmas feeling that you've never heard before in a Power Metal album.»

Tommy "ReinXeed" Johansson (Vocals, Guitar): «A silly dream of mine has finally come true. For many years I've wanted to release a Christmas album, because the atmosphere around Christmas is always so peaceful and music with a clear Christmas theme is always beautiful and very well‐written.

The reason why we chose to make a musical album with the story of Ebenezer Scrooge is very simple - it's a great story to tell around Christmas and it works so well as a musical. And with the help of different voice actors and singers we made it possible for this to happen - we’re very happy with the result.

Once again people can expect real power metal, but this time its a bit more symphonic and epic compared to our previous album ‘Above The Sky’. When it comes to the symphonic parts we’ve taken it a bit further and included a lot more orchestral instruments, including tubular bells, glockenspiel and sleigh bells to really get that Christmas sound to it.»

Chris David (Bass player): «If you know the story of 'A Christmas Carol' I think the title 'Ghost of Christmas Past' tells you what the song is all about. But if you don’t, it is about Ebenezer Scrooge's past, what happened in his early years and how he became the greedy lonely man he is. The music shows off many elements you can expect from the record. It is a symphonic power metal Christmas musical album so of course you will hear sleigh bells, glockenspiel, recognisable Christmas melodies and an appearance of 'The Majestic Choir'. But it is also a MAJESTICA album and I promise you that you will hear that as well!»

Band: Majestica
Country of origin: Sweden
Location: Boden / Jönköping
Formed in: 2000
Genre: Symphonic Power Metal
Lyrical themes: Fantasy, History
Years active: 2000-2019 (as ReinXeed), 2019-present

Lyric video: "Ghost Of Christmas Past"
Album: "A Christmas Carol"
Type: Full length
Release date: December 4th, 2020
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Format: CD, Digital

Track listing:
1. A Christmas Carol 01:44
2. A Christmas Story 05:02
3. Ghost of Marley 04:39
4. Ghost of Christmas Past 05:09
5. The Joy of Christmas 05:35
6. Ghost of Christmas Present 04:41
7. Ghost of Christmas to Come 04:26
8. A Christmas Has Come 04:50
9. A Majestic Christmas Theme 04:59

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Sinner Guard - "Circle of fire" (audio)

Sinner Guard: Βολιώτικο heavy metal συγκρότημα με Αργεντινό τραγουδιστή. Δημιουργήθηκε προ τριετίας (το 2017), ενώ πέρυσι (Απρίλιος 2019) κυκλοφόρησε το ομώνυμο (και αυτοχρηματοδοτούμενο) ντεμπούτο του.

Στις αρχές της φετινής χρονιάς ο Ιταλός τραγουδιστής Vincenzo Turitto αποχώρησε από την μπάντα κι αντικαταστάθηκε από τον 34χρονο Αργεντινό Pablo D. Ruiz Diaz. Ο δεύτερος δίσκος των Θεσσαλών metallers φέρει τον τίτλο "War is the Father of All" κι αναμένεται στα τελειώματα του έτους.

Το έδαφος προετοίμασε το lyric video του τραγουδιού "Sinners and saints". Σειρά για παρουσίαση πήρε εκείνο του ομότιτλου μουσικού κομματιού. Σήμερα θα ακούσουμε το "Circle of fire"...

Δελτίο τύπου: «We gladly inform you that we are gradually releasing our album, track by track. What comes next is the "Circle of Fire", a song inspired by the political and economical situation globally that forces so many people to become refugees out of their countries.»

Bio: «Sinner Guard is a Greek heavy metal band founded in Volos,Greece by Spiros Rizos and John Kyritsis. It was on May 2017 when Spiros and John decided to unite and make Spiro’s idea of a concept album come to life. Influenced by a variety of metal genres, the self titled album ‘Sinner Guard’ was created.

Bass players Thanasis Tiblalexis (Dendrites) and Fanis Tzaerlis joined forces along with the Italian origin vocalist Vincenzo Turitto (The Duellists). In the early 2020 Vincenzo left the band due to personal reasons and was replaced by Pablo D. Ruiz Diaz from Argentina. Throughout 2020 Sinner Guard are working on their second album, also a themed one, with the title ‘War is the Father of All’ which will be released within 2020.»

Band: Sinner Guard
Country of origin: International
Location: Volos, Thessaly, Greece / Argentina
Formed in: 2017
Genre: Heavy Metal
Years active: 2017-present

Audio: "Circle of fire"
Album: "War is the Father of All"
Type: Full length
Release date: 2020

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Chastain - "When The Battle's Over" (audio)

Looking for gold
In the face of the night
We're all driven by passion

Darkness surrounds
What a horrible light
Can't face distraction

Over and over and over again
I hear the reason
Guilty as charged without a trial
Paramount to treason

When the battle's over
I'll have my peace of mind
When the battle's over
It'll be forever

The agony of difference and hate
Let's all jump to fragment (?)
The only heaven and the only hell
We arise with nothing

Rapture of laughter
And sense the pain
We've touched eternity
Prisoner of time within his sphere
They sail the endless seas

When the battle's over
I'll have my peace of mind
When the battle's over
It'll be forever (X2)

Looking for gold
In the face of the night
We're all driven by passion

Darkness surrounds
What a horrible light
Can't face distraction

Over and over and over again
I hear the reason
Guilty as charged without a trial
Paramount to treason

When the battle's over
I'll have my peace of mind
When the battle's over
It'll be forever (X2)

When the battle's over (X2)

Face of the night,
I'll hold the light
It'll be forever

Η μουσική μπάντα Chastain δημιουργήθηκε από τον Mike Varney (ιδιοκτήτης της δισκογραφικής εταιρείας Shrapnel Records) ουσιαστικά μόνο για τον προσωπικό δίσκο του κιθαρίστα David Taylor Chastain, αλλά τελικά εξελίχθηκε σε "κανονικό" συγκρότημα (με τον David T. Chastain να κυκλοφορεί solo albums κάτω από το όνομά του).

Δημιουργήθηκε το μακρινό 1984 (την ίδια χρονιά με τους εξαιρετικούς CJSS, στους οποίους συμμετέχει επίσης ο David Chastain) και παραμένει ενεργό μέχρι τις ημέρες αν και υπήρξαν περίοδοι που μπήκε στον "πάγο". Τον χειμώνα του 1985 κυκλοφόρησε ο πρώτος δίσκος τους υπό τον τίτλο "Mystery of Illusion".

Στα μέσα Νοεμβρίου το ντεμπούτο των Chastain θα επανακυκλοφορήσει (ως "Mystery Of Illusion (Anniversary Edition)") με δύο επιπλέον τραγούδια (οι demo εκτελέσεις του "Mystery of Illusion" και του "The Winds of Change") και μία συνέντευξη των David T. Chastain / Leather Leone.

Band: Chastain
Country of origin: United States
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Formed in: 1984
Genre: Heavy/Power Metal
Lyrical themes: Dark fantasy, Life, Metal
Years active: 1984-present

Audio: "When The Battle's Over"
Album: "Mystery of Illusion"
Type: Full length

Release date: February 12th, 1985
Label: Shrapnel Records
Format: 12" vinyl, Cassette

Re-release date: November 13th, 2020
Label: Divebomb Records
Format: CD

Band members:
Leather Leone - Vocals
David T. Chastain - Guitars
Mike Skimmerhorn - Bass
Fred Coury - Drums

Miscellaneous staff:
Steve Fontano - Mixing, Engineering
George Horn Mastering
Lionel Baker II - Artwork (front and back cover)
Peter Marrino - Producer, Arrangement
Mike Varney - Executive producer

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Sylent Storm - "Beware The BloodMoon" (audio)

Listen close, don't make a sound
Can't escape your fate
If you refuse to turn around
It'll be too late

The time has come, nowhere to run
From your impending doom
The warning sign will be divine
The end is coming soon
Beware the bloodmoon

Right before your very eyes
Fast as you can blink
It'll catch you by surprise
Sooner than you think

The time has come, nowhere to run
From this impending doom
The warning sign will be divine
You'll sing a different tune
When there's a bloodmoon

Like a thief in the night
Beware the bloodmoon
No hiding from the light
Of the bloodmoon

Beware the bloodmoon
Like a thief in the night
Beware the bloodmoon
You're living in light
Of the bloodmoon
Like a thief in the night
Bloodmoon
The fire's burning bright
From the bloodmoon

Sylent Storm: μπάντα παραδοσιακού heavy metal από το Όρεγκον με αναφερόμενες επιρροές μπάντες όπως οι Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dokken, Ozzy, Dio, Tokyo Blade, Warlord, Omen, Ratt, Metal Church, Lizzy Borden, Stormwitch, Riot, Loudness, Pandemonium, Leatherwolf κλπ.

Δημιουργήθηκαν πριν από επτά χρόνια, ενώ προ διετίας κυκλοφόρησαν το ep "Patriots of Metal". Πλέον έφθασε η στιγμή για τον πρώτο "ολοκληρωμένο" τους δίσκο, ο οποίος φέρει τον τίτλο "The Fire Never Dies" κι αναμένεται στα τέλη του επόμενου μήνα...

Δελτίο τύπου: «Sylent Storm is a Melodic American Heavy Metal band that was formed in 2013 in Medford, Oregon. A S/T demo EP was recorded in 2014 and released in late 2018. The band's upcoming album "The Fire Never Dies" will be released on CD by Stormspell Records in 2020.»

Band: Sylent Storm
Country of origin: United States
Location: Medford, Oregon
Formed in: 2013
Genre: Heavy Metal
Years active: 2013-present

Audio: "Beware The BloodMoon"
Album: "The Fire Never Dies"
Type: Full length
Release date: November 27th, 2020
Label: Stormspell Records
Format: CD, Digital

Track listing:
01. The Fire Never Dies 05:41
02. Wrath of the Blade 04:34
03. Witches’ Blood 04:27
04. Morpheus (instr) 01:54
05. Shadow in the Dark 03:46
06. Eye of the Storm 04:30
07. Lunar Eclipse (instr) 02:07
08. Beware the BloodMoon 04:13
09. March Forth 04:27
10. Patriots of Metal 04:14
11. Sleeping in the Rain 03:32
12. Betrayal 06:28

Band members:
Jym Harris - Lead Vocals
Michael Ian Brisbane - Guitar, Vocals
Mike Pugh - Bass, Vocals
Rich Psonak - Drums

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Ignitor - "The Golden Age of Black Magick" (audios)

«Ignitor formed in Austin, Texas in 2003 with legendary Agony Column guitarist Stuart Laurence, Brendon Bigelow on bass, Beverly Barrington on guitar, Pat Doyle (Offenders) on drums, and vocalist Erika Swinnich. The band wanted to write music reflecting their passion for heavy, speed, and power metal.»

Κάπως έτσι αρχίζει η ιστορία των Ignitor πριν από 17 χρόνια. Αμερικάνικο heavy / power metal συγκρότημα, το οποίο δηλώνει ως αναφορές μπάντες όπως οι: Judas Priest, Accept, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, AC/Dc, Kiss και μας παρουσιάζεται κάπως έτσι:

«Ignitor is an Austin-based heavy metal band featuring Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys) and Stuart Laurence (Agony Column.) The band has released seven albums and entertained audiences everywhere for over fifteen years.»

Οι Ignitor έχουν κυκλοφορήσει έξι "ολοκληρωμένους" δίσκους με τον έβδομο να είναι προ των πυλών. Φέρει τον τίτλο "The Golden Age of Black Magick" κι αναμένεται σε λίγες ημέρες. Να υπενθυμίσουμε ότι στην Αμερικάνικη μπάντα τραγουδά ο Jason McMaster (ο τραγουδιστής του θρυλικού ντεμπούτου των Watchtower "Energetic Disassembly")...

Δελτίο τύπου: «We at Metal on Metal Records are proud to announce the co-operation with the Texas metal masters, Ignitor, featuring veterans of the scene known from bands like AGONY COLUMN, WATCHTOWER, DANGEROUS TOYS, HOWLING SYCAMORE and many others.

Their name should be already familiar to most heavy and US power metal fans as the band was formed back in 2003 and have released six albums so far through European and US labels. Earlier this year, they finished the work their seventh full-length "The Golden Age of Black Magick", which is the living proof they still have it in them like almost 2 decades ago.

Fronted by Jason McMaster whose distinct and aggressive vocals perfectly complement the music, the band offers high-energy, intensely passionate metal anthems harkening back to the glory days of unrelenting fist-pumping heavy metal that will certainly please fans of ATTACKER, DIO, RIOT, SKULLVIEW, ASKA, CAGE, RAINBOW, IRON MAIDEN, JAG PANZER and the like.

The band's guitarist and founding member Stuart "Batlord" Laurence created a video clip for the album's title track which you can watch on our YouTube channel or below. "The Golden Age of Black Magick" is slated for the release on October 31st on CD, Bandcamp and on all relevant digital platforms.»

Band: Ignitor
Country of origin: United States
Location: Austin, Texas
Formed in: 2003
Genre: Heavy/Power Metal
Lyrical themes: Fantasy, Epic
Years active: 2003-present

Album: "The Golden Age of Black Magick"
Type: Full length
Release date: October 31st, 2020
Label: Metal on Metal Records
Format: CD, Digital

Track listing:
1. Secrets of the Ram 04:07
2. Countess Apollyon 03:48
3. The Golden Age of Black Magick 05:25
4. Hell Shall Be Your Home 04:15
5. Tonight We Ride 03:54
6. Steel Flesh Bone 04:13
7. Execution Without Trial 04:37
8. Stoned at the Acropolis 04:51

Band members:
Jason McMaster - Vocals
Stuart Laurence - Guitars
Robert Williams - Guitars
Billy Dansfiell - Bass
Pat Doyle - Drums

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