Concert reviews and news from a fans perspective on Prog/Power and Melodic Metal!!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Hailing from the rockin' land of Sweden, MINDFUEL is releasing their debut album “In Your Mind” on Blue Topaz Records. Combining elements of Hard Rock, Thrash and Power Metal, Mindfuel has created a new and undeniably awesome sound for rock fans around the world. Due to the rising popularity of their sample tracks with radio and internet rock stations around the world the guys have hastened the release of their first album Positive feedback includes comparisons to legends of rock and metal like Iron Maiden, Helloween, Testament, Dream Evil and Manowar. The band, which includes Markus Kinell on guitars/bass, Magnus Westman on vocals and Magnus Göransson on drums, started as a project in February of 2008 when Markus and Magnus met through a mutual friend. Magnus agreed to put some vocals down on a song that Markus was working on and they fit perfectly with the music. After exploring their similar tastes in music and views for the direction of a possible band Magnus agreed to join the project full time. From there they recruited Manus Göransson, a drummer Markus had worked with a few years prior. When Magnus G joined all the pieces were in place and the three began churning out the incredible songs that would become their debut album under their new name... MINDFUEL! Mindfuel invites you to listen to the masterpiece of 11 hard and melodic heavy metal songs that form the album "In Your Mind."
Learn more about the band at www.MINDFUEL.se For press inquiries please contact: mindfuel.band@gmail.com You can get your own copy at: www.aorheaven.com www.GINZA.se (Sweden) www.klicktrack.com More to come shortly For more info: www.mindfuel.se
The Swedish/Norwegian band Saint Deamon, debuted in early 2008 with a stunning album “In Shadows Lost From the Brave”, a record that garnered great acclaim from both critics and fans.
Named after a fictitious ghost rider called S. Deamon, and with a nod towards the contrast between the heavenly/diabolical feel of the name, the band was put together in 2006 by drummer Ronny Milianowicz (ex Dionysus and songwriter for Primal Fear, Cans and Place Vendome among others), together with bass player Nobby Noberg (also ex Dyonisus), guitar virtuoso Toya Johansson and the golden voice of the Norwegian Jan Thore Grefstad (ex Highland Glory).
Saint Deamon are now back, just over a year after the release of their debut album, with a strong head wind in their sails with the worthy follow up “Pandeamonium”.
Produced by two of the worlds most famous Heavy Metal producers, Roy Z (Judas Priest, Halford, Helloween, Bruce Dickinson, who also co-wrote the album’s title track with the band) & Jens Bogren (Opeth, Paradise Lost, Amon Amarth), “Pandeamonium” shows a well oiled Metal machine that has no limits in terms of inspiration, musical direction and focus, dedicated members or professionalism.
Saint Deamon toured extensively in 2008 with gigs in Sweden, Norway, Austria, Italy, England and USA and they also played some of the world’s finest metal festivals like Prog Power US and Bloodstock UK and even managed to headline certain festivals, a first for a band with a debut release just available and the plan for 2009 is to continue to tour at the same break-neck pace.
The excellent album artwork was designed by Thomas Holmstrand (Dyonisus, Synergy etc)
As founder and drummer Ronny Milianowicz enthuses: “I really believe that our fans can hear the true passion and brotherhood in the production of Pandeamonium”. So prepare to sail on, on the Metal seas, with SAINT DEAMON and their crew into the “Pandeamonium”!
Frontiers Records proudly announces the release of PRIMAL FEAR new studio album 16.6 (Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead) on May 22nd in Europe and June 9th in the USA.
Frontiers Records proudly announces the release of PRIMAL FEAR new studio album 16.6 (Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead) on May 22nd in Europe and June 9th in the USA. Anticipated by a successful listening session held in Cologne, Germany, attended by the cream of the European Metal press, the new album is about to bring back Primal Fearto the throne of Heavy Metal. 16.6 is easily the most powerful, ambitious and interesting album in the band’s history. The vibe of songs like the opening track “Riding The Eagle”, “Killbound” or “Under The Radar” are reminiscent of the “Nuclear Fire” album but eh whole album features all the trademarks of the Primal Fear sound a the total dedication to pure Metal. There is also a new approach mixed with the trademark PF riffs in tracks like “Six Times Dead (16.6)”, “Soar”, “Smith & Wesson” as well as the epic stories, consummate musicianship, courage and fantastic melodies in songs like “Black Rain”, “No Smoke Without Fire”, “Torn” and the stylistically new ballad “Hands Of Time” with 4 band members all sharing the lead-vocals.
“Our target was to write and produce the most diverse and interesting album in the history of Primal Fear and combine our past with the future” says Mat Sinner. ”The result went truly beyond our expectations and it will be a huge challenge to play these new songs on stage! The entire band is very proud of 16.6 and we hope all our old and even new fans will be totally satisfied!”
The album was recorded the House Of Music studios with engineer Dennis Ward, mixing engineer Achim Koehler and producer Mat Sinner. Once again Primal Fear display a very high standard of song writing, sound and production. New guitarist Magnus Karlsson and Henny Wolter shine with a new dimension to the guitar work, and lead vocalist Ralf Scheepers reaches a new level to his vocal performances. Nothing can go wrong if you’re backed by one of the best rhythm sections in metal with Randy Black and Mat Sinner and you can hear the result on Primal Fear’s outstanding new message called 16.6!
Some of the feedback gathered from the press after the listening session include:
“Primal Fear top themselves one more time again with their unique mix out of traditional Metal sounds and modern melodic power metal. How can do they that again and again?” - Andreas Schöwe (HAMMER magazine, Germany)
“First impressions: more variety without losing the Metal balls! Fresh blood and ideas combined with the Primal Fear trademarks, outstanding vocal performance by Ralf again and great guitar work by both Magnus and Henny. Some immediate live favourites, other tracks definitely need time to grow, but sound more than promising and won't disappoint any metal fan that wants more than easy listening stuff” – Martin Römpp (HEAVY magazine, Germany)
“To date “16.6.“ is Primal Fear ‘s most diversified record; containing a spectrum from Hard Rock up to double-bass driven Power Metal Songs. But one thing is always consistent – the quality!!! – Gerald Siebenmorgen (ROCK IT magazine, Germany)
"Primal Fear manages to take at least one step forward, one backward and still stand for what Primal Fear always has been standing for - pure metal." - David Bergström (SWEDEN ROCK MAGAZINE, Sweden)
"As the cover artwork shows, Primal Fear ride fiery bullets, play with demons...and fly on butterfly leaded wings. '16.6' marks the evolution of groundbreaking hard rock and power metal, filled with open-minded styles. The Devil knows they're alive!" - Filippo Pagani (METAL HAMMER magazine, Italy)
16.6 tracklisting : 01. Before the Devil Knows You`re Dead 02. Riding the Eagle 03. Six Times Dead (16.6) 04. Black Rain 05. Under the Radar 06. 5.0 /Torn 07. Soar 08. Killbound 09. No Smoke Without Fire 10. Night after Night 11. Smith & Wesson 12. The Exorcist 13. Hands of Time
The first pressing limited edition in digipak will include two exclusive bonus-tracks: 14. Cry Havoc 15. Scream
Plus a multimedia videoclip of Six Times Dead (16.6)
After the Primal Fear / Sinner show in Moscow on April 4th, the band will appear in Norway on April 25th at the Haugesund Festival and in some summer Festivals. More shows are being booked in South America (with Sinner), USA incl. PPX and more dates early next year, with Europe kicking off at the end of September (with Brainstorm). More news soon ! (Story taken from www.frontiers.int) PRIMAL FEAR: METAL IS FOREVER!!
SPIRIT BLACK details revealed ! the official press release from Frontiers: Frontiers Records has announced the release of JORN's brand new studio album, entitled "Spirit Black", on June 5 in Europe and July 14 in the USA.
Considered by many fans and critics as one of the finest voices in hard rock to arrive on the scene at the end of the 20th century, JORN is now ready to unleash upon the world yet another studio album entitled "Spirit Black". "I have carried some of these ideas with me for quite some time," says Lande. "Willy, Jimmy, Sid and myself have known each other since the '80s, and some of the song ideas and demos from back then have now seen the light of day, and become an essential part of 'Spirit Black'. When we were younger we usually never cared about what we did yesterday, only about the future, but the past can sometimes reveal hidden treasures and I discovered great potential in some of these song ideas."
The result: "Spirit Black" is another slab of classic hard rock with '80s metal elements which will definitely please all those who loved his recent "Lonely Are The Brave" released in June 2008.
A winning formula should not change, so Jorn has worked again with Tommy Hansen at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark ensuring the right edge to the rich guitar and vocal sound that is now trademark to all Jorn releases. "The fans can expect a solid and defined record that will shake the classic metal world and hammer the future Jorn legacy in stone," says Jorn. "The sound of the album is like a crossover between 'The Duke' and 'Lonely Are The Brave', and I feel that some of the songs on 'Spirit Black' have the potential to become essential hard rock classics that will stand the test of time."
Jorn Lande's strong and diverse voice and solid songwriting skills have now become legendary in the hard rock world. In a career spanning over 30 albums releases and as frontman for MILLENNIUM, ARK and MASTERPLAN, Jorn was recently featured on spectacular projects such as Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA, along with stars like Alice Cooper and Eric Singer (KISS), Rudolf Schenker (SCORPIONS), Bob Catley (MAGNUM) and in Arjen Lucassen's recent concept album with AYREON.
"The musical style and direction is now more defined and less experimental. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel anymore, I just want to write good quality hard rock songs that people can relate to and identify with," continues the Norwegian Viking. "As we entered into the new millennium, I realized and accepted that my strength as a singer was more classic rock oriented. If you buy a JORN album today, you know what you will get. True classic hard rock music."
JORN is getting ready to tour the world at the end of summer 2009 with his band formed by Jgor Gianola and Tore Moren on guitars, Nic Angileri on bass and Willy Bendiksen on drums.
As a perfect complement to the new release, Frontiers will finally give a domestic release in the USA to the JORN DVD "Live in America" on July 14, so far only available via import!
SPIRIT BLACK tracklist & samples JORN - Spirit Black - out on 5th June 2009
1. Spirit Black 2. Below 3. Road of The Cross 4. The Last Revolution 5. City Inbetween 6. Rock and Roll Angel 7. Burn Your Flame 8. World Gone Mad 9. I Walk Alone 10. The Sun Goes Down* (bonus track exclusively included in the first limited edition pressing in digipak)
This movie was something every fan of Maiden or metal should see! It showed the band flying all over the world(Via: Mumbai, Sydney, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Costa Rica, Mexico City, Bogota, Sao Paolo, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Puerto Rico, New York & Toronto) to their concerts in their Ed Force One 757 Jet with singer Bruce Dickenson piloting the plane. This documentary by metal director Sam Dunn( Metal: A Headbangers Journey) takes you backstage and beyond as the band fly's all around the world to screaming fans everywhere. I especially loved the Latin America parts because the fans are getting a once in a lifetime chance to see their metal hero's live even though its overly secure by their countries military. The kids are enthusiastic and emotional and its wonderful to see that metal is still alive in these countries. The best scene to me was the man who obviously caught a Nicko McBain drumstick and he was in tears and thanking God. Another funny scene was the guy in South America who has formed a religion based on Maidens lyrics and has over a hundred Maiden Tats! He has an insane twinkle in his eye as he talks about his religion. The live scene's are like you are seeing the show front and center(if your at the theater for this) and everyone around me was singing along to the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "The Trooper" and all the rest. It was a totally fun experience going to see this at the theater. The DVD wont be able to catch what an experience it was watching it at the theater. I did pre-order the DVD that will be out June 9th!! Definately a must have for all Maiden fans!! This is an incredible movie that is a must see for all Maiden fans or fans of metal period!!! The world Premire of Flight 666 in England
OMG...I knew this was coming but I didnt know when and now I am soooo stoked!!!!! Its what we JORN fans have been awaiting!! I think this is the greatest Power Metal band in the world and Jorn makes it so much more amazing with his beautiful voice!!! I think this could put this wonderous singer in the lime light finally and not so underground. Jorn deserves more recognition and will get more when he sings in the new and improved Masterplan!!!!! Yay!! Maybe he will finally get to sing in the USA!!!!
Today According to Blabbermouth.net:
According to the long-running Dutch rock/metal magazine Aardschok, Norwegian singerJorn Lande has rejoined MASTERPLAN, the band led by former HELLOWEEN guitarist Roland Grapow.
Lande left the band in May 2006, citing "musical differences" between the vocalist and the rest of the band, particularly then-drummer Uli Kusch (who has since also left MASTERPLAN). During the songwriting process for the group's third album, it became increasingly apparent that the other members of the band had different visions and plans for the group's musical direction. While Jorn allegedly wanted MASTERPLAN to follow a more melodic path, the rest of the band apparently wanted to return to the metallic roots of their debut album.
Vocalist Mike DiMeo (RIOT, THE LIZARDS) announced his departure from MASTERPLAN in January 2009 after recording just one studio album with the group — 2007's "MK II".
Jorn Lande entered the studio in November to begin recording his new solo album, "Spirit Black", tentatively due in June via Frontiers Records. The follow-up to last year's "Lonely Are The Brave" CD — which entered the national chart in Norway at No. 28 and Sweden at No. 42 — will include such songtitles as "Road Of the Cross", "Black Heart" and "Rock'n Roll Angel". Jorn states, "People can expect a solid and defined album that will shake the classic metal world and hammer the future Jorn legacy in stone!"
Frontiers Records released the long-awaited JORN DVD, "Live In America", in Europe on January 23, 2009.
"Live in America" is a documentation JORN's first-ever concert in the USA, at the ProgPower USA VII festival in Atlanta, where he performed as a headliner on September 16, 2006. The incredible set saw Jorn run through a wide selection of songs taken from his solo albums, collaborations and a mindblowing WHITESNAKE medley.
Jorn Lande cut his teeth with such internationally renowned acts as MASTERPLAN, ARK, MILLENIUM, VAGABOND and THE SNAKES. He has also established himself with his own band under the name JORN, releasing seven increasingly successful solo albums. "Live In America" is a visual testament to Jorn's capabilities as an entertainer and to the incredible power and strength of his now-legendary shows and a perfect complement to the CD release which came out in September 2007.
Masterplan: Enlighten Me:
Masterplan: Into the Light:
I give this news we have been waiting for a HUGE \m/\m/\m/\m/\m/!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
New News on this NEWS!
April 23 2009
Masterplan issues statement on singer situation
Masterplan has commented Aardschok story regarding the situation in the band. A post on the official band's website reads as follows:
Hello dear fans, In the coming days some official news regarding the new singer will be posted here. The band is very sorry for the long waiting but things could not be done differently... thanks for your patience!
Concerning the message from Aardshock magazine, it doesn't come from the band and we have to mention that it is not true that Jorn left the band because of Uli.
The Band.
PS: You gotta love all this secrecy AND MYSTERY.......
( I went to this show last year and finally am getting the review up...sorry it took so long!!)
OCT 25TH San Fransisco & OCT 26th Hollywood 2008
One thing that I will never understand is why we dont get any killer Prog/Power Metal bands in Vegas. It sucks that I have to travel to another state to see some of the most incredible and extremely talented Prog and Power Metal bands from all over the world! Every time there is a tour they pass Vegas by. They hit Phoenix, LA or SF and then,whoa, what happened to Vegas?? We were lucky one time and got Iced Earth. They sold 300 tix at the HOB, but I tell ya they were the most rabid metal fans you could ever see! And we actually got Nightwish last year to a count of like 900 in attendance. Not bad for Vegas!!
So when I saw that two of my fave Prog/Power bands, Edguy and Kamelot were going to be doing a tour together, I was ablazed with enthusiasm!! But then I saw what I was afraid of, no Vegas date...great, again I would have to take time off work and fly to LA or SF to go see two of my heroic bands. So guess what? I said fuck it and managed to get three days off, a round trip ticket from Vegas to Frisco and Frisco to LA and had two great friends to stay with in both towns. I was like, "I might as well see them twice!!"It was an ingenious plan!! It wasnt too expensive and so I booked my flights!!
My first stop was in Frisco to stay with my friend Bear who promoted BAR-Fest last year and go to SLIM's to see these two amazing bands! SLIM's is a small club that holds maybe 6-800 people and it is a bitch to see any bands unless you are right up front. I saw Symphony X and Epica there earlier last year and was lucky enough to be in the tiny photo-pit so that I could watch the show without getting crushed. It was amazing having Russell Allen sweating above me and making faces at me all nite!! Lol!!
Bear and I in Frisco!!
So we get there to a packed house and its already totally fucked to get up front but me and Squeak(The other killer Photog in 'da house) manage. Dirk from EDGUY totally hooked me up with a photo pass so I was stoked to be shooting off the cuff!
Danger Dirk!!
I have never seen either of these bands and I am so excited I can barely see straight! So we get into position in the tiny pit and out come the always enthusiastic and bombastic EDGUY!!! I hear a lot of shit about these guys and I am telling you, they have so much unbridled energy that it permeates from their pores! They live this shit!! They Breath it!! They ROCK IT!! They brought it on and in a big way!!! They started with one of my all time fave rockers "Mysteria" and everyone was bouncing with glee but when we thought it couldnt get any better, they busted out "Sacrifice" which is also another tune that I always turn people onto when I tell them about EDGUY! Its just shreds and is a roller-coaster ride of a song!!! They kick out the crazy "Lavatory Love Machine" and I just crack up! We have to get out of the pit after the third song and right away we are crushed... now we gotta try and find a spot to stand where we can see because we are two short-ass photo girls and we cant see shite!Tobias Sammet is the always silly and adorable front-man that is a seriously talented singer and songwriter! (check out Avantasia!!) He gets the crowd all riled up and crazy and even gets people heckling him, but the ever grinning front-man isnt fazed and just keeps on joking and cutting up like a stand up comedian..."German's arnt suppsosed to be funny" Tobi tells me in a short interview at WOA in Germany in 07, but this dude is really funny!! He just cant seem to help it!
Tobias Sammet!!
After a sweet rendition of "Mandrake" he shows his vocal talents in the song "Superheros". This is really a cool song, I dont care what you say! They do an older song called "Vain Glory Opera" from the CD of the same name and show how talented they truely are and how they used to be a total power metal band!! Tobi plays with the audience more and then ends the set with"King of Fools". I really enjoyed the set and was sad that they were over but then remembered that I would see them again the next nite!
Jens!
Eggi posing for my camera!
After a short break the lights get all low and red and there is a ton of smoke and we were in for a real treat of metal godliness... Kamelot was about to hit the stage and bring the fury that is true a Prog/Power/Symphonic Metal band!!!! The intro of " Rule the World" comes on and out come the talented musicians themselves. Roy is all regailed in a black robe with buckles and belts and looks dark and ominous!
Roy "freakin" Khan!!!!
These guys are the more serious of the two and show how to put on a seriously beautiful spectacle!!! Thomas Youngblood was all over the stage and flaunting his prowess on the guitar and of course Casey Grillo was a master on the drums and you had to wonder how the hell he playes so fast and tastefully!!
Thomas Youngblood rockin the six string!!!
This band is one of the best out there in their genre and I am so happy and blessed to be shooting the show again in the tiny pit. I am blown away by the way Roy Khan takes control of his audience and the man has such a stage presence that brings you into his world of wonderous songs. He has an amazing voice and I know that he had a cold or something due to a quote he said later about being sorry about sneezing onto a fan up front...lol! If he was sick and not at his best, he could have fooled me and did, because he was mind blowing to me. They put on a show that was intense and there was an energy in the air that was felt by all. It was Oct and we were all sweating in this small club as Kamelot rocked our asses off with songs like,"When the Lights are Down", "Soul Society", "The Pendulous Fall","Center of the Universe", and then my all time fave song "Abandoned". That song always makes me want to weep. When Oliver Palotai started the intro to that on the keys I almost fell down. It was heavenly!
Oliver rippin up the keys!!
They then played out the rest of the set with, "Descent of the Archangel" "The Human Stain", a duet with their female singer who's name I dont know, with " The Haunting"After that it was "Edenecho" and "Forever". They go off the stage as we all cry NO! and then come out to pummel us with encores , "Ghost Opera","Epilogue","Karma" and then the always ominous and creepy "March of Mephisto" to end the set! I was spent, I was satisfied, I was happy! What a fuckin' great show!!!!
The next day I get on a plane to Hollywood and do it all over again...I gotta tell ya the show was exactly the same the next nite except for the venue was the famous Key Club in Hollywood and it was a lot bigger and the stage was better and so was the crowd! We ate at the Rainbow Bar and Grill before and had the famous pizza they have there and met up with some old friends. We hit the club and I get another photo pass thanks to Taz the TM. I didnt it need though, there wasnt a photo pit and I already had killer photos from SF anyway. I just enjoyed the show and the company I was with. EDGUYwas a blast again and kicked so much ass and I was able to jump around and go a bit crazier this time. Then Kamelot was on fire again and Roy seemed to be feeling better. The energy was palapable and we just felt it in the air. It was another hot and sweaty show and everyone was having the time of their lives,including me! They both put on fantastic sets and I was again satiated but totally exhausted.
Hangin with EDGUY after the show....Dirk,Jens and Felix!!
Bill Hudson,Casey Grillo, me and Dirk at the Rainbow....
Eggi with a cup on his head...lol!!!
Rockin the horns up with Lemmy at the Rainbow after the show!
I am so glad I hit both shows because both bands are just so amazing and they are great guys that deserve so much more fame and recognition!! I had a killer time and would totally do that again if they come through my area. Maybe one day Vegas will wake up and listen to something new and fresh and finally realize there is more out there then Hair Metal......
I would give these show the coveted \m/\m/\m/\m/\m/ way up!!
"Hereafter", the new video from Italian prog metallers DGM, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Salvatore "Xavy" Perrone, who has previously worked with EMPYRIOS, PARKWAY DRIVE, BURY YOUR DEAD, BRING ME THE HORIZON and SUICIDE SILENCE
"Hereafter" comes off DGM's seveth album, "FrAme", which was released last 23rd February via Scarlet Records!!!
This is one of the most amazing Prog-Metal bands out there!!! Check this video out!!
Music is LIFE!! Its the reason I breath. Shooting photos at concerts is my biggest thrill. That and traveling to concerts abroad(Wacken Germany!!)Love movies and a good book.
Hailing from the rockin' land of Sweden, MINDFUEL is releasing their debut album “In Your Mind” on Blue Topaz Records. Combining elements of Hard Rock, Thrash and Power Metal, Mindfuel has created a new and undeniably awesome sound for rock fans around the world. Due to the rising popularity of their sample tracks with radio and internet rock stations around the world the guys have hastened the release of their first album Positive feedback includes comparisons to legends of rock and metal like Iron Maiden, Helloween, Testament, Dream Evil and Manowar. The band, which includes Markus Kinell on guitars/bass, Magnus Westman on vocals and Magnus Göransson on drums, started as a project in February of 2008 when Markus and Magnus met through a mutual friend. Magnus agreed to put some vocals down on a song that Markus was working on and they fit perfectly with the music. After exploring their similar tastes in music and views for the direction of a possible band Magnus agreed to join the project full time. From there they recruited Manus Göransson, a drummer Markus had worked with a few years prior. When Magnus G joined all the pieces were in place and the three began churning out the incredible songs that would become their debut album under their new name... MINDFUEL! Mindfuel invites you to listen to the masterpiece of 11 hard and melodic heavy metal songs that form the album "In Your Mind."
