ARMORED SAINT Details ‘Symbol of Salvation Live’ 30th Anniv. Album
Article by: Leanne Ridgeway
Los Angeles, California‘s long-time heavy metal act ARMORED SAINT has something to celebrate this year. There are (more…)
FATES WARNING Share “Scars” Single Off New ‘Long Day Good Night’ Album
Article By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/EditorFATES WARNING have been a formidable presence in progressive metal for more than 35 years, (more…)
Article By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Editor
On September 25th, THE OCEAN will release their eighth full-length, ‘Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic‘, via Metal Blade Records (CD / digital) and the band’s own Pelagic Records (vinyl). In 2018, THE OCEAN released ‘Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic‘ – the first half of a sprawling, but superbly cohesive paleontology concept album. Now, the group is ready to release the eagerly-awaited concluding parts of the Phanerozoic journey.
For a preview of ‘Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic‘, a video for the new single “Oligocene” (filmed by band members Loic Rossetti, David Ahfeldt, and Robin Staps, plus edited and animated by Craig Murray) can be viewed at the end of this article. The video was shot in the Aragats mountains in Armenia, during the band’s “Siberian Traps” tour in the summer of 2019, which brought them to Russia, Kazachstan, Armenia, Georgia, and Japan.
“We found this place by accident: the dilapidated ruins of a soviet observatory & research station for cosmic radiation,” comments guitarist and founding member Robin Staps. “The building itself looked like a spaceship that had crash-landed up high in the mountains, but there were lots of interesting structures scattered across the landscape: concrete cubes, underground tunnels, rusted machinery, fallen power poles and watchtowers. It all looked like taken straight out of Andrej Tarkovsky’s ‘Stalker’ movie,” concludes Staps, referring to the ingenious classic that was also the backbone of The Ocean’s 2013 album ‘Pelagial‘.
The instrumental track was written by drummer Paul Seidel, but recorded with synth player Peter Voigtmann on drums. It serves as a transitional track from the busy and heavy first half of the record (Mesozoic) into the more relaxed, spacious and cold ambient vibes prevailing on the second half of the record (Cenozoic). For a preview of the ‘Mesozoic‘ part of the album, the previously released track, “Jurassic | Cretaceous” (featuring Katatonia’s Jonas Renkse), can also be heard below in audio via Bandcamp, along with pre-ordering options for ‘Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic‘.
Tracklist:
01. Triassic
02. Jurassic | Cretaceous
03. Palaeocene
04. Eocene
05. Oligocene
06. Miocene | Pliocene
07. Pleistocene
08. Holocene
Widely hailed as their finest work to date, ‘Phanerozoic I‘ brimmed with moments of wide-eyed melodic brilliance, alongside the expected warping and weaving of post-metal conventions. “The first part of ‘Phanerozoic’ really is a ‘no-regrets’ album, which is quite rare,” says guitarist Robin Staps. “Maybe even the first time I can ever say that.“
In contrast with the compositional directness of ‘Phanerozoic I‘, the new album – ‘Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic‘ – is a vastly more progressive and perverse piece of work. “‘Phanerozoic II’ is more experimental, more eclectic in musical style and direction, and more varied in terms of tempos, beats, guitar work and the use of electronics,” notes Staps. “This was an intentional choice: we wanted Part I to feel rather streamlined and to have a strong cohesion between the individual songs. We wanted to create a certain vibe to linger from the first until the last note throughout the whole record. We kept the weirder, more daring and more progressive material for Part II.“
Tracked in Iceland, Spain, and Germany and produced by esteemed studio guru Jens Bogren, ‘Phanerozoic II‘ is underpinned by some of the most imaginative and challenging music that THE OCEAN – completed by drummer Paul Seidel, keyboard maestro Peter Voigtmann, bassist Mattias Hagerstrand, and guitarist David Ramis Åhfeldt – have made yet. Divided into two sections – Mesozoic and Cenozoic – the album once again showcases the detail and depth that have become two of THE OCEAN‘s most enduring trademarks. While ostensibly delving into the extraordinary realities of the Earth’s shifting temporal tides, Staps and his comrades have long drawn hazy parallels between their chosen subjects and the emotional experiences that their music strives to convey. ‘Phanerozoic II‘ is essentially an album about time, with some very poignant and pointed allusions to the modern world woven into the new music’s spiritual fabric.
Staps explains, “The outcome is a record that is a real journey. It starts in one place, and concludes in a totally different place. In a way, it relates to 2013’s ‘Pelagial’, which was similar in that it was also a journey: but a more guided, focused and predictable one. ‘Phanerozoic II’ on the other hand is closer to the experience of free fall.“
– deluxe edition CD (tri-fold digipak)
– instrumental CD (remus spine digipak w/ UV gloss)
– box set completion (both vocal and instrumental versions) bundles
* exclusive vinyl and various bundles with shirts and merch items, plus digital options also available
Pre-order various options [link].
THE OCEAN:
Loic Rossetti
David Ahfeldt
Robin Staps
Paul Seidel
Peter Voigtmann
Mattias Hagerstrand
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website | Spotify | YouTube | Bandcamp
Also find THE OCEAN 2021 tour information below the video for “Oligocene“.
The Ocean Tour Dates 2021
“This tour has been planned for a long time already and despite the unprecedented situation we’re all currently going through, we decided to announce it and put tickets on sale. We hope that this will serve as a strong positive statement for bands, promoters and music fans alike.
As this develops, we have to assess, analyse and make the right decisions for everyone involved. The tour going ahead in early 2021 relies on many elements to fall into place, and if it can’t go ahead, then we have a backup routing in place already for later in the year, and all tickets purchased for this tour will be transferrable to that.
Be assured that we will keep assessing this situation as we head later into 2020, and be in communication with everyone. Much love and we hope to see you guys out there in January!”
Jan. 7 – Wiesbaden, Germany – Schlachthof
Jan. 8 – Colmar, France – Grillen
Jan. 9 – Paris, France – La Machine
Jan. 10 – Nantes, France – Ferrailleur
Jan. 11 – Toulouse, France – Le Rex
Jan. 12 – Bilbao, Spain – Stage Live
Jan. 13 – Lisbon, Portugal – LAV
Jan. 14 – Madrid, Spain – Caracol
Jan. 15 – Murcia, Spain – Gamma
Jan. 16 – Barcelona, Spain – Boveda
Jan. 17 – Bordeaux, France – Krakatoa
Jan. 18 – Lyon, France – CCO
Jan. 19 – Fribourg, Switzerland – Fri-Son
Jan. 20 – Lucerne, Switzerland – Sedel
Jan. 21 – Vienna, Austria – Viper Room
Jan. 22 – Prague, Czech Republic – Nova Chelmnice
Jan. 23 – Berlin, Germany – Festsaal
Jan. 25 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Pumpehuset
Jan. 26 – Hamburg, Germany – Bahnhof Pauli
Jan. 27 – Leipzig, Germany – Conne Island
Jan. 28 – Munich, Germany – Backstage
Jan. 29 – Essen, Germany – Zeche Carl
Jan. 30 – Osnabruck, Germany – Kleine Freiheit
Jan. 31 – Zwolle, Netherlands – Hedon
Feb. 01 – Cologne, Germany – Volta
Feb. 02 – Brussels, Belgium – Botanique
Feb. 03 – Utrecht, Netherlands – De Helling
Feb. 04 – Bristol, UK – The Fleece
Feb. 05 – Glasgow, UK – Slay
Feb. 06 – Manchester, UK – Club Academy
Feb. 07 – London, UK – 229
Feb. 08 – Brighton, UK – Patterns
Tickets: https://bit.ly/theoceanEU2021tickets
FALCONER ‘From A Dying Ember’ Album Review & Stream
FALCONER ‘From A Dying Ember’ Album Review & Stream
Article By: Kira Schlechter, Staff Writer ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief EditorPower metal gets a bad rap for what’s seen as its excesses, but the best power metal often hides sharp observation and sensitivity amid all the grandeur, and FALCONER’s latest, ‘From a Dying Ember,’ does just that. (more…)
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Editor
It was the start of the new millennium and, as it often does in cycles of every decade and a half or so, there were changes taking place in underground and mainstream music.
Grunge had begun to run its course and was on the way out, while in its place, nu-metal had a foothold established and each new day seemed to bring new bands with it. Another style was also becoming more prevalent, as bands like Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Still Remains, or Every Time I Die were resonating with the more youthful metal fans.
Just an hour south of Boston, Massachusetts – the home state of Shadows Fall and Killswitch Engage – is the city of New Bedford. This is where, circa 2000, a group of musicians had assembled themselves beneath the banner of BEYOND THE EMBRACE. The band consisted of six members – Shawn Gallagher (vocals, keys), Mike Bresciani (drums), Adam Gonsalves (bass), and in a rather unusual dynamic, three guitarists with Jeff Saude, Oscar Gouveia, and Alex Botelho. Though the band will ultimately be tagged with the metalcore designation, the truth is they played melodic thrash with progressive metal elements and moments of death metal.
One can hear the clearly defined influence from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal upon the band, too, especially in the trio of guitarists. In 2000 and 2001, BEYOND THE EMBRACE recorded and released two demos, one each year with the three-song ‘Demo 2000‘ and a 9-song eponymous effort the following year. One or both of these did its intended purpose, drawing interest in the band from a label, Metal Blade Records, who signed them in 2001.
In June that same year, BEYOND THE EMBRACE entered Euphoria Sound Studios, and with producer Aaron Clay, they recorded and co-produced their first official album. Titled ‘Against The Elements‘, the 10-song record is a powerhouse of capable, tight-knit playing and way above average technicality. The music is fluid and encompasses a variety of styles, ones wide in scope and covering a multitude of genres. The vocals possess a broad range, as well; at times aggressive to the point of guttural, while others are clean and easy to absorb. When taken in as a whole, the music on this introduction to BEYOND THE EMBRACE does not fail to astound… made more impressive by the fact the band were all in their early twenties.
[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:album:202k1oEJjUUzIBPtfKapeZ”/]
With a solid album in hand and the label backing them, BEYOND THE EMBRACE were soon supporting established bands like Opeth, Helloween, and Lacuna Coil. They did so with a new drummer, Kevin Camille, who replaced Mike Bresciani after the debut was released. The critical reception for ‘Against The Elements‘ was overwhelmingly positive, while the band was growing in popularity with fans. In late 2003, BEYOND THE EMBRACE entered System Recordings in Ipswich, Massachusetts with producer Ken Susi, the guitarist from another Boston band, Unearth.
This was not the same inexperienced young men from the previous record, no. They were now road tested, more mature, and confident. Ken Susi had a big hand in helping the band flesh out their new batch of songs, he gave suggestions and would drive them to find a sound and identity all their own. When BEYOND THE EMBRACE completed recording their sophomore album in February of 2004, they then recruited new bassist Chris Parlon into the fold. Three months later, they issued said album, the astounding ten track ‘Insect Song‘, once again through Metal Blade.
The album was a smash with critics, a remarkable evolutionary leap for BEYOND THE EMBRACE that lead to tours with Prong and Iced Earth. It was their tour with Prong that afforded me the shot to see them in Huntington, West Virginia and they were quite fantastic. In 2005, drummer Kevin Camille left and was replaced by Steve Bolognese, who in turn was replaced by Chris Haskell in 2007.
Despite the immense acclaim for BEYOND THE EMBRACE and their two studio albums, they never seemed to capitalize on it. Things gradually waned for the band and they never recorded any further material. They officially disbanded in 2011.
[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:album:3Gg7PThqnsxjPn0CDXoBnb”/]
Oldschool Sunday: BEYOND THE EMBRACE Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Editor It was the start of the new millennium and, as it often does in cycles of every decade and a half or so, there were changes taking place in underground and mainstream music.INTRONAUT ‘Fluid Existential Inversions’ Album, Official Video + N. American Tour
INTRONAUT ‘Fluid Existential Inversions’ Album, Official Video + N. American Tour
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/EditorInnovative U.S. progressive post-metal icons INTRONAUT recently announced that the nearly five year wait for a new studio album from the band will soon end. (more…)
Oldschool Sunday: TYRANT [New England Stoner & Doom Fest III Appearance]
Oldschool Sunday: TYRANT [New England Stoner & Doom Fest III Appearance]
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡When it comes to putting a spotlight on a tyrant, or in this case, a band named TYRANT, there are actually multiple contenders one could pan said light to or from. (more…)
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Editor
Six Degrees Of Separation, also known as Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon in the trivia game playing sect, is the idea that all people are six relating social connections (or fewer) away from each other.
I have long said that one place 6.D.O.S. is constantly active within is the world of music, regardless of style, genre, or scene, for none of that matters. You can test this theory and, if you are pretty knowledgeable about music in general, you can make it work. Just pick a band, any band, or perhaps just a musician, whichever, and start threading them along into other bands. I assure you, it CAN be done if you know your music right down to minute details or obscure facts.
Let me say that I could sit here and name a band, for example, Fates Warning, and begin breaking things down move by move, truth by truth, or tidbit by tidbit. In time, I could probably connect them to nearly any other band in existence, though it would likely require more than six maneuvers. Don’t worry, I am not going to… but I am going to connect them to another band, just by using a single person’s name.
The person in question is Fates Warning’s long running, dynamic singer, Ray Alder, who is or has been, at the mic’d helm of other bands at times. There was his brief placement in 80’s act Syrus, along with a lengthy run in Redemption from the mid-2000’s until recent years. In the period of time between those two bands and while simultaneously fronting Fates Warning, there was ENGINE.
While the exact origin of ENGINE coming to be is not readily available, here’s what facts are known: Some time in the late Nineties, Alder aligned himself with former Agent Steele guitarist Bernie Versailles, drummer Pete Parada (Steel Prophet, Saves The Day, Halford, The Offspring), and his Fates Warning bandmate, bassist Joey Vera (also of Armored Saint).
With Ray and Joey’s ties to Metal Blade Records, the label was the obvious choice to house the band ENGINE. In 1999, they released the band’s self-titled début album. It was a groundbreaking offering, one that tapped into audio elements that would soon be explored to a much further extent in the then-burgeoning grunge rock movement. That was not all though, with obvious progressive rock undercurrents, and flowing groove metal in abundance, the ‘Engine‘ album was a trailblazing sonic statement.
Produced by the band’s Joey Vera, and mixing assisted by Bill Metoyer, the album resonated well with fans and critics alike. With its fluid instrumentation providing the road map and the unequaled heights of Alder‘s fantastic vocal performances, this eponymous record is a respectably solid introduction to this “supergroup”. The designation of them as such now had not been attached to them at the time, still being referred to as a “side project” by many.
If there were any doubts about ENGINE being a true band in every sense of the word, they would be obliterated with the 2002 arrival of their sophomore album, ‘Superholic‘. Revealing a large scale leap in exploring musical styles, with an untethered foray into experimental aspects, the second round from ENGINE – once again produced by Vera – was quite more diverse than its predecessor. At the same time, there is a prevalent foundation of heavy metal beneath the structure of the album, that happens to include a cover of The Cure’s “Fascination Street“, by the way.
ENGINE were able to do some touring in support of ‘Superholic‘, a feat not accomplished with their first album, save for a few European festival dates and an industry showcase in Los Angeles. At the same time of these events, the ENGINE member’s other bands were growing in demand. Ultimately, the second studio outing from ENGINE would also be their last, with the band never really officially disbanding, yet entering a lengthy, ongoing hiatus nonetheless.
Since the arrival of the two albums from ENGINE, they, and the band, have only grown in popularity with fans. Both releases are highly sought after by collectors and the average music fan, while the members of ENGINE continue to ply their crafts elsewhere to this day.
Speaking of, ENGINE / Fates Warning singer Ray Alder will soon release his first-ever solo album soon. ‘What The Water Wanted‘ will arrive worldwide from InsideOut Music on October 18th, and make sure to keep an eye out for an upcoming Riff Relevant article with all the details.
Oldschool Sunday: ENGINE Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Editor Six Degrees Of Separation, also known as Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon in the trivia game playing sect, is the idea that all people are six relating social connections (or fewer) away from each other.
RAM ‘The Throne Within’ Album Nears + New Video; Sept. EU Tour w/ Vulture & Indian Nightmare
RAM ‘The Throne Within’ Album Nears + New Video; Sept. EU Tour w/ Vulture & Indian Nightmare
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief EditorGothenburg, Sweden’s traditional heavy metal revivalists RAM reveal the full details of their imminent new studio album, ‘The Throne Within‘. (more…)
ANGEL WITCH Sign To METAL BLADE RECORDS & Announce Limited Cassette Preview Giveaway
ANGEL WITCH Sign To METAL BLADE RECORDS & Announce Limited Cassette Preview Giveaway
Photo: Ester Segarra
Article By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief EditorAfter an ANGEL WITCH spotlight on Riff Relevant [here] just this past in June, we bring a new announcement that the band has recently signed on as part of the Metal Blade Records roster! (more…)
CULT OF LUNA New Album ‘A Dawn To Fear’ Nears; “The Silent Man” Official Video + EU. Tour
CULT OF LUNA New Album ‘A Dawn To Fear’ Nears; “The Silent Man” Official Video + EU. Tour
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief EditorUmeå, Sweden’s experimentally-driven, progressive metal unit CULT OF LUNA announce details of their first new album solely under their name since 2013’s ‘Vertikal‘ 1 & 2. (more…)
GOATWHORE To Tour Around Psycho Las Vegas Set; RINGWORM Support
GOATWHORE To Tour Around Psycho Las Vegas Set; RINGWORM Support
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief EditorLouisiana’s apocalyptically enthused, blackened thrashers GOATWHORE confirm a string of live dates set for August, surrounding their appearance at this year’s edition of the Psycho Las Vegas festival at Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino. (more…)
Oldschool Sunday: ANACRUSIS [4 Studio Albums Reissued]
Oldschool Sunday: ANACRUSIS [4 Studio Albums Reissued]
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡1986: St. Louis, Missouri – This is the time and place that one of metal’s most innovative, forward thinking entities will materialize and begin to make their way into the annals of music history. (more…)
Oldschool Sunday: ANGEL WITCH
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief EditorLucifer is on the loose in London during the mid-to-late Seventies… but not the little red, horned, cloven-hoofed caricature most envision at the mention of the name. (more…)
- BRIMSTONE COVEN
- SPILLAGE
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief Editor
Two bands that represent the U.S. stoner doom set, West Virginia occult rockers BRIMSTONE COVEN and Illinois power metal unit SPILLAGE, announce they will unite for a tour this August.
The “Blood And Hellfire Tour 2019” will see the pair plying their sonic wares mainly in the American southeast and midwest regions. Both acts will be continuing live support for their latest releases; BRIMSTONE COVEN for their third album, 2018’s ‘What Was And What Shall Be‘, and SPILLAGE for their sophomore effort, ‘Blood Of Angels‘, released earlier this year. You can listen to both albums in their entirety below.
For many people outside of the vicinity of the U.S. Eastern seaboard, this will be their first opportunity to see BRIMSTONE COVEN on stage since the band was streamlined. A trio now comprised of Corey Roth (guitar and vocals), Andrew D’Cagna (bass and vocals), and Dave Trik (drums), the line up that recorded the 2018 record, have taken their initial sound to all new levels. Their music still possesses the band’s vintage essence and retro leanings at its core, while expanding new dynamics in their songwriting and vocally.
On the other end of the sound spectrum is Chicago’s blues and doom-fused, metal powerhouse SPILLAGE. The band, Elvin Rodriguez (vocals), Tony Spillman (guitars), Nick Bozidarevic (guitars), Billy McGuffey (bass), Chris Martins (drums), and Paul Rau (keyboards), channel classic metal influences with contemporary ferocity. With strong musicianship and talent second to none, the band deliver unforgettable live performances laden with that unmistakable Windy City sound at its deepest core.
Discover all of this for yourself in August when you get out and catch BRIMSTONE COVEN and SPILLAGE on the road together!
– BLOOD AND HELLFIRE TOUR 2019 w/ Brimstone Coven & Spillage –
Aug. 08 – Little Rock, Arkansas @ The White Water Tavern
Aug. 09 – San Antonio, Texas @ Limelight
Aug. 10 – Houston, Texas @ Dan Electros
Aug. 11 – Austin, Texas @ Beerland
Aug. 12 – Kansas City, Missouri @ TBA
Aug. 13 – Des Moines, Iowa @ Lefty’s Live Music
Aug. 14 – Bloomington, Illinois @ NIghtshop
Aug. 15 – Indianapolis, Indiana @ Black Circle Brewing Co.
Aug. 16 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin @ Club Garibaldi
Aug. 17 – Lombard, Illinois @ Brauer House
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