Tuesday 5 January 2016

POYNTE - Debut Album 'Discreet Enemy'



Atlanta, GA - POYNTE is a hard rock band that has drawn many comparisons in their young careers thus far. Bands like Breaking Benjamin, RED, Starset and even Wovenwar have been used to describe POYNTE's sound.

From vocalist Kenny Hathorne's titanium jaw he recieved after a horrific scissor lift accident, to the tragic true story of their track Nursery Crimes, to their optimistic plans for 2016, POYNTE has plenty to talk about. While their lyrics certainly have plenty to say as well.

About Discreet Enemy:

Written and refined over the course of a year, the band recorded Discreet Enemy over a 60 day marathon in the band’s own studio, Covington, GA’s The Audiovault, with additional recording by Mike Froedge (Black Label Society/Double Drive/Bloodsimple) at Open Sky Studio. Discreet Enemy was mixed by acclaimed producer/mixer Andy Reilly (The Cult/Iron Maiden/Bon Jovi/The Police) and mastered by Matt Dalton (Royal Blood/Chiodos/Hed Pe/Attila/Tantric) at 37 Studios.

POYNTE had a very successful month-long tour supporting TRAPT and Sons of Texas in 2015. The tour saw them play 19 dates across 14 states. They look to build upon that success by heading back out on the road for a month-long tour in April 2016. (Announcement Coming Soon)

2015 saw the band release their first music video as well. As a true DIY band, they shot, edited and released the video for the uplifting track "Hold On". POYNTE used real people and real fans to star in the video. Adding an authenticity to the video for which they call their battle cry.



The band also received glowing feedback from musical contemporaries like guitarist Nick Perri (Silvertide/Shinedown/Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party/Sinai/Mount Holly), recently departed OTHERWISE Drummer Corky Gainsford AND Black Stone Cherry guitarist Ben Wells, all of whom have publicly sang the praises of tracks from Discreet Enemy.

VOIVOD – Announce new EP 'Post Society



Canadian progressive sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD, who recently toured Europe as part of the “Deathcrusher 2015” tour alongside Carcass, Obituary and Napalm Death, are pleased to announce the release of the 'Post Society - EP' Mini-CD. This special release will be available in Digipak CD format as well as Digital Download on February 26th, 2016 via Century Media Records.

The 'Post Society - EP', with artwork by VOIVOD drummer Michel “Away” Langevin, contains 5 studio tracks, including the previously vinyl-only new VOIVOD songs from the split 7” EP’s with label-mates At The Gates and Napalm Death, two brand new songs and a Hawkwind cover ('Silver Machine') total playing time of 30 minutes. Here is the track-listing:

VOIVOD – 'Post Society - EP'

1. Post Society (06:17) 2. Forever Mountain (05:12) 3. Fall (06:42) 4. We Are Connected (07:26) 5. Silver Machine (04:48)

Michel “Away” Langevin checked in to comment on the release as follows: “More songs from out in the woods! In between tours, we are steadily finding our way through recording the next album at RadicArt studio. Many riffs were composed on the bus but until the North American tour with Vektor in 2016, we will spend most of wintertime in Montreal writing another batch of material. Meanwhile, we hope you will enjoy this EP of good old thrash-prog-punk-metal or whatever people want to call Voïvod nowadays :)”

For the recent “Deathcrusher” tour, VOIVOD released a Split 7” EP with label-mates Napalm Death with the track 'Forever Mountain' as well as Napalm Death’s exclusive track “Phonetics For The Stupefied”. This special vinyl-only release, which followed up VOIVOD’s Split 7” EP of the song “We Are Connected” with At The Gates from earlier in the year, is limited to 2.500 copies (Black: 1200x, Solid White: 300x, Transparent Red: 700x and Neon Yellow: 300x) is selling out quickly.

Mongolian Folk Metal Band Tengger Cavalry Enchants NYC with Sold Out Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall Performance



Photo by Sandy Fan, Zilan Fan Photography

New Album Blood Sacrifice Shaman Out Now via Metal Hell Records

New York City-based Mongolian folk metal group TENGGER CAVALRY - lead by internationally-recognized folk musician and Recording Academy Voting Member Nature Ganganbaigal - performed an uplifting SOLD OUT, two-hour unplugged set at New York City's Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on Christmas Eve.

TENGGER CAVALRY frontman Nature Ganganbaigal reflects on the performance's success, "The concert was entirely sold out... lesson learned... next time we'll do this at a bigger venue! It was so fun to see both fine-suited grandpas and tattooed metalheads stand in the same line, everyone there to enjoy music together. We are so humbled to know that fans from as far as DC and even California flew here to see us. It was beyond all of our expectations. Thanks again to all of our fans and friends who came out to support TENGGER CAVALRY and our brand of music."

Nature Ganganbaigal and TENGGER CAVALRY have been turning heads in the music world since the band's inception in 2010. In 2014, Ganganbaigal released his Mongolian New Age album To Where Tengger Leads Me. The album won a bronze medal from Global Music Awards and a nomination from Hollywood Music in Media Awards. In 2015, Nature moved to New York City from China and re-located the band with brand new American members. This past spring, the band released a new album, Blood Sacrifice Shaman, out via Metal Hell Records and available for streaming.

TENGGER CAVALRY blends the nomadic music tradition of Central Asia with heavy metal music, creating the unique music genre mentioned above, Mongolian folk metal. Nature Ganganbaigal performs multiple Mongolian nomadic instruments including Mongolian horse-head fiddle Morin Khuur, Mongolian flute, Tibetan horn, Mongolian guitar (Tovshuur) and other instruments native to the region. He is also able to sing using the ancient Mongolian singing tradition of Khoomei, also known as throat singing or overtone singing. After the release of four studio albums in Europe and United States, TENGGER CAVALRY has become known as one of the most unique, innovative and exciting metal bands in Asia.

TENGGER CAVALRY is:

Nature Ganganbaigal - performs multiple Mongolian nomadic instruments including Mongolian fiddle Morin Khuur, Mongolian flute, Mongolian guitar (Tovshuur) and other instruments native to the region. He is also able to sing using the ancient Mongolian singing tradition of Khoomei, also known as throat singing or overtone singing.

Drummer, Yuri Liak - Being a professional heavy metal performer for many years, Yuri shared stages with big guns such as Nightwish, Therion, Overkill and Opeth in Europe and America. He is also an excellent stage designer.

Bass, Alex Abayev - Coming from a strong extreme death metal background, Alex performed with renowned metal acts such as Immortal and Cephalic Carnage. His Central Asian heritage also gives him the talent to capture the spirit of the nomadic folk.

Ethnic fiddle, Robert McLaughlin - Growing up with a close relationship with Tuva people in USA, Robert studied the Tuva fiddle Igil, Tuva throat singing and Tuva language. He is also a real shaman and practices spiritual acts.

Revival Recordings Sign Famous Last Words & Announce Acoustic Compilation



The post-hardcore quintet Famous Last Words has signed a deal with Revival Recordings, a record label owned by Shawn Milke of Alesana. To celebrate, the band has teamed up with Alternative Press Magazine to stream their new song, an acoustic track called "I'll Be Home Soon". The single will appear on an upcoming Revival Recordings compilation called It's All Acoustic that will also feature Alesana, The Funeral Portrait, Megosh and many more.

"We are extremely excited to be taking the next step of or musical journey with Revival," says vocalist JT. "Their appreciation for the actual artwork and the artist's integrity, in my eyes, is unparalleled in the industry for our music scene. Our first release with them will be an acoustic track titled, 'I'll be home soon' on an upcoming acoustic compilation called 'It's All Acoustic'. It's a previously, unofficially released song that has been re tracked for the album. We can't wait for everyone to hear it, and we can't wait to start off 2016 with our new label, new team, and new friends. Their motto couldn't be more fitting, 'Good music by good people'."

When asked about the signing Milke elaborated "Simply mentioning that I am proud to announce the signing of Famous Last Words to Revival Recordings would be a disservice to the impact it has had and will continue to have on our company. It is one of the crowning achievements and successes of my career in music. Famous Last Words knows no peers when it comes to being relentlessly devoted to their craft, and their determination to maintain artistic integrity even in the murky waters of the industry is unrivaled. To now walk alongside them in their journey is both a privilege and an honor. Our family welcomes them with the widest of open arms."

It's All Acoustic will be released on January 29th, but pre-orders are available now at the Revival website.

Tracklisting:

1. I'll Be Home Soon - Famous Last Words 2. Broken Maiden - Cabaret Runaway 3. Hiatus - Alesana 4. Casanova (C'est La Vie) - The Funeral Portrait 5. Winona - Megosh 6. Natural Born Thriller - Uh Huh Baby Yeah! 7. Stand Up - Tempting Paris 8. Nightingale - The Things They Carried 9. Long Nights, Stupid Fights - The Legitimate Excuse 10. Dancing Alone - Alesana

About Famous Last Words:

Seasoned in the art of concept-album writing, Famous Last Words are a post-hardcore group whose lyrics epitomize music with a message. Merging symphonic elements with crushing guitar tones, the band then explores themes of desperation, hope, and love. Enlivening the art of storytelling in heavy music, 'Famous Last Words’ outshine their peers in their commitment to embedding their convictions into their art.

FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE - New digital single 'The Fool' out now



Symphonic death metal kings Fleshgod Apocalypse will release their fourth studio album ‘King’ on February 5th, 2016 via Nuclear Blast. To kick off 2016 with a bang, the Perugia, Italy-based group have just released the first single from the record entitled 'The Fool'.

You can obtain ‘The Fool’ via digital download HERE.

Listen to the track here:



Fleshgod Apocalypse commented on the track: "'The Fool' is one of the craziest songs off the album, and we felt like it was the perfect way to let people approach our new work. It’s a song without compromises - and because of the character it is about, we had the chance to get into a profound matter that concerns us all."

‘King’ was tracked at Kick Recording and 16th Cellar studios in Rome - and was mixed and mastered by world-renowned producer Jens Bogren (Amon Amarth, At The Gates, Arch Enemy) at Fascination Street Studios, Sweden.

‘King’ tracklist:

01. Marche Royale 02. In Aeternum 03. Healing Through War 04. The Fool 05. Cold As Perfection 06. Mitra 07. Paramour (Die Leidenschaft bringt Leiden) 08. And The Vulture Beholds 09. Gravity 10. A Million Deaths 11. Syphilis 12. King

Bonus Orchestral CD (digipak only)

01. Marche Royale 02. In Aeternum 03. Healing Through War 04. The Fool 05. Cold As Perfection 06. Mitra 07. And The Vulture Beholds 08. Gravity 09. A Million Deaths 10. Syphilis

‘King’ will be purchasable via CD, Digipak (incl. Bonus Orchestral CD) and Digipak inc. T-Shirt bundle (various sizes).

The band will be touring extensively in support of their upcoming album. The UK dates can be seen below - don't miss them! Support comes from British metallers Xerath.

March 10th – Wolverhampton, Slade Rooms March 11th – Gwynedd, Hammerfest March 12th - Leeds, The Key Club March 13th - Glasgow, Audio March 15th - Manchester, Sound Control March 16th - Bristol, Fleece March 17th - London, Underworld

Foul Body Autopsy Announce New EP 'Perpetuated By Greed'



One man UK extreme metal wrecking machine Tom Reynolds has been making quite a name for himself of late with his incessant live appearances up and down the UK and knack for marrying a plethora of extreme metal sounds into one. Now having completed his next Foul Body Autopsy record, an EP entitled Perpetuated By Greed, like all its predecessors Tom has a message to deliver, and again, just like its predecessors, the message is as subtle as a JCB driving up a village main street. In his own words, "The concept behind the new Foul Body Autopsy record is... Everything Is Completely Fucked!".

Tom elaborates, "It's a refection of how messed up the world is at the moment, and thanks to the right wing turn in politics and in the media a mood of fear and paranoia has taken hold. There are families drowning in the sea, running from the crossfire of blood thirsty extremist death cult and a desperate amoral military dictatorship, and instead of trying to help there are governments doing everything in their power to stop refugees getting to safety. As well as that, we have national newspapers here giving people, and someone in particular, space in their rag to call these affected people cockroaches! We have a Prime Minister who says that anyone that opposes war is a "terrorist sympathiser” and if we look across the pond things are not that much better... a man that looks like a biological car crash is running for president and most of the things he says are completely false but because most of his followers don't trust the media he can create his own insane reality and have thousands of people blindly agree with him. The future isn't looking too great."

Last year saw the release of So Close To Dehumanization, an EP which resonated with his vegan beliefs and explored the often ignored process of how modern societies demand for meat is actually fulfilled. Some countries may have certain laws in place to ease animal suffering, which is an inevitable result of our desire for meat produce, but the fact remains, animals are being bred and killed for consumption in industrial scale operations and do not live a natural life. A video was released for 'So Close To Complete Dehumanization', a video which received some backlash due to its disturbing content, albeit very real.



Recorded at The Parlour Recording Studio (Napalm Death, Dimmu Borgir, Evile) with producer Neil Haynes and featuring cover art from Coki Greenway, Perpetuated By Greed delves into environmental issues, and subjects on a broader scale in comparison to So Close To Dehumanization. The record features six tracks of blistering blackened death grind extreme metal, fast drumming, growls and pinpoint guitarwork.

Check Out The EP Trailer Video!



Track Listing

1. Perpetuated By Greed 2. Enslaved The Rest Of Creation 3. Chewed Up By The Machine 4. Destabilized Perception 5. Devoid Of Humanity 6. Complete Environmental Collapse

Perpetuated By Greed is out February 26th in Europe via Grindscene Records and in North America via Comatose Music.

AVANTASIA Snippet trailer for 'Ghostlights' released!



Less than a month is left until the new Avantasia opus ‘Ghostlights’ is released – on January 29th, 2016 via Nuclear Blast.

After the recent release of first single 'Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose', a snippet trailer of the upcoming record has been made public. It features parts of the tracks 'Let The Storm Descend Upon You', 'Unchain The Light', 'Master Of The Pendulum', 'Seduction Of Decay', and 'Ghostlights'.

Watch the teaser here:



"Hey folks, here's a little New Year present for you - excerpts of five new songs off our new album ‘Ghostlights’ that will hit the stores on January 29th. I hope you like it as much as I do. So long, and I wish you a successful, healthy and happy year 2016. See you on the road with AVANTASIA!" - Tobias.

‘Ghostlights’ will contain the following tracks:

01. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose Lead vocals: Tobias Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth 02. Let The Storm Descend Upon You Lead vocals: Tobias, Jorn Lande, Ronnie Atkins, Robert Mason Lead guitar: Oliver Hartmann 03. The Haunting Lead vocals: Dee Snider, Tobias Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth 04. Seduction Of Decay Lead vocals: Geoff Tate, Tobias Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth 05. Ghostlights Lead vocals: Michael Kiske, Tobias, Jorn Lande Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth, Oliver Hartmann 06. Draconian Love Lead vocals: Herbie Langhans, Tobias Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth 07. Master Of The Pendulum Lead vocals: Marco Hietala, Tobias Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth 08. Isle Of Evermore Lead vocals: Sharon Den Adel, Tobias 09. Babylon Vampyres Lead vocals: Tobias, Robert Mason Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick, Oliver Hartmann, Sascha Paeth 10. Lucifer Lead vocals: Jorn Lande, Tobias Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick 11. Unchain The Light Lead vocals: Tobias, Ronnie Atkins, Michael Kiske Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth, Oliver Hartmann 12. A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies Lead vocals: Bob Catley, Tobias Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick --- 13. Wake Up To The Moon (Bonus Track)

Avantasia will be playing The Forum, London as part of their upcoming world tour.

8th March – London, The Forum

AndersonPonty Band Guitar Virtuoso Jamie Glaser's Inspiring Book “Hear The Silence” Available



Los Angeles - “Hear The Silence” is about healing, strength, courage, love of oneself and others. In 1994 guitarist, performer, music composer and producer Jamie Glaser was in the Northridge Earthquake in California, when the shaking stopped nothing was the same. From 1978 to 1994 he toured the world with Grammy award winning musical acts, lived the good life in Los Angeles, and suddenly found himself unable to get out of bed for 6 months. Jamie lost all his worldly possessions in the days following the earthquake, his self esteem, his quality work and eventually found himself homeless and without hope. “Hear The Silence” tells the story of life lessons and experiences that brought him back from the “dead” to the wonderful life he has today and inspires others to celebrate with him.

Jamie Glaser is best known as the guitarist for Grammy award winning musical acts, Jean-Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Bryan Adams, Gloria Trevi, Manhattan Transfer and more. His guitar can be heard on over 170 albums as well as on the biggest sitcoms of all time, Seinfeld and Married With Children. Jamie compositions can be heard weekly on CBS sports, ABC, Animal Planet, History channel, Discovery, and ESPN. His solo albums have been successful worldwide. Jamie is presently the guitarist for Jon Anderson and Jean Luc Ponty. The AndersonPonty Band recently completed a US tour on the heels of their recent CD/DVD release “Better Late Than Never”.

Says Jamie, “I wrote 'Hear The Silence' because I was supposed to help others. I am a person who is already public, and not afraid to share my heart and personal stories. I want to help inspire people to find joy, and help them celebrate life. It's my hope that this work of mine can change lives and make life special again for some who are struggling.”

“For Years Jamie Glaser has been a great communicator through music. Now he gives us life lessons told through a very eventful life.” - Lenny White, Grammy award drummer, composer, producer.

Here's what's been said about Jamie Glaser's “Hear The Silence”:

“Hear The Silence is a fabulous informative book and should be required reading for everyone. Take this journey with Jamie through the wonder of being a gifted musician and living the rockstar lifestyle but also living with another all too common challenge.”

“We all know or are in our own way affected in varying degrees. Highly recommended!”

“Jamie's book Hear The Silence was written in the spirit of positive, loving energy that is Jamie Glaser! Jamie is a very, talented hard working musician. More importantly is the love he feels and shows for fellow human beings and for the animals he cares for with great tenderness. Jamie shares his story of his fight with mental illness, and he emerges a clear winner in every sense of the word. He gives his take on how to improve your life, not as proselytizing, but as loving advice from one who lived through some tough times. Jamie's book is a quick, fun read and everyone can take something from it. Thanks Jamie!”

“This book will, if you are open minded and willing to really examine yourself, show you ways to deal with life's downs and ups. Life really is unfair, but using gifts you may not be aware you possess, you can make your way through to your happiness. Teaching music is not the only gift Mr. Glaser has to share with us. Thank you for sharing your tough times and hard won good outcomes with the readers of this wonderful book.”

“Jamie's heartfelt and entertaining story about his amazing struggle with his illness and the long road and eventual success in getting better had me in tears, at times, and in frank laughter at others.” - Sara Trainer , Vice president/ Producer Indart Music and Sound productions, CFO/ A&R Executive Producer LMS Records and Latin Music Specialists

In closing Jamie has this to impart, “I used to think being famous was the most important thing, Then I thought being rich was the most important. When I lost it all and found the lessons I write about in Hear The Silence ,I realized that reaching out and inspiring , helping and loving others is what is most important.”

Trace Your Steps Releases "Animal (Creature Of Habit)" Music Video



Long Island, New York based Metalcore band Trace Your Steps has released a music video for their track "Animal (Creature Of Habit)" (originally premiering on Metal Underground) from their upcoming album Beating Hearts and Uncertainty which is due out this Spring. The video was directed by Anthony Lopardo at Slate Media while the song was produced by Ian Schneider & Andover Studios, and mixed and mastered by Westfall Studios. Watch Trace Your Steps's "Animal (Creature Of Habit)" music video:



We really wanted to take our time with this release and put everything we had into it. After parting ways with our former drummer, we decided that while we searched for a replacement we would make sure that this song was the best it could possibly be. "Animal" is the collaborative effort of everyone in this band, and we felt it captured everything we try to portray in our music, ranging from the chorus to the breakdown. We incorporate a lot of different elements into what we create and we thought this track really showed who we are as a band from every angle. - Ian Schneider (Guitar)

About Trace Your Steps:

Trace Your Steps is a 5 piece Metalcore band from Long Island, NY. Forming in 2012 the band has played with many notable acts and toured the northeastern United States over the past few years. The band has gone through a few lineup changes and has been on a hiatus for the past year regrouping, making sure that when they came back, it would be in the right way. The group recently signed a deal with Defiled Management last month, and together, plan to make their return to the scene with a bang.

WITCHCRAFT Release new song 'Theory Of Consequence'



Swedish classic / doom rock masters Witchcraft have released a brand new song, 'Theory Of Consequence', from the band's eagerly anticipated new album ‘Nucleus’. You can listen to the track HERE.

‘Nucleus’ is scheduled for a January 15th, 2016 release worldwide via Nuclear Blast and will be available as CD, lavish digipak (also as a t-shirt bundle), vinyl (black, clear, splatter, gold) and digital download.

The first single 'The Outcast', is now available for digital download HERE.

The ‘Nucleus’ tracklist reads as follows:

01. Malstroem 02. Theory Of Consequence 03. The Outcast 04. Nucleus 05. An Exorcism Of Doubts 06. The Obsessed 07. To Transcend Bitterness 08. Helpless 09. Breakdown

Limited digipak CD & 2LP vinyl bonus track 10. Chasing Rainbows

'Nucleus' seamlessly mixes the rawer side of Witchcraft's early roots, with a slightly more melancholic modern sound. With an all new line-up (Rage Widerberg on drums and Tobias Anger on bass) the band sounds more hungry and powerful than ever before. In combination with the thrilling, yet down-to-earth production by mastermind Magnus Pelander himself, Philip Gabriel Saxin and Anton Sundell, the band's new album throws you into dreamy sonic landscapes that will mesmerise and haunt you alike.

CORNERS OF SANCTUARY release "Left Scarred" video



CORNERS OF SANCTUARY (COS) has officially released a new video for the song “Left Scarred” from their recent original album, "Metal Machine" which is now available on Metalizer Records Germany in Europe and independently through the band website for the rest of the world.



“Left Scarred” is the second single from the album and the release’s first video production.

Filmed entirely in HD, the video predominately features lead singer Frankie Cross amidst an exterior Northeast Pennsylvania backdrop. “Left Scarred” was shot at historic Brooke’s Mine in Nay Aug Park located within NEPA’s Electric City, Scranton, PA. Scranton is also Frankie’s hometown.

When asked about his experience while filming the video, Frankie had this to say, “When action is called you must immediately immerse yourself not only in the music and words but in the reality of the song core itself and stay in that mental combat zone until cut is called. “Left Scarred” is not only the title but a tapestry of horror and hope.”

The video is fast paced and the edits are swift and sharp adding to the black and white motif of the song’s perilous narrative. Produced by Cosmick Productions, the video was edited and directed by the independent, Philadelphia film maker Zen Say.

“It really is an amazing experience to be part of an elaborate process that makes a concept from a song come to life in the form of a music video. This medium creates another unique interpretation of the song’s original meaning as well as giving the fans another form to experience the music,” added guitarist Mick Michaels.

Corners of Sanctuary takes to the road in 2016 in support of Metal Machine with the “Wrecking Ball Tour”. A new crowdfunding page has been created to assist in supporting the band’s efforts and is now live at their official website.

Fans’ financial support is being gifted with several Official COS Metal Machine Merchandise Packages which include autographed photos and CDs, concert shirts, patches and supporters having their names listed on the COS website.

Upcoming 2016 Corners of Sanctuary shows:

Jan 2nd - The Met - Pawtucket, Rhode Island Jan 16th - Music Rocks Autism Showcase - Live at the Nail - Ardmore, Pennsylvania Jan 22nd - The Grog & Tankard – Stanford, Virginia Jan 23rd - The Riff House - Chesapeake, Virginia Jan 30th - Reverb - Reading, Pennsylvania Mar 4th - The Maywood - Raleigh, North Carolina Mar 5th - Memories - Waldorf, Maryland May 13th-14th - NEPA Metal Meltdown Fest - Pittson, Pennsylvania