Progressive metalcore band CARCER CITY have announced their Infinite // Unknown headline tour across Europe in support of their new album.
Released this September via Stay Sick, Infinite // Unknown is the band’s highly revered sophomore album, which Rock Sound called ‘their strongest release yet’.
Check out the video ‘Sovereign’:
Support on the mainland dates comes from melodic hardcore outfit CREATE TO INSPIRE, who released their Home Is Where My Heart Dies EP via Basick Records earlier this year.
Check out ‘Don’t Let Go’:
UK
26.11 Manchester – Satans Hollow
27.11 Worcester – Marrs Bar
28.11 Glasgow – Broadcast
EU w/Create To Inspire
01.12 Luxembourg (LU) – Rocas Cafe
02.12 Frankfurt (DE) – Elfer Club
03.12 Maasmechelen (BE) – Alibi
05.12 Milan (IT) – Rock n Roll
06.12 Verona (IT) – Il Blocco
07.12 Vienna (AT) – Das Bach
08.12 Lustenau (AT) – Rocks Bar
09.12 Dresden (DE) – Konk Klub
10.12 Brno (CZ) – M13 Club
11.12 Budapest (HU) – Durer Kert
12.12 Prague (CZ) – Cross Club
13.12 Cologne (DE) – MTC
“A warm series of piano-driven songs that combine the dynamics and vocal delivery of Kate Bush with Tori Amos piano-gymnastics…” FOLK RADIO UK
When choosing a suitable name for their band this London based
trio certainly gave themselves something to live up to. Beatrix, from
the Latin Viatrix, is a name that in its various forms has been
previously bestowed upon self-sacrificing martyrs and self-denying
mystics, royal consorts and Holy Roman empresses, Balzac
heroines and Tarantino assassins. No small irony then, that a name
so often chosen by tragedians for their characters literally means
“she who makes happy”.
Through their enchantingly dark and evocative melodies, expansive
arrangements and empowered orchestral sound BEATRIX PLAYERS tell stories of real life and fantasy. Citing influences as diverse as Michael Nyman and Regina Spektor and drawing comparisons to the likes of Kate Bush and Einaudi Ludovico; this London-based, all female trio combine elements of Folk, Jazz, Progressive and Classical music. In 2015 the band (Amy Birks, Jess Kennedy and Amanda Alvarez) took their unique sound – a beautiful combination of vocals, piano and cello – into the studio to record their self-produced debut album, which has been mixed by two-time BBC Folk Award winner, Jim Moray. That album, titled ‘Magnified’, is scheduled for release in 2017.
Lady of The Lake is the stunning first single to be taken from Beatrix Players debut album, with the single launch being held at the Green Note in Camden on Tuesday 22nd November. This first release tells a story of disconnect, difference of opinion and the demise of a relationship.
“In the video we used a mystical figure to portray how the male perceives the female in the relationship,” explains lead vocalist Amy Birks. “She is seen as seductive and somewhat dismissive in character, although the lyrics are written sympathetically towards her”. The powerful chorus tells of torment “although the man knows it’s over, he is still drawn to her qualities” explains pianist and co-writer Jess Kennedy. The listener is taken on a journey through the powerful & emotive expression of the music, whilst the delicate, almost hypnotic vocal counter melodies add to the unearthly and ethereal sound of the track.
THE MOB IS BACK! The one and only ADRENALINE MOB have confirmed a brand new full length studio album will be released early 2017 via Century Media Records. Following 2015’s Dearly Departed, the forthcoming release is being recorded by ADRENALINE MOB guitarist Mike Orlando once again at his own Sonic Stomp Studio. Mike checked in with the following comment:
“Myself & Russell are hard at work finishing up the writing & are heading into the studio to track the new Adrenaline Mob album in a few weeks time. The album is coming out great & we’re both very excited on the sound & direction. We’re extremely thrilled to be releasing our 3rd studio album on Century Media Records! Our expected release time will be early 2017”
Since first bursting on to the scene in 2011, ADRENALINE MOB’s wild ride of hard rock and heavy metal melee continues to explode across the world. Still revving from two critically successful full lengths and standout EP’s; the gears are set for full throttle with an all new armory of lethal tracks. It’s undeniable, the beast that is AMOB is back! Stay tuned for more album details to be announced soon!
‘A winding trawl through myriad dark moods, at times supremely heavy, at others barely whispered, but always swathed in their own unique brand of somber atmospherics’ – 4/5 – Kerrang
‘Absolutely astonishing’ – 9/10 – Rock Sound
‘Make no mistake – this is a great album’ – Terrorizer
Hailed as one of the leaders of the death-doom genre alongside My Dying Bride & Paradise Lost, Sweden’s Katatonia have spent the last 25 years ever changing and evolving to become the much loved purveyors of dark progressive rock/metal we know today.
This year marks not only the band’s 25th anniversary but also 10 years since the release of their Peaceville album ‘The Great Cold Distance’. Now the band is set to re-issue this classic album on special edition CD and vinyl. Founding guitarist Anders Nyström comments:
“Looking back at our set lists from a historic perspective, it dawned on us that there’s been no other album from which we played more songs than ’The Great Cold Distance’, so in the light of its 10th anniversary this year, it’s with much pride and joy to announce the ultimate edition featuring all the scattered bits and pieces related to this album. “
Originally released in 2006, The Great Cold Distance, Katatonia’s seventh studio album, was recorded and mixed at Fascination Street, Örebro Sweden, produced by Nyström/Renkse on and co-produced, mixed & engineered by Jens Bogren & David Castillo. The album featured 3 singles, now classic Katatonia songs – “My Twin”, “July” and “Deliberation”. Vocalist Jonas Renkse, at the time of the album’s release stated: “While embracing this album one must know that it will only help to increase the coldness between us. It’s a devious life. And this is a soundtrack to it.”
The new 4 disc deluxe hardback 40 page book edition of the album, to be released on 20th January 2017, will include 3 bonus discs featuring b-sides and bonus songs, a new 5.1 remix of the album by Bruce Soord (Wisdom Of Crowds) and a live album of Katatonia playing ‘The Great Cold Distance’ in its entirety with the renowned Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria, performed in September 2016. The design of this essential 10th anniversary edition has once again been taken care of by long time collaborator Travis Smith.
The double gatefold LP version of the original album is set for release on 9th December, and includes the b-sides & bonus songs. Both the black vinyl and limited edition red vinyl versions are available to pre-order now:
Friday 21st October, at London’s 02 Shepherds Bush Empire, Katatonia will play their biggest UK headline show to date which will feature a very special 2 set performance.
One set will see Katatonia perform ‘The Great Cold Distance’ in its entirety.
The other set will feature a wide selection of tracks panning the band’s 25 year including most recent album ‘The Fall Of Hearts’. Support comes from Agent Fresco & VOLA.
Greek Dionysian band Chickn recently released their self-titled debut album, on October 10th via Inner Ear Records. Chickn is a modular music band formed during the Christmas holidays of 2012 in Athens. Bringing together an assemblage of musicians whose primary work has been influenced by Eastern Mediterranean music, psychedelic and progressive rock.
Angelos Krallis (vocals, guitars, lute, tsambouna, udu) grew up in Kos island, a Greek paradise close to the Anatolian coast of Turkey and hooked up with “rembetiko” musicians. Evangelos Aslanides (drums, percussion, djembe, darbuka, bendir) and Pantelis Karasevdas (drums, percussion, congas, djembe) both hail from Exarchia, the music scene of Athens. The main pillars of Chickn’s music is improvisation, as well as their tendency to embrace the unexpected. They have developed a large body of artists that they work with and as a result their liquid line-up gets temporarily solidified by their current expressive needs.
This is a radio zapping 68-minute car drive. This is a field unfolding in front of your very eyes and at the same time a call of wandering. This is an attempt of these unique musicians to invent themselves through playing. This is Jetztzeit rock. A sound conceived as a jump in the free sky of history.
The album was composed by the Athens-based trio in Athens and Valencia during the period 2014-2015. It was recorded from July to October 2015 in Sonic Playground Studio and in Iraklis Vlachakis’ home in Athens. The album was produced by Chickn and Nikos Triantafyllou and it was mastered by Alan Douches in West West Side Studios in New York.
Musicians appearing on this album: Konstantinos Protopappas (electric guitar), Haris Neilas (darbuka, congas, cowbell), Andreas Kiltsiksis (oud, amanes) and the band Baby Guru (Sir Kosmiche (bass), Prins Obi (additional synths, additional vocals) and King Elephant (saxophone)).
Tracklist:
1. Chickn Tribe
2. Omens
3. Aleppo – Jam
4. Modular Prayer 5. Taqsim – Rhy – Tavk Hava 6. Forget – Small Things 7. Articulation 8. Modular Prayer (Reprise) 9. Prelude On Mary 10. Shifting Time Blues – Akhedia
RELEASED NOVEMBER 11 ON RADIANT RECORDS
VIA METAL BLADE RECORDS/SONY
2CD, TRIPLE VINYL AND DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
WORLDWIDE TOUR STARTS
JANUARY 15, 2017 IN NASHVILLE, TN
NEAL MORSE: LEAD VOCALS, KEYBOARDS, GUITARS
MIKE PORTNOY: DRUMS, VOCALS
RANDY GEORGE: BASS
ERIC GILLETTE: GUITAR, VOCALS
BILL HUBAUER: KEYBOARDS, VOCALS
The journey of Neal Morse has seen three decades of musical accomplishments, the latest being the inception of The Neal Morse Band. Morse has forged many relationships over the years with his other bands, Spock’s Beard, Flying Colors, and Transatlantic. However, the most compelling and fruitful efforts have been those with drummer Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, Flying Colors, Transatlantic, ex-Dream Theater).
Now the current line-up of “The Neal Morse Band”—Morse, Portnoy, bassist Randy George, keyboardist Bill Hubauer and guitarist Eric Gillette—brings forth “The Similitude of a Dream”, a concept album to be released November 11 on Radiant Records via Metal Blade Records/SONY. This will be the eighth studio album with Morse, Portnoy and George, and the second as a true collaboration with this current lineup. A lyric video for the song, “Overture,” premiered on PROG Magazine’s website earlier today and will be available on the band’s official YouTube page tomorrow. Watch the lyric video for the songs “Long Day” and “Overture”
Clocking in at over 100 minutes, this amazing piece of prog storytelling will leave you breathless, exhilarated, amused and fulfilled in a way that only inspired music can. It will be available in various formats: a two CD package, a Special Edition with the two CDs and “The Making of a Dream” DVD, or as three vinyl records along with two CDs.
The Neal Morse Band (L-R): Eric Gillette, Mike Portnoy, Randy George, Neal Morse, Bill Hubauer. Photo: John Zocco
Track Listing:
Disc 1:
Long Day
Overture
The Dream
City Of Destruction
We Have Got To Go
Makes No Sense
Draw The Line
The Slough
Back To The City
The Ways Of A Fool
So Far Gone
Breath Of Angels
Disc 2:
Slave To Your Mind
Shortcut to Salvation
The Man in The Iron Cage
The Road Called Home
Sloth
Freedom Song
I’m Running
The Mask
Confrontation
The Battle
Broken Sky / Long Day (Reprise)
Together, Morse and Portnoy have launched four bands, but the one that has endured the longest and thus with the most musical output has been The Neal Morse Band. Over the years, Morse, along with Portnoy and George, always assembled musicians as needed to support Neal’s solo music. In 2012, they held auditions to find the musicians needed to fill out the band as a permanent lineup that would write music collectively. Hubauer and Gillette joined the band after three days of auditions. The fivesome went on to release The Grand Experiment in 2014 followed by the Alive Again live DVD/2 CD package in 2015.
“The Similitude of a Dream is loosely and sometimes directly based on the book, Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan,” explains Neal Morse. “The book’s original title was The Pilgrim’s Progress from this world to that which is to come, delivered under the similitude of a dream, and was originally published in 1678. The book chronicles the spiritual journey of a man from the City of Destruction to a place of Deliverance. Someone had suggested to me that I do a concept album based on this book, but I kind of forgot about it. Then when I began writing new songs last December, the suggestion came to my mind. I had never read the book, so I Googled the SparkNotes story outline and began to write some little song bits and instrumentals based on what I had read. Those bits combined with the ideas that the other guys brought to the table then miraculously exploded into this double concept album. Funny thing is, this album only really covers about the first 75 or 80 pages. Maybe we should’ve made a five disc collection! Well, we’ll save that for later. Ha.”
Continues Neal, “At the conclusion of the grueling recording sessions, I remember Mike saying rather prophetically, ‘Boys, I think we just made the album of our careers.’”
“I honestly think this is THE album of my career,” declares Portnoy. “Neal and I have now made 18 studio albums together, and I consider The Similitude of a Dream the absolute creative pinnacle of our collaborations together. I’ve always had a soft spot for double concept albums such as Pink Floyd’s The Wall and The Who’s Tommy, and I can bravely say that I think we’ve created an album here that can sit side by side with those masterpieces. Bold words, I know, but after a career of almost 50 albums, I honestly consider this to be one of the defining works of my career.”
“We weren’t sure we had enough music to make a double CD, and yet it seemed as though the concept and the music wanted to go there,” bassist Randy George continues. “Ultimately, we created so much great music in the sessions that it just had to be a double album! To cap that off, we worked with a pre-imminent classic album cover artist to create painted illustrations of our concept which will grace the booklet!”
The Neal Morse Band tours worldwide almost yearly and continues to grow in popularity, attracting new listeners everywhere they go. The band has toured in North America, Central America, Europe, Israel, Mexico and India. The shows are filled with excited and extremely loyal fans, some which have regularly traveled very long distances to see the band. The band has an extensive catalog of live shows on Blu-Ray and DVD as well.
Their latest round of worldwide tour dates start January 15, 2017 in Morse’s current hometown of Nashville, TN. More dates will be announced in the coming weeks on the band’s official website.
CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX have revealed the 2nd track from their forthcoming album ‘Bronze’. The UK dark progressive rockers will release their stunning new full-length on November 4th.
Justin Greaves comments: “Some songs depart from my mind into reality without consent. ‘Winning A Losing Battle’ is one of those. The track just barged itself into the world. It is also one of the musically unconventional Crippled Black Phoenix style of songs that keep appearing on our albums. The title says it all. We have been through a lot of adversity as a band in these past two years and even though it seemed that all is doomed at times – I/we never gave up or gave in. We just say ‘screw you’ to the people and forces that tried to bring us down. Crippled Black Phoenix win, and always will.”
The artwork of‘Bronze’ can be viewed together with the now released track-list below.
01. Dead Imperial Bastard
02. Deviant Burials
03. No Fun
04. Rotten Memories
05. Champions Of Disturbance (Pt 1 & 2)
06. Goodbye Then
07. Turn To Stone
08. Scared And Alone
09. Winning A Losing Battle
10. We Are The Darkeners
Bronze consists primarily of copper, but it is the inclusion of other metals and non-metals that gives this alloy its specific characteristics. Ever since mankind discovered the secret of its making thousands of years ago, the golden and shining bronze has changed the course of history, spawned destruction and war, yet also been crafted into desired objects of extreme beauty.
You will find each of these traits inherent in the sixth studio album of CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, which is aptly taking its title from this fateful alloy. Instead of copper, dark rock forms the base ingredient in this musical amalgamation process, but it is the addition of metal, progressive influences, gothic, wave, even pop, and many other elements as well as a changing cast of musicians that result in each song shining with its own individual hue and tone. Yet a deep sense of anguish, despair, longing, loss, melancholy, and nostalgia forms a binding force that holds ‘Bronze’ together and formulates an encompassing theme.
This musical darkness is reflected in the lyrical themes dominating the record, which partly revolve around battling inner demons and resisting oppression. The constant struggle comes as no surprise when taking into account that poetic mastermind Justin Greaves has recently gone public about his personal fight against severe depression. For him, not letting the “black dog” devour you is a big message mixed within his songs.
CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX have always confounded critics trying to pin their style down ever since multi-instrumentalist Justin Greaves recorded his first ideas in 2004 – which earned them tagging attempts ranging from “stoner prog” to “freak folk” to “psychedelic doom”. Despite the wide range of musical leanings within their albums, there are a unifying dark streak and sombre melancholy running through the songs. Founder Justin Greaves had already made himself a name as drummer for IRON MONKEY and ELECTRIC WIZARD among others. When the multi-instrumentalist finally decided to stand on his own musical feet, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX was born as a project. This involves a changing cast of musicians and live set-ups, which mirror the ever ongoing evolution of the band and the fact that the songs were mostly not composed with their live performance on mind.
Between 2007 and 2014, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX released a string of five critically highly acclaimed studio albums – from ‘A Love of Shared Disasters’ (2007), via ‘The Resurrectionists’ (2009), ‘Night Raider’ (2009), ‘(Mankind) The Crafty Ape’ (2012), until ‘White Light Generator’ (2014). This was complemented by EPs ‘I, Vigilante’ (2010), ‘No Sadness or Farewell’ (2012), and ‘Oh’ Ech-oes’ (2015), the live recording ‘Live Poznan’ (2013), and the ‘200 Tons of Bad Luck’ compilation (2009). Their ‘New Dark Age Tour EP 2015 A.D.’ was the band’s first release on Season of Mist that came with an extensive homage to PINK FLOYD. The strong influence of the UK rock giants can still be felt on ‘Bronze’, yet while CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX never denied their roots, this outstanding act has long created their own sonic cosmos and now takes it a dimension further. Be warned that ‘Bronze’ will infect you with a most deep fascination. Shine on…
‘Bronze’ was recorded at Chapel Studio and mixed with Karl Daniel Lidén.
Debut album by this unique instrumental progressive band from Belgium to be released on September 22, 2016.
Offworld’s debut concept album ‘Some Circles Are Square’ is a roaring, soaring, never-boring, infuriating, wild and often whacky smorgasbord of a record – equal parts Prog, Psychedelic, Rock, Metal, Funk, Lounge, Shred, and a number of other styles that have yet to be coined with a term. Sometimes weird, often crazy, yet always compelling and dosed with fiery passion and high levels of musicianship, Offworld takes the listener on a trip through Space Opera’s most bizarre and dangerous reaches.
Sweden’s musical alchemists, OPETH, have premiered a new song entitled, “The Wilde Flowers”. The track is featured on the bands highly anticipated 12th studio album, Sorceress, which is scheduled for release on September 30th via the band’s imprint label Moderbolaget Records with Nuclear Blast Entertainment.
Speaking with Metal Hammer, vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt says “This was the first song I wrote for this album. It’s kind of an OPETH standard, in a way, like from the last two albums. It’s very dynamic. It has a chorus, I guess. Then there’s a big Queen-sounding bit in the middle just before this massive solo… oh, and harps! They’re hidden in the mix but they’re there. The title comes from the band Caravan – they were originally called Wilde Flowers. I always liked those weird spellings.”
In addition to the psychedelic, progressive masterpiece “The Wilde Flowers,” OPETH’s monumental new record also features the critically heralded new songs “Will O The Wisp” and “Sorceress.” Fans who pre-order the album will receive an instant download of “The Wilde Flowers,” “Will O The Wisp” and “Sorceress.” Links to pre-orders can be found below:
OPETH will return to the UK for a headline show at Wembley Arena on Saturday 19th November. Tickets are on sale now from www.livenation.co.uk.
Full tour dates as follows:
05.11. S Stockholm – Annexet
06.11. N Oslo – Konserthus
07.11. DK Copenhagen – DR Koncerthuset, Koncertsalen
08.11. D Hamburg – Docks
10.11. A Vienna – Arena
11.11. D Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn
12.11. D Munich – Theaterfabrik
13.11. CH Zurich – Volkshaus
14.11. I Milan – Alcatraz
16.11. D Cologne – E-Werk
17.11. B Brussels – AB
18.11. NL Tilburg – 013 19.11. UK London – SSE Arena Wembley
21.11. F Paris – Le Trianon
23.11. LUX Luxemburg – Den Atelier
24.11. D Berlin – Astra Kulturhaus
OPETH North American Tour:
24.09. USA San Bernardino, CA – Ozzfest
29.09. USA Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
30.09. USA Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
01.10. USA New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
02.10. USA Boston, MA – House Of Blues
04.10. CDN Montreal, QC – Metropolis
05.10. CDN Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
07.10. USA Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
08.10. USA Akron, OH – Good Year Theater @ East End
09.10. USA Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater
10.10. USA Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
12.10. USA Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
13.10. USA Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
14.10. USA Austin, TX – Emo‘s
15.10. USA Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Live!
18.10. USA Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
19.10. USA Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
21.10. USA Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades
22.10. USA San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
24.10. USA Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
25.10. USA Seattle, WA – The Moore
26.10. CDN Vancouver, BC – Orpheum
Young British progressive rockers MASCHINE have announced the release of their second studio album ‘Naturalis’ for the 18th November 2016 on InsideOutMusic. The follow-up to the band’s debut ‘Rubidium’, this is the first to feature drummer James Stewart ( Vader) & keyboardist/vocalist Marie-Eve de Gaultier.
The album will be released as a special edition digipak CD & digital download, both featuring two bonus tracks recorded live in 2015 at Veruno Prog Festival in Italy. The full track-list can be found below:
1. Resistance (11:52)
2. Night And Day (5:08)
3. Make Believe (7:10)
4. Hidden In Plain Sight (7:01)
5. A New Reality (8:45)
6. Megacyma (11:46)
Bonus Tracks
7. Eyes Pt.2 (Live in Veruno) (8:55)
8. Rubidium (Live in Veruno) (8:47)
