Cradle of Filth, following their sold-out Australian
headline tour, are previewing their upcoming "By Order Of The Dragon"
UK/European tour with a new single, “Malignant Perfection.” Released in time
for Halloween, the track features eerie keys, vampiric atmosphere, complex
riffs, and Dani Filth’s iconic vocals. The accompanying music video, directed
by Vicente Cordero and featuring Missy Munster, is a dark, seductive visual
filled with monsters and cryptid creatures. This single marks the lead-up to
their 14th album and Napalm Records debut, and coincides with collaborations
with fashion brands Vetement and Blackcraft Clothing.
Italy's parody metal band NANOWAR OF STEEL will
release their live album *XX Years of Steel* on December 6, 2024, via Napalm
Records. The album captures their sold-out 2023 concert at Alcatraz in Milan,
attended by 3,000 fans, celebrating two decades of combining humor with metal.
Featuring 28 live tracks and a bonus CD with nine more, including two new
studio songs, "Stormwarrior of the Storm" and
"HelloWorld.java," it showcases their evolving style. Pre-orders are
available, and their new single, “The Power of Imodium,” humorously describes a
bad toilet experience, blending metal riffs with comedic lyrics.
Αυτό
εδώ το πραγματικά χαζό κι απλοϊκό εξωφύλλο κρύβει τον δεύτερο καλύτερο δίσκο
των Νεοϋορκέζων για τη δεκαετία του '80. Μη κρίνετε ή να μη κριθείτε λοιπόν,
μετά το καλό αλλά όχι συναρπαστικό Restless Breed της προηγούμενης χρονιάς η
συγκεκριμένη σύνθεση του συγκροτήματος με διακριτικό τίτλο "εξέγερση"
(χαχα!) ηχογράφησαν αυτόντον πολύ
ανώτερης ποιότητας και μουσικής αξίας δίσκο. Το μυστικό του κρύβεται στο
ομώνυμο κομμάτι που ανοίγει το άλμπουμ είναι ένα "περιγραφικό
κατηγορώ"στο αμερικάνικο όνειρο
απ' τέλη δεκαετίας του '50 ως τα 80s, αν δείτε τους στίχους, με τα θετικά και
κυρίως τα αρνητικά αυτής της εποχής μέσα απ' τα μάτια του συγκροτήματος. Ο Rhet
Forrester στο μικρόφωνο, ο Mark Reale κι ο Rick Ventura κιθάρα , Kip Lemming
μπάσο κι ντραμς ο Sandy Slavin σε πραγματικούς ύμνους σαν τα You Burn In Me,
Wings of Fire, Running From The Law (ΥΜΝΟΣ!!!), Vigilante Killer, Heavy Metal
Machine, Where Soldiers Rule, Gunfighter παραδίδουν μαθήματα Heavy Metal ήθους.
Και όντως όσο "αμερικανάκια" κι αν είναι (ήταν εκ των πραγμάτων) αυτό
ήταν το κύκνειο άσμα τόσο αυτής της σύνθεσης τους όσο κι του συγκροτήματος εν
γένει για περίπου τέσσερα χρόνια. Η αναγέννηση τους με το Thunder Steel, το
τρίτο καλύτερο άλμπουμ τους για τη δεκαετία, θα έβρισκε το κοινό ανυποψίαστο.
English:
It is easily misunderstood.
This truly silly and simplistic album cover hides the
second-best record of the New Yorkers in the 1980s. So, don't judge or be
judged. After the good but not thrilling “Restless Breed” of the previous year,
this particular lineup of the band, with the subtle title “Riot” (haha!),
recorded this album of much higher quality and musical value. The secret lies
in the title track that opens the album—a "descriptive accusation" of
the American Dream from the late '50s to the '80s, if you look at the lyrics,
showcasing the positives and mainly the negatives of that era through the
band's eyes.
Rhett Forrester on vocals, Mark Reale and Rick Ventura
on guitars, Kip Leming on bass, and Sandy Slavin on drums deliver true heavy
metal anthems like “You Burn In Me”, “Wings of Fire”, “Running From The Law”
(ANTHEM!!!), “Vigilante Killer”, “Heavy Metal Machine”, “Where Soldiers Rule”,
and “Gunfighter”. They give a masterclass in Heavy Metal ethos.
And indeed, as "Americanized" as they were
(or inevitably became), this was the swan song for both this lineup and the
band as a whole for about four years. Their revival with “Thunder Steel”, their
third-best album of the decade, would catch their audience by surprise.
Finnish one-man Black Metal band Valontuoja, created
by Jal'zoroth in 2024, has released its debut album *Luonnon armoilla*.
Recorded at "Apocalypse Bunker Studios" and mixed/mastered by Valo
Tuoja, the album channels the raw, primal energy of black metal with a blend of
ferocious intensity and haunting melodic elements. Valontuoja, meaning
"Bringer of Light" in Finnish, encapsulates the cold, icy essence of
Helsinki's underground metal scene.
RHAPSODY
OF FIRE, Live From Chaos To Eternity (2013)
AFM Records
Επεισοδιακή
εποχή.
Οι
Ιταλοί προφανώς απόγονοι των Rossini, Vivaldi κι όλων αυτών των κλασικών κι
οπερετικών συνθετών που όμως ανήκουν στη συμφωνική Power Metal συνομοταξία, εδώ
στο δεύτερο ζωντανά ηχογραφημένο διπλό άλμπουμ τους (και βεβαίως με το επίθεμα
Of Fire για λόγους δικαιωμάτων, το πρώτο γραμμένο στον Καναδά το είχαν τυπώσει
με το αρχικό σκέτο όνομα τους Rhapsody). Δίνουν περισσότερο βάρος στο υλικό απ'
τη δισκογραφία τους μετά τα μέσα της πρώτης δεκαετίας του 21ου αιώνα, έχουν
βέβαια και κάποια κομμάτια απ' τα πρώτα πιο κλασικά και πιο γνωστά καλώς ή
κακώς άλμπουμ τους ως το 2002. Ήταν ακόμα η εποχή του τρομερού Fabio Lione στη
θέση του τραγουδιστή και βέβαια το μεγάλο αφεντικό Alex Staropoli, συνθετικό
πληκτράς του σχήματος (θέση που δεν έχει αλλάξει έντεκα χρόνια μετά). Εν
άλμπουμ που θυμίζει τις καλύτερες εποχές ενός συγκροτήματος που αν και μέσα
στην υπερβολή, είχε δώσει πράγματα στον κόσμο.
English:
Tumultuous Era
The Italians, clearly descendants of Rossini, Vivaldi,
and all those classical and operatic composers, but belonging to the symphonic
power metal family, present their second live-recorded double album (and of
course, with the "Of Fire" suffix for legal reasons; their first,
recorded in Canada, was released under their original name, Rhapsody). They
place more emphasis on material from their discography after the mid-2000s,
though they include some tracks from their earlier, more classic and well-known
albums up until 2002. It was still the era of the incredible Fabio Lione as
their vocalist, and, of course, the mastermind Alex Staropoli, the band's
composer and keyboardist (a position he still holds 11 years later). This is an
album that recalls the band's finest moments, a group that, despite its
excesses, had contributed something significant to the world.
On the night of October 18th, 2024, the upper floor of
Thessaloniki's Eightball Club hosted a concert that featured CLEAVERCULT,
PIRANHA, and METHEDRAS. Despite a disappointingly small crowd, these bands
earned my respect for their professionalism and passion. They performed their
setlists with energy and enthusiasm, undeterred by the sparse audience, truly
embodying the spirit of live music.
The lack of turnout could be attributed to several
factors: another concert was happening downstairs at the same time, it was a
weekday, and economic constraints often lead the Thessaloniki crowd to be
selective when it comes to attending shows. This raises concerns about the
difficulty in seeing new bands in the city, as audiences often gravitate
towards the familiar.
CLEAVERCULT had the unenviable task of opening the
night. Over the course of 30 to 40 minutes, they demonstrated their cohesion as
a band, delivering their old-school death metal with thrash and black metal
elements with conviction. Despite their classic influences, they didn’t sound
dated. With more live shows under their belt, their stage presence and
confidence are bound to grow.
Next up were Athens-based PIRANHA, a band that has
been active since 1987. Their blend of thrash and death metal, combined with
their seasoned experience, made for an impressive performance. I particularly
appreciated the harmonious infusion of classic heavy metal elements and
atmosphere into their sound, adding depth and variety to their aggressive
style. PIRANHA are a band well worth catching live.
Finally, the Italian METHEDRAS took the stage,
bringing their modern thrash metal sound, packed with grooves, to the fore.
Drawing influence from Pantera, later-era Sepultura, and fellow Italians
Extrema (a fact they confirmed in an interview with me), their performance was
anchored by the fiery passion of vocalist Rex Caruso. Guitarist Daniele
Colombo’s solos were stellar, while bassist Andrea Bochi and the drummer
provided a solid, driving rhythm section. If they return to Thessaloniki, I
highly recommend seeing them live.
Cyanide 4 is a Hard Rock/Glam Metal band
from Athens, formed in 2008. They mix influences from the '80s glam era of Los
Angeles and the modern rock 'n' roll wave from Scandinavian bands. They've
built a strong fan base in Greece and abroad, releasing three albums and
performing live extensively, both as headliners and as support for renowned
artists like Scorpions, Bonfire, W.A.S.P., and more.
About Their New Song "Gone With The Wind":
"Gone With The Wind" is a special track for Cyanide 4, showcasing
their ability to surpass themselves. With their signature style and modern
touches, this song stands out. It creates musical worlds from various eras,
keeping listeners engaged until the very last second. Don't miss the
professional and unique music video that accompanies the song!
