Feature Photo Credit: Travis Shinn
DRAGONFORCE
Announce New Studio Album, Warp Speed Warriors, out March 15, 2024
Epic Zelda-Inspired New Single, “Power of the Triforce”
Grammy-nominated extreme power metal pioneers DRAGONFORCE will release their massive new album, Warp Speed Warriors, on March 15, 2024! The legendary band of guitar virtuosos and founding members Herman Li and Sam Totman, singer Marc Hudson, bassist Alicia Vigil and drummer Gee Anzalone are set to release their most ambitious and innovative full-length so far. On Warp Speed Warriors, DRAGONFORCE explore a wider range of varying musical styles than ever before, evolving their sound throughout the exciting musical journey while still staying true to their roots. Today, the band has already served up a taste of what’s to come with their new single, “Power of the Triforce”, inspired by the Zelda game universe!
Watch the Official Music Video for “Power of the Triforce”
Herman Li on Warp Speed Warriors:
“After four years of creative incubation, we are beyond excited to release what we believe to be our most ambitious and grandiose record yet. This album showcases multiple facets of our artistic abilities, and we invite metal aficionados from every corner of the genre to discover something captivating within its layers. We can’t wait to share this chapter of our musical journey with you, it’s going to be EPIC!”
Breathtaking opening track “Astro Warrior Anthem” lives up to DRAGONFORCE’s reputation as the world’s fastest band, captivating the listener from the very beginning and stunning with guitar solos delivered at an extreme speed. Following Zelda inspired track “Power of the Triforce” keeps the volume high before DRAGONFORCE temporarily slows it down for the ballad ”Kingdom of Steel”. Rapid drum patterns and thrilling guitars carry the catchy “Burning Heart”, while chanting “Space Marine Corp” features a strong and uplifting chorus. Electronic influences on grandiose power metal anthem “The Killer Queen” hypnotize, as singer Marc Hudson’s vocals reach for the skies. On “Doomsday Party”, 80s rock influences meet captivating retro video game soundscapes and epic guitar solos in true DRAGONFORCE manner. The last original track on Warp Speed Warriors, “Pixel Prison”, is followed by DRAGONFORCE’s unexpected yet brilliant cover of Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” as a bonus track that wraps up the epic adventure.
Warp Speed Warriors was produced, mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited in Los Angeles, California with Sam Totman and Herman Li. This album is a matchless, innovative listening experience that continues the band’s legacy with songs that will, without a shadow of a doubt, become instant classics in and beyond the DRAGONFORCE canon.
Warp Speed Warriors Tracklist:
1 Astro Warrior Anthem
2 Power of the Triforce
3 Kingdom of Steel
4 Burning Heart
5 Space Marine Corp
6 Doomsday Party
7 Prelude to Darkness
8 The Killer Queen
9 Pixel Prison
Pre-Order Your Copy of Warp Speed Warriors HERE
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THERION
Releases Second Single, “Ruler of Tamag”
Final Album of the Leviathan Trilogy, Leviathan III, out December 15
photo credit: Mina Karadzic
A perfect collision of Metal and Classical Music!
Genre-defining Swedish symphonic metal icons THERION unleash another masterpiece with their upcoming album, Leviathan III, out December 15, 2023! Today, the legendary unit reveal their second new single, entitled “Ruler of Tamag”, which is a more than worthy continuation of the musical legacy of mastermind Christofer Johnsson, who pioneered symphonic metal back in the 90s.
“Ruler of Tamag” enchants with a gentle acoustic guitar intro and lingering female vocals, opening up to a fairytale-like scenario of old times, that then bursts into a heavy track with gloomy parts that build up to a fascinating score-like symphony. Check out the accompanying lyric video below, and make sure to pre-order your version of Leviathan III!
Check out the Lyric Video for “Ruler of Tamag”
The album sets off with the powerful “Ninkigal”, catapulting the listener directly into the dramatic universe of THERION with skillfully crafted compositions and operatic female vocals by Lori Lewis, alternating with grim growling and pleasing melodies. This then bursts into a heavy track with gloomy parts, building up to a fascinating score-like symphony. THERION once more draw charm from the courage to mix styles ranging from gothic parts to melodic death metal and neo-classical elements to power metal in a complex and versatile way, thus challenging their listeners as witnessed on “Twilight of the Gods”. The songs are quickly engaging and skillfully employ catchy melodies, as witnessed on uplifting tracks like “An Unsung Lament” and “Baccanale”. Advancing melodies are combined with rock elements, captivating lyrics and choir parts, while lively “Maleficium” is structured around a duet between Thomas Vikström and Lori Lewis. Stomping “Ayahuasca” is a true musical journey featuring a male choir and psychedelic elements, while speedy “Nummo” offers splendid hard guitar explosions and the finest classic vocals and choirs.
Overall, the compositions lean towards the magnificent and theatrical, offering a high variety of musical styles while deftly blurring the boundaries of metal and classical music. With their newest opus, Leviathan III, mastermind Christofer Johnsson proves his incredible talent once more, and that THERION have perfected their very own combination of versatile styles – resulting in the creation of a symphonic league of their own.
Pre-order Leviathan III HERE
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PLAGUEMACE
Unleash Brutal Second Single “Rhythmic Demise”
Debut Album, Reptilian Warlords, out November 17
Photo credit: Malene Vinge
PLAGUEMACE – the new generation of old school death metal!
Neck-bending Danish death metal band PLAGUEMACE impresses with the brutal soundscapes of their second single, “Rhythmic Demise”, off of their upcoming debut album, Reptilian Warlords, out November 17, 2023 via Napalm Records! Formed in 2020 in the heart of Denmark, PLAGUEMACE released their convincing EP, Primal Priest, in November of the same year. Throughout their first year of performing live, PLAGUEMACE delivered high energy shows at their several headlining gigs and opened for bands like Baest, Katla and Crocell. In spring 2023, PLAGUEMACE toured the UK in support of their new labelmates Nervosa, and took over European stages as support for death metal legends Left To Die.
PLAGUEMACE is one of the most promising bands of the new generation of old school death metal, and there is no doubt that fans of bands such as Grave, High on Fire, Entombed and Obituary will enjoy their new offering. Watch the official music video for “Rhythmic Demise” for another taste of what’s to come!
PLAGUEMACE on “Rhythmic Demise”:
“‘Rhythmic Demise’ is a midtempo gutpunch of a song dragging itself across the cavefloor in a steady, yet intrusive manor. The song is about the poisoning of the cavedwelling barbarians, which makes them dance eternally.”
Check Out the Official Music Video for “Rhythmic Demise”
PLAGUEMACE’s thrashy death’n’roll is spiced up with brutal breakdowns and infectious grooves as witnessed on the album opener “Cannibalicious”, which is followed by ruthlessly groovy “Impenetrable Leather”. The brutal soundscapes on “Rhythmic Demise” impress, before the track fades out into “Warcries from the Crypts”, where trumpet and trombone add to the threatening atmosphere. Catchy title track “Reptilian Warlords” kicks off with metallic soundscapes, with groovy rhythms carrying competent death metal vocals and skillful guitarwork. Closing track “Carnivore” attacks immediately, as low growls are joined by contrasting screams, and bombastic melodies lead the album to its end.
“Reptilian Warlords is the first in a series of concept albums taking place in our own fictional universe. The story has been torn apart chronologically, and will be put together throughout this, and the following releases. So stay tuned to find out what happens next. The themes of Reptilian Warlords include ANGER, VENGEANCE, DESIRE, WAR and ENRAGING BLOODTHIRST.”
Pre-Order Reptilian Warlords HERE
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HELMET have release “Big Shot” – the third single taken from their upcoming album “LEFT,”out on November 10
“LEFT” sees HELMET —
ALLEGAEON
Announce permanent return of Ezra Haynes, release new track, “Inhumation”
Photo by Tony Gomez
A lot has happened with Allegaeon since the 2022 release of Damnum, a record called a “triumph” of maximalist modern metal and “technically dazzling yet always in thrall to the uplifting power of melody.” First, the Colorado-based band–who formed in 2008–welcomed back original singer Ezra Haynes as permanent vocalist in November, 2022. Then, after resigning with Metal Blade Records, the quintet wrote and recorded two blistering brand-new songs–“Inhumation” and “Iridescent” –with longtime producer Dave Otero, one of which is available to fans today.
Watch /Listen to Inhumation
“Both of the songs are really aggressive, far more than anything I’ve done with the boys,” says Haynes. “Since my departure in 2015, Allegaeon had grown so much musically as well as introduced a more “personal” style of lyrics to the fold. This was a very VERY cool change to me.”
Ezra had this to say of “Inhumation”
“We wanted to do a callback to the first album when we signed to Metal Blade, 2010’s Fragments of Form and Function. For the second song on that, ‘The Renewal,’ I built a layered vocal section that I thought was really neat then. I wanted to somehow incorporate something similar, but bigger and evolved, into ‘Inhumation’, considering the song is so damn massive. It’s without a doubt the most aggressive thing I’ve ever written. Also, now that Allegaeon is a group with three gents on vocals, I wanted to take advantage of that as well as showcase Michael’s insane vocal talent.”
The killer new tracks are precursors of what’s to come when the band enters the studio in 2024 to record its seventh album for Metal Blade. The two new stand-alone singles act as a bridge in Allegaeon’s musical history. “Inhumation” has more of a Damnum vibe, whereas “Iridescent” is more reminiscent of Elements Of The Infinite. Musically, both songs were written with an overwhelming sense of anger; Inhumation in soundscape form, and Iridescent in a pure, frantic guitar-driven form.
Creative freedom is key in both Allegaeon’s new songs and revitalized lineup. “During my previous career in music I was always mildly satisfied due to death metal just being aggressive in nature,” Haynes reflects. “Having the ability to really spread my wings in the “introspective” sense really garnered Allegaeon my full buy-in.”
Producer Otero has worked with the band for 15 years, and guitarist Greg Burgess explains that “Dave always provides a comfortable working environment, amazing ideas, and a career-spanning understanding of what has made Allegaeon, Allegaeon.”
And there’s another secret weapon: it’s not only Haynes’ stellar vocals on the songs: Guitarist Michael Stancel’s vocal talents make a shining recorded debut on both the chorus and bridge of “Inhumation”.
Among the lineup’s six albums are features from Bjorn Strid of Soilwork (vocals) and Benjamin Ellis of Scar Symmetry. Allegaeon has seen their albums in the Top 10 of Billboard’s US Hard Rock, US Rock, US Indie and US Sales charts, the tracks “1.618” from 2014’s Elements of the Infinite; “Of Beasts and Worms” off Damnum and “Parthenogenesis” earning millions of collective streams from fans the world over.
If Damnum is what happens when “absurdly gifted musicians reach a state of unwavering confidence” as one journalist raved, the band’s next chapter, back with Haynes, and with an unbounded, refreshed creativity, will be unstoppable. “It feels like Allegaeon is becoming the band we were always meant to be,” concludes bassist Brandon Michael. “The chemistry is incredible. Overall, we’re in a very good creative space together.”
Cover art: Travis Smith
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Photographer and Editor/Founder of AllMusicMagazine.com. My love of live music has taken me to incredible experiences with the top bands of all time in stadium shows to the smallest venues with equally inspiring musicians. Using the medium of photography and my publication, these memories will last forever.
