Theander Expression - Wonderful Anticipation (2016)

Theander Expression is the AOR project by Swedish guitar player Andrée Theander, who started to work with the first album in 2012 and released it one year later. It was called ”Strange Nostalgia” after one of the songs and got critically acclaimed around the world of melodic rock in 2013.

Just over two years later the follow-up is finally here and it carries the title ”Wonderful Anticipation”, as a kind of an antonym to the frequently misinterpreted debut title.

Andrée has been producing and recording most of the album at the Theander studio, playing all the guitars and handles also most of the bass and keyboards, some percussion, drum programming and vocals.

Other musicians featured on the album are Herman Furin (Work of Art), Bengan Andersson (NIVA, Johan Randén), Kristofer von Wachenfeldt (Care of Night), Björn Lundqvist (Sunstrike, Twilight Force), Christian Eriksson (Sunstrike, Twilight Force), Erik Martensson (Eclipse, W.E.T), Sebastian Freij and Christoffer ”Foffe” Särnefält.

The record was mixed and mastered by Thomas ”Plec” Johansson at Panic Room Studios in the end of 2015 and the result is another high class rock record with classic melodies and a modern production, ready to hit the market in 2016.

Track listing: 

1. Anticipation Anthem, 

2. You always ran away, 

3. Wonderful Anticipation, 

4. Ms. Tendy, 

5. Factoids & Fallacies, 

6. Into The Valley, 

7. Never Surrender, 

8. The Loner, 

9. Someday (I'll Be There To Meet You) 

10. On My Own, 

11. State Of Flow

https://www.facebook.com/thetheanderexpression/

Vasilis Maglaris

Vasilis Maglaris was born in 1979. His influences come from the indie 80s and from the garage 60s. He has been a bassist and guitarist since 1999 in several bands. Since 2005 he writes his own music with a drum machine and he publishes it at https://bm79.bandcamp.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/bm79music/

Theocracy - Ghost Ship (2016)

The Athens, Georgia-based melodic metal band THEOCRACY just released a music video for the title track from their highly anticipated new album "Ghost Ship". The album will be released on October 28th in Europe and North America through Ulterium Records. 

"Ghost Ship" will be available on CD, 2LP and digital. The 2LP edition is strictly limited to 1001 copies worldwide. 750 copies comes with black vinyl discs and 251 copies comes with white vinyl discs.

With Ghost Ship, Theocracy perfects the lively and fully-realized sound of As the World Bleeds, delivering 10 muscular and streamlined tracks that never lose focus and combine for one memorable journey. You like midtempo singalong anthems? Try the “Ghost Ship” title track. Thrashy rhythms and intensity?  “The Wonder of It All” should be to your liking. Emotional ballads with huge melodic hooks? Go “Around the World and Back.”  Or if you prefer epic, progressive tracks that do all these things and more, 10-minute album closer “Easter” is sure to be a favorite. Each song on Ghost Ship stands alone and has a unique signature, but every moment sounds unmistakably like Theocracy.

“So many kids were coming up to us after shows and telling us their stories,” says Theocracy vocalist Matt Smith. “A lot of them were searching for purpose and a place to fit in, and having grown up as an awkward and unpopular kid myself, their words really stuck with me. I started thinking about what a band of misfits Jesus’ disciples were:  fishermen, tax collectors, and people of little consequence in the eyes of the world. Sometimes the ones most people don’t see, or choose to look straight through—the ghosts of society, as it were, dead to the world—end up having the biggest impact. That’s where the title and idea for Ghost Ship came from: all the misfits, the uncool, the outcasts, there is a place where you do fit in. Although Ghost Ship is not a concept album, this is a recurring theme, particularly in the title track and ‘Castaway.’”

"Ghost Ship" track listing

01. Paper Tiger

02. Ghost Ship

03. The Wonder Of It All

04. Wishing Well

05. Around the World and Back

06. Stir the Embers

07. A Call To Arms

08. Currency In A Bankrupt World

09. Castaway

10. Easter

"GHOST SHIP EUROPEAN TOUR"

Fri 4/11 - Hall of Fame - Wetzikon, Switzerland

Sat 5/11 - Kreatief - Neckarsulm, Germany

Sun 6/11 - Exit-US - Prague, Czech Republic

Tue 8/11 - Collosseum - Kosice, Slovakia

Thu 10/11 - Melodka - Brno, Czech Republic

Fri 11/11 - DGH Niederaula - Niederjossa/Hessen, Germany

Sat 12/11 - Brainstorm Festival - Apeldoorn, Netherlands

 

Theocracy online

Official website: http://www.theocracymusic.com

Official facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/theocracyband

The Reticent - On the Eve of a Goodbye (2016)

On The Eve Of A Goodbye is an autobiographical concept album from The Reticent produced by Jamie King releasing on October 5th, 2016 from Heaven & Hell Records.  All of the tracks serve to detail the day before, day of, and day after the suicide of The Reticent's mastermind Chris Hathcock's childhood friend, Eve.  The songs chronicle his concern for her, her deterioration into self-hatred, and culminates with the tragic act and its aftermath.  Not only a stylistic contrast to previous releases, this album is also intensely more personal than past Reticent albums (which were already emotional purges).  The album is intended to be heard as a single entity rather than a collection of tracks.

Additional Info:

The album was recorded in order in the span of a few days in the summer of 2015 (with a touch up in November 2015).  Producer/Engineer Jamie King (known for previous work with BTBAM, The Wretched, Scale The Summit, etc.) chose to allow Hathcock to do as he needed in the studio as he felt it added greatly to the emotion of the record.  In fact, on the song "Funeral for a Firefly" when trying to record the lead vocal part, Hathcock made it only two lines in before sobbing hysterically as memories and the trauma he had held back for a decade came flooding to the forefront.  After calming to the point that he could catch his breath, Hathcock told Jamie King that he felt unable to record the song.  Jamie encouraged him to try just one more time and if it didn't work, they'd drop it.  Hathcock went back into the booth and made it through the entire song with constant tears streaming down his face and his voice cracking and quivering as he went through.  Jamie was so affected by the performance he said he wanted to keep the raw performance - as in no edits to the sound so every sniffle and breath could be heard putting the listener in the booth with the despairing singer.

Credits

All music, lyrics, and narration written by Chris Hathcock

All instruments and vocals performed by Chris Hathcock

except the following:

Narration by Carl Hathcock, Juston Green, and Amanda Caines

Female vocals by Amanda Caines

French Horn by Dr. Nicholas Kenney

Trombone and Trumpet by Matthew Parunak

Tenor Saxophone by Andrew Lovett

Produced by Jamie King

Mixed, Mastered, and Engineered by Jamie King at The Basement Studios

Executive Producer: Chris Hathcock

Cover art by W. Hudson

 

http://www.thereticent.net

http://www.facebook.com/thereticentmusic

http://www.twitter.com/thereticentband

http://www.youtube.com/user/thereticentone

Enbound - The Blackened Heart (2016)

Enbound was formed in 2006 by Mike Cameron Force, who previously had played with bands like Zonata and Poem. Some years were spent working on material, finding the right direction for Enbound, and also the right members. The experienced bass player Swede “Machine gun fingers” Odén was added to the line-up, as well as the extremely talented guitar virtuoso Marvin Flowberg. And finally in 2009 the band found their singer in Lee Hunter [Lars Säfsund] who is famous for his work in the band Work of Art and performances in musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar, TV shows like "Let's Dance", Eurovision Song Contest and working with musicians like Bill Champlin [Chicago], Joseph Williams [Toto] and more.

The debut album "And She Says Gold" was released in 2011 and was received very well by fans and the media, and songs like "Combined The Souls" and "Under A Spell" are by many considered classics.

Now Enbound, following the praised album debut “And She Says Gold” finally present their second album, entitled "The Blackened Heart".

Jacob Hansen [Amaranthe, Volbeat, Primal Fear] was chosen to master the album, and awesomely did so. The Swedish famed photography and illustrator duo of Robert Elmengård and Niklas Lundberg created the spot on artwork. Layout was made by Stefan Heilemann [Kamelot, Epica, Rhapsody].

Guest appearances on the album includes the vocalist Linnéa Wikström [Kamelot, Therion] on "Falling" and Mike LePond [Symphony X] is responsible for the first of two bass solos on "Feed My Flame".
 

The Blackened Heart has a nice mix of heavy and up tempo songs, all with their own strong and grasping melodies. Some songs has a more aggressive, modern metal tone like "Give Me Light". A track like “Feel My Flame” has classic metal influences, while “They Don't Really Know” beautifully combines sensibility with force. Enbound prove with "The Blackened Heart" that they can handle any angle of melodic metal. Like their debut, their characteristic powerful arrangements remain with fantastic and emotional vocals on top.

Enbound continues to deliver and whatever you do, listen to this album!

Enbound line-up:
Lee Hunter [Lars Säfsund - Work of Art] - Vocals
Swede - Bass
Marvin Flowberg - Guitars
Mike Cameron Force - Drums

Enbound discography:
2011: And She Says Gold [Inner Wound Recordings]
2016: The Blackened Heart [Inner Wound Recordings]

Mastered by: Jacob Hansen [Amaranthe, Volbeat, Primal Fear]
Artwork by: Stefan Heilemann [Kamelot, Epica, Rhapsody]

Guests on the album
Linnéa Wikström [Therion, Kamelot] - Vocals on "Falling"
Mike LePond [Symphony X] - One of two bass solos on "Feel My Flame"

Website: enbound.rocks
Facebook: facebook.com/enbound

Defiant - Time Isn't Healing (2016)

Since its formation in 2008, DEFIANT’s mission has been to enthrall fans with a brand of power metal that is as muscular as it is melodic. DEFIANT went on to release no less than three EPs and 2012’s full-length debut Masquerade, collectively laying the groundwork for what can only be called its magnum opus: Time Isn’t Healing (Ferrrum Records). The crunching riffs and soaring leads of guitarist Andrey Turkovsky blend seamlessly with the epic, often breathtaking keyboard work of Victoria Terzieva, while Stanislav Proshkin’s gritty yet tuneful vocals offer a captivating stamp of distinction. The clanging bass lines of Oleg Yakovlev and airtight drumming of Eugeniy Smolin form a robust rhythmic foundation.

But it’s the quality and consistency of the songwriting that is perhaps most impressive about the new album. Whether the up-tempo power metal pummel of “Milestones of Time” or the mid-tempo elegance of “According to the Acts,” Time Isn’t Healing sinks the hooks in deep and keep the listener in a state of rapt attention from beginning to end. 

Fans of HELLOWEEN, RAGE, and similar icons of the genre are strongly encouraged to give this one a spin.

Album artwork by Mayhem Design.

http://defiant-band.com/

https://twitter.com/defiant_band

https://www.facebook.com/DefiantBand/

Defiant YouTube

 

Saint Blasphemer - Simon Templar EP (2016)

Saint Blasphemer - Simon Templar EP is the first release from the Santa Ana, California band. The first songs were written and the band formed as a reaction to a heroin epidemic sweeping Orange County. Vocalist - Monroe felt like so many others, helpless watching people get sick and die. Nullify is a dark biography, a window into a scene many don't survive. Simon Templar could be either a mystical journey, a conversation with a psychiatrist or both. Scarecrow draws on dark side of Oz themes, exploring isolation and a desire to go home - wherever that may be. A Perfect Rose comes off almost as a tale of unrequited love left to die on the moors of some far off Catherine. The final track revisits the dope scene, as Monroe pleads "You've got to find a reason to stay clean..." Listeners will recognize the influences of Peter Gabriel, Tool, and The Cure, mixed with Saint Blasphemer's own strong artistic voice.

Saint Blasphemer is based out of Santa Ana, California. They've been playing shows since February 2016 and recently completed a 5 song EP for release October 15, 2016. The band members are John Castellon on guitar, Thomas Monroe on vocals, Steve Shell on bass guitar, and Steve Ybarra on drums. The music has been compared to early Tool, Peter Gabriel, Nirvana, and Jane's Addiction. The local community has praised Saint Blasphemer for the power of their live performance and the lyrical writing of Thomas Monroe, head of the Orange County Poetry Club. A number of songs express the frustration of seeing friends and family members struggle with addiction. Others address feelings of alienation and loss. The band's philosophy is: "Remember when you were a kid, how a song could make you feel like you weren't the only one going through heavy feelings? Our goal is to make music that can do that for other people."

http://www.saintblasphemer.com/
http://www.facebook.com/saintblasphemer
https://twitter.com/SaintBlasphemer
http://instagram.com/saint_blasphemer

Nofuture - Mayfair (2016)

Nofuture is an Alternative/experimental Rock band from Westchester, NY. Formed from the ashes of local bands, Gentlemen's Brawl, and Moose named Dog. The band looks to surpass the levels of success its predecessors had, with powerful lyrics, and a youthful yet sophisticated sound that helps bring feelings of nostalgia.

 NoFutureNY.bandcamp.com
@nofutureny
@thisbandhasnofuture (instagram)
https://m.facebook.com/ThisbandhasNoFuture/

 

Dark Sarah – The Puzzle (2016)

 The highly anticipated second album from Dark Sarah, the cinematic/symphonic metal band from Heidi Parviainen [ex. Amberian Dawn]. Features guest appearances by Manuela Kraller [ex. Xandria], Charlotte Wessels [Delain] and JP Leppäluoto [Charon, Northern Kings].Dark Sarah is a music project by Finnish metal band Amberian Dawn´s former vocalist Heidi Parviainen. She is a professional classical singer and experienced performer. During the years with Amberian Dawn, she released four studio albums and did several European tours. After parting ways with Amberian Dawn in late 2012, she started to build up her solo career. Dark Sarah became the name of her project, along the first lyrics she wrote on the album. This first song called "Save Me" introduces the listener to the main character Sarah, a young woman left at the altar by her husband. When she is on the verge of breaking down, something wakes up inside of her and she changes into another person; her meaner half, Dark Sarah.

"I used to look at the world with blue eyes. I used to love with an open heart, but I was naïve. The world needed to show that to me. I got angry for my weakness and angry with the world. In the darkest swirls of my mind I got stronger and meaner and started to change. I worked with my fear and I became DARK SARAH. I´m not bitter; I´m just bitter sweet."
- Dark Sarah-

The debut album entitled "Behind the Black Veil" was released in May 2015 and led you through the psychological adventure of Sarah, who is hovering between her two personalities.   

The new album "The Puzzle" is a concept album and it continues the story that started on Dark Sarah´s debut album called "Behind The Black Veil".

The concept for "The Puzzle" explained by Heidi:
"The Evil Tree had broken into pieces and Dark Sarah´s soul with it. She did not die, but was left in a loop between two worlds, between life and death. She was sent down to the River of Death to drift along the streams and she ended up on an island in the middle of a mighty ocean. She woke up on the shores of that misty island. It was a magical rocky island, the rocks were black and they sparkled like covered by millions of diamonds in the endless night.  Sharp cliffs and huge statues painted the dark sky, the ocean was wild on its shores.

Dark Sarah felt the air in her lungs -  she was alive after all. She felt the strength coming back to her limbs, she got up and started to explore the island. She found a cave and went in. There she saw a light twinkling in the back of the cave and move towards it slowly. She looked through the small hole and saw something ...and was mesmerized..."

Dark Sarah´s music combines metal, film music and theatrical elements.

"The Puzzle" contains guest appearances by Manuela Kraller [ex. Xandria], Charlotte Wessels [Delain] and JP Leppäluoto [Charon, Northern Kings].

Dark Sarah line-up:
Heidi Parviainen [ex. Amberian Dawn] - Vocals
Erkka Korhonen [Northern Kings, Ari Koivunen] - Guitar
Sami Salonen - Guitar
Rude Rothstén - Bass
Thomas Tunkkari - Drums

Special guests:
Manuela Kraller [ex. Xandria]
JP Leppäluoto [Charon, Northern Kings]
Charlotte Wessels [Delain]

Dark Sarah discography:
2016: The Puzzle [Inner Wound Recordings]
2015: Behind The Black Veil [Inner Wound Recordings]

Production, orchestrations and mixing by: Mikko.P.Mustonen - Pathos Music [Delain, Sonata Arctica, Ensiferum]
Mastered by:Svante Forsbäck – Chartmakers [Volbeat, Sonata Arctica, Korpiklaani]
Artwork by: Jan Yrlund, Darkgrove Design [Apocalyptica, Ensiferum, Sirenia]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darksarahofficial
Website: http://www.darksarah.com

BRUTE FORCZ - EP 2016

BRUTE FORCZ is a kick ass heavy metal band from Los Angeles, CA. The band was formed in 2010 after ex professional wrestlers Slammer and Jammer decided they wanted to make heavy metal music in the style of Motorhead, Judas Priest, AC/DC and W.A.S.P. The power trio began performing in Los Angeles in the Summer of 2010. They immediately gained attention and a growing fan base opening for bands such as WASP, LA Guns, Loudness, Michael Schenker Group, Joey Bella Donna (Anthrax), Y&T, Steel Panther, George Lynch and many more. They then caught the attention of legendary producers Bob Kulick and Brett Chassen. The band recorded their debut album at Office Studios and features 10 songs that kick major ass. Their music has received huge amounts of press and exposure online within the metal community.

After spending the last few years dealing with Injuries, surgeries, bad finances, departures, and even death, Brute Forcz is back with a new 4 song EP. The EP is self titled, "Brute Forcz", and features Rowan Robertson (Ex-Dio), on guitar and was engineered and produced by legendary producer Bill Metoyer (Metal Blade A & R, Slayer to name a few) and Skull Seven Productions. As the band is preparing to play and have their music played across the world, there is no doubt it will be "KICK ASS HEAVY METAL."

Band Name - Brute Forcz
City - Los Angeles, Ca. United States

Lineup:
Robbn "Jammer" Steel - Bass and Vocals
Ronn "Slammer" Steel - Drums
Rowan Robertson - Guitars

Discography:
"BRUTE FORCZ" - EP 2016
"Out For Blood" 2012

Black Dreams - Soul Stealer (Single 2016)

Black Dreams was founded in the spring of 2015 at Rauma, Finland. They play a blues-driven heavy metal with some gothic and doom metal influences. Even though the band is a relatively new, all the members have a lot of experience from the other bands like  DIscipline X, Solitaire, Horrocks.

The single is released October 14th 2016 via Inverse Records. The brand new music video Soul Stealer is available here:  https://youtu.be/epQFEe5CV9s


Line-Up:

Juha Kraapo - lead vocals

Jari Rippe Rantanen - drums

Jere Kalla - lead guitar, back vocals

Sami Räikkönen - guitar

Veli Laukkanen - bass, back vocals

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/BLACKDREAMSOFFICIAL
https://soundcloud.com/black-dreams-3
https://twitter.com/Black_Dreams_FI

One Man Rock Band - Basket of Deplorables (2016)

One Man Rock Band is an American hard rock band formed in Whittier California in 2010. It was founded by drummer, guitarist, bassist, vocalist, Scott Gerling as a one-man project. Inspired by the likes of AC/DC, Aerosmith, Metallica, UFO, and Foo Fighters. One Man Rock Band video showcases its own aggressive brand of hard rock music.
Prior to the 2015 release of One Man Rock Band's debut EP “Power X," The band released two videos, "Highway Star,” (over 60 thousand hits) a cover song by Deep Purple, and an original song written about the death of Osama bin Laden called "We Will Never Surrender,” (Over 30 thousand hits).
Highway Star was well received by the fans (as well as fans of Deep Purple) as it is a technically difficult song to play, and equally difficult to perform. Alternatively, We Will Never Surrender has been heavily criticized (and praised) for for the lyrical content that contains a good amount of jingoism.
Currently, the band is rocking a new song called “Basket of Deplorables”. 
"This song is dedicated to all of Basket of Deplorables. Every last one, no matter what color, race, religion, or party, so long as they love our country, and are proud of being an American Citizen".
One Man Rock Band’s Power X can be purchased from:
CD Baby
iTunes
And a thousand and one other locations.


1. Home site: http://onemanrockband.com
2. REVERBNATION site: https://www.reverbnation.com/1manrockband
3. Twitter: at OneManRockr
4. Soundcloud site: https://soundcloud.com/1man-rockband