A roundup of the latest news from Earmusic artists including updates on Thunder, Angra, We Sell The Dead, Al Di Meola and Heavatar.
2018 marks the beginning of yet another era in Angra‘s history.
At age 26, the band shows motivation and strength like never before. Not even the sometimes uncertain trajectory was able to take away the focus, determination and inspiration of the quintet led – and founded – by Rafael Bittencourt, and formed by Felipe Andreoli (bass), Fabio Lione (vocals), Marcelo Barbosa (guitar) and Bruno Valverde (drums).
“ØMNI” is Angra’s 9th studio album, the result of months of intense dedication, blood and sweat. It will be released on February 16th, 2018 on earMUSIC.
The first song “Travelers Of Time” can be heard here
Once again, the album has been recorded in Sweden with Jens Bogren, who also produced the previous album “Secret Garden”, and manages to capture the same excellent chemistry. Many musicians were involved in creating the album, ranging from the percussion sound of Bahia to European orchestral arrangement – all of which give the album its outstanding variety.
“ØMNI” is a concept album, a set of science fiction short stories that take place at various places in time, simultaneously. The backbone of the plot is based on the idea that in 2046 an artificial intelligence system will change human perception and cognition. It is a system which will allow conscious communication between present and future human beings. Characters such as time travellers, cavemen, warriors, among others, help tell this story.
The album connects the concepts of previous albums (“Holy Land”, “Rebirth”, “Temple of Shadows”) to one main system, “ØMNI”, which in Latin means “everything.” “ØMNI” fabricates an interconnectivity that shines light towards a universal truth: everything that has happened, led to what the band is today. “ØMNI” celebrates and unites the whole history of Angra to this exact, current moment.
Angra’s trademark formula, a Brazilian style mixed with classical music and heavy metal, is enhanced by different influences such as progressive rock, thrash metal, Latin music, djent, etc., which transforms the albums into a swirl of modern and familiar. The conjoined moods and dynamics put a special spin on the lyrics and therefore increase deep sense of immersion in the story.
The cover artwork was hand-drawn by Daniel Martin Diaz, a unique American artist who dedicates his life to mixing scientific and philosophical concepts such as Anatomy, Computer Science, Mathematics, Cosmology, Sacred Geometry, Symbolism and Esotericism. The designer Gustavo Sazes was responsible for integrating such an organic art piece to the visual concept of the album as a whole.
Even in a cultural environment increasingly sterile and unfavourable for music with soul and identity, the band gathers eleven tracks that completely differ from each other, but at the same time tell a cohesive story, and wander through all styles and nuances that have made Angra a worldwide reference. A very well bonded line-up, both personally and musically, overflowing with creativity, was the necessary fuel to bring these songs to life, songs which are undoubtedly among the best in the band’s discography.
“ØMNI” certainly is a milestone, not only in the history of the band, but also for Brazilian metal and its recognition worldwide.
Track list:
1. Light of Transcendence
2. Travelers of Time
3. Black Widow’s Web
4. Insania
5. The Bottom of My Soul
6. War Horns
7. Caveman
8. Magic Mirror
9. Always More
10. ØMNI – Silence Inside
11. ØMNI – Infinite Nothing
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“What if Jack the Ripper had played in a band? A heavy metal band?”
This is the question that formed and influenced WE SELL THE DEAD, this is the question that made the band.
Revolving around Niclas Engelin (In Flames, Engel), Drömriket’s Jonas Slättung, Gas Lipstick (former HIM) and the voice of Apollo Papathanasio (Spiritual Beggars, Firewind), WE SELL THE DEAD go beyond the strains of conventional storytelling and create a multi-media experience of premium quality heavy metal music embedded in visually stimulating and atmospheric visuals.
WE SELL THE DEAD’s debut album “Heaven Doesn’t Want You And Hell Is Full” will be released on February 23, 2018 via earMUSIC.
Heavy, yet melodic sounds transport the listener into a Victorian inspired world that is defined by pompous manors and daunting luxury standing in deep contrast to the harshness and cruelty of the gutter.
It is a world that reeks of hysteria, but above all a sense of mysticism and dark romanticism. WE SELL THE DEAD’s music rises above this, not merely pointing out this injustice,
but expanding the narrative into the extreme, playing with themes of ghosts, death or religion.
But not only…
Despite a reference to Victorian times, We Sell The Dead maintains a very modern and ever-so-current approach that translates to the world we live in today.
Explains Jonas Slättung: “From the late 1800, an era that has inspired our band enormously, comes one of the greatest and darkest crime mysteries of them all: Jack the Ripper.
We don’t know 100% who he was but we know his horrendous deeds. All the visuals we had in our mind, combined with the sometimes slightly morbid lyrics, made us think that this is what music would have sounded like if heavy metal had existed in the 19th century, or if Jack the Ripper had travelled forward in time to join a metal band. We Sell the Dead would have been his natural choice for a backing band. He probably would have felt right at home with us.
But, at the same time, the world hasn’t exactly evolved into a beautiful place since the 1880’s.In the 1979 movie, ‘Time After Time’, Jack the Ripper escapes justice by, indeed, fleeing in a time machine to 1979. After getting caught by his followers, The Ripper utters this line of wisdom:
– back in 1893, I was a monster. Today…I’m an amateur.”
Tracklist
1. The Body Market
2. Echoes Of An Ugly Past
3. Leave Me Alone
4. Imagine
5. Turn It Over
6. Too Cold To Touch
7. Trust
8. Pale And Perfect
9. Silent Scream
Line up
Niclas Engelin – guitar
Gas Lipstick – drums
Jonas Slättung – bass
Apollo Papathanasio – vocals
Pre orders available now
CD: http://smarturl.it/WSTD_CD
LP: http://smarturl.it/WSTD_LP
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/WSTD_iTunes
www.wesellthedead.com
www.facebook.com/wesellthedead
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“For the first time in my life, I have written music being happy”
(Al Di Meola, November 2017)
arMUSIC is proud to announce the worldwide signing of Al Di Meola – the brilliant, virtuosic multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger, who is considered to be one of the most innovative musicians and a living legend. His brand new studio album “OPUS” will be released on February 23rd, 2018.
Al Di Meola is a pioneer of blending world music, rock and jazz. His ongoing fascination for complex rhythmic syncopation, combined with provocative lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmony, has been the heart of his music throughout a celebrated career that has spanned over four decades.
The Grammy award winner achieved worldwide fame for both, being a solo artist and for his collaborations with Frank Zappa, Jimmy Page, Stevie Wonder, Chick Corea, Paco De Lucia, John McLaughlin, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Luciano Pavarotti, Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Santana, Steve Winwood, Herbie Hancock, and many more. Al Di Meola holds the highest amount of Guitar awards in different categories from Guitar Player magazine (US).
With a curriculum vitae rich of exciting musical moments and incredible works, Al Di Meola is still challenging himself pushing his music towards new boundaries but with a more relaxed way to see things. Over the last few years he has in fact literally started all over, reinventing himself in both, his private life and music.
“With OPUS I wanted to further my compositional skills as I think that the evolution of this part of my persona has labelled me more composer/guitarist than guitarist/composer” – says Di Meola – “at the same time this record also marks a new era in my life. For the first time in my life, I have written music being happy, I’m in a wonderful relationship with my wife, I have a baby girl and a beautiful family that inspires me every day. I believe it shows in the music.”
Al Di Meola – the brilliant, virtuosic multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger, who is considered to be one of the most innovative musicians and a living legend – is a pioneer of blending world music and jazz. His ongoing fascination for complex rhythmic syncopation combined with provocative lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmony has been the heart of his music throughout a celebrated career that has spanned over four decades. The Grammy award winner achieved worldwide fame for both, being a solo artist and for his collaborations with Chick Corea, Paco De Lucia, John McLaughlin, Jean Luc Ponty, Stanley Clark, Luciano Pavarotti, Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Santana, Steve Winwood, Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa, Jimmy Page, Stevie Wonder and many more.
With a curriculum vitae rich of exciting musical moments and incredible works, Al Di Meola is still challenging himself and his music but with a more relaxed way to see things. Over the last few years he has literally started all over, reinventing himself in both, his private life and music, and his brand new studio album “OPUS” truly reflects all of this. “With OPUS I wanted to further my compositional skills as I think that the evolution of this part of my persona has labelled me more composer/guitarist than guitarist/composer”, says Al. “At the same time this record also marks a new era in my life. For the first time in my life, I have written music being happy, I’m in a wonderful relationship with my wife, I have a baby girl and a beautiful family that inspires me every day. I believe it shows in the music.”
“OPUS” will be released as a CD Digipak, Heavyweight Vinyl and Digital on February 23rd, 2018.
Tracklisting
1. Milonga Noctiva
2. Broken Heart
3. Ava’s Dream Sequence Lullaby
4. Cerreto Sannita
5. Notorious
6. Frozen In Time
7. Escapado
8. Pomp
9. Left unsaid
10. Insieme
11. Rebels
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Since forming in 1989, Thunder have established themselves among the UK’s most consistent attractions, notching up some twenty Top Fifty singles, 2 gold albums, and cultivating a well-deserved reputation as consummate live performers. The band’s sound is a timeless marriage of unforgettable melodies and sheer rock power. After their sensational return with their Classic Rock Award nominated album, “Wonder Days” in 2015, their 2017 release “Rip It Up” achieved a top 3 UK chart, their best in 22 years, which shows how after over 27 years in business, Thunder is less than ready to hang up their hat. They don’t remain stiff and chose the easy way, but aim towards challenging themselves and their listeners.
This Christmas will see the established hard rockers in a brand new light. The title track “Christmas Day”, a heartfelt ballad that has been recorded in a – for Thunder – unusual manner: featuring a soft acoustic guitar and minimal arrangement while singer Danny Bowes’ impressive vocal talent is specifically showcased. The rest of the single release is equally precious.
With songs like “Love Walked In”, “Low Life In High Places“ and “Heartbreak Hurricane“ in a similarly pure setting, Thunder prove the width of their musical range by exploring new horizons.
This does, however, not mean that the legendary hard rockers have become soft. Interesting rearrangements and reinterpretations do not conceal the core, which is skillfully crafted Thunder originals.
Tracklist
1. Christmas Day
2. Love Walked In (2017 Version)
3. Low Life In High Places (Acoustic)
4. Heartbreak Hurricane (Acoustic)
Christmas Day is out now
https://thunder.tmstor.es
CD – http://smarturl.it/Thunder_Christmas_CD
iTunes – http://smarturl.it/Thunder_Christmas_iT
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Heavatar, the classical inspired metal band revolving around VAN CANTO mastermind Stefan Schmidt (vocals, guitar), drummer Jörg Michael (former Stratovarius), Sebastian Scharf (lead guitars), Daniel Wicke (bass)… and some of the greatest classical composers of all time are releasing their sophomore album “Opus II – The Annihilation” on February 16, 2018 on earMUSIC.
Unlike other classic-meets-metal projects, the purpose of Heavatar is not in just adapting classical compositions to new instrumentations. It is not writing a metal song and having some orchestra playing along. Heavatar’s music is an answer to the question “What would it sound like, if Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and friends joined a metal band?”. The classical composer’s impact ranges from a single melody to a riff, a song structure, a harmony or even a lyrical inspiration – always picked up and thrown back by the band members, creating a unique, riff-oriented sound with some classical feel underneath. Puccini is spending some chords on the thrashy opener “None Shall Sleep”, Chopin adds some piano-based shuffle feel on “Hijacked By Unicorns” and Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Boellmann and Vivaldi are adding their style and ideas to other songs on “The Annihilation”.
Standing out as a true gem of the genre and beyond, the new album displays exciting guitar riffs, a great sense for storytelling, diversified yet catchy melodies and high velocity.
If “Opus I – All My Kingdoms” was a stepping stone into the unexpected waters of classic inspired power metal, “Opus II – The Annihilation” is a cliff-dive into the same water that bravely challenges the very barriers and possibilities of it.
“Opus II – The Annihilation” is available for pre order now
CD: http://smarturl.it/Heavatar_II_CD
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/Heavatar_II_iTun
Tracklist
1. None Shall Sleep
2. Into Doom
3. Purpose Of A Virgin Mind
4. Hijacked By Unicorns
5. The Annihilation
6. Wake Up Now
7. A Broken Taboo
8. An Awakening
9. A Battle Against All Hope
10. A Look Inside
11. Metal Daze (Manowar Cover)
12. The Look Inside (Orchestral Version)
