A roundup of the latest news from Nuclear Blast Records including updates on The Night Flight Orchestra, Overkill, Cellar Darling, Pristine, Municipal Waste, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter and Black Star Riders
Swedish classic/progressive rock supergroup THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA (featuring members of SOILWORK and ARCH ENEMY) have released another brand new song, ‘Domino’, off the bands’s upcoming album, »Amber Galactic«.
Commented singer Björn Strid: “‘Domino’ is possibly our most daring, yet obvious composition ever. It will instantly drag you to the dance floor and hypnotize you, there’s no retreat and no surrender. It’s already our summer soundtrack, even though a hailstorm just passed by outside our window. Get ready for a disco infused rock journey that you didn’t see coming!”
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Legendary New Jersey thrashers, OVERKILL, have kept the machine running strong in 2017 with the release of their highly-acclaimed eighteenth album, »The Grinding Wheel«, , as well as adding another US tour under their belts.
Today, the band welcomes another addition to the OVERKILL history with their new drummer, Jason “Sticks” Bittner (SHADOWS FALL, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM).
“OVERKILL would like to announce it’s newest member, behind the kit and steering the ship, Jaso…n “Sticks” Bittner,” comments Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth. “We wholeheartedly would like to thank Eddy “The Mexicutioner” Garcia for holding down the ship and keeping the momentum up for the band over this past year plus. Eddy has and always will be part of the OVERKILL machine.
Jason is a long time friend of the band and his abilities have always spoke for themselves. Let the touring continue…onward-upward!”
Jason “Sticks” Bittner states:
“When my phone rang about 2 months ago and Blitz said ‘Hey, me and DD are wondering if you would be interested in joining?’ It really didn’t take much for me to write back a one word answer………ABSOLUTELY! I am extremely excited to be a part, once again, of thrash metal history, and I can not wait to get out on the road and wreck stages across the world with the ‘Mean Green Killing Machine!'”
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After announcing the title of their highly anticipated debut album last week, CELLAR DARLING, the much-hyped new band formed by ex-ELUVEITIE members Anna Murphy, Merlin Sutter and Ivo Henzi, now unveil the artwork of »This Is The Sound«. The mesmerising cover artwork, created by Christopher Ruef (graphic design) & Manuel Vargas Lépiz (photography) drags you right into CELLAR DARLING‘s mystical world of apocalyptic tales, heavy riffs and a captivating voice, ready to break the chains of your imagination. The band also revealed the full tracklist of their upcoming album – an astounding 14 original songs amounting to a full hour of music. As if that’s not enough, the mediabook edition will feature 3 bonus tracks! Each band member chose a cover song to interpret in CELLAR DARLING’s own, unique style. The selection will be: ‘The Cold Song’ from Henry Purcell’s “King Arthur” opera, chosen by Anna, Tears for Fears’ ‘Mad World’, chosen by Ivo and the epic Queen classic ‘The Prophet’s Song’ – Merlin’s all time favourite. Also included in the mediabook will be an alternative and limited cover artwork plus an extended 32-page booklet, filled with the band’s notes on the stories behind their songs.
The band states:
“The figure of the cover lures you into our world of stories and eclectic music. It’s a preview of the remaining artwork, where each song has it’s own own visual representation and symbol.”
»This Is The Sound« will see the light of day on June 30th featuring 14 original tracks:
01. Avalanche
02. Black Moon
03. Challenge
04. Hullaballoo
05. Six Days
06. The Hermit
07. Water
08. Fire, Wind & Earth
09. Rebels
10. Under The Oak Tree…
11. …High Above These Crowns
12. Starcrusher
13. Hedonia
14. Redemption
Bonus tracks, available exclusively on the mediabook:
15. The Cold Song
16. Mad World
17. The Prophet’s Song
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»Der Rote Reiter« (engl.: »The Red Rider«), the tenth studio album of DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER will be released in summer 2017.
But today, the band already reveals the cover as well as the track listing of the new album! Vocalist Fuchs, who has also drawn the stunning artwork of the last album, has created the cover artwork for the upcoming album which you can see above. As template for the artwork a wooden relief from 2016 was used, which he created. You can find the wooden relief on the website of Fuchs: www.fuchsstellung.de
Below is the tracklisting:
CD
1. Wir Sind Zurück
2. Der Rote Reiter
3. Auf Und Nieder
4. Folgt Uns
5. Hört Mich An
6. The Great Experience Of Ectasy
7. Franz Weiss
8. Die Freiheit Ist Eine Pflicht
9. Herz In Flammen
10. Brüder Auf Leben Und Tod
11. Ich Bin Weg
12. Ich Nehm Dir Deine Welt
13. Ich Werd Bleiben
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Norwegian rock band PRISTINE, featuring lead singer and primus motor Heidi Solheim, have released the first video trailer for their upcoming, fourth studio album, entitled »Ninja«. Check out Heidi talk about the creation of »Ninja« here: https://youtu.be/luUHzz5PhMY
Watch the music video for the first ‘You Are The One’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a36tGbqMiLQ
Commented Heidi Solheim:
“I wrote ‘You Are The One’ after I’d been out on the town with a friend of mine. We were talking a lot about how things have changed from when we were teenagers. The ‘cool guys’ stayed in the small villages we came from and the weird ones (like myself) went out to see the world. ‘You Are The One’ is about how the tables have turned and that things might not be the end of the world even if it feels like it when you’re 16.»
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Equipped with a crushing sound that will implode both your soul and skull, Richmond Virginia’s MUNICIPAL WASTE barrel back onto the scene with their latest piece of toxic detritus, »Slime And Punishment«. The sixth album will be released on June 23rd via Nuclear Blast Records.
Tony Foresta and Phil “Landphil” Hall recently discusses what it was like recording at Phil’s studio, Blaze of Torment.
Check out the first video trailer here:
“Tracking at home makes it a lot less stressful,” comments Phil “Landphil” Hall. “We don’t have to worry about looking at the clock or answering to anybody else’s schedule. We just set our own schedule and make the album happen in a way that is convenient for us..
Last week, the band released the first single, “Amateur Sketch” which can be heard on YouTube:
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BLACK STAR RIDERS are proud to announce that their new drummer is Chad Szeliga.
Chad, formerly with BREAKING BENJAMIN and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY amongst others, first came to Ricky, Scott & Damon’s attention in 2012 when THIN LIZZY were touring North America with JUDAS PRIEST and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY were also on the bill.
After auditions last month in Los Angeles with some incredible drummers, Chad was chosen to take up the drum stool position for BLACK STAR RIDERS.
Ricky Warwick ‘I’m delighted to welcome Chad Szeliga to the Black Star Riders family…Chad is an amazing drummer, a great guy and will powerfully strengthen BSR’s resolve going forward.’
Scott Gorham ‘Just wanted to say that I’m really looking forward to getting up onto the stage with our new drummer Chad. This guy is one killer player. See you all on tour’
Damon Johnson chimes in, “Chad is a monster musician and a quality human being. I couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to our band and to show off his skills to Black Star Riders fans worldwide.”
Robert Crane added, “Chad’s a badass!…Great energy and a cool hang… Looking forward to working together”
Chad, “First, I’m so stoked for one to play with Scott Gorham, an iconic guitar player! Second, I can’t wait to play with Damon who is a bad ass on guitar. Lastly, I can’t wait to jam with Robbie on bass and we all know who the star is… Ricky who can command a fantastic show and is an amazing front man. Let’s light them up boys!!!!!!!”
