Alex Garoufalidis let's hearts beat in stereo

Today we've got something a bit different. It's a softer toned song but it's build a great way and I think a wonderful moment to all the open minded out there.

The new single by Alex Garoufalidis will quickly find a way into your heart. 

At the start it's only vocals and piano reaching out to your ears. But this makes it even more special as it already shows you with how much emotion and intensity this particular song comes to you. It's simply impossible not to keep listening.

Afterwards the single builds slowly with drums giving some movement into the sound. As the refrain came in it was already too late for me. The music already touched my heart so much that I knew I had to talk about it on this blog. So much emotion talking to me in all the words that fit so well into the music with such proper instrumentation that it is simply impossible not to hit the repeat button once "Hearts beat in stereo" comes to the end. I think I've not heard such a moving song in a long, long time.

Make sure to listen to Alex Garoufalidis brand new single here or check it out over on Spotify. There's also a full album coming up so make sure to stay in touch so you won't miss out the next steps towards the release.

EP Review: Silver Nightmares - Roxy Passion (Progressive Rock, 2025)

The newest EP by Italian progressive band Silver Nightmares shines in many colors through my speakers. To tell it instantly it comes with very different songs.

Roxy Passion comes with a cover sleeve not to be expected by Silver Nightmares.

Having discovered the band with the EP "The Wandering Angel" they stayed in my mind as a typical progressive but powerful Rock band. You could easily hear that they had not found it's full expression yet and was on the search on how to sound in the end. You can hear that they are skilled at the instruments and have ideas anyway.

The latest output speaks of a different language. Four songs are present on "Roxy Passion" and to make it short they are all very different in how they sound like. The name-giving title-track is a fully rocking song the classic way. It's not too heavy and rough but a solid number. It's easily imagineable that it could be performed live at the scene that's been illustrated on the front cover sleeve at a show while people enjoy life all over the place.

But already track two "Cats on the run" is a very different thing. It's a compact yet very melodic instrumental with a solid basis. It comes in a finer sound package than the previous Rock number. It's filled with many fine notes that invite to dream and relax while listening to it. This also goes for song number three "The Blue Light". 

Once again this is a song written with a finelined stencil. A dreamlike song sung in a emotional tone with many heart-touching moments. Surely something for the silent moments of life when you look out the window wondering what happened in recent days.

The instrumental version of "The Blue Light" is very different. It's not just the same song without vocals but a overworked version pointing out the many melodies and fine keyboard notes flying through the whole song. 

There's also some percussion present which cannot be heard at all at the vocal version. It's a good feeling that comes to my mind. This particular one feels a bit more uplifiting and makes me curious on how the band may move further on in the future. 

You can follow Silver Nightmares on Facebook and listen to the EP on all streaming services. There's also a vinyl pressing available from Bandcamp.

Jon Harris creates a journey in my mind through music

It's wonderful to see what music can do for you. Today I've been blessed with a fully instrumental track that made my mind jump on a journey into a fantasy ride.

Jon Harris has put out a extraordinary instrumental track that left something behind in my mind.

On the beginning of multi-instrumentalist Jon Harris song "Entitled" you can easily spot the main theme. The clean leads make the music stand out but soon enough rougher elements mix in - distortion finds it's way. Happily the path continues with single guitar sounds that added into the sound step by step feel like painting a picture layer by layer so that new elements come to life and the whole landscape builds and changes throughout the whole duration. The sound is sharp and it feels like it's alive and breathing.

Be sure not to miss out this gem and also keep a eye on the full record that has been released under the banner of "Parallel Heart". Stream the full album "Parallel Heart" now (released Dec 13, 2024): https://orcd.co/parallelheart​

While completely instrumental, the album conveys stories of tension and release, exploring the space between connection and chaos, creative ambition and everyday demands. From the pulsing energy of Togetherness to the shimmering retro feel of 97BPM, each track builds its own emotional narrative. Harris performs guitar, drums, bass, piano, and production on the record. More Info - https://linktr.ee/jonharrisrocks​

Album Review: Leatherjacks - Surviving The Beginning Of The End (Rock 'n' Roll)

Once you start to listen to this album by Leatherjacks you may think that it is indeed the typical Rock 'n' Roll song collection you would expect by them. But it all comes quickly to a change by track number two already. That's the point where I started to realize something different is going on with this one.

Many symbolic elements make this cover one to have a closer look at. 

Having heard this record on my very own just sitting in front of my trusty stereo system made listening to music different.

You just have the music and nothing else around you so you focus more on what's coming out of the speakers. This time it felt like a blessing that's coming my way. 

The beginning of the album with "Who cowers against the law" feels rough and hard. It knocks me out of everyday routine with it's hard hitting refrain and the hacking guitar riffs. But one thing is already evident: the rhythm style is centered in Rock 'n' Roll style.

"Baby Hit and Run" goes a similar route but blazes with more aggressive intensity and a much faster vocals. It presses heavily through the speakers.

If you need air to breathe now hold on - track three gives a lighter feeling also the heavyness in the vocals can be felt. It's a joy to follow the riff packed music with intermissions of lighter music sections.

The air keeps being lighter with the "Mechanimals" rising in the next round. It's a easy rock tune which is fine to enjoy. A solid tune.

"Surviving The Beginning of the End" unfolds as a balanced rocker with a longer refrain. 

If things become too flat for you just go to "Dead and Gone" - here's the full package of agression put into the song. The refrain won't leave your ears and brains for a long time so this is one to remember.

Leatherjacks has always been good for a surprise and "Somehow" needs no drums to still put out a hard rock song and made me curious on how it can be able to move just with guitars present in the music.

So this list is a short look into how the songs of the album sound like. The full record comes with twelve tunes so maybe you'll want to check it all out for yourselves now. Just hit the button on the player below. Mauro Cordeiro is the head behind the music and the record is available for download for only 10 Euro at the Bandcamp page of the Leatherjacks. 

Wicked Smile release metal hymn of the year

Music has always been something in my life I was able to stick to. While I'm open to new experiences and sounds it's still great to hear some bands still keep pushing further on the road all the classic bands have opened up.

The album sleeve of Wicked Smiles new album feels like being in a nightmare.

The newest song by Australia's Wicked Smile is kept in a midtempo format and the voice of Danny Cecati with it's many high peaks put's a typical metal flag on the title track of the upcoming album "When Night Falls". The next highlight comes into play when the refrain knocks in as it is build like a hymn and strongly invites to sing along to it. The nice thing is that it is embedded into the whole sound so it doesn't break the structure. 

For this particular track the band worked together with Paul Laine (The Defiants) and Roy Cathey (Cold Sweat) who both provide backing vocals.

The second record by the Australian five piece will be available in February 2026 with the only exception for Japan where the release date is set to 29th October 2025.

Touring plans include Japan this November with dates in Osaka, Nagoya & Tokyo. Europe (including the UK) is slated for May & June 2026 which also includes a festival date at the upcoming Call Of The Wild Festival in the UK.  

This first single is also available on many of the other streaming platforms out there.

Wax Mekanix walks into studio without riffs, lyrics or roadmap

Spontaneity can be a source of good results or surprises. I often experienced it in my everyday life. But can this be a proper way for a musician to create something new?

Wax Mekanix tried out a new way to create "Saltwater Sisters".

On January 17, 2025, Wax Mekanix walked into SAKRED Studios in Philadelphia with no lyrics, no riffs, no roadmap…just a mission: write and record an entirely new song in a single day. 

The result became "Saltwater Sisters". A single which feels to me like the soundtrack to enjoy late summer days. It's easy and catchy with the cool rhythm and the bridge towards the refrain but also loud and heavy once the refrain comes in. It's hard to get out of the mind. This song keeps rotating on your mind. You can feel the direct way in the sound. There's no room for overthinking, it's coming out pure. The same goes for the music video. It reflects upon the creation process with lots of studio footage.

You can also listen to "Saltwater Sisters" on a streaming service of your choice.

Make sure to keep a eye on the next steps of Wax Mekanix through Instagram or click on to Facebook.

Cassidy Paris encourages to pick up a guitar instead of a phone

In these times we all see so many people running around and caring hardly about anything else than the smartphone. Australian rocker Cassidy Paris uses her time to write and release music that comes with a message.

The cover of the upcoming new Cassidy Paris album "Bittersweet".

The newest one listens to "Getting Better" and comes partly with sections that only let's Cassidy's voice stand for herself. Afterwards harder parts come into play that let the track run up and down like a roller coaster. Guitars wind through the music like a snake while the drums follow in these pattern.The same goes for her voice that moves and changes as the music moves further. Sometimes spoken passages come in while other times she just blows it out.  

The message she points out is clear:"‘Getting Better’ is the missing puzzle piece to ‘Stronger’. Together they tell an important story about overcoming difficult situations and not tolerating degrading and hurtful behaviour. You are strong and you are powerful. You are deserving of where you are, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It is vital to me that people know my story and the truth. Through these songs, I am able to deliver that”.  

Besides a new full album called "Bittersweet" that is about to come out on November 21, 2025 Cassidy Paris is also very active at Metalheads Against Bullying. She regularly performs in schools around Melbourne, using her platform to inspire resilience and authenticity in young fans. If you'd like to support her music you can pre-order the new record at https://ffm.to/cassidyparis_bittersweet Make also sure to follow the next steps her website or a service like Instagram.    

Kyuss tribute album with 20 tracks to be released soon

Kyuss are often mentioned as one of the first bands to perform Stoner Rock or as they called it Desert Rock. The downtuned guitars and the partial use of bass guitar amps for the amplification of the electric guitars were the trademarks of the combo.

The band already broke up in October 1995 and it seems very unlikely that they will come back to release new music. Happily they influenced a lot of other bands with the music they released and some of them have come together on a compilation called “Spaceship Landing: A Tribute to KYUSS”

A Kyuss tribute album has been announced. Cover art by Captain Maoos: Stoner & Co.

Sometimes bands can add a lot of own sound to a existing classic. I remember having heard the two Judas Priest tribute albums that were released in the mid 1990s while the british metal band was on a break. 

Some of those songs (just think of the slower version of A Touch of Evil by Lion's Share or Doom Squads modern version of Burnin' Up, and Leviathans fragile and heart touching take of Night Comes Down) were really strong new interpretations so I'm very excited to hear what the following acts will add to the Kyuss material that also offers space to play around with the fuzz-sounds.

Amammoth (Australia) – Son of a Bitch

Mörkekraft (Norway) – Writhe

Sonic Wolves (Italy) – Thumb

Rhino (Italy) – Green Machine

Gurnslinger (Jersey) – Molten Universe

Void Cruiser (Finland) – 50 Million Year Trip (Downside Up)

King Howl (Italy) – Freedom Run

Rainbow Bridge (Italy) – Apothecaries’ Weight

Fuzz Evil (USA) – Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop

3 Wheeler Band (Mexico) – 100°

DoctoR DooM (France) – Space Cadet

Poste 942 (France) – Demon Cleaner

ISAAK (Italy) – Odyssey

Folwark (Italy) – Whitewater

Abel Blood (USA) – Caterpillar March

Epic Down (Germany) – Hurricane

Loose Sutures (Italy) – One Inch Man

Wet Cactus (Spain) – Phototropic

Wolfnaut (Norway) – El Rodeo

Mercure (France) – Size Queen

The tribute sampler is going to be out on October 31, 2025 by Witching Buzz. Due to licensing restrictions, the release will be available on all major digital platforms in the USA only, while Bandcamp will offer worldwide access.

In the meantime we can follow the Witching Buzz Bandcamp page to make sure we'll be notified when the compilation drops.

Single Preview: VIMIC - In Your Shadow, Reunion show and Album release

After drummer Joey Jordison departed from Slipknot in late 2013, he shifted his focus to various other ventures. One of these projects, Scar the Martyr, released a self-titled album before disbanding, with some of its members going on to create a new band called VIMIC. 

Photo credit: Horrible Herbert

The initial lineup of VIMIC included Jordison on drums, Kalen Chase as the vocalist, Jed Simon and Kris Norris on guitars, Kyle Konkiel on bass, and Matthew Tarach on keyboards.  

VIMIC released four singles from the project between May 2016 and October 2017: “Simple Skeletons,” “She Sees Everything,” “My Fate,” and “Fail Me (My Temple),” the last of which featured Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine.

On August 8th 2025 a new single is going to be released called "In Your Shadow". Heavy Metal Underdogs has been lucky enough to hear the new track and has been blown away by it's intensity. It all starts with the dark and evolving guitar riff. Drums come in and bring the music into movement. A first climax comes with the refrain bringing the vocals to higher emotional points. "In Your Shadow" moves further with guitars performing a solo bridge that leads into a faster riffing section with the vocals keeping the tension up. A slow intermission brings the whole song a bit down before the final section blows it out with a powerful hard riff attack and midtempo drums bringing in fresh wind into this great track. You can pre-save the new music on https://ffm.to/vimic_inyourshadow

Open Your Omen is VIMIC's only album that has been completed and shelved since 2016. VIMIC will be reuniting for the first time since 2018 in conjunction with the album's release on October 3rd, 2025.  

The reunion show will take place at Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles (USA), the Joey Jordison Charitable Fund will not only honor Jordison’s memory but also celebrate the release of the album. Tickets are available from https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/090062C2BD8915A3

VIMIC will be supported by Wednesday 13 (who worked with Jordison in Murderdolls) along with some very special guests; there will be exclusive event merchandise available. 

The band’s first album, Open Your Omen, was first expected to be released in 2018. Produced by Jordison and Kato Khandwala (The Pretty Reckless, Pop Evil), progress came to a standstill in 2018. Khandwala tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident on April 25, 2018, and Jordison, Konkiel, and Simon shifted their focus to Sinsaenum, Bad Wolves, and Imonolith, respectively. Jordison sadly passed away on July 26, 2021, further delaying the plans on the album.

After years of working to secure the rights to the music, the Jordison Family Estate is releasing Open Your Omen independently to get the album into the hands of the fans that have been asking for it for years. You can still contribute late pledges to the Kickstarter campaign HERE. 

In a December 2016 interview with Shockwave Magazine, the late and famed Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison discussed the making of his other project VIMIC’s first album: "The way we wrote 'Open Your Omen', is exactly like how a garage band would do their demo tape. We went all the way back to the basics, and it was cool doing it like that because you didn't have the influence of your label, and the huge studio, and cars, hotels, and fancy dinners, all this b—---- that goes on along with being in the record industry. It was done literally in my home, organic, and we went out just to the studio not too far from my house and we just laid it down there. So, it was pretty much born in my home and then we just cruised up to the studio and just laid it down really quick."

Billy Morrison and Ozzy Osbourne release stripped down version of Gods of Rock 'n' Roll

It's amazing to hear that music that comes with less overload when it comes to instruments or production can win so much. There's far more room for the music to breathe it's life and soul in all of those moments when you otherwise may turn your attention on other elements.

Photo credit: Jane Stuart @JaneStuartPhotos

Billy Morrison and Ozzy Osbourne released a ballad called "Gods Of Rock 'n' Roll" some time ago. By the time of it's initial release the song was already a impressive hymn but now that a stripped down version has been put out it has become something like a all time classic for me. It's one of those tunes that sticks in your mind once it reaches the listeners ears. Along with the lyrics it creates a moment that lasts in your mind. The meaning of the songs talks more intensively to the listener.

This version comes accompanied by Fred Coury's beautiful orchestration performed by a 57 piece Orchestra and an acoustic guitar solo by Steve Stevens.

Check the player below or head over to https://ffm.to/ozzy-billy-gods-stripped for a overview on streaming sites that offer the song, too. The Vinyl Edition that holds a double A-Side drops on July 4th 2025.  

New initiative for disabled persons offers support for organizers of events

The open air season kicked off with the Rock am Ring and Rock Hard Open Air this past weekend. While for most of us going to shows is something usual it's still not able for everyone. Limitations of the mind or body can keep people from visiting shows at all. That's why the VERUGA GmbH (organizer of the Rockharz Open Air) and the HKES GmbH have teamed up in a new initiative called "Ungehindert dabei – live.laut.inklusiv". 

It's aim is to provide other organizers with the knowledge and special materials needed so they can give more disabled people the ability to visit music shows, theaters, museums or Open Airs.  

A picture taken at the kick-off meeting. From left to right: Sissy (accompanying person), Björn Schulz (ROCKHARZ Barrier-Scout), Daniela Glogner (ROCKHARZ organizer), Gabor Schneider (@mr._wheelchair), Juliane Panknin (ROCKHARZ Infrastructure), Klara Rüsing (HKES Project Lead Event Production); online participants: Jelena Leistner (All In – All Inclusive), Berend Koll (HKES Managing Director) 

A kick-off meeting was held in May. Representatives of both companies had a talk with people living with disabilities. It quickly became clear that there is a need of solutions and offers so disabled people can take part in cultural events. While the VERUGA GmbH will be able to consult organizers with in-depth knowledge it's the HKES GmbH that knows how to transform those concepts into reality. The idea is to provide complete solutions for each and every challenge.

If you're interested in getting in touch please use this contact E-Mail or take a look into the homepage of the project. It's still in development and in German language but will be extended in the upcoming weeks and months.

Wax Mekanix returns with special vocal performance on new single

This artist has put a lasting impression on me. Having heard him first with his "Mobocracy" EP some time ago made it all clear to me. His mixture of straight rocking tunes along with those leaving you with your thoughts of the world behind were enough to yearn for more.

Wax Mekanix at the set for the video shoot of 420. 

Wax Mekanix released already more music in the meantime but I rarely found the time to write about it. Now he is back with new song material called "420". It's one of the more direct rocking tunes but along with all the groove and guitars comes something special - the vocals of Wax. They are of the kind that wants you to rock out, too. 

It's going easy like surfing a wave but at the same time you think of how to perform it properly since it doesn't seem to be too easy to get into that mood along with how to put the tonality the way he does. Listen closely - I think you can find out more with each round of turning your ears towards "420".

Just try out the music video for a quick check or stream and purchase it at this selection tree of various sources.  There's also a Instagram account available if you want to stick to all the further moves of Wax Mekanix.

CD Review: Thanateros - Tranceforming (Folk Metal, 2024)

I've not been into Folk Rock before but this release turned my head and made me curious on the contribution of this particular art to the music scene.

One day I opened up my postbox and a bubble letter came to the front. It came as a surprise as physical Compact Discs are a rare promo material that hardly comes in at all. The content revealed a mysterious horned artwork on the booklet and a backside cover with a CD.

The album art let's you imagine the content already.

There was no chance I had to listen to the CD. After a brief introduction the album opens up with a heavy track called "The Horned One". Besides the great drum intro the song itself was a bit of overload for me as the guitars are very dominant.

Anyway I'm glad to continue the journey as the next song "Everything Decays" turns out to come with a infectious hookline that doesn't allow to ignore the release once heard. Happily the release changes during the total running time of nearly 50 minutes. After the heavy first songs the music turns into more dream like softer tunes that allow to let go of our everyday sorrows. 

It allowed me to change into a universe of peace, inspiration, self reflection and looking upon topics out of sight for most of our troubled everyday existence. It all starts with "I Hold You" and continues on most of the following tracks except "Raise Your Voices" which ones again picks up more of the rough sides of the band.

I loved "Traceforming" most in all those times when the mood and atmosphere are coming to life. The violin that can be heard is such a fine instrument that adds a layer of special life to each of those softer tracks. The harder ones at least on this release weren't my favorites besides "Everything Decays" because of it's massive sing-along-chorus. 

The sound of this Thanateros release is outstanding. It shines crystal clear, powerful but also not too massive through the speakers and is a warmly welcomed element adding massively to the great performance of the musicians. All people that worked on this release must have put a lot of time and effort into this one. 

Having a look at the packaging reveals more joy as the booklet comes packed with fine and detailed band member pictures, full album lyrics and dedicated album art on every part no matter if it is front, inlay or backside cover. Because of it's massive sound and work on detail I recommend to pick up the physical version available from the band's website. It's well worth to spend on music - it holds joy for years to come if treated properly.

A download of the record is available on the Thanateros Bandcamp page. That's also the place where several single releases taken of the album are on offer if you prefer hand selected tracks. 

      

CD Review: Neocracy - Who To Blame? (Rock, 2024)

This band had a huge surprise in it's bag at the time they came around with the first full album. It took a long time until the new record "Who to blame?" could be finalized but it was worth the wait.

Neocracy teased this album with the highly addictive single and video for the track "Torment". Once heard it was nearly impossible to let the refrain go out of my mind. It kept in rotation for a long time. 

The cover of Neocracy's second album "Who to blame?"  

Now that the second longplayer had it's time I can say that the band once again had a lot to say. The fragileness of the first album release is still there. While the band often lays down a rocking performance it's the vocals of Fraziska Stolze that add a layer of deep emotions to each track. But there's far more in there. The guitar riffs come from various sources, from rocking to metal-classic. Sometimes they come to the front of the sound but often they also stick to the background.

So what's new in the new album? It's the vocal contribution of bassist Tim Pannek. He added on nearly half of the tracks his growling organ which put's a good contrast to the female voice. It's feeling like light and darkness when you hear the new songs. 

Maybe it's a bit unusual at first listen but with every round you'll become more familar and will enjoy the album on a deeper level. I've done so on three to four completed run downs of "Who to blame?" and have never regret to spent a moment at all.

The drums have become heavier, too. They sound like pushed to the maximum but never become boring. There's a good balance in them so they don't ruin the sound.

"Who to blame?" comes with fine production. It's not feeling overloaded. Instead it centers on leaving room for atmosphere and so the album breathes and lives - something I'm very happy about.

I'll give a strong recommendation out on this one. If you don't listen and buy this gem you'll miss out one of the finest releases in recent months. Ask the band via Facebook or Instagram messages for the physical edition - I'm sure you'll want to be able to hold the CD in your own hands also the download is fairly priced at 8 Euro on Bandcamp. 

Let's speak with Thomas Wright (bassist & creative leader of Rootbrain)

The german / finish alternative band Rootbrain came along to me with a lyric video showing beautiful nature scenes. It's music content is a slower tune with fine melodies that is building up constantly throughout it's duration. At the proper moments heavier parts come in but it all remains fitting very well with each alltogether.

Picture of Thomas Wright taken by Varjo Art.

The info that came with the music was very exciting so it was a close idea to ask the band a few questions how the new EP "Mothertomb" came together.

Heavy Metal Underdogs:The video for "Mothertomb" shows a lot of scenes filmed in beautiful nature locations. Have you recorded them in the surroundings of one of the recording locations? 

Thomas Wright (bassist of Rootbrain): Yeah, the scenes are filmed around our Rootbrain hq, a cabin on an island in the middle of beautiful Finnish nature. A place baptised the Temple of Bad Habits by our drummer Fat Tony. Beats me why. I’ve been fortunate enough to call this place my home for the past few years. The clips on the video are just little observations during the last two years or so. I think they go very well with the song. You’re right we also recorded part of the Mothertomb ep there in our pop-up cabin studio. Vocals, bass and acoustic guitars to be precise. Victor and Helle nailed the distorted guitars later at Woodshed Studio, Germany. Tony had delivered his magic earlier at Q7 Studios in the same country 

The songs on the new EP "Mothertomb" were written more spontaneously. How exactly did you go along to catch the idea of the moment? 

It’s always been a part of our sound and approach that in the studio we deliver our parts pretty fast and try to capture a live feel. But it’s not like we enter the studio and just start jamming. There’s a lot of creative work in the background. Usually the process starts with me writing the core of a song. This usually takes a few demo versions before they start to find their form. If the song passes Helle’s scrutiny it usually proceeds to the next phases where we arrange it with Helle and Tony at the rehearsal place. That’s our expanded rhythm section. Then the more melodic elements get more attention closer to the studio sessions and that’s where Jules and Santura enter in a signifigant way. It’s true the vocal recordings were more spontaneous and intuitive this time and we could work on the songs in a way that gave more room to the vocals. All elements were more aligned this time. On the debut the album was already done when Jules joined the band and he just recorded his parts on top of the ready songs. He did that in a phenomenal way, though and created the genre of black grunge in the process. On these Mothertomb sessions it was very fruitful to work with the songs as entities and communicate much better. We even wrote some of the lyrics during the vocal recordings together. There is so much creative talent in this band that it’s a priviledge to have sessions like these. 

Does it mean you didn't practice the songs for a longer time but instead directly recorded them straight away? 

We didn’t practice that much before the recordings but we did have a couple extremely dedicated rehearsal camps with Fat Tony and Helle. Our rehearsals always last for days since we don’t live close to each other. That works very well for us and gives us the opportunity to get deeper into the songs compared to shorter sessions. They are also special occasions with special friends and during them we shut all outside life out and focus only on the present and the music. But yeah, we worked a lot on the vocals and lyrics on the spot. All the actual recordings we usually deliver quite fast trying to capture the magic of the moment. If it sounds awesome it’s much better than if it sounds perfect. One of our key principles is to have a bit of edge and danger that so much of the modern metal lacks because it’s all quantized and polished into perfection. We leave our fingerprints. 

Are you going to perform the new songs live this year? 

I sure hope so. So far our tour calendar is empty though. But we’re working on the second full length album and the plan is to start recording in the summer so we’re not resting on our laurels. Hopefully a couple festival shows will drop for the summer and who knows maybe there’s something in the autumn. Our music belongs to the stages. We have already played all the four new songs live. They worked really well. 

You can listen to more songs of the band on Spotify. Follow Rootbrain on Facebook so you won't miss out on future updates.

Nick Menza documentary This Was My Life Screening dates announced

Everyone who was able to see drummer Nick Menza perform will remember his tight way of playing drums. He was one of those performers who knew how to put a spotlight on his drumming at the proper timing and to play the rhythm straight forward at other times.

A documentary has been put together that is described as a in-depth exploration of the life of Nick Menza, the former drummer of Megadeth, and one of the greatest thrash metal drummers of all time. It is a collection of stories from his childhood all the way through to the end of his life, recounted by those who knew him best. The documentary, authorized by the Menza family, will be the first to memorialize the drummer's legacy.

The poster for the Red Carpet premiere of "This Was My Life".

Two screening dates have been set up so far. The first one is going to happen on Thursday, April 10th at the Laemmle Royal theater in Los Angeles, CA. Located at 11523 Santa Monica Blvd. West L.A., CA 90025. Members of the cast and crew will be in attendance for a Q&A session after the screening of the film.  

Tickets for the screening are available at https://www.laemmle.com/film/was-my-life-nick-menzas-metal-memories-megadeth-and-beyond

The second one has been announced for Thursday, April 17th, at Hawthorne Theatre , located at 300 Lafayette Ave, Hawthorne, NJ 07506. Members of the cast and crew will be in attendance for a Q&A session after the screening of the film. 

Tickets for the event may be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/this-was-my-life-east-coast-premiere-hawthorne-theatre-tickets-1255857727269

Here is a trailer showing some scenes of the documentary.

Let's speak with Stephen Chesney about All-Star-Project Agents Of Your Demise

Slash's Snakepit Vocalist Eric Dover, Bass Legend Billy Sheehan, KoRn Drummer Ray Luzier and Dizzy Reed of Guns N' Roses - that's together with guitarist and songwriter Stephen Chesney who stand's behind the brand new band Agents Of Your Demise.

A mix of the single artwork along with the musicians that performed on it. 

Having heard the very first single it became quickly evident that this wasn't going to be one of the many All Star Projects without substance. The raw, heavy and punching sound breathes real music life and energy that can be felt by the listener. Heavy Metal Underdogs took the chance to speak to Stephen Chesney and get some more in-depth information about what is going to be the upcoming debut album, due for release in the first quarter of 2025.

Question: Do you still remember what exactly brought you to the world of music (maybe an event or a song)?

Stephen Chesney: To be perfectly honest with you, I was around music from the time I was born. My mum was a singer, my dad had played guitar in bands outside of his career profession, and I was carrying around toy guitars from the moment I was able to walk… probably before I could walk, actually.

My late cousin was a massive fan of the British rock scene back home. He suffered from cystic fibrosis, and rock music was his escape from what he had to fight daily. When I was probably five or six years old, he made me a mixtape of Guns N’ Roses, Little Angels, and Thunder, and that was it for me. I fell in love with it then and never grew out of it or changed. I’ve broadened my horizons a little, but I still love now exactly what I loved then.

That might’ve been a bit young to have been training me to get into GN’R, looking back, but hey, I’ll take it—no complaints, lol.

Question: Having read that you perform in various genres, do you think every musician should try other musical territories to learn better writing abilities?

It depends on what their goal is. If someone’s passion is strictly within one realm, then that’s exactly what they should adhere to if they feel led that way. But personally, for me, I can’t see it as anything other than a positive to listen to different genres. Even if it’s not something you’d write or choose to listen to as a first choice, you’re still going to hear melodic structures, chord changes, and ideas that you may have never thought of, which you can bring to your own writing and into your preferred style.

I grew up a massive Jimi Hendrix fan. There was a BBC show called Rock Family Trees, and during an interview with Chas Chandler about Jimi, Chas said that no matter what style of music— even if the band was terrible—he always took one thing away from every song or performance he ever saw. Because even if something was terrible, there was always one hidden gem that he could add to his own playing and writing. That stuck with me.

The single is also available on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer and YouTube Music.

Question: Do you have certain people in mind at the time of writing songs, or does this part of selection happen after the music is complete?

It depends on what I’m writing for—what the project is. For the Agents of Your Demise record, I already knew who I had involved, so I was writing whatever I wanted musically because there was absolutely no question as to whether the guys involved had the ability to pull off what I wanted to do. Knowing who was waiting to play on these songs pushed me to be better to make sure I could keep up with them, lol.

That said, I purposely wrote the music to Hat on a Hat, which is the lead-off song on the album, specifically to play with Billy. I put the demo of that together in 2015 after I’d first started jamming with him, so that song was definitely written knowing exactly who I intended to have on board, lol.

Question: Is the upcoming full album of Agents of Your Demise reflecting on your private life or things that happened to you as a musician?

All of the above, lol. There’s a cover song at the end of the record that ties into a lot of my own life too. I think there’s really only one song that isn’t personal to me. Track 4, Raise Hell or Die, was one where I wrote the music, but Eric wrote the lyrics, so that one particular song is a separate thing. But everything else on the record is basically the story of the last 10–15 years of my life in some form or fashion.

There are probably going to be some people that hear it and think, “WTF? Is that about me?!” And guess what, pal—it might just be, lol. It might not be… but it might.

Question: Do you think the lyrics could also help people looking for advice?

When I wrote these songs, they were, in a lot of cases, my own form of therapy. But that said, my hope is that they’re relatable enough that someone may find some sort of help in them and be able to adapt what they hear to their own life experiences.

Some of the lyrics are more lighthearted than others, but across all of the tracks, if you listen to the actual musical style, the songs sort of camouflage how serious the lyrics are. I tried to make sure that the tunes are still upbeat—something you can nod your head to—without immediately realizing, Oh… this is kinda dark.

There’s a lot of very personal experience in the songs, and I think people who seek out the words will find they can relate to them in some way. Hopefully, they’ll be reminded that no matter what situation they’re in, everyone is in the exact same spot in some way, regardless of their standing in the world. It’s okay to feel like giving up… but don’t f***ing give up.

Question: The cover art of the single Nothing’s Made to Last shows a darker atmosphere presented in a comic style. Do you prefer this style, or does it just fit better with the heavier guitar sound that’s so prevalent in the first single?

There are a ton of different things I intend to do with bits and pieces of artwork styles for pushing the songs. When possible, I wanted to try and get away from the stereotypical rock image… which is ironic because I wound up with a skull and a rose on this one, so I guess I didn’t move too far away from it after all, lol.

That said, there’s a lot of other imagery coming that’s entirely different from what was used with the first single.

In my head, it probably has different meanings than just being a rock skull or whatever. There’s a bit of humor in where it came from when I designed it. In a way, it’s like… there were people who knew of me and what I was doing, and then I sorta went quiet publicly for a few years after the pandemic. Then life got in the way of things moving along quickly.

So that skull version of me has a bit of a “Hey, what’s up? Uhh… told ya I’d be here—so how’s it goin’?” vibe in the pose, lol. But I think you’ll see a lot of different styles for each song as we go.

Make sure to stay in connection with Agents Of Your Demise so you won't miss out on how the other songs sound like.

https://www.agentsofyourdemise.com/

https://www.facebook.com/StephenChesney

https://instagram.com/stephenchesneymusic

Mission Jupiter explore the Human Nature

 “People tend to be divided and not to look beyond their own doorstep, which is a major problem. This song asks if we are able to be less selfish and greedy to try and overcome this typical aspect of human nature, or at the very least attempt to be better?” - Quote Mission Jupiter asked about the meaning of the new track "Human Nature".

Where has Kate Varsak arrived?

The topic of the new music the band released a few days ago is underlined by the way the music builds and changes. If you listen closely at a moderate volume level you will surely discover not only the many variations in the voice of vocalist Kate Varsak. In general the tonality changes with nearly every step she walks through the forest at the Minsk sea. 

It's wonderful to hear the dynamics flow through. Softer and lighter parts show up and are enriched by harder guitars for few moments. But it doesn't last long and drums come in a bit more. If you prefer to stream the music on a different service look at this overview to select your streaming agent.

This is already the second single release. What can we expect of the upcoming album "Aftermath"?  Fans of alternative and hard rock, prog, metal and even Eurovision-esque crossover rock with a Cocteau Twins twist (on ‘Jak Spyniajecca Bol’, recorded in the group’s mother tongue and translated as ‘How The Pain Stops’) will also be wowed by the group’s new songs. 

Take a look on Facebook or Instagram to see how the band takes the way towards the album release day. 

Ron Coolen uploads exclusive bonus tracks to streaming services

Dutch multi-instrumentalist Ron Coolen released the album "Here to stay" some time ago in 2023. Having had a listen I was blown away by the full metal intensity this recording spread. It's not that often that you get to hear new songs that have this massive feeling without just being mixed to full volume. It's the performance of the artists that gives you the feeling of listening to a real full blown metal flagship.

The cover of Ron Coolen's "Here to stay" album.

Some time passed since this listening session but it remained very vital in my mind. These days Ron Coolen came back to me telling me that he added the three bonus tracks of the physical edition to several streaming services.

Those tunes give you the chance to hear a extended, high-energy version of Heavy Metal Till I’m Dead, a powerful remake of Sin City, and the captivating instrumental piece Reprise.  These tracks showcase an impressive lineup, featuring legendary vocalist Keith St John alongside world-class guitarists Joey Concepcion (Arch Enemy), Satchel (Steel Panther), George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), and Timo Somers.

The new tracks go the same route than the album does with the exception of the track "Sin City". This one in particular came around to me a bit more relaxed. It's still metal all the way but with more groove than heavyness, something warmly welcomed by me as I had missed this some time now. But at one point the roughness still came through: when the guitar solos rush in you know this is still a hard music release.

If you want to support the artist further please have a look upon the website that holds info on how to take hold of some merchandise. Any purchase helps to keep musicians motivated to create new content for all of us. 

Xenotrone kick off the year with fine progressive thrash

I like thrash metal, but most when it comes with progressive elements that make the music a bit more variable and not monotone. Ukrainian progressive thrash metal band Xenotrone's debut full-length album, "Into the Void" is drawing near these days with a release date set to February 21, 2025.

Within the vastness of space, humanity is but dust says the upcoming album by Xentrone.

The first single "Evolution of Soul" speaks with many breaks throughout it's duration. It's sometimes not clear how the song may continue it's way but it keeps pushing forwards along with a nice bass guitar sound running smoothly through the sound keeping it all together.

Another ear catcher are the guitar solos towards the end that make the ears open up - they sound different with the high tonality but are kept short in duration something warmly welcomed to keep the tension of the track moving.

Catch a quick glimpse with the YouTube player or head on over to a a overview of other streaming services on offer.

The track list also let's my imagination fly on what to expect of the album.

1. Into the Void (instrumental)
2. Evolution of Soul 
3. Tower of madness
4. Elysium
5. I Have no mouth and i must scream
6. Conatus Ad Deliciendum
7. Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient (feat. Orphun)
8. Stone cross (feat. Kelly Shaefer)
9. Territorial Pissings (Nirvana cover)
10. Boötes Void

You can follow Xenotrone further through the following websites and services.

https://sites.google.com/view/xenotronethrash
https://www.instagram.com/xenotrone_thrash
https://open.spotify.com/artist/11KKTzeDAhsXLj0Bz3qtYF