Let's speak with Rage about the upcoming UK tour

Soon after having re-discovered some Rage CDs in my collection (Ghosts, Lingua Mortis and End of All Days) a Email hit my inbox saying that the band is going to play a string of dates in the United Kingdom soon. 

Rage are back as a three-piece band.

The full list of dates is as follows:

November 27th – Dudley – Red By Night

https://www.facebook.com/events/291235009932841/

November 28th – Newcastle – The Cluny 2

https://www.facebook.com/events/286485224037167/

November 29th – Dunfermline – PJ Molloys

https://www.facebook.com/events/1038416840849718/

November 30th – Sheffield – Corporation

https://www.facebook.com/events/117477021403958/

December 1st – Bradford – Nightrain

https://www.facebook.com/events/613130937466997/

December 2nd – Brighton – The Arch

https://www.facebook.com/events/785652519717595/

December 3rd – London – The Underworld

https://www.facebook.com/events/1410405596357836/

Rage will be bringing a superb supporting cast with them for their UK campaign, with their old friends, British band C.O.P. UK and the excellent Italian symphonic metal troupe Secret Rule joining them for every date.

For ticketing information see https://linktr.ee/rageinuk

The Email also offered the chance to talk to the band - something I couldn't let unused. They were one of the first band's here in Germany that performed heavy/speed/power metal so I compiled a few questions and got a reply instantly.

Let's see what Peavy Wagner has to say about the upcoming shows and the evolution of the band in nearly 40 bands of existence.

Heavy Metal Underdogs: Why does the new line-up of Rage only feature three band members? What happened in the meantime?

Rage (Peavy Wagner): Our second guitarist Stefan is taking a break from the music biz for a while, due to private reasons. In the meantime we continue as a three piece…

Your website lists three releases entitled "The early years", "The metal years" and "The classic years". Is this a way you would also describe the evolution of the band?

These are different boxset releases, that contain albums from the different phases of Rage, there are three more boxsets (the millenium years, the rising years and the glory years, the last two coming soon). We just called the boxsets like this. The names not necessarily explain the content.

Looking back: what was the trigger that made you try out classic sounds at all?

I (Peavy) always liked classical music, it was often an inspiration to me, when the chance came up to work with orchestra musicians we gave it a chance.

How do you compile the setlists for each show?

We try to feature as much as possible of those 4 decades, of course the highlights but also some forgotten pearls here and there…

Can fans hope to see and hear some songs at the UK dates that have not been in the setlist for a long time?

Yes, we dug out some nice stuff from our older albums, wait and listen! Lookin‘ forward to see you all in the UK! Metal for all 🤘🏻

Finally check out some music in the player below.

Stitched Up Heart roll heavier through the USA

In fact the Los Angeles based heavy rockers began to start making noise already way back in 2010 but Stitched up Heart came around as a completely new band to me.

The colors underline the dark and heavier music of Stitched Up Heart.

The newest single "Conquer & Divide" combines a fine mixture of lighter verses that leave the music room to breathe and vibrate along with much heavier refrain parts that fly through the air but never overload the ears of the listener too much.

It's still possible to locate all the musicians contributions properly, a fact that is much welcomed to me because everyone has it's moments to shine especially in this particular song taken of the newest album "To the wolves" that came out the start of this month.

The video underlines this showing the performance in a well to follow perspective. It's in fact a dark video shot but doesn't roll over your feelings with negativity.

Sure the best way to experience music is at a live situation. 

Stitched Up Heart are currently on tour with ESCAPE THE FATE along with D.R.U.G.S., POINT NORTH, AND GARZI in the United States. Pick your chance to see them if they're performing close to you.

Sept. 12 - Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Jergels

Sept. 13 - Columbus, Ohio @ King of Clubs

Sept. 15 - Pontiac, Mich. @ Crofoot

Sept. 16 - Covington, Ken. @ Madison Theater

Sept. 17 - Nashville, Tenn. @ Brooklyn Bowl

Sept. 19 - Atlanta, Ga. @ Masquerade Heaven

Sept. 20 - Birmingham, Ala. @ Iron City Birmingham

Sept. 22 - Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live - Ballroom

Sept. 23 - Dallas, Texas @ The Factory

Sept. 24 - San Antonio, Texas @ Vibes Event Center

Sept. 26 - Phoenix, Ariz. @ The Marquee

Sept. 27 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Belasco

Sept. 29 - Riverside, Calif. @ Riverside Municipal Auditorium

Sept. 30 - Las Vegas, Nev. @ Brooklyn Bowl

Oct. 1 - San Francisco, Calif. @ DNA Lounge

Oct. 3 - Seattle, Wash. @ The Showbox at the Market

Oct. 5 - Portland, Ore. @ Bossanova Ballroom

You can listen to more of the band on Spotify and follow the combo through Facebook for all updates.

Engineered Society Project comes to Europe soon (Autumn 2023)

In all of today's troubles it's always a wonder when a band hit's the road to bring some positive feelings to the people. I think there's more than ever a need to stay with positive thoughts and vibes these days. How else should me make it through?

So it's more than fine to see that Engineered Society Project with Kris Keyes at the vocal helm was able to secure a European tour. It will start at the end of this month along with Lord Bishop, something that makes this package even more attractive. Check the poster if they will do a stop near you.

More dates may be added. Check out Facebook for up to date information.

It addition Engineered Society Project have put out a proper hymn for this string of shows. It's a fine track showing the ability of the band to combined the traditional with few newer elements packed in a song that's good to follow, building slowly step by step and putting out a fine message: Peace is something this earth needs.

Album Review: Screaming Sunset - Anime Di Vetro (Guitar Rock, 2023)

It's a rare occassion that music comes in that reflects upon feelings you're currently going through. Moments you go through intensive up's and down's. 

Hopefully the sun goes up for you as you listen to the new Screaming Sunset album.

The first track "Pieno Fiume" did exactly that for me. A rough guitar powered introduction reflects upon the troubles we all go through these times before softer notes find the way into the music clearing the stage for more feelings like being alone, feeling hurt. The complex drum pattern adds a good part to the movement of the music.

The second offer "L'Infedele" continues the path but has a strong focus on a constant theme that's been kept as a frame. From that intial point variations are called up throughout the whole duration.

The "Claustrofobia" is a silk package of melodic driven guitar rock but holds a lot of atmosphere. With time passing the intensivity and speed grows changing the mood of the track noteably.

How the other three tracks sound like? Make sure to check out for yourselves. The whole release is available as streaming media on a service of your choice. Just click on to Distrokid for a overview on links where to listen.

My personal favorite is the title track "Anime Di Vetro" that shows so much intensity combined with a change of speed that let's it feel like being on a ride that goes faster with each round. A great piece of music expressing the already mentioned change of emotions that I'm going through these days. 

Or check out one track directly here.

Finally you can keep in touch with the band through Facebook as well as the popular Twitter platform.

Royal Hunt announce first tour dates for 2023

Royal Hunt are a great progressive power metal band. They came around to me the first time with the "Land of Broken Hearts" album and the title track of that particular record immediately got stuck in my mind. The "Fear" release came next and with "Cold City Lights" it proved to have another catchy hit song on it as well.

Royal Hunt are said to be Denmarks best kept secret.

These days the band cotinues to share uplifiting melodic gems withs us. Just check out the video below and you'll quickly get a idea of the band's sound. 

Like so many other bands they couldn't tour in recent years. 

During that downtime the band released two studio albums (Dystopia Part 1 & 2), a concept offering based on Ray Bradbury´s "Fahrenheit 451" and now plans to enhance their live set with some of their new material.

The great news is that these songs will see a live performance already soon.

Confirmed dates for 2023 so far:

Aug 25: Linköping Hell Year Rock Club, SE

Aug 26: Copenhagen Amager Bio, DK

Aug 27: Hamburg Logo Club, DE

Aug 30: Budapest Analog Music Hall, HU

Sep 01: Campulung Posada Festival, RO

More Dates TBA!

Keep a eye on the band's social sites to stay up to date about further dates.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/royalhunt

Twitter https://twitter.com/royalhuntband