Crystal Ball let you sneak into the new album "LifeRider"

Finally a brand new album from swiss melodic metal band Crystal Ball is coming into sight. Entitled "LifeRider" is has been produced, mixed and mastered by Stefan Kaufmann (ex-Accept, ex-U.D.O.). The album will feature a duet with Battle Beast's Noora Louhimo as well as guest musician Stefan Kaufmann on acoustic guitar.

Crystal Ball's "LifeRider" will be released on May 22, 2015 via Massacre Records and will also be available as limited edition digipak with exclusive bonus tracks. The video below let's you listen to the song "Paradise" in it's entirely.

If I compare the new song to the older material of the band it sounds much more grown-up in my ears. The dream-like parts of the sound have been removed to give place for a more riff-oriented sound. The vocals surprised me with the high pitches at many parts of the song. That sounds a bit like in the old metal tradition where high notes belonged to the sound of nearly every metal vocalist.

The band will be on tour in the next months, here are the exact dates:

• 04.04.2015 DE Cuxhaven - Hapag-Hallen
• 22.05.2015 DE Mannheim - 7er Club
• 23.05.2015 CZ Sokolov - Koupaliště Michal
• 28.05.2015 CH Luzern - Konzerthaus Schüür
• 29.05.2015 CH Wetzikon - Hall Of Fame
• 30.05.2015 CH Aarburg - Musigburg
• 19.07.2015 FR Saint-Julien-en-Genevois - Stade des Burgondes (Guitare En Scène Festival)
• 25.07.2015 CH Röthenbach - Waldrock Open Air
• 07.08.2015 CH Brienz - Brienzersee Rockfestival
• 08.08.2015 CH Gossau SG - Rock On! Music Festival
• 15.08.2015 CH Wettingen - Tägerhard
• 11.09.2015 CH Boswil - Chillout

Also make sure to follow the band via their Homepage, Facebook or Twitter.

U.D.O. / AFM Metal Festival

After the band 'Symphorce' (see my very first post here on the blog titled 'Today is day one') called it quits (I am very sad about this,they had such great songs but too few people knew them I am afraid) I feel more than ever the urge to support Heavy Metal underground bands.

Besides the Metalshock festival there's another underground festival coming up this year. It's the AFM Festival,celebrating the 15 years anniversary of the AFM Records Company. There will be 15 bands playing all day long at Markthalle Hamburg, Germany on 26th of November 2011. Bands performing will be Crystal Viper,Mob Rules and U.D.O. and many,many more. Tickets are sold on a low price plus every visitor gets a free 3- CD label sampler with classics and even unreleased tracks. You can pick up more info and order your ticket at

http://www.metaltix.com/item_detail.php?item_nr=27839&shop_lang=en

Update 10/13/2011: Mailorder Nuclear Blast currently has a special offer for this festival. In addition to ticket and 3-CD you'll receive a festival shirt in XL size at a very little add to the standard price. Here's the direct link to the online shop item:

http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/products/tickets/indoor/ticket-ts-xl/afm-records-15-years-metal-addiction-festival-hamburg-26.11.2011.html

Update 10/30/2011: EMP Merchandising features this nice package now as well,same offer and price as Nuclear Blast. Here's the direct internet-shop link:

http://www.emp.de/lis_AFM%20Records_bandbrand/

Update 10/26/2011: A trailer for this event has been released. Watch it here




U.D.O. may already be known by some of you since they do feature ex-Accept members Udo Dirkschneider on vocals and Stefan Kaufmann on guitars. The band constantly puts out classic solid metal albums in the good tradition of the style of the 80's but always adding some fresh elements of today like modern production or hacked riffing. Most of all they do create great metal hymms to sing along to. But check out for yourselfs.

Heavy Metal Heaven

Find more details and songs from U.D.O. at the official website of the band

http://www.udo-online.de