Over Nemesis take a catseye look across the stars

Album covers can be something that catches your attention. Some of them may call a emotion or a memory in your heart or your mind.

This time around the cover of Sludge metallers "Over Nemesis" packed me with it's mysterious and big eyes on it looking into a misty surrounding, maybe into a sky or something. It reminded me of the eyes of a cat. I love cats and their eyes share a beauty and look into a different world.

A look at the cover of "Wink". It has been integrated into a nice full background picture that could be a cotinuation of the initial print. (c) by Over Nemesis, used with kind permission

That's maybe something that connects to the music of the band that also leads into another place. Fans of the Black Label Society should feel home very quickly. So don't hesitate and have your own look "Across the stars". The use of "yeah" at the vocals reminded me of older days and was a warmly welcomed cheer up on this very Monday. Thanks for that!

This one is a teaser for the full album "Wink" coming August 31st 2018. The album is available for presale on the webstore of Music-Records.
Alternatively you can also pick it up once it's out from

► the stand of the band as a digipack CD

► On 150 digital platforms for download

► Distribued in Europe, USA, Asia & Oceania as physical edition

Tracklist :
1 - Saint Bâle
2 - Vault of Blindness
3 - Mario and Sergio
4 - Across The Stars
5 - She Become Calypso
6 - Inside
7 - This Man
8 - Tears
9 - Light Of Hopes
10 - Until The End

Keep a eye on the band through Facebook.

Sonic Prophecy give a high pitch vocal performance on new video

As for me it's a pleasure to see bands continue what began in the early days of Heavy Metal. Having grown up myselves with the classics of bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and the like it feels just great to know younger bands take up the torch and preserve and evolve fruther what has been seeded by the legends.

Such a thought came across my mind when I checked the newest video of Sonic Prophecy, While the band lays a continuous basic with it's relentless guitar energy and pushing and powerfull drums it's the vocals that raised my attention with it's high pitch. They are presented in various high forms in short distance following one after each other. That's something not easy to perform at all. It gives this track something to be remembered - hard to get out of your mind once heard. But have a ear for yourselves and enjoy the moment.

This single comes around as a first sign for the new album "Savage Gods" that will see the light of day via Rockshots Records on January 19, 2018 as one of the first releases of the upcoming year. Here I've got the artwork and tracklist for you to check out. Pre-Order is already up on Amazon. In the meantime you can also buy the single "Night Terror" on iTunes and Amazon.

The cover of "Savage Gods", (c) by Sonic Prophecy, used with kind permission

1. Savage Gods (6:44)
2. Night Terror (5:38)
3. Unholy Blood (5:13)
4. Dreaming Of The Storm (4:55)
5. Man The Guns (5:04)
6. Walk Through The Fire (7:09)
7. A Prayer Before Battle (5:46)
8. Iron Clad Heart (5:24)
9. Man and Machine (6:44)
10. Chasing The Horizon (6:14)

The band has plans for a tour after the release in North America, Europe and beyond.
Make sure to keep a eye on them using social plattforms such as Facebook and Twitter.or give the good old homepage a shot.

XII Boar return as Twelve Boar with new album

These days the news reached my inbox that a new album of UK Rock 'n' Rollers Twelve Boar is on the way. The band decided to re-brand from XII Boar to Twelve Boar and announced the release of their third effort "No Forgiveness" (this means that the band made one album each year - going strong in my eyes).

In the words of the band we can expect "brash, Motörhead-esque riffage, huge sing-along choruses and an overwhelming sense of fun injected into every song." So far they shared the artwork and new logo which reminds me of old C64 and Amiga Computer games - I loved that thing on first sight.

The cover of the new Twelve Boar record made by Rahadil Hermana, (c) by Twelve Boar, used with kind permission

‘No Forgiveness’ was produced once again by Chris Fielding and is set for release on Friday 8th September 2017.  Pre-orders are now available from the band at http://xiiboar.bigcartel.com.

Track Listing:
1.       Steppin' Up
2.       Golden Goose
3.       The Curtain Call
4.       No Forgiveness
5.       Elders From The Deep
6.       Snake On A Lead
7.       All the Heavy Griftin'
8.       Panama
9.       Hellspeed Truckin'

Final Coil reveal bombastic lyric video along detailed album info

This particular day I've been gifted with the great news that Leicester based alt-prog formation Final Coil give us the first insight into what is going to be their debut record. Being a band that's been on my radar for a long time now they pushed me a bit further into their sound with every release. It's amazing to feel how much music can move in your mind and this band has brought a lot of topics to the table that I think need to be discussed. 

But enough of my intoduction let's have it. It's a long read but one worth it. The band reveals a lot of snippets and details that I hope you people out there will find as exciting as I am about it. If you prefer listening to music over reading just scroll down to the very end of this article - there's a massive lyric video worth every second of your time there for you.

The bandmembers of Final Coil, (c) by Final Coil, used with kind permission

Signing to Label, Cover, Release Date and Tracklist
 
Final Coil have signed a deal with WormHoleDeath records for the release of their debut album "Persistence of Memory".

Final Coil Persistence of Memory album cover, (c) by Final Coil, used with kind permission

Release dates
Digital release date : 23rd June 2017 (Wormholedeath/The Orchard)
U.S.A : 14th July 2017 (Wormholedeath U.S.A.)
CD release date : 22nd September 2017 (Aural Music Group)
Japan : TBA (Wormholedeath Japan/DiskUnion)

Tracklist
1. Corruption
2. Dying
3. Alone
4. You Waste My Time
5. Myopic
6. Failed Light
7. Spider Feet
8. Lost Hope
9. Moths To The Flame
10. In Silent Reproach
11. Alienation

About "Persistence of Memory" - Lyric Concept about the impact of modern technology

Produced by Italian producer Wahoomi Corvi (CreTura, The Way Of Purity) at Real Sound Studios and mastered by Magnus Lindberg (Cult of Luna, Heads, Closet Disco Queen) at Redmount Studios in Stockholm, Persistence of Memory is the debut album from UK alternative rock / prog band Final Coil set for release via Worm Hole Death Records.

An eleven-track album loosely based around the theme of lost communication and dehumanisation in the face of an ever-increasing wave of technological innovation, Persistence of memory is a dark, hallucinatory journey into a world of broken familial ties, savage regret and seething rage against the dying of the light.

Song description
 
Moving deftly from the sonic firestorm of opening number Corruption (a song juxtaposing physical and moral corruption set against crushing, juggernaut riffs) to the Floydian disquiet of Alienation, Persistence of memory is an album of contrasts which finds its centrepiece in the progressive epic Failed light, a song that focuses on finding hope amidst the desolation.  A deeply personal piece of music, frontman Phil Stiles states simply that “failed light is the best thing I have ever written – of all the songs on the album, this was the one we had to get right.”  At ten minutes, it is a lengthy work that ebbs and flows beautifully and it sees Phil and lead guitarist Richard Awdry trading solos and vocal harmonies in a manner that will have fans of Anathema and Pink Floyd in raptures.

Other highlights on the album include the synth-infused you waste my time with its stinging lyric focusing on self-absorption, the brooding Spider Feet (one of two songs written by guitarist Richard Awdry) and the desolate finale of alienation, a track that shifts from Phil’s heart-broken and vulnerable lyric to a truly gargantuan tsunami of arcing riffs that close the album with dizzying power.

Album tracked through analogue equipment
 
Another aspect of “getting it right” was the band’s insistence on keeping the use of computers to a minimum. The band tracked the album through a beautifully restored analogue mixing desk at Real Sound Studios in Langhirano (Northern Italy) under the guidance of Wahoomi Corvi. “Wao was totally understanding from the start” says Phil of his relationship with the producer. “He was more used to producing metal bands, but when we played him the demos he realised straight away that we needed a warmer, more analogue sound and he worked hard with us to get good takes rather than edit us into perfection.”

Mastering done with a different intention
 
Similarly, the choice of mastering engineer was crucial. For Phil, there was only one choice: “I’ve been a huge fan of Cult of Luna for a long time, and last year I discovered albums by the bands Heads and Closet Disco Queen pretty much because they had worked with Magnus. Magnus understands the importance of a dynamic master and that was essential to me. So many records now are mastered to be as loud as hell, whereas I wanted people to be able to enjoy the space in the music and, if they want it loud, all they have to do is turn it up!”

Music as a journey
 
An emotionally-charged debut album, Persistence of Memory is the work of a passionate, sonically ambitious band who draw upon elements of progressive, post-rock, metal and alternative rock to create something truly innovative. For Phil the album “was the chance of a life-time. We worked incredibly hard to make the album flow from start to finish because we want the music to take the listener on a journey. Since I was very young, I would get goose bumps listening to records and just letting the music take me away from the real world for a short time, and I hope that our listeners can find the same escape in our music.”

Video single in a most expressive combination of words, music and pictures
 
Can't wait to hear something for yourselves? Have a listen right here right now with the opening track "Corruption" packed in a beautiful picture and expression-ladden lyric video. Make sure to follow Final Coil on Facebook.

Interview with artist Senyphine (2016)

Short Introduction

The female french freelance ilustrator cover & concept artist Senyphine works on a wide variety of fields. She is active in the character design as well as in environmental art, kid's art, comic strips, tattoo design and album covers. Her paintings speak of a very own language and breathe a own atmosphere. That's why I wanted to take a closer look upon the person behind the paintings and here is some nice look behind the scenes and explanation on her diverse portfolio of art.

A portrait of Senyphine, (c) by Senyphine, used with kind permission

Contact Data

If you would like to get in touch with Senyphine please use one of the links given below:

Website : http://www.senyphine.com
Facebook fan page  : https://www.facebook.com/senyphine
DeviantArt : http://senyphine.deviantart.com
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/senyphine
Twitter : https://twitter.com/senyphine
Pinterest : https://fr.pinterest.com/senyphine

The Interview

Heavy Metal Underdogs: How did you start with painting? Was there something in your life that gave a initial start to this?

Senyphine: For as long as I can remember, I always drew and I never stopped drawing. Painting is cathartic for me. It helps me to turn bad feelings such as anguish or stress into a drawing. Very early and still today, I was fond of comic books, halloween / vampire legends and animation movies (Miyazaki, Tim Burton) and all of this influenced me a lot. Before living from my art, I worked in a metal / gothic record store and I naturally started to collaborate with musicians to design CD Artwork. The initial start was the album « Dusk and a embrace » from Cradle Of Filth. It was not a painting but I really liked the atmosphere that emerged from it. Also I admired ( and I still do) the work of Travis Smith ( Katatonia, Amorphis…)

This is the cover of the album The Great Promenade of Fools & Ghosts of the  Alternative / Musical Mischief / Psychedelic Punk Cabaret band MARQUIS OF VAUDEVILLE, from Dallas, TEXAS (USA) released in 2012. (c) by Senyphine, used with kind permission

How do you go along when it comes to creating a new picture?

Working for a variety of projects, the process is always different. If it is a commissioned work, I have the initial idea given by the client (the universe, history, the structure of the project). I started with rough sketch and I modified it according to the feedbacks in order to closely fit to the project. It is a real collaboration.
If it is a personal work, It is quite different as I have only an idea or just a feeling as a starting point. The details or the colors can change till the very end as I do not plan anything when I paint.

Having looked through your artist booklet (portfolio) on DeviantArt (the link opens a new browser window that directly displays the portfolio) seems that besides cover for music you also set a focus on computer games and illustrations for books for children. How did it all come together? Do you maybe also play computer games from time to time?

You are right, I work on a variety of projects and mostly on book cover and children’s book.   I have sometimes the opportunity to illustrate computer game but I don’t have much time to play to it  ;)  I think that it is a good thing to work on various  projects because you go outside of your conform zone, you push the limits, learn new techniques that you are going to adapt or use on another project. It improves your skill and it is also very helpful to step back on your work.

Picture of the unreleased browser game HEXAL, (c) by Senyphine, used with kind permission

Which painting techniques do you prefer? It seems to me as if you prefer a very fine and detailed look upon pictures when creating them - there's a lot of dedication to details in your work.

I was first exclusively a traditional artist and then I learned to use digital media. Mixing all the traditional mediums, numerated textures and playing with the layers on Photoshop. I always start to draw, paint (pen, ink, charcoal pen, watercolors, acrylic painting) and finish all the details on Photoshop with a Wacom Cintiq tablet.
It is a way for me to explore all the possibilities of each medium and to get the effect that will better fit to the mood. The colors depend on the atmosphere I want to give to the illustrations. The atmosphere is the most important element of my work because it is the very essence of it. And when I find it, I can focus on all the details of the picture.

Where do you draw your inspirations from?

Everywhere, I am curious. I get some inspiration from old legends about witches, Halloween, but also by Tim Burton's movie or by the books of Lovecraft and A.E POE, mangos, Comics, DeviantArt (web), street art.…  My travels through Spain, Egypt, Bali, Germany, England, Canada have all influenced my work in the designs of the houses, trees, perspective....For example, the picture "The Raven" has been painted just after my travel to Egypt. The position of the raven (profile) is reminiscent of Egyptian paintings. The shade of the house in the background was directly inspired by the city of Cairo; you can hardly see the houses there because of the pollution all these elements are inspired by the poem of E. A. Poe.

The Raven (c) by Senyphine, used with kind permission

Do you favor steampunk or other styles of art?

I have a passion for Leonard De Vinci and its wonderful flying machines and I like Jules Verne too.  So, when I paint personal work I usually design some steampunk  machines and characters. So, let’s say that I favor Steampunk style

The proportions of persons you paint are also often different to those in real life. Do you like the people to focus on the face rather than on other parts of a person or other elements in the picture?

No, I prefer that the people focus on the whole picture and the story / message conveys through it. I like to give a eerie atmosphere to my work, painting dreamlike landcapes or odd characters close to the fairy tales, children’s tales and fantasy litterature. So the caricature is a  good way to twist the reality and to enhance the pose and the facial expression of the character.

This a painting of the musicians of the band MARQUIS OF VAUDEVILLE  in a dandy zombie style included inside the booklet. (c) by Senyphine, used with kind permission

Contact Data

If you would like to get in touch with Senyphine please use one of the links given below:

Website : http://www.senyphine.com
Facebook fan page  : https://www.facebook.com/senyphine
DeviantArt : http://senyphine.deviantart.com
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/senyphine
Twitter : https://twitter.com/senyphine
Pinterest : https://fr.pinterest.com/senyphine