Power metal band Battle Born premiered its new single and video this week.
The band debuted its new single, ‘Bring The Metal Back‘ and its video Friday. The single is featured in the new re-issue of its debut, self-titled EP, which arrived Friday through Prosthetic Records. The band originally released the EP independently in 2020. The re-issue features the bonus track, ‘Hammer of Might.’
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Bring The Metal Back’ is a driving composition that will appeal to any power metal fan. Its rapid fire drumming and guitar riffs pair with the equally powerful vocals to make it comparable to works from the likes of Dragonforce, Sabaton, and Helion Prime.
The song’s lyrical theme is clearly a promotion of heavy metal. It is very much in the vein of so many classic power metal songs from days gone by, ensuring even more, its appeal among so many metal purists.
Courtesy Prosthetic Records
In other news, Battle Born launched a European tour in support of its newly re-issued EP Friday. The tour is scheduled to run through June 5 in Banstaple, UK. The tour’s schedule is noted below.
BATTLE BORN‘s UK Ride for Heavy Metal tour dates: 6 May – Firehouse – Southampton 7 May – Anvil Rockbar – Bournemouth 20 May – New Cross Inn – London 27 May – Frog and Fiddle – Cheltenham 29 May – The Bullingdon – Oxford 31 May – Corporation – Sheffield 1 June – Ivory Blacks – Glasgow 2 June – Satans Hollow – Manchester 3 June – The Station – Cannock 4 June – Underground – Plymouth 5 June – Golden Lion – Banstaple
More information on Battle Born’s new record deal, EP re-issue, and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Power metal band Visions of Atlantis debuted the latest single and video from its forthcoming album this week.
The band premiered its new single, ‘Melancholy Angel’ and its companion video Tuesday. The song and its video are the second from the band’s forthcoming album, Pirates, which is scheduled for release May 13 through Napalm Records. The band premiered the album’s lead single, ‘Legion of the Seas’ and its video March 7.
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Melancholy Angel’ is another familiar power metal opus from the band that the group’s fans will find appealing. In comparison to its predecessor, this single is more of a mid-tempo composition and leans more heavily on its string arrangements than that song. What’s more, the song’s mood is more contemplative in nature than ‘Legion of the Seas.’
No information about the song’s lyrical theme was provided in the press release announcing the debut of the new single and video. No lyrics are provided with the video, either.
The video finds the band, still in full pirate regalia, on a beach at night, campfire blaring. The group is performing its new single against the backdrop as the song plays over the visualization.
In other news, Visions of Atlantis is on tour with Dragonforce. The bands’ current tour schedule is noted below.
Apr. 13, 2022 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Apr. 15, 2022 – Dallas, TX – Amplified Live Apr. 16, 2022 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Apr. 17, 2022 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live Apr. 19, 2022 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater Apr. 20, 2022 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues Apr. 22, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA – Belasco Theater Apr. 23, 2022 – Berkeley, CA – UC Theater
* = without Firewind
Pirates‘ track listing and available platforms are noted below.
Pirates tracklist: 1. Pirates will Return 2. Melancholy Angel 3. Master the Hurricane 4. Clocks 5. Freedom 6. Legion of the Seas 7. Wild Elysium 8. Darkness Inside 9. In my World 10. Mercy 11. Heal the Scars 12. I will be Gone
Pirates will be available in the following formats:
Wooden Deluxe Box (incl. digisleeve, flag, hip flask, signed autograph card) – strictly limited to 300
Canvas (100x50cm) + CD Digisleeve – strictly limited to 100
2 LP Gatefold GLOW IN THE DARK – strictly limited to 300
2 LP Gatefold Black
CD Digisleeve
Digital Album
More information on Visions Of Atlantis’ new album, single, video, and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Firewind will join Dragonforce for its tour starting this weekend.
The veteran metal band is scheduled to join Dragonforce for its headlining tour starting Sunday in Denver, CO. The band’s run with Dragonforce is in support of its latest album, Firewind, which was released in 2020 through AFM Records.
FIrewind’s run with Dragonforce is scheduled to last through April 23 in Berkeley, CA and will see the band perform in cities, such as Greensboro, NC; Dallas, TX and Cleveland, OH. The schedule for the band’s tour with Dragonforce is noted below.
DragonForce North American tour dates w/ Firewind, Visions of Atlantis, Seven Spires
Mar. 20, 2022 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theater Mar. 22, 2022 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater Mar. 23, 2022 – St. Louis, MO – Red Flag Mar. 24, 2022 – Milwaukee, WI – Rave II Mar. 25, 2022 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue Mar. 26, 2022 – Chicago, IL – Metro Mar. 27, 2022 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall Mar. 29, 2022 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Piere’s Mar. 30, 2022 – Toronto, ON – Opera House Mar. 31, 2022 – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre Apr. 1, 2022 – Quebec City, QC – Imperial Bell Apr. 2, 2022 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium Apr. 3, 2022 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza Apr. 5, 2022 – Reading, PA – Reverb Apr. 6, 2022 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater Apr. 7, 2022 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage Apr. 8, 2022 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theater Apr. 9, 2022 – Greensboro, NC – Arizona Petes Apr. 10, 2022 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Heaven) Apr. 12, 2022 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum Apr. 13, 2022 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Apr. 15, 2022 – Dallas, TX – Amplified Live Apr. 16, 2022 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Apr. 17, 2022 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live Apr. 19, 2022 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater Apr. 20, 2022 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues Apr. 22, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA – Belasco Theater Apr. 23, 2022 – Berkeley, CA – UC Theater
Also joining Dragonforce for its tour are Visions of Atlantis and Seven Spires.
More information on Firewind’s upcoming tour and album is available online along with the band’s latest news at:
Power metal band Visions of Atlantis will release its next album this spring.
The band announced Monday, it will release its eighth album, Pirates, May 13 through Napalm Records. In anticipation of the album’s release, the band premiered the video for the album’s lead single, ‘Legion of the Seas’ the same day.
The video features the band, dressed as pirates, performing its new single on a sound stage. Meanwhile the story of a pair of pirates plays out, with one of the men having a less than happy ending. All of this plays out as the band’s new single plays over the visualization.
The musical arrangement featured in the band’s new single will appeal to any power metal fan. The control and harmonies in the vocals pair well with the instrumentation, which features a stirring string arrangement at its base. The guitars and drums pair with the strings to make the overall arrangement comparable to works from Helion Prime and other similar power metal acts. Audiences could even make comparisons to works from Sabaton to a lesser degree.
The band talked about the song’s lyrical theme in a prepared statement.
“‘Legion of the Seas’ is a statement song that embodies the mindset we carry throughout the entire record,” the statement reads. “No matter what we are facing, we remain the masters of ourselves and our lives. We are delighted to welcome the listeners on board of this new age ofVisions of Atlantis with this powerful video, for one of the heaviest songs of the record. Acting scenes meet a fiery band performance, all in a very cinematic way, conveying our universe the best way.”
Visions of Atlantis is on tour with Dragonforce. The bands’ current tour schedule is noted below.
Mar. 11, 2022 – Seattle, WA – Neptune * Mar. 13, 2022 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom * Mar. 15, 2022 – Calgary, AB – Palace Theater * Mar. 16, 2022 – Edmonton, AB – Union Hall * Mar. 18, 2022 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory * Mar. 19, 2022 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex * Mar. 20, 2022 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theater Mar. 22, 2022 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater Mar. 23, 2022 – St. Louis, MO – Red Flag Mar. 24, 2022 – Milwaukee, WI – Rave II Mar. 25, 2022 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue Mar. 26, 2022 – Chicago, IL – Metro Mar. 27, 2022 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall Mar. 29, 2022 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Piere’s Mar. 30, 2022 – Toronto, ON – Opera House Mar. 31, 2022 – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre Apr. 1, 2022 – Quebec City, QC – Imperial Bell Apr. 2, 2022 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium Apr. 3, 2022 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza Apr. 5, 2022 – Reading, PA – Reverb Apr. 6, 2022 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater Apr. 7, 2022 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage Apr. 8, 2022 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theater Apr. 9, 2022 – Greensboro, NC – Arizona Petes Apr. 10, 2022 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Heaven) Apr. 12, 2022 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum Apr. 13, 2022 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Apr. 15, 2022 – Dallas, TX – Amplified Live Apr. 16, 2022 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Apr. 17, 2022 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live Apr. 19, 2022 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater Apr. 20, 2022 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues Apr. 22, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA – Belasco Theater Apr. 23, 2022 – Berkeley, CA – UC Theater
* = without Firewind
Pirates‘ track listing and available platforms are noted below.
Pirates tracklist: 1. Pirates will Return 2. Melancholy Angel 3. Master the Hurricane 4. Clocks 5. Freedom 6. Legion of the Seas 7. Wild Elysium 8. Darkness Inside 9. In my World 10. Mercy 11. Heal the Scars 12. I will be Gone
Pirates will be available in the following formats:
Wooden Deluxe Box (incl. digisleeve, flag, hip flask, signed autograph card) – strictly limited to 300
Canvas (100x50cm) + CD Digisleeve – strictly limited to 100
2 LP Gatefold GLOW IN THE DARK – strictly limited to 300
2 LP Gatefold Black
CD Digisleeve
Digital Album
More information on Visions Of Atlantis’ new album, single, video, and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
From its earliest days to the present, power metal stalwart Hammerfall has never made audiences wait too long for new albums. Three years is the longest that the band has gone between releasing any of its 11 albums. The band will keep that streak going Friday when it release its 12th album, Hammer of Dawn. Set for release through Napalm Records, the 10-song album offers plenty for audiences to appreciate whether they are seasoned Hammerfall fans or more casual power metal fans. That is proven through the record’s musical and lyrical content alike, as its current singles have proven. Those songs are just a sampling of how the album’s overall content makes it so engaging and entertaining. ‘No Son Of Odin,’ which is one of the album’s early entries, is another example of how that content makes the album succeed. It will be discussed shortly. ‘Too Old To Die Young’ is another standout addition to the album and will be discussed a little later. ‘Live Free Or Die,’ which comes late in the album’s run, is yet another example of how much the album has to offer audiences. It will also be discussed later. Each song noted does its own share to show the album’s strength. When they are considered along with the album’s singles and with the rest of the album’s songs, the whole makes the album one more of the year’s top new hard rock and metal albums so far.
Hammer of Dawn, Hammerfall’s forthcoming 12th album, is a shining new offering from the veteran power metal band. Its current singles have already done plenty to make that clear. They are just a small example of what makes the record engaging and entertaining. ‘No Son Of Odin,’ which comes early in the album’s run, is another example of what makes the album a success. The musical arrangement featured in this song is just one part of what makes the song stand out. The driving guitar work from Oscar Donjak and Pontus Norgren pairs with the solid time keeping of drummer David Wallin and low end of bassist Fredrik Larsson to flesh out the song so fully. The production is to be commended as each musician’s part cuts through so clearly without overpowering that of its counterparts. Front man Joacim Cans’ vocals soar so powerfully, too. His delivery immediately lends itself to comparison to that of Judas Priest front man Rob Halford. The whole of the song’s musical content makes for its own powerful presentation. When the power in the song’s arrangement pairs with the song’s lyrical content, the whole becomes even more engaging and entertaining.
The lyrical theme featured in ‘No Son Of Odin’ is, on the surface, a presentation based on classic Norse mythology. That in itself is interesting enough. On a deeper level though, the song’s lyrical content seems to be much more than that. At least, that is the interpretation of this critic. The deeper meaning comes across as being a statement of celebrating individualism, which is an all too familiar topic in the rock community. This is inferred as Cans’ sings in the song’s second verse, “From the day that I was born/I’ve been misunderstood/I broke new grounds/I set the sails/Played by my own rules/Lightning strikes and thunder roar/I’ve seen my destiny/I’m the hammer/The hammer is me/Pounding to be free/Watch me wind up the power/Relentlessly pursuing my foes/I am fierce eyed and evil/Hell’s gonna follow wherever I go.” From there, he sings in the song’s chorus, “I am I/I am me/Heart of steel/No son of Odin/I am strong/I am brave/Let the hammer pave the way.” The song’s lead verse builds on the song’s second verse, finding Cans singing about not being royalty so to speak, being proud of who he is. He goes so far as to note that “My home lies beneath us/through fire and ice/alone in my fight.” He mentioned along with that, that he had never been to Valhalla. Again, this all comes across as an allegory of sorts about that pride and individualism. If in fact that is the case, then this is truly a unique, original way in which to deliver such a familiar theme. To that end, it makes the song all the more interesting. When it pairs with the fiery energy in the song’s musical arrangement, the song in whole makes for even more interest and proof of what makes Hammer of Dawn work. It is just one of the songs that shows the record’s strength. ‘Too Old To Die Young,’ which comes later in the album’s run, is another notable addition to the album.
‘Too Old To Die Young’ presents a musical arrangement that wastes no time catching listeners’ ears. In the case of this song, the sharp guitar line and bass line work with the drums and vocals to lend the song to comparison to works from the likes of Dragonforce, Saxon, and Judas Priest. The harmonies (instrumental and vocal), ensure audiences’ engagement and entertainment from beginning to end.
The lyrical content that accompanies the song’s musical arrangement makes it all the more appealing. In the case of this song, its lyrical content the theme comes across as delivering a message of making the most of life. This is inferred in the song’s lead verse and chorus in which Cans sings, “For as long as I remember/I’ve been paving my own way/Life’s one true defender/Since my first step/Walked wherever I may/Of all the stars in the heavens/I’m the brightest of them all/Always shining/Carry on/Carry on/I will shine a light/Forever and a day/” It is inferred even more as he sings in the song’s second verse, “Turn the amp up to eleven/let your time on Earth be loud/Why limit your sins to seven/Nothing ventured/Nothing gained/Stay unbowed/Wade out in the water/Let us part the raging seas/So come-at-able/Come with me/Carry on/Always strive/Succeed and plan to live forever.” Again, here is a statement that seems to deliver a message of living life; of perseverance and determination. Again, if that is indeed the case, then the song gains even more appeal, especially when it pairs with the energy in the song’s equally enjoyable musical arrangement. The whole here is just one more example of what makes the album that is Hammer of Dawn stand out among this year’s new hard rock and metal albums. ‘Live Free or Die’ is yet another notable addition to the album.
‘Live Free Or Die’ offers audiences a more modern hard rock sound than that of the album’s other songs. The power metal sound and approach is just as present as ever, but there is something about the guitar line here that really makes this song lean more in a modern hard rock direction, too. That balance of modern hard rock and power metal gives this song an identity that is just as unique as the other songs’ arrangements from one another and from this song and the rest of the album’s works. When this notable arrangement pairs with the song’s lyrical theme that openly preaches about the price of freedom, praising those who died for the world’s freedoms, the whole makes the song in whole even more accessible.
As noted, the lyrical theme featured in ‘Live Free Or Die’ preaches about the freedoms that we enjoy around the world while praising those who died for those freedoms. Cans sings of these topics right from the song’s outset, “I am free like an eagle/Spreading my wings in the sky/Protecting the winds that are changing/Therefore, I must give the eye/I know we must defend it/From those who would take it away/There is a price for this freedom/Way more than we wish to pay/Nothing’s free in freedom/Pay the price/There’s no cost reduction to paradise/Live free or die/Come and break the chains/Or do not come at all/Live free or die/Come on/Shout it out and heed the freedom call.” The message continues in the song’s second verse, “By the blood of my brothers/I do solemnly swear/To spread the gospel of freedom/Even if nobody cares/No way to alter the past times/Rewrite our lost yesteryears/Only one thing to remember/Freedom spells nothing like fear/I’ll ignite the fire/Roll the dice/Let us stand together/Break the ice.” If this collective content is not about the noted topic of freedom and honoring those who paid that ultimate price for freedom, then it would certainly be interesting to know the song’s true lyrical theme. Otherwise, it certainly will resonate with a wide range of audiences and do so even more when it pairs with the song’s unique musical arrangement. When the song in whole is considered along with the other songs examined here and with the rest of the album’s songs (including its singles), the whole makes Hammer of Dawn a work that Hammerfall fans and power metal fans alike will appreciate from beginning to end.
Hammer of Dawn, the new forthcoming album from Hammerfall, is a work that will appeal widely among the band’s fans and to power metal fans in general. That is proven through its musical and lyrical content alike. The album’s singles and the songs examined here all do well to make that clear. When they are all considered along with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes the record easily one of the best of the year’s new hard rock and metal albums so far.
Hammer of Dawn is scheduled for release Friday through Napalm Records.
Courtesy: Napalm Records
In other Hammerfall news, the band has also announced it is scheduled to launch its “United Forces Tour” alongside Helloween March 22 in Oslo, Norway. The tour, which will take the band’s to cities across Europe, is scheduled to run through May 22 in London, England. The tour’s schedule is noted below.
UNITED FORCES TOUR 2022 25.03.22 NO – Oslo / Sentrum Scene 26.03.22 SE – Göteborg / Partille Arena 28.03.22 FI – Helsinki / Black Box 29.03.22 EE – Talinn / Noblessneri Valukoda 01.04.22 DE – Bamberg / Brose Arena 02.04.22 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle 03.04.22 DE – Berlin / Verti Music Hall 04.04.22 DE – Regensburg / Donau Arena 08.04.22 ES – Madrid / Wizink Center 09.04.22 ES – Barcelona / St. Jordi Club 11.04.22 IT – Milan / Lorenzini District 12.04.22 DE – Kempten / Black Box 13.04.22 CH – Zürich / Samsung Hall 15.04.22 LU – Luxemburg / Rockhal 16.04.22 NL – Tilburg / 013 18.04.22 PL – Katovice / MCK 20.04.22 BG – Sofia / Arena Armeec 22.04.22 AT – Vienna / Gasometer 23.04.22 CZ – Prague / O2 24.04.22 SK – Zvolen / Ice Stadium 26.04.22 HU – Budapest / Papp Laszlo Sportarena 29.04.22 DE – Bochum / Ruhrcongress 30.04.22 DE – Stuttgart / Schleyerhalle 01.05.22 DE – Frankfurt / Jahrhunderthalle 04.05.22 UK – Manchester / Manchester Academy 05.05.22 UK – London / Brixton Academy
More information on Hammerfall’s forthcoming album and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Dragonforce is bringing symphonic metal band Visions of Atlantis for its upcoming tour.
The forthcoming North American run is scheduled to launch March 7 in Santa Ana, CA and to run through April 23 in Berkeley, CA. It features performances in cities nationwide, such as Greensboro, NC; Boise, ID and Mesa AZ. Seven Spires will also serve as support for Dragonforce’s upcoming tour.
Guitarist Herman Li spoke highly of Visions of Atlantis in a prepared statement.
“We are so excited to welcomeVisions of Atlantisto our North American tour in March and April,” Li said. “We wanted to bring a huge show, with an amazing line-up and crazy production. Visions of Atlantis brings a ton of energy to the stage, and they’re incredible musicians. We can’t wait to get on the road with them!”
The schedule for Dragonforce’s upcoming tour, which is in support of its latest album, Extreme Power Metal, is noted below. Tickets are available here. Seven Spires and Battle Beast will share time as support with Visions of Atlantis for the length of the tour.
DragonForce North American tour dates
w/ Battle Beast, Visions of Atlantis, Seven Spires
Mar. 7, 2022 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory *
Mar. 8, 2022 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory *
Mar. 9, 2022 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post *
Mar. 10, 2022 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre *
Mar. 11, 2022 – Seattle, WA – Neptune *
Mar. 13, 2022 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom *
Mar. 15, 2022 – Calgary, AB – Palace Theater *
Mar. 16, 2022 – Edmonton, AB – Union Hall *
Mar. 18, 2022 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory *
Mar. 19, 2022 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex *
Apr. 10, 2022 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Heaven)
Apr. 12, 2022 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum
Apr. 13, 2022 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
Apr. 15, 2022 – Dallas, TX – Amplified Live
Apr. 16, 2022 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
Apr. 17, 2022 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live
Apr. 19, 2022 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater
Apr. 20, 2022 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
Apr. 22, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA – Belasco Theater
Apr. 23, 2022 – Berkeley, CA – UC Theater
* = without Battle Beast
Courtesy: Metal Blade Records
Additionally, Dragonforce is scheduled to join Power Wolf and Warkings this fall on a series of live dates across Europe. The bands’ tour is scheduled to launch Nov. 11 in Berlin, Germany and to run through Dec. 4 in Antwerp, Belgium. The bands’ tour is noted below.
More information on the Dragnforce’s new single, video, and upcoming live dates are available online along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:
To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
Dragonforce debuted the video for its latest single this week.
The band premiered the single for its single, ‘Strangers‘ Monday. The song is the latest single from the band’s 2019 album, Extreme Power Metal. The band premiered the video for the album’s then latest single, ‘Troopers of the Stars’ in August.
The video for ‘Strangers’ is full on glam. It features the band in classic 80s hair metal apparel and even playing guitars that were played by none other than Steve Vai during his time with Whitesnake and David Lee Roth. This is coupled with footage of people playing video games in what is meant to look like a retro arcade.
Guitarist Herman Li talked about the video and the song during a recent interview.
“This video takes place in the same ’80s world as our last video (‘Troopers of the Stars’), with the same cast and the same director,” said Li. “When Roboshobo pitched the concept, I was immediately into it. I’m a huge fan of the glam rock-era of music – I love the showmanship, the guitar solos, and the endearing cheesiness. And the players of that time were amazing, like Steve Vai, Warren Di Martini, and Reb Beach; I think sometimes the playing gets lost, and people just remember the crazy outfits. So, this video is a loving tribute to that era – while also being authentic…”
Added Li, “Roboshobo told us to get some cool-looking guitars to fit the theme of the video, and the night before the shoot, I was panicking because we still hadn’t found any. So, I texted Steve Vai and told him we were doing a glam rock video. He said, ‘come on over’, and when I got there, he had pulled out THE guitars he used with Whitesnake and David Lee Roth. I remember seeing these guitars in magazines as a kid, so it was incredible to get to use them on set – I almost cried when he handed them to me!”
Li concluded, “Besides the guitars, I think we all looked really hunky in our costumes, especially our hair! For a minute, I was even considering getting a perm…I know people may think we’re not taking ourselves seriously enough, but I think given the state of the world, sometimes it’s just nice to kick back and have a laugh with your mates. That was definitely the vibe on set – we could barely keep a straight face watching the playback. We’re also releasing super-limited merch we did in collaboration with the artist, Teenage Stepdad, at: dragonforce.com/shop. It definitely captures the feeling of the era!”
Courtesy: Metal Blade Records/Breaking The Law Public Relations
In related news, Dragonforce has announced the schedule for its upcoming 2022 North American tour in support of Extreme Power Metal. The tour is scheduled to launch March 7 in Santa Ana, CA and to run through April 23 in Berkeley, CA. It features performances scheduled in cities nationwide, such as Milwaukee, WI; Greensboro, NC and Dallas, TX.
The tour’s schedule is noted below. Tickets are available here. Battle Beast and Seven Spires are scheduled to serve as support for the tour.
DragonForce North American tour dates
w/ Battle Beast, Seven Spires
Mar. 7, 2022 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory *
Mar. 8, 2022 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory *
Mar. 9, 2022 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post *
Mar. 10, 2022 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre *
Mar. 11, 2022 – Seattle, WA – Neptune *
Mar. 13, 2022 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom *
Mar. 15, 2022 – Calgary, AB – Palace Theater *
Mar. 16, 2022 – Edmonton, AB – Union Hall *
Mar. 18, 2022 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory *
Mar. 19, 2022 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex *
Apr. 10, 2022 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Heaven)
Apr. 12, 2022 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum
Apr. 13, 2022 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
Apr. 15, 2022 – Dallas, TX – Amplified Live
Apr. 16, 2022 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
Apr. 17, 2022 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live
Apr. 19, 2022 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater
Apr. 20, 2022 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
Apr. 22, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA – Belasco Theater
Apr. 23, 2022 – Berkeley, CA – UC Theater
* = without Battle Beast
Courtesy: Metal Blade Records
Additionally, Dragonforce is scheduled to join Power Wolf and Warkings next year on a series of live dates across Europe. The bands’ tour is scheduled to launch Nov. 11 in Berlin, Germany and to run through Dec. 4 in Antwerp, Belgium. The bands’ tour is noted below.
More information on the Dragnforce’s new single, video, and upcoming live dates are available online along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:
To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
Dragonforce is revisiting its most recent album for its latest single and video.
The band premiered the video for its single, ‘Troopers of the Stars’ Friday. The song is featured in the band’s 2019 album, Extreme Power Metal. The song’s musical arrangement is everything that audiences have come to expect from the band over the years: extreme shredding, operatic vocals, and overall rich musical instrumentation.
The song’s lyrical content is exactly as the title infers. It is a spoof about the famed modern b-sci-fi flick, Starship Troopers.
While the song is a spoof of the noted movie, the video goes in a slightly different direction. It spoofs the mechanical shows used to entertain kids at Chuck-E-Cheese restaurants, with the band members taking the place of the robots used in those shows.
To compliment the video’s premiere, the band has launched a new apparel line. Audiences can buy the band’s new shirts here.
Courtesy: Metal Blade Records
In other news, Dragonforce is scheduled to join Power Wolf and Warkings next year on a series of live dates. The bands’ tour is scheduled to launch Nov. 11 in Berlin, Germany and to run through Dec. 4 in Antwerp, Belgium. The bands’ tour is noted below.
More information on the Dragnforce’s new single, video, and upcoming live dates are available online along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:
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Independent power metal band Helion Prime has apparently had a change of heart in regards to the singles for its new album, Question Everything. One week ago today, the band debuted what it had alleged was going to be the last single for the album, which released today. However, the band did an about face on that decision today with the debut of the album’s fifth single ‘Question Everything’ and its companion video. The musical arrangement featured in the song and the rest of the album’s singles (and its other tracks not turned singles) form the record’s cornerstone. They will be addressed shortly. The album’s overarching lyrical theme that accompanies the infectious musical arrangements builds around and on that cornerstone to make the presentation that much more appealing. The record’s sequencing caps off its most important elements and ensures the album’s success in its own way, which will also be addressed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of Question Everything. All things considered, they make the record a presentation that will appeal to any power metal fan.
Helion Prime’s brand new album Question Everything is a presentation that easily holds its own against any record from the band’s more well-known counterparts, such as Dragonforce, Unleash The Archers, and Epica. That is proven in part through the album’s musical arrangements. The arrangements in question are pure power metal at its finest. At the same time though, there are moments that add in a little something extra for audiences to enjoy. Case in point is the arrangement featured in the album’s opener, ‘The Final Theory.’ The partnering of the guitar and keyboard arrangements lends itself to comparisons to works from In Flames. At the same time, the similarity to works from Unleash The Archers and Epica is just as evident. The balance of those influences and sounds makes for an arrangement that makes for a strong start to the album. It is just one of the moments that offers audiences something extra in this record. ‘Madame Mercury,’ the record’s second song, is another way in which the album gives audiences something extra in its arrangements.
The musical arrangement featured ‘Madame Mercury’ takes more of a hard rock approach than power metal. Yes, the power metal approach is just as obvious as here as at any other point in the album, but that more mainstream, hard rock approach is just as audible. That the band continued to take a new direction here and still manage to make the two distinctly different styles work together so well is worthy of its own applause. It serves to make the album that much more appealing for audiences and is not the last of the moments that does this, either. ‘Kong at the Gates/The Forbidden’ is another example of how the album goes beyond the band’s power metal roots to give audiences something extra.
‘Kong at the Gates/The Forbidden’ takes Helion Prime’s familiar power metal approach and adds a touch of symphonic metal a la Symphony X to the mix. That is evidenced through the string arrangements and the pounding drums that open the song. Event the vocal delivery of singer Mary Zimmer is noticeably different here from that of any of the album’s other songs. It isn’t nearly as wide open and operatic as at those points. Yes, there is a touch of that approach, but there is more of a controlled approach here. That, coupled with the equally controlled work of the guitars and time keeping makes for an arrangement that stands on its own merits while helping to build the album’s musical foundation in its own right. When this arrangement is considered along with the other noted arrangements and the rest of the album’s compositions, the whole of the album’s musical content leaves no question about its importance to the record’s whole. It is just one part of what makes the album so appealing. The lyrical content that accompanies the record’s musical arrangements builds even more on that foundation.
The lyrical content that is featured throughout the 56-minute album adds its own interest to the presentation because it so unique. It does something that many other bands do, but also that so few do at the same time. It takes a similar approach to that of say, Sabaton with its historical focus, making it familiar (and in turn, welcome) to power metal fans. In the case of Sabaton, the chosen topic is military history. In the case of this record from Helion Prime, the band crafted songs for this record about famed figures, such as philosopher Socrates, NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, Raymond Gosling, who took the first picture of DNA, and astronomer Galileo Gallilei. The noted figures (and those not noted here) were people who questioned everything at their time (thus the album’s title), including gender roles, societal beliefs and even scientific and religious views. This is an approach that is unlike even the works from Sabaton and so much other power metal music, whose lyrical content tends to focus on wizards and dragons. So again, what audiences get in the album’s lyrical content is a focus on real history, much like what they will get from fellow power metal band Sabaton. At the same time, it presents its own unique content separate from Sabaton and pretty much most other power metal bands. To that end, the lyrical content that is featured in this record makes for its own share of appeal. It still is not the last of the album’s most notable elements. The album’s sequencing rounds out its most important elements.
For the most pat, Question Everything maintains a very high energy throughout the course of its body. It does briefly break things up in the early bars of ‘The Gadfly’ with the old school classical guitar style approach there. From there, the album’s energy picks right back up until it reaches the last two songs, ‘Reawakening’ and ‘Kong at the Gates/The Forbidden.’ ‘Reawakening’ is really the most reserved that the album’s energy gets, and even that is still a relatively upbeat work. Though stylistically, it is reserved by comparison to the album’s other works. The album’s finale is slower in its opening bars, but from there really picks up and becomes a full-on operatic work. Simply put, Question Everything will appeal to audiences in terms of its sequencing because it keeps the energy flowing from its opening to its end. Even when it does pull back, that reservation is slight at best. That steady energy joins with the appeal in the album’s lyrical content and even more familiar style in its musical arrangements to make the whole a positive new presentation for Helion Prime. It collectively makes the album a presentation that holds its own easily against works from the band’s more well-known power metal counterparts.
Helion Prime’s new album Question Everything does not necessarily question the power metal formula. That is evident throughout the course of its presentation. Even despite that (and because of it) it still proves itself a work that will appeal to the most devoted power metal purists. That is due in part to the record’s largely familiar stylistic approach to the musical arrangements. They are familiar, but also have some other elements that give audiences a little something extra to enjoy. The record’s lyrical content takes a familiar route in terms of straying from the mainstream lyrical topics of relationships, religion, and politics. It takes a unique approach by focusing on historical figures, really as a way to encourage listeners to think for themselves. That ironically is a familiar topic in the mainstream world. So really, the lyrical content gives audiences the best of both worlds, mainstream and independent. The record’s sequencing puts the last touch to its presentation, ensuring its energy never lets up too much, and breaking things up just enough at the right points. Each noted item is important in its own right to the whole of the album. All things considered, they make the album a work that will appeal to any power metal purist.
More information on the band’s new album and single is available along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:
Independent hard rock band Lord is giving its fans a bonus from its recently released album Fallen Idols. The band is scheduled to release its new EP Chaos Raining is scheduled for release Friday. The three-song record is an intriguing record because while it is being marketed as an EP, it is technically another of those records that is in reality more single than EP. That is not to say that the record is a failure for the band. Rather, its track listing does serve as something of a negative for the record’s presentation. This will be discussed shortly. While the track listing is undoubtedly an issue for Chaos Raining, it is the record’s only negative. The EP’s musical content is very much a positive worth noting, so it will be addressed shortly. The lyrical themes that accompany the EP’s musical content is notable in its own right and is also deserving of attention. It will also be addressed later. All three noted items are important in their own way to the whole of this EP. All things considered, they make Chaos Raining a presentation that hard rock and metal fans will find worth hearing at least occasionally.
Lord’s forthcoming EP Chaos Raining is, for the most part, an enjoyable new offering from the independent hard rock band. That is due in part to the record’s musical arrangements. The arrangements in question are powerful, guitar-driven works that will appeal to fans of bands, such as Judas Priest, Dragonforce and Firewind. That is evident through the combined guitar work of the band’s front man “Lord Tim” and fellow guitarist Mark Furtner as well as through “Lord Tim’s” operatic vocal delivery style. Even the extended take of the EP’s title track deserves attention, with its keyboards and semi-industrial metal approach. That element takes precedence in this song, but the original work’s guitar and drums are there. The choral approach taken with the vocals gives the song a touch of an 80s hair metal sound. This all seems like a lot, and it is, but somehow, the band manages to balance all of those elements for a whole that despite being nearly 10 minutes long, is still wholly entertaining in its own right. Keeping that in mind along with the engagement and entertainment that ‘Chaos Raining’ and ‘A World Insane,’ the whole of the EP’s musical content offers audiences plenty of motivation to take in this record. While the arrangements do echo the style of arrangement that the band has presented in its past works, the actual sound is different from those works. In other words, the style is the same as in previous works, but the songs overall are not identical in their sound. They are original in their own right, in layman’s terms. Even set against one another, the arrangements here are original in their overall sound. That makes the EP that much more worth hearing.
For all that the arrangements do to make Chaos Raining a positive new presentation from Lord, the songs overall are somewhat problematic. As with so many other records that have been released this year, one can argue that considering the EP’s makeup, is being improperly marketed. The EP is in fact more single than EP. That is because the record’s title song is itself from another album. The one extra original is likely a b-side that did not make the final cut for Fallen Idols. The extended remix of ‘Chaos Raining’ is basically just a bonus track. So while it is original in its own right, it is still just a remix of one of the record’s two original songs. In other words, the EP is essentially a single from the band’s bigger 2019 album that also features two extra works. One of those works is likely a castaway from the original sessions for that album while the other is just a re-worked version of the single. Keeping that in mind, the record is still enjoyable to hear, but is still more single than EP. Since it is being marketed as an EP, it still deserves its own spot on any critic’s list of the year’s top new EPs even despite everything noted.
While the makeup and marketing of Lord’s new EP is questionable, it does not make Chaos Raining a failure by any means. It does impact the record’s place in any critic’s list of the year’s top new EPs, but is still a work that will appeal to hard rock and metal fans. That is due in large part to the record’s musical content, though the musical content is just one part of what makes the record worth hearing. The lyrical content that accompanies the musical content adds to that engagement. The EP’s second song, ‘A World Insane’ comes across as a social commentary of sorts. “Lord Tim” sings in the song’s chorus, “A world gone insane…we cry out in vain/And now with open arms/We carry on and try to find our way.” Now while much of the song’s lyrics are indecipherable sans lyrics, just enough is understandable to make an inference about the theme. “Lord Tim” mentions in the song’s second verse about looking around and seeing no one around, adding mention about being on the precipice. In other words, the seeming statement hints at things being in a very bad state right now. When this is considered along with the note of carrying on with arms wide open, it leads to the assumption that the song focuses not just on how bad things are, but of people’s resilience and determination to get through all of the bad. This in itself is certain to generate interest and discussion among audiences. It is just one of the ways in which the record’s lyrical content proves so important to its presentation. The EP’s title track will generate its own interest with its seemingly more personal story.
“Lord Tim” sings in the lead verse of ‘Chaos Raining,’ “You cast your gaze upon my form/Into cold eyes that once were warm/Hardened by sorrow, I still bleed/I will arise from bended knee.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “The days loom grey/Forever seem/My mind engaged in pain unseen/Suffer the past/Onward I roam/Through severed ties I walk alone.” He adds in the song’s chorus, “Say goodbye/I’m lost forever/The storm, it rages on and on/I’m stronger/For every day that dies/I’ll wonder/The chaos raining down/I’m drowning under.” As the song enters its third verse, “Lord Tim” sings, “The years estranged/Like endless waves/Our time is gone/Now swept away/Torn down/Rebuilt in iron gleam/This broken man becomes machine.” At this point, the song returns to its chorus once more with its statement about being stronger despite everything. It can be inferred between that statement and the commentary in the verses that this song focuses on someone who is pushing on even as the world seems to fall down around him; a person who has been mentally and personally “rebuilt.” As always, this is just this critic’s interpretation. Hopefully it is close to being a correct interpretation if not completely correct. That aside, it is content that is certain to generate its own share of discussion among audiences, especially when it is considered alongside the song’s musical arrangement. All things considered, the song’s thought provoking lyrical content is just one more way in which the EP’s lyrical themes prove to be just as important to its presentation as its musical arrangements. Those arrangements and the lyrical content together make Chaos Raining a record that while maybe not the purest example of an EP, still a record that heavy rock fans will appreciate.
Lord’s forthcoming EP Chaos Raining is a work that will appeal to a wide range of hard rock and metal fans. That is due to its musical arrangements and its lyrical content, as noted here. The musical arrangements are everything that audiences have come to expect from the band. The riffs liken themselves to works from the like of Judas Priest, Firewind and Dragonforce at the same time. The lyrical themes presented within the record’s two original songs will generate their own engagement among audiences as they are certainly thought provoking, as also noted here. The one downside to the whole thing is that it is being marketed as an EP. This is important to note because the “EP’s” title track is itself a single from the band’s 2019 album Fallen Idols. Other than that one track, there is only one other original and then an extended take of the record’s title track. Keeping all of this in mind, this record is really more a single with two extra tracks than an actual EP. Even with that in mind, it is not enough to prevent a person from wanting to listen to this record. It is just something to note, and taken into consideration with the record’s overall content, it proves itself to be a work that will appeal widely to hard rock and metal fans. It will be available Friday. According to a post on the band’s official Facebook page, the record’s physical copies are already sold out in pre-orders, so right now, only digital pre-orders for the record are available. More information on Chaos Raining is available along with all of Lord’s latest news and more at:
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