Visions Of Atlantis Debuts New Single, ‘Master The Hurricane,’ Companion Video

Posted on May 14, 2022 by philspicks

Visions of Atlantis dropped its latest album, Pirates Friday through Napalm Records, but not before releasing one more single from the brand new album Wednesday.

The band premiered its new single, ‘Master The Hurricane‘ Wednesday, along with its companion video. The premiere of the new single follows those of the album’s other singles, ‘Melancholy Angel‘ and ‘Legion of the Seas.’ All of the familiar power metal leanings presented in those singles is just as evident here, though the song still boasts its own identity separate from those songs and the album’s other entries. The comparisons to works from the likes of Sabaton, Helion Prime, and Epica are just as easy to make in this case as in the other songs.

The video featured with the song presents the band aboard a ship trying to navigate an old pirate ship through a very dangerous storm. Vocalist Michele Guaitol sees the whole thing happen as an unidentified figure holds a gem in hand that acts like a crystal ball, showing the story happen.

Once again, no information was provided in the press release announcing the debut of the band’s new single and video. No lyrics are provided with the video, either.

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 is 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:

Website: https://www.visionsofatlantis.at

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

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Battle Born Debuts ‘Bring The Metal Back’ Video

Posted on May 7, 2022 by philspicks

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.

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:

Website: https://battlebornuk.com

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

Visions Of Atlantis Announces New Album Specs; Debuts Lead Single’s Video

Posted on March 11, 2022 by philspicks

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 of Visions 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 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:

Website: https://www.visionsofatlantis.at

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

Helion Prime’s ‘Question Everything’ Re-Issue Builds On The Success Of Its Predecessor

Posted on October 22, 2021 by philspicks

A little more than a year after the release of its album, Question Everything, Helion Prime has re-visited that album with a re-issue of the record. Released Oct. 8, the album’s re-issue is highlighted by its bonus content. The album’s bonus content consists of seven songs that did not make the final cut for the album’s original 2020 release. One of the most notable of the previously released originals is the single, ‘Wash Away.’ It will be discussed shortly. Also of note is the band’s cover of Children of Bodom’s ‘Angels Don’t Kill.’ It will be discussed a little later. The band’s re-worked version of its original song, ‘The Human Condition’ is yet another example of what makes the album’s bonus content stand out. When it is considered along with the other bonus songs examined here and with the rest of the bonus tracks, the whole of the bonus content lives up to its title and makes Question Everything’s re-issue another successful offering from Helion Prime.

Helion Prime’s recently release re-issue of Question Everything takes the success of that album and builds on it even more. That is due to its bonus content. One of the most notable bonus tracks featured in the album’s re-issue comes in the form of ‘Wash Away.’ The song’s musical arrangement fits well with so much of the content featured in the album’s original body. The big, over the top guitar solo in the bridge, the richness in the drums and bass, the operatic vocals of front woman Mary Zimmer and the general guitar line gives the arrangement the sound of those vintage power metal ballads that were made so popular way back in the late 80s and early 90s. No, this song is not a power ballad, but it has that stylistic approach but thankfully avoids the cheese of those songs. It has more of the confidence of Helion Prime’s own works and those of the band’s fellow power metal counterparts, Unleash The Archers.

Making the song stand out even more is its lyrical theme. The lyrical theme featured in this song follows those of the songs featured in the album in its original release. It pays tribute to so many well-known scientists and great minds in general across history. In the case of this song, it pays homage to Ignaz Sammelweis, who discovered the health benefits of hand-washing in 1847. Considering everything going on in the world today, this is a fitting inclusion in the album’s re-issue. Even more important to note is that at no point does the band try to get preachy about it, trying to connect the song to the COVID-19 pandemic. If anything, it just comes across as being connected to the album’s overall theme of celebrating those noted great minds. This makes the song all the more appealing and just one example of what makes this re-issue successful. Also of note among the bonus tracks is the band’s cover of Children of Bodom’s ‘Angels Don’t Kill.’

Helion Prime’s cover of ‘Angels Don’t Kill’ The band’s take on this song stays true to its source material. There is no doubt about that. At the same time though, the band puts its own touch to the song with its power metal approach. The use of the keyboards alongside the guitars actually works surprisingly well throughout. On the other hand though, Simmer’s vocals just do not sound good here. She comes across as sounding like she was straining way too hard with the screams. It sadly does not match up to the vocals of the late great Alexi Laiho. That is not to say that her vocals were a failure, but it just sounds like she was trying too hard to deliver the same style vocals as Laiho. Odds are she has talent with more guttural vocals, but it just simply did not work here. That aside, the song still mostly works, and is a still positive addition to the re-issue’s bonus content. It is just one more of the notable bonus tracks featured in the re-issue, too. The re-worked take of the band’s original, ‘The Human Condition’ is yet another notable entry in the re-issue’s bonus content.

Helion Prime’s re-worked take of ‘The Human Condition’ stands out because of its production. Originally featured in the band’s 2018 album, Terror of the Cybernetic Space Monster, the re-recorded (IE remastered) take on the song stays fully true to the original work. Nothing was added to or taken from the original.other than the vocals. Songwriter Jason Ashcraft and former vocalist Sozos Michael handled vocal duties on the original song. Zimmer and Ashcraft pair up in the new rendition, which also sounds fuller through the remastering. The impact is just as powerful here as in the original composition. When this song is considered along with the other remastered songs featured in the record, the covers and the one previously unreleased new song, the whole of the bonus content more than makes the re-issue successful. They make the presentation one that audiences will enjoy just as much as the album’s original presentation if not more so.

Helion Prime’s recently released re-issue of its 2020 album, Question Everything is a positive new presentation that audiences across the board will enjoy. The record’s success is due primarily to its bonus content. From a previously unreleased original to a series of remastered originals from a past album, to a pair of covers, the bonus content featured here does well to build on the success of the album from its original release. All things considered, that blend of content – as evidenced through the examination presented here – makes the re-issue of Question Everything just as enjoyable as the original work if not more so.

Helion Prime’s re-issue of Question Everything is available now. More information on the band’s Question Everything re-issue is available along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

Website: https://helionprimemetal.com

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

Helion Prime Announces Details for ‘Question Everything’ Re-Issue

Posted on September 17, 2021 by philspicks

Helion Prime will re-issue its latest album next month.

The band is scheduled to re-issue its 2020 album, Question Everything Oct. 8 on vinyl and through all digital outlets The re-issue is to mark the one year anniversary of the album’s original release and will feature a handful of bonuses. Pre-orders are open now.

Among the bonuses are covers of Children of Bodom’s ‘Angels Don’t Kill’ and Nightwish’s ‘The Pharaoh Sails to Orion.’ Guitarist and YouTube star Garrett Peters will make a guest appearance on both tracks. Immortal Guardian vocalist Carlos Zema will join Peters on the band’s cover of The Pharaoh Sails to Orion.’

Additionally, the new re-issue will feature the previously unreleased original ‘Wash Away.’ The song celebrates Ignaz Sammelweis, who discovered the health benefits of hand-washing in 1847. If that is not enough, it will also feature a re-worked take of ‘Reawakening,’ which is streaming here. The original song is featured in Question Everything.

The band talked about the forthcoming re-issue in a prepared statement.

“We are so thrilled to announce this special edition release of Question Everything to help celebrate the album’s one year of life!,” the statement reads. “This was such a fun album to work on and to get to relive it with you all is something we are very excited about. We are also excited to finally be coming to vinyl. It’s something we’ve wanted for a long time and we know a lot of you have asked for it. So now is the time to get your hands on this special and limited run of Question Everything.”

The full track listing for the album’s re-issue is noted below.

Track Listing – Helion Prime – Question Everything (Special Edition):
Album Disc/Vinyl:
1. Wash Away*
2. The Final Theory
3. Madame Mercury
4. Prof
5. The Gadfly
6. Photo 51
7. E Pur Si Muove
8. Words of the Abbot ft. guest vocals John Yelland (Judicator, Dire Peril)
9. The Forbidden Zone
10. Question Everything ft. Heather Michele (ex-Graveshadow, ex-Helion Prime) and Sozos Michael (ex-Helion Prime, Planeswalker)
11. Reawakening

Bonus Material:

1. The Drake Equation (Re-Recording)

2. Moon – Watcher (Re-Recording)

3. Atlas Obscura (Re-Recording)

4. The Human Condition (Re-Recording)

5. Question Everything (Mary Zimmer vocals Only)

6. Angel’s Don’t Kill (Children of Bodom Cover)**

7. The Pharaoh Sails to Orion (Nightwish Cover)***

**Guest guitar solo by Garrett Peters

***Features guest vocals by Carlos Zema (Immortal Guardian) and guest solo by Garrett Peters

More information on the band’s Question Everything re-issue and single is available along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

Website: https://helionprimemetal.com

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

Tulip Debuts New EP’s Latest Single, Video

Posted on August 13, 2021 by philspicks

Independent hard rock band Tulip premiered the latest single and video from its forthcoming EP this week.

The band premiered its new single, ‘Clone’ and its video Wednesday. The song is available to stream and download through Spotify and Apple Music. The single and its video are just the latest from the band’s forthcoming EP, The Witch, which is scheduled for release Sept. 17. It has also produced the singles, ‘Sidewinder‘ and ‘Proxy.’

The musical arrangement featured in ‘Clone’ is a driving, melodic composition. Its pairing of soaring vocals and equally powerful instrumentation makes it comparable to works from the likes of Helion Prime and Unleash the Archers.

The animated video for ‘Clone’ features the song’s lyrics along with a distinct cyberpunk style story. It finds a woman who turns out to be a machine hunting down the head of apparently some evil organization. Along the way, people are subjected to a constant barrage of news churned out seemingly by that organization.

The lyrics and video seem to hint at a lyrical message that addresses people being “clones,” just going along with everyone else and not thinking for themselves. That is just this critic’s interpretation without comment from the band to explain the song’s lyrical theme.

In other news, Tulip has a live show scheduled to take place Sept. 26 at Trees Dallas. Tickets are available here.

More information on Tulip’s new single, video, EP and live show is available along with all of the band’s latest news online now at:

Website: https://wearetulip.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wearetulip

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Skarlett Riot Continues Carving Out Its Place In The Metal Community On Its Latest LP

Posted on June 7, 2021 by philspicks

Independent metal band Skarlett Riot has been in existence for approximately 11 years, but in that short span, the band has done quite a bit to build its name and audience base. The band, which formed in 2010, has released a total of six studio recordings – three EPs and three albums – with the latest of the albums – Invicta – released in May through Despotz Records. The band’s latest offering is a positive new record that most metal fans will appreciate. That is due in large part to its featured lyrical themes. They will be discussed shortly. The musical arrangements that accompany the record’s lyrical themes add their own touch to the presentation and will be discussed a little later. The sequencing of that collective content rounds out the most important of the album’s elements. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered, they make Invicta a largely appealing new addition to this year’s field of new hard rock and metal albums.

Skarlett Riot’s third full-length studio recording, Invicta, is a positive new offering from the up-and-coming metal outfit. It is a presentation that will appeal to most hard rock and metal fans. That is proven in part through its featured lyrical themes. The themes in question are accessible, touching in various ways on the topic of overcoming life’s obstacles, and in other ways, on dealing with the impact of toxic relationships. Right from the album’s outset, ‘Breaking The Habit,’ one of those noted obstacles is seemingly addressed. In this case, the obstacle in question seems to be that of addiction. This is inferred as front woman Chloe “Skarlett” Drinkwater sings right in the song’s lead verse and chorus, “I am completely obsessed/Can’t stop thinking like this/Can’t resist to feed this darkness in me/I let myself progress/Into nothing but this mess/This is not a life/I can’t take no more/I’m so frustrated/I’ve become so jaded/I’ve lost my self control/I feel so far from home/So alone.” Little if any doubt is left even this early on about the seemingly noted theme here. This comes across as someone who is battling their addiction hard. At the same time, that determination to overcome this obstacle is present in the song’s second verse, in which Drinkwater sings, “I will learn to live again/There must be a way/The only one who can save me is me/I’m my own worst enemy/I will find my voice/This hidden strength in me/Try to get away/I used to feel so free.” Again, what audiences get here is that noted drive to get past the obstacle of addiction. It is a unique way to address the topic that is easily accessible, proving in itself why the album’s lyrical content is so important to its presentation. The matter of overcoming obstacles is presented in a different but equally accessible fashion later in the album’s 48-minute run in the form of ‘To The Flames.’

‘To The Flames’ is a collective call to unity; to unite and basically march on against any of life’s obstacles. This is made one hundred percent clear as Drinkwater sings in the song’s chorus, “We ascend to the top/Give all that we got/If we fall to the flames/We rise up/Come on try me/I’m burning bright/We fight to be heard/We ignite.” She adds in the song’s bridge, “We won’t be ignored/We won’t hear your toxic words/They feed off our misery/Sucking the life outta me/We won’t be ignored.” The calls to unity continue just as clearly throughout the song’s verses. When they are paired with the statements in the song’s chorus and bridge, the overall uplifting message proves that it will resonate with audiences just as much as any of the album’s other noted themes.

Speaking of those other themes, that of a toxic relationship and its impact is addressed in ‘Underwater.’ What is interesting here is the duality in the vulnerability shown here alongside the anger and power expressed alongside that vulnerability. On the one hand, Drinkwater sings so mournfully, “You crushed me/Tore me apart/Ripped my soul/Now I can’t trust no one/So here I am again/Cannot seem to find a way out/I am drowning/Can you hear me/Underwater.” This statement shows that vulnerability; that sadness and pain. On the other side, the anger that stems from whatever happened is made just as clear as Drinkwater screams, “I hope you bleed/’Cause no one will bleed for you/I hope you burn/You will go straight to hell.” She repeats these lines multiple times in the song’s bridge, really illustrating a lot of pent up rage from whatever led to the situation in which the subject is “drowning.” That anger is in itself, a way of overcoming the obstacle that was that toxic relationship/situation. To that end, it is another example of the importance of the album’s lyrical content. It shows the different topics and ways in which the more common themes are approached and presented. When that is considered in examining the rest of the album’s songs, the whole makes clear why the album’s lyrical content is so important to its presentation. It is just one part of what makes the album worth hearing. The musical arrangements that accompany the album’s lyrical themes play their own important part in the album’s presentation.

The musical arrangements that are exhibited in Invicta are important to examine because they all present a similar sound and stylistic approach from one song to the next. The heavy, crunching guitars alongside the equally strong bass line and percussion pair with Drinkwater’s vocals to create a sound and style throughout the record that makes this record comparable to works from the likes of Helion Prime, Unleash The Archers, and even Arch Enemy to a point. The arrangements do boast some subtle variations from one to the next. A close listen reveals those subtle variations. In hearing those variations, audiences will also catch the similarity to Skarlett Riot’s other works, and hear the similarities and variations. Hearing and understanding it all makes for even more appreciation for the album. When the impact of the album’s musical arrangements is paired with that of the album’s lyrical themes, the whole makes the album even more worth hearing. Even with all of this in mind, the album still has one more item to examine, that being the sequencing of said content.

Invicta’s sequencing is important to consider because of its role in keeping audiences engaged and entertained. From beginning to end, the record’s sequencing keeps the album’s energy high throughout. The only point at which the album slows things down comes more than halfway through in ‘Into Pieces.’ Even in this song though, the more subdued approach lasts only a certain amount of time before the band kicks things back into high gear again. From there on, the album keeps the energy high right up until its final bars. That in itself is sure to keep audiences listening. Along with that is the aforementioned constant variation in the arrangements. The variations keep the arrangements unique of one another throughout the album, thus enhancing the listening experience even more. The sequencing also ensures that the album’s lyrical themes change just enough from one to the next. The result of that alongside everything else associated with the sequencing is a presentation that will appeal to audiences just as much as the album’s content. Everything considered together, the album proves itself to be a presentation that will appeal just as much to Skarlett Riot’s fans as to most metal audiences in general.

Skarlett Riot’s latest album, Invicta is a strong new offering from the up-and-coming metal band. It is a record that serves to further etch out a place in the metal community for the band just as much as the band’s existing catalog. That is proven in part through its lyrical themes. The themes in question are mostly uplifting works that encourage listeners to push on through life’s obstacles. They also help people who have gone through or are going through difficult relationships of any kind get through those situations. The musical arrangements work with the lyrical themes to add their own touch to the album. That is because the way in which they balance the band’s power metal and pure metal influences throughout. The variations in the arrangements do well to balance those influences and keep listeners engaged and entertained. The sequencing of that collective content ensures that it works to keep that engagement and entertainment high, too. That is proven through the changes in the themes from one song to the next, the stability in the album’s energy and the changes in the arrangements. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of this record. All things considered, they make Invicta a positive new sign for Skarlett Riot’s growing place in the metal community. Invicta is available now. More information on Invicta is available along with all of Skarlett Riot’s latest news at:

Website: https://skarlettriot.co.uk

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkarlettRiot

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Helion Prime Does About Face On Singles, Debuts New Album’s Fifth Single, Video

Posted on October 8, 2020 by philspicks

Power metal band Helion Prime announced late last month that its then latest single ‘Photo 51’ would be the last from its forthcoming album Question Everything.

Apparently the band had a change of heart on the matter. That is because the band debuted the video for the album’s title track Monday. The song and video are the fifth from the band’s album, which is scheduled for release Friday.

The debut of ‘Question Everything’ and its video follows the debuts of ‘Photo 51,’ ‘The Gadfly,’ ‘Madame Mercury,’ and ‘The Forbidden Zone.’

The video for ‘Question Everything’ finds Helion Prime’s members — Mary Zimmer (vocals), Jason Ashcraft (rhythm guitar), Chad Anderson (lead guitar), Jeremy Steinhouse (bass) and Alexander Bosson (drums) — performing the new single in separate locations. The performance is streamed to computers around the world thanks to the help of someone who is supposed to be quite the computer whiz. As people are exposed to the video, their reactions vary from angry to excited.

The band’s former vocalists, Heather Michele and Sozos Michael joined the band’s current lineup for the shoot. Ashcraft addressed the guest appearances in a recent interview.

“It was very exciting getting to work with Heather again on this album, but what makes the title track very special to me is having both Heather and Sozos appear on it,” he said. “A lot of people don’t understand that we are all still a close family and love working together. When bands have to let go of members it’s not always for negative reasons. I think this song really managed to capture Helion Prime at its core.”

The song’s musical arrangement is full-on power metal in every aspect. It will appeal to any power metal purist with its soaring guitars and vocals, its precision time keeping as the time signature changes throughout, and the heaviness of the bass line.

The lyrical content featured in ‘Question Everything’ encourages listeners to not just go along with everything they are told. It in fact, comes right out and encourages listeners to listen to their inner voices and…well…question everything. The coupling of that familiar rock theme to the powerhouse musical arrangement makes the song even more appealing to power metal fans, especially considering that it goes against the grain of so much power metal lyrical content.

More information on Helion Prime’s new single and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://helionprimemetal.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/helionprimemetal

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wodpress.com.

Helion Prime’s New Album Will Appeal To Any Power Metal Purist

Posted on October 5, 2020 by philspicks

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:

Website: http://helionprimemetal.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/helionprimemetal

Helion Prime Debuts ‘Photo 51’ Lyric Video

Posted on September 28, 2020 by philspicks

Courtesy: Saibot Reigns

Helion Prime debuted the video for its latest single this week.

The band debuted the lyric video for its new single ‘Photo 51‘ Monday. The song and its video are the fourth and final preview of the band’s forthcoming album Question Everything, which is scheduled for release Oct. 5 through the band’s own label, Saibot Reigns. Its debut follows that of the album’s singles ‘The Gadfly,’ ‘Madame Mercury,’ and ‘The Forbidden Zone‘ and their respective videos.

The band’s new lyric video places the song’s lyrics over a variety of images, such as a double helix, cells, and data collected on a computer screen. The visualization is meant to help tell the song’s story, which is about what is known as Photo 51, the very first picture of human DNA.

The song’s musical arrangement will appeal to fans of similar bands, such as Amaranthe and Unleash The Archers.

The band discussed the song in a prepared statement.

“This song is a favorite among the band from the new album and those who have heard it seem to claim it as a favorite as well!,” the statement reads. “It might just become a new staple in our live sets! We hope you enjoy ‘Photo 51’! And thank you to Scott Kennedy from 12 Inch Media for creating it.”

Question Everything was mixed by Chris Collier and mastered by Brett Caldas-Lima. Alex nassla (Gear Gods Studio) provided additional mixing/drum edits/re-amping. Michael Goodrich provided guitar-bass edits. The cover art for Question Everything was created by Marc Whisnant.

The album’s Japanese release, which is scheduled for Oct. 28 through Ward Records, will feature two bonus tracks, a demo of the song ‘Prof’ and a cover of Trivium’s ‘Rain.’ Pre-orders for the record are open.

The album’s track listing is noted below.

Track Listing:
1. The Final Theory (4:20)
2. Madame Mercury (4:19)
3. Prof (3:55)
4. The Gadfly (6:35)
5. Photo 51 (5:13)
6. E Pur Si Muove (5:48)
7. Words of The Abbot (4:55) ft. guest vocals John Yelland (Judicator, Dire Peril)
8. The Forbidden Zone (4:32)
9. Question Everything (5:56) ft. Heather Michele (ex-Graveshadow, ex-Helion Prime) and Sozos Michael (ex-Helion Prime, Planeswalker)
10. Reawakening (6:54)
11. Kong at the Gates (Misfits Cover)
Album Length: 56:12

– Japanese Edition Limited Bonus Tracks –
12. Prof (Demo)
13. Rain (Trivium Cover)

More information on the band’s new album and single is available along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://helionprimemetal.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/helionprimemetal

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