As the final hours of 2022 tick away and all eyes and hopes look forward to 2023, there is still a little bit of time to look back on the year that is now ending in regards to the year’s top new albums. This year produced so many impressive new albums across the musical universe, from rock to rap to jazz, blues, classical, world, and even family music, as Phil’s Picks has shown. Looking at all of those genres, many of them have produced records that are clearly among the best of the best, and they are presented here in the last of this year’s new music lists.
This year’s list of the year’s top new albums includes Machine Head’s new album, Of Kingdom and Crown, percussionist Tom Collier’s new album, The Color of Wood, and even Pimps of Joytime’s new album, Reachin’ Up among so many others. Between these and all of the other albums included in this final music list for the year, it is clear that this year’s overall field of new music was rich with enjoyable content. It made creating this list so difficult, but the list was created, nonetheless.
As with each Phil’s Picks list, this one consists of the year’s top 10 new albums and five additional honorable mentions for a total of 15 titles. The top 10 records are the best of the best and the honorable mentions are records that are appealing in their own right and deserving of attention, too, thus their inclusion here. Without any further ado, here is Phil’s Picks’ 2022 Top 10 New Albums of the Year.
PHIL’S PICKS 2022 TOP 10 NEW ALBUMS
Bloodywood – Rakshak
Danilo Perez – Crisalida
Derek Sherinian – Vortex
Machine Head – Of Kingdom and Crown
Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music – Variants of Vibe
Devin Townsend – Light Work
Joe Satriani – Elephants of Mars
Sabaton – The Symphony to End All Wars
Pimps of Joytime – Reachin’ Up
Tom Collier – The Color of Wood
The Jorgensens – Americana Soul
Mark Tremonti – Tremonti Sings Sinatra
Playing For Change Band – The Real Revolution
Old Crow Medicine Show – Paint The Town
Bobby Watson – Back Home in Kansas City
That’s it for this year’s new music year-enders. There is still time for at least a couple of TV pieces to go through before the year officially ends, so stay tuned!
The hard rock and metal community had another strong year in 2022, with dozens of acts releasing new studio recordings. From established acts to some up-and-comers to even some fledgling acts, bands across the hard rock and metal community offered audiences something to appreciate. That included new power metal, death metal, nu-metal and general hard rock records. In other words, 2022 was a very good year for the hard rock and metal community, and Phil’s Picks’ 2022 Top 10 New Hard Rock and Metal Albums list illustrates that clearly.
This year’s list of top new hard rock and metal albums runs across the community with new albums from the likes of Slipknot, Megadeth, Ozzy Osbourne, Sabaton, and even Amon Amarth. Topping this year’s list is the debut album from fledgling nu-metal band Bloodywood. The band has, in the past few years, made a heck of a name for itself through its music and uplifting lyrical themes. The band’s star has continued to rise ever since it released its debut album, Rakshak early this year, too. Joining Bloodywood and the other noted bands on this year’s list are also the likes of Machine Head, Master Boot Record, and Lamb of God, too.
As with each list from Phil’s Picks, this list features Phil’s Picks’ top 10 new albums in the given category and five honorable mention titles. Those honorable mention titles are no less impactful than the top 10 albums. It is just that hard to really find just 10 records worth noting. There are that many that are so good. So, without any further ado, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks’ 2022 Top 10 New Hard Rock and Metal Albums.
PHILS PICKS 2022 TOP 10 NEW HARD ROCK/METAL ALBUMS
Bloodywood – Rakshak
Sabaton – The War to End All Wars
Sabaton – The Symphony to End All Wars
Machine Head – Of Kingdom and Crown
Slipknot – The End, So Far
Lamb of God – Omens
Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army
Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying & The Dead
Arch Enemy – Deceivers
Ozzy Osbourne – Patient #9
Grave Digger – Symbol of Eternity
Master Boot Record – Personal Computer
Stratovarius – Survive
Artifas – Reflections
Stone Broken – Revelation
That’s it for this year’s list, but there is still plenty more to come between today and tomorrow with lists for top new Family Music, World Music, Top New Independent Albums and Top New Overall Albums. Somehow Phil’s Picks also has to get in lists for new TV and movie releases, too by midnight Saturday. Stay tuned!
Machine Head is back. More than four years after the release of the band’s then latest album, Catharsis, the band released its 10th album, Of Kingdom and Crown Friday through Nuclear Blast Records. The 13-song album is a solid return to form for front man and founder Robb Flynn, who is now the band’s only original member. Over the course of the record’s 39-minute run time, its arrangements lift from all of the best of the band’s catalog, musically speaking, while also offering lyrical content that is engaging in its own right. Flynn and his new band mates – Waclaw Kieltkya (guitar, vocals), Jared MacEachern (bass, vocals), and Matt Alston (drums) – released roughly half of the album’s body in the months leading up to the record’s release, with a total of six of its song debuting between November 2020 and June of this year. One of the most powerful of those singles is ‘My Hands Are Empty.’ This song will be discussed shortly. ‘Rotten,’ which comes late in the album, is another notable addition to the record and will be discussed a little later. ‘Choke On The Ashes Of Your Hate,’ which comes early in the record’s run, is yet another notable addition to the album and will also be examined later. All three songs noted are key in their own way to the whole of this album’s presentation. When they are considered along with the album’s other entries, the whole makes this record one of the year’s top new hard rock and metal albums and potentially one of the year’s top new albums.
Of Kingdom and Crown, the latest album from Machine Head, is easily among the best of this year’s new hard rock and metal albums. There is no question about that. That is made clear from the record’s beginning to its end in its musical and lyrical content alike. One of the songs that does so well to make that clear is ‘My Hands Are Empty.’ While not recently considered the album’s lead single, it was, in hindsight, the first of the new songs that would end up on the album in its release way back in November 2020. It should be noted here that while Matt Alston is currently handling drumming duties for the band, the drums in this song’s arrangement were handled by Navene Koperweis (Animals As Leaders, Whitechapel, Entheos). The arrangement overall features a sound and stylistic approach that, as Flynn noted at the time of the single’s release, is comparable to works from the band’s 2003 album, Through The Ashes of Empires. That is evidenced through Flynn’s distinct growling vocals and the richness created through the pairing of the guitar and bass alongside those pummeling drums. The addition of the choral effect to the mix adds even more to that sense.
Lyrically speaking, Flynn explained that the song tackles the issue of opioid abuse.
“I have some family members who have beaten their opioid addiction, and have some still in the throes of addition,” Flynn said. “it is painful to watch, and I deal with it with great difficulty. It is a song of sadness, but there is hope as well. I have beaten my own drug addictions and we can fight through this together and share our pain with the world.” The mention in the song’s chorus that “My hands are empty/Lies so pretty/Kill me gently” points directly to the emotional struggle. It is an allusion to someone feeling left with nothing as a result of so many struggles. In this case the struggles are with addiction, being at the bottom of that proverbial barrel. The mention of powders and pills in the song’s second verse, along with watching someone slowly die is that direct reference to watching people Flynn knows struggling with addiction. Seeing them “Disintegrate/You/Right before my eyes” and the emptiness haunting him makes that painful picture all the fuller. That overall lyrical picture, along with the power and emotion in the song’s musical arrangement makes fully clear why this song stands out among the album’s singles.
‘My Hands Are Empty’ is just one of the songs that stands out in Machine Head’s new album. ‘Rotten’ is another notable addition to the record. Its musical arrangement immediately takes audiences back to the band’s debut 1994 album, Burn My Eyes. The crunch of the guitars, and the pairing of the bass and drums really leads even more to that comparison. Flynn himself is even quoted through Apple Music as saying the arrangement came about during the band’s recent tour in celebration of Burn My Eyes’ 25th anniversary while also making his own comparison to works from Exodus’ 1989 album, Fabulous Disaster.
Considering the fire in the song’s arrangement, it makes the song’s lyrical content all the more interesting. That is because Flynn left interpretation of the song’s lyrical content to audiences. The mention of sitting, holding the “gun in hand/Barrel to the temple” leads to the sense that this song is lyrically taking on the blend of anger and desperation that comes with such suicidal thoughts. The anger comes as Flynn screams, “Everything is rotten to the core” in the song’s chorus. His further mention of feeling such anxiety, “heart racing/My throat’s constricting” even more seems to hint at those mixed feelings. If in fact, this is the picture that Flynn is trying to paint here, that of someone sitting there, feeling so much anger and sadness, anxiety and confusion all at once, then he has done quite well. That is because mental health is such a prevalent matter, and that constantly deserves attention. To that end, the overall picture painted through the song’s musical and lyrical content makes the whole here stand out just as much as ‘Empty Hands’ and the rest of the album’s offerings.
As much as ‘Rotten’ does to make Of Kingdom and Crown a powerful new offering from Machine Head, it is hardly the last of the record’s most notable works. ‘Choke on the Ashes of Your Hate’ is yet another example of how much this record has to offer. The musical arrangement featured in this song is, again, influenced by Exodus according to Flynn. He compared the intensity of the song’s arrangement to that of works from Exodus’ debut 1985 album, Bonded by Blood. Interestingly enough, that album’s title track (and much of the album) actually sounds more akin to early Metallica than Machine Head. To that end one could argue that this song is just as much akin to early Metallica as early Exodus. That is meant in the most complimentary fashion, too.
Lyrically, this song goes in a completely different direction from those of the other songs examined here. Flynn said in an interview about the song, that it was influenced by the Japanese anime series, Attack on Titan. He said the song is part of what is apparently a bigger semi-conceptual approach to this album that is based on that series and that the lead song focuses on two characters who both start out good but turn bad because of the bad things that happened personally to them. It is an interesting concept of there really being that there is no real “good” or “bad” guy in stories or in life. That concept, together with the song’s powerful musical arrangement, makes it stand on its own unique merits. When it is considered along with the other songs examined here and with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes the album overall an unforgettable new offering from Machine Head that is among the best of the band’s albums to date.
Of Kingdom and Crown, the latest album from Machine Head, is an impressive return for the band, considering the stark departure that the band took on its predecessor, 2018’s Catharsis. The album is a full-on return to form for Flynn and his current band mates. That is evidenced through its musical and lyrical content alike. The songs examined here each make that clear. When they are considered along with the album’s other songs, the entirety of that body makes Of Kingdom and Crown one of Machine Head’s best albums to date and one of the year’s top new hard rock and metal albums.
Of Kingdom and Crown is available now through Nuclear Blast Records. The band is scheduled to join Amon Amarth on the road this fall in Europe, with each band promoting its own new album.
Veteran Viking metal outfit Amon Amarth is set to release its latest album, The Great Heathen Army very in less than a week through its longtime label home Metal Blade Records. Scheduled for release Aug. 5, the 9-song record will come more than three years after the release of the band’s then latest album, Berserker. The 43-minute presentation is everything that Amon Amarth fans have come to expect from the band both musically and lyrically. At the same time, the record’s musical content actually shows some growth from the band this time out. The record’s musical and lyrical content will each receive their own examinations here. The album’s production rounds out its most important elements and will also be examined here. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered they make The Great Heathen Army one more of the greatest of this year’s new hard rock and metal albums.
The Great Heathen Army, the 12th new album from Amon Amarth, is another largely successful offering from the veteran metal outfit that has made a career of making songs about Vikings. The record’s appeal comes in part through its featured musical arrangements. The very first thing that the band’s established audiences will note through the record’s nine total arrangements is that they are not all the same semi-symphonic/death metal approach that the band has taken in so many of its albums. Right from the record’s outset, its lead single, ‘Get in the Ring,’ the band takes more of a modern hard rock/metal approach. It is a notable change of sound and style for the band considering the compositions that the band has crafted over its decades-long career. It is just one of the songs that shows that branching out, too. Late in the record in ‘Saxons and Vikings,’ the band goes in a vintage hard rock style approach, even bringing in famed Accept/U.D.O. front man Udo Dirkschneider to add to the mix. Just as interesting is that the band does make sure to include some of its more familiar death metal riffs to mix things up a little bit along the way. The pairing of those leanings together, complete with a powerhouse solo, makes this song’s arrangement yet another standout addition to the record that continues to show the band’s musical growth this time out. The band offers up a little more of that vintage hard rock leaning in the record’s closer, ‘The Serpent’s Trail.’ The way in which the guitars are used here almost mimics some string arrangements, and the classical guitar approach here along the way just adds that much more to the record. It is just one more way in which the musical arrangements feature in this record show their value to the album’s presentation. When these arrangements are considered along with the works that lean more in the band’s familiar sounds and styles, the whole makes The Great Heathen Army a presentation that succeeds if only through its musical content.
The musical content that is featured in The Great Heathen Army is just part of what makes the album worth hearing. The lyrical content that accompanies that musical content makes for its own appeal. That is because it is far more familiar to those noted established audiences. From ‘Oden Owns You All’ to Saxons and Vikings’ to ‘The Serpent’s Trail’ and more, the themes featured in the record’s lyrics all center on the familiar topics of all things Norse and Vikings. Now there are a couple of sings – ‘Get In The Ring’ and ‘Find A Way Or Make One’ – that do break that mold. ‘Find A Way Or Make One’ delivers an all too familiar but always welcome message of pushing through life’s difficulties. This is clear as front man Johan Hegg sings here, “Stand tall/And fight/The world will quake/Stand tall/And fight/I will never break.” Some of the lyrics are a little difficult cult decipher fully sans lyrics, but he also makes note here of fighting the battle when all hope is lost and gone. This is, again, a powerful and familiar message, especially as he adds that he will not kneel, no matter what the odds. Yet again, here is more proof of the song’s message of personal strength. The battles and situations do not necessarily have to be warfare, but just personal battles. To that end, again, this familiar message is just as welcome from the band here as from any other band. What’s more, that it is set here alongside so much other more familiar content shows growth, lyrically from the band.
‘Get In The Ring’ meanwhile is actually a song for one of the rising stars of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It is fitting that it was crafted for a pro wrestler, as its lyrical theme is in fact a fight song. It is an anthem that could and will get anyone pumped up who has ever been done wrong by someone. It is that challenge to those people who would stand in our way metaphorically or lyrically. To that end, it is another familiar lyrical theme in general that shows in its own way, why the lyrical themes in record are just as appealing as the album’s musical content. All things considered the record’s lyrical content pairs with its companion musical content to make the album’s overall content a strong foundation for the presentation. It is just one part of what makes the album so appealing. The record’s production rounds out its most important elements.
The production that went into The Great Heathen Army is important to its presentation because of its role in the record’s general effect. Every song in this record is loud and heavy. Each work is so rich because of the pairing of the instrumentations and vocals. Thanks to the time and effort that went into the production, no one part overpowers the others (including the vocals) at any one point in the album. That is, again, due to the production. Every part of each song is so powerful, leading each work to be fully immersive. The result is that the album proves just as successful in its aesthetic presentation as in its content. When all of this is considered together, the whole of The Great Heathen Army becomes one more of the year’s top new hard rock and metal albums.
The Great Heathen Army, the 12th new album from veteran metal outfit Amon Amarth, is another strong new offering from the band that will entertain the band’s established audiences just as much as metal fans in general. That is evidenced in part through the record’s musical content. The arrangements featured throughout the album are familiar, but also show a certain level of growth. The band tries its hand at some vintage hard rock and metal styles as well as some more mainstream sounding heavy rock at points throughout the record. That diversity offers audiences something “old” and something “new” which along the way makes for plenty of engagement and entertainment. The lyrical themes featured alongside the album’s musical content is just as important to its presentation. That is because of its overall familiarity, too. There are plenty of Viking themes once again, along with some themes of overcoming diversity, which the band has handled less, but is still familiar in the rock and metal communities. The record’s production puts the finishing touch to the presentation, ensuring that the best of each song is brought out from one work to another. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of the record. All things considered they make the album overall another welcome offering from Amon Amarth that belongs among the best of the year’s new hard rock and metal albums.
The Great Heathen Army is scheduled for release Friday through Metal Blade Records. Amon Amarth will hit the road this fall in support of its new, forthcoming album. The band will launch the “The Great Heathen Tour” November 11 in Las Vegas, NV in support of the record.
The tour features support from Carcass, Obituary, and Cattle Decapitation, and is expected to run through Dec. 17 in Los Angeles, CA and also features scheduled performances in cities, such as Charlotte, NC; Cincinnati, OH and Seattle, WA.
The tour’s schedule is noted below.
Amon Amarth THE GREAT HEATHEN TOUR US HEADLINE RUN W/ CARCASS, OBITUARY AND CATTLE DECAPITATION Friday, November 11 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl* Saturday, November 12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theater Monday, November 14 – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater Tuesday, November 15 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center Wednesday, November 16 – Dallas, TX @ Southside Ballroom Friday, November 18 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle Saturday, November 19 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live Sunday, November 20 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Tuesday, November 22 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Wednesday, November 23 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway Friday, November 25 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Saturday, November 26 – Chicago, IL @ The Aragon Ballroom Sunday, November 27 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center Wednesday, November 30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE** Thursday, Dec 01 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom Friday, Dec 02 – Toronto, ON @ History Saturday, Dec 03 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell Monday, Dec 05 – Madison, WI @ The Sylvee Tuesday, Dec 06 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore Wednesday, Dec 07- Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Friday, Dec 09 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore Saturday, Dec 10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex Monday, Dec 12 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO Tuesday, Dec 13 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater Thursday, Dec 15 – Wheatland, CA @ Hard Rock Live Friday, Dec 16 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA Saturday, Dec 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum
*No Carcass ** Non-Live Nation date
The new fall U.S. dates will follow a European run with Machine Head, that is scheduled to run from Sept. 8 in Nottingham, UK to Oct. 22 in Stuttgart, Germany. The Halo Effect is also scheduled to take part in the tour, dubbed the “Vikings and Lionhearts Tour 2022.”
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.
Amon Amarth will hit the road this fall in support of its new, forthcoming album, The Great Heathen Army.
The band announced Tuesday, it will launch the “The Great Heathen Tour” November 11 in Las Vegas, NV in support of the record, which is scheduled for release Aug. 5 through Metal Blade Records. The tour features support from Carcass, Obituary, and Cattle Decapitation, and is expected to run through Dec. 17 in Los Angeles, CA and also features scheduled performances in cities, such as Charlotte, NC; Cincinnati, OH and Seattle, WA.
The tour’s schedule is noted below.
Amon Amarth THE GREAT HEATHEN TOUR US HEADLINE RUN W/ CARCASS, OBITUARY AND CATTLE DECAPITATION Friday, November 11 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl* Saturday, November 12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theater Monday, November 14 – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater Tuesday, November 15 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center Wednesday, November 16 – Dallas, TX @ Southside Ballroom Friday, November 18 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle Saturday, November 19 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live Sunday, November 20 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Tuesday, November 22 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Wednesday, November 23 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway Friday, November 25 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Saturday, November 26 – Chicago, IL @ The Aragon Ballroom Sunday, November 27 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center Wednesday, November 30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE** Thursday, Dec 01 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom Friday, Dec 02 – Toronto, ON @ History Saturday, Dec 03 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell Monday, Dec 05 – Madison, WI @ The Sylvee Tuesday, Dec 06 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore Wednesday, Dec 07- Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Friday, Dec 09 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore Saturday, Dec 10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex Monday, Dec 12 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO Tuesday, Dec 13 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater Thursday, Dec 15 – Wheatland, CA @ Hard Rock Live Friday, Dec 16 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA Saturday, Dec 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum
*No Carcass ** Non-Live Nation date
The new fall U.S. dates will follow a European run with Machine Head, that is scheduled to run from Sept. 8 in Nottingham, UK to Oct. 22 in Stuttgart, Germany. The Halo Effect is also scheduled to take part in the tour, dubbed the “Vikings and Lionhearts Tour 2022.”
OCTOBER Saturday 01 – BERLIN, Germany Velodrome Sunday 02 – AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Afas Live Tuesday 04 – MILAN, Italy, Lorenzini District Thursday 06 – BARCELONA, Spain, Sant Jordi Friday 07 – MADRID, Spain, Vistalegre Saturday 08 – LA CORUNA, Spain, Coliseum Sunday 09 – LISBON, Portugal, Campo Pequeno Wednesday 12 – PARIS, France, Zenith Friday 14 – MUNICH, Germany, Olympiahalle Saturday 15 – LEIPZIG, Germany, Arena Sunday 16 – PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Tipsport Arena Tuesday 18 – BUDAPEST, Hungary, Barba Negra Thursday 20 – ESCH SUR ALZETTE, Luxembourg, Rockhal Friday 21 – BRUSSELS, Belgium, Forest National Saturday 22 – STUTTGART, Germant, Schleyerhalle
The announcement of Amon Amarth’s new tour came less than a week after the band debuted the second single from its new album, which is also the album’s title track. The band debuted the song and its video July 7. The band debuted the album’s lead single, ‘Get In The Ring‘ and its companion video June 2.
The track listing for The Great Heathen Army is noted below.
AMON AMARTH The Great Heathen Army Track Listing 1. Get In the Ring 2. The Great Heathen Army 3. Heidrun 4. Oden Owns You All 5. Find a Way or Make One 6. Dawn of Norsemen 7. Saxons and Vikings 8. Skagul Rides With Me 9. The Serpent’s Trail
More information on Amon Amarth’s new tour, single, video, and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news 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.
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Unhallowed’ is a fully engaging and entertaining composition. Its mostly brooding nature and thrash style breakdown immediately conjures thoughts of the band’s hit single, ‘Imperium.’ At the same time, there is a certain sense of the band’s works from its landmark debut album, Burn My Eyes throughout the arrangement, too. The whole makes the song so enjoyable.
The song’s lyrical theme continues the story set in ‘Choke On The Ashes Of Your Hate’ according to front man Robb Flynn.
“Drowning in the deepest depression of his life, Eros is at a breaking point,” Flynn said. “Collecting heartaches, loss, and near psychotic isolation, ‘Unhallowed’ is the beginning of a powerful shift of our story. An introspective narrative starts the song lyrically, which is a collaborative effort written by myself, Guitarist Wacław “Vogg” Kiełtyka, and Bassist/Backing Vocalist Jared MacEachern and encapsulates the collective strength of this writing team.
“Anchored by an absolutely monstrous groove, the vocals melodically mirror the state of mind of Eros as he reels from the loss of his mother to a drug overdose and begins a slow downward spiral into madness. However, the culmination of the track infuses some much-needed light, but will it be enough?”
As a refresher for those maybe new to the concept behind the band’s new album, Flynn talked early this spring about the topic.
“Thanks to my 2 teenage boys my family has become obsessed with this awesome Japanese anime series called “Attack On Titan,” he said. “The album’s concept was loosely inspired by the series in the sense that in the storyline, there is no “good” or “bad” guy, both characters believe they’re doing the right thing as it applies to their being, but make no mistake, both are committing acts of pure atrocity and evil. The opening track “SLAUGHTER THE MARTYR” is basically our character #1’s origin story.”
Flynn’s statement also outlined the lyrical theme in the album’s then new single. He said of the two men:
Character #1 Ares: (pronounced Aries), our main, who loses the love of his life (Amethyst) and goes on a murderous rampage against the vile sect responsible for her murder.
Character #2 Eros: (pronounced Arrows) the perpetrator, who loses his mother to a drug overdose and becomes radicalized in the aftermath. Eros goes off the deep end manifesting his own killing spree.
The video for ‘Unhallowed’ features Flynn performing the new single alongside bassist Jared MacEachern. The space is also where Flynn and MacEachern have held so many live performances over the past couple of years online.
Of Kingdom and Crown will release on 16 separate vinyl pressings, deluxe vinyl box set, CD, cassette, and digital formats. The album’s track listing is noted below.
Amon Amarth will tentatively release its new album this summer.
The band announced Thursday, it is scheduled to release its new album, The Great Heathen Army Aug. 5 through Metal Blade Records. In anticipation of the record’s pending release, the band premiered the album’s lead single, ‘Get In The Ring‘ and its companion video Thursday.
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Get In The Ring’ is a slight departure for the band, considering its familiar brand of death metal compositions. In the case of this song, the arrangement is more spit-shined for lack of better wording, than its existing songs. It has less of the somewhat symphonic elements that are so commonplace in most of the band’s catalog, though does still incorporate that element here, just more subtly.
The lyrical theme featured in the band’s new single also seems to be something of a departure for the band. In place of the familiar Viking conquest tales, the band instead has presented what comes across as simply an adrenaline-fueled fight song. According to guitarist Olavi Mikkonent, the song was written as an entrance theme for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Erik Redbeard.
That fight theme is amplified through the song’s video, which puts the band in a post-apocalyptic Mad Max style setting, performing its new single in a bunker setting as a group of fighters face off against each other. There are some Viking weapons incorporated into the visualization, but their presence is even minimalized here. It makes for even more interest in this case.
The track listing for The Great Heathen Army is noted below. The record was produced by Andy Sneap (Arch Enemy, Fozzy, Dream Theater). Audiences will notice in the track listing that the band’s most recent single, ‘Put Your Back Into The Oar,’ which debuted Feb. 17, is not included in the track listing. Why that is the case is left to ponder.
AMON AMARTH The Great Heathen Army Track Listing 1. Get In the Ring 2. The Great Heathen Army 3. Heidrun 4. Oden Owns You All 5. Find a Way or Make One 6. Dawn of Norsemen 7. Saxons and Vikings 8. Skagul Rides With Me 9. The Serpent’s Trail
Courtesy: Metal Blade Records
In other news, Amon Amarth is scheduled to launch a European tour in support of its new album album Sept. 8 in Nottingham, UK. The tour, whose schedule is noted below, is set to run through Oct. 22 in Stuttgart, Germany. Machine Head and The Halo Effect are scheduled to join Amon Amarth for the tour.
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.
Hard rock super group Lions at the Gate debuted its latest single and video this week.
The band The band, which is composed of former members of Ill Nino, Machine Head, Westfield Massacre and Silence The Messenger, premiered its new single, ‘Find My Way‘ and its video Tuesday. The song features a guest appearance by Jinjer vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk.
The premiere of ‘Find My Way’ and its video comes more than a month after the band premiered its then latest single, ‘Bed Of Nails.’ The band premiered that single March 2.
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Find My Way’ opens with a piano line that listeners who are well versed in classical music will recognize before launching into a full on Slipknot-esque aural assault. The intensity of that moment and the rest of the song’s verses is in direct contrast to the gentility of the song’s choruses, making for plenty of engagement and entertainment. The noted classical piano line bookends the arrangement, closing it out, too, making the song complete.
Front man Christian Machado talked about the song’s musical arrangement in a prepared statement, which also included a discussion on Schmayluk’s inclusion in the track.
“With ‘Find My Way’, we tried to break all the formulaic rules on this one,” the statement reads. Pushed the boundaries, took it to extremes. In the end, we realized how rewarding it was fitting intensely contrasting musical elements into one track. And it is a killer heavy track that also offers a beautifully haunting melody. From the onset it seemed perfect for Tatiana’s voice, the fact that she wound up on the track is mind-blowing. Her voice is absolutely stunning and it is a huge honor having her on.”
Machado said the song’s lyrical theme is a reference to his own mental health concerns.
“Lyrically the song walks the line between fear, surrender, and the will to overcome,” he said. “At the time of writing the album, I felt pinned by so many things gone wrong in my life. I remember I just held on to hope and faith long enough till I found a place of safe surrender. A place where I could slowly lift the weight off, finally be untethered.”
The video for ‘Find My Way’ is a familiar style presentation. It features the band performing its new single in a specially designed sound stage, complete with pyro. Shmayluk joins the band in the presentation.
Lions at the Gate released two other singles last year in the form of ‘Scapegoat‘ and its video, and ‘Not Even Human‘ and its companion video.
More information on Lions at the Gate’s new single and video is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Machine Head will release its latest album this summer.
The band announced Tuesday, it is scheduled to release its new album, Of Kingdom and Crown Aug. 26 through Nuclear Blast Records/Imperium Recordings. In anticipation of the album’s release, the band premiered what is technically the album’s fifth single, ‘Choke On The Ashes Of Your Hate‘ Tuesday, along with its companion video.
The song is technically the album’s fifth single as the 13-song record also features the songs, ‘Arrows In Words From The Sky,’ Rotten,’ and ‘Become The Firestorm,’ which the band premiered last June in a three-song digital exclusive single, and the song, ‘My Hands Are Empty,’ which the band premiered in November 2020. Both songs are part of the album’s overall 13-song body, which makes up what front man/founder Robb Flynn said is a concept story.
“Thanks to my 2 teenage boys my family has become obsessed with this awesome Japanese anime series called “Attack On Titan,” he said. “The album’s concept was loosely inspired by the series in the sense that in the storyline, there is no “good” or “bad” guy, both characters believe they’re doing the right thing as it applies to their being, but make no mistake, both are committing acts of pure atrocity and evil. The opening track “SLAUGHTER THE MARTYR” is basically our character #1’s origin story.”
Flynn’s statement also outlines the lyrical theme in the album’s new single. He said of the two men:
Character #1 Ares: (pronounced Aries), our main, who loses the love of his life (Amethyst) and goes on a murderous rampage against the vile sect responsible for her murder.
Character #2 Eros: (pronounced Arrows) the perpetrator, who loses his mother to a drug overdose and becomes radicalized in the aftermath. Eros goes off the deep end manifesting his own killing spree.
The video for ‘Choke On The Ashes Of Your Hate’ is a familiar style presentation. The black and white presentation features the band performing its new single on a sound stage as the song plays over. Various video effects and edits are used to heighten the song’s emotion.
Of Kingdom and Crown will release on 16 separate vinyl pressings, deluxe vinyl box set, CD, cassette, and digital formats. The album’s track listing is noted below.
Independent hard rock band Lockjaw debuted its latest single and video this month.
The band premiered its new single, ‘Living in my Head‘ and its companion video Jan. 9 through Spaceuntravel. The song came more than five months after the band debuted its then latest single, ‘Silence The Fear.’
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Living in my Head’ is largely unlike that featured in ‘Silence The Fear.’ Where ‘Silence The Fear’ is a heavy, pounding work a la compositions from Machine Head, Amon Amarth and others, this song is more of a melodic hard rock work. The combination of instrumentation and vocals likens this arrangement more to works from the likes of Trivium and Devildriver.
The band discussed the song’s lyrical theme in a prepared statement.
“‘Living in My Head’ was a song we felt had to be released early on this album because it really hits home with what the world is going through now,” the statement reads. “We felt we could connect with fans, and let them know, we are with you. We are all struggling together. We feel the pressure of this world, with the pandemic and uncertainty, it really causes stress, anxiety, mental health issues all around. I don’t think anyone is immune to it. We are really proud of the final product and are glad to send our brand of heavy music into the world. We hope everyone enjoys it as much as we do!”
The video for the band’s new single is a simple presentation. It features the band performing its single on a sound stage. Various, high-speed cuts and fades pair with the video’s darkened look to heighten the song’s emotion.
More information on Lockjaw’s new single and video is available along with all of the band’s latest news at https://www.facebook.com/Lockjawlive.
philspicks 