Loading…

Author: Chelsea

Interview: Edward Warren of Ironstone

ChelseaInterviews

Ironstone is a progressive metal band out of Melbourne, Australia who just released their first EP, Prophecy, on May 29th after making their debut with two singles in 2019. The band had a switch-up of vocalists in the past year, but have locked in a lineup as they showcase their metal musicality and impressive skills to the world with this 6-track debut. Ironstone founding guitarist/songwriter Edward Warren (second from right in band photo) took the time to give some great answers via email to my questions about the band and the new EP. Check it out below. Talk about some […]

Interview: Kjetil Nordhus of Green Carnation

ChelseaInterviews

Metal Magnitude recently got on the phone with Kjetil Nordhus, frontman of the band Green Carnation to talk about their new album, Leaves of Yesteryear, out now on Season of Mist. Kjetil discusses some ideas behind the new album, some Green Carnation history, a look into Tristania, and virtual livestreams that Green Carnation has lined up in these pandemic times, all from a socially distanced bar in Norway. Check out the audio via YouTube below: For more on Green Carnation, visit: https://www.facebook.com/GreenCarnationNorway/ and https://www.instagram.com/green2carnation/. 

Album Review: Kansas – The Absence of Presence

ChelseaAlbum Reviews

The iconic level of musicianship associated with the name Kansas has never wavered, and the band has evolved with the times as they produce their latest album that fits the Progressive Rock idiom while venturing into modern Hard Rock elements. Vocalist Ronnie Platt has said that “The Absence of Presence shows the band firing on all cylinders”, and there’s no mistaking the truth of that statement from the very first song.  The title track opens the album, and its verse and chorus has Platt delivering the message of “reaching for connection to break the silence”, noting that “The Absence of […]

Interview: Dave Wanless of Sven Gali

ChelseaInterviews

Sven Gali made their debut on the Canadian music scene in the early 90’s, with a self-titled debut that went gold and launched the band to hit music videos, Juno nominations, and world touring alongside the likes of Def Leppard, Foreigner, Pearl Jam, and April Wine. Life took the band in different directions, and they split in 1996, but Sven Gali is back this year with a new EP, 3, set to be released on June 12th via RFL Records. Sven Gali frontman Dave Wanless took the time to answer some questions about the band and the new EP.  When […]

Interview: Raider

ChelseaInterviews

Canadian Death/Thrashers Raider have just unveiled their debut full-length album to the world this month, following up on the 2018 demo Urge To Kill with the release of Guardian of the Fire. Raider’s frontman, Angelo Bonacorso, answered a few questions about the band and the new album.  Guardian of the Fire is actually your first full-length, what are some ideas that went into the making of this album? Musically: we wanted this record to introduce something fresh to death-thrash. What we came up with is something heavy, catchy, and original. We wanted to pay homage to our forebears but the only way […]

Interview: ZouZou Mansour of Soraia

ChelseaInterviews

Soraia is a hard rocking band out of Philadelphia who have just released their latest full-album, Dig Your Roots, and recently took to a new platform with StageIt to do a livestream record release show for fans during this time of social distancing (and concert cancellations). Frontwoman ZouZou Mansour sat down for an interview to discuss the roots of Dig Your Roots, songwriting and influences, and the near future for the band.  Dig Your Roots is an awesome album with catchy, clever tracks and a versatile range of styles – can you start by talking about some ideas you went […]

Interview: Sammy Boller

ChelseaInterviews

Guitarist Sammy Boller just made his solo debut with the instrumental album Kingdom of the Sun today, on CandyRat Records. We connected for an interview this week about his new venture into a solo career, his time in Citizen Zero, connections with Joe Satriani, Guitar World, and Friedman Amps, background as a musician, and more.  You’ve got the new album, Kingdom of the Sun coming out, and you have been a solo artist in your own right for some amount of time, so let’s talk about your first solo album, what are some things that went into it? When my […]

Raider Unleash “Guardian of The Fire”

ChelseaNews

Canadian Death/Thrashers Raider have just unveiled their debut full-length album to the world today, following up on the 2018 demo Urge To Kill with the release of Guardian of the Fire. Here’s what the band has to say about the new record: “We brought back a lot of familiar elements but added so much more. Guardian of the Fire is more diverse, more aggressive, and is frankly just going to hit way harder. We’re stoked to see what our fans and future fans think of these new tunes! The band has definitely grown a lot in terms of songwriting the last few years […]

Soraia Releases New Album and Livestreams Release Shows

ChelseaNews

Philadelphia Hard Rockers Soraia have just released their new full-length, Dig Your Roots, via Wicked Cool Records (the label started by Musician/Personality Stevie Van Zandt), available via all streaming music services here. The four-piece rockers were set to hold a hometown record release show this weekend, but the current pandemic situation that has closed down music venues in most states put a stop to that plan – in response, Soraia turned to the virtual concert world, with an online livestream version of the show they were set to play broadcasting in real time tonight via StageIt.  Soraia has some tour dates […]

Feature: NAMM 2020

ChelseaFeatures

NAMM is massive. Both in literal size and in the level of an experience it provides. You can walk for what feels like miles and still not get from one end of the Anaheim Convention Center to the other, yet still have enough of an experience to fill your four days there. Whether you’re walking through the raucous roar of the drum room, the lilting symphonic sounds of the classical instrument rooms, the eye-catching visuals of the DJ booths, or the dissonance of an multitude of guitars being played in a variety of styles all at once, there’s always something […]

Concert Review: Ultimate NAMM Night 2020

ChelseaConcert Reviews

Ultimate NAMM Night 2020 at the Hilton Anaheim was a unique experience, and that’s putting it mildly. After all, where else can you see Alice Cooper’s daughter Calico Cooper taking on “Ace of Spades” alongside Carla Harvey (Butcher Babies), with Gary Holt (Slayer) and Ira Black (Dark Sky Choir) on guitar, Chuck Garric (Alice Cooper/Beasto Blanco) on bass, and Art Cruz (Lamb of God) on the drums? Or a thrash-heavy “Black Diamond” Kiss cover by Mark Osegueda (Death Angel), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Jack Gibson (Exodus), Chuck Garric, Calico Cooper and Paulie Z (The Sweet, Ultimate Jam Night)? […]

Concert Review: Ronnie Montrose Remembered 2020

ChelseaConcert Reviews

The M3 Live in Anaheim, California set a stage amidst the backdrop of NAMM for the fifth annual celebration of the musical legacy of Ronnie Montrose on January 17th, 2020. This event has been a staple around NAMM time for the last five years, and the tradition continues on with the start of the new decade. Those who came to Ronnie Montrose Remembered expecting to hear classic Montrose tracks like “Rock Candy” and “Bad Motor Scooter” were certainly not disappointed, but what they experienced might have been even more than they bargained for, with an exploration of the many stages […]

Interview: Keith St. John

ChelseaInterviews

I sat down with Keith St. John for an in-depth discussion on the history of Ronnie Montrose as a figure of guitar excellence and innovation in the rock world, more on Keith’s own background as a musician and as the point person for the Ronnie Montrose Remembered event, growing up on Long Island, some rock and radio history, and even a bit of John 5 and Randy Jackson, as well as music and life overall.  So Keith, we’re kind of cooling down after NAMM right now, and the majority of NAMM for you, I feel like, must consist of Ronnie […]

NAMM Interview: Mats Levén

ChelseaInterviews

You may know Mats Levén from Candlemass, from Trans-Siberian Orchestra, from Yngwie Malmsteen, or any of the multitude of projects he’s been involved in, but you may not have known that he’s also the face behind the solo project known as Skyblood, on Napalm Records. I sat down with him at NAMM for an interview about what’s behind Skyblood, as well as some insight into his songwriting techniques, and NAMM 2020 goings-on.  How are you doing, enjoying your day at NAMM? I’m fine, I’ve only been here for two hours, so I’ve only been to the Marshall booth and Gibson, […]

NAMM Interview: Tobi Morelli

ChelseaInterviews

Archspire have their follow-up to the Technical Death Metal sensation Relentless Mutation, in the works – we’ll see if this one also gets picked up by the YouTube bot – and I sat down with guitarist Tobi Morelli for a quick Q&A at NAMM.  Just want to start out by asking, how are your NAMM activities going? Pretty awesome, also crazy, it’s a lot to take in, I think this is maybe the fourth or fifth time I’ve been here, and it’s always a good time, but there’s just so much going on, it’s hard just to catch our breath, between […]