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Tag: Modern Metal

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 […]

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)? […]

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 […]

NAMM Interview: Simon Hawemann

ChelseaInterviews

Nightmarer is getting ready to follow up on their 2018 full-length debut Cacophony of Terror via Season of Mist later this year, and I sat down with guitarist/journalist Simon Hawemann during NAMM to learn more about this up-and-coming death metal band. I want to dig right into Nightmarer so people can get to know more about this band. Harsh chaos and cacophony defines the sound of Nightmarer, musically, what drove you guys to what you like to call “total dissonance worship”? What is that to you? I think it’s just something that over the years I started gravitating towards, trying […]

NAMM Interview: Hugo Doyon-Karout

ChelseaInterviews

Hugo Doyon-Karout has plenty to do as a young bassist, splitting his time between three bands, including Beyond Creation, Brought By Pain, and Equipoise, plus work as a tour manager. I sat down with him at NAMM for a quick Q&A on all his work in the metal world. We’re here at NAMM, so I have to start off by asking what you’re doing today at the show. Just having fun, hanging out with my friends in Equipoise, catching up with friends, I just performed at the Neural DSP booth, that’s been a blast. So yeah, making connections, being here […]

NAMM Interview: Timo Somers

ChelseaInterviews

Timo Somers, metal guitarist and Aristides Instruments enthusiast, was representing his favorite brand at their booth at NAMM this year, and I had the chance to speak with him about his NAMM/Aristides experience and musical ventures both in and outside of Delain.  Here with Timo Somers at the Aristides guitar booth, want to start off by asking, what’s your connection with Aristides guitars? Well, I’ve been playing their guitars for like seven years now, and I was one of the first artists that they got, and then the brand grew so much, and then I came to be an Artist […]

Interview: Steve Harris

ChelseaInterviews

Steve Harris’s extra-Maiden musical project, British Lion, is just about to release a new album, The Burning, on January 17th, right before kicking off a U.S. tour that runs until the end of February. Steve was kind enough to take the time for a phoner, discussing all the latest goings-on with British Lion, the new album, tour gear, and more. I just want to dig right into the British Lion stuff, I’ve been listening to this record, I’m very excited about it, and I heard that The Burning is a couple of years in the making, so what made now […]

Interview: Sal Abruscato

ChelseaInterviews

A Pale Horse Named Death, the Brooklyn-based band formed and fronted by Type O Negative and Life of Agony’s Sal Abruscato, released their third album, When The World Becomes Undone, earlier this year. I recently spoke with Sal about the creation of the new album, what brought the band back from their hiatus, their European touring ventures, and more.  You’ve got lots going on right now with A Pale Horse Named Death, you just came off the Season of the Dead European tour, which you just mentioned before we started the interview, how was that run? It was fantastic, a […]

Interview: Kenny Hickey

ChelseaInterviews

Silvertomb just released their debut album, Edge of Existence, this month via Long Branch Records. With Type O Negative’s Kenny Hickey and Johnny Kelly at the helm, the band evolved from Seventh Void and took on a new life with a slew of new songs and sounds, and the addition of three new band members with Joseph James (Agnostic Front, Inhuman), Hank Hell (Inhuman), and Aaron Joos (Awaken The Shadow). I recently had the chance to speak with Kenny about the making of the new Silvertomb album, including the ideas that went into some of the tracks, the personal touch […]

Accept To Acquire a Third Guitarist

ChelseaNews

Accept is on their way to two upcoming North American tour dates this coming week, but with a slight switch in the lineup. As guitarist Uwe Lulis recovers from a reconstructive leg surgery, the band will be joined by Philip Souse for these two dates – after which, Philip will become a permanent member of Accept, even after Uwe returns to the stage. The band will now have a triple-guitar lineup, with Philip, Uwe, and Wolf Hoffman alongside the existing lineup of Christopher Williams on drums, Martin Motnik on bass, and frontman Mark Tornillo, and Accept has plenty of touring […]

Killswitch Engage to Tour with August Burns Red in 2020

ChelseaNews

Killswitch Engage has just announced their plans to hit the road across North America in early 2020. With August Burns Red along for the ride, the iconic modern metallers will be touring in support of their latest full-length, Atonement, which came out this summer. The Atonement Tour 2020 will kick off on March 10th in Cleveland and run throughout the U.S. and Canada until they wrap things up on April 12th in Boston. For the full listing of dates, head to: http://www.killswitchengage.com/.

Obscura Signs To Nuclear Blast Records

ChelseaNews

German Progressive Death Metallers Obscura have officially been signed to Nuclear Blast Records, with plans for a new record on the horizon. The band’s founder Steffen Kummerer says of the news, “Partnering with the world’s biggest independent metal label feels like the start of a new chapter for Obscura and we are very much looking forward to a great collaboration and to releasing our forthcoming sixth studio album with a great team at our side”, while Jaap Wagemaker of Nuclear Blast states, “…We have long admired the artistry of German progressive death metal masters Obscura. We were blown away by […]

Saxon’s Biff Byford To Release Solo Album

ChelseaNews

Legendary Saxon frontman Biff Byford is headed on a solo venture, with his first ever solo album, School of Hard Knocks, set to be released via Silver Lining Music on February 21st, 2020. Biff says of the album’s material, “I’m singing about my past of course and about things I like, but mostly I wanted it to reflect me, my personality and my life. Song-wise it’s more diverse and not just focused on heavy metal. I wanted it to be a slice of the music I like, from metal, to rock ‘n’ roll. I’m a guy who’s just as happy […]