Metal Underground.com

Epica Posts Second Studio Documentary Video

Dutch symphonic metal act Epica posted the second installment in a series of in studio videos on the recording of the new album "The Quantum Enigma" (see the first here). This video showcases the choir recordings.

The album is set for release on May 2nd (Europe), May 5th (UK), and May 13th (USA) through Nuclear Blast.

The track list for the album is:

1. Originem
2. The Second Stone
3. The Essence of Silence
4. Victims of Contingency
5. Sense Without Sanity [The Impervious Code]
6. Unchain Utopia
7. The Fifth Guardian [Interlude]
8. Chemical Insomnia
9. Reverence [Living in the Heart]
10. Omen [The Ghoulish Malady]
11. Canvas of Life
12. Natural Corruption
13. The Quantum Enigma [Kingdom of Heaven part II ]

Check out the clip here: More...

Read more...  |  0 Comments - Discuss

Edge Of Thorns To Release First Album In 7 Years

Edge Of Thorns (named after the Savatage album) will release the third studio album "Insomnia" on April 4th via Killer Metal Records. The album is the first release from the German melodic speed metal band since "Masquerading of the Wicked" was issued in 2007.

Edge of Thorns was founded in 1996 by Dirk "Duke" Schmitt (voc, guitars) and Johannes Schütz (drums) in Bitburg. The line-up was completed by bass player Oliver Brück and keyboardist Lothar Krämer. From the very start the focus was on original compositions. Initially, the band focussed on the dark sides of metal, while Duke could concentrate on singing alone after the guitar duo Dave Brixius and Achim Sinzinger joined in 1998. The songs became faster, harder, more melodic and varying. Wreaking riffs, double lead guitars, catchy choruses characterize the songs of that time. Hymns like “Riders of the Storm”, “Dark Magician” or “Lost” came into being.

After several self-produced demos in 2003, the album "Ravenland" was presented to the metal community. Job and family reasons lead into several line-up changes. Achim switched from guitar to bass and Dave was then the only guitar player. Temporarily, the band was supported by keyboarder Markus Olk. At this stage, the album "Masquerading of the Wicked" was done and released beginning of 2008, receiving good reactions. The songs became more various - stamping, catchy metal songs mixed up with speedy double-bass-killers, varying vocals, hard riffing, melodies and lunatic guitar solos without losing sight of the song. Because the keyboards had an increasingly less presence in 2007, Edge of Thorns switched back to a twin guitar attack. More...

Read more...  |  0 Comments - Discuss

Death Valley Driver Releases Music Video

Prince Edward Island's Death Valley Driver has released a new music video for "Smoke Whip," available below courtesy of Revolvermag.com.

The video was shot over two days in November by Colin MacDonald (Foster Avenue Productions) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Loosely conceptualized off the Jim Jones Cult, the video portrays the band's vocalist Dan Hodgson as the cult leader.

"Colin really is the MVP of this whole video. His direction and vision really captured the dark lyrics of the song." commented vocalist Dan Hodgson. "The final product is something we are really proud of. We can't wait for people to see the twisted visions he came up with. He had me play the cult leader, which could have ended in disaster. But thanks to his comforting demeanor, it was something I had a lot of fun with."

"Smoke Whip" is off the band's most recent album "Graveyard Dead," which was released in June 2013 by Diminished Fifth Records. More...

Read more...  |  0 Comments - Discuss

Facebreaker Splits With Guitarist

Swedish metal band Facebreaker has issued the following announcement about a lineup change:

"Facebreaker has parted ways with guitarist Mika Lagrén. Things were moving in different directions and the decision is mutual. We wish him the best of luck and we know he's going to do great things in his other bands and projects.

"Facebreaker will continue as usual. All original members are still in the band and all upcoming shows will be done as planned. Stay tuned for more news later!"

Mika also commented: "Due to lack of time I have made the decision to quit playing guitar in Facebreaker. I’ve been with my brothers in the band since 2003 and we have had so much fun during these years. Thanx for all the great rocking years guys …….. Love y´all motherfukkers!" More...

Read more...  |  0 Comments - Discuss

Hammercult Releases "Into Hell" Lyric Video

Israeli death thrashers Hammercult released a new lyric video for the track "Into Hell." The song appears on the band's latest and second album "Steelcrusher," which was released earlier this year via SPV Records.

The band also confirmed a string of live dates, the first set of which is in support of Napalm Death and the second set is various festival performances for this spring/summer:

10.4. Eisenach -- Alter Schlachthof
11.04. Pontoise -- Observatoire (France)
12.04. Creil -- Grange a Musique (France)
13.04. Nantes -- Ferrailleur (France)
14.04. Paris -- Fleche d'Or (France)
15.04. Lyon -- CCO (France)
16.04. Toulouse -- Le Metronom (France)
17.04. Angouleme -- La Nef (France)
18.04. Antwerpen -- Kavka (Belgium)

19.04. Siegen -- Vortex (Germany)
07.06. Reichenbach -- Chronical Moshers Open Air (Germany)
10.07. Ballenstedt -- Rock Harz (Germany)

Check out "Into Hell" here: More...

Read more...  |  0 Comments - Discuss

Adamantra Streams New Track

Finnish symphonic progressive metal act Adamantra is streaming the new track "In the Shadow of the Cross," the first single from the sophomore album "Act II: Silent Narratives." The album is set for release on May 23rd via Power Prog Records. The track is available as a free download at this location.

Adamantra features Bride Adorned members Tuomas Nieminen (vocals), Panu Kiskola (guitars) and
Jukka Hoffrén (bass).

The track list for the album is:

1. Lionheart
2. In The Shadow Of The Cross
3. Three
4. The Oracle
5. Angel Of Music
6. The Red Death
7. Wicked Chain Of Events
8. The Circle Of Sorrow
9. On Ember Remains

Check out "In the Shadow of the Cross" here: More...

Read more...  |  0 Comments - Discuss

Stream Of Passion Posts "The Curse" Lyric Video

Dutch symphonic progressive metal act Stream of Passion, originally the creation of Ayreon's Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released a lyric video for the new track "The Curse." The song is lifted from the new album "A War of Our Own," which will be self-released on April 18th.

The track list for the album is:

1. Monster
2. A War of Our Own
3. The Curse
4. Autophobia
5. Burning Star
6. For You
7. Exile
8. Delirio
9. Earthquake
10. Secrets
11. Don't Let Go
12. Out of the Darkness
13. The Distance Between Us (Digipack Bonus Track)

Check out "The Curse" here: More...

Read more...  |  0 Comments - Discuss