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Thrust Re-Issuing "Fist Held High"

In celebration of Thrust's 35th anniversary, Metal Blade Records is releasing the ultimate edition of the band's 1984 album "Fist Held High."

The release includes the entire album, live and demo tracks from the beginning through the late 80s, plus the unreleased studio album "Reincarnation" recorded in 1988/1989 and produced by Bob Kulick. Thrust guitarist Ron Cooke comments:

"A big Thank You to the fans who never stopped playing the music. After all these years it's always been about the music, standing the test of time, connecting with the fans soul, pouring out the creative spirit through the music into the hearts of many and return filling our hearts. For that is the true connection between the heart soul and each other. That is why the music will always live on." More...

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Nightwish Posts Teaser #12

Finland-based symphonic metal outfit Nightwish recently released the first single "Élan" from forthcoming studio album "Endless Forms Most Beautiful."

The album will be out on March 27th (EU), 30th (UK), and 31st (US), 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Today sees the release of the 12th episode from the “making of” series in which the band explain the themes and inspirations for "Endless Forms Most Beautiful." With a month still until release, who knows how many more of these things there will be?

Nightwish keyboard player and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen comments: “There’s a kind of scientific approach to a lot of things on the album. Songs like ‘Shudder Before The Beautiful’, ‘Endless Forms Most Beautiful’, ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ or ‘Alpenglow’ all somehow reflect the bliss of existence. It’s temporary character. Evolution…Maybe you could even talk about the poetic nature of science. Natural science and its paradigm – seem to represent something cold and boring to a lot of people. Hopefully we can illustrate with this album – that science can even be something profoundly spiritual.” More...

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Equilibrium Announce New Tour Dates

German epic metal band Equilibrium has been touring across Europe in support of latest studio effort "Erdentempel," and now the five-piece announces its first ever Asian tour of China and Japan for April 2015. Dates are available below.

Guitarist, composer, and lyricist René Berthiaume spent almost four years working on the new creation. The outcome is a very emotional and above all else, a very personal album. It harks back to the roots of the band, without neglecting the bombastic nature of the previous two records. See the band supporting "Erdentempel" live:

16.04. CN Beijing - Yo Gong Live House
17.04. CN Shanghai - QSW Live House
19.04. CN Taiwan - Jack Studio Concert Venue
22.04. JP Osaka - The Live House Soma
23.04. JP Nagoya - Imaike Club 3 Star
25.04. JP Tokyo - Live Bar The Doors
26.04. JP Tokyo - Live Bar The Doors

Additionally, Equilibrium will be playing a full run of European Festivals in spring and summer of 2015. Don’t miss the chance to catch up with the band at the following dates: More...

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The Passion Of Our Souls Streams Full New EP

Finland's melodic death/pop metal duo The Passion Of Our Souls is now streaming the full "Soulmates" EP as a pre-listen before the official release date, of March 3rd.

The "Soulmates" EP will be released via all major digital distributors and as a self-released physical version direct from the band. Pick your copy up at this location

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Elegacy Announces Sophomore Album

Valery Records and V-Promotion are proud to announce the sophomore release from Italy's Elegacy "The Binding Sequence," the first album in ten years.

Elegacy is a progressive/power metal band founded in Turin a decade ago. The efforts and the talent of the musicians involved in the project allowed the band, in the mid 2000s, to be considered one of the most outstanding and promising realities on the Italian progressive/power metal scene. In 2005, the debut album "Impressions" was distributed worldwide by Northwind/Self.

Subsequently, a large amount of material was written over the years by keyboardist Constantin Terzago and guitarist Massimo La Russa, who kept the band alive and ready for a new beginning. In 2011, Elegacy came into contact with Mark Zonder, legendary drummer of Fates Warning and Warlord and Mike Lepond, bassist of Symphony X who both listened to a demo of new material and decided to join the project. To complete the band is Derdian vocalist Ivan Giannini, who also contributed to the melodies and choir arrangements.

In the summer 2014, the mastering for "The Binding Sequence" was finally ready and is set to be released in spring 2015 through Valery Records, with distribution by Audioglobe. It will also be available as a digital download through iTunes. More information is expected soon.

The cover artwork can be viewed here: More...

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Maegi Releases Third Studio Update On New Album

Maegi, the power/progressive side project of Dreamtone vocalist Oganalp Canatan, released a third video studio update on the upcoming sophomore release "Tales From the King's Court." The video contains a demo version of the new track "The King Who Sold His Men."

In the video Canatan explains that he has completed 10 demo tracks of the 12 song album. The recording process is tentatively set for March (drums), April (guitar/vocal/bass recordings) and in May more details on guest stars to appear will be announced. At the end, a new demo track is sampled.

Check out the report here:

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Wolfpakk Releases Lyric Video For New Track

German hard rock act Wolkpakk, featuring vocalists Mark Sweeney (ex-Crystal Ball) and Michael Voss (Mad Max), released a lyric video for the new track "Running Out of Time." The song appears on the upcoming new release "Rise of the Animal," which drops today in Europe and on April 14th in the USA via AFM Records.

Guest stars set to appear on the album will include: Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween), Marc Storace (Krokus), Don Dokken (Dokken), Andi Deris (Helloween), Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio), John Norum (Europe), Axel Rudi Pell, Al Barrow (Magnum), Bob Daisley (ex-Black Sabbath), Chris Slade (ex-AC/DC) and Simon Philips (ex-Toto).

The track list is as follows:

1. Riders of the Storm
2. Sock It to Me (see music video here)
3. Monkey on Your Back
4. Highlands
5. Black Wolf
6. Somewhere Beyond
7. Running Out of Time
8. Grizzly Man
9. High Roller
10. Rise of the Animal
11. Universe

Check out "Running Out of Time" here: More...

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The Gentle Storm Releases New Music Video

The Gentle Storm (the new project of Arjen Lucassen and Anneke van Giersbergen) released a music video for the new track "Heart of Amsterdam." The song appears on the debut album "The Diary," which drops via InsideOut Music on March 23rd (EU) and March 24th (USA/World). The track list is as follows:

CD1 : Gentle

1. Endless Sea (gentle version) 05:59
2. Heart of Amsterdam (gentle version) 06:36
3. The Greatest Love (gentle version) 04:08
4. Shores of India (gentle version) 06:40
5. Cape of Storms (gentle version) 05:28
6. The Moment (gentle version) 06:08
7. The Storm (gentle version) 05:56
8. Eyes of Michiel (gentle version) 03:56
9. Brightest Light (gentle version) 04:46
10. New Horizons (gentle version) 05:24
11. Epilogue: The Final Entry (gentle version) 02:02

CD2: Storm

1. Endless Sea (storm version) 05:53
2. Heart of Amsterdam (storm version) 06:37
3. The Greatest Love (storm version) 03:57
4. Shores of India (storm version) 06:24
5. Cape of Storms (storm version) 05:32
6. The Moment (storm version) 06:10
7. The Storm (storm version) 05:58
8. Eyes of Michiel (storm version) 04:00
9. Brightest Light (storm version) 04:54
10. New Horizons (storm version) 05:25
11. Epilogue: The Final Entry (storm version) 02:03

Check out "Heart of Amsterdam" here: More...

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Septicflesh, Moonspell To Tour North America

Septicflesh will team up with Moonspell and Deathstars for a North American tour run this coming April/May as part of the "Conquerors of the World III" festival tour. Septicflesh is supporting the latest album "Titan," Moonspell is celebrating the new album "Extinct" and Deathstars is still supporting the 2014 release "The Perfect Cult."

Confirmed dates, with more expected to be announced are:

April 24th: Mexico City, MEX @ Circo Volador
April 25th: Austin, TX @ Dirty Dog
April 26th: Fort Worth, TX @ The Bail Club
April 28th: Phoenix, AZ @ Joe's Grotto
April 29th: Ramona, CA @ Ramona Mainstage
April 30th: Las Vegas, NV @ LVCS
May 2nd: Oakland, CA @ Metro Opera House
May 3rd: Portland, OR @ Tonic Lounge
May 4th: Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
May 5th: Spokane, WA @ The Pin
May 6th: Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
May 9th: Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theater
May 10th: Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room
May 11th: Chicago, IL @ Reggie's
May 12th: Cleveland, OH @ The Agora
May 13th: Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
May 14th: Montreal, QC @ Theater Corona
May 15th: Rochester, NY @ Montage Music Hall
May 16th: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
May 17th: New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
May 18th: Springfield, VA @ Empire
May 19th: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade More...

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Enslaved Releases Lyric Video For New Track

A lyric video for the new track "One Thousand Years of Rain" is available from Enslaved in the player below. In our own review for the upcoming new album "In Times" (check it out here), xFiruath states of the song: "'One Thousand Years Of Rain'...kicks off with a faster pace and offers up some of that stunning 'RIITIIR' vibe of harsh/fast blended with clean/melodic. The track throws a curve ball five minutes in, slowing down and unexpectedly throwing in Viking gang chants."

"In Times" is set for release on March 6th (EU), March 9th (UK) and March 10th (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records.

The track list is:

1. Thurisaz Dreaming (see music video here)
2. Building With Fire
3. One Thousand Years Of Rain
4. Nauthir Bleeding
5. In Times
6. Daylight

Check out "One Thousand Years of Rain" here: More...

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Soen Releases "Kuraman" Lyric Video

Swedish progressive metal act Soen released a new lyric video for the track "Kuraman." The song appears on the latest album "Tellurian," which is available via Spinefarm Records.

The band is embarking on a European tour this week. Check out the clip here:

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Dark Sarah Signs To Inner Wound Recordings

Inner Wound Recordings announced the signing of the cinematic metal project Dark Sarak to the label. The debut album "Behind The Black Veil" will be released on May 8th in Europe and on May 12th in North America.

Dark Sarah is the new project from Heidi Parviainen (ex-Amberian Dawn). The debut album called "Behind the Black Veil" leads you through the psychological adventure of Sarah, who is hovering between her two personalities. Dark Sarah's music combines metal, film music and theatrical elements. Sarah's thoughts are at best depicted in the dialogues (duets) with guest vocalists - "The Fate": Manuela Kraller (ex Xandria), "The Queen of No Good": Inga Scharf (Van Canto) and "The Moon": Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica).

The production, orchestrations and mixing was handled by Mikko P. Mustonen of Pathos Music (Delain, Sonata Arctica, Ensiferum) and the album was mastered by Henkka Niemisto of Chartmakers (Volbeat, Sonata Arctica, Korpiklaani). The artwork was created by Jan Yrlund of Darkgrove Design (Apocalyptica, Ensiferum, Sirenia).

The track listing is:

1. Save Me
2. Poison Apple
3. Hide And Seek
4. Memories Fall (feat. Manuela Kraller)
5. Evil Roots (feat. Inga Scharf)
6. Violent Roses
7. Hunting The Dreamer
8. Fortress
9. Silver Tree
10. Sun, Moon And Stars
11. Light In You (feat. Tony Kakko)
12. Sarah's Theme
13. Memories Fall (orchestral version)
14. A Grim Christmas Story More...

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