Today, French heavy metal veterans MYSTERY BLUE are celebrating the release of their brand new studio album, “Night Demon“, that is out now on Massacre Records! Available as CD Digipak and Digital formats, visithttps://lnk.to/nightdemon to order your album copy.
In support of “Night Demon“, the band is now premiering a music video for “Rebel At Heart“. “The song gives an insight into childhood, when you start building your own identity and discover your adventurous spirit and strive for difference,” the band comments.
Watch the Official Video for “Rebel At Heart” BELOW:
MYSTERY BLUE’s “Night Demon” offers 12 new and pure heavy metal tracks as well as a cover version of Accept’s classic “Restless And Wild”. The band’s ninth studio offering was mixed and mastered by Vince Koehler at V.I.P. Studios, the cover art was designed by Jean Linhoff.
Alongside a guest feature from Andreas “Buschi” Babuschkin of label mates PARAGON, MYSTERY BLUE, who formed back in the 80’s, invite you to travel from song to song, carried by the passion and energy which transpires through this incredibly rich album. Get ready for a blend of sheer power and melodic parts, and order your album copy now.
“Night Demon” Track Listing:
1. End Of The World 2. Colours Of Life 3. Burning Souls 4. Night Demon 5. Human Again 6. Pandemic Metal Virus 7. Rebel At Heart 8. Undertakers (feat. Andreas “Buschi” Babuschkin) 9. Skulls From Hell 10. Where Metal Rules 11. Wild Fire 12. Forever Hand In Hand 13. Restless And Wild
MYSTERY BLUE is: Nathalie Geyer – Vocals Frenzy Philippon – Guitars Erik Lothaire – Guitars Julien “Ted” Weibel – Bass Vince Koehler – Drums MYSTERY BLUE online: Website Facebook Instagram
BURNING WITCHES bring back the vibe of 80s heavy metal and update their powerful force with renewed sonic clarity on their upcoming maxi-single, The Spell Of The Skull, set for release via Napalm Records on December 10, 2024! With screaming guitars, the Swiss band is back for a heavy metal blast session in the snow.
This time, they curse their audience with two new songs from their latest conjuring of witchcraft. Witchqueen Romana Kalkuhl hypnotizes your mind with her melodic riffs, while diabolic priestess Laura Guldemond conquers your soul with crowd pleasing shouts. Title track “The Spell Of The Skull” starts off with a short but mighty heavy guitar intro that perfectly sets up Laura’s powerful vocals, which especially shine in the chorus of the song, making it a true sing-a-long experience and creating an epic atmosphere pleasing every fan of heavy metal!
Only a few years after their foundation, these five witches had already performed at fully attended shows at the biggest and most important festivals of the entire metal universe, like Wacken, Summer Breeze and Rock Harz Open Air in Germany. After five attention-grabbing albums, BURNING WITCHES prepare for another attack in 2025!
Guitarist Romana Kalkuhl on “The Spell Of The Skull”:
“We are busy bees and in between all the shows we managed to write the first new songs with Courtney on guitar. We are so excited to present you some fresh music and this keeps us all entertained till the next album. Working on this was such a blast, “The Spell of the Skull“ could be a new WITCHES anthem, what do you think? Lean back and enjoy & get enchanted by your favorite WITCHES!“
Watch the Official Music Video for “The Spell Of The Skull” BELOW:
Pre-Order your Copy of “The Spell Of The Skull”HERE
The Spell Of The Skull Track Listing: 1. The Spell Of The Skull 2. Mirror, Mirror
The Spell Of The Skull will be available in the following formats: 1LP Slipcase Solid Gold(strictly limited) 1LP Slipcase Solid Red (strictly limited) 1LP Slipcase Marbled Orange Red Black (strictly limited) Digital Single
BURNING WITCHES are: Laura Guldemond – Vocals Romana Kalkuhl – Guitars Courtney Cox – Guitars Jay Grob – Bass Lala Frischknecht – Drums
The UK’s Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band Balance of Power made a big comeback this year, with a bold new album, direction, and core line-up. The latter of which saw the addition of the phenomenal new singer: Hazel Jade (HJ). We caught up for an interview with HJ, along with bassist and founding member Tony Ritchie (TR), to discuss the extraordinary success of their new release, “Fresh from the Abyss“, and find out how it all came together.
As your last full-length album “Heathen Machine” came out in 2003, I suppose the most obvious place to start is by asking how it feels to now have a new release to talk about? And when exactly did you start thinking about getting back together and working on your latest album, “Fresh from the Abyss”?
TR: Well, yes it’s great to have some new music out there that’s for sure. After “Heathen Machine” we took what was supposed to be a short break, but life got in the way and it turned into a lot longer time than we anticipated. We did make an album called “The Scintilla Project” with Biff Byford(Saxon) and Andy Sneap (Judas Priest). This was meant to be the next Balance of Power album with special guests, but Biff didn’t want to alienate any of his Saxon fans and rightly so. We ended up changing some of the lyrics and tying it in with a movie that Lionel had produced. The album was well received so we started writing a sequel, but that didn’t fit with Biff and Andy’s schedules so we decided we should continue as Balance of Power. After all the songs were written by myself and Lionel in just the same way as we always had. Over time some of the original songs got superceded by newer ones, so for the first time ever we still had some great song ideas on the table that didn’t get used.
The opening song on the album, “Last Man Down”, starts with the lines: “This is not the ending I was looking for, unintended static cuts the air”. I’m guessing from these lyrics that the long gap between album releases wasn’t exactly part of the plan?
TR: Exactly, that song was written during the pandemic and was really a first look at the unknown times that we were in and reflecting on the past. So many heroes, so little known about what was happening. Lots of people re evaluating their lives and relationships. Just looking for courage in strange times.
There have been a few different lead singers during the band’s history, but previously they were all male vocalists. How did you end up enlisting Hazel Jade as your newest singer, and did you have any concerns about switching to a female vocalist?
TR: We have had our fair share of singers and each one has left their mark on the Balance of Power sound. We had almost finished recording this album and still no singer, so we asked our friend Toby Jepson if he had any ideas. He suggested Hazel, so we sent her a demo of “Never be here again”. She recorded her vocal with her home recording set up and laid down her take on the song. When we heard it we were blown away. We loved the energy and passion that she brought to the song so much that we used her actual demo vocal on the finished album. We think it’s great that when you hear that song, what you’re hearing is the first thing that we heard from Hazel. That’s why we have a Hazel Jade in the band and she has already made her mark as the new voice of the band.
Other bands have often gone back and re-recorded some of their back catalogue after a new singer has joined. Arch Enemy springs to mind as the most relevant example. Is this something you might consider doing as well?
TR: You know, it’s not something we thought of, but after your suggestion we’ll certainly have that conversation and see if it’s something we could look into. Thank you.
It’s fair to say that the line-up was not the only big change for Balance of Power, as the music has deviated a bit from before as well. Was this a result of having new members in the band contributing their ideas? Or more of a natural evolution?
TR: Definitely a natural progression. Its coming from myself and Lionel musically, but Hazel has a great input with the visuals and we’re very grateful for that. It’s not easy to keep things fresh, but Hazel has given a fresh and new edge vocally and visually to the band which we are enjoying.
It was nice to join a band who had such a history and experience of the industry…
Hazel Jade
“Fresh from the Abyss” seemed to come out of nowhere, which I suppose is why the album title is so appropriate. Did it come as a surprise to long-time fans when it was announced? And have you heard much feedback from this demographic? Or are you mostly reaching a new audience now?
TR: It was a surprise you’re right, but so far we’ve been welcomed by fans old and new. It’s sometimes harder for the “more mature” fans to accept change, we think we’ve struck a nice “Balance” of old and new with these songs. Times have changed and you soak up the music that’s around you, but we still do it our way so it’s always going to have a certain something that people will recognise.
You did release three fantastic music videos in the lead-up to the album’s release for the singles “Abyss”, “One More Time Around The Sun”, and “Never Be Here Again”, which showed a darker, more gothic side of Balance of Power. Whose idea was it to move the band’s image in this direction? And who helped with the production?
TR: Yes, Hazel has some great ideas and we love the Gothic almost Steampunk feel that she suggested.
Toby Jepson has had a hand on the whole process, from the production of the album with Lionel, recording Hazel’s vocals and being hands on with directing the videos and writing the storylines etc. Its been so much fun with him popping up all over the place and being so invested in what we’re creating.
The album line-up for “Fresh From the Abyss” is different to the current band line-up, with Chris Masimore and Stoney Wagner having recorded their guitar parts before later handing the reins to Chris Young and Adam Wardle. Reading between the lines a little, was this due to a reluctance to perform live? And can we expect to see a tour in future?
TR: Chris Masimore and Stoney Wagner were part of the band that recorded “The Scintilla Project” in Minneapolis with Biff and Andy. We always knew that we’d need new guitarists to play live as they have their own commitments in the US. We all agreed that we’d just enjoy making the next album with our buddies and have their blessing to recruit someone else when the time came. So there was no reluctance to play live, there was always a plan to go ahead as we have.
We have an Agent on-board for shows for us as we speak. The album is only just out, we’re rehearsing a live set and can’t wait for you guys to hear what we’ve got and you won’t believe what Hazel is bringing to the old and new songs.
Speaking about the future plans of the band, do you think there is a chance you will work on another album together after “Fresh from the Abyss”? And can you turn it around sooner next time?
TR: Ha ha! Yes we can do that. We’re writing songs now and hoping to record before the year is out. It depends on what comes our way. Hopefully we’ll be out on the road so recording might have to wait. It’s all a bit of an unknown right now, we’ll let you know.
Obviously each person has their own quirks and tastes when it comes to singing, but my style fortunately fitted in with the BOP music.
Hazel Jade
Hazel, can you tell us a bit about your background? Have you always had an interest in singing heavy metal?
HJ: I grew up from the age of 3 performing musical theatre! My mum was also composing songs and had a recording studio in the house, so music was always in the air, be it opera, classical, r&b, jazz or rock! I performed in a couple of operas as a kid (the small gang roles!). I think because all sorts of genres of music became a part of my family life, I ended up with an eclectic ear! I’m happy with most genres as long as it’s a great melody! I’ve always moved more towards rock/metal as we all have favourite styles. There are some great bands out there, some of mine are Halestorm and In This Moment, as there aren’t so many females in these genres, and it can be difficult to break through. I also love film scores, and composers such as Hans Zimmer, John Williams and others who are sublime at creating them!
How familiar were you of Balance of Power’s music before you joined? Did you have any trepidation about working with a band that seemed to be coming out of a long hiatus?
HJ: No, I hadn’t heard of them, but when the demo was sent over to me to trial on, I loved the song and the overall sound. Tight and professional. Then the rest of the songs were also top notch too, and when I was asked to join as the singer, I jumped at the chance. Prior I’d had my own band ‘Elevation Falls’ and been with them for over 8 years, but it came to a natural end when Covid hit, we’d all grown up and each of us had different paths we wanted to follow. It was nice to join a band who had such a history and experience of the industry, who had got the ‘ego’ bit out of the way (which younger musicians are inclined to have)!! BOP have credentials and the song writing was excellent along with the musicianship. What’s not to love!
Hazel has some great ideas and we love the Gothic almost Steampunk feel that she suggested.
Tony Ritchie
The press notes mention that you changed the melody of “One More Time Around The Sun”, which made the hook of the chorus even better. Was it a challenge performing songs which may have originally been written for a male vocalist in mind? It seems the rest of the band were also happy for you to stamp your identity on the music?
HJ: For the most part it’s not a problem to sing male parts (I used to sing the male and female parts of Phantom Of The Opera for fun 😀 ) Obviously each person has their own quirks and tastes when it comes to singing, but my style fortunately fitted in with the BOP music. Tony and Lionel have been excellent in letting me have leeway in how I interpret each song which has been fantastic. I know that a small percentage of the old fans weren’t happy there was a female vocalist, but I think you’d get that with any vocalist change to be honest.
Who are some of your main influences? Are there any artists that you would love to collaborate with?
HJ: Heart (Ann Wilson), Halestorm, Miles Kennedy (Alter Bridge), In This Moment, Slash … to name a few 😀 … as to influences, there have been so many. Who can listen to Ella Fitzgerald or Amy Winehouse, Heart, Kate Bush or Within Temptation and not be influenced by these amazing female artists? I adore Miles Kennedy, and still listen to a load of EMO bands such as BVB! I love so many, as music reflects your emotional being, which of course changes all the time! We associate songs with a particular event in our life, so in a way, they’re solidly part of our life’s journey.
How would you feel about having a profile page on our website?
HJ: Absolutely fine! Be an honour, would love it!!
Thanks again for your time. Is there anything else you would like to add?
HJ: Thank you for the positive review you gave us and all the praise too!
Balance of Power are no strangers to the heavy metal scene, having released a string of albums from the late 1990’s to early 2000’s. But it’s fair to point out that they haven’t exactly been in the spotlight for a while. Their last album, “Heathen Machine” (2003) was released almost 21 years ago! So, when their new creative offering comes out on April 19th, 2024 via Massacre Records, and is titled “Fresh From the Abyss“, just know that they are not kidding. It does feel as though they are crawling out of an abyss of sorts.
As you might well have expected, the band have returned from this hiatus with a brand new line-up. Founding members Tony Ritchie (bass) and Lionel Hicks (drums) are now joined by female lead vocalist Hazel Jade and guitarists Chris Young and Adam Wardle. Jade’s presence represents a major change for Balance of Power, which previously had only employed male vocalists, and is a big reason for why this album piqued my interest. On “Fresh from the Abyss“, she consistently demonstrates that she belongs to a class of hard rock singers that is all her own. And if there is anybody who can “wow” listeners and bring back attention to Balance of Power, then it’s definitely her.
Jade dishes out plenty of depth, emotion, and electrifying intensity on each of these tracks, but with a level of sophistication that avoids overshadowing the rest of the band members. In fact, you could say that the “balance of power” is just right. And for being able to achieve this, we should also bestow credit to Sam Lowe and Mike Plotnikoff for the mixing/editing. But whatever the reason, her voice fits perfectly with the music here. Something which will no doubt come as a relief to long-time followers of the band. While still on the topic of line-ups, it should be further noted that the album line-up differs slightly from the current band line-up, with two guitarists (Chris Masimore and Stoney Wagner) having contributed to the album recording before handing over the reins.
Balance of Power steps out from the shadows with opening number, “Last Man Down“, a defiant power anthem from a band which is surely looking to re-establish their profile, and pay acknowledgment to their long absence with the opening lines: “This is not the ending I was looking for // Unintended static cuts the air“. A “no-nonsense” affair with an edgy, hard rock groove serving as its backbone, in many ways it is the ideal way to kick off the album. It later culminates in a frenzy of guitar and keyboard solos, adding a distinctly progressive flavour to the traditional mix.
As if related, “Never Be Here Again” is the next track, and again ties into the band’s history somewhat by drawing our attention to the speed of time (and perhaps even showcasing a pining for lost time): “Suddenly it comes to me like a thunder in the night // We can never be here again, never be here again“. Indeed, the progression of time appears to be a constant theme on the album. “One More Time Around the Sun” is another such example. As Tony states, this track is all about “wanting to spend another year and then another and another with the person you love”.
It’s certainly heavy, and we’re not just referring to the music. It would appear that Balance of Power are not ones to shy away from dealing with the big topics. Another case in point is “Monster“, which focuses on grappling one’s inner demons. But it’s all wrapped up and presented in such a way that such depressive themes do not become too overwhelming to the senses. In fact, somewhat contradictorily, I caught myself grinning for much of my time with the album – so joyous was the experience. Particularly with more energising numbers, such as “Deadlands” and “Abyss“, which are both punctuated by a quicker tempo, and have some particularly sweet guitar solos. Rounding out the overall package is “Velocity“, which eschews the band’s typically classic approach for a more modern-sounding aesthetic, and “Rage of Ages“, with its slower rock n’ roll rhythm and big vocals. It’s an album that will no doubt be appreciated by fans of classic metal or hard rock. And regardless of whether or not this statement applies to you, there is no denying the incredible feat Balance of Power have pulled off with “Fresh From The Abyss” after being out of the game for so long. Not only does it serve the purpose of re-introducing the band to the world, albeit in a different guise than before, but it also makes a strong case for their reappearance and sets a solid footing for more to come. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait nearly as long next time.
Verdict: A miraculous revival and rebranding for a band that has just emerged from a long hiatus. It matters little if you are already a fan of Balance of Power or hearing them for the first time, “Fresh From The Abyss” is the start of a new journey, and anyone who listens to traditional heavy metal will definitely want to tag along for the ride.
Fans of American hard/rock heavy metal band Edge of Paradise are about to be given another reason to celebrate with the soon to be released “Hologram And Slaves To Forever” – a stunning new graphic novel written and illustrated by the multi-talented lead singer Margarita Monet. The signed pre-order copies are due to ship out this week, and the new novel does a truly excellent job of visually bringing to life the intricate sci-fi narrative of last year’s phenomenal “Hologram” studio album (which also earned our award for “Best Hard Rock Album of 2023”).
The genuinely original and thought-provoking story is presented across 36 gorgeous pages; broken up into 10 chapters corresponding to each of the songs. And to say this book is a veritable feast for the eyes would be a major understatement. If you have any familiarity with Monet’s original artwork, you will already have an appreciation of what I mean by this comment. Futuristic dark fantasy illustrations that stimulate your imaginative senses and curiosity, with a strong recognisable art style and vibrancy of colour which together leaves a lasting and impactful impression. And for anyone who is wanting to own several of her artistic masterpieces, especially those based on “Hologram“, the collection included within this hardcover novel certainly makes for an economical way to achieve that. Each of them are presented in colour, and while some serve as backgrounds to the text, others have a full page just to themselves. But even then there is usually a few small details and annotations which you will not be able to find anywhere else. Some pages feature QR codes too, which provide links to the relevant music (including alternate versions), and which have the effect of unifying the two mediums and creating a fully immersive experience for the reader.
Without spoiling any specific details, many of my favourite pieces of this era of Monet’s art are present in this volume. With quite a few new ones that I had not seen before. And if you were not aware, some of these artworks may even include cryptograph symbols which can actually be translated with Edge of Paradise’s very own cipher. Once again adding another layer of mystery and engagement to the proceedings. As if the beautifully rendered art was not already enough to warrant the price of admission, Monet also backs it up with a unique and thrilling adventure, which casts her in the role of the leading protagonist Psyla.
In the story, her character is tasked with commanding a crew (portrayed by other members of Edge of Paradise) on an important mission through space in order to save humanity, which is already on the brink of its existence. The adoption of “HolloTravel” technology has allowed humans to project their consciousness into holographic vessels. But at great cost. Emphasising the lengths that we’ll go to in order to obtain freedom and immortality. So much so that we risk putting ourselves at the mercy of AI, and losing the one thing which makes us all human in the first place: our soul.
It’s a highly prescient and topical storyline given recent developments in this area. And fills in many of the questions and gaps that before were left to interpretation (when all we had were the song lyrics as reference). Indeed, it has given me a whole new understanding than what I had at the time of writing the album review. And quite honestly, it’s rewarding to be able to experience this shift in perception, and see the material from a different viewpoint now that it’s possible to have a better conceptualisation of the specifics. If you truly wish to comprehend “Hologram” – the novel is definitely a necessity. It answers almost everything, including the previously ambiguous nature of the alien artifact. And for that reason, and the many others listed above, it receives my highest recommendation.
Verdict: The must-have companion to an equally essential studio album. “Hologram And Slaves To Forever” means fans can now enjoy this experience in its totality, and as it was intended, on both an auditory and visual level. While also gaining a deeper understanding of the intriguing universe that Monet has constructed. I look forward to the next chapter!
French heavy metal pioneers NIGHTMARE have unleashed new details about their upcoming, brand new studio offering entitled Encrypted! The band’s twelfth album is slated for a release on June 7 2024 via AFM Records, the pre-sale has just started at https://shop.afm-records.de/nightmare/
Following the re-recorded, 2023 version of “Eternal Winter“, today, NIGHTMARE are premiering a music video for their new album single “Saviours of the Damned“! The track is out now on all digital services via https://nightmare.bfan.link/saviours-of-the-damned, watch the video clip streaming here:
Founded in 1979, NIGHTMARE have been an integral part of the European metal scene for the past three decades, and have been prolific with their album releases, all the while updating and evolving their sound.
The band released eleven much acclaimed studio albums and toured worldwide, playing some of the biggest metal festivals like Wacken, Hellfest, 70,000 Tons Of Metal, Motocultor Open Air or Gods Of Metal, and supporting the likes of Def Leppard, Sabaton, Saxon, Grave Digger and Blind Guardian to name just a few. 2020 seen NIGHTMARE release their latest album, Aeternam, via AFM Records. At the end of 2022, the band parted ways with singer Madie and welcomes their new, exceptional vocalist: Barbara Mogore!
As the band states:
With the arrival of Barbara transcending NIGHTMARE in new dimensions, we have decided to move to new heights in terms of musical approach to make Encrypted our most ambitious album to date in terms of production, musical direction and achievement… You can find here some traditional power metal riffing in the trademark of NIGHTMARE but also extreme metal parts and some highlights even reaching melodic death metal… making Encrypted our most varied opus so far, beyond all boundaries and expectations…
Encrypted was produced by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio, the artwork was created by Franck Jeannin. Pre-order your copy of this must-have album – one that belongs into every well-sorted heavy metal record collection – now at THIS LOCATION!
Tracklist: 01 – Nexus Inferis 02 – The Blossom of my Hate 03 – Voices from the Other Side 04 – Saviours of the Damned 05 – Wake the Night 06 – Encrypted 07 – Incandescent 08 – White Lines 09 – Borderlines 10 – Eternal Winter (2023 Version)
NIGHTMARE is: Barbara Mogore Franck Milleliri Matt Asselbergs Yves Campion Niels Quiais
Finnish heavy metal band Ratbreed has released their second single “Under Fire,” accompanied by a lyric video via Wormholedeath Records. The band’s new album is set to be released soon, which will be the follow-up to their debut album “Evoke The Blaze” which was released back in 2018.
Ratbreed is known for its unique heavy metal sound, and “Under Fire” is no exception. Produced and recorded by the band themselves, the mixing and mastering were taken care of by Juho Räihä (Swallow The Sun, Wolfheart, etc.) at Soundspiral Audio. The band’s first single “Master Of Deception” was released in September 2022, and it was an instant hit among their fans.
The new single “Under Fire” is a perfect example of Ratbreed’s musical prowess, and it features the powerful vocals of Jasmin Anglén, accompanied by the skilled guitar work of Mikko Kaipainen and Fabio de Oliveira. Tatu Nyman on bass and Mikko Toivonen on drums provide a solid backbone to the band’s heavy sound, making for an unforgettable musical experience.
The band has also released a lyric video for “Under Fire,” which perfectly captures the intensity of the music and showcases the band’s lyrical prowess. The single cover art was created by Petri Lampela, and the band photo was taken by Mike Sirén.
Ratbreed’s discography includes their debut album “Evoke The Blaze” (2018), and several singles including “Gates Of Underworld” (2018), “Hunting High, Reaping Low” (2018), “Master Of Deception” (2022), and their latest release “Under Fire” (2023). They also have two demo releases, “Escape From The Asylum / Mad World” (2016).
To stay up to date with Ratbreed’s latest news and updates, follow them on Facebook and Instragram:
“Under Fire” is now available for streaming and purchase on all major music platforms. Don’t miss your chance to experience the unique heavy metal sound of Ratbreed. Buy/Stream HERE
