ALBUM REVIEW: Oceans of Slumber – Starlight and Ash


 

Patience is a virtue. And, no, this isn’t some flippant or patronising reference to Oceans of Slumber “finally fulfilling the potential shown on their first album”, because they fulfilled that already from the off and especially on their third / self-titled release a couple of years ago. I mention it because the benefits and, yes, virtues of Starlight and Ash (Century Media) may not be immediately apparent. Continue reading


Testament Announces New Drummer- Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, Mr. Bungle, Dead Cross)


Testament announced on SiriusXM Liquid Metal with Jose “Metal Ambassador” Mangin, that the bands’ new drummer is none other than former Testament drummer Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, Mr. Bungle, Dead Cross). Lombardo, replaces Gene Hoglan, and was in the band from 1998-1999 for The Gathering record and subsequent tour. The band and Mangin commented about the return:

Two Classic Albums by The Gathering to See Vinyl Releases  


Legendary Dutch metal/rock band The Gathering will release vinyl pressings of Mandylion and Nighttime Birds via Transcending Records, only in North American. Initially released via Century Media Records in 1995, Mandylion is The Gathering’s third studio offering and the first to feature the now-iconic vocals of Anneke van Giersbergen. The album was recorded and mixed at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany under the guidance of Siggi Bemm and Waldemar Sorychta and has since become a cult classic. Continue reading


ProgPower USA 2020 Canceled, 2021 Festival Announced and GoFundMe Launched


Sadly, the long-running and legendary ProgPower USA has been forced to cancel their 2020 weekend-long festival in September. Promoter Glenn Harveston took to social media to announce that ProgPower USA XXI, the annual Atlanta event is canceled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled for September 8 – 11, 2021. “We can’t social distance in the venue (Centerstage) which is sold out.” The festival has rebooked for 2021 and launched a GoFundMe campaign to try and recover the lost monies from their $14,000 lost to a one-time US Visa application. On the plus side 19 of this year’s anticipated 21 acts have reconfirmed for next year. Theyhavealreadyreceived 25K of the 14k goal. Continue reading


Within Temptation to Stream Iconic “Black Symphony” Concert This Week


Within Temptation will stream their first arena show with orchestra on social media: watch Black Symphony live at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena on Thursday, April 30, at 7.30 PM UK time, on the band’s Facebook, YouTube or Twitch channel. For the first time in their career, Within Temptation bundled their strength with the Metropole Orchestra (led by Jules Buckley) and a 20-voice classical choir, lifting the band’s fast-driven and bombastic tracks to an even higher level. Within Temptation performed the spectacular show on February 7 2008 to 10.000 fans, surprising them with appearances by special guests Mina Caputo (Life Of Agony), Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering) and George Oosthoek (Orphanage) while covering every hit from their discography up to 2008, including Mother Earth, Stand My Ground and All I Need. News is expected soon from the WT camp about upcoming activities, hopefully, that will mean new music. Continue reading


Watch Vocal Coach Beth Roars Reviewing “Ayreon – Valley Of The Queens (Live)”


Vocal teacher and YouTuber Beth Roars is back again with another critique video! Reacting to Ayreon – ‘Valley Of The Queens’ (Live), she breaks down the vocal talents of the three lead singers, Floor Jansen (Nightwish, ReVamp), Anneke Van Giersbergen (Devin Townsend, The Gentle Storm, ex-The Gathering),  and Marcella Bovio (MaYAn). The song and performances are incredible! Check it out! Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Lindsay Schoolcraft – Martyr


Some good advice I received from my mentor in music criticism was to never underestimate or pigeonhole an artist. Cradle of Filth has made a twenty-five year career out of Black and Death Metal music supremacy, often covering the dark and all about that blasphemous life. Although she definitely has earned her place in that world as a member of that band, singer and multi-talented musician Lindsay Schoolcraft displays a wide array of gifts will not fit in a neat box for you to file and categorize. On her debut solo album Martyr (Self-Released), she satisfies her jones (and ours) for all types of Gothy Metal and Rock styles.

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Anneke Van Giersbergen’s New Band VUUR Details Debut Album


Anneke van Giersbergen, long known for her work formerly with The Gathering, her impressive solo career, and work with both Devin Townsend and Aryeon, has a new rock/metal band dubbed VUUR. They have released the cover artwork and tracklisting for their forthcoming debut album, In This Moment We Are Free – Cities due out October 20th via InsideOut Music. You can hear the first track, ‘Days Go By – London’ below.Continue reading


Cellar Darling – This Is The Sound


Having formerly made up a third of Eluveitie, Anna Murphy (vocals, hurdy-gurdy, multi-instruments), Ivo Henzi (guitar and bass) and Merlin Sutter (drums) have launched Cellar Darling, their new vehicle with which to explore “the spirit of the stories our parents told us before going to sleep” to the backing of melodic, if steady, metal.Continue reading


Employed To Serve – The Warmth Of A Dying Sun


Following a few excessively raw and highly abrasive EPs, the UK’s Employed To Serve turned a few heads in 2015 with the release of their hungry—nay, starving and salivating—debut full-length Greyer Than You Remember. Now, with The Warmth Of A Dying Sun (both Holy Roar), they are poised to turn quite a few more.Continue reading