Nergard - Eternal White (Pride & Joy Music Release: 21 May 2021)

NERGARD was originally founded back in 2010 by Norwegian musician Andreas Nergård with the ambitious idea of being a studio project fronted by renowned guest artists from around the world. In the following years they released two albums featuring some of the industries most accomplished vocalists and musicians including Elize Ryd, Ralf Scheepers, Göran Edman, Mike Vescera, Michelle Luppi, Tony Mills, David Reece, Michael Eriksen, Nils K. Rue and many others.

NERGARD also had the privilege of performing at some prestigious shows, such as opening for the legendary Stratovarius on the main stage at the Trondheim Metal Fest in 2015 as well as performing their own sold out shows.

After a few quiet years, whilst busy with other projects, NERGARD resurfaced in the summer of 2020 releasing a tribute single to the late Tony Mills (SHY,TNT) which then inspired Andreas, to start working on new music.

Whilst building ideas for the new album, Andreas decided that he was ready for a new era of NERGARD. With a steady line-up of permanent singers, the group is now fronted by a multinational trio – Stefani Keogh (UK), Andi Kravljaca (Sweden) and Mathias Molund Indergård (Norway).

This new era takes the sound of NERGARD into dark symphonic realms similar to the styles of Nightwish, Kamelot and Avantasia. Entitled “Eternal White”, this new album is a concept piece that's based on the tragic story of the Carolean Death March in 1719, when 3000 Swedish & Finnish soldiers froze to death during the retreat from the failed invasion of Norway. The story is told over 10 songs which showcase the new dynamic line-up whilst continuing to deliver the high calibre of music that we have come to expect from Andreas and with a nostalgic look to NERGARD's past, the album also features a guest performance by the formidable Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest/Iced Earth) on the track “Now Bareley Three”.

The band is thrilled to team up with Pride & Joy Music for the release of the new album, “Eternal White”; kickstarting a new chapter in the NERGARD legacy.
This release will be available as CD and digital. The digital version will include 10 instrumental versions of all songs as bonus tracks.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nergardmusic

 

Upper Lip - Deep Within (Pride & Joy Music 21 May 20219

Hailing from GOZO, the land of the Megalithic Temples in the heart of the Maltese archipelago islands, UPPER LIP spurs nostalgic, groovy Hard Rock music with a passion to its genre! Their main influences derive from the splendid nature surrounding the beautiful Island and Rock acts such as Rush, AC/DC, Rory Gallagher to The Smiths, Captain Beyond and even Waylon Jennings.

Since their inception in 2013, the band had played several gigs & festivals on the Islands to a very warm welcome form the Rock music fans which swiftly translate to more gig’s invitations. Fast-forward to 2019, the band embarked on a massive project to work on their first studio album. The recordings took place at the ‘Temple Studios’ (Rammstein, Philip Boa, Mike Hedges, Siouxsie and the Banshees)

UPPER LIP recorded 11 original tracks which portray the groove and live energy that the band is so much noted for.

UPPER LIP is: Chris Portelli (vocals), Joseph Azzopardi (lead guitars and song-writing), Marcel Paul Grima (bass guitar), Paul Cini (rhythm guitar) and Silvio Cini (drums)

For more information, please visit:
Website: www.upperlipmusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UpperLipBand
Instagram: www.instagram.com/upperliprocks

 

RAPID STRIKE – RAPID STRIKE ( Review by Varg The Mighty )

Today’s review is of Croatian Heavy Metal band Rapid Strike’s new self-titled album.

This band combines classic Heavy Metal with hints of Hard Rock in a pretty melodic way that permits both guitars to shine beneath an appropriate vocal performance, although sometimes there is an unnecessary use of effects that such a voice does not need (as on “Sweet Terror”).

While some songs like “Just A Lie” captivate with such emotional solos and songs like “Viper’s Nest” show a nice rougher edge, some of the ballads seem to miss feeling, making them just be some weaker tracks instead of softer bits that maintain the listener’s attention. Despite the presence of unmemorable pieces, this album also contains some songs that are worth checking out.

I recommend this album to fans of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock. My rating is of 7,5/10.

 Varg The Mighty

 

Tuple - Welcome To Hell (AOR Heaven Release: 28 May 2021)

 

“Welcome To Hell” is the follow-up to the highly-acclaimed “Wooden Box” album by TUPLE which was released in 2020 via AOR Heaven and resulted in a charty entry in the native country of this Finnish artist. 
Finland is well-known for its Heavy Metal roots. Far and wide comes the list of Metal bands that are known all around the world. But there’s also a strong Melodic Rock/AOR community. Bands that rely, not only on heavy riffing, but also strong melodies and larger-than-life keyboards. TUPLE is a good example of it. Catchy songs, great melodies, fine artistry.
The songs once again - like on the previous album - were written by Riitis, Tommi’s good friend and trusted composer. But unlike the Wooden Box release, which was lyrically based on Tommi’s life, this time the band takes a look at the dark corners in the corridors of power, struggles with the relationships, and takes the listener on a trip to the late 19^th century Colorado, to Aspen – the playground of the rich and the powerful – which was once upon a time a savage place where miners, gunslingers, UTE Indians, card sharks and prostitutes were an unsettling mix of people during the Silver Rush. The album was produced by TripleVision (Tommi, Riitis, Janne).

Tommi “Tuple” Salmela, born June 3rd, 1969 in Kuopio, Finland, is a Finnish Heavy Metal singer. He sang in such bands as Tarot, Lazy Bonez and Raskasta Joulua (Ragnarok Juletide) and also performed on stage with many famous singers like Elize Ryd, Floor Jansen, Tommy Karevik, Bernie Shaw, Joe Lynn Turner and Dee Snider, to name a few.

Raskasta Joulua is a Finnish band recording and performing traditional Christmas carols and hits in the Heavy Metal style. Tommi is one of the founding members. Lazy Bonez was established in 2012 and they have released 3 albums. On their second album, Alive, Tommi sang a duet with Bernie Shaw of Uriah Heep on the tune  ‘Devils Dice’. 
Tuple’s personal influences include bands like Journey, Kansas, FM, Uriah Heep, Boston, Chicago, Strangeways, Black Sabbath, Dio and lots of other AOR bands - the list goes on and on. His motto is: What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.

The band is:
Tom Rask – drums; Jykä Sirainen – bass; Riitis - guitars,keys and backing vocals; Tommi “Tuple” Salmela - vocals and backing vocals

Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast) – guest vocals on ‘Survive’ 
Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) – additional backing vocals
Janne Tolsa – mixing, mastering and additional keys
Erkka Korhonen  – guitar solos on 5 songs

 

 

Proud - Second Act (AOR Heaven Release: 28 May 2021)

 

Finally, PROUD is back after 36 years, stronger than ever, with ten new powerful songs! 
PROUD were founded in Landskrona, Sweden in 1982. They started as BURN and were one of many, countless Hard Rock bands that came in the mid-80s. The group changed their name over to PROUD and made an album for EMI which was produced by Caj Högberg (“Fire Breaks the Dawn”). This album is a rare and often elusive title making it an essential purchase when stumbling upon by fans of classic rock/metal of the 1980s. “Fire Breaks the Dawn” achieved success in Japan and parts of South America both.

In 2019, two of the original band members decided to make a new start! Songwriting and recording took place and soon a new record deal was signed with AOR Heaven.
“Second Act” was recorded and engineered by Richard Larsson at Handsome Hard Studio 1 and 2, produced by PROUD, mixed and mastered by Erik Mårtensson at Mass Destruction Production and additionally mixed by Thomas “Plec” Johansson at The Panic Room.

The band is: Anders Magnell (Lead vocals, guitars, backing vocals) Roberth Horvath (Bass, backing vocals) Mats Christiansson (Drums, backing vocals)
Additional Musician: Richard Larsson (Keyboards)

 

 

Michael Fury - Affairs In Babylon (AOR Heaven Release: 28 May 2021)

Myles Hunter, known from the band AVALON (Canada), bassist Martyn Jones and guitarist Rob Kennedy founded the group MICHAEL FURY in the year 1979 based on   a character from James Joyce’s short story “The Dead”.  They played a reasonable amount of gigs in their native country until they called it a day in 1983. 
MICHAEL FURY returned one year later when Hunter met keyboard player Howard Helm (ex ZON). Former members Martyn Jones (bass) and Rob Kennedy (guitars) re-joined the group and drummer Dave Mihal was added to the line-up. The band signed to a small local label soon after, and the debut “Affairs In Babylon” finally came out in 1984. 

The group toured Canada extensively but due to some identity confusion between the band name MICHAEL FURY and the name Myles Hunter the situation soon became difficult. First of all, the label tried to market the group as a solo act which did not work well for anyone involved. When MICHAEL FURY then received an offer from an US based major label, they decided to buy back the rights for their album, to re-mix and re-record most of the parts and also to add five new songs. Brian Doerner (Helix) joined the group on drums. “Affairs In Babylon” at the time was re-issued under the band name REFUGEE. 

MICHAEL FURY’s “Affairs In Babylon” is now, for the first time ever, available on CD as a limited mail order edition of 1000 copies incl. liner notes by Dave Reynolds. Carefully restored from vinyl and digitally remastered by Anthony Panacci.

 
 

Devoured - The Curse Of Sabda Palon - (Death Metal)

FFO: Entombed, Nihilist, Carnage Band : DEVOURED Country : Indonesia Album Title : The Curse Of Sabda Palon Format : Audio CD Date Of Release: 30/04/21 Label: Vrykoblast Productions http://vrykoblastproduction.bigcartel.com A story from the age of kings in Java dwipa; the great Majapahit kingdom, about 1294-1478. An unwritten tale comes to us from the end of the kingdom's golden years; that a kingdom as great and luxurious as Majapahit can fall apart and disappear without a trace! War broke out due to a power struggle, the outcome was a religious revolution which caused the split of the kingdom. Sabda Palon was an honorable advisor to the king of Majapahit who led and gave advice for the benefit of the Kingdom's prosperity. However, during the rule of King Bre Kertabumi/Brawijaya V (of the fifth generation of Brawijaya rulers) at the end of the fourteenth century, the counsellor's advice fell on deaf ears. Eventually, war broke out and the kingdom was invaded. At last, the king bowed down to the enemy and was helpless. The people of the kingdom and the advisor were heartbroken by the king's decision. The king's advisor, Sabda Palon, swore an oath. The 13th curse of the oath, which was believed already to have happened several times before, describes a flood. In this flood, people will lose everything: family, wealth, even their lives. Everything will disappear, swallowed by the flood. This 13th curse will happen and hit civilization when the pattern of humanity's behavior exceeds their provision. Check out the latest video!

DEVOURED - Sabda XIII : Gemuruh Air Puluhan Ribu Dosa Nyoman Sastrawan – Vocals Safik Rosad – Guitars / Back voc Mal Mulyadi – Bass Rahadian Aldy – Drums Ardian Woodman Nurilanwar – Guitars Music and pattern vocal by Mal Mulyadi Lyric and naration by Nyoman Sastrawan Follow the band at these links: Contact: Email: devouredjogja@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/devouredband https://twitter.com/devouredband https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDdpDfiElhQnOqiViJRnCQA https://sadistrecords.bandcamp.com/album/devoured-the-curse-of-sabda-palon